Fun Territory Defense Chapter 121 (Patreon)

Wisdom of the Dwarves

With his shaggy black hair, unkempt beard, and short stature, this is the common image of a dwarf. In addition, one might also get the impression that the men were stocky and muscular and the women were child-like in appearance.

However, the most impressive feature of dwarves was their blacksmithing skills.

Dwarves were also known as the people of the earth, and were mostly skilled at mining. Some say that they were driven to the mountains simply because they were discriminated against and persecuted for their appearance. Whether this was true or not remained to be confirmed.

It was also said that elves were targeted because of their beauty, and beastmen were enslaved because of their superiority as a labor force, and fled into the forest to build their own culture so as not to be caught by humans, who outnumber them.

Because of such differences in their background, elves and beastmen did not fight much, while dwarves could not get along with other races.

It was said that the relationship between the races remained unchanged, although it was doubtful that such an old problem would still exist today.

Because of this cultural background, the dwarves, who were far away from the plains and forests, created their living area by digging holes in the mountains. However, it is common knowledge in this world that more powerful magical beasts appear in forests than in plains, and in mountains than in forests.

Because of this environment, dwarves inevitably sought superior weapons more than anything else.

With these dwarves in front of him, Rango walked up to them excitedly.

"Oh, are you Bacchus, Lord of Liquor?"

Rango called out, and the dwarves glared at him with wary eyes.

"...What do you mean, brother?"

"What if I said yes?"

He was talking in a rough, bad manner, as if he was a middle-aged man. In response, Rango snorts and closes the distance even more. Rango's grin was like that of a veteran pervert. Even the bearded dwarves pulled back in surprise.

"I would like to borrow your knowledge and wisdom! We do not yet have the environment in this city to do blacksmithing! Somehow, we would like you to teach us how to make a Dwarven Furnace...!"

The dwarves looked at each other as Rango bowed deeply and pleaded.

Then the dwarf standing at the very front answered.

"We are traveling by order of the Dwarves' country. I sympathize with you that you can't even forge in this town, but we don't have much time either."

Rango looked up at the Dwarf who said this with a serious look on his face.

"What happened? If there was anything we could do, we would be happy to help! So, about the furnace...!"

"Okay, okay! Don't come any closer!"

Was he overcome with enthusiasm, or was he afraid? He backed away, screaming at Rango, who was trying to get close to him.

Then, making sure Rango did not come any closer, the dwarf told him the reason.

"I don't care if I have to tell you guys, but...I can't get the materials I need for the Dwarf King. Soon, the current Dwarf King will reach the end of his life. At that time, I must make one of Orihalcum's armor for his successor. But I can't find Orihalcum anywhere for the past 20 years."

When one of them said this, the other dwarves nodded their heads, their shoulders slumped.

"We can't find it in mines, nor in volcanoes or forests. I heard that they are sometimes traded at a high price in human countries, so my friends went looking for them in various countries, but we still can't find them."

"Every country says that royalty needs them. Like us, they must be hiding it to use it when the next king takes office."

The dwarves muttered sadly, and those watching around them raised their eyebrows.

In the midst of all this, Rango looked at us with a twinkle in his eye.

"Van-sama! It's Orihalcum! Orihalcum! As long as you have that, they can make a furnace!"

The dwarves sigh in dismay at Rango's excitement.

"...Did you hear what I just said? I'm telling you, we can't find that Orihalcum."

Looking back at the dwarves who said this, Rango smiled like a mischievous boy.

"Phew! It is here, Van-sama has treasured Orihalcum ore! Right, Van-sama!"

Rango now looks back at us.

"Vice President Rango... you always..."

"You're different from usual..."

The merchant apprentices, who had somehow been following us, were slightly taken back when they saw Rango at the height of his tension. Taking one look at them, I let out a dry laugh.

"Ha, haha...sorry. I used the last of the Orihalcum ore."

Saying that, I took out the two swords I had at my waist.

They were twin swords that I had made for self-defense immediately after returning from the war. They were single edged swords, slightly over decorated, with little curve and wide width. It might be a scimitar or a falcion, but without the thickness.

The blade was thin, yet hard and strong, with a sharpness that did not easily deteriorate.

Other than the decoration, the performance was better than any other sword I have ever made.

However, from what I have just heard, the king must manufacture a weapon of Orihalcum for the prince, just as a parent bequeaths a legacy to a child.

What should I do? The weapon was already made.

I looked at Rango with a puzzled look on my face, but he looked at me with the same expression.