“Having lived to this age, I think I can finally understand. Life isn’t simply about eating and living, it’s about pursuing at least one thing you truly want to do, and if you do it, you’ll have succeeded in life…”
And although Herman’s words had depth to them, Weed was not moved.
Weed could not be moved because just ten minutes ago, Herman had brought fish paste and had annoyingly asked him to make a tasty stew.
Even if there was something meaningful in Herman’s words, Weed couldn’t take him seriously because Herman and Pin were both lazing about while contentedly eating fish paste kebabs (odeng). [T/N: It’s sold by street vendors]
‘If the ingredients for fish paste were good, then obviously the kebabs would taste good.’
At that moment,Weed’s carving tool suddenly came to a halt.
“Sculpting Master Jorbid’s Quest, Information Check.”
– Sculpting Master Jorbid’s Request
The story that has been passed on for a long time through the Sculpting Guild.
There was once a single Dwarf who could sculpt fire and water, light and dark. However, the Humans did not believe the story.
“We admit the Dwarves are able to make outstanding weapons. But to say they have high skill in the arts, is extremely childish. How can those short Dwarves understand anything there is to know about sculpting? Hahaha!”
The insults of the Elves echoed throughout the forest.
“The Dwarves need to learn about the mysteries and beauty of nature.”
Those were words which humiliated all the Dwarves, but they were unable to retaliate.
In order to save the pride of the Dwarves, find a trace of the Dwarven sculptor Kendellev.
Difficulty: Dwarven race Sculpture quest.
Reward: Honour from Dwarves.
Quest Restrictions: One Dwarven Sculptor.
If you fail, all the Dwarves in the village will regard you in the same way they regard Elves and Humans.
Kendellev, the Sculptor of fire and water, light and darkness!
The answer was hidden in the quest’s explanation.
‘Basic sculpting materials. If so, what materials do you need to sculpt with fire and water?’
Of course, fire and water were needed. To sculpt light and darkness, a material must exist.
Weed suddenly stood up and ran to the lakeside.
His short legs and butt twitched as he hurriedly ran. Herman and Pin ran after him without knowing the reason why.
“What’s wrong?”
“I guess we’ll find out if we go as well”
The Dwarves, who thought they might see an interesting sight, dropped whatever they were doing and followed Weed to the lake.
“What happened to him all of a sudden?”
“Did he get tired of making sculptures and become like that?”
At the sight of fish swimming in the lake, Weed looked around and took a deep breath.
‘I don’t know if my guess is right. However, Kendellev was a sculptor. A sculptor who doesn’t make sculptures is preposterous. The sculptures he made are hidden somewhere in Kuruso, yet no one has been able to find them.’
Weed threw himself into the lake.
Splash!
As he caused splashes of water, he dived deep into the lake.
It was an unthinkable act that other Dwarves could not fathom.
“There’s a Dwarf who knows how to swim?”
“How can a Dwarf swim?”
As a result of their body type, the Dwarves sank like stones.
Weed dived all the way to the bottom of the lake and fumbled around himself with his hands.
The bystanding Dwarves could only conclude that Weed, who stood firmly in the clear and transparent lake, was doing something peculiar.
“He doesn’t seem like a Dwarf who is drowning in water.”
“It seems like he’s struggling to find something.”
Every time Weed tried to grope something in the water, an eel or a gray mullet fish would narrowly escape his hands.
If he tried a little harder, he would be able to catch a fish, but he set the thought aside and kept scrabbling around in the lake water.
‘It must be here somewhere. If it’s in Kuruso, I’ll be able to find it.’
He was getting short on breath, but Weed spread out his arms and wildly walked on the floor of the lake. There wasn’t a moment that he didn’t regret that Dwarves had such short arms and legs.
‘I can’t breathe.’
Although he had high endurance, he was gradually reaching his limits.
Swish!
Suddenly something was shot into the lake.
An Elf’s arrow was imbued with the spirit of air.
The Elf, Edel, who had received advice from Weed when she was trying to buy a new bow, had shot the arrow.
Weed walked towards the arrow and breathed in the air.
“Please hurry and come out!”
Edel yelled out from above the water, but Weed could not hear her. Although he understood what she was trying to say, he shook his head and continued on the bottom of the lake.
Edel shot numerous arrows in order to relay more air.
However, as Weed went deeper and deeper into the lake, the arrows were soon not strong enough to reach him.
‘If this is the place where the sculpture is, it’s probably in the deepest part of the lake.’
Weed did not slow down his diving pace.
Even if there wasn’t a way to go back and get out, with the Power to Deny Death, he’d be reborn underwater as an undead.
If it was truly in Kuruso, and it was a sculpture, he was certain that this was the right place!
In a place where it seemed there was no way of getting out, Weed found what he was looking for.
It wasn’t a solid object, but rather a different flow of water.
– You have found Kendellev’s Water’s Statue.
– You have earned 200 fame.
– Would you like to restore Kendellev’s water’s statue? 20,000 mana is required, and your Art stat must be over 500 to restore this piece.
Weed accepted.