NOVEL NEXT Volume 6 Chapter 21: Chuck Side of Thing
Volume 6 Chapter 21: Chuck Side of Thing
A few days after Walson and Belle sent off Zakarina, the Silverfish that reincarnated into this world and became the [Vassal of The Earth], a girl who went to intercept the mad Hero King.
On Chuck's side of things.
Early in the morning, Chuck received unexpected news that made him rush to the military camp without even tidying his clothes.
As soon as he entered the camp, he was greeted by a cacophony of shouts and groans. Rubble and dust filled the air, and many heavily injured soldiers were being carried on stretchers to the medical unit.
Just like the last time at the stone betting event with the red [Steam Motion Armor], this time the damage was caused by military-grade combat [Steam Motion Armor]!
Military-grade [Steam Motion Armor] is the pinnacle of the Dwarven Empire Technology. The consequences of it falling into the hands of criminals are too dire to imagine!
Chuck ran through the inferno-like ruined camp to the most severely damaged area, where he saw a scene he dreaded the most.
The dark blue [Azure Queen], a proud creation of the top graduate of the research academy, lay twisted and motionless on the ground. Its chest plate was deeply dented, and it's right arm was missing, looking as pathetic as it could be.
"Leica! Leica!" Chuck, panicked, rushed over, pushing aside the Dwarven soldiers around him and climbing onto the wrecked [Azure Queen]. He grabbed a nearby iron bar and tried to pry open the chest plate.
However, the chest plate was badly deformed from a strong impact, and no matter how hard Chuck tried, it was futile.
"Leica–no–I can't lose you–" Chuck was near collapse.
"Hey, Prince Chuck, how long are you going to mourn over [Azure Queen] before coming down to see me?" A cold voice suddenly interrupted.
Chuck turned around in surprise and saw Leica, covered in dust, looking at him coldly.
"Leica!" Chuck practically leaped towards Leica.
"Hey, hey, what are you doing? Prince Chuck, we're outside."
Leica dodged Chuck's leap.
"Then let's go somewhere private." Chuck, who had landed face-first, got up with a grin.
It seemed that with the weight lifted from his heart, he reverted to his usual carefree self.
"Prince Chuck, from a normal social perspective, your behavior is that of a hooligan."
Leica pouted, the slight touch of emotion she felt moments ago vanishing instantly.
"Even if I'm a hooligan, I'm Leica's hooligan."
"... This is the time for serious matters. The King has already sent a message that he will come personally with the royal guards to take over here. Before that, I think you should tidy up your appearance."
"Uh, Father is coming?"
"Yes, Prince Chuck, as you mentioned, it's been ten years. It's time to face some things properly."
"...It feels like I'll have to be very careful with my words from now on, or Leica will catch me out every time."
"Don't worry, Prince Chuck. If we're going to get married, you'll have to pass His Majesty's test sooner or later." Leica said, her tone carrying a subtle confidence, showing no concern about facing any obstacles.
"Huh? Leica, are you proposing—mmph!" Before Chuck could finish his sentence, Leica pinched his cheeks, turning his face into a funny fish-like expression.
"Go change your clothes, Prince Chuck, and don't make me repeat myself." Leica glared at Chuck.
Chuck obediently closed his mouth, suddenly understanding a bit more about how Walson dealt with his fiancées.
Girls are really something else.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Jokes aside, the light-hearted atmosphere turned serious as soon as the true ruler of this Dwarven Empire arrived.
Serious, and awkward.
In a room prepared for private conversation, Chuck stood tall, facing the man in front of him with his hands behind his back, palms slightly sweating.
"Ten years, and you finally returned." The man broke the silence first.
His hair, tied in a small ponytail, was already graying. His deep-set features showed the marks of time, but the muscular arms exposed by his purple-black ethnic cloak showed no signs of weakness.
With a robust build and deep eyes that held a flicker of fiery light, the man was full of vigor despite his age. His regal aura, paired with the amethyst crown on his head, made him tower over Chuck, even though he was shorter.
This was the King, Chuck's father, the ruler of the underground Dwarven Empire.
"Yes, Father, I have returned." Chuck said, almost instinctively changing his tone.
"Hmm, and at such a convenient time. With these strange riots happening, from the reports I've seen, there's no clue how they started." The Dwarf King spoke with a cold tone.
"...These incidents have nothing to do with me."
"And how can you prove that?"
"I would never intentionally endanger my fiancée." Chuck said, glancing at Leica standing behind him.
She stood there, head bowed, saying nothing.
"...Enough. Let's set that aside for now." The Dwarf King snorted, turning to the window to look at the purple sun. "Chuck, you still haven't given up on defying tradition, have you?"
Chuck's heart tightened; this was the real issue.
"I have never given up." Chuck said, keeping his tone steady despite his anxiety. "A nation that survives on lies and imprisonment has no future."
This was the wish of his late lover, the one that no one understood until her death.
The Dwarven Empire should never have been just the "Empire of Noble Dwarfs"; it should be the "Empire of All Dwarfs."
After forging his own emblem and venturing into the world above, Chuck witnessed firsthand how underdeveloped the common Dwarfs were. They were even misunderstood by other races as nothing more than a nation of blacksmiths, a nation composed entirely of [Villagers].
The Dwarfs never left Mahamatra not out of devotion to tradition or lack of technology, but likely to avoid enslavement.
The Dwarfs should not be shackled by such discrimination. We should have emerged long ago.
The Dwarf King remained silent.
Chuck realized that he had spoken his thoughts out loud.
Leica stayed still, but her body trembled slightly when she heard her sister's name.
Creating a Steam Motion Armor that didn't require a [Thermodynamic Core], one that any ordinary Dwarf could operate, was her dream, but she died without realizing it.
"I told you, this is to protect our people," the Dwarf King said.
"Are we protecting them, or are we simply just running away?" Chuck retorted.
Since he had already spoken his tough out loud, there was no point in holding back.
"Chuck, you sound just like your uncle," the Dwarf King said coldly.
Years ago, his brother had spoken the same foolish words.
He had fled [Dying Steel Citadel] with their technology, causing some of the [Thermodynamic Core] technology to leak. The above-ground Dwarf' use of some crude technologies today was a result of that.
The consequence was the greedy invasion by outsiders 300 years ago, which was only quelled by deploying the [Guardian Mechs].
As for that traitor, he vanished without a trace, dead or alive, no one knew.
He never thought his own son would walk the same path.
"I believe Uncle was right. The above-ground Dwarfs are our kin to protect. We must emerge, no longer hiding from the world—"
"Enough!" the Dwarf King roared, cutting Chuck off.
"Father!"
"Captain Leica, arrest this man and search his house thoroughly! I suspect this traitor of treason!" the Dwarf King commanded in fury.