The next morning, after a quick breakfast, we set out toward the Azerlisia Mountains.
Blue Rose led the way, using the rough, hand-drawn map they had obtained from the Adventurer's Guild. The mountains loomed ahead of us — sharp, rugged peaks that tore into the sky like the teeth of some ancient beast. Snow dusted their tops, and a cold wind howled down their slopes, biting through even the thickest cloaks.
The hike was long and the terrain unforgiving, but our group was experienced enough to handle it without much trouble. Still, the further we climbed, the more obvious it became that something was wrong.
Feo Raidho — the city of dwarves we were seeking — was supposed to be a bustling underground metropolis hidden within the mountain range. Instead, we found only ruins.
Collapsed stone gates, shattered towers, and scorched walls lay half-buried in snow. The ground was littered with broken weapons and abandoned tools, signs of a battle long past. What should have been an impenetrable fortress looked more like a graveyard.
Blue Rose paused at the threshold of what was once a mighty stone bridge, now crumbling into a deep ravine.
"This... wasn't what I was expecting," Lakyus muttered, frowning deeply.
Gagaran kicked a broken shield aside. "Looks like a war zone."
I crouched down, examining the remnants. Judging by the decay, the damage wasn't fresh — it had happened some time ago.
"This is strange," I said aloud. "If Feo Raidho was already destroyed, why would Renner send us here?"
It didn't make sense — unless Renner didn't know either.
Still, as I stood among the ruins, a strange feeling gnawed at the back of my mind. This scene... it was too familiar. Too close to what had happened in Overlord's fourth season, when Ainz had visited the dwarves. The destroyed city, the Quagoa attacking, the dwarves fleeing...
Did my arrival cause ripples that changed the timing? I wondered.
As we explored deeper into the ruins, trying to find any sign of survivors, a movement caught my eye. A figure — short and stocky — darted from behind a toppled column, clutching a pickaxe as if ready to defend himself.
Without thinking, I stepped forward, raising a hand in a non-threatening gesture. "We're not enemies," I said calmly.
The figure hesitated, then lowered his weapon slightly, though he still looked wary. As he stepped into the light, I recognized him instantly.
Gondo Firebeard.
A master craftsman among the dwarves and one of the few remaining smiths of runecraft. Just like in the original timeline.
His thick beard bristled with tension, and his armor looked worn from use. He glanced between us, sizing up Blue Rose and my group carefully.
"Who are you lot?" he grunted.
"We're adventurers from Re-Estize sent to help the Dwarfs," Lakyus answered, stepping forward with a diplomatic smile. "We came looking for the dwarves of Feo Raidho."
Gondo let out a bitter laugh. "You're two years too late, then."
There was a heavy silence.
"What happened here?" I asked, even though I already had a good guess.
Gondo's expression darkened. "The quagga happened. Dirty rat-men. They attacked two winters ago. Caught us by surprise — no one expected them to organize, let alone bring down our city."
He kicked a broken stone nearby, sending shards flying. "We fought, aye. We fought with everything we had. But there were too many. Too well-coordinated. They overran Feo Raidho and slaughtered many of us. The survivors had no choice but to flee."
"Flee where?" asked Tia quietly, breaking her usual silent stance.
"South," Gondo said, his voice heavy. "To Feo Berkana. It's the last stronghold of my people. What's left of us, anyway?"
Lakyus frowned deeply. "But the information we received said Feo Raidho was still standing."
Gondo snorted. "Shows how little the surface folk know about what happens beneath their feet. We've been fighting just to survive, let alone send messages out."
I exchanged a glance with Solution and Clementine. This situation was worse than expected — but again, eerily close to what I remembered from Overlord.
Still, one thing was different. Without Ainz's interference, who knew how bad things had gotten? In canon, Ainz had shifted the balance by subduing the Quagoa and supporting the dwarves. Here, without him, the dwarves were barely holding on.
"And you?" I asked Gondo. "Why are you still here if the others fled?"
He hesitated for a moment before answering. "I stayed behind to retrieve something important. Ancient artifacts — relics of our runesmithing history. I couldn't leave them to be destroyed or stolen by those vermin."
His pride was palpable.
I nodded in approval. "You're brave."
Gondo shrugged, though he seemed pleased by the acknowledgment. "Brave or foolish, it makes little difference if I die alone here."
"You won't," Lakyus said, placing a hand on her sword. "We'll escort you to Feo Berkana if you want."
Gondo's eyes widened slightly, then softened. "I'd be grateful. It's not a journey I could make on my own."
Blue Rose nodded among themselves. They were clearly moved by his situation. Even Gagaran, usually so brash, looked serious.
I turned to my companions. Solution and Clementine merely nodded, already prepared to follow my decision.
Guess we're heading deeper into dwarf territory after all, I thought.
"Before we move," I said, "is there anything else we should know?"
Gondo's face grew grim. "The quagga aren't the only problem. There have been rumors... whispers of something stirring deeper underground. A man wearing an orange suit is currently on the hunt."
A man wearing an orange suit—who could that be?
~~~
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