Archmage's Restaurant - Chapter 37: The Dwarf Village (4)
“It’s a large area comparable to any decent-sized mine. It’ll be interesting.”
“Indeed!”
The young dwarf eagerly asked questions while looking at the blueprints with me.
“So, you mean we can pour everything we have into this, without worrying about the cost?”
The chief spoke naturally, but the younger dwarves often had a slight awkwardness in their speech. It couldn’t be helped since they were speaking in the human language, not Dwarvish.
“As I said before, we’re not holding back on expenses.”
When I nodded, the dwarves let out another round of exclamations. For those who struggled with financial constraints despite their desire to create, my offer to spare no expense was extremely attractive.
They were discussing construction costs.
The dwarf tribe is generally poor, so they are used to being frugal when making their own things. Even when they receive requests, it’s rare for clients to offer such generous construction costs.
A client as lavish as I am is unheard of.
“Have you made your decision then?”
“Of course. If a great being commands it, we must do it, even if it means risking our lives. But to offer such conditions…”
“If you’re going to do it, you might as well enjoy it. It’s better than being forced, right?”
“That’s true, but…”
“And Rurin isn’t that violent. As long as you don’t cross her, there shouldn’t be any problems if you serve her well, like now.”
“That’s a relief…”
“Also, since the village is destroyed, why don’t we move all the surviving dwarves to the site? There’s enough space for all 30 of you to live comfortably. As I mentioned earlier, if the lair is completed within six months, I’ll provide enough funds for you to resettle in another mine.”
When I explained the amount, the dwarves started murmuring again.
“Thank you. Thank you! We’re in such a dire situation, but this is a wonderful offer. But, is it true? Will the great being really…?”
The dwarf chief trailed off, his face still dark. The fear of a dragon was greater than expected.
In that case, I needed to stimulate their craftsmanship pride to overcome their fear.
“In addition to the reconstruction funds, if you successfully build the most magnificent dragon lair I envision, I’ll give this as a bonus.”
“Pardon?”
I carefully placed an exquisite mechanical watch, with its intricate gears forming a miniature world, into the chief’s hand.
This object, a symbol of advanced technology, would surely captivate the dwarves.
A mechanical watch is durable, yet requires more complex maintenance than a quartz watch. If the dwarves could replicate this, they’d manage its upkeep well.
Honestly, I didn’t expect them to recreate the watch. I hoped they’d marvel at its artistic and technical ingenuity.
Moreover, this planet’s time structure, whether a parallel Earth or not, matched our 24-hour cycle exactly.
“What is this?”
The dwarves’ reactions were just as I anticipated.
Both the young and the elder dwarves were mesmerized by the intricate clockwork.
“It’s a piece of art that measures time in hourly units. A culmination of advanced technology. It’s a summoned artifact, using technology not found in this world. If you’re interested, succeed in building the lair, and this will be your reward.”
“……!”
As soon as I finished speaking, the dwarves collectively gasped.
Then they fell silent, entranced by the new technology.
When I took back the watch, their eyes followed it longingly.
“What do you say? It’s yours once the job is done.”
“Aaah!”
“Unbelievable!”
Sighs of awe filled the air.
“So, shall we move now?”
The dwarf chief looked around at the others. With the reconstruction funds and the bonus, there was no dissent. And since it was a dragon’s command, refusal wasn’t an option.
“Understood. All the dwarves of the Milliorek Mountains will follow the great being.”
“Wise decision. Rurin?”
I called to Rurin, who was lounging comfortably on the makeshift throne the dwarves had hastily constructed.
“Is the discussion over? It’s my lair! Make it beautiful! Beautiful. Hehe.”
Rurin, filled with anticipation for her lair, began preparing the teleportation.
Moving 30 people at once required significant mana.
“Alright, everyone, hold onto each other tightly. Chief, you hold onto me.”
And I hugged Rurin.
The dwarf chief wrapped his arms around my back. It felt a bit odd, but I didn’t want the dwarves touching Rurin.
Just didn’t like it. Rurin probably wouldn’t either.
The dwarves formed a chain behind me, and soon, the world was engulfed in darkness.
A moment later, the world brightened. Well, not exactly bright. The construction site below the hill was lit up with magic.
“Is this where we’ll work?”
“Yes.”
When I nodded, the dwarves, overwhelmed by the scale, opened their mouths in awe. Then they gathered, pointing here and there, discussing the blueprints I handed them with seriousness.
“Set up temporary quarters. I’ll supply food for now. Let me know what construction materials you need, and I’ll procure them all.”
“If this lair is to be the best among those used by great beings, we must make it perfect.”
The chief nodded.
“Just endure for six months.”
“Of course.”
The dwarf chief bowed deeply to Rurin and me once again.
I made another suggestion to him.
“And how about a party tonight? You’ll have to cook for yourselves starting tomorrow, but I’ll prepare something for you today. I’ll also explain the area. I’d prefer if you didn’t leave the site unnecessarily.”
“A party…? What’s that…?”
“You haven’t had a proper meal while being imprisoned, have you?”
“Ooooh. Cooking?”
“I want beer.”
“Me too.”
The dwarves reacted to the mention of food. They probably ate dog-food-grade rations given by the orcs.
“We’re a race of the earth. We specialize in living in underground places like mines. Don’t worry about that.”
The dwarf chief readily nodded.
Thus, everyone busied themselves with their assigned tasks.
The dwarves stomped around, organizing quarters and discussing construction directions, while I focused on cooking.
When I think of dwarves, sausages come to mind for some reason. Plus, dwarves love beer.
The rich taste of sausages goes perfectly with beer. A perfect pairing.
There are calorie concerns, but I doubt dwarves worry about calories.
I asked Rurin to create large protective barriers, shaped like domes.
These barriers, created by Rurin, would serve as cooking tools.
“I’m sleepy.”
Using so much mana made Rurin start yawning and rubbing her eyes while clinging to my arm.
“You need to eat before sleeping. Just wait a bit.”
“Alright. I’m hungry.”
Rurin continued rubbing her eyes while sitting beside me, watching the cooking process. She had no interest in the dwarves who would build her lair.
That’s typical Rurin.
If she’s not satisfied later, she’ll cause a fuss.
I focused on making the sausages.
I wasn’t making regular sausages but the best quality ones—Uka sausages.
I got high-quality Uka meat freshly delivered from the ranch thanks to Knoll. I minced the Uka meat using magic.
Magic works faster than any machine.
Adding only Uka would be boring. I finely chopped fresh Muntun mushrooms. In modern times, matsutake or shiitake mushrooms, and in Europe, the expensive truffles, are considered the best. Here, it’s the Muntun mushroom.
Its flavor isn’t as aromatic as truffles, but its taste is fantastic. It combines the flavors of shiitake and matsutake mushrooms.
Adding Muntun mushrooms enhances the umami, and for a bit of spice, I added chili. The chili here isn’t very spicy, making it perfect.
I mixed everything and stuffed it into beef tripe prepared by Knoll.
Since we’d be grilling them immediately, there was no need for elaborate casing. Beef tripe itself is fancy enough.
I repeated this process for 30 people.
Watching the tedious repetition made Rurin start dozing off. Her head bobbed, and drool trickled down. Why such clumsiness looks cute is a mystery.
Watching her, I continued stuffing the tripe. The sausages were a bit thick.
Now, I placed them on the barrier and grilled them. I used Fireball under the barrier.
I cast the spell.
Sizzle!
Sizzle!
The sausages made a delightful sound as they cooked. The smell alone could wake a sleeping dragon.
Actually, it did.
“What’s that? Smells so good!”
Rurin woke up, looking around until she spotted the cooking sausages, her face lighting up with delight.
“They need to cook a bit more.”
The sausages, slitted, sizzled and twisted as they cooked. Attracted by the smell, the dwarves started gathering.
Thus, the party began.
The rich taste of beef tripe and its chewiness, the tenderness of the sausages, the superb meat flavor, and the beer.
“Dig in. They won’t taste good if they get cold. Oh, the great being should have the first bite.”
When I pointed to Rurin, the dwarves stepped back, wiping their drool.
“Alright, I’ll eat first. Hehe. This part is mine!”
Rurin stabbed a sausage with a fork and brought it to her mouth. Her mouth opened wide.
Rurin took a big bite, chewing the sausage.
Drool fell from the dwarves’ mouths.
“Ah!”
Chugging beer, she let out a satisfied sigh, and I nodded to the chief. With that signal, the dwarves charged forward.
“I’m first!”
“Don’t be ridiculous, you youngster!”
Thus began the war for beer and sausages.
The dragon devoured her declared portion.
As the party reached its peak, the dwarf chief approached me.
“Thank you, El-nim. Somehow, eating your food has relieved my worries. If you intended to use and kill us, you wouldn’t treat us like this.”
“Of course. Don’t worry about that. More importantly, can you finish in six months?”
“We are the earth-dwelling dwarves of Milliorek. We’ll finish it. Definitely.”
The chief nodded emphatically.
“Having saved us, provided temporary shelter, and prepared a future livelihood, we will repay your kindness one day, on our honor.”
“Pour all that repayment into building the lair.”
Just as I answered the dwarf chief, Rurin kicked my face.
“Mmnyaa. Purr. Pwaah!”
She had fallen asleep after eating her fill. It was expected since she was sleepy before.
“If that’s what you want, I’ll hold you! Hehe!”
Why is she making such silly sleep talk?
“For the great being to follow you like this, it’s unimaginable. El-nim, you are a remarkable human.”
The chief muttered, and Rurin, not to be outdone, mumbled in her sleep.
“Stay in my lair with me.”
Rurin clung tightly to my clothes.
Since she was tired from the teleportation, I didn’t plan to wake her, but her sleep talk was annoying.
So, I patted her head.