The Windfall Beyond Expectation

For Tunnel Folk, walnuts carry the meaning of shedding hard shells to share one’s true heart.

When Pernok revealed this friendly gesture that ordinary humans could never know, all the Tunnel Folk perked up their ears.

“I came to make a deal with you.”

The Tunnel Folk seemed familiar with this type of conversation, not greatly surprised.

“What kind of treatment you’re receiving here…”

Pernok glanced at the heavy weights tied to the Tunnel Folk’ ankles.

“…I think I know without you saying. No time, so I’ll propose briefly. I’ll give you freedom and promise a luxurious life. Work with me.”

“Keruk, keruk.”

The adult Tunnel Folk frowned.

“That human said so too. Promised to help us a lot. But imprisoned us.”

“That human will die before long.”

“Same human.”

“Did you tell that human about walnuts?”

“Don’t know, keruk.”

“I know. Already, one thing’s different.”

Pernok changed the artifact into sword form and cut the Tunnel Folk’s shackles.

“If I intended to restrain you, I wouldn’t have even come. Already two things different.”

“Human, what is that!”

The Tunnel Folk showed curiosity about the artifact rather than conversation.

Indeed befitting a race obsessed with special minerals.

“A weapon that can’t be made now, and the only one in a world where it can’t be made.”

“C-can I touch it?”

“If you follow me, I’ll permit it.”

The Tunnel Folk’s eyes shone clearly.

“I’ll provide you with the technical knowledge I have. Based on that, make weapons at the level I want. And that price, I promise on my belief, will be far more brilliant and beautiful than walnuts scattered in a yard.”

“Walnuts… walnuts… keruk!”

“Will you rot here for life? When the world has so many amazing techniques like this?”

Following the direction the artifact swayed, the Tunnel Folk’s eyes moved.

“The only reason I came all the way here risking danger is solely because of you.”

Pernok spoke decisively in the one memorable Tunnel Folk language phrase.

“Let’s contract.”

“…!”

He doesn’t think the word trust will lodge in the Tunnel Folk in such a short time.

He just engraves the words technique and cooperation larger than distrust in their hearts.

The Tunnel Folk who dealt with Lord of Despair also didn’t trust humans at first.

They merely formed an amicable relationship sharing and developing each other’s technical knowledge.

“Keruk, keruk.”

The adult Tunnel Folk’s eyes wavered. No matter how much they like underground, they wouldn’t want to rot for life with freedom suppressed.

Moreover, this Tunnel Folk had young children to protect.

Probably, the 3rd Prince’s side used those young Tunnel Folk to overwork the adult Tunnel Folk.

The Tunnel Folk wanted to escape this place.

When needing a trustworthy partner, a human who knows walnut friendship and the race’s language like Pernok appeared, forming faint trust.

“Protect my children. I’ll make what you want, keruk!”

“I promise.”

Pernok grinned and struck off Fusa’s neck.

Leaving the cross-sword emblem in that spot, he asked the startled Tunnel Folk.

“Do you perhaps know a passage to escape this place?”

“Don’t know. Iron plates everywhere.”

Pernok nodded and struck one wall section hard.

Clang!

Iron plates so solid his wrist tingled were filled beyond the wall.

“So you couldn’t dig tunnels.”

“Claws were cut too.”

“Without those iron plates, could you tear through this much earth?”

“Of course, keruk!”

“Good, then that corner.”

Pernok struck a powerful blow at a spot where darkness heavily descended.

BOOM—!

A shockwave burst out as if the mineshaft would collapse.

Pernok pointed to the wide-open hole for the startled Tunnel Folk sitting down.

“Dig here to get outside.”

“Asmos!”

The god Tunnel Folk revere.

“Stop the nonsense, guards will swarm soon. Must dig the earth as fast as possible to leave here.”

“U-understood.”

While pocketing walnuts amid this, the adult Tunnel Folk took the lead. The children followed, digging into the hole.

Pernok entered last and caressed the pierced iron plate hole.

[Bonding Lv.3]

Pulls objects together into one.

Magic obtained from Jake’s subordinate guild member.

Though the level is low so it doesn’t restore seamlessly, the iron plate clumps together to deceive enemies briefly.

Following the Tunnel Folk, Pernok covered the path behind with earth.

Continuing to use fusion, the earth clumped together solid as stone.

No one would suspect this path as an escape route.

“Huff, huff.”

They dug far down. When sounds like dying breaths came from the adult Tunnel Folk.

“Oh!”

As if discovering something, the adult Tunnel Folk powerfully jabbed upward.

First poking out his head, he cried in joy.

“Mountain! Mountain!”

The children climbed up, and Pernok hid traces to the very end.

Looking around, it was a mountainside overlooking the mine.

Whiiiine—!

Watching the mine where the alarm echoed, Pernok laughed hollowly.

‘Indeed befitting Tunnel Folk.’

As if mocking Pernok who’d expected them to carefully escape near the mine at most, the Tunnel Folk’ digging skills were excellent.

He didn’t know they could dig earth all the way to this distant place.

“Where should we go now?”

The adult Tunnel Folk approached and asked.

Having come outside, he seemed not to know what to do.

“There’s a separately prepared place. Hide your bodies there briefly, then evacuate to a safe location.”

“Home…”

“Hm?”

“…Remaining family members exist.”

“You’re saying there are more Tunnel Folk besides you?”

“The chief is there! Everyone’s hiding!”

Pernok barely stuffed in the smile about to burst out.

“I’ll protect them too. But first, you need to rest until your claws grow back.”

“Entrust it, human.”

“The word human is uncomfortable to hear. I’m Pernok. You?”

“Keir!”

“Good, Keir. You have strength left to move?”

“Keruk, keruk!”

“Follow without falling behind.”

While erasing traces, Pernok covertly moved the Tunnel Folk to the safe house.

* * *

Though Pernok hadn’t even returned, Salavan instinctively felt the plan succeeded.

Because 3rd Prince Lügen urgently called out Salavan.

Salavan entered the gorgeously decorated room.

“Long time, Salavan.”

The blonde-haired handsome youth, 1st Prince Zayl, sat leisurely.

Lügen on the opposite side twisted his lips the moment he saw Salavan.

“It’s been a while, elder brother.”

Salavan smiled and sat in the center.

“You all seem well. Very good complexions.”

“Of course, I’m good. So happy I could go crazy.”

Lügen looked back and forth between Salavan and Zayl.

“Someone set off fireworks at my mine.”

“Mine?”

“Look, elder brothers. You’re coming out this way?”

Zayl and Salavan only tilted wine cups as if not knowing what he meant.

Lügen ground his teeth.

“Return the Tunnel Folk. Then I’ll let it pass.”

“What on earth are you…”

“Don’t evade, big brother. You think I don’t know what the cross-sword emblem means?”

Zayl chuckled.

“Little brother, certainly I had information about Tunnel Folk. But think about it. I’m not stupid—would I touch you while blatantly leaving traces?”

“What?”

“If I put my mind to it, I can sweep away your merchant group or whatever from the front. Knowing my personality well, why are you doing such low-level probing? Ruining the wine’s taste.”

Zayl set down his cup and looked at Salavan.

“And I also suffered research lab damage no less than yours.”

“Ah, such an incident occurred?”

“Salavan, will you pretend to know nothing?”

“Coincidentally, my business site caught fire.”

The show-off arson Pernok mentioned.

But Salavan glared at Zayl and Lügen with a serious expression.

“Who is it?”

And the three silently glared at each other.

Zayl frowned and asked Salavan.

“You contracted with Named?”

“The rumor spread that far.”

“Did you send them?”

“I keep not knowing what you’re talking about. If you’re thinking of pushing Lügen’s matter onto me this way, redo your information investigation.”

Salavan chuckled.

“Named is at the mountain range.”

“Extracting a few people wouldn’t be work at all.”

“Jumping to conclusions based on guesses is elder brother’s bad habit. No, and were we close enough to gather and share warm stories like this?”

Then Zayl laughed derisively, and Lügen spoke as if spitting.

“Don’t need all that! Tell me who. Then I’ll quietly pass over this once.”

“Since the cross-sword emblem existed, isn’t it elder brother?”

“Why would I do such obvious things?”

When both smiled and tilted wine cups, Lügen struck the table with his fist.

“Who is it!”

Both shrugged their shoulders.

“These little sh…!”

The moment Lügen flared up about to shout.

Knock knock.

“Your Highness, I have urgent words.”

Seeing a confidant enter inside, Zayl wiggled his finger, and he whispered something.

Zayl nodded calmly, and the confidant went outside.

“Bringing subordinates here right now…!”

When Lügen tried to flare up, Zayl raised his hand to block.

“Shut your mouth. Unless you want to sink with the entire mine.”

Zayl’s mana rivaled level 7.

Sending very light killing intent on his mana, Lügen flinched.

“And second brother.”

Zayl smiled with his eyes toward Salavan.

“If you have hurt feelings, you should’ve spoken.”

“Seems another story I alone don’t know passed.”

“This is why I like our younger brothers.”

Zayl stood from his seat.

“Every single one takes good care of their own interests.”

Zayl’s gaze was unusual. Salavan struggled to suppress laughter.

‘The guild leader’s insight is truly amazing.’

When Pernok struck the mine, Salavan had Ludmila’s disciples attack one of Zayl’s funding sources.

It was Pernok’s advice.

Thanks to that, Zayl revealed his characteristic habit of smiling more the angrier he got.

“I’ll give just one last piece of advice.”

Zayl stared at Salavan.

“No matter how you struggle, I’m the eldest son. This fact doesn’t change.”

Salavan knows that advantage well too.

No matter how much the king condones the princes’ struggle, he wants to take care of one more thing for the eldest.

During the time throne succession circulated among nobles, the king attached Zermoph, Rezhen’s other Magus, to Zayl.

On top of that, Zayl possessed excellent ability in diplomatic relations, so even Salavan backed by Ludmila can’t easily surpass him.

“Stop throwing tantrums, and third brother, you control your subordinates first.”

“What?”

“Fourth brother is wearing clothes that don’t fit his station. You should check if water is rising at your feet before attacking.”

Zayl put on his overcoat.

“This much should’ve paid for the drinks, so I’ll be going. When we meet next time, I hope we brothers can strengthen our affection.”

When Zayl left the room, Salavan also stood from his seat.

“Elder brother will move in earnest. If you fool around relying only on the merchant group, you might be swept away together. You too decide clearly where to stand in line. At least I care for blood relatives.”

Lügen’s face flushed bright red.

The moment Salavan smiled and left the room, the sound of the table breaking echoed loudly.

“Fuuuuuck!”

The very rough 3rd Prince for a royal.

Even to him who looks like a good-for-nothing, nobles follow for one special point.

‘Reckless rampaging without regard sometimes changes into bravery that overturns the situation.’

Lügen knows no fear.

Hard to predict what Lügen who lost Tunnel Folk will do from now on.

‘He is quite an impulsive one, but anyway Zayl will handle it himself.’

Pernok left the cross-sword emblem there.

For Lügen, he can only suspect Zayl more.

‘Guild Leader Pernok, that meticulousness makes him more desirable.’

How can he lead the board advantageously so Pernok’s power comes to him?

‘Should I even arrange a marriage for him?’

When Salavan was pondering, a shadow carefully followed.

“Your Highness, the guild leader succeeded in the mission.”

“I know.”

“He says he’s heading to the safe house—shall I send people?”

“Did the guild leader say he needs it?”

“No.”

Salavan nodded.

“Then leave him be. The guild leader will conduct himself well on his own, so you just process things well so his traces don’t remain.”

“Yes.”

The shadow departed, and Salavan smiled pleasantly.

Now he was so deeply infatuated with Pernok that he prioritized Pernok’s decisions.