Pawahara Seijo no Osananajimi to Zetsuen Shitara, Nanimokamo ga Umaku Iku Yō ni Natte Saikyō no Bōke

[Onwards, to the Dwarven Village]

Well, let’s just put Elma aside for now.

I told Leia-san the purpose of my visit and handed Hinokaguzuchi to her.

After I did, Leia-san pulled a wry face and said, “It’s so terrible… You, just what kind of people were you fighting against?”

“What kind of people you ask…”

“Me.”

“Me.”

“Me?”

“No, I did fight with you three, but…”

The major ones should be Terra-sama… I mean, Mother Earth-sama and King Vale.

Especially the battle with King Vale as I put all my power into each of my blow.

It  must’ve sustained considerable damage at that time.

“Sure, I can fix it, and I can give it some slight enhancements as well. But you’re getting stronger and stronger, right? In that case, this guy is going to be inadequate to you. And though I hate to admit, I can’t make anything stronger than it.”

“No way… Can’t you work something out…?”

To my question, Leia-san frowned, “Hmm…”

“Mom…”

As Fio-chan was also looking up at her anxiously, Leia-san muttered a word, “…Dwarves.”

“Come again?”

“If it’s the ‘dwarves’, they may be able to create something that suits you.”

“What are dwarves…?”

Ophir chimed in, “Oh, I know! The hag once said that they were a bunch of people who had nimble fingers and could make super powerful arms, y’know?”

Arca nodded, “Umu. I also heard our Holy Armaments could only be created thanks to help of the dwarves. However, the dwarves seem to be a fairly closed race. It’s said that they never welcome other demi-human races, let alone humans…”

“Yeah, my husband said so, too. —‘The fact that I was able to enter their village was a miracle,’ he said.”

“““““““!?”””””””

He once entered the village!? We all made surprised expression on our faces.

“Yeah, that’s right,” Leia-san continued nostalgically, “it was before he met me. My husband was on a journey to polish his blacksmithing skills. At that time, he accidentally lost his footing and fell into some valley. When he came to, he found himself being nursed by dwarves.”

“I-is that so… Fio never knew…” Fio made a pretty surprised expression, looked like it was her first time hearing it, too.

“So you’re saying that Rafla-dono’s blacksmithing techniques came from the dwarves?” Arca asked.

“No, they wouldn’t go that far for him, it seems. But he did able to ‘watch’ during his stay in the village. Maybe that’s why my husband was able to become the best blacksmith in this town—or so I think.”

Listening to Leia-san’s story, Magmell nodded as if convinced, “I see. Even just from the things he learned from watching them, he was able to become the best blacksmith, so the dwarves’ real techniques must be far more amazing—is what you mean, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, that’s right,” Leia-san nodded and turned towards me. “So, if by any chance, you are able to get the help of the dwarves, wouldn’t your dream come true? A weapon like those girls’ ‘Holy Armaments’, I mean.”

“I understand. Then, as Leia-san says, I’ll try to find the dwarven village!”

“Yeah, you do that. And if you do get their help and are able to get the strongest weapon you’re dreaming of, at that time—” Leia-san paused her words, before smiling boldly and saying, “I’d like you to introduce me to the dwarf who made it, in return. I’m going to take my chances to become their disciple.”

“M-mom!?”

“Hahaha, why are you so flustered? That’s a cheap price if you can save the world thanks to the information.” Leia-san laughed heartily.

I nodded vigorously to her and said, “Got it. At that time, I’d definitely introduce them to Leia-san.”

“Ahh, I’m counting on you.”

We both laughed, then the girls and I left the Rafla Arm Shop.

◇ ◇

And so, we returned to the inn and immediately discussed the whereabouts of the dwarves.

Still, the quickest way to find out about something had gotta be asking someone who’d likely in the know.

“In that case, the most likely ones are the goddesses, eh,” Arca remarked.

Ophir nodded, “Ou, at least my hag also knew about them.”

“I see. In which case, the goddess who is the closest from here is Terra-sama, who is near Algren, isn’t it?” asked Zana.

Magmell agreed, “Indeed. Terra-sama is the goddess of earth too, so I think she may be familiar with the dwarves.”

“Mm, I also want to meet another goddess,” said Tirna.

I nodded to the girls’ opinions and said, “All right, that decides it, then. Let’s head for Terra-sama’s place tomorrow morning. She should have some information on them, I’m sure.”

“““““—””””” The girls all nodded.

Then the next morning, I promptly set out to Terra-sama’s place along with the girls.