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Fall of the Holy City – Part 03

Venturing underground was not a terrible idea for Hikaru. He wanted Ranna to pay for poisoning Lavia anyway. If the opportunity arose, he planned to catch her and hand her over to the proper authorities. However, he didn’t want to willingly place himself in danger.

While Hikaru mulled it over, Luvain said, “I will give you whatever you want.” Clearly, this matter was a significant concern for the Church.

At the same time, Luvain’s deep trust in him was unsettling.

The underground pit was the Church’s topmost secret. Their forces being absent—they were currently battling the Quinbrand Empire—didn’t sound like a good enough reason to allow a complete outsider like Silver Face to investigate it.

“You will be accompanied by Igloo Fullblood, a Rank A adventurer,” Luvain said with a refreshing smile. “He should suffice in terms of combat capabilities.”

Great. Send the guy that’s been nothing but a pain in my butt.

Just from a quick look, Igloo gave the impression of a skirt-chaser. He relied heavily on his weapon, and had even attempted to kill Hikaru. The Church needed someone to keep an eye on Hikaru, and Igloo was a tricky individual to send into a war. Luvain likely thought assigning him as Silver Face’s chaperone was just the right job for him.

Hikaru returned to his tent to sleep, and when he woke up, it was already past nine in the morning.

“Good morning, Hikaru.”

“Ah, good morning, Lavia.”

Lavia, lounging in a hammock inside the tent, was reading a book they had left at the hotel where they stayed.

“You went back to the hotel to fetch the book,” she said.

“Yeah. You haven’t finished it, so. Besides, leaving it there would’ve been a bad idea.”

Lavia abruptly sat up. “Is it that bad inside the city? Did you meet with the Pope?”

“Hold that thought.” Jillarte appeared at the tent’s entrance. “I want to know about the situation too.”

Lavia gave her a scornful look. “This is a private space, so you can’t enter without permission.”

“I thought the wide-open entrance meant anyone was welcome to enter.”

“Of course, not. It’s open to let fresh air in.”

“I don’t see the problem. It’s not like we’re strangers.”

“No, we’re not. You’re a host, and we’re your guests. Even hosts don’t just barge into their guest’s room.”

“This tent belongs to Einbiest, though.”

“All the more reason not to do that, then. We’re guests—”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Hikaru intervened. “What’s wrong with you two? This isn’t the time for a silly argument.”

Lavia turned her face away, pouting.

“Sorry,” Jillarte said, lowering her head in embarrassment.

“Anyway, I do have things to talk about,” Hikaru said. “We can discuss it over breakfast. It’ll be easier than telling you separately.”

“Indeed. It’s a lot less effort to share it once than three times.”

A large shadow appeared at the entrance.

“…Seriously?”

It was Gerhardt, the leader of the Confederacy of Einbiest.

---

Hikaru ended up sharing everything with all three of them. Gerhardt, likely deducing that Hikaru had ventured into the Tower the previous night from Jillarte’s report, couldn’t help but be intrigued.

I wish she wouldn’t share everything with this guy.

Hikaru stared fixedly at Jillarte. She shrank back, understanding the message.

Thus, Hikaru recounted everything, including the underground pit. While it was top-secret information for the Church, for Hikaru it wasn’t, and Luvain had not told him to keep it confidential.

“Hmm. So what’s your plan?”

“Get my gear ready and head there.”

Hikaru had already decided to go. He couldn’t let Ranna roam free, and there was no one else suitable for the task. Of course, he intended to secure a substantial reward for his efforts.

“Hmm…” Gerhardt rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought, before finally saying, “Then I’m coming with you.”

“Are you serious? No, you’re not. You’re the boss here. Besides, this is Bios’ problem.”

“H-He’s right, Sir!” Jillarte chimed in vehemently. “What are you even saying? Think about the chaos that would ensue if you left.”

“Isn’t that what the deputy leader is for?”

“No, it’s not!”

“I’m going! I’ve made up my mind, and there’s no changing it!” Gerhardt roared.

Hikaru covered his ears immediately. Lavia’s reaction was slightly delayed; the lion Beastman’s booming voice rocked her eardrums, disorienting her.

“You can’t go! I know you.” Jillarte’s eyes glinted. “You’re just bored. You don’t want to wait here doing nothing.”

Seriously? Hikaru wondered in disbelief.

“You’re goddamn right!”

And he just admitted it.

“And if these undead monsters are delaying the release of our brethren, then I am prepared to lend assistance to Bios to resolve this matter swiftly.”

Gerhardt was also considering lending out Einbiest’s soldiers for security within the holy city. Whether or not Bios would accept the offer, though, was a different matter.

“We just need to go to that pit and stop the troublemaker, right? Then it’s my time to shine!”

“No, it’s not! If anything… Right, I should go.”

“Huh? Why you?”

“Because I’m the deputy leader, the leader’s proxy.” Jillarte grinned.

“No, I’m the one going,” Gerhardt growled.

“No, me!”

A crowd had gathered near the entrance of the tent. Representatives from various races were eagerly volunteering themselves. Their sharp ears had picked up the leader and deputy leader’s loud exchange, and they quickly realized that something interesting was going on, drawing them to the scene.

“I didn’t say I’d be taking anyone with me,” Hikaru muttered, but his voice went unheard.

---

Hikaru and Lavia returned to the holy city. Though it seemed less lively than usual, residents continued their activities during the day, likely compensating for the restrictions at nighttime.

“It’s been a while since we walked around without masks.”

“Yeah, I don’t really like the idea, but it’s definitely more comfortable this way.”

Today, they had adopted their adventurer guise, so masks weren’t necessary.

“So, off to the blacksmith, right?”

“I’ve nearly used up all my weapons in the battle with the chimera. I need some new ones. The guildmaster here recommended the blacksmith for me.”

“So we’re going on a date today.”

Lavia clung to Hikaru’s arm, which was a rare display of affection from her.

Unaware of the tension between Lavia and Jillarte, Hikaru simply thought, She’s so adorable when she’s affectionate.

“All right, then. We’re going on a date all day.”

“Will it get settled by evening?”

“Who knows… I’ll just go alone if it won’t.”

Gerhardt and the others were engaged in a match to determine who would join Silver Face in capturing the notorious criminal Ranna.

No one knew what was happening in the pit, but with the surface overrun by undead monsters, they were likely to be underground as well. Anticipating battles, they aimed for a small team of around ten people. Bringing a hundred was not an option. Hikaru suggested that no more than five or six from the Einbiest army should go.

Beastmen with nothing much to do had gathered, betting on who would be chosen. The match was likely in full swing. Typical Beastmen, Hikaru thought.

“Oh… we’re here.”

They arrived at what could be considered the holy city’s lower district. The cobblestone streets were uneven, lined with houses whose once-white walls had now yellowed.

Smithing required a lot of charcoal, so numerous chimneys dotted the area, billowing out smoke. The whole area was a blacksmith district. The Steelblood Brigade Forge was situated in the corner.

As Hikaru pushed the battered but well-working door, it swung open silently. It was small inside, with dirty floorboards. A silver bell rested on the counter lined with three stools. Behind the counter was a door.

“…Does this work?”

The sound of metal striking metal came from inside. Hikaru picked the bell up, wondering if it could be heard amid the noise.

Ting.

The bell, though clearly made of metal, produced a clear, glass-like sound. It was a simple bell with a plain design, but the metal used indicated it was crafted by a skilled blacksmith.

The clanging from inside abruptly ceased, replaced by rattling and the sound of hurried footsteps.

A little while later, the door swung open with a loud bang, revealing a Dwarf dressed in a tuxedo with a rose clutched between his teeth.

“Apologies for the delay! Welcome to the Steelblood Brigade Forge!”

Hikaru couldn’t shake the feeling of déjà vu.

“I can forge anything ye desire, from nails to a grand sword. I can even coordinate yer entire outfit. I’m Dodonno, the master of this forge!”

He winked emphatically, but his soot-covered cheeks and sweaty forehead hardly matched the glamor of his introduction.

“Um… are you related to Dodorono by any chance?” Hikaru asked.

This Dwarf bore an uncanny resemblance to the one who ran the clothing store in Pond.

As it turned out, they were brothers. Dodonno was the elder, and Dodorono the younger. When Hikaru mentioned Dodorono’s name, Dodonno appeared surprised, but soon tears welled up in his eyes.

“Wow! You’ve gone not only from me brother’s place but also to me forge! Ye, sir, are a god! Gods do exist!”

“No, I’m just a regular customer. Besides, the guild cards prove the existence of gods.”

“Take everything with ye!”

“No, I’ll pay properly.”

Dodonno’s enthusiasm showed no sign of waning, making it quite a challenge for Hikaru.

According to Dodonno, they grew up in an environment where Dwarves were synonymous with blacksmithing, yet he couldn’t help but be intrigued by fashion.

As the eldest son, Dodonno felt the pressure from his parents, leading him into blacksmithing. Nevertheless, he supported his younger brother, Dodorono, in pursuing his passion for fashion, even helping him in opening a clothing store.

When Dodonno established his own forge, he couldn’t resist the urge to dress stylishly in front of customers. So, he always had a tuxedo ready.

“New faces come but a few times in a year. And most of ‘em, they take one look at me and leave in fright.”

The tuxedo-clad Dwarf erupted into hearty laughter.

“Thanks to that, me monthly sales be in dire straits. Luckily, the Adventurers Guild’s master sends me some small jobs to help keep me stay afloat.”

If you’re struggling, why not stop wearing the tuxedo?

Dodonno, wearing a faraway look, explained that giving it up would mean losing himself. Apparently, dressing this way in a place with Dwarves would lead to unfavorable rumors, so he ended up working in Agiapole, a city without Dwarves but known for its harsh treatment of demi-humans, to make a living.

“So, what kind of outfit do you need?” Dodonno asked with a bright smile.

Hikaru came here to purchase weapons, not clothing, but the atmosphere made it difficult to state his intention. With some reluctance, Hikaru explained the situation, which left Dodonno dejected.

“A-Ah, I see. Weapons, huh?”

“Sorry. I’ll buy clothes some other time.”

“N-No, it’s okay. You’ve come all this way. Not providing ye with what ye need would be a blemish to the Dwarves’ reputation.”

“…”

He wasn’t a fan of his race’s perceived nature, yet overly concerned about their reputation.

When Dodonno presented the weapons, Hikaru was astounded.

“These should suit yer physique.”

There were no large weapons; everything was neatly displayed on the small counter. However, whether it was the gleam of the blades or the quality of the metal, every one of them was exceptional. There were five types of short swords, four types of daggers, throwing knives, a small axe, a staff with a concealed blade, and even a crossbow.

Hikaru decided to purchase ten throwing knives, a short sword, and a dagger. The issue was selecting the right ones from several options.

“How about this straight sword? It’s a bit heavy, though.”

Dodonno presented a single-edged straight sword. It was heavier than a double-edged sword, but Hikaru had allocated two points to Strength on his Soul Board, allowing him to swing it with ease.

“I like it,” Hikaru said. “Is there anything I need to keep in mind when using it?”

“Judging by the way ye handle it, ye seem to be quite the strong lad. In which case, there’s nothing to worry about. What makes it great is that it doesn’t break easily.”

“Sounds great.”

“It’s imbued with magic that enhances durability.”

Hikaru nodded, already aware of it through his Mana Detection.

“For those with higher skill, I would usually recommend a more challenging sword.”

“Oh, you noticed. To be honest, I didn’t attend any particular swordsmanship school.”

“You’re an adventurer, right? In that case, it’s better to have something more durable. Besides…” Dodonno’s eyes sparkled. “I also have a dagger with the same design. You can have a matching set and steal everyone’s attention!”

I said I don’t need a matching set. The words rose to Hikaru’s throat, but he managed to swallow them back down.

“…I’ll take the matching dagger, then.”

“Splendid!”

With boundless enthusiasm, Dodonno attached the dagger and short sword to a leather belt, which he handed to Hikaru as a freebie.

“One shortsword, one dagger, and ten throwing knives… That’s 15,000 gilans total.”

“That sounds too low. For weapons of this quality, it shouldn’t be less than 30,000 gilans.”

“I appreciate that, but a newbie like ye shouldn’t worry about it, eh? Ye can just hire me once ye make it big.”

Hikaru assumed Dodonno wanted payment, not employment. This Dwarf was too much for him to handle.

“By the way, yer not planning to fight undead creatures in the city at night, are ye?”

“Are these weapons not enough?”

“Hmm.” Dodonno groaned. “Regular weapons don’t work against undead creatures. You’ll need to use elemental magic or… sprinkle the weapons with holy water from the Church.”

“Holy water…”

“Unfortunately, holy water loses its effect quickly. Ye should be fine if ye carry a bottle of holy water for self-defense.”

“So if I actually wanted to hunt them, I would need a lot of bottles.”

“That’s right… There, it’s done.”

Dodonno fastened the belt around Hikaru’s waist. It was a left-waist setup, reminiscent of a Japanese katana. For Hikaru’s current build, the short sword’s length was just right.

“Perfect!”

“Thank you.”

“Seeing yer black hair is getting me creative juices flowing. I’m gonna work! Woohoo!”

Hikaru bid farewell to Dodonno and exited the Steelblood Brigade Forge.