Chapter 52: When Snacks Became Strategy

The time for the second meeting drew near, and dwarves began gathering in the village hall.

One by one, they took their seats at the long tables lined up inside.

I sat beside Kadu.

On the tables were boiled meat and beer. As expected of dwarves, there was alcohol even at a meeting.

“Looks like everyone’s here. Let’s begin.”

The dwarves raised their mugs high.

“To the proud dwarves!”

“To us!”

Glug glug.

“Kya-ha!”

“This hits the spot!”

“Nothing beats a drink after work!”

As they tilted their mugs, they naturally began exchanging opinions.

“Restoring the river isn’t a simple job! It’ll take at least a week, and what about our businesses during that time?”

“He’s right. We’re already swamped with back orders; we don’t even have enough hours in the day hammering iron. This is basically telling us to close our shops!”

“This isn’t about money; it’s a matter of honor. We should help neighbors in trouble.”

“If the forest shrinks, our trade will suffer too. There isn’t a single dwarf who doesn’t use materials from the elf forest.”

Clamor clamor.

Every time opinions clashed, voices grew louder, and the louder they got, the faster they chugged their beer to soothe their throats.

Their faces gradually flushed red at the tips of their noses and cheeks.

Even though their alcohol tolerance was near infinite, at this rate the meeting showed no sign of ending.

This won’t do. It’s my turn now.

I abruptly stood and stepped outside the hall. Then I took out my secret weapon that I had prepared in advance.

Rustle rustle.

After rustling for a while, a savory aroma began to spread, and murmurs came from inside.

“Wait, hold on!”

“Hold it! Sniff sniff. I’ve been smelling something delicious for a while now!”

“Sniff sniff. You’re right. Where on earth is that amazing smell coming from?”

“Seems to be from the entrance?”

Creak—

At that moment, I opened the door and stepped back inside.

“I prepared a special snack for everyone. Would you like to try it?”

I quickly went around the tables, placing down plates.

“A human apprentice can cook too?”

“I’ve never seen this dish before. What is it?”

“I don’t know what it is, but it looks pretty good! Definitely appetizing.”

Buzz buzz.

“This is a seafood pajeon from the East Continent.”

“Pajeon?”

“I loaded it with green onions grown on the Floating Island and plenty of seafood, then fried it crispy in fragrant soybean oil. Dip it in soy sauce mixed with finely chopped spicy peppers and—kya-ha! There’s no better drinking snack!”

Gulp.

The dwarves swallowed audibly. My ultimate technique that makes anyone hungry just by hearing about it.

“Ah! I can’t hold back!”

“Hey! Move your hand! Let me try some too!”

“I said take small bites! Think of the others!”

They lunged at the seafood pajeon like starving wolves.

“T-this is!”

Every single one of them raised their eyebrows in shock.

“There’s a flavor like this in the world! It’s insanely delicious!”

“The outside is crispy like it was deep-fried, yet the oiliness is perfect! And every bite fills your mouth with green onion fragrance!”

“And that dipping sauce! Salty, rich umami, and just the right spicy kick. This is divine!”

“The human apprentice made this? He beat out all the veteran dwarf apprentices to take second place, and now he whips out gourmet food like this? What exactly is he?”

They were stunned by the taste, then stunned again by my cooking skills.

A mind-blowing flavor that snaps you awake!

Thanks to it, the dwarves’ drunken haze vanished instantly, and their minds cleared.

“I’m glad it suits your taste.”

“It’s a bit lacking. Could you make more?”

They licked the oil from their fingers and smacked their lips in regret.

“You want more? I do have ingredients left…”

The dwarves nodded vigorously.

“Yes! Please!”

“Me too! Me too!”

“Over here too!”

“But first!”

I raised my hand high.

“May I say one thing?”

All eyes turned to me.

“Please help the elf forest.”

“What?”

They blinked at each other.

“Why are you asking us that?”

“I have many ties with the elves. And I don’t want to see the elf forest shrink either.”

“Ahem… even if it’s your request, it’s hard to agree. The losses would be considerable.”

“The elf forest holds value that cannot be measured in gold. You all know that, right?”

“That’s true.”

“Even if it feels like a loss now, think of the future. When the dwarves are in trouble someday, they will surely repay the favor.”

The dwarves nodded slightly. My persuasion was working.

“So you’ll help?”

Still no immediate answer.

“You’re right, but… it still feels like we’re losing out somehow. It leaves a bad taste.”

“Exactly. It doesn’t feel rewarding.”

Grumbles continued. I needed one final decisive blow.

“If that’s really how you all feel, then there’s nothing I can do. What a shame. I specially prepared labor liquor for you all.”

“L-labor liquor?”

“Would you like to see?”

I pulled out a bottle from behind my back.

“This is called makgeolli. It’s like wine made from rice.”

When I shook the bottle, a milky-white liquid sloshed inside the glass.

“It gains deep flavor through fermentation and aging. In the East Continent, people drink this with afternoon snacks. One cup washes away all the thirst built up from hard labor.”

The dwarves were hooked. Their butts lifted slightly in anticipation.

And here comes the finishing strike.

“Ah, makgeolli pairs perfectly with seafood pajeon.”

Flash.

“I’ll do it!”

“Me too! It’s just some construction—after one cup of makgeolli, we’ll finish it in no time!”

“Yeah! One drink and we’ll cut the construction time in half!”

“I suddenly feel motivated!”

“Let’s do it!”

“Great decision, everyone!”

Hands shot up all around, and they all started agreeing.

The carrot called makgeolli worked perfectly on the dwarves.

“I’ll fire up some more pajeon today! I prepared plenty of makgeolli, so drink up and work hard!”

“WAAAAAAAH!”

I passed around the makgeolli I had brought, then rolled up my sleeves and started frying pajeon non-stop.

“Kya-ha! The gentle carbonation isn’t overpowering; it goes down so smooth!”

“The subtle sweetness from the fermented rice beautifully balances the bitter alcohol.”

“Paired with seafood pajeon, it’s perfection! It cleanly cuts through the oiliness in your mouth. This combo is unbeatable!”

That day, the dwarves fell completely under the spell of the heavenly pairing of makgeolli and seafood pajeon.

***

Construction began immediately the next day.

They brought all sorts of tools and were reopening the river channel.

As expected of dwarves—strong and skilled with tools—they knocked out the work with clank clank efficiency.

“Pull this way!”

“Heave! Ho!”

Yet even with cranes, some boulders refused to budge.

“I’ll help too.”

I rolled up my sleeves and joined in.

I pulled the rope with all my strength, and suddenly, like a bad tooth coming loose, the boulder popped right out.

“You’ve got some strength, lad!”

“Even back during the contest, the way you hammered iron sounded different.”

“He jumps in to help without being asked, learns fast without being taught. Kadu really picked a fine disciple.”

Kadu’s shoulders rose proudly at the praise as he bragged.

“That’s not all! His hands are gifted—he finishes details meticulously. Teach him one thing and he masters ten.”

Kadu looked more excited than me.

“I brought afternoon snacks. Everyone eat.”

I personally handed out the kimbap and makgeolli I had prepared.

They plopped down on the ground and chugged the makgeolli.

Glug glug.

“Kya-ha! So refreshing! Truly the perfect labor liquor!”

Good thing I chilled it in the ice cave beforehand.

“What’s this? It’s not rice balls…”

“It’s called kimbap. Packed with nutrition—perfect as a full meal. Eat it and you’ll be bursting with energy.”

“Mmm! So convenient yet insanely tasty!”

They got high on kimbap and makgeolli.

“I don’t know why, but this feels fun.”

“I don’t even feel tired. Labor liquor, huh… what a miraculous drink.”

“Belly full—let’s finish this quick!”

Motivation overflowed.

Thanks to working without rest, the boulder pile blocking the river was cleared rapidly.

I ran around assisting them as much as I could. I had only planned to persuade them at first, but as a member of the dwarf village, I couldn’t just stand by and watch.

“Alright! This is the last one! Pull!”

Whoosh!

The final boulder was lifted from the river, and a job expected to take at least a week was completed in just two days.

***

I went to Sharin to deliver the news.

“Did you manage to persuade them?”

“It’s all resolved.”

“Really? Persuading them couldn’t have been easy.”

Only then did a smile spread across Sharin’s face.

“Everyone agreed quite readily?”

“They must trust you a lot. So when do they say construction will start? The sooner the better.”

“It’s already finished.”

“…?”

Village Chief Sharin tilted her head.

“Already finished? What do you mean?”

“I confirmed it on the way here after they wrapped up the work. The river is flowing beautifully.”

Sharin’s eyes flashed.

“You’re saying they finished the construction in that short time? I can hardly believe it.”

“It’s a bit embarrassing to say myself, but I worked hard helping too.”

I gave an awkward cough, then looked straight at Sharin.

“So, as promised, you’ll give me the cypress seed, right?”

“Of course.”

She cheerfully went into the room and returned with a wooden box. Inside was a glossy green seed the size of a candy.

“Wooow…”

I received it with both hands.

So this is the cypress seed. It’s radiant and beautiful.

Finally, I’ll have my own home on the Floating Island.

Thinking of how happy Elenia and Dorori will be, I hurried back to the Floating Island.