The night bell was ringing. We left the carriage and guards in the square and sneaked inside the city walls.
We had managed to hide the existence of the golem, but in its place there was a scoundrel who had conducted a magical experiment. So witnesses and people who were really worried were allowed to enter the city.
Right now, we are renting a room in the temple of Odis to get some rest.
At the temple of Odis, which is dotted along the road, there are people who cooperate with the Raven Warriors, and they are all eager to help in times like this.
Crouching in a cold chair, I drink a cup of tea that is said to dispel drowsiness. I can’t afford to lose consciousness just yet.
The bell rang. The date changed.
As I was counting, Felix-san came into the room.
“All the adventurers carrying the golem core have been captured.”
I exchanged glances with Mia-san.
We are in a small room with only a round desk and four chairs. The only people here were Felix-san, Mia-san and me.
It’s a different story if we include the “other race” though.
“The wagon departed from Alvis, as expected. The golem core in the western dungeon might have come from there as well.”
Felix-san stopped talking at this point.
My gaze moved down to the table. To be precise, on the small figure sitting on it.
“……Fuaa~.”
The other party yawned loudly, as if to emphasize her presence.
Her round clear eyes were black, and they blink repeatedly. Her green hair was tied high and arched on both sides. It was the black dwarf girl who was “unsealed” in the carriage.
“Hey, is it not over yet? I’m getting sleepy now.”
She is really small.
A child—I can’t help but think of those words.
“W-what is it?”
As I stared at her, the child pursed her lips. She is being defensive like an echidna.
“I already pointed it out. The fact that I was in that carriage was unavoidable. Or rather, where are we? It’s so cold, and when I wake up, there’s a big battle! Ah, and let me emphasize one thing, that golem has nothing to do with me!”
The words came pouring out like a bucket overturned.
We all looked at each other blankly. Felix-san pulled a chair and sat down, but he didn’t seem to know what to ask first.
“Uhm……”
The more I looked at her, the more mysterious she was.
When standing, her head is lower than Felix’s belt. But compared to my height, she’s only tall up to my stomach. However, over her tunic, she is wearing an apron like a blacksmith’s. The bag she is carrying on her shoulder looks quite heavy too.
A small body with equipment suitable for heavy work.
This—Black Dwarf?
“I just wanted to confirm something. We were heading to Alvis, no – Alfheim.”
Ahem. I cleared my throat exaggeratedly. It’s really rude to stare at girls.
“My name is Rion, and they are Felix-san and Mia-san. I’m sorry for looking at you so many times. I think you’re a black dwarf, but this is the first time I’ve seen one…. I just wanted to confirm if I’m correct.”
This is what I learned as an adventurer. The first step in the discussion is to confirm the premise.
The black dwarf girl curled her mouth. She looks around, and finally, her gaze moved to my hand.
“That’s a nice gauntlet.”
It was made by Lu.
“Oh, thank you very much……”
“But the white armor on your chest is very ordinary. I think it’s just coated in magic defense dye, but that’s not a good combination you know. If it were me, I would make a chest plate for the same weight and price. It’s nice to see the cockatrice leather carefully tanned, but it’s not worth the effort.”
The girl began to talk about my equipment one after another.
“The axeman over there, you’ve been hitting hard stuff lately, haven’t you?”
Mia-san raised her eyebrows.
The little girl chuckled.
“Soon your strength will surpass the strength of your axe. I’ll make one out of harder, tougher steel. Don’t worry, there won’t be any scary price to pay like the rumors say. And you’re a magician, right? Don’t you have any iron weapons?”
Having spoken in one go, the black dwarf took a long breath.
“Ah~, I’m so happy. I’ve finally calmed down and I can see weapons and equipment……!”
After swaying her pigtails from side to side, the child crossed her arms.
“Rejoice! If you came here looking for a blacksmith, then I am the black dwarf! My name is Safi!”
With a puff of her chest, she stands on the chair. Finally, her head was a little higher than ours.
“I’m one of the Ten Blacksmiths of Alfheim!”
She nods her head proudly.
“Hmm, I see. You have come to Alfheim huh. I guess a lot of people come here looking for a blacksmith. If that’s the case, you should have told me sooner!”
The black dwarf—Safi seemed relieved.
Maybe she thinks that we are in Alfheim. In fact, it still takes four days by horse-drawn carriage to Alvis.
Safi tilts her head.
“Oh, but you guys…… wasn’t there a God earlier? No, no, there’s no way……”
The gold coin in my pocket vibrated.
『Rion, let me tell her what’s going on. 』
“Yes….…”
She probably have a lot to talk to this person.
“….W-what’s with you people? Why are you so quiet all of a sudden?”
I put the leather coin case on the desk. Safi narrowed her eyes seeing that.
“It’s a nice little thing.”
As if she had found a treasure, Safi sat back down.
“Mmm, it might be the best. The design is strange, but…it’s made with the user in mind and designed to last a long time. It’s a fine tool, and it’s full of emotion.”
My chest felt a little warmer.
If I am to say what is the proof to a dwarf’s existence, it might be the emotional attachment they had to crafted items.
I used my Alarm skill.
“Wake up.”
The gold coin scattered a dazzling light.
Four gods, Solana, Sigris, Uru and Loki, appeared in the room. Everyone showed up at their original size, which made the room a little cramped.
With no place to stand, Solana floated softly.
“……Eh?”
The biggest one is missing.
“What about Thor?”
“……He is too rambunctious. He used up too much magical power so even his small form can’t come out.”
Solana looked off into the distance.
The gods suddenly appeared, and Safi was stunned.
“G-Gods!? Why are you gathered in a place like this? Was it the Sun Goddess? Huh? That’s right, how did the war with the monsters go?”
“It’s still going on.”
Saying that, Solana shook her blonde hair.
“To be precise, we lost once, and now we have started again.”
The goddess talked about the current situation. That the gods were about to lose, and the seal covered the world.
Safi was stunned.
“There was a distress call from Alfheim? I mean, this is 1000 years ……from that time?”
Her eyebrows furrowed again and again.
Somehow… Safi seems really lively.
“E, e, eeeeeh!?”
Her voice echoed in the room, and Felix-san quickly doubled the soundproofing magic.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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