I Became the Dark Knight in the Game

Chapter 30: The Two Dwarves (2)

Balton thought he might have misheard and asked again.

Sorry, but could you repeat that, Sir Dale?

I said I want my armor modified.

Dale tapped on the arm part of his armor.

Of course, modifying the armor could be resolved by offering sacrifices to the Goddess of the Night.

Making the gauntlets as sharp as blades or causing spikes to emerge from various parts of the armor.

There were various possible modifications.

But there are side effects too.

If the armor is altered to be more suitable for combat, it would become inconvenient for daily life.

For example, if the gauntlets were made sharp it would be harder to hold a quill pen.

However, with Baltons help these problems could be solved.

Dale paused for a moment then spoke again.

Maybe I chose the wrong words. I want to add parts that is, detachable devices or weapons to this armor.

Hmm.

Parts? Devices? Weapons? (TN: Parts was said in English.)

The first word was uttered in a strange language that Balton couldnt quite understand, and the latter words, though understandable, left Balton unable to guess Dales intentions.

Balton shook his head.

I still dont quite understand.

For example, Ive sometimes thought it would be good to have a blade attached to this forearm. So I could slice through enemies charging at me from the side.

Balton imagined this for a moment before responding.

Hmm, thats not a bad idea.

But if I always carried something like that, it would be inconvenient in everyday life. I might accidentally cut a passersby.

Thats also a valid point.

So, it needs to be made in such a way that I can attach it when needed and remove it otherwise.

I completely understand now.

He finally realized what Dale was trying to say.

Baltons expression lightened as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

That wouldnt be too difficult. The weight of the blade might be a problem for an ordinary person, but not for Sir Dale.

Right.

So, shall I make a blade to attach to your forearm?

No, its not urgent right now.

Balton furrowed his brow again.

It seemed that the benefactor before him had some unexpectedly difficult requirements.

Dale asked,

Balton, do you know how to handle gunpowder?

My specialty lies more in springs and gears, but yes, I have some experience with them. What do you need with gunpowder?

A device that can instantly detonate gunpowder to generate propulsion for the body Would you understand if I put it that way?

After pondering for a moment, Balton asked with a sense of disbelief,

So, you mean, like a cannon firing a cannonball, you want the explosion of the gunpowder to propel you, Sir Dale?

Exactly.

Are you out of your mind?!

Balton slammed the table and yelled.

His loud voice startled the spies who were subtly eavesdropping on their conversation.

They had never imagined someone would raise their voice at the powerful dark knight.

But at that moment, Balton was almost losing his senses.

The shock from the explosion would directly impact you, Sir Dale. Even someone as strong as you might not escape unscathed!

Its fine. As long as it doesnt kill me.

Good heavens. Isnt that too reckless with your body?

It was a valid point.

Dale was incapable of feeling pain.

This often gave him the feeling that his body was not his own and led him to feel like it was more a machine or someone elses body.

Whats the harm in being reckless with it?

Just a bit of life force absorbed, and itll quickly heal back to normal.

Just like a machine.

As a result, Dale tended to treat his body roughly.

Balton shook his head.

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Such a thing cant be made. Above all, gunpowder is too tricky to handle. It becomes useless when damp and explodes on contact with fire. Not to mention, its unnecessarily expensive. It doesnt seem like a viable option at all. Wont it be better to look into rune magic for that kind of effect?

Is that so?

Yes.

Understood. My request was too demanding. Then, as originally planned, make a detachable blade for me.

Dale conceded and showed a hint of disappointment.

Only then did Balton realize his mistake.

He had boasted about his ability to create anything, but now he risked damaging his pride as a craftsman.

And so Balton settled into his seat and ordered a beer.

It seems we need to have a deep conversation today. A beer, please!

Yes, here it is!

Kyla brought the beer in a cheerful manner, and Balton downed it in one gulp.

After draining his glass, Balton tilted his head momentarily at the strange taste of the beer then quickly turned his attention back to Dale.

Tell me, why do you insist on gaining propulsion by attaching gunpowder bags to the body? Arent you already fast enough, Sir Dale?

Thats true.

The reason for seeking such propulsion?

The answer was clear.

To quickly close the distance with a distant opponent.

Then the reason for needing to close the distance with that distant opponent

Dale had the answer.

I have few means to attack an enemy from afar. Throwing weapons like this is good, but

Dale pulled out a dagger from within his coat and threw it at an imperceptible speed.

Thunk!

When Balton came to his senses, the dagger was already embedded in the taverns wall.

A bug was impaled on the tip of the dagger.

Oooh.

Balton marveled at the impressive skill while Kyla glared sharply in their direction.

Unaware of her gaze, Dale continued.

Once I throw a weapon, I cant retrieve it until the fight is over. If I run out of weapons, Im left defenseless and vulnerable to attacks.

Balton was amazed by such powerful throwing skills and asked in disbelief.

How could anyone overpower Sir Dale like that? Most arrows would just bounce off your armor.

Dont underestimate the enemies, Balton.

Dale said this with a rare seriousness. His already cold expression became even more intense.

Uh, um. Did I make some mistake?

Dales expression hardened further as he explained.

Lets suppose youre walking in a forest. A forest dense with coniferous trees, covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves, completely silent without even the sound of birds. Youre alone and lost.

. Seems like an oddly specific example.

Dale continued his explanation.

Then suddenly, from the distant trees, a barrage of arrows flies towards you. Each arrow is imbued with a force as powerful as a cannonball. When you turn to look, you see a group of furious elves attacking you. Not just any elves, but the lean high-altitude dwellers

Ah, high elves.

Right. In that situation, how would you manage to get out?

Uh-huh. That does sound quite troublesome.

Balton seemed to empathize with Dales example and he nodded his head in agreement.

But Dale didnt stop there.

Let me give you another example.

Theres no need for that

Youre walking down a forest path and youve lost your way.

Again?

Then you encounter the white elves. From a distance, they target you with a thunder spirit

Unable to listen any longer, Balton held out his hand.

Enough! Ive understood enough; you can stop explaining.

But I have a few more examples to share.

Balton frowned.

Are all those examples also about high elves?

Exactly.

Hmm.

After scratching the bridge of his nose with a complex expression, Balton said.

Well, Ive certainly understood that Sir Dale doesnt particularly like elves. Were all these stories you just told from your own experience?

Dale merely shrugged his shoulders as if he was leaving things to the other partys imagination.

Ugh.

Balton suppressed a groan and gathered his thoughts.

It was a strange conversation but he had begun to understand what Dale needed.

So you need a weapon that can deal with elves from a distance, something thats not disposable and also not too heavy?

It would be better if it didnt hinder movement too.

Hmm. I understand. Certainly, having such a weapon would be convenient.

Balton who was nodding his head in acknowledgement asked curiously.

But how could one even make such an item?

He wondered if such a magical-like item could even exist.

The two looked at each other with blank expressions on their faces.

Dale racked his brain for a moment, then quickly shook his head.

And he spoke irresponsibly as if it had nothing to do with him.

Thats your problem to figure out. Im not a craftsman.

..

If you cant do it, then go back to the detachable blade idea I mentioned earlier.

No, no, no. I, Balton, have my pride as a craftsman. I cant go back on my word. Ill try my best, whether its possible or not.

Surprisingly, Balton did not back down but showed enthusiasm. He was determined to succeed no matter what.

From this, Dale learned something.

Dwarves can be easily persuaded if their pride is stroked.

Would Balton really be able to create some useful equipment? Could he actually produce something of value?

That remained unknown.

The important thing was that Dale had nothing to lose.

This makes my blood boil because its been a while since I received a difficult job. I should start tonight.

If you need expensive materials, let me know. Ill support you as much as I can.

Understood. Leave it to me!

Balton replied cheerfully, quickly stood up, and then disappeared outside.

He moved quite fast for someone with short legs.

However, Balton soon returned.

On second thought, there was something else I wanted to discuss.

As Dale urged him on with an expressionless face, Balton awkwardly twirled his beard and spoke.

Well, its a bit embarrassing to ask for a favor like this after coming to repay a favor Would you meet my uncle?

Your uncle? Who is that?

His name is Kadal, and in terms of position

Balton glanced around covertly. Then he whispered in a voice meant only for Dale to hear.

The captain of the guards in the outer district.

Moreover, this captain of the guards was also a member of the council.

***

A nominated request.

Finally, there were people who specifically sought out Dale for tasks.

This was also evidence of Dales advancement as a mercenary.

Mercenaries with proven skills and track records usually received requests through nomination.

Some popular mercenaries even had their bookings filled on a yearly basis.

Garland was right.

The prediction that more people would take notice of Dale had come true exactly.

The political landscape was advancing into a fog, impenetrable and unpredictable, where power was more crucial than anything else.

The next morning, Dale left the inn with Balton.

The rain still didnt stop and was pouring down heavily as if there was a hole in the sky.

It was the beginning of the summer rainy season.

Once the rain stopped, the oppressive heat of summer would surely follow.

The rainwater flowed down, running along the gutters on either side of the road.

Was it just his imagination? For some reason, Balton was walking along the gutter too.

Is this the way to the guards building?

Balton, clad in a raincoat, scrunched up his eyes and shook his head, his damp hair incessantly poking into his eyes.

No. My uncle is currently on duty outside.

Outdoor duty in this weather? The life of the captain of the guards seems tough.

Haha. Better outdoors than where he is actually working, which is far worse.

A worse place?

Dale would soon find out the answer to his question.

Baltons following of the gutter was not accidental. What appeared before them was the citys sewage and drainage system.

It was the entrance to the underground sewers.

The entrance to the sewers looked like the maw of a beast. Rainwater flowed through its mouth like a river.

In front of the sewer entrance, guards sat huddled with tired faces.

Each of them wore faces worn out by life.

As Balton approached, a few of the guards glanced at him. A senior guard recognized his face and then he stood up to greet him.

Youve arrived.

Its been tough for you. Wheres the captain of the guards?

The captain will be here soon.

Hows the situation?

The heavy rain has worsened conditions below. It seems well have to endure this for at least a few more days But for the details, you should hear it directly from the captain.

Balton nodded his head and then turned back to Dale.

The guards showed a brief curiosity towards Dale but soon lost interest.

The weather was too foul to bother about others.

A little while later.

Just as the senior guard had said, the captain of the guards emerged from the underground sewer.

The sight of the dwarf covered in filth was, at first glance, somewhat comical.

But if you just looked beyond the filth, he had a solid waist and muscular limbs.

No one would dare to underestimate this man if they were to see his battle axe shimmering with blood and his eyes glinting even more fiercely.

Captain of the Guards Kadal tilted his head back and briefly took in the pouring rain.

As the rain washed away the filth, his brown hair tinged with a ruddy hue regained its original color.

As soon as his body was somewhat clean, he strode towards them.

And he spoke in a booming voice.

Balton! My nephew! Youve gone through much trouble coming here so early!

Uncle. You could lower your voice a bit.

What nonsense are you talking about! A fine blacksmith and warrior should have a loud voice!

Balton sighed deeply, and the guards next to him covered their ears with their hands as if they were used to it.

Kadal looked at Dale. His eyes sparkled with interest.

He extended a solid arm for a handshake.

So youre Sir Dale. I am Kadal, son of Barkman.

Im Dale.

I sincerely thank you for saving my nephew. I will definitely repay this debt.

Dont worry about it; your nephew has already repaid the favor.

Is that so? Then Ill just stop worrying about it!

.

Without any customary modesty, Kadal spoke frankly.

From this brief exchange, Dale could roughly guess what kind of man Kadal was.

Simplicity over complexity.

Practicality over ceremony.

That was the kind of person Kadal was.

Definitely not one for politics.

Dale thought as he grasped Kadals strong hand. Satisfied with the firm grip he felt, Kadal smiled and said,

Lets get straight to the point, especially with this rain and the foul mood it brings. Do you understand the situation were in?

Please enlighten me.

Some bastard has released a bunch of crocodiles into the underground sewers. Quite a feat. Where on earth did they find crocodiles?

Crocodiles?

Irene was a relatively newly built city, and naturally its sewage system was sophisticated.

It meant that unlike the underground of cities thousands of years old, there were no sprawling catacombs here.

At most, you might expect a few goblins, but crocodiles?

If crocodiles were released in such a place, there would definitely be trouble.

Especially now with the rising water levels due to the rain.

Kadal spoke up,

Now that Ive explained everything, you can guess what Im about to ask of you, right?

Dale nodded in agreement.

I understand. Ill try hunting the crocodiles. Im not confident in swimming, but Ill manage.

What? No, thats not what I meant. Thats my job.

After loudly blowing his nose and wiping it with his bare hand, Kadal continued,

Your task should be to go after the bastard who released those crocodiles.