My alter ego is becoming a big shot - Episode 106
#106
Pumpkin rolled in (1)
“···So, what do we do now??”
“Hmm···.”
The Northern Mountains party, including Harley, was currently hiding in an underground crypt and paying close attention to the vibrations felt from above..
“Certainly, the feeling of momentum is terrifying. If I had been a little late, I would have been in big trouble..”
Knight Robin gulped as he assessed the monster's strength..
If there wasn't a barrier blocking all traces inside, I wouldn't have been able to express my feelings so calmly..
“Ugh—I can’t even use it a few times because of the number limit. This expedition will cause a lot of damage! Well, it's better than dying..”
Even though Zaonic continued to grumble, he diligently trimmed the inside of the crypt and expanded it..
There was no way that a magic tool that could deploy a barrier that could deceive the sensitive senses of that monster in such an instant was a common item..
Still, thanks to him, he was able to survive until now, and this time, their party was able to escape the crisis safely, so it can be said that the price has already been well worth it..
“···The weight is enormous. Plus, it's bipedal. It looks similar to an ogre, but I'm not sure because it seems to be much bigger..”
“Are we now... eating from the corpses above us? Well, it takes a lot of food to maintain that size..”
“It seems like we have prepared a grand table for you. I'm glad Zaonic buried Bordeaux quickly..”
The guide and the rangers were analyzing the creature with their ears pressed against the earthen wall side by side..
Although I avoided the fight for now, it was absolutely necessary to accurately identify the opponent..
And Harley—.
‘That pickaxe···.’
I didn't even care about the monster wandering above..
Even now, in Zaonic's hand, he is only staring with sparkling eyes at the extraordinary pickaxe that is silently expanding the underground space..
On the day the party first encountered the dwarf Zaonic, Harley was able to hear the detailed story of how he was able to survive in such a dangerous place..
Just like they did now, they dug into the ground, hid in an instant, and activated the barrier, and in that story, that was the object that was active along with the barrier magic tool..
‘At that time, I just thought it was like that and moved on..’
But the moment Zaonic saw the pickaxe he pulled out from his subspace, he realized right away..
That... that tool, filled with the soul and sweat of the Dwarven Zaonic Steelstone, is the medium that can become a sacrifice for 'customization'.!
‘I thought only symbolic items, such as branches of the World Tree, could be used, but it turns out that such personal belongings can also be used. ···If this happens, there will be a change in plan..’
At first, I hid the group in a safe place and tried to deal with the monster above by myself.···.
changed my mind.
‘I need to get my hands on that..’
When will an opportunity like this come again??
I should have gotten this in advance while I could..
But perhaps those greedy eyes were too blatant, and Zaonic, who was swinging a pickaxe to expand the space, turned his head and made eye contact with him..
“···what have you got to say?”
“Ah—it just seems like a great pickaxe, so I caught my eye without realizing it. I'm quite good at digging, but I can't believe I dug a hole this deep in just a few minutes. Because it's amazing!”
Zaonic's slightly wary face relaxed at Harley's sincere praise..
It's natural to be happy because the work you worked so hard to create has been praised..
“Oh wow, you really have great eyes! He looked more like a warrior than anyone else, but I recognized a tool that wasn't even a weapon.!”
That's what I thought, but it wasn't really that bad..
“Many people only admire cool weapons, but I believe that in order for a craftsman to demonstrate his best skills, he must also have the best equipment. That's why all the hammers and anvils in my blacksmith shop are made with great care. I brought only this ‘Eline’ here.···.”
Harley's praise must have touched a switch in him, and he continued raving about the pickaxe 'Eline' for a long time..
A pickaxe that was reborn as a magic tool by combining all kinds of precious rare metals, pounding and pounding for days, and finally containing the dwarf's secret spirit, the 'craftsman's soul'..
This tool, full of earth properties, can penetrate any solid ground like tofu..
It is also fully equipped with assistive functions for users, such as increasing work speed, reducing vibration and noise, and supporting physical strength.—.
It could truly be said to be a new weapon in the pickaxe world..
“When I create my best work, I even mine and use iron ore myself! The quality of ore varies depending on how it is mined, and it can better accept the craftsman's breath.···.”
Zaonic, who was emphasizing Eline's greatness as if she were bragging about her lover, then went on to tell the story of her birth..
From settling in the County of Aonia to properly utilize the abundant rare minerals in the northern mountains, to the need for a pickaxe to ensure stable mining in dangerous places..
“I made it when I was a former lord and am still using it, so it's already been over 20 years since we've been together! In the meantime, we have explored the mountains together with this child and overcome countless difficulties. This is my first time doing something as large-scale as this one.···.”
However, Zaonic grabbed the pickaxe with firm determination, saying that he and Elinne would be able to overcome this time together..
‘Indeed... it was so.’
That pickaxe was not simply something he made with passion..
It was an item that was nothing short of the 20 years of history of Zaonic, who had been building a business together for a long time even after it was born in his hands..
Harley, who had been quietly listening to his impassioned speech, followed his proud gaze and shifted her gaze to Eline..
However, unlike Zaonic's affectionate gaze, those eyes were extremely dark.···.
Chureup—
‘Ah, my lips keep getting dry..’
The sight of a muscular giant with a naked body full of tattoos licking his lips with sinister eyes was enough to make him speechless even if he was arrested for attempted crime, but fortunately, no one noticed because everyone was busy with their own business..
For a moment, we all held our breath and rested amidst the tension..
“uh?”
“monster···.”
A change occurred in the monster that finished eating above..
The guy must have been completely satisfied because he just lay down..
“What do we do? Just surprise him when he's off guard.?”
“How about digging a tunnel and getting out of here??”
Either way wasn't a good idea.
Not only was the barrier not movable, but it would see right through them and attack them the moment they left it..
“I'm not going to stay here forever. Waiting for him to go somewhere else?”
“How many monster corpses do you think are lying around up there? Why did he sit here??”
Of course, considering its size, it was clear that even that amount wouldn't last long..
But time was not on their side···.
“As time passes, people stronger than that guy will appear..”
You can't expect the situation to get better just by waiting..
Rather, there is a greater possibility that the situation will worsen..
But while everyone was in agony, Harley had other thoughts..
‘It's an opportunity!’
The only one who had the ability to overcome this situation was myself..
Maybe if we put our heads together we might come up with a good solution, but at least not right away..
That means···.
“Hmmmm! I have a good idea..”
Doesn’t this mean that you can make the situation go the way you want?.
“In the end, the problem is that the guy up there is sitting here, so wouldn't it be solved if we could lure him somewhere far away??”
“That should be so. The question is how do you do that?.”
“I take the initiative myself.”
Harley stepped forward with a confident smile and squared shoulders..
“Its moving speed isn't that fast. It's as simple as me provoking him, dragging him in the opposite direction of where we need to go and hiding.!”
“···Harley, did you do it yourself? That monster's detection range seems to be unusual, so I guess I can beat it.?”
“Pahaha! do not worry. Because if I'm alone, I can fool that guy's attention.!”
The group who had been with him and observed his extraordinary activities nodded without much disagreement at his words..
“If it's definitely Harley···.”
“Is it okay though? It's better if we all fight together···.”
When the opinions of the party are divided between the idea of passing the risk to only one person and whether it is possible..
Taking advantage of that opportunity, Harley continued speaking..
“Hmm, but it's true that no matter how much I do, I'm too anxious to completely run away from him. So he'd like some help···.”
And his subtle gaze fell on Zaonic..
To be exact, it was the pickaxe he was holding in his hand, ‘Eline’..
gulp—
He carefully swallowed the drool welling up in his mouth and spoke politely to Zaonic without showing it..
“Zaonic, the digging abilities of that extraordinary pickaxe you made would be very helpful in getting the job done safely.!”
“Uh...huh?! Eline···?”
As all eyes around him focused on him, Zaonic, sensing something uneasy, was startled and hugged the pickaxe in his arms..
Harley appealed even more strongly to the sight of anyone not wanting to give it to him..
With that help, he will be able to complete his mission safely, and then everyone will be able to get out of this mountain range safely..
‘So give me that!’
Zaonic broke into a cold sweat and secretly looked away from his strong-willed gaze..
“Yes... the size won't fit.?”
Obviously, as a dwarf, his height does not even reach Harley's waist, so a pickaxe tailored to his height would be nothing more than a hoe to Harley..
But Harley shook her head resolutely..
“no! If Elin was the strongest pickaxe on the continent, such a problem would be nothing. Don’t you think so??”
“Oh, of course! Ha, but···.”
However, Zaonic knew well that there was nothing he could do about it..
Harley, who voluntarily takes risks for everyone, says it is necessary for safety, so how can you refuse?.
Although it is a tool that has been cherished for a long time, equipment is just equipment..
Even if you have used all kinds of valuable materials and maintained them consistently, equipment is essentially consumables..
And it's not even the blacksmith's hammer, which is the most precious treasure.···.
‘No, not this one! I'm sorry, Eline... I had no intention of discriminating. Everyone is precious to me.’
Zaonic, who was confused for a moment, had no choice but to close his eyes tightly and hold out the pickaxe to Harley with trembling hands..
“Well... it's okay if it gets a little broken, so just give it back to me and I'll return and repay you with a better weapon..”
“hmm! I will try my best. But I can't give you a definite answer because I don't know what will happen in the future.!”
In general terms, he was heading to a place that was no different from death.···.
Of course, it could be damaged or lost during battle..
“···no. I said something pointless. No matter how precious the equipment is, your life is more precious. When times get tough, don't overdo it and it's okay to give up... it's okay... Sigh!”
Harley took the pickaxe, but Zaonic looked at it with a sad expression and did not let go of his hand..
For some reason, he too is feeling an uneasy feeling..
This will be their last meeting, and what awaits them is only eternal separation..
Harley waited with a generous heart at first, but as the time gradually became longer, he strengthened the arm holding the pickaxe and slowly lifted it..
Zaonic, hanging and rising languidly.
When I shake it left and right, it swings back and forth like a pendulum..
dump—
But he couldn't keep doing that forever, so he soon gave up, lost his grip and fell to the floor..
The face that looked blankly at the pickaxe that had fallen into Harley's hand had an expression as if her lover had been taken away, which made me feel uncomfortable..
I guess you could say I feel like a bad guy.
‘No, he's the bad guy. 'Cause I don't plan on giving this back.’
Seeing him so heartbroken made me feel guilty again, but I tried my best to pretend not to notice and hung the pickaxe on the belt at my side..
‘Sorry, you saved my life instead, right? If it weren't for me, they would all have died anyway, so let's just get over it..’
When I saw Zaonic's pitiful appearance, the madness that had been sleeping suddenly rose up like wildfire, but I suppressed it this time desperately..
‘Anyway, it's not a good idea to lick the pickaxe in front of me and look down at it with laughter.!’
‘Perhaps due to the influence of 'madness', it was a crazy impulse that was different from before, but if I crossed the line that far, the heroic appearance I had shown so far would be completely swept away..
Yeah, I guess I'll have to do that where no one is watching..
Anyway, that's not what matters now.
The important thing is that as various events unfolded, the karma points had already accumulated enough to create a new avatar..
‘Very good. Then what should I name it??’
In the end, it was in his hands..
Eline... no.
Dwarf.
Comments