"Even if you have excellent weapons, a true connoisseur can't stand this!"
Somewhere, a roar of anger was heard: "Do you think the Master's Competition is a child's play?"
"Is it only the weapons of war that measure a master? Oh, how long do you plan to continue your hunting and exploration lifestyle!"
"War, war! There's no war! You guys should be more reasonable, you bloodthirsty fools!"
"Even if Lord Rune is a dragon, is it right for a master to recommend weapons to a child who is only ten years old?"
Fists started flying again as the two sides clashed, and Gorban and Wood were busy trying to calm the situation.
The dwarves also chatted among themselves, but having visited both forges, Rune could easily guess which faction's work was which just by looking at the pieces.
'The first one is from the Traditionalists, and the second work is from the Reformists, no doubt.'
However, while the first work was intuitively a 'spear and shield,' the second work's identity was still a mystery.
At that moment, Berdin called out the names of the representative master blacksmiths from each faction.
"Kuan Rubes of the Traditionalists! Quatan Quarters of the Reformists!"
"Now, Lord Rune, please give us an explanation of your work."
Rune, while listening to their explanations, occasionally nodded and touched the pieces, as he had been asked to put on a bit of a show to build excitement. He had been told in advance to choose the ultimate winning piece while doing so.
'The spear and shield from the Traditionalists. Well, even without war, dungeon exploration and monster hunting are still thriving. Moreover, while there are no large-scale wars like a thousand years ago, small-scale territorial battles are still taking place, so they would be very useful.'
The weapons of the Traditionalists were so powerful that they could have been used by a hero, and this aligned well with the ideology of Ferdikion, who believed that strength was necessary to rule.
'But what is the Reformists' item...?'
At that moment, the master blacksmith of the Reformists, Quatan Quarters, spoke.
"Ours is a spirit lamp, or 'Jungdeng.'"
Quatan explained, making eye contact with Rune and the gathered dwarves.
"We refined Ferdikion's scales using the fire of a salamander to create a semi-permanent light!"
'! Did Jede bring the salamander for this?'
Of the ten rubies, five were given to Heumi.
All the other salamanders needed for this work were released.
Rune recalled the story of the first Master's Competition that Ferdikion had told him.
'Although I chose the Traditionalists' weapon, I truly thought the Reformists' "telegraph" was also a great work. It is indeed very useful inside the castle, to the point where it has become a part of daily life.'
Ferdikion had mentioned that he had many concerns at the time and that the items of this Master's Competition would not disappoint.
'Lord Rune. Whatever you choose, if it truly touches your heart, speak up. I will give you anything. It will be a great benefit to me and the dwarves if it helps you.'
While recalling Ferdikion's words, the master blacksmith of the Reformists, Quatan, continued his explanation.
"Furthermore, we used the dark scales of Lord Rune to make the light disappear during the day when sunlight is present. This way, children can obtain light without getting hurt!"
Quatan looked at Rune with a proud smile.
"I have heard both teams' explanations. Now, Lord Rune, please choose the ultimate winning piece."
The crowd fell silent, waiting for Rune's decision.
After a moment of contemplation, Rune spoke.
"Do you remember what I ordered for the final task?"
In front of the calm young boy, the two master blacksmiths answered without hesitation.
"To bring the greatest work."
"The order was to bring the greatest work."
Kuan and Quatan, who gave the same answer, glanced at each other and then back at Rune.
The first to speak was Kuan Rubes, the master blacksmith of the Traditionalists.
"No race has ever been without war. Even a powerful dragon acknowledges the importance of weapons."
Even a mighty Imugi who had lived for 999 years could be killed by a superhuman with a weapon.
"Weapons are necessary to maintain internal order against external greed, to protect and defend the lives of our clan. They have also safeguarded our history and traditions."
Despite Kuan's voice not being loud, its weight made all the dwarves listen intently.
"War is an inescapable destiny for the living. The weapon is always there with us when we face that destiny. Thus, weapons are indeed sacred and great works."
'Powerful weapons are great. Especially if they are crafted by a master.'
Seeing his reaction, Quatan Quarters, the master blacksmith of the Reformists, hurried to speak.
"What! I don't think you're wrong. We are alive because our ancestors shed blood to protect us. But we're not at war now, are we?"
Quatan smiled and looked at Rune.
"We've learned a lot about you, Lord Rune. What you like and what you think. Even the stories of how Ferdikion changed his governance through you."
At this, Rune glanced at Ferdikion.
Ferdikion had only shared his own experiences, so he simply nodded when their eyes met.
"That story was very touching!"
"A dragon race that considers the hearts of those weary from war. I thought this was a clue to create a great invention for Lord Rune!"
'No wonder they kept asking about my tastes and preferences every time I visited.'
The persistent questioning was part of the Reformists' effort to create the most suitable piece for Rune.
"To think that a being born with darkness would grow up in a lair of light and command the fire elementals!"
Quatan slapped his forehead.
"The moment I heard that, I was inspired."
He picked up the translucent, milky white pieces one by one.
A crescent moon, a half moon, a full moon.
And a star-shaped Jungdeng.
"Exactly, the moon and stars that illuminate those who walk in darkness."
Just then, the evening sun, which had been casting a glow, completely set behind the mountain.
As darkness fell and someone asked, "Why aren't the torches lit?" the Reformist dwarves, instead of torches, lit the 'Jungdeng' in various places.
Amid the murmurs, the faint light began to glow more softly and brightly.
The Jungdeng did not flicker like a torch, maintaining a steady brightness even in the wind.
"Now, we will no longer fear the night!"
Everyone present sensed that the moment of decision had arrived.
In front of Rune were the works of both factions.
The spear and shield, weapons that maximize the user's strength.
The Jungdeng, shaped like moons and stars, emitting a semi-permanent light.
There was nothing easy about choosing.
As all eyes were fixed on Rune,
"Both are so outstanding that it's hard to choose a winner. So, I will select both as great works."
To the dwarves, who were all dumbfounded, Rune calmly pointed to both works.
"If I choose only one of you, it would be a great disrespect to your greatness."
"But, this is... a competition!"
Kuan, the solemn blacksmith of the Traditionalists, rarely looked flustered as he shouted.
Quatan of the Reformists also had a similar expression, stammering.
Hearing their protests, Rune blinked innocently.
Rune's puzzled gaze looked at the dwarves.
"Did I ever say I would choose only one?"
"If I eliminate one, I could satisfy the pride of the remaining side. But..."
Rune looked as innocent as a child, with a naive expression.
"Is it the spirit of the dwarves to stand above one of the future or the past by stepping on the other?"
The two master blacksmiths looked as if they had been hit on the head with a hammer.
Rune glanced at Quatan and Kuan, who were gaping with their mouths open.
"I was truly amazed by both masters' ideas and craftsmanship. So, I will choose both as great masters. Congratulations, Kuan Rubes, Quatan Quarters."
Before anyone could react, Rune had already made his decision, collected the winning pieces, and calmly left the stage.
The competition venue remained silent for a while after he left.
Ferdikion, who had been sitting in a separate VIP seat, burst into a hearty laugh.
All the dwarves turned to look at him.
"He's laughing, holding his belly...?"
Seeing the dwarves' shocked expressions, Ferdikion laughed even harder.
"Did everyone hear that! My brother has chosen the winners, so let's announce them!"
Ferdikion, who had been chuckling with his shoulders shaking, shouted.
"The winners of this second Master's Competition are Kuan Rubes of the Traditionalists and Quatan Quarters of the Reformists!"
Instantly, a mix of screams and shouts erupted.
As the confused dwarves remained behind, Rune quietly slipped away, clicking his tongue.
'If they had respected each other from the start, this could have been avoided.'
He then stuffed all the winning pieces he had collected into his subspace bag.
Whether they were shocked and outraged or not, it didn't matter to him.
What was important was that all the "great" works from the <Master's Competition> were now his.
'Why did they insist on choosing only one correct answer? If both are good, you should take both.'
Rune felt a bit sorry for them.
But he understood the situation.
The competition between the Reformists and the Traditionalists was more complex than it seemed.
Until now, the mainstay of dwarven culture had been the 'Traditionalists.'
Thus, Ferdikion, considering the purpose of the competition and public opinion, had favored the Traditionalists in the first Master's Competition.
In return, he introduced the Reformists' invention, the 'telegraph,' into the castle, purchasing it to support them financially and integrating their methods into daily life.
He must have been waiting for the moment when all dwarves would accept the telegraph as a part of their daily lives, having become accustomed to its convenience and usefulness.
Rune nodded, understanding both the foolishness of the dwarves and the shrewdness of Ferdikion.
'Ferdikion. If I hadn't been here, he probably would have favored the Traditionalists a few more times. On the other hand, he would have supported the Reformists practically. Then, when the Reformists produced a significant work, he would have let them come to the forefront.'
He must have maintained a balance over a long period, watching the trends and timing.
Having resolved it all at once, Rune must have made Ferdikion feel very relieved.
'Well, this is the first time I've seen it. I didn't know Ferdikion could laugh like that.'
Even Berdin, who had been standing nearby, seemed very surprised, judging by his wide eyes.
Rune sensed that the relationship between Ferdikion and the dwarves would change from now on.
The noisy night quickly passed.
Some threw their equipment and cursed, others refused to accept the joint victory and stubbornly critiqued each other's works.
And some dwarves had thoughtful expressions.
They would likely continue to argue that their work was better, but once the commotion subsided and they returned to their daily lives, someone would choose a new path.
"For the final performance, let's end the competition with Blackmi's 'Dance with the Spirits'!"
Suddenly, the torches were replaced by the Reformist dwarves' moon and star-shaped wands, which were waved in a group.
Blackmi, accompanied by a group of salamanders, performed a very lively and splendid dance.
In addition, a grand feast was prepared.
The night of the <Master's Competition> deepened as the dwarves enjoyed the food and drinks, relieving their fatigue from the hard work.
As usual, Rune, who was banned from drinking, went to meet the mermaid before he could be tempted.
Arriving at the boundary of water after passing through the mana channel, the mermaid poked her head out from behind a rock as if she had been waiting.
Bakya flapped her wings happily first, and Amelia shyly smiled and waved.
[Hi, h...hello. ...Bakya, Rune.]
Her voice was a bit shaky, but she seemed to be trying to muster the courage, not avoiding eye contact despite her trembling shoulders.
'You should reward a child who is making an effort.'
Rune opened his leather bag and pushed a few 'Jungdeng' into the water.
"I got something interesting today."
Without needing to infuse mana, the semi-permanently glowing and twinkling objects were also fascinating to Amelia.