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Chapter 143: The Dwarf Kingdom
After bidding farewell to the Human Kingdom, Kurtz and Serie did not linger, heading straight south.
Their destination was the Dwarf Kingdom, one of the three great nations in the world today.
The Skywing Clan's divine kingdom of thousands of years had completely declined, leaving only a Sky City that never fell, drifting aimlessly across the continent like a ghost of former glory.
There were once flying races that tried to set foot in this kingdom, but without exception, they were blocked by an invisible barrier. The few survivors spoke of walls of wind that turned solid at their touch.
Over time, no one dared to try anymore.
Thus, the El Country, founded by Norn, took its place, becoming one of the three great nations on this continent.
Upon reaching the entrance of the Dwarf Kingdom, Kurtz looked at the magnificent city walls with a hint of disappointment.
"What's wrong? You look very disappointed?" Serie noticed the expression on Kurtz's face and asked.
"I thought the Dwarf Kingdom would be built into a cliff, like the Dwarf Ruins we visited before," Kurtz remembered that at least before the First Dwarf Kingdom ruins were destroyed by God Strike, they were built against the mountains, very similar to a scene from a classic work he had seen in his previous life.
However, the Dwarf Kingdom before him was built on a large plain, surrounded by tall city walls. He wouldn't be surprised if someone said humans built it, the architecture lacked the mountain-carved grandeur he'd expected.
"When the Demon Race destroyed the First Dwarf Kingdom, many Dwarves couldn't escape in time, especially the Dwarf royal family lineage, who lived deeper in the kingdom. No one survived."
Serie explained matter-of-factly. "So when they rebuilt later, they abandoned the idea of building against the mountains. Too many had died trapped in those stone corridors."
"I see."
As the two got closer, even through the heavy gate, they could feel the strong metallic aura emanating from within, the scent of hot iron and coal smoke that spoke of endless forges at work.
This aura reminded Kurtz of the Dwarf town they first encountered during their adventure, though magnified considerably.
Beside the massive city gate stood many Dwarf guards, all clad in heavy plate armor, gleaming silver under the sunlight. Their beards were braided with small metal ornaments that clinked softly with each movement.
With the Demon Race showing signs of a comeback, the hard-won peace was about to be shattered again, causing every Dwarf to become worried. The tension was visible in their watchful eyes.
However, there was still good news.
It was said that a mighty warrior of the Elves had begun a journey to defeat the Demon King, just like the Elf Saint Serie decades ago, to save this world.
But until news of her victory arrived, every Dwarf dared not be careless.
The Dwarf guards at the entrance vigilantly scrutinized the two extraordinary guests before them.
A combination of a golden-haired Elf and a young human was indeed rare, and in these times, anything unusual demanded attention.
"Stop!" Finally, a Dwarf Captain stepped forward, his armor marking him as someone of authority. "May I trouble both sirs to state your names?"
"Hmm? Do we need to register to enter your Dwarf Kingdom?" Serie was a bit confused, one eyebrow arching slightly.
She remembered that the Dwarf Kingdom, like the El Country, welcomed foreign races, as it provided trade opportunities. Except for a period of closure during the most intense part of the war, there had been no other restrictions.
The Captain's expression grew awkward. After all, he had only asked because he was curious about this strange combination, but now he felt embarrassed to admit his nosiness.
"It's like this," he cleared his throat, "the succession ceremony for the throne is about to take place, so the scrutiny needs to be extra strict."
"So this is what you call strict?" Kurtz pointed to a person of a different race who had walked directly past the gate and the guards, swaggering into the Dwarf Kingdom with a casual wave. "That fellow didn't even slow down."
The Dwarf Captain's expression became even harder to maintain. His face reddened beneath his beard.
"I was rude. Please, both of you, come in." Finally, he stepped aside with as much dignity as he could muster, allowing the two to enter the kingdom.
Although he wanted to question them further, the Elf Miss's expression was already growing increasingly unpleasant, and every Dwarf knew better than to provoke someone who could clearly use magic.
On both sides of the wide street were various shops. Besides the common blacksmith shops, Kurtz even saw taverns with their doors thrown wide, item shops displaying exotic wares, and what appeared to be an alchemist's workshop, judging by the colored smoke drifting from its chimney.
Having been in this world for so long, only here did he feel a familiar sense of adventure in another world from his memories. The bustle, the variety, the sense that anything could be bought or sold, reminded him of the fantasy stories from his past life; beside adventure, the world was more appealing to him.
There was no other way; this world was ultimately different from what he'd imagined. Such large cities were few and far between.
Perhaps only when civilization developed further could it truly become the kind of other world Kurtz had envisioned.
Serie's elven appearance attracted many curious glances, but the Dwarves merely looked once before continuing with their own affairs. Some nodded respectfully; elves were uncommon, but they were respected here.
After all, for the Dwarves, truly beautiful women should have long, magnificent beards. Clearly, the Elf Miss was not the type the Dwarves found conventionally attractive.
"Actually, I think you should have given your name just now," Kurtz said as they walked through the bustling kingdom.
"Why?"
"It would make it easier to find Somo."
Kurtz and Serie had come to the Dwarf Kingdom simply to meet Somo. According to Serie, Somo was doing very well, even about to become the next Dwarf King, which Kurtz found almost impossible to believe.
He honestly couldn't imagine how the guy who was called an outcast in his village, couldn't drink alcohol, and didn't even have a beard, had suddenly transformed and was about to become the Dwarf King.
If Norn becoming king was within Kurtz's expectations, then Somo was utterly unexpected.
'But speaking of which, that guy should have grown a beard by now, right?' Kurtz remembered that he had specially created a magic for him that allowed him to grow a proper dwarf's beard.
Although Dwarves themselves couldn't use magic, they could have a magic user cast it on them, which would achieve the same effect.
"By the way, where should Somo be right now?" Kurtz looked around the bustling market. The Dwarf Kingdom was much larger than he had imagined, with districts stretching in every direction. "Should we go directly to the Dwarf King's palace?"
"Just ask, and we'll know." Serie's practical approach remained unchanged.
So Kurtz stopped a passing Dwarf, a stocky fellow with tools hanging from his belt, and asked him about Somo.
"As for Lord Somo, at this time, he should be in the Forge Hall." The Dwarf pointed to a huge building not far away that was belching thick smoke into the sky. "Working on the great project, as always."
After a simple thank you, the two crossed the street and approached the Forge Hall.
"Isn't it getting hotter and hotter?" Kurtz could clearly feel the temperature in the surrounding air continuously rising. Even the stone path beneath his feet had become warm to the touch, as if the very earth was being heated from below.
"Hmm, want some?" Serie had conjured a magic circle in her hand at some point, and wisps of frost appeared around them both, like a cooling breeze made manifest.
"Yes, please." Kurtz was not polite and gratefully accepted Serie's cooling magic. The relief was immediate and blessed.
"Let's go, it might be even hotter inside." As the two stood before the building's main entrance, Serie pushed open the heavy wooden door while speaking.
The wave of heat that hit them made Kurtz squint and step back involuntarily. It was like opening the door to a furnace itself.
In the center of the hall, dozens of huge furnaces glowed with orange and white flames, and many Dwarves moved around them in practiced coordination. The sound of hammers on metal created a constant rhythm, punctuated by shouts of instruction and the hiss of hot metal meeting water.
The most striking sight was the largest furnace in the center of the hall, at least tens of meters high at first glance. It was hard to imagine what kind of weapon would require such a massive forge.
At this moment, nearly a hundred Dwarf craftsmen were busy around this central furnace, their movements coordinated as they worked on whatever great project demanded such scale.
[End of Chapter]