016. Because They're All Fucked
He had planned to head out anyway.
He'd need to buy materials once Roger brought the blueprints.
Only Berge could leave the tower without issue right now.
He just had one more lump of baggage now.
That's how he decided to think of it.
"If you're thinking of running, go ahead. It wouldn't look good carrying around a roasted you, after all."
"Of course not! I could rebuild it for real, but it'd take too long!"
Roger denied it vehemently.
He'd thought about it, sure, but it wasn't feasible right now. Especially not with the collar around his neck.
"The exact function of this collar..."
"Only one."
"Which is...?"
"It separates your head from your body. Turns Roger Friedri into just Roger and Friedri."
"...In what case?"
"Depends on what you do."
"Ah..."
"Curious? Feel free to test it."
"As if! I'm your loyal servant, my lord!"
"Consider it an honor. It's probably the first time one's been put on a guy who's neither prince nor princess."
The collar was a blade to prevent kidnapped princesses or princes from escaping. Purchasable with Magic Points.
"...An honor."
Roger swallowed his tears.
The two soon arrived at Hotenwork, the nearest human city to the Erjest Mountains.
"You've got the list ready, right?"
"Of course. Cheapest and best quality from the Berft Kingdom. But... we can't do that. It'd take too long."
"Doesn't matter."
To avoid any potential pursuit and hide their identities, they traveled through various kingdoms.
A month of waiting for materials to arrive. They'd acquired most of what they needed.
"Just one thing left."
"That device you made?"
"I call it Mana's Phantom. It erases mana traces like a ghost..."
"Lame naming sense."
"......"
"Let's go in."
Finally.
Roger couldn't hide his excitement returning to the Dwarf Kingdom after nearly two months.
But the gate guard he'd met multiple times didn't recognize his face. A monstrous mask, indistinguishable from real skin, covered both his and the Demon King's faces.
Roger barely suppressed the urge to rip it off.
He didn't want to become Ro/ger right now.
"New faces."
"Mercenaries."
"Dwarf and human combo. Rare. What's your business in the city?"
"Finished a job nearby. Here for some R&R."
"Not one to cramp your style with a dwarf buddy, but city's on edge. Gotta pat you down a bit."
"Trouble?"
"Just circumstances. Think of it that way."
Berge and Roger submitted meekly. Suspicious items were all in subspace, so nothing caught.
"Don't cause shit. Everyone's on a hair trigger. Won't end pretty."
"Got it."
"Well, if a dwarf trusts you enough for merc work together, you'll manage."
Rumble—
The ground descended vertically.
"What do you think's up?"
"...Probably me disappearing."
"Because you're a hero?"
"Kidnapped mid-forging the princess's weapon."
"That thing melting in the furnace?"
"Just a scrap heap now."
"Which princess?"
Dwarven princes and princesses were all fierce. Born warriors, beasts seeking battle.
"Hope it's not the 2nd Princess."
"It's Her Highness the 2nd Princess. You know her?"
"...This got annoying."
Berge instinctively checked his condition. Far from the tower, interference was stronger, power weaker.
He didn't know her current strength, but he couldn't guarantee victory.
"Your workshop first."
"Yes."
The workshop lacked its former heat.
No hammer strikes.
No smiths' sweat.
Instead: sturdy iron fences and guarding soldiers.
"Month or two since your kidnapping?"
"A bit less."
"Vicious."
She'd been like this in his past life too.
"...How?"
"Sneak in, grab it, sneak out."
"Impossible."
"Think twice before opening your mouth, thrice before your tongue moves. Don't mistake your skills for mine."
"S-sorry. I overstepped."
"Secret passage into the workshop?"
"Yes."
It was 3km outside the workshop.
"Gonna make me stare at your ass again."
"...S-sorry, tailored to my body."
"Lead."
"Yes!"
"A month and a half gone! And you still haven't found him?"
The Berft Kingdom's princess smashed the table in fury.
Knight's foreheads bled from the hit.
"How incompetent are you? How much more must I endure your uselessness!"
"Sorry."
"Sorry fixes everything?!"
"Too many secret dwarf tunnels. We're checking, but he's likely long gone."
"Of course he is! Over a month—staying put would make him an idiot, not a kidnapper!"
She'd given up parading the kidnapper before her after a week.
"Who said catch the bastard now? A trace! Finding one damn trace of that fucker so hard?"
"Apologies."
"Two weeks. Exactly two months total. Find a trace of the fucker who stole my weaponsmith in that time. Where he went, who he is—even a single hair!"
"Yes!"
"And seal every tunnel except the city's secret ones."
"Will do."
"Out. Can't stand the sight."
Knight scrambled out. Princess huffed, calming her breath.
But rage wouldn't cool.
"Arrrgh!"
Smashed chairs, crushed tables. Mashed iron cups into lumps, stomped.
"Clear it."
Finally calming somewhat. Maids rushed in from outside.
Princess left the office for the workshop of her would-be weaponsmith.
The massive workshop taking half the third floor. The furnace that should blaze endlessly was cold. No hammer echoes.
And the lone scrap heap—she tried reigniting her cooled fury.
That was supposed to be my weapon!
The furnace should spew flames.
Roger's arms should swing hammers.
He should've finished her weapon before getting kidnapped.
Not leave this half-done, fragile scrap.
"Roger, just stay alive."
No—he must.
"You can't die till you finish my weapon."
That instant—
"Uh..."
One wall quietly opened. The princess, spewing curses, locked eyes with the emerging dwarf.
"...You?"
"...Princess?"
Her brow twitched. Glanced at the furnace, back to the dwarf.
"...You're Roger, right?"
Face different, but his workshop.
His design, his private space no one else entered.
As a dwarf, she knew what workshops meant to them.
So she was certain.
The dwarf emerging naturally from the secret passage could only be the owner.
And she pieced it together.
This wasn't kidnapping—it was the fucker fleeing her weapon commission.
"So..."
The human entering with Roger vanished from her sight.
"You ghosted 'cause you didn't wanna make my weapon?"
She clenched her tiny fist.
"Shoulda said so sooner."
She grinned.
Dwarf stepped back.
"I'd have sliced you into jerky right then."
"M-misunderstanding!"
"Misunderstanding? Nah, I'm crystal clear."
She kicked off.
"I'll rip out your insolent tongue and enslave you! You'll forge my weapons for life!"
"H-heek...! M-mercy!"
Boom—
Shockwave rocked the workshop.
"And who're you?"
Cold glare fixed on the human.
The Demon King, disguised as human, felt his numb hand.
"Roger, grab your device."
"So you left it behind and came back? Stir my guts like this and play chill?"
"Calm down first. You're a princess, aren't you?"
"Save calm for the afterlife."
Princess swung again. Berge clicked his tongue at the unbelievable force from her small frame.
Her solid muscles peeking through clothes weren't to be dismissed.
"Where's the device?"
"There..."
Berge's gaze followed Roger's finger.
"...Wanna die?"
"That's why I said sneaking it out's impossible..."
It filled one workshop side.
Nearly 5m tall.
Magitech masterpiece.
Hundreds of lines snaking everywhere, wrapping the whole place.
Made him wonder why he hadn't noticed it when first kidnapping Roger.
"Can detach it, right?"
"Installed here, so deactivate and sort lines. Takes time."
"Who said?!"
Thwack—
Princess's fist halted before Roger's nose. Wind battered his head back. Drip—nosebleed.
"Make it portable now."
"Y-yes, sir!"
Berge grabbed her wrist, hurled. She rolled gracefully to her feet.
"Who're you?"
"Call me the owner of the dwarf you're bullying."
"Owner? Says who?"
Her brow twitched.
"He's mine. My slave, forging my weapons and armor for life."
"Won't happen. Sorry for you."
"No."
Princess growled.
"I take what I want. Always have, always will."
"Exception this time."
"Know what happens to those who mouth off to me?"
"'Cause you're princess?"
"They're all fucked."
She drew Aura. It raced her Aura Road, fortifying muscles, veins, bones, skin.
Kicked floor—crack. Blinked before him.
Bang—
No feints, no flair. Straight, brutal punch.
But fast and heavy enough to cancel flaws.
Berge stepped back. Fists and kicks like storm; he barely blocked.
Not as strong as back then.
Past life's her was top-tier. Incomparable.
But Berge had changed too. Kingdoms toppled, most interference nullified—that him and now were dragon and snake apart.
Could kill her.
At exhaustion's cost.
Then caught or killed by incoming dwarves.
Worst case.
Hurry up, then.
Might have to kill you and bolt.