#106
The Rolling Pumpkin (1)
“···So, what now?”
“Hmm···.”
The party from the Northern Mountain Range, including Harley, was currently hiding in an underground cave, on high alert due to the vibrations felt from above.
“Indeed, the pressure felt is terrifying. If we were even a bit late, we could have been in big trouble.”
Knight Robin whispered, gauging the creature’s aura.
Without the barrier blocking all senses inside, they wouldn’t be able to discuss things so calmly.
“Ugh— It’s a shame I have a limit on how many times I can use this. This expedition is really costing us! Well, it’s better than dying, though.”
Jaonick grumbled while diligently expanding and refining the interior of the cave.
There was no way such a magical tool capable of fooling that sensitive monster’s senses could be common.
Yet, thanks to that, he had managed to stay alive up to now, and this time their party might escape the crisis unscathed, so it could be argued that it was worth the price.
“···That thing weighs a ton. Plus, it’s bipedal. It seems similar to an ogre, but it looks even bigger, so I can’t be sure.”
“Right now··· Is it feeding on the corpses up there? Well, to maintain that size, it must need a considerable amount of food.”
“We’ve essentially set a feast for it. Good thing Jaonick buried Bordeaux quickly.”
The guide and ranger had their ears pressed to the earthen wall, analyzing the beast.
They had avoided a fight for now, but accurately assessing the enemy was a necessity.
And Harley—
‘That pickaxe···.’
The monster loitering above was the least of his concerns.
He was just staring intently at the extraordinary pickaxe in Jaonick’s hand, which was silently expanding the underground space.
On the day they first met the dwarf Jaonick, Harley learned exactly how he managed to survive in such dangerous places.
Just like what they were doing now—quickly digging into the ground and hiding to activate the barrier—was the story, and that pickaxe had played a crucial role alongside the barrier magical equipment.
‘I brushed it off back then, thinking it was just whatever.’
But the moment he laid eyes on Jaonick’s pickaxe pulled from his spatial dimension, he realized immediately.
That thing is the embodiment of the “Customization” sacrifices infused with the soul and sweat of Jaonick Steelstone, the dwarf!
‘I thought only symbolic items like branches of the World Tree were possible, but even personal belongings can work. …This changes my plan.’
Initially, he intended to hide the party safely in this place and deal with the monster alone, but…
His thoughts shifted.
‘I have to get that!’
When would such an opportunity come around again?
Things like this should be secured while they can.
But it seemed his greedy gaze was too obvious, as Jaonick, swinging the pickaxe and expanding the space, turned to meet his eyes.
“···Do you have something to say?”
“Ah— I just thought it was a magnificent pickaxe, so I couldn’t help but look. I do quite a bit of digging myself, but to dig this deep in just a few minutes? Impressive!”
At Harley’s heartfelt praise, Jaonick’s initial wariness faded from his face.
It was only natural to be happy when one’s hard work was recognized.
“Oh ho, you actually have an eye for quality! You look like a warrior more than anyone else, yet you can recognize a tool!”
However, this was merely the beginning.
“Many are often enamored by the fine weapons, but I believe a craftsman needs the best equipment to showcase their best skills. So, even my hammer and anvil are carefully crafted works. I only brought this ‘Elin’ here though···.”
Harley’s compliment seemed to have flipped a switch, prompting Jaonick to passionately elaborate on the pickaxe ‘Elin’.
A pickaxe that combined various rare metals, hammered for days, and finally transformed into a magical tool infused with the dwarf’s spirit known as the ‘Soul of the Craftsman’.
This tool, imbued with earth properties, could penetrate any solid ground like tofu.
With increased work speed, reduced vibrations and noise, and stamina support, it was powered with functions for the user—
It could truly be deemed a divine weapon of the pickaxe world!
“I personally mine even a single iron ore when making my best work! The quality varies depending on how the ore is mined, allowing it to better receive the breath of the craftsman···.”
As he bragged about Elin as if it were his lover, Jaonick began narrating the backstory of its creation.
To properly utilize the abundant rare minerals of the Northern Mountain Range, he settled in the Count of Aonia’s Territory and expressed the need for a pickaxe capable of safely extracting from hazardous locations.
“It was crafted during the days of the previous lord, and I’ve been using it for over 20 years! We’ve faced countless challenges together while exploring the mountains. This is the first time we’ve encountered something so big, though···.”
But believing that he and Elin would overcome this as well, Jaonick grasped the pickaxe tightly with determination.
‘So that’s it···.’
That pickaxe wasn’t just something he made with passion.
Since its birth in his hands, it had been a vessel of his 20-year history, having grown and persevered together through many trials.
Listening quietly to his passionate recount, Harley shifted his gaze to Elin, following Jaonick’s proud look.
However, unlike Jaonick’s affectionate gaze, Harley’s was insidiously sinister…
Slurp—
‘Ah, my lips are drying out more and more.’
The sight of the muscular giant, covered in tattoos, licking his lips with lecherous eyes might as well have been a criminal offense, but luckily, no one was aware of it as they were all preoccupied with their own tasks.
Just as they were each trying to relax, holding their breath in tension for a brief moment.
“Hmm?”
“The monster···.”
A change occurred with the monster that had finished its meal above.
Had it filled its belly enough, it simply lay down.
“What should we do? Should we ambush it while it’s unwary?”
“How about we dig a tunnel and escape?”
Neither option looked particularly good.
The barrier wasn’t mobile, and the moment they tried to escape, it would instantly sense it and attack.
“It won’t just sit around here forever. What about waiting until it leaves for somewhere else?”
“How many monster corpses do you think are scattered above? Why would it have settled here?”
Of course, considering its size, it was clear that it wouldn’t be able to last long on that amount.
But time wasn’t on their side neither…
“The longer we wait, the stronger monsters will appear.”
Waiting for things to improve wasn’t a guarantee.
In fact, it was more likely the situation would worsen.
But while everyone was wallowing in their dilemma, Harley had a different thought.
‘This is an opportunity!’
He was the only one capable of resolving this situation.
They might come up with a good plan if they brainstorm together, but at least not right now.
That meant…
Clears throat! “I have a good idea.”
That meant he could steer the situation in his desired direction.
“Ultimately the problem is that the monster up there has settled here. If we could lure it far away, wouldn’t that solve it?”
“Well, that’s true, but the problem is how we do that.”
“I’ll do it myself.”
Harley stepped confidently forward with a wide smile.
“The beast’s speed isn’t that fast. After I provoke it and lead it in the opposite direction of where we need to go, it’ll be simple to hide!”
“···You? That monster’s detection range doesn’t seem ordinary; can you really throw it off?”
“Pahahaha! Don’t worry. If I’m alone, I can easily trick its senses!”
Having watched his exceptional talents, the party nodded without any dissent.
“Certainly if it’s Harley···.”
“Still, is it really okay? It’d be better to fight together…”
While the group’s opinions varied between passing the risk onto one person and whether it was feasible, Harley seized the opportunity and continued.
“Cough, but even I’m uneasy about completely escaping that creature. So, I’d like a bit of help···.”
His subtle gaze landed on Jaonick.
To be precise, it was on the pickaxe he was holding, ‘Elin’.
Swallow—
Carefully swallowing the drool forming in his mouth, he said to Jaonick, maintaining politeness.
“Jaonick, if that extraordinary pickaxe of yours has excavation abilities, it could greatly assist me in safely completing my task!”
“Wha···! Elin?!”
With all attention focused on him, Jaonick startled, pulling Elin close to his chest.
His appearance of not wanting to part was painfully obvious, prompting Harley to push even harder.
With that assistance, he could successfully complete his mission, and everyone could escape the mountain range safely.
‘So give it to me!’
Jaonick started sweating and subtly averted his gaze under the intensity of his determined expression.
“Um… it probably won’t fit you…”
It was true that Jaonick, being a dwarf, was shorter than Harley’s waist, and the pickaxe would likely be no more than a hoe for Harley.
But Harley firmly shook his head.
“No! The continent’s strongest pickaxe Elin should have no problem regarding size. Don’t you agree?”
“Well, that is certainly true! B-but···.”
Still, Jaonick knew he couldn’t refuse.
How could he deny something that was necessary for Harley’s safety, who was voluntarily stepping up to take risks for everyone?
Though he cherished that tool dearly, it was still just a piece of equipment.
Even with precious materials hammered into it and consistent care throughout the years, gear is naturally consumable.
And besides, it wasn’t even his most prized possession, the forge hammer…
No, this isn’t right! I’m sorry, Elin… I didn’t mean to treat you differently. You’re all precious to me.
Caught in a moment of confusion, Jaonick ultimately had to close his eyes tight and cautiously extend his trembling hands to Harley.
“I… don’t mind if it gets a little damaged, as long as you return it. I’ll make it worth your while with a better weapon when I get back.”
“Hmm! I’ll do my best. But I can’t guarantee anything since I don’t know what might happen!”
Considering normally that he was heading towards what could be considered his doom…
It was natural that it could get damaged or lost in battle.
“…No. That was careless of me. No matter how precious the equipment, your life is more important. If things get tough, don’t overdo it and just give up if it’s…”
As Harley received the pickaxe, Jaonick looked at it with a loving expression, not letting go of his grasp.
For some reason, a sense of unease gripped him.
This might be the last time they would meet and waiting for them was nothing but eternal separation.
At first, Harley had waited with a generous heart, but as the time stretched on, he strained his arm holding the pickaxe and slowly began to lift it.
Jaonick dangled from the pickaxe.
Swinging left and right, he swayed like a pendulum.
Thud—
But he couldn’t stay like that forever, so he eventually surrendered, letting his grip slip and dropping to the ground.
His expression as he stared dazedly at the pickaxe now in Harley’s hand was akin to someone who had lost their lover, making him feel uneasy.
He felt like he had become the villain.
No, I am a villain, in fact. I have no intention of returning this!
Seeing Jaonick’s despondent appearance reignited the guilt within him, but he made sure to ignore it and hooked the pickaxe onto his belt.
Sorry, but you’re saving my life, okay? If I hadn’t stepped in, we’d all be dead, so let’s call it even.
Seeing Jaonick’s pitiful state brought forth a sudden surge of madness within him, but this time he desperately suppressed it.
After all, laughing and looking down at him while licking the pickaxe is just too inappropriate!
Thanks to the influence of ‘madness’, it was a different kind of wild impulse than before, but crossing that line would wipe away the heroic image he had displayed so far.
Yes, things like that should be done where no one can see.
Anyway, what mattered wasn’t any of that.
What mattered was that such incidents piled up, and the Karma Points had already accumulated enough to create a new avatar.
Very good. So what should I name it?
In the end, it was that the pickaxe was now in his hands.
Elin… no.
The dwarf.
