The Dwarf's Choice

"It seems you need to stay and continue practicing."

After saying this, the Rock-Paper-Scissors Automaton ceased all movement.

Frieren was unconvinced, her cheeks puffing out in a pout. "That one doesn't count! Let's go again!"

Shane couldn't watch this anymore.

To lose at Rock-Paper-Scissors this badly! She truly lives up to her reputation as someone who can be soloed by a Mimic. Watch and learn! I'll show you what Strong Luck really looks like!

Five seconds later.

Shane: 0 wins, 20 losses.

Huh?

This isn't right!

There's a cheat!

With both of their attempts exhausted, the automaton fell silent.

The stone statues at the entrance refused to let them pass.

The situation became incredibly awkward.

Frieren pondered for a moment, then drew her staff again, preparing to force her way through.

Shane looked at the endless line of stone statues in the corridor ahead and shrank back. He was currently drained of mental energy and had lost his weapon; he was "extremely fragile."

Forcing his way through? He'd better forget about that.

He circled the Rock-Paper-Scissors Automaton twice and discovered a small protrusion on its back.

The bump was inconspicuous, only about the size of a thumb.

Curious, he pressed it.

A miraculous scene unfolded: the automaton that had just been inviting them to play Rock-Paper-Scissors began to speak again, this time inviting them to play cards.

He pressed it again, and the automaton began to offer song requests. He pressed it once more, and the automaton asked if they would like to go to a small room upstairs to sit down and enjoy some private service.

"..."

Good grief, it really is a service-oriented automaton.

Shane decisively chose the "small room."

And so, led by the automaton, the two passed safely through the main gate, turned right, went upstairs, and headed toward the small room.

The so-called small room was not small at all.

The entire second floor was exquisitely decorated with an elegant atmosphere, resembling a public lounge.

However, what surprised Shane was that one side of the second floor was piled high with various broken automaton parts, forming a mountain of trash that reached all the way to the ceiling.

Judging by the appearance of the remains, they were identical to the automaton currently leading them.

"Please select your exclusive companion. We hope you find joy here."

Looking at the wreckage before them and then at the oblivious automaton, Shane and Frieren felt a sudden pang of sympathy.

It seemed completely unaware that the Dwarf Kingdom had fallen and that its own kind had turned into a pile of scrap metal... yet it still dutifully served its guests.

Watching the automaton's stiff smile, Shane fell silent for a moment.

"Let's go. Let's look elsewhere."

This time, the stone statues did not block their path, and the two walked through a long corridor to reach a foundry.

The foundry was built beside a subterranean cliff, clinging tightly to the steep rock wall. Beside it lay a bottomless abyss, where the sound of rushing water could faintly be heard from deep below.

Shane guessed that the dwarves had directly utilized the geothermal fire and underground water.

Truly bold and ingenious.

The iron furnace, sealed in dust for thousands of years, had long since rusted. Countless iron chains of varying lengths hung from the dome, connecting to crucibles of all sizes, and a half-forged battle axe still lay on the casting table.

It was evident that the war between the Demon Race and the Dwarf Race had been incredibly abrupt.

The two followed the steep, spiraling stairs upward.

Before long, they arrived at the heart of the entire underground royal city: the Golden Hall.

This was the former residence of the leader of the Dwarf Race.

The tightly shut doors were carved with complex, twisted dwarven script. Shane studied it carefully; it was a poem:

Over the cold and misty mountains, Deep in these caverns for a thousand years, The dwarves of old chanted powerful spells, Accompanied by the clanging music of hammers, In the deep, dark creatures lie in slumber, Travelers who have journeyed this far, please be extremely careful.

Shane studied the lyrics, pondering to himself, "Powerful incantations," "slumbering dark creatures"—could it be that the dwarves of old sealed something away here?

Or perhaps, was this merely a common dwarven folk song?

Before he could figure it out, Frieren beside him had already slowly pushed open the long-dusty doors.

Instantly, a breath of ancient, arid air rushed toward them.

The sight before their eyes left them stunned.

The Golden Hall was packed with all manner of dwarves, and a serious meeting was underway.

Shane and Frieren immediately grew alert, each gripping their weapons as they scanned their surroundings.

They had already fallen for an illusion once; they would not be fooled again!

Yet, strangely, no enemies appeared in the vicinity.

Even the people in the hall seemed not to see them, paying no mind to their actions at all.

Shane glanced at Frieren, reading the same suspicion in her eyes, and then he stepped forward, walking straight into the nearest dwarven man.

As it turned out, nothing happened.

He passed directly through the dwarf's body.

The dwarf felt nothing at all, continuing to hold his battle-axe while whispering to another dwarf beside him.

Shane couldn't help but recall the dream he had once fallen into within the mines regarding the "Mad Sage Charles."

Similar to that situation, it seemed they had entered a dreamscape once more.

But why?

Why would there be a silhouette of the past in this hall?

The two wanted to leave, yet the path they had come from was already gone.

Helpless.

He and Frieren had no choice but to walk slowly into the hall, moving among the many dwarves and observing their actions, hoping to find some clue.

Clang, clang, clang—

Someone struck a piece of metal.

The entire hall fell silent in an instant.

Shane followed the sound toward the high platform at the back of the hall.

Standing there was a human girl wearing leather armor; her posture was gallant and her expression solemn as she signaled for everyone to be quiet.

"King Alan has words to share."

Having said this, she retreated silently to the side.

Behind her, an aged figure slowly rose from a throne cast of gold. He stood up, walked slowly to the front of the platform, and looked down at the dwarves below. After surveying the room, he spoke in a heavy voice:

"You should all be aware of the Demon King's declaration of war; many of our tribes have already been brutally slaughtered."

"I have summoned you all here today to hear everyone's opinion: do we fight, or do we surrender?"

The King's question echoed calmly.

The dwarves below the platform looked at one another; some were deep in thought, some were furious, and others were lost and at a loss for what to do.

Suddenly, a young warrior stepped out from the crowd.

He wore a steel helmet and armor, sported a small tuft of golden beard, and his features were full of Toughness.

Facing the King and all the assembled dwarves, he declared firmly, "Begging for the enemy's mercy is the most foolish of actions."

This single sentence instantly ignited the fury of everyone present.

The dwarves erupted into a unified roar; within the continuous shouting lay the hatred for their slaughtered kin and endless murderous intent toward the Demon Race.

The entire hall surged with a magnificent will to fight.

Shane looked at that young figure and let out a surprised, "Huh?"

Beside him, Frieren was equally astonished.

Because they had both realized that the figure looked far too much like Ize... but that was simply impossible...