To be honest, the journey here hadn't been easy at all.
Since he really didn't know where the main roads were, Levi had followed positions he remembered seeing, bit by bit threading through forests and mountainous terrain, blazing a treacherous path through the untamed wilderness.
It was literally "taking the wild route."
In some places the terrain was so rugged that his horse almost couldn't make the bone-jarring leaps across rocky chasms and steep ravines.
At this moment, finally finding the well-maintained road leading to the dwarven settlement, Levi couldn't express how moved he felt. He immediately spurred his horse toward where the warm light was emanating from the mountainside.
Only when approaching the towering gates carved into the living rock did he slow down and walk over gradually.
Before that massive structure, Levi craned his neck upward.
It had to be said that although dwarves weren't tall in stature, their architectural style was magnificent and imposing. He had to crane his neck back so far he nearly fell over just to take in the entire monumental building before him.
Even the gates were so colossal... the entire mountain must have been hollowed out, with the interior space being even more vast.
"Ha, marvel at our architecture, human."
Just as he was looking, a gruff voice suddenly came from behind. Turning around, he found a stocky dwarf by the roadside sizing him up with keen eyes.
"You don't look like a traveling merchant. What brings you here?" he asked.
Levi dismounted and greeted this seemingly elderly dwarf.
"Greetings to you. This is my first time in dwarven territory. I heard that dwarven craftsmanship is unmatched and wanted to see it for myself."
Upon hearing this, the dwarf immediately puffed up with pride.
"Haha, then you've come to the right place! Dwarven craftsmanship can't be compared to those fellows outside... fine armor, sharp weapons... as long as you have enough silver coins, you can take them all."
"Though we generally don't do business with strangers, you seem like a decent fellow. I can tell you must be a warrior who's seen battle. If it were me, I'd be happy to sell you some good things."
This dwarf was quite enthusiastic. After chatting with Levi for a while and seeing he looked unfamiliar with the place, he even gave him directions.
"If you're looking for an inn, turn right after entering. If you want to buy things, go left... there are several smithies and a merchant caravan that recently returned."
"Thank you."
Bidding farewell to this friendly dwarf, Levi led his horse while walking and reflecting.
Who said dwarves were crude and impolite? Rumors... this one was quite polite and very enthusiastic too.
Thinking this, before long he crossed through those massive gates and entered the mountain halls where the dwarves gathered.
Dwarves conducted most of their daily life and productive work inside the mountains. Aside from merchant caravans, few ventured far from home.
After the fall of the Lonely Mountain, this hall became the place where Thorin and his kinsmen settled.
Although he'd prepared himself mentally, actually seeing the scenery inside still left Levi breathless.
Upon entering, his eyes widened in wonder. The space inside the mountain looked much larger than outside, with soaring domes that seemed to stretch endlessly upward, massive chandeliers hung with thick iron chains, glowing stones embedded in the walls like captured stars, various houses and bridges built along the valley walls, plus magnificent statues and towering walls that extended from underground rivers all the way up to edges you had to crane your neck to see.
The rhythmic clang clang clang of metal striking metal echoed through the vast space, accompanied by the bustling commotion of daily life.
Following the earlier dwarf's directions, Levi looked to the right and indeed immediately spotted a several-story building with many dwarves coming and going.
This was the inn.
"Welcome! Find a seat anywhere!"
The inn owner, sporting a magnificent belly, greeted Levi as he entered with booming enthusiasm.
"Oh, but it looks like you need to settle your mount first. Get moving, lad... find a place for the guest's horse!"
The owner called to a young dwarf nearby. Soon both Levi and his mount were properly arranged. Before long, he was seated at a sturdy wooden table waiting for dwarven specialty cuisine.
Strong liquor, roasted meat... fragrant food was quickly brought out, filling the air with mouth-watering aromas.
This time Levi had brought quite a few silver coins... all looted from troll lairs. This money was enough for him to spend lavishly for some time.
Perhaps it was mealtime, as the surrounding dwarves gradually increased in number. The previously somewhat quiet first-floor dining room became lively, with many choosing to eat here.
However, with more dwarves around, his presence became somewhat conspicuous.
"A human? I haven't seen one in ages... how rare."
"Doesn't look like he's here for business. Maybe traveling."
"He's quite slender though."
"He might have a good physique, but he doesn't have a good beard."
"Wonder where he's from."
Levi took a deep breath and retracted his assessment that all dwarves were polite.
These chattering dwarves could indeed be quite noisy sometimes.
"Oh, my beard! This is my first time seeing a human. Hey, brother over there, let's have a drink!"
A seemingly very young dwarf suddenly raised his mug full of foaming ale and gestured toward Levi with infectious enthusiasm.
He raised an eyebrow and had no choice but to raise his own mug in response.
"Hahaha!" The dwarf laughed loudly, gulping down all the beer in his mug in one tremendous gulp. Finally he burped with satisfaction, wiped the foam from his beard, and let out a contented groan.
Naturally, Levi wasn't intimidated. He also drank it all in one gulp without changing expression, then raised an eyebrow at the dwarf, indicating his mug was also empty.
Whistle whistle...
Immediately some dwarves started whistling and making a raucous commotion.
"Drink him under the table!"
"Drink him under the table!"
Soon a circle of dwarves who loved watching excitement began making noise, their voices echoing off the stone walls.
Levi helplessly looked to the owner for help, only to discover the owner was also joining in the commotion.
Come on, guys.
"Fine, let's do this!" He slammed the table and accepted the challenge on the spot.
"Excellent! If you can drink me under the table today, I'll pay for everything!"
The young dwarf laid down the gauntlet and immediately had the owner bring over two large barrels of potent alcohol.
Crash... two tables were pushed together.
Glug glug glug...
Chug chug chug...
"Ahh!"
The two began drinking like this, not even needing any side dishes.
The dwarf was pleased... few people in this region could outdrink him. This human was destined to lose today.
Levi was also pleased, because drunkenness was just a buff for him, and he had several buckets of milk in his backpack.
As for capacity issues... although alcohol could also increase saturation, it seemed that even when full, you could keep drinking... just that the duration of the drunkenness buff would also increase accordingly.
"This cup, this cup... what should we toast to? Let's toast to our meeting... burp!"
The dwarf raised his cup and drank it down gulp by gulp.
"Well, thank you very much, but this is already the fifth time you've toasted to our meeting."
Levi continued chugging with mechanical precision.
At this moment, the table in front of both men was already piled high with empty mugs. Looking at the capacity of each mug, each one had to be at least over a pound.
Two people, each having drunk nearly twenty cups.
"I'm telling you, you, you're not allowed to throw up..." The dwarf had foam at the corners of his mouth, pointing at Levi with unfocused eyes.
Levi set down his empty mug casually. "Ah, okay. Speaking of which, I think I'm starting to feel something. Is this what being drunk is like?"
Thud!
He spoke softly with crystal-clear eyes, showing no signs of struggling.
However, these words sounded like demonic whispers to the young dwarf's ears. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed on the table, unconscious, with alcohol foam seeping from the corners of his mouth.
This one sentence from Levi had completely shattered his mental fortitude.
"The winner... human traveler!"
The owner stood on a stool, raised Levi's arm triumphantly, and declared his victory.
"Ohhh!"
[Blue Mountains Dwarven Regional Reputation +10]
[Chapter Complete]
***
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