Chapter 168

“…You know something?”

The mayor spent a good while silently examining the contract. Finally, he spoke slowly.

“I know well the value of the dwarves. They’re all craftsmen. The weapons and armor they forge are recognized for their excellent quality anywhere.”

Although they lived in isolation in the underground city, they weren’t completely cut off from the outside. To survive, they occasionally crafted weapons and sold them on the black market.

Most of the dwarven weapons circulating on the surface came from them.

“If we were to emerge immediately, all the kingdoms and nobles of the Empire would fight over who gets to welcome us.”

And yet, they didn’t leave. They knew it wasn’t out of goodwill.

Without a firm base or a common center, they would only be used and end up scattered.

“So tell me—what makes your proposal different? Do you think the dwarves are that naive? Do you really believe this contract is balanced and fair?”

More than anyone, the Pellenbergs were the most shameless.

“But there’s a big difference between the others and me.”

“A difference?”

“To begin with, the others don’t know the dwarven city is here—but I do. And also.”

Fernan raised one finger.

“The others don’t know there’s a Corrupted among the dwarves—but I do.”

He raised a second finger.

“The others don’t know how to uncover those Corrupted—but I do.”

He raised a third finger.

“The others don’t know what the Corrupted are planning—but I do. That difference tips the scales.”

And he was right.

“No matter how great the dwarves are—what good is it if they don’t survive?”

“If you weren’t the Pellenberg heir, I’d have slit your throat already.”

“And if I weren’t the Pellenberg heir, I’d never dare say something like this.”

“Very well. Then I’ll add a clause to the contract.”

The mayor took a pen and wrote at the end of the document.

【Article 16. All terms of this contract will only be fulfilled if Fernan Pellenberg identifies the Corrupted and restores peace to the dwarven city.】

“Perfect.”

They both signed and sealed the contract with magic to prevent forgery.

“But I’m curious. What if we simply leave and tear this paper up? What good is this contract then?”

“Don’t worry.”

Fernan carefully folded the contract and tucked it into his chest.

“The Pellenberg collection capability is the best on the continent.”

The name “Pellenberg” was guarantee enough.

***

“The mayor told me to formally reintroduce myself. I’m Adguif, captain of the city guard—though I don’t deserve the title.”

Adguif was a dwarf with a solid build. Unlike most, he had almost no beard, and he was taller—over ten centimeters above the rest, who averaged around a meter and a half.

His muscular body looked ready to burst, and the natural pressure he gave off made it clear he was a warrior of superior level.

He held a massive battle axe in one hand and extended the other in greeting.

“Fernan Pellenberg. He is my escort and someone I trust completely, and this is a senior of mine.”

“Hyde.”

“Gismond Ert.”

The Guard was the most important organization in the dwarven city. It was the only real military force they had—and therefore the largest. The captain of the guard was, in fact, the second most powerful person in the city.

“It’s strange to see a human here in our city.”

“It’s an honor for me as well to see the dwarves’ underground city.”

“An honor?”

“Merchants seek out the dwarves for one reason.”

To obtain their goods. Adguif understood the meaning and his eyes gleamed.

“Follow me. But tell me, how did you get here?”

Adguif led Fernan’s group through the complex underground tunnels. They were heading to tunnel number 31—the one that had collapsed.

“It was by chance. I was exploring with the elves regarding rights to exploit the rocky mountains, to see if there was anything useful.”

“Elves granting exploitation rights…?”

“Elves are changing. They’re much more open than before.”

“I see.”

Adguif smiled bitterly.

The path was dark and winding like a maze. There were magical lamps, but they were too far apart and very dim.

‘Compared to the ones taken from the First Emperor’s dungeon, this is like comparing the full moon to a firefly.’

Humanity had regressed significantly in terms of magic.

“But to be honest, I don’t understand. I’m doing this because the mayor asked, but why do you want to see a collapsed tunnel?”

“For investment.”

“Investment?”

“As I walked through the city, I saw many shortages.”

It was natural in an isolated city. Even if they traded occasionally, the city’s size made it so that nothing was ever enough.

“I concluded there was a lot to give and a lot to gain.”

Fernan wasn’t a philanthropist—he was a merchant seeking profit.

“I need to confirm whether the dwarves can continue fulfilling their role in a stable way.”

“That’s why you want to see the tunnel?”

“I want to verify whether the dwarves can overcome that risk on their own—or, if not, whether we Pellenberg can handle it. And if it would still be profitable.”

“That’s why you left a few days ago.”

“Exactly. I’m not the family head, I had no decision-making power.”

“And now you do?”

“I received it.”

“The mayor and the council approved it?”

“The council doesn’t know, but the mayor judged it best for the survival of the dwarves.”

Adguif’s expression hardened immediately.

“Something wrong?”

“…Nothing.”

With that, silence fell over the tunnel. Only the sound of footsteps echoed softly.

After a while, Adguif murmured in a barely audible voice.

“Then if this issue is resolved, what happens?”

“With the risk gone, Pellenberg’s investment will grow even more. Everything will move quickly.”

“And if not?”

“If it’s not worth it, no matter how skilled the dwarves are, we have no reason to take a loss.”

“…I see.”

Adguif nodded heavily. Fernan couldn’t see the expression forming on his face.

***

“This is tunnel 31.”

Tunnel 31, quite far from the underground city, was a mine where black rock was extracted.

The inside of the tunnel was, in itself, a ruin.

Of the multiple branching paths, more than half were blocked, and everywhere there were bloodstains and signs of battle.

What was strange was that despite all that, not a single corpse was in sight.

‘It’s the work of the Corrupted.’

They had taken all the bodies as sacrifices. To summon the 58th demon, Aym.

“How unfortunate.”

“It is. I will make sure to avenge our brothers.”

Adguif nodded with resolve.

Faced with that repugnant act, Fernan barely nodded back.

‘I suppose a traitor needs at least this level of theatrics.’

Fernan glanced toward the dwarves clearing the rubble.

‘Indeed, dwarves are the race of the earth.’

No matter how wide the mines they built, they were still confined spaces.

And yet, no other race could clear a collapse as quickly as the dwarves.

“How many dwarves have disappeared?”

“Fifty miners and ten guards.”

Sixty in total. Not a small number.

“Did you find any traces of magical beasts?”

“Magical beasts? Are you saying this is their doing and not monsters’?”

“I’ve faced magical beasts plenty. They hide underground and dig tunnels with great skill.”

“I hadn’t thought about it but it’s possible. We’ll take that into account during the search.”

Even with that suggestion, Adguif tilted his head in gratitude, not a single muscle shifting.

Two days passed like that. Fernan’s group set up a tent inside the tunnel and stayed there.

“Damn bastards… taking every last body of so many dwarves.”

Inside the tent, a purification artifact worked hard to clean the stale air.

“What if they really end up summoning the demon?”

“We won’t allow that.”

“But will you be able to find the magical beasts? If even the dwarves couldn’t…”

“It’s not that they can’t find them—it’s that they don’t want to.”

At that remark, Gismond gave a meaningful smile.

“I had my doubts, but in the end, that guy is who we suspected, right?”

The name that had appeared in the prophecy and that Fernan had already suspected during his meeting with Ahgrot—the traitor of the dwarves.

“That’s right.”

“So what do you plan to do?”

“In every matter, the most important thing is pretext. Adguif is quite respected in the dwarven city, with the support of many of his kind.”

He couldn’t just strike him down without solid evidence.

“First, we’ll gather proof. Starting with the magical beasts.”

“And what if the dwarves decide to block everything? Will you still be able to find them?”

“Yes.”

Fernan stroked the pendant hanging from his neck.

“Wooden, it’s time for you to get to work.”

— Kyuu!

Wooden jumped out of the pendant.

“Huh? What is that…?”

Gismond’s eyes widened.

“Oh, right. This is the first time I’ve shown him to you, senior.”

“Don’t tell me that’s a golem…”

“Exactly.”

— Kyu!

Wooden waved cheerfully at Gismond.

“A golem with ego… incredible.”

“Ego?”

“Well, if I had to adapt it to a word from this world… it would be something like a golem with consciousness.”

“Correct. And as you’ve surely deduced, you can never tell anyone about this. You know what would happen if you break that promise, right?”

“…O-Of course.”

Gismond’s face paled as he recalled his first encounter with Fernan.

“Wooden, do everything you can to locate magical beasts nearby. And if you don’t find them, keep searching until you do.”

— Kyuu!

Wooden placed both paws on the ground.

Crack!

Roots sprouted from them and burrowed into the earth, slowly spreading in all directions.

“Senior, are you awake?”

Ahgrot called to Fernan from outside.

“Come in.”

Fernan covered Wooden with a cloth and shielded him with his body. Ahgrot entered the tent.

“We’ve finished clearing.”

“What did you find?”

“Monster traces, but without the proper preparations, tracking them would be impossible. So for now, there won’t be a hunt.”

“You said there were two collapses recently?”

“Yes. Before, there had been disappearances due to monster attacks, but tunnel collapses—this is only the second.”

“Then the missing must number in the hundreds.”

“Exactly 151.”

If you included the small-scale disappearances accumulated before, the figure was even more terrifying.

‘That bastard is completely insane.’

The meeting between Aint and Ahgrot would be in a few years. By then, the situation would’ve escalated to the point of devouring the entire city.

The captain of the guard had turned into nourishment the very city he was meant to protect.

And the mayor, fearing collapse, had tolerated it.

‘No, wait. From his reactions, he doesn’t seem so irresponsible. If these collapses had happened multiple times, would he have stayed silent?’

Were all dwarves so naïve as to let it slide?

‘Could it be that something has changed in the future? Because of my visit to the dwarven city?’

But what exactly had he done to alter things?

“When did the first collapse occur?”

“Nine days ago.”

Exactly the day after Fernan had left the city.

‘Did my arrival make Adguif nervous? But why?’

He didn’t know. Fernan shook his head and changed the subject.

“So they’ll be withdrawing soon, right?”

“Yes, that’s what they say. And you, senior, what will you do?”

“Can we stay a few more days?”

“Captain Adguif said yes. If so, I’ll stay on as your guide.”

“Then we’ll stay a few more days to investigate.”

“Understood. I’ll inform them.”

Ahgrot left.

A while later, this time Adguif entered.

“I heard you wish to stay to continue investigating.”

“That’s right.”

“But how much can you really investigate?”

“It’s not that I distrust the dwarves. I just want to confirm whether it was monsters or magical beasts. And if it’s the latter, what kind exactly.”

“…Very well.”

With a frown, Adguif held back a sigh.

“For safety, I’ll leave Ahgrot and a few guards with you. It’ll be more convenient with him.”

“I appreciate the consideration.”

The unusually polite tone surprised Fernan, but he nodded.

Adguif left, and outside, the bustle of the withdrawal soon resumed.

And after a long while—

— Kyuu!

Wooden had found the magical beasts.