“Hahaha!” Galbarik burst into laughter. Ghislain’s confidence amused him, making the young lord appear both cute and absurd. “Listen here, Lord. You’re still young, so you might not know, but a concept without a blueprint is just a fantasy. Even if it’s implemented, if it’s impractical, it’s the same thing.” At Galbarik’s words, the other dwarves joined in the laughter. “He’s right! Nobles always demand things they know nothing about.” 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖 “One noble once asked me to create a tool to extract the full medicinal properties of herbs. I told him to just buy a potion. I’m not an alchemist!” “The lord where I used to work asked if there was a way to expand his estate when the land was too small. Like, what am I, a god? How can I make more land?” “There was another noble who wanted me to make a plow that worked with magic to increase the harvest. I mean, what’s the point of that? The land and seeds are terrible to begin with.” The dwarves began to mock the nobles they had previously worked for, shaking their heads. Galbarik looked back at Ghislain and shrugged. “We hate making useless things. I don’t know what the lord is thinking, but it’s probably no more than a toy.” As Galbarik finished speaking, a heavy silence fell over the group. Everyone just blinked, staring at Galbarik. “...Cough.” Except for a faint cough from a knight, no other sound could be heard. Confused by the strange reaction, Galbarik looked around. “What? Why is everyone staring at me like that? Did I say something wrong? This place really is weird.” Ghislain chuckled at Galbarik. “Have you lived with humans for too long? You go on about being a craftsman and the soul of art, yet your thinking is more rigid than theirs. How can you create great works with that kind of imagination?” “What did you say?” “I get it. When you do the same thing over and over, you unconsciously start believing those limits are your own.” “What are you even talking about...?” “But if that’s the case, you’re no better than a skilled technician.” “How dare you insult us like that!” The dwarves flared up in anger. No other race could match their craftsmanship. That’s why, even as slaves, no one dared to treat them carelessly. Yet this young lord before them was genuinely looking down on them. “Quiet, all of you! I’m the leader here!” Galbarik silenced the dwarves with a shout, then glared at Ghislain. “Don’t insult our pride, Lord. It won’t end well for you.” Dwarves were an extremely proud race. While they had reluctantly accepted their slave status, they would never tolerate being treated with contempt. If this lord wants decent weapons, he better change his attitude toward us. Ignoring the sharp looks from the dwarves, Ghislain beckoned with a flick of his finger. “Follow me. I’ll show you something interesting.” The dwarves, momentarily thrown off, hesitated but eventually followed Ghislain. He led them to a massive workshop. “This is...!” Upon arriving, the dwarves began looking around in fascination. The air was filled with fragrant herbs, and large machinery filled the space. People in white work clothes and masks were bustling about. “This is the workshop where we make cosmetics. Specifically, skin-care cream.” “Cosmetics?” The dwarves tilted their heads at Ghislain’s explanation. They knew what cosmetics were—luxury items nobles fussed over more than food. But how could such high-end goods be produced in this remote territory? Seeing their puzzled expressions, Ghislain elaborated. “Our territory’s cosmetics are the finest in the kingdom. They’re flying off the shelves in the capital. We bought you with the massive profits they’ve brought in.” “So... you’re showing off your wealth?” “Yep.” “...” “Seriously? Your brains have completely solidified. Watch carefully. I’m letting you in on a secret—how we use these tools to make the cosmetics.” Finally snapping out of their daze, the dwarves began to carefully examine the workshop. As they studied the equipment, their faces gradually grew pale. Some even trembled as they stared at the tools. “H-How did they come up with this?” “They’re extracting the properties of the herbs so efficiently!” “Is this... actually possible?” Dwarves, often regarded as gods in craftsmanship, quickly grasped the purpose and function of the equipment just by observing it. They could even deduce the roles of the magical inscriptions scattered throughout the workshop. Their experience working alongside mages under nobles had given them a deep understanding of magic-infused machinery. The dwarves soon gathered to discuss excitedly. “Indeed, by applying heat momentarily, the active ingredients can be extracted while minimizing the risk of destruction. They’re handling the impurities separately, I assume?” “The filtration system is a bit lacking. If we make the holes smaller and increase the number of filters, the effect should improve.” “They’re using rapid cooling here to form this particular texture! The equipment is crude, but the idea is brilliant!” With flushed faces, the dwarves turned to Ghislain and exclaimed, “This is real?” “Who came up with this idea?” “Please! Let us meet the genius who designed this! Is this person really in this territory?” In the midst of the dwarves’ burning passion, Ghislain simply pointed to himself with his thumb. Galbarik’s eyes widened in disbelief, his voice stammering. “The lord... made this?” “That’s right. All of this came from my head.” It wasn’t a lie. While he had copied knowledge from the future, it was still Ghislain’s mind that had brought it here. Seeing his confident demeanor, the dwarves were completely convinced. A few dwarves, their faces flushed with excitement, urgently spoke up. “Please! Let me improve this!” “If I can tweak it just a bit, we can boost efficiency by several times!” “My lord! Just looking at this is driving me crazy! Please!” The dwarves were exasperated. How could someone capable of such brilliant ideas settle for such crude equipment? As Ghislain watched the eager dwarves, he nodded in satisfaction. “Finally, your brains are starting to work. That’s the spirit. So you think you can increase production?” “Of course! Leave it to us! We’ll easily double the output!” “But... it seems like not everyone is motivated yet.” Not all the dwarves had softened their stance. About half, including Galbarik, still stood stiffly, pride keeping them from backing down in this unspoken contest of wills. Ghislain, smirking, beckoned again with his finger. “Come on. Let me show you something else.” He led them to a recently built housing complex. Several dwarves, particularly those interested in construction, began marveling as they inspected the buildings. “This... this actually exists?” “How could someone think of this! It’s not just a simple tower-style building!” These homes didn’t involve any particularly advanced techniques, but they did challenge the preconceived notions of what a house should look like. Once again, the dwarves began to debate amongst themselves. “If we use marble for this section, we could improve both durability and aesthetics.” “Instead of heating with a fireplace, we should use internal materials to spread the heat more evenly...” “We can design a better drainage system than this!” The dwarves were now brimming with inspiration—something they had long been missing. After a lengthy discussion, they turned to Ghislain, shouting, “Let us improve this too!” There was no stopping the dwarves once their minds had been ignited. Galbarik, still hesitant, asked in a trembling voice, “Did... did the lord think of this too?” “Of course. This is all my work.” “Wh-What in the world is going on in your head...?” The dwarves weren’t just amazed by the technology itself. What truly astounded them was the fact that these ideas, previously thought impossible, had been brought into reality. Innovators like that became legendary figures, leaving their names etched in history. Grinning, Ghislain beckoned once more. “Follow me. There’s more to see.” This time, they arrived at a vast farm. Although it had already been harvested once, the wheat fields were green and thriving once again. “W-Wow!” The dwarves’ jaws dropped as they gazed at the seemingly endless expanse of wheat. The size of each individual stalk far exceeded anything they had ever seen before. It was hard to believe this was the barren northern land they had heard about. Ghislain traced the horizon with his finger and said, “This wheat can be harvested at least three times a year. The next harvest is soon. You’ll see for yourselves just how much food this land can produce.” It was unbelievable, but the proof was right in front of them. They couldn’t deny what they saw. Galbarik’s voice trembled as he asked, “Did... did the lord do this as well? How...?” “I’ll skip the details, but roughly speaking, I used rune stones to enhance the seeds and boost the soil’s fertility. What matters is that it works, doesn’t it?” Nod, nod. The dwarves all nodded in unison. While they weren’t particularly interested in agriculture, as it didn’t involve complex engineering, they were impressed by the concept itself—the ability to imagine something new and make it a reality. Cosmetics, housing, farming—Ghislain had created innovations that could change entire ways of living. The fact that one person was responsible for all these breakthroughs was what mattered most. Each invention had the power to upend society and revolutionize how people lived and thought. The dwarves clenched their fists. Ghislain’s inventions had reignited a creative fire that had long been suppressed. If only we had been involved in these projects from the start, imagine how fun that would have been! Seeing the dwarves’ excitement, Ghislain spoke. “Well? I’ve got plenty more ideas where that came from. Things that are practical and can actually be implemented. I brought you here because I need people who can bring these concepts to life. What do you say? Want to work with me?” Ghislain’s words hit the dwarves right where it hurt, scratching the itch they hadn’t been able to satisfy for so long. And then, he delivered the final blow. “I can also teach you the knowledge and techniques that no one else knows.” Ghislain was confident Galbarik would cave. In his past life, Galbarik had been obsessed with new technology, and there was no reason he would be any different now. The answer came immediately. “I’m in!” Galbarik, along with the other dwarves, shouted enthusiastically. There was no point in holding out any longer. Learning new technology was their lifeblood. It was their destiny, their calling. Galbarik pleaded, “Please! Teach us! I’ll gladly remain a slave if it means I can learn from you!” “...You’re already slaves.” “That’s just a figure of speech! I swear, we’ll stand by you in all your endeavors!” “So, you’ll fully cooperate for ten years?” “Of course! But the lord must keep his promise!” “You won’t go back on your word?” “What do you take us for? Dwarves never break their promises, even if it costs us our lives!” Hearing Galbarik’s passionate declaration, Ghislain smiled and extended his hand. “Good, good. Do your best, and I’ll keep my word to free you in ten years. Let’s do our best together!” “Likewise! We’re counting on you!” As Galbarik shook Ghislain’s hand with a bright smile, the members of the Fenris clan watching from afar looked at the dwarves with pity.