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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: What It Takes to Make Use of a Dwarf
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The hero's journey wasn't just about marching to the Demon King's Tower, fighting, and being done with it.
They battled the demonic beasts and demonkin sent by the Demon King.
They shattered the Demon King's schemes.
Along the way, they fought monsters that preyed on people.
And for the sake of public safety, they took down bandits.
All these deeds directly boosted the heroes' fame.
And turned into money. Byproducts from demonic beasts and demonkin, monster parts, bandits' loot—
Everything from one to ten was valuable, so it was only natural that mercenaries chasing fame and fortune would join in. Merchants followed suit.
But all that was ultimately just a byproduct.
The real prize was the Demon King's Tower. Demon Kings who didn't grasp the value of money had piled up treasures worth a fortune in the tower's vaults. It was a goldmine everyone dreamed of visiting at least once.
Thus, the current hero's journey was a full-fledged business venture.
The stronger the hero leading it, the higher the success rate, drawing investors and opportunistic vultures.
The name Hillun Kargil—the hero who slew the Demon King of Lust—was practically a symbol in itself.
Countless merchants offered sponsorship.
Even more mercenaries showed up, weapons in hand.
"Welcome."
"I'm Granada, captain of the Red Hawk Mercenary Corps."
"You're most welcome. Thank you all for coming here to vanquish the Demon King and uphold justice."
Granada and the Red Hawk Mercenary Corps blended into the crowd. It was their first time meeting Hillun, who personally greeted them.
Granada's first impression of Hillun was that of a 'good man.'
He never let the smile fade from his face, courteously welcoming everyone.
The gathered 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."
"Captain's right—better to come early than wait around!"
"Then quit yapping and follow orders."
A close aide to the hero led them to a tent, and the mercenaries began unpacking.
At that moment, 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, half-undressed, grumbled as they shuffled outside.
"Damn. 'A rolling stone gathers no moss,' they say, but this guy's prying out the ones we already got. Thinks he's the boss."
"Captain doesn't even get mad?"
"Endure one year, and we'll be rolling in gold. Of course I don't."
"True. Nothing heals like money."
"And who knows? Might get our hands on some cash during this hero gig too."
Granada, who had expected to quietly play the role of disguised mercenary, immediately challenged Bark to a duel after becoming a senior mercenary.
- I have no intention of serving 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 rushed him together, they were utterly crushed.
Some mercenaries regretted taking the job, but the pay was too good to refuse.
'One year, just one year. Then we're rich.'
'Damn, but he's strong, so our survival odds are higher, right?'
And so they had come this far.
And Bark wasn't fixated on just Granada.
'The real client who bought Granada. That one's even stronger.'
Wealthy and powerful. Defying such a client's commission recklessly? The potential backlash was terrifying to even consider.
'Succeed on this job, then cut ties immediately.'
Staying entangled felt like a bad idea. His instincts screamed no good would come of it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Meanwhile, left alone, Granada connected the communication. Gordon's face appeared.
"...Really?"
『Yes. The Demon King's orders are to support the hero's journey to the best of your ability. Good luck.』
"Really support them to the fullest? No other instructions?"
『None. Don't ask again—it's annoying.』
The connection cut off abruptly. Granada's brow furrowed.
"That crazy bastard..."
Then the crystal orb buzzed again.
"What now? You said to do it."
『Your tone is awfully cheeky.』
"Guh...! S-sorry!"
Granada hurriedly 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's journey.』
"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—no matter how he thought about it, aiding in beheading his master felt wrong.
"Honestly, I figured you'd have me pretend to help and then stab them in the back."
That wasn't it either.
『Do you know why the hero's journey turned out like this?』
Berge fell silent for a moment before speaking again. It dovetailed with Granada's question.
"Wasn't it always like that?"
The hero's journey had been this way since before Granada was born.
『There's no 'always' in this world. It's all because of stupid Demon Kings.』
"...Hmm."
'Aren't you one of those Demon Kings?' The retort nearly escaped.
『You know Demon Kings follow certain doctrines.』
"I've heard rumors."
『It's true. That's why things are this messed up.』
More than anyone, they clung to the canon—never leaving the tower unless kidnapped. At best, sending moderate demonic beasts to train the heroes.
Playing the mastermind, 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 currently lacked the power and forces for that. So he thought the opposite.
If you can't crush it, at least don't nurture it.
One more intent was mixed in.
『The hero's journey is the crystallization of human greed. They flock to fulfill 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 Kargil's name was larger and more expectant than before?
『I won't send demonic beasts.』
『No demonkin either.』
『No tricks at all.』
No fights, no fame to gain.
No corpses, no byproducts.
No incidents, attention wanes.
When profits shrink, what will the vultures do?
With Hillun as the focal point, maybe no major issues arise. But petty complaints or minor disputes? All gains for Berge.
Through that, he'd glimpse other 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's journey degenerates.』
"...Understood."
Granada bowed, a chill running down his spine.
'Good lord, a Demon King who knows human nature too well.'
Money. He'd struck at the hero's journey's core.
And that method...
At least to Granada, who had witnessed human greed as a slave, seemed far more effective than sending demonkin or beasts 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 deft hands. Deft hands led to metallurgy, smelting, crafting.
It was inevitable that advancing techniques merged with mana into magitech.
Contemporary dwarven tech couldn't be discussed without magitech.
"Is it difficult?"
"...Gah!"
Roger jumped at the sudden voice.
"Did I startle you? Sorry."
The princess beamed.
"...Nearly gave me a heart attack. Please be careful next time."
"I will."
'No matter how I look, I can't get used to it.'
Still, a prisoner wandering freely like this? The Demon King must have allowed it—not 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 puts my mind at ease. So, how will you design the first floor?"
"Still conceptualizing."
With mana stones, it'd be easier.
Line the entrance with traps, aim dozens of mana cannons— no hero, however great, could emerge unscathed.
But no mana as power source.
'Replace cannons with gunpowder, ballistae with classic methods, traps with...'
Alternatives to mana abounded. But would they deliver the destruction and effect the Demon King wanted?
"I see. Crude gunpowder tech won't cut it against Hero Hillun..."
"Hillun Kargil? The hero who killed the Demon King of Lust?"
"Yes."
"He's coming? You sure?"
"Not entirely."
The hero's journey had begun, but Ernyan was cut off from the outside in the tower.
Berge or Gordon weren't informing her either.
But simple deduction.
"Father dotes on me terribly. The kingdom must be in uproar, and he'll surely try to rescue me somehow."
"He'll commission the most promising hero, and Hildeラン's strongest is Hero Hillun."
"And the hero can't refuse. Because I'm the crown princess."
Ernyan was convinced.
Roger was aghast.
'Crown princess...?'
First time hearing it.
This meant Hillun Kargil 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 scratched his ear. Amid the boredom, Roger gritted his teeth at the faint contempt.
"I heard Hillun Kargil has a high chance of coming."
"Not high—he's coming. The journey's already started."
"..."
Shitty conditions, now with a deadline.
"Hillun Kargil is one of the top heroes who slew a Demon King. Building traps to stop him won't be easy."
Not just hard—nearly impossible.
"Then you lied to me. They said you were the dwarf kingdom's greatest artisan, useful, but 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—just let me use mana!"
"I ordered no mana."
No compromises.
"Heroes are more sensitive to mana and magi than anyone. Because they receive the dimension's love. Think a hero won't notice magitech using mana stones?"
"Maybe not..."
Roger timidly countered.
"The great Hero Hillun?"
"..."
Especially in the Demon King's Tower. Mana stood out sharply amid overflowing magi.
Would a hero miss that difference?
Not sense something off?
No. Even without Hillun, they'd notice something amiss.
Berge wanted no anomalies. Perfect ambushes stemmed from perfect complacency.
"B-but it's Hillun. Killing the man who beheads Demon Kings with outdated gear sans mana? Impossible."
"Your job is to make impossible possible. And I never said kill him outright."
"...B-but."
"Humans say artisans don't fuss over tools. You claimed to be an exceptional artisan, so take responsibility."
"That's human nonsense! We dwarves are pickier about tools!"
"Should I rip out that noisy mouth to quiet you?"
"Guh, no."
Roger clamped his mouth. Then opened it again.
"There's a way. Use mana, but prevent your concerns."
"Oh?"
As the Demon King looked intrigued, Roger's words sped up.
"Magitech that hides mana traces exists. If I get that..."
"Confident you can fool him? Here?"
"The tower's domain has low mana density, but not zero. I can lower it to that level. At least until they open the tower door!"
"Not bad. Where is it?"
"Uh... my workshop."
"..."
"...P-please spare me! Not plotting escape! Ack, can't breathe!"
Roger flailed his short legs in midair.