An Adventurer Mom, Who Awakened [Housewife] Skill Through a Login Bonus, Is Making the Most of Her Adventurer Life With the Weekly Flyers She Gets! - Chapter 81

“In short, you mean we should just hurry up and move on, right?”

Ann, who had grown tired of the long discussion, roughly summarized the conversation.

As Anne said, talking about it wouldn’t solve anything, and everyone was deeply intrigued by the『Hidden Dwarven Village』that the dungeon information broker had mentioned.

In the kingdom, demi-human races were a rare sight.

Although there were a few Dwarves living in the labyrinth city of Loa, they mostly secluded themselves in workshops within the craftsmen’s district, devoting their time to blacksmithing. They rarely ever left that district.

Since the craftsmen’s district was far from the area where Kachua and the others lived, Kachua had only ever seen Dwarves from a distance.

It seemed to be the same for Rick and the rest.

That was precisely why they wanted to see what kind of place the Dwarves’ village was.

The Hidden Dwarven Village was located on the fifty-second floor of the dungeon.

Having now reached the fiftieth floor, Kachua and her companions pressed onward through the dungeon, aiming for the Dwarves’ Hidden Village.

＊＊＊

“Here it is… right?”

The Gamma Team had arrived at the location marked on the map they received from the information broker.

The fifty-second floor was a mining-tunnel dungeon, with what appeared to be vertical shafts left from excavation branching out in every direction.

After navigating through the maze-like network of holes, they arrived at a dead end blocked by solid bedrock.

It didn’t seem like the location was wrong though…

Kachua and the others had changed into the Dwarf Sets they had purchased from the information broker.

According to the broker, the path to the hidden village would not open to humans. It was a path that only Dwarves could pass through.

This『Dwarf Set』was supposedly an item that would allow even humans to pass through that path.

Still, it looked no more than a set of unfashionable clothes and accessories. Could such a thing really have that kind of effect?

It was a bit worrying, but the dungeon information broker’s instruction was:『Go straight into the dead end』.

Mustering their courage, they approached the massive bedrock—when suddenly, with the rattling sound of chains winding, the rock began to lift upward.

The path to the Dwarves’ hidden village had opened!

Once Kachua and the others entered the hidden passage, the stone door once again closed behind them with a heavy clattering sound.

It seemed the only way was forward.

The road ahead was pitch black.

Kachua and her companions lit their lanterns and hand-held lights like the frog-shaped『Kero-chan』 and began to walk down the path.

After they had walked for a while, Rick, who was leading the group, suddenly raised his voice.

“Everyone, turn off your lights.”

“?”

“I think I saw a light ahead.”

Following Rick’s instructions, Kachua and the others extinguished their lights. Sure enough, a faint light was seeping out from up ahead.

As they walked toward the light, the mining tunnel from earlier gave way to a completely different scene—a place that resembled a countryside village.

“This is the Dwarves’ hidden village?”

At a glance, it looked like nothing more than a peaceful, quiet village.

However—

“Oh, you lot are humans, aren’t you?”

The one who quickly spotted and spoke to Kachua’s group was a short, middle-aged man with pointed ears and a beard.

He looked exactly like the Dwarves described in rumors.

“That’s right” Ann replied, and the Dwarf cheerfully struck up a conversation.

“Welcome to the Dwarven village. Here to shop?”

Kachua had been nervous, thinking that Dwarves were supposed to be stubborn, craftsman-like types who would scowl and tell you to get lost the moment you made eye contact—but to her surprise, they were being quite warmly received.

“Um, is this really the Dwarves’ hidden village…?”

When Kachua asked nervously, the Dwarf nodded cheerfully.

“Ah, yes, this is the Dwarven village. Judging by your reaction, this must be your first time here, huh? I’ll give you a tour of the village. I’m Kurt, a Dwarven blacksmith.”

Kurt even volunteered to guide them around.

As he walked toward the center of the village, Kurt explained about the Dwarves’ settlement.

“This is the Dwarven village. We left our homeland, the Dwarven Kingdom, to train as blacksmiths here.”

“You’re training inside a dungeon?” Rick raised his voice in surprise.

Kachua felt the same.

Why would they be training in such a dangerous place?

“It’s easier to get the materials needed for smithing here. You probably know this already, but Dwarves are skilled with their hands, so most young men aim to become blacksmiths. There are female blacksmiths too, but well, most are men. That’s why nearly everyone training here is male.”

“Hmmm.”

“There are ranks in the Dwarven blacksmith profession. Fourth-class is apprentice, third-class is a full-fledged smith, and second-class is a master. Once you become a master, you can open your own workshop.”

After saying that, Kurt stroked his beard proudly.

“I’m a master myself.”

“Wow.”

Kachua wasn’t quite sure how amazing second-class really was, but she decided to ask Kurt something anyway.

“Then, Kurt-san, can you make the『New Moon Ring』?”

“…………”

Upon hearing that question, Kurt fell silent.

After a short pause—

“That’s beyond me”

—came Kurt’s reply.

“This village is a place for blacksmiths aiming to become first-class craftsmen. Even the highest-ranked smiths here are second-class. The『New Moon Ring』is said to be possible for a second-class smith to create, but the fire control is extremely delicate. Unless you’re nearly at first-class level, it’s impossible. In this village, there are only two who could manage that.”

It sounded like making the ‘New Moon Ring’ would be difficult, but not entirely impossible.

“Then, is there someone who can make it?”

Og’s eyes sparkled—he really wanted the『New Moon Ring』.

“Yeah, Neoro and Boad should be able to make it. Personally, I recommend Neoro. He’s a kind and considerate man to everyone. He works fast too, and there’s nothing to complain about. The two of them are currently known as『the men closest to being first-class blacksmiths』in the village, but Neoro’s definitely going to make it to first-class before Boad. Boad’s no good. He’s unfriendly and stubborn. You all should definitely go with Neoro.”

Kurt, clearly a Neoro fan, spoke eagerly and at length.

Then, stopping in front of a certain house, he said, “Here we are, this is Neoro’s workshop.”

Since the Dwarves’ village was a training ground, the houses were generally simple and modest.

Even so, Neoro’s house was slightly larger and tidier compared to those around it.

“Well then,”

Kurt grinned and held out his hand toward Kachua and the others.

“I’ve guided you all the way here. Pay me a reward.”

“A reward?”

“Nothing big. That spear the young lady has—it’s made of a rare ore, right? Just let me have a look at it. A quick glance is enough.”

Before coming here, for some reason, Ann had wrapped her spear tightly in cloth to hide it but it seemed Kurt had seen right through it and realized it was made from a special metal.

“No way.”

Ann rejected him without hesitation.

Kurt didn’t give up.

“Come on, just let me see it. I won’t do anything.”

“No.”

Ann was curt.

Kachua briefly thought,『Maybe just letting him see it wouldn’t hurt…』but Ann glared sharply at Kurt and said:

“You Dwarves never stop at just looking. Next, it’ll be 『Just let me shave a little off』. So, no.”

“Of course I’d want it after seeing it, wouldn’t I?”

Hearing that, Kachua reflected on how she’d almost sided with Kurt and thought,『Yeah, he’d definitely try something』and regretted it.

Instead, Bernhardt stepped forward, pulled a small stone from his pocket, and handed it to Kurt.

“A token of thanks for guiding us here.”

It was a fragment of Raum Stone, a somewhat rare mineral they had previously collected.

“Well, can’t be helped. I’ll take it, then.”

Kurt backed down.

At that moment—

“Hey.”

A voice called out, and when they turned around, a Dwarven man was standing there.

He had a bearded face, was short, and had a sturdy build. He looked quite similar to Kurt, but there was something gloomy and irritable in his expression as he stared intently at Kachua and the others.

And once again, he said to Ann,

“Let me see that spear.”

“I said no.”

Ann, as expected, rejected him again.

With a snort, the Dwarven man spat,『Hmph, don’t say I didn’t warn you』and walked off somewhere.

“Who was that guy…?”

Kachua muttered in disbelief, and Kurt answered,

“That’s Boad.”

“That was him?”

He certainly gave off the impression of a difficult and eccentric Dwarf.

“Oh dear, I thought I heard voices. Do we have visitors?”

Most likely due to the commotion near the house, the front door opened and a Dwarven man peeked out.

“Ah, Neoro” said Kurt.

This must be the blacksmith named Neoro—the one who could supposedly craft the “New Moon Ring.”

Unlike the gruff Boad from earlier, Neoro looked very kind-hearted.

With a gentle smile, Neoro spoke.

“Yes, I’m Neoro. Is there something I can help you with?”