Chapter 51: Shoes (3)
PuLXO0pShoes form one of the three foundations of clothing—clothing, food, and shelter—so their importance is enormous.Z2OrPMH
iDIEspecially because humans are bipedal animals, shoes are essential.lHTW0H
2hskBIf you walk barefoot, you can step on something sharp or slip easily.FZlwzZs
GE2You can end up in dangerous situations, so their importance is incalculable.r6RI
aUKzThat is why the first shoes necessarily had to be durable and safe.c7E52xM
AzpsbOtherwise, there would be no reason to wear them.t3HKa
ba56CVWalking on two legs and being subjected to heavy use, the conditions to fulfill their function were demanding.b36OsFh
DsfMokaTitle) I bought some soccer cleats heheZriRQfa
MkU(Photo of cleats with two stripes)75e9O
JH68QnpI saved my allowance and bought some cleats hehe, what do you think?ZUuMVS
wOS4B7ㄴThose are fake, right? Why do they have 2 stripes?yzYsR
xOJ8IㄴExactly, they should be 3cYxHKGe
pf5tsNJㄴAh, shit, I just noticed. Why are there 2?wCIF4
xYfI64Sㄴlollp3
xLjmKSㄴShowing off fakes proudly lolaJIU
HI7QZdㄴHow much did they cost?Zv7sV
QTTpTeㄴ300 thousand yura;;;GbmWbBe
dtDLa2gㄴlol poorBO2956a
CN6pvBut over time, as technology advanced, shoes also became a fashion element.lrE
dwBss7There were cases where performance was sacrificed for design, and also cases where something made for performance was used for style.aZpa
kr7GVikThe beginning of this was the emergence of sports.TGJ
qHY3Ordinary people prioritized comfort over performance, so they did not pay much attention to the capabilities of sports shoes.QwRh
yyrFAt most, anti-slip.kFUBTnu
HhufjDue to this demand, the sports-related clothing industry also developed.nGf
ZW8ThTitle) Do beastmen wear shoes?2eC
QNDuU3LOr do they go barefoot?AGc
XHE6gㄴSuspiciously) We also wear shoes. Do you think we are savages or what?;;7zfI
ZxS20ㄴWeren’t you?569G
BbfbFㄴSuspiciously) You look like the savage. How disrespectful. Want me to smash your head?A4cQ
ZW9CP5sㄴSorry;;;MHpVHO4
HJcCpNㄴlolWYR8t
46XOQiㄴlol8QDmwXn
fBuㄴOf course they wear shoes. It’s not like they don’t have houseshP6D51G
ZjF82ㄴThen how do they deal with sizes? Their feet are super variedH0H0jQT
WxyㄴAlways custom-made. Look at rabbit beastmen. Just the length of their feet is already hugeQL6iaq
ofJEspecially, the existence of beastmen had a great impact on the development of footwear.7BDrVS
1r0There were combat boots for soldiers, and safety shoes for adventurers who explored dangerous terrains all over the world.zilIuxQ
b9HThe types of shoes were endless depending on who used them and for what profession.Syhw
Niqy“So you want me to make this?”Rb0p
BKz“If you don’t want to, forget it.”tr8eDuE
fvjB“Hey. Look at this dwarf. Who said I don’t want to?”2e0
N9gAvaHShort in stature.z3Jvq
L1lTwo muscular arms in proportion.bc22L
V6WBroad shoulders.l5x
LWtnZRAnd a thick brown beard as a distinctive feature.1KirP0M
WsAThe brown-bearded dwarf grabbed the shoulder of the other dwarf who had turned away.nhbE
1MwThe dwarf being held turned back around.tDD1bJw
FZwcWSlightly drunken eyes and a nose red like a strawberry.YhKpvIg
eHOiJAnyone would say he was a drunkard.19ik3P2
22DpPnEspecially his red beard matched perfectly with his alcohol-flushed face.2Q3qZHg
18NThe name of that dwarf was Gares.OjCm
HvTaSGA typical drunken dwarf from the dwarf nation, Mountain.pp8Qf
HOs5Kk“What do you think?”JmJ
qQY“I have ideas. But what do I gain from doing this?”Z1OeX
UxepN5Wagner, Gares’s friend, asked a completely reasonable question.jzDOZ0L
cWlThey had spent a long time together, so they usually accepted any favor.dv4hU
CkwUBut what Gares asked this time raised doubts even before agreeing.sDx
XJ5XyIZ“Asking me out of nowhere to make high-performance shoes isn’t the issue. But this is clearly for humans.”q5yvPC
rGiTpWagner waved the paper in his hand.FHm
3yx5It was the document with the request conditions that Gares had given him.62UjNYD
eVOlRIcGares glanced at it and nodded.Qw8ykk
TCmb“That’s right.”wMdLHhl
VeLSc9“Where did you get a request like this?”hrzV
3vAS6ze“From the gallery.”X12
UrH5u“That damn gallery…”IRZ0v
cz5Wagner frowned.3zRX
QvoHe knew about the gallery, but he had never entered it in his life.4WI3I
sbmgHe saw no reason to do so.HqZZ
VzmbiPeople busy with their real lives did not have time for that.11ZWVs
ChHMoreover, for dwarves, fun was inventing things.J7I6Vx
uGwVNIn that sense, Gares was a complete oddball.jBL
H7sxqTA dwarf who, instead of inventing, was obsessed with the gallery.EwtVgvP
vaqEven so, he had natural talent, so he had no problem making a living.Zgw
ZNi6J“What did they offer you to accept something like this?”eduP
3YFF“Ah… that’s hard to say.”v8BlhRh
VZp5wi“What’s hard about it?”C1L
CAa“It’s related to alcohol. Hic.”69W9Rvu
1SS“Alcohol?”pC43hR
JApfHearing that, Wagner’s eyes lit up with interest.9QQPF5o
TsNcDwarves and alcohol.sPDBD
8UzAn inseparable relationship.J4cTx
P4477KIt is not just a preference, but a racial trait.ZjaaN
yRPI1They are famous for having refrigerators or even alcohol factories in their homes.Yqml
Tp10rCwThey even invented locomotives and airships to facilitate its distribution.sbxxuna
Med79JJust for alcohol, they developed all their mechanical technology.dP5P
9ijwNThat is the dwarf nation, Mountain.qFK
aw23“Yes, alcohol. Do you remember the liquor I gave you last time?”ICv
okshj“Yeah. That bright red one. It was incredible. slurp.”iMr1hN
YS9At the memory of that liquor, Wagner swallowed unconsciously.x1ww
6EaHe still remembered it perfectly.PfdGhH
P7tSGares had obtained a red herb and made liquor from it.oYM
hUh6Normally, alcohol makes you drowsy.rrn34
nI0fqDjBut that one did the opposite.O9Xw
SwZVqr8As soon as you drank it, you felt energy throughout your body and your mind became clear.0Tdn
Yo80And the taste…6L4
xpSThKnThe bitter sweetness of the herb combined with the alcohol was perfect.vfMkbf
BeUaJust imagining it made his mouth water.GY7uiQc
ZR7“This time that human needs shoes. He’s stranded in a dangerous place, so he needs high-performance ones.”Jb8e
AQKIV“Did he say he’d give you alcohol if you make them?”VFD4
MUq“Not alcohol, but the herb. If you want, I’ll give you one.”lDVBQm
Q4YVv6“Oh! Then I’ll make them right away!”D94l
obCSLXThe dwarves, considering an adult Mandragora simply as an ingredient for liquor.TXprJwh
7SrKyIf Grills heard this, he would probably be outraged, but as long as they did the job well, he would let it slide.SF8qUHO
PhRFBut if others saw this, they would lose their minds seeing them treat an adult Mandragora as a mere ingredient.W25
XReQxHowever, for dwarves, the most important thing in life is alcohol.WOh
HqM7It may seem simple to others, but that is their happiness.w4rG6a9
3qMc“By the way, what is that herb called? It was bright red, it looked like medicine.”A4f
J5whYYw“They say it’s an adult Mandragora, but I’m not very sure. I just consider it a mandragora.”TGoJnN
Q27“Hmm. Mandragora liquor is already delicious, will this be better?”b2hAAJ
C0dqGK“Maybe? I heard that with just one you can make a top-tier elixir.”pfCe
RNL“Really? Then it must be very expensive, right?”u5TTY7
blaWagner frowned.4zf1TYw
DfAfAn elixir is quite an expensive item.IxiTcVo
ZGjBFor dwarves, alcohol is practically an elixir, but an elixir is still an elixir.X6Vw
CTdPQEven if he wasn’t too interested, it was inevitable that curiosity arose.6HqqLE6
HglCwE“Hic… It’s very expensive. But think about it.”jNEG2s
Ysa2ar“About what?”oddU
jNw“It’s liquor made with top-tier elixir ingredients. Can you resist that? It’s much more valuable than selling it and drinking regular beer.”xAP
f6Ah“Oh. I didn’t think it through. You really are a genius.”VsO6
CA8Xx“It’s nothing. Hic.”BXY1
TwJ9OIt may seem like they are praising each other, but that’s how dwarves are.OcV
rJzsvdOA race that loves alcohol so much it’s practically part of them.DWUN
iJYzAlthough their lifespan is longer than humans, their average life ends up being similar due to liver diseases.eBjLp
zrLWrA race where it’s impossible to find someone who doesn’t drink.4EEb
jm7u3That’s what dwarves are.8ADg
KB1Telling them to stop drinking is the same as sentencing them to death.XgKvIzA
TqIMhb“But this… is more complicated than I thought.”7mEQfuE
GUHqWagner looked at the paper Gares had given him and fell into thought.LCh45q8
MQIMGares nodded in agreement.mHvIUAx
QlV“That’s why I came to you. I don’t know anything about leather, I’m terrible at it.”XG7T
ACSnan9“Yes, but durable shoes as a base, and also waterproof? Anti-slip too? He’s basically asking for every possible function.”qYReZ
gmXa1PBeing a dwarf does not mean being an expert at everything.5Jbu
aRWihiEach one has their specialty.3Hha
h08hsGares specializes in metallurgy, Wagner in leatherwork.xBlw
GYedDPk“We’ll have to use top-quality materials. You said he’s a stranded human, right?”n1JnM7G
wCSZ58“Yes.”4T0x
zibdc“Then they also have to be very durable. If we make them like this…”gRLOof
T5aoWagner began sketching an improvised design with a pen.3yr
XimwuAs a master leather craftsman, even an improvised sketch looked refined.VtAW
ejrAq“With this, it will inevitably be heavy. Tell him he needs to keep that in mind.”ZGY9
oEq3“Alright. He’ll understand.”J0bt
NTczv9“But where the hell did that human fall to be offering an adult Mandragora?”NGkG
ndyJL“They say he fell into the Forest of Four Seasons. I don’t know much either.”lGXT39u
YhIx“Tsk… of all places.”97OD
4VSWagner had also heard of that forest.27Wowqw
rM4wE4kA place where, once you enter, you can never leave. A true labyrinth.SWvmg
cyg3Even if he gets good shoes, his chances of survival won’t increase much.jybJIKB
sORBut increasing even a little is enough.YOCkw5B
ucbMN“Do you already have the budget? Hic… How long will it take?”TbswZ
kIr646“Since I already have suitable materials, about a week…”YlXAY
6ZFxi8“Hey. Look at this.”AD4fx7
2gfs4TGares interrupted Wagner and went to fetch something.7GAOG
OPvIzbAWagner frowned, but as soon as he saw what Gares brought, his eyes widened.7HFcUhr
XQXx“T-that is…!”IbYiw
3G88NuOA glass bottle with an exotic shape, typical of the central continent.Wh17sJ
m162Narrow at the waist and wide at the top.caa
xo3And inside, a plant shaped like a human face with its mouth open.YXLp2
mFWQcAnd on top of that, a red liquid filling the entire container.yjgDW
AfbF3GwIt was the liquor Gares had made with an adult Mandragora.CgsbgD
vrQm3R5“Hic… If you reduce the time, you can drink all of this.”BV1
iAoH“C-cough… then three days…”1Iowf4n
8EeY7“And tomorrow there’s also a crab as a snack. He said he’d give it to us.”vRrzbU
1yWdHAt that, Wagner raised one finger with a serious expression.txV4IA
dxT5uca“One day.”n7dcz
lwiDx5Dwarves do not need more money.iMGRY
BXAgRAlcohol made with rare ingredients. That is everything.Eufv
Tfe8i“Good. Then we’ll drink it when you finish. If you do a mediocre job, this never existed. Keep that in mind.”vvQYG
xKm“Who do you take me for? Wait a bit. I’ll make incredible shoes.”kzHDW
vUVxPgC“Good. I trust you.”hNyA
h9c25Wagner entered the workshop to begin making the shoes.kDcZl
oBx1Gares did not go home.DHtc
3eGvKHe stayed as a supervisor and drinking companion.PrrtfJW
i5zwF83“If it’s the Forest of Four Seasons, there must be herbs better than an adult Mandragora…”65vt
2WUdHe looked at the Mandragora liquor.PTCP7ZO
QG6PuQA drink that, with just one sip, filled the entire body with energy.7uXJW
E3OWhat if they found something even better?kspujH5
XEHwQWhat if they made liquor with that?WCwcS
XstJust imagining it made his mouth water.lGeOFr
v0LfDW“Even if it’s not alcohol, it doesn’t matter. As long as it’s a snack, it works.”S4IQ
vmunThe adult Mandragora was good, but he was also looking forward to the snack.xXqDiIa
Cd3CKSMYesterday he caught a huge fish, today a crab.vqfXdfr
YYYgxBIMountain is surrounded by mountains, so they have no access to the sea.XZdZya
clVKuQThat’s why seafood is expensive, and the best option is to get it from the gallery auction.aJsWIiK
cAC0But the excessive fees make it difficult.yLpi1G
ZtT“What will he be doing now?”PWBgb
WEDJLately, he had been enjoying interacting with Grills.9SR2pC
JAKy2yAfter all, he had already received a reward for a casual favor.LNnEr0
mlwkYmuEven if it wasn’t an adult Mandragora, he found it entertaining.tO4M
s5Vkl[Honestly, lately demons make better alcohol. Fr?]n7uR6A
ijWr“What does this bastard say?”9IAn
hVrMThat, he could not let pass.U48QrDp
s73OnWWGares immediately entered the post.qVBe
UozThere were already a lot of users arguing heatedly.bKYXMH
yRWThere were especially many users reacting with fury, and it was easy to deduce that most were dwarves.fjmUQ
wKvQIBeing called short or things like that, they can tolerate it. It’s a racial trait, there’s not much to do.g7H1uW
sbFBut when it comes to alcohol, and especially fermented drinks, they do not tolerate it.FUfJgJx
uLBIsIt’s practically a trigger for their fury. A topic that appears in the gallery whenever someone gets bored.4YLmRX
sxomuiㄴSpeaking clearly, demons make tastier alcohol. They even invented cooling and freezing magic first~CMF5
RglnMㄴDwarfPassingBy) It was dwarf technology that integrated that magic into machines. Speak with knowledge.McrEZiJ
ijNㄴYeah, but without demons you wouldn’t even have refrigerators~6mpXrwC
ZwikMVGㄴDwarf alcohol, honestly, is just bitterness. Demon alcohol is sweet and tastier lolrVH0wh
ByTcgㄴDon’t you even enjoy a beer while watching sports? lol9fbAR
EiRI“Damn sons of bitches!”ehjicL
10GPBang!2CQOx
lE6KIn the end, unable to contain himself, Gares slammed the table hard.lx71
bvMQK1bAnother peaceful day in the gallery.MSrtH
KNm4a***o5i
7PF“And why is this guy having another episode?”YgFG
N3lsGrills, who had finished eating three crabs with his animal companions, was resting while browsing the Gallery.nD0MzaV
beNMWhile exploring, he entered a post with many comments and it was complete chaos.G5U
hScRz2uA typical pointless debate.GsMFi5
2wm1About whether alcohol made by demons tastes better than that of dwarves.8AUIbIj
19mpVJ‘Is it like saying industrial kimchi tastes better than homemade?’m1g
HNKwaGIf it was something like that, then he could understand the reaction.boPv
What did you think of this chapter?
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AzHar Sologuy
MortalThere were some mistakes as I read this story but they weren’t that bad so I just continued reading but this one is pretty bad as it makes it seem like he ate his companions. It should be something like he ate alongside his animal companions.
Indra
VIP Mortal TranslatorYou’re right, lol I’ve already fixed it. If you notice any other errors that are this obvious, please report them either way, I’ll be adding an option that allows readers to suggest corrections to paragraphs directly.