83 This Hero and the Smith! (1/2)
After a few more moments of attempting to wrest myself from his grasp, I decided that I needed strategy instead of power, so in a desperate attempt to get free I turned to the rest of my party. Surely they will help me get out of this, right? This is basically kidnapping!
Unfortunately for me, it seemed as if they were trying to appear as uninvolved as possible. I think Tael is trying to whistle to look unassuming.
Maybe if I use my ability boost power I can break free? It's worth a shot I suppose. I mean, there's no way this smith can have a higher strength stat than me, right?
Ability Boost: Strength! My muscles bulged with power. I could feel a slight heat surge through me as I could feel the energy course through me.
…
Well... That didn't work. How is he this strong? I can't break free! Ah, please stop! Don't drag me in further to your smithee! Please it's starting to hurt my wrist!
”L-Look, Um… Sir! Let me go! It's hot in here!” I finally gave up and started to beg for my freedom. While I hate looking pathetic, I couldn't think of any other method to get out of this and in my experience people take pity on me when I try.
”Hot? It's not hot! This is barely even warm!” He gave a light chuckle as he pulled me in further.
I could feel my skin begin to glisten as sweat began to pour out of me. It's like I'm standing inside of a fire! The waves of heat made visible ripples in the air as I moved around. My breath became uncomfortable. It's as if I am standing in the center of a sauna.
I continued to be dragged by the dwarf. Each turn brought me deeper and deeper into this strange building which is unnaturally large for its exterior size. Every turn I could see different worktables as well as items that appeared in the process of being forged. There were swords, shields, armor, and even a strange object that resembled a sickle. Above all else, the items that were here were all tools of war. I could see crates that appear to be in the process of being loaded. All of them were labeled, such as ”Bows. Iron. 100.” or ”Swords. Steel. 50.” I suppose this is truly what a blacksmith should be doing during wartime.
”We're almost... there, lad! Just... stop... resisting me! You'll be there in only a moment!” The smith shouted out past his visor. He had begun jerking me forward as I gained more and more footing.
”Hot as Hell? Nah this ain't nearly that hot, though I do appreciate the compliment!”
Finally, the dwarven smith pushed open a metal door in front of him, revealing a furnace that could only be described as made of lava. Being face to face with this is too much. I can't take it anymore.
”Magic Skin!” I shouted. Quickly, a thin veil of my mana encompassed me as I could feel myself begin to cool. Unfortunately, it seems that the smith didn't appreciate me doing that, as he pulled up his visor to spit at me once more. This time, however, the majority of the spit evaporated before it even reached me, and the rest of it was blocked by my spell.
”You tall freaks and your heat intolerance. 'Oooh waaah! It's hot! I can't stand 150 degrees celsius! Come on Bugder, I haven't had water for 13 hours and I think I'm about to die of dehydration! Waaah!' That's what you all sound like to me. Just a bunch'a wimps!” He quickly flung his visor back down.
We stood in silence for a moment as I tried to process his statement.
”Well? Got any quips?”
”No I… I don't think I do. You have to admit that 50 degrees above boiling is a bit much for a regular person, though.”
”Not for a smith! With the mundane class we get immunity to heat from a forge! A REAL smith would get used to it quickly!”
”But I'm not a smith. I just came to deliver a package. Now can you please let go of my wrist before you break my arm? I think my hand is turning purple.”
”...Fine. I needed to open the package anyway.” He said as he released his vice-like grip. I could immediately feel blood flow resume in my hand as I clutched it softly.
The smith that is apparently named Bugder began tearing into the package like a gorilla. He ripped it apart like it was made of tissue paper despite it having been made of something akin to cardboard. It only took him about a second to get to the contents of the package, which seem to be a letter and a package of… cookies?
”Heh. He knew I love these things. No I'm not sharing them before you ask.” He said as he shifted away from me to protect his confections, somewhat similar to a toddler. This image was not helped by the fact that he is the size of a toddler as well. ”Well, let's read the letter then, shall we? That's just a saying of course. It's my letter. You're not reading it, tall-boy.”