The Paladin in the Abyss-Chapter 626 - 650: The Dwarf’s Request

Chapter 626: Chapter 650: The Dwarf’s Request

“…And that was my story before I came to the Abyss,” Lancelot picked up his cup and took a gentle sip, “Later, I met Bruto, Alamir, and a few other companions. We formed a mercenary group and completed several adventures, and Twin Bridges Town has always been our haven for rest. Now, this town is facing the threat of a demon army, and I am willing to fight to defend it. I am very confident in my swordsmanship, so you can rest assured that I will be the first to charge into battle. As your captain, I have only one request: absolute loyalty to your companions. I don’t expect you to die for someone you’ve just met, but please fight for them, and if anyone betrays a comrade for any reason, I will personally avenge the deceased. This is my promise as a knight. Does anyone have an objection?”

“Not at all~”

“A fair request.”

“Isn’t that a given?”

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“…”

“Good, since no one is opposed, I take it as agreed,” Lancelot nodded and turned to Bruto next to him, “Let’s go in order, Bruto, you’re next.”

“Hmm, my story is not as grand as yours,” Bruto gulped down a large swig of barley beer, washing down the food in his mouth, “As the son of a grandmaster, most of my life was spent beside the forge. What’s worse is that my strict old man had some unrealistic expectations for me. A helmet? The curvature is wrong! A hand axe? The balance is off! A breastplate? Who’s that for, a halfling? In short, I never became a blacksmith that satisfied my old man, but I did end up developing a good physique…”

“Haha, sounds a lot like our own childhoods,” the oldest of the dwarf miners spoke, “But my brother, how did you end up in the Abyss?”

“An ancient mine, a rare vein of ore, a group of dwarves blinded by greed,” Bruto shrugged his shoulders, “We accidentally crossed through a portal to the Abyss, and by the time we realized something was wrong, the portal had disappeared. It wasn’t long before we were captured and then enslaved, mining ores and smelting metals for various Demon Lords. It was no life for anyone, and just when I couldn’t take it anymore, preferring death at the hands of the demons over continuing that life…”

“Sir Lancelot appeared?” the gnome brothers with green beards asked in unison.

“Exactly, I remember that scene like it was yesterday. I was already in a desperate situation, with only a cross pickaxe in my hand, when Lancelot appeared out of nowhere, his great sword spinning like a fast-turning waterwheel, slicing up the Berserk Demons that surrounded us into pieces… This cup is to you, my brother! From then on, I decided to bid farewell to my apprenticeship and become an adventurer. My reason for joining this war… many of my kin have settled in Twin Bridges Town as craftsmen, and I will fight to keep them safe from danger. I have a fantastic hammer, forged by my dad, that flies back to me automatically after throwing; plus, since my right hand is often free, I’m also quite skilled with a shield. In battle, I like to charge into the fray alongside Lancelot, but if necessary, I can also stay back to protect our spellcaster companions. I don’t have any special requests for you guys, or maybe I just don’t know them yet, but if something bothers me, I’ll definitely speak up.”

“To you, my good brother,” Lancelot raised his cup towards Bruto and drained the liquid inside, “Next?”

“Let me explain the situation for the three of us,” the previously speaking Dwarf Miner spoke up again, “I am Rurik StoneShield, and these are Flint Ruge and Trawok Thoron beside me. Say hello to everyone, boys!”

“Greetings!” The second Dwarf stood up and gave a bow to the crowd. He had the rare bright yellow hair and a flushed pale skin unique among dwarves, “I am Flint Ruge.”

“And I am Trawok Thoron,” the third Dwarf also stood, his beard the same fiery red as Bruto’s, a color characteristic of young dwarves, except he had meticulously braided his beard into several thin plaits that reminded one of thick noodles glued around the mouth.

“The three of us come from a remote dwarven village, and we’ve been playing together since we were kids. Like most dwarven children, we started training as blacksmiths, stonemasons, and miners at a young age. Although those days were monotonous, we always found ways to have fun together. Our carefree days came to an end with an attack by Dark Elves. The village was burned, our clan was killed, and the three of us children became commodities of slave traders, taken to their underground city, where we spent twenty years in chains. Then one day, suddenly, the family enslaving us was attacked by several other families within the city, and all the nobles were killed, with the spoils split among the victors, needless to say, we slaves were part of the spoils.”

“I must say, seeing the heads of our former masters impaled on a row of long spears did allow me to vent quite a bit,” said Flint with the golden hair.

“They got what they deserved, but that cannot make up for the harm we suffered,” Rurik shook his head. “The new Zoel Family no longer needed more miners, but they didn’t want other competing families to grow stronger, so they sold us to a Gis slave trader. That man took us to Mark City, and then resold us to a fire giant blacksmith.”

“Let me guess, you escaped from that fire giant,” Lancelot said with a smile. “Perhaps just before you came to Twin Bridges Town?”

“You’ve got it, Sir,” Rurik, with his dark brown beard, nodded. “Although that fire giant was as brutal as the Dark Elves, he was far laxer at preventing slave escapes. We’ve ended up on the Order Brotherhood’s list though, and once back in Mark City, we’ll be immediately arrested by the administrators unless we can come up with five hundred Gold Coins to pay for our freedom.”

“I see,” Lancelot nodded. “Do you have any combat experience?”

“Very little,” Rurik spread his hands helplessly. “We have never had the chance to receive formal training…”

“But long-term hard work has made us very strong,” the young Trawok burst in impatiently. “I can easily lift a four hundred-pound load, and Rurik and Flint are even stronger.”

“Impressive,” Lancelot raised an eyebrow. “That’s already more outstanding than many human soldiers.”

“And you must be very proficient with the Cross Pickaxe, knowing how to maximize its destructive power,” Bruto said encouragingly.

“Of course,” Rurik smiled at his fellow kinsman. “I think we can also make good use of Shields.”

“You haven’t spent your first week’s wages yet, have you?” Lancelot stroked his chin. “I suggest you buy a set of Chainmail and a Heavy Shield, two hundred Gold Coins should cover those, and if there’s any money left, perhaps another battle pickaxe…”

“No need to buy your own,” Tijana, who had taken on the form of a human woman, said casually. “Twin Bridges Town provides free Cold Iron Weapons to mercenaries who enlist.”

“That is indeed good news,” Lancelot smiled at Tijana. “One last question, do you have any requests for your fellow companions?”

The three Dwarves exchanged glances, and eventually, it was the elder Rurik StoneShield who spoke.

“We’ve had enough of life without freedom, and we don’t want to live like that for another day. We will fight to the death, but if by misfortune we are captured, please find a way to kill us. That’s our request, thank you.”

“…A very special request, but I understand,” Lancelot nodded after a brief silence, then turned to the two Gnomes beside the Dwarves. “Now it’s your turn, the Belen brothers, would you introduce yourselves to everyone?”