But Aoko is no saint. After liberating the gnome slaves, she wouldn't act like a nanny, helping them find a home or guarantee their safety.
Everything else was up to them.
Fortunately, the camp itself was a massive armory, and the duergar hadn't taken much with them in their hurried escape.
So, all kinds of weapons and armor remained.
The gnomes who could fight quickly armed themselves with this gear. Even if some pieces didn't fit, their smithing skills allowed them to modify and remold equipment at speed.
"As thanks for your help, we've decided to forge each of you a set of equipment using the adamantine forge!" Garrel Ironpincer, a gnome engineer, enthusiastically told Aoko and the others. "This way, please—follow me!"
"This Vengeance Forge was originally designed and built by us deep gnomes," Garrel explained as they walked. "But after the war was lost, we lost control, and our people became slaves..."
"But neither the drow nor the duergar knew how to use or maintain the equipment here," he continued. "That's why we've survived until now."
As they walked, everyone listened to the gnome engineer's explanation, but their minds were already captivated by this vast hidden underground industrial complex.
The gnomes' technical prowess, even by Earth standards, wouldn't be considered backward. What held them back was this world's constraints on pure technological development, forcing them to incorporate much magic into industry.
"This adamantine forge is our proudest creation," Garrel pointed to the enormous casting device suspended above the lava river. "By adjusting the molds, this forge can produce any kind of adamantine equipment!"
Upon hearing this, the most excited was Holga. As an experienced barbarian, she knew well the value of adamantine weapons and armor.
Adamantine, a rare precious metal on Toril, holds a status equal to mithril.
Its selling points are extreme hardness—far beyond steel—but also great weight, making it suitable for powerful users.
Beyond physical properties, adamantine is magically inert, meaning it resists magic to a fair degree. That's why adamantine armor is always highly sought after.
Most barbarians wear light or medium armor for mobility, but that's not why they'd refuse adamantine. If given the choice, almost any barbarian would take a custom adamantine breastplate—the real barrier is its prohibitive cost.
Xenk, the paladin, was also very interested, being a heavy armor wearer. Even his current gear included some adamantine parts, but a full set was out of reach—this was a rare opportunity he wouldn't miss.
"Look, here are the molds for all kinds of adamantine gear and weapons!" Garrel Ironpincer happily climbed over a heap of what looked like scrap industrial materials. "Just tell me what type of equipment you want, and I'll find the right mold!"
The team members immediately got excited. Even Aoko and Simon, as spellcasters, browsed the short weapon molds to pick their favorites.
As for melee specialists Xenk and Holga, they were already getting measured for custom fits by Garrel and his assistants. The most important thing for custom gear was fit, so once measured, the engineers would adjust the molds.
Xenk's was easy—he just handed them his armor for reference.
Holga's was more complicated, as she usually wore light or medium leather and cloth armor. Making her an adamantine set required more measuring and discussion.
Holga also wanted an adamantine battleaxe, different from her current looted blacksteel greataxe. She'd have to retrain and adjust to the new weapon.
Aoko, Edgin, and Simon, being spellcasters, didn't order armor, but each chose an adamantine short sword, custom-sized to their height and reach for optimal use.
Doric handed over her original bracer, which had a concealed folding slingshot. The gnomes would use its design to make her an adamantine version.
Thanks to years of hard labor and experience, the gnome engineers' skills were superb—they quickly adjusted the molds for Aoko's team and began forging.
Driven by immense power, the massive mechanical forge hammered away, and in moments, molten adamantine was cast into one-piece weapons and armor. Even Aoko, from Earth, had to admire the industrial beauty.
…
About three hours later, everyone received their brand-new adamantine equipment.
Aoko tested her adamantine short sword on a nearby stone, easily slicing it in half—proof of its sharpness and durability.
The newly equipped team was overjoyed. After bidding the gnomes farewell, they headed to the Vengeance Forge's harbor, preparing to cross the vast underground lake by boat to reach the Arcane Tower.
"I wonder what will happen to the deep gnomes now," Simon said worriedly. "The drow might retaliate against them. If they go back to their old homes, they'll likely be found quickly."
"That's a problem they'll have to face themselves," Aoko shook her head coolly. "We're not their parents. We can't solve everything for them. If they can't overcome these hardships, others will enslave or kill them eventually."
"...You're right," Xenk thought for a moment. "Sometimes, too much kindness brings misfortune."
Aoko gave him a surprised look, but it made sense—a hundred-year-old paladin had surely seen plenty of strange things. Even a paladin of the Oath of Devotion wasn't a mindless goody-two-shoes.
"Those duergar really took all the boats," Edgin said by the dock. "Not even a single raft left for us!"
"We don't need their crappy boats," Aoko said, walking to the dock's edge and pulling out a glass bottle with a sailing ship model inside. "The only thing we need to worry about are the pirates that might be on this underground lake!"