“Back to the Dwarven Kingdom you left behind?”

“Yes. If I take a fast carriage, I can be there in no time. Well, not right now. It’s late, so I’ll leave first thing in the morning.”

Having made his decision, Opsvor hurriedly stood up and rushed over to the travel bag he had tossed in the corner. He began stuffing items into it, carefully folding and arranging everything.

“Khalia and Claude, was it? Thank you for helping me. Truly! A dwarf never forgets a favor. Is there anything you want? Oh, that’s right! I have a gemstone my grandfather crafted himself… maybe I could give that…”

“What made you want to become an adventurer?”

Opsvor, who had been busy acting and speaking with exaggerated motions, froze, a gleaming sapphire held in one hand.

“There must have been a reason you dreamed of such a life.”

With a thud, the large gem fell into his bag.

After a moment, he trudged back to the armchair and sank into it, his short legs dangling off the edge. The flames from the hearth flickered in his eyes, casting a soft glow.

“My second uncle was an adventurer, like you two. Until he took an arrow to the knee.”

“…”

“When I was a kid, whenever he came back from the surface, the first thing he’d do was sit me on his lap and tell me stories.”

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

“The landscapes he described, the adventures… Oh, the vast blue sky! The fresh wind, the sunlight filtering through the shimmering leaves! Under that sky were tales of love, dreams, friendships, and heroic journeys. Listening to those stories, I vowed I’d go to the surface one day and become a great adventurer myself.”

His eyes gleamed, filled with the fire of his dreams.

“But…”

That fire quickly dimmed.

“No one in the kingdom approved of my uncle. Especially my father—he was the worst. After my uncle died from that arrow, my father wouldn’t even let me mention going outside. He even forbade me from simple trades with the nearby human villages.”

“So this time… you snuck out?”

“Of course, I did!”

“So, you ran away.”

Claude, who had been quietly listening, summed it up neatly. Opsvor, clearly not pleased with that label, grumbled a bit.

“Anyway, those crates on the cart? They’re filled with precious ore. I planned to sell them for travel money.”

With a heavy sigh, he continued.

“I avoided the usual trading villages near the kingdom and came all the way here, thinking I could make a deal. Who would’ve guessed those buyers were just lowlife thugs?”

“You went out to make a deal at that late hour? In a deserted alley?”

“I should’ve realized something was off. They said that was the only time they could meet, and they promised a good price, so I trusted them… but when I showed up, they took one look at the goods and whacked me in the back of the head. They were trying to knock me out. Nasty, filthy liars! But I didn’t give in. I fought hard to keep my goods safe.”

“So, you’re planning to return to the kingdom with the money you fought so hard to protect.”

Opsvor stopped muttering and fell silent.

His response came a little late.

“I suppose so.”

“Your father will probably be furious. You might never be allowed to leave the kingdom again. Are you sure you want to go back?”

“…A proper dwarf is meant to live in the kingdom with family and friends, mining ore, forging metals, crafting jewelry and weapons. That’s what they say true happiness is for us… Maybe I just haven’t realized it yet.”

“Maybe.”

Opsvor seemed a bit hurt by my reply and quickly added more.

“Yes, after all, it was a dangerous situation. Going home feels like the right thing to do. Thank you…”

“Or maybe not.”

“What?”

He froze like a statue.

“This moment could be the end of a young dwarf’s reckless escape, returning home after a brush with danger. Or, it could be the beginning of a great adventurer’s tale, overcoming the first hurdle of his journey.”

His mouth, hidden beneath his thick beard, gaped open in astonishment.

“Are you suggesting…?”

“I’m not in a position to tell anyone what they should or shouldn’t do. I have no right to say which path is better or what’s the correct choice.”

As I listened to his story, thinking about how he planned to return to the kingdom, I could feel heat rising inside me. I was getting worked up over someone else’s life, which wasn’t like me at all.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Claude watching me closely, as if noticing this unusual side of me.

But I couldn’t stop. I had to say it. The words spilled out of me like a torrent.

“But, Opsvor, if you’re struggling with the idea of what’s natural or unnatural for a dwarf, I think the answer isn’t as complicated as you might think.”

I declared firmly.

“Doing what you want to do—that’s what feels the most natural.”

To accept that a person born into a certain circumstance must live a certain way, or behave according to what society deemed “right” or “true,” was something I couldn’t stand. That was one principle I would never bend on.

“Khalia.”

“If you think I’m being an arrogant brat, go ahead and kick us out. But if you find my words worth considering, then that’s fine, too.”

“…”

Opsvor twitched a few times, as if he was about to lash out. But in the end, he didn’t get up to throw us out.

Taking advantage of that pause, I finished my thoughts.

“If you want to go back, then do that. If you want to set out on an adventure, then go ahead. It’s your life. You don’t have to live it as a dwarf. Just live it as yourself.”

For a long while, there was silence. The crackling of the fire in the hearth was the only sound in the room. Claude and I waited, giving Opsvor time to think.

Finally, the lips beneath his shaggy beard parted.

“…For now, I think going back to the kingdom is the right choice.”

“That’s fair.”

I nodded. It was his decision, after all.

“I’m injured, and those thugs might come looking for me to take revenge.”

Opsvor raised his head, and there was a new light in his eyes.

“But once I’ve recovered, once I’m back in the kingdom…”

He clenched his fist, a new determination filling his voice.

“I’ll leave again. This time, I’ll convince my father and my family. I’ll go out into the world and experience everything it has to offer, just like my great Uncle Zephyr!”

He looked at me, his eyes sparkling with hope. And before I knew it, I was smiling back at him.

“Thank you, Khalia. Thank you so much.”

“You’re very welcome. I wish you the best of luck on your future adventures.”

“May the blessing of Runik be with your travels as well.”

Beside me, Claude’s lips curled into a soft smile.

Opsvor’s newfound enthusiasm filled the room, and we watched as he eagerly began packing his bags again. His excitement was contagious.

“When I return, I’ll dedicate myself to training. More sword practice, honing my skills to protect myself properly.”

“That sounds like a great plan.”

“And now that I think about it, I’m still young—my parents are probably worried sick.”

“That makes sen— wait, what?”

“What?”

Opsvor blinked at us, his wide eyes filled with confusion.

“Oh, is it the age thing? I’m only 42. I’ve got another eight years before my coming-of-age ceremony.”

Claude had been sipping water and nearly choked at the word “minor.” His hand trembled as he set the cup down, coughing.

“So…”

At a loss for words, both Claude and I stared at him, dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, Opsvor grinned brightly, completely oblivious.

“I should probably return the ore I brought with me, too. Taking half a year’s worth of mining output was probably a bit much. I’ve got forty mana stones, and a lot of gold and silver ingots. Oh, and a piece of raw mithril, too!”

Opsvor… was it really a good idea for him to go back home?

Maybe we should encourage him to start his journey now, before his father gets his hands on him…

While Opsvor rambled on about the beauty of the ores he had brought and all the things he planned to craft, Claude leaned toward me, his voice low.

“I’m starting to think his father kept him home not because of dwarven nature, but because he’s… unreliable. What do you think?”

“I think I agree…”

I nodded, staring at the excited dwarf with a mixture of disbelief and amusement.

Bang!

Suddenly, the door to the room flew open with a loud crash.

“Lady Khalia!”

“Lord Claude!”

Andrew, sword raised high, burst into the room, followed closely by Guinness and a tense-looking Adrian.

Startled, I quickly stood up.

“Andrew, Guinness! Calm down, we’re fine!”

“Are you unharmed?”

Guinness strode over to me, checking for any signs of injury with her usual thoroughness.

Meanwhile, Andrew scanned the room, ensuring there were no other threats, his eyes landing on Opsvor, the only stranger present.

Adrian entered last, quietly closing the door behind him.

“Khalia’s right. We’re fine. There’s no danger.”

Claude, who had also risen, tried to soothe the situation, lowering his hands in a calming gesture.

After completing her inspection, Guinness finally let me go. Opsvor, looking a bit pale under his bronze skin, stood firm, though Andrew’s sword was pointed directly at him.