Chapter 19

I entered the settlement alongside the dwarves.

Beyond the iron gates stood rows of wooden and stone houses. While there was no uniformity to their designs, every single one utilized masterful architectural techniques. I saw glimpses of what appeared to be blacksmithing workshops, and fields planted with crops were scattered here and there. Even at a glance, it was clear they led a stable life. It was hard to believe we were in such a secluded place.

This settlement was impressively self-sufficient. I imagined the Dwarves’ artisan spirit and sheer toughness were what made this possible.

“First, we’re going to see the Elder. I’ve got to tell him about you. I don’t think he’ll kick you out, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

The representative dwarf leading the way spoke. It seemed he wanted to clear things with the person in charge first. It was a natural response for dealing with an outsider. I had no objections; it would be a hassle if trouble cropped up later.

In fact, the current situation—being allowed into the settlement so smoothly—seemed like the exception to the rule. I actually felt a bit worried about whether they were being too careful.

Indeed, the surrounding dwarves were staring at me and the golem car as if we were rare curiosities. I didn’t see any other races. I gathered that it was extremely rare for a human to visit from outside the settlement. I got the impression they had cut off ties with the outside world.

Fortunately, no one was directing any hostility toward me. Since I was accompanied by the other dwarves, they must have judged that I wasn’t a dangerous individual for the time being. Closed-off communities usually have a tendency to despise outsiders. I’ve experienced that more times than I care to count. I had been concerned that I’d be shunned this time as well, but it seemed my fears were unfounded.

They might actually be a surprisingly sociable race. Looking at how quickly the group from the river had warmed up to me, that probably wasn’t far from the truth.

“This is the Elder’s home. It’s also used as the venue for our regular meetings.”

Before long, we arrived at our destination. I was led to a large wooden house located in the center of the settlement. It was a three-story building with considerable depth, and there was a dwarven guard stationed at the entrance. The other dwarves besides the representative dispersed, casually taking their leave. Apparently, we couldn’t proceed into the house as a large group.

I parked the golem car in front of the house and hoisted the still-sleeping Alice onto my shoulder. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust the dwarves, but I was doing it just in case. Unlike the supplies in the car, Alice’s abilities were irreplaceable. No matter what happened from here on out, I could protect her if she was by my side. It was always better to act with caution.

“If you need, we can start treating the little lady first?”

“No, this is fine. Treatment can wait until after I talk to the Elder.”

“Understood. I’ll have the guards watch your luggage. Don’t worry, we don’t have any thieves here.”

“Yeah, I’ll leave it to you.”

Even if they did steal something, I’d just take it back through force. I had that much resolve. Letting myself be victimized was out of the question. I’ve always had a policy of showing no mercy to those who do wrong. I’ll just pray it doesn’t come to that.

Well, looking at these dwarves, my worries would likely prove unnecessary. Everyone here had a wholesome aura about them. I couldn’t sense the insidious malice characteristic of villains. It was a very pleasant place.

Leaving the vehicle to the guard, I entered the house with the representative dwarf. Following him, I was led into a room deep inside. In that wood-paneled room sat a white-haired dwarf holding a staff. He had more wrinkles than the others, and a piece of cloth was wrapped around his eyes, hiding them. Perhaps he had been blinded by some past injury.

The white-haired dwarf sat in a chair, facing us. Ten to one, this man was the Elder.

“Pops, we’ve got a guest.”

The representative dwarf called out. I thought he had walked in like he owned the place, but it turns out he was the Elder’s son. Now that he mentioned it, I felt like their facial features were similar. Dwarves all have similar faces, making them hard to tell apart, but he probably wasn’t lying.

The representative—or rather, the son—gestured toward me and Alice.

“A human man and woman. Their names are… uh…”

“I’m Jack. The one on my shoulder is Alice. Your son helped us out while we were drifting through the caves.”

When I introduced myself, the Elder raised his head. Even though he supposedly couldn’t see, I felt our gazes lock.

The Elder exhaled a deep, heavy breath.

“Well now, you’ve brought quite a dangerous man into our midst… His soul is twisted, I tell you.”

“I’m just clumsy that way. I’m not naive enough to live a straight and narrow life.”

“A sharp tongue to match. Regardless, I’ve no intention of questioning your deeds in the outside world. We have no interest in the secular realm; we look only toward the future of this settlement.”

The Elder spoke with a solemn tone.

He was a sensible old man. It seemed he had noticed my true nature but had no intention of prying. He probably predicted that touching that subject would lead to a bad outcome. Despite being blind, he had impressive powers of observation. Or perhaps he was seeing something beyond the reach of normal people. He did mention something about my soul. Alice had said she could see the color of one’s spirit, so maybe he possessed a similar power.

“So then, what business do these drifters have with us?”

“I came for medical treatment for my partner and repairs for our vehicle. I heard it was possible here. Of course, it’s not for free. I’ve already paid something of equal value.”

“…He gave us a fragment of a dragon’s claw. Jack and the girl encountered a dragon and fell into the underground caverns.”

The son handed the fragment to the Elder. I’d given it to him as an advance payment while we were on the move. Upon receiving it, the Elder knit his brows and let out a low hum.

“Good heavens. This is indeed a dragon’s claw… You didn’t just happen to find this on the ground, did you?”

“I don’t pull petty stunts like that. This is genuine; I snatched it from that lizard myself. Though, they wrecked my ride, so I guess we’ll call it a draw.”

I shrugged with a wry smile. Considering the damage we took, it wasn’t exactly something to be proud of.

“…”

The Elder looked down, lost in thought. Was he doubting the truth of my story? I couldn’t read his thoughts from his expression. Eventually, he spoke with a heavy voice.

“That dragon arrived about ten days ago. It has made its nest on a mountain a short distance from this settlement. Likely a stray individual driven out of its pack. It flies through the surrounding area, devouring whatever prey catches its eye. Our people have already suffered losses.”

Cutting his words short, the Elder sent a meaningful gaze in my direction. I saw a hint of something—as if he were testing me. My expression went blank as I narrowed my eyes.

“Hm? Something you want to say?”

“A man like you should understand. You seem quick on the uptake.”

“Heh, quite the flatterer, aren’t you?”

I set Alice down on the floor and walked up to the Elder. I didn’t suppress the murderous intent rising within me; instead, I let it surge through my entire body.

“H-Hey. Stop. Pops is the greatest in the clan…”

I ignored the son’s attempt to stop me. I pushed past him and took another step forward.

“I don’t care if you’re the Elder or whatever, but stop with the condescending attitude. I absolutely hate being used for convenience. If you want a favor, just say it.”

“I see. My apologies for that—”

As the Elder gave his acknowledgement, his small frame suddenly lunged toward me. Simultaneously, his left arm became a blur. His swinging arm held a short sword, its tip tracing an arc meant to disembowel me.

I kicked the side of the blade to shift its trajectory. As the blade jumped upward, I leaned my upper body back to dodge. The reaping slash passed just inches from my face. I grabbed the Elder’s arm as he tried to pull back and thrust my rifle directly against his face.

“Whoops, don’t move. Even if you can’t see, you should be able to grasp the situation. You wouldn’t want to mess up these nice floors, would you?”

“Ngh…”

The Elder let out a frustrated grunt and slowly lowered the short sword. He went limp, relaxing his stance. However, this was a man who had launched a surprise attack without blinking. I couldn’t afford the slightest lapse in focus. There was a high chance he’d thrust that blade again the moment I let my guard down.

Just as that thought crossed my mind, the Elder’s face broke into a broad grin without warning. From behind me, I heard the son let out a long sigh. The Elder, who had suddenly taken on a gentle aura, laughed with a tone completely different from before.

“Ho ho ho! Forgive me. I had to test you a bit. Crossing blades is the quickest way to truly know a person. Though, I didn’t expect you to get quite that worked up…”

“…What the hell is going on here?”

I asked the son. He answered with an expression that suggested he was nursing a headache.

“Pops is the biggest battle-maniac in the settlement. He’s making pathetic excuses, but he just wanted to spar with you.”

“Jack, was it? You are a magnificent warrior. You do not let your level go to your head; you continue to hone your own martial prowess. The dwarven settlement welcomes you.”

“Good grief, Pops is always doing reckless things…”

The Elder was in high spirits. In contrast, the son looked exhausted. Seeing how accustomed he was to this, he must be put through the wringer on a regular basis. Faced with this father-son dynamic, I put a hand to my forehead and sighed.

“…What a troublesome old man.”

The anger that had surged up just a moment ago withered away, leaving me with nothing but pure exasperation.