Chapter 54

When Ran became quite accustomed to the horse and ran well, the group arrived in Dwarf City.

The huge underground city, which was pierced inside a high mountain and went underground, was enough to open Ran's mouth without Zetura and Pasen bragging.

The high ceiling was studded with magic lights like a star, illuminating the inside.

"Amazing."

"Hahahaha, isn't it? Right?"

Jetura burst into a hearty laugh and pounded his stomach. Pasen told me how the area was organized and divided.

"It's been a long time since a man met the head of a great family."

Pasen nodded at Jetura's words. Pasen continued.

"I'd love to invite you to my house. There's no room to talk, so it'll be more convenient for an outside guest to stay there. And the size would fit humans."

"Yes"

Ran nodded and took a deep breath. She remembered what she knew about Dwarf again in her head.

The group entered the residential area and was escorted to a large house. I went directly to the stable, put the horse in, and entered the mansion, and I could see the colorful interior.

The interior of the mansion, which emphasized the beauty of the stone itself, reminds me of a rock museum, Ran thought.

"Welcome. I've never seen you before. I'm called Lactu. Are you Ran?"

"Yes, nice to meet you. Sir."

Lactu nodded as Ran greeted with a smile.

"Nice to meet you, too. Your hair color is beautiful. I know how to draw gold in that color."

Ran smiled cheerfully.

"I have eyes that like glitter."

Lactu's eyes were slightly different. He said one more time.

"I've touched an emerald gemstone like your eyes."

"There are also white hands that go well with the emerald."

In their conversation, Ross looked like he was talking. Lactu burst into laughter.

"I didn't expect anyone to know old puns. You're very welcome."

"Thank you for your hospitality."

Ran grinned. It was a kind of exchange. I know how to do something.

Really? I know how to do this.

It was a Dwarf-style greeting to show off his skills in such a way. But Ran is a human being, and she cannot boast of her skills.

Then how should we respond? I can appreciate your skills, I responded by saying. No matter how skillful a craftsman is, isn't it useless without a user? That was what I was saying. At the same time, I'm ready to marvel at your work.

So Lactu accepted the greeting pleasantly. Then Ran said.

"And I don't know if my prediction is right or wrong, but I want to go into the mine and listen to the forest as soon as possible. That's why I came all the way here."

Lactu's face quickly became serious.

"I want to hear the details."

"Yes, but before that, can I let my party go in and rest?"

Lactu nodded at Ran's words.

"Of course, Four Force! Take them to your room."

Then Dwarf, a woman with short bobbed hair, came inside with a covered body.

"Come on, follow me."

She gestured to the group, saying so, and Ran motioned to follow. Only Eustaf remained as Lumiere hesitated to follow the party's last.

"Eus?"

"I have the right to hear the story, too."

"Sure."

Ran nodded.

"Sit down for now."

Lactu recommended that he sat down. The sofa in the drawing room was also a stone, so Ran sat down carefully.

Soon after, hot alcohol came out instead of tea, so Ran just talked to it.

Even though I did, I felt a lot of alcohol. 'What a high-calorie liquor you've heated.'

Ran thought so and said, rolling the glass in her palm.

"I think it might be a burst of mineral water on the black mountain."

"Mineral water?"

It was a really unexpected remark, so Lactu opened his eyes.

"Yes, I think that unique echo is the sound of the water veins moving. Maybe it's the sound of the spirit waking up."

"Water veins..."

Lactu stroked his beard.

"Of course, the exact thing is that I have to go into the mine myself and hear the sound. But I want you to know that I'm the owner of the ice wall."

Lactu's hand stopped at the added words. His brown eyes became serious.

"The owner of the black mountain will listen to the owner of the ice wall."

Ran smiled.

"Can I move right away, then?"

I didn't know when the mineral water would burst, so I wanted to pretend to check quickly. If you can't hear the echo, it's a terrible situation.

"Alright."

Lactu raised himself up. Eustaf, who was standing behind the sofa, whispered to Ran.

"Is it okay if you don't rest?"

"Yes, I'm just checking anyway."

Ran said so and grinned.

"You can rest Eustaf."

"I can't let you go alone."

That's what Eustaf said.

*******

An hour later, Eustaf said low in the dark.

"I'm glad I didn't let you go alone."

"Eus, Eus, you...you okay?"

Ran whispered in a shiver. I could feel the smell of rusty iron even in the dark.

The smell of blood.

"Is Noonim alright?"

"I'm fine, but Eus--"

Ran bit her lips as she tried to speak in a sob without realizing it.

This is not the time to cry.

She breathed deeply and exhaled repeatedly, and Ran groped through the dark corners with her hands. Rough stone floors and stones touched the fingertips.

"I mean, I mean--"

The underground city and the mine were directly connected. There were still parts of the city that expanded, and there were parts that went deep.

Lactu guided Ran and Eustaf into the mine. When they went inside quite a bit, there was a ringing sound.

"Ah"

Ran seemed to have goosebumps all over her body. The sound of a whale crying, not a thumping earth, came from deep inside the mine.

Then, Blue ring began to yell. Eustaf was surprised and took the necklace off his neck.

The ring was shaking like crazy even with its eyes and making noises.

"Blue ring?"

The moment Eustaf frowned, an earthquake occurred. A stone fell from the top, and Ran threw herself and pushed Eustaf away-

'I can't think of anything else.'

Something thumped and hurt so much that something hit my whole body and I feel like I've lost my mind ·······.

"Eus."

"Yes."

"I can't think of anything since I pushed Eus."

Eustaf was silent for a moment and spoke slowly.

"The floor turned out."

"What?!"

"We fell down, and I don't know what happened to the others. And a rock fell from the top and brought Noonim inside."

"Then... Are we trapped in the mine now...?"

I got goosebumps and her voice trembled at the same time.

"Where did you get hurt?"

"I'm fine."

"You're not okay. Aren't you seriously injured? Damn, I can't see anything!"

Ran's nervous cry made a smirking sound from the other side. Ran reached out her hand cautiously. When she felt slightly touching somewhere, Eustaf held hands together.

"Here you are."

"Are you laughing? Really?"

While groping hard for Eustaf with the other hand, Ran examined his physical condition. Lastly, when she carefully used his face with her fingertips, she felt his face stiff, but his eyes, nose, mouth, face, and head were fine.

"So where are you hurt?"

When Ran leaned down carefully and tried to feel his back, Eustaf turned slightly. He held her hand tightly.

"Wow! You're hurt!"

"I hurt my back a little, but I'm fine. And what about Noonim?"

"I'm fine."

Instead of saying, "Really?" Eustaf's hand began to feel a little bit about her body.

I did this to Eustaf, but I don't know why I'm embarrassed. Ran was flinching and still. His hand carefully swept Ran's face. Finally, he swept down to her back and breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're really alright."

"That's what I'm saying..."

Ran almost bit her tongue while trying to get up from her seat.

'It hurts!'

My left ankle was throbbing. No, it's not just sore...

It was a pain as if someone had nailed it into her ankle. I didn't think I could take off my boots.

She clenched her teeth and slowly got up from her seat.

"Eustaf is wounded. Sit down. I'm gonna--"

"Blue flame."

At that time, when Eustaf whispered quietly, a small blue flame lit up. Ran opened her eyes round and grumbled.

"If you can start a fire, tell me right away."

"I just thought of it, too."

Eustaf said so and got up from his seat. Ran shouted at his back.

"Eus!"

"Not as bad as it seems."

"But..."

The clothes were torn, full of blood and dirt. It can't be okay.

"It's not a problem with the spine, it's just a bit of a tear."

Eustaf said so and patted her head as if it were okay.

And he looked around and said,

"Where does this cave connect? It doesn't look like a mine made by the Dwarfs, but it looks like a natural cave."

"Eus, you wait here. I'll be back."

Saying so, Ran walked calmly. It was fortunate that the flame was cloudy. Otherwise, I would have caught my face turning pale with pain.

'May, maybe it doesn't hurt that much. Yeah. I think this is okay.'

"There's no flame without me."

"-!!"

Ran frowned and looked around. If the ground had gone down, something would have fallen together-

"Ah"

The leather bag caught her eye, so Ran rushed over to it and dragged the bag.

"Look!"

"Did this fall somewhere, too? It looks old."

"Thanks anyway."

Ran said so and opened the bag, wishing it had something useful in it.

Tools such as small shovels, hammers, chisels, and chisels came out, followed by simple first aid and hard-hardened loaves of bread.

"Oh, it's not a bucket, it's a bottle?"

As soon as I opened the small water bottle, I smelled alcohol. And a towel.

'That's really useless.'

But it's better than nothing. Ran said after packing a bottle and first aid.

"Let's look at the wound first."

"Are you going to throw it on my back?"

"It's better than infection."

"It's someone else's business."

Ran opened her eyes to muttering Eustaf.

"Hurry up."

Eustaf sat back with a sigh. Ran gently wiped Eustaf back with a towel and poured alcohol. His whole body was flinching and stiff, but he didn't moan.

When I poured all the alcohol, I felt tears coming out again because the reality of the wound was revealed.

She wiped the blood by pressing the wound tightly with a towel, and Ran carefully applied the ointment by opening the first aid box.

"I'm sorry."

"What do you mean?"

"If I hadn't asked Eus to come today, I ... wouldn't have brought Eustaf with me."

Then Eus wouldn't have been hurt like this.

"If I hadn't come, you would have fallen here by yourself."

"I don't care about that -"

Eustaf turned around and grabbed her wrist as if he had grabbed her. His blue eyes seemed to sparkle.

"Why wouldn't you care?"

Nevertheless, his tone was so soft that Ran swallowed her saliva.

"No, it's not..."

"Is that?"

"I'm fine, but Eus is ······."

"Why is Noonim alright?" "..."

Ran opened her mouth slightly, but no answer came out. Eustaf tilted his head.

"...?!"

She felt like he was going kiss, but he whispered in her ear.

"Don't forget your promise."

Ran smiled awkwardly.

"I didn't forget. I won't die. So, let's get out of here. Trust me!"

Ran said vigorously with a pat on her chest, and Eustaf sighed softly. Ran began to walk as carefully as possible so that her left foot wouldn't strain.