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Pavel looked incredulously at Sloytle and the dwarf warriors alternately.

‘How dare mere ground beetles revolt?’

But it was hard to laugh it off when the gruesome reality of the soldiers lying around him was all too real. Pavel took a step back and shouted.

“D-Don’t move! With a mere flick of my hand, all of their heads will fly off!”

Pavel raised his hand, drawing upon his magical power. He planned to immediately recite the incantation if there was even the slightest sign of movement.

‘Hmph! If I behead about ten of them, they won’t dare to challenge me!’

Sloytle nodded and replied.

“I know. That’s why we didn’t act recklessly before.”

“What?”

Pavel frowned at Sloytle’s overly nonchalant response. He felt an ominous sensation. At that moment, he noticed another group of dwarves appearing behind Sloytle. Unlike the warriors, these five dwarves had short, stout bodies covered by robes.

The newly appeared dwarves extended their hands forward and began to chant.

“Pnia Arlhaide Egast…”

“Clear flow…”

“Come to my hand, follow my will…”

“Block the openings…”

“Seal the unbound once more!”

Pavel’s eyes widened.

“D-Dwarves using magic?”

In the past, when Repenhardt had stayed at the Grand Forge, he had picked out promising dwarves and taught them the basics of magic. This was the Grand Forge’s magical battalion.

Since then, they had occasionally visited the Duchy of Antares to study under Repenhardt, gradually improving their skills. Though dwarves were slow learners, they had all reached the level of 2nd circle thanks to their excellent teacher.

The dwarves chanted their incantation in unison.

“Rune Oppression!”

Suppressive magic shot towards Pavel. He tried to activate the magic imbued in his collar, but the dwarves had already suppressed his magical field, preventing him from casting the spell. Though Pavel was only a 4th circle rural mage, the combined power of the five dwarves was enough to overpower his magical field.

“Ugh!”

Pavel groaned as his magic was suppressed. Sloytle swiftly leaped forward.

Thwack!

Sloytle’s thick fist struck Pavel’s solar plexus, causing him to lose consciousness instantly. As the unconscious Pavel was thrown to the ground, Sloytle shouted towards the mine.

“We are the warriors of the Grand Forge! We have come to rescue you, Steelhammer Clan!”

The oppressed dwarves began to emerge, their expressions filled with disbelief. The dwarf mages gestured to them.

“Come forward one by one! We will release the magical shackles around your necks!”

The men of the Steelhammer Clan lined up, their faces bright with hope. The dwarf mages, holding small pieces of parchment, began to unfasten the collars in order, occasionally glancing at the parchment.

“Ah, so this is how it’s done. Harun Baide Takara…”

“I am the one who unbinds the flow…”

“Let it flow unbound…”

The parchments contained a specific dispelling spell prepared by Repenhardt. Though the shackles’ magic was of the 4th circle, knowing the solution allowed them to dispel it with their 2nd circle abilities.

Clink! Clink! Clink clink!

All around, the collars fell to the ground with metallic sounds. As they saw the cursed shackles finally released, the Steelhammer Clan burst into cheers.

“Oooooh!”

“At last!”

Everyone wore expressions of deep emotion. Some even shed tears. Among them, a dwarf man named Rataik spoke to Sloytle in a worried voice.

“But we have hostages! If they find out we’ve dealt with these people…”

Sloytle responded softly.

“Do not worry, brethren. Our comrades have already gone to the other side.”

* * *

About one kilometer away from Kelberen Castle, there was the entrance to a large underground cave.

A small girl was swinging a giant axe that was disproportionate to her small frame.

“Taah!”

The thick axe blade struck the cheeks of two soldiers in quick succession. The soldiers, as if slapped by steel, spat out their teeth and fainted instantly. The girl then swung her axe and lunged at the other soldiers. With each swing of the axe through the air, a storm seemed to blow, and the soldiers fell one after another.

“Argh…”

The last soldier couldn’t even let out a scream before collapsing to the ground. Finally, the small girl, Tilla, wiped the sweat from her forehead as she put away her axe.

“Alright, all taken care of.”

With that, all the surveillance forces in the vicinity were dealt with. Tilla hurriedly ran inside the cave.

Descending the stairs, she soon came upon a massive cavern, 40 meters high. This was her home, the residence of the Steelhammer Clan.

Suddenly, Tilla’s eyes welled up with tears.

“Ah…”

It had been less than a year since she left, but it felt like a long time since she had returned. As she stood there, filled with emotion, an old voice reached her ears.

“What is all this commotion about?”

It was a familiar voice. Tilla shouted.

“Grandpa Hetos!”

A white-haired dwarf elder saw her and exclaimed in surprise.

“Tilla? How are you here?”

“Lord Repenhardt sent me. He told me to come and save everyone.”

“Oh! The savior!”

Tears glistened in the old dwarf’s brown eyes.

“The time has finally come to leave this place.”

Hetos turned hurriedly.

“Right, I must contact Priest Gelfide.”

Following behind him, Tilla nodded.

“Yes, please gather everyone quickly.”

“Understood!”

Priest Gelfide, upon meeting Tilla, quickly spread the word throughout the village. The village wasn’t very large, so soon all the elders, women, and children were gathered in one place. They carried only a few basic necessities.

Tilla gestured to the clan.

“To the river.”

The village of the Steelhammer Clan had a secret tunnel leading to the river. It was the very tunnel through which Repenhardt had floated down. Following Tilla’s lead, the sixty-odd villagers made their way through the tunnel to the riverbank.

By the riverbank, over a hundred dwarves were already gathered. They were the dwarves from the Grand Forge and the men of the Steelhammer Clan whom they had rescued. Those reunited with their families cried tears of joy as they ran to each other.

“Oh! Pamela!”

“Honey!”

“Primo!”

“Dad!”

Tears and laughter of reunion flowed everywhere, and Tilla was no exception in sharing this joy.

“Tilla!”

One of the rescued dwarf men saw her and exclaimed in surprise. Tilla’s face lit up, and she ran towards him, throwing herself into his arms.

“Dad!”

“Hahaha!”

Rataik laughed heartily, holding his beloved daughter tightly. Looking at Tilla’s ample chest, he spoke contentedly.

“My daughter, you’ve grown so much. You could get married now.”

If a human father had said such a thing while looking at his daughter’s particular body part, he would be locked up immediately, but among the dwarves, this was normal. Wiping away her tears, Tilla nodded.

“Yeah, yeah!”

Meanwhile, Sloytle watched the entire scene with a pleased smile. His heart was full. The scene he had dreamed of was now unfolding before his eyes. An old dwarf priest approached him.

“I am Gelfide. You said you are a warrior from the Grand Forge?”

“Yes, Priest. I am Sloytle.”

While the others were overwhelmed with the joy of reunion, Gelfide, as befitted a priest, remained calm. He looked around with concern and asked.

“What will you do now? This area is full of human villages. If such a large number of us move, we will be caught soon.”

“Don’t worry. It’s almost time.”

“Time?”

Sloytle walked towards the river, leaving the puzzled Gelfide behind. He raised his hammer and began to draw upon his aura.

Wuuung!

A pale green aura rose, illuminating the night sky. Sloytle swung his hammer a few times. Then, from the darkness across the river, a faint light flickered.

Gelfide, squinting his old eyes in curiosity, asked.

“What is that?”

The light gradually approached the riverbank, revealing the silhouette of a large vessel. Several riverboats were moving up and down the river, heading towards the bank.

“How did the Grand Forge prepare even the ships?”

To Gelfide’s question, Sloytle shook his head.

“They weren’t prepared by the Grand Forge.”

As the boats drew closer, the dwarves could see they were manned by a mixture of humans and dwarves, working together to guide the vessels to shore. Sloytle continued explaining.

“These ships were arranged by Lord Repenhardt’s allies. They’ve been coordinating with us for this rescue operation.”

Gelfide’s eyes widened in understanding and relief. The ships docked, and the mixed crews began helping the dwarves onto the boats. The sight of humans and dwarves working together was a testament to the alliances and friendships that had been forged.

“Everyone, get on the boats! We need to move quickly before we’re discovered!”

With a renewed sense of urgency, the Steelhammer Clan and their rescuers boarded the boats. Families huddled together, and friends supported each other, ready to embark on the next stage of their journey.

As the boats drew closer, the shape of the ships became clearer. Seeing the rowers on the boats, the dwarves began to murmur. Hetos asked in astonishment.

“Are those humans?”

A voice called out from the ship.

“Minister! We’ve docked the boats by the river!”

“Well done.”

With a cheerful voice, a man jumped off the deck. He was a human man with a thick, black beard covering his face. Standing on the riverbank, he shouted to the dwarves.

“Rest assured! We are your allies! We’ve brought these boats to help you leave this place!”

The dwarves’ murmurs grew louder. They looked at each other in confusion.

“Allies?”

“A human, our ally?”

Though it was hard to believe, it was clear that this man had come to help the dwarves. Gradually, the dwarves began to look at him with cautious goodwill.

Leaving Rataik’s side, Tilla ran towards the human man. In a melodious voice, she called out.

“Karl!”

“Tilla!”

Karl beamed and reached out for Tilla. She leapt into his arms. Despite the 40-centimeter difference in their heights, he lifted her, holding her close so their eyes met.

Karl smiled gently as he looked into Tilla’s eyes.

“I was worried about you.”

With a bashful smile, Tilla kissed Karl on the lips. After the kiss, she whispered with an emotional expression.

“You could have sent your subordinates, given how busy you are.”

“Haha, how could I miss meeting your family?”

Meanwhile, Rataik stood with his mouth agape, stunned.

“Wha-wha-what is that?”

Who was that human? And what was with that affectionate atmosphere?

In the short time he hadn’t seen her, his precious daughter had gotten attached to some man!

Tilla approached Rataik and introduced them.

“Karl, this is my father. Father, this is my beloved Karl.”

Of course, Rataik was still in shock. Karl bowed politely and greeted him.

“Nice to meet you, father-in-law.”

The words snapped Rataik out of his stupor, and he bellowed.

“Wh-who said you’re my son-in-law?!”

* * *

Diallo, the largest city in the western part of the Hallein Kingdom.

Diallo was an industrial city focused on paper and textiles. The city produced paper and Hallein fabric, two of the kingdom’s main exports. The production of the most important chemicals for making paper and fabric was handled by alchemists, so naturally, the city had a branch of alchemists.

In the city center stood the Diallo branch of “Santa’s Tears.”

The enormous building was currently engulfed in smoke and explosions.

“Ivory Tusk is over there!”

“Throw the firebombs!”

Alchemists lined up in the front yard threw ceramic jars simultaneously. Explosions erupted in the front yard.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A shadow quickly moved through the thick smoke. A blue-skinned troll emerged from the smoke, charging at the alchemists. More than thirty warriors stood in its way, all members of the guild.

“You monstrous fiend!”

“You shall not pass!”

The warriors brandished their spears and swords, pushing back against the troll. The troll began to move as if dancing, singing a strange song as it fought them.

“A Tumhui Raba Forinchi Mundo Namantachi…”

It bared its eerie tusks, spinning like a windmill, kicking the warriors and slashing at them with its sharp claws. Groans of pain echoed around.

“Ugh!”

“Argh!”

However, none of the warriors died. Thanks to their expensive full plate mail armor, they were able to withstand the troll’s attacks. Despite being thrown around, they effectively blocked the troll’s movements.

Seizing an opportunity, one warrior shouted.

“Firebombs again!”

Numerous ceramic jars were thrown at the troll once more. Explosions erupted throughout the garden, with flames lighting up the night sky. Fearful of the flames, the troll began to retreat. One of the alchemists shouted triumphantly.