The banquet hall of the dwarves is located in the city hall in the center of the city. The simple design of the Yulanka era three hundred years ago makes it not look luxurious, but it has a simple beauty. In the center of the hall hangs a complete flaming lamp. The hanging lamp made of polished sun crystal was so huge that it was scary. Joshua estimated the energy contained in it, but found that it could at least provide sufficient fire element energy for a complete set of magic equipment.
But now, it is only used as a lamp.
This group of dwarves always reminds you inadvertently that they are completely different from their appearance. They are not poor at all. On the contrary, they are very rich.
Shaking his head, the warrior pushed the thought out of his mind.
As the protagonist and distinguished guest of this banquet, Joshua was invited by Moria to sit at the main table, but Joshua politely declined the proposal. After a compromise, the two of them sat at the main table in the center of the hall. Sit down on both sides. The banquet begins after the dwarven band plays their special music.
Many people were invited to this gathering. In addition to various administrative officials, many famous dwarves came here. As the backbone of the Northland dwarf society, most of these people respect Moria as the great forger. This can be seen from their expressions and every move. However, they don't seem to take the warriors seriously, only a little bit. Superficial respect.
The xenophobia of the dwarves is indeed not a myth. Even though Joshua's name and deeds have been spread here, there are still some stubborn people who don't like their nominal lord very much and express disapproval of the warriors.
The food at the banquet was very rich. Although the residents of the North, neither humans nor dwarves, are known for their delicious food, the special food prepared to welcome Joshua this time looked very delicious, whether it was Tyran Sandworm Both bacon and sausages were very delicious. After truly eating these special delicacies that were only available in previous games, even Joshua had a smile on his face.
As the banquet unfolded, the atmosphere became increasingly lively. Of course, since it was a dwarf banquet, the most important thing was naturally not eating, but drinking.
“This is a toast to the earth and the lava!”
A red-bearded dwarf with seven metal rings on his beard came forward. He looked slightly drunk and toasted to Joshua with a huge wine glass.
Dwarves are the sons of the mountains and the earth. They were born from the steel deep underground. Legend has it that in the first thousand years when the initial fire was just ignited, the earliest dwarves appeared around the huge lava lakes underground. They relied on the light of the lava. Here explored deep caves, discovered mineral deposits, got close to the earth, and developed civilization based on this. Therefore, the dwarves would use this congratulation whenever they needed blessings or other names.
"To the earth and to the lava!"
He raised the glass without hesitation and drank it down in one breath. Joshua felt a hint of pungency surge in his throat and stomach. His expression remained unchanged and he smiled.
The beard of the dwarf opposite was trembling in surprise. Joshua didn't seem to know, but he knew that Moria had ordered that the best wine be used for this banquet, in other words, the strongest and strongest wine. The spicy [Earth Fire] series, this is the wine brewed by the dwarves themselves. It is very strong. Except for the dwarves, both elves and humans usually drink it in one glass - even he, an old drunkard, drank it in one go. His face was red, and his eyes were blurred when he looked at people.
But why does the human being in front of him seem so unaffected
And Joshua—to be honest, he felt so good!
"It seems that the dwarves this time are different from weaklings like Brandon and Veldani."
The soldier, who was recalling the hot feeling of strong liquor, thought so, and he couldn't help but nodded: "It's worthy of a battle."
Without using fighting spirit to resist the side effects of alcohol, Joshua drank without hesitation with the dwarves who came to toast. These bearded men who often drank too much could also see that the human lord in front of them was completely Rely on your physical body to resist the side effects of alcohol.
"This drinking capacity should be the best among humans in the past two hundred years."
There was a dwarf nearby who was whispering to his companions, but no matter how low his loud voice was, it was just like that. Everyone who heard it shook their heads, but they also felt the same emotion in their hearts.
"Not only is it the best, God be damned, all the humans in the past two hundred years combined haven't drunk as much as this one!"
Looking with some awe at Joshua, who was still drinking wine not far away, the dwarf couldn't help but touch the steel drill mole beside him, and exclaimed: "You won't get drunk after a thousand cups!"
As the companion of the dwarves, the steel drill mole has the same status as the knight's war horse. Many dwarves eat and sleep with their mole. This is their biggest assistant in life, whether they are digging caves or prospecting for minerals. It, and the mole beside the dwarf also nodded seriously to its master, as if in agreement.
At this time, Joshua, who was clinking glasses and drinking with another dwarf, noticed that the eyes of the dwarves around him changed. From the initial rejection, they gradually turned into a hint of recognition.
He looked around, and the dwarves raised their glasses to show their respect.
Showing a smile, Joshua naturally knew this custom.
Dwarves are addicted to alcohol, but they do not appreciate people who are drunk. As dwarves who are good at casting, design engineering and other industries that require delicate operations, what they admire more than their apparent ability to drink is the ability to drink heavily. Finally, the mind and brain still calmly control their will and body.
Drunk people cannot grasp their own limits, let alone control their own body and will. Such people have no self-awareness and are completely untrustworthy. The more a person drinks but does not get drunk, it means that he is determined, mentally strong, and clearly knows his limits.
And on the side, while Joshua and other dwarves were drinking.
Moria and Claire are talking.
"Claire, I really didn't expect you to come back to the Northland. It's really been a long time since I last saw you."
The expression of the old dwarf showed no trace of joy at the reunion of old friends. Rather, it was complete rejection. He frowned and spat out words through his teeth: "It's a pity that Joshua doesn't know your identity. Otherwise, How could he bring you here!"
"Time is the best antidote. It's been so long. They have long forgotten who I am. Even if they know, they won't remember me like you."
The elf replied calmly to Moria. She didn't seem to mind the hostility revealed by the other party at all: "No one was wrong about what happened back then. Since you chose to abide by your oath, don't be so aggressive."
"If that's the case, why do you want to come back?"
"I just want to come back and see the land they protect..."
Saying these words softly, Claire sighed. The Elf Druid stared at the stubborn eyes of the old dwarf in front of him, and said sincerely: "I spent a hundred years to learn the knowledge of balance, and to distinguish between chaos and chaos. The relationship between order, now I finally understand what kind of terror we were fighting back then, but they have been stationed here, fighting against that power... Compared to this, the contradictions between us are as insignificant as catkins in the wind. .”
The elf said with some emotion: "A hundred years have passed, and human beings have changed three or four generations, and his descendants have grown to a point where they are no worse than you and me... I returned to the North just to clear out the remnants of the power of chaos. By the way, see you. Meeting former friends, that’s all.”
The old dwarf didn't answer. He just drank a glass of wine, then silently turned his head to look at Joshua, who was gradually gaining recognition from the dwarves.
"It was the same way back then. I had such a good drinking capacity..."
He sighed: "His strength has surpassed him. If we had the strength we have now, the result would definitely not be..."
"What's the point of talking about this now?"
The elf who still looks very young said in a leisurely voice: "You are a dwarf and the best blacksmith. You should understand this truth - human inheritance is like Damascus steel. It needs to be beaten repeatedly and forged repeatedly to become stronger. , become stronger, advance like this from generation to generation, and ultimately achieve an immortal legend..."
She raised the wine glass in her hand and smiled.
"This is a banquet to welcome Joshua. Don't always be like this. Come on, let's have a drink."
"… cheers."
I recommend a book, Legacy of the Saint, a game about another world with elements of Dark Souls. It feels pretty good.
(End of chapter)