The Genius Blacksmith's Game
Land of Gold. (2)
“This is an opportunity to work for the Empire. An opportunity to become a soldier, an opportunity to receive a high salary, and an opportunity to obtain citizenship of the Pharion Empire lie before you.”
Prisoners of war, orphans, slaves, children of commoners, etc.
Realizing that only young children could enter the Prax territory, Ananti received support from tens of thousands of children.
Parion doesn't even attempt it because only children can enter.
It is nothing but nonsense.
Parion had already pushed countless children into holding pickaxes and wearing safety helmets as young as eight to twelve years old.
Children entered the mines, either harboring the dream of becoming subjects of the empire or being pushed into it by their despicable parents.
It was what Ananti had planned, and the result was disastrous.
According to the children, they said that no matter how much they pounded, they could not obtain gold.
There is definitely a huge amount of gold within Prax's territory.
However, the children's strength was insufficient to dig it up.
Does this mean the Prax territory requires much greater strength and stamina?
Yes, it might be possible to dig it up.
but……
It is like several children dying just to mine 1 kg of gold. The territory of Prax is nothing more than a beautiful facade hiding a rotten core.
A mine with dozens of narrow passages.
The gold bars in Prax's territory could not be mined.
If there is a being… no, a race capable of that, only one race comes to mind.
Dwarves. They are small in stature like children but muscular, several times stronger than humans, and possess indescribable physical strength.
Right, if it's not them, we can't dig it up.
Prime Minister Ananti assured that the territory of Prax was a place where gold could never be mined.
But now.
“You mean a dwarf is a friend…?”
Ananti was surprised to see Hyunsu putting the contract, which already bore the royal seal, into his pocket.
The dwarves have long since disappeared.
The Parian Empire could not be found either.
“Right, Dwarf. You know how much he bothers me every day asking to have a glass of dark beer. Haha.”
"okay."
However, Ananti didn't really care.
What's the big deal about a dwarf being a friend?
Ananti smiled after Hyunsu stepped forward.
Ananti couldn't help but be happy because they had given up the trash land and reclaimed Eunryeong-gun.
He welcomed Prince Eunryeong upon his return.
Surrendering during battle is a natural thing to do.
However, after hearing the full story of the incident, it turned out that Changseong Ruma was the problem.
After quickly looking up some information, it is said that Changseong Ruma and Hyunsu have quite a connection.
It is presumed that Changseong Ruma caused him to drain their power.
It was inevitable that Lord Eunryeong, having lost his strength and become exhausted, was defeated.
Ananti spoke to the Silver Army soldiers who had returned slumped over like defeated soldiers.
“……Although we were defeated this time, I believe we will not be defeated in the next war against the County. His Majesty has shown mercy. I will make your armor even more outstanding and recruit 120,000 new members of the Silver Dragon Army to display a majesty even greater than before, so that you may take revenge.”
flinch-
“……Does that mean I have to fight Hyun-su again?”
“You want me to fight that monster again?”
“……What’s wrong with you all? According to the reports, you were toyed with by Changseong Ruma and couldn’t even exert half of your usual strength.”
The Eunryeong Army is the most valiant group.
It is only natural that a unit specialized in defense, rather than an army specialized in offense, must be valiant.
“Haven’t I stood at the forefront and displayed great valor in countless battles against hideous monsters?”
“……That was because I was confident that we could win, but this time it is different. Even if 400,000 troops were to go instead of 200,000, we would not be able to win.”
“……Chancellor, consider why we surrendered.”
What's going on?
Just one person.
Upon hearing Hyunsu's name, 70,000 Eunryeong soldiers are afraid.
The same goes for the articles.
The knights were terrified at the thought that someday they would have to throw themselves into death.
“……Fine, I was curious. Tell me! Why on earth did you surrender, you, the pride of the Empire!”
“……It is because even the great general Hyun-su has not fully revealed his power.”
“……What!?”
Ananti's eyes grew huge, as if they were about to pop out.
I pictured Hyunsu fighting fiercely in the war, but it wasn't him.
I don't want to fight with Hyunsu anymore.
I want to avoid a fight with him. I would rather do something else.
Ananti was shocked as he watched them bow their heads and make a request.
His plan to reorganize Eunryeong-gun and one day take the head of Hyeon's country went completely awry.
All that remained before him were defeated soldiers terrified by a mere single person.
***
There was also a person called a master craftsman in the Pharion Empire.
It is Kras.
Hyunsu is merely the first user to forge a legend and transcendence.
A very small number of NPCs had already forged legends before, and Kras also recently crafted a transcendent artifact called the 'Emperor's Executioner's Sword' and presented it to His Majesty.
Prime Minister Ananti hurriedly went to find Kras.
“What kind of species are dwarves? Are they a species capable of really mining the minerals in that place called the Land of Gold?”
The reason Kras was able to become such a great commander.
This is because he was raised by a dwarf living in hiding in a mountain village during his childhood.
“……It is fully possible.”
Kras listened to the whole story with a puzzled look at the chancellor who had rushed over breathlessly.
However…
“Chancellor, I am concerned. I understand what you meant by saying you made a dwarf friend, but it is merely one dwarf, isn't it?”
"……like?"
“The dwarf will be able to enter that mine and dig for gold. I understand Master Hyun’s intentions as well. He will likely hand him the finest pickaxe in the world. With that pickaxe, the dwarf will continue mining alone. However, there is one thing Hyun does not know. The dwarf race is a species that hates the target the moment they believe they are being subjected to forced labor. Imagine this. If you were to hand a dwarf a pickaxe and tell him to dig up all this gold, would he do it?”
“……You were right. I was being foolish. In that case, can that dwarf build there?”
“Construction? I suppose it is possible. The Land of Gold is a place where structures cannot be built due to the fierce winds. Given the architectural skills of the dwarves who built the Iron Kingdom, which shone brightest in the past, it is feasible. However… it would take about a thousand years to build it alone. Ah… if I pass it on to the humans of the Land of Strings to shorten the time, it would be around 300 years.”
“Puhahahahaha!”
Prime Minister Ananti ended up laughing hysterically.
"So you're saying the renowned General Hyun pulled a stunt?"
“What good is it if that territory is established 300 years from now? By then, neither Hyun-su nor we will be here.”
That is correct.
That is absolutely right.
“You fool, you didn’t even look into the nature of the dwarves, nor did you calculate how many years it would take to deal with just one. Indeed, my true purpose for coming here lies elsewhere.”
“What is it?”
“Since we have contracted to cede territory to the County, we must make a visit at least once. His Majesty has also instructed that this be done.”
A handover was necessary.
Ananti intended to visit with Kras, the famous general of the Empire.
"Okay. Let's go together."
Ananti came to Prax territory with Kras.
“So, you’re saying Hyun-su exchanged this Prax territory for the lives of 70,000 Eunryeong soldiers?”
That's true.
"Isn't that an idiot?"
Now that I hear what you say, I think I feel the same way.
Kras stood in Prax's territory and looked back.
Even our Pharion Empire is right on our doorstep.
Although it was about 5km away, the Pharion Empire was clearly visible from that territory.
Swaaaaaaak-
As rumored, the gusts are extremely severe, and it seems like a place that cannot even be territory in the first place.
The blowing wind makes the two people instinctively button up their clothes.
The land here is so loose that it cannot even be farmed.
It looks that way.
There was no ruin quite like this one.
Kras is a land like a wasteland with blowing gusts of wind.
He gave a wry smile as he looked at the territory where not a single villager lived.
Dozens of abandoned mines attempted by the Pharion Empire were scattered here and there.
'You terrifying fellow…'
Kras came with Ananti, but he knew that he had sent 40,000 children here.
About 2,000 of them died, and the actual amount of gold collected was only a few tens of kilograms.
Ananti withdrew the children because their value was lower than the children's ransom.
at that time.
The wind blew fiercely like a gust of wind in the desert, covering the entire territory in dust.
A figure walking through the hazy dust was visible.
Is the author the famous general Hyun?
That's right.
Next to the figure walking alone through the hazy dust, a figure presumed to be a short dwarf also appeared.
however……
“So, I wasn't just one friend…?”
It seemed like there were a few more dwarves.
Soon, the number of people thought to be just a few in the dust swelled to hundreds.
"what?"
Did you have hundreds of dwarf friends?
“……You clearly only said you made a dwarf friend?”
Ananti was flustered.
And soon after, the dust subsided and the true appearance began to be revealed.
“…….”
“……!”
The dwarves, who were only between 130cm and 140cm tall at most, had muscular bodies as rumored.
Their impression was by no means something to be underestimated just because they were short.
Dwarves are a race that can pull out a single steel bar by themselves, whereas it would take several humans to pull it out.
They are a species that lifts 250kg when humans lift 50kg dumbbells.
Yes, dwarves are the ones with the difference in strength between humans and gorillas.
Those dwarves are pitch black.
The procession of dwarves stretching from a distant land continues.
“5,000……?”
No, it looks like there are easily 10,000.
“10,000…?”
“Kkokko, you have to bring them all at once. Go and bring more.”
Kiiieeeeee
Whoosh!
10,000 Dwarves were added.
The sight of 20,000 dwarves walking with pickaxes slung over their shoulders, blueprints in their hands, carts pulled, or rebar in their hands is spectacular.
"I said 20,000!!!"
Ananti trembled violently as if he were about to suffocate.
“Koko, are you really going to do this?”
Kiiieeee!
Once again, a massive flame was swallowed, and this time, it really brought all the dwarves with it.
The number of dwarves reached 50,000.
Fifty thousand dwarves are making noise.
“If it’s a request from our Hyunsu, I have to grant it!”
“Absolutely.”
“A wasteland? Where would such a thing exist!”
“Haha! I told you the wasteland suits that bald dwarf over there!”
Hyunsu stopped in front of Ananti and Kras.
And the dwarf standing beside Hyunsu.
The dwarf with the long beard was wearing a crown.
Although his face looked wrinkled, his strong eyes overwhelmed the two of them.
“Are these the ones? The ones who promised you territory? I am Baragon, the Dwarf King.”
“The Dwarf King……?”
“Baragon……!?”
Ananti and Kras seemed to be dreaming.
In particular, Ananti has consistently sent scouts to the Valley of Iron. It was solely to find the dwarves.
But, a king?
Hyunsu asked.
“How is it, Prime Minister?”
“What, what do you mean?”
I mean my friends.
“This dwarf… no, you mean these dwarves?”
At that moment, Baragon wore a puzzled expression.
“Friends… what are you talking about? I am not your friend!”
Baragon suddenly lost his temper.
I knew it!
"The Dwarf King as a friend? What a lunatic. He was just a madman who thought the Dwarf King was a friend all by himself! Haha!"
As Ananti breathed a sigh of relief, the dwarf king spoke.
We are brothers.
“……?”
