episode_0014

Despite a grand and inexplicable mishap, we were able to arrive at the mining village of Andar unscathed.

A metal plate at the entrance of the village greeted us with the name ‘Andar’ written on it.

The rough yet oddly cute iron decorations in the shape of hammers and anvils on the imposing metal plate felt charming.

“Welcome to the village of Andar, filled with iron and hammering!”

“Wow…! The heat here is intense even in the middle of the snowy wilderness!”

“The forge in Andar is the heart of the blacksmith. The fire only goes out when the blacksmith dies.”

“Just hearing about it makes me feel the overflowing passion in this place.”

“Haha! Without passion from our inspirations, they might as well be corpses. In that sense, this situation is even more regrettable.”

The heat emanating from the forge was intense, but the village itself was eerily quiet, as if frozen in time.

The noise from operations like hammering had ceased due to the appearance of the Drake pack.

It must have been a place filled with the sound of iron being struck.

Despite the overflowing heat, the village lacked the essential vitality it once had.

“You! Gunter! I told you to prevent outsiders from entering! Why did you bring them here instead?”

“Oh, Village Chief!”

“Oh, you troublemaker! I entrusted the task of managing traffic to the most cowardly fellow in the village, and he brought chaos back!”

With a weathered face exuding experience, long white beard, scorched skin, and rugged muscles, he seemed like a person born solely to handle minerals.

“Village Chief, I did not bring these individuals to the village for no reason. I brought the hope that can resolve the current situation in the village!”

“Those scoundrels as hope? Tsk! It would be better to pray to the ancestors for a solution!”

“Hmm! I apologize on behalf of the Village Chief for his rough words.”

“It’s fine.”

During travels, one occasionally encounters such a gruff and strict elder.

Rough in speech and temperament, he was someone you’d want to put in a box right away, but his unmatched skills in a specific field prevented that.

“Village Chief, the two behind me are here for business, but the one in front is a hero who single-handedly captured a Drake. I hope you will show some respect.”

“A scoundrel like that as a hero? Ha! What a world we live in… Ugh!”

“Why are you like this?”

“Tsk! Have I become so old that I can’t even use my body properly? Suddenly, my back is acting up.”

The Village Chief, unpredictable enough to make it impossible to predict his future actions, was now clutching his back while groaning.

“Hey, youngster! You’re the one who captured a Drake by yourself, right?”

“Yes, but why?”

“Give me your hand.”

“My hand?”

“Stop talking back and give it to me! Ugh…!”

Despite his outburst, the Village Chief continued to pat his back while placing his hand on it.

It’s hard to tell if he’s projecting a foul-mouthed or frail image.

Which tone should I match?

“Aaron, it may seem sudden, but it’s best to offer your hand to the Village Chief. Although he may be hot-tempered, he doesn’t waste time on trivial matters.”

“Understood.”

Curious myself, I extended my palm towards the Village Chief, who grabbed my arm and wrist firmly, examining my palm intently.

Like someone reading palm fortunes, he scrutinized my palm closely, occasionally widening his eyes.

“Seems like the talk about catching Drake alone wasn’t just empty words. You’re the first one I’ve met with such rough and rugged hands.”

“Since you’ve earned recognition from the strict village chief, he’ll surely make a weapon for Aaron!”

“Is this brat looking at me as a tree that generously gives?”

“But hasn’t the chief never directly made weapons for those he’s recognized? Just a few days ago, he gifted a spear he personally made to a wandering swordsman.”

“The guy who should handle a spear for life is stupidly sitting with a sword, and it’s annoying to see that snob!”

There’s always a reason to call a master a master.

The village chief of Andar Village measured a person’s talent and effort with just one hand, and based on that, he seems to show the way even to the unknown paths.

Despite being the owner of a shy personality, he was a trustworthy person as a blacksmith.

“Anyway, wouldn’t it be better for the chief to make a weapon for Aaron before the Drake group arrives in this village?”

“I don’t want to! Why should I make a weapon for that guy?”

“He’s a man recognized by the chief, isn’t he? Besides, it’s not right to ask a worn-out sword to be used by a benefactor who came to help the village!”

“Forget about what’s right, there’s no suitable sword for that guy anywhere here.”

“What are you talking about?”

“In simple terms, no matter what sword you give him, it’ll just be a consumable like an iron sword.”

“Then why not make a new one?”

“Even if all the blacksmiths in this village put in effort, they can’t make a weapon suitable for that guy.”

The village chief accepted reality, even if it meant swallowing his pride as a blacksmith.

Although his resignation came too quickly, I wanted to applaud him for accepting reality.

My body, which handles a sword like a master, was more powerful than an ordinary famous sword.

Even if they made a sword for me, it wouldn’t be enough. It would be like putting a burden on the sword.

In other words, the chief prioritized people who use weapons over asserting his pride.

“Phew! I apologize for making you expect to get a good sword.”

“It’s okay. I’m not particularly disappointed or anything.”

“Seriously, even if I say I can’t make it, you’re being ridiculous.”

The village chief’s sarcastic remark made Gunter glare at him.

It seemed like Gunter misunderstood that the chief was being petty about making a sword for him.

Unintentionally, I created a conflict between the chief and Gunter.

I don’t know how to resolve this.

I can’t reveal that I’m a sword saint…

“Chief! Chief!”

As I pondered for a moment, a man was urgently calling for the chief from afar.

Seeing his dusty appearance, he seemed more like a miner than a blacksmith.

“Hey, you bastard! My ears are still fine, so stop beating around the bush!”

“Cough…! Cough…! Th-that’s not important right now!”

“Then what is important?”

“Just now, a report came in that Mining Team 3 entered the mine!”

“What the hell? I clearly told them to gather and stay at home quietly this morning!”

“Based on the report from the day before that they discovered a rare purple ore in the mine, it seems they’ve decided to mine that rare ore.”

“Those idiots!”

“Furthermore, the Drake group that was under surveillance is also heading towards that cave.”

“Seriously, what a mess!”

Although his tone was still light, the distorted expression on the chief’s face indicated that the situation was serious.

A villager who couldn’t resist the temptation of rare ore ended up becoming a meal for the drakes after foolishly entering the mine.

There was no one to answer the call for help, and no support from the country.

Realistically, there was no choice but to abandon those who entered the mine and gave up on the rescue efforts.

However, the village chief seemed surprisingly compassionate and showed no sign of giving up.

“These damn beasts…”

The village chief closed his eyes tightly and then suddenly knelt in front of me.

“Elder?”

“I know it’s shameless, but I have a lifelong wish. I hope you can grant it.”

“It’s not appropriate for you to say that.”

“Of course, I’m not asking you to help me for free. I’ll give you the heirloom that has been passed down in my family for generations.”

“Chief, are you talking about the heirloom?”

“You said you have no intention of transferring it to anyone else, didn’t you?”

“Shut up! I’m willing to sacrifice my heirloom as a reward for your help, what does it matter to you guys!”

I’m not sure what it is, but seeing the shocked reactions of others, it seems like a very valuable treasure.

The village chief, who is willing to sacrifice even the heirloom for the sake of the villagers, despite having done nothing wrong, seems to hold a position of power for a reason.

“Even if there is a reason to sacrifice the heirloom, you want to save them, right?”

“Yes. If they return safely, I will kill them with my own hands.”

“…What?”

“I want my name to be carved on the tombstones of those bastards as the cause of death. It’s okay to break a couple of legs, as long as they are brought back alive.”

It seems that the position of the village chief in Andar Village is one that only a tyrant can hold.

***

“Hahaha! That’s it! This is it!”

In the cramped mine, a man dressed in inappropriate attire for a mine was laughing heartily.

On his right hand, there was a sinister red energy emanating from a rock.

As the man tightly grasped the ore, his laughter gradually turned maniacal.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the sensation, he carefully placed the ore on his chest.

“I can feel another power nearby….”

Knowing that there was one more ore to retrieve, he smiled with pleasure.

At the same time, thick horns of a mountain goat rose from his forehead.

Resembling a devil, he was a demon.

“It’s almost time.”

As the man exited the mine, numerous drakes gathered in front of him.

Although they seemed like tamed pets, the lack of vitality in their eyes indicated that they were being controlled by some kind of power.

“Go first. If there are humans inside the cave, ravage them to your heart’s content, tear their bodies apart and devour them.”

“Roarrrr!”

At the man’s command, the drakes swiftly moved towards the mine, ready to attack.

The onslaught of the drake horde was nothing short of a disaster for the humans.

The demons who artificially created this situation would undoubtedly establish themselves as a major obstacle for humanity in the near future.