09 — Chaos in the Dwarven Domain

09 — Chaos in the Dwarven Domain

The seven of us (counting the two messengers) quickly departed Rockford. We decided to make the trip on foot on account of the possibility of attacks from below making horseback travel risky.

“Sir, even if we should race to the Kingdom of Dwarves, their situation is unlikely to substantially change so quickly. We ought to eat first,” Lionel advised.

“Good point.”

The attendants started to object but complied once Grand voiced his approval. However, they didn’t touch a single morsel themselves.

“Sure is dark,” I commented. “Not like Rockford.”

“Could draw monsters, but nothin’ for it. Use one o’ your lights,” Grand suggested.

He and the messengers had the Darkvision skill, which allowed them to see in the dark. Most dwarves had it because they lived largely in places with low visibility.

“The moon won’t afford us light tonight, but we shouldn’t lose our way so long as we follow Kefin’s route,” Lionel said.

“Right. A little light will help us stay on track,” I agreed.

“Lead the way,” added Grand.

“Count on me,” Kefin replied.

The two other dwarves followed in silence as we exited the fake town. No holes opened up along the way, possibly thanks to the Earth Dragon’s tremors coming to an end, and any monsters in our path were quickly spotted and dealt with by Ketty and Kefin.

I didn’t trust the envoys. They lagged behind, never offering to help lead or assist in battles, and they maintained their attitude with an almost pompous and self-confident air.

Then, Kefin announced, “This is it. We can get in through here.”

“We will take it from here,” one of the messengers said.

“Follow closely,” said the other.

The pair took it upon themselves to step in front of us and march on. I gave Grand a look.

“I know,” he responded quietly. “Bear with it a while longer.”

I took a deep breath and let it go, trailing behind them resignedly. The cave leading into the Kingdom of Dwarves was about two meters tall and very similar to the tunnel where I had found the spirits of land.

“It certainly looks like it would be difficult to use a greatsword in here,” Lionel remarked.

“You can use it as much as you want if we need it when we’re in the kingdom. You might be stuck with a short spear later.”

He slouched. “I suppose I’ll have to surrender the field to Ketty and make do with being your shield.”

I broke into a crooked grin. “You can be more enthusiastic if you want.”

His unending thirst for combat despite his devotion to protecting me was honestly somewhat admirable. Maybe there was something to learn from this battle-crazed lunatic.

We proceeded through the winding cavern, twisting down forks here and there without hesitation until we came upon a monster and the envoys stopped. They stood there like statues, without the slightest hint of taking any sort of combat stance.

I shot Grand another exasperated look, and the dwarf face-palmed in sheer disbelief.

“Ketty, take care of it,” I ordered. “Kefin, I want you to take point.”

“Please, we will be your guides,” one of the envoys insisted.

“By all means, carry on. Careful, though, there appears to be a monster in your way,” I quipped. “Really, what are you even here for?” They didn’t reply. “Grand?”

“Be my guest.”

“I’m on it!” Ketty cried, kicking off from the ground, against the wall, and straight into the monster, quickly butchering it.

Kefin passed by the corpse, nonchalantly resuming his role as guide.

“I’ll take this,” I said as I stashed the creature’s magic stone in my bag.

Several more skirmishes followed, but the two messengers never served any greater purpose than being dead weight.

“The Kingdom of Dwarves is just past this bend,” Kefin noted.

The dwarf called Aleslei suddenly sprinted ahead, and everyone fell into stupefied silence. I looked at Grand suspiciously.

“Are they—”

A shriek echoed throughout the cavern. Ketty and Kefin raced around the corner towards the source. The rest of us followed behind, and when we came around the bend, there was Aleslei, an ant’s mandibles piercing his shoulder. Ketty swiftly eliminated the threat.

“How is he?” I asked.

“Hurt, but not fatally,” Kefin answered.

I short cast Recover and High Heal, then ordered Kefin to carry him.

“Grand,” I said accusingly, “these two aren’t just attendants, are they? They’re nobles.”

“You’re right,” he confessed. “They’re the first and second princes, fighting for the right to be heir to the throne.”

“I knew it. Well, they did ask for our help, so I’ll leave it at that.”

Some time later, we arrived in the Kingdom of Dwarves.

True to Kefin’s report, the Kingdom of Dwarves was overrun by ant monsters.

“Looks like we’re in for some fighting,” I said. “Lionel, you’re my bodyguard.”

“Yes, sir,” he replied, grinning as I handed him his flaming sword and a headlamp.

“Ketty, I want you on support. Find out how many are wounded and if anyone needs rescuing.”

Ketty sounded off with poorly concealed excitement in her voice about getting to join the action.

“Return the messengers to their king, Kefin. Grand, go with him and tell His Majesty that he speaks as my envoy.”

“Sir,” Kefin affirmed with a nod.

“Whatever you say, lad,” Grand answered, hanging his head, evidently dissatisfied with his role.

We set out.

As we approached the heart of the fighting, Lionel hailed the dwarves.

“I, Lionel, retainer of His Greatness Mister Luciel, S-rank of the Church of Saint Shurule, add my blade to yours!”

He brandished his flaming greatsword and set several ants ablaze.

“At least one of us is having fun,” I said.

“Poor guy’s been starving for a fight since Yenice,” Ketty replied sympathetically.

“In the meantime, we need to look for anyone who’s hurt.”

“Looks like they’re hauling injured soldiers that way,” she noted.

“I’m surprised you can see so well in this gloomy place.”

“A lot of cat-folk have the Darkvision skill too.”

I followed her to a building that had been made into a makeshift field hospital. It was brighter inside and I could see at a glance that the place was packed. Everyone was too distracted with their own affairs to notice our arrival. Perfect.

“My name is Luciel,” I announced, drawing the room’s attention to me. “S-rank healer of the Church of Saint Shurule, friend and employer of Dhoran. I’m here to assist with healing your wounded per his request. Direct me to your most critical patients so that I can see to them immediately.”

Several of the dwarves glowered with thinly veiled anger, but understanding the severity of the situation, they chose to hold their tongues.

“This one’s in the worst shape,” someone called out.

I approached at once and saw a dwarf on death’s doorstep, bleeding profusely from several places.

“Dwarves are as durable as they say, I’ll give them that. High Heal!” With a quick cast of the spell, his gored shoulder returned to form and the lacerations closed without a trace. “He’s lost a lot of blood. Make sure he eats well, and he’ll be up and around in no time,” I said.

I felt the air stiffen around the surrounding dwarves as their breath collectively caught in their throats. Before they could go berserk, I quickly stated, “Seeing as there are a lot of you, I’m going to do this all at once. Get all of your worst patients within three meters of me. Anyone who can move on their own, make your way here. Forward your thanks to Dhoran if you have any.”

A quick cast of Area High Heal and all the dwarves in the building were back on their feet. They immediately took up their weapons, and I cast Area Barrier on them before sending them off.

“I need someone to take me where the other wounded are,” I said.

“I believe I can be of service,” answered the bloodied dwarf I had healed first.

“Good. If I can save someone, I need to be there to do it. It’s my job.”

“I’ll stay on guard here,” Ketty declared firmly.

When we left the building, the dwarf asked, “Is Dhoran well?”

“He is,” I answered. “He makes good stuff for me.”

He whipped around and grasped my collar. Or tried to, rather. Ketty shoved a blade to his throat before he could get too close.

“Curse you, bastard,” he spat. “Dhoran has no arms! How dare you?”

“Yeesh, okay,” I said with a weary smile. “Listen, I’m telling the truth. His arms have been healed, and he and Pola are back to crafting. Trust me, the girl constantly steals my magic stones for her inventions.”

The dwarf’s expression relaxed but turned to confusion. He struck himself in the face and glared at me once more. “You mock not only Dhoran, but his family as well?!”

“I’m not mocking anyone. They’re not slaves anymore.”

“What?!”

“He’s not lyin’, pal,” Ketty said. “Grand’s with your king now. You can ask him all about it later.”

“S-Sir Grand?!” the dwarf exclaimed. “Pardon my rudeness!”

“Let’s save the apologies for later. There are people we could be saving now,” I reminded him.

“Follow me.”

With renewed resolve, he guided us onward. Ketty and I exchanged grins before following. We dipped in and out of several buildings, healing the injured soldiers inside, and when we cleared the last one, the dwarf spoke again.

“I apologize for my earlier behavior. My name is Landol, and I’m the leader of this defense.”

“Good to meet you, Landol,” I said. “Let’s get to where the fighting is.”

“Is His Majesty not awaiting your arrival?”

“His Majesty can wait while we see to the safety of his people on the front line.”

“Y-Yes, sir.”

His moodiness aside, Landol seemed to have his heart in the right place. I trailed behind him as he led us around the battlefield, healing fallen soldiers along the way. Ketty eventually received word of a change in the tide of the battle.

“The scales have tipped with all the dwarves rejoining the fight,” she said. “And, well, Lionel.”

She didn’t need to say any more than that. The man in question cackled in the distance.

“Come to me! Entertain me! Your match awaits!”

Yep. Lionel. “I think we can leave that area alone for now,” I said. “Can you escort us to your king when we finish?”

“Of course,” Landol replied.

After returning their forces to fighting strength, plus a little more with Area Barrier, we rejoined Lionel. He looked greatly refreshed, finally having been given an outlet for his pent-up stress. I cast Purification to rid him of the stench of burning ants and said nothing more.

“Stay strong, and as I tell my companions, stay safe,” I called to the dwarf warriors. “Landol, if you please.”

“Er, yes. Right. This way,” Landol stammered, tearing his eyes away from the mountains of insectoid corpses and leading us straight to his master, the Dwarf King