Chapter 39: NO! We’re not engaging in a war

Dory tightened the straps of the sacks on his shoulders as he stepped closer, the clamor of the crowd fading slightly in his focus. His eyes settled on the girl, who hadn’t taken her gaze off him for a second. He spoke first, his voice steady over the murmurs of the villagers.

"Are you looking for me?"

The girl turned sharply toward Elian, her expression a mix of urgency and disbelief. "Is he... the one?" she demanded.

Elian nodded carefully, raising a hand to calm her. "Yes. He’s the one we need."

Dory felt a subtle tension in the air. Horg shifted beside him, resting a hand briefly on the cart, watching both the girl and Elian carefully. Maya stepped forward from behind the crowd, her arms crossed, eyebrows slightly furrowed. "What is going on here?" she asked softly, though clearly concerned.

Elian gestured for them to follow. "We need to get somewhere private," he said, his tone carrying a mix of urgency and authority. "Come with me."

The girl didn’t wait for further discussion. She led the way, moving swiftly through the village streets, her movements precise despite her small frame. Dory, Horg, and Maya followed, the villagers parting slightly to let them pass. Every step drew Dory further into uncertainty, his mind racing with possibilities he wasn’t sure he wanted to imagine.

Finally, they reached the forge. The familiar sight of the building, the faint smell of soot, and the scattered tools brought a strange sense of relief, even in the midst of tension. The girl paused at the entrance, her breathing steadying slightly, though her eyes never left Dory.

Inside, the noise of the forge was replaced with a more serious atmosphere. The sacks of materials rested against the wall, forgotten for the moment. Dory set his own load down and adjusted his glasses.

Elian’s voice cut through the quiet. "We need your help."

Dory looked at him, frowning slightly. "Again? I thought the last project was done."

"It was," Elian said quickly. "But this is bigger. Much bigger."

The girl stepped forward, finally introducing herself. "I’m Sirene. I need you and Horg, and... you too, Maya. We have to carry out a plan that could end a war."

Dory blinked. "A war? Wait... what are you talking about? Do you mean the upcoming war?"

Sirene’s eyes were intense, unwavering. "The Northern clans are mobilizing. The southern states are preparing defenses. Both sides are at a stalemate, and innocent lives will be lost unless this plan succeeds."

Horg grunted softly. "And what exactly do you want from us? We’re blacksmiths. Traders. Snack makers."

Sirene’s gaze shifted to Dory. "We need your skills in manipulation, planning, and resource handling. You’ve shown you can organize, coordinate, and convince. You’re the one who can make this work without anyone realizing what’s happening until it’s too late to stop it."

Maya’s eyes widened slightly. "So... we’re supposed to... what? Scam an entire country?"

"Yes," Sirene said firmly. "Trick both sides into making concessions. Buy time. Gather information. Prevent unnecessary bloodshed. And you, Dory, are key to it."

Dory’s hand went to the edge of his glasses, adjusting them slowly. He exhaled quietly, feeling the weight of what was being asked. The forge suddenly felt smaller, the familiar walls constraining him in a way he hadn’t noticed before.

"I... I’m not doing it," Dory said finally, his voice calm but resolute. "I’m done with this kind of work. The ingot deal, the snacks... that was enough."

Sirene’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t argue. "This isn’t a request," she said. "It’s a necessity."

Dory shook his head, stepping back slightly. "I said no. I’m not getting involved in a war. Not this way. Not by scamming anyone. That’s not the kind of work I signed up for."

Elian’s expression was unreadable. He folded his arms, his stance firm. "Think carefully. Lives are at stake."

Dory’s gaze swept across the room, landing on Horg and Maya. Horg remained silent, though his eyes followed Dory’s movements closely. Maya’s face was tense, a mix of concern and curiosity, but she stayed quiet.

Sirene stepped a little closer, lowering her voice. "You think you can refuse without consequences? We wouldn’t have come here if there were another option. This is the only way."

Dory’s jaw tightened. He took a step forward, meeting her gaze. "I know. And I understand. But I’m not doing it. This forge, this village, my deals—I have enough responsibility here. I’m not leaving that behind to trick people for a war."

The room fell silent for a moment. Sirene’s eyes flicked briefly to Elian, who simply shrugged, understanding the refusal but knowing the urgency hadn’t disappeared.

Finally, Dory let out a quiet breath, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "No," he said again, more firmly this time, stepping back from the center of the room. "No. I’m not your tool for this."

Horg shifted beside him, placing a hand on Dory’s shoulder. It was a silent show of support, a reminder that they weren’t alone in their decisions. Maya stayed near, her gaze softening slightly, as if understanding the weight of the choice.

Sirene’s lips pressed into a thin line. She didn’t push further. "I expected this might happen," she said quietly. "But know this—time is running out. If you change your mind, we’ll find another way."

Dory gave a small nod, refusing to break eye contact. "I won’t. Not for this."

The room felt heavy for a moment, the air thick with unspoken tension. Outside, the villagers continued their day, unaware of the decisions being made in the forge. The weight of the request lingered, but Dory stood firm.

Finally, Sirene and Elian moved toward the door, the girl giving a brief, sharp nod to Dory. "You’ve made your choice," she said. "But remember, the war doesn’t wait."

Dory watched them leave, the forge doors swinging shut behind them. The familiar smell of iron and coal returned, grounding him in the present. Horg looked at him silently, then at Maya, who finally let out a small breath and shook her head.

Maya’s voice was quiet, almost to herself. "You really said no?"

Dory adjusted his glasses again. "I did. And I mean it. This... this isn’t our fight. Not like that."

Horg grunted, the faintest trace of a smile forming. "Then we focus on what’s ours. The forge. The village. The work we can control."

Maya nodded, crossing her arms but looking relieved. "Yeah... that’s what we should do."

Dory glanced at the forge, then at the stacked iron ingots, the empty sacks, the tools scattered around. Everything in this space felt like solid ground after the tension outside. He inhaled, letting the calm settle in.

"We’re not interested in that," he said finally, his voice carrying quiet determination. "Just what we can handle."

Horg nodded, picking up a hammer and returning to the anvil. Maya moved to help organize the remaining sacks. Dory followed, rolling up his sleeves, ready to work on the tangible things he could control, leaving the schemes and spies outside.

Author’s disclaimer: please do not unlock the next Chapter [40]. I made a mistake mixing Chapters and as per web novel I can’t delete it or edit more than 100 words so I have no other choice than to annoy you. I am really sorry for any inconvenience I cause. Please skip the Chapter and move to Chapter [41]

I’ll be mass releasing five Chapters tomorrow for this mistake of mine. Thanks. Also read my author’s note. Thanks again!