****(POV)

"Sir, is the bath at the right temperature?

Sir, do you have enough beers in there?

Sir, do you want me to wash your back?

Sir, do you need me to-"

"Shut the fuck up!!! Let me have a goddamn moment of peace and quiet! Now leave!"

Finally! I swear every one of them is on edge nowadays! Well, it's not often that we have to choose a champion amongst us. It is bound to make a few stressed.

Still, this is something that will be the culmination of all our lives' work. There is no way freaking out will help even a tiny bit. I am sure my opponents are doing the very same as me. Well, not necessarily taking baths. But we all have our own way to cope with the stress.

Knowing the others, one is probably training right at the moment. As for the other, he's probably doing a long speech about how his clan will prevail and all. Meanwhile, I'm just huddling alone in the water.

This place is connected directly to earth fire. The liquid around me is boiling, it is the best!

I raise my cup and take a swing, the mellow aftertaste titillating my taste buds. Some dwarves say that only the hardest of liquor should be enjoyed. I say they are wrong.

Oh, don't misunderstand me. There is glory in being able to handle one's alcohol. But such a thing is how you go bankrupt fast.

You can't always go to your limit. I'd rather be drinking a bit all day long than drink all at once and be out of my precious drinks.

"Ah…this is peace. This is life…."

*Knock, knock, knock*

Is it me or..?

What is that noise?

The clanging of metal on metal is something I am used to. This sound is always present. No, this one is special. It seems to be ...someone thumping on rocks?

I don't remember approving any construction project as of late. Even if I did they would wait after the challenges to do it. This is definitely weird. But still, I guess I can just ignore it. For all I know, it's a ploy from my opponents to distract me.

*Knock, knock, knock*

Yet it is not stopping. I am simply drinking surrounded by the soothing heat. I won't even get mad. I won't even care haha.

*Knock, knock, knock*

Keep going! My mind is as steady as still-fire. Hmm, why does it sound like it's becoming louder? Am I going crazy?

*Knock, knock, crumble*

*Plop, plop, plop*

What the hell?! There are rocks falling off the ceiling?! Right into the water! What is happening?

*SPLASH!*

That's when there is an explosion of debris above and a boulder falls directly in the water.

"AH! This is so damn hot! Even the vapor!*

A screaming…human?! He seems to be hovering above the water using magic. Some colorless one. Null-magic! Then he slowly reaches the solid ground farthest away from the heat.

What is a human doing here?! No, there is something worst. I can feel it, he isn't a Null-mage. No, his aura is one of destruction.

This man was able to easily fly with a magic that isn't his specialty at all. I'm currently naked and unarmed…actually I have a beer in my hand. What should I do?

That's when the mage turns around toward the water. He isn't looking at me at all.

"How's the water?"

[Amazing!]

Wait! There is someone else. A naked human. One that is grinning. I see he came here voluntarily; he knew this was a hot spring.

Still, why are these guys here? How can the human tolerate such heat with his skin directly? Wait…is he even drinking some?!

That's when he turns toward me. He looks straight at my face, with a predatory gaze. One that can only mean one thing. I am his target!

Who sent him? Is this only an attack against me? Is it an assassination targeting my clan? There are so many unknowns.

*Splash, Dash!*

Damn, he's fast! But no matter, I'm faster! No one fucking assassinates a proud dwarven clan leader! When he'll strike I'll use my shorter height to dive under his attack.

After that, I'll strike him in the lower half. Possibly disable him for a few seconds. After that, I need to promptly choke him. I'll go behind him and squeeze hard.

I still need to be careful about the mage on the other side. He seems old and harmless at first glance but these are usually the mages one needs to be careful of.

The pompous and arrogant young mages are the ones that tend to screw up the most. The old ones are deadly.

There it goes! He's in front of me, now….why isn't he attacking?! Is he trying to catch me off guard? Is the mage the one that will start the onslaught? That'd be bad.

If the mage starts attacking me this man will be able to attack me while I dodge. Same thing if I rush toward the old man. I'd be leaving my back fully exposed! These guys are professionals!

There is a good chance they will proceed to toy with me until I am finished. I still have one card to play, however. Right now we are in dwarven territory. I'll just scream for help. Then it will be a race against time. I'll have to somehow survive long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

Here goes nothing …

[Do you have more of that?]

What?!

[Got any more beer?]

"Eh?"

[Is that not beer? Smells like it. Honestly, probably the best one I've seen in this world. So, do you have more?]

That…his target is the alcohol…?! Is it a bluff to disrupt me?

"Why are you guys here?"

[Eh, I'm coming from the Village of the End, there is something I need.]

"Wait?! These are allies! You aren't here to assassinate me?!"

[Nope, why would I be? Also wouldn't we have attacked you already if we were assassins?]

Ah, that makes sense. Yeah, so much for all the tactical mind games. He's just thirsty. Ah, I guess the mage just went away because it's really hot here.

"It's scorching here! Can we go somewhere else?! I'm not a dwarf or invincible!"

Invincible? Is this naked human some kind of bigshot? There are so many questions remaining. For now, I'll just be a good host and be happy that they are not here to cause trouble.

"Welcome to the City in the Mountain!"