Chapter 39 : Steel Mountain Range (7)

“Hoo… Hoo…! I told you to stop!”
The floor, struck by a hammer, shattered into pieces and cracked in all directions.

In front of Garuda’s violent force, the traditionalist dwarves trembled and stopped their destructive actions.

“You, you’re a traditionalist dwarf too! Why are you stopping us?”

“Wait, wait, stop, and watch my hammering!”

Clang, clang, clang!

The footsteps of the traditionalist blacksmiths halted.

They were speechless at the scene unfolding before them.

Garuda began to strike the chunk of metal she brought. Once, twice… in an instant, the shape of a sword was formed.

“That speed…”

“How is such balance possible…”

“Such perfection…”

Admiration flowed from the mouths of the veteran craftsmen.

In just a few minutes, a perfect sword was made. From the flow of the rune patterns to the circulation of mana, a flawless masterpiece.

“This is true dwarven craftsmanship.”

“This is…”

The dwarf at the front lifted the sword. His beard trembled.

One by one, the other dwarves set their hammers down. In front of Garuda’s work, their anger turned to shame.

“We… we were on the wrong path…”

Then, it happened.

“I’ll show you what tradition truly is.”

Garuda picked up her hammer again. This time, an even more intense rhythm rang out.

Clang, clang, clang!

The flames from the furnace reflected in her amber eyes. In them, the soul of a craftsman burned brightly.

Ten minutes, twenty minutes… an hour passed.

What lay before her was no longer just a weapon.

“This is…”

“Art…”

Exclamations of awe escaped from the dwarves’ mouths.

A work that perfectly fused the precision of magic engineering with the soul of tradition.

“Everyone! We, all of us can do it! I was a terrible dwarf until recently. But Lord Haru taught me…”

Garuda spoke with a trembling voice.

“True tradition is not destruction, but creation. It’s about making something better. After all… we are dwarves!”

At her words, one by one, the traditionalist blacksmiths knelt.

“We were wrong…”

“We misunderstood.”

“The true path of a craftsman is this.”

A smile appeared on her lips. With Garuda’s skill, it wasn’t just their anger that was subdued.

The dwarves’ pride, the soul of the craftsmen, and…

Their hearts too.

But this was just the beginning. Someone would not welcome this situation.

Far in the distance, a light leaked from Gardris’ mansion.

“Now, it’ll start to move.”

The hand holding the holy sword tightened.

The real battle was about to begin.

The next day, a furious voice erupted from Gardris’ study.

“Damn that Garion’s daughter!”

The sound of a table being slammed down. A wine glass shattered into pieces.

“To think the traditionalist revolt failed.”

With a cold smile, he gave an order.

“Stop all permits for traditional forges. Raise taxes by 500%.”

“But, my lord, if we do that…”

“Silence! Execute it immediately!”

A few days later, officials arrived at Garuda’s forge.

“The back taxes…”

“The safety inspection failed…”

“Business suspension…”

Garuda’s face turned pale. Her hand gripped the hammer tightly.

It was then.

“Wait.”

I stepped forward.

“Hero, this is according to the city ordinance…”

“Oh? Then how about this ordinance?”

I pulled a parchment from my pocket. The signatures of the representatives of both traditionalists and reformists were clear.
[Gardris’ Illegal Taxation Accusation]

The officials’ faces went white.

“This is…”

“Oh, and there’s this too.”

I unfolded another document.

[Testimony of the Murder of the Former Lord]

The testimony left by a young technician from the magic engineering workshop. The truth of the ‘accident’ ten years ago.

“What is this…”

The officials hurriedly retreated. But it was already too late.

In the square, traditionalist and reformist dwarves gathered. In their hands, they held evidence of Gardris’ corruption.

Fabricated promissory notes and ledgers.
Illegal tax records.

And…

Evidence of murder.

Now, it was time for the holy sword to be wielded.

Ironforge’s central square was filled with people. Traditionalist and reformist dwarves stood side by side.

The evening sunset painted their beards red.

“Brothers with hammers!”

A traditionalist blacksmith shouted.

“Comrades handling magic engines!”

A reformist technician replied.

Their voices merged as one.

“We were deceived!”

Someone raised a promissory note. It was a debt document manipulated by Gardris.

“Look! This is the evidence that fueled our division!”

The traditionalist representative tore the document. Fragments flew through the air.

“They used us!”

“They squeezed us with taxes!”

“They profited from our division!”

Angry voices echoed across the square. But this time, it was different.

It wasn’t anger directed at each other, but anger toward a single goal.

Gardris’ mansion came into view. The lights in every window were out.

“It’s useless!” hiding will do nothing

“Let’s uncover the truth!”

The march began. Traditionalists and reformists walked side by side.

The sounds of hammers and engines merged into a single rhythm.

Clang!

Woo, woo~!

“Father…”

Garuda murmured. Tears gathered in her eyes.

“Now I understand. My father’s dream…”

The harmony of tradition and innovation. A future for the dwarves where they recognize each other and grow together.

A former lord who gave his life for that dream.

And the daughter who inherited his dream.

“Let’s go.”

I said. The holy sword sparkled in the moonlight.

“It’s time to reveal the truth.”

When we arrived at the mansion, the guards rushed out.

“Step back! This is…”

But their words were cut short.

Hundreds of hammers and hundreds of wrenches pointed at them.

“We will no longer be divided.”

“We are united now.”

The guards lowered their weapons.

They, too, were dwarves. They knew how to kneel in front of the truth.

“What will you do now, Lord Gardris?”

“How will you explain ten years of lies?”

The traditionalist representative shouted, and the reformist representative added.

Beyond the windows, Gardris’ shadow appeared.

His silver beard trembled.

The end was in sight.

The moment the truth would be revealed.

“It’s already too late.”

Gardris raised a relaxed smile and lifted his bronze crown.

“Too late? What are you…”

Before the words of the dwarf representatives could finish, it happened.

Boom!

The entire building shook. The walls cracked, and the sound of metal echoed.

Clank, clank-

The sound of mechanical joints moving.

Something was awakening inside the walls.

Thud, thud-

Giant mechanical soldiers made of bronze emerged. Hundreds of automatons surrounded us.

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

A mad smile spread across Gardris’ lips.

“The precision of magic engineering and the power of ancient runes… reborn in their ultimate form!”

The ancient rune patterns on the automaton’s armor glowed blue.

The power of magic and machines intertwined and resonated as one.

“This is the true strength of the dwarves!”
Gardris roared.

“While you were fighting over tradition and innovation… I had already seen beyond that.”

At his gesture, the automatons moved. Perfect order, overwhelming power.

“Even Garuda’s father opposed this.”
Gardris’ gaze turned cold.

“He was a sentimental fool. ‘A power without the soul of a dwarf is empty,’ he said…”

Contempt dripped from his voice.

“That’s why I removed him. There were no mistakes. It was a perfect accident.”

The automatons slowly approached. The sound of bronze footsteps shook the earth.

“Hah, all talk and no substance. Anyone would think you were a dragon, not a dwarf.”

The holy sword brushed against the automaton’s bronze armor.

But the light of dawn failed to scratch the automaton’s hard gauntlet.

“This is a bit tough, isn’t it?”

I stepped back. The encirclement tightened even more.

Thud, thud, thud—

Hundreds of bronze footsteps resounded as one rhythm. A perfect legion created by the precision of magic engineering and the power of ancient magic.

“Seems like this is tougher than a game.”

I swung the holy sword again. The light of dawn struck the bronze armor.

Clang—

But once again, it failed. The automaton’s gauntlet was flawless.

“Heh heh heh…”

Gardris’ laughter echoed through the hall. His crown glittered in the moonlight.

“Is that all the hero’s power amounts to?”

Damn… If it were the hero party, it would’ve been over in a second… Ugh, Aris! Sylvia! Seraphine!

The automatons raised their arms in unison. Magic power was charged into their bronze fists.

Whir—

The magic cannons fired, and I took the blasts head-on. Of course, I’m still intact, but at this rate, it’s never going to end.

“Ugh, why are there so many of them?”

I sighed. This is why dwarves are no good.

They’re selfish little creatures.

If this was going on, they should’ve been sent straight to the frontlines against the demons.

Thud, thud—

The bronze footsteps grew closer. There was no room to escape now.

“Behold! This is true power!”

At Gardris’ command, the automatons simultaneously swung their fists.

Clank, clank—

There was no space to dodge. The wall was behind me, and we were surrounded on all sides.

Boom—!

The sound of an explosion of magic rang out.

My vision turned white in an instant.

“Hahaha!”

Gardris’ laughter grew louder, then faded away.

“This is the world I’ve dreamed of! The invincible bronze legion! The ultimate weapon of the dwarves!”

The surroundings grew even whiter. The explosion of magic threatened to consume everything.

‘This won’t do…!’

I felt my strength slip from the hand gripping the holy sword.

Gardris’ roar echoed.

“Now no one can stop me! No one…!”

Just as Gardris’ cry reached its peak.

Thud, thud—!

The sound of footsteps rang out. A small silhouette appeared.

“Hah, Lord Haru!”

It was Garuda. Her long hair fluttered behind her.

She was holding something in her arms.

“Please use this!”

Garuda threw me a sword. The moment…

Whoooosh—

The cloth peeled away, revealing the sword’s violet blade.

The instant the sword touched my hand, a high-pitched vibration rang out. It felt like it was shaking my very soul.

“Magic sword ‘Twilight’…”

A smile crept across my lips. The finest masterpiece created by the crystal of chaos.

“Finally completed.”

Her amber eyes sparkled with pride.

I swung the sword.

Whoooosh—

The violet trail of the sword cut through the air.

Crack!

At that moment, the closest automaton’s bronze armor tore apart like paper.

“Ah… this cool and heavy sensation… it’s the first time.”