Surviving As the 5th Prince of the Ruined Kingdom

044

The demi-humans do dislike humans.

In the past, when slavery was rampant, the atrocities committed by humans against them were unspeakable.

With the founding of the demi-human union nation ‘Aden’, slave hunting targeting them was strictly prohibited. However, it is an open secret that the upper echelons of the Hamil Empire and the Arya Kingdom, where slavery still exists, trade them as the ‘ultimate commodity’.

But just because they dislike humans doesn’t mean the demi-humans live in complete isolation. They will trade with humans as needed.

“Those stubborn Dwarves will never cooperate with humans.”

Yet I had merely suggested developing the **Mana Stone** mines together with the Black Anvil tribe, and his reaction was quite surprising.

“I was aware that trading with Dwarves is difficult. But if there is a significant benefit right in front of them, they would certainly be open to trade.”

Even the train we took was created through the previous king’s collaboration with the Dwarves of the Aden Union.

“Your Highness, the Black Anvil tribe is a bit special. This is a story not many know, even in our territory…”

What’s taking him so long?

After hesitating, he carefully opened his mouth.

“They are descendants of the dwarves who were once enslaved by humans. Their resentment towards humans is exceptional. If you happen to meet members of the Black Anvil tribe, you must not let on that you know their ancestors were slaves of humans. If they find out that came from my mouth, they will likely march into the lord’s castle and cause an uproar.”

“I heard there are merchants who trade with them in the Merton territory.”

“They are descendants of those who helped the ancestors of the Black Anvil tribe escape from slavery. But over time, they have become mere trading partners, nothing more.”

I slightly bit my lip. Honestly, I had never thought there was such a history.

Matters of emotion are not simple.

There are countless historical cases of wars breaking out purely due to emotional conflicts, despite being irrational.

To be honest, if a Hamil Empire fellow approached me proposing a big business venture, I would likely refuse outright.

Suddenly, the image of the fiends turning into black ash at Fran’s enraged gesture, gasping their last breaths, flashed through my mind. It’s not like she would kill me, but for some reason, that scene crossed my mind.

“I understand what you’re saying. But could you still arrange a meeting with them?”

However, I cannot return empty-handed after coming this far.

Historically, there are also numerous cases where deep-rooted enmities were set aside in the face of great profits or common enemies, leading to cooperation.

“It would be useless……. Since the prince insists, I will try to arrange a meeting.”

“That’s a relief. I was worried that a meeting with them might not even be possible.”

“hahahaha, my Merton ancestors also provided considerable help when the Black Anvil tribe settled here. They will at least hear us out.”

So there is still a line of communication open, which is fortunate? I did not bring up talk of primary distribution channels or whatnot.

That was a conversation that could wait until after successfully engaging with the Black Anvil tribe.

On my way back to the guest room after the private audience with the earl, I saw Fran taking a stroll in the garden through the corridor window.

As I tried to pass by unnoticed, she called out to me first.

“Hey, looks like the talk didn’t go well?”

After scratching my head, I jumped through the corridor window into the garden.

“You knew the Black Anvil tribe would not easily accept my proposal, didn’t you?”

From the conversations at the dinner table, I had guessed that Fran was from the elven forest adjacent to the Merton territory.

Surely someone like her would know that the Black Anvil tribe’s ancestors were escaped slaves.

“If they are as I know them to be.”

“…… Then why didn’t you give me any hints when I came to find you?”

“You displayed such an impressive grasp of information that I assumed you already knew. Apparently not.”

“How could I have known a fact even a child was unaware of?”

“Try your best. If you fail, you know what? Whether you’re a prince or whatever, I’ll take you to a deserted island and force you to be my……. no, my disciple for life.”

Fran’s eerie laughter.

Thinking her previous words were sincere sent a chill down my spine.

I decided to change the subject.

“By the way, I overheard at the banquet that your hometown is the Elven forest adjacent to the Merton estate. Don’t you ever visit?”

“Hah, hometown, what’s that.”

Fran snorted derisively.

Come to think of it, she may be half-human, but Fran also has Elven blood flowing. It’s common knowledge that the forest-dwelling Elven faeries dislike fire.

Yet Fran studied magic at the Crimson Tower, specializing in fire magic. From that alone, one could surmise she wasn’t treated too well in her hometown.

Even among humans, those of mixed race face blatant discrimination, so how much more did the half-Elf Fran suffer.

“Well, I don’t feel anything about it now. I’ve lived long enough.”

Elves live longer than humans.

Around 120 years? As a master of the seven stars, she’s probably gained at least another 30 years on top of that……

If I think about it, she’s probably around my great-grandfather’s age……? She’s lived longer than I have yet to live?

Just how old is she?

Could she have been much older than my great-grandfather when they met?

“Was my great-grandfather your younger……?”

“Quiet, and hurry up and think of a way to persuade those dwarves.”

As expected, asking a woman’s age is a grave discourtesy.

***

Following the man assigned by Count Merton, we found the Black Anvil Clan at midpoint up the mountain.

My knightly escorts, Alfonso, and Fran accompanied me. Truthfully, I never expected Fran to tag along, but since we were already here, she said there was someone she wanted to greet.

The bearded Dwarven guards spotted us and narrowed their eyes. The man approached their chief and exchanged some words.

We had sent word ahead, so there was no risk of being turned away at the gate.

After listening to him, the Dwarf glanced us over and gruffly said:

“I’ll take you to the chieftain. Follow quietly.”

A village of stone buildings.

It seemed they had a contest for best decor, as each home was adorned with exquisite carvings and murals on the exterior walls.

“Oh, humans!”

“Humans have come!”

“So tall and lanky!”

“Looks like it’ll break if you poke it!”

The little dwarven kids who found us playing on the streets cheerfully circled around us.

“You brats! Go play over there!”

As the head of the security guards who was guiding us yelled, they scurried off somewhere, laughing loudly. Kids are pretty much the same everywhere.

We arrived at a house with a sculpture engraved, proudly displaying the muscular build of dwarves.

“Here it is. Wait a moment. Chief! Chief! The humans I mentioned yesterday have arrived!”

“Let only the representative enter.”

Ignoring the call for only the representative to enter, Pran slipped right in first.

Alfonso and the escort knights were about to open their mouths.

“I’ll go in and come back out. Everyone, please wait. With Pran here, what trouble could there be?”

“Wasn’t the human who just entered the representative?”

From noble mtl dot com

“They’re not human, so it’s fine.”

I passed by the perplexed head of security and entered the chief’s house. The door was low, so I had to bend my waist.

Fortunately, the interior was spacious, so it didn’t seem too troublesome to have a conversation.

“What’s this, I said only the representative should enter, so why······ huh?”

“Long time no see, Gilrud.”

“Pran? Why are you here?”

“I was curious to see if your ugly mug was still the same. Don’t mind me, go ahead and talk to this guy first. You’re not going to kick me out after the conversation, are you?”

“You’re still the same, that foul mouth of yours.”

Pran, you’re quite the blunt one, aren’t you?

While she conversed with the chief, I swiftly opened his status window.

[Relationship: Distrust]

Oh dear, just like the guards earlier, it seems there’s an underlying distrust towards humans.

The chief, who had been shaking his head, looked at me.

“Albert told me in advance that you wanted to discuss something with me?”

The chief was a middle-aged dwarf with tufts of white hair peeking through. The head of security who guided us here was quite bulky for a dwarf, but the chief was at least half a head taller than him.

If not for the distinctly thick thighs and arms of dwarves, one could have mistaken him for a short human.

I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.

“I am Evan Rionel, the 5th Prince of the Rionel Kingdom.”

“I’m aware. But do not expect courtesies from me, who is not human.”

“No need for formalities. Let me get straight to the point. The Black Anvil Tribe halted development on the mana crystal mines, did they not?”

His eyes flickered with anticipation.

“I happened to learn the reason behind it. I wish to strike a deal – in exchange for eliminating that cause, I want a stake in the mines and an exclusive distribution contract.”

“Ho, you know the reason, do you? How did you come by such knowledge? There’s no way for humans to learn of it.”

The chieftain’s brow furrowed deeply.

“A whisper travels far, by bird in the day, by rodent at night. Keeping secrets is no simple task.”

That was all the explanation I offered.

“Some wretch must have run their mouth. I’ll have to make an example out of them.”

He offered a sincere apology to his unsuspecting tribesmen.

“Very well, let’s hear it. What was our reason for halting the mining operations? If you’re trying to pull one over on us…”

“The Faceless Serpent, is it not?”

“…It seems you speak the truth.”

“From what I know, the Faceless Serpent has made its nest at the heart of the mines you aim to develop, lying in hibernation. Allow me to drive it out. In return, grant me a share of the proceeds once the mana crystal mining begins.”

The chieftain stared me down before glancing at Pran, who was surveying the hut.

“Pran, is this one trustworthy?”

“He’s Richard’s grandson.”

“Hmm…”

「Your relationship with the Gilud tribe has improved.」

[Relationship: Wary]

My relation improved solely for being a grandson. I sent another word of gratitude to my late grandfather.

Just what adventures did he undertake in the past? It doesn’t seem they were too close, given he never visited the village…

“Well, he may be Richard’s kin, but I know him not. I’ll be watching to see if he keeps his word.”

An unnecessary remark.

I shot Pran an accusatory glance.

After a contemplative pause, stroking his beard, the chieftain spoke again.

“One question. Can you truly drive the Faceless Serpent from its nest without issue? Even a bear, roused forcibly from hibernation, goes berserk. What if the beast lays waste to our homeland? Will you take responsibility?”

I answered honestly.

“Nine times out of ten. That’s my assessment.”

I had studied all manner of literature on demonic beasts, scouring the [Library] for any records concerning the Faceless Serpent.

That was the conclusion I had reached.

“Once in ten times, the tribe’s settlement becomes a field of mugwort······ Can you handle it, you brat?”

True words.

A one in ten probability. If it actually happens, it’s 100%. There will certainly be many opposing it.

“Let’s assume you safely developed the mine. How can you guarantee that you lot won’t gobble it up? Do you think you’re the only dwarf tribe that lost their settlement due to the human bastards who brought an army to the mine they jointly developed?”

“Such incidents no longer occur since the formation of the Aden Alliance······.”

“The dead cannot speak.”

Hearing the chieftain say the words I had once told Austin felt peculiar.

Every word rang true.

But I have a way to persuade him.

“Chieftain. Do you know since when the Faceless Dragon has been in hibernation?”

“Hm? Well, uh······.”

“As I understand, the Faceless Dragon was the worst evil for dwarves in the past.”

It’s only natural that a creature crawling underground, consuming minerals, wouldn’t get along with dwarves.

“That’s true······.”

“So when did those creatures disappear?”

“Around 500 years ago, I believe. They went extinct for some reason······.”

“Then the Faceless Dragon discovered by the Black Anvil Tribe must have been hibernating for around that long too.”

“I suppose so?”

“Around 500 years, give or take.”

“!!”

Realizing what I was implying, his eyes widened.

“The Faceless Dragon’s hibernation cycle is roughly 500 years. It wouldn’t be strange at all if the one the Black Anvil Tribe found wakes up right now······.”

Kookkoong! Kookookookkoong! Kookkoong―!

Wajangchang! Jjangkeurang!

It felt like an earthquake. The plates and pottery on the chieftain’s shelf shattered.

‘Oh crap.’

But it’s not waking up just yet······.

“Gilrude! Quickly evacuate the villagers!”

Pran said what I wanted to say.