Starting With A Light Jab

View of Galgad-Ebo-Suyan, Gigil-Po Town Chiefs’ Council Member, Chairman

The king himself had come marching into this Gigil-Po, and what he desired was our technology… In a sense, it was an easy-to-understand request. After all, every country that had ever brought negotiations to us had wanted the same thing.

However, we had not the slightest intention of handing over to another country the technology we had created through long years of refinement, technology more precious than our own children.

No matter how much we were threatened, no matter how much fear we felt… even if we were killed, we would not do anything like hand over our technology.

That was something not only the town chiefs here, but every dwarf living in Gigil-Po would likely agree with.

Of course, we had no intention of pointlessly scattering the lives of our brethren, so until now, we had refused in ways that settled things relatively peacefully, and as for those who still did not give up, we had made them physically quiet.

“King Fels of Einheria. To us dwarves, technology is truly irreplaceable. Even if you suddenly tell us to hand it over…”

“Galgad-dono. Of course, we have no intention of saying anything shameless like demanding that your country hand over its technology for free. We understand very well how much blood, sweat, and tears are poured into cultivating technology, and how precious it is. I intend to pay respect to the technology you gentlemen have polished over generations.”

The words of the King of Einheria moved the hearts of every dwarf who heard them.

We utterly despise the sort often found among humanfolk, those who look down on craftsmen. Those who cannot pay respect to craftsmen and their skills will never be spoken to again, even if they are kings. In fact, I once punched a king who spouted ridiculous nonsense long ago.

But the King of Einheria was different.

It was not flattery… I felt that the King of Einheria truly respected our technology from the bottom of his heart.

Only a few minutes.

Only a few minutes had passed since the King of Einheria entered this room, but after that overwhelming presence we felt at first, this sincere attitude… it was not to the point that we were won over, but even so, there were likely no small number of people who now felt favorably toward the King of Einheria.

However, as chairman, I felt something like a different sort of crisis.

…This person called the King of Einheria might be even more troublesome than my first impression suggested.

“…Hmph. Then what does King Fels of Einheria say he will give us in exchange for our technology? Ah, forgive my crude wording, will you?”

The one who spoke insolent words to the king of another country while keeping a challenging gaze was Oran.

That line made me break out in a cold sweat… but honestly, it helped.

Respect for technology… that was only natural, and it was merely the entrance.

The King of Einheria’s goal was likely to bring our technology into his own country… or to learn as much as he could and take it back to his country.

We had confidence that the technology we had cultivated was far ahead of the humanfolk countries around us.

If the overwhelming population of humanfolk was combined with our technology, even a small country would likely rise all at once into a powerful nation.

We had repelled many countries with such foolish ambitions… but this king seemed quite formidable.

However, if it was Oran, a natural-born contrarian, he would continue the discussion negatively.

If he went too far, I could just cut in…

“Of course, I do not mind, Oran-dono. As a dwarf, you have no need to show reverence to me, a human. Now, answering your question is simple, but… let’s see. Oran-dono, would you like to hear the interesting proposal first, or the practical proposal?”

The King of Einheria asked Oran while giving off an atmosphere as if he was enjoying himself somewhat.

If that was the question, then naturally, Oran… no, we would choose…

“Hmph! Obviously, the interesting proposal!”

Of course.

However… this was completely playing into the King of Einheria’s hands. I’m counting on you, Oran.

“Kukuku… in that case, Bangagonga, box number one.”

“Yes, sir!”

When the King of Einheria called to the goblin, the goblin took one box from the luggage he had carried in and brought it to the King of Einheria.

“Inside this is a dagger made in our country.”

“A dagger, you say?”

“I thought bringing a weapon into a meeting would be tactless, but please forgive that. You there, dwarf, take this to Oran-dono. And this is the key to the box.”

He called out to the person who had guided the King of Einheria and his group to the meeting hall and handed over the box and key.

…That box, even seeing it from a distance… had been decorated with very beautiful craftsmanship.

As an ornamental craftsman, I was more interested in that box than in the dagger inside… but unfortunately, the box was carried not to me, but to Oran.

…As expected, it had been decorated with magnificent craftsmanship.

Delicate and beautiful… that box itself was a kind of work of art.

Was that made by humanfolk hands…?

Kuh!

I wanted to see it up close!

Leaving my inner conflict aside, Oran, who received the box, showed a momentary expression of surprise at the beauty of the craftsmanship, but he immediately inserted the key and opened the lid of the box.

“…Hmph. It is a beautiful dagger, and it seems to have been forged very carefully, but… as a weapon, it is hard to call first-rate. Well, considering the use of a dagger, it may be sufficient, but it is several ranks below the weapons I forge. Hm…? I thought it was strangely heavy for just a dagger, but this is an iron ingot.”

Oran said that while taking out the ingot that had apparently been placed at the bottom of the box.

…The craftsmanship on the handle of that dagger was magnificent too… It seemed to be inferior to weapons forged by Oran, but at the very least, that ornamentation could be called top-class.

Damn that Oran… if he doesn’t like it, hand that dagger over here!

“Oh, Oran-dono, so you were a blacksmith. Had I known, perhaps I should have shown you something else. That dagger is a magic tool. Could you pour magic power into it? Ah, be careful of the blade.”

“Hmm… a magic tool, is it? I am no specialist, but… hm! This is…”

The moment Oran poured magic power into the dagger, flames seemed to blaze from the blade for an instant, then those flames wrapped around the blade and gave off a red-hot glow.

“O-Oran! Hand that dagger over to me!”

Kissan, a magic-tool craftsman, stood up in excitement and tried to press Oran.

I understood how he felt, but calm down a little… I also endured the urge to snatch the box and dagger away from Oran.

“Wait, wait, Kissan! I’m the one who received this! King of Einheria… what is this?”

“That dagger is a Heat Knife. Don’t touch the blade, all right? You won’t get away with just a burn. Try testing its cutting power on the ingot that was inside with it.”

“Testing a cut on an iron ingot? No matter how you look at it, with a flimsy dagger like this, even if I don’t mess up, it won’t end with just a chipped blade.”

“No problem. Weapons can also become works of art, but I believe a weapon is a weapon because it is used. If that dagger breaks, then that means its fate was to break there.”

The King of Einheria said that with a shrug, but no, I did not want to see that wonderfully designed dagger break!?

However, naturally, my feelings did not reach him, and Oran gently pressed the dagger’s blade against the iron ingot placed on the round table.

Then, the next moment, despite there being no sign that he had put any real strength into it, the dagger in Oran’s hand sank smoothly into the ingot.

“R-ridiculous!? It melted it… no, should I say it burned through it? Just how much heat… no, even while holding it like this, I don’t feel any heat at all… what in the world is going on…”

Oran, who pulled the blade back just before it cut into the round table, stared intently at the dagger.

“As you just tested, it can easily cut something like iron. Well, since it’s a dagger, it’s not suited for combat, but… its impact is strong. As an item to show this time, it should be just right.”

The King of Einheria said it as if it were nothing.

Indeed, considering that it was a dagger, this magic weapon’s evaluation as a weapon would probably not be that high. It could stab even an opponent wearing armor without issue, but because the blade emitted light, it was not suited for assassination, and as a self-defense weapon, its firepower was too high.

Certainly, in a situation like this, using it as an item to show might be best.

At the very least, one could tell at a glance how wonderful its design was and how high its performance as a magic tool was.

I had once been shown a magic weapon Kissan made that was wreathed in flames, but… that one felt like the blade was burning, not like it burned through with heat as this Heat Knife did.

Looking at Kissan’s state, it was immediately clear that this dagger was the kind of magic tool Kissan could not reproduce.

“Oran! How long do you plan to keep that all to yourself! Pass it over here too!”

“You think I can easily hand over a weapon that is this hot!? Wait a little longer!”

“Ah, if you stop channeling magic power into it, you won’t be burned even if you touch the blade, so rest assured.”

Watching Oran and Kissan argue while spitting at each other, the King of Einheria said that with a wry smile, as if mediating.

“…It’s true. And despite undergoing such a rapid change in heat, not only has it not cracked, the blade has not warped at all… I retract what I said about it being inferior to the swords I forge. This forging technique… may be above mine. The reason the blade lacked sharpness was because it was made on the premise that it would be used in that magic-powered state…”

Oran was staring at the Heat Knife with eyes wide as saucers, but the gazes of the others had become quite sharp. If he did not pass it to someone else soon, someone was likely to start rampaging.

In fact, it would be impressive if Kissan could hold out for another ten seconds.

“Hm? Oran-dono. Is your fist injured?”

The King of Einheria narrowed his eyes slightly and asked Oran.

An injury on his fist… ah, it was probably the wound from the fistfight during yesterday’s meeting.

“Oh? Ah, a little yesterday. Well, this much doesn’t count as an injury. More importantly, King of Einheria. You said box number one earlier, but did you perhaps bring something else?”

As Oran handed the Heat Knife to the person beside him and asked, the King of Einheria gave a grin and nodded.

“Yes, but before that… Bangagonga, hand box number five to Oran-dono.”

“Certainly.”

This time, the guide directly received the box from the goblin and handed it to Oran again.

…Is it not unfair that it has been Oran every time since earlier? Perhaps I should speak to the King of Einheria and have him bring it over here…

“Hm…? Is this medicine?”

“There should be three bottles inside. Take out the medicine on the far left.”

Hearing that it was medicine, this time Old Gain reacted.

Old Gain’s specialty was fields such as pharmacy and alchemy, so it could not be helped.

As for me, I was interested in the glass bottle containing the medicine Oran had just taken out… a mere small glass bottle had beautiful patterns on it… and the transparency of the glass was perfect too… What astonishing technique… I want to see it closer!

“That is called a low-grade potion, and it is a drinkable medicine. It is used to treat injuries, but it is also extremely effective at recovering from fatigue. It uses nothing harmful to the body, but shall I have someone test it for poison?”

I felt some doubt at the idea of a drinkable medicine for treating injuries, but was it a type of medicine that enhanced healing ability?

Oran, who seemed to have thought the same thing I wondered, asked the King of Einheria.

“Hmph! There would be no meaning in the King of Einheria poisoning me here! More importantly, even though it treats injuries, is it fine to drink it? Not pour it on the affected area?”

“Yes, drink it.”

“Oran, wait! Don’t drink it all! Don’t drink all of it, you hear!? Leave some medicine and hand it to me!”

Old Gain, who was seated beside Oran, raised his voice.

…Somehow, the meeting hall was gradually turning into its usual state, or rather, it was becoming uncontrollable…

“Whoa!? What is this medicine!? My body got lighter all at once!”

“Muhah!? Oran, the wound on your fist is gone!”

“Huh!? Whoa… seriously… wait, hey, even the burn scars have disappeared!”

It seemed that even the burn scars covering Oran’s body in various places due to his work had vanished… What an outrageous medicine. It made no sense.

“Oran! Hand over that medicine called a potion! Hand it over at once!”

Old Gain, looking half-mad, grabbed at Oran.

“I get it! Old man, I get it, so calm down a little! What if the bottle breaks!”

“If it breaks, I’ll break you too!”

It seemed Old Gain had been set alight. This… might become a serious situation.

The side looking at the Heat Knife was also growing quite noisy…

“Good grief… this is why old people are… By the way, King of Einheria, the other two are medicines too, right? What effects do they have?”

“The medicine in the middle is a special-grade potion. It immediately heals even near-fatal wounds, and missing limbs can easily be restored as well.”

“It restores missing limbs!?”

At the King of Einheria’s explanation, it was not Oran, who had asked, but Old Gain who shouted while standing on top of the round table.

“That’s amazing… then, could this medicine on the right perhaps revive the dead…”

“No, even we do not have a medicine for reviving the dead. Well, in a sense, it is a medicine that brings something back to life.”

“In a sense? What do you mean?”

“The medicine on the right is hair-restoration medicine. It brings hair back to life.”

““Hair-restoration medicine!?””

Not only Old Gain, but every town chief present shouted in unison.

I, too, was one of those participating.

Among the town chiefs… there were some who had long since parted ways with hair they had spent many years with, and some, like me, who had begun to feel a little chill on their skin.

Those people promptly began a struggle over the medicine… Well then, I suppose I shall participate too.

Come to think of it, what had we originally been talking about…?

As I raised my clenched fist and ran toward Oran, who held the medicine, that thought suddenly occurred to me.