The whole street was abuzz. The sidewalks, packed with people. The thickest main road leading to the Reapsow Townhall had been closed off just for this event. It was my friend’s wedding!

  “Oh! They’re here!” Granuel squeezed into the window as the parade floats came into view. We’d reserved the top floor of a restaurant for ourselves.

  Moonwash was here, of course. My parents, and their Piss Hunters too. Berry was already wailing softly in sheer joy. Elfrafim was with her, and that other guy she was dating. The Demon Aspires were here, as Angerly had already made a big and positive impression on them despite having met only a few times. Lastly, there was Koromu, a korak(pink humanoids with frog-like eyes) that Granuel met up north, and eventually moved in with him all the way south.

  I was glad he found someone. Moving all over the place to set up branches of Angelslayer in a new country had really done him good. I did not realize how staying mostly in Arisen City for the past few years could have been… limiting for him. It was a big place, with a population that switched around often.

  Now, if only my grandpa could’ve made it too, but an event like this had become too much for him, even if I were to teleport him whole.

  I supposed Arx’s absence was also unfortunate, but he was only my friend, and had no connection to Angerly.

  “WOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

  “YEEEEEAAAAHHHH!”

  “IT SHOULD’VE BEEN MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!”

  I looked back out the window, and saw the already loud cheering grew to a fever pitch once the floats and the parade truly arrived.

  “ANGERLY!!!”

  “ENTARIN!!!!”

  “LET’S FUCKING GOOOO!!!”

  “And we’re fucking going!” someone answered from the lead float, their voice enhanced by sound magic. It was a kobold announcer, who stood right next to Angerly’s husband-to-be! “He needs no introduction, but let me introduce him anyway. The groom of the day, Entarin Polin!!”

  The white-furred and blonde-haired centaur man waved to the crowd. He was dressed in his finest suit, and would hardly look out of place among the nobles of the other New Grandera. “Thank you! Thank you everyone! For all your support!”

  “WOOOOOOO!!!”

  “YEEEAHHHH!!!”

  “WE LOVE YOU ENTARIN!!”

  “DO A FLIP!!!”

  “STEP ON ME, PLEASE!!!”

  He did not do a flip. Nor did he step on that dumbass among the crowd. I chuckled, for this was just how most weddings in Southern New Grandera were. A bit inappropriate, for sure, but certainly less boring than the ones back on Earth. I actually enjoyed these ones.

  “Entarin Polin has risked his life and braved battles across the Fortress Cities Revenge, Retribution, and Justice!” the kobold announcer screamed into the crowd, just as the next float came into view. It carried an artistic model of Entarin commanding the armies of New Grandera from atop a fortress wall as they utterly demolished the forces of Edengar!

  “WOOOW!”

  “AMAZING!!!”

  “DADDY!”

  “I NEVER KNEW HE WAS THAT COOL!!”

  “He has served us well as City Administrator!” The kobold host continued, fire literally flicking across his mouth full of sharp teeth. “He has made deals with the most intimidating of people for our prosperity! He is now in the running for the next mayor of this city, and is proving himself well to the councillors!”

  More floats followed. From Entarin working through a literal mountain of paperwork, and a city growing around him as he did so. The centaur was shown shaking hands with dwarves, elves, and me! That never happened! At best, you could say that he’d made deals with Granuel, some of which maybe loosely included me or my influence.

  Whatever. I didn’t intend to do anything. I knew Moonwash made at least a part of these displays, so it was no wonder they got my good side. I looked so strong and bloody! …Why would I be making deals fresh of a fight? I don’t know, but it looks cool!

  “AND NOW! UP NEXT!” A new voice arose. This time, it needed no amplifying. A chiron (bat-like people) announcer flew through the air above the next float to continue the parade. So so very few of them had made it here, but of course Angerly was friends with only one I’d ever seen so far south. “Raised by two famous Piss Hunters! Of the elusive Luine, and the bright Salaire! Angerly Lakerian is the bride of the day!”

  “YOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”

  “WOOOOOOOO!!”

  “MOMMY!”

  “BREAK MY SPINE!!!”

  “YOU LOOK SO GOOD TOGETHER!!!”

  “HEY HO!” Angerly answered them with just as much enthusiasm. “THANK YOU FRIENDS! FOR BEARING WITNESS TO OUR UNION TODAY!”

  She glimmered in the light. Angerly was wearing an armor dress today, so ornate and polished and decorated, that I could not fathom it being actually useful underneath all that!

  But I knew it was, because Moonwash again made it. She made Entarin’s suit too.

  “She is an adventurer, brave and strong! She once even fought with the Demon Queen Haell! She protects all that she can, especially her husband-to-be, Entarin, as they travel to solve the dangers of this world so that the rest of us may live in peace! She is kind and wise and a valued member of any community she finds herself in, beloved by all.”

  Floats carrying models of every deed attributed to her followed. In one, Angerly could be seen smashing her mace unto the head of a bear, surrounded on all sides by monsters. The next showed her triumph, flanked by me and her other friends. The whole of The Harvesters, really, minus the one member who had forsaken us, and we’d forsaken in turn. Then there was a float with a frankly gigantic Angerly, shielding orphaned children, the wounded, the elderly, and the struggling Entarin. Her back was riddled with arrows and weapons sticking out of it, along with the burns and frost and every other residual left by the magic of our enemies.

  Finally, there was a float of her just laughing and hugging an overflowing amount of friends and family.

  “ANGERLY!”

  “ANGERLY!!!”

  “WE LOVE YOU TOO!”

  “AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!”

  The cheering continued all the way until the floats parked around the town hall. I was right there screaming with them. Finally, the groom and the bride got off their floats and began to walk to the stage whereupon they would get married. I had left the restaurant with my group by this point, and we hurried to our front-row seats. We had reservations, of course, but most of the others who were mere bystanders and didn’t personally know the people getting married were left to either leave or stand around the periphery.

  Angerly and Entarin walked up the stage. It was full of symbolism alluding to one deity or another worshipped, but nothing that was truly front and center. That was a common way to structure marriages here, though it was even more imperative that they showed respect but no favoritism to these religions, considering Entarin’s job.

  I would have none of that at all, when the time came for my own.

  Moonwash held my hand between the seats as the two stars of this event finally made their vows.

  “Entarin! My love, the most earnest man I’ve ever met. I knew from the beginning that you truly cared for your people, and I was proven right time and again by your actions. Throughout the years we dated, I got to see firsthand how you grew, as both a person and a leader. I couldn’t be any more proud. And I will be endlessly glad to call you my husband!”

  “Angerly. Angie. Ange. My beautiful strong wife. You have been so kind to me from the day we first met, when I was honestly a little wary of you because of your background. But you showed me what strength was truly for. To protect people, as you’ve protected me too. You show kindness to everyone, and only ever use your strength for that purpose. You have a way of touching the coldest of hearts, which I truly admire. You are a treasure to this world, and I am the happiest man alive to have you as my wife.”

  They hugged and they kissed. Some things never changed.

  ~~~

  —Paral The Human, Head Chef and owner of Paral Eats PoV—

  The kitchen roared loud in activity. From the clanking of pots, the smashing of pans, the swish of flames, and the movements of people. I kept an eye on it all, and made sure to guide my employees correctly.

  “The heat’s too high,” I told the centaur.

  “Not enough salt,” I sneered at the belfegor.

  “No, NO! Not like that!” I screamed at the crustecar who got the recipe all wrong. Aaaahhhh! All that wasted time! And ingredients! Does she not know we’re at war!?

  “Um, sorry! But–”

  “DO NOT QUESTION ME IN MY KITCHEN!” I screamed when she had still not gotten moving. “Go assist chef Milanda over there! Make yourself useful! ANYTHING!”

  “Eeeep! Okay, chef! Right away!”

  She started running.

  I clicked my tongue and tasted the broth she made. My frown deepened when I found the taste to be… as it should be. But that’s weird. I swear it was…

  “YOU THERE!” I pointed at another crustecar worker. I’d been kind enough to hire them when I knew I’d receive criticism for it, and this was how they repaid me!? “IT’S FUCKING RAWWWWWW!!!”

  I pushed her away from the stove, and made sure to correct the sear on the steak. He looked lost for a moment, which only further annoyed me when he’d already made such a big mistake and forced me, the owner and head chef, to cook for them!

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  “GO HELP OUT SOMEWHERE AND MAKE YOURSELF USEFUL OR LEAVE!”

  He repeatedly bowed his head and apologized, before scurrying away like a bug.

  I swear. If we weren’t being attacked by those damned rebels, I would’ve fired them already and found someone else to fill their positions. As it stands, however, I can’t really go looking for a new employee while we’re in the middle of a war, and I have so many orders to fulfill. I cannot let our soldiers down. They are doing the important work of the angels, for even they cannot be everywhere at once.

  The sound of sizzling brought my attention back to the food. I flipped the steak, only to find the other side burnt. Those… fucking crabs! Because of them, I messed up the food! They were only causing stress and mistakes for everyone by being here!

  “Out! Get out!”

  “EEEPP!!!”

  “SORRY!”

  “BUT–”

  “YOU’VE CAUSED ENOUGH TROUBLE! GET OUT THIS INSTANT, OR I’LL CALL THE GUARDS!”

  “Ahhh!! Right away!”

  “Noo…”

  They made the first correct choice I’d ever seen them make. The two of them left.

  I stared at the door they didn’t even properly shut, before taking a deep, calming breath.

  “Alright–”

  “Boss Paral! Bad news!”

  “What now!?” I snapped at the receptionist who’d dared barge into the kitchen!

  “Haell! It’s Haell! She’s here!”

  “SHIT!” I snapped. If Haell was here, then the city was… likely lost. That’s how the military was apparently treating her presence. I only heard about it yesterday from some of the wounded soldiers. I had to make my escape.

  That damn clueless demon!!

  I turned back to my cooks, who had all stopped what they were doing to stare at me. “Useless! Everyone’s useless!” I stormed out the kitchen and shouted, “Ready the wagon! SOMEONE GET MY VALUABLES FROM MY OFFICE!”

  “Wait, what about us?” Minta had the gall to ask. I glared at her, but her soft face made me realize that maybe she had a point.

  “Chef Minta. With me. Everyone else, find your own way out. Or fight. Don’t let those rebels take you! And definitely do not join them!!”

  I didn’t need to tell them that. The savagery of those savages were well known. It was better to die than be captured by them.

  The next five minutes were the longest of my life. I set that as the hard limit, which meant I couldn’t even get all my valuables out in time. I seethed in the wagon as we drove through the chaotic streets. People could not keep calm even in a situation like this. AND OF COURSE IT WAS THOSE CENTAURS AND CRUSTECARS AND THE ONE SUNDERTOP CLOGGING THE ROAD! “ARRRGHHH!!!”

  It took twice the length of time for us to find an exit. My head was throbbing by the time we were outside the walls. I cast my gaze about, and nearly puked from the horrific sight. So many of our soldiers, dead. None had come back to the city.

  The treeline that led to the greater rainforest had never looked more menacing, as I slowly came to the horrifying realization that we’d have to cross it alone.

  Worse, the soldiers were gone, but the raff were still here. They were predictably unprepared, ready only to make all the mistakes as they crossed the forest in the same direction I planned.

  “Drive,” I commanded, for there was nothing else to be done.

  ~~~

  —Back to Haell PoV—

  —Half an hour ago—

  The blood covered my body. My armor had turned red from all the slaughter. I turned to stare at all that prey, now running away in disgrace. I hadn't even had my fill yet. They didn't even bother to run back to the gates. The soldiers just scattered, almost as soon as I'd arrived.

  Boring. So boring! Is this army full of only cowards?!

  I took to the air, and slaughtered the rats I could get my hands on. Many more would scatter and survive, to fight us another day.

  ANNOYING.

  ~~~

  A few weeks later.

  I sat atop a wagon, watching the scenery go by. Moonwash sat beside me, working on the grooves for another enchantment. But it wasn’t just us two up here, as a harpy was perched on one of the many platforms upon the roof. Those were here precisely for his people to enjoy.

  I heard chatter and a strong gush of wind from above. Many other harpies flew above our caravan. A caravan that was all pulled by the burydiles, and driven by the dwarves. We were all headed for their home.

  Soon, the right mountain among countless others came into view. I could tell by the rising smoke that covered the bottom half of the natural formation. None of it flew towards the mountain, and was instead all redirected away. A familiar setup with the pyramids of New Grandera, but certainly far grander.

  Many harpies flew all around that mountain and the greater range beyond. Their multiple settlements were vaguely visible through all the smoke, thanks only to my eyes having slowly gotten better throughout my path to power.

  The heat grew stronger as we drew closer, and soon we were in front of the largest double doors we had ever seen. Over half as tall as the great pyramids they built for their settlements with New Grandera. Embossed with great carvings of dwarves, and their honorable harpy comrades. One door was closed, while the other was ajar. Even the half of the gates that were open were enough for an army to pass through. They opened the other gate anyway, once they’d confirmed our identities.

  A loud and solid sound rang through the mountainside as mechanisms were spun, and dwarves pushed against the thick metal construct. Curious harpies from our caravan and the mountain both flew towards the noise to get a better look, before dispersing once more. Far fewer of them return to our collection of sturdy wagons, for the harpies didn’t really like going inside the mountain.

  The carriages began to stream through the gates, and Moonwash and I took out our masks. My girlfriend wore her frost-enchanted jacket over her clothes for comfort, while I only remained in my regular armor. The ringing cacophony grew louder with every step of the burydiles, as the scream of a thousand forges now crashed through our ears. The cavern where the dwarves lived finally came into full view, I could only gape at it for a few seconds to show my appreciation!

  “This is awesome!” I laughed.

  “Yes,” Moonwash agreed.

  We both jumped off the wagon, and stepped into the massive space. It did not look natural at all, with how well-cut everything was, and decorated with countless artworks. It was even colorful, as the different rocks and gems were illuminated by the bright enchantments built into the many sturdy pillars that held up this entire construction.

  The roads nestled between these pillars were all wide and spacious. The stores and houses and other buildings were only built into the walls, and stacked atop each other. That left plenty of space between the roads and the actual homes, which the dwarves certainly made full use of. From dedicated stables for their many burydiles, to wide open areas where their troops could train to fight. There were a few places where their people could actually play, and even more spaces dedicated to free open-air galleries where various works of art could be displayed.

  It was far beyond what I’d seen of their pyramids. I didn’t realize how limiting those spaces were to them.

  We immediately set about to explore all of it.

  ~~~

  “Hey! Can I join?” We first went to the dwarves doing military drills. My voice was higher than normal to be heard over the constant banging of metal coming from every direction.

  “No,” the head instructor easily shot me down, and I made sure not to frown.

  I didn’t want to be a soldier anyway. I was just curious.

  Thankfully, the open art galleries were completely open to us. Moonwash was incredibly interested in them, and I was glad to see her happy. I too enjoyed watching the many murals on display. Some were in the process of being made right here. There were plenty of sculptures both colorful and not, as the dwarves really loved the artform. Real armor and weapons were worn by some of the earthen statues. They looked ceremonial to my eyes, but my girlfriend assured me that they were very much operational.

  Most of it was honestly not the best work I’d seen of the dwarves. From the children arranging the shields they made along a thin rock partition, I gathered that this wasn’t really a place for master artisans to display their worth. At least, not exclusively. Instead, it was more a place for the whole community to appreciate the art made by all its members.

  That was actually quite beautiful.

  Moonwash naturally wanted to join in the fun, and placed her own carving on an open bust. It was an eldritch creature of tentacles and eyes and countless insectile features, all done in great detail. She then took one of the small cards set aside, wrote her name down, and then secured it in a slot made just for that.

  It did not take long for the first dwarf to take notice. And once she did, a small crowd quickly began to form as she called her friends over.

  “Hey! Come look at this.”

  “Wow.”

  “It’s beautiful.

  “It’s scary.”

  “That’s true too.”

  “The craftsmanship is just… sublime.”

  “What do you think it means?”

  “Is it a monster?”

  “Do you mean a real one?”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t think that’s possible.”

  “I will never leave the mountain again if there are things like that out there.”

  “Don’t be dramatic.”

  “If a creature like that was around, then they’d be in the tunnels if anything.”

  “Oh no…”

  “Who made this anyway?”

  “Not me.”

  “I can see that. It’s not your name on there, is it?”

  “That’s true.”

  “Moonwash Lakerian.”

  “First I’ve heard of them.”

  “Hey look! Is it her? That’s the Demon Queen Haell Zharignan we’ve been hearing so much about, right?”

  “You idiot. You just said her name, and it’s not Moonwash.”

  “Oh yeah. That’s true.”

  “You fools. Have you already forgotten the name Moonwash!? She’s the same person that made The Dwarves That Fight In Level Ground.”

  The crowd grew even faster. I’d seen that piece, ‘The Dwarves That Fight In Level Ground.’ It was something Moonwash made with the technique of the dwarves, using different colored rocks to create something so vivid that it would look painted on at first glance. The piece depicted the dwarves that she had personally seen in battle. They were the dwarves of New Grandera, taking a stand and fighting against Edengar. It showed the dwarves of the mountains how those of them who had gone away were doing.

  “Oh! I could never forget that.”

  “It’s a beautiful piece…”

  “It’s why we really should not get involved with all these wars.”

  “You idiot! They’re already involved with us.”

  “We can’t just let them get away with trying to attack us.”

  “But they never did.”

  “Do you think they wouldn’t have come after us next, when they were done with the other Duarchies?”

  “I saw you place that small trinket,” someone walked away from the arguing crowd, and approached my girlfriend. “Are you that Moonwash?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, thank you! I’m a big fan!” he shook her hand. “It’s your first time here, right? I could show you two around, if you want.”

  “Okay. I want to see the forges.” Moonwash took my hand, and we explored this new place.

  ~~~

  A gong blasted into my ears as we drew closer. The heat grew, to the point that I wondered if your regular soldier or adventurer would even survive it. I and Moonwash entered the smithy to find a frantic yet orderly place of dozens of dwarves burning ore and striking steel. They worked on their own projects, or seamlessly cooperated. Weapons, utensils, and other things took shape in rapid succession.

  I’d never seen anything like this in the pyramids of New Grandera. The environment had never been this outright murderous towards outsiders.

  A better look at the dwarves revealed to me that they were all over the Level of 20.

  “What are you doing?” Moonwash asked the first of them to take a break.

  The dwarven woman looked at her skeptically. “Forging a sword.”

  “Through what kind of technique? I’ve never seen this kind of layering before.”

  She paused for a moment, before answering, "That's because of the fantastreel being able to provide better bend to the jade...”

  Moonwash listened carefully, and then won her over by doing really well on her first try.

  Soon, the whole smithy surrounded her as they exchanged ideas and collaborated on different projects.

  I listened from the sidelines, here to support my girlfriend. I wasn’t uninterested in the subjects they were talking about, even if it could be hard to follow. I did still occasionally help around the forge at home, as I had many abilities that could not easily be replaced.

  The dwarves got to see those firsthand, as I helped Moonwash adjust red-hot ingots, or occasionally do the hammering myself if a particular alloy required my sheer overwhelming power.

  The dwarves cared about my presence too by the end of it.

  Did you know that I've never attended a wedding before?

  Really. Truly.

  I've had opportunities to, and now I'm thinking that maybe I shouldn't have blown all of them. Life experiences are important. I've tried watching utube stuff sometimes, maybe of creators I like who got married, but honestly, I don't think I've ever gotten through a single one of those videos in its entirety.

  I get bored!

  It's why I was never interested in attending weddings in person either to begin with.

  All this to say. I have no idea wtf I'm doing with the wedding here, but I wanted to flesh out the culture more, so I hope I did good!

  I even wanted to just go "And they said their vows. The end."

  But then I realized that this is such a big opportunity for character development, and in so little words. I can't just skip it!

  I hope those vows were okay.

  I know they aren't even like normal vows. I KNOW THAT MUCH OKAY!?

  But that's how vows are like in Southern New Grandera, I decided.

  It's not like the weddings you know, because everything is intentional trust me bruh

  –

  In other news, I swear I have nothing against chefs!

  A head chef raging at their employees is just my first instinct to show the sheer stress people are facing in a situation like this, for some reason. I actually forgot that I already used a head chef for this kind of scene last time. I only remembered when I'd already written the bulk of it.

  I blame Gordon Ramsay.

  YOU IDIOT SANDWICH

  I swear I’ll use something else next time I have to write a scene like this!

  –

  And lastly, the dwarven settlement. (I just really wanted to discuss this chapter, okay!?)

  I had to decide on how they would differ from the pyramids, which was hard at first. I even considered if they’ll just be bigger versions with minimal actual variation. But then the ideas just kept flowing to the point that I can't keep up once I got going.

  That’s why I wasn’t able to finish this mini-arc in one chapter like I wanted to. It would take me too long cos the dwarf mountain is really hard to write!! I’ll try my best to get the next chapter out sooner. And I’ll even add that I do have some action planned for it too!

  Try and guess how and why! There are enough clues in this chapter!