Wild Wizards do not occur exclusively among humans. Rarely, as there was a giant Wild Wizard, monsters or orcs could also become Wild Wizards.
Regardless of the probability, there was always that possibility.
It’s just that no one thought it would really happen.
Aslan silently gazed at the man before him.
Remul’s son, Kobil, the former chief.
The man currently acting as the interim chief and next chief candidate.
He was the one leading the Honor Tribe in the absence of a permanent chief after the sudden death of the previous one.
And this acting chief had come to greet Aslan.
“This must be an unpleasant sight. I apologize.”
The man approached Aslan with ease and began speaking, to which Aslan replied.
“It’s fine. I’m more concerned about the people. How many were injured?”
His tone carried a natural concern as he asked. Kobill smiled while brushing his blonde hair.
“Fortunately, no one was hurt.”
“…No one?”
How could there be no casualties? Aslan turned his head to look down the mine shaft. The area where flames had erupted was heavily charred.
For an average human, the marks of such flames would have been fatal. As Aslan frowned, the acting chief laughed and responded.
“Perhaps it’s because our people are quick on their feet, or maybe dwarves are clumsy with fire… but so far, no one has died from the flames. A fortunate turn of events.”
An excuse that didn’t hold up. Aslan found it odd and nodded hesitantly.
Still, it was fortunate that no one was hurt. There might be something else going on behind the scenes, but…
Aslan pondered and then spoke.
“So, what exactly happened? As far as I know, dwarves can’t use fire magic.”
In response to Aslan’s question, the young man with blonde hair scratched his beard and answered.
“We don’t fully understand it either. Whether it’s a wild wizard among the dwarves… or if there’s a wizard behind them… or perhaps some new species. We don’t know anything. It’s difficult to send warriors for investigation too.”
As Kobill nodded, Aslan followed his gesture and looked towards the mine shaft. The narrow tunnel offered little room to evade flames.
Even well-armed warriors would find it impossible to survive.
“If flames erupted in such a narrow mine shaft, even heavily armed warriors would meet a swift end. That’s why, as the acting chief, I’ve set up guards at the entrance and requested help from the Crown Tribe.”
It was the right decision.
Among the warriors bearing magical tattoos from the Crown Tribe, there were those highly resistant to fire. With them, the situation would be resolved quickly.
That’s why Aslan easily understood why he was here.
“Just securing the perimeter wasn’t very effective… But now that the Great Chief has sent reinforcements, things will change. I have one request: please eliminate the dwarves. If you do, I will gladly become chief and align with the will of the Crown Tribe.”
But understanding was one thing. As Aslan listened to the youth’s words following this, he wore an expression of confusion.
The leadership of the Honor Tribe is not hereditary. Only the most honorable and accomplished among the candidates becomes chief.
Given that, Kobill’s current attitude was strange. He seemed confident he would become chief.
Aslan frowned.
“I don’t see how extermination aided by outsiders qualifies as a great and honorable achievement. Is there something else?”
This question was delivered with certainty, causing Kobill to smile subtly, masking his true intentions. Realizing he’d been caught, Kobill chuckled softly while scratching his head.
“In fact, the mine shaft occupied by the dwarves… isn’t just any mine. Among the recent discoveries, it holds the largest iron deposit. Securing it first would count as a significant accomplishment.”
Perhaps enough to become chief. Aslan nodded as Kobill added this.
The Honor Tribe amassed wealth through metallurgy and mining. They frequently interacted with outsiders and were the most open among the four tribes.
Such an open tribe would surely consider someone who enriches the tribal treasury worthy of becoming chief.
This wasn’t a simple extermination request.
Aslan acknowledged the coexistence of danger and opportunity and nodded.
A situation so agreeable left nothing to feel uneasy about.
“…Very well. I’ll take care of it.”
“Tired from your journey here? Why don’t you rest and depart tomorrow? I can assign a guide…”
“No.”
And Aslan felt awkward about the overly agreeable situation.
It was oddly convenient, raising suspicions.
No one was harmed by the dwarf’s magic.
The former chief died absurdly by choking on a rice cake.
The mine inhabited by the dwarves contained a vast amount of iron, revealed without hesitation to an outsider.
Many things seemed suspicious and unsettling.
Thus, Aslan simply requested from the perplexed youth.
“We’ll resolve it now. Please prepare some food and torches.”
*
In the mines beneath the earth, amidst winding dirt paths lined with long tracks, footsteps echoed.
Amidst the sounds made by scales, boots, and bare feet, Ereta spoke.
“Is it okay to keep going without resting? They said we could.”
The murmuring voice of the woman sounded like she was sulking. Aslan shook his head in reply. The torch in his left hand flickered.
“There’s no time. These people still seem unaware… This is the work of a Wild Wizard.”
“A Wild Wizard?”
Aslan nodded.
“Wild Wizards only get crazier or more dangerous over time. Regardless of their purpose, they cannot be left alone. They need to be dealt with early.”
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.
There were personal concerns as well.
The lack of casualties despite the sudden eruption of flames upon arrival.
No signs of combat while walking through the mine.
Kobill’s evasive attitude.
All these factors raised suspicion, prompting Aslan to want to confirm things personally.
Without fully understanding the circumstances, it was impossible to make a judgment. Aslan wanted to avoid ruining things with hasty decisions.
So, Aslan continued:
“If it’s a Wild Wizard using fire in the mine, there should be many casualties. Yet, no one was injured or killed, which is unusual. Something’s off.”
Upon hearing this, Angie, who had been quietly holding a torch, tilted her head.
“What’s so suspicious about that? Isn’t it good that no one got hurt? Maybe they just managed to escape in time?”
While shaking his head, Aslan dismissed that possibility.
“There’s no way to escape fire in a mine. That’s why I’m leading.”
On flat terrain, there might be ways to avoid flames, but in a mine, there was none. The only way was to block the flames entirely.
Aslan was leading because he could block flames with wild magic.
Ordinary warriors or miners couldn’t protect themselves from flames.
Yet, there were no casualties?
That wasn’t normal.
“Maybe… they deliberately let everyone live?”
At Angie’s puzzled question, Aslan nodded.
“Probably. And that’s what worries me most. Why go out of their way to spare lives? Even causing minor injuries could inflict significant losses.”
“Maybe they don’t want to fight?”
“That’s unlikely.”
As Aslan dismissed the idea, Angie wore a bewildered expression. In contrast, Phey, seeming to understand, nodded. Their fiery red hair swayed dramatically.
“Phey often cuts off legs, so I get it. Taking care of wounded people creates opportunities!”
“Hmm, though I didn’t say it, creating wounded individuals to weaken the enemy is indeed an efficient strategy, commonly used even by smart animals.”
However, Tiamat, bending deeply due to the narrow mine, interjected.
“Deliberately letting them live is another matter. Definitely not ordinary. To track their base… when there’s such a big city outside the mine, is it really necessary to lead them there?”
Finding the way from the mine to the city wouldn’t be difficult. So, it wasn’t done to track their base.
As Angie grew even more confused, Ereta spoke.
“So, you’re looking to investigate directly? Trying to figure things out?”
Instead of answering, Aslan nodded.
Whatever lay behind this was unknown. It could be a priest’s plan to flood the entire city and block access. Just a possibility, though.
Either way, the Honor Tribe was essential for Aslan’s plans. Being cautious wouldn’t hurt.
With the feathered dagger ready to throw at any moment and the torch in hand, Aslan walked carefully, keeping track of the position of his lowered hand.
As the tracks laid along the long mine gradually thinned and disappeared, and the dim atmosphere became more prominent, a heavy dampness began to be felt near the dark end of the mine.
Aslan assumed this was the start of the dwarves’ territory.
Behind the sound of weapons being drawn, Aslan moved forward. Beyond the flickering light of the torch, the walls and ceiling of the mine were, as the acting chief had said, rich with iron deposits.
The story about the substantial iron deposits seemed true. Recovering such a place would certainly secure the position of chief.
The group stopped when Aslan suddenly halted, startled.
When the others following behind also stopped, Aslan pointed the torch downward.
Under the crimson glow of the wavering torchlight, something gleaming with a white luster appeared.
Aslan recognized this metal.
The metal of Law and Order, found only in the dead Olpasbet.
White steel.
Aslan picked up the piece of white steel.
“Why is this here…?”
Just as he lifted the gleaming metal, a sound intruded.
Reacting faster than luck, Aslan turned his head to see something at the end of the mine, barely illuminated by the torchlight.
It was a dwarf.
A small body covered in fur, standing as tall as a child, with an upright posture contrasting its monkey-like face.
Their eyes met.
Too late to draw the dagger held in readiness, Aslan quickly reached for his cloak instead.
Drawing it wouldn’t take more than one motion. Drawing and throwing could be done in one swift action. However, the dwarf’s hand moved first.
Flames shot out from the fingertips.
KOOOO!
The flames rushed forward, fiercely heating the air. Aslan stopped trying to draw his dagger and extended his hand instead. No matter how much mana he used, the flames had to be blocked. As he summoned mana to create a shield, Aslan noticed something odd about the rushing flames.
The momentum of the flames was weak, flickering as if about to die out.
Moreover, luck didn’t respond. Despite reaching the pinnacle of foresight with a score of 10, it remained silent.
At that moment, Angie’s words came to mind.
“Maybe they don’t want to fight?”
Though skeptical, Aslan didn’t deploy the shield. Mana couldn’t be wasted.
It was akin to gambling, but Aslan was certain.
He stood straight and stared at the flames.
Then the flames wavered.
KOOOO, PHWOOMP!
The surging flames vanished, and Aslan sighed deeply.
A sigh born from not expecting the least likely scenario to be the answer.
Aslan looked at the dwarf beyond the flames.
At first glance, the arms and hands with missing fur, and following the gaze to the dwarf’s wide, frightened eyes, revealed no trace of hostility, only fear. Aslan realized the gaze was directed at him.
The fearful gaze extended towards Aslan’s companions. Just then, the sound of weaponry was heard.
“Aslan, move aside!”
Tiyamal shouted while loading an arrow, and other members of the party prepared to charge. Aslan glanced at them, then raised his hand.
Surrender-like, he raised his hand and dropped the dagger to the ground.
“Aslan?!”
The dagger clattered as it rolled on the floor. Aslan spoke softly.
“Everyone, lower your weapons.”
“What? No, that guy…”
“Please.”
After Aslan’s plea, Tiyamal reluctantly retrieved the arrow, and an oppressive silence filled the still warm mine.
As the silence enveloped the mine, the dwarf hesitated but slowly approached Aslan and his group.
Despite Tiyamal baring her teeth and growling as the dwarf drew near, it persisted. The dwarf stopped close to Aslan, who had raised his hands in surrender.
Pointing a burnt finger at Aslan, it spoke.
“Dwarf?”
Aslan’s expression twisted. It was the first time encountering a talking dwarf. Uncertain of what was happening, as Aslan lowered his hand, the dwarf pointed at itself.
“Dwarf!”
What did this mean?
What was it trying to convey?
While Aslan struggled to understand, the dwarf added one more word, spreading its arms wide to the sides.
“Friend?”
“…What?”
At first glance, it seemed like unintelligent, random word association, but it wasn’t.
This dwarf was using language.
It understood and used human language, albeit clumsily.
Even its previously terrified eyes now hinted at faint kindness.
Looking into those eyes, Aslan grasped what the dwarf meant by “dwarf.”
The word “dwarf” referred to “person.”
Before Aslan could fully comprehend, the dwarf added one more word, opening its arms wide.
“Friend?”
