Chapter 377: Obsidian Trap.

Chapter 377: Obsidian Trap.

Train, incoming! Make clear at boarding platform zero! VIP, incoming! The station announcer bellowed through a metal-square microphone, transferring her voice through metal pipes to resound throughout the station.

The train station in Gazahan-Orn was one of the smaller ones, due to the hold being primarily a mining city. Still, even if the city wasnt visited often by tourists, merchants, or adventurers, the ores, coal, and gemstones were great export goods, keeping the hold financially steady. Not to mention there was also the Luedbrumdar clan, famed for their blacksmiths quality Although, that wasnt an uncommon statement for dwarves.

However, strangely, today was different. As the train stopped at the station platform, echoing its creaking wheels along the metal rails as blue seams lit up, filled to the brim with mana, dwarven spectators got curious. They watched as a single dwarven adventurer exited from one of the grey locomotive-like trains commuter cars, along with a few miners.

Some were interested in the adventurers sharp look, fierce demeanor, and beastman-like eyes. They quickly recognized the man as a dwarf-beastman hybrid from the claws and fangs once he yawned. The dwarven artificers and train engineers immediately took notice of the quality of his equipment, despite the rust and lack of stylistic designs. From the scars and knicks on it, they knew he was a veteran fighter.

However, their attention was immediately taken away when the VIP came out of the sharp-nose train head. An Inko woman with long brown hair in a beige-pink gemstone-patterned kimono with a fur coat came out after multiple hand-maidens and four dwarven earthshakers and two samurais. The woman had her back-length hair entirely petrified, out of the roots on her scalp, where she was wearing a crown adorned with multiple red gems.

H-High Queen Tragaya!

This was the Ankoran Queen of the dwarves of Ankor-Nazta, wife of the Ankoran King and current ruler. Outside of that role, she was also an elder of the Council of Wisewoman, a group of hold queens and clan matriarchs tasked to advise their husbands or siblings, while also acting as a facilitator between royalty and the Church of Crustacia.

As the spectators noticed their high queen, they all bowed except for a few who slipped out of the station. High Queen Tragaya waved at her subjects as she moved through the station, only to be greeted by the Gazahan-Orn hold king Ulshuk, his wife, another member of the Council, and the clan leader of the Luedbrumdar, Maagneil.

Ankoran Queen. The three most important figures of the hold bowed in respect, welcoming their queen with slightly visible trepidation.

You may rise, the gentle-voiced queen ordered, allowing the three to rise before Tragaya looked over to the hold queen.

Kings spoke to kings, queens to queens, wisewoman to wisewoman. At least, that was the etiquette if it was possible.

My queen, it is good to see you well. I hope you had a good trip. Standard greetings came out first as the two queens conversed and complimented each others appearance, before it was time to get down to business. We read the Ankoran Kings letter. Certainly a surprising visit, no?

Aye, Queen Bashira, but our ears have heard notice of something happening four days ago. Some sort of attack? After some discussion, my husband and I thought it prudent to investigate, see if you need anything. Honestly, that husband of mine is probably just elated to finally get out of the palace. Eager-footed, as always. The high queen then turned to the hold king, gazing into the mans dilated eyes, noticing his shaking hands and lack of sleep. I do apologize, though. My husband will be arriving soon, King Ulshuk, but he will be delayed due to his work.

The king shook his head, bellowing out a laugh in an attempt to hide his nervousness. Nonsense, my Queen! We can wait, of course, gahaha! We can just take this opportunity to celebrate two feasts, no? Wonderful, I say! We shall serve you the best beer and meat pies we have!

Tragaya smiled. Wonderful. Queen Bashira, I shall be asking a few questions here and there about the accidents, but let us visit the Church and speak. I need to inform you of a few changes. And, Lord Maagneil, right?

Maagneil bowed, closing his enlarged eye as he responded, Yes, my Queen.

The accident involved your clan, correct? You shall inform me much. The wisewomans eyes shimmered for a moment, silencing all three of her guest givers.

Yes, my Queen.

And so, with her entourage of bodyguards and handmaidens, the High Queen of Ankor-Nazta was led through the streets for her inspection, allowing her to take in the gossip and noise of this small hold. There were some who showed her reverence, while others greeted her quickly before returning to their task or food. Unlike most societies with a caste system, the need to show exaggerated reverence to a noble or lord was unnecessary outside of simple respect.

After all, the Church of Crustacia, the national religion of the dwarves of Ankor-Nazta encouraged simple worship. As long as you gave Goddess Crustacia your respect and dedicate your work and even feast in her name, it was sufficient. There was no need to visit and pray in churches if one didnt wish to, which also influenced how dwarves interacted with their royalty.

Then again, this attitude was also a remnant of the past. Born from the earth through the powers of the earth elemental emperor, one of the old gods of Peolynca before the Origin Gods arrived, dwarves were hardy and stubborn like rock.

Old and mulish, dwarves didnt live as long as elves or the dragonkins, but they had a far longer lifespan than humans. Although inventive, driven by their strong pride to stay on the cutting edge of the technological race, dwarves could also be a hindrance to themselves due to their greed and, ironically, fear of change. Meaning, many of their current customs were similar to the past.

An important foundation of dwarven culture were the guilds, even when the first dwarven settlements were founded.. A fact the Ankoran Queen knew precisely as she visited them, asking questions of what had happened four days ago when Hestia and company rescued their friends. In pursuit of the truth, she drove many in a corner to see how they reacted.

Guilds, associations created around workers, artisans, and merchants for a specific trade, were important pillars of a citys economy. Given some authority through the citys monarch or government, guilds were able to control the flow of trade and work, maintaining it for the city or town for personal gain. They were a method to enforce copyright to prevent low-quality knock-offs, protecting the vested interests of the people involved.

However, at the same time, guilds forced most to join them if they wished to sell or work in the local area. You could only accept Quests and receive the rewards if you were a member of one of the adventurer guilds, you could only sell your products if you joined the merchant guild, and you were only allowed to work as a professional craftsman if you registered yourself with one of the local artisan guilds.

In essence, guilds prevented competition outside of vested interests between two similar, but different, guildsfor example, between a parchment and paper guild. Still, as one was part of a guild, it was also the duty of each member to enforce and hold others to a standard of quality. For a failure would also bring down the prestige of the guild. In theory, that meant quality could be assured.

I had heard from merchants that the quality of products had sunk after the Luedbrumdar fiasco with smithmaster Grimnir and manatechnician Broggart, the Queen began as she inspected a piece of armor, unnerving her guest giver and the workers in the smithy. One of her goals as an inspector was to assure the guilds worked as intended. However, it seemed like that was a lie. Wonderful work.

She handed the armor back to the smith, causing him to bellow out a cackle, thanking the queen for her praise. Hearing the Ankoran Queen complimenting his work was a huge honor, as every smith dreamed of having their work used by professionals. Being in the grace of a queen assured his ability to promote his work in the future, aside from bringing prestige to his local guild.

Every society had guilds of some kind, from the draconic lands of Loatryx, to the deep forests of Saelariel, and even in the mountainous landscape of BoleTaria. However, none had such a strong guild culture than the dwarves of Ankor-Nazta.

To be part of a guild was an honor, while being exiled or fired by one could be described as a great shame, to the point others could shame you. While some rules could be overlooked in human guilds, depending on the situation, similar ones would be heavily enforced by the dwarves. As such, if you were guildless, you were essentially jobless. However, if a guild member were to receive recognition, that would be a reason for the guild to sponsor the elongation of their crustlockrock hair.

This system of theirs was also a reason for the dwarfs continued ingenuity, for competition between artisans, workers, and merchants drove the economy of the dwarves. Aside from being the main regulators of the Davi, the universal currency of Peolynca, dwarves also had a hand with trading with practically most of the races, aside from the saurians of Aelozonia and the demonkins of BoleTaria. Their love for money would allow their manatech to spread to every corner of Altrust.

So, why were their actions contrasted with this ideal? Why did the Bleidla followers forbid advancements like the gun? What made the dwarves so conservative? Their fear of advancing their society? It was essentially due to their guild system and their strong honor. Whenever a new trade or tech was discovered, a new guild had to be made unless they overlapped with a current one.

A new type of manatech lamp? No problem, just add it to the lamp guild. However, what about a new industry created around a new type of artificer technique involving a specific kind of ore or material? Make a new guild. What would happen if this new technique were better than the current, although established and accepted method? Well, this was where the competition came from.

Older and beloved guilds had more supporters due to a dwarfs honor and customer loyalty, whereas upstarts would be looked down upon for disrupting the balance and making people jobless. It was a constant battle between the old and new, but despite all of it, the dwarves still continued to advance even if one could call it slow.

Nothing of that sort here. Everything looks good enough, and it seemed like most had forgotten what happened four days ago. Like an afterthought Hopefully, Fugnarus can find something. Then again, I should assert myself. As a member of the Kongun, I do have a duty to otherworlders.

The Kongun clana royal clan with a king voted into becoming the current Ankoran King. However, aside from this, they were also known for being the clan of the Revolution QueenDravlia Kongun, also known by her divine name of Chihiro.

An otherworlder and reincarnator, brought to this world by an Origin Goddess similar to Hestia. Born into this world with her memories of her past life on Earth, Dravlia was responsible for the Golden Age of Crustacia. A renaissance for the Church of Crustacia, which allowed the goddess to gain enough fame and followers to move from fourth to third in the strength ranking, beating Marsven.

Strangely, though, she wasnt exactly commanded by Crustacia to do so. Born as royalty and marked by Crustacia, Dravlia actually used the wealth of her family for her selfish desires to improve her own living condition by creating and inventing almost to the point of insanity.

As a princess, she didnt need to worry much about her lifestyle. While it was possible for both male and female royalty to become a hold king or queen, it was usually reserved for the men due to a difference in childhood upbringing.

Boys were groomed to lead by example, going through life as lowly workers, disciplined as warriors, and forced to create and sell like the artisans and merchants which held dwarven society up. This created worthy heirs for the crown, as every royal clan wished to one day receive the honor to lead all dwarven hold rulers as the Ankoran King or Queenthe high ruler with the honor to relocate themselves in the palace of Inkoran-Tazul, the capital of Ankor-Nazta.

On the other hand, girls were prepared to join the Council of Wisewoman, an order of queens and matriarchs to act as their husbands or siblings advisors and voice of reason. They were also the second highest authority within the Church of Crustacia, to the point their word could have more weight compared to their male counterpoint. As such, their childhood involved learning and becoming wise, gathering knowledge and experience to aid others.

However, Dravlia was different. Written in her biography, left unfinished due to her untimely demise to a chronic illness, she recalled her life on Earth. Of her time as a student forced by her parents to study and grow into a good housewife, or how she severed her ties from them to pursue her passion in the wake of growing industrial and information technology fields, or how she loved the westernization of Japanese music.

She broke from the tradition of a dwarven princess while hiding her reincarnator title from everyone but her father, mother, and caretaker. She aimed to become neither a queen, nor a wisewoman. She just wanted to create a life for herself, similar to her old one, to the point she spread her interest in music, her idolization of the Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga, and a fantasized samurai culture.

This was the Revolution Queen, a moniker she earned after pushing her creations despite the constant nagging and complaints of the many guilds. Beloved and idolized by many today, she was in truth hated by those same guilds during her lifetime. The few longbeards, older dwarves with long beards, who knew her and were still alive today could only throw insults at her, despite her apotheosis.

In fact, her role in dwarven society clashed with the second most important god in the Earth PantheonBleidla, the God of Blacksmithing and Searing Volcanoes. Dravlia, now under the Divine name of Chihiro, went against his ideals as a dwarven god who promoted traditional living and culture. As such, the dwarves prayed to her as the Goddess of Change, Ingenuity, and Ambition.

A god who guided many blacksmiths for over 2000 years versus a young goddess who only ascended 200 years ago. History repeated itself, for the dwarves once had to choose between the Earth Elemental Emperor who created them, or the Origin Goddess of Earth who descended before them one day. Did the dwarves learn?

No.

For after Chihiros mortal death, many of her inventions and creations were made tabooed and hidden away under the excuse of Bleidla forbidding them. And, while true since Bleidla did dislike Chihiro, it was simply a guess from Bleidlas blessed, interpreted from his fragmented messages.

While not every creation of Chihiro was taken away, as many had integrated themselves into daily life like the train, minecart transportation system, and the bushido code, other blueprints like the gun were deemed too dangerous and different. Ironic, as dwarven smiths created the warhammer mana cannon from the remains of Castle Fatalisa after Yeostar destroyed it during the demon war.

It was a renaissance of Bleidlas ideology, in a way, as dwarven ingenuity slowed down drastically after Dravlias lifetime. Money and tradition spoke louder, after all, and constant inventions would only destroy the old order. People simply didnt want everything to change, they didnt want their life to be uprooted so suddenly, even in the name of advancement.

Faith in Bleidla grew, and so people like Broggart, Grimnirs cousin, were simply undesirable. Then again, being unable to control their feelings and desire to the point they broke a taboo, maybe that lifestyle wasnt worth defending.

But, if honor and pride was dialed to the extreme, to the point they prick the feet of a dragon by endangering her friends, what would the dwarves say? Would they side with those they trusted, or would they side with what was just?

Enough I say, I shall grab on this last ember

Strangely, even from here, he could hear her voice and the music clearly. In fact, it was neither loud nor silent, it was just perfect. The soft rocker music went well with the girls high-pitched voice, giving it a perfect harmony the dwarf had never really experienced before. In fact, most dwarves would never listen to such music. To them, this was too human, or elven but the gravitas of the lyrics

Reincarnation, I take my second chance

I cant give up, nothing to do but advance

Even if I forget it all, my soul will continue my prance

It was compelling. She sang each word slow enough for a first time listener to listen, and while she did raise her voice here and there, it never went overboard like the BeatsNRock of the Punker Paradise. However, just like their songs, this one delivered a strong, realistic message, instead of how most miner shanties were meant to keep morale up.

I feel drawn in! Fuck!

Men! Maagneil shouted as he finally shook off the confusion, raising his hand up to get the attention of not only his guard but the hold kings guards. Capture that dragonewt! Shes the dragon princess!

Even if he had never seen Hestias dragonewt form before, he could guess very well from her crimson hair and scales. He had heard her description from his subordinates already.

Without delay, the bodyguards raised their weapons, annoying the hold king as his soldiers were listening to Maagneill. They slowly made their way as the dwarves around them complained, nearly throwing their food and drinks at them, before they noticed it was the Luedbrumdar clan leader and their hold king. None wanted to stop them any longer outside of a single adventurer.

Out of the way, vagrant! one of the guards, a samurai ordered as he stared down the beastman-dwarf, however, the dwarf in question simply shook his head. As such, the vagrant aimed his blade at the man. This is an obstruction of justice in the name of the hold king of Gazahan-Orn! Ya will move, or I will cut ya down and slog you into a cell! Beat it!

I refuse. The adventurers eyes then widened as he released his aura, stifling the guards, causing them to take steps back, as they couldnt breathe under the pressure.

Maagneil and Ulshuk felt the intensity too, but while Maagneil was confused at who this person was, Ulshuks eyes widened as his mouth fell agape. As royalty, he knew very well what this aura was. After all, he had the same one. The moment he realized this, he stared into the dwarf hybrids eyes, only to remember where he had seen them before.

H-High King?! the hold king shouted as he fell onto his butt, sweating profusely as he shivered like a scared child. N-No, no, no, no, no!

What?! Maagneil bellowed inside his mind, staring down this adventurer from top to bottom. To him, he looked like nothing but an adventurer.

To most dwarves, they might know they had a high king, but most had never seen him before if they never visited the capital of the Kongun clans home hold. Maagneil, even though he usually visited the capital for business, rarely ever got the chance to see the Ankoran King in person. The same applied to his wife.

However, Ulshuk knew. He knew, alright. He had seen his high king multiple times for feasts, not to mention, he voted the man into office! How could he not know his king was born from a pantherae womana panther beastman. This knowledge cursed him, as he tried to stumble back on his feet to flee, only for his heart to drop.

There, in front of him, was not only his wife, but also the Ankoran Queen. His wife, crestfallen, while the high queen stared down at him as if he was nothing but filth. She then turned her face up, smiling as she looked at her husband.

Had ya fun, bubby?

Aye, me love. Feels good to act and be treated like some wanderer, again. The soba and noodle soups taste far better when the chefs aint scared theyll burn ya tongue.

The wisewoman nodded in satisfaction, glad to hear her rowdy husband managed to have his fun. She then turned back to the hold king, her business far from done. Hold King Ulshuk, I will have you stay here with me. We have much to talk about. And, Maagneil, I advise you to listen to our dignified young lass sing. She has something to say.

So listen well, let those tears dry for me

Understand my wish, let those tears dry for me

Time will continue on, live for my memories

Maagneil turned around as the song ended, followed by the wild clapping and cheering from the human-beastman side opposite of his, while the dwarves on his side bellowed out Encore! and Rocks on, beatles! They were filling this whole cavern in wild chanting, with some of them calling out the singers name.

Hestia.

Thank you, everybody! the crimson-haired girl called out. Welcome, welcome to the Obsidian Orchestra, my grand stage from which I sing and dance for all of you! Today, leave your stress and worries outside this subspace, and allow yourself to submerge your soul with my songs! Let yourself dream and release the wild fire inside you!

Woooooooooooo! Even wilder chanting erupted.

Please, not just me! A grand applause to my collab partners, Punker Paradise!

Wraaaaahaaaaaaha! Rossert on the guitar played a small solo as he laughed, arching his body back in a pose. This immediately caused his fans to follow up, copying his exact movement to the tee.

Once the commotion calmed down as the girl and rockers gestured for them to quiet down, the girl then moved towards the direction of the dwarves she was singing for the first time. Citizens of Gazahan-Orn, my name is Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor, third dragon princess of Kargryx, and your idol for the day. Thank you very much for coming today!

Many of the dwarves didnt know Hestia, although some had heard about the tragic news of the eighth dragon childs egg having disappeared. Those who were in the know understood from her statement that she safely made it back, but were confused how she looked like an adolescent despite the news being from last year.

However, what came afterwards shocked people even further. Speaking in Japanese, the girl bowed her body in a 90 degree angle, perfectly mimicking how Chihiro followers would apologize to each other.

Moushiwake gozaimasen! (Im sorry)

Japanese. To the ears of the many soba and noodle masters, that was without a doubt Japanese. Introduced by the Revolution Queen, noodles made from the dwarven tazlok wheat were a delicacy. Quick and simple, it was perfect for dwarven mining culture, as they could not only hydrate but fill their stomachs up with a savory meal, even in the depths of a mine.

As such, to become one, these noodle makers learned Japanese, as that was how the Revolution taught everybody how to make them. Stubborn as always, the dwarves disliked change, and even after 200 years, they kept the old teaching methods as it already worked. Why change when it wasnt broken?

So, they knew what she said. Im sorry, but in the most respectful manner possible where she took full responsibility for a wrong. So, they were confused. Why was this girl apologizing?

I was the dragon who caused that commotion eight days ago. I apologize, I admit that wasnt the best manner to conduct myself. Please, may I ask for your forgiveness?

Now, the dwarves were even more confused, but before they could respond, Hestia raised her body, dodging their questions and leers by speaking as charismatically as she could.

However, I did all of that for a reason, even if it isnt an excuse. I came to the hold to reunite with my friends, but found them tortured to extract information from them by criminals. In a moment of fear, I charged in, trying my best not to unsettle everybody as I rescued them. Still, I scared all of you. For that, I take full responsibility!

Her quick and decisive decision took the heat from the many surprised dwarves faces. Her quick answer made it impossible for them to complain, but that wasnt where she stopped.

As an apology, I wish to entertain you. As you might have already heard, the pastries, beer, and other things you can buy are free of charge! In fact, everybody may partake without paying today!

Wooooooooooooooo!

Three cheers for Princess Hestia!

All is forgiven!

Hestia earned their apology although the girl herself was quietly screaming in her head, as she knew how much this entire operation was costing her. She was already poor after buying her [Crystal of the Divine System], but now? Now she was in debt.

However, at this very moment, she didnt stop. She couldnt, for the show had to go on even if there was no profit to be made. She darkened the spotlight above her, before letting one light up Maagneil and the other

Today, for everybodys entertainment, we wont just have a concert, but also a blacksmithing contest! You Gazahan-Orn already know them, but let me introduce them for our guests on the right side! Hestia then pointed at the side of the humans and beastmen, the Artorian, Estralia, and Yeosian side. Griiiimnir!

You! Maagneil felt like he was about to explode as the sight of Grimnir came into view.

And on the other side, Luedbrumdar clans leader, Maaaaagneil!

Grimnir! Grimnir! You hide behind that gal?! Larrunda! Grrrriiiiiiimniiiiiiir!

Maagneil had fallen for the obsidian trap.