Chapter 101: Chapter 255 - What the Dwarf Sees
"So, what do you want?"
The dwarf ignored the barbarian, and Rem didn't make a fuss, brushing it off as if it didn't matter.
From the first moment they spoke, it was clear—the dwarf's words were sharp, but not meant in earnest.
Enkrid took the opportunity to step in, speaking directly.
"If you've got a good sword ready, I'd like to buy it."
He didn't beat around the bush. To be honest, he found her quite fascinating.
Does she know how to fight? Probably not.
His assessment was based on her posture, gestures, positioning, and general demeanor.
"Alright."
The dwarf wasn't picky. She simply scanned Enkrid from head to toe.
It was said that dwarves didn't judge humans by their appearance.
Even so, her gaze lingered on Enkrid's face, refusing to leave.
Watching from the side, Krais thought to himself:
No way… is she smitten with him too?
A faint sense of unease crept in.
Everyone knew dwarves didn't care about human beauty or ugliness. Instead, they judged refined inner qualities—one's eyes, attitude, and habits were indicators of their character.
Free of outward bias or prejudice, dwarves possessed an innate ability to discern a person's nature at a glance.
Having roamed the continent for so long, this dwarf could read someone's personality by observing the way they blinked or spoke.
Though not magical, her innate abilities and experience allowed her to glimpse part of Enkrid's inner self.
It was vast, unyielding, and utterly beautiful.
Just as metallurgy is about extracting and refining ore, and blacksmithing about heating and shaping metal, dwarves had eyes honed through years of working with stone and steel.
To her, Enkrid appeared as a rock.
But not just any rock—absolutely not.
What is this?
A rock that, despite endless chipping and grinding, refused to break. It didn't erode or decay.
A rock she couldn't comprehend. For her, this was the first time seeing such a human—or such an ore.
It was utterly fascinating.
And that fascination stirred her heart. Mystery, novelty, and the unknown were sure to pique any dwarf's curiosity.
"Hey, I'm not going to kill you, so fix up my axe," the barbarian chimed in arrogantly from the side.
He casually handed over his axe, brimming with some sort of latent power.
This bastard, didn't he just threaten to kill me earlier?
She judged he hadn't meant it. Dwarves had an innate insight for distinguishing truth from lies.
Still, she thought he was odd.
Even if he wasn't serious, he looked ready to swing his axe at the slightest provocation.
Her eyes scanned him next.
What's with this one?
He was like a self-igniting stone, burning everything around him—a dawn fire.
Anyone near him would either need to be just as sturdy or have someone shield them from his flames.
And who was shielding him?
Need it even be said?
A rock that didn't burn or decay.
A rock with black hair and blue eyes.
The dwarf's gaze shifted across the group.
Everyone else was just as peculiar.
One seemed like Truesilver, refined for tens of thousands of hours.
Another resembled Black Steel, a blade sharpened to an extreme edge.
And then there was a grayish Ash Gold—a rare metal said to only reveal itself after burning countless stones.
Ash Gold was something even she had only glimpsed once in her life.
No, all of them—Truesilver, Black Steel, Ash Gold—were exceedingly rare and precious.
And yet, here they all were, standing before her.
She couldn't help but wonder: What's with these people?
The dwarf's eyes, unwavering and resolute, didn't falter. Dwarves, with their steadfast wills, rarely showed surprise.
Even against powerful magic affecting the mind, they were largely immune.
The dwarf carefully examined them all.
The most remarkable was still the rock—a rock that didn't wear down, decay, or shatter.
It shielded the flames, enveloped the Truesilver, dispelled the darkness of the Black Steel, and even encompassed the Ash Gold.
Each stood with their unique qualities on full display.
It was truly fascinating.
Curious, the dwarf finally asked, "What's your name?"
Enkrid guessed she was much older than she appeared—her tone betrayed her age.
"Enkrid," he replied.
"Alright, give me your hand."
When Enkrid obediently extended his hand, the dwarf inspected his calluses and knuckles with meticulous care.
"Not bad. Looks like you've done a bit of everything."
She wasn't wrong.
Enkrid thought to himself. His body bore the marks of countless skills he had trained.
From Sense of Evasion and Heart of the Beast, to the Isolation technique and even swordsmanship derived from Healing Sword.
When he thought about it, he'd dabbled in almost every form of swordsmanship.
Recently, he had been immersed in Eugen Swordsmanship, honing his body further.
Even without mentioning the mastery of Will, his body carried the weight of countless techniques.
"Alright, I've got a decent sword lying around. I'll adjust it and give it to you. And you," she said, turning to the barbarian, "your axe—just needs its handle and balance fixed, right? Why are you even carrying that? The steel's good—I'll melt it down and make something better. As for you… hmm, looks like you don't need anything. And the rest of you, hmm… right, Ash Gold."
She pointed at Ragna.
"What do you need?"
Dwarves sure talked a lot, didn't they?
But within her torrent of words was the sharp insight unique to her kind.
If Frogs admired talent, dwarves excelled in perception.
With just a glance, she had pinpointed what each person in the group needed.
Her nickname for Ragna felt odd, but since she was a dwarf, no one paid it much attention.
"A long, thick sword with balanced weight," Ragna replied.
He didn't care what the dwarf said, only voicing his purpose clearly. His focus was unwavering.
The same thing happened when the Black Blade Bandits showed up.
It didn't matter, so they were ignored.
Instead, Jaxen took action. Rem remained as he always was.
Audin simply kept smiling nonchalantly.
The dwarf nodded.
"Understood."
Thus, it was decided that Enkrid's sword and the flaming axe would be repaired, and the spiked lance used by the Centaur leader would be melted down and reforged.
Additionally, the dwarf offered to craft a new sword for Ragna personally.
Enkrid had heard that the dwarf was a picky craftsman, but seeing how accommodating she was, he realized that rumors couldn't always be trusted.
"Hey, didn't you say even a single dagger for me was too much?"
Krais spoke up from behind.
"Well, you're just... you know, not good enough. Giving you something I made feels like a waste. Just go grab some random human-made weapon."
Wow, blatant discrimination.
Krais muttered, genuinely looking hurt. He wasn't someone who had ever been particularly attached to weapons, so it was puzzling why he was suddenly so fixated on getting a dagger.
"Should I buy one for you?"
Enkrid asked.
"No, it's fine."
But why was he so hung up on it?
"It's just... been a long time since I've been rejected."
"Rejected?"
"Later."
Krais said, and the dwarf chuckled.
Cute kid—her expression seemed to say so.
"But to get all of this done, it'll take about a week. Could be faster, though," the dwarf added.
Enkrid glanced around the forge.
Everyone who had been hammering metal had stopped, eyeing them cautiously.
Two craftsmen were working, with metal arranged neatly along one wall and the furnace's fire driving away the cold.
The place wasn't large, but the intense heat made it feel as though sweat might break out any moment.
"Give them a few silver coins. You should pay for using the forge," the dwarf said again.
Krais handed over a few silver coins.
Enkrid added a few more after observing. There was no such thing as a "proper amount" when asking for a favor.
Enkrid never held back on spending coins when it came to matters like this.
Krais didn't make a fuss about it either.
With the money the commander had earned during this journey, they wouldn't be lacking anything for a while.
Not that they had been struggling before.
The man who seemed to be the forge's owner hesitated, then nodded.
"Feel free to use it as you like."
"And for the cost—hey, big eyes, hand over that pouch of gems you're carrying," the dwarf said, revealing his sharp insight by instantly guessing Krais's nickname.
"You want this?"
Krais had kept a few precious gems with him, unable to leave them behind.
"Yes. Hey, I'm giving you a discount."
The dwarf's tone was cheap and inconsistent, a hint of his age slipping through.
"Give it to her," Enkrid said.
Krais frowned but nodded reluctantly. Just as he was about to hand over the pouch, he paused and asked, "But how did you know I had this?"
"What do you think a dwarf's nose is for? I can smell the expensive stones reeking from you."
So dwarves could detect that too?
Not that it mattered.
Enkrid didn't dwell on it and moved on. It meant they would need to stay in this area for roughly a week.
They returned to the market. The forge's heat had warmed their bodies, so they didn't feel the chill for a moment.
But soon the cold air seeped back into them, though Rem still wore his usual smile.
"I've decided to swear my love to this rock," he said.
Thanks to the heat stone he was carrying. Well, no surprise, as he hated the cold intensely.
Ragna silently walked on without paying much attention to the surroundings.
"Do you need a decent sword? Suddenly?" Enkrid asked curiously.
"Yes, I do."
Though he was curious about the reason, he didn't press further.
Of course, it was because of Enkrid.
What had the Night of Stimulation left them with?
A drive and a desire to grow. They hadn't achieved victory, but knowing that they could filled them with excitement. Ragna embraced it too.
These were emotions and experiences he hadn't felt before.
In the past, achieving something had been so predictable it was dull. Now, it was the opposite.
So, he needed a good sword—one that suited his hands and body.
He believed the dwarf's craftsmanship would deliver.
They continued to browse the market.
It was smaller than the Border Guard's market but still lively.
This place was emerging as a trading hub connecting the East.
Krais casually chatted with a few merchants here and there.
Some spoke to him comfortably, having apparently become familiar with him at some point.
Among the passersby, there were soldiers who recognized Enkrid and saluted him.
They had seen him wield his sword and chase the Centaur leader.
There were quite a few patrolling soldiers, moving in groups of three or four, seemingly focused on internal security.
They bought a few white breads, as well as some with raisins baked in, and wandered around the market.
While they were browsing, a young woman with a youthful face blocked their path.
"I just... I just have to deliver the message. That's all, just the message," she stammered, trembling with nerves.
"What is it?" Krais asked gently, seemingly trying to calm her.
"The Black Blade won't let this go."
Her anxious eyes scanned them nervously as she spoke, her legs shaking visibly with fear.
"It's okay. It's okay," Krais reassured her and asked a few questions.
Apparently, someone had approached her, tossed her two silver coins, and told her to deliver the message. She desperately needed the coins because her younger sibling was ill.
Krais even asked for her name and handed her three additional silver coins.
Save when needed, spend when necessary—that was the rule.
"If anything happens around here, I'd appreciate it if you could let me know."
With his characteristic smile, he reassured her and sent her on her way.
After she left, Krais let out a heavy sigh, glanced toward the alley she had disappeared into, and said, "They don't seem like they're giving up. Shouldn't we do something?"
Krais asked.
Without missing a beat, Enkrid replied.
"Think about it."
"…Pardon?"
"I don't know, so you figure it out," Enkrid said as if it were the most natural thing.
Krais found himself noticing a change in his commander.
Had he always been this good at delegating tasks?
Before, it felt more like he would make requests.
The shift in attitude was undeniable.
This was appropriate, of course, for someone responsible for a unit.
"If they come at us, just split their heads open," Rem said.
"They'll probably just send some pathetic assassins," added Jaxen.
"Shall we ask the War God if it's permissible to send such insolent ones to the afterlife?" Audin chimed in, his tone sharp.
"I'm a wandering Teresa. Bandits? I'll cut them down," Teresa declared.
Enkrid's gaze shifted to Dunbakel.
"What's this debt you owe?"
"I borrowed about fifteen gold coins at the end," she replied.
"Why?" Krais asked out of sheer curiosity.
"To have some fun."
Spending fifteen gold coins for fun? What, did she hire a male escort in the capital and indulge in lavish drinks and extravagant feasts?
"All of it?"
"Well, I spent two coins. The rest I gave away."
"To whom?"
Krais's tone grew curt as he struggled to comprehend her casual use of borrowed funds, but Dunbakel didn't seem bothered.
To her kind, etiquette boiled down to not stealing another's meal.
"To kids on the street or orphanages raising children."
She had spent the borrowed gold freely. Dunbakel, figuring she'd die anyway, had simply followed her heart.
Of course, seeing abandoned children had resonated with her own past, but she wasn't about to explain all that.
Krais was baffled.
"You borrowed gold from bandits and thought you'd just get away with it?"
What kind of lunatic borrows fifteen gold coins for this? Her head could've been on the chopping block!
"Well… yeah, I guess that's true."
She's not normal either.
The group headed to the marketplace.
The atmosphere here was distinct from that of Border Guard.
The goods, the people—it all felt different.
Some eyes lingered on Enkrid.
With his striking features and presence, he drew attention wherever he went.
In fact, it would've been stranger if he didn't attract stares.
None of the group paid attention to the market vendors, patrolling soldiers, wandering peddlers, or the occasional thug whose expression mirrored that of the fool they'd beaten earlier.
"That looks like fur," Rem said, his gaze fixated on a pile of pelts.
Enkrid's attention was caught by leather trousers spread on a merchant's mat.
Audin bought a small wooden rabbit figurine from a young carver.
The rabbit was recognizable, but barely, as the craftsmanship was rudimentary.
As they wandered, three thugs approached.
Would they try the same idiotic move as the last guy?
Krais's eyes gleamed with amusement.
He was curious to see what these fools would attempt.
But things didn't go as he expected.
Thud!
The thug leader threw himself face-first onto the dirt in front of Enkrid. The bold motion left his clothes smeared with grime, but he didn't seem to care.
"That guy wasn't one of us! He was some drifter, been freeloading in the region for about half a year. Went by the name Bento," he babbled.
Who? Enkrid's expression asked wordlessly.
The thug scrambled to clarify, referring to the man from the tavern earlier.
"Hans didn't know anything either, so please forgive us! I'll make sure to punish that guy myself!"
His explanation was disjointed, but it showed loyalty.
Enkrid gave a small nod.
The man called Hans seemed to be the one who had been drugged and hypnotized into attacking him earlier.
"Handle it yourself. And don't kill," Enkrid said, brushing past him.
"…What?"
Ignoring the bewildered thug, Enkrid moved toward the leather trousers he had been eyeing.
Rem picked up some furs.
"Big Eyes, hand over a few gold coins!"
"Don't just buy things without bargaining!" Krais shouted as he dashed toward them.
Audin casually addressed the thug leader.
"What the Commander meant is, don't let it happen again, buddy."
With a bear-like hand, he tapped the thug's shoulder.
On the other side, Teresa did the same and added,
"If you mess around, you'll die."
A short warning.
And yet, the menace in her voice carried a weight that made the thug think she could snap his neck without hesitation.
While Krais haggled, the rest of the group made their purchases.
Dunbakel tried to get trousers similar to Enkrid's, but when the vendor said there weren't identical ones, she settled for the closest match.
Of course, Krais negotiated to ensure they paid a fair price.
After a day of thoroughly combing through the market, they returned to their lodging.
There, a bald-headed man stood waiting outside their quarters.
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TL here! Thank you for reading!
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