Sungchul thought of the Fal Garaz stored within his Soul Storage.
‘Are they really going to just let the entire Kingdom fall to ruin over one hammer?’
It was an absurd thing to do.
But perhaps it was understandable in a different perspective.
For example, if the hammer was in fact not just a mere hammer but a sacred artifact that symbolized the entire kingdom.
Even so, the disposition of the dwarves, who were willing to face the destruction of not only their kingdom but the extinction of their entire race for the sake of an inanimate object was not something that could be viewed kindly under any interpretation.
“Sallying out in defense of the Dwarven Kingdom is not possible at the moment.”
Hesserdein expressed his opposition to the idea of aiding the Dwarven Kingdom without hesitation.
His opinion, having succeeded to the throne of the Elvan Confederation of Kingdoms after achieving victory in the northern regions, could be considered representative of the entire Elvan kingdom’s stance on the matter.
“It would be a different matter if they had formally sent a call for reinforcements. But should we try to cross borders without the consent of those stubborn people, then we are likely to be targeted by the dwarven army hiding in ambush all over the place.”
Sungchul agreed with his assessment.
He too, had experience working with the dwarves, and had even fought side by side with them in the deadly war against Rutheginea.
Judging from that experience, Hesserdein’s words were not mere speculation, but an anticipated fact.
However, there was one person who expressed an even more radical of opinions.
“Why don’t we just leave them to die?”
It was Marakia.
Marakia, who suddenly appeared at the place, spoke arrogantly and sat down at the empty seat next to Sungchul.
‘This guy. I didn’t even call for him.’
Marakia was not invited to join. But the fact that the Elvish guard let him pass stood as proof that he was a recipient of a considerable level of good will and favor of the Elvish Kingdom.
‘I wonder if he remembered to grab a bottle of alcohol like I asked.’
Though there were many things Sungchul wanted to say first, he held back and asked Marakia what he meant.
“Care to explain why?”
In response, Marakia telekinetically picked up a walnut placed on the table, brought it in front of him, and pecked it to pieces with his beak. As he chewed on the walnut, he replied sloppily with his mouth full.
“There was that Seven Heroes Ga Xi Ong or whatever. He was initially on that list of Crown holders. But when he died he simply disappeared off the list, right? I don’t know much about these inferior creatures called the Dwarves, but from what I gather, they’re unruly, disobedient races that are probably need a lot of effort.”
Marakia mumbled, pecking at another walnut.
“Whether we make an effort to try and change their minds, or do nothing and watch the Barbarians destroy them, isn’t the end result the same?”
“…”
He was detestable and arrogant to no end, but he was right about everything.
In fact, Marakia managed to suggest a new solution Sungchul hadn’t even considered.
‘Eliminating enemies via Barbarians, eh?’
“Not to mention, I’ve heard that Order of Extinction is at large over there anyway, so isn’t this all just fine as is?”
Sungchul realized where Marakia’s train of thought was going.
‘The Order of Extinction wouldn’t lend their power for no reason. Their purpose to aid the Dwarven Kingdom must lie elsewhere. So, could it be that?’
Sungchul’s eyes flickered.
A dungeon.
Perhaps the true goal of the Order of Extinction was to unlock yet another dungeon.
According to the nameless Dungeon Master, among the nine abilities, the dungeon related to strength was most likely hidden within the Dwarven Kingdom.
“Therefore, let’s just do nothing, wait around, and reap only the rewards. Watch on as the Order of Extinction fights the Barbarians. And when the Dungeon finally appears, swoop in like the wind and take it for ourselves. We would reduce the number of crowns and earn status points. It’s perfect.”
Sungchul had already known that Marakia was a highly intellectual character. But it was rare seeing him speak his mind so openly before important representatives of nations.
Marakia typically stayed one step back, enjoying the situation unfold while pretending to be a cute and innocent little creature.
However, even Marakia seemed to be changing slowly. He seemed to be learning to feel grateful and was beginning to try and repay the kindness that he received.
“Hmm.”
Of course, Bertelgia didn’t exactly welcome the attention Marakia was receiving.
The same was true for Sungchul.
Moreover, there was one thing Marakia overlooked.
The presence of Arkaard, who occupied a corner of the meeting room.
“…”
Arkaard’s facial expression was not at all pleasant.
He had come here for help, but even a gentleman couldn’t possibly maintain a positive expression after hearing such remarks.
But for Marakia couldn’t care less about what Arkaard felt or what his circumstances were.
“How about it? My perfect plan. Does everyone agree?”
Marakia looked around with an arrogant expression and spoke.
“…”
Arkaard’s face had turned dangerously red.
“Excuse me, I don’t know who you are, but I believe you’ve crossed the line.”
Finally, Arkaard couldn’t hold back and opened his mouth.
A malicious, murderous glint appeared in Marakia’s eyes.
“And I have not yet granted you permission to speak, inferior creature.”
Marakia spoke like he had once upon a time, back during the time he was known as the Last King of the Final Age.
Though Arkaard was filled with rage, he was suppressed by Marakia’s unusual appearance and inexplicable presence, Arkaard found himself unable to reply.
The atmosphere as growing more and more tense.
‘This isn’t right.’
Clearly, there was a need to silence Marakia.
Even if everything he said was true, there was a need to put some limits on Marakia who did not seem to know when he went too far.
Sungchul made up his mind and stood up. All eyes were drawn to Sungchul.
Sungchul turned to face Marakia.
“Did you bring the alcohol?”
Sungchul spoke in a calm tone.
It was a casual remark meant to change the subject.
But the reaction was a bit off.
Marakia who had been excitedly running his mouth was looking off to the side.
He was trying to avoid the subject.
Sungchul’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
‘Are you serious?’
Before leaving for Ixion, Sungchul had reminded Marakia again and again that Marakia was to make sure to save Sungchul a bottle of the Elvish wine.
However, it seemed Marakia had completely forgotten about Sungchul’s request.
“Oy.”
Sungchul called out to Marakia while his anger steadily built to a boil.
Marakia, who had been in high spirits, continued to avoid Sungchul’s gaze and pretended not to hear.
Marakia, who kept looking around for a way out found a source of distraction.
It was Bertelgia.
“Oh! Living book. Your wound has healed cleanly! It’s much nicer to look at.”
Marakia pretended to show interest in Bertelgia as he raised his hips.
But this trickery wouldn’t work on Sungchul.
“Don’t change the subject.”
Sungchul grabbed Marakia’s nape, who tried to escape, and lifted him up.
“Where’s the wine? The Elvish wine I’ve asked you time and time again for.”
Marakia, who was held by his nape, finally began to roll his pupils, flapping his wings and scratching his head. He then stuck out his tongue to speak with an innocent voice.
This was when Sungchul found out for the first time that Marakia even had a tongue. But that was neither here nor there.
“You little.”
An inferno began to rage in Sungchul’s eyes.
“Piiiiii…”
“Immediately go and get me any Elvish wine that’s left.”
Sungchul commanded with a murderous tone before letting Marakia go.
Marakia ran away as if his life depended on it, but seemed to regain a bit of courage by the time he reached the door because he glared back at Sungchul to make a small protest.
“F…fine! I’ll go! It’s just a bottle of wine!”
Slam!
The door was shut.
Although the mood was still strange, the distraction was gone.
Sungchul turned to Arkaard to speak.
“I apologize for what that he said.”
“…”
Arkaard still looked furious, but he nodded to Sungchul to show his gratitude.
“However, I can’t deny that his words have some truth to them.”
Sungchul said to him calmly.
A heavy sigh flowed from Arkaard’s mouth.
For a moment, Sungchul realized that Arkaard had been hoping against hope that Sungchul might be able to do something against all odds.
A completely unfounded hope that Sungchul might save the Dwarves without receiving anything in return.
But this was no different than praying for salvation or rescue that wasn’t coming.
Sungchul spoke again, to reiterate his position.
“We can’t act unless, at minimum, your King grants us passage.”
His conclusion was the same as that of Hesserdein’s.
They would not move a single step until there was a formal request from the king.
That was Sungchul’s opinion.
However that, too, was impossible.
If it had been possible to receive the King’s formal request, then Arkaard wouldn’t have made the journey here in the first place.
But Arkaard still had one last card to play.
He gazed into Sungchul’s eyes with a sincere look and laid out his thoughts.
“I have a suggestion.”
“Suggestion?”
“Return the holy artifact, Fal Garaz, to our kingdom.”
“Fal Garaz?”
This was a difficult proposition to accept.
Fal Garaz was a weapon of critical importance that Sungchul could not do without at this time.
If he were to lose the only weapon that could withstand his god-like strength, Sungchul’s power would be effectively halved. For difficult and powerful enemies like the Lesser Gods, it would make battle unbearably more difficult.
“If you return Fal Garaz, I could at least attempt to persuade the king.”
“Attempt to persuade you say.”
It seems the return of Fal Garaz wouldn’t even guarantee that the King even grants Sungchul a safe passage, let alone lead to a solution of any kind.
This was the worst case scenario.
If the Dwarven King were to place Fal Garaz into the display case and seal Fal Garaz away, then not even the all-mighty Sungchul Kim would be powerless in getting it back. For the display case and the seal were forged from the same fragments of the sky like the hammer itself.
“That will not be possible.”
Sungchul answered.
Arkaard lost his balance for a moment.
“Is there really no way? It’s just one hammer, is it not?”
Arkaard asked sincerely.
Sungchul looked into Arkaard’s trembling eyes and gave a stern shake of her head.
Arkaard let his head droop.
His hands were trembling.
Arkaard let out a sigh with a mix of anger and disappointment.
A heavy silence filled the meeting room.
Annoyance was evident on the faces of the Elvan representatives, including Hesserdein.
They found it distasteful and an immense waste of time to be spending listening to a random dwarf who had not come in any official capacity on behalf of the Dwarven King.
One Elvish noble exchanged looks with a guard to indicate for the guard to escort the dwarvish guest out.
“…There was a time when I had considered you, the Enemy of the World, the most condmenable of all villains unworthy of respect, mercy, or forgiveness.”
Arkaard broke silence and finally began to speak.
The Elvish guard took a position behind Arkaard and gazed at Sungchul.
He was waiting for confirmation to escort him out.
Sungchul shook his head.
After the guardsman walked away, Arkaard continued with his voice deeply seeped in what seemed to be remorse.
“But I changed my mind after I watched you face off against the Demons alone on the Frontline to the Demon Realm. To be honest, I felt a deep respect for you. As a man, and as a warrior. But now, after meeting with you, it seems even my instincts and gut has become dull. Perhaps after dealing with absolute garbage of humans like Genghis Aaron or Martin Breggas, you seemed innocent in comparison.”
It was a blatant attack on Sungchul, but there was no change in Sungchul’s expression.
The Dwarven warrior quickly raised his gaze. And his fierce gaze locked squarely onto Sungchul’s expressionless face.
“There is only one reason why I risked being branded as traitor to my race to make my way here.”
Arkaard pointed his short and stout finger at Sungchul.
“It is because I thought you, of all people, wouldn’t be like others in position of power.”
“…”
“But seeing you completely held up over just a single hammer, I am embarrassed. Ashamed, of how foolish I had been.”
No change took place on Sungchul’s face.
But his words stung.
It stung a lot.
‘I am the same…?’
If this had been said to Sungchul only a year ago, then he would have dismissed it without hesitation. He was not in position of power, and even if he was, he had a just cause unlike other people in positions of power.
More importantly, Sungchul himself believed himself to be different from men of authority. Unlike the ruling elite, he did not simply leave the weak and the helpless to their fate.
Many a times, Sungchul had saved countless lives at scenes of Calamities and tragedies.
Sungchul fully deserved the right to say that he has proven he was distinguished from those of the ruling elite.
But that was then.
Now, he was a man in position of power.
He was the current chairman of the World Parliament which had the backing of two of the major powers as well as a potential future king.
Also, Sungchul was thinking and making decisions exactly the same way as the ruling elites he despised so much in the past.
For example, Sungchul found himself readily agreeing with Marakia’s mercilessly utilitarian plan without feeling any rejection or moral quandary.
This would have never happened in the past.
The most damning thing of all was the accusation that Sungchul was hesitating and paralyzed into inaction over a mere hammer.
This exact accusation was exactly the same complaint Sungchul had about the Dwarven Kingdom at the start of this meeting. And as it turns out, by some sick irony, Sungchul was showing the same stubbornness and inflexibility as the narrow minded Dwarves.
As much as he didn’t want to, Sungchul realized that from the Dwarven perspective, Sungchul would look equally as selfish and petty as the Dwarven King.
Moreover, Fal Garaz was stolen by Sungchul in the first place through Sungchul’s betrayal of the Dwarven King’s trust.
Sungchul’s heart sank.
‘Have I changed? Or has my position shaped me?’
The responsibility of a man could not nowhere close to that of a man who was responsible for leading and guiding the world.
But what was wrong was wrong.
Sungchul turned to face Arkaard who was about to open the door to the room to leave.
“Please wait a moment.”
Sungchul stopped Arkaard from leaving.
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