A group of men sat around in a ruined building laughing and joking with each other. From one glance they are a bunch of ruffians making a game of the objects in this place. If one studies closely, they will discover that although the building is run down, everything is brand new.

They laughed and played, throwing a ball to each other.

Between them a slightly taller man ran around madly, trying to grab the ball with his mouth while the others cheered. His hands are tied behind his back, his long beard matted with froth as his eyes revealed a deep hatred, still he did not stop running at the ball. If he did, everything is over.

This slightly taller person is a stocky and robust dwarf while those playing with him are gnomes with sharp noses, beady eyes and red lips.

The ball they are throwing is a tied up bundle of clothes. From the size, it is more than a single person’s clothing.

At the corner in this place, a group of dwarves are huddled up. At the very back are a few girls wearing only their undergarments.

During the past few days, the dwarves’ renovation work had been disrupted countless times by these gnomish ruffians but they had never acted in violence until today. In fact, the gnomes were acting according to orders passed down to them from above. How high above, none of them know.

They only understand that they are not to touch their dwarven cousins and so they merely tried to stall the renovations, but this morning when Kairos returned to the city, their orders were changed to force the lad out.

What better way to lure someone than to hurt what he has?

Of course, if they could attack things more precious to Kairos they would. That lad – a summoned hero – is not rooted in this world like others are, and King Hogard only need to focus on protecting Relestia, Leo, and Linda from harm.

Edgar and the other master craftsmen are naturally difficult to target; their status meant that they must be able to protect themselves from frequent kidnapping attempts.

The gnomes are still laughing at him when they saw someone walked in.

A young punk that acted frivolously, dressed colourfully.

He came over, his upper body tensed and aggressive, screaming silently, ‘quickly look at me!’

His arms are lifted like he is hiding eggs underneath that will be crushed if he walked like a normal person. His strides were long and exaggerated as if challenging anyone who dare to cross his path. Because this person is a human, although he is not particularly tall, he towers above the gnomes and dwarfs.

“Ha ha ha! What fun you chap are having. Why not save a spot for moi~”

The gnomes frowned at the young chap then immediately jumped up where they stood and walked over.

“Young lord,” they greeted.

Their uniform response betrayed the fact that they are not mere ruffians but had military training.

The punk looked at them distastefully.

He - the son of a High King – have people bowing and scraping wherever he went and yet these gnomes merely greeted him without the slightest incline to bend their back for him.

He quietly recorded their obtrusiveness in his heart.

He waved them off generously and said, “There is no need for courtesy, we are all allied in this. Has the target not yet reach?”

The gnomes had been torturing these dwarves for a few hours already. By now news of what is happening should have reached King Hogard’s ears and passed on to Kairos.

When the human asked, the gnomes finally noticed how it is strange to have no one stopping them after such a long time.

They shook their head, their faces obviously puzzled.

…..

At this time in the stronghold where the dwarven king resides, a bunch of frightened courtiers are standing quietly before Hogard’s throne. They had not seen their king this furious for many decades and none even dared to breathe loudly in fear they will draw attention.

The king lightly tapped his armrest.

“How many gnomes are running a mock in my city right now?”

A wobbly old dwarf took a step forward. Unlike the others he is unbalanced by age instead of fear.

“My king, our streets are overran with those vermin, we should mobilise our guards and remove them by force.”

It was the answer Hogard wanted to hear. Spending a few hundred years in his majesty’s courts, this wobbly old dwarf can navigate smoothly through any situation in front of the king.

Hogard tapped on his armrest listlessly as if he had not heard the old dwarf’s words.

“My king, the gnomes have immunity in our city. We risk a great battle with our cousins if we intervene.”

Someone else has stepped up and spoke of the opposite thing that the king wanted to hear. This person is an experienced courtier as well, but chosen to speak in favour of what should be the concerns of a monarch.

Because of this, even though it is against the king’s will, he has displayed commendable loyalty… perhaps greater than the previous courtier.

To these people, the solution is secondary, winning Hogard’s favour will always be first place.

However, the dwarven king continued tapping his armrest with a finger.

Both their suggestions are not the things he wanted.

The two courtiers had set the stage for everyone to know what the king wants and what is restraining him.

As delay drawn longer, the courtiers looked nervously at their king while desperately tried to think up an answer.

Hogard frown.

He had decided an answer long ago.

When he called Kairos over for an audience, he had already determined to give the lad a brewery and a few shops.

As a king, he is fully aware the repercussions that will follow from the gnomes that had monopolised alcohol trading.

If possible, the dwarf king would not want to clash with their gnomish cousins.

However, one thing changed his thoughts and set the course for all this: the summoned heroes.

When the otherworld travellers appeared, every country and race was looking carefully.

Even the elf king Veritus knew that a party of heroes were summoned to kill him.

Yet, none of the nations acted against the human jarls. There was no threats givens, no mobilisation of the army against the summoners. It was as though they were not afraid that the humans will groom these talented heroes and set them upon the other races of Axis Mundi.

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The reason for this is because, the heroes are not as strong as the Jarls claimed – only the gullible otherworld travellers that came from a peaceful world would fall for the idea that only they could save the world.

It wasn’t the first time that heroes were summoned, and likely it wouldn’t be the last time. Which of those heroes helped the humans conquer Axis Mundi?

Although no country moved against the summoned heroes, a few gathered for the two heroes who escaped, Kairos and Relestia.

The gnomes may have acted out of greed but they are one of the dominant races. Besides that, a strong family of royal elves that supported the removal of king Veritus joined the play.

Moreover, nearly half of all the human jarls participated this time. The human race should be the strongest race if not for their constant in-fighting…

For this three parties to mobilise for a pair of younglings, as expected, every country started to take action.

However, one particular race is far more nervous than the rest… the dwarves.

It is because their cousins, the gnomes, are involved, yet they were not invited.

The elves, gnomes, and humans involved in the partnership claimed that the dwarven race are stupidly honest and unsuited for their plans, but is any dominant race simple and foolish?

Their race is endowed with the gifts of physical strength, robustness, and sturdiness.

But pure brutes are not capable of becoming a major race. Those that only know how to fight but are easily manipulated will lose everything they have to those who may be frail yet are good at scheming.

The dwarves are indeed honest, straightforward, and stubborn, but those qualities come with age-old wisdom and might.

The dwarf king suddenly stopped tapping his armrest and spoke, “I want to support Kairos and his party as much as possible. The two heroes that everyone wants, if we can win them over, we will have two very powerful generals.”

Everyone remained quiet, knowing that the king isn’t quite finished. If the dwarven king wanted, the disturbance in the city would’ve already been resolved. Most likely, Hogard stilled his hand because he was unable to determine the value of the two heroes.

If it was before meeting Kairos, King Hogard will undoubtedly not give a second thought to prioritise the dwarves.

But after seeing what he is capable of, Hogard hesitated, and it is all because of three words: Ancient Dwarven Scrolls.

The lad Kairos can restore them to usable state and from them, the dwarven kingdom is expected to have unprecedented advances. Money, military strength, and power.

To even have a slight upgrade on forging techniques meant rapid improvements, furthermore Kairos mentioned that the five scrolls are originally one. This means that the improvement to their weapons and armours would not small.

Just thinking of an item that is made with the knowledge of all five scrolls made Hogard shudder with fear and excitement.

The king knows better than most what value these treasures hold for the dwarven.

However, are the scrolls worth challenging the gnomes, a royal house of elves, and nearly half of the human jarls?

The answer is no.

An unknown future awaits, whether the king picked the scrolls and go to war or choose to lower his head for peace.

Either choices could lead down to destruction, the difference is perhaps only how long it will take.

Originally, Hogard leans towards peace although it meant giving up on some privileges and eventually causing the dwarves to lose their position as a dominant race; as a wise king he is certain of this fate if they bow their heads down even once.

This is the slow path that brings ruin.

Picking to go to war is even more dangerous, but along with the risk there is a great reward to begotten.

If the ancient scrolls are really wondrous as he estimates – even if Kairos only completed one out of the five parts – the dwarves could still use it to slowdown or even overturn deterioration.

But, as the king of his race, Hogard cannot gamble the lives of his citizens on chance. Therefore, he needs to know what the lad is capable of.

While his court is quietly thinking, Hogard is awaiting. He had called them here not to hear a solution from their mouths but to get an answer from Kairos.

The lad’s companions and teachers are well protected, thus the only vulnerable thing belonging to Kairos would be the shops and brewery.

Those are gifts from the dwarves, and the renovation team are people sent by goodwill.

Kairos’ response to the gnomes trampling on these gifts is a test set by the king of dwarves for the lad.

That is why his courtiers cannot give the answer the king wants, only Kairos can.

If the lad does nothing, then the king will make the decision. If he chooses to fight head on and lost, then he isn’t worth investing in.

If he does not even know what happened or do not care, then neither should the king of dwarf place his bets on such a person.

But, if Kairos is truly the person King Hogard imagines, then – even if it is to put on a show – the king and his courtiers must show their willingness to back Kairos up.

That is why everyone is summoned to the audience hall and thinking of a solution.

As for the reason the dwarven king believed that Kairos is a capable person… which youngster can interpret and simplify ancient scrolls.

The scrolls might be valuable, but such a person will be invaluable.

Thus Hogard will wait.

The kingdom’s future now rests upon the young man’s shoulders.

…..

In Kairos’ shop that should have finished its renovation by now, the group of gnomes that halted the work stared silently in quiet thought.

Did their plans to lure out Kairos fail?

Or perhaps, they didn’t do enough?

The young man noticed they know nothing had a look of distain cross his face but he quickly hid it away. Despite how much he look down on these midgets, his position in the family is at stake and he must work with them. In his family, he is neither scholarly like his little brother nor good with the sword like his older brother.

However, there is one thing he has that none other can compete with him – his willingness to do whatever it takes to get things done.

Putting up with their incompetence, the lad said, “In that case, we should bring out the merchant’s girl.”

“What merchant’s girl?” someone asked.

This brainless question immediately caused the young man’s face to light up in rage. Even though he tried suppressing his temper once again, it seeped into his voice as he replied, “Of course it is the lass that travelled with Kairos to this city! Didn’t you know that she was saved by him once? Surely if something happened to her, he will come to her aid again.”

The only thing he left out was to question which fool dared to raise such a question. Didn’t everyone studied the target’s files before this mission?

The young man did not notice that as he was spraying spittle at the gnomes in anger, those gnomes had turned pale and were looking behind his back.

The person who asked that ‘foolish question’ spoke again, “The king wanted to see what I can do and left you guys to your own devices. I’m sure that if you guys limited yourself to non-violent acts, he will take no action. Unfortunately, kidnapping is a violent act.”

“What the HELL are you saying? Which king…”

The young man roared. His temper no longer kept in check after the multiple provocations.

But mid-way… even a fool will realise something is off.

This young man stopped his words when he finally noticed no one in front of him was moving. They seemed to be even holding their breath.

“There’s someone behind me isn’t it? Did he come?”

What answered him was a single, downwards, punch.

The young man that wanted to prove to his father and win against his brothers flew head first into the floor.

No one can see his face anymore because it is buried. They do not have to, hearing the terrible crack of his skull. The young man is done for from a single hit.

There wasn’t a back and forth with words. No one had time to ask questions or to throw threats around.

They did not even prepare to fight, and the overseer of their operation is now taken out.

“Huff, my body is in terrible condition. I guess I should stick to less exhausting means.”

Exhausting my foot!

This is the common thought of everyone who saw this monster of a man kill someone with a single swing of his arm. Not even dwarves had such physical strength. And that young man wasn’t a normal person, he is a 7th Class Aura Warrior. Someone that can run away when fighting a Grand Cross Knight.

Kairos, the monster who peacefully sent off the head of this operation, looked at the remaining ruffians and smiled. His eyes glowed dark purple and the gnomes who saw that felt as if death is caressing them.

Behind him, a dozen magic arrows spun in the air, looking barely restrained.

Those are all Circle 1 magic of the simplest incantation, but the rate they are spinning is frightening, and their complete quietness are unnerving.

These gnomes that are all Stage 6 forest guards are scared speechless. Magic arrows that should never become life-threatening is somehow giving off deadly vibes.

“Why don’t we talk…,” one of the gnomes started.

Suddenly everything was fired.

The gnomes immediately reacted. With one look, it is certain that they are well-trained.

Twines, leaves, and barks sprouting from a hidden seed each gnome will carry, started covering their body as they entered combat mode.

The most talented of them all is already concealed by magic oak in the blink of an eye.

In mere moments he will be turned into a man-eating plant monster.

It may look shocking but is the original form of the gnomes because their race were originally born from an ancient divine garden. All of them are plant species that had long been extinct but escaped that fate by turning sentient.

Because of their origin, gnomes are a race very close to the status of primordial creatures.

Therefore, it wasn’t surprising that they are naturally resilient to magic, yet when Kairos’ Circle 1 Magic Arrow spell struck, all transformation in their body reversed and they fell to the ground in heaps.

Seconds after they landed, their body started turning cold and all signs breathing ceased. On their body are tiny punctures created by the magic arrows. The locations that were struck is different from gnome to gnome, but all of those places are where the gnomes hid their magic seed.

That seed is in fact the gnome’s origin, similar to a human’s heart. However, these devious creatures had the privilege to hide their magic seed wherever they want.

Unfortunately, nothing could escape the Heavenly Eyes spell.

Kairos took one look at their bodies and muttered, “It isn’t enough of a test.”

He turned his head longingly towards a strange direction. The dwarves in this place looked the same way, only to see a plain wall and some destroyed furniture. However, the foreman of this renovation team suddenly paled… because in that direction lies the gnomes’ embassy in Blacken Soot City.

Surely, this lad couldn’t be thinking of bringing violence over to that place?