#1101 Visitors to the Development Site – Dwarf POV

I am Edward Smith, the leader of the Dwarven Underground Kingdom.

Everyone calls me “Pops.”

Being the head of the dwarves also means leading the world’s greatest craft guild. All the construction, smithing, and metalwork orders that pour in from every corner of the globe fall to us, and we must see them through flawlessly.

I’ve spent decades swinging my hammer in this heavy-responsibility position.

In that time, I’ve piled up countless achievements.

By now, I’d wager I’m one of the top foremen in our entire history.

Still, I keep churning out new masterpieces, weapons, and architectural marvels day in and day out.

But there’s a reason my crafting life is so fulfilling.

There’s a certain deal I’ve made with a certain someone, and that bargain has unleashed my creativity in ways words can’t express.

That “someone” is Lord Saint.

A figure who discreetly yet undeniably pushes this world forward, sometimes by leaps and bounds.

That’s Lord Saint of the Farm.

From time to time, we dwarves get commissions from him, and each request sends us into fits of astonishment.

Whatever Lord Saint asks us to make is always beyond anything we’ve ever imagined.

It’s like a meteor crashing in from outside our mental universe.

That’s why his requests inspire us dwarves so deeply.

Under his influence, we’ve come up with countless new inventions on our own, too.

Selling these new creations far and wide has only boosted our kingdom’s prosperity.

All thanks to Lord Saint.

We must never let such a valuable client slip away.

As I’ve been keeping such a keen ear out for news about him, I picked up on a piece of intel nice and early.

Apparently, Lord Saint has started showing himself more openly in the world.

Lord Saint, who held such power and knowledge yet nearly lived as a hermit?

What on earth’s going on?

This is a serious matter for us dwarves, too.

His low profile before meant we basically had an exclusive arrangement!

But now, if his identity goes public, everyone who appreciates his brilliance will start fighting over trade rights!

“Isn’t that just normal market competition?”

Who’s the smart-aleck throwing around reasonable arguments?!

One of my dwarven craftsmen?

Anyway, we live by our skillful hands, so we’ve got to protect our business partners!

Especially someone as vital as Lord Saint!

That’s why I’ve prioritized gathering every scrap of intel on Lord Saint’s recent moves.

Out with it! The Saint’s come out in the open, what happened next?!

…Huh? Land development?

Oh, right, I heard something about the demons and humans teaming up for a new endeavor.

They’ve had a population boom and need to expand their living space, that was it.

And Lord Saint is pitching in on that project, too?

Why, though?

Lord Saint’s motives are always a mystery. How he decides when and why to move is beyond all mortal understanding.

...We dwarves have been watching the development project closely, anyway.

It’s a golden opportunity for us to shine.

Development work means building new towns and villages. Settlements need houses, after all.

And to us dwarves, construction is a core business.

Plus, bigger buildings mean bigger profits.

If we were given the entire contract for a new town’s structures, that’d be a huge deal.

A big ol’ construction bonanza!!!

The project’s just started, so who knows how it’ll shape up, but if it takes form, I want in.

We can’t miss a chance like this!

And now you’re telling me Lord Saint’s involved as well?!

All the more reason not to sit around twiddling our thumbs!

We dwarves will give our full support to this joint human-demon land development project!!!

No more waiting and seeing!

Why, you ask?

Because if Lord Saint’s involved, it’s bound to succeed!!!

In fact, the only real question is how far beyond our expectations it’ll go!

With that settled, we have no choice but to jump on board.

Hesitation is forbidden.

If we wait too long, all the seats might be taken, and we’ll be left standing like fools!!!

We must hurry if we want the Underground Dwarven Empire to remain the world’s leading craft giant! Chargeeeee!

***

And so, we’ve arrived at the site.

This will be our new workspace!

“Uh, what are you talking about?”

Ah, if it isn’t Lord Saint!

We dwarves are at your service, ready to lend a hand in the development efforts!

We look forward to working with you!

“Wait, wait, wait… I never asked the dwarves to help. You just showed up out of nowhere, and that’s a problem. We don’t have that kind of budget. Hiring you costs money, right?”

Oh, come now, we can talk about payment later!

Once Lord Saint gets involved, money and manpower will be drawn in from all over, surely!

Besides, this site is a dream come true for dwarves!

Think about it—people need homes.

And no one’s better at building homes than us dwarves!

“True, but we just got started. We don’t have time or resources for fancy houses right now. Tossing together simple log cabins from freshly cut timber is enough for now.”

Hoh. Log cabins, you say?

Fantastic! Leave it to us!

“No, no, no. If I rely on you, you’ll go overboard with decorations and functionality and build some unbelievably nice house. We really don’t need that right now! Just rough, hastily made huts are fine!”

Wh-what’s that…?!

You’re asking a dwarf, with all our centuries of craftsmanship, to deliberately build a bare-bones shack with no clever touches?!

You truly know how to surprise, Lord Saint!

“That’s not it! We can handle rickety huts on our own! Let’s save your involvement for when the city plans are finalized and the Demon King and others give the go-ahead. Then we’ll talk!”

Sure, I see your point. But working alongside you, Lord Saint, is the greatest joy!

Please, let us help with the work now!

We can even take delayed payment, if that helps!

“So you’re still charging us in the end?!”

Just as we’re arguing, something comes flying in and BAM! sends us sprawling.

What’s this?!

I look around in shock and see a dreaded elf!

“You’re a dwarf, aren’t you?! You wicked lumberjack who dares fell precious trees! Your day of reckoning is here! Prepare to pay for your crimes against the forest!!!”

A High Elf?!

They attack with all their might if we even so much as chop down one tree!

But we need lumber for construction—how unfair!

“Don’t be foolish! Those trees don’t grow just for you to hack down! You’ll regret your arrogance in the afterlife!”

“Look, people need houses to survive! We can’t sleep under open skies!”

“If you have no lumber, then stack up stones or something!”

That’s revolutionary talk!!!

Crikey. A job site with a high elf around is trouble.

They’ll glare at you for so much as snapping a twig, let alone cutting down a tree. They’re the bane of lumberjacks everywhere.

And Lord Saint wants to tackle development work with a high elf in the mix?! Is he trying to push us into a corner?!

…Wait.

Could this be…?

Is he deliberately mixing us with a high elf to forge a tougher challenge, to sharpen our skills?!

He’s teaching us that new solutions come from adversity?!

That’s how he always comes up with those brilliant new ideas, I’ll bet!

As expected of Lord Saint!

If that’s the case, I must follow his example.

Hardship breeds growth!

I’ll plunge myself into these difficulties with the high elf, and together we’ll carve out a new frontier of our own!

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happy holidays, everybody! i noticed that whenever patreon's making changes to the site it affects the line break of my translations (i copy-paste them from my local copy), so i had to manually insert them.