The Hero Becomes the Duke’s Eldest Son

Chapter 117

The Dwarf King, Hephaestus, had bulging eyes and a quivering beard.

“Refusing…?”

Aden’s refusal.

With this, Hephaestus’ complexion quickly grew pale, and he looked bewildered.

“No, why on earth…?”

“I am merely an outsider. I have no particular obligation or reason to save your kingdom and your clan.”

“If there’s something you desire, just say it! If you want gold, we can find you a gold vein, and if you want weapons, we can craft the finest armaments for you!”

The Dwarf King hastily made a desperate offer.

As a member of the earth-bound Dwarves, his words carried unquestionable credibility.

Indeed, Aden nodded at Hephaestus’ words.

“Of course, if you commission it and offer a reward, I can certainly slay the golems.”

With Aden’s current skill, he could handle all the golems emerging from the dungeon alone without needing his party’s help.

“In that case…!”

Just as a glimmer of hope appeared on Hephaestus’ face, Aden interrupted him and asked.

“But is that really enough?”

“…What do you mean?”

Aden spoke coldly.

“If I slay all the stone golems and reclaim your kingdom, then what? What will you do afterward?”

It was very easy for Aden to step in and deal with the golems.

But then?

What would happen if Aden finished his task and left Stoneheim?

Unless they eliminated the source producing the golems in that unknown ancient dungeon, golems would continue to appear indefinitely.

However, no matter how skilled Aden was, it was challenging to enter a dungeon filled with unknown traps and golems.

Moreover, Aden could not stay in the Dwarf kingdom forever.

In the end, unless the Dwarves themselves became stronger, they would repeat their defeats.

“You lost your kingdom because you were weak, and without power, you’ll lose it again.”

It might have seemed cold-hearted, but it was a realistic assessment.

Ultimately, they had only two choices left.

Abandon Stoneheim and find a new place to settle.

Or perish along with this place.

Hephaestus, knowing this, was at a loss for words.

“…Yes, you’re right about everything.”

He could only acknowledge Aden’s words.

“But then what are we supposed to do? Is there really no way?”

He let out a sigh of despair.

At that moment, Aden spoke with a faint smile.

“However, there is a way to defeat the golems and solve the dungeon issue.”

“Is that really true?”

“Of course.”

With Aden’s confident answer, a small glimmer of hope returned to Hephaestus’ eyes.

“Tell me what it is! If it doesn’t harm our kingdom and clan, we will do anything!”

A smirk.

At the Dwarf King’s words, a broad smile spread across Aden’s lips.

“You can’t go back on your word now, can you?”

His smile was like that of a fisherman eyeing a fish caught on his hook.

In fact, Aden had been uncertain if wine alone would suffice while negotiating with the Dwarves about mining development.

But now, such an opportunity had presented itself so easily.

‘Lucky me.’

For Aden, it was a significant gain.

Meanwhile, Curse sighed deeply as he watched Aden.

-…To think that someone like me, the master of the Under, was defeated by such a human. I can’t even lift my head in shame.

Of course, Aden ignored such nonsense.

* * *

Nearly ten Dwarves gathered in the spacious conference room of Hayrota Fortress.

Among them were Dwarf King Hephaestus, Blacksmith Hetos, Dwarf Champion Krotal, Master Craftsman Hootren, Master Carver Modred, Master Builder Maxtor, and others.

They were all renowned artisans of Stoneheim and elder Dwarves overseeing major affairs of the kingdom.

“So, what exactly is this method to defeat the stone golems?”

One of the Dwarf elders asked Aden with a suspicious look.

Having not witnessed Aden’s prowess and skills firsthand, they were skeptical of a human’s ability to solve a problem they couldn’t.

However, Aden, unbothered by such looks, stood among the elders and spoke.

“The method I will introduce to you for dealing with the golems is a ‘certain’ technique.”

“Technique…? If you’re referring to human mana arts or magic, they are useless to us…”

“No. What I will teach you is a completely new manufacturing technique that you haven’t known before.”

A surprised murmur arose among the Dwarves at Aden’s words.

To be considered the best in creating something and to hear that there was a manufacturing technique even these master artisans, who were experts in all kinds of manufacturing disciplines, didn’t know?

Their reactions to Aden’s statement were indeed explosive.

“A manufacturing technique we don’t know?”

“That’s impossible!”

“Hey, Hephaestus! Are you out of your mind to believe the words of this con artist?”

Speaking so bluntly to their king was a rare sight, only seen in Stoneheim where kings were elected in a unique manner.

They were all artisans whose pride was second to none.

They neither wanted to believe nor could believe Aden’s words.

Aden just responded to their reactions with a meaningful smile.

“Do you really think so? Then, let’s verify it for yourselves.”

“What?”

“Hetos, please.”

“Alright.”

Hetos made a gesture in the air, creating a door leading to the workshop.

“Come in.”

As soon as Aden finished speaking, a man walked in through a door designed to fit the small stature of the dwarves.

“Ha ha ha! Prince Aden Remes! Your loyal retainer, Gustav Hyde, greets you!”

A man with wild hair and a rough demeanor.

He was an expelled wizard once known as the terror of the Magic Tower.

Now, he was Aden’s close aide, the mad mage engineer Gustav.

Gustav Dora, a wizard expelled from the Anguis Magic Tower for making a mistake.

He wandered the streets until he arrived at the Remes Duchy, where he begged Aden to invest in his research. Aden granted him the surname Hyde and the title of baron.

“I am now Baron Hyde, my lord!”

“Oh, you must have worked hard.”

“My research results were recognized, and the Duke promoted my title! As promised, I am contributing to the development of the territory. When you return to the duchy, you will be astonished! Ha ha! Ha ha ha!”

“……”

What on earth is he doing in the territory?

His manic eyes and eerie atmosphere were even more intense than before.

‘Well, as long as he does his job well…’

Aden had brought Gustav to Syres, along with the wine crafted by the ents, to showcase his magical engineering skills to the dwarves.

He thought the dwarves, who couldn’t resist new technology, would show interest.

And now, an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities had come.

The timing was perfect.

Aden, Gustav, and the dwarves moved to a large open space.

– Kuo-oh-oh-oh!

“Elise, keep the shield up a little longer. Choco, press down a bit harder.”

“Okay, got it!”

– Woof!

– Kuo-oh-oh-oh-oh…!

There, Elise had trapped seven golems within a cubical shield created by the ‘Bracelet of Protection’ she had obtained in the dungeon city.

The golems were pounding away, but the holy power Elise infused into the bracelet was overflowing, and there wasn’t even a crack.

Next to her, a giant-sized Choco was pressing down on four golems like a cushion, immobilizing them.

The golems struggled beneath Choco’s weight but couldn’t move an inch.

– Uuuu-oooo!

– Kuo-oh-oh!

– Koooo-oh-oh…!

The golems’ cries sounded desperate, but it was probably just an illusion.

The dwarves watched the scene with expressions that seemed to ask, ‘What on earth are they doing?’

“Ahem! Let’s begin now!”

Gustav took out a cube made of metal from his pocket.

Intricate magical formulas were engraved on the surface of the cube.

“Switch on!”

He pressed a button on one side of the cube and threw it into the air.

Clunk! Clunk! Clunk!

The cube rapidly transformed in midair with flashes of light, taking on a geometric shape.

Boom!

When the cube fell to the ground due to gravity, its shape and size had completely changed.

It was now a long mithril cannon about 3 meters long, complete with a base to support its weight and a handle to adjust the direction of the barrel.

Blue light glowed faintly from the magical metal gaps in the weapon.

It was a completely new form of cannon, never seen before.

“……!”

The dwarves’ eyes widened in astonishment as they watched the cube transform into a cannon.

“This is one of my masterpieces in magical engineering! The Magic Power Cannon, Gustav Mark 1! Ha ha ha!”

The Magic Power Cannon.

Gustav, a pioneer in magical engineering, created his first successful work with the support of the Remes family.

This magic power cannon did not require the user’s mana.

The only thing it needed was a high-purity mana stone as its energy source.

Clunk!

When Gustav inserted a mana stone into the fuel chamber, a ‘hum’ sound resonated, and blue mana light seeped through the gaps between the various parts of the magic power cannon.

Gustav grabbed the handle of the cannon, bursting into wild laughter.

“Ready, my lord!”

“Good. Elise, Choco, release them now.”

“Got it!”

– Woof, Woof!

Elise released the shield that had trapped the golems, and Choco transformed into a 2-meter-tall wolf, swiftly carrying Elise away to safety.

– Kuo-oh-oh-oh!

– Uo-oh-oh-oh!

– Kro-oh-oh-oh!

The golems roared in liberation, as if venting their pent-up frustration.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud…!

Soon, about ten giant stone golems were charging towards Aden, his party, and the gathered dwarves.

“Target confirmed! Ten stone golems!”

Gustav aimed the cannon at the terrifying golem horde approaching head-on, their forms growing larger and more menacing.

Hum.

Two circular magical arrays of different sizes appeared and rotated in front of the barrel.

Weeeing, weeing, weeing, weeng, weeng, weeng…!

With the sound of machinery, mana gathered and compressed at the muzzle, rotating and condensing due to the magical arrays.

– Uo-oh-oh-oh!

– Kuo-oh-oh-oh…!

The distance between the raging stone golems and them rapidly decreased from 10 meters to 9 meters, then 7 meters, and finally less than 5 meters.

However, Gustav’s face was filled with confidence and joy, not a hint of fear.

“Gustav Mark 1, fire…!”

He pulled the trigger lever with all his might.

Whooooosh—-!

The concentrated destructive power shot forth.

A blue-white beam of light, capable of piercing everything, swept through the golems.

Booooom-!

Like a wild, untamed horse, the light, reminiscent of a dragon’s breath, spread out and overwhelmed the stone golems, causing a massive explosion.

The explosion left everyone with ringing ears, and while clutching their ears, they couldn’t take their eyes off the sight.

Sssss… sss…

Smoke slowly rose from the heated muzzle of the magic power cannon as it cooled down.

As the dust settled, the place where the stone golems had stood was gradually revealed.

“……”

Everyone fell silent.

Not a single golem remained.

All that was left were the traces of the destructive light, scattered golem fragments, and silence.

“Hahaha! It worked! This is the pinnacle! Damn those Magic Tower bastards! This is the true power of magical engineering! Hahaha!”

Gustav grabbed his wild hair as if to rip it out and burst into maniacal laughter.

Aden watched with a wry smile.

‘He’s perfected it.’

The atrocious magical engineering weapon that had destroyed the central tower of Anguis, which was protected by dozens of magical barriers, in his previous life.

The super-heavy magic power cannon.

Though this one was much smaller in comparison, it was undoubtedly the same weapon.

‘Dwarves can’t resist new technology.’

When Aden looked at the gathered dwarves, the expected scene unfolded.

“A, ah…”

Their eyes sparkled with an overwhelming light…

Drool dripped from their mouths.

Their expressions were reminiscent of young girls who had fallen in love, filled with fresh excitement and flush.

Even Hetos and King Hephaestus!

“It’s… big…”

“Beautiful…”

It was a historic moment as the dwarves fell completely for the new magical engineering technology.