“Ugh—what is that?!”
“Ma-… Mosquitoes! Venomous mosquitoes! We’re in trouble! Swarms of venomous mosquitoes are coming this way!”
The dwarves panicked, running in every direction.
Suho furrowed his brows.
‘I thought we could take it easy, but the real trouble is just beginning.’
A gigantic mosquito, about half the size of an adult dwarf, was pressing forward like a dark cloud.
There was still some distance, but barely a minute or two at best.
They had to prepare a countermeasure quickly.
‘How are we supposed to stop that?’
There were far too many of them.
And they were flying.
Judging by the name, venomous mosquitoes, they must carry poison too.
A deep furrow formed in Suho’s forehead.
“Damn it! Fire! Prepare some fireballs if you have to!”
“How do we catch all of them with fireballs? Just light the grass on fire!”
“Better yet, set the castle walls on fire!”
At that moment, a dwarf’s voice came from nearby.
Suho got a hint from it.
‘If fire is their weakness…’
Suho had a fire-related skill.
He pushed his arm holding the Flame Thorn Magic Sword deep into the freezer.
The sword’s tip barely touched the swarm of mosquitoes.
Suho activated his skill.
‘Flame Strike!’
Whoosh!
With white-hot flames blazing, Suho slammed the sword into the ground.
Kaang—
A massive explosion tore a huge crater.
Dozens of mosquitoes were killed in an instant.
“Again!”
Gwaaaang—
Gwaaaang—
Suho repeatedly unleashed Flame Strike.
The mosquito swarm staggered.
But only for a moment.
The mosquitoes changed their movement pattern.
‘They’re spreading out!’
This was serious.
Mosquitoes were small but numerous.
The space they had to defend was vast.
“We can’t hold them like this.”
The situation was dire.
If it continued, the dwarf village would suffer devastating damage.
Suho desperately racked his brain.
No suitable plan came to mind.
Damn it, if only I had sprayed some Efkill, it’d be a relief.
If this were real mosquitoes, he could have sprayed insecticide, but there was no such option here.
Just then, a voice sounded beside him.
“These lowly creatures are fighting over my old territory. Krrrk, they don’t even know the proper class of land. You…”
Balryong was watching the battle with an excited expression.
“What nonsense are you spouting? Be serious.”
Suho was annoyed and glanced sideways at Balryong.
At that moment, a flash of inspiration struck Suho’s mind.
“That’s it!”
Dalkong.
***
“This can’t be…”
The Light-hide Dwarf chief, Dalkong, couldn’t hide his stunned expression.
At first, he didn’t believe it.
The idea that he could control the climate.
But when a giant appeared in the crisis and smashed an ogre, Dalkong felt hope.
“If we have the help of the giant, I thought our tribe could survive.”
In fact, the Red Hammer Tribe had no worries on their faces.
But that dream shattered in an instant.
Venomous mosquitoes.
The swarm that pressed like a black cloud had finally reached the castle walls.
In just ten seconds, they’d cross over and fly in.
Then, hell would break loose.
“Ah, please… Divine Hammer and Anvil, please protect us. Please, please save us.”
Dalkong clung to the divine voice he once heard.
And then, a miracle happened.
Woong—
A tremor was felt in the air.
Then a roar echoed inside his head.
“Hey—what the hell are you doing?!”
“Enough talk, fight! If you don’t shoot, you’re sweeping floors all night!”
“I won’t flinch at threats like that…”
“Shut up and fight! Hurry! Shoot and get ten chickens! Don’t shoot and it’s broom duty until death. Choose now!”
“Ten chickens? You serious?”
“Hurry!”
“All right, since you begged so desperately, I’ll show you the power of my strength. Behold, the breath of a dragon!”
Wheeeeng—
As the voice ended, rippling space tore open and a massive, pitch-black figure appeared.
“Dr-Dr-Dragon?”
Dalkong stared in shock at the air.
There, a jet-black dragon appeared.
Its appearance was intimidating, and it was strangely held by the giant’s hand behind its tail.
Before Dalkong could fully react,
The dragon exhaled.
Gwaaaaahhhhh—
Balryong’s breath shot over the castle walls.
The flames engulfed the mosquito swarm.
Under the dragon’s breath, the venomous mosquitoes couldn’t withstand the heat and melted away.
“That’s it!”
Suho moved his hands swiftly, killing the remaining mosquitoes.
Instead of mosquito repellent, they used Balryong’s breath.
A sudden idea came to him at the perfect moment.
“Good job, Balryong, B-Killer! I’ll feed you lots of chicken.”
It was also the moment the crisis threatening the dwarf village receded.
[Dimensional Mission [Monster Invasion Suppression] completed.]
[Light-hide Dwarf Satisfaction increased by 60.]
[Red Hammer Dwarf Satisfaction increased by 15.]
***
“It was a matter of whether Balryong could be put in the freezer.”
Balryong was under a penalty state due to the Question Mark Skill.
The Dimensional Panel clearly stated he couldn’t return to the original world.
‘I’m really lucky it worked out as I thought.’
Even if he couldn’t return to his original state, Suho thought he could at least use him like a tool when in hand.
That thought proved correct.
Suho looked happily at the freezer.
“Wow—the mosquitoes are gone!”
“So the rumor that the giant tamed the dragon was true.”
“Did he tame it?”
“I’ve never heard of taming a dragon.”
“The giant can do anything. Have you already forgotten how he thawed the weather of the frozen mountains?”
“Ha ha, you guys. Say a loud greeting so the giant can hear you.”
“That’s right! Thank you, Giant!”
“Really, thank you so much, Giant!”
“Hehe, I believed in you. I believed in you, Giant.”
The Red Hammer Dwarves waved their hands with bright expressions.
“Ha ha, I’m just glad you’re all safe.”
Suho replied in kind.
At that moment, Dalkong approached with a dazed look.
“Was what I just seeing not a dream?”
“Are you saying the giant cut down the ogre with a single strike? Or made the dragon follow orders to breathe fire? Ha ha ha.”
At Dalkong’s surprised words, Tarunga responded.
“Surely you don’t mean he made the weather here warmer too…”
“Of course it’s true. I never lied to you.”
“No way!”
Dalkong, who had been in shock, suddenly snapped back to his senses like being doused with cold water.
He turned his body toward Suho.
“I did not understand the giant’s ability and behaved disrespectfully. Please forgive me.”
Thud.
Dalkong dropped to his knees and bowed his head to the ground.
Suho stopped him.
“Ah! Don’t do that. It’s okay. It’s only natural not to know when we first meet. Please stand up.”
“Please don’t drive away our Light Hide Tribe. I beg you.”
Drive you away? Why would I?
There are so many things you’ll do for me in the future.
Suho grinned, then straightened his expression.
“Of course. You should coordinate well with Tarunga for your living space. If you need my help, just say so anytime. And please get up quickly. I want to be friends with the dwarves, but it’s uncomfortable if Dalkong stays like that.”
Dalkong stood up.
His expression was cautious yet moved.
“The Light Hide Tribe will forever be your friend, Giant. Thank you so much for considering us friends.”
No need for formalities.
“Now, enough greetings. Come, everyone, gather here!”
Suho called the dwarves together.
Various food supplies from the Dimensional Bag were piled in front of them.
“Wow—it’s ramen! There’s even Jjajang ramen!”
“Meat! Meat! It’s already prepped!”
“Alcohol! Alcohol! It’s the same liquor we drank last time. Haha, it’s alcohol!”
“A feast! To welcome the Light-hide Dwarf Tribe and to thank the Giant, we hold a feast!”
With Tarunga’s shout, the feast began.
Suho willingly joined in.
“Don’t hold back today. Eat as much as you want. Dalkong, go quickly and call the rest of the tribe.”
Dalkong bowed and went to spread the news to his people.
Suho watched his figure with a warm smile.
***
The feast that started during the day continued until evening.
“Bow in respect to my achievement.”
“All right, I’ll bow.”
“You owe me more respect.”
“Oh?”
“Plant your head into the ground like a tree root and say this: The master of the noble grandeur and the black flame…—”
“Cut it out.”
“…..”
“Okay, I’ll buy you ten chickens, so talk to me when you want to eat.”
“Right now! Delivery!”
“Got it.”
Suho ordered chicken on his smartphone.
“They say you live on mana alone, but food costs add up.”
Well, he worked more than he ate, so no complaints.
“By the way, how much food is left?”
Suho checked inside the Dimensional Bag.
It was nearly empty.
The feast combined with the arrival of the new tribe caused a strain on the supply plan.
He’d have to request an increase in food delivery.
While thinking this, Suho discovered something in the Dimensional Bag.
“Ah, I completely forgot about the loot.”
Various items and materials obtained from raiding the Yeongil Guild Dungeon.
He had completely overlooked them.
Suho walked toward the freezer.
“Tarunga! If you’re not busy, can I talk to you for a moment?”
Tarunga quickly came running.
“I’m not busy. Ha ha ha, I’d come running even if I were.”
“Ha ha, sorry for bothering you during your rare break.”
“Not at all. This is all thanks to the giant’s grace. So, is there something you want?”
“I have a favor to ask.”
Suho spoke as he handed over the loot to the other world.
The Attribute Amplification Staff went to Jo Kyungsoo, who used Ice Wall skill.
Other items like the Black Iron Golem’s corpse were piled in front of Tarunga.
“What is all this?”
“These are materials I happened to get. Could you make something useful for me out of these?”
“Hey! I’ll take a closer look.”
Tarunga examined the materials carefully.
At that moment, a familiar figure slipped in.
“Dalkong, you’re here too.”
“I didn’t call you. Sorry for coming, Giant. I happened to overhear and heard you want to make something.”
“Yes, the equipment made by dwarves has great performance.”
Because their craftsmanship is excellent.
Dalkong put on a determined expression.
“Please give me a chance to make the giant’s equipment as well. I beg you.”
He asked for a favor, but was being asked to do a favor himself.
What a situation.
Suho readily agreed.
“I’d be grateful if you did.”
At that moment, Tarunga stepped forward.
“Ha! When it comes to metal equipment, our Red Hammer Tribe is far superior. So, I’ll…”
Dalkong wasn’t to be outdone.
“Our Light Hide Tribe is several times better with leather. If we combine the ogre hide and staff we got earlier, we can make something quite decent.”
“That staff is better mixed with the golem corpse here to make armor…”
“What are you talking about? I noticed the giant didn’t have gauntlets. Making leather armor is better!”
“No, no. Didn’t you see the giant’s arm? He wasn’t wearing armor. Of course, armor comes first.”
“You can even make leather armor from hide.”
“Ha ha, a real man wears full plate mail.”
“Nonsense. Sleek leather armor is best.”
They argued over who would get to make the equipment.
The tension was about to explode, so Suho quickly intervened.
“Both of you calm down. First…”
Their eyes turned to him.
Suho continued.
“I’d like to start with helmets.”
Let’s keep the amount manageable.
“Very well. Then steel helms…”
“If we use ogre hide, leather is enough for defense…”
They started arguing again.
Suho sighed in disbelief and jumped in.
“First of all, you both have the materials. Discuss and decide what to make. Make the helmets first, and if there’s anything left, I’ll ask for other suitable equipment.”
Except for helmets, he didn’t specify items.
He thought it best to leave it to them since the materials would be used best that way.
At Suho’s firm voice, Tarunga and Dalkong nodded.
“Giant, we will do our best. Please wait a moment.”
“Right. I’ll make excellent leather helmets.”
“Oh, steel helms, of course…”
Suho quickly escaped from in front of the freezer.
“The craftsmen are seriously stubborn about their work.”
Suho’s amused expression soon stiffened.
He had an urgent problem to solve.
“But won’t all the dwarves come here eventually?”
Food was one issue, but living space was also insufficient.
The castle walls only covered an area barely enough for two thousand people.
“On top of that, monsters are running rampant.”
There was no guarantee monsters wouldn’t invade the dwarf village anytime.
After some contemplation, Suho shook off the thought.
“Let’s handle what we can immediately.”
Suho grabbed his phone and made a call.
The line rang, and soon Jung Hyunsu answered.
“Hyung, what’s up?”
“I want to increase the amount of food we agreed to deliver.”
“By how much?”
“About double.”
Since variables could come up anytime, he planned to stock up a bit more.
“All right, I’ll arrange that.”
“And could you get some more Rapid-Hardening Cement?”
“Sorry, Hyung. What I gave you last time was the last of it. We have no stock at all. How much do you need? If it’s a small amount, I can get some from the Mart, but…”
“No, it’s fine. If not, just forget it. Just the food delivery is priority.”
“Okay, Hyung. I’ll take care of it right away.”
“Thanks. Talk to you later.”
Just as Suho was about to hang up, Jung Hyunsu’s voice continued.
“Hyung, by the way, are you free this weekend?”
“A new dungeon popped up. I was wondering if you could go.”
“Another one? You rushed to get it again?”
“No, it’s just that the situation turned out a bit odd this time. That dungeon is kind of special. If you have good personal skills, you can clear it really fast, and it gives lots of experience points. It’s like…”
Jung Hyunsu’s explanation went on for a while.
From what Suho heard, there seemed to be many things to gain by going.
‘I also had some experiments to try in a dungeon.’
After thinking it over, Suho replied.
“All right, let’s go.”