Dwarven-Style Repayment of Grace
『Wind's Lotus, you say?』
"Yeah. Wind's Lotus, located in the magic district of Acan. And its owner is Jetoson.
Remember that."
『Why bring this up all of a sudden?』
"He's the cocky bastard who tried to scam me."
『…Does he have multiple lives or something?』
"Well, instead of scamming me, he ended up scamming a Dwarf princess."
『…Is he still alive?』
"Either way, I confirmed his talent. He's a natural-born scammer. So I plan to use him under the Golden Moon Merchant Guild. I already paid him an advance."
『He accepted money and said he'd actually come?』
"If he had, I wouldn't have contacted you or told the princess. If he won't come willingly, I'll just make it so he has to."
『…Good lord. To the princess?』
"Dig into everything about him. Where he's from, how old he is, what his background is. Why he opened a shop, how he got it, how much he owns—everything. From start to finish."
『…I'm starting to pity the man. Actually, we should first pray he's alive.』
Berze ended his communication with Granada, then bought Senniel Powder from Leaf of the Deer.
"We have low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and top-grade. Which one would you like?"
"What's the difference?"
"The quality of the mana stone and the materials. Everything used affects purity and efficiency."
"Give me all the top-grade ones."
"Ten top-grade Senniel Powders. That'll be 10 gold."
The top-grade powder was incomparably purer than the one he saw at Jetoson's shop.
They were practically opposite extremes.
That damned bastard had sold him something low-grade—mid-grade at best.
"How much are the others?"
"High-grade is 50 silver, mid-grade is 30 silver, and low-grade is 10 silver."
Should I have broken his limbs instead of telling Louise?
Berze did like Jetoson's talent, but thinking about how he nearly scammed him was irritating.
Then—
"So you were still here."
It was Louise.
"Thanks to you, I avoided being scammed. I'd like to repay you."
"What did you do to him?"
"Unfortunately, since it's Acan, I couldn't break his limbs. Why does this place forbid so many things?"
Louise clicked her tongue and glared at her knight, clearly blaming him for stopping her.
Even if he begged her, that she didn't break his limbs… She held back a lot just because this is another kingdom's capital.
"In place of that, I bought out most of his merchandise. Want some of it?"
"No. All of it is low-grade junk."
"That's true. That scammer's shop didn't have a single proper item."
Maybe she should have broken his limbs. Louise grumbled.
Her knight shouted, "Absolutely not!"
"Anyway, how about a meal? I'll treat you—very generously."
"No."
He did not want to get entangled with Louise.
He had kidnapped Logar out of necessity, but a Dwarf prince or princess was absolute trouble he wanted to avoid.
"No. I was taught that grace must be repaid without fail."
"…Forcing repayment when the other party refuses is not repaying grace."
"I said grace must be repaid no matter what."
Louise grabbed his hand. She didn't seem like she would let go easily.
"…Fine."
Unwilling to cause trouble, Berze was forced to participate in a Dwarven-style repayment of grace.
***
"How is it! They say this restaurant is the most expensive and famous in all of Acan! Isn't that right?"
"Yes, that's correct."
The knight nodded vigorously.
As Louise claimed, the restaurant was luxurious.
The interior was antique, and the view from the top of a 20-story building was impressive.
And the food was undeniably delicious.
Compared to this, Granada's cooking really is food waste.
If he said that aloud, Granada would probably scream that he wasn't a chef.
"But you look rich. Why were you hanging around such a cheap store?"
"I'm looking for someone."
"Without hiring someone to do it?"
"He's someone I want to find myself."
Louise gave a cold smile. Berze resolved never to let Logar and the princess meet.
"Sounds like he's pitiful."
"He doesn't even deserve pity."
From her certainty, Berze could tell she would chase Logar to the ends of the continent.
Before regression, she absolutely would have.
Troublesome.
He hadn't found any trace yet, but if—if—she learned he was the one who kidnapped Logar…
Who knew what she would do?
Better to—
"Is it Logar Fridri?"
KWAANG—
The princess shot to her feet.
The table flipped.
Her knight's sword was at Berze's throat.
"How did you know?"
"I have good ears. What's the point of covering your face? You should watch your words, Louise Verft."
"…Did I say it out loud?"
"Your voice was a bit loud, Your Highness. But knowing you were the princess from that alone is suspicious."
The knight's icy aura pressured Berze.
"Who are you? Did you approach us intentionally?"
"Funny. The one who forced me along despite refusal was you, princess."
"…Well, that's true."
"I'm trying to help. I've met Logar Fridri."
"What? When and where!"
"Two months ago. In Ormus."
"Logar went to Ormus? That rural dump?"
"I travel the continent searching for magic reagents. I happened to see him in Ormus, in the forest city of Tarta."
"How can we believe that?"
The knight's eyes sharpened, suspicious that Berze had approached them intentionally.
"You don't have to believe me."
Berze took something from his clothes.
A necklace.
Originally Logar's—but during the mission to rescue the Mana Ghost, he had removed it to put shackles on Logar and never returned it.
"This is…!"
"It's Logar's! It was his first creation, so it has no effect, but he always wore it like a charm."
The two Dwarves instantly recognized it.
So that's why.
No wonder Logar cried and wailed when Berze took it.
Well, he calmed down after taking a few hits.
"Where did you find it?"
"I told you. Tarta."
"Logar would never remove this necklace… Don't tell me…"
"He's not dead. Monsters attacked—he dropped it, and I picked it up."
"There are marks where it was torn."
Berze had forcibly ripped it off when Logar refused to let go.
"Thank you!"
The princess grabbed Berze's hands tightly.
"This gives us a lead. I owe you again. How should I repay this…"
"Ridiculous."
Berze held the sword with his bare hand.
SCREEEE—
The blade bent with a grotesque noise.
"You put a sword to someone's throat and talk about grace?"
Who do you think you're pointing a sword at? Dwarven brats…
"Uh…?"
"…Dear god."
Louise and her knight stared in shock.
"Now I see how uncouth Dwarves are."
Berze stood up. Louise hastily grabbed him.
"Wait. I'll apologize for this."
"No need. I never want to deal with Dwarves again."
"My status makes my knight overly cautious. Many approach me with ulterior motives."
"And I should consider your problems?"
"Of course not."
She forced a small plaque into his hand.
"A token that you're my benefactor. Bring it to the kingdom, and the best artisans will craft the best equipment for you."
"…This looks useful. I'll take it."
Berze vanished.
"…The sword?"
"It's bent beyond use. He crushed a forged alloy blade that easily…"
Dwarven alloy was the continent's strongest in resilience and durability.
"He bent an artisan-made weapon without using mana?"
"What will you do, my lady? It could be a trap."
"That necklace was real, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
"Then we're going. Trap or not, the fact that he had it means there's a high chance that bastard is actually there. I won't feel satisfied until I beat him senseless."
Louise's eyes gleamed sharply.
"Contact Father. Request reinforcements."
"Yes."
They did not know.
They did not know that Ormus, a land with half its territory swallowed by jungle, was the domain of the Beast Demon King, Draxon—
and that Berze had deliberately directed her there.
It was the classic passing of a bomb.
***
"...Failure?"
"And they didn't even get to see the Demon King's Tower?"
"By Hillen Cargill, of all people?"
Humans are social creatures.
With Heroes overflowing across the dimension, it was inevitable that they would gather and form groups.
To defend their collective interests, to share information, and to fight Demon Kings more efficiently, Heroes created a guild.
Thus, the Hero Guild was born.
A place considered the natural enemy of Demon Kings.
A place that, after hundreds of years, now even toyed with Demon Kings.
And yet today, that place had been thrown into chaos.
This wasn't like when Watton Collo and those few Hero squads descended early.
Because the dungeon was in Ergest, they had simply assumed it would take a little longer.
No one imagined their belief would be repaid with complete failure.
"They say the Tower wasn't anywhere."
"That's impossible…"
"Hundreds of years have passed since Demon Kings began descending. Dozens of Demon Kings have appeared. In all that time, not one has ever hidden their Tower."
"That's why we've reconvened, isn't it?"
The Elder Assembly had been summoned again within a few weeks—highly unusual.
"This new Demon King must not be underestimated."
"Hillen Cargill is a tenacious Hero. If he searched the mountain range for weeks and found nothing, then this Demon King intended to hide it."
"No matter what, would a Demon King really go that far…?"
"But the results are right here!"
"Everyone quiet."
At the voice of the man seated at the head, the elders fell silent.
"That the new Demon King is dangerous is certain. But before we discuss that, the response we've been waiting for has arrived."
"We received an answer?"
A hologram shot out from the mana stone at the center of the meeting table.
"Name: Berze Deias."
"He primarily wields flame and possesses physical abilities at the highest tier of demonic beings."
"Notably, he's infamous in the Demon Realm for insulting the 'Demonic Orthodoxy,' and is considered a lunatic even among demons."
One elder frowned.
"That's it? No information on his race? His exact identity? What demons follow him? How many monsters? Not even the Tower structure?"
"That is all."
"These damned bastards—trying to break cooperation like this?"
"We've coddled them too much. They clearly think we're fools. We should teach them a lesson!"
"Gather the Heroes immediately! Begin a Hero March!"
The elders raged, but the man at the head crossed his arms and shook his head.
"No. Demon Kings cannot freely invade each other's Towers. And this Demon King has only recently descended. Unless he tells them himself, it's natural they wouldn't know."
"Ah. True… He rampaged so quickly that we overlooked that."
Unless united by the Tower, Demon Kings rarely had access to another Demon King's Tower.
Even the closest of them did not invite each other's towers privately.
"So we can't know anything about the Tower for now."
"It seems so."
The elders clicked their tongues in frustration.
A completely unexpected Demon King appeared, and they had no information.
"Why not summon all the Heroes and crush him early?"
"The demons added a short message with their report. They said:
'He mocks the Orthodoxy. He is neither Demon King-like nor demon-like. Be wary.'"
A nasty smile curled on the leader's lips.
"A rather interesting one has descended."
"That means…"
"That he's a Demon King who doesn't follow the Orthodoxy?"
It was the worst scenario—one they had never imagined.
An irregular who broke all the "Orthodox rules" the Hero Guild had spent centuries systemizing through blood and experience.
Their carefully stacked tower of knowledge could collapse.
"Isn't he already proving that?"
"But he kidnapped a princess. And now a royal princess from Jesfine as well."
"He won't break every rule. After all, the Orthodoxy exists for demonkind's efficiency. But we must assume he'll twist anything that puts him at a disadvantage."
"My god…"
Why had Heroes begun to look down on Demon Kings?
Partly because Heroes were numerous—but more importhantly because they had discovered the truth behind the Demonic Orthodoxy.
They had exploited it against the Demon Kings for centuries.
"What kind of bastard ignores the Orthodoxy? And why would the Demon Realm make such a lunatic into a Demon King?"
"We have no way of knowing."
"Perhaps…"
An elder swallowed hard.
"Perhaps what?"
"Perhaps the Demon Realm is trying to end this long stalemate."
"Go on."
"It's been hundreds of years since Demon Kings began descending into our dimension. Now we know they are the vanguard of the Demon Realm."
The man nodded.
"After failing dozens of times, if the demons had any intelligence, wouldn't they attempt a change? Berze Deias is likely their first experiment."
"That… makes sense."
"And if so, they may be intentionally hiding the Tower, using 'Tower Harmony' as an excuse."
"But they didn't seem favorable toward Berze Deias."
"It's a new method in the Demon Realm, so lower demons may dislike it. But if it's the upper authority's decision, they must obey."
"That is possible."
"If it's demons, absolutely…"
The elders nodded one by one.
"Shouldn't we crush him early and make sure they never try such a thing again?"
"No."
The leader licked his lips habitually.
"We will leave him be."
"...You mean to stand by and watch?"
"Isn't it a good opportunity?"
His lips curled into a smile.
"The continent has grown far too accustomed to Demon Kings. With Demon King attacks decreasing, national power rises every year. And because of that—
arrogant fools claim the Hero Guild is unnecessary."
It wasn't even a secret.
Long peace had made many nations resent the Hero Guild—an unaffiliated organization with too much power.
"They've forgotten who let them sleep peacefully.
Who kept the continent from destruction.
Who prevented them from becoming Demon King slaves."
"And now they dare to say they should manage Heroes."
Fools who didn't know their place.
A faint murderous aura spread, and the elders shuddered.
"If Berze Deias can awaken the continent to danger again, isn't that ideal?
This false peace is not true peace."
"You are absolutely right."
"Especially Jesfine's arrogance has become unbearable."
Right after their Ninth Princess was kidnapped, Jesfine's envoy had caused an uproar inside the Hero Guild.
"Just because they donated some money, they think they can act superior…"
"They must remember who allows them peace."
"Then it is settled. We will put on a show, and then simply observe."
The decision was made.
***
Logar was deep in thought.
Should he dismantle it?
Or not?
He had already fully repaired the Mana Cannon.
He further refined the mana stones, increasing firepower at the cost of some durability.
The next Heroes wouldn't get through as easily as Hillen Cargill.
He had completed every order the Demon King gave him.
So surely he could do something for himself now?
Technically, this is mine. So the ownership should be mine, right?
Drooling slightly, Logar gazed at the Mana Ghost—now completely fused with the Tower.
Only faint traces of his original craftsmanship remained.
Its power source had been converted into demonic energy, and the entire structure had transformed.
Logar wanted to know how.
How it had become a Tower component, how it could hide the Tower.
He wanted to dismantle everything and study it.
"Right. Yes. This isn't a Tower. It's an Artifact I made. Sure, it's not fully mine anymore, but… maybe I can dismantle just a little?"
Breathing heavily, he slowly reached for his tools.
Should he smash it with a hammer first to test durability?
No—that might break it.
So he should start by loosening the screws and fully disassembling it—
"You're going to dismantle that?"
"…Hiiik!"
Logar collapsed onto the floor.
The tools he had dropped flew through the air, only to be gently caught by a Wind Spirit.
"Why are you so startled?"
"Please, please stop appearing behind me out of nowhere!"
"You were going to dismantle that?"
"…I won't."
Logar quietly set the hammer down.
"What brings you here?"
"Do I need a reason to visit? With our relationship?"
"We have no relationship."
"We were kidnapped together. Out of countless people, only a tiny handful ever get kidnapped by a Demon King. And what are the odds that two of those people can meet and talk freely like this?"
"…What exactly are you trying to say?"
Logar found this overly confident princess difficult to deal with.
Her mischievous expression made her seem like an unpredictable brat.
"Want a cookie?"
"Yes."
Cookies mixed with spirit herbs were always welcome.
Crunch. The princess bit into one of her own.
"How's the new princess?"
"She's not quiet. But she's not rowdy either."
"So… ambiguous?"
"It means she swings a sword all day."
"…What does that even mean?"
"For the first three days she just slept quietly. Probably adjusting. Like how dogs don't leave their kennel in a new environment."
"How is a royal princess a dog?"
"As long as the meaning gets across, it's fine."
"…Fair enough."
Logar wasn't a Dwarf who valued etiquette much anyway.
Especially after what he had suffered from Princess Louise—he had no fondness for princesses or royal ladies.
"And then for the next two days, she polished weapons and armor all day."
"Now that you mention it, she was wearing knight armor when she came in."
"And now she's practicing swordsmanship."
"…Right now?"
"The smell of sweat is intense. I want to get close to her, but she does nothing but eat, train, and repeat. I can't even find the timing to talk."
"So that's why you came down?"
"I thought maybe having another princess around would help us get along, but it's harder than I expected."
Ernan muttered softly.
In this empty tower, a new person was a rare spark of life.
"Still, it's nice having more people."
It was a shame that spark wasn't interested in her at all and only focused on her own routines.
But at least it brought a sense of life to the tower.
"She probably doesn't see it that way."
From what he'd heard, the princess was a Hero who had joined Hillen Cargill to hunt the Demon King…
She's just building strength to escape the tower.
Whether that would work was another question.
Still—she was a Hero. Not impossible.
"Want another cookie?"
"Yes. Thank you."
If she breaks part of the Tower while training, the Demon King might tell me to fix it… then I could legally dismantle—
Lost in silly fantasies, he eagerly chewed the bittersweet cookie.
***
"…What did you say?"
『Wind's Lotus, located in the capital Acan. Its owner: Jetoson. Think about how we can ruin him without causing outside trouble. That's the mission.』
"Direct orders from the Demon King?"
『Yeah. As you know, I've been a little busy lately. Unlike some people.』
"Shut up."
Gordon could hear the Demon King's snickering through the crystal.
He barely suppressed the urge to rip his lord's mouth off.
『Anyway, I already submitted a request to the Information Guild, so I'll update you as soon as info comes in.』
Click. The connection cut.
"What? You're not working?"
What made Gordon even angrier was the fact that the Demon King wasn't wrong.
A Demon King's lieutenant is, in essence, both administrator and advisor.
He is supposed to run the Tower on behalf of the Demon King and guide him away from bad decisions.
But there was nothing in this Tower that required management.
And the Demon King—Berze—knew more about Arcane Theory than Gordon ever did.
He was working in a completely different direction from classical demonic orthodoxy, making advice pointless.
Even when Heroes invaded, Gordon achieved less than the kidnap victim princess.
It was humiliating in its own way.
And so Gordon had become… irrelevant.
The genius who graduated top of his class at the Demon Academy—Gordon Dairik—had become useless in this Tower.
"Fine."
Gordon ground his teeth.
"No matter what, I will destroy that bastard. I'll prove I'm an indispensable asset!"
He carved the name into his mind:
Jetoson of Wind's Lotus.
READ MORE CHAPTERS HERE: https://shinchan1.podia.com/