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“Dear human prince! Please, have a potato!”

“How can someone so small be so strong?”

“Tell us your secret!”

Being strong is something these muscular men—no, ladies—would know better than me.

“Did you sleep well last night? Would you like me to give you a massage?”

I was startled by how close she got.

“W-Where exactly are you planning to massage?”

“Huh? D-Didn’t you sleep in that bed? Since it’s made for dwarves, it must’ve been pretty uncomfortable for you……”

Ah.

Although I’d say I was a pretty patient person, I was reaching my limits.

“Alright, let’s hold a strategy meeting! Everyone, gather up!”

In the end, I summoned all the key figures to my den. Every single person besides Narakas, who was nowhere to be found.

Everyone else showed up—Marquis Foltaine, Milon, Trevor, Krong, Winley, and even the children.

Listening in on the meeting would be valuable for their growth, after all.

‘But that aside……’

Raising my disciples was important, but first and foremost, I had to survive this ordeal.

“You all know my current situation, right?”

“……”

“Trevor! Tell me, didn’t you say you’d try to do something about this?”

Among the gathered crowd, Trevor was desperately avoiding my gaze.

“……I did talk with Bolt, but their side is quite firm on this.”

“So what you’re saying is……”

“Well…… Arranged marriages aren’t uncommon for royalty, are they?”

Should I just scrap this whole plan? Noticing the increasingly furious expression on my face, Winley quickly raised her hand.

“Can’t you say you already have a fiancé? It’s not exactly a lie.”

“Do you think I didn’t try that? Of course I did.”

“A-And they’re still insisting on the marriage?”

Winley looked baffled, her eyes looking me up and down.

‘Why does that feel oddly insulting?’

I frowned.

“Well, it’s not such a bad deal, right? They promised to help build the city if you seal the agreement. Just think of it as taking a non-human concubine……”

“Do you hear yourself right now?”

“……”

Krong immediately shut his mouth, shrinking back.

“Damn this cursed life of mine. A dwarven concubine, of all things……”

“Pfft.”

“……Who just laughed?”

My eyes narrowed with deadly intent toward the culprit.

“I-I’m sorry!”

Harun jumped, and quickly bowed his head.

“Let’s have a talk later.”

“……!”

Harun’s face twisted in distress. My other disciples looked at him with pity, and I decided that I’d have that same talk with them.

Especially Kirian, who patted him on the back like it was the end of the world.

‘There are too many people testing my patience today.’

Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself and looked around. Trevor caught my eye and quietly began to speak.

“In the end, it all comes down to earning the dwarves’ trust, doesn’t it?”

Phew.

Finally, a sensible discussion.

“The problem is the method. Marriage shouldn’t be used as a token of trust.”

Trevor offered a bitter smile in response to my sharp words.

“Please be understanding. Honestly, I’m surprised things have gone this well.”

“What’s surprising about it?”

“Most of Bolt’s clan was either killed or enslaved by humans. Even Bolt’s parents were among those who were slain.”

“……”

A solemn silence settled over us.

“Bolt had to step up as the leader without having enough time to mourn his parents. There’s a heavy burden that comes with such responsibility, one that only those who’ve experienced it can understand. For them, this is about survival, so they can’t help but tread with caution.”

“……I think I get it now.”

Winley was the first to voice her empathy, a pained look on her face.

“That’s why it’s so surprising. Given their hatred toward humans…… It’s shocking that they’d propose marriage, even indirectly, as a way to show goodwill toward a human prince.”

“Heh heh heh. Our dear prince is quite the charmer. Although I didn’t expect his charm to extend even to dwarves.”

Marquis Foltaine, who had been listening quietly until now, added with a chuckle.

“His appearance likely plays a role, too. Even by human standards, he’s still quite young…… Naturally, that lowers their guard.”

“……If I were them, I’d probably think of raising him into something useful, too.”

As if they were waiting, both Milon and Krong pitched in their opinions. However, the disciples I had already decided to punish clearly felt differently.

“What Marquis Milon said is…… Erm……”

“Does raising a little devil right turn it into a big devil……?”

“More like a demon king. He’s an entirely different species.”

It was Jan, Harun, and Winley. Meanwhile, Kirian kept nodding in agreement.

‘……I really raised these kids the wrong way.’

Suppressing a sigh, I looked around the room.

“So, the bottom line is that unless we earn the dwarves’ trust, they won’t help us. If anyone has any clever ideas, speak up now.”

Marquis Foltaine neatly summarized the situation.

“……”

Of course, the freeloaders remained silent, as if they had no thoughts at all. After a long pause……

“……Why not just take a concubine?”

Without hesitation, I chucked the potato I was holding straight at Krong’s head.

“Get out, you scoundrel.”

Meanwhile, the dwarves were in the midst of a heated debate of their own.

“Who do you think we should marry off to that boy?”

“……”

Even in response to Bolt’s question, no one answered. But their expressions betrayed a deep discomfort.

“……Bolt, may I speak?”

A dwarf seated in the corner raised his hand, suppressing his fiery temper.

“Steel, what’s your complaint this time?”

“Honestly…… I want to tear those humans to pieces right this moment. And I’m certain most of us here feel the same way.”

“……”

The other dwarves remained silent, implicitly agreeing with Steel’s words. Seeing this, Bolt sighed lightly. It was a reaction he had anticipated.

“You all know that not all humans are the same.”

“You were the one who said, ‘The only good human is a dead one.’”

“……That’s true. However, in the past, there was a human that even you acknowledged, didn’t you?”

“The Great Hero of the humans, again?”

Bolt smiled bitterly.

“Let’s think more practically. Unlike the elves, we dwarves are a race that values practicality above all else, aren’t we?”

“……”

“First, we must solve the problem of survival. As you know, this place is ideal for crafting, but it’s the worst for securing food.”

The area consisted mostly of hard rock, with plenty of mines and natural resources.

At the same time, however, it was ill-suited for growing crops.

Because the terrain was nothing but barren mountain, gathering fruits or hunting wildlife was also a challenge.

In the end, the only way to address these fundamental issues was to expand their territory.

But……

‘That won’t be easy. Not only are there monsters, but the elves won’t stand idly by, either.’

Amid this dilemma, salvation had appeared.

“Let’s set aside old grudges and hatred for now. Let’s focus on the future and the well-being of our kin. Please.”

“Hmm……”

Seeing Bolt bow his head even as he sat, the others swallowed their frustrations.

“……But still, can we really trust the humans……?”

“Bolt, sir!”

At that moment, a dwarf burst into the room.

“Oh. You were holding a council meeting. I apologize. But this was urgent……”

“Aren’t you Ras?”

The newcomer was a child whose appearance made it difficult to tell if he was a dwarf or a human.

Due to his unique looks, the clan had used Ras as their primary connection with the outside world.

“Why are you here when you should be outside……?”

“First, please take this letter!”

“A letter……?”

The envelope bore an impressively ornate seal. Bolt quickly scanned its contents. And then—

“……!”

He shot to his feet.

“Wh-Where are you going all of a sudden?”

“I’m off to meet that boy for a moment!”

***

The letter Bolt received was from the only human friend he had. Someone with whom he had exchanged greetings until fairly recently.

“What’s your relationship with Count Arsene?”

“Sorry?”

“I hear you possess Bullet’s sword.”

“Oh……”

The young man named Ancelot, who had been puzzled by the question, reached for the sword at his hip and pulled it forward.

“This?”

“……Let me see it.”

Shiiing.

The blade slid gracefully from its sheath.

“Ah……”

Bolt’s pupils trembled as though he were about to shed thick tears.

“……I’ll ask again. What is your connection to him?”

“Well……”

Before Ancelot could answer, Jan, who happened to be in the den, interjected.

“He’s more than just a friend to our family—he’s our family’s most cherished benefactor.”

“……And who might you be?”

“I am the eldest son of Count Arsene.”

“……!”

Bolt’s eyes widened in recognition.

“You? Oh…… Now I remember. Back then……”

“Do you know me?”

“……You were very young, so you may not remember. But what happened to your eyes……?”

Bolt couldn’t finish his sentence. In his memory, that child had possessed perfect vision. Jan responded with a bitter smile.

“……A lot has happened.”

“……I see.”

Bolt nodded as though he roughly understood.

“For as long as history remembers, the enemy of humanity has always been other humans—just as it has been for us.”

With that, Bolt turned to one side.

“I will help you build your city.”

“……!”

Ancelot’s face lit up with joy. While he had hoped for this outcome, he hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

‘A city built by dwarves…… The queen of the Meeke Principality will lose her mind when she hears about this.’

The place meant to be a banishment would now make him the lord of a grand city.

“But, in exchange…… Could you do me a favor?”

Ancelot’s expression instantly twisted.

“As long as it isn’t a marriage proposal.”

“……You must really hate the idea.”

“It’s not just a matter of dislike.”

“Huh?”

“Arrangements born out of need always end badly.”

Bolt flinched, hesitating for a moment before giving a wry smile.

“As expected…… You truly are different. No wonder they call you the disciple of Ancelot Heil Edenberg.”

“So, what’s the favor?”

“I need you to kill two people.”

The request was so unexpected that even Ancelot was taken aback.

“One is a human, like yourself……”

What came next was even more surprising.

“……And the other is an elf.”

***