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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: What's Needed to Make Use of the Dwarf
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Hero expeditions weren't just about marching to the Demon King's Tower for a final showdown.
They fought the monsters and demons dispatched by the Demon King.
They shattered the Demon King's schemes.
Along the way, they battled monsters terrorizing civilians.
And they took down bandits to maintain public order.
All these feats directly boosted the heroes' fame.
And they brought in money. Byproducts from monsters and demons, loot from monsters, spoils from bandits—everything had value. It was only natural that mercenaries chasing fame and fortune would join in. Merchants followed suit.
But all that was just a sideshow in the end.
The real prize was the Demon King's Tower. Demon Kings who didn't grasp the value of money had piled up treasures in their tower storehouses. It was a goldmine everyone dreamed of raiding at least once.
That was why hero expeditions in Aren were essentially a business venture.
The stronger the hero leading the charge, the higher the success rate—and the more investors and opportunistic vultures flocked to it.
The name Hillun Kagil, the hero who slew the Lust Demon King, was practically a symbol in itself.
Countless merchants offered sponsorships.
Even more mercenaries showed up, weapons in hand.
"Welcome."
"I'm Granada, captain of the Red Hawk Mercenary Corps."
"We're grateful you've all come to help vanquish the Demon King and restore justice."
Granada and the Red Hawk Mercenary Corps blended into the crowd during that time. It was their first meeting with Hillun, who personally greeted everyone.
Granada's first impression of Hillun was that he was a "good man."
He never wiped the smile from his face and welcomed people with utmost courtesy.
The assembled mercenaries numbered over a hundred. The Red Hawks marveled at the massive throng.
"We haven't even hit half capacity yet, and it's already like this. Can't imagine what it'll be like later."
"The captain's right—showing up early was the smart move!"
"You heard him. Quit yapping and fall in line."
A hero's close aide guided them to their tents, and the mercenaries began unpacking.
That's when the crystal orb in Granada's pocket buzzed. It was a call from the tower.
"Step out for a bit."
"Huh? I was just about to crash."
"Out."
The mercenaries grumbled as they pulled on their clothes and headed outside.
"Damn it. 'A rolling stone gathers no moss,' they say, but this guy's kicking out the one that's already stuck. Thinks he's the boss."
"Captain's not pissed?"
"One year of this, and we're rolling in gold. Of course I'm not."
"Fair point. Nothing heals like money."
"And who knows? Might score some cash from this expedition too."
Granada had expected to lay low as disguised mercenaries, but after becoming an elite mercenary, he immediately challenged Bark to a duel.
- I have no intention of serving under someone weaker than me.
- It's just one year. Treat me as captain during that time. Otherwise, come at me.
Predictably, there was backlash, and a fight broke out.
And defeat. Not just one-on-one, but even when twenty charged together, they were utterly crushed.
Some mercenaries regretted taking the job, but the pay was too good to refuse.
'One year. Just one year, and we're rich.'
'Damn, but he's strong, so our survival odds are higher, right?'
And so they'd made it this far.
But Bark wasn't fixated on just Granada.
'The real client who bought Granada. That guy's even stronger.'
Wealthy and powerful. Defying someone like that invited terrifying repercussions just thinking about it.
'Nail this job, then cut ties immediately.'
Something told him he shouldn't get further entangled. His instincts screamed bad vibes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Meanwhile, left alone, Granada connected the communication. Gordon's face appeared.
"...Really?"
『Yes. The Demon King's orders are to support the hero expedition to the best of your ability. Good luck.』
"Really give it your all? No other instructions?"
『None. Stop asking; it's annoying.』
The connection cut off abruptly. Granada's brow furrowed.
"That crazy bastard..."
The orb buzzed again.
"What now? You said to do it."
『Your tone is awfully cheeky.』
"Guh...! S-sorry."
Granada clamped his mouth shut. He'd assumed it was Gordon, but the Demon King had shoved his face in.
『I heard you joined the hero expedition.』
"Yes. But is it really okay to help the hero?"
He wasn't thrilled, but Granada was the Demon King's subordinate.
He'd sworn on the World Tree. Aiding in beheading his master felt wrong no matter how he spun it.
"I figured you'd want me to pretend to help and stab him in the back."
That wasn't it either.
『Do you know why hero expeditions turned out like this?』
Berge fell silent for a moment before speaking again. It was unrelated to Granada's question.
"Hasn't it always been that way?"
Hero expeditions had been like this since before Granada was born.
『Nothing in this world is 'natural.' It's all because of idiotic Demon Kings.』
"...Hm."
'Aren't you one of those Demon Kings?' The retort nearly escaped.
『You're aware Demon Kings follow certain laws.』
"I've heard rumors."
『It's true. That's why things are this messed up.』
More than anyone, they clung to the Standard of the Demon King—never leaving the tower except by abduction, sending only moderate monsters to nurture heroes.
Playing the villain, stirring up trouble while scattering gold and jewels.
Stably supplying byproducts.
『Now I'm certain.』
No greater suckers existed.
『The best way to break it is to slaughter them all at the start.』
But Berge lacked the power and forces for that right now. So he thought differently.
If you can't crush it, at least stop nurturing it.
There was another motive layered in.
『Hero expeditions are the crystallization of human greed. They gather to sate their desires.』
Some chase fame, some money, some something greater.
But what if all that vanished? Or even diminished?
Especially if the crowd drawn by Hillun Kagil's name was larger and more expectant than before?
『I won't send monsters.』
『I won't send demons.』
『I won't use any tricks.』
No fights meant no fame.
No corpses meant no byproducts.
No incidents meant fading attention.
What would the vultures do when the profits shrank?
With Hillun as the focal point, maybe no major issues. But petty complaints or minor disputes? Perfect.
Berge would glimpse new possibilities, ponder new directions.
He was confident the number of heroes and mercenaries would dwindle, even if slightly.
『You will report to me in real-time on how the hero expedition degenerates.』
"...Understood."
Granada bowed, a chill running down his spine.
'My god, this Demon King knows human nature too well.'
Money. He'd struck at the root of hero expeditions.
And that method...
To Granada, who had witnessed human greed as a slave, it seemed far more effective than sending demons or monsters to interfere.
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- I'll allow anything. Build the deadliest trap you can.
- One condition.
- No mana stones. No trace of mana whatsoever.
A single condition, yet an ironclad one.
"...Hmm."
Dwarves had skilled hands. That craftsmanship led to metallurgy, smelting, forging.
It was inevitable that advancing techniques merged with mana into magitech.
Modern dwarven tech was inseparable from magitech.
"Is it difficult?"
"...Gah!"
Roger jumped at the sudden voice.
"Did I scare you? Sorry."
The princess beamed.
"...Nearly gave me a heart attack. Please be careful next time."
"I will."
'No matter how I look at it, I can't get used to this.'
A prisoner wandering freely like this. The Demon King had allowed it, so it wasn't Roger's concern.
"I'm glad you're here. There's nothing to do in this tower."
"True enough."
"You're a hero, even if captured, so it's reassuring. So, how will you design the first floor?"
"Still conceptualizing."
With mana stones, it'd be easy.
Line the entrance with traps, aim dozens of mana cannons at it—no hero could emerge unscathed.
But no mana as power source.
'Replace cannons with gunpowder, ballistae with classic mechanisms, traps with...'
Alternatives to mana abounded. But would they deliver the Demon King's desired firepower and effect?
"I see. Crude gunpowder tech probably won't cut it against Hero Hillun..."
"Hillun Kagil? The hero who killed the Lust Demon King?"
"Yes."
"He's coming? You sure?"
"Not entirely."
The expedition had begun, but Ernyan was cut off from the outside in the tower.
Berge and Gordon weren't updating her either.
But it was simple deduction.
"Father dotes on me terribly. The kingdom's probably in an uproar, and he'll do anything to rescue me."
"He'll commission the strongest hero available, and in Hildran, that's Hero Hillun."
"And he can't refuse. I'm the crown princess, after all."
Ernyan was convinced.
Roger was appalled.
'Crown princess...?'
He was hearing it for the first time.
This meant Hillun Kagil was definitely coming. And the Demon King wanted Roger to build traps to stop that monster.
Without magitech.
Roger toppled backward.
"You okay?"
"No."
He wanted to cry.
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"I must have misheard."
Berge rubbed his ear. Amid the boredom, Roger gritted his teeth at the faint contempt.
"I heard Hillun Kagil has a high chance of coming."
"Not high—he's coming. The expedition's already underway."
"..."
Crappy conditions, now with a deadline.
"Hillun Kagil is one of the greatest heroes, slayer of the Lust Demon King. Building traps to stop him won't be easy."
Not just hard. Near impossible.
"Then you've lied to me. They said you were the finest craftsman in the dwarf kingdom, useful—and now you're not. No need to keep a useless 'hero' around."
Whoosh—
Berge ignited black flames. Gordon paled.
"Mana! Allow mana, and it's possible! I'm not saying impossible—I'm asking to use mana!"
"I ordered no mana."
No compromises.
"Heroes are more sensitive to mana and magi than anyone, blessed by the dimension. Think a hero won't notice magitech mana tools?"
"Maybe not..."
Roger timidly countered.
"The great Hero Hillun?"
"..."
Especially in a Demon King's Tower. Mana stood out amid overflowing magi.
Would a hero miss that discrepancy?
Not sense the oddity?
No. Even without Hillun, they'd notice something off.
Berge wanted no anomalies. Perfect ambushes stemmed from perfect complacency.
"B-but it's Hillun. Killing the man who beheads Demon Kings with mana-less relics? Impossible."
"Your job is to make impossible possible. And I never said kill him outright."
"...B-but."
"Humans say craftsmen don't fuss over tools. You claimed to be an exceptional one, so bear that responsibility."
"That's human nonsense! We dwarves are pickier about tools!"
"Should I rip out that yapping mouth to shut you up?"
"Guh, no."
Roger sealed his lips. Then opened them again.
"There is a way. Use mana without the issues you're worried about."
"Oh?"
Berge looked intrigued, and Roger's words sped up.
"Magitech that hides mana traces exists. If we get that..."
"You're confident it can fool him? Here?"
"The tower's domain has low mana density, but not zero. We can lower it to that level. At least until they open the door!"
"Not bad. Where is it?"
"Uh... my workshop."
"..."
"...P-please spare me! I'm not scheming escape! Ack, can't breathe!"
Roger flailed his short legs in midair.