015. What's Needed to Make Use of the Dwarves
Hero expeditions weren't just about marching to the Demon King's tower for a final showdown.
They fought the monsters and demons dispatched by the Demon King.
They shattered the Demon King's schemes.
Along the way, they battled monsters harming civilians.
And they took down bandits to maintain public order.
All these feats directly boosted the heroes' fame.
And turned into money. Byproducts from monsters and demons, monster parts, bandit loot—
Everything from one to ten was valuable, so it was only natural that mercenaries hungry for fame and fortune would join. Merchants followed suit.
But all that was ultimately just a sideshow.
The real prize was the Demon King's tower. Demon Kings ignorant of money's worth hoarded treasures in their tower vaults. It was a goldmine everyone dreamed of raiding at least once.
Thus, hero expeditions in Alein were a full-fledged business.
The stronger the hero leading it, the higher the success rate, drawing investors and vultures.
The name Hillun Kargil, hero who slew the Lust Demon King, was practically a symbol.
Countless merchants offered sponsorships.
Even more mercenaries showed up, weapons in hand.
"Welcome."
"I'm Granada, leader of the Red Hawk Mercenaries."
"You're most welcome. Thank you all for joining us to vanquish the Demon King and uphold justice."
Granada and the Red Hawk Mercenaries slipped into the crowd. It was their first meeting with Hillun, who greeted them personally.
Granada's first impression of Hillun was 'a good man.'
He never wiped the smile from his face, courteously welcoming everyone.
The assembled mercenaries numbered over a hundred. The Red Hawks marveled at the massive throng.
"We haven't even hit half capacity yet, and it's already like this. Can't imagine what it'll be like later."
"The captain's right—coming early was the smart move instead of waiting!"
"Got it? Then quit yapping and follow orders."
The hero's aide led them to a tent, where the mercenaries began unpacking.
That's when the crystal orb in Granada's pocket buzzed. A call from the tower.
"Step out for a bit."
"Huh? I was about to crash."
"Out."
The mercenaries grumbled as they dressed and filed outside.
"Damn. 'Rolling stone gathers no moss,' my ass. He's the real boss around here."
"Captain doesn't get mad?"
"One year of this, and we're rolling in gold. Of course I don't."
"True. Nothing heals like money."
"And who knows? Might score some cash on this expedition too."
Granada had expected to lay low as disguised mercs, but after becoming senior mercenaries, he immediately challenged Bark to a duel.
—I won't serve under someone weaker than me.
—It's just a year. Treat me as captain during that time. Or come at me.
Predictably, they rebelled, and a fight broke out.
And they lost. One-on-one, or even twenty piling on—they got crushed.
Some mercenaries regretted taking the job, but the pay was too good to refuse.
'One year. Just one year, then we're rich.'
'Damn, but he's strong, so our survival odds are higher, right?'
And so they'd made it this far.
And Bark wasn't fixated on just Granada.
'The real client who bought Granada. He's even stronger.'
Wealthy and powerful. Defying such a client's commission? The backlash terrified him just thinking about it.
'Nail this job, then cut ties immediately.'
Something told him not to get further entangled. His gut screamed bad vibes.
Meanwhile, alone now, Granada connected the communication. Gordon appeared.
"...Really?"
『Yes. The Demon King's order is to support the hero expedition to the best of your ability. Good luck.』
"Really support them fully? No other instructions?"
『None. Don't ask again—it's annoying.』
The link cut off abruptly. Granada's brow furrowed.
"That crazy bastard..."
The orb buzzed again.
"What now? You said to do it."
『Your tone is impertinent.』
"Ah...! S-sorry."
Granada clamped his mouth shut. He'd assumed Gordon, but Berge's face filled the orb.
『I heard you joined the hero expedition.』
"Yes. But is it really okay to help the hero?"
He wasn't thrilled, but Granada was Berge's subordinate.
He'd sworn on the World Tree—no way he could stomach aiding the beheading of his master.
"I figured you'd have us pretend to help then stab them in the back."
That wasn't it either.
『Do you know why hero expeditions turned out like this?』
Berge spoke again after a pause. It veered from Granada's question.
"Wasn't it always like that?"
Hero expeditions had been this way since before Granada was born.
『Nothing in the world is 'always.' It's all because of stupid Demon Kings.』
"...Hm."
'Aren't you one of those Demon Kings?' The retort nearly escaped.
『You know Demon Kings follow certain rules.』
"I've heard rumors."
『It's true. That's why things are this messed up.』
More than anyone, they clung to the Demon King's Canon—never leaving towers except to kidnap, sending just enough monsters to nurture heroes.
Playing the shadowy villain, stirring trouble while scattering gold and jewels.
Stably supplying byproducts.
『I'm convinced now.』
No suckers like these.
『The best way to break it? Slaughter them all at the start.』
But Berge lacked the power and forces for that now. So he thought oppositely.
If you can't crush it, at least don't nurture it.
One more intent layered in.
『Hero expeditions are the crystallization of human greed. They flock to sate their desires.』
Some for fame, some for money, some for more.
But what if all that vanished? Or even diminished?
Especially if the crowd drawn by Hillun Kargil's name was larger and more expectant than before?
『I won't send monsters.』
『No demons either.』
『No other tricks.』
No fights, no fame.
No corpses, no byproducts.
No incidents, attention fades.
When profits shrink, what will the vultures do?
Hillun as the core might prevent major issues. But petty complaints or minor disputes? Perfect.
Berge would glimpse other possibilities, rethink directions.
He was certain the number of heroes and mercenaries would dwindle, even if slightly.
『Report how the hero expedition warps, in real time.』
"...Understood."
Granada bowed, chills running down his spine.
'Gods, a Demon King who knows human nature too well.'
Money. He struck at the expedition's core.
And that method—
To Granada, who'd witnessed human greed as a slave, seemed far more effective than sending demons or monsters.
—I'll allow anything. Build the deadliest trap you can.
—One condition.
—No mana stones. No mana traces whatsoever.
A single condition, yet brutally stringent.
"...Hmm."
Dwarves had deft hands. That led to metallurgy, smelting, crafting.
Advancing tech naturally merged with mana into magitech.
Modern dwarven tech was inseparable from magitech.
"Is it tough?"
"...Eek!"
Roger jumped at the sudden voice.
"Sorry, did I scare you?"
The princess beamed.
"...Nearly had a heart attack. Please be careful next time."
"Will do."
'No matter how I look, I can't get used to it.'
A prisoner wandering freely like this. The Demon King allowed it, so not Roger's concern.
"Glad you're here. Nothing to do in this tower."
"True."
"You're a hero, so it's reassuring despite the capture. So, plans for the first floor?"
"Still sketching."
With mana stones, it'd be easy.
Line the entrance with traps, aim dozens of mana cannons— no hero escapes unscathed.
But no mana power source.
'Cannons with gunpowder, ballistae classic style, traps...'
Alternatives abounded. But would they deliver the Demon King's desired destruction and effect?
"Yeah. Crude gunpowder won't cut it against Hero Hillun..."
"Hillun Kargil? The one who killed the Lust Demon King?"
"Yes."
"He's coming? For sure?"
"Not certain."
The expedition had begun, but Ernan was cut off in the tower.
Berge and Gordon didn't update her.
Simple deduction, though.
"Father dotes on me. The kingdom's in uproar; he'll try anything to save me."
"He'll hire the surest hero, and Hildean Kingdom's strongest is Hero Hillun."
"He can't refuse. I'm the crown princess."
Ernan was convinced.
Roger was horrified.
'Crown princess...?'
First he'd heard.
Then Hillun Kargil would come. And the Demon King wanted Roger to block that monster.
Without magitech.
Roger toppled backward.
"You okay?"
"No."
He wanted to cry.
"I must've misheard."
Berge scratched his ear. Amid the boredom, faint contempt stung; Roger gritted his teeth.
"I heard high chance Hillun Kargil's coming."
"Not high—he's coming. Expedition's underway."
"......"
Shitty conditions, now a deadline too.
"Hillun Kargil's one of the top heroes who slew a Demon King. Trapping him won't be easy."
Not just hard. Near impossible.
"Then you lied to me. 'Berft Kingdom's finest artisan, useful,' they said. Useless. No need to keep a useless 'hero'."
Whoosh—
Berge ignited black flames. Gordon paled.
"Mana! Allow mana, and it's possible! Not impossible—just let me use mana!"
"I ordered no mana."
No compromises.
"Heroes sense mana and magic best. Dimensional favoritism. Think a hero won't notice magitech mana stones?"
"Maybe not..."
Roger timidly countered.
"The great Hero Hillun?"
"......"
Especially in a Demon King's tower. Mana stood out amid overflowing magic.
Would a hero miss that discrepancy?
Not feel the oddity?
No. Even without Hillun, they'd sense something off.
Berge wanted no oddities. Perfect ambushes bred perfect complacency.
"B-but it's Hillun. Killing the Demon King-slayer with mana-less relics? Impossible."
"Make impossible possible—that's your job. And I never said kill for sure."
"...B-but."
"Humans say artisans don't fuss over tools. You claimed excellence, so own it."
"Human bullshit! Dwarves are pickier about tools!"
"Rip that yapping mouth to quiet you?"
"N-no."
Roger sealed his lips. Then opened again.
"There's a way. Use mana, but prevent detection."
"Oh?"
Berge looked intrigued; Roger sped up.
"Magitech hides mana traces. Get that, and..."
"Confident it'll fool him? Here?"
"Tower's low on mana, but not zero. Can drop it that low. Fool them at least until the door opens!"
"Not bad. Where is it?"
"Uh... my workshop."
"......"
"M-mercy! Not escaping—just! Ack, can't breathe!"
Roger flailed short legs midair.