"..."
Karoon's cold gaze revealed his deep displeasure with Borgos's statement.
"That dwarf seems to know a thing or two."
Unlike Karoon, Balder nodded with a bright smile.
"Our nephew is reliable, with a straightforward personality and a strong sense of loyalty! Sometimes I think he's even better than me or my brothers! Hey, dwarf! You've chosen well!"
He clapped loudly, praising Raon for being superior to the Palace Masters in many ways.
"Keep your mouth shut."
Karoon struck Balder's waist, reminding him they were in the presence of the Head of House.
"Why do you always tell me to be quiet? This isn't a library!"
Balder brushed off his waist as if it were nothing, wrinkling his nose.
"Ahem!"
Glenn cleared his throat and slightly lowered his chin.
"Is that how much you trust the Light Wind Division Leader?"
He narrowed his eyes, feigning discomfort as he covered his mouth.
"That's right."
Borgos nodded as he moved closer to Raon.
"The Light Wind Division Leader came to rescue this old man without asking any questions, based on a single encounter."
His wrinkled lips trembled as if recalling when Raon had come to find him in the deepest part of the underground.
"Dwarves don't make friends easily, but once we do, we follow them for life. This young friend... no, benefactor is worthy of such trust."
Borgos struck his left chest with his fist, saying he had incurred a debt he couldn't repay even if he dedicated his entire life.
"Chief! Well said!"
"We feel the same!"
"Just as Raon risked his life for us, we too can stake our hammers for him."
Palenthun and the other masters shouted their agreement with Borgos, pounding their chests with their fists in the same manner.
"Lifelong trust..."
Karoon fell silent, arms crossed, as if he hadn't expected Borgos to trust Raon to such an extent.
"Friendship between a dwarf and a human? Ha! How splendid!"
Balder licked his lips as if he had just downed a mug of beer, letting out an exclamation.
"Borgos..."
Raon bit his lip slightly as he looked at Borgos standing proudly with his chest out.
'I didn't expect him to trust me this much.'
He knew that Borgos and the Gray Hammer Guild masters were grateful to him. However, he had thought it was somewhat of a transactional relationship since they both wanted something from each other. It was a big misunderstanding. Borgos and the masters truly regarded him as their benefactor.
"I... I see."
Glenn's hands trembled slightly, and his earlobes turned red. Though not entirely clear, it seemed he was forcibly suppressing some emotion about to burst forth.
"If you had made a statement disrespecting Zieghart, you would have paid an appropriate price, but this case is different."
He closed his eyes and opened them again, saying he would accept Borgos's opinion.
"Do as you wish. If you want to become part of Zieghart, we'll accept you. If you choose to leave, we'll accept that too."
Glenn nodded broadly, welcoming Borgos and the Gray Hammer Guild.
"Welcome, dwarves! Make my sword heavy yet thin and flexible!"
Balder stomped his foot, describing the type of sword he wanted.
"Sigh..."
Karoon let out a soft sigh as he slowly extended his arm. His elbow heavily struck Balder's waist as it passed.
"Ugh..."
Balder's eyes rolled back as he fell backward, apparently having expected the blow to be light as before.
"I apologize. He's still unworthy of being an executive."
Karoon bowed to Borgos, telling him to pay no mind to Balder.
'Hah...'
Raon let out a dry laugh as he observed Karoon's calm gaze.
'In the past, he would have caused a scene before Balder.'
People really can change that much. Despite likely being angered by Borgos's statement of trusting Raon more than Zieghart, Karoon didn't express it openly and instead showed respect. It seemed only possible because of his genuine love for Zieghart.
"No."
Borgos shook his head calmly, looking at the unconscious Balder.
"Working with dragon bones and scales is a dream come true for craftsmen. We can't make just any item with such precious materials. We intend to create equipment that best suits the user's requests."
He suggested that custom-made items would be better, even if time-consuming, given the rarity of the materials.
"Custom-made items will not only take time but also require a lot of effort. Are you sure about this?"
Glenn's voice carried a hint of concern for Borgos and the craftsmen's situation.
"Of course. It's nothing compared to what our benefactor has done for us."
Borgos replied that they could do even more if Raon wished.
"Besides, custom work benefits us too. Just as with swordsmanship, there's no end to improving hammer skills."
He nodded, saying it would be an opportunity for him and the Gray Hammer Guild masters to hone their skills.
"If you put it that way, we'll gratefully accept."
Glenn slowly lowered his gaze, agreeing to the arrangement.
"If you need anything, just say the word. We'll provide as much support as possible."
"A craftsman always needs just three things: a place to rest, fire, and a hammer."
Borgos smiled confidently, saying those three would suffice. It was a smile reminiscent of a Transcendent who had reached the pinnacle through martial arts alone.
"A place to rest, fire, and a hammer..."
Karoon's sunken eyes seemed to show a hint of admiration as he looked at Borgos with a faint smile.
"Understood. I promise you the utmost convenience. You must be tired from your journey here, so please rest for now."
Glenn nodded broadly, apparently pleased with Borgos's character.
"Rest is good, but I'd like to start working right away."
Borgos shook his chin firmly.
"I'm afraid unpleasant thoughts might arise if I just rest, so I'd like to begin work immediately."
He bowed, saying he wanted to start even if preparations weren't complete.
"Sometimes, it's better to immerse oneself in work."
Glenn let out a short sigh, as if understanding Borgos's feelings.
"Very well. Light Wind Division Leader, please guide the guests to Mirtan."
He lowered his voice, instructing Raon to guide Borgos and the dwarves to Mirtan, where Zieghart's craftsmen lived.
"We'll discuss further matters later."
"Understood."
Raon stepped back and bowed to Glenn.
"Let's go."
After bidding farewell to Glenn, he left the Lord's Manor with Borgos and the craftsmen.
"Executives, investigate the desired forms of weapons for not only yourselves but also the swordsmen, and submit them to the Shadow Agents."
He issued an order to conduct a survey, apparently intending to provide custom weapons to all Zieghart swordsmen.
"Ah, yes!"
"Understood!"
The executives left the Lord's Manor with bright smiles, seemingly delighted at the prospect of obtaining masterpiece weapons made from dragon bones by dwarf craftsmen.
"Head of House."
After all the executives had left, Karoon stood before the platform where Glenn's throne was located.
"Given the Light Wind Division Leader's great achievements this time, I hope the reward will be as I previously mentioned."
He left only those words before dragging the unconscious Balder out of the audience chamber.
"If it's what he mentioned before..."
Sheryl lowered her eyebrows, looking at the door through which Karoon had left.
"Does he mean elevating Raon to Palace Master?"
"That's right."
Roenn nodded, chuckling.
"Karoon had previously insisted that Young Master Raon should be made a Palace Master."
"He's changed so much. But I understand."
Sheryl let out a sigh, muttering in amazement.
"The Raon I saw this time wasn't the little one I taught dual swordsmanship to. It felt more like I was with a skilled and powerful martial artist, even stronger than myself."
She smiled, saying he could certainly manage running a palace well.
"Ahem!"
Glenn no longer tried to hide his smile, lowering his hand to reveal his upturned corners of his mouth.
"It feels like seeing the former Head of House. That lazy bum really raised one disciple well."
Sheryl shrugged, looking at the smiling Glenn.
"It wasn't that guy, but Raon who grew well on his own!"
Glenn shouted that it was absolutely not Rimmer who raised him, furrowing his brow.
"That's true. He would have grown well anywhere."
Sheryl nodded, chuckling. She couldn't help but laugh, remembering how the two used to argue about whose disciple or grandson came first.
"No! He couldn't have grown like this without Zieghart!"
Glenn shook his chin vigorously, as if wanting to hear that his grandson grew well because of him.
"You're right. He turned out so well because he's the Head of House's grandson."
Sheryl nodded, letting out a deep sigh.
"Ahem!"
Glenn finally seemed satisfied, leaning back into his throne with a pleasant expression.
"But what will you do about the Central Martial Palace Master's opinion?"
Sheryl raised her gaze, curious about Glenn's intentions.
"Palace... Palace..."
Glenn slowly closed and opened his eyes, gazing at the center of the Lord's Manor where Raon had stood.
"Yes. It seems the time has come."
**
As soon as he left the Lord's Manor, Raon led Borgos and the craftsmen towards Mirtan Village.
"The heat is certainly intense here."
Borgos licked his lips, seemingly feeling the geothermal heat that made even walking hot.
"It's unlike the north."
He rubbed his thick hands, saying he liked it. He was a man with both the personality and skills of a continental master craftsman.
"The heat is intensifying as we follow this path. It seems that mountain is a volcano."
Borgos's chief disciple nodded, looking at the mountain behind Mirtan Village.
"That's right. There was a Red Dragon Turtle on that mountain too."
Raon nodded and spoke about the Red Dragon Turtle that had been absorbing geothermal energy previously.
"Red Dragon Turtles love lava and geothermal heat the most. If it's revealing itself to directly absorb the heat, it must be no less than our previous place."
Borgos smiled, muttering that he was looking forward to Vulcan's village.
"We've just arrived, actually."
Raon raised his hand, pointing to the low but sturdy-looking entrance of Mirtan Village. As soon as they stood before the village, the air changed abruptly. An intense heat as if lava was flowing around them, accompanied by the endless sound of hammering, assaulted their ears.
"Hmm..."
Borgos nodded slightly, examining the workshop at the outermost part of the village where the hammer sounds were coming from.
"Still inexperienced, but filled with passion."
He smiled faintly, apparently pleased with the hammer sounds of the young craftsman inside the workshop. The dwarves and craftsmen of the Gray Hammer Guild also seemed to be in a good mood from the hammer sounds coming from here and there, smiling for the first time since leaving their old home.
'Blacksmiths will be blacksmiths, indeed.'
Seeing their gloomy mood lifted by just the sound of hammering, it seemed they weren't called masters for nothing.
"Vulcan is up there."
Raon guided Borgos and the excited dwarves to Vulcan's workshop at the top of Mirtan Village. The craftsmen moved quickly, their cheeks flushed red, apparently stimulated by the hammering sounds and the heat enveloping the village.
'Hm?'
Raon narrowed his eyes as he examined the interior of Vulcan's workshop.
'Is there someone else?'
He sensed the presence of one more person besides Vulcan inside the workshop. It didn't seem like they were working, so he thought it would be okay to call out.
"Sir Vulcan."
He called Vulcan's name as he knocked on the steel door. The workshop door opened roughly before he could even take a breath, revealing Vulcan with a face red as if he'd been drinking.
"Raon! Why are you so late!"
Vulcan frowned, asking why he hadn't come after sending word that he was on his way.
"Ah, I'm sorry. There was a bit of trouble on the way."
Raon apologized, bowing his head.
"I was expecting so much when you said you'd bring dragon bones... Huh?"
Vulcan, who had been clicking his tongue, widened his eyes as he saw Borgos behind him.
"Dwarf! How did you end up here..."
"It's a long story."
Borgos let out a bitter smile, saying it was complicated.
"Hmm, something must have happened."
Vulcan furrowed his brows deeply, as if he had read something in Borgos's eyes.
"Well, it's best to keep it simple when you're living under someone else's roof."
Borgos nodded briefly and proceeded to explain what had happened.
"I see..."
Vulcan's eyelids trembled, as if he hadn't expected such circumstances.
"It's fine now, so there's no need for such an expression."
Borgos lowered his chin, asking to be treated normally.
"But..."
"I've seen many of your swords, but this is my first time seeing your workshop. It's surprisingly small for a continental master."
He joked, examining Vulcan's workshop, as if trying to lighten the mood.
"Size doesn't matter to a master."
However, the response came not from Vulcan, but from inside the workshop. A familiar voice. It was Kuberad, another continental master.
"Kuberad? You're here too?"
This time, it was Borgos who widened his eyes in surprise.
"Just as you were called by Raon, I was called by this fellow."
Kuberad let out a long sigh, saying he had come at Vulcan's request for help.
"He was so insistent. Anyone would think he's still active."
He shook his head, saying he received ten letters a day.
"What do you mean, ten letters! I only sent nine!"
Vulcan snorted, telling him to count properly.
"Well, enough idle talk. Now, show us the materials. I'm tired of putting up with this guy's drunken ramblings while waiting."
Kuberad tilted his chin, saying he wanted to get to work now.
"Alright."
Raon nodded lightly and called Dorian forward from behind him.
"Take everything out."
"E-Everything? It might be a bit cramped..."
Dorian shook his head, looking around.
"It'll be fine if we go down to that road."
"Understood!"
He nodded and put his hand into his pouch. An endless stream of dragon bones, teeth, horns, and scales poured out from Dorian's hand emerging from the pouch. Due to the sheer size and quantity of the ancient dragon's remains, not only Vulcan's front yard but also the central avenue of Mirtan Village was filled with dragon bones.
"Was there this much?"
Borgos widened his eyes in disbelief.
"Red, Black, Gold? Three dragons?"
Kuberad's chin trembled in amazement.
"Not just three in number. Two are ancient dragon-class. Even the bones are deeply imbued with pure mana!"
Vulcan's eyes sparkled with anticipation at the mere sight.
"Soon, Zieghart swordsmen will send their requests. We have more than enough materials, so please create the best works you can."
Raon bowed with his hands clasped in front, asking for their best efforts.
"Then we'll need some warm-up work first."
"Yes, I can see exactly how to start."
Vulcan and Kuberad's eyes stopped on the Heavenly Drive and Blade of Requiem, respectively.
"Let's take a look at your swords first."
The two spoke in unison, licking their lips like true friends and craftsmen.