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113
Hanbit moved toward the run-down shack at the northernmost end of the city with the two of them.
On the chair placed at its entrance, Bollibo was sitting and dozing off.
“What are you doing?”
“Whuah!”
Bang—!
A tap on the shoulder made him jolt awake and tumble to the floor.
Flustered and looking around, he spotted Hanbit’s face.
“What took you so long!”
Bollibo shot to his feet and called out in a frantic voice.
Something was off about his reaction.
“What happened?”
“The guild master came to inspect this place and left! He looked me dead in the eyes and asked, ‘This was originally your property?’!”
“…Jinuk?”
Having heard the out-of-nowhere news, Hanbit briefly sank into thought.
A situation that had never occurred in the past.
But the emergence of new variables was, in a way, only natural.
The course of action he was taking now was itself like a new challenge.
“How did the inspection go?”
“He didn’t say a single word. He checked on the dwarves inside and still said nothing! What kind of retribution is he planning…….”
By what he heard, Jinuk had quietly looked around the interior and left.
No warning, no venting of anger — he had simply departed.
From Bollibo’s perspective, trembling as he was, it would naturally inspire dread about the future.
‘Perhaps the shock was too great.’
The greatest emotion Jinuk had felt during the monster wave was helplessness.
The existence of monsters he could not stop with his own strength.
Being a person made entirely of confidence and self-esteem, the blow would have hit him hard.
And knowing the Jinuk he knew, he would surely make efforts to build his strength even as he raged.
“Zenon, have you heard anything?”
“I heard the guild master is going to search the forests around Ifrit. Heading to the northeast, where the monsters appeared.”
“Is that so?”
The information Zenon provided matched Hanbit’s memory exactly.
Investigating the cause of the monster wave and the changes in the surrounding area.
An order he had received from his sister, the mayor.
‘I need to move quickly then.’
There was sufficient possibility of new variables arising from Jinuk’s investigation.
Since some were foreseeable, it was best to advance preparations as quickly as possible right now.
“Let’s head inside for now. You come too.”
“No — what about the guild master? Am I going to be alright? If any problems come up… ugh!”
Hanbit pushed the flustered Bollibo’s back and led him inside.
Below, a new space had been created.
“An unusual structure.”
“The dwarves did the work themselves. The lower level serves as living quarters for…….”
Hanbit’s words trailed off as he descended the stairs.
Because the space that unfolded before him was completely different from yesterday.
‘Remarkably fast.’
The rough underground scene he had seen last was nowhere to be found.
Now it was nothing but a castle interior steeped in the traditional ambiance unique to dwarves.
“You’ve arrived!”
Eyes wide with surprise, Kudran appeared.
A work pouch was fastened at his waist.
“You’ve been working on all this already?”
“We brought back old memories with everyone, to get our hands warmed up! I do hope His Highness the Prince is pleased with it!”
-Incredible;
-This is what dwarves can do?
-They’re capable when they get at it……
-This level without the blessing?
-Making equipment is a different matter though.
-Should switch careers to architects.
The dwarves who had been living in the village had spent years doing nothing but odd jobs and manual labor.
For work like repairing the wall, their hands first needed to remember how.
“It’s good. Let’s bring the other two as well.”
Hanbit sent a message to Kim Jaeha.
A short note asking him to come along with Gorik somehow.
“We’ll need to have a discussion shortly — where should we wait?”
“Ah, the reception room is this way!”
Kudran took the lead in a slightly animated voice.
The place Hanbit arrived at was the second basement floor.
“How many floors are you planning to build?”
“For now we’ve constructed down to two. In my heart, I’d love to recreate the old castle exactly.”
“…That was eight floors, wasn’t it?”
“How did you know?”
“I believe I heard it from His Majesty.”
Arriving at the second basement floor while listening to the grand construction plans.
Hanbit stepped into the reception room with everyone.
Kim Jaeha and Gorik arrived about ten minutes later.
“What a pointless thing to do.”
Gorik, seated across the way, spoke in a blunt voice.
It was his impression of the familiar underground scenery.
Watching him, Kim Jaeha opened his mouth as though speaking on his behalf.
“He says he quite likes it.”
“When did I say that?”
“You kept muttering to yourself about how nice it was earlier.”
“Hmph. Our traditions have not been properly captured. The angle of that pillar, and the depth of the grooves carved into it…….”
Gorik pointed from place to place and continued his critique.
That reaction itself was sufficient indication of approval.
If it had simply been made into a beautiful structure, he would have walked straight out of the building.
‘They seem to have grown closer.’
Gorik continuing to point out shortcomings in the manner of a stubborn craftsman, and Kim Jaeha taking it in stride.
It looked like a teacher and student who had worked together for years.
“I apologize! We’ll aim to replicate it as perfectly as possible!”
“We will do our utmost!”
“…….”
The dwarves listening to the exchange offered apologies alongside their resolve.
But the prince could not find any words to give back.
‘Well, it’s still too early.’
Gorik calling out the names of his people amid the monster-ravaged village.
Setting aside that genuine display, the darkness of what lay in the past runs deep.
Emotional matters would require time and effort from both sides.
“Was the dwarf prince not supposed to have vanished?”
Just then, Zenon, who had been quiet, slipped in a question.
The dwarf prince who had disappeared from Ifrit.
No matter how he looked at him, the face matched the one in his memory exactly.
“Why is a human adventurer present here?”
Gorik too showed signs of discomfort.
To him, Ifrit’s residents were still people he needed to be wary of.
“It would be best to explain everything at once. Allow me.”
At the string of questions, Hanbit organized the full situation and relayed it.
From the dwarves’ heirloom all the way through the monster wave, there was almost nothing concealed.
“This… I never expected this at all.”
When the account was finished, Zenon’s expression turned serious.
He thought for a moment, then looked at Hanbit and said:
“To summarize — you need the dwarves’ heirloom in order to prevent the danger coming to Ifrit? And the reason for subjugating the master of the snowy mountains is the same?”
“Recovering the heirloom takes priority over subjugation. You noticed that the monster wave was unusual, didn’t you, Zenon?”
“…It didn’t seem like movement driven by instinct alone. Not only the strangeness of those undead-like trolls, but the structure of different monster species attacking simultaneously was anything but ordinary.”
Zenon nodded, saying it was something without precedent in the past either.
The important perspective was that the monsters had not happened to converge together by chance — they had attacked simultaneously as though by agreement.
‘Sharp as always.’
The adventurer with the keenest eye and judgment in Ifrit was Zenon.
Without him, there would have been no one to notice such abnormalities.
It was clear he was a far superior resource in terms of tactics and strategy compared to Guild Master Jinuk, whose capabilities were concentrated entirely on combat.
“My thought is that the waves to follow will be far more dangerous. The glass wall outside wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“The wall… I see.”
Zenon didn’t need a lengthy explanation.
But practical problems remained.
“I understand the reason for wanting to reclaim the dwarves’ craft. But I’m uncertain how long it will take to find the master of the snowy mountains.”
“You mentioned there were no sighting records at all?”
“There is a sighting account recorded two hundred years ago, but its credibility falls considerably short.”
-200 years, wow.
-Maybe it never actually existed?
-Until you see it, it doesn’t exist.
-Schrödinger’s field boss;
-Gorik weeping.
As Zenon said, the Snow Drake — master of the snowy mountains — had never revealed itself.
But that was only a matter of it never showing itself to the outside.
Inside the snowy mountains it had always been alive and breathing.
“I saw it with my own two eyes. I fled for my life — but I saw that great white beast clearly!”
Gorik rose to his feet and raised his voice.
An appeal that it was not a lie — but no one had doubted him yet.
“Its existence is certain. If it had already been subjugated, there would have been changes in the snowy mountains. What matters is what influence the current monster anomaly…….”
“Ah.”
Just then, Kim Jaeha beside him furrowed his brow slightly.
Turning his head, Kim Jaeha moved his hand and passed a message along.
Ding—
「Taeyul Corporation — Section Chief Lee Hojoong」
「Hey, you little— It’s been past the time, where the hell are you?」
Checking the time, Hanbit realized the appointed hour had come and gone.
Of course, he had no intention of hurrying whatsoever.
“Don’t worry about it — let’s finish things here first and then go.”
“Got it.”
Kim Jaeha gave a calm nod.
Hanbit turned his gaze back to everyone.
“Either way — find the master of the snowy mountains and recover the dwarves’ heirloom. That is our goal. I’ll fill in the details as the situation develops.”
“If you have any tactics or plans in mind, wouldn’t it be good to bring more people along? The range of options would expand considerably.”
Zenon offered a complementary suggestion immediately.
An understandable point — but bringing more NPCs along right now was an ambiguous choice.
“The guild master went out on an investigation, so quite a few capable adventurers have moved out too?”
“Yes. Still, by afternoon many should be returning.”
“Afternoon is too late. I’ll handle finding reinforcements, so please leave that to me.”
“It sounds like you have a party in mind. More stability is always welcome.”
Zenon nodded, saying that was a relief.
The Taeyul Corporation party was reinforcements in a way too, so it wasn’t entirely wrong.
“Then next — what needs to be prepared here. Your Highness, what would be needed to defend the city?”
“…Is the enemy only monsters?”
“Please focus solely on the monsters. I’ll take care of the other side.”
“Hmm.”
At Hanbit’s question, Gorik stroked his chin.
Then, with a displeased expression, he continued:
“If we’re not tearing down that wretched wall, the labor will be considerable. Arms and magical devices will need to be made as well. Each material will not be trivial.”
“That’s fine. Please just write down the materials you’ll need here.”
Hanbit took out a large sheet of parchment and handed it to him.
It was large enough to fill an entire tabletop.
“Are you truly certain?”
“Of course.”
“…Very well. I’ll write it all down.”
Gorik gave a nod and gripped the quill with a resolute expression.
About thirty minutes later, the parchment was filled with dense writing.
“Depending on the situation, this should be sufficient for now.”
Having finished, Gorik nodded and set down the quill.
Thanks to Zenon interjecting with his opinions here and there, the contents were a little more extensive than past memory.
Hanbit looked toward Bollibo, who was gaping.
“You know what you need to do.”
“Y, you really expect me to gather all of this?”
“Get it done as fast as possible. Once it’s all settled, you can submit a bill.”
“…Is that true?”
“What would I gain from lying? But if you’re late, forget it.”
“Hmph. What do you take me for.”
At the mention of being compensated, Bollibo’s attitude shifted.
He gathered up the parchment and rose from his seat.
“Ah, Kudran, please also help Bollibo along with the other dwarves.”
“Understood!”
Kudran gave a nod and stepped out of the reception room with Bollibo.
Watching them, Hanbit also rose from his seat.
“Let’s depart as well.”
