The unexplored area I found in the Great Hall felt cold just by approaching it. There was a gaping entrance wide enough for a carriage to pass through, and it was dark inside.
“…… It’s cold.”
I can’t help but murmur so.
Even though the dungeon was getting hotter as we descended the floors, my breath fluttered white at the entrance to the unexplored area.
It’s quiet.
The Great Hall, where we had a fierce battle with the Incarnation of Rage, now reigns in silence. It’s like we’ve wandered into an ice cave where we are the only ones around.
Beyond this darkness lies the dwarves’ forge.
“Let’s hurry up.”
Felix-san tapped his staff, and the sound reverberated through the great hall.
“There was such a roar. It wouldn’t be surprising if the adventurers in the upper levels came to see it.”
I tucked my chin and strengthened my resolve to move forward. Leaving the two supporters on guard, we stepped inside the forge.
Hiding behind my body, Safi peered ahead.
“……Everything is frozen.”
“Yeah….…”
Frozen forge. It was a scene that could only be described as such. Anvil, bellows, scattered gears. Covered in frost, these items were dimly illuminated by the light from the great hall.
“Lantern”
After Felix-san used his magic to create light, the view became even clearer.
It’s a pretty big room.
The ceiling is about 10 meters high, and it looked as if all the walls of the mansion have been removed. The sides are covered in ice, and a giant-sized armor is trapped inside.
An axe with a blade as tall as me and a club that could be used as a pillar were lying dormant in the clear ice.
“W-why do we have a weapon of this size……?”
Safi’s voice trembled.
“It’s too big even for a golem, and I’ve never made anything like this before……”
Safi tried to go even deeper, but her legs got tangled.
I supported her small back.
“Are you okay?”
“Y-yes….…”
Her feet were a little unsteady.
I asked Safi, who is now clutching her forehead.
“Is it because of that technique a while ago?”
I think Safi used a special power towards the golem. The damaged golem confronted the giant golem once more, as if to grant her wish.
“Oh……you mean, the blessing?”
The dwarf blacksmith smiled wryly. She continued,
“Hmm, maybe. It’s a technique that puts our feelings into weapons and golems as magical power. There is no other manipulation to it, so it uses up a lot of magical power.”
She shrugs her shoulders, trying to act tough.
“I tried to be careful, but I guess it’s no good since I’ve been away for a while.”
Relying on the magic light, Safi began to investigate the unexplored area. Though she acted calm, she was probably nervous about reuniting with her comrades and the possibility of it happening. Her steps were a little unsteady, and her voice is trembling.
“The lights… are no good, they’re dead. The magic stone hoist crane is no good either, how did they make such big weaponry?”
Gears and shafts could be seen on the ceiling. There were also pulleys for lifting heavy objects, so perhaps that was the power source for those. The various facilities made me feel that there was a high level of technology. In the ice, there are spears, swords, and other weapons that must have magic.
Even the workshops in the Royal Capital would not be able to hit the Scarlet Axe lying here.
I could understand what the gods are expecting.
If dwarves can make such large weapons and engrave magical runes into them, it would be very reassuring to have them on our side. If we give out special weapons to all the warriors, it will surely be easier to protect Lu.
There are also magical runes in the Western Dungeon where Loki was, but it is the dwarves who specialize in carving them on weapons and tools. In addition, there is the power of Golem technology and the ability to input blessings in weapons like Safi showed.
They got small body, but as Solana said, they are demigods.
“Dwarves are amazing….…”
If Gods highlights “military power” or “magical power”, then the greatness of the dwarf is “technical ability”.
However, there are no dwarves in the first room. There were a few small items that could be unsealed, but the most important piece of armor was in the ice. The horn in my pouch is also not particularly responsive.
“……It’s like there’s no one here.”
Mia let out a white breath and I nodded my head.
――What is it?
My heart swells with anticipation, but at the same time, I felt an uneasy feeling. I looked at the passage that led to the back. Perhaps because the entrance was open, the wind blew in.
“Let’s go.”
As Safi led the way, the cold air intensified even more. We walk through a high-ceiling passage to another forge.
Beyond that, there were dwarves.
“Guys!”
Safi turned around in a cheerful voice.
“Look, they are my friends!”
The dwarves who had become stone statues were scattered throughout the room. Some are frozen close to the wall, some are prostrate on the table in the middle, and some are lying on the ground as if they are sleeping.
There were about 20 of them in total. As if time had stopped, the dwarves stood still.
“Good, good…… I found you guys, I found you.”
Safi’s gait is wobbly but light. Her green hair is bouncing in excitement.
“Rion, hurry up and wake them up! You are ‘God’s Wake-up caller’, right?”
Then Safi laugh became wry, “Oh right, we are just dwarves.”
“U-uhm.”
I decided to use my Alarm skill. But I noticed something was wrong.
“Eh……?”
“Unseal” has the power of appraisal. If something can be wakened up, I should be able to see a faint glow on it. But such brilliance is nowhere to be found in space.
『This…… 』
I heard Solana mutterg.
“What’s wrong?”
At Safi’s urging, I put my hand on the stone statue sitting on the floor. It feels like ice, like real stone, it’s just cold.
“Wake up”
Bright light scattered. I believed that this time too would work out somehow. My Alarm skill had always made miracles happen.
The dazzling light enveloped the stone statue, scattered and disappeared. But even when the light was completely lost, the stone statue remained a stone statue.
“W-wake up!”
I repeated it. Again, and again.
But the result is the same.
My heart is freezing just like the forge.
『……I don’t feel any magic from these stone statues. 』
Solana’s voice could be heard.
It seems that Safi, who has been watching for a long time, has also realized that something is wrong. Her lips is trembling.
“W-what do you mean……?”
『Safi』
Solana spoke from the gold coin.
Her voice is painful, but it is dignified and clear. When she woke up, she was alone too—maybe she could understand the pain of having to tell Safi.
『The seal also imposes a burden on the sealed beings, and dwarves are demigods…… I suppose the dwarves here couldn’t stand the long seal. 』
Even Solana, a goddess, was initially protected by the gold coin. In that point of view, it’s not surprising that these dwarves can’t stand it.
But—
“N-no. That’s a lie, isn’t it?”
Safi’s eyes widened.
“……Then why am I the only one who survived?”
The red ring on her finger shined brightly.
『It maybe thanks to that ‘Ring of Protection’. Or maybe, for some reason, they were already weak when they were sealed away……』
Safi collapses, at loss for words.
Among the stone statues is a ‘black dwarf’ and a ‘white dwarf’ with wings that looks very similar to Safi. Neither of them showed any signs of being unsealed.
“……Can’t even Gods cure them?”
I asked.
As if hesitating, the reply did not come immediately.
『……My power is only healing. As long as you have lost all your magic and life force has left your body, I will not be able to heal.』
Sigris answered first. There is a hint that Solana is also trying to say something. I waited for it.
Solana looked extremely distressed.
『…… Sorry. I can’t respond to you, my believer.』
Solana continued,
『The power of the sun is the power to send magic and light from celestial bodies to the earth. It strengthens life force but…. there is nothing I can do about a being that has lost its very life.』
The goddess was remorseful.
『…… If they had even a little bit of life force left, or if I had the strength of my mother, I might have managed to do it…..』.
The Gods used to say it. Solana is one of the youngest of the gods. I wonder if that’s the reason she is very sorry for the fact that she can’t help me. She wished she had more power.
“Safi ……”
I looked at my hands. Once again, I reached for another dwarf. Even through the gauntlet, it’s as cold as ice.
“This….”
I was frustrated.
Everyone defeated the giant golem together, and even Safi finally found her comrades. How cruel it would be if her wish of reuniting with her comrades could only be at this scene.
“Safi, I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
Breathing white, Safi smiled wryly.
“……It’s okay, I’ve been prepared to say goodbye since I heard about the war. But…… It’s a little tough.”
Thor spoke sternly.
『It’s unfortunate, but time doesn’t come back. 』
But God strengthens His words.
『But even if it’s not in this forge, we need to hear from the survivor. And to give up… it’s too early to throw the fight elsewhere. A voice was definitely raised from Alfheim, right? 』
『Thor…… you….…』
『Medicine God, if you look away, it won’t do you any good. One should think about the next move. 』
Safi staggered to her feet.
“Deeper than here, there is the throne room, where the King of Alfheim—the Dwarf King is. If I’m right, then the Dwarf King is still alive.”
Our next objective was decided.
We’ll ask the king what was going on in the depths of Alvis Dungeon.
“I’ll make sure I’ll wake him up.”
We decided to leave the frozen forge.
『Oh my, oh my~, Thor is kind too.』
Suddenly, I heard Loki’s teasing voice.
Everyone did not stop. It seemed like I’m the only one who heard it.
『……I wonder why the King of the flame titans is in a place like this though. Giant weapons…… it is almost like a tribute……』
Loki muttered.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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