All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 257

◈ Chapter 257

129. Where Rudely – 1

With Charles healed, Ian felt his business here was concluded.

As he turned to leave, Osnen, his face serious, spoke.

“Power that seems beyond human limits, coupled with such knowledge and skill…”

He paused, taking a breath.

“Charles mentioned that Kirishnan opened a dimensional gate and summoned shadow monsters.”

“He did.”

“And you eliminated them with… unusual ease.”

“That’s correct.”

“And everything you knew about Charles and how to help her… seeing all of that…”

Osnen swallowed, his gaze intense.

“It’s my belief that you aren’t from this world.”

Osnen’s words struck true, and Ian responded casually.

“You’re right.”

“What?”

He had only been testing the waters, so Ian’s ready admission surprised him.

Ian scratched the back of his head.

“Is that a problem, though?”

He wasn’t indiscriminately killing people like dimensional monsters, nor was he starting wars for power.

Osnen stared, then seemed to deflate slightly.

“That’s… also true.”

“Just because someone is from another dimension doesn’t automatically mean trouble.”

“You think so?”

“Yes. You should know, having been inside the Tower of the Forgotten City. There are those who are friendly to the people of this world.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

Osnen nodded, and Ian turned to leave again.

“Anything else? Ah, and Charles, don’t get complacent just because you’ve reached the Master level. Train every day. If you truly master the Water Star Divine Art, you’ll become much stronger.”

“If not at the Master level… then what?”

“As I said, if you learn it properly, you’ll reach the Sword Saint level. And if you push further, you can surpass even that.”

Ian said it lightly, then warped away.

Osnen and Charles stared at the empty space where he had stood.

“Are you alright?” Osnen asked.

“…Yes.”

“How do you feel about Ian now?”

“The feelings are still there, but not as strong as before.”

Charles clenched her fist.

“I feel more awe for Count Ian than… those feelings.”

“Is that so?”

*That’s good then.*

Osnen looked relieved.

“Then let’s spar. If those feelings persist, contact Ian.”

“Understood. Um… Brother?”

“What is it?”

“What I saw earlier… the woman behind Ian… who was she?”

Osnen stroked his chin, a troubled look on his face.

“…Perhaps she’s the one he mentioned… the one whose treatment wasn’t completed.”

* * *

Back at the academy, Scrandar was waiting in the lab. He was packed and ready to leave.

“How did it go with Princess Charles?”

“It went well.”

“Hmm. I figured it would, with you handling it. Let’s go then.”

Traveling with Scrandar meant he couldn’t use Warp, but the gate to Dwarven City was a convenient alternative.

As Ian and Scrandar emerged from the academy’s gate, a dwarf with a beard as thick as Scrandar’s approached.

He extended a large, calloused hand for a handshake.

“I’m Leganos from Dwarven City.”

“Ian Brandon.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you. Ah, can I speak informally?”

“Of course.”

“Good. Let’s go then. I heard you were coming and we’ve prepared a lot.”

The Dwarven City was aware of the projects underway at the academy.

Walking alongside him, Leganos glanced at Ian.

“Hey, I have some questions about the academy’s forging methods. Could you give me a rundown?”

“It’s not difficult, but… what specifically are you asking about?”

“That massive artifact you brought. The armor processing is a bit beyond us.”

He was referring to the processing of Neo-Titanium alloy.

Currently, only Fredon Academy possessed that capability.

Dwarves dispatched from Dwarven City had learned while assisting Ian, but some aspects remained unclear.

“That’s what everyone in Dwarven City is eager to know. How do you alter something that remains unchanged even when heated…”

“You need to use electricity for that, and special chemicals.”

Ian explained simply as they walked, and Leganos nodded.

He was aware of that part.

“Using special chemicals to induce changes… it’s quite an interesting method.”

*It’s hard to grasp without basic chemistry.*

As they talked, Ian and his party entered a large cave.

Descending further, they could see the city spread out before them.

A massive furnace stood at the city’s center, surrounded by various facilities.

“Hehe. What do you think? Nice to see, isn’t it? My heart races just looking at that big furnace.”

“I see.”

Ian smiled at Leganos, who was speaking with typical dwarven enthusiasm.

They descended the prepared stairs and arrived at the city entrance, where the tightly sealed door opened.

Dwarves filled the streets, welcoming Ian as he entered.

“Welcome to Dwarven City!”

“Thank you for the welcome.”

“We’re just doing it because we want something. Okay, okay, let’s get right to it. Ah, come to think of it, I haven’t heard what you came here for.”

As Leganos and the dwarves looked at him expectantly, Scrandar puffed on his pipe.

He blew out a cloud of smoke and said indifferently.

“Kesin’s hideout might be in Dwarven City.”

“…Kesin? One of the Seven Deadly Sins?”

“Why would he be here?”

“Ian discovered it in the Empire.”

“And one more thing. Have there been any instances of monsters displaying faith around Dwarven City?”

“Faith? I don’t know about faith, but there was one Dragonkin [a humanoid dragon].”

Ian looked at him with curiosity, and Leganos grinned.

“Shall we go take a look?”

Near the blast furnace stood a large iron cage.

Inside, a Dragonkin, chained and covered in blood, was held captive.

“Huff… huff… you damn dwarf bastards!! I will kill you! I will kill you all!”

-Pajijijijik!!

“Kuaaaaak!!”

Electricity surged through the chains as the Dragonkin cursed.

The Dragonkin screamed, and Ian asked curiously.

“What happened?”

“Monsters built a city in an abandoned mine just outside Dwarven City.”

“A dwarf who had been captured there escaped and reported it…”

So they launched a subjugation and captured the Dragonkin.

“What, did you think we’d just be defeated?”

“Considering the technology of Dwarven City, I didn’t think so… But how did you catch the Dragonkin?”

Leganos chuckled.

“Our ancestors suffered too much at the hands of dragons.”

Most dragons were drawn to gems and treasures.

Thus, dwarves, skilled in crafting treasures and processing gems, were often exploited by dragons.

“And when the dragons disappeared from the world, our ancestors made a vow: that they would never be defeated by dragons again.”

So, they developed technology to counter dragons over a long period.

That technology was embodied in the chains.

“It’s limited to Dragonkin, but it absorbs the life force and magic power of the captured and converts it into attack power.”

“Once you’re caught, it’s over.”

*Excellent.*

Ian was genuinely impressed.

This was something they had created through careful thought and hard work to resist the formidable enemy known as dragons.

This kind of ingenuity was exactly to his liking.

“It’s truly amazing.”

“Oh, really? Haha. Thank you for the praise. Actually, there were many arguments during its development.”

There were no more dragons.

So, wouldn’t it be better to focus on something more practical than researching that?

But they persevered, creating the chain and putting it to good use.

“Of course, it’s not a dragon, but a Dragonkin.”

“Still, it’s great.”

The dwarves puffed out their chests at Ian’s praise.

“Ahem. It’s nothing. However, killing that Dragonkin is proving difficult.”

“The scales are so hard that our weapons are useless.”

“We’re negotiating with the academy to borrow the Hero’s Sword.”

Ian approached the Dragonkin.

As he drew closer, the blood-soaked Dragonkin opened his eyes and spoke.

“I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you humans… Gehern will surely kill these hateful dwarves and you…”

“Gehern is dead.”

“…What?”

“You’re behind on the news. Haven’t you heard the story of the Demon Dragon that appeared in the Empire being defeated by me?”

Ian looked at the dwarves.

They didn’t seem to have heard that story either.

“Was that so?”

“Yes, that’s right. Anyway, there’s no point in leaving it alive.”

Ian drew his sword and swung it at the Dragonkin’s head.

The scales, impervious to dwarven weapons, were cleaved through in a single blow.

The Dragonkin’s head, twisted in astonishment, fell to the floor, and the dwarves sighed.

“One nuisance gone.”

“To be honest, we caught him, but we couldn’t kill him, so we were wondering what to do.”

“You guys would have managed it soon enough.”

“Hehe, is that so? Okay. Anyway, let’s go. The mayor is waiting.”

The dwarves led Ian to a large building.

It seemed they had already prepared for the research meeting, with a large blackboard and various experimental tools.

On one side stood a large structure covered with a white cloth.

An old dwarf in a white gown was shouting at the workers.

“How can you put it like that! The balance is off! Balance!”

“That old man’s temper… Oh? He’s here.”

As he spoke, the old man in the gown turned his head.

He rushed over with a bright smile.

“Count Ian Brandon?!”

“Yes, I’m Ian Brandon.”

“Nice to meet you!! Count Ian! I’m Mediko, the mayor of Dwarven City! Hehe. To finally meet Count Ian, who I’ve only heard rumors about. No, this isn’t the time for this. Can we start the research meeting right away?”

“Of course.”

It was the purpose of his visit, so why not?

As Ian nodded, he shouted urgently.

“Everyone, take your seats!!”

The dwarves who were working quickly sat down.

As everyone was seated, Ian stepped onto the platform, and Mediko, sitting in the front row, raised his hand.

“Count Ian! Before we begin, there’s something I’d like to show you first. Is that alright? It’s a device our dwarves have been personally working on…”

“Sure.”

Some dwarves cheered as Ian agreed.

Mediko was among the happy dwarves.

“Start!!”

As he shouted, the cloth covering the structure was pulled away.

Six pillars.

And equipment combining a large platform with numerous magical tools and magic circles.

“This is…”

“A dimensional gate generation device.”

“Eh? Ah, do you know?”

Ian, pointing to the large device that resembled a door, said calmly.

“You made this wrong.”