Chapter 250

The Great Fire of Destruction.

A massive fire that was said to occur when the world ended.

Everyone thought it was just a legend, but the fire bearing that name actually existed.

At the southern tip of the continent, on a volcanic island known as hell.

* * *

Intense heat.

The air was scorching, making it difficult to even breathe.

Heat rose from the black earth.

It felt like the soles of their feet could melt at any moment.

A land of death where life seemed impossible.

But there were uninvited guests on this land.

A whole group of them.

“Ugh, I hate sweating.”

A dwarf with a short stature but a thick, muscular body and a gray beard grumbled.

His face was covered in scars, a chilling sight.

“Hey, Chief. This guy’s already dead.”

Another dwarf shouted.

This dwarf also had a gray beard.

“Ugh, what a disgrace, this weakling. Let’s remove him from the family tree and cremate him right here. This place is perfect.”

Another gray dwarf said.

The dwarf called Chief, the one with the scarred face, replied casually.

“Hey, hey, who said he’s dead? We don’t have weaklings in our family. Kick him.”

*Thump! Thump!*

*Thud.*

The dwarf who had been lying down suddenly sat up, as if he had risen from the dead.

“Oh? He’s alive?”

“Damn it, why did you wake me up?”

The resurrected dwarf grumbled, his face filled with annoyance.

The Chief immediately retorted.

“Why are you sleeping, you idiot? Did you forget we have work to do?”

“Ah, right. Work.”

“Ugh, that idiot.”

The dwarfs were acting as if they were on a picnic, in a place where others would feel the imminent threat of death just by setting foot there.

That alone showed that they were no ordinary beings.

That’s right.

They were the Gray Dwarves.

A tribe known for their bravery and strength, even among the dwarfs.

The reason they had come to this volcanic island at the southern tip of the continent was simple.

It was a mission.

A mission from the Red Rain organization.

“Are you sleeping too, Dark?”

Kalkus, the Chief of the Gray Dwarves, asked someone.

It was obvious who he was talking to.

There was only one person in the Red Rain who was called “Dark.”

Natasha, the last dark elf.

It was her.

“Of course not.”

Natasha replied nonchalantly.

“You don’t seem very enthusiastic.”

“I wonder why.”

“Heh, feeling some kind of kinship with a high elf, even though you’re not even the same race?”

Kalkus sneered.

High elves were the children of the World Tree.

Dark elves, on the other hand, were born from the Black Moon Tree, a tree of darkness.

Their origins were polar opposites, and the way they were treated by the world was like night and day.

High elves were revered and admired as the most noble elves, inheriting the blood of the ancients.

But dark elves were despised as children of darkness, openly shunned and feared.

It was a meaningless distinction now that the dark elves were extinct.

Well, except for one.

Kalkus smiled, a twisted grin spreading across his face.

“The high elf is innocent.”

“Hahaha, half the world is innocent, I guess.”

Kalkus laughed and continued.

“But the world must be destroyed. Completely. Only then can a new world be born. That’s what we’re doing this for. To burn the World Tree. Don’t you agree?”

“So?”

“So stop feeling sentimental and do your job. If you don’t want to, get out.”

“I’ll do my job. But I’ll feel whatever I want to feel.”

Natasha stood up.

Sweat streamed down her face, and her whole body was drenched.

Her expression was filled with annoyance.

“Hahaha, I’m glad I came here just to see you, a sweat-drenched mess.”

“Shut up, Chief.”

Even though she was annoyed, Natasha didn’t use any derogatory terms for dwarfs, like “midget” or “groundhog.”

It was for a simple reason.

“Chief” was just a nickname used by the organization to address Kalkus, just like “Professor,” “Witch,” “Shadow,” “Messenger,” and “Dark.”

She wasn’t the type to use such low-level insults anyway.

“Hahaha, your pathetic state is so precious…”

Kalkus’s expression suddenly changed as he was teasing Natasha.

He raised his warhammer, which was taller than him.

“You guys, it’s time to work!”

“Ooh!”

“That’s the sound I like to hear!”

“Time to work, work!”

The Gray Dwarves put on their helmets and raised their weapons.

They were short, but their presence was as solid as steel.

And then.

*Roar!*

Flaming lizard-like monsters appeared before them.

Monsters that didn’t exist on the continent.

Creatures born from this warped environment.

The fact that they had adapted and survived in such a harsh environment showed how resilient they were.

But.

The Gray Dwarves were just as resilient.

“Go, my children! Go and wipe them out!”

Kalkus roared.

“Waaaaaargh!”

Before he could finish speaking, the Gray Dwarves charged forward.

* * *

Deep within the volcanic island.

That was where the Great Fire of Destruction was located.

It was a dangerous place, where most people couldn’t enter or leave alive.

Even the Gray Dwarves had given up and were waiting outside.

But there were two figures there.

Natasha and Kalkus.

“A barrier? Such a petty trick. A real man would endure it with his body, like me.”

“…I’m clearly not a man. And you’re wearing quite a lot of protection for someone who claims to endure it with his body.”

“Hahaha, this is my special fireproof armor! I can even jump into lava with this!”

“If it’s so great, why don’t you go get it yourself, Chief?”

“Ah, I can’t.”

“What?”

“It’s not fully tested yet.”

“…”

Why was her partner always like this?

Natasha almost lost her temper.

“Haha, I’ll be cheering for you from here.”

This damn… Ugh…

This was driving her crazy.

Natasha clutched her forehead, her face filled with stress.

“Now, go quickly.”

“…”

About twenty minutes later.

Natasha returned with the ember of the Great Fire of Destruction.

Her whole body was flushed red, as if she was about to explode.

Her clothes were in tatters.

She looked pathetic.

“Hahaha, you’re not a dark elf, you’re a red elf… Ugh!”

“Die, you groundhog!”

…Natasha finally snapped.

(TLN: it took her less than one chapter to snap )

* * *

Preparation.

It was easier said than done.

Because I didn’t know what to expect.

‘Is it a conflict between high elves?’

That was the most likely scenario.

The Forgotten Forest was the land of the high elves, and no one else lived there.

So if Hiresia had encountered some kind of trouble there, the cause was most likely another high elf.

Considering Hiresia’s personality, I doubted that would happen, but high elves were individuals with their own unique personalities.

Anyway, that was the first possible scenario.

‘But I can’t be sure.’

In this game, anything could happen, even in the safest and most peaceful-looking places.

It meant I had to consider the possibility of external enemies.

“Undead? Monsters? Or something else? Anything is possible.”

I muttered, twirling my pen.

I couldn’t go on this trip with a light heart, thinking it was just a vacation with my non-human girlfriend. I had to be fully prepared, mentally.

Because anything was possible.

“First, I need to bring plenty of scrolls.”

Powerful scrolls were not for sale, but even auxiliary scrolls could be useful in any situation.

As they had been so far.

“And that… It should be finished by now, right?”

I remembered what I had asked Ran to make.

She had said she had some mithril left over after making the flag and asked if I needed anything, so I had immediately placed an order.

You had to take advantage of such opportunities when a master craftsman like Ran offered them.

It wasn’t an everyday occurrence.

The only regret I had was that if it had been completed a little sooner, I wouldn’t have been in such a dire situation against the crazy necromancer.

“Well, anyway.”

I stood up.

I had to go check on the item, as I didn’t have much time left.

* * *

“Oh, you’re early today, Savior?”

“I hope I don’t have to go down already, hahaha.”

“Get some rest.”

Everyone I encountered greeted me warmly.

That was why the underground felt so comfortable now.

Of course, once we descended to the next floor, we would have to face another fierce battle.

“Savior, I’ll escort you.”

Milia, who had somehow found me already, saluted respectfully.

…It was reassuring, but she made me feel like a cult leader every time I saw her.

“No, there’s no need for that…”

“You never know what dangers might be lurking, even if it seems safe. And it’s my duty to protect you.”

Since when did she have such a duty…?

“I’ll escort you.”

“Ah, well… Alright.”

I reluctantly agreed.

She looked like she would follow me to the bathroom even if I refused.

And so, I, or rather, we, headed towards Ran’s workshop.

“Oh, Max! And Lady Milia?”

Ran, who had been working in her forge, came out to greet us.

“Seems like you’re settling in well.”

“Yeah, I’m used to moving now. I can set up in a day or two and start working right away.”

Ran, who had disassembled and packed all her blacksmithing equipment, including the furnace, charcoal, bellows, and anvil, and moved twice since Underground Floor 11.

It seemed like she had become a pro at moving.

It probably helped that there was an existing forge on Underground Floor 13, even if it was a bit shabby.

“So, what brings you here?”

“Ah, I was wondering if the thing I asked you to make was finished.”

“Oh, that. It’s done. Should I bring it?”

“Yes, please.”

Ran went back into her forge.

And soon, she returned, carrying something that gleamed silver.

As she got closer, it became clear that it was a piece of armor.

“Ta-da! Ran’s special mithril alloy light armor!”

Ran presented the armor with a shrug.

It was a beautifully crafted piece, its elegant lines evident even at a glance.

It exuded the aura of a master craftsman.

“Ah… Lady Ran’s skills are truly amazing.”

Milia gasped in admiration.

Her eyes were glued to the mithril armor.

She was a knight too.

It was only natural for her to desire such a fine piece of equipment.

“It’s a work of art.”

I also gave her my highest praise.

I reached out and took the mithril armor.

“Oh, it’s light.”

My eyes widened.

The most important quality of armor was, of course, its sturdiness, but weight was also crucial.

Even the most protective armor was useless if it was too heavy and hindered movement.

In that sense, this mithril armor was perfect.

“Heh, it’s mithril, after all.”

Ran chuckled, as if it was nothing special.

But I knew.

Unless it was pure mithril armor, it would have to be mixed with a significant amount of iron, and reducing the weight wasn’t as simple as it sounded.

It was a testament to Ran’s skill.

To reduce the weight while maintaining its strength was no easy feat.

But there was one thing…

“Why a turtle…?”

An unnecessarily cute turtle emblem was engraved on the mithril armor.

…And it was engraved with great care.

“Ah, I couldn’t help myself.”

“…”

“My hands just move on their own when it comes to my preferences.”

“W-Well…”

A turtle sword, a turtle battering ram, a turtle flag, and now a turtle armor.

Was this a set item?

I felt like a set bonus would activate…

“Oh, it’s cute.”

N-No, Lady Milia, don’t say that!

She’ll just keep making turtle-themed items!

“Heh, you have good taste.”

“…”

It seemed like Ran’s love for turtles would continue to be expressed through her “art.”

“Now, now, hurry up and try it on.”

At Ran’s urging, I put on the mithril armor.

It was indeed light.

It felt like I was just wearing an extra layer of clothing.

It wouldn’t hinder my movements at all.

I smiled, satisfied.

“It’s perfect.”

“Wait, wait. It’s too early to celebrate. Lady Milia, would you mind drawing your sword?”

“Huh?”

“We need to test it in actual combat. Come on.”

Milia looked at me with a troubled expression.

I nodded.

“Go ahead.”

It was better to let her do it, as she wouldn’t be satisfied until she had confirmed it herself.

I was also curious about its performance.

“You haven’t tested it yet?”

I asked, tilting my head.

That was basic for a craftsman.

“Ah, of course I have. But there’s one thing I haven’t tested.”

“One thing?”

“Sword Aura.”

“S-Sword Aura?”

“Come on, Lady Milia, unleash your Sword Aura!”

“W-Wait! Let me take it off first!”

I shouted, panicked.

“Ah, that wouldn’t be a real test. There’s a difference between a normal test and an actual combat test.”

“Wh-What?”

…What was the difference?

What kind of logic was that?

“S-Savior… What should we do?”

“Hmm…”

“Come on, act like a Savior. Don’t you trust me?”

…If you’re so confident, just skip the test!

Ugh, whatever.

The genius craftsman was the boss, so I had to play along if I wanted to use her services again.

“Do it.”

I straightened my back, acting brave.

“A-Alright.”

At my command, Milia reluctantly channeled her Sword Aura into her chain sword.

The chain sword was the weapon that had brought her fame as the Chain Knight.

Its power was undoubtedly formidable.

…I suddenly felt a bit nervous.

“H-Here I go.”

Milia took a deep breath and swung her chain sword.

*Whoosh!*

A sharp, red Sword Aura sliced through the air.

Holy crap, that was sharp!

W-Wait, wait!

Cancel, cancel!

I needed to prepare myself mentally!

Mentally!

*Slash!*

The chain sword pierced my chest.

“Ugh!”

I couldn’t help but groan.

But.

*Clang!*

The chain sword, imbued with Sword Aura, bounced off the mithril armor, unable to penetrate it.

Oh?

“Hehehe.”

Ran chuckled, satisfied.

Seeing her reaction, I gave her a thumbs up.

Good.

This was amazing.

A grin spread across my face.