Golem experiments were boring, headache-inducing, and downright irritating work.
He had to change the materials little by little, repeatedly summoning and dismissing Golems while recording the stats each time.
He first tried summoning a Golem using only Tol and earth as materials, but he failed because it didn’t meet the ‘Golden Golem’ condition.
Golems with a trace amount of gold mixed in could be summoned, but they were so fragile they were practically Sundubu Golems, useless in real combat.
In the end, the problem was finding the proper balance, and after dozens of attempts, he managed to find a workable equilibrium.
But another issue arose: the Golem’s shell kept getting gold-plated.
So flowers simply couldn’t grow on it.
“Does the material balance depend on the minimum needed to cover the Golem’s exterior?”
That assumption proved to be true after running more tests.
If he wanted to make a surface where flowers could grow, he’d have to increase the ratio of earth… but…
“This is still just a Sundubu Golem…”
Jaeho opened his Inventory and spent a long time pondering.
Then, suddenly, his eyes locked onto a particular item.
“Wall of Twilight…”
A defensive item with the powerful trait of growth.
On top of that.
[If you use a material with a special property, that effect is applied to the Golem.]
The reason the Golem he had recklessly made back in Bear Country had been so overwhelmingly strong.
Partly, it was the sheer amount of materials used, but more importantly, all the options on the equipment that went into it had been applied to the Golem.
“If defense is lacking, maybe I can just use defense-related items like this as materials.”
For now, all he had was , so it was hard to test, but if he could fill the Golem’s core with defensive equipment like that, its survivability should be guaranteed.
“Hmm… Tol hasn’t been here long, but do I need to head to the market again?”
He didn’t feel good about leaving the Flower House unattended once more.
He should focus a little more on the shop now…
ㅡ Alshia-nim! Alshia-nim!
Just then, Mei’s urgent voice came through.
ㅡ Huh? What’s going on?
ㅡ There’s trouble here! Suddenly a Dwarf appeared and started arguing with the Elves!
ㅡ A Dwarf? Which Dwarf?
ㅡ I-I don’t know! But the Spirit of Vitality says it’s a Dwarf he knows.
The knot-head knows him?
“Ah.”
Then Jaeho remembered.
“The Dwarf gambler from Rasel Kingdom who cursed me and said, ‘I hope I never see you again!’”
It seemed he’d finally made his way to Elysia.
ㅡ So what’s the situation now?
ㅡ They’re still yelling and fighting with the Elves! The Dwarf keeps saying he was officially invited…
What a load of nonsense.
ㅡ Ugh, I’ll be right there.
He had a bad feeling trouble was brewing.
***
[Quest]
[The gambler ‘Vulca’ from Rasel Kingdom, fleeing his creditors, has finally arrived at Elysia Garden.
At least, he’s somewhat sobered up and didn’t repeat the same mistakes as last time.
He managed to hold onto his precious Anvil!
However, the loan shark gang ‘Aks Face’ never gives up.
They’re still pursuing Vulca, and you must decide what to do.]
[If you rescue Vulca from Aks Face, he’ll settle as Elysia’s exclusive blacksmith.]
[If you turn your back on Vulca, Affection resets and Dwarf race favor drops.]
“Kick him out.”
Jaeho didn’t even need to think; he immediately ordered the Elves.
Even the system was recognizing him as a gambler, not a blacksmith.
“Take responsibility for your own actions.”
“Hey! Have you forgotten the days we ruled the back alleys at night together?!”
“My memory seems different. Anyway, don’t expect me to clean up your mess again.”
“Ugh… Please, I beg you! If this goes on, I’ll die!”
“Then go die.”
Jaeho answered firmly and turned away.
Squirm, squirm, squirm
In the end, Vulca was dragged out of Elysia by the Elves.
“Was that a real Dwarf?”
Samantha, who’d been watching, asked.
“Yeah, he’s a Dwarf I met back at Rasel Kingdom. Ignore him. He’ll be dead soon anyway.”
“I-I see? But I heard all Dwarves are outstanding blacksmiths…”
Samantha sounded a bit regretful.
“For most Players, getting Dwarf-made items is like plucking a star from the sky.”
But that only held true if you didn’t know Vulca.
“That guy’s not a blacksmith, he’s a gambling ‘addict.’”
It was a wonder his hand hadn’t been chopped off yet.
“Though, he’s certainly got skill.”
There were some flaws, but was still a fine item.
But since Vulca had proven that a gambling addiction can’t be fixed, it was best not to get involved.
“Still, he’s a rare race on the continent. Isn’t it a shame? Plus, the mine at Embay Forest is still unused.”
“Oh, right. I did promise to let the hermit know if a Dwarf turned up.”
Samantha’s words got Jaeho thinking.
It really was a waste to leave the hermit’s mine unattended.
It was a mine the Dwarves had once used, so the quality of ore there was undoubtedly excellent.
Vulca would surely recognize its value.
If he was locked up there and put to work…?
“Huh? That’s not a bad idea.”
Taking in Vulca was only a problem if it meant bringing him to Elysia Garden.
But Embay Forest was completely independent of Elysia.
Besides, since Demonic Pact creatures lived there, it wasn’t a bad place for someone hiding from creditors.
“Demons… probably love gambling, too.”
The more he thought, the more he liked it…
“This could work.”
Jaeho changed his mind about Vulca.
He had found the perfect place for him!
“Sniffle… Thank you! Truly, you’re the one and only benefactor in my life!”
His tear-and-sweat-matted beard streaked with snot.
Vulca tried to hug Jaeho but was pummeled by the Elves and collapsed in the sand, repeatedly expressing his gratitude.
“I’ll repay my benefactor for life!!”
“Well, thanks for the sentiment, but it’s not decided yet.”
Jaeho’s acceptance of Vulca was conditional.
And the condition was: proof of skill.
Don’t worry! I’ll hit the jackpot and show you what I can do!
“No. I don’t care about your gambling skills. We’ll talk as we go.”
Jaeho led Vulca toward Embay Forest.
***
What Jaeho wanted to confirm through Vulca was his skill as a blacksmith.
And to prove that, he requested the one thing he happened to need: defensive gear.
For use as Golem materials!
Vulca showed great interest when he heard about this.
The idea that his own equipment’s effects would be applied to a Golem piqued his curiosity as a craftsman.
But his curiosity vanished the moment they arrived at Embay Forest.
Though the purification work was ongoing, Embay Forest still had a grim atmosphere.
And, to his horror, even Demons appeared!
“N-no matter how much I ruined my life with gambling, I don’t deserve to go to hell for that!”
“Wh-why did you bring this loud, annoying Dwarf here?!”
Vulca felt uncomfortable, but so did the Demons.
“Why? You guys seem like you’d get along.”
Jaeho nonchalantly introduced them.
“This is Vulca the gambler. And these are the Demons.”
“…… Why us…”
The Demons mumbled in protest at the half-hearted introduction, but Jaeho didn’t even know their names except for the late Sykud.
“You’ll be living here now, so get along.”
“N-no way!”
“What?! You expect us to deal with a Dwarf after all the trouble with the Elves?!”
Both sides protested loudly, but it was futile.
“Or you can try your luck with Gold Tooth.”
“Uhh…”
That one line shut Vulca up.
“Let’s see… Where are the Elves?”
“S-sorry…”
The Demons wilted too.
“Good. Then come with me. There’s someone else you need to meet. Well, not a person, exactly.”
“?”
Jaeho dragged Vulca into the tomb.
“…… Are you trying to bury me alive?”
“If I bury you here, I’ll die too. Just come on.”
So Jaeho led the way into the hermit’s mine and lit a fire.
“?!!”
Vulca’s eyes went wide, and his short legs started moving quickly.
“Th-this is top-grade iron ore?! And that vein over there looks like mithril?!”
He might be a washed-up Dwarf, but he recognized the value of this place instantly.
“This is an incredible natural treasure trove! How did you find a place like this?”
“Just stumbled on it. Do you like it?”
“Like it? With this, I could hit it big…”
“If you try to steal anything, I’ll kill you.”
“And as you saw, the Demons up top are unofficially on our side, too. There’s even a guy guarding this place.”
“Oh, right. There’s someone else you need to meet…”
Kooong—Kooong—
“?”
With heavy footsteps, the hermit appeared!
ㅡ Hey! You there. Do you need blooming flowers?
Vulca’s pupils shook violently.
He’d come here vaguely expecting Jaeho would help him, and now he was starting to regret it.
“Here, I brought your friend.”
ㅡ Hm?! Oh! A Dwarf! You’re so small I almost didn’t see you!
The hermit was delighted and bent over.
His huge eyes were almost as big as a Dwarf.
ㅡ Oooooh!! It’s really a Dwarf! You kept your promise!
“Of course.”
Jaeho patted the petrified Vulca on the shoulder and whispered softly.
“See? It’s best not to think about stealing.”
Nod, nod—
Vulca nodded desperately.
No matter how unhinged he was, he wouldn’t dare try thievery in front of a giant and Demons.
“Hermit!”
ㅡ The mountainside hermit!
“Right, right. By the way, is there a blacksmith forge the Dwarves used in this cave?”
ㅡ Hmph! Over here.
The hermit led Jaeho and Vulca deep into the cave.
Jaeho stopped for a moment when he saw where they arrived.
In a huge space was a hollowed-out pit, with a stream of blazing lava flowing beneath.
But for some reason, the shape seemed oddly familiar…
“Wait, is this… a toilet?”
It looked just like a flush toilet.
ㅡ That’s right. As soon as you go, it melts in the lava, so there’s no smell. It’s great!
Well, considering he’d lived in a cave for ages, it’d be weird if there wasn’t something like this…
“Now that would have been true hell.”
He didn’t even want to imagine that scene.
“Ahem, whatever. Start working here.”
Vulca was horrified by Jaeho’s words.
“You want me to smith in the outhouse?! Who could work properly in a place this disgusting…!”
ㅡ Oh, don’t worry. The Dwarves used to work here all the time. Some even worked with my poop.
“That’s… a bit much…”
It was, after the poop iron wire in Elysia, the most shocking revelation yet.
ㅡ It’s true! There were stones I couldn’t digest. The Dwarves loved those.
In other words, only pure minerals remained after digestion.
“…You heard that?”
Jaeho said to Vulca.
“Anyway, my condition for hiding you is this: prove your skill by making items. Then, at least within Embay Forest, I won’t care what you do.”
“Ugh…! This is too much!”
Vulca cried out.
Sure, being here meant he could escape Gold Tooth’s pursuit, but still…
“This isn’t a place for a Dwarf to live!”
“Hey now, you’ll hurt the hermit’s feelings if he hears you. This was originally a Dwarf mine. The Demons aren’t that bad. Oh! While you’re at it, why not send a letter home? Maybe some Dwarf out there knows about this place?”
“Sniffle…”
“My, you’re weepy. Anyway, I’ll be working over there. Use as much of the ore here as you like. Make as many items as you want.”
Jaeho’s so-called ‘consideration’ sounded very different to Vulca.
‘Just work here forever.’
ㅡ Poor guy.
ㅡ You said it…
Fonda and Dae-wa Jingjing-i, poking only their heads out from Jaeho’s pockets, muttered with sympathy.