NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26
Chapter 26
The Demon King Castle on the 72nd floor was unusually filled with people today, contrasting its usual quiet atmosphere. They all had different appearances and voices, but one thing unified them.
“Why did the Demon King call us here?”
“I don’t know. Is something major happening?”
Most were wearing tool belts with hammers, crowbars, and tongs attached. Just from that, one could tell what kind of individuals had gathered.
They were blacksmiths from the Demon World. Blacksmiths from the 72nd and 70th floors, and for some unknown reason, also from the 71st floor.
“Weren’t you on the 71st floor? Why are you here?”
“I just came upon being called.”
“I heard there was a war recently. Maybe we’re being asked to make weapons.”
“I hope it’s a large order. Things are tight lately.”
While there weren’t too many blacksmiths on each floor, the gathering of blacksmiths from three levels resulted in a considerable number. While they were unsure of the reason for their assembly, the castle’s door opened.
“Huh?”
“Her Highness Seere.”
“Her Highness Citri is here too?”
The owners of the 72nd floor, Seere von Debata, along with Citri from the 71st and 70th floors, stepped out together. A man followed them from behind.
“Isn’t that the master of Her Highness Seere?”
The blacksmiths recognized the man. It was common knowledge among the residents of the 72nd floor that Seere’s master was rapidly gaining influence.
As Seere, Citri, and Nahun appeared, Cain, who was waiting, shouted to the gathered blacksmiths.
“Listen up, blacksmiths gathered here! The great Demon Kings have summoned you for a significant announcement!”
The blacksmiths’ gazes turned toward Citri and Seere. Seere made eye contact with the blacksmiths, wearing a naive expression. The cute appearance made the blacksmiths involuntarily smile like proud fathers.
Citri looked at the blacksmiths and asked Nahun.
“Are all of them gathered?”
“Please don’t ask the obvious, Your Highness.”
“I’m really going to hit you one day…”
“I hope it comes to that as well.”
Clearing his throat, Citri prepared to speak loudly to the gathered blacksmiths.
“Greetings, masters from each floor. You must be curious why I have summoned you today.”
Citri took out something. It was an item Nahun had handed her before arriving. It was a high-quality sword seized from humans.
As she revealed the sword, the demeanor of the Demon World’s blacksmiths shifted immediately. Blacksmiths who had initially regarded the revelation with indifference began to show immense interest.
“Do you see this?”
“W-where did you acquire that!?”
“C-can I take a closer look!?”
“This sword was seized from human adventurers.”
The mention of humans changed the blacksmiths’ expressions again. Most demon race members viewed humans negatively. Particularly those living on the 72nd floor, who had suffered direct harm from humans.
Thus, even if the sword was of great quality, they couldn’t help but dislike the fact that it was made by humans. The blacksmiths, showing disappointment, asked Citri.
“Why are you showing us a human’s sword?”
“You must analyze various weapons crafted by humans and create swords of similar quality.”
“…What?”
The blacksmiths began to murmur in confusion. Some of them furrowed their brows, expressing displeasure at Citri’s statement.
“Are you telling us to mimic the inferior swords we make!?”
“That’s correct.”
It was not Citri who responded to the blacksmith’s words, but Nahun, stepping forward from behind.
“The inferior weapons you craft are why Her Highness Citri has issued this command.”
“W-what did you just say? Inferior weapons?!”
“Shall we find out?”
Nahun received the sword back from Citri and turned to the blacksmiths.
“If I strike one of your swords with this, what do you think will happen? Which will break first?”
The furious blacksmiths could not answer. They knew objectively that the sword seized from humans was vastly superior to the ones they crafted. It was evident just by looking at it.
“We need weapons. However, if we consistently utilize inferior weapons, the lives of our soldiers will be at risk. So, what’s the problem with trying for better quality weapons?”
“No matter what, to use human-made…”
“Then if a soldier using your low-quality weapon dies because its blade broke, will you take responsibility for it?”
“…”
Nahun threw the sword he was holding in front of the blacksmiths. They couldn’t take their eyes off the sword they had previously rejected because it was made by humans. Though they detested humans, the weapon itself was undeniably excellent.
“Imitation is an essential step in creation.”
“That’s…”
“I’m not telling you to copy completely. Analyze the weapons we provide you and create new ones in your own style. Can you bear to be outdone in weapon quality by those humans you despise so much?”
Nahun spoke to encourage the blacksmiths.
“You all can achieve this. I will give you ample time, so take your time to analyze and create with certainty. Prove that the blacksmiths of the Demon World are not inferior to those of the human realm.”
Upon hearing Nahun’s words, the blacksmiths looked at each other. Among the group, one blacksmith stepped up and picked up the sword Nahun had tossed.
“I’ll give it a try.”
“H-hey there!”
“However, since I don’t know the manufacturing process, it will take a lot of time to analyze.”
The response came from a troll blacksmith with a bushy beard. Nahun was pleased with his answer and turned to Seere and Citri.
“How about making that blacksmith the leader, Your Highness Seere and Your Highness Citri?”
“I’m fine with it!”
“…Yes, that sounds good.”
Nahun turned to the troll blacksmith.
“You heard that. What is your name?”
“Doomgrick.”
“Doomgrick, you are the leader of this operation. In the name of Seere von Debata and Citri, I grant you the authority to command the other blacksmiths.”
Doomgrick’s eyes widened, while the other blacksmiths expressed slight opposition.
“No, I’ve got far more experience than that guy…!”
“This isn’t how things are supposed to work!”
“The leader should be decided through a meeting….”
“Silence.”
Nahun shot a cold glance at the complaining blacksmiths. All of them felt a chill from his glare. Addressing the now-silenced group, Nahun coldly continued.
“Those who lack the courage to step forward and challenge endeavor to debate who should be the leader? Nonsense. Regardless of experience and skill, a leader must take initiative and be willing to take responsibility. Among all the blacksmiths present, who has stepped forward before this man?”
The blacksmiths could only keep quiet. Nahun continued.
“And above all, this is an order from your lords, Her Highness Seere and Her Highness Citri… How dare a mere blacksmith defy their command?”
“I-it wasn’t my intention!”
“I would never oppose the Demon King’s orders…!”
Ignoring the blacksmiths’ frantic excuses, Nahun turned his gaze back to Doomgrick.
“Doomgrick.”
“…Yes.”
“Not listening to you is just as good as not heeding the commands of these two esteemed figures.”
Nahun gestured toward the sword Doomgrick was holding.
“If any blacksmith defies your orders, deal with them on the spot.”
“…!”
“These two hold this matter with great importance. If any disruptions or disturbances occur…”
Nahun’s gaze swept across the other blacksmiths. They trembled slightly under his all-seeing golden eyes.
“Eliminate the source of the disturbance.”
Doomgrick gulped and slowly knelt down. Bending his head low, he humbly replied.
“…This humble one will heed the commands of the great ones.”
As Doomgrick knelt, the other blacksmiths eagerly followed suit, lowering their heads.
#
“Did you do well as instructed?”
Back in the Demon King’s office, Citri was asking Nahun with a proud expression. Meanwhile, Nahun was praising Seere.
“You were nervous, but you held your ground well.”
“Hehe.”
“Hey, why are you ignoring what I say?”
“Why should I praise what Her Highness did?”
“Are you seriously trying to make me angry…?”
Nahun chuckled lightly.
“I’m just joking. You did well enough. Thanks to you, it was easy to set the atmosphere.”
“…Well, fine. Shall we discuss it a bit more?”
“Yes, we should.”
Nahun and Citri sat across from each other in their chairs. Seere looked back and forth between the two before rushing over to sit beside Nahun.
“You mean you want to bring my name into business?”
“Yes. Since the official owner of the 70th floor is Your Highness Citri, the business has to be conducted under your name.”
“And what do I gain from this?”
“You will receive high-quality weapons and a portion of the business profits. You just have to enjoy the profits without worrying about the business.”
“What’s the ratio?”
“Do you have something in mind?”
Citri made a thoughtful sound before considering.
“Half.”
“Now that’s a truly shameless request.”
Although he knew it was a bit unreasonable, he threw it out as a joke. When Nahun called her out for being a rascal, Citri was dumbfounded and shouted.
“Do you think it’s easy to trade on the name of the Demon King! And you’ve been calling me a rascal since the last time….”
“Fine. I won’t bother moving forward with it.”
“No, wait…!”
Having tried to joke around, Citri found herself on the verge of rejecting a deal that would bring her free money and weapons, hurriedly attempting to stop Nahun.
“I was just joking! Can’t I even joke?”
“Were we talking in jest just now?”
“…That wasn’t it, though.”
“Then who is the one at fault?”
At Nahun’s question, Citri squeezed her eyes shut. Nodding, she replied.
“Okay, okay! I admit I was wrong!”
“Then I hope to hear a sincere answer from you.”
“…How much are you willing to allow?”
“Let’s hear it before discussing.”
At Nahun’s words, Citri answered somewhat seriously.
“Give me 10 percent.”
“Do you have no conscience?”
“You want to use my name to profit and can’t give me that much!?”
“Then if you want to take 10 percent of the profits and forget about providing the weapons, we can do that.”
“That….”
Citri rolled her eyes and began calculating in her mind. Whether consistently receiving 10 percent of the profits was better or receiving slightly less in profit while consistently being provided weapons.
No matter how she thought about it, the latter seemed more beneficial.
Business profits would vary, so relying on 10 percent of the income was undeniably risky. But in the latter case, receiving weapons would mean she could still get them even if the business revenue was low.
“…You can reduce it further if you provide me with the weapons.”
“Let’s halve that.”
“Are you really only going to give me 5 percent? Isn’t that a bit much?”
“Proportionally, it might seem like that, but the actual amount benefiting you should be considerable.”
Citri tilted her head. Nahun’s confidence that the revenue would be substantial was evident.
“How do you know that, when we haven’t even started the business yet?”
“I’m certain it will be that way.”
Nahun smiled confidently. Seeing this, Citri let out a slight sigh.
‘That confident expression again…’
Had it been anyone else, she wouldn’t have trusted it, but knowing Nahun’s track record, she couldn’t help but feel some trust in that smile.
“…Well, I’m not the one investing money, anyway.”
“Yes, Your Highness can just lend your name and receive the profits and weapons.”
Nahun and Citri proceeded to draft a contract right there. They exchanged the contracts they had written, checking for issues and affixing their seals.
After Seere had pressed her seal, she turned to Nahun with a curious expression.
“By the way, I’m curious, do you really think our blacksmiths can replicate human weapons? I personally find that uncertain.”
“It’s definitely possible.”
Nahun was not just confident; he was absolutely certain. This was one of the builds he had verified through play in the game. The blacksmiths of the Demon World weren’t lacking in skill; it was a matter of necessity. The demons had magic at their disposal.
As they ascended the ranks of high-ranking demon kings, ordinary weapons became meaningless in the face of advanced magic. Thus, the production capabilities of the Demon World lagged behind those of the human realm.
However, the assertion that ordinary weapons lost their significance in face of magic was partially true and partially false.
‘No matter how powerful a demon king with abundant magical power may be, he cannot simultaneously protect every area he rules.’
Because at the end of the day, a demon king was just one person. A high-rank demon king could possess immense power to contend with hundreds of thousands of troops, but what if the opposing force consisted of millions, equipped with even superior gear?
Statistically, the target Nahun aimed for was not just beyond a high-ranking demon king, but rather the pinnacle of power. Therefore, it was only logical to invest effort in weapon manufacturing from that point onward.
“The blacksmiths of the Demon World simply lacked research. Now that we are providing them with research materials, they should be able to create weapons of a similar level in a short time.”
“Is that so? Then, I guess that’s a relief.”
“If you’re unsure, you’re welcome to withdraw.”
Citri, flustered, responded.
“I-I never said I’d withdraw! I’m getting free weapons, why would I pull out?”
“Free? There seems to be a misunderstanding.”
“Huh? You said you would just give me weapons. We’ve already signed a contract. Are you suddenly changing your mind?”
“No, that would be incorrect. The weapons provided to you are all fees. They are given in exchange for using your name while you shoulder the risks.”
Citri blinked, then asked Nahun.
“Wait, risks? What does that….”
“We’re conducting business under Your Highness Citri’s name. If the business fails, it’s only natural that your credit would be harmed.”
“…Huh?”
It was a reasonable statement. Although the business would officially be attributed to Citri, it was, in reality, Nahun’s venture. However, the thought of receiving weapons and a share of the profits without spending any money left Citri momentarily dazed.
“…You, you!!”
Realizing this, Citri grew flustered, while Nahun laughed softly.
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch, Your Highness.”