A Father’s Death and the Dwarves Who Forsook Their Nation – Part 05

The message from the Dark Dog clan was sent to the heads of all the other clans.

The leaders of the Green Rabbit and Indigo Snake clans, having lost the Progenitor’s Gauntlets, had been wallowing in despair, but when they learned that the Progenitor’s Shield had turned up at such a convenient point in time, they insisted it was all a conspiracy.

They themselves had been hiding the gauntlets all this time, so it was only natural to assume that the Red Rat clan had likewise been hiding the shield.

“What do we do, Green Rabbit chief?”

“We’ve got no choice. We’ll have to go.”

The two leaders decided to head to the Red Rat clan.

The White Monkey clan leader, who had remained neutral throughout this whole affair, was one of only three female clan heads. She was a gentle and magnanimous full-figured woman, born into a bloodline known for its pure white hair. Skilled in the art of brewing, she was treated with respect by the other clans, though her lack of distinction in blacksmithing left her in a somewhat ambiguous position within Dwarven society.

When the White Monkey leader received the message from the Dark Dog clan, she gently furrowed her soft brows.

“What will you do, Chief?”

The woman who delivered the news had thick, fluffy Dwarven hair as well, and white, just like the chief’s.

“I really don’t want to go somewhere dangerous, but if the others are going, then I suppose I must as well.”

With a soft groan, she hauled up her plump frame and headed toward the Red Rat clan.

The Purple Horse clan had also remained neutral. They focused on agriculture, which was difficult in the mountains, and as a result, were often looked down on in the Dwarven world due to their lack of involvement in blacksmithing.

Still, they had ample food supplies and had never known hunger. They simply lacked a competitive spirit.

The Purple Horse chief, unusually tan for a Dwarf, declined the summons after receiving the message from the Dark Dog clan, saying they needed to tend their fields.

Donovan’s younger brother now called himself the head of the Red Rat clan and had used the Dark Dog clan to contact the other clan leaders. He had also informed them that it was now his own estate, not his brother’s, that served as the residence of the clan head, which made it only natural for the Dwarves to gather there. The estate was larger than Donovan’s, and the front yard had space to line up the Red Rat clan’s elite, making it an ideal setting to assert authority.

“They’re here! The clan leaders are gathering.”

Looking down from the window, he could see the clans arriving through the open gates. First came the White Monkey, followed by the Green Rabbit and Indigo Snake. The Purple Horse had already sent word they wouldn’t attend. That left the tri-clan alliance of Orange Ox, Yellow Tiger, and Black Goat, the neutral Bright Rooster clan, the Golden Boar clan who had gone to the campsite, and the lone-wolf Blue Dragon clan.

Seeing the others arrive, the new Red Rat leader dressed himself and headed for the entrance. He wore a gaudy outfit woven with glittering golden thread and stitched with jewels. His attire jingled loudly with every step. He looked every bit the stereotypical nouveau riche.

“Oh.”

“What a showy outfit.”

“Incredible!”

But the words directed at him as he appeared in the front yard weren’t mocking. They were sincere praise. Dwarves loved smithing and booze, but they also had a taste for extravagance. Those who could afford luxury were seen as worthy. The Red Rat leader’s attire was perfect for the occasion.

From the raised entrance, he looked down at the yard. His clan’s elite stood in formation at the front, and behind them were groups of dozens from each clan. The Red Rat chief snorted proudly. A word from him and the clan chiefs assembled. This was exactly what he wanted. What could be better than standing above the twelve clans and looking down on them?

“Gahahaha! You, hiding behind Donovan like a coward, now call yourself a clan leader? What a riot!”

A mocking voice shattered his sense of superiority.

It came from an old Dwarf, far larger than the rest—the head of the Golden Boar clan. He was covered in mud for some reason, but the intensity of his presence remained undiminished.

“Where’s the Progenitor’s Shield?”

Next to him stood the Blue Dragon chief, who had arrived with a group of worn-out and battered warriors. If he recalled correctly, the Blue Dragon clan was caught up in the battle near the Progenitor’s Forge as well. That likely explained their condition.

So those two clans exhausted themselves on their own? Works out perfectly, the new Red Rat chief thought. They should’ve finished each other off while they were at it.

“You two giants standing side by side are blocking the view. Move it already!” grumbled the Bright Rooster chief, wedged between them.

Why is the old hag from the Bright Roosters with them?

He was confused by the strange alliance.

Among the Golden Boar’s group were humans. What humans were doing at a Dwarven gathering was unclear, but as soon as the Red Rat chief realized this, he remembered the black-haired human who had disrespected him earlier. He grit his teeth in frustration.

“Chief, except for the Orange Ox, Yellow Tiger, Black Goat, and the Purple Horse clans, who said they wouldn’t attend, it looks like everyone’s here.”

Strictly speaking, the Dark Dog clan hadn’t shown up either, but they were likely watching from somewhere.

“I know, I know. Those three were never going to show. They tried to huddle together like cowards, but they couldn’t do a damn thing.” The chief stepped forward. “Greetings, everyone! I thank you all for gathering here today.”

All eyes turned to him. There were at least five hundred people here. Never in his life had he drawn this much attention. His older brother had been the head of the Red Rat clan, and even before that, he had always been the sole candidate for the role.

Now, everyone here was watching his every move, straining their ears to catch even a single word he said. What bliss.

He didn’t use any voice amplification tools on purpose. It was all part of the strategy. Forcing the Dwarves to fall silent just to hear his raw voice. Donovan’s younger brother had a knack for such things.

I’d love to savor this moment forever. But no doubt, I’ll be basking in it many times from now on. I must act as natural as possible.

Stifling the grin threatening to spread across his face, he raised his voice again. “I’ve gathered you here today for one reason only. The Red Rat clan has recovered the Progenitor’s Shield.”

He raised his right hand, and four Dwarves emerged from the back, carrying a massive iron slab. Mounted on it was a plain, unremarkable large shield. The shield itself was actually quite light; the iron slab was far heavier. But that was the point. It was all showmanship. And it worked instantly.

“Is that it?”

“It looks pretty plain. But yeah, I think it uses the same material as the Progenitor’s Helmet and Progenitor’s Breastplate in the treasury.”

“Hmm, still can’t tell what it’s made of. I want to get a closer look and touch it.”

Dwarves were all smithing fanatics. Since every one of them had seen the Progenitor’s Helmet and Progenitor’s Breastplate in the treasure vaults, they were convinced that this was indeed the Progenitor’s Shield.

Yes, yes! This lends more weight to me becoming the next Red Rat clan chief.

Pleased that things were going exactly as he’d planned, he roared, “Though the Red Rat clan has recovered the Progenitor’s Shield, I intend to return it to the national treasury!”

There was a ripple of reactions.

“Ooh!”
“That’s great.”
“What else is he supposed to do? It belongs to all Dwarves.”

But none of them sounded angry or disapproving.

Tch. What kind of weak reaction is that? This is the Progenitor’s Shield. I’m returning it to the state. That makes me a hero!

He was seething inside, but didn’t let it show. A hero didn’t get mad over petty things.

And the important part was still ahead. He had to make the clan leaders recognize him as the true chief of the Red Rat clan. He drew a deep breath.

“And now, I declare! I shall become the next—”

“Hold it!”

A voice cut him off, and he burst into a fit of coughing.

“Ugh. Wh-Who said that?!”

From beyond the crowd, two Dwarves stepped forward. One was dressed like a blacksmith but had his hair neatly styled, not very Dwarf-like. The other was even less traditional, wearing a snug jacket and trousers that made him look ready for a formal party abroad. Dwarves had no such things as evening galas, only feasts.

“Dodonno. Dodorono! You dare interrupt me!”

Blood rushed to his head, and he glared at the pair with wild, bloodshot eyes.