My Alter Ego’s Path to Greatness - Chapter 144

#144

To the Great Temple of Roselia (1)

Land—! Taaang—! earth!

The sound of metal being struck regularly rang out in a space filled with intense heat.

Chiiik—

forging by striking iron, quenching by rapidly cooling it, and tempering by heating it again.

The complex and labor-intensive processes continued smoothly without a moment’s hesitation.

“Whoa….”

And finally, the whole process is over.

The moment when a sword is completed by connecting a pre-made handle to a sharp blade that has been polished.

《The entity achieved enlightenment through repeated training. Acquire the skill “Metallurgy.”

…Dwarf Howard was able to be recognized as a ‘blacksmith’ by the system.

“Oh, it’s finally come out! Uh-huh—!”

When a technique became a ‘skill’ through training, it meant that the karma accumulated in that action had exceeded a certain level.

It is one of the privileges of awakened people from another world that helps them grow more smoothly by providing additional corrections every time they do a related job.

This was accomplished in just a few weeks while working in parallel with Hubert’s work.

Howard looked at his hand holding the hammer and slowly regained his senses.

The dwarf’s sensitive senses detected a slight change in the grip holding the hammer.

And he could instinctively feel that he could now handle tools more precisely, more efficiently, and more naturally.

‘Hmm, that’s good. The synergy with “craftsmanship” is also significant. This is also a skill that grows according to accumulated proficiency, so the effect will become stronger as time goes by.’

The timing of acquiring the skill was also very appropriate.

Tomorrow is the day we are introduced to the dwarf Zaonic through Harley, who has returned to Tarak.

‘Now, unlike before, the situation in the Iron Fortress has become much more stable.’

The Iron Fortress, which was driven to a dangerous point immediately after the outbreak of madness, was finally able to take a breather as time passed and the number of supporting troops began to increase one by one.

Also, perhaps due to the influence of the Principality of Rohan, the recent monster inundation has decreased significantly, creating an unexpected amount of leeway.

So he was thinking of doing all the work he had been putting off at once.

‘Before Harley leaves for the Great Temple of Roselia, I need to introduce Howard to Zaonic and get a new axe.’

Count Aonia had once promised him a new weapon.

Zaonic didn’t have much objection to hearing that it was a weapon for Harley to use, and immediately moved to Tarak’s forge and started work.

And now, several weeks later, I finally received word that the ax was completed.

Originally, Zaonic was going to pick up the weapons himself and transport them to the Iron Fortress, but…

‘There was news coming from the temple at the same time, so Harley decided to visit Tarak in person tomorrow and pick them up. As a bonus, introduce Howard as well.’

So, I couldn’t help but be more glad that I had now acquired ‘Metallurgy’.

At least at this level, you won’t be told that he’s not even basic enough.

The day passed in anticipation like that.

After finishing his business as usual, Howard headed to the central blacksmith shop owned by Tarak City with Harley.

‘But now there are only a few days left until Hubert returns. There was a significant delay due to moving Hans around.’

Of course, we need to establish measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future, but for now, I am satisfied that things are back on track.

Murmuring—

“Hey, look over there.”

“Ah—that’s the famous Harley these days. I guess you’re back in Tarak? …huh? But that…”

“Dwarf?”

All eyes are drawn to them as they walk majestically down the main street.

The sight of Harley, who was well over 2 meters tall, and Howard, who was just short of his waist, walking side by side, attracted a lot of attention, but this level of attention was no longer tickling.

When they arrived at the blacksmith shop, they were immediately led inside as promised.

Harley was finally able to reunite with Zaonic for the first time in a long time.

“Haha! It’s been a while, Zaonic! “How have you been?”

“…uh? Ugh! Okay, this has been a while. I heard about your activities so far. “I’m glad you look healthy!”

But there was something strange about his attitude.

To be precise, from the moment he faced Howard, whom Harley had brought in, he was showing a subtle reaction.

“…That’s right, is this the dwarf you wanted to introduce? “He certainly looks quite young.”

And as if he was distracted, his head from talking to Harley turned back to Howard.

As if he couldn’t bear anything that bothered him.

“Hmm! Nice to meet you. Elderly! “My name is Howard.”

“…Okay, nice to meet you. “I am Zaonic Steelstone.”

For a conversation between two men with bushy beards, the feeling of discomfort was overwhelming, but when seen through the eyes of a fellow dwarf, the conversation was nothing out of the ordinary.

In the eyes of Harley, who was of a different race, they looked like similar-aged, furry men, but in Howard’s eyes, Zaonic was a handsome middle-aged man with a fairly mature appearance.

On the contrary, in Zaonic’s eyes, he will look like a green baby.

‘It’s been a little strange since a while ago. I don’t think it’s negative, but there’s something subtle about it.’

His reaction just now wasn’t the kind you’d get simply because it was a fellow countryman you hadn’t seen in a long time.

What can I say, it’s a bit more intimate and emotional than that…

“Hmm, it might seem strange to suddenly say something like this…”

At that time, Zaonic cleared his throat and carefully opened his mouth.

“…Have you seen me anywhere before?”

“Well, I’ve been wandering around since I was young, but this is the first time I’ve encountered people of the same species.”

“Then, as expected, my parents…”

“Yes, he passed away when I was young, and I have been living alone ever since. “Until I met Harley.”

As their conversation continued to that point, Harley tried to talk about ‘Harley’s Great Adventure’, Act 5, Chapter 2, ‘Meeting with the Wandering Dwarf’, but… “

…Yeah, I see. “I guess so.”

Zaonic was still lost in his thoughts and just muttered to himself.

“Oh, I’m sorry. For some reason, you don’t feel like a stranger. This is… Yes, it seems like a child or grandchild who went a long way has returned. Of course I’m single! Hahaha!”

“Oh, I see. Ugh!”

“Khaha! “I thought I had a separated family again!”

Zaonic, who must have noticed that the atmosphere was depressed because of him, forced a smile.

Howard and Harley laughed along with him so that he wasn’t embarrassed, but inside they were quickly analyzing the current situation.

‘Could this be…. Eline’s influence?’

Elin, a new weapon of the pickaxe world, was created with great effort by the dwarf Zaonic and whom he had been with for a long time and cherished like his own child.

That was the medium that became the foundation for Howard’s birth.

‘If you look at it that way, it’s true that he is a grandson.’

As he was also a craftsman, he seemed to have something to do with Howard’s creations.

“Whew—I’m sorry. Stop being so sentimental on your own. Oops! I guess I’ll have to give him the ax first. “Come here and see.”

But soon, as if to calm his mind, he shook off his hair, patted his cheek, and led them inside to hand over the weapons.

And there was ‘it’ inside the studio we arrived at.

“It’s an ax I did my best to make. “It’s a masterpiece, processed entirely from black magic steel and even coated with adamantium on the blade to maximize durability, just as you ordered!”

Lying where he pointed was a huge ax made entirely of black metal.

“The only downside is that it’s so heavy that it’s not even remotely practical? “There are not many people who can lift it, let alone swing it… but it doesn’t matter to you, right?”

A large ax blade suitable for a thick and long handle over 2 meters long, and a sharp hook on the other side of the spear tip.

It had an appearance closer to an ‘axe spear’ than an ‘axe’, but it also had a blade too large to be considered simply that.

“Ohh—this! “It’s so big and beautiful!”

And the vicious weapons that only the giant monsters in the game could wield were a perfect fit for Harley’s taste.

He quickly ran to where the ax was placed and carefully picked it up with a pounding heart.

Hooong—

I could hear the heavy sound of air moving even though I was just lifting something off the floor.

It had an overwhelming weight beyond what it appeared on the outside…

“It’s quite heavy, too! After all, a weapon should be like this! Hahaha!”

Of course, it was just the right weight for Harley.

Boom—boo—!

In one corner of the large workshop, the wind rose as the ax was lightly whipped with one hand, making a bloody sound.

“First of all, I named it ‘Giant Killer’, but if you don’t like it, you can change it.”

“Ah, that’s enough! It’s a perfect name too! Kahaha!”

When I got my hands on a weapon I liked, I couldn’t stop laughing.

As expected from a dwarven weapon, this ax had excellent aesthetics and exuded a sense of luxury that could satisfy one’s vanity just by holding it.

Of course, anyone who encounters this in person will first come out with a lament closer to resignation rather than admiration for the luxury product.

“But… are you sure you’ll be okay? “When I heard the news after my work was finished, I heard that quite a lot had happened.”

Zaonic, who was nodding happily after seeing Harley look so satisfied, suddenly spoke as if he was worried.

“The Immortal King who attacked the Great Temple not only destroyed the Principality of Rohan, but also devastated the empire of Tobea not long ago, right?”

It was a story about a world situation that no one could know, but since he was also a close associate of the lord, it was nothing for him to obtain this much information.

Besides, isn’t this a big issue that is causing a stir on the continent without being particularly confidential?

“But you suddenly recommended me to the death squad… Of course, I’m not saying you’re lacking, but it feels like something is sudden.”

The fact that he was recommended means that someone recommended him.

It wasn’t public information, but Harley knew very well who they were.

‘It was the mercenary guild and tribal alliance.’

The guild knew about him well, so it wasn’t surprising, but the tribal alliance in the south was a bit surprising.

No matter how much he pretended to be a southern warrior, there was no real contact…

“Haha! Well, it doesn’t really matter! “All I have to do is crush everything that stands in my way with this axe!”

Harley, who was itching to try out the new axe, snorted repeatedly.

I wanted to attack the northern mountains right away, but unfortunately, it wasn’t the time yet.

“Rather than that, Zaonic, have you thought about what I asked you to do? How do you feel about seeing it in person today?”

“hmm… “You mean you want me to teach that friend some lessons?”

At his words, Zaonic glanced at Howard with a serious expression and fell into trouble again.

I had no choice but to be cautious about teaching more properly than just a few words of advice.

Although it is called the ‘Secret Secret of the Dwarves’, it was not necessarily revealed to all Dwarves.

In the first place, there is no way that artisans would pass on their knowledge to someone who is not qualified.

Of course, they were not as closed off as other races, but their skills were usually passed down through families or tribes.

No matter how much Harley asked, it’s not knowledge worth passing on to someone you just met today.

But…

“…well, anyway, I can’t just let everything I’ve built up remain forever. “It must have been fate that we met on the Aeon Continent like this.”

What came out of Zaonic’s mouth was a cool acceptance.

“And more than anything, no matter how much I think about that guy, he doesn’t look like anyone else. “Wow—that’s amazing.”

“Ha ha ha ha! “Isn’t this all destiny? Let alone cancer!”

Harley, the person who kidnapped Eline, avoided his gaze with an awkward smile.

In this way, Howard was finally able to officially learn ‘Dwarven Vision’ from Zaonic.

After finishing everything, Harley moved to the Roselia Grand Shrine with a light heart.