In the lands of the Dwarves, who built their dwellings halfway up the Sky Mountain Range, an ancient legend has been passed down through the generations.
『In the distant past, there lived a great Dwarf in whose veins flowed the blood of Steel.』
It was an old tale that even the youngest Dwarf children knew by heart.
『The great Dwarf was beloved by Iron, allowing him to devour the souls within metal and harbor them in his body. In the era when he lived, no one dared look down upon us Dwarves as mere runts—not even the Giants could stand above us.』
Though countless Dwarves knew the story, most dismissed it as mere fiction, a myth passed from mouth to mouth.
『We must not forget that era of glory. We must keep it etched in our minds.』
However, a select few Dwarves knew the truth.
『When the Master of Steel returns, we shall stand tall once more. The humiliation from the heavens will end, and we will no longer live in fear of the masters of the firmament.』
It was not a story born of fantasy. It was history that had actually unfolded.
『Do not forget that the Age of Iron has been forgotten, O Dwarves.』
Though it had vanished from the continent’s records for unknown reasons, the 「Age of Iron」 had certainly existed. The inhabitants of the continent had forgotten, and all records had evaporated as if carved out by a blade, but the truth of that glorious era remained.
And Dwight the Man of Iron was one of the few who knew it.
“You truly remained, Caravan.”
A Dwarf clad in black iron armor, Dwight stared at the youth before him. The moment he realized the identity of the person standing in front of him, he withdrew every ounce of his killing intent. Instead, he acted with the utmost courtesy.
First, he removed the helmet that had been concealing his features. A thick beard spilled out, revealing a weathered face. Having shown himself, Dwight extended a hand as thick as a pot lid.
“It is an honor.”
Dwight flashed a manly smile.
“From now on, I shall escort you.”
* * *
The Dwarf in pitch-black armor, who introduced himself as Dwight, pulled us out of the trap and led us toward the surface. As we emerged safely, the attention of the other Dwarves shifted sharply toward us, their eyes filled with unspoken questions.
They did not stay silent for long.
“Why are you letting them out of the trap? Without even taking their identification tags?” one voiced his doubt.
Dwight gave a simple, clipped answer. “I will handle it.”
Surprisingly, the other Dwarves accepted this without further explanation. They didn’t express dissatisfaction or press for details; they simply nodded and retreated.
“Understood,” they said.
It was a remarkable sight. Seeing this, Liam spoke within my mind.
「He is likely a general. No matter how skilled a Dwarf is, only a general can afford to plate their entire body in black iron.」
“…”
「You were lucky.」
A general. Even I, with my limited knowledge of military ranks, knew the weight of that title. I didn’t know exactly where it sat on the hierarchy, but I knew it was a rank so unimaginably high that I wouldn’t normally dare to look him in the eye.
But that wasn’t important right now. Whether he was a soldier or a general didn’t matter. My mind was racing with questions.
Why did this high-ranking Dwarf suddenly show such goodwill just because I revealed myself as a ‘Caravan’? Was it logically possible to escape a death trap in an instant just because of a name? What exactly was happening?
As if reading my thoughts, Liam spoke again.
「Do not worry over nothing, young descendant.」
“…”
「It is because you do not know.」
“What is it that I do not know?” I whispered.
The answer came back immediately.
「What the name ‘Caravan’ means to the Dwarves.」
It was still an insufficient explanation to clear my doubts, but the situation was moving too rapidly for me to dwell on it.
“This should be far enough,” Dwight said.
He had been leading the way and finally stopped when we reached a secluded part of the forest. There were no Dwarf warriors here, nor any of the other races fighting frantically for survival. There were only the three of us. Dwight turned around and looked at us in silence.
Amidst the heavy quiet, Seol-yoon spoke up in my stead.
“Are you going to kill us? You’d better not. The Orcs might act like lunatics, but if you do that, you’ll earn the hatred of the 「Arena」. You could have sent us back alive, but if the Arena finds out you violated custom, the loss for the Dwarves will be great. As you know, a significant portion of Steel City’s weapons are consumed by the Arena. If they make up their mind, no matter how good Dwarf weapons are…”
Seol-yoon spoke with a deadly serious expression. However, Dwight burst into a boisterous laugh.
“Pwahaha! This human girl says interesting things. Why would I kill a Descendant of Steel? Do not say such things, even as a joke.”
Wiping away a stray tear, he shook his head. “A Dwarf killing a Descendant of Steel… the mere thought is horrifying.”
“…?”
“If I did that, my soul would be harvested in the Land of Swords after I die. I don’t even want to think about it. I’d rather go to hell, pffft.”
“Then, why did you bring us all the way to this secluded place?” Seol-yoon asked, looking dazed.
It was the same question I held. Dwight soon provided the answer.
“I wanted to talk in a place where other ears couldn’t hear us.”
“Talk…?”
“Ah, I don’t wish to talk to the human girl. So please, keep your mouth shut for a moment.”
Dwight snapped his head around to look at me.
“Descendant of Steel, for what purpose did you participate in the 「Racial Duel」?”
Dwight’s eyes sparkled with intensity.
“There is no need to deceive me with lies; please speak honestly. I intend to help you.”
“You intend to help?”
“Our Dwarves didn’t come here with the goal of winning anyway. We came to fill the numbers according to custom and, while we’re at it, to promote the new weapons we’ve forged. There’s no better place than this 「Racial Duel」 to showcase new armaments.”
“…”
“So speak freely. If the Descendant of Steel desires victory, I will personally move the Dwarves under my command to find the kings of the other races for you. After that, I will even hand over the Dwarf race’s ID tag 444. If you cannot trust me, I can even swear an oath. A flame oath, offering my mother’s soul and the souls of my children to the Goddess Sergen.”
He had offered an oath invoking the name of a goddess. The moment I heard those words, I knew Dwight was telling the truth. There was no madman on this continent who would falsely stake his family’s souls on a goddess—especially not the Dwarves, who were famous for their devout faith in Sergen, the goddess of flames.
I pondered for a moment, then spoke honestly. Truth for truth.
“I came seeking a trial.”
Hearing my words, Dwight stroked his beard.
“A trial. I see! According to legend, the Descendant of Steel is like a heated blade. It was said they possess the characteristics of Steel, becoming harder and stronger the more they are hammered…”
“That is correct.”
“From what I can see, it seems the Descendant of Steel has not been holding a sword for very long. It appears you haven’t even been able to form a single pair of wings yet.”
Dwight was accurately gauging my level.
“A sword that has been placed in the furnace and begun to heat must be hammered without rest. The quality of the blade depends on the sincerity of the forge. It seems the Descendant of Steel is in that very position.”
“…”
“Haha, do not be offended; I am not looking down on you. I know well that the blood of Steel, unlike the bloodlines of the other 「Great Families」, grows very slowly. Unlike the descendants of other Great Families who can reach 「Sword Runner」 just by breathing, those who inherit the blood of Steel can only obtain strength after grueling trials that carve away at their very bones.”
I listened in silence, but one sentence caught my attention. A family that can reach 「Sword Runner」 just by breathing? I had never heard of such a thing. What kind of monsters were they?
「He is talking about the Five Great Families of the continent,」 Liam explained. 「In the past, it was the Five Great Families including the Caravan, but after we vanished from history, they threw in some leftovers to make up the numbers.」
“…”
「Do not look at me like that. Do you not know how meaningless achievements gained without effort are? Although we have to suffer like crazy compared to those bastards who get everything for free… in the end, those shits can’t even follow in the footsteps of a ‘Caravan.’」
For some reason, Liam sounded like he was making excuses. I listened with a side-glance. Since my master never lied when it came to the sword, it had to be the truth, but I couldn’t help the envy that made my stomach churn. It meant they could become strong in an instant just by breathing—without hanging off cliffs drenched in sweat, without training until their hearts burst, and without constantly fighting life-and-death duels.
“Haha. Looking at your expression, it seems the Descendant of Steel was unaware of the blessing flowing in the blood of the Five Families. But there is no need to be too envious.”
“…”
“No matter how easily and quickly they become strong, in the end, the Age of Iron has always arrived. There has only ever been one at the apex, Descendant of Steel.”
Dwight laughed brightly, then added, “My useless talk has gone on too long. So, is there only one thing I can help with? Ensuring the Descendant of Steel can fully undergo his trial in this 「Racial Duel」?”
“I would be grateful for that.”
“Aha, so that’s why you revealed your identity. It would be one thing to be eliminated after a fierce fight, but falling because you got caught in a Dwarf trap would be such a waste of time…”
“Yes.”
“I can help with that as much as you like. I will teach you how to avoid the Dwarf traps. And I will protect you until you reach a safe place so you aren’t eliminated pointlessly. I think just this much would be best. If we help too much, the trial will become far too easy.”
“That is more than enough.”
Dwight nodded with a smile. Then, his expression shifted slightly. “This situation must feel strange to the Descendant of Steel.”
“Pardon?”
“That a Dwarf you’ve never met before would help so devotedly the moment he hears your family name. You might even worry if I’m deceiving you.”
“…”
“But there is no need to worry. Other races might be different, but we Dwarves alone have a duty to do so. Yes, only the Dwarves…” Dwight wore a bitter expression. “Descendant of Steel.”
“Yes.”
“Later, when your wings sprout, come find the Land of Steel halfway up the Sky Mountain Range. The sword you hold now is excellent, but it will be a bit lacking once you reach 「Sword Runner」.”
“Thank you.”
“And…” Dwight opened his mouth to say something more, but he suddenly stiffened. He shook his head and closed his mouth. “…No. It is fine.”
“Were you not about to say something?”
“It was useless talk. Not something to bring up now.”
“You can tell me.”
“On second thought, it is too early. Later. When the Descendant of Steel has attained sufficient hardness, I will bring it up carefully then. Haha.”
Dwight gave a wry smile. Amidst the strange atmosphere, he spoke again.
“Descendant of Steel.”
“Yes.”
“There is one thing I am curious about; may I ask?”
I nodded.
“…How old are you, if I may ask?”
“Pardon? Why would you—”
“Have you… passed the age of eighteen?”
He uttered words that were not easily dismissed. “…It is because something is bothering me.”
The thing that was bothering him wasn’t hard to guess.
“Right now, a terrifying blood-wind is blowing through the Iron Kingdom. I heard that at the center of that blood-wind is the Executioner of the Iron Prince. The most powerful Swordmaster, unprecedented in history, the indomitable guardian of the Iron Kingdom…”
Swordmaster Carlos.
“In my eyes, I can vaguely see when the Descendant of Steel began his journey with the sword. And, strangely enough, that timing seems similar to when the blood-wind began to blow in the Iron Kingdom.”
My enemy.
“…Descendant of Steel, did the Executioner of the Iron Prince come looking for the ‘Caravan’?”
To the carefully posed question, I answered immediately. “Is that important?”
There was a hint of anger in my tone.
“It is somewhat important.”
“May I ask why?”
“I intended to return to the Dwarf lands immediately after the Racial Duel ended and mobilize everything to help the Descendant of Steel. Whether it be the armaments we possess, resources, or connections, I was going to mobilize them so the Descendant of Steel could grow even a little faster.”
“…”
“However, if the Executioner of the Iron Prince has ever visited the Caravan… if that monster has his eye on you… we cannot help you wholeheartedly. We will only be able to provide minor assistance. That is why I am asking. I am sorry.”
Dwight looked truly apologetic. I looked at him and said, “Is an entire race afraid of a single individual?”
“That is correct.”
“Why?”
A brief silence followed. Soon, the answer came back.
“Because he is a Swordmaster.”
And then, I heard that loathsome sentence again—the one that had been deeply engraved in my heart.
“Because a Swordmaster… can only be killed by another Swordmaster…”
* * *
「Do not be too disappointed, young descendant. It is only natural,」 Liam said.
“…”
「In the first place, that Swordmaster named Carlos is the strange one. Swordmasters normally do not involve themselves in worldly affairs, yet that fellow who swings his sword according to the will of a kingdom as if he were a soldier in the army is the bizarre one.」
“…”
「Even this much took great courage from the Dwarves. You do not yet know what kind of existence a Swordmaster is. You do not know what they are capable of, nor the meaning contained in that name.」
My master’s words were correct. There were still far too many things I did not know.
“Small gladiator.”
“…”
“There were many stories I didn’t understand. But I won’t ask,” Seol-yoon said. “You must have your own circumstances, and I’ve decided to understand your story through your sword rather than hearing it from your mouth.”
“…”
“I will watch over your sword until the end. By your side.”
I couldn’t even hear Seol-yoon’s words properly. Was it because the Dwarf, who seemed like he would bestow something great upon the ‘Caravan,’ had suddenly changed his tune? No. Nothing had changed. Rather, they had helped me without receiving anything in return. I ought to be grateful.
So, this anger was not because of the Dwarves. It was just anger toward myself.
I had tried so hard, yet I still could not resist Swordmaster Carlos. The bastard who took everything from me still reigned as the terror of the continent, living his life scattering violence, yet he was thriving without punishment. Everyone feared him. Even so, the world did not pass any judgment upon him.
I could not possibly accept the logic of this malfunctioning world.
“It will be safe if you head out that way. Be careful not to take the wrong path and run into the Orcs. You might die a sudden, miserable death if you’re unlucky…”
Quite some time had passed since that day.
“Go safely—”
“General—! We have a problem!”
My once-shabby body had become solid. I had gained a second heart harboring the power of Steel, and a sturdy 「Path」 that would not break. Furthermore, even the soul of an ancestor, more reliable than anyone else, was helping me.
“The Orcs! Those crazy green lumps are charging toward the outskirts of the forest!”
“What? Why are they—”
“I don’t know! They have the advantage just by holding their ground in the center, so I have no idea why the hell they’re doing this!”
The traces of a young boy had somewhat vanished from my face. My body, which had looked feminine at a glance, had now become more like that of a young man. But it seemed I still hadn’t grown at all. I still hadn’t escaped from being ‘the boy Arhan.’
My childhood, which I thought had ended, was still ongoing.
“The fortress! Defend the fortress!”
“It’s not just the Orcs! The demons, the elves, the beastfolk—they’re all tangled up and running wild…”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake—”
The reason was simple. Because since that day, my time had not moved a single bit. Even though my body grew and I gained strength, I did not grow up. The boy did not grow up.
“Those sons of bitches!”
I hadn’t changed at all. The very fact that I was breathing in the same world as that guy was still horrific. I could not accept the fact that that demonic bastard was living his life being praised. I could not just stand by and watch this world go wrong. No matter how much I thought about it, I could not accept it.
“Descendant of Steel, hurry and get out of here. It is too dangerous.”
“Small gladiator, we have to go now. If we run into the Orcs, we won’t be able to save our lives.”
There were far too many things I could not accept. So, I reached a clear conclusion then. I broke the last promise and oath I had made to my mother.
“No.”
I slowly turned my body. Beyond the darkness, a tumultuous noise echoed, screams were heard, and scattered red blood and flesh were visible. There was a struggle there. A constant struggle was unfolding.
And my master had said: A Caravan grows within the struggle.
“I will fight.”
“It is reckless. If you die—”
“That might happen. But if I don’t die, I will become strong. I will become strong beyond comparison to now. Because the blood of Steel becomes harder the more it is hammered.”
In that case, I must not avoid the struggle. Everyone I loved said that a Swordmaster can only be killed by another Swordmaster.
So, I decided to become a Swordmaster.
“Did you say you would stay with me until the end? Then let’s go together, Seol-yoon.”
The road remaining until I became a Swordmaster was far too long. The time given to me was not much. So, I had to hammer my soul even harder.
“I must fight.”
I had to become strong.
「…That is correct.」
My master, floating in the distance, gave a smirk.
「Lift your sword, young descendant.」
I did as he said. The silver blade sparkled, reflecting the moonlight. And then…
『Even in a field where beautiful flowers bloom.』
『Even in the middle of the seven vast seas.』
『Even on a battlefield where countless lives crumble away in vain.』
「Gale」 opened its eyes.
『The wind blows.』
