82 This Hero Delivers The Package! (1/2)

I stepped through the doorway while flexing every muscle I could. I was prepared for the torrent of dwarves that would attempt to sweep me off my feet. Tael and Erana were holding on to me to ensure they wouldn't get swept away while Kany was latched once more on to my shoulders. As my feet hit the solid stone flooring of the exterior of the inn, I could feel the hard ground as I shifted my weight onto it.

…

Nothing's happening.

Where are the dwarves? Nobody's here!

I turned to look to my left and my right. The street was entirely clear of anyone. It was as if this place had been abandoned suddenly. From the noises the rest of my party was making, I could tell that they were also uncertain.

”W-What's going on? Did they all disappear or something?” Kany whispered to me.

”I don't know…” I turned towards the interior of the inn and saw the dwarf at the counter fiddling with his fingernails. He hadn't disappeared and it doesn't seem like he's concerned at all.

”Maybe they all left?” Erana suggested.

”Well… but why? Surely they wouldn't just go poof, right? Like… They had to go somewhere?” Tael quickly brought up.

I mulled it over for a moment before I turned and walked back to the dwarf at the counter. As a local he probably knows what's going on better than any of us.

”Ah, is there something you need?” He put his synthetic smile on once more as he asked this.

”Where did everyone go?”

”What do you mean?”

”EVERYONE'S GONE! There was a river of dwarves earlier and now there isn't!” Tael suddenly shouted out.

”Oh… It's just time for work for most dwarves. What you saw earlier was the work rush.” The dwarf resumed picking at his fingernails as he said this.

”Work rush, huh?” I could hear myself saying aloud. I suppose this is similar to riding the trains in Japan. I hated getting stuffed into those cabins which were already at maximum capacity.

Well, no matter what it was, the removal of the dwarves in our path will make the delivery far easier.

I turned back towards the door after Kany had shuffled off of me and headed outside.

”Okay…” I said out loud while looking over the hastily drawn map. ”So according to this, we just need to head straight down the street for a bit until we come across a gate. Past the gate we'll find where we're going in no time.”

”Is it really gonna be that simple?” Tael quietly murmured.

Ignoring Tael, I began to head down the street as the rest of the party followed closely behind.

As I walked, I saw that the architecture of this city was very closely tied to the mountains interior itself, as if the buildings hadn't been built, but instead carved out of the rock that had once been here.

”Yo Onii-san, we're here.”

”Huh?”

As it turns out, I had spaced out completely on the walk. We have already arrived at a large iron gate. From the design of it, I can tell that it's incredibly old, but despite its age, there isn't even a single spec of rust on it.

The portcullis appears to be one of the few things that was actually built instead of being carved out of the rock as it was set up with stone brick. At the top, I could see dwarven guards that were watching us with weary gazes. Before we could proceed further, a dwarf in full plate armor that shined exquisitely as if it had been polished mere moments ago approached us with a hand raised.

”Stop. What business do ya have in the ancient district?” He asked. His voice, while gruff, gave me an odd feeling, as if he himself wasn't sure of what he was doing.

”Just…” I presented the package. ”Delivering this. It says to deliver it to 1354?”

”I see. If that's the case, head straight through and take your first left. Pass 3 blocks and you'll be there.” He stepped aside and guided us through the portcullis.

As we stepped through, I could immediately tell that this area deserves the name ”ancient” as every building here was obviously built a long time ago. Unlike the previous buildings, these are all made of stone brick. There are no windows in any of the buildings, but some of the doors are made of wood.

”Remember, straight through and first left.” The dwarf in full plate declared as he began to walk away.

”Ah, wait! What's your name?” I asked. Someone wearing armor like that may know where I could get some good equipment too. It's best to get associated with people as soon as possible.

The dwarf stopped in place for a moment before he finally spoke.