Fun Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord (Novel) - Chapter 121 - Dwarven Wisdom
Chapter 121 – Dwarven Wisdom
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Translated by Sylph
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The image most people have of dwarves is probably this: bushy black hair, untrimmed beards, and short stature like little people. On top of that, there may also be the impression that the men are thick-boned and muscular while the women look like young girls.
But if there is one trait even more memorable than that, it would, of course, be their skill in smithing.
Dwarves are also called the people of the earth, and they were said to be the race most skilled at mining. There are various theories, but one says they were simply driven into the mountains after suffering discrimination and persecution because of their appearance. Maybe because of that, dwarves are indeed said to be closed-off by nature and the sort to trust only their own kind.
It is also said that elves, who were targeted for their beauty, and beastfolk, who were enslaved because they made excellent laborers, fled into the forests and built their own cultures there so they would not be captured by the more numerous humans.
Because of those different origins, elves and beastfolk apparently do not fight much, while dwarves are said to be unable to get along with other races.
I wonder whether problems from such ancient times could really still remain that deeply rooted even now, but apparently those relationships are in fact real.
With that kind of cultural background, the dwarves, driven away from both the plains and the forests, dug holes in the mountains and built their living sphere there. However, by this world’s common sense, beasts that appear in the mountains are tougher than those in forests, and those in forests are tougher than those in the plains.
Because dwarves lived in such an environment, it was said that they naturally sought superior weapons above all else.
Standing right before those dwarves, Rango walked up to them in excitement.
“A-Are you all Bacchus?”
When Rango called out to them, the dwarves glared back with wary eyes.
“…What is it, kid?”
“If we say we are, then what?”
They spoke with the kind of tone used by rough middle-aged men. In response, Rango snorted heatedly and closed the distance even more. He had the air of a veteran pervert. Even the shaggy-bearded dwarves recoiled with a visible “ugh.”
“I want to borrow your knowledge, your wisdom! This town still doesn’t have an environment where smithing can be done! Please, somehow, teach us how to build a dwarven furnace…!”
At Rango, who bowed deeply and pleaded, the dwarves looked at one another.
Then the dwarf standing foremost opened his mouth.
“…We’re traveling for the sake of the dwarven nation. I feel bad for a town that can’t even do smithing, but we’ve got no time to spare either.”
At the dwarf’s grave words, Rango raised his head as well.
“W-What happened? If there’s anything we can do, we’ll lend our strength too! So please, the method for building the furnace…!”
“I-I get it already! Just don’t come any closer!”
Whether he was beaten by the enthusiasm or simply scared, he let out a cry and backed away from the Rango pressing in on him.
Then, after confirming that Rango was no longer approaching, the dwarf explained the reason.
“No point telling the likes of you, but… we can’t gather the materials needed for the Dwarf King. Before long, the current Dwarf King will reach the end of his lifespan. When that happens, we absolutely have to make one piece of orichalcum equipment for his successor. But for about the past twenty years, no matter where we look, we haven’t found any orichalcum.”
When one of them said that, the other dwarves also let their shoulders slump and nodded.
“Not in the mines, not in volcanoes, not in forests. We hear it sometimes gets traded at high prices in human countries, so our comrades went searching in every nation, but even so, we still haven’t found any.”
“Every country says the royal family needs it. Just like us, they’re probably hiding it so they can use it when the next king takes the throne.”
At the dwarves muttering sorrowfully, the people watching around them also furrowed their brows.
Amid all that, Rango turned this way with shining eyes.
“Lord Van! It’s orichalcum! Orichalcum! If we have that, we can build the furnace too!”
At excited Rango, the dwarves let out exasperated sighs.
“…Were you listening to what we just said? We’re telling you that orichalcum is exactly what can’t be found.”
Rango turned around to the speaking dwarf and grinned like a mischievous brat.
“Heh heh heh! That’s where you’re wrong. We do have it, Lord Van’s treasured secret stash of orichalcum ore! Right, Lord Van!?”
Then Rango turned back this way.
“Vice Chairman Rango is… different than usual…”
“Yeah… really different…”
Maybe they had simply tagged along somehow, but the merchant apprentices were slightly put off by Rango at the peak of his excitement. Glancing at them, I let out a dry laugh.
“H-Haha… sorry. I used up the last of the orichalcum ore.”
Saying that, I took the two swords hanging at my waist into my hands.
They were the twin blades I had made for self-defense immediately after returning from the war. They were single-edged swords with little curve, broad blades, and slightly excessive ornamentation. I suppose they were something like thin scimitars or falchions.
Making use of orichalcum’s properties, they were marvelous items: thin-bladed yet hard and unbending, and with cutting edges that would not dull easily.
Aside from decorative pieces, their performance was better than any sword I had made so far.
However, judging from what we had just heard, it seemed the king had to make an orichalcum weapon for the prince, just like a parent leaving an inheritance to a child.
What should I do? The weapon is already finished, though.
At a loss, I looked at Rango, and he was looking back at me with the exact same expression.