The Dwarf Who Loved Explosions
"I'll speak plainly."
Berneval's gaze toward Ho-yeong wavered slightly.
"Joren, I like you. You already owe me my life once, and I’m interested in that cannon and artillery plan you talked about too. If it were up to me, I’d like to follow you to that domain of yours. There are plenty of minerals there, and precious gems too. Truth be told, it’s tempting."
"Then what seems to be the problem? Are you worried about the monsters in Tamer territory?"
"Listen here. When I go somewhere, I don't worry about whether there'll be monsters. I worry about whether there won't be any."
Berneval grew hot just hearing the word worry.
"Haha. The more I hear, the more impressive you are. Then why?"
The magnificent dwarf let out a short sigh.
"Thing is, I can't stand being under somebody else. Funny, isn't it? But what can I do when that's just how I'm built?"
Ho-yeong listened without answering.
"I'm not exactly an expert on human society, but I've wandered around enough to know a thing or two. If I enter a noble's service and become a vassal or whatever, then I'd have to swear loyalty and bow my head and all that, right? I don't have the confidence for that. More precisely, I'm worried I'd lose my temper and end up offending you."
Berneval wore a pained expression.
"You needn't worry about that. I'm not trying to make you my vassal."
"Wh-what? Then you want a mercenary contract or something? I don't care much for that either. At the end of the day, I'd still be a hired man, wouldn't I?"
"No. I'd like to take you on as an advisor to the Tamer household."
"An advi...sor?"
The lord of the Tamer household nodded vigorously.
"As an advisor for weapons, especially the making of artillery and shells. There would be no master-servant relationship between us. No, if anything, you'd be my superior...or rather, you'd be in the position of a teacher to me."
"A teacher?! Good heavens. Are you serious? You want to take me on as a teacher? You're not making a fool of me, are you?"
Berneval looked stunned. A human noble asking to hire him as an advisor, him of all people, a man known among dwarves as a troublemaker.
"Are you maybe saying it fancy just so you can put me to work shoveling dirt? I'll say this clear. I'm interested in your cannon plan, but I have no intention of getting involved in construction or mine development or that sort of thing."
"Come now. Why would I make a skilled craftsman do manual labor? That would be a waste of talent."
At the word craftsman, spoken by Ho-yeong, Berneval was struck with a deep shock. No one had ever called him that before.
Madman, bomb nut, dwarf lunatic. Those were the names he had been given.
"He said he brought drinks and snacks. Maybe you should wet your throats while you talk."
Peach returned at just the right moment.
"Krr... this dark beer, it's from Gallia?"
"Yes. If it's dark beer, doesn't it have to be from Gallia?"
"You do know how to treat a dwarf."
"Please try some of the meat too."
After tasting the smoked meat from the mandragorani, his mouth fell open as well.
"Damn. I thought I was the only lunatic in the world eating monster meat, but this guy's got some real skill."
"It tastes good, doesn't it? We're just getting started. Peach, could you bring some jokbal too? After you drop it off, go take a break."
Ho-yeong caught the scent of a familiar person in the unfamiliar dwarf.
This guy's just like Assistant Manager Bae from the logistics center. The way he talks, his personality, even his face.
He was the sort of coworker you just clicked with. His favorite side dish had been jokbal too.
"Whoa. What in the world is this? Is this mandragorani feet? Are you out of your mind? No matter how you look at it, who eats feet?"
"Try it. If it tastes bad, I'll take responsibility."
"Fine, I'll let you trick me. If it's bad, I'll beat you up."
The jokbal was made by boiling mandragorani legs and vegetables until tender, then simmering the meat in soy sauce until it turned soft and glossy.
"...Joren. If I follow you as your advisor, can you grant me one condition?"
After one bite, Berneval wore a grave expression.
"Just say the word."
"The things I'm eating now... can you keep serving them?"
Ability level increased! The passive skill Influence has jumped from level 6 to 8.
The Border Count, having conserved his EP, smiled faintly.
"Tamer territory welcomes Berneval Luntin."
* * *
"You've had a rough time, Border Count."
"Think nothing of it, Vice-Commander. I'm still a very junior knight, so please speak comfortably."
Ho-yeong stood before the holy knights who had come down from the capital.
"I cannot. You are a noble appointed by His Majesty the King. Still, I must say I am deeply disappointed in the scouts. If they had recognized the monsters' movements more quickly, none of this tragedy would have happened."
Demis Ezef, the holy knight who handled both aura and divine power. Ho-yeong knew him well. He had played him many times in the game.
Demis Ezef ★★★★☆
[ Stats | Grade | Base Value ~ Max Value ]
Martial Power S: 87 ~ 90 (Dragon Sword-level swordsman)
Intelligence B+: 71 ~ 73
Mana X: 0 ~ 0
Divine Power S: 91 ~ 93
Charm C: 30 ~ 32
Leadership S: 90 ~ 93
Mental Strength S: 92 ~ 95 (quirk: excessive loyalty)
Edification F: 0 ~ 1 (He regards the Guardian favorably, but as things stand, the chance of him becoming a vassal is close to zero.)
*Background*
A first-generation knight serving as vice-commander of the holy knights.
Meticulous in all things, he is forever telling his subordinates, "The vice-commander is disappointed in you all." Whether there has ever been a day he was not disappointed, no one knows.
Legend has it that when he was still a cadet, he once said, "I am disappointed in the instructor. Please intensify the training."
Damn, those stats are insane. A Dragon Sword-level swordsman.
According to the game's setting, the ranks for swordsmen in the Kain Kingdom went like this.
Wood Sword -> Stone Sword -> Bronze Sword -> Iron Sword -> Famous Sword -> Treasure Sword -> Dragon Sword -> Heaven Sword -> Holy Sword -> Divine Sword.
At Dragon Sword rank, you were practically a continent-class swordsman.
Ho-yeong admired the first five-star mark and the S-rank stats.
Hmm... even if I try to edify him, it'd probably be useless. His loyalty to the king is too high. Such a shame, really.
In the game, Demis was a superb tank and damage dealer, the kind of hero who could hold back several enemies alone.
"No, if we had arrived sooner... ."
"I am disappointed in you as well, sir knight."
"Pardon?"
"A knight capable of directing troops with such swift judgment, yet you would choose to idle away your time in the borderlands. Why do you not seek to accomplish something greater for the kingdom?"
Demis rebuked him with a stern expression.
"I have my reasons as well... In any case, I'll leave the rest to the holy knights. Please take good care of them."
"Hold on. I was sent here as a messenger as well."
Demis stopped Ho-yeong as he tried to leave now that his work was done.
"A messenger?"
Anyone who could use the vice-commander of the holy knights as a messenger would be...
Only Queen Daisy.
"His Majesty has granted the Border Count supplies and funds."
"F... funds?"
"Her Majesty was greatly satisfied with the Border Count's repeated accomplishments. Border Count Joren Tamer, receive the queen's words."
Ho-yeong quickly knelt.
"Her Majesty has spoken."
'You did not disappoint me after all. I hope you will take Tamer territory as a bastion and protect the people of this land from the vile monsters. I grant 2,000 gold to the soldiers and servants of Tamer territory; distribute it well among those who have served with merit.'
Ho-yeong took the pouch of gold coins with trembling hands.
"You're disappointed there isn't more?"
"W-who would say that?"
He stood up awkwardly, hiding his grimace.
In the end, it meant nothing more than: go sit in the remote borderlands and work hard at defending your little territory.
* * *
The Border Count's party left the village of Bojedo, which had been attacked by trolls.
Several boys, inspired by their exploits, said they wanted to follow them.
"No. You're too young."
In other words, Ho-yeong had rejected them all because their stats were garbage.
I thought I might be able to recruit a mage, too. Tch.
He had defeated both branches of the choice point, trolls and gremlins alike, yet no mage appeared, and he felt a stab of disappointment.
"Um... Border Count-nim."
A cautious voice called out to the Border Count.
"Hm? You are?"
A girl with light green hair and eyes, reminiscent of melons, stood there holding a mage's staff. Her robe, split into several petal-like ends like lily of the valley bells, was as white as her face.
"I... I'm Meyril. You saved my life yesterday, Border Count-nim. Thank you so much!"
The girl bowed shyly.
Meyril ★★★☆
[ Stats | Grade | Base Value ~ Max Value ]
Martial Power F: 7 ~ 8
Intelligence A: 82 ~ 85
Mana C?: 1 ~ 111 (Specialty: weather magic)
Charm B: 63 ~ 68
Leadership C: 31 ~ 33
Mental Strength D: 12 ~ 15 (quirk: timid, lacking confidence)
Edification A: 80 ~ 91 (She wants to follow the Guardian.)
*Background*
A mage from the republic of Malia on the Southern Continent. While traveling the Western Continent, she had stopped to rest in Bojedo for a few days when she was almost killed by a troll attack, but the Guardian saved her.
She is gifted in weather magic, but has almost no talent for other forms of magic.
When she steels her will, she can summon torrential rain, but on an ordinary day, when her confidence is low, all she can manage is watering a vegetable patch. For her to bring out her confidence, she needs the Guardian's constant attention and care.
Important character encountered! You have met the weather mage Meyril. At present, there is only one mage in the Guardian's forces, so recruiting Meyril would greatly help with territory defense.
Ho-yeong let out a silent cheer inside.
So this is how I get a mage too. As expected! My choice was right.
Her base mana and max mana were wildly far apart, which was the one drawback, but the fact that she could control the weather stood out as a huge advantage.
"Please... even someone as insignificant as me..."
"Tamer territory welcomes you."
Before Meyril could finish speaking, Ho-yeong grasped her hand.
No casualties. With appropriate use of edification and influence, you gained both talent and monsters. (Converted monsters: 8 mandragorani, 1 gremlin)
Your splendid command and the monsters you defeated are beginning to spread by word of mouth. As a reward, you gained 10 RP (Renown Points).
You received 30 EP as your grade reward. Remaining EP: 200.
* * *
Several days passed after that, and the party finally reached Tamer territory.
After climbing the watchtower on the eastern wall and looking around, Ho-yeong was stunned.
"This is... worse than I expected."
The old city of Auphocalypse had become a ruin, with only part of the eastern district still standing.
Monster corpses used the collapsed houses as their graves. When he lifted a rag of cloth, maggots poured out in a writhing mass.
Ho-yeong gave a dry laugh.
"Ha. I really don't know where to start with this."
Then the status window rang out as if guiding him.
Chapter 1 The Endless Fork in the Road begins! Guardian, prepare for your first defense.
"I know this was a defense game, too. Fine, then when does it start?"
Starting now in 10
"Ten days? That's not too tight. But why did you cut off in the middle of speaking, status window?"
9....