"Ha ha ha!"
Galbarik laughed heartily, finding Ghislain's confident words both amusing and endearing.
"Listen, my lord. You're young, so you might not know this, but a concept without a blueprint is nothing more than a fantasy. Even if you bring it to life, it'll be useless if it's not practical."
At Galbarik's words, the other dwarves laughed along.
"Exactly! Nobles always have grand ideas but know nothing."
"One noble once asked me to make a tool to extract the effects of herbs. I told him to just buy potions instead. I'm not an alchemist!"
"The lord where I used to work wanted a way to expand his land. I told him, 'What do you think I am? A god? How do you expect me to expand the ground?'"
"One noble wanted me to create a magically powered plow to increase his harvests. What good is that when the soil and seeds are so poor?"
The dwarves clicked their tongues as they mocked the nobles they had worked for in the past.
Galbarik shrugged at Ghislain as he continued.
"We hate making useless junk. I don't know what you're imagining, but at best, it's probably just a fancy toy."
When Galbarik finished speaking, a heavy silence fell over the room.
Everyone simply stared at him, blinking.
"…Cough."
Aside from the quiet sound of a knight's cough, there was no other noise.
Galbarik, puzzled by the strange reaction, looked around nervously.
"What? Why is everyone staring at me like that? Did I say something odd? This place really is strange."
Ghislain, watching Galbarik, smirked.
"Have you been living with humans for too long? You talk about being craftsmen and artists, yet your mindset is more rigid than theirs. How do you create anything with such a lack of imagination?"
"What did you say?"
"I get it. Doing the same thing every day can unconsciously make you think that's your limit."
"What are you talking about…?"
"But if that's how you think, you're just a skilled laborer, not a true artisan."
"How dare you insult us!"
The dwarves were furious. Their craftsmanship was unrivaled by any race. Even as slaves, no one dared treat them carelessly because of their skills.
But here was a young lord openly looking down on them.
"Quiet, you lot! I'm the representative here!" Galbarik shouted, silencing the dwarves before glaring at Ghislain.
"Don't insult our pride. It won't end well for you."
Dwarves were indeed a proud race. Though they had accepted their status as slaves, they refused to tolerate disrespect.
'If this lord wants decent weapons, he'll have to change his attitude toward us.'
Despite the sharp glares from the dwarves, Ghislain calmly beckoned with his finger.
"Follow me. I'll show you something interesting."
The dwarves, caught off guard and unsure how to respond, hesitated before following him.
Ghislain led them to a massive workshop.
"This is…!"
The dwarves looked around in amazement.
The workshop was filled with the fragrant smell of herbs and various aromas. Giant machines occupied the space, while workers dressed in white coats and masks bustled about.
"This is a workshop for making cosmetics. Specifically, skincare creams," Ghislain explained.
"Cosmetics?"
The dwarves tilted their heads in confusion. They knew what cosmetics were—luxury items nobles cherished even more than meals. But what was such a high-class product doing in this rural territory?
As the dwarves looked on curiously, Ghislain continued.
"The cosmetics from this territory are considered the best in the kingdom. They're selling like crazy in the capital. The massive revenue they generate is what paid for you."
"What… Are you showing this off just to brag about your wealth?"
"Yep."
"…"
"Come on, don't let your minds stay stuck in a rut. Look closely. Watch how those tools are used to create cosmetics. It's a secret, but I'll show you."
The dwarves snapped out of their daze and began inspecting the workshop in detail.
As they examined the machinery, their faces gradually paled. Some even trembled.
"How… How did someone come up with this?"
"They're really extracting the full effects of the herbs!"
"This… this actually works?"
The dwarves, known for being almost godlike in their craft, quickly grasped the machinery's purpose and effects after a brief inspection. They even deduced the functions of the engraved magic circles based on the equipment's structure.
Excited, the dwarves huddled together to discuss.
"Indeed, applying heat this way minimizes the destruction of active ingredients while creating a concentrate. Impurities are handled separately?"
"The filtration system could be improved. Narrower holes with multiple layers would be more efficient."
"So they're flash-freezing it here to create this texture! The equipment is crude, but the concept is beautiful!"
Their faces flushed, the dwarves turned to Ghislain and shouted.
"This… This actually exists?"
"Who? Who thought of this?"
"Please, let us meet the genius who created this! Are they really in this territory?"
Amid the dwarves' fervor, Ghislain calmly pointed to himself with his thumb.
Galbarik's eyes widened as he stammered.
"You… You made this?"
"That's right. It came straight from this brain of mine."
It wasn't a lie. Although it was knowledge borrowed from the future, it did originate from Ghislain's mind.
The dwarves, swayed by his confidence, were fully convinced.
Several of them, faces still flushed, eagerly pleaded.
"Please, let me improve this!"
"If I tweak it just a bit, I can make it several times more efficient!"
"My lord, just looking at this is driving me mad! Please!"
The dwarves were frustrated. How could someone capable of such brilliant ideas settle for such crude equipment?
Satisfied by their enthusiasm, Ghislain nodded.
"Finally, your brains are starting to work. That's the right attitude. You're saying production can be increased, right?"
"Of course! Leave it to us! We can double the output at the very least!"
"But… some of you still seem unwilling."
Not all the dwarves had given in. About half, including Galbarik, stood stiffly, unwilling to yield.
Though they were impressed by what they had seen, they didn't want to lose in a battle of pride with the young lord.
Smirking, Ghislain beckoned again.
"Follow me. There's more to see."
This time, Ghislain took them to a recently built communal residence.
Some of the dwarves, interested in architecture, began exploring and couldn't contain their excitement.
"No way, houses like this actually exist?"
"Who would've thought of this? It's not just a simple tower-style dwelling!"
The communal residence didn't employ any advanced technology. It merely broke the conventional notions of what a "house" should be.
The dwarves quickly started debating again.
"If we use marble here, it would enhance both durability and aesthetics."
"Instead of relying on fireplaces for heating, we could use materials that distribute warmth evenly."
"The drainage system could be improved with a better design!"
The dwarves felt a surge of inspiration that had been dormant for too long.
This is what they needed—a spark to reignite their creativity.
After a heated discussion, they turned to Ghislain and shouted.
"Let us improve this!"
At this point, there was no stopping the inspired dwarves.
Galbarik hesitated, then stammered.
"You… You thought of this too?"
"Of course. It came from this very brain," Ghislain replied confidently.
"What… What kind of brain do you have…?"
What amazed the dwarves wasn't just the technology but the act of turning imagination into reality. That's why pioneers are remembered in history.
Grinning, Ghislain gestured again.
"Follow me. There's more."
This time, they arrived at a large farm. Though it had already been harvested once, the wheat was growing again.
"Whoa…"
The dwarves gaped at the endless field of green wheat.
The sheer size of the field and the unusually large wheat stalks left them speechless.
Was this really the barren northern land they had heard of?
Tracing the horizon with his finger, Ghislain said, "This wheat can be harvested at least three times a year. Harvest season is coming up, so you'll see the yield for yourselves."
It sounded unbelievable, but the evidence was right before their eyes.
Galbarik, voice trembling, asked again, "This… This was your doing too? How…?"
"Skipping the detailed explanation, we improved the seeds and enriched the soil using Rune Stones. The important thing is, it works."
Nods.
The dwarves nodded in unison. While farming itself didn't interest them, the concept of turning an idea into reality was awe-inspiring.
Cosmetics, housing, and agriculture—all of it. The fact that one person had created all these innovations was what mattered.
Even one of these ideas could revolutionize people's lives and perceptions. The dwarves clenched their fists. Ghislain's creations had reignited a long-dormant fire in their hearts.
How much fun would it have been to be involved from the start?
Seeing their excitement, Ghislain smiled and said, "What do you think? I have plenty more ideas like these. Practical, implementable ideas. That's why I brought you here—to work with me. Are you in?"
His words hit the dwarves exactly where they had long felt unsatisfied.
And then came the decisive statement.
"I can also teach you knowledge and techniques no one else knows."
Ghislain was confident Galbarik would agree. In his past life, Galbarik had been obsessed with technology, and that wouldn't have changed now.
The response was immediate.
"We'll do it!"
Galbarik and the other dwarves shouted enthusiastically. At this point, resisting was meaningless.
For them, this was a calling and a part of their nature.
Galbarik pleaded earnestly, "Please, teach us! If you want, I'll even remain a slave!"
"…You're already slaves."
"It's just an expression! I mean it! I'll dedicate myself to your cause!"
"You'll cooperate fully for ten years?"
"Of course! But you have to keep your promise!"
"No backing out later?"
"What do you take us for? Don't you know dwarves never break a promise, even if it costs their lives?"
Hearing Galbarik's bold declaration, Ghislain smiled and extended his hand.
"Good, good. Work hard, and I'll set you free after ten years, as promised. Let's do great things together!"
"Let's do this!" Galbarik said, shaking Ghislain's hand with a wide grin.
Watching from the sidelines, the Fenris knights pitied the dwarves.
[T/L: Please support me and read 60 extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]