Regretful Dwarf

...

Dwarves, Elves, and Dragons don't exist in this world. Well, at least according to the normal fantasy setting, they don’t. What they have, however, are counterparts— humans that went beyond their current limitations surpassing the evolution tree itself— leaving traces in the known history like the myths told in the ancient texts...

The hermits, one of the world's most revered existences are said to likely possess this power.

The King of the Hills is not a dwarf. There are rumors that he is... but truthfully, he is not. Everyone thinks he is a dwarf, but actually, he is not. In his lifetime, it might be only him who knows this truth.

The King of the Hills is an enigma. His induction to the Hero Society is as sudden as the Jamlay Comet, appearing in the most random of occurrences.

Many believe that the King of the Hills is a hermit that defected to the Hero Society. Some rumors say that the King of the Hills possesses the blood of the ancient dwarven King, and his appearance is simply a result of atavism. This is also the source of his nickname, Dwarf.

—such horsecrap!

'Yeah, I admit that the name [King of the Hills] is too mouthy, but fuck. I don't want to be called DWARF!'

He drank the bitter ale as the dwarf lambasted himself for his decision to join the Hero Society.

'I am not a fucking hermit! My identity is so much more volatile than those reclusive sons of bitches.'

It's very early in the morning, and the dwarf is the tavern's only customer now. To the tavern owner's eyes, this is normal.

To his surprise, this day is very far from normal.

The chimes clinked as a new visitor arrived. He wears a sleeveless red robe exposing his slim but musculature biceps. His inner garment is made of roughshod bandages filled with intricate lines.

It was Furious Flames, Eron Vilman Zest. His striking dark orange hair and gold irises are striking enough for the dwarf who rarely interacts with heroes to remember.

"Are ye here for a drink, lad?"

The dwarf's complexion is red in intoxication, and his real improper self is finally showing. He hardly becomes like this when he is talking to heroes. It must have hit him too hard.

It is his first time losing someone in a rescue operation he himself led. The King of the Hills takes pride in what he does. But to think that half of the orphans ended up dead in that one job...

This dwarf is truly pathetic if he can't get over something like that, he might as well quit playing hero. Eron thought hard about what to say to the King of the Hills. From a different perspective, Eron can also be considered a victim of the incident.

"I have come to thank you. If not for you, they would have died."

"Don't thank me, lad. I just did what is expected of me."

"You saved them.” Eron strongly said noticing the still gloomy expression of the King of the Hills. It has been some time since the burning of the orphanage. Even now, Eron feels bitter for the lives lost.

At some point, he even blames Sword Blue for her pompous declaration to him that he can trust her. But Eron knows better. If it weren’t for her, more would have died.

The King of the Hills unsteadily stood, he threw the booze in his hand in an attempt of throwing a tantrum. However, the surge of anger just as quickly receded as he thought of his first ever failure as a rescuer.

“Don’t sugarcoat it, lad. I failed, that’s that…”

“They said that the King of the Hills has a weak mentality. To think that it's actually true."

Eron wanted to comfort the pitiful dwarf, but his words sounded quite rude instead as if implying that the King of the Hills wasn’t mature enough. The truth is… he isn’t ‘developed’ enough.

"Anyway, thank you… but FUCK YOU! Are you looking for a fight?"

The King of the Hills appreciates Furious Flames' forthcoming attitude, but clearly, the dwarf is too angry for not being able to save all those lives... He recalled the young red-haired lad bawling at the lives lost, Furious Flames’ downtrodden look, and young Sword Blue’s regretful gaze.

“Sorry lad. I am not in the right state of mind. Sigh… I am just… not used to death.”

"Hmmm... Do you still want a fight? You might lose.”

"Fuck you brat!"

"..."

“…”

The two looked at each other not conscious of how to continue their conversation.

“You are enraged, I understand. But what about me? I know each and every kid in that orphanage. I am beyond enraged. Anyway, I am not here to pick a fight.”

“Why do you sound so calm?”

“Why not?”

Silence outweighed the dwarf's desire to complain. Why not? Calm? Does Furious Flames not hear himself? If the rumors got one thing right, it's that the King of the Hills is surprisingly meek… Not in a sense that he is a coward or that he does not like fighting… It’s just that he does not like mourning death.

He possesses all of that power as a Destructive-grade Hero, but he's neither ambitious nor attention-seeking. He is a pacifist in the craziest magnitude imaginable.

"You know, I chose to play this hero gig at your teacher's recommendation. He... gave me the beating of my life. Of course, I let him. If I retaliated, he could’ve died. Sheesh, beautiful memories... When I was still ignorant of this world, I would cry over something as small as a butterfly getting trapped in a spider web..."

Ignorant? Eron speculated that the dwarf is reminiscing about his childhood. Eron won't get an opportunity like this, so he might as well go for broke—

"Please spar with me."

—that is a declaration of challenge.

…