Chapter 200: The Fallen Kingdom of Metal (5)

Kai's gaze shifted as he looked at Camilla.

So this was the blacksmith who made my sword?

If that was the case, then she would be the adventurer blacksmith who surpassed even Solid, who was an intermediate blacksmith.

Kai had wanted to meet her someday, though he hadn’t expected it to be this sudden.

“Alright, so even if you’re the one who made the Ironwill Longsword, why are you here?”

“First of all, if the misunderstanding is cleared up, how about letting me go? I’m not your enemy.”

“You’re not an ally either.”

Kai firmly rejected Camilla’s request, who glanced down at the Holy Chains with a sad expression.

Sensing the strong stubbornness in Kai’s gaze, Camilla shook her head and said, “You’ve got a stubborn look on your face. I’m on a quest related to my class. Surely you’re not going to dig more into that, are you?”

“Yes, I am.”

“W-what? Hey, don’t you know about social rules? It’s not good manners to ask such things to a hidden class player!”

“Manners aside, I need to know why you’re here. If you’re an obstacle to my plan, I’ll have to take you out.”

To take her out was a subtle way of saying he would just kill her. It could have sounded harsh, but there was no flaw in his reasoning.

I don’t have the luxury to consider someone else’s situation if it jeopardizes saving the dwarves.

Camilla stared at Kai’s stern expression with a shocked face, then sighed. “

Wow!

I knew you were a bit crazy from the videos, but... I never thought it would be this bad.

Hmph!

Fine, but I’m not just going to spill my information. For every answer I give, you have to give one too.”

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

“If it’s a question I can answer.”

“

Ugh

...”

Though Kai hadn’t made any absolute promises, Camilla had no other option.

This guy might actually kill me if he thinks I’m in his way.

Through all the videos and broadcasts until now, the image of Unknown had been one of pure cold-bloodedness. Anyone who bothered him or got in his way would be thoroughly crushed by this king of destruction, even members of the top ten guilds.

I guess with a sword like that... There's no reason he would feel obligated to be nice just because I once made that Ironwill Longsword.

In any case, the man before her was currently ranked number one in

MID Online.

Quickly grasping her position, Camilla recognized who held the upper hand and said in a resigned tone, “That blacksmith in Glendale... Solid, was it?”

“Yes.”

“I assume you know the gist. You received the sword, so there’s no way you didn’t hear its story.”

“I heard you go around challenging blacksmiths. Is it like some sort of daily challenge?”

“

Sigh

. Where do I even start...

Ugh

, I want to scratch my head.” Camilla looked down at her bound hands and sighed, realizing she couldn’t reach her head to scratch it. “I know from watching your streams. You’re a hidden class, right? A Radiance Paladin.”

“So what if I am?”

“I am, too. I was lucky enough to reclass into a production-based hidden class, the Challenger Blacksmith.”

“Challenger Blacksmith?”

As Kai tilted his head at the unfamiliar name, Camilla smirked.

“The name might make a passing dog laugh, but the class itself ranks pretty high among hidden classes. When I challenge and beat other blacksmiths, my stats like Craftsmanship go up, and my skill proficiency improves too. Plus, if I meet specific conditions, I get access to the dwarven kingdom. It’s practically a platinum-class job.”

“

Hmm

.”

Kai furrowed his brows as he looked into Camilla’s pure gaze.

Judging by her expression, she doesn’t seem to be lying... but why is she revealing all this info so easily?

Not that it would ever happen, but if he were captured, would he easily share details about his role as a Solaris Cleric or his Benevolence stats?

I’d rather die than ever reveal anything.

A hidden class was called hidden because all information about it was strictly concealed. If the traits and skills of a hidden class were revealed for all to see...

It wouldn’t be a hidden class anymore. It’d just be an easy target.

In

MID Online

, there was no easier prey than an enemy with a clear set of tactics, so it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that information was everything for hidden classes. With regular classes, even the same job could have different end-game builds due to the wide range of skill tree options.

And if my main skills get revealed, I could quickly learn and master different skills to present an entirely new fighting style.

However, hidden classes couldn’t do that. Unless it was a rare exception, like the Solaric Cleric, a hidden class was bound to its unique abilities. In other words, it became challenging to continue thriving if his abilities were exposed.

I’ve already had some of my cards exposed in the war with the Titan guild, but...

With such an overwhelming stat difference, he wasn’t too worried.

But for Camilla?

What on earth does she trust about me to share this kind of information?

As Kai gave her a strange look, she shrugged.

“What? If you’re that skeptical, I could take a screenshot of my class traits and email it to you.”

“Oh yeah? Send it, then. My email is...”

At Kai’s open display of distrust, Camilla made a face of annoyance and slightly twisted her lips.

Then a notification chimed, indicating an email arrived.

“

Hm

...”

Kai checked the file she sent and nodded.

The Challenger Blacksmith and its traits are real, but...

That made it even harder to understand.

“Why, exactly?”

At Kai’s question, Camilla put on a serious expression and replied, “I need your help, Unknown.”

“My help? What does that mean all of a sudden...?”

“A player of your level wouldn’t be wandering this wilderness for no reason, right?”

Kai stayed silent and listened to what she had to say.

"The dwarves' shelter. That’s what you’re searching for, isn’t it?"

"

Hmm

. Go on."

Intrigued by her words, Kai nodded and urged her to continue.

"I saw the Battle of the Bir Plains on TV. The elves and merfolk were with you, and what that means is simple. You’re somehow on friendly terms with the demi-human races."

"So?"

"The dwarves are also considered one of the representative demi-human races, along with elves and merfolk. If I’m right, you have no reason to harm them."

"And if you’re wrong?"

Camilla lifted the ends of her lips into a wide grin. "Then I’m doomed, I guess."

"... You really have no backup plan, do you?"

Kai let out a laugh in disbelief and swung his sword.

Clang!

The easily severed Holy Chain clattered against the ice, and Camilla rotated her freed arms and shoulders while getting up.

Kai looked at her intently and asked, "Congratulations. You managed to pique my interest. Now explain. What’s the current situation with the dwarves?"

"They are..." Camilla let out a faint sigh, and gestured with her chin as she turned around. "Follow me. It’ll be quicker to see for yourself."

***

After following Camilla across the ice, they soon encountered a maze. She naturally navigated through the path with ease, as if it were the familiar alleyways near her home.

"Here we are."

After about ten minutes of walking through the maze, a door made of ice awaited them. Camilla gestured for him to follow and pushed the door open with all her might.

"Welcome. Though it might be too modest to call it the kingdom of the dwarves... for now, this is Ingart."

As Kai followed her inside, his jaw dropped as he took in the scene. "This... is just a shelter?"

Countless structures and facilities carved from ice stood in rows. Each building possessed a level of elegance rarely seen even in the real world. Lamps hung in thin air, illuminating the shelter so brightly that it was hard to believe it was located at the bottom of a crevasse.

I have heard of the dwarves’ craftsmanship, but who knew that even a mere shelter would rival the stunning architecture of world-famous capitals...

Stunned by the grandeur, Kai turned his gaze to the dwarves, who were beginning to gather one by one near the stairs.

I can see why dwarves are called masters, creators of masterpieces. With skills like theirs, they would surely have...!

A dignified mustache and deep gaze.

However, it didn’t take long for Kai’s expectations to be shattered.

“Camilla noona?”

“Unnie!”

“

Whoo!

Camilla noona is back!”

A group of children gathered at the foot of the stairs, chattering like baby birds and calling out to Camilla again and again.

“

Whoa, whoa

, everyone calm down a bit. Can’t you see I brought a guest?”

“A guest?”

“Visitor?”

“But this isn’t a guesthouse!”

“This is our shelter!”

“We don’t accept guests!”

Chatter, chatter.

In an instant, the image of dwarves as stern, serious workers of iron and fire was completely shattered!

Kai then pointed at the children, who were barely tall enough to reach his thigh, with a puzzled expression. “Camilla, who are these little ones?”

“Why ask such an obvious thing? They’re dwarf children.”

“

Ah

, children... I see.”

Children were cute and innocent, no matter the race.

Kai looked around at the baby dwarves, who were staring at him with wide, curious eyes.

“But... How come there don’t seem to be any adults around?”

“The adult dwarves... aren’t here.”

Camilla showed a bitter smile and shook her head.

“When the Death Dragon attacked Ingart, the adult dwarves took up weapons. They had barely any combat power, but after fierce resistance, they managed to send the children through the hidden passage, and I became the one responsible for leading them.”

“What about the women dwarves?”

“In dwarf society, there isn’t much distinction between men and women. Both wield hammers and work as master craftsmen. So while there’s the idea of mothers and fathers, their roles are practically the same.”

“So, in other words, the women took up weapons too. That’s impressive.”

“And then they were all captured by the Death Dragon together. Damn, that cursed dragon.”

Hearing her grumbling, Kai suddenly realized something and said, “

Oh

, right. Did I not tell you? The Death Dragon is dead.”

“What?! Why? Wait, how?!”

Camilla whipped her head around, shocked, and Kai casually poked his chest with his index finger.

“No way... He died? In your hands? You killed the Death Dragon?”

“Yes, I did. I killed the dragon. Please be careful so the other players don’t find out.”

“O-of course. But how... the Death Dragon was level 550 when it attacked Ingart... Or was it 55...? Did I read it wrong?”

As Camilla babbled in confusion, Kai shook her shoulders and said in a serious tone, “Enough. Now, tell me.”

“W-what?”

“How I can help you bring the dwarves back. You asked for help because you had a plan in mind, didn’t you?”

“It’s funny to say this after asking for your help, but... can we really bring them back?”

“We can because now I’m here.”

Gulp.

Camilla’s throat bobbed nervously.

Kai’s serious gaze and arrogant words flowed through the air. Moreover, knowing he was powerful enough to have defeated the Death Dragon added a feeling of intense pressure. This realization passed through her mind once more, filling her with a thrill of exhilaration.

So, this is... the presence of the one at the top.

The intense confidence of the one in a billion man who held the top rank in

MID Online

made Camilla serious as well.

“You really seem... serious. In that case, there is a way, but we’ll have to face the Church of Muldine’s elite. Are you up for it?”

“A fight?” Kai smirked, lifting one corner of his mouth as if he had just heard something amusing. “That’s my specialty.”

Even if he was just a Cleric, that is.