When Logan thought of Hamar, the image that typically came to mind was a roughly ironed linen outfit with a leather vest worn over it, and artisan gloves worn to prevent injury. But now…
“Hahaha! Master, it’s been almost 8 months since we’ve been to Taren, how do you find it? Have I not changed splendidly?”
Even disregarding the other dwarves and escorting knights he brought with him, Hamar’s visage, smiling with his chubby, rosy face, was quite unfamiliar.
He was dressed neatly in a red silk garment with yellow pumpkin buttons, something usually worn by noble families of the kingdom.
It was an outfit that did not at all suit a craftsman, but perhaps a wealthy merchant.
Logan’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly—he had just been expressing utmost satisfaction with the changes in Taren.
Startled.
“What, what is it? Master, why are you looking at me like that? I did a good job! What! Why?!”
“Yes, you did, but…”
“Why are you making me anxious? If you have any gripes, just say it quickly!”“You did a good job… but are you not working anymore? Your clothes don’t have a speck of dust on them.”
“The very idea! There are now 1,103 dwarves in our workshop! Triple that for human craftsmen! And why would I still need to work myself?!”
That’s true but…
‘Why do I feel uncomfortable at the thought of Hamar resting? Is this some sort of reward psychology from continually being called a devil master?’
With a snicker.
He laughed at his own selfish thought, yet Hamar, catching a glimpse of this, twitched once more and shouted angrily.
“Just so you know, I tailored this outfit myself, from the cutting to the buttons! It didn’t cost a dime!”
Oh dear.
Even his clothing was self-made.
With all his previous work, he could afford to buy some off the shelf.
‘I should treat him better.’
With that inner resolve, Logan patted Hamar’s shoulder.
“Who says otherwise? You did well.”
“…?”
“Let’s take a look inside the workshop. Lead the way.”
“…Really?”
“Of course, why would I fake a tour?”
“No, I mean, you’re really letting it slide… Hrrm, no, that’s not it. Well then, I shall guide you myself, having designed it all, from the entrance.”
“Good. And the mines too.”
“Ah! Right, the… we started mining a few days ago!”
“Then we should hurry and see.”
The slave and his master both turned, each slightly tilting their head.
Something that should’ve been done but wasn’t, left a vague and uneasy feeling.
Though they did not realize it themselves, it was the first time they had reunited after months without immediate trouble.
Perhaps that’s why, after walking in silence, Hamar hesitated several times before quietly admitting.
“I… I saved a lot on the construction expenses, so I bought some silk and pumpkins for the clothes.”
“…Huh?”
“I have a few more sets. But really, I saved a massive amount on construction costs!”
“…Craftsman’s salary increase: cancelled.”
“Why, why?!”
“You’ve just confessed to embezzlement.”
“But, but I saved that much more… Wait, wait a minute? Did I even have a salary before?”
“That’s why it’s cancelled.”
“Why?!!”
Logan chuckled and after a lengthy back-and-forth, he agreed to pay Hamar the same monthly wage as the head administrator, Dwein.
Of course, there was a separate calculation for the performance bonus, considering their contributions and efficiency.
‘I must take proper care of my people.’
With that thought, Logan smiled contentedly as he watched Hamar turn away with a beaming smile and light steps. But his smile didn’t last more than a few hours.
In the mana stone mine, hundreds of dwarves bustled about.
“Master. I heard your biggest concern is the ‘secret’ being mined here getting out.”
“That’s right.”
“So only dwarves and I are working here.”
“Ah, indeed. That’s why the work progressed quickly.”
“That’s right. Plus, we’ve made a special contract.”
“A special contract?”
“A magical contract. We selected exactly 300 people and it cost us just 3 million gold. So the secret is safe.”
“…3 million? 300 magical contracts?”
At that instant, Logan’s expression darkened dramatically.
At the sight of Hamar’s smile faltering, Logan felt a surge of frustration.
“That’s cheap, given how much money we have. Why are you upset?!”
True, 3 million gold might have been a year’s budget for the Macline estate once, but now it wasn’t a significant sum.
But the problem wasn’t the money.
“Argh. If we’re talking 300 contracts, that means they were bought from the royal magic tower in the capital, right?”
“That, that’s the thing…”
As Logan heard Hamar’s response, he felt like he could collapse from frustration any moment.
The effectiveness of a magical contract could be undone by a 4th circle mage, and even if not a mage, a top-tier knight could escape its influence on their own power.
But in this country, the only ones capable of drawing up such magical contracts were the class wizards, the wizards of the royal magic tower.
And then.
‘The royal magic tower has historically pledged allegiance only to the king…’
Gnashing his teeth, Logan was desperately trying to calm his rising blood pressure.
“Pheww. Hamar, put yourself in a mage’s shoes.”
“Uh, um?”
“What do you think a mage would suspect if a family suddenly purchased 300 contracts, amidst rumors of a newly developed mine in their territory?”
“…Well, a grateful client?”
“Are you nuts! Do you think all mages are fools?!”
Logan’s shout had Hamar, who had been making up excuses, suddenly blanched with the realization of his mistake.
“They will think something big requiring forceful contracts is going on here. Especially given the mine development in our territory. If they find out, even the royal family will know.”
“Ugh, uh, I didn’t think that far… I’m sorry, master. Truly, I am.”
As the dwarf bowed deeply, his beard quivering and tears welling in his eyes, Logan’s own anger subsided.
He thought again, and realized nothing major would change.
‘I already have a waiver for 10 years of taxes. I can simply block any royal inspectors. There is no need for them to investigate a place with no taxes.’
There was also one more reliable device(?).
‘Master, I trust you. You must help me this time.’
Logan calmed himself, recalling the expression of his teacher as they parted ways in the capital.
But Logan chose to look even more stern to discipline Hamar who almost caused a crisis with his hasty actions.
“There’s no changing what has already happened. Just make sure there’s strict control over outsiders. Especially here, don’t let ‘that’ being mined link back to the magic tower.”
“I got it, master.”
“I’m sorry for yelling. Your attempt to keep secrets was good. Just report these things to me next time.”
“Wai-wait! Didn’t I report that? I’m sure I got a confirmation document before it happened, during the rebellion, from our territory! Where is that document with the seal? Just wait. Darn it, this isn’t all my fault. Wait until we get to the office, I’ll show you the document! Shoot, I got scared for nothing.”
A chill ran down his spine.
He remembered a time when, full of spirit, he had stamped approvals.
‘What did I say back then?’
– … Logan, you don’t look at the contents?
– The whole point of hiring competent managers is to avoid this. Dwein must have checked everything.
‘Ah, you fool. Argh.’
He wanted to smack his past self, the one who had carelessly stamped the approval.
Now that Hamar reali…