Loyalty Pledged Over a Mountain of Bottles
I woke from sleep, gathered everyone together, and performed the summoning. Having discovered just how capable the dwarves were, it only made sense to call forth even more of them.
“Everyone, this time I’d like to summon additional members of the dwarf race. What do you think?”
“I believe in whatever you do, Minsoo!”
Miya was currently acting as the representative for the snow leopard tribe. Even though her parents were present, they were supporting her and lending her their strength. So the snow leopards gave their approval.
“I trust in you as well, my lord.”
Asne seemed like she would agree to anything so long as it wasn’t genuinely unfair. If she kept indulging me like this, I worried my habits might worsen. Still, the sirens were fine with it too.
“Please do as you wish, Lord!”
“Lei is right. This is your territory, my lord. You may do whatever you please.”
The two from the black-winged tribe had no objections either. It really felt like everyone was spoiling me far too much. So the black-winged tribe was okay with it as well.
Lily handed me a note with a smile. On it she had written that next time I should summon some fairy friends for her too. When I asked if she missed her friends, she nodded. I promised to summon the fairy race next time and received her approval.
“Hmm… Unlike myself, they tend to be rather stubborn and unlikely to answer the summons. However, if that is what you desire, Lord, then proceed.”
Lulu’s response carried a negative tone unlike the others who had simply indulged me. Since they were the same race, she probably knew their temperament well. Still, she wasn’t strongly opposed, so we ultimately decided to summon the dwarf race.
“Then let’s begin.”
Territory residents are available. You may specify a race to summon more of the same kind. Would you like to perform a designated summon?
Please select a race for designated summoning from among the siren, fairy, and dwarf races.
The snow leopard and black-winged races had vanished from the list since they could no longer be summoned. In their place were the fairy and dwarf races—Lily’s and Lulu’s people. I selected the dwarf race at once.
A large number of the dwarf race are being exploited as slaves by humans.
The number of dwarf slaves scattered across the world totals 125.
…Is it that Empire again? The same ones who had tried to exterminate the snow leopards. When I summoned the snow leopards they had mentioned something about them being merchandise. It seemed enslaving other races was standard practice for them. The clever-handed dwarves must have fallen into their clutches as well.
“Lulu, you said yesterday that dwarves are being used as slaves by humans, right?”
“That’s correct. Which is why we dwarves hid ourselves deep in the mountains or beneath the earth.”
“Those slaves wish to migrate to my territory.”
“Hmm… How many are we speaking of?”
“One hundred twenty-five.”
“They chose the lesser evil, then.”
Lulu spoke with a faintly bitter expression. It seemed the 125 did not represent every enslaved dwarf. These were the ones who had decided that becoming a lord’s resident was better than remaining a human’s slave.
“Lesser evil, huh… I have no intention of exploiting them.”
“I know that. Yet those who are summoned may not believe it at first.”
“That… I’ll simply have to explain it properly once they arrive.”
“You will handle it well, Lord.”
“I will.”
I finished speaking with Lulu and checked the status window.
Your power is insufficient to summon every dwarf slave.
With your current strength, my lord, a maximum of six individuals can be summoned.
How would you like to proceed?
The same message as before, only this time my rank had risen so the limit increased from three to six. That meant I could call more by using mana stones, just like last time.
I will use mana stones for additional summons.
Calculating…
To summon all 125 members of the dwarf race will require one 6th-grade mana stone, twenty-three 5th-grade mana stones, fifty-six 4th-grade mana stones, thirty-two 3rd-grade mana stones, and thirteen 2nd-grade mana stones.
As expected, the required stones scaled with the number of people. Lower-grade stones could be purchased with gold in any quantity, so I asked whether my current stock could cover the cost. The answer came back that a single 7th-grade mana stone would be enough to summon them all. Last time it had taken ten lower-grade stones to equal one higher-grade stone for summoning, so the reverse apparently held true as well. One 7th-grade stone equaled ten 6th-grade stones. Since only one 6th-grade dwarf was needed, the remaining nine could be converted into 5th-grade stones for ninety people. With twenty-three 5th-grade stones already accounted for, the leftover sixty-seven could be covered by 4th-grade stones and so on. The surplus was more than sufficient.
Ten of the highest grade and at least three of the lowest still leaves plenty of room.
I had many 7th-grade mana stones. I took one out and began the summoning. Light spread across the plaza, and one hundred twenty-five dwarves appeared.
“So this is the new…”
The heavily bearded dwarves looked around. I clapped my hands to draw their attention.
“I am Kim Minsoo, lord of this territory. You have all suffered greatly as slaves. The first thing I want to tell you is that there are no slaves whatsoever in my domain.”
The dwarves had been wronged by humans, and I was human too. It would not be easy for them to believe me right away.
“If you become residents of my territory, three meals a day is the baseline. Whenever you feel the need, I will ensure you can eat your fill. That is something I can do immediately.”
Many of them looked gaunt beneath their beards, no doubt from long exploitation. I promptly purchased a variety of dishes and offered them.
“Consider this a welcoming gift for coming to my territory. Even if you choose not to become residents, eat your fill and then you may leave.”
“We thank you for your generous hospitality, my lord.”
A dwarf with an especially magnificent beard stepped forward to reply. He was probably the 6th-grade among them and therefore the strongest, so he had taken the role of representative.
“If anything is lacking or you want more while you eat, simply tell me and I will provide it. So please eat, rest, and listen to what I have to say.”
The dwarves followed my words obediently. It was surprising, considering humans would normally be met with suspicion.
“Lulu, do dwarves normally listen this well?”
“It seems you don’t know much about dwarves, Lord.”
“Is that so?”
Lulu looked at me with an expression that said she could hardly believe it. It was the same face the other residents wore whenever I lacked knowledge that was common sense to them. I should have asked Lulu about dwarven customs beforehand.
“Simply put, dwarves can hear the voice of truth.”
“The voice of truth?”
“It means we can tell whether the words a person speaks are true or false. And ever since you summoned me, you have spoken nothing but the truth. I assumed you knew about us and acted accordingly, but it turns out you are simply a transparent man.”
It was difficult to call myself transparent, as Lulu suggested. I had simply gained some worldly tact from living in society. Speaking the plain truth often led to loss, so I had developed the habit of avoiding facts that would put me at a disadvantage. It was the sort of practical wisdom anyone living in the modern world possessed. But since they had this special ability, they would not realize that.
“My current goal is to do everything I can so that the residents of my territory may live happily.”
“You… are a lord who would make a dwarf feel ashamed.”
When I expressed my true feelings, that was all there was to it. Lulu looked embarrassed and retreated a step.
The dwarves who had been eating burst into cheers.
“I really like that about Minsoo.”
“My lord, I feel exactly the same.”
Miya and Asne pressed themselves against both my sides. Miya wrapped her thick tail around my thigh so I could not move. Asne gently clasped my other hand in both of hers.
“The lord is truly a good man!”
“Pfft… Since the lord is growing embarrassed, everyone should stop now.”
I felt my face burning from the barrage of praise. Yet with Miya and Asne holding me fast, I could not even shift. On top of that, Lily flew back and forth in front of me holding a paper that read “The lord is kind! I really like him!” while beaming brightly.
The snow leopards, led by Mino and Diya, each offered a word of their own. Most expressed gratitude. It was embarrassing, but I was glad I had not strayed from my goal.
“My lord, could you spare a little more meat?”
“Of course. There is more than enough, so don’t eat so hurriedly that you upset your stomach.”
“Haha! Dwarves never get indigestion, so have no fear!”
The atmosphere grew even livelier as I supplied more meat. Still, I felt something was missing from the occasion.
“Lulu, what do dwarves think of alcohol?”
“Alcohol? We go mad for it.”
“Really?”
I called over the 6th-grade dwarf.
“You summoned me, my lord?”
“Doesn’t meat feel incomplete without drink?”
“You mean… alcohol?”
The dwarf looked at me with eyes full of surprise and anticipation. Still, with that scruffy beard he was just another unkempt uncle, so it did not stir much emotion in me.
“Do you drink beer?”
“B-beer! We cannot obtain it no matter how desperately we crave it!”
“Is that so? Then drink to your heart’s content.”
I should never have said those words. Why? Because the empty beer bottles drunk without restraint by the 125 dwarves had piled up into a mountain. Each had consumed more than twenty bottles, so over two thousand bottles now stood stacked. I could not fathom how so much liquid fit inside those short bodies. Not one of them had even visited the bathroom.
“We pledge our loyalty to the lord!!!”
The immigrants wish to belong to the territory.
Territory residents’ behavior will change according to their satisfaction level.
Target: 125 dwarf slaves.
Target satisfaction level: Extremely High.
The lord must care for the territory and its residents.
The residents must protect the territory and its lord.
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The feast that had begun in the morning continued all the way into the afternoon. In doing so I earned the loyalty of all one hundred twenty-five dwarves, but there was no avoiding the fact that I was utterly exhausted.