Chapter 185

[The 'Commandment of Iron and Gold and Silver and Fire' has begun to take effect.]

A System-determined commandment, a setting of the System, took effect. The dwarf elder Bufafa continued talking.

"You who wish to shine light on the king's luster. You must pioneer your own path."

I heard another notice.

[In accordance with the 'Commandment of Iron and Gold and Silver and Fire', a quest has been given.]

[The quest 'Commandment of Iron and Gold and Silver and Fire' has been triggered.]

I checked it immediately.

[Commandment of Iron and Gold and Silver and Fire]

Several materials are necessary in order to restore the 'Old Crown' in accordance with the commandment of the dwarfs. The first required material is 'Ten-Thousand Year Old Cold Iron'. Once Ten-Thousand Year Old Cold Iron is acquired, the next step will be disclosed.

Location: Entrance to the Forest of Dwarfs

"The Ten-Thousand Year Old Cold Iron is at the entrance of the forest outside the Winter Castle," said Bufafa.

Pedro flinched. That was natural, since he already had Ten-Thousand Year Old Cold Iron. He had collected it with the Tomb-Pilfering Shovel I'd given him.

I could give the elder the Ten-Thousand Year Old Cold Iron right this moment, but we needed more information. The Commandment of Iron and Gold and Silver and Fire was something I didn't know a thing about.

"Why is it that we need to collect that?"

"Because materials collected by human hands are necessary in order to refine human objects."

"Does that make a difference?"

"It does. If Ten-Thousand Year Old Cold Iron collected by dwarf hands is used, the crown will never recover its original shine."

And an imperfect restoration would be an insult to a dwarf's pride. They were a race that pursued perfection in all things production.

"We already discovered the Ten-Thousand Year Old Cold Iron while coming in," I said.

"I thought that would be the case. You are, after all, an individual with remarkably keen eyesight."

"Then I am sure you know that humans are not permitted to collect Ten-Thousand Year Old Cold Iron."

"..."

Normally, it was impossible to collect. Bufafa's moment of speechlessness meant he knew that as well as we did. At least at our level, that mineral could not be collected.

"Restoring the crown's shine will require a series of long journeys, I'm afraid," said the elder with a slightly apologetic expression.

"Which means there will inevitably be trials in that long journey."

Bufafa nodded. "It may take a long time."

"May I ask one thing?"

"Of course."

"Why is the Ten-Thousand Year Old Cold Iron necessary?"

Looking at the quest, the Ten-Thousand Year Old Cold Iron was only the beginning. Once it was obtained and delivered, another step of the process would be divulged.

"Ten-Thousand Year Old Cold Iron is necessary"—Bufafa hesitated a little before continuing—"in order to produce a bowl to store Millenium Lava."

As I thought. My guess was correct. A bowl to store Millenium Lava could be made only with Ten-Thousand Year Old Cold Iron. And that bowl could only be made by two races in the world, the dwarfs and the pixies.

"I heard what you said earlier in front of the Winter Castle. I told you ahead of time since you will come to know of it anyway."

I told the gatekeepers that I knew the location of Millenium Lava.

"If just collecting the Ten-Thousand Year Old Cold Iron might require a long journey, I would assume bringing the Millenium Lava will be an even greater trial," I responded.

"Yes." Bufafa didn't make any guarantees. "Recovering the king's luster will be a work of intense toil and difficulty."

Bufafa's eyes were wide open. They were filled with passion so fierce I could feel it with Eye of Perception. The fact I could read the emotions of someone this high level so keenly meant Bufafa was simply that earnest.

"Even so, don't give up."

"..."

This matter seemed to be quite important to the dwarf elder as well, though I didn't know why.

"Thank you for your earnest advice and encouragement."

"Not at all. I apologize for not being able to help you more. The commandment of the dwarfs has my hands tied."

I nodded. "I understand. The commandment of the dwarfs is a sacred thing, after all."

"May the blessing of the Sacred Flame, Athenae, be with you."

I jumped on the opportunity.

"By the Sacred Flame, Athenae, are you referring to that clear and pure flame blazing in the center of the Winter Castle square?"

The 'Blacksmith's Flame' only dwarfs were said to be able to handle was the source of the unsullied fire ki I had felt as soon as I entered the Winter Castle.

"Yes."

"In order to obtain the Ten-Thousand Year Old Cold Iron and the Millenium Lava to restore the king's luster, may I greet the Sacred Flame, Athenae?"

"..."

Bufafa hesitated for a moment.

[The 'Whispering Devil' is having fun.]

It appeared the Whispering Devil already knew what I was trying to do.

[The 'Giant of the Sunset' begins to watch what you are doing.]

Choi Sung-gu wasn't even here, but a Guardian as biased as the Giant of the Sunset went all the way to the Italian server. If Sung-gu was his favorite, maybe I was his second-favorite.

'Sung-gu should be clearing the Gran Seoul Dungeon.'

I asked Song Kiyeol to slow things down, so the clear was probably progressing at a snail's pace.

'The fact that the Giant of the Sunset came here means…'

Even with his favorite Playing there, the Giant of the Sunset was unable to derive sufficient enjoyment from the Korean server. In other words, Kiyeol was doing a good job for me.

'The Whispering Devil's come to the Italian server, too.'

That basically meant Song Junghye hadn't started her petty tricks yet. If she had, the Whispering Devil would be watching the Gran Seoul Dungeon. The two Guardians told me exactly what was happening in Korea.

"I may have to travel a long, long path. Elder, you very clearly wished the blessing of the Sacred Flame, Athenae, upon me."

"I did."

"Are humans not allowed to give their greetings to Athenae?"

"That's not the case, but…" Bufafa's eyebrows quivered. He seemed a little flustered. "That energy is too clean and pure, so…"

He trailed off. He seemed to be struggling to find a polite way to say, 'You may burn to death'. This was definitely unprecedented. Normally, the elder would have just shot down the request with a 'You'll burn to death, fool'. There was definitely something going on for a dwarf of his stature to treat a human like myself with such courtesy.

"That, too, would be my fate, as prescribed by the commandment. If the Commandment of Iron and Gold and Silver and Fire favors me, I will be graced with the protection of the commandment even in front of the Sacred Flame. That is how sacred the commandment is."

"..."

Bufafa's beard quivered like there was an earthquake happening there. That incredibly long beard moved on its own to form a thumbs up. It was like when a [!] mark popped up over Darongi's head. It looked like this thumbs up wasn't a conscious action made by Bufafa, but an independent movement of his beard.

"Your faith in the commandment exceeds imagination."

Bufafa seemed to think I valued the holiness and worth of the commandment more than my life.

I began to see things I hadn't been able to see before.

State: Honest Admiration / Surprise

Summary: Dwarf Elder whose Prejudice Against Humans has Slightly Cracked

Of course, it was only visible for a fraction of a second. Bufafa's stats were too high compared to mine to keep seeing it.

[The 'Whispering Devil' has sent you a 300 Coin sponsorship.]

"Very well," said Bufafa. "I will guide you to Athenae."

Athenae, the Sacred Flame, was the fire used by the dwarfs for all their smithery. It was the fire that had accompanied the dwarfs throughout their history, a mighty flame that had never once gone out within the Winter Castle.

Burning high in the Winter Castle central square was the holy flame. Countless eyes were drawn to the party of humans that were walking towards it.

"Humans?"

"Humans, here?"

"It's Elder Bufafa!"

"Elder Bufafa brought humans here?"

Clang–! Clang–!

Clangs of hammers echoing in the air ceased, giving way to shocked murmurs. A considerable number of dwarfs stopped their work and came outside to stare at the humans.

"He's taking humans to the Sacred Flame?"

"Whoa. Just what are those humans?"

"Elder Bufafa is friendly to humans, after all."

"Could it be that he wants to make a life offering to Athenae?"

As Hyukjin guessed, Bufafa was a highly respected elder in dwarf society. The dwarfs murmured amongst themselves, but no one blocked Bufafa's path.

"Yeah, that must be it."

"I see, so he's offering human lives as a sacrifice."

Hyukjin's ear picked up many snippets. The dwarfs didn't really bother to lower their voices.

"But will even one of those humans really be able to come close to Athenae's flame?"

"It's hard even for us."

Even among the dwarfs, only those born with a special talent for fire were able to approach the Sacred Flame. What would happen if a human were to try?

"They'll be burned before they can even get close."

"Even that will make a sufficient sacrifice, don't you think?"

Vela was trembling all over. "I can't go any further."

He would rather fight all these dwarfs. It was too hot and painful. Even breathing was a struggle. He would burn to death if he got any closer.

"Vela and Pedro, please wait here," said Hyukjin.

At those words, Bufafa raised his voice. "All dwarfs, hear me. These humans are my guests. I humbly ask in my name, Bufafa, that no harm comes to them!"

Bufafa's voice resounded across the square. Hyukjin and Bufafa went a little closer. To the Sacred Flame, Athenae.

"Are you alright?"

"I am alright."

Bufafa stared at Hyukjin with slight worry. However, Hyukjin wasn't in any pain.

'I can feel it.'

The smell of the fire.

'Meeting the Fire Giants itself was… a great lesson and experience for me.'

Back then, he learned how to control and breathe the fire ki inside his body. That became one of the pieces that made him who he was today.

Hyukjin stopped in place for a moment, to Bufafa's relief.

"Will you stop here?"

If this human went any further, he might die. Bufafa did not want that.

"No."

Hyukjin quietly gazed at the flame burning high far in the distance.

'In and out.'

He adjusted his breathing. It felt like the air was made of fire. In his mind was an image of fire streaming into his lungs, revolving through his body, and then coursing back out.

'This is a flame of a higher level.'

The fire ki dwelling in Hyukjin's body, fire ki that had already been exposed to flames of a higher level, began to whip and roil along with the beating of his heart.

'I can't go any further with my ability alone.'

That was for certain. Even dwarfs, a race with far greater strength and fire resistance than humans, could not carelessly approach this holy flame.

'In that case.'

If he was going to back down here, he wouldn't have attempted this in the first place. He walked forward.

Bufafa warned him again. "If you go any closer… you may become an offering."

"If that is the will of the Sacred Flame and the commandment."

He didn't accept that, of course, but he pretended to.

[The 'Whispering Devil' is having fun.]

[The 'Giant of the Sunset' rebukes your recklessness.]

Hyukjin smiled to himself.

'The Giant of the Sunset must see what I'm doing right now as very foolish and reckless.'

But Hyukjin was confident. Here, he would absorb the energy of this pure, pure flame. He would be able to step into a new realm. That was why he said this and that about the commandment to talk Bufafa into letting him come this far.

[The 'Giant of the Sunset' warns that it is dangerous.]

Hyukjin stepped forward again.

'Big words for someone who tried to kill me.'

The Guardian who tried to kill Hyukjin for his favorite, Choi Sung-gu, was suddenly saying things for Hyukjin's benefit. It was proof of just how much he had grown.

'It's hard to get any closer.'

He could see a massive flame before him.

'I'll use it here.'

He pulled out the item he had acquired through Seohye's sacrifice, Fire Giant's Breath.

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