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“Seriously! This is completely unreasonable!!”

“If it was a request that was somewhat feasible, of course, I would have considered it! But the request you made is impossible! It’s practically a suicide mission!”

The adventurer’s words made the little girl furrow her brows.

“That’s exactly why! If we just make enough preparations, it’s totally possible! Why can’t you believe me?”

“It’s impossible from the get-go! How can a living person cross that blazing desert and face the Divine Flame?!”

At the adventurer’s words, Alice and Eric’s expressions shifted slightly.

“Divine Flame…?”

“You definitely said that, right?”

“Yeah. You did.”

“Can you believe there are others, like us, who are willing to take on that challenge…? What a freak.”

“Yeah, definitely a freak.”

It was astonishing to think a freak would actually want to meet the Ancient God in person.

“Yet, that child only wants to meet the Divine Flame and not try to encounter all six Ancient Gods like us.”

“Right.”

Of course, even just trying to meet the Divine Flame by crossing the blazing desert was generally considered an impossible task… That child was undoubtedly making a reckless attempt.

But these two were planning something at least six times more dangerous than that.

“Look! This! It’s a special cloth designed to block heat! With this and a bit of magic scrolls, I’ve calculated that it is entirely feasible!”

Waving a bizarre cloth, woven with metal threads on one side and cotton fabric on the other, the little girl yelled.

“I’ve even prepared a proper plan! So why can’t we do it?!”

“That’s just your claim. Do you really think putting that cloth on will allow you to cross the scorching desert? Who knows how many monsters are hiding in that crimson sand??”

“I-I can take care of myself!”

“Stop being stubborn and quietly head back home. Don’t throw a tantrum with some bizarre cloth you picked up.”

With that, the veteran adventurer waved his hand dismissively, sending the little girl away before heading somewhere.

Left alone, the little girl mumbled to herself.

“Geez… Why won’t you listen to me! Is it because I’m a dwarf that you’re discriminating against me?!”

She continued to grumble while watching the adventurer’s back.

“Even the mages from Procyon were like this, and the adventurers from Romania weren’t any different! What kind of adventurers don’t go on adventures? They’re just monster hunters at this point!!”

Overcome with frustration, the small girl stomped her feet repeatedly, causing the tavern floor to shake with each thud.

The tavern, built sturdily with bricks and solid wood, shouldn’t be shaking like this; it seemed clearly that, as a dwarf, she possessed strength unmatched for her little body.

“Um…”

“Alice, aren’t you thinking what I’m thinking right now?”

After briefly exchanging glances, Eric and Alice nodded at the same time.

The two who had once ventured together to defeat the Demon King seemed to now share even their thoughts through just their gazes.

“Should I step in then?”

“Yeah. If I talk to them now… they’ll think I’m suspicious.”

Hooded and cloaked, Alice, concealing most of her body, looked quite inconspicuous to anyone else.

If it weren’t for Eric being there, she might have gotten reported for her odd appearance.

“Then… just wait a moment.”

With that, Eric approached the little girl, still steaming with pent-up frustration.

“Just you wait! I will definitely meet the Divine Flame somehow!!!”

“Um…”

“Just like the Dragon Priestess who met the Divine Flame in the past and borrowed some of its power!! I won’t back down either!!”

“Ahem.”

“This is Finna! I will engrave my name deep into history!!!!”

The little girl shouted with unwavering conviction.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Pinrothea Envirgard. The unquenchable flame, Finna.

Among her achievements, there are many to mention, but if I had to choose the most famous, it would undoubtedly be the hero who defeated the Demon King. First and foremost, she was recognized as a companion of the indomitable Eric.

Born as the esteemed daughter of the renowned blacksmith, Grondar Envirgard, who was mentioned among the candidates for the Dwarf Grandmaster, she exhibited strength unlike any typical one-year-old by lifting her father’s blacksmithing hammer during her first birthday celebration.

Having carried around that hammer as if it were a beloved toy, her father, Grondar, had to get a new one. Yet, it was natural that Finna, who grew up with that hammer like a cherished plaything, developed an interest in blacksmithing.

Even before she fully mastered reading, she found joy in hammering heated metal pieces while facing the roaring flames.

For her, the sound of the hammer striking the metal was like a cheerful melody, and the metal pieces reshaping into delightful forms were more entertaining than any toy could offer.

It was only natural for her to become captivated by the flames essential for a blacksmith’s work.

Thus, as a fully recognized blacksmith at such a young age, her first action upon reaching adulthood was to seek out the Divine Flame amidst the scorching desert.

Some claimed she was a deranged dwarf who fell madly for the flames, while others took a hopeful stance on her potential success.

Having completed all the preparations necessary to cross the blazing desert, she set her sights southward toward the distant flame.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

“Do you know the beauty of the flame?”

Eric, who had brought the dwarf girl to the table for some casual conversation, was taken aback when she immediately launched into an unexpected topic upon sitting down.

“The beauty of the flame?”

“Yes. The red, rising flames—dancing and shimmering, imprinting their traces in one’s eyes. The beauty of that flame is akin to a treasure that cannot be replicated by anything!”

With a slightly flushed and excited face, the dwarf girl began to elaborate.

“It’s an undeniable beauty that cannot be imitated by gems, precious metals, or anything at all. I want to etch the most beautiful and magnificent of those flames into my eyes!”

“So, you want to see the Divine Flame?”

“Yes! The flame so powerful that it could be called the Ancient God! I want to see that sacred and holy flame with my own eyes! No, I was surely born to behold that flame! It’s definite!!”

“Uh, yeah…”

Alice could only muster a slightly bewildered expression at how enthusiastic the dwarf girl seemed.

“Anyway! To meet such a Divine Flame! I have to go to the blazing desert! Of course, I thought it would be unreasonable to do it alone, so I tried asking the mages in Procyon for help and even put in requests in Semerium, where many adventurers gather, but… no one wants to take it on?! Seriously! This is bound to be a great adventure! How can adventurers claim to be adventurers and not want to go on an adventure!!!”

Caught up in the storm of the dwarf girl’s words, Alice and Eric could only respond silently, their faces showing amazement.

“Ahem. Anyway, the fact that you approached me after witnessing such a commotion means… you must be somewhat interested in that sort of thing, right?”

“Uh, yeah. Coincidentally, we also had business with the Divine Flame.”

“Really?! Oh my! To think there are people who share my ambition! The dwarves of Sagarmatha turned a blind eye to my talk!”

The dwarf girl spoke with a bright smile.

“Oh! I haven’t introduced myself properly! My name is Pinrothea Envirgard! Please call me Finna!”

“Finna?”

“Yes! Finna! How should I refer to the two of you?”

“I’m Eric, and this is Alice.”

“Eric and Alice! It’s a pleasure to meet you! We should thank the Sacred Mountain Sagarmatha for bringing us together!”

At Finna’s words, Alice tilted her head slightly, puzzled.

“So, while yearning for the Divine Flame, you also worship Sagarmatha?”

“Well? Isn’t that natural for dwarves? Longing is longing, and faith in the Sacred Mountain is as essential as living day to day!”

Finna said this as if it were obvious. Such faith toward the Sacred Mountain Sagarmatha was indeed a given for dwarves.

“And there’s no rule saying you can only worship one God. If such a law existed, most humans would likely only believe in the Goddess of Life.”

Alice flinched at those words.

No, more precisely, I subconsciously reacted to the mention of the Goddess of Life mid-sentence.

“Anyway! If you two are heading to meet the Divine Flame… would it be alright if I joined you?”

“Um. We happen to be looking for companions. But is it really okay to make such an important decision so lightly?”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

Finna seemed genuinely confused by the question, and Eric took a glance around at everyone else.

“Considering we’re suspicious folks planning to meet the Divine Flame, which at first glance sounds like a suicide mission. Is it really okay to decide so easily?”

“Well. That’s… I can make an estimate just by looking at your outfits.”

“Our outfits?”

Alice and Eric exchanged curious glances, and Finna responded dismissively.

“First, Eric. The armor you’re wearing is obviously not ordinary. Honestly, it’s frustrating to say, but I doubt there’s anyone among us dwarves who could craft such armor.”

“Oh, yeah…”

The Agathlam silver armor was indeed a divine item made by the gods themselves. And the Goddess of Life specifically.

“And Alice… the robe you’re wearing looks quite luxurious, almost like elven leather. Honestly, I’m unfamiliar with leathercraft, so I can’t say for sure, but… judging by its unique finishing technique, it looks like it was made from elven specialty leather, so it probably isn’t any regular expensive robe.”

“Is that so?”

Alice, despite wearing the robe herself, tilted her head, seemingly unsure.

Well, isn’t every item Alice possesses of the highest quality?

“Anyway, wearing such extraordinary gear proves that you two are not ordinary adventurers.”

Finna smiled slightly, amazed at her keen observation made at a glance.

 

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