C885
"..."
Karoon's cold gaze revealed his deep disgust at Borgos's statement.
"That dwarf seems to know a thing or two."
Unlike Karoon, Balder nodded with a bright smile.
"Our nephew is reliable, has a straightforward personality, and a strong sense of loyalty! Sometimes I think he's even better than me or my brothers! Hey, dwarf! You've made a good choice!"
He clapped loudly, praising Raon for being superior to the Palace Masters in many ways.
"Shut your mouth."
Karoon hit Balder's waist, reminding him that they were in the presence of the Head of House.
"Why do you always tell me to shut up? This isn't a library!"
Balder shook off Karoon's hit as if nothing had happened, wrinkling his nose.
"Ahem!"
Glenn cleared his throat and lowered his chin slightly.
"Is that how much you trust the leader of the Light Wind Division?"
He squinted, pretending to be uncomfortable while covering his mouth.
"That's right."
Borgos nodded as he approached Raon.
"The leader of the Light Wind Division came to rescue this old man without asking questions, based on a single encounter."
His wrinkled lips trembled as if recalling when Raon had come to find him deep underground.
"Dwarves don't make friends easily, but once we do, we follow them for life. This young friend... no, benefactor is worthy of such trust."
Borgos thumped his left chest with his fist, stating that he had incurred a debt he could never repay, even if he dedicated his entire life to it.
"Boss! Well said!"
"We feel the same!"
"Just as Raon risked his life for us, we too can wager our hammers on him."
Palenthun and the other masters shouted their agreement with Borgos, pounding their chests with their fists in the same manner.
"Trust for a lifetime..."
Karoon remained silent, arms crossed, as if he hadn't expected Borgos to trust Raon so much.
"Friendship between a dwarf and a human? Ha! How splendid!"
Balder wet his lips as if he had just drunk a jug of beer, letting out an exclamation.
"Borgos..."
Raon bit his lip slightly as he looked at Borgos, who stood proudly with his chest out.
"I didn't expect you to trust me so much."
He knew that Borgos and the masters of the Gray Hammer Guild were grateful to him. However, he had thought it was a transactional relationship, as both wanted something from each other. It was a great misunderstanding. Borgos and the masters truly regarded him as their benefactor.
"Yeah... I see."
Glenn's hands trembled slightly, and the lobes of his ears turned red. Although it wasn't entirely clear, it seemed he was forcefully suppressing some emotion that was about to burst.
"If you had made a disrespectful statement towards Zieghart, you would have paid an appropriate price, but this case is different."
He closed his eyes and opened them again, stating that he would accept Borgos's opinion.
"Do as you wish. If you want to be part of Zieghart, we will accept you. If you decide to leave, we will also accept that."
Glenn nodded broadly, welcoming Borgos and the Gray Hammer Guild.
"Welcome, dwarves! Make my sword heavy but fine and flexible!"
Balder stomped his foot, describing the type of sword he wanted.
*Sigh...*
Karoon let out a soft sigh while slowly extending his arm. His elbow struck Balder's waist hard as he passed.
*Ugh...*
Balder's eyes rolled back as he fell backward, apparently expecting the blow to be as light as before.
"I apologize. You're still unworthy of being an executive."
Karoon bowed to Borgos and told him not to mind Balder.
'Haha...'
Raon let out a dry laugh as he observed Karoon's calm expression.
«In the past, he would have caused a scene in front of Balder.»
People can change a lot. Even though he was probably upset by Borgos's statement of trusting Raon more than Zieghart, Karoon didn't express it openly and instead showed respect. It seemed that this was only possible due to his genuine love for Zieghart.
"No."
Borgos shook his head calmly, looking at the unconscious Balder.
"Working with dragon bones and scales is a dream come true for artisans. We can't craft any item with such precious materials. Our intention is to create equipment that best suits the user's needs."
He suggested that custom-made items would be better, even if they required more time, given the rarity of the materials.
"Custom-made items not only require time but also a lot of effort. Are you sure about that?"
Glenn's voice had a hint of concern for Borgos and the artisans' situation.
—Of course. It's nothing compared to what our benefactor has done for us.
Borgos replied that they could do even more if Raon desired it.
"Moreover, custom work also benefits us. Just like with swordsmanship, there's no limit to improving skills with the hammer."
He nodded, saying it would be an opportunity for him and the masters of the Gray Hammer Guild to perfect their skills.
"If you put it that way, we will accept it with gratitude."
Glenn slowly lowered his gaze, accepting the agreement.
"If you need anything, just let us know. We will provide all the support possible."
"An artisan always needs just three things: a place to rest, fire, and a hammer."
Borgos smiled confidently, stating that those three would be enough. It was a smile reminiscent of a Transcendent who had reached the top solely through martial arts.
"A place to rest, fire, and a hammer..."
Karoon's sunken eyes seemed to show a hint of admiration as he looked at Borgos with a slight smile.
"Understood. I promise to make you as comfortable as possible. You must be tired from the journey here, so rest for now."
Glenn nodded broadly, apparently pleased with Borgos's character.
"Rest is good, but I'd like to start working immediately."
Borgos nodded firmly.
"I'm afraid unpleasant thoughts may arise if I rest, which is why I'd like to start working right away."
He bowed and said he wanted to begin even if the preparations weren't complete.
"Sometimes it's better to dive into work."
Glenn let out a brief sigh, as if he understood Borgos's feelings.
"Very well. Leader of the Light Wind Division, please guide the guests to Mirtan."
He lowered his voice and ordered Raon to guide Borgos and the dwarves to Mirtan, where the artisans of Zieghart lived.
"We'll discuss more matters later."
"Understood."
Raon stepped back and bowed to Glenn.
"Let's go."
After bidding farewell to Glenn, he left the Lord's Mansion with Borgos and the artisans.
"Executives, investigate the desired weapon types not just for yourselves but also for the swordsmen, and present them to the Shadow Agents."
He ordered an inspection, apparently intending to provide customized weapons to all the swordsmen of Zieghart.
"Ah, yes!"
"Understood!"
The executives left the Lord's Mansion with bright smiles, seemingly delighted at the prospect of obtaining master weapons made from dragon bones by dwarf artisans.
"Head of House."
After all the executives had left, Karoon stood in front of the platform where Glenn's throne was.
"Given the great achievements of the Leader of the Light Wind Division this time, I hope the reward is as I mentioned before."
He only left those words before dragging the unconscious Balder out of the audience chamber.
"If it's what you mentioned before..."
Sheryl furrowed her brows and looked at the door through which Karoon had exited.
—Does he mean promoting Raon to Palace Master?
"That's right."
Roenn nodded, laughing.
"Karoon had previously insisted that young Master Raon should be appointed palace master."
"He has changed a lot, but I understand."
Sheryl let out a sigh, murmuring in amazement.
"The Raon I saw this time was not the little one I taught to use the double sword. I felt more like I was with a skilled and powerful martial artist, even stronger than me."
She smiled, saying that he could certainly handle a palace well.
"Ahem!"
Glenn no longer tried to hide his smile and lowered his hand to reveal the corners of his mouth.
"It's like seeing the old Head of House. That slacker really raised a disciple well."
Sheryl shrugged and looked at the smiling Glenn.
"It wasn't that guy, but Raon who grew on his own!"
Glenn shouted that it was not at all Rimmer who raised him, frowning.
"That's true. He would have grown well anywhere."
Sheryl nodded and chuckled. She couldn't help but laugh as she remembered how they used to argue about who the disciple or the grandson who should come first was.
—No! Without Zieghart, he wouldn't have been able to grow like this!
Glenn vigorously shook his chin, as if wanting to hear that his grandson grew well because of him.
"You're right. He turned out so well because he's the grandson of the Head of House."
Sheryl nodded, letting out a deep sigh.
"Ahem!"
Glenn finally seemed satisfied, leaning back in his throne with a pleasant expression.
"But what will you do about the opinion of the Master of the Central Martial Palace?"
Sheryl looked up, curious about Glenn's intentions.
"Palace... Palace..."
Glenn slowly closed and opened his eyes, looking at the center of the Lord's Mansion where Raon had been.
"Yes. It seems the time has come."
**
As soon as he left the Lord's Mansion, Raon led Borgos and the artisans toward the Village of Mirtan.
"The heat is certainly intense here."
Borgos wet his lips, seemingly feeling the geothermal heat that made even walking warm.
"It's not like in the north."
He rubbed his thick hands and said he liked it. He was a man with the personality and skills of a continental master craftsman.
"The heat intensifies as we travel this road. It seems the mountain is a volcano."
Borgos's main disciple nodded, looking at the mountain behind the village of Mirtan.
"That's right. There was also a Red Dragon Turtle on that mountain."
Raon nodded and spoke about the Red Dragon Turtle that had been absorbing geothermal energy earlier.
"Red dragon turtles love lava and geothermal heat. If it turns out to be absorbing heat directly, it must be nothing less than our former place."
Borgos smiled, murmuring that he was looking forward to Vulcano's village.
"We just arrived, actually."
Raon raised his hand and pointed to the low but sturdy-looking entrance of the village Mirtan. As soon as they arrived at the village, the air suddenly changed. An intense heat, as if lava was flowing around them, accompanied by the endless sound of hammering, assaulted their ears.
"Mmm..."
Borgos nodded slightly, examining the workshop at the outermost part of the village from where the hammer sounds were coming.
"Still inexperienced, but full of passion."
He smiled slightly, apparently pleased with the sounds of the hammer from the young artisan inside the workshop. The dwarves and artisans of the Gray Hammer Guild also seemed to be in a good mood due to the hammer sounds coming from here and there, smiling for the first time since they left their old home.
«Blacksmiths will truly be blacksmiths.»
Seeing their gloomy mood lighten with just the sound of hammering, it seemed they weren't called masters for nothing.
"Vulcano is up there."
Raon guided Borgos and the excited dwarves to Vulcano's workshop, high up in the village of Mirtan. The artisans moved quickly, with flushed cheeks, seemingly stimulated by the sounds of hammering and the heat enveloping the village.
'Hmm?'
Raon squinted as he examined the interior of Vulcano's workshop.
'Is there someone else?'
He felt the presence of one more person besides Vulcan inside the workshop. They didn't seem to be working, so he thought it would be fine to call them.
"Mr. Vulcano."
He shouted Vulcan's name while knocking on the steel door. The workshop door swung open abruptly before he could catch his breath, revealing Vulcan with a face as red as if he had been drinking.
- Raon! Why did you arrive so late?
Vulcano frowned and asked why he hadn't come after announcing he was on his way.
"Ah, I'm sorry. There was a little problem on the way."
Raon apologized, bowing his head.
"I was expecting a lot when you said you would bring dragon bones... huh?"
Vulcano, who was clicking his tongue, opened his eyes wide upon seeing Borgos behind him.
- Dwarf! How did you get here...?
"It's a long story."
Borgos let out a bitter smile, saying it was complicated.
"Hmm, something must have happened."
Vulcano frowned deeply, as if he had read something in Borgos's eyes.
"Well, it's better to keep it simple when you live under someone else's roof."
Borgos nodded briefly and proceeded to explain what had happened.
"I see..."
Vulcano's eyelids trembled, as if he hadn't expected such circumstances.
"Everything is fine now, so there's no need for that expression."
Borgos lowered his chin, requesting to be treated normally.
"But..."
"I've seen many of your swords, but this is the first time I've visited your workshop. It's surprisingly small for a continental master."
He joked, examining Vulcano's workshop, as if trying to lighten the mood.
"The size doesn't matter for a master."
However, the response didn't come from Vulcano, but from inside the workshop. A familiar voice. It was Kuberad, another continental master.
- Kuberad? You're here too?
This time it was Borgos who opened his eyes in surprise.
"Just as Raon called you, I was also summoned by this guy."
Kuberad let out a long sigh and said he had come at Vulcano's request for help.
"He insisted so much that anyone would think he's still active."
He shook his head, saying he received ten letters a day.
"What do you mean ten letters? I only sent nine!"
Vulcano snorted, indicating he should count correctly.
"Well, enough idle chatter. Now, show us the materials. I'm tired of putting up with this drunkard's ramblings while I wait."
Kuberad nodded and said he wanted to get to work now.
"Okay."
Raon nodded slightly and called Dorian from behind him.
"Bring everything out."
"E-everything? It might be a bit cramped..."
Dorian shook his head and looked around.
"It will be fine if we go down that path."
"Understood!"
He nodded and reached into his bag. An endless flow of dragon bones, teeth, horns, and scales poured from Dorian's hand that emerged from the bag. Due to the large size and quantity of the ancient dragon's remains, not only Vulcan's front yard but also the central avenue of Mirtan village were filled with dragon bones.
"Was there that much?"
Borgos opened his eyes in disbelief.
"Red, black, gold? Three dragons?"
Kuberad's chin trembled in astonishment.
"There are not just three. Two are of the ancestral dragon class. Even the bones are deeply imbued with pure mana!"
Vulcano's eyes sparkled with anticipation at that mere sight.
"Soon, the swordsmen of Zieghart will send their requests. We have more than enough materials, so please create the best works you can."
Raon bowed with his hands clasped in front, asking for their best efforts.
"Then first, we will need some warm-up work."
"Yes, I can see exactly how to start."
The eyes of Vulcan and Kuberad landed on Heavenly Drive and Blade of Requiem, respectively.
"First, let's take a look at your swords."
The two spoke in unison, licking their lips like true friends and artisans.
-
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