The Author's POV

KOOOONG—!

Entering the gates, the grandiose door soon closed shut behind us.

"Me name be Elluid Brickpike, an' I'll lead ye ta tha first level."

Following the dwarf from before whose name was Elluid, we walked through a narrow tunnel, that was lit up by multiple bioluminescent plants planted by the side of the walls.

"There be four different levels ta tha city, with each level differentiating by depth. At tha moment we're currently going towards tha first level, where tha main city be located."

Listening to Elluid speak as I looked around, I understood somewhat what he was saying despite his accent.

In short, there were four levels to Henolur.

Each level dwelling more deeply into the mountain.

Currently, we were headed to the first level, around 50 meters below the mountain and where the central city was located.

"From tha second level onwards, everything be aff limits. That be if ye value your lives. "

Below the second level, were where the vault, and working facilities were. Simply put, the temperature below was far too hot for regular beings to go.

Therefore, unless you wore special gear, it was off-limits.

Most of the stuff Elluid was saying, I knew. However, I still paid close attention to what he said as I didn't want to make any mistakes.

If there was one thing I've learned, it was that it was always best to have as much information as possible regarding a new location.

As such, opening my mouth I asked.

"Is that so, by the way, I've been meaning to ask, is there anything I need to be wary of when going to the city? Like the areas I'm not supposed to go, and how I should behave myself?"

"huh? good question."

Elluid's footsteps halted.

Stroking his long ginger beard, Elluid mused before shaking his head.

"Nae, in general, if ye dinna go below tha second level, there will be nae trouble."

—Smack!

Smacking the palm of his hand, Elluid suddenly remembered.

"Ah, right, it's best ta nae wonder too much outside o' tha city, as those pesky tunnelling monsters will give ye a hard time."

Monsters?

'I guess he must be referring to the beasts.'

Just because Henolur was underground, it didn't mean that it was safe from the threat of beasts.

As long as I was in the city, there shouldn't be any problems though.

"...actually there be something else, but it's best if ye dinna know too much."

"Hm?"

Elluid's next statement caused my brows to furrow. Didn't this sound a little too ominous?

Turning around, Elluid's tone became a bit graver.

"Human, it's nae that I dinna want ta tell ye, but it's best if ye dinna know since yer nae strong enough ta know. Had ye been stronger, I might've helped ye."

"...alright, I won't ask."

Squinting, I eventually nodded my head. Elluid smiled in response as he raised his hand and forcefully patted me on the back.

"Great, I'm liking ye more an' more human. "

Or at least tried to, but in the end, he ended up patting my ass.

"Hur, I like dealing with people that understand their limits."

"T-that so."

My mouth twitched, and I took a step forward.

As I stepped forward, I suddenly heard weird noises coming from behind me.

"Pfttt."

I found the others holding onto their

their best to

"...you guys."

"Hehe."

Elluid who was next to me chuckled and eyed me with a

does yer arse

did it

laughing and twirled his bulky hand in the air,

follow me; we're almost

"...I won't forget this."

behind me, I followed Elluid deeper into the

the tunnel, I could see the light coming from

through the end of the tunnel, a bright light instantly clouded my vision, prompting me to cover

light, staring at the scenery presented before me, I was

"Woah."

wasn't the only one that felt that way as the others, too, had

inside the mountain, with small metallic pipes on the top of the hill to allow fresh air and light to seep through to the city below, a vast and bustling city appeared before my

the top of the mountain, forming into a pool in the central square where a massive statue of a dwarf was

that ranged in sizes. However, though they were all different, the

afar, they all looked like structural masterpieces as each infrastructure was

as far as

proudly looked at the

around, he slapped my

trade successfully, with tha money ye make,

"...Sure."

as I

his slap sure packed a

best o'

"Thank you."

back into the tunnel, I let out a sigh before looking at the

fun?

me getting slapped in the ass and thigh really that funny? I couldn't

moment we set foot into the city, it was as though

lights illuminating the place, I could hear the raucous laugh of the

cheerful atmosphere

in the city, making the place look

where should

my shoulder and

find a place

musing for a

"Sure."

Smallsnake nodded in agreement.

everyone was itching to go around the city to have a look, at the moment, the priority was to settle

to better understand the place before deciding

and didn't fuss over

is that

see

to everyone's surprise, Henolur did not only have dwarves roaming the

this beforehand; with Henolur being the place where artifacts were

the elves were a lot better looking than I had expected. Be it male or female; their appearance made me once again realize just how average I

that I

matters worse, I

me for a

couple of important places and directly sold some of

to have some money after

direction of the nearest lodging, we soon arrived in front of a certain

"We're here."

[Rusted Hammer Lodgings]

hung on the wall of the

was only after

was in fact an artifact that would automatically display the

Pretty neat.

"Let's go in."

urged the others to follow me

lady with thick black hair tied into two ponytails, holding

in, turning her head,

a human, haven't seen one in a couple o'

down, she moved towards

for a

that there were

just say that