NOVEL NEXT Chapter 133
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The Iron King was subdued.
At first, the Dwarves thought it was the treasure, but the real treasures were elsewhere. With the Iron King’s defeat, the sealed doors of the Purgatory Workshop opened, revealing the tools within.
The forge, the enhancement room, the warehouse, and more. These were the true treasures, containing the essence of ancient Dwarven engineering. But the most valuable among them was undoubtedly the archive.
Within the archive lay the notes and numerous blueprints left by the ancient Dwarven engineers. For reasons unknown, they had preserved their knowledge for their descendants.
And among them, of course, were the blueprints for the Iron King. While the blueprints were so complex that even the Dwarves struggled to decipher them, this was actually a good thing.
“It seems the Dwarves won’t be bored for the next hundred years.”
“It’s good to be busy.”
“Yes, especially for Dwarves.”
The Dwarves’ eccentricity was beyond imagination. Though manipulated and incited by the demon doppelganger, they had possessed the madness to turn even their own kin into weapons.Hans and Bell were enjoying tea and conversation in the garden. While Dwarves typically had little interest in gardens, Princess Bell was surprisingly fond of plants and ornaments.
Hans looked up and slowly surveyed the garden. It was still a work in progress, but the effort put into cultivating it was evident. Skills beyond metalworking were also necessary.
“I heard you handed over everything from the Purgatory Workshop.”
“We can’t even use those technologies anyway.”
“Are you really sure about that?”
“…What do you mean?”
“You’re being mischievous.”
This was why Bell was having this private conversation with Hans. The Purgatory Workshop’s technology was beyond imagination. Frankly, if they could just mass-produce the iron golems, the Kingdom’s power would dramatically increase.
And that meant a disruption in the balance of power. A massive army of iron soldiers could become a deadly weapon, capable of mercilessly destroying everything in its path.
Even with a common enemy like the demons, concentrating so much power in one place was illogical. In this harsh world, no one could predict the future.
Therefore, it was common practice to maintain a balance of power. Even if the Dwarf Kingdomwere to go rogue, there had to be a way to stop them. And Hans certainly had the right to do so.
He had single-handedly destroyed not only the iron golems but also the Iron King. She had heard the stories, but she hadn’t imagined he possessed such overwhelming power.
That’s why Bell was even more uneasy. Why was such a powerful being so generous? Did he have an ulterior motive? Was this a ploy to isolate the Dwarf Kingdom?
“So, you’re curious about my intentions.”
🚨 Important Notice 🚨
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“Unfortunately, yes.”
She knew it was shameless. But that’s what a ruler was. Countless lives depended on her words and actions. Therefore, she had to constantly question everything. Others, and even herself.
She had to scrutinize every decision. Was this the best course of action? Was there a better way? And then, choosing the best and most optimal path forward.
That was the duty of a ruler. That’s why Bell chose to be suspicious. He was being too generous, almost strangely so. Unconditional goodwill, especially in these difficult times, didn’t exist.
What would he say? Would he be angry at her suspicion? Or disappointed? She was prepared for either. She was the princess of the Dwarf Kingdom. She would do anything for the Kingdom…
“Simply put, I’d like you to use it to crush the demons.”
“Excuse me?”
“We have a common enemy, don’t we? We need to deal with that first.”
“You don’t think we’ll betray you?”
“Why would I?”
Bell was taken aback by Hans’s counter-question, as if he found her question strange. Even with her own considerable experience, she had never encountered anyone who reacted like this.
“Well, we…”
“I already know that Dwarves have as much pride as they do a thirst for knowledge.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Everyone makes mistakes. Can we really condemn someone for a single misstep?”
Condemn. The word pierced Bell’s heart. It perfectly described the current state of the Dwarf Kingdom. Even though the Kingdom had been restored thanks to the Royal Knights, their sins hadn’t disappeared.
They had melted their own kin into weapons. And they had clashed with other races over territory. The sins of the past remained, weighing heavily on everyone’s hearts like iron.
Some Dwarves, realizing their mistakes, had fallen into despair, abandoning their hammers. Some had even taken their own lives. Perhaps because they had lost their pride. That was their current state.
A life of self-reproach, condemned by others, believing they could never move forward, their spirits broken. Bell believed this was the price they had to pay.
“And yet, you say it’s alright?”
“…”
“You, of all people. You, who witnessed that tragedy firsthand and sacrificed yourself to stop it…”
She had heard of Hans’s exploits. He had been the first to confront the powerful enemy, allowing the Dwarves to recover. But she hadn’t expected him to say such words, especially after witnessing the tragedy.
“The sins you’ve committed won’t disappear. But there’s a world of difference between being forced and acting of one’s own free will.”
“…”
“I’m not the law. I’m not a king. I’m not a god. I’m not here to judge you for your sins.”
“Then what are you?”
“Just a believer. I believe that you, no, we all can avoid making the same mistakes again… That’s all.”
Hans had his arms crossed. Like a statue, he didn’t move. As if this was all perfectly natural. Seeing him like this, Bell couldn’t help but laugh. He was truly a strange person.
“I can finally understand. Why you’re the Commander of the Royal Knights, and why everyone trusts and follows you.”
“Is that so? I’m not sure.”
“That’s exactly why.”
Hans tilted his head, puzzled. Seeing his confused expression, Bell laughed genuinely for the first time in a while. He was a man who moved forward, without flaws, a knight who practiced his noble ideals.
“Don’t worry. We’ll never make you turn your sword against us.”
He was already their savior, the one who had rescued the Dwarf Kingdom.
How could they burden him further?
They already knew that nothing was more dangerous than runaway technology.
Bell resolved to be the restraining force,
So that she wouldn’t betray the kindness Hans had shown them.
Come to think of it, that could have happened.
Hearing Bell’s words, Hans inwardly sighed in relief. He hadn’t considered that possibility. But even if he had, his thoughts wouldn’t have changed. Perhaps the reason was…
…He couldn’t remember. Hans was starting to realize that there was something wrong with his memory. Or rather, whenever he tried to recall something, his memory would suddenly cut off.
As if someone was intentionally blocking it. Hans sighed. In any case, his goal remained the same. What Hans wanted most was to eradicate the demons.
Of course, it would be problematic if the Dwarf Kingdomwent rogue. But fortunately, Bell had promised to prevent that. Hans had no choice but to trust her. And if things went wrong, there were always the Dragons.
“Our business in the Dwarf Kingdomis concluded.”
“That’s right.”
“Ruby, how about you?”
“I’m done too.”
Ruby smiled. Bayard, next to her, was fidgeting. Ruby had visited her mother’s grave with Bayard. She had gone to pay her respects since it had been a while.
Hans nodded. It was a resigned smile, but if she was content, that’s all that mattered. Ruby wouldn’t be tormented by the past anymore.
Of course, the memories would resurface from time to time. The horrific memories of abuse. But they would be there for her. Thinking this, Hans mounted the wyvern.
“Let’s go home.”
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[Translator Notes]
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