The Returnee's Hidden Strategy Stream

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter: 106

"That's absolutely ridiculous. It's impossible with their declining technology."

Pirnen firmly denied the idea, her distrust of the dwarves palpable.

"I'll take responsibility for the results. After all, what other options do we have? Or would you prefer to cover it with unsightly materials?"

"...."

Struck by his directness, Pirnen fell silent. She frowned, deep in thought.

After a moment, she replied with a condition. "Very well. If it fails as expected, we'll retrieve that golden bracelet. Of course, I'll pay you the reward."

"Agreed. And while they're repairing it, let the dwarves stay in the city. They can stay quietly in the dilapidated building at the north end."

"...Very well."

Pirnen nodded reluctantly, having heard about the state of the village.

This was a sufficient outcome.

"I'll give you a report separately, but if you want to give up, feel free to come find me. I'll see you soon."

With a casual greeting, she disappeared into the city.

Jinuk, who had been glaring at him, also left with his group.

Ding-!

[Main Quest #5 completed.]

[Received 200,000 gold.]

[60,000 experience points awarded.]

[5 stat points awarded.]

[Progress significantly increased.]

[Main Quest #6: Survival]

After repelling the first wave, you successfully negotiated with the mayor.

How are the dwarves who evacuated underground?

Objective: Return to the village and confirm the dwarves' survival.

Reward: None

*Current progress: 22%n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The main quest completion message followed immediately. The progress increase was enormous.

Swish-

At that moment, someone from the dispersing extermination squad turned around.

He was a handsome adventurer in his 40s with brown hair.

"I was very impressed with your performance earlier. I never thought an outsider would be so helpful. As a citizen of Ifrit, thank you."

The adventurer extended his hand and greeted him warmly.

Hanbit shook his hand lightly in return.

"It's nothing. It was something I had to do."

"You're very mature for your age. I'm Xenon, a B-rank adventurer. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask."

"I'm Black Dragon. I'll be sure to let you know if I need anything."

The exchange of names ended quickly.

Even though it was just the beginning, he knew he would be relying on this man in the future.

'So, now it's time for the other side.'

Alone, Hanbit turned his gaze north.

In the quiet village, he could faintly see small figures moving busily.

"Black Dragon!"

Avantgarde appeared from the gap in the wall.

"Where have you been? I thought you'd join us right away."

"I checked around the village. Just in case there were any intruders."

"Really? Did you find anything?"

"I found two NPCs. They seemed like the mayor's men."

He nodded in satisfaction, as if he had expected it.

Hanbit had already noticed this, but he didn't mention it.

"Then let's go to the dwarven village."

"Yes!"

The two of them walked towards the outer edge of the north wall.

As they got closer to the village, they heard a strange sound.

"Damn it!"

The voice belonged to the dwarven prince, Gorik.

He was frantically searching through the ruined village, even throwing off the robe he always wore.

"Kudran! Rikenna! Zenobo! Where are you?!"

Gorik's voice was filled with desperation as he called out the names of his people.

Hanbit was surprised to see him like this.

'This is the first time I've seen him react like this.'

Unlike in the past, he was trying to make the best of the situation. Perhaps because he wasn't alone this time.

For whatever reason, Gorik was expressing more intense emotions than before.

“Can’t you hear me!? Can’t you...”

As he moved deeper and deeper into the village, he came to an abrupt halt at its center. Then, he knelt and fell into despair.

-ㅠㅠㅠ

-They're all dead. ㅠㅠ

-Annihilation (not death)

-Did he really want to come back?

-That damn pride;

His sudden change from his usual blunt self surprised everyone.

Hanbit slowly walked inside.

“There’s no need to shout like that.”

“...!“

Hearing a familiar voice, Gorik turned his head sharply.

His eyes widened as he jumped up and strode towards Hanbit.

“You! What have you done to my servants... to my people!”

“What do you mean?”

“You told me to watch! You told me to watch as the monsters ravaged my village!”

Gorik believed it was all a trap set by Hanbit. While it wasn’t entirely wrong, Hanbit offered an explanation.

“I meant for you to see how the people here actually lived. I risked my life fighting, didn’t I?”

“...“

Seeing the monster’s blood on his sleeve, Gorik was speechless. It reminded him of his own helplessness as he watched the attack unfold.

“Come with me.”

“...What?”

Hanbit walked towards a place with an underground space. Gorik followed him, looking bewildered.

“Where are you going! I asked where my people are!”

“I know. So come and see for yourself.”

“What kind of nonsense are you...”

The two continued their conversation as they reached a collapsed building near the center.

As they began to clear the rubble, Gorik asked, “What are you doing?”

“Ah, I hear something from below.”

Thud-

A sound came from beneath the ground.

And after a while.

“That’s it!”

Someone emerged from the rubble, pushing aside the tightly packed stones and dirt.

“Kudran?”

“...Your Highness?”

The two dwarves, their eyes meeting, called out to each other at the same time.

-Hi

-Welcome back.

-Ta-da, everyone's alive~

Their gazes locked, and Kudran's reaction went a step further.

"Your Highness? Are you really His Highness?"

“No……”

Gorik couldn’t answer his servant’s urgent question properly.

The desperate urgency he had felt earlier was nowhere to be seen.

“Your Highness?”

“Your Highness?”

“What? Really?”

The other dwarves who had followed also saw Gorik.

The scene of them crowding around him was like a family reunited after a long time.

Well, at least on the surface.

“Your Highness?”

The elder, who had also emerged from underground, looked at Gorik with wide eyes.

“...As long as you're safe, that's all that matters.”

Gorik turned away, avoiding his gaze.

Then he began to walk quickly towards the village gate.

“Your Highness! Wait……”

“Ah, I’ll go with you. Jaeha, come with me.”

“Me?”

Kim Jaeha stepped forward, puzzled.

In any case, he followed Gorik along with Hanbit.

They stopped five minutes after leaving the village.

“Where are you going?”

“...This is far enough.”

Gorik replied, leaning against the wall, to Hanbit’s question.

His expression was a mixture of relief and emptiness.

“When did you dig that underground space?”

“Shortly after a small monster attack. I thought we should make a shelter.”

“I see.”

Gorik nodded at the clear answer.

Gorik glanced up and asked softly, "Are the people going to stay in the village? They wouldn't be able to survive if monsters attacked again."

"No, I've already negotiated with the mayor to let them into the city. But in exchange, they have to repair the broken wall."

"The wall? You mean to make them repair it? Without me?"

Gorik's voice trembled with uncertainty. He knew very well that it was impossible without the dwarves' metallurgy skills.

"What would you prefer? If you don't help, your people will have a hard time. Or would you rather have the wall covered with unsightly materials?"

"...You're quite cunning."

Gorik clicked his tongue, admitting the logic of Hanbit's argument. Yet, no better solution came to mind.

He turned to Kim Jaeha and said, "Can you really learn it? Do you have the perseverance? It'll be difficult to endure the process of learning my skills."

"I'll see any task through to the end. Isn't that better than abandoning your people?"

"...I guess I'll have to teach him some manners first."

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Wow, he's bold. ㅋㅋ

-Gorik's been taken;

-I bet they'll fight 100%.

Kim Jaeha's sharp retort was unexpected, considering his personality. However, Hanbit had somewhat anticipated it. Their attitudes towards responsibility were vastly different, especially for someone who had abandoned their people.

"I'm glad to see you two getting along. Anyway, please start teaching whenever it's convenient for you. Where would you like to do it?"

"I don't want to do it in the city. Since the village is in ruins, no one will come. Let's use the underground space I created."

"Alright. Kim Jaeha, give him this."

"...Ah."

Kim Jaeha recalled something at Hanbit's words. He opened his inventory and handed Gorik a dog tag-like iron plate.

"Here you go."

"Alright."

Gorik quietly examined the artifact. Then, he looked up at Hanbit.

"Why do you need dwarven metallurgy? Is it for personal use?"

"That's part of it, but protecting Ifrit is my priority. If a stronger monster attacks in our current state, the damage would be significant."

"Hmm."

Gorik nodded, glancing at the broken wall.

After a moment of silence, he spoke as if he had made a decision.

"Actually, this token alone can't bring forth the blessing. Even if I teach you my skills, it won't be the full power."

"Because of the heirloom?"

"...I guess Kudran told you."

Gorik assumed that his people had told him.

He sighed briefly and continued his explanation.

"To bestow the blessing, I need the other half of the token. We need to recover the dwarven heirloom that was stolen from the snowy mountains to unleash its full power."

-Didn't they say it was a hammer?

-Wow, they stole it during all that chaos;

-That's ridiculous.

-Who took it?

-Give up and go find it. Let's go.

Gorik revealed a truth he had kept to himself.

Hanbit already knew about it.

Although the viewers were complaining, it was somewhat understandable. After all, it had happened while he was unconscious.

"So, without the hammer, your skills are useless?"

Kim Jaeha asked, confused, stroking his chin.

Gorik shook his head and replied.

"Skills are fundamental. But what truly makes a difference is whether you can infuse them with your soul. That's what the blessing of the heirloom allows you to do."

Hanbit had also gone through the process of obtaining the token and the heirloom. So, he knew what was coming next.

"So, where is that heirloom? Let's go get it right now."

"I know where it is. But I recommend finding another way."

"Why?"

Kim Jaeha questioned again when his suggestion was rejected.

Staring at the iron plate, Gorik gripped it tightly and replied.

"The Snow Drake, the ruler of the snowy mountains, has our dwarven heirloom.

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]