Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyusoukyoku (WN) - Volume 7 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: 2

7-2 . At the Hometown of the Dwarves (1)

I'm not also sure about the loli dwarves from the recent days, but it'd be troubling if I have to choose between them and bearded dwarven women .

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Dwarves are typically said to live in caves, but from the information I've collected with All Map Exploration, about half of them live normally in the fortress . The other halves are exactly like that typical impression, they're living on the caves next to the city .

This self-governing dominion of the dwarves isn't that wide . It's a valley of around 20 kilometers wide in radius . Inside the dominion, there's a city called Bollhart, and two villages . The city has population of 30 thousands people, there are 20 thousands dwarves with the levels averaging at 5-6, four thousands ratmen, two thousands rabbitmen, two thousands humans, one thousands weaselmen, and the other 1000 are other demi-humans . There is no elf . I wonder if they're in bad term?

There are a lot weaselman and human merchants from what I see on their occupations and skills .

There are about 10 people who are higher than level 40 among the dwarves . The highest leveled one is a dwarf called Dohar . If I'm not mistaken, he's the dwarf that makes Toruma (Ossan)'s dagger . His level is 51 . As expected of dwarves . There are a lot of veterans .

There is no demon, transported or reincarnated person . Looks like it would be peaceful this time .

There are fields around the city, but the ones who're plowing them are not dwarves, but ratmen, rabbitmen, and other various beastmen . Seems they're not exactly slaves .

We're joining the queue to enter Bollhart city at the front of the gate .

I stop the wagon at the end of the queue and wait for our turn .

"I think we're the 20th in line? There are quite a lot huh . "

"That's right . "

Arisa climbs up my body and look over the queue .

Someone is pulling my sleeves, when I look to the side, Pochi, Tama, and even Mia are waiting for their turns . Since my clothes would get wrinkled if they climb it, I put them on my shoulders . Since Mia is the only one who wears skirt, I don't put her on my shoulder, but instead, I hold her waist and raise her up .

"I'm against discrimination . "

"This is not discrimination, but distinction . If you're wearing pants instead, I'd put you on my shoulder . "

"Mwuu . "

Among the carriages that are waiting for their turn, about half of them are ridden by human .

"Pochi, Tama, keep your attention for any thieves on the back . "

"A~ye . "

"Roger nano desu . "

Liza who had just come back from scouting the gate gave direction to Pochi and Tama .

"Master, weaselmen seem to be going in and out of this city . Please be careful since they're shrewd fellows . "

"Yes, I understand . Thank you Liza . "

If I remember correctly, weasel men tribe is the one who have destroyed Liza's village .

"Onii-san, won't ye buy potatoes? It's delicious see?"

A weasel woman is trying to sell potatoes with awkward words . Seems it's one copper coin each . Three times the market price . I wonder why am I hearing her like she has fake Chinese accent .

"Onii-san, this yakitori is more delicious than potatoes from that potato girl . I've put a lot of Bollhart salt see?　They're three copper coins apiece . "

"Mister, meat is better, the taste of the grilled mother frog from the mine basement will surely satisfy you . "

Are those mother frogs alright to eat?

It smells nice, but we've just eaten so I turn down their offers . Pochi and Tama look a bit disappointed, but eating too much is bad for your health .

The ones who come to sell things to us that are waiting for our turns aren't only the weaselmen, but also ratmen, rabbitmen and children, however, I only look at the market price of those without buying them .

Mia who has bought something from the front comes back . She's eating something .

"Satou . "

Mia presents the yellow stalk thing she's eating in front of my mouth, so I eat it .

Sweet .

It tastes like flower's nectar rather than sugar . It reminds me of the time when I suck up nectars on the roadside flowers during my childhood . Nostalgic .

"Aah!"

"Just now, it's an indirect kiss right?! then, next, is me . "

Reproaching voices pour down from Arisa behind, and Lulu on the side .

Indirect kiss, we're not middle schoolers . No wait, Lulu is around that age huh .

Arisa extends her hand while coming here, but before she could, Mia nabs the stalk back . She quickly puts it in her mouth and shows V-sign toward here .

Since Arisa is making a noise, "Mukkii" behind, I want you to stop with the provocation . Look, even Lulu's eyes become teary .

Right at that time, a weasel person selling sweet stalks comes, so I buy it for everyone .

Somehow everyone made me hold the stalks in my mouth in turns, but I think I'd lose if I mind it .

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In the end, we're finally able to get inside after 10 minutes .

We get preferential treatment from dwarven soldiers who come to check on Liza's magnificent armor .

It looks like nobles get prioritized . Even though I'm just of the lowest ranking honorary noble, it still applies . When we're getting inside, I'm the only one who need to show my ID, while my companions don't . They only trivially look in the wagon, and don't investigate or ask for the tax for entering the city .

Is it a special privilege?

But then, like this, some unscrupulous nobles would be able to smuggle things .

The first time I see dwarves, they're as small, wide and stout as I've imagined . They're about 130cm high . The dwarven women are like dwarven men without beard version . Since they're not like the legal loli that often appear in recent games, I'm relieved . No more little girls .

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"Nice to meet you, Chevalier Pendragon . I've certainly received the letter from viscount Rottol . Is that courageous woman in good health?"

"Yes, she's taking the command energetically . You could call me Satou if it's fine with you . "

I'm having a chat with Driar-shi, the mayor, after I deliver him the letter from Nina-san .

Liza and the others are relaxing in another room, but Arisa is here somehow .   That Arisa is talking very formally, far from how she usually is, with Driar-shi .

"Driar-sama, as is written in the letter, we'd like permission for sending exchange students here . "

Hoo, Arisa . This is the first time I've heard about that though?　Arisa who has noticed my glance look at me with a face that's as if saying, "I didn't tell it?" . I'll poke her forehead later .

"Fumu, I was taken care by viscount Rottol when I was studying on the royal capital . I can accept if it's just a few exchange students . "

Driar-shi answered while opening the letter . The lord of this self-governing dominion isn't this person, but his father, Dohar-san, is it alright to agree without his consent?

"It's alright, my father has entrusted me with the city unless it's a serious matter . "

It seems to be alright . Good .

However, I think that the territory's technology is an important enough matter, or maybe they're taking stance of "If you can steal our technology, do it"?

"According to the letter, Satou-dono is doing blacksmithing, would you like to see our workshop if that interest you?"

"By all mean!"

Ooh, what a windfall .

Nina-san has done a good job .

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"This is the greatest blast furnace in this city . "

It's a 20 meters high building .

There's also a window to put fuel coal below the furnace, half-naked dwarves and beastmen are throwing coals to it while getting themselves blacked . I could only see white smoke from the outside, I wonder how are they dealing with the dirty smoke? Well, there must be some sort of absurdity (fantasy) going on there .

"This is a wonderful facility . "

My words are not flattery . The facility's scale isn't inferior compared to the ironworks I've seen in the previous world .

The people here are me, Driar-shi, and a dwarven woman who looks like a secretary . She's Jojori-san, Driar-shi's daughter . Arisa and the others have gone to the city after receiving letter for Nina-san . They're looking for a merchant who's going to Muno-city to deliver the letter .

We're observing from a place that looks like VIP seat, slightly away from the furnace . It's quite hot here, but it seems that it's still better than the place with insulation magic applied . It's hotter if we go outside .

According to Driar-shi's explanation, about 30% of the iron ingot used in Shiga kingdom are made here .

Next, we visit converter and pressure facilities successively . In the pressure facility, people who look like magicians are putting magic power into magic tool like thing in rotation .   Everyone have dark circles under their eyes, looks like it's quite a hard labor . Originally, seems that there are more people here, but they've been dispatched on another level for different matter, so now they're in shortage . Well, Um . Do your best . I cheer on the floundering magicians inside my heart .

There are no heavy machineries, but in exchange, about 3 meter tall people from the tribe called Little Giant are carrying ores, finished iron plates and steel materials around .

I wonder if the facilities for Mithril are secrets, they're not showing me it . It looks like it's in the underground caves .

I guess I'll ask about it .

"Are facilities related to Mithril located in the underground?"

"Y, you know your stuff . Did you hear it from viscount Rottol?"

"No, I've heard from a merchant acquaintance that the Mitrhil products from this town are wonderful . "

"Is that so, I'd really love to show you there, but we need permission from my father if we want to visit the underground facilities . "

Driar-shi folds his short arms while frowning . Seemingly unable to see Driar-shi's grimacing, Jojori-san gives a suggestion .

"Father, if that's the case, shouldn't you try to ask grandfather . Even if it's grandfather, he wouldn't tell a person he's just met to suddenly forge a sword . "

Jojori-san, that's a flag I think .