Chapter 11: Dwarven City

"As I said, if you are looking for any rare or special metals, there is no better choice than the dwarven city. They are the best smith in the world after all. Weapons and armors of legends are made by them. There are even rumors that their ancestors once worked with Uru under the order of a god to create an ultimate weapon." Arpeggio is explaining to Ray about places that have a high chance to yield the metals that he seeks.

"Okay okay. So, where is the dwarves city located at? I can't find them on any map that I have." Ray also checked using his satellite before but never found them.

"Well, for starters." Arpeggio rummage through her bag pack and pull out another map on the bed. "The empire never bothered to mark any demi-human settlement on their official map and dwarven city isn't above ground in the first place."

"Dwarve carve out earth and build a massive subterranean metropolis under the mountain, near Alnus Hill. Their race isn't really all that friendly with humans after being invaded by the Emperor before Emperor Molt Sol Augustus. So, we need to travel south to the Tybe Mountain which will take 5 days by carriage."

"Hmn…" Ray only nods and grunt to her explanation while rubbing his chin. However, he was actually checking the Tybe Mountain using a satellite. He did see small activities there but no big settlement was built and only small outposts randomly scattered the mountain.

"Umu, let's go. If we are quick, we can make our way there in just one day." Ray said and ordered Arpeggio to roll up her maps and notes.

(This is based on my assumption when the anime said from Italica to Alnus Hill only take an hour.)

"Yao"

"Yes, Master. Everything has been packed when you are discussing with Miss Arpeggio." Yao replied while carrying a rucksack on her back. Their stuff isn't much to begin with since Ray has inventory. Those things in the rucksack are mostly Rondel souvenirs that Yao bought.

…

Just 6 hours later, they already passed Italica and Alnus Hill. Ray bought an all terrain vehicle for this trip to Tybe Mountain.

The car keeps shaking around due to the uneven ground. They already left the stone paved road made by the empire. Arpeggio is having a carsickness and hangs her head outside the window while Yao and I simply stay silent while minding our business. Only Cheshire stayed bubbly and excited as she looked at the scenery.

"Owner, owner! What is that!" Cheshire points at the small squirrel-like animal on a tree, munching fruit.

"Dunno, a squirrel probably. Want more cookies?" Ray, who already became tired after 6 hours of entertaining Cheshire. He takes out another cookie and puts it in front of her mouth before she chomp it along his fingers then nibbles the cookies and the fingers.

"Owner, owner! *nom* What is that, meow!" Cheshire points at a giant spider running away into the forest after hearing the car's noise.

"Hmn, that's a giant spider. Their meat is delicious like a crab apparently. The maids cook them before and you like it, don't you?"

"Mew! Cheshire ate that monster's meat! The spider don't look delicious at all, Owner nya." Cheshire looked pale and horrified that she ate the meat of an ugly monster.

"But you ate like 5 plates of that sweet and sour spider meat. Then another 5 the following day when you requested it. I was surprised that you didn't gain any weight eating that much." Ray chided while resting his head on his right hand.

"Cheshire will not get fat meow! Cheshire still growing and need to eat a looottt of food nya. Cheshire will not become like Lady Formidable." Cheshire said with a huff and fake anger while having her arm crossed.

"Sure sure, you will grow up nicely and become a beautiful lady one day." I played along but I doubt it would happen because her body will not grow in size at all.

"Hmn, I will grow up into a beautiful lady like Lady Drake and make the owner fall over heels to Cheshire, begging to marry me!" Cheshire smile smugly while explaining her grand plan to everyone in the car.

Arpeggio is simply too sick to care while Yao's expression looks like she just had an epiphany or enlightenment. She whisper something to herself but my enhanced hearing can catch what she whispered.

"No wonder the master has no interest in me. He wanted to raise a daughter that would fit all his preferences and take her as a lover! A genius indeed, very unorthodox method but not uncommon among long lifespan races like elves and dragonoids."

I wanted to retort that line of thought of her but again, she isn't totally wrong. I just wanted to raise Cheshire like my daughter since I never have the experience of raising one but I never had the thought of making her my lover.

"Arriving at your destination in 15 minutes." A robotic voice informed me of the remaining time before we arrived on Tybe Mountain.

"Thank go *blergh* -odness that we are about to arrive. Any longer than that, I will die." Arpeggio said as she vomited her stomach acid because her stomach contents had been emptied by the first hour of the trip.

…

We exit the car and I store it in my inventory before we walk to one of the outposts that was built on a mine entrance. Arpeggio has led the way since she came here before for her magic study on mineralogy.

"Halt, state your business for coming here!" A dwarf shouted from a watch tower on the right of the wooden gate.

The outpost was a simple fort made of wood and rock. The walls are fully covered with wood and reinforced with rock and cement on the bottom. There are two watchtowers, one on the side of the gate and another is deeper in the fort and probably was next to the entrance.

"I am a student from Magic Academy and I am here with someone who is interested in purchasing materials from the dwarven city." Arpeggio shouted to reply to the dwarf guard on the watchtower.

The dwarf whispers something to his fellow guard on his side before nodding several times. After a few minutes, the gate opened slightly and just enough for each of us to enter.

"1 silver per person for the visitor pass." The guard that converse with Arpeggio helps guide us through the customs.

The dwarf put the crossbow in his hand to his back before taking us to a small shack a few meters away from the gate. From here, I can see the mine entrance that leads to the dwarven city below the surface and 3 dozen dwarf guards. Every guard has a crossbow, short but thick one handed sword and armor that covers their head and chest.

"Here, fill these forms and pay 1 silver per person."

Arpeggio grabbed the form and helped us fill in the details with Yao providing information she didn't know. Meanwhile, I was listening to the dwarf guard explaining the rules.

"This visitor pass will only last for a week before you need to renew. You can go to any public area as long as you have this visitor pass. Then no brawl unless in the pub or arena. No weapon allowed to be used in public unless self defence although you can carry them with you just in case monsters enter the city from the mines."

"Any questions?" The dwarf asks after he kindly reads out the rules from his memories.

"What do you mean by monsters from the mines?" I asked since I wonder if this would be a problem for us later.

"Exactly as I said just now mister. The abandoned mines were a problem to us dwarfs because we cannot seal them back after abandoning them. Monsters like goblins, large spiders and even earth trolls will infest those caves and sometimes attack the dwarven city."

The dwarf then smirks before looking at me smugly.

"Don't worry about it, we have dwarven patrols and guards usually taking care of those problems. Just make sure not to travel into abandoned mine tunnels or any tunnels without someone like the scouts or guards to guide you." The dwarf guard who previously looked grumpy suddenly flashes me a toothy grin and a thumbs up.

After we obtained our visitor's pass, we rode an iron cart down into the well lit tunnel for more than 10 minutes before we entered a large cavern city that honestly made me think is only possible in games. Almost every building to furniture is made out of stones which is logical since stone is the last thing they would lack underground. Whole city is lit by torches, oil lamps and stones that produce light.

Arpeggio then immediately leads us through the city to the other corner where we end up in a small shop that sells materials like metals, crystals and etc that are mined by the locals.

Inside the store we find a well dressed dwarf in medieval fashion and wearing glasses, writing on a book under the light from a nearby oil lamp. When we entered, the door rang with a bell that caused the dwarf to look up from the book.

"Welcome to Dolvan's supp -liers." The dwarf looked surprised before his surprise turned into anger.

"It's the lass of Mimoza again? Get out, I ain't giving you anymore discount or even dealing business with a cheapskate like you." The dwarf huffed and returned to his previous task.

"Are you sure, Dolvan? I brought you a big customer here. One with a very deep pocket to mend our past grievances."

I looked at Arpeggio with a flat stare but she simply focused on Dolvan and avoided my stare. Well, not like she hurt me or anything but I still feel used.

"She is correct mister Dolvan, I come with her to find special materials like Adamantine or Mithril." Then I proceed to list a few more metals before we discuss their availability.

Few minutes later…

"Unfortunately, there definitely is stock on Adamantine but you yourself know how rare they are. The metal ranked third after Uru and Orichalcum-Mithril alloy. Not to mention that the top 5 metals are very very expansive that even an empire like Saderia will struggle financially to buy them."

"So, unless you have a castle filled with gold or rare material to barter them, it is impossible to even sell them in the first place." Dolvan explained patiently but gave Arpeggio a stink eye whenever their eyes crossed.

"Just asking, how much will this much Adamantine worth?" Ray took out his chunks for Dolvan to see.

Dolvan does look surprised but not very surprised by the size but how its shape is irregular.

"This… these chunks are used. How are you able to use it in its raw form? Even the best dwarven blacksmith paired with the best sorcerer of the elf race cannot use a raw Adamantine without turning it into alloy to reduce its hardness!"

"Ah, apologize for my outburst. How unprofessional of me." Dolvan coughed before appraising the chunk.

"This chunk will be worth around 20 million gold since it's still unprocessed and very pure too. If it's still at its original price, I reckon it would be around 60-70 million gold. An amount that even the whole empire's wealth combined cannot reach."

"However I did hear a rumor recently that both Flame and Water Dragon were slain by a human. Only the dragon's corpse can compete in value with the top 5 metals."

Upon hearing Dolvan's statement, I quickly opens his inventory and takes out both material from the dragons he slain.

"If it's the dragon you are talking about then my master here is the human who killed both dragons." Yao said after seeing me take out the dragon's material.

"What!" Both Arpeggio and Dolvan exclaimed.

"Please let me inspect the materials."

Ray didn't hesitate and put those materials on the table.

"Indeed these belong to dragons! A wyvern cannot scale this big and the leather is also extremely tough. I cannot imagine the value of these if those old geezer in the council saw these materials…"

"So, will you trade those rare metals for these materials?" I ask after giving Dolvan enough time to inspect those materials.

"Ye- *cough* Are you sure? The value of these materials from dragon out ranked even Adamantine and Orichalcum-Mithril alloy!" Dolvan almost shouted when he tried to confirm my decision.

"Yeah, Adamantine is stronger and sturdier than the dragon scales." I look at Dolvan weirdly since he should understand this perfectly or perhaps there is something I missed.

"You are either dumb or ignorant. The metals are indeed tougher and stronger but they are very bad at holding any enhancement, especially mithril that basically reject and dissipate magics. Only Uru is an exception to this but only gods have access to Uru metal. For this reason, dragons' materials are more valuable than those metals." Said Dolvan while showing himself trying to make a mithril nugget react with a simple magic which the magic dissipated.

"The metals are really the choice for those that cannot wield magic like knights or swordsmen. The mages however will favour the dragons material more and they are our biggest patron around since they are usually very rich unlike that lass over there that only know how to beg for a discount." Dolvan said while also inserting a verbal jab for Arpeggio.

Arpeggio fell to the floor dramatically before defending herself that her study of mineralogy ate through his fortune too fast. Her resulting proverty isn't going to change until she graduates and becomes a full fledged mage or sorceress.

"Will you agree to trade me the dragon's materials for Adamantine, Mithril, Orichalcum, and the Orichalcum-Mithril alloy?" I drum my fingers on the table and ask Dolvan. He looked troubled and sweating too while making his decision.

"How much of those materials do you have?" Dolvan asked, trying to confirm something.

After I told him the amount of the materials I have, Dolvan almost fainted on me but managed to get himself up.

"Excuse me for a moment." Dolvan rummages through his drawer before taking out a bottle which he uncorked and chugging it down.

"Ahh, that's hit the spot… Well, where was I… Oh, yeah. With that much material, you can probably end up with a few cargo cargo worth of those metals that you requested. Mostly it will be mithril because that is the most abundant." Dolvan loosen himself a bit with alcohol before continuing the discussion.

"I didn't plan to exchange all of them, I only require around 100kg of each metal except Adamantine and any other rare materials that you can provide."

"Ah, if that's the case. I can handle the trade but I will require some time to prepare. Perhaps the latest in 3 days." Dolvan assured me before we shake hands as a sign of cooperation.

"I will stay around until then. I will be staying in an inn adjacent to the biggest tavern in the city." After giving my place of stay, I bid him farewell before leaving with everyone to rent a room for our 3 days stay.

…

For the next three days, Ray, Cheshire, Yao and Arpeggio went on a vacation in the Dwarven city that surprisingly has various popular tourist attractions like underground lake, lava lake, crystal cavern, volcano hot spring, Dwarven craftsmanship museum and many more that they didn't manage to participate in.

Currently, it's night time but I can hardly tell because I am underground. Since my inn has a private hot spring bath that costs 20 silver or 0.2 of a gold coin.

Money isn't really a problem for me and Yao with Cheshire insisted on having a hot spring bath which I relent after Cheshire started asking for it. Yao then again insisted to join me and Cheshire with her excuse being she is my servant and she is obliged to help me. I relent again because I am mentally exhausted from touring what this city can provide.

I take a quick wash on my body before dipping into the natural hot water from the heated underground lake. Cheshire wanted to join but she disliked that the water was too hot for her. She just floats using the wooden basket and treats the hot water bath as a sauna.

Feeling a little mischievous, I spin the basket which causes Cheshire to become dizzy and release a distressed mewl to make me stop. The basket capsized when I tried to stop it abruptly and caused Cheshire to fall into the water and she flailed helplessly, drowning because she was in a panic.

Then I caught her and put her on the edge of the small pool. She looked like a drenched kitty when all her puffy hair now stuck to each other. Without realising, my eyes wandered to other places which caused my blood to rush downward.

I closed my eyes and stared at the ceiling to calm myself. I distract myself by checking my system that I rarely touch since leaving Rondel.

"Grrr, owner is bad nya." Cheshire said while biting my arm which barely tickles me and growled rather cutely like how a kitten will try to make herself more threatening but end up becoming cuter instead.

"Sorry, Cheshire. I will treat you to another premium salmon again to redeem myself." I said while rubbing her head to reduce her anger since her anger always snuff out really quick if I pat or rub her head.

"You better be nya, humph."

Ah, she looks so adorable that I want to snuggle her but I can't when we are barely clothed like this. I really should find a way to vent myself other than my age-ole partner, my left hand.

"I will, I will. I never break my promise right? Now, who is the good kitty?" I rub her head more intensely while my eyes are focused on my screen.

After reaching level 90, my progress stagnated because I was busy lately and didn't have time to grind Mission. My cash of 60 millions now sits at 12 millions after using them on augment and convert to points for Marketplace. My progress slowed also because of my armor. Other than one Black Hardplate helmet, the other 4 pieces of armor are still the Red Hardplate that have no augment slot.

I allocated the 17 SP that I gained from Level 73 to Level 90 into Tough Body progressively to counter my problem of always dying due to weak armor in Mission stages. Especially when the boss is a dark minion which ignores some of my defensive stats.

Still can't forget the experience of dying in nightmare mode and being ganged by dark minion Savage Necrosis and Savage Devastator. Although the death isn't gruesome like being ripped apart or anything and just my vision turning black, I still feel the full brunt of those attacks before I died.

Then there is the Bloodborne inventory that I didn't mention much since none of their weapons are better than what I have. Like flintlock pistols and melee weapons when I have guns? Even the healing item required me to stab a literal needle into my body to inject blood, a damned Blood!

Nah, I rather just do extra grinding and build a Biosynthesis augment weapon that can heal me as I kill my enemies. I had a RED Shockfield too to be made into a healing gun but it's a ***7 and require 5 Elite cores to be maxed out. Core is a very expensive consumable that I would rather not spend unless it's BLACK equipment since it's very hard to earn these Elite cores and he cannot cheat in Mission mode and summon Elite Squad to breeze through nightmare mode.

I sank deeper into the hot spring unconsciously and stopped rubbing Cheshire's head. Yao also finished cleaning herself and joined me to dip in the hot water.

Sigh, the RNG of SAS 4 is as cruel as ever. Nantonium boxes are hard to obtain unless I kill a Savage Devastator and Savage Necrosis. The Necrosis is still manageable but Devastator gains immense resistance and increased speed when near dead and my Proposition will turn useless against a berserk Devastator. My slow speed is also a burden during the fight.

Then my thoughts are interrupted when I feel very dizzy. I closed the system screen and went into the PD screen only to receive a warning from my implant that my body is overheated and I need to get out of the hot water.

I complied with the warning and removed my body from the hot water and only sat on the edge with only half my leg submerged. I covered my private part with a towel and bought chilled strawberry milk from the Marketplace for the price of 100 points each. That's a few hundred rations worth of cash but the taste is worth the price.

"I want milk too meow. Gimme strawberry milk!" Cheshire jumped on me and shake my on the shoulder while making her demands.

"Hold on a minute, stop shaking my body. Geez, you are getting more pushy lately." I quickly buy a few bottles since there is no way this little glutton is enough with just one.

"Thank you nya, you are the best, Owner!" Cheshire grinned as she chugged the strawberry milk that I opened for her. She gulped all three bottles in just seconds before falling to her stomach, feeling satisfied and sleepy.

Yao only looks at the antics of this unofficial father daughter duo at the side and refuses to disturb them.

—————

3.7k words

(I plan to make 2k words the standard per chapter but I will exceed the set limit only not less.)

(I forgot that I never described how the ACE Suit looks like. It's a full body suit from head to toe, the face part is a clear transparent material covering the face. The suit mimics the look of a muscle since it's basically a secondary muscle that assists Ray's movement. The colour is between black and very dark silvery grey.)

I included a picture for you to form the images.