episode_0117

Bang! Bang!

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Here a dwarf is forging iron in his forge.

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In the blazing heat, sweat pours down like rain, running down the deep wrinkles of his forehead.

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The bushy beard, a symbol of dwarf pride, is not properly maintained and tangles like a lump of rice cake.

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Thick hands with no scars or calluses. He strikes the hammer, which is the soul vessel and alter ego of a blacksmith, with all his might.

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Kaang─!

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The dwarf’s name is Thorvar.

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One of the seven masters representing Doomheim. Master is a glorious title given only to the best blacksmiths.

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The Master, who all blacksmiths respect and admire, was the blacksmiths’ dream.

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The same goes for Torvardo.

The weapons born from his hands are not mere tools, but a work of art and a masterpiece──

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Kwajik!

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What was supposed to be this just fell apart.

This is because I failed to control my strength while hammering due to my emotions.

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How could he make such a basic mistake that an apprentice blacksmith would make? Especially Thorvar, who is known for being cold-blooded, is someone who never makes mistakes in such matters.

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All of this happened because my daughter disappeared overnight.

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Perka, daughter of Torvar.

The only blood relative who went missing half a year ago.

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My daughter is a person who hurts when I put her in my eyes, and I don’t feel full when I see her eating, but family is family. Sometimes, I worry that something is wrong.

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“Hoo… .”

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Torvar wipes his sweaty eyes with his forearm.

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It seemed like it would be difficult to continue in this state. It seemed like this feeling and heat wouldn’t subside unless I immersed my whole body in cold water.

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Thorvar hung his hammer on the wall, left the forge, and went into the house.

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The structure of the dwarves’ houses was identical to each other without exception. They were all square houses of the same size, as if they had been measured with a ruler, and they had a blacksmith shop in the backyard.

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This setting is optimized for dwarves who spend all their time in the blacksmith shop except when eating and sleeping.

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“… … .”

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Torvar, who had just glanced at Perka’s room, was about to go into the bathroom.

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Knock knock.

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A knock on the door.

Looks like we have guests.

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Could it be Logan from the house across the street?

Because I asked my wife to make a necklace as a wedding anniversary gift.

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It’s been over 50 years since they got married, but the flame of love still burns brightly. He’s truly an admirable man.

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Torvar took the necklace and opened the door.

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“Yes, Logan. Are you here to find the necklace? I was waiting for you to come find it anyway. Here is the item you asked for… .”

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Torvar blinked.

My eyes met with the girl standing at the door.

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The corners of Perka’s mouth went up as if in a convulsion.

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“Oh, father. I’m here… .”

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Perka is so embarrassed by her appearance in a one-piece dress that she can’t speak in her usual way.

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Torvar, with his eyes wide open, tilted his head up and down to examine Perka’s appearance.

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Crunch.

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The door is closed.

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Then he blinked a couple of times and rubbed his eyes with his hands.

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“What’s wrong with your mind?”

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Could it be that you were missing Perka so much that you were seeing hallucinations?

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It seems like you’ve become more sensitive as you get older.

I need to quickly come to my senses with some cold water.

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Boom bang!

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“Ah, Father! It’s your daughter Perka! Please open the door!”

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“She looks like my daughter, but Perka is definitely not the type of girl to wear a one-piece dress. She’s not that pretty either. Don’t ever pull a mean prank like that again.”

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“Boo, that’s definitely true, but… .”

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The harsh truth stabs my heart.

What kind of life have I been living?

Perka had to look back on his past.

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Even though she had admitted it without thinking, Perka was not happy about being treated as a fraud by her father. She found a way to prove that she was Torvar’s daughter.

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“Ah, the burn marks on Dad’s arms! He says they’re honorable scars from forging, but in reality, they were burns from cooking while getting too excited──!”

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“She’s definitely my daughter. I never doubted it, actually. So, if you could lower your voice, I’d really appreciate it.”

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Torvar cut off Perka’s words by suddenly opening the door. He had no choice but to disbelieve the woman in front of him, who was telling him a story that only he and his daughter knew.

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Torvar calmly checks Perka’s appearance once again.

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‘Is this my daughter…?’

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Looking closely, the physical features are identical to Perca’s.

But I still couldn’t believe it.

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“Yeah, you disappeared without saying anything and went to play with the humans on the surface. You came back after half a year and brought a man with you.”

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“That. That’s what I’m saying… .”

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“There seems to be some misunderstanding, but it’s not like that. I am the master of the former slave trader, Miss Karamiro Perca.”

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“What?”

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“Meister Torvar. I have come to make a deal.”

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Torvar, with his eyes narrowed, looked back and forth between Karami and Perka. Perka lowered his head like a criminal.

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Torvar quickly figured out the situation.

It seems like something happened other than the mischievous Perka running around.

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“What is that? Is that Perca?”

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“I think so? But who is that guy?”

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People flock to the spectacle one by one.

This wasn’t a good place to have a conversation.

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◦Don’t talk inside %◦.”

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***

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Dwarven furniture generally varied in size.

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The height of the furniture was quite low because the lower body of a dwarf was relatively short. In any other place, there would not have been a single chair suitable for Karami, but in Torvar’s house there was a Perka.

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There was a chair exclusively for Perka, a half-dwarf, and her master, Karami, sat there. As a result, Perka naturally took on the appearance of standing.

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“… … .”

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The vein in Thorvar’s forehead twitched. He was quite upset that his daughter’s place was being taken by an unknown man.

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I sat down on a chair near the hammer, intending to break Karami’s head at any moment.

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“… Let’s hear the whole story of what happened.”

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Perka explained what happened half a year ago.

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He went far away because he was bored, and was captured by slave hunters and became a mining slave, and then Karami came and bought him.

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Of course, Torvar’s pupils dilated slightly, as he was sure that Perka had gone off to play without saying a word. There was a reason he had not been aware of.

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“If you want to make a deal, you mean you’ll give Perka back in exchange for something.”

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“That’s correct.”

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Torvar quickly regained his composure.

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I don’t know what confidence you have in entering the dwarf’s den, but I have no reason to agree to a deal. I can just get it back with force.

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It was at that moment that Thorvar’s hand was quietly moving towards the hammer.

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“I recommend you not to do anything foolish. Perka and I have a master-servant contract. I have insurance in case of an emergency. Please keep in mind that if something happens to me, I can’t guarantee Perka’s safety either.”

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“… … .”

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Whether it was true or false, Torvar had no ability to discern. He could not gamble with his daughter’s life.

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I had no choice but to listen to what they had to offer.

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“Let me say something.”

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Karami smiled faintly.

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“It’s not that grand. I just want to spread some of Magmar’s flames.”

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Torvar’s eyes narrowed.

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The heart of Magmar, which has a similar symbolism to the World Tree of the Elves, it was absurd for humans to spread its flames.

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It was equivalent to saying that you would cut off a branch of the World Tree.

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“The flames of Magmar melt the souls and hearts of the dwarves. It is not something that can be handed over to a dwarf, a benefactor, or even a blackmailer.”

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“A blackmailer? He saved my daughter who was going to be sold to a brothel after being a miner all her life, and he even personally brought her home. If that isn’t a benefactor, then what is?”

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“I guess you sold your conscience because you’re a slave trader. Get out of here. I don’t negotiate with slave traders.”

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“Your pride as a blacksmith comes before your daughter? You are truly a heartless father. Isn’t that right?”

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Karami, who had already expected this to some extent, shook his head as if he could not stop her and looked at Perka.

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Perka’s shocked pupils shook from side to side. She knew that he was an old-fashioned father, but she never imagined that he would put her before him.

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“I will respect the craftsman’s decision, but there is a reason why I absolutely cannot give up.”

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“Where are you going to use the fireworks?”

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“Nothing grand. Just waking up the sleeping princess in the ice.”

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It was a strange thing to say.

What is that sleeping in the ice, and who is the princess?

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Torvar did not take Karami’s words at face value.

I thought for sure that he was hiding his true feelings.

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Of course, from Karami’s perspective, it was sincere and without a single lie, looking up to the sky. Magmar’s flames were essential to melt the ice frozen by the dragon’s curse. That was according to Karami’s data.

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All you need to get the spark is the master’s permission.

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There are seven masters in Doomheim, so it doesn’t have to be Thorvar, but Thorvar’s route was easier than the other six.

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Since there were also accessories that needed to be made later, Torvar was also suitable. However, Torvar’s stubbornness was stronger than Karami expected.

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‘Should I go find another master?’

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As Karami was about to adjust his plans, Torvar opened his heavy mouth.

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“If necessary, I can suggest another way.”

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“Oh, what is that?”

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This is the method suggested by Torvar.

It’s nice to hear that.

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“I will marry Perka and become my son-in-law.”

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Namely, I will get rid of the troublesome child of the genius daughter.

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