Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 181

Dust blew across the deserted mine. Broken wooden carts lay scattered around, and the air smelled of old stone and rust. The only sound was the wind whistling through empty tunnels. Then, a voice broke the silence.

“Are they starting a mine here?”

“I thought this mine was empty a long time ago.”

“But, the Young Master is doing it.”

“Has the Young Master ever been wrong?”

“Well, maybe sometimes…”

“Quiet! Just do what you’re told. Hurry!”

The McLaine territory reacted quickly.

Unlike other places that might argue, everyone here worked hard right away.

The human market in Harun, which had become busy again, was happy to see someone spending so much money.

A lot of people arrived at the old mine. There were 152 dwarves, about five thousand workers, three thousand soldiers, and a hundred knights. They brought lots of food and building supplies. This was only one month after Logan sent his message.

Rattle. Rattle.

Drrrrr.

Bang.

“We’re here! Everyone, get down!”

The dwarves were small and strong, with thick beards that hung down to their chests. Their clothes were rough and patched, and their hands were calloused from hard work. The dwarves, who had been carried in wagons with iron bars, finally raised their heads at the sound.

Their eyes were dull and tired, like they had seen too much sadness. When they saw the empty, broken mine, their eyes seemed to lose even more light.

Numerous dwarves, kinsmen, descended from the twenty or so wagons.

It should have been a welcome sight, but few exchanged words.

A new master who would buy over 150 dwarves at once and drag them to such a bleak environment.

Each dwarf looked at the mine and thought the same thing: *This place is terrible. What awful work will they make us do here? Will we ever go home?*

However, a dwarf with a confident manner stepped forward from among the human soldiers who greeted them, their atmosphere began to change.

“Welcome, kinsmen. I am Hamarr, and I will be responsible for managing you.”

“A dwarf?”

“……The humans seem to acknowledge him?”

“Is he some kind of leader?”

Murmur murmur.

A dwarf moving freely, without shackles, iron collars, or handcuffs.

The sight of human soldiers moving in perfect order according to the dwarf’s instructions left a strong impression on the other dwarves who had come from slavery.

And the long speech that the dwarf began caused a great stir in their hearts.

“Welcome, kinsmen. You are now in the land of the McLaine family, part of the Grandia Kingdom. The master here, Lord McLaine, has made a promise. He will let us dwarves go back to our mountain homes after 20 years of work. And listen to this – even while we work, we will get the best food, clothes, and homes to live in.”

“Surely not, really?”

“Come on, how can you trust humans?”

But they looked at Hamarr again. He was a dwarf, like them. And he seemed to be free and in charge.

“Still, looking at that dwarf……”

Murmur murmur.

This scene would have felt familiar to the six dwarves already in McLaine Town.

But this time, with over 150 people, it quickly became as noisy as a marketplace.

Then, the dwarf who had stepped forward repeatedly struck a soldier’s shield with a hand hammer, trying to calm the atmosphere.

“Everyone, pay attention!”

Bang. Bang. Bang!

“I have confirmed everything by even writing a magical contract with the owner here. So, you can trust me.”

At those words, all the dwarves’ gazes gathered in an instant.

“If we show sufficient results, that period may be shortened. And this place, which will be newly developed with you, will become the kingdom’s largest mining city in the future, helping us be safe and free.”

“Ha, did you say your name was Hamarr-nim? I have a question.”

“You can ask as much as you like. But who are you?”

“I am Geomaru, a descendant of the Red Mountain clan.”

“Oh, a unique name. Well, the Red Mountain clan always was. Go on, speak.”

“Then, will our kinsmen continue to gather here besides us?”

“That’s right. The lord here has already set up workshops in the homeland for other dwarves besides me, and their treatment is extremely generous. And he promised me that he will continue to bring kinsmen here in the future.”

At those words, the atmosphere began to change rapidly, centered around the red-bearded dwarf who had asked the question.

“Good. Then, what will we do first?”

There were now hardly any who doubted what Hamarr had said.

Because dwarves, who hold honesty and diligence as their beliefs, would not lie to their kinsmen.

Seeing how they felt, Hamarr smiled kindly and welcomed his newly arrived subordinates with open arms.

Watching them, Hamarr smiled. But his eyes didn’t quite smile with his mouth.

“Let’s start by building workshops and our residential facilities. There are plenty of materials.”

“Good!”

The eyes that had been dead just a moment ago came to life as if by a lie, and the dwarves began to move their short limbs actively.

Watching that scene, Hamarr nodded repeatedly with a satisfied expression.

But unfortunately for them.

‘This must be why the master keeps tricking people.’

One dwarf, who *used* to be honest and hardworking, was now dishonest.

Thus, the desolate abandoned mining area of Taren Province was instantly transformed into a noisy construction site.

“Hey, you there! Carry it carefully! Someone’s passing by!”

“Build your houses first! The mine is next. Do you think this will be done in a day or two?!”

“Use the materials generously! More will keep coming! Hey, be careful there! Ah, blast! I told you to be careful!”

The sounds of hammers hitting wood and stone filled the air. Dwarves shouted instructions in their deep voices, mixed with the louder calls of the human workers. Wagons rumbled, and sometimes there was a sharp crack of breaking rock.

It was unusual to see dwarves telling human workers what to do. This was happening everywhere – on the mountains, in the old mine, and even in the old fort below. Loud noises came from all over Taren.

Logan, who had been watching the scene with a pleased expression, raised the crystal ball.

“How is it?”

[So, you really want to rebuild the mine city? Is there still anything to mine there?]

His master, who seemed to have noticeably more white hair recently, wore a curious expression inside the communication device.

“Yes. That’s why I’m doing this. What is His Majesty’s reaction?”

[…He still isn’t answering when you call?]

“…I haven’t tried to call him lately.”

Following his master’s words, he decided not to pay much attention to the central power.

Since he had a master craftsman and a teacher, he didn’t think anything too far from his intentions would happen anyway.

But one word in his master’s speech bothered him.

“But… what do you mean ‘again’? What does that mean, Master?”

[Oh, never mind. Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it. Anyway, the King also likes the idea. But, he says McLaine might have a lot of money, but the royal family is poor right now, so they can’t give you any money.]

At those words, Logan’s eyes narrowed even further.

‘Did they take all the money from the Wolves? How can the royal family still be poor?’

Of course, he had requested subsidies to give the impression that this project was a risky undertaking that could potentially result in losses.

It was also possible that the Wolves’ money was not as much as he thought.

Even though he was getting what he wanted, Logan felt a knot of unease in his stomach.

*Why did he feel this way?* he wondered. *It’s not like I can argue with my master, even if he isn’t royalty.*

His master seemed to notice Logan’s frown on the communication device. Quickly, his master’s voice came again, “Ah, but in return,” he said, “the King promised no taxes on the mine for ten years. Wouldn’t that be enough?”

Logan was shocked by these words. Ten years tax-free?

His fists clenched involuntarily.

“Ten years?”

“…Yes.”

He had, in truth, been hoping for something more.

“‘Puhahaha. Thank you, Your Majesty,'” Logan said.

The uneasy feeling vanished completely.

A mana stone mine, tax-free for ten whole years!

They probably thought it was just an iron or copper mine at best.

Even after the gold mine was considered ‘closed down,’ the royal family had searched it several times, only to conclude it wasn’t profitable.

Logan tried hard not to smile. He wanted to look serious when he replied.

“Hmm. It’s a shame, but I’ll be satisfied with that much. Could you perhaps have His Majesty’s promise put in writing?”

“‘Good. I’m glad you’re taking it so well. I hope the development goes smoothly. Oh, and once you’re able to step away, come up to the capital. There’s something important I need to discuss with you,'” his master said.

“Can’t you tell me over the communication device?” Logan asked.

“‘No,'” his master replied.

At his casual question, his master nodded with a stern face.

What could be happening in the capital?

*Well, if it were truly urgent, he would have told me to come up right away, mine or no mine.*

Thinking that, Logan readily replied,

“Yes, I understand. I should be able to wrap up the tasks that require my direct supervision in a month or two at the most.”

“‘Very well. Then I’ll see you then,'” his master said.

As soon as the communication with his master ended, Logan punched the air in joy.

“Yes! Ten years!”

He felt like everything was starting to work out again.

The exhilarating feeling made it impossible to keep still.

While Logan was flailing about in the air,

“Something good must have happened, young master,” someone said.

“Of course… Ah, haha. Master Clayton, you must be busy, why are you here…?” Logan asked.

At Logan’s words, Clayton smiled and pointed to the foot of the mountain.

“The golems are doing a fine job. I just wanted to tell you something, young master,” Clayton said.

The forty combat golems created by Clayton were diligently moving, carrying materials that would require dozens of people to lift, driving pillars, and digging the ground.

They worked over a wide area encompassing the old fortress site and the nearby ridge, all automatically.

*Indeed, a mage….*

Even though the golems only followed simple orders, they were incredibly useful for work.

Clayton tried to explain his new power. He said as ‘someone with special powers,’ his ability was ‘wind,’ and within that was something called ‘connection.’ Logan didn’t really understand any of it.

All he felt was,

*Isn’t ‘golem construction team’ a more fitting name than ‘golem squad’?*

Logan nodded, feeling rude for thinking that about Clayton.

“Speak. Seeing such a sight, I want to support you in any way I can,” Logan said.

“You flatter me. Well, if the mine is fully operational and things go according to our plan, I was wondering if the Magic Tower could utilize some of it,” Clayton said, cautiously watching Logan’s reaction, unlike his confident expression from before.

But an unexpected answer came back.

“Of course. We’ll carefully sell the remaining amount, after the workshops and Magic Tower have used what they need, through other routes to the outside,” Logan replied.

“……Yes?” Clayton asked, bewildered.

For Logan, it was a natural answer since he had no intention of openly advertising the mana stone mine.

Even if he hadn’t received the tax exemption promise and a royal supervisor came, he would have tried to deceive or bribe him.

He also planned to hide the production site by going through multiple channels when selling to the outside, if possible.

Hamar, who had discussed this plan in advance, had asked if he thought it would work…

*It’s definitely possible.*

Because in his territory, there was a genius of information control and manipulation who had managed to maintain an organization for over 20 years in his previous life, avoiding the eyes of the Imperial Family.

*If I entrust Damian with building an intelligence organization and have him do it together, he’ll be able to pull it off.*

All of this was to minimize unnecessary attention from the Empire.

*Even if Damian doesn’t fully bloom with his talent from that time, and even if some rumors spread, that alone won’t be enough to move the Empire.*

And in the meantime, McLane would achieve overwhelming growth with the power created by that mana stone.

To hold and shake the kingdom in one hand, and to have the power to stand against the empire in the other.

*Now, about six years… I need to consider situations where it might be a little faster or slower.*

It wasn’t an absolutely generous amount of time, but he no longer felt it was so insufficient.

That’s how well everything was going….

“……Young master?”

His daydreaming must have been too long.

“Ah, anyway, I plan to supply a sufficient amount to the Magic Tower first, so you don’t have to worry,” Logan said.

“T-thank you!” Clayton couldn’t help but be moved.

Mana stones were special minerals that contained mana themselves.

Even if it wasn’t the experiment he had blown away before, which contained all sorts of rare metals, the lower-level experiments were possible with just mana stones.

*I’ve already obtained the main information, so even if I only do lower-level experiments with mana stones….*

Clayton was beaming with joy at the thought, when Logan added with a bright smile,

“There’s no need to thank me. Master Clayton and I, the Golem Magic Tower and McLane, aren’t we partners who will continue to grow together?”

Logan made his offer sound very nice, even though he really meant he would never let Clayton leave. Then, he suggested something else.

“How about moving the Magic Tower here altogether? I guarantee that this place will now become the safest and most important stronghold in the kingdom. Wouldn’t it be much better if you could use the mana stones in the Magic Tower as soon as they’re produced?”

The reason mana stones were expensive was because they were so rare.

The mana stone production sites were so few that they could be counted on one hand even in the vast empire, so it was worth protecting at the highest level.

That, too, was a very attractive proposal for Clayton.

“I’ll think about it as positively as possible. Thank you for your consideration!” Clayton said.

“It’s nothing. It’s all for each other, what. Please continue to work hard in the future,” Logan said.

So please, by all means, complete the research left by the mad mage of slaughter.

*As quickly as possible.*

Logan shook Clayton’s hand, hiding the greed in his heart.