fugitives (4)
“… … what?”
The dwarf captain, who had been absent-mindedly, expressed his absurdity as if asking what he was talking about.
However, he must have been stupid enough not to understand the words that he would kill him, and soon his face turned red and he expressed his anger.
“dare!”
Quadang-!
The chair of the Dwarf captain, who had risen hastily, was slammed to the floor.
What he held in his hand was that round artifact.
“The customer I met after several or hundreds of years was happy to hang out with me, and there is no end to that insolence!”
From noble mtl dot com.
Wheein!
Like a dance of fireflies, the condensed light began to seep into the beads.
The artifact began to glow golden as if it were ready to activate.
The Dwarf captain, who had been caressing the beads with a triumphant face, soon spoke with an air of arrogance.
“I didn’t want to use this much… … How is it! If you leave this land even now, I will spare your life!”
“Hmm. Is that the source of your confidence?”
“Yeah, yes! I don’t want to see the spicy taste… … .”
… … You mean that?
Before he could finish his words, my hand moved like lightning.
puck!
“Gagging!”
The Dwarf captain, not even aware of what had happened, was blocked by something and pushed back.
The artifact that I had been holding before I knew it was rolling on my palm, and the hand that was groping in the air could not catch anything.
The Dwarf Captain’s expression changed to astonishment.
“Wait, when the hell… … !”
It rushed towards me in order to retrieve what it had stolen without my knowledge.
Like that or not, I couldn’t help laughing when I saw the artifact in my hand.
“Did you say you wouldn’t be afraid of barbarians if you had this?”
An artifact that seemed like it would release powerful power at any moment.
perseok-
It wasn’t even the operation of the Aura.
It broke lightly with just a little bit of strength in his grip.
I let out a laugh at the remains of the artifact that was crumbling into powder as if it had rotted inside.
“Did you think I would be fooled by this appearance?”
“Oh, no!”
The wreckage was blown into the air and changed to a level where the original shape could not be found.
I murmured as I approached the Dwarf captain, who had lost strength in his legs.
“There is no way the inside of an object that has endured for a thousand years will remain intact. Besides, since the artifact was made by an elf, it wouldn’t have been right to repair it.”
“Keugh!”
“Thinking about it, the outer barrier was broken more easily than I thought. Was it near the end of its lifespan?”
At least in the information I knew, there was no such thing as a barrier.
In other words, the time when they were discovered was the point at which the lifespan of the barrier was exhausted.
I trampled and twisted the remains of the artifact.
“Even in the midst of that, I will praise Man-Yong for trying to threaten me.”
… … But that’s it.
Shuuk-
“Cheak!”
The new model that trampled on hope melted into the air and disappeared.
Soon, without even giving me time to blink, my body, which appeared, violently grabbed the foreheads of the armed and hiding Dwarves.
A movement that is as natural as a flowing wave, but difficult to follow with the eye.
I pushed my face into the ears of the struggling dwarves and whispered quietly.
“I don’t remember ever allowing you to eavesdrop like a rat.”
“You, cheeky human bastard!”
“Leave this!”
swish swish!
Embarrassed.
Even if he tried to pull his body away by swinging his arms, the hand holding his face would not budge.
Without being able to do anything, except for the two who were caught in both hands, the rest of the dwarves raised their weapons with bloody faces.
“Go ahead and protect the clan!”
“A cheeky human! Don’t even dream of going back alive!”
Since the negotiations went wrong, human beings were, as always, to their detriment.
That’s why he changed his attitude like flipping his palm.
Of course, watching this, I could only shed a silly laugh.
“This is why I look like a bad guy.”
“What?!”
“Aren’t you guys the ones who chose death directly at the crossroads between life and death?”
“Profit… … ! Sophistry!”
“You think so?”
My questioning eyes don’t even shed a sneer anymore.
I lightly pushed the dwarves I was holding in my hands.
Then he hit his butt and pulled out his sword as he approached the fallen Dwarves.
“With obstinacy behind the times, even the helping hands are removed.”
jerebuck-
“I can’t stand the greed of the moment.”
“mama… … Stop it!”
jerebuck-
“You have brought great anger upon yourself.”
“sh*t! Kill!”
Whoa!
My eyes flashed when I saw the dwarves rushing in with a spirited spirit.
“The end of those guys has already been foreseen.”
────!
As soon as he finished speaking, the colorful world turned red and distorted into a hellish shape.
“Huh!”
“Hup!”
It is an illusion.
When I came to my senses, nothing had changed in the ‘world’, including the leader of those crawling on the floor.
but. If there is one thing that has changed… … .
“I-that… … .”
It was true that an ominous energy was emanating from the sword in the man’s hand.
“… … Aura Blade?”
The blazing sword shimmered like crystal, and what I thought was distorted was a phenomenon caused by the light that spread like a lighting and hit the stone wall.
Surely. Something is wrong with this.
Otherwise, there was no way the direction the sword was heading would reach them.
As soon as I realized that fact, a difficult voice leaked from someone’s mouth, as if twisting their neck.
“Run away… … .”
However, no one in this place could take a step.
moment of hasty movement. The fact that the sword would fall was self-evident.
The murderous intentions overflowing from the people in front of them were directed at them so clearly that they could be seen in their eyes.
The reason why he couldn’t move was the same as Roder, who came running late after hearing the commotion.
‘Nonsense!’
It is an unprecedented power that I saw that day.
In just a few seconds, the power that made him feel an unfamiliar feeling of awe.
But now I could clearly understand.
The fact that the true identity of the power he had been in awe of was not something that could be expressed with the shallow word of presence.
Either that or not, I approached the captain of the dwarves who were frozen.
“You were like that. If you don’t give me 20% of the ore share to be mined, I will never cooperate.”
“Live… … .”
“Why should I? Is there any reason not to?”
Trying to provide them with a place to live was an act of risking confusion from the start.
Taking a dwarf in this situation where the existence of mithril is complicated?
I don’t know how great the gains would be, but it was true that the risks I had to take were greater than any other option.
“It was a consideration for you guys who ran away from humans to even offer a share in the mine. Having my legs cut off and being taken advantage of has nothing to do with me, and I just didn’t have to harm Esteban.”
It’s not enough just to take risks and prevent a disastrous future, it gives them freedom and even ‘ore’ to use as they wish.
The ‘compensation’ that went beyond fairness I said was the same as saying that I would take responsibility for their future.
“Still, if you are blinded by your clumsy greed and try to eat using my consideration, I have no choice but to push ahead with the best plan.”
I grinned.
“And unlike what you did, this isn’t a threat. It really has nothing to do with how it goes.”
The best solution, not the second best solution.
It’s just a difference in efficiency, given the time, any artisan who can handle mithril can be fostered.
So, killing them and reducing the risk could have been better than appeasement.
“Ah ah ah ah ah… … !”
There was despair in his eyes.
I can’t resist. I shouldn’t have been forced to do it from the start.
That human being here really had no interest in the safety of his clan, and was only moving in the direction he thought was right.
And what he did was the worst way to drive his family to death because of his desire.
“Boo, please… … I am responsible for all this… … .”
If left as it is, the end of the clan will lead to catastrophe.
Even though his whole body was trembling with fear, he tried to make up for his mistake somehow.
All he could do was lie flat and finish with his own hands.
“Please save me, at least the other clan… … .”
“Please save me?”
“I will take all responsibility, so please… … !”
“good.”
There was no reason to kill them.
Precisely, it means that there is no need to kill them right away.
I took a step back and suppressed the overflowing aura.
“I’ll let you live as long as you want. I don’t need your worthless life.”
“Thank you!”
I called out George, who had been watching the situation with interest from behind.
“Is there a problem.”
“Contact the Knights of the Sun and tell them to organize the temporary barracks.”
“Hmm. Are you going back now?”
“okay. Before the savages notice the strange smell, quickly move to Esteban.”
“Wait a minute!”
That moment. The Dwarf captain jumped up and cut off the conversation.
I tried to swallow the rising irritation and asked back briefly.
“what?”
“You mean you’re leaving like this? If so, what should our family do… … .”
“You want me to live? So you’re going to save me.”
“Ha, but… … As you said, if we go on like this, our clan will be in danger!”
ha.
I put my sword in and bent my leg.
Soon, I met him at eye level and personally explained it so that he could understand.
“Does your safety have anything to do with me?”
“What is that… … .”
“No defense? That’s a problem for you guys to solve, it has nothing to do with me.”
I raised the corner of my mouth and laughed at it to the fullest, then added.
“Keep in mind that only letting you live is my last consideration.”
“… … I will make a contract. No, I will do anything, so please save our clan.”
“You mean you will follow us?”
“exactly.”
“Very, Captain!”
“Hoo.”
The Dwarf captain asked for a contract with a spleen look on his face.
Now that the barrier is broken and there is no other means left. They seem to have realized that if we leave, the only future left is tragedy.
Even that, knowing that if time was delayed, there would be no chance left, so now it was pride and nabal, and it was of no use.
Of course, it is impossible to pick up spilled water.
“The threat is Sutlni, that you will come and beg for help? It’s a very comfortable way to live.”
“… … If it is for the clan to survive.”
“Well, it’s not like it was rotten at all.”
I shrugged.
The fact that he tried to forcibly revise the terms of the contract was for the sake of the uncertain future of the clan.
“good. If you say so, I’ll do whatever you want. But for now, it’s better to realize your situation.”
My hand, which had stopped in front of his face, slowly opened.
It was three fingers, the thumb and index finger.
“I have no intention of enslaving you guys. Sufficient compensation and fair trade are the virtues of a ruler in my opinion. However, it is not until the situation is like this that we cannot sign a contract on the previous terms.”
“That, that… … .”
“3% of the ore you guys dug up. This is the final condition I can offer.”
From noble mtl dot com.
The captain of the dwarves forced himself to breathe.
This is significantly lower than the 5% originally proposed.
It was not 3% of the entire mine, but 3% of the ore the clan dug up.
Even so, the words that would come out of his mouth had already been decided.
“… … Thank you for the last mercy.”
He hurriedly nodded his head as if he were being chased.
okay. As he guessed, this was their last chance.
A rotten rope that you should try to catch if you had an idea.
I looked down at the dwarf captain in silence, then turned and went outside.
“Bring the Sun Knights into the canyon. Negotiations were successful.”
“Oh, a harvest like this would upset His Highness.”
George adjusted his glasses and took out the magic orb.
“What can I tell you? Anything is fine, so you want me to shake it off?”
“… … You will need additional training. You still use vulgar words on the subject of working as an aide to a prince.”
It wasn’t a single mistake.
The weapons that adorned the castle splendidly, as well as all the dwarves standing there.
Because everything was up to us to fulfill the contract.
That was the price of arrogance for daring to go against me.
* * *
“This is such a large amount… … !”
The items that the Dwarves had made were so large that even if they were lined up in front of the empty wagon the Sun Knights had brought, they would be left over for a long time.
Even though the poor quality ones weren’t on the list in the first place.
A knight stuck out his tongue while looking at a sword that had not even received attention.
“… … Even though it’s better than my sword, it’s just thrown away… … .”
“That means that the things on the wagon are great.”
It was to the point where I wanted to change it right away. If not, pack it in your personal gym bag and put it away.
Like scooping up a handful of sand on a sandy beach, it was clear that it would not show even the slightest hint of it.
However, Prince 1 left a note with a cold expression on the knights who were to collect the goods.
-If even one person takes advantage of it, you won’t be able to see the fun.
The word not to go against the first prince came to the advance party as if it were a trustworthy request, so there was no great knight who dared to step forward and risk it.
In the first place, those who voluntarily took charge of the battle at the forefront were not greedy.
The eyes of the knights who were carefully arranging their items turned to the other wagon.
“… … A real dwarf.”
“They’re the ones who only appeared in children’s books.”
“Such little bastards can make such high-end equipment?”
Fifty dwarves with haggard faces laid their bodies in the wagon.
According to the first prince, it seemed that they were all the dwarves hiding in the land of the barbarians.
“I thought it was a thousand people because it was a clan.”
“Because I’m still a dwarf… … .”
“Well, but why do they say they are dead? Vice-captain didn’t tell me anything.”
“… … well? Are you sad to leave your beloved land? Or maybe it’s time for them to sleep?”
“I heard that it might be. You are different from humans.”
anyway.
The first prince, who acquired the dwarves he thought had disappeared and the best weapons as spoils of war through this expedition, was no different from making a profit that was incomparable to the victory of any other war.
And this will be a thing that puts wings on the shoulders of the first prince who has been taking unconventional steps.
The knights’ expressions began to recall.
“Aren’t we supposed to tie a rope to the first prince right now?”
“Arthur. What kind of politics would a front-line knight like us get involved in?”
“It’s not like that, but I want to improve my treatment because I look good. To be honest, you know how much injustice we suffer from.”
“… … is it?”
It was just a family, but it was a happy enough imagination.
Unlike the Royal Family Guardian Knights, it was true that they were not treated well despite fighting at the forefront.
“In case you don’t know, His Highness may directly take care of our swordsmanship.”
The knight hummed a song and began to organize his weapons.
“Anyway, we just need to return safely from this expedition. The ball has already been won.”
The many battles that took place to come here.
It was a hard time for both the advance team and the second team, but in the end, they obtained a major that was incomparable to anything else.
To the extent that he was not afraid of the barbarian warriors he would encounter on the way back.
Their chatter continued until everything was sorted out.
Meanwhile.
“It looks hot over there.”
I shrugged at George’s words and walked away.
“What are you going to do with the things you leave behind?”
“I’m going to bury everything as planned. Not even a single dagger was left behind.”
“It’s a Dwarven treasure house with hundreds of years of history.”
“These guys are destined to be stuck in a corner of the palace storage anyway.”
The splendid and good things I brought this time were for the purpose of showing off the achievements of this expedition.
Throwing it away was an investment for the future.
‘Because you don’t know how things in the world will go.’
If the barbarians were a device to divert the attention of the Federation Empire, this too could one day work that way.
A place where the dwarves have made weapons for hundreds of years.
It can be said that it fulfills its role as a bait just by letting the position flow properly.
said George, licking his lips.
“Did you already know?”
“… … .”
“That the dwarves need a new home. And that he would ruin the negotiations by being greedy. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have concealed Mithril’s information.”
“Thinking is freedom.”
“It’s fine.”
I opened the wooden door and went inside.
Waiting there was the captain of the dwarves, his head covered in regret and despair.
When he saw that I had entered, he shuddered for a moment, then bowed his dying face and bowed.
The relationship between the superiors and subordinates was now clear, and I approached him with a grin.
“Get up from your seat.”
“… … I see.”
Courtesy must have been firmly planted in his head, and he listens to words straight away.
As I watched him scramble to get up, I pondered over my conversation with George.
‘Did you know?’
Of course I knew.
from the beginning… … To be exact, from the moment I entered the land of barbarians.
That would be too. They acted this way both to the savages who came to this land and to the Federation Empire that captured them.
“Take it out.”
“yes.”
At my command, George sighed and pulled a piece of paper from his bosom.
… … It was a contract in which tiny words were strewn about.
The Dwarf Captain’s face turned dark as if he had given up on his upcoming fate.
“You must think that you can break a contract that is only a façade. Just like in the past.”
I spoke before I even got an answer.
“Well, I know that it doesn’t work.”
Jjiik-
Fragments of the contract that were about to be written flew into the air, disturbing the Dwarf captain’s eyes.
He asked with more anxious eyes.
“Gye, are you thinking of revising the terms of the contract again? You want to enslave us?”
“no.”
I won’t make you a slave
I could have violated it with just empty words, but the ‘ritual’ I’m going to do from now on will make my thoughts transparent.
“… … !”
I got up from my seat and drew my sword.
Then, after placing the blade in the palm of his hand, he moved the sword lightly as if holding a violin bow.
For a moment, a terrifying sensation spread through his palms, and soon drops of blood fell to the floor.
“I don’t believe in that contract, neither do I. There is no coercion.”
“… … .”
“That’s just a convention to show on the outside.”
okay. What I wanted was a colleague to go with for one purpose, not a swindler trying to stab me in the back.
As I said that, I stretched out my hand dripping with blood and grabbed his forehead.
“Did you say you would take all the responsibility? If it’s a fairy contract, you’ll understand, right?”
“What the hell is that… … .”
A trembling voice flowed from the mouth of the Dwarf captain who belatedly pondered the contents of the conversation.
“This, how a human can do that!”