#20 - Chapter 20: Money-loving and Promise
“Dang dang dang dang!”
As the chaotic bell rang, the bustling crowds in the streets of Boulderstone Town quieted down, looking around in confusion.
However, their bewildered glances soon ended.
Because as the bell rang, dozens of teams of dwarf warriors in Boulderstone Town were running towards the outside of the city with hurried steps.
Anxious, they ran and shouted.
“Make way, make way, everyone make way!”
Some dwarf soldiers even rudely pushed away anyone who stood in their way when they couldn't dodge in time.
Their movements were so rough that everywhere they ran, there was a chaotic scene of chickens flying and eggs breaking.
“What are you doing, you bunch of fools?”
Hearing the bell, Bilkin, the owner of a small blacksmith shop, poked his little head out from his precious shop.
“Dear Sabo, in the name of beard and ale, please tell me, what on earth is happening here?”
Bilkin stopped his distant relative Sabo, who worked in the city defense army, wanting to find out what was going on.
It was about two o'clock in the afternoon, the busiest time of day for Boulderstone Town, a trading hub.
Originally, Bilkin wanted to take advantage of this hard-won market to sell a few more weapons and equipment, but this chaos had clearly ruined his plans.
“Bilkin?!”
Sabo, his face covered in sweat, recognized Bilkin.
Although he disliked the usually extremely stingy Bilkin, he still chose to secretly tell his blood relative the truth at this moment.
“Quickly hide back in your shop and don't come out!”
Sabo took off his helmet and looked around, and after finding many people staring at him with various expressions, he forcibly lowered his voice and said.
“Didn't you hear the bell? An enemy is attacking!”
“Enemy attack?”
Bilkin shook his head and said in confusion.
“Is it those stupid goblins again? They dare to attack the city?”
“I didn't expect you to be afraid of goblins now, really....”
Although Boulderstone Town wasn't a big town, it was a town mainly inhabited by dwarves.
And the dwarves' love for stone wasn't only reflected in gems and gold coins; city walls and blades were also their specialties.
Because there had never been any particularly strong monster groups near Boulderstone Town, many dwarves like Bilkin, who had lived in Boulderstone Town for generations, didn't understand the real situation outside.
In their minds, which only knew peace and tranquility, the attacking monsters were either goblins or wild beasts like wolves.
Neither of these posed a threat to Boulderstone Town.
“You're such an idiot!”
Sabo covered his face, then helplessly pushed Bilkin back into his shop, and said with utmost seriousness.
“Didn't you hear that we rang the bell five times?”
“The meaning of ringing the bell five times is that at least, remember, at least more than 500 monsters have formed an army to invade our home!”
“Only enemies that meet this standard are qualified to have our lord ring the giant bell five times in a row, understand?”
“Forget it, just be careful and don't run around.”
“I have to go and assemble!”
With that, Sabo put his helmet back on, picked up his short sword and shield, and ran towards the city wall.
And Bilkin, who had returned to the shop and locked the door tightly, had a pale face, he was encountering such a situation for the first time.
In countless past years, he had never thought that his home would actually be attacked.
Seeing Sabo so nervous, the shrewd Bilkin knew that Boulderstone Town was likely doomed this time.
“It's over, it's over...”
“Even an idiot like Sabo can get into the city defense army, Boulderstone Town might be finished.”
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Bilkin wanted to pack up his valuables and run away without hesitation.
But just as he ran behind his counter, preparing to pack all the gold and silver treasures he had accumulated, he realized a very serious problem.
He couldn't relax and run away until this problem was solved.
And what kind of problem would make Bilkin, who was in danger, pay so much attention to it?
Was it the problem of food and fresh water, or a problem related to survival?
No, no, everyone's understanding is a bit of a misunderstanding.
The problem Bilkin is thinking about now is neither how to escape from the monster tide with walls on all sides, nor is it a problem of food and survival.
The shrewd but foolish him, the real question he was thinking about was actually...
“Should I pack those exquisite diamond jewelry first, or those lovely gold coins first, or those silver coins....”
This is an extremely stupid question, but Bilkin is really thinking about it.
But he doesn't need to think about this question anymore, because in less than two minutes...
Thump!
Whirr!
With a loud crash, an iron cage slammed into Bilkin's house, smashing a huge hole in his roof beam.
“Ah ah ah!”
When the shopkeeper Bilkin, who was hugging his gold and silver and hiding under the table in the chaos, looked up again, the only thing he could see was a monster more than half a man tall lying on his counter.
This monster, called a Lesser Demon, was now in a state of permanent chaotic rage due to the imp mother's poisonous mist.
Foul-smelling saliva dripped from the corners of his mouth, and his four claws were tearing at everything around him anxiously.
But in his eyes looking at Bilkin, there was only hunger and cruelty!
“Ah ah ah ah ah!”
Bilkin hugged the gold and diamonds in his arms and screamed like a woman.
Having just realized the seriousness of the situation, he never understood why in less than two minutes.
Boulderstone Town's slightly dilapidated but still solid city walls would directly lose all their function, allowing the monster in front of him to enter his home?
What exactly happened outside Boulderstone Town?
————————————
What exactly happened outside Boulderstone Town.
It wasn't just Bilkin, whose shop was smashed, who was thinking about this question.
All the dwarves in Boulderstone Town were thinking about the same question after seeing the Lesser Demons emerging everywhere.
What about those city defense soldiers, those who once swore to protect them in front of the three dwarven kings?
Did these cowards abandon their homes and run away alone!
No, the real truth is.
This group of city defense soldiers composed of dwarves not only did not run away, on the contrary, they fought very bravely.
They never betrayed their oath to protect their home.
But what really led to these Lesser Demons attacking the town so quickly was precisely the oath they had made!
