Chapter 28: Better Than Beer
The dwarves' banquet hall was located in the city hall at the center of the city. Its simple design from the Seranka era three hundred years ago made it appear unadorned yet possessed a rustic beauty. Hanging from the center of the hall was a chandelier crafted from a single complete Sun Crystal, so massive it was almost terrifying. Joshua mentally estimated the energy contained within it and realized that this single item could provide enough fire elemental energy to power an entire regiment's worth of mana-powered machinery.
But now, it was merely being used as a lamp.
These dwarves always found ways to remind you, in the most casual manner, that they were nothing like their outward appearance suggested—they weren't poor at all; in fact, they were incredibly wealthy.
Shaking his head, the warrior dismissed this thought from his mind.
As the guest of honor and the central figure of this banquet, Joshua was invited by Moria to sit at the head of the main table. However, Joshua politely declined this proposal. As a compromise, the two of them sat at opposite ends of the main table in the center of the hall. After the dwarven band struck up their unique music, the banquet began.
The gathering had invited quite a number of people. Aside from various administrative officials, many prominent dwarves had also come. As the backbone of Northern Dwarf society, most of these individuals held great respect for Moria, the Grand Forgemaster. This was evident from their expressions and every gesture. However, they didn't seem to take the warrior seriously, offering only a semblance of formal respect.
The dwarves' reputation for being exclusionary was no rumor. Even though Joshua's name and deeds had already spread here, some stubborn individuals still weren't fond of their nominal lord and showed their disdain for the warrior.
The food at the banquet was lavish. Although the residents of the Northern Lands—whether human or dwarf—were not known for their culinary prowess, the specialty dishes prepared to welcome Joshua looked exceptionally delicious. Whether it was the Telan Sandworm Smoked Meat or the small sausages, they were all incredibly flavorful. After actually tasting these specialty delicacies that had only existed in games from his past life, even Joshua's face carried a hint of a smile.
As the banquet progressed, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. Of course, since this was a dwarven banquet, the most important thing wasn't eating—it was drinking.
"This toast is to the Earth and the Lava!"
A red-bearded dwarf with seven metal rings braided into his beard stepped forward. He looked slightly tipsy, raising a massive goblet to toast Joshua.
Dwarves were children of the mountains and the earth, born from the steel deep underground. Legend had it that in the first millennium after the First Flame was kindled, the earliest dwarves appeared around the great lava lakes deep beneath the surface. Using the light and heat of the lava, they explored the deep caverns, discovered mineral deposits, grew close to the earth, and developed their civilization based on this foundation. Thus, whenever blessings or other formalities were needed, dwarves would use this toast.
"To the Earth and the Lava!"
Without hesitation, Joshua raised his own goblet and downed it in one gulp. He felt a hint of spiciness surge through his throat and stomach, but his expression remained unchanged as he smiled in acknowledgment.
The dwarf opposite him was so astonished that his beard trembled. Joshua might not know, but he certainly did—Moria had ordered that the best wine be used for this banquet. In other words, that meant the strongest and most fiery [Earthfire] series. This was a brew made by the dwarves themselves, incredibly potent. Aside from dwarves, whether elves or humans, one cup was usually enough to knock them out—even an old drunkard like him would have a flushed face and see afterimages after downing a full goblet in one go.
But this human before him—how did he seem completely unaffected?
As for Joshua—honestly, he felt great!
"It seems these dwarves are different from weaklings like Brandon and Verdani."
The warrior thought to himself as he savored the fiery sensation of the strong liquor, nodding involuntarily. "Worthy of a challenge."
Without using battle qi to counteract the alcohol's effects, Joshua unhesitatingly drank with every dwarf who came to toast him. These often-inebriated bearded fellows could also tell that this human lord was relying purely on his physical body to resist the alcohol's side effects.
"This must be the best alcohol tolerance among humans in the past two hundred years."
A nearby dwarf was whispering to his companion, but even at his lowest volume, his loud voice carried. Those around them shook their heads, though they shared the same sentiment inwardly.
"Not just the best—by the gods above, all the humans of the past two centuries combined couldn't drink as much as this one!"
Somewhat awestruck, another dwarf glanced at Joshua, who was still chugging nearby, and couldn't help but pat the Steel Drill Mole beside him, exclaiming in admiration, "A thousand cups without getting drunk!"
The Steel Drill Mole, as a dwarf's companion, held a status equivalent to a knight's warhorse. Many dwarves ate and slept alongside their moles. These creatures were their greatest assistants in life, relied upon for digging tunnels, prospecting, and scouting. The mole beside this dwarf nodded solemnly at its master, as if in agreement.
At that moment, Joshua, who was clinking glasses with another dwarf, noticed that the expressions of the dwarves around him had changed. From initial rejection, they gradually shifted to a hint of acceptance.
He scanned the room, and the dwarves raised their goblets in respect.
A smile crept onto Joshua's face. He was naturally aware of this custom.
Dwarves loved alcohol, but they didn't appreciate those who got completely wasted. As a race skilled in crafts requiring fine manipulation—such as forging, engineering design, and the like—dwarves admired not so much the surface-level capacity for drink, but rather the spirit and mind capable of maintaining calm control over one's will and body even after heavy drinking.
A drunk person couldn't even grasp their own limits, let alone control their body and will. Such people lacked self-awareness and were utterly untrustworthy. The more one drank without getting drunk, the more it signified a firm will, a resilient spirit, and a clear understanding of one's own limits.
Meanwhile, off to the side, while Joshua was drinking heartily with the other dwarves.
Moria and Claire were conversing.
"Claire, I never imagined you'd return to the Northern Lands one day. It's truly been a long time."
The old dwarf's expression showed no trace of joy at reuniting with an old friend; rather, it was entirely one of rejection. His brow furrowed as he spat out the words through clenched teeth: "It's a good thing Joshua doesn't know your identity. Otherwise, how could he have brought you here!"
"Time is the best antidote. So much has passed that they've long forgotten who I am. Even if they knew, they wouldn't cling to it the way you do."
The elf replied calmly to Moria, seemingly unconcerned by the hostility he was projecting. "No one was wrong back then. Since you chose to keep your oath, don't be so aggressive."
"If that's the case, then why did you come back?"
"I just wanted to return and see the land they've been guarding..."
Saying this softly, Claire sighed. The elf druid gazed into the stubborn eyes of the old dwarf before her and spoke sincerely, "I spent a hundred years learning the knowledge of balance, discerning the relationship between chaos and order. Now I finally understand the terror we were up against back then. Yet they have remained here all along, resisting that power... Compared to that, our conflicts are as insignificant as willow catkins in the wind."
The elf added with some emotion, "A hundred years have passed. Humans have gone through three or four generations. His descendants have grown to a level no less than yours or mine... I returned to the Northern Lands merely to cleanse the remnants of chaotic power and, incidentally, to see old friends. That's all."
The old dwarf didn't reply. He simply downed a cup of wine, then turned his head in silence to look at Joshua, who was gradually gaining the dwarves' acceptance.
"It was the same back then. Such good alcohol tolerance..."
He sighed. "His strength has already surpassed his. If we had possessed this level of power back then, the outcome certainly wouldn't have..."
"What meaning is there in saying this now?"
The elf, who still appeared very young, spoke in a leisurely tone. "You are a dwarf, the best blacksmith. You should understand this principle—human inheritance is like Damascus steel. It requires repeated hammering and forging to become harder and stronger. Generation after generation advances like this, ultimately achieving an immortal legend..."
She raised her goblet and offered a smile.
"This is a banquet to welcome Joshua. Don't be like this. Come on, let's have a toast."
"...Cheers."
(To be continued.)