Chapter 60: Chapter 60: The Dwarf Leader’s Speech, a Brief Return to the Divine Realm

When the Wood Elf Corps followed the Dwarf Leader, Copperbeard Ironhammer, to the Dwarves’ home,

they discovered that the situation at the Dwarven settlement was far more dire than they had imagined.

Beside an extinguished fire deep within the cave, dozens of Dwarves were huddled together.

Their faces were ashen. Wrapped in only thin animal hides, they clung to one another for warmth, barely surviving.

In a corner, a few Dwarf women were trying to use the last embers to boil a soup of tree bark, giving the last of the food to their children.

The Dwarf children were even more terrifyingly quiet. They didn’t even have the strength to cry.

When the Dwarves in the cave heard footsteps, they thought the Dwarf Leader had returned.

Even though they all knew full well that the Dwarf Leader couldn’t have brought back more food under the circumstances, the brutal winter still made them cling to the desperate hope that he had managed to bring back something to eat.

As all the Dwarves’ eyes focused on the cave entrance, they were met with a surprise.

The Dwarf Leader, Copperbeard Ironhammer, who had left in nothing but thin animal hides, had returned wearing a woolen garment.

His once-sallow face now had a touch of healthy color,

and the Dwarf companions who followed him were cheering as well.

Just as all the Dwarves inside the cave began to hope that their leader had found food this time,

they saw a fully armed Elf Army following behind him!

In an instant, their hope was shattered.

In its place came immense terror.

’Why is an Elf Army here?’

’Don’t tell me the group of Dwarves who left with the Dwarf Leader and the Scouts have all been captured?’

’What do we do?!’

’Are we going to be the Elves’ slaves now?’

Immense fear overwhelmed the Dwarves, who had long been without the food needed to sustain their bodies.

Their minds couldn’t process the situation or make a proper judgment.

As fear flooded their minds,

some of the Dwarves tried to get up and run.

But after more than ten days of starvation, surviving on nothing but melted snow, they had no strength left.

They collapsed after taking only a few steps.

Other Dwarves were so frightened they trembled uncontrollably.

A foul stench arose.

Seeing this, the Dwarf Leader, Copperbeard Ironhammer, felt rather awkward.

After all, on the way here, his entire perspective had already shifted.

’There’s nothing wrong with serving the great Elf God, and there’s nothing wrong with helping these Wood Elves forge weapons!’

’As long as our Dwarf Clan can continue on, that’s all that matters!’

With this mindset, the Dwarf Leader, who now thoroughly considered himself one of the great Elf God’s followers,

naturally wanted to showcase his clan’s value in the best possible light.

However, this scene was rather embarrassing.

However, Elf Legion Commander Feiyana said nothing.

Instead, she allowed the Dwarf Leader to explain the situation to the Dwarves before them.

The Dwarf Leader, who already understood what was needed, did not refuse.

He stepped forward and began to speak:

"My dear kinsmen!"

"As you can see!"

"This sudden, brutal winter has already taken so much that is precious to us—

be it your husbands, wives, children, or even our former leader!"

"They have all been taken from us by this cruel, merciless catastrophe!"

As the Dwarf Leader spoke, some of the Dwarves who had tried to run and those who had wet themselves in fear began to calm down.

’It seems these Elves don’t want to slaughter us, capture us, or turn us into slaves!’

"But we were helpless. We cannot fight this catastrophe!"

"But now, these Elves from another continent have brought us hope!"

"These Elves have promised that as long as we forge weapons for them,

they will provide us with a safe haven, ample food, and warmth!"

"We have already lost so many!"

"We cannot afford to lose any more!"

"Therefore, I have accepted the Elves’ proposal on our behalf!"

As soon as the Dwarf Leader finished speaking,

a murmur immediately erupted from the Dwarven crowd.

Some were angry, some were hesitant, but most were wavering, their resolve worn down by hunger and cold.

But then they saw the Wood Elf supply team bringing in wooden barrels filled with fresh meat broth.

The rich, tempting aroma of meat filled the air around them.

For the Dwarves, who hadn’t eaten in over ten days, the temptation was overwhelming.

Then they watched as the Wood Elf supply team brought in woolen clothes and blankets to display.

Covetous thoughts sparked in the hearts of many Dwarves,

but a glance at the nearby Wood Elf Guard Team, clad in full iron Armor and armed with iron Swords,

made them quickly suppress such ideas.

The arguments among the remaining Dwarves continued unabated.

But as time passed,

the voices opposing the Dwarf Leader grew quieter, while those supporting his decision grew louder.

After half an hour, all the Dwarves had agreed to their leader’s decision,

deciding to submit to the Wood Elves and forge weapons for them in the future.

Seeing this, the Dwarf Leader, Copperbeard Ironhammer, let out a soft sigh of relief.

’The Wood Elf Corps beside us had clearly grown impatient,’ he thought.

’If the remaining Dwarves hadn’t come to a consensus,

then I would have been forced to abandon some of my kinsmen!’

’Thankfully, this was the best possible outcome.’

Once the remaining Dwarves in the cave agreed to their leader’s decision, the rest was simple.

Under the watchful eyes of the Wood Elf Guard Team, all the Dwarves were compliant, stepping forward one by one to receive food.

As the food was distributed, the Wood Elf Corps began to record the number of Dwarves living in the cave.

Based on the information provided by Dwarf Leader Copperbeard Ironhammer, combined with the Wood Elves’ own count, they arrived at the final tally: 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Total surviving Mountain Dwarves: 176.

This included 98 male Dwarves, 58 female Dwarves, and 20 children.

After a brief period of recovery, 40 of them were fit to travel.

Under Elf Legion Commander Feiyana’s arrangements,

thirty of these Dwarves were to lead the rest—the old, the weak, and the sick—off the continent.

Half of the Wood Elf Guard Team and the Wood Elves from the supply team would escort them on their journey back to the Divine Realm.

At the border between the two continents,

Wood Elves, sent by Elf Queen An Nobel, would be there to receive them.

The remaining Wood Elves would rest briefly in the cave.

They would wait for the supply and guard teams to return with more supplies the next day, after escorting the main group of Dwarves.

Then, the Wood Elf Corps, along with the ten Dwarves who knew the way and the Dwarf Leader, would journey to the region of the Fire Elves.