21st Century Archmage

“A black-colored fuel?”

“Yes. Have you seen anything like that in the nearby mines? A black firewood that burns for a very long time when set aflame.”

“I have.”

“Really?! Where did you see it? Is it still there?”

“Of course. In the past, our predecessors used it before switching to magic furnaces. Its called artamian.”

‘I knew it. Who else but the dwarves would be so well-informed about coal?

Coal was not being used on the continent yet, but the dwarves knew the value of this source of fuel.

“Theres a ton of it. Theres a huge mountain not far from our cave made completely of artamian, and plenty of it elsewhere in the Rual Mountains. But why do you ask? It smells and you can even be killed by the smoke.”

The Dwarven Patriarch, Cassiars, was referring to carbon monoxide poisoning.

“Please take me there. Or well, please briefly lend me a dwarf who can find the artamian.”

“No problem. Artamian is something even young dwarves can locate.”

“Thank you very much, Patriarch. The dwarves are truly my kin.”

“Haha, this is nothing. Thanks to you, we dwarves are happy. Even without having to trade with untrustworthy humans, we can drink plenty of beer, have an abundance of food, and do what we love every day, so we cant be more thankful. Kyre, lets keep going like this until the day we die.”

‘Gosh, this old man. Youre stating the obvious. I would be very thankful if we could maintain this relationship across generations as well!

Patriarch Cassiars was thanking me for giving him so much to do. Pretty much all they required from me was beer, grain, and other kinds of food, but the dwarves gave so much goodwill in return that I couldnt even put it into words. They made not just the sword at my hip, but enspelled armor, the gear used by the territory soldiers, as well the jewelry and luxurious ornaments for the Rubis Merchants to trade. If you calculated all that into money, it was an amount my territory wouldnt be able to afford even if we sold the clothes off our backs.

But despite that, the dwarves were happy to have work from me. Any desire to make them work like slaves forever vanished into the wind.

“The dwarves are family to me. It is my belief that theres no need to say thanks between family members. Patriarch Cassiars, I love and respect you.”

“Kyre, I love you too, you rascal. No, our entire clan truly loves you.”

Our versions of love might be a little different, but I held the Patriarchs hand and spoke words from my heart.

“That aside, how did the things I requested go…?”

“Haha, who do you think we are? The goods you requested are being crafted according to plan. The broken mithril armor is getting melted down and made sturdier, and one ballista is being made every two days. Several of us are also making various weapons without rest, so dont worry.”

“Thank you. Ill treat you all big time to some beer very soon.”

“Really?!”

“Of course! Take my word for it!”

“Ohh! Of course. What human other than you would I trust!”

‘Patriarch… Please dont trust any human, including me.

Cassiars unrelenting trust in me nagged slightly at my conscience, but I steeled my heart. Like the Patriarch said, what the dwarves needed was beer and food, as well as an environment where they could work without rest—they were fully satisfied with that. Unlike humans, they didnt need money, and the dwarves had zero greed or interest in accumulating wealth. All they wanted was to work with their hands until the day they died, striving to increase their craftsmanship. From a humans perspective, it might not seem like a satisfying life, but that was due to a humans greedy way of thinking.

“Nerpopo!”

“Yes, Patriarch!!!”

Standing in the plaza where we were talking, the Patriarch called Nerpopo, a dwarf I was also familiar with.

“Follow Kyre and find him a source of artamian.”

“Understood, Patriarch.”

“Its cold outside, so wear some proper clothes and enough layers of them.”

“Hehe, yes, sir,” giggled Nerpopo, rejoicing at the prospect of going outside.

“Im in your capable hands, Nerpopo-nim.”

“Aw shucks, youre family to us, Kyre-nim. No need to stand on ceremony.”

Every time I met them, the dwarves gave me a sense of peace. I simply felt bad that these kind dwarves were betrayed by humans in the past.

“Then, lets go when youre ready.”