Chapter 39: Iron Mine (4)
“If it's the Luney family... I've heard of them.
They own a high-quality iron mine.”
To the dwarf Tulgram, the first thing that came to mind when hearing the Luney family name was their iron mine.
Of course, he knew almost nothing else about them.
Still, there was one more thing he remembered.
Tulgram looked at Mitchell and Grant before speaking.
“Come to think of it, I've heard that the merchants of the Luney family are very honest and righteous people.
Thank you for saving me.
I am Tulgram, chief of the Thunderrock Tribe.”
“Chief?”
The dwarves were extremely isolated, so neither of them knew much about the Thunderrock Tribe.
But they did understand what it meant for a dwarf chief to be imprisoned.
Mitchell stared at Tulgram in shock.
“Don't tell me... the entire tribe was kidnapped?”
“That's right.
The Braxton family of the North committed that filthy act.”
The moment Grant heard the name Braxton, he nearly jumped.
After the downfall of the Luney family, three new families had risen in the North.
Though they were nowhere near Luney's former glory, the Braxton, Winslow, and Ashton families had grown powerful by dividing among themselves the businesses and mines that Luney had been forced to sell during difficult times.
And now one of those families, Braxton, had kidnapped dwarves.
“Damn it!
That means those bastards are Braxton warriors.
Mitchell, let's head back immediately.
We need to report this to the family as quickly as possible.”
The moment Grant finished speaking, the dark forest became noisy.
When they turned around, they saw countless torches moving along the ridge below.
“Looks like we've been discovered.
Grant, carry Chief Tulgram and run.”
“Got it.
Chief, climb onto my back.”
Understanding how serious the situation was, Tulgram climbed onto Grant's back without complaint.
The group immediately set off.
However, Mitchell didn't return by the path they had originally taken.
Instead, he headed somewhere else.
“Mitchell, where are we going?”
“Trying to create some confusion.
Since they erased their tracks earlier, I think someone among them knows tracking techniques.”
[Oh ho? You've thought that far ahead.
Good.
If you simply run, they'll catch you quickly.
It would be even better if they never realize that you were the ones who took the dwarf away... Doesn't that sound interesting?]
Hearing Kalian's teasing words, Mitchell nodded repeatedly while running.
Kalian burst into laughter at Mitchell's desperate reaction.
[Hehehe!
Now that's a much more entertaining response.]
After laughing for a while, Kalian suddenly gave an order.
[Don't bother erasing your tracks.
It's obvious that someone escaped, and hiding the tracks would only make them suspicious.
Instead, change direction toward the cliff.]
“The cliff?”
[There's no time, so I'll keep it simple.
We're going to make them think that two unknown people secretly fled with the dwarf and fell to their deaths off the cliff.
The moon is hidden behind the clouds as well.
Perfect conditions for an accidental fall.]
“Ah...”
[So stop questioning me and do exactly as I say from now on.]
Mitchell nodded and followed Kalian's instructions.
Before long, they arrived at a cliff.
The sound of rushing water echoed below.
ROOOAR—!
A violent river flowed beneath.
Anyone swallowed by those waters would leave no trace behind.
Still, Mitchell wasn't sure whether this plan could truly fool their enemies.
“Will this really work?”
[Tsk, tsk.
You still don't trust your master.
Let me teach you something.
A skilled tracker believes only what he sees.
Even if he has doubts, solid evidence forces him to accept the conclusion.
Do you understand?]
No.
Not at all.
Seeing Mitchell's confused expression, Kalian clicked his tongue and simply said:
[Go down there.]
“...You want us to jump?”
Mitchell looked down the cliff.
The height was terrifying enough already.
The darkness made it even worse.
As Mitchell instinctively stepped back, Kalian frowned.
[Do you have a death wish?
If you jump from there, none of you will survive.
Climb down slowly.
You can erase your traces as you go.]
Only then did Mitchell understand.
He quickly explained the plan to Grant and Tulgram.
“T-There?
No way.
One mistake and we'll really die.
And Chief Tulgram has short arms and legs.
Right, Chief?”
“That's true... but we have no choice.
I'll follow your plan.”
Grant had hoped Tulgram would object, but the dwarf chief simply accepted it.
With a sigh, Grant followed as well.
Thus began their reverse climb through pitch-black darkness.
As Mitchell had instructed beforehand, they carefully rubbed away every handhold and foothold they used while descending.
[The winds are strong here.
That alone will erase most signs quickly.
Just don't rub too hard, or the marks may remain longer.]
Following Kalian's guidance, they descended carefully while avoiding creating additional traces.
Occasionally they snapped tree branches to make it appear as though someone had collided with them during a fall.
Everything was done according to Kalian's instructions.
Mitchell was far below the others, checking footholds before they descended.
Looking upward, he could clearly see the two above him.
Chief Tulgram's physical abilities are incredible.
Must be because he's a dwarf.
Instead of Aura Holes, dwarves absorbed the energy of nature throughout their entire bodies.
Because of that unique trait, their physical capabilities were extraordinary.
Everything was proceeding smoothly.
Less than half the cliff remained.
They only needed to endure a little longer.
Just as Mitchell began to relax—
“Ah! Ah!”
Grant, who was descending last, suddenly shouted.
Mitchell immediately looked up.
The stone Grant was holding came loose.
Mitchell tilted his head and avoided the falling rock.
But Grant had already lost his balance and was falling backward.
“Grab my hand!”
Tulgram stretched out his arm toward the falling Grant.
Clack!
Their rough, calloused hands locked together.
The problem was that Tulgram himself was barely hanging onto a tiny stone no larger than a finger joint.
Soon, Tulgram began to lose balance as well.
Watching from below, Mitchell quickly hooked his legs around a nearby tree.
The branch was thick, but not thick enough to support two grown men.
Even so, I can slow them down!
Mitchell grabbed the two accelerating bodies and reduced their speed.
The impact snapped the branch.
And Mitchell himself was thrown from the cliff.
Moments later—
SPLASH!
The sound of heavy bodies crashing into the river echoed through the night.
