NOVPUBDespite his excitement at the news of the dwarves’ arrival, Ghislain couldn’t help but grumble.
“They finally made it! Let’s see how many they brought for it to take this long.”
Recently, small issues had been subtly delaying his schedule.
He had accounted for such delays by making the plan tight from the start, but with time running short, the constant obstacles were beginning to grate on his nerves.
Ghislain immediately set out to meet the slavers.
“It’s been a while, my lord.”
The slaver greeted him with a weary face.
Given the price of the slaves, the journey had been nerve-wracking to the point where the slaver could barely sleep.
On top of that, Ghislain had constantly pushed for updates, which had driven the slaver to the brink of madness.
Ugh, I wonder how much more he’s going to pressure me next time.
This wasn’t the last deal either. The thought of being hounded again during future deliveries made the slaver feel faint.
Ghislain gave a brief acknowledgment of the greeting before quickly checking on the dwarves.
“Oh...”
There were about a hundred dwarven slaves.
They were short but boasted sturdy physiques, surveying their surroundings with sullen expressions.
The slaver, in a concerned tone, asked,
“Are you sure you’ll be able to control them? Dwarves don’t just wield hammers for forging. Having this many gathered could be dangerous.”
At the moment, they were all shackled, but eventually, those restraints would have to come off for them to work.
The slaver was worried about the potential danger of so many dwarves rebelling with weapons in hand.
However, Ghislain waved him off with a nonchalant expression.
“Don’t worry, we’ll handle it.”
The slaver looked around in confusion at Ghislain’s relaxed response.
Can the forces of this territory really control them?
But what he saw of the Fenris knights was bizarre.
“Cough, cough!”
“Ugh...”
The knights were so emaciated, they looked more like skeletons than soldiers. Some were coughing violently, with blood trickling from their noses.
They all appeared sickly. It seemed more like a gathering of invalids rather than a military force.
Is this lord... a necromancer?
They looked like corpses raised from the dead, just as you’d imagine.
The slaver was now convinced that his trading company’s forces could easily take over this territory.
I wonder if I’ll even get paid properly. Is this place about to collapse?
Feeling uneasy, the slaver hurriedly asked,
“My lord, is the payment ready?”
“Of course. I don’t shortchange anyone.”
Ghislain calmly gestured to Claude, who opened a massive chest filled with gold coins.
The slaver quickly grabbed a few to confirm they were real, then loaded the chest onto his cart.
“Thank goodness. Well, I’ll be on my way.”
“Don’t go too far. I expect you to come back sooner next time.”
“Yes, yes. I’ll do my best to hurry next time.”
The slaver replied sincerely.
Judging by the state of those so-called knights, this place is doomed. Not even the Marquis of Branford could protect such a failing territory. I’d better collect the remaining payment quickly before this whole place collapses.
Still, as Ghislain was a major client, the slaver offered one piece of advice before leaving.
“The dwarves are extremely proud. Although they’re legally slaves, you can’t treat them carelessly, as I’m sure you know.”
Ghislain nodded in agreement.
“I know. They’re tough to handle.”
“You’ll need to provide quality food and consistent access to alcohol. They won’t move otherwise; they’re very particular.”
Though technically slaves, dwarves were rarely treated harshly, even by nobles.
Some masters held their families hostage and treated them cruelly, but most sought to appease them.
Their high value played a part, but more importantly, disgruntled dwarves wouldn’t produce quality goods.
Dwarven-crafted weapons and artifacts fetched astronomical prices, and workshops managed by dwarves had incredible productivity.
It was more beneficial to treat them well and receive high-quality goods in return.
“Well then, I’ll be off. The next delivery might take five or six months.”
“What? Why so long?”
“That’s already expedited. Many are after elf slaves. Even moving one elf cautiously takes time, as you know.”
“Tch. Try to speed it up as much as you can. I’ll be away for a while, and I’d like them here by the time I return.”
“...When will you be back?”
“I’m not sure. Depends on how things play out. But you’ll know when the time comes. You’ll hear some surprising news by then.”
Surprising news? What could that be? That the territory is falling apart?
The slaver mocked him inwardly but bowed deeply. Ghislain’s words only strengthened his resolve to collect the remaining payment as soon as possible.
Watching the slaver hurry away, Ghislain smirked.
“Look at him rushing off. Did he figure out we plan to take over the Kavaldi territory? People dealing with large sums of money sure catch on fast.”
“That’s probably not the reason...”
Claude, like the slaver, glanced around at the skeletal figures coughing up blood.
“My lord, don’t forget our bet. If the novice knights can’t use mana, we won’t go to war.”
“Yeah, yeah. Stop talking and get back to work. You promised to prepare diligently until we know the results.”
Ghislain, irritated, waved his hand toward the dwarves.
“Get those shackles off them. There’s a mountain of work to do.”
As the dwarves’ restraints were removed, they stretched their bodies with disinterest.
The dwarf at the front, sporting a thick beard, scoffed and said,
“The lord’s young, huh? Seems fearless. The forces look weak; are you sure it’s okay to release us like this?”
Ghislain tried to suppress his excitement upon recognizing the dwarf.
It’s been a while, legendary blacksmith. Longevity sure does you well. You look just like you did in my past life.
In his previous life, when disaster struck the continent, this very dwarf had helped Ghislain a great deal. 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝘤𝘰𝑚
Knowing the dwarf’s skills, Ghislain had specifically requested the slavers bring him along.
However, there was no benefit in showing familiarity here.
If the dwarves saw him as a lunatic, it wouldn’t be too bad, but if they pegged him as a pushover, handling them would become far more difficult.
Ghislain smirked and responded provocatively,
“What? Want to test me?”
“Well... Considering our status as slaves, it’s probably best not to cause trouble. But running off into the mountains doesn’t sound too bad. Judging by the state of things, I could probably take everyone down myself.”
Before Ghislain could reply, one of the knights stepped forward.
This knight was responsible for the lord’s protection, filling in for Gillian and Kaor in the training grounds.
“You insolent slave! How dare you speak like that to our lord! Kneel and apologize, or—Cough! Ugh!”
The knight, a former mercenary, collapsed mid-sentence, coughing up blood and dropping to his knees. He had tried to assert his authority as a knight but was still too unwell.
“...”
The dwarves said nothing, merely glancing around. Something was definitely off about this territory.
Ghislain massaged his temples and sighed.
“...Take him away to rest.”
As the knight was carried off, Ghislain continued as if nothing had happened.
“You know it’s pointless to run away. If word gets out that non-human slaves have escaped, slavers will hunt you down. It’s better to stay here and live comfortably, don’t you think?”
“...”
The dwarf had no rebuttal. Ghislain was right. The continent had long since become the domain of humans.
There were rumors of non-humans living in isolated areas, but in the Rutania Kingdom, humans ruled everything.
It was impossible to hide from human eyes here. Even if they fled to another kingdom, they wouldn’t know where their fellow non-humans were hiding, leaving the outcome the same.
The dwarf clicked his tongue in frustration and grimaced.
“Your mind works quickly. Running would only hurt us, I admit. But working hard is another story. The quality of work depends on how we’re treated. Judging by this place, I doubt we’ll be treated well.”
His pride as a dwarf shone through.
Amused by his stubbornness, Ghislain asked,
“Galbarik, are you the leader now?”
“Hmm? How do you know my name... Oh, you must’ve seen the list. Anyway, yes, I’m the leader for now.”
It was simple enough to become a leader among dwarves—just be the most skilled.
In his previous life, Galbarik had earned the title “legendary blacksmith,” so Ghislain had expected him to take charge. And he wasn’t wrong.
Ghislain raised a finger and said,
“Ten years.”
“What about ten years?”
“If you cooperate fully with me for ten years, I’ll grant the dwarves their own autonomous zone within the territory and free you from your slave status. You’ll be able to live freely as citizens. How’s that for motivation?”
It was a bold offer. Freeing dwarves purchased at an astronomical price wasn’t something just anyone would do.
And ten years was a short time for dwarves, who lived much longer than humans.
It was an offer any enslaved dwarf would long for.
But Galbarik scoffed at Ghislain’s proposition.
“Are you starting a slave liberation movement or something? Do you really think that’s possible?”
“I’m the lord here. If I say it’s possible, it is.”
“You think you’re the first human to make promises like that? We’re not falling for empty words anymore.”
Ghislain remained unfazed by Galbarik’s sharp retort.
“Even if I’m lying, the worst that happens is that things stay the same. But there’s no harm in trusting me. There’s a saying, ‘Fortune favors the faithful.’”
“Hah, what nonsense...”
Galbarik let out a hollow laugh at Ghislain’s brazen reply before gritting his teeth.
“Stop talking nonsense. We’re slaves. The kingdom’s laws define us as such. Do you think a small-time lord like you can change how the entire kingdom views us?”
“Oh, the kingdom’s laws? Those? They’re just rules made by people. If necessary, we’ll change them. I’ll take care of everything. I’ve never broken a promise.”
It was a statement that could be considered treasonous if overheard. Galbarik, startled, glanced around.
The people near the lord were all looking up at the sky, as if used to their master’s outrageous declarations.
Is this guy crazy?
Ghislain shrugged, noticing Galbarik’s confusion.
Since he intended to go to war with the Duke’s family anyway, he would likely have to overturn the kingdom itself.
Changing a few minor laws along the way wouldn’t be a problem.
“Of course, I know you don’t believe me yet, and you’re not convinced. So, I’ll sweeten the deal with another offer.”
“What’s that?”
“Aren’t you tired of making the same things every day?”
“I am, but...”
Nobles typically forced dwarves to create luxurious items solely for their own display.
For dwarves, who valued both artistry and practicality, this was nothing short of torture.
Some even preferred being locked in workshops, mass-producing gear for knights and soldiers instead.
Without the chance to create new things, inspiration dwindled. Eventually, most dwarves lost their passion and lived each day with little motivation.
But what could they do? The world was what it was.
Ghislain hit on that exact point.
“And it’s all pointless stuff anyway. Just fancy trinkets. Isn’t it boring?”
“So, what do you want? To make weapons instead of luxury goods?”
Galbarik glanced at the knights, frail and coughing, and asked.
“They could certainly use better gear.”
Making weapons and armor was far more satisfying than crafting useless decorative items.
After all, watching a knight gain fame using a weapon you forged was one of the joys of a craftsman.
The dwarves seemed to share a similar thought, as faint, bitter smiles crossed their faces.
Ghislain nodded a few times.
“Of course, you’ll make plenty of arms and armor. But that’s not all.”
“What else?”
Ghislain pointed to his head and smiled.
“I’ve got lots of interesting ideas up here. Things the world has never seen before. You’ll be satisfied when you see them.”
