So, How Old Are You!
Perdikion saw the dwarves gather and exchange glances with each other, then opened his mouth.
“Well, everyone, sit down and stop standing around.”
‘Good. That’s the host’s demeanor. Perdikion’s kid is handling it well.’
Rune felt proud of Perdikion in his heart and watched the dwarves sit according to his command with a satisfied smile.
Unlike humans, the dwarves had no formal dances or social parties.
In a setting without strict etiquette, the single condition needed was how much one respected the other party.
‘Even addressing Perdikion with respect has improved compared to before.’
Originally, Rune had planned to gather dwarves connected to the dungeon, obtain what he needed, and leave.
But upon visiting the forge and observing the situation, his thoughts changed.
With a little effort, he believed he could improve Perdikion and the dwarves’ situation significantly.
‘Perdikion did have a past of reckless behavior. But now he recognizes his mistakes and is working to change.’
Rune’s red eyes gleamed clearly.
‘But the dwarves’ gazes were colder than I expected. If this continues, no matter how much Perdikion tries, it will become harder to receive fair evaluation and support.’
The higher the sworn brotherhood power of his brother Perdikion, the greater the benefit for Rune.
‘So, I just need to take advantage of that. I’ll obtain information along with the Abandoned Mine Dungeon entrance ticket.’
Rune mentally reviewed the goals he needed to accomplish.
‘Make Perdikion’s new rule accepted by the dwarf race.’
This banquet was also the first place to inform the dwarves that Perdikion and Rune had become sworn brothers.
The dwarves, instead of fearful glances, now held curious ones.
And so the banquet began.
***
“Kuhaha! So, the ale and meat are all prepared by you, Perdikion and Rune!”
“It’s so smooth that it goes down easily after chewing in the mouth!”
Hearing the dwarves’ praises, Rune nodded his head.
“My brother first requested that I treat the artisans with my cooking. It’s a relief that it pleased you.”
Rune casually shifted credit to Perdikion.
“Hrmph! Thank you to you as well, Perdikion.”
‘The atmosphere is good.’
It was far more effective to let others speak of one’s merits than to boast oneself.
Anyway, it was a celebration, and they were in high spirits after a long time of feasting, so they thanked Perdikion without hesitation.
“This meat was cooked in a furnace imbued with fire magic. Indeed, because it was touched by the artisans’ hands, the flavor is even better.”
“No? You noticed that! Even inlaying the magic stones requires precise hands!”
In the awkward atmosphere, Rune casually joined in.
The dwarves drank their ale quickly and, growing lively, burst into hearty laughter.
Rune timed his words carefully and naturally picked up his beer mug.
That was when—
“You can’t.”
A sound rang out.
Rune’s hand, having had the mug snatched away, froze mid-air.
The rare chance to drink something after a long time was taken away, so Rune looked at Perdikion with discontent.
“Why? Brother’s drinking too.”
‘Even as a hatchling, he could drink, right?’
Moreover, his actual age was so advanced that he could gulp down a whole bottle without issue.
But that was absurd.
“I’m fine, but the little one who’s only been alive for ten years can’t. Just endure for five hundred years.”
“Five hundred years…? That’s impossible. Even humans drink when they’re much younger!”
Perdikion poured a cup of tea himself in response to Rune’s bewildered reply.
“You drink tea.”
“……”
Rune could not hide his disappointment.
‘What about my age? Originally, I should be over a thousand!’
With a grumpy face from being wronged, all that lay before him was a warm barley-colored teacup.
‘What is this? If I had known, I would have drunk a little in the kitchen.’
The mistake was tasting it only for Verdin, who suited the dwarves’ tastes.
‘I was being cautious because the young body might get drunk before the banquet even started… but now I need this sense of unity from sharing a drink together!’
Conversations during shared drinking strengthened bonds.
In a comfortable atmosphere, they planned to share good ale and meat, gradually easing any stiffness.
But the first button was far from what they expected.
Perdikion, seeing the sullen young black dragon, lifted the corner of his mouth.
“Face up. Your glare toward your brother is too impolite.”
‘This guy doesn’t even know what plan I’ve been making.’
Ale was a means to slightly break down walls caused by authority.
Rune, whose plan was ending with the bitter barley taste, drank his teacup anyway.
Since it was beside Perdikion, the latter gently stroked his head.
“Don’t be so upset. This first drink, your brother will share with you.”
Then the dwarves’ eyes widened in surprise.
‘So that was the man?’
It was unexpected.
He had always solved things with force rather than persuasion when ignored.
Yet here he was sincerely worried about someone and even making him laugh!
In their minds, the image of Perdikion trampling on pride remained.
Actually, the dwarves who worked in the palace had often watched Perdikion’s efforts.
Nevertheless, they assumed it was pretense.
They clicked their tongues, saying his father’s blood would never change.
They had not believed his sincerity that it would soon reveal his true nature.
But now seeing Perdikion eating with his young sister before them, their thoughts gradually changed.
‘Has a younger sibling changed him?’
That thought soon connected to the kindness Perdikion had steadily shown for the past ten years.
‘Was Verdin’s words true?’
Ten years ago, the only dwarf who had deep conversations with the hated Perdikion was Verdin.
Verdin, who had made the Fire Seal with him and changed his attitude toward Perdikion, agreed to start the “Artisan Competition” and persuade the dwarves to participate.
At first, the dwarves protested fiercely.
They recalled what Verdin had said at the time.
“Listen here. There is certainly reason to hate Perdikion, sir. You should accept his apology too. However, Perdikion has vowed not to imitate Pasiyas’s tyranny. So you should know that he will change.”
“Change? Then why don’t you properly apologize! If you knew it was wrong, you should bow your head!”
“Right. Verdin, you know. We watched with our own eyes the tragedy when Pasiyas killed our sons and fathers as examples.”
“Yes. I don’t plan to forgive him either. But I can’t because of my father Pasiyas. Perdikion is still just a hatchling.”
Despite the contemptuous gazes from everyone, Verdin’s eyes showed no wavering.
‘Think carefully. In Pasiyas’s era, we could be no more than slaves. But for his son Perdikion, it’s different. He wanted to change. So just endure a little and open your hearts. Only then can we dwarves regain our pride and dignity as artisans.’
At the time, Verdin’s words had been laughed at by the dwarves.
But afterward, the Artisan Competition was held and tyranny disappeared.
Verdin’s final words appeared in the dwarves’ minds.
‘Change is not for us. It is for our descendants who will live on this land after Perdikion becomes an Adult Dragon.’
Dwarves who had similar thoughts exchanged glances.
Among them, the leader dwarf spoke first.
“This is surprising. Perdikion has a good younger brother.”
“?”
‘What situation is this?’
Rune, who had swallowed his disappointment for not completing the plan, was bewildered by the dwarves’ attitude change.
‘Just when I was about to work when the drink was making everyone happy.’
Unlike Rune who stuffed meat into his mouth in confusion, Perdikion nodded with a slight smile.
“That’s right. A very commendable kid in many ways.”
“Indeed. Even though he’s still a young hatchling, he’s extremely intelligent!”
‘Huh?’
The warm gazes of the dwarves and Perdikion turned to Rune.
‘Because we fed him so much ale and meat?’
Rune recalled the dwarves’ known tendencies.
They were loyal and impulsive, simple in nature.
They had strong chivalry and could not forgive traitors or those who committed injustice, but they were greedy for profit.
‘It wouldn’t be easy to change their minds, so I planned to probe their profit sense.’
The one who committed tyranny was Pasiyas, Perdikion’s father.
But the son Perdikion had also followed his father’s example.
So even if he changed, the relationship between Perdikion and the dwarves would not easily improve.
Because it would sound like he wanted to inherit his father’s wealth but not his debts.
‘So, I was going to show the benefits that will arise while Perdikion rules.’
Rune swallowed the meat and scratched his cheek.
The first benefit was a scale fragment obtainable through his close friendship with the black dragon, Perdikion’s sworn brother.
Although it was from an immature hatchling, it was a useful tactic to make them angry just to obtain it.
The second was a special meal to taste while staying with Rune, which would leave a good memory and naturally raise affection.
And the third—
Even though red dragons were hated, the perception that Pasiyas was worse than Perdikion.
During the shared ale, he planned to naturally compare Pasiyas’s era life with the current life under Perdikion’s rule.
Even for a difficult person, accepting Perdikion would be far more beneficial.
‘But it turned out better than I thought.’
Thanks to the changed atmosphere, the dwarves began boasting about information they knew after hearing Rune ask about the dungeon.
“The Abandoned Mine Dungeon!”
“Monsters are nothing. Especially, the combat dwarves I raised have the best record!”
At that moment, Perdikion casually joined the conversation.
“I heard too. Gorban, you said there is an outstanding rider among those you released this time.”
“You know Perdikion, sir? Hehe.”
Perdikion’s efforts had borne fruit.
By the time he read the residents’ reports thoroughly, he naturally joined the story of the post-rider that the dwarves were proud of.
‘Perdikion has real potential.’
Watching the atmosphere, Rune realized.
Originally, good people giving kindness had little effect. It was natural.
But when a ruler who maintained the worst image suddenly gives sincerity, evaluation improves quickly.
‘Well, even giving kindness as the one who has something is the best benefit.’
Rune shrugged his shoulders and brought the teacup to his mouth.
The tea tasted better than expected.
He had only been in a place smelling of alcohol, drinking tea alone, which made him melancholy.
‘Tch. We’ll see. Later, I’ll make you gulp down an entire keg of ale.’
The banquet of the warm dwarves’ palace was filled with cheer.
Night had deepened,
and the hatchling who had his mug stolen had gone deeper into inebriation.