You will reap what you sow (3)
Upon hearing the news that a ship they had never seen before appeared, the people of Shoara began to flock like a cloud.
This ship, said to have been brought by dwarves, was enough to stimulate people’s curiosity, and although it was not intentional, it added warmth to the people who were cowering due to the unstable situation.
“…That’s cool.”
People flock to the dock as if a festival was taking place.
Among the people who gathered in such large numbers were Haven and Otar.
Although the haven was swaying back and forth due to the turbulent flow of people, it did not waver as long as the gaze was focused on the boat.
“I heard it moved on its own even though the sail was folded?”
“hmm.”
“How can that be? Is it because of the watermill next to it?”
“hmm.”
Haven seemed excited and was talking non-stop, but Otar, who had to answer, didn’t have the presence of mind to do so.
Even now, I had to maintain his balance on behalf of Haven, who was losing his attention.
“It is a ship that moves on its own without relying on the wind….” The
loud noise that pierced my ears and the shaking of the crowd that made me feel seasick even though I was standing on the ground.
However, for now, Haven can only see the dwarves’ ships displaying their majesty before their eyes.
Even though he was shaken, his firm eyes looked similar to those of a boy standing in the mud.
“please. “I want to ride it sometime.”
Even though he didn’t want to, he was a cripple who couldn’t stand on his own two feet, so he had no choice but to sway back and forth.
However, his eyes as he looked at the object of his envy were unwavering.
Haven really wanted that boat that could move on its own without relying on anything.
Like Haven’s slowly rising desire, faint smoke was spreading from inside the ships of the nameless dwarves.
According to people who had been here before, it was the smoke they had been seeing since they first arrived.
※※※※
Shoara’s mayor’s office is full of fragrant smells.
Even Vlad, who had no knowledge of tea, could tell that it was an expensive tea, but the dwarf’s expression as he stared at the teacup looked somehow serious.
“Hmm… The water that we put in with the grass scraps is a little bit.”
It seemed like it wasn’t just a matter of taste.
The dwarf, who identified himself as Sigurson of Nidavellir, was looking at Josef with a subtle expression.
Several dwarves who were with him also seemed to have a problem, as they did not hide their confusion.
“If you don’t like tea… can I exchange it for alcohol?”
“If there was alcohol, you should have brought it out a long time ago.”
Sigursson’s final tone rose significantly, as if he had been waiting for those words.
“According to our custom, offering tea is like telling you to get out of here. Of course, you did this because you didn’t know.”
“iced coffee. You said so. “This was rude.”
Following Josef’s hurriedly winking instructions, Vlad quickly opened the cabinet door and began to take out Josef’s favorite bottles of alcohol.
Unlike the West, the North had no interaction with the Dwarves at all, so the current situation was inevitable.
“I was really embarrassed. “Actually, this is my first time experiencing something like this.”
Sigurdsson burst into laughter as he finally looked at his new glass of wine.
This was because I did not want to make a mistake due to mutual ignorance.
“I read the letter you sent. “Our chief was also quite happy.”
“……Is that so.”
After listening to Sigurdsson, Josef held up his teacup and covered his faint smile.
He said he was willing.
It was just a letter of goodwill and did not promise much, but it seemed like the dwarves also had things they wanted to do through the Northern Alliance.
“And it was nice to see the gift you sent along with the letter.”
“……?”
Sigursson picked up his glass and raised it towards Vlad, who was standing next to him.
Everyone was puzzled by his sudden actions, but Sigurdsson of Nidavellir had a reason for doing so.
“Thank you. Vlad of Shoara. “For sending our children back.”
“ah.”
As he looked at Sigurdson’s wincing eyes, the events in Nassau began to appear in Vlad’s mind.
“It was the first time that dwarves who had been sold as slaves were sent back. “If it weren’t for that, I probably wouldn’t have come this far.”
What the human knight sent to the dwarves was not just a letter.
The basement of the slave market, which was disguised as a bar, was full of young dwarf children as well as the warrior Vulcanu.
If it weren’t for Vlad, those children who were locked up behind bars would have probably wandered the West for the rest of their lives, never being able to return to their hometown.
“I thought all humans were the same, but it seems that some people act differently depending on where they live. “We decided to think about it that way.”
“I see.”
Although it wasn’t something he did with specific intentions, Vlad’s actions were enough to win the dwarves great favor.
Unlike the West, which had treated dwarves like livestock for a long time, the people of the North, who had newly occupied Nassau, were sending a different message to themselves.
“I am the person in charge of one of the 12 tribes that make up Nidavellir. “We have enough authority to convey our opinions.”
Are all dwarves like this? Or is the dwarf named Sigursson special?
Sigurdsson drank his glass of wine and started to get straight to the point without even thinking about it.
“I want to control the West. We will do it ourselves, but we need some help.”
“Uh um. I see. “I thought so.”
The pace of conversation was difficult for Josef, who was accustomed to conversations between nobles, to keep up.
Josef quickly began pouring whiskey into a teacup as the dwarves spoke freely between politeness and rudeness.
“Among them, the Gaidars were especially bastards. “I heard they’re fighting those guys.”
“That’s right. “It’s a lull right now, but it will come to an end someday.”
Not only Sigursson but also the dwarves who were with him began to clap their hands, as if they liked Josef’s expression of putting an end to it.
Vlad was rolling his eyes as if he was anxious as the atmosphere was becoming more and more like a market, and Xayar slowly started fiddling with his eye patch.
The people of the North were not yet immune to dwarves.
“The enemy of my enemy is like an ally, so there must be something we can do together!”
Seeing Sigurdson’s hand reaching out as if it was done, Josef began to panic for the first time in a long time.
A resolution for an alliance to be concluded with a single handshake.
Seeing Sigurdson finish what would have taken even Hainal, who had been fully cooperating for several days, in just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Josef could only hold his outstretched hand.
“Let’s do it together. Bayezid and the Northern Coalition welcome Nidavellir.”
“Good!”
I wondered if it was okay to proceed this quickly, but it had to be done anyway.
The dwarves, who couldn’t even hear the applause, began to look at the bottles in Josef’s cabinet as if they were finally done.
Even though it was only time to have a cup of tea.
※※※※
“What is this? What’s happening?”
The smile of a rose that has just lit up.
However, Goat, who had rushed in, told me to vacate the store today.
Everything from the lobby to the rooms where guests will sleep.
“City Hall was robbed.”
“what?”
“Are you drinking a lot today? “It should be twice as much as usual.”
Gemina, who was anxiously waiting for Vlad to see if something had happened, soon saw small men screaming in disarray from behind him.
They were tall enough to barely reach Vlad’s chest, but their shoulders were as broad as they were narrow.
Moreover, the fact that they all had long beards was clearly a attire and behavior that had never been seen in the North before.
“Perhaps those people…”
“That’s right. “It’s a dwarf.”
Vlad shook his head with an expression of disgust and grabbed both of Zemina’s shoulders.
“They say he likes meat. Meat rather than fish. “The stronger the alcohol, the better.”
“Yep.”
The look in Vlad’s eyes was unusual.
It looked the same as the look in his eyes when he was a freshman and told that the truth had come to light today.
“And don’t serve vegetables or anything like that. “They say potatoes are okay.”
“okay.”
Josef, who was a strong drinker but weak in stamina, had long ago passed away, and only the bars in the back alleys could satisfy the dwarves who were still hungry for alcohol.
Among them, the only place that had formality and scale was the Rose Smile, so it was a natural decision for Vlad to bring the dwarves here.
“Vlad, the knight of the humans!”
“Yes, that’s right. “I am Vlad.”
“Honorable rescuer of children! “You should have seen the scene when the children arrived!”
“yes yes. “It would have been nice to see it.”
As soon as Vlad skillfully put the dwarves in like a waiter, the waiting food began to be placed on the table.
Since there was no time, simply warmed sausages went up first, but that alone made the dwarves’ eyes widen.
“Northerners know how to treat guests! very good!”
“The smell of sausage is amazing!”
The dwarves, who were satisfied with only the basic snacks, began to liven up the atmosphere by making loud noises.
It was such a merriment that even Bordan, who came belatedly to entertain Sigurdson, found it difficult to join in.
“Please understand. “Everyone was exhausted from the long voyage.”
“no. I understand.”
It was said that Nidavellir, the Dwarven Liberation Front, was based on an island.
Since we traveled all the way back to Shoara from that place in a secret location, everyone can’t help but be happy to see a proper meal for the first time in a long time.
“Thank you for visiting here. “Even though it was just a letter.”
“It was the right time and need for each other. “It’s nothing special.”
Sigurdsson was waving his hands as if he was satisfied with Vlad’s words, but it was certainly an unconventional move.
No matter how many children they rescued, they still came all the way here with that big boat.
Perhaps the relationship with Nidavellir will be a great help to Josef, who is competing for the head of the family.
“I heard there’s a blacksmith shop near here? “It may be difficult today, but I’ll take a look at your armor tomorrow.”
“No, it’s okay…”
The reason Sigursson came all the way to Shoara was not only to respond to Josef’s letter, but also to repay Vlad.
Not only was it a tradition for the dwarves to return favors with favors, but it was also an opportunity to strengthen their relationship with the Northern Union through the symbol of Vlad.
“Don’t refuse. “The reason the Westerners wanted to make us slaves in the first place was because of their dexterity.”
Even if there was no interaction, it was known that the dwarves were dexterous.
The reason the cavalry of the West was famous in the first place was because of their light yet strong dwarven armor and spears.
“Even though I’m not an expert in metallurgy, I’m better than those humans. So don’t feel too burdened…”
However, when Sigursson faced Vlad, he wanted to put all that aside and take off Vlad’s armor.
There were dents here and there, but the finish was nicely polished.
Moreover, even at a glance, he could see the devices prepared to offset the shock.
It was clearly the work of a craftsman.
“While I’m away, I’ll take a look at the sword too. “For knights, the condition of their sword is directly related to their life.”
“…….”
Sigursson gives a glance as if he wants to take a look here.
Vlad didn’t like it when he saw his eyes starting to shine, but it was something he couldn’t help.
“It’s rude to ask a knight to draw his sword like you would offer a teacup to a dwarf.”
“Still, I really want to see you sometime.”
In the end, Sigursson was unable to hide his true feelings and just spoke out, but the same was true for the dwarves around him.
They are said to have been born with the eyes of a craftsman and had already noticed that Vlad’s armor and sword were unusual.
“……All right.”
It didn’t feel good because it felt like I was performing a trick, but the dwarves in front of me were valuable guests.
Vlad, who thought it would be okay to draw it from a distance, gently pulled the sword out of the scabbard.
“…….”
There was a blue light.
From Vlad’s sword, which is shown very briefly.
Some dwarves who encountered that shimmering light were so startled that they even dropped the sausage they were chewing.
Vlad, who sensed something suspicious in the dwarves’ gradually changing eyes, quickly sheathed his sword, but the joyous atmosphere from earlier had not returned at all.
“Is there something wrong with my sword?”
“……”
Sigursson, who had almost fallen down on the table, drawn by the shining light, was still looking at Vlad’s scabbard with blank eyes.
Between the blue lights that quickly disappeared.
Sigurdson had clearly seen a young lizard breathing fire at him as if it was happy to see him.
