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Chapter 387: The Dwarf King
Chapter 387: The Dwarf King
Chapter 387: The Dwarf King
As expected of the Dwarves huh.
Our plan to create towns for the displaced people is going well.
The Dwarves are working day and night using their prided skills as craftsmen.
Although each town was about the size of a large village at best, it was already habitable for people.
WaHaHa! They are great right? Right? You can praise them more!
Oh, King Macar.
I turned back when I heard the loud laughter behind me and found a dwarf with a rich beard.
His name is Macar.
The King of the Dwarves.
A large mug is held in his hand and he is drinking from it as if its content was water.
However, the content is a special dwarven spirit. Something that humans cant drink because it is too strong.
The technology of the Dwarves is the best on the continent! For you to spot its excellence is as expected of the Princesss younger brother!
Please have my gratitude for granting my request.
Dont be so stiff! We have a debt to the Empire! In the time of trouble we should help each other!
Macar drinks his spirit while laughing vigorously.
The working dwarves were also pouring alcohol into their mug and drink when they saw the king.
It might be something like a toast to them but they drink the alcohol so vigorously that I was taken aback a little.
That being said, even though they are in the middle of their work, they sure can drink a lot.
Their work is supposed to require finesse too.
Prince! How about you drink some!?
Unfortunately, I am not a drinker myself so I dont think I can handle dwarven spirit.
Theres that huh! I forgot since the Princess often drinks with me without even a change on her face!
WaHaHa, laughed Macar.
Lize-aneue is a drinker. She is quite strong as well.
That being said, she can even drink dwarven spirit huh.
So shes sturdy even on the inside? What a person.
King Macar, I would like to talk about your compensation.
Compensation? Ah, right. We came at the Dukes invitation after all! Id say that delicious alcohol would be sufficient for me but I am still a king after all! Lets talk over there!
I kinda get the feeling that he completely forgot about that.
Isnt this man too hearty?
Well, because he has this kind of personality that he was allowed to establish his rule within the Empires land though.
If he was more cunning, the Empire would give him a warning and wouldnt allow him to establish an autonomous zone in the first place.
At a nearby hut that was built to be the Dwarves temporary residence.
We entered the hut and Macar sat down.
I dont like doing roundabout things so I will just say it! What I want is more territory!
Macar suddenly states his demand.
Its a ridiculous request but it is also something unavoidable.
Then allow me to be honest as well. I think that it would be difficult to expand King Macars current territory.
If the dwarven autonomous zone is expanded, their influence in the Empire will grow and it will be necessary to take parts of the nobles territories in the area to give to him.
That would be difficult.
However, I understand where he is coming from.
If I have to guess the reason, is it because the dwarves who were scattered during the war are gradually returning to your side, King Macar?
Thats right. Naturally, the current autonomous zone is too small to receive them all. I want to expand it.
I have no authority over such a thing. Of course, I can bring this up to the Prime Minister and my father but I cant imagine that it would help much.
I seeHmm, this is difficult.
King Macars expression shown that he truly finds this problem a very difficult one to handle.
I want to do something for him but the problem is too big for me as well.
Prince, dont you have any kind of plan? We gave you our help here so there wouldnt be any punishment if you help me too right?
A plan is it?
Thats right. Elder Egors attendant was saying that if its you then you might be able to do something you see.
I see.
They probably discussed this back in the autonomous zone.
He probably asked for Sonias opinion back then.
Seeing a half-elf thinking about the Dwarves problem is quite interesting.
Even so, this is still difficult.
If I do too much for the dwarves then I would be under watch instead.
I have to consider the balance here.
Does it have to be near the current territory?
No. All I need is a place for my people to live.
Then..how about having some of the Dwarves stay here in the north? The north is still in the process of recovery. There are many jobs for the Dwarves. Also, you can make a profit here through the dwarven crafts and skills. The land of the north is vast, it should make a great settlement for you.
Oh! That is a good idea! Lets go with that!
Unfortunately, I am only a representative of the Emperor here. Once the reconstruction is done, I will leave this place. This issue should be discussed with the northern aristocrats. I will talk to my father myself. King Macar, please discuss more about this with the representatives of the north.
Right. I will have to select the people to settle here as well.
Establishing a settlement is not the end of your problem. Humans and Dwarves, there will always be conflicts among different races. It will surely become a headache. Do you want to still go ahead while knowing that?
Thats the duty of a king! Taking on my peoples problems is my pleasure. I lost that happiness once already when I lost my country after all.
Macar had a slightly regretful expression on his face.
When the Sokal empire invaded, the Dwarves resisted with all their might.
However, they couldnt protect their country.
The size of their counties was too different. No matter how brave the dwarves were, they could see that they were fighting a losing battle.
Do you regret not surrendering to the Sokal empire?
We fought for our homeland with the pride of the Dwarves. Even if we survived, we cant stand being treated like slaves by the Sokal empire. That was why we fought. I have no regret. What I regret was how we did not reach out for our neighbors help. At the time, the Empire was at war with the Kingdom so we decided that the Empire cant help us and didnt say anything. Then, after we lost to the Sokal empire we ended up relying on the Empire. We judged that relying on this country is better than submitting to Sokal but..the Empire took us in while doing everything to protect us. Because the Empire displayed the willingness to protect us, we were never harassed by the Sokal empire afterward. It was all thanks to the Emperor and Mitsuba-dono.
Saying so, Macar stands up.
He then gives me a big smile.
We will give you full cooperation to this land. We will believe in the prince who is the son of our benefactors and the people of this Empire and work hard. I am not asking for compensation butcan you hear out my request?
Yes, if it is within my power.
As a person who has lost his country, I can understand the sadness of losing a home. I know how much sacrifice will have to be made if that happens. I know that the Dominion is a hated enemy to the Empire but its people should be innocent. The difference in power here is clear. I want you to avoid making unnecessary sacrifices out of them.
Instead of me, I think that you should say that to Lize-aneue though?
I already said it to her. She just replied that she will think about it.
That answer is so like her.
She avoided making a promise that she might not be able to keep huh.
Lize-aneue is someone who has watched our eldest brother the closest.
Her grudge against the Dominion is probably deeper than anyone else.
However.
There is no need for you to ask. I will not overlook the suffering of the people of the Dominion. I already made a promise to protect them after all.
Hou? So you made that kind of promise huh. You sure are a strange one.
I am often told that.
But I like that. I prefer idiots! If you can keep that promise, Prince Arnold, you will be able to win the trust of all the Dwarves on this continent.
I am looking forward to it.
When I replied so, Macar grinned and left the hut while drinking his spirit.