Chapter 141

I take a look at the map.

Though it was torn and damaged in many places, I could still make out the central area.

“Hmm…”

The System only informed me that this was indeed a map.

Sometimes it’s overly kind to the point of being unnecessary, but other times it shows how unhelpful it can be.

I have no idea what this map points to or what it signifies.

There’s an X marking the center of the map, but I can’t even guess what terrain it indicates.

I’ll have someone investigate where this place is later.

With that, I put the map back in my bag as is.

Everything I had to do upstairs is now complete.

Looking around, there’s nothing else to see.

Even if there were something, given my current state, I wouldn’t be able to find it, so I don’t dwell on it unnecessarily.

Now, all that’s left is to descend into the endless basement.

I fiddle with the warp device I took out from my bag, and with a clanking sound, I head down.

The first floor I reached before.

Surprisingly, the terrain has changed slightly from when I last visited.

Moreover, the monsters appearing here have slight differences as well.

This clearly matches the dungeons in games.

In other words, this Petra ruin likely has hidden elements I didn’t know about in the game.

How could I possibly uncover underground ruins by parting sand in the game?

In that sense, it’s understandable that I couldn’t find it.

“Ugh…”

Descending into the underground went fairly smoothly.

The levels of the monsters weren’t too high, and since each floor was spacious, they rarely detected me.

When I reached the fifth floor, the scenery changed completely.

A spooky fog lay spread out, and iron bars suddenly appeared.

It felt like a prison.

Through the dim visibility, there was nothing to be seen.

The monsters that were previously abundant disappeared abruptly starting from the fifth floor, which was somewhat eerie.

The sixth floor was a collapsed ruin.

It looked like some kind of civilization existed here, but it had been forcibly destroyed by something.

It also seemed like it had been invaded.

There were no signs of life.

Only bones and skulls rolled around with the fog.

The seventh floor had an environment not much different from the sixth.

Continuing down through floors eight and nine, which were identical to the sixth, I wondered how far this would go.

Arriving at the tenth floor…

As soon as I descended, a quiet, ominous sound greeted me.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a wandering spirit.”

Does he mistake me for a ghost?

That means there are such types of monsters here.

“I am not a spirit.”

“Am I getting old? Now I’m hearing hallucinations.”

“It’s not a hallucination.”

“Hmm…?”

The fog thickened further.

And there were sturdy chains and iron bars sealing someone tightly.

Bound within them was a small dwarf.

His face, covered with a brown beard, couldn’t be fully recognized, but he looked like a squinty-eyed fellow.

“There’s no way anyone should come here…”

[Dwarf]

The message from the System was brief.

A dwarf.

I don’t know why he’s here, but curiosity bubbled up uncontrollably.

“Shall I release you?”

I feel no threatening aura from him.

Rather, his life force was slowly fading, almost as if he had given up on everything.

Even that slow decline was artificially prolonged by some special mechanism of the ruin.

Strangely enough, the energy taken away from life was returning to the dwarf, transferred back to him.

The sinister and cruel structure sent shivers down my spine.

“Dear heavens… Is there someone who speaks the language of dwarves here?”

“If you promise to explain what happened here, I will release you.”

“There’s no reason not to keep my promise. Please free me from this hellish confinement…”

With a weak voice, the dwarf pleads earnestly, and I gladly accept his request.

I grant freedom to his chained hands and feet.

I cut through the iron bars, giving him spatial freedom.

The simple act of liberation leaves the dwarf lying on the ground, blinking slowly, seemingly unable to fully grasp his newfound freedom.

Slowly rising, he massages his body, then bursts into helpless laughter followed by sobbing for quite a while.

Whatever happened here must’ve been significant.

I can wait patiently; his story seems deep and complex.

Once his crying subsides and the dwarf calms down, he wobbles over to stand in front of me.

Short in stature but with a solid appearance, he fits the image of a dwarf perfectly.

“Apologies for the display earlier. I simply couldn’t imagine escaping this prison alive.”

“What happened here?”

“It’s a long tale, but will you listen?”

“Fortunately, I enjoy listening to stories.”

“That’s quite the amazing coincidence…”

The dwarf’s story unfolded slowly.

“The beginning was humanity’s desire to reach the sky. Whether it was their fault or not… Nonetheless, that was the start.”

“Desire of humanity?”

“From the sky, humans obtained something. In ancient times, when humanity thrived, they acquired dragons.”

“Dragons?”

“They were hunted, befriended, and became companions. The trophy of humans conquering the skies was dragons.”

“Dragons wouldn’t be so easily caught, though.”

“True. When higher dragons descended, humanity fell.”

“Such an event occurred?”

“Not just humans suffered. All life existing on the land faced calamity. We dislike humans for that very reason. Though, by now, the resentment has faded…”

For a race that has lived for a long time, it makes sense.

Which means this dwarf is from an ancient race.

“We fled from all harm by going underground. Digging deep in the desert, we decided to create ruins and live in an underground world.”

“So this is Petra?”

“Ah. You know the name of our ruins. Yes, Petra is the largest safe haven built by dwarves. Thanks to it, we avoided being consumed.”

“Quite impressive. It’s a magnificent ruin.”

“You appreciate the aesthetics of architecture.”

Saying this, the dwarf chuckles weakly.

“Yes. If only it had ended there. Dwarves also developed greed. When humans tamed dragons from the sky and met disaster, we had unfounded confidence that we wouldn’t.”

“Did you aim for the sky?”

“No. Since dragons were found in the sky, we sought the depths of the earth. Unaware that endless abysses and hells awaited us… Always, greed is the root of all evil.”

“The underground…?”

“This place marks the beginning of the tragedy.”

Saying this, the dwarf’s hand sorrowfully caresses the iron bars.

“Everything ended because of one small greed.”

“What was in the underground?”

“Hell. To put it simply, that’s how I’d describe it. Overflowing lava, burning flames, and creatures akin to demons never seen before…”

“Hell…”

At first, I thought he was speaking metaphorically, but judging by his explanation, it closely resembles the hell I imagined.

I have no intention of descending further.

Not only is it blocked, but I don’t want to risk danger when I don’t know what might happen.

“The path to the underground is sealed. I advise against forcing your way through…”

“Thank you for the warning. Then, how did you end up bound here?”

“Me? Explaining it would be endlessly long… I was the cause. The root of all evil and greed that led them underground.”

Saying this, the dwarf lets out a wicked laugh.

Slumping down, he strokes the ground, feeling its rough texture.

“I received eternal punishment. Half of it was self-inflicted, and the other half was imposed.”

“A fitting punishment, then.”

“Yes, it was fitting. Though I didn’t expect to be bound for a thousand years.”

“A thousand years…?”

“What can I do? They abandoned me. My compliance with it means the price I paid was extraordinarily high.”

Laughing bitterly, the dwarf doesn’t hide his desolate demeanor, as if trapped in the past.

“So, what do you plan to do now?”

“Hmm. I must seek forgiveness. Even if my sins cannot be washed away, living means I must atone for them. There’s nothing else I can do.”

What kind of person was he in the past?

Instead of seeing a dwarf who endangered his entire race with greed, there stands an old man filled with remorse and regret.

Has he repented enough?

His words and actions carry deep sincerity.

“Would you like to stay briefly in our village?”

“How can you invite an old man after hearing what I’ve done?”

“The past is the past. If one truly regrets and reflects on their sins, I believe everyone deserves a chance to become better.”

“Chance… Perhaps the reason I struggled to survive was to hear those words.”

The dwarf’s eyes momentarily gleam with sharpness.

Pulling his beard, he abruptly rises and approaches me briskly.

“Savior of life. Tell me your name.”

“My name is Minho.”

“I am a dwarf. Once seated on a throne, now worn out…”

Then the dwarf quietly gathers his thoughts.

“I must shed the past. Call me Bayeye.”

“Mr. Bayeye.”

“Yes. That suffices…”

He extends his short hand, and I shake it.

Rough and rugged.

“Where should I follow you?”

Hmm.

I couldn’t teleport with him.

Even with improved magic skills, I’m not capable of performing a warp alone without devices or tools.

Thus, the journey involves exiting Petra, parting the desert sands again, and climbing back up from the hundredth floor of the mine to the first.

What would people think if a noble suddenly emerged from the mine with a dwarf?

Thinking of the amusing situation makes me smile.

“We need to get outside.”

With that, I lead the dwarf out.

At the center of Petra.

When we reached the entrance, Bayeye’s expression revealed an indescribable complexity.

His gaze mingled with nostalgia and resentment.

Then, decisively cutting it off, he resolved and silently followed behind me.

Next, we need to part the sands.

I didn’t expect to do this again, but thanks to the specialized magic mode, it’s slightly easier than before.

Still, casting such large-scale magic isn’t easy.

It’s just less burdensome compared to before.

“My goodness.”

Seeing this scene made the dwarf more cautious.

Rather than being polite, it seemed he was making an effort not to offend me.

The journey from the hundredth floor of the mine back to the first was quite entertaining.

Bayeye, whose eyes sparkled at the sight of various minerals, was truly a dwarf through and through.

Together, we escape into the outside world.

Late night.

The darkness had deepened, so there were no miners in sight.

“This is the air of the land…”

I quietly watch as he buries his nose into the ground and sniffs around.

Given that he was buried underground for a thousand years, such intense behavior was understandable.

“Thank you. Let me express my gratitude once more. Dwarves may hold grudges narrowly, but they repay favors generously. This debt will surely be repaid…no matter what it takes.”

Bayeye’s words carry a sticky thickness.

By coincidence, I have a good job opportunity.

Training blacksmiths or managing a steel mill would be perfect.

It’s a very timely and suitable talent.

“Good.”

Of course, such words coming from my mouth were natural.

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