Chapter 21: The Gravel of the Drawf (1)

Amid the glittering streetlights and the bustling night market, Hestia excitedly hugged her new wolf plushie while holding onto Rein's hand.

Suddenly, without warning, she yanked Rein's hand forcefully to the side.

"Eh—? Hestia—"

Rein nearly lost his balance, but Hestia was already pointing at a street vendor ahead of them, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Rein! Look at that! That stall is selling unique items! Aaah, I'm so curious! We have to check it out right now! Come on, come on, come on!!"

Without waiting for a response, Hestia enthusiastically dragged Rein forward, practically bouncing as she pulled him toward the stand.

"Hurry up, Rein! Walk faster! No slacking! Ahhh, I can't wait!!"

Before them, a long table was filled with a variety of souvenirs. There were jewelry pieces, colorful fabrics, perfumes in small glass bottles, and accessories with unique designs. A few people were busy browsing, creating a lively but cozy atmosphere.

Rein sighed, allowing himself to be pulled along. His eyes slowly scanned the displayed items, waiting to see what would catch the little girl's attention.

Hestia, on the other hand, eagerly began examining the trinkets one by one.

"Ooh! Look at this, Rein! It's a wing-shaped pendant! Cool, right!?" she exclaimed, holding up a small golden pendant.

The vendor, an elderly woman with a warm smile, chuckled softly. "That's a lucky pendant. They say it grants protection to its wearer."

Hestia nodded with interest. "Waaah, that's so cool! But I'm not the type to wear pendants…" She quickly put it back and moved on to another item.

Rein remained calm beside her, browsing more leisurely. However, his eyes were suddenly drawn to something—a small brooch shaped like a flower, made of light blue crystal.

When hit by the light, the brooch sparkled like ice frozen under the sun.

"What is this made of?" he asked the vendor.

The old woman glanced at the bracelet in Rein's hand. "Ah, that's a brooch made of ice stone mixed with crystal flowers. They say it brings tranquility and focus to its wearer."

Rein pondered for a moment before silently handing it to the vendor to be wrapped. He planned to surprise Hestia with it.

Meanwhile, Hestia finally found something that piqued her interest—a small perfume bottle with an elegant design.

"Oooh! Perfume! I wonder what it smells like!"

She carefully removed the cap and took a sniff. A soft, slightly sweet scent filled her nose.

Suddenly, her thoughts drifted…

Imagining someone leaning close to her, their body tilting toward hers, and then…

"—E-EH!?"

Hestia jolted, nearly dropping the perfume bottle from her hands. She quickly turned to Rein, her face flushed red, afraid he might have noticed her strange expression.

"I-It's not because I was thinking of something weird! D-Don't get any weird ideas!! I was just curious, that's all!"

Rein stared at her for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. "I didn't say anything."

"U-ugh! You were definitely thinking something! I know it!!" Hestia hastily handed the money to the vendor and hid her face behind her wolf plushie.

Then, her eyes landed on a pair of purple earrings that shimmered softly under the streetlights.

"Wow… so pretty!"

The earrings had a simple yet elegant design—a small amethyst crystal in the shape of a teardrop, hanging from a thin silver hoop. They looked slightly masculine but still delicate enough for someone like Rein.

She stared at them for a moment before turning to the vendor. "Excuse me! These earrings… do they have any special meaning?"

The elderly woman smiled. "Ah, those are Amethyst Earrings. They're said to enhance concentration and bring a sense of calm to the wearer."

Hestia grinned with satisfaction. "That's perfect for Rein! He always looks so serious and composed!"

Without hesitation, she bought them.

Once she was done with her shopping, she turned around and saw Rein looking at her with a calm expression.

"E-Eh? Why are you looking at me like that!?"

Hestia felt her face heat up. Instinctively, she hugged her wolf plushie tighter, as if it could shield her from Rein's gaze.

Rein gave a faint smile. "I was just observing your choices. You bought perfume and earrings? Interesting."

Hestia immediately defended herself. "I-It's nothing! I just wanted to buy something nice! Besides… the perfume was, um… just on a whim!"

Rein looked at her for a moment before his smile widened. "I bought something too."

Hestia blinked, her curiosity instantly sparked. "Eh!? What? What did you buy!?"

Rein simply shrugged. "It's a secret."

Without hesitation, Hestia jumped up slightly, trying to grab his hand. However, the young man easily lifted his arm higher, keeping the item out of her reach.

"Hwahhh! That's not fair! You're taller!!" Hestia whined, jumping up and down in an attempt to reach the mysterious item. But Rein only smirked and shifted his body away.

"I'll tell you later. Maybe."

"Muuu! Rein, you're so mean! I'm adding this to my revenge list! ...Ehh, but I'll probably forget later…" Hestia puffed her cheeks in frustration, though her eyes still sparkled with curiosity.

Before she could continue pestering him, a sudden commotion erupted nearby.

"This stone is fake! You're scamming customers, you bastard!"

The once warm and lively atmosphere was slightly disrupted by an argument at another stall.

A small crowd had gathered, and the voices of the dispute grew clearer.

Hestia and Rein exchanged glances before turning their attention toward the source of the noise.

The clamor became more distinct. In the middle of the crowd, a burly dwarf with a thick beard was arguing fiercely with a magic stone vendor. His face was red, and his large hands gripped a stone as if he was about to crush it on the spot.

The vendor, sweating nervously, tried to calm the raging dwarf, who was barely half his size but clearly far stronger.

"H-Hey! I swear, this is a genuine stone!" the vendor stammered. "I got it straight from the dungeon! You're just too—"

The dwarf growled, stomping his foot on the ground. "Shut it, you fraud! I've lived longer than your entire family combined! I can smell a fake from thirty meters away!"

Rein and Hestia watched as more people gathered, eager to witness the unfolding drama.

The dwarf jabbed a finger at the vendor's nose, his voice full of authority.

"You have no respect for the soul of the stone! Stones aren't just cheap merchandise! They are silent witnesses of the world's history, older than your thin-haired ancestors!"

The vendor, nearing desperation, scoffed. "It's just a rock! Are you buying it or not?! I don't have time for your nonsense!"

The dwarf looked like he was about to explode. "Just a rock?! Just a rock, you say?! How dare you insult the ancestors of stone like that?! You…!"

He huffed loudly, his grip tightening around the stone.

The crowd grew larger. Some people whispered among themselves, waiting to see if the dwarf would actually buy the stone or destroy the vendor's stall.

Realizing he was now the center of attention, the vendor suddenly smirked and lifted the stone high.

"Look at this! Even a master dwarf can't take his eyes off it! That proves this is a valuable stone! And you all can have it for only 50,000 valis!"

The dwarf's eyes widened. "HAH?! I never said that, you sneaky bastard!"

Feeling tricked, the dwarf let out a long sigh, as if dealing with sheer stupidity. Then, without warning, he tossed the stone into the air and caught it with one hand.

"Fine. If this stone is real, I'll shave my beard in public!" he declared loudly.

The crowd erupted into laughter. Some began cheering, challenging the vendor to prove his claim.

The dwarf stared at the stone for a moment, then—"KRAKK!"

With a single powerful squeeze, the stone crumbled into dust in the palm of his hand.

The crowd fell silent.

Then, within seconds, people erupted into cheers and laughter. Some clapped, while others jeered at the merchant.

"Ha! A real magic stone wouldn't break this easily!" the dwarf scoffed, brushing the dust off his hands. "A quality stone has a much stronger structure! Did you think I was a fool?"

The merchant turned pale. His eyes darted left and right, and without saying a word, he bolted—fleeing before the crowd could start demanding their money back.

But before he disappeared, he shot the dwarf a look filled with hatred.

"Just wait... this isn't over yet..."