Fuze's mouth twitched.

"Ordinary… yeah… totally ordinary…"

"Haha… well, I guess dwarf craftsmen really are something else…"

"This kind of design would be considered top-tier anywhere else…"

"But to dwarves? It's just average…"

The messengers looked at each other.

And silently came to the same conclusion.

Whoever designed buildings of this caliber… is the one they need to recruit!

"Kaijin-sama."

The old man at the front bowed respectfully.

"Were you the one who designed this brilliant structure?"

"Perhaps we could discuss things further."

"A man of your talent being in such a small country is a waste."

"Our kingdom would be honored to hire you. Name your price."

Clearly, all these cutting-edge technologies must be the work of the dwarves.

This tiny country was just leeching off Dwargo's expertise.

If I can win over Kaijin…

Carrion-sama will surely reward me.

He might even… bestow a name on me!

Then becoming the fourth Beastketeer isn't a dream!

The wrinkles on his face seemed to smooth out.

His lips curled into a broad, confident smile.

All that was left was Kaijin's answer.

Kaijin calmly stroked his beard.

"My lords, I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding."

"I didn't design these buildings."

"…Huh?"

"Kaijin-sama, then who did?"

Wait… there's someone else even more skilled?

The old man slowly lifted his gaze.

Kaijin continued, "Everything you see here—including the library before you—was designed by Chishiya-sama."

"To be honest, I couldn't build something like that even if I tried."

"But Chishiya-sama calls it just a standard library."

"If you want to recruit someone… you should start with him."

"..."

The air froze.

Then came the collective outburst—

"WHAT?!"

Chishiya: "??"

He glanced back, brow raised.

What are you screaming about? You're scaring the monsters.

The cicadas have been buzzing all morning and you people think I can't hear you?

Chishiya's gaze slid toward the man in the lion mask standing behind the group.

Even the leader's eavesdropping and pretending not to?

Chishiya couldn't be bothered and turned back to the dwarven brothers' progress report.

Behind him, the delegation stood slack-jawed.

Their mouths opened, but no sound came out.

They stared at the young man speaking with the craftsmen.

He designed these buildings?

Even to a layman, it was clear the construction required advanced calculations, material optimization, and exact load balancing.

If you didn't have the right expertise, forget building it—you couldn't even sketch it.

But Chishiya pulled it off?

That meant…

Everything they'd assumed was wrong since the beginning.

None of this was built under Dwargo's guidance.

It was his work.

Are you serious…?

A project of this scale… pulled off by a brand-new, barely-established country?!

…Now they understood why Gazel Dwargo was so eager to form diplomatic ties here.

Once they processed that,

All the old guys who had mocked Chishiya earlier broke out in cold sweats…

This young man… is not someone to be taken lightly!

Good thing they hadn't crossed the line…

All thanks to Carrion-sama not finding out…

Otherwise, they'd be dead.

Meanwhile, at the back of the group…

Carrion stared at Chishiya with growing interest.

He could finally understand why Milim had chosen to stay here—and refused to leave.

This kid was fascinating.

Not only did he command terrifyingly strong subordinates…

Even his architectural tech had surpassed Dwargo's.

They'd uncovered a real gem here.

No need to keep hiding anymore.

Just as he was about to make an appearance—

A group of silver-armored soldiers, led by a tree elf, began walking toward them.

It was the Pegasus Knights.

At the front of the group stood none other than the Dwarf King, Gazel Dwargo.

Carrion's eyelids twitched.

Fuze and Youm's eyes went wide.

That's… the Dwarf King!

Why was he here?!

Sending three Beastketeers was already a huge deal.

But Dwargo had gone even further.

The king himself showed up?!

Was this also… for Chishiya?

The two of them slowly turned to look at Chishiya again, swallowing hard.

This was getting ridiculous…

—————————————

Under the eyes of the crowd,

The Dwarf King stepped forward and held out his hand.

"Long time no see, Chishiya."

"So many guests. Quite the lively gathering."

"Hope I'm not interrupting?"

As he said that,

His gaze swept across the square.

Chishiya gave a small smile. "Not at all."

As if you didn't know. I literally signed your guestbook.

Everyone here is pulling some kind of stunt…

"So what brings you here?"

The Dwarf King gestured toward the crate being carried by the Pegasus Knights behind him.

"This month's shipment hasn't been delivered yet."

"I came to pick it up."

You really think that excuse sounds believable…? Chishiya remained silent.

"Hahahahaha!"

A booming laugh echoed through the air.

"You sure know how to spin things, Dwarf King!"

"You're just afraid our Beast Kingdom's gonna snatch the kid, aren't you?"

The voice came from the crowd.

Carrion ripped off his lion mask.

He called out to Chishiya with a grin.

"Hey, you're Chishiya, right? Wanna talk with me for a bit?"

His voice rang like a bell.

Completely oblivious to the horrified looks around him.

The orc elders' expressions shifted from calm, to stunned, to utterly blank.

Carrion-sama? Wasn't he supposed to be in the capital?!

Why is he here?!

And he's been with the delegation the whole time?!

Doesn't that mean Carrion-sama heard everything they said earlier?!

As Carrion walked past them, he shot them a glance.

He didn't say a word, but his eyes were like an arctic wind…

The elders instantly lost feeling in their legs. Some collapsed where they stood.

It was like falling into a pit of ice.

We're done for…

On the other side—

Before Youm and his team could even process the Dwarf King's arrival,

Carrion appeared.

Not another one…!

They were losing it.

First the Dwarf King Gazel Dwargo.

Now Demon Lord Carrion.

Youm clutched his head.

As a mercenary, he seriously felt out of place here.

A little later,

He let out a deep sigh.

Gazel Dwargo and Euranazia both sent their top leaders.

Blumund even sent the regional Freedom Association branch chief.

Only Falmuth…

Heh.

He gave a self-deprecating chuckle.

They just sent a mercenary group.

The difference in leadership really showed.

They couldn't even recognize true power…

Falmuth, his birthplace, was definitely heading for a fall under this kind of ruler…

Well…

He sighed again.

Doesn't matter if I can see it now.

Just hope… we don't end up as enemies.

(To be continued.)

***

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