Chapter 35 Dwarf Village
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
When I woke up in the morning, Meena and Lotte-chan were pouting and sulking.
”Wh-what’s wrong?”
”I wanted you to lay a hand on me…”
The honest Lotte-chan said so, dropping her gaze sadly.
”Um, your body is still immature, and I was worried… That is, as for me, I want to do it so much it hurts, but it’ll probably be painful, you know?”
”It’s okay! I can endure that much!”
”O-oh. Well, next time, okay? Because for me, just being with you two makes me happy.”
When I replied that way, Meena replied in a small voice, “Please don’t forget me too, okay?”
It seems she was waiting for the right moment while pretending to sleep, but ended up falling asleep. Even though Erina had yielded her turn this time, she thought. She was moved to tears by her lifelong blunder.
”Ah, I won’t forget. So please don’t make that face…”
When I said that, the two of them clung to me as if spoiling themselves, so as I kissed them over and over, they cheered up.
After that, we all gathered immediately to have breakfast, and a discussion was held regarding who would stay behind. The five who slept together are confirmed, but there are also girls whose intentions haven’t been clearly confirmed.
”Rosanna-san is which better?”
”To be honest, I think either is fine. Whatever Ibuki-sama’s heart desires.”
Hmm, that’s the most troubling answer. No, to speak honestly, I want everyone to be together, but it’s also very appreciated that they’re leaving a place for us here. If our anxieties about combat power are gone, then taking the challenge is an option.
”What about Shirley?”
”I feel the same. My honest feeling is that I want to go wherever Ibuki-sama deems me necessary.”
”What about Fran?”
”Eh!? I’m going with you too ssu. I hope I can be of use to Master…”
”What about Luna-chan?”
”Umm… I also…”
When I asked her, for some reason, a recommendation came in from Shirley: “Luna should definitely be by Ibuki-sama’s side.”
Apparently, they want me to keep Luna-chan, who has healing magic, close at hand. Erina and the others are all nodding too, so it seems they think that’s an absolute. The person herself is nodding too, so I have no intention of correcting it.
”Hmm~, in that case, I want to bias the combat power toward that side. Since I plan to build a fortress and shut myself in over here.”
Yeah. I don’t intend to fight over there, and if I’m going to go at it with Dole, I’ll call out to everyone staying behind, so considering the combat power distribution until then, that seems just right.
”In that case, it will be Amelia, Maria, and Luna?”
”Eh, I’ve been left out!?”
Charlotte raised her voice in a panic at Shirley’s words, but she calmed down after being told, “It’s in terms of combat power ssu, you know?”
”No problem. I will protect Lord. If I’m given this much power, I won’t lose no matter who the opponent is.”
”Yes. Amelia-san is the keystone. We’re counting on you.”
But it’s surprising. I thought at least Shirley would follow along saying she would protect me…
”Ibuki-samaaa, don’t worry about us hereee.
We’ll make sure to gather information on the other Hero-honorific recipients tooo.”
”Eh… ah, there was that too. If they’re coming out to the battlefield, I’d like to know their movements at least.”
Fortunately, through the liberation the other day, I also figured out how to remove the Slave Crest¹. It doesn’t seem like it makes them go crazy mentally, so if we can make peaceful contact, there’s a possibility we can remove it without fighting and pull them in.
”Geez, please don’t forget. We’re enduring being apart for that reason, after all…”
I understood when Lisha said it with a troubled face. That everyone was doing this while thinking of me.
”My bad. I might make you feel lonely, but I’m counting on you.”
When I told the remaining members that, they replied with a powerful “Yes!”
Then, we created a secret underground passage that goes through the Rock Valley² mountain range. I plan to make various gimmicks so that only people who know them can open it, and then teach the remaining members. If they can come freely once our location is clear, they’ll probably feel relieved. Well, either way, it’s pointless unless I first make a place where we can meet up on the other side, so that’s further ahead.
And so, we went through the Rock Valley³ mountain range and proceeded for a while, but I was stunned by the desolate wasteland that stretched as far as the eye could see. There wasn’t a single plant or tree. What Nyan-chan said was serious, without any exaggeration.
”If this continues forever, we really won’t be able to live here…”
When Luna-chan muttered that, Charlotte and Maria also showed bitter faces.
Well, it can’t be helped to keep looking down, so while knowing the risks, I decided to fly through the sky once. As expected, if we just keep walking without a goal, there’s no telling how long it will take. The possibility of being attacked by flying-type monsters isn’t zero either, but since we’re flying in the direction of the human survival zone, even if they’re different races, it should be fine.
Even so, just in case, I made a small aircraft that prioritizes speed and equipped it with a weapon that fires spears. And so, while moving at high speed up in the sky, I transcribed the scenery onto paper from above. After lightly looking around the territory of the different races like that, I returned again to the vicinity of the tunnel we had opened.
”Amazing… a map that might be the only one in the world has been completed…”
Maria, who usually doesn’t talk much, raised her voice in amazement.
”Umm, as far as I could see from the sky, there are about two villages nearby. Just as I heard, there was almost no greenery at all…”
Charlotte raised her voice, unable to bear seeing everyone who had stopped moving in amazement.
”Hmm. It’s better if it’s close to the tunnel too, so shall we try making a base around here?”
When I suggested that, Charlotte and the others looked around saying, “Eh… is it okay ssu, in a place like this?”
Yes. It is a dry wasteland with an all-over, slightly reddish soil color. There isn’t a single bit of green. No rivers either. It’s a place where everything is missing.
”The lack of a river is painful, but looking at the slope, there are places where it looks like we could pull water from, right?”
”Eh, are there ssu?” Charlotte asked doubtfully, but if it’s okay to pull water from the mountain range, it’s normally there. There’s an unused river flowing toward the Uncharted lands⁴. We should just pull water from there.
Well, even with skills it’ll be a major construction project, so at first, I’ll look for an underground vein and go from there…
”Alright, then first let’s try and see if I can bring the soil back to life.”
I had Charlotte and the others evacuate to the back, and I brought out an extra-large scoop.
Saku saku saku
With that, if I specify the range while digging through the sand part about three times, a hole one kilometer square and three meters deep opened up. I put that sand into Processing in my Inventory and while making a stupid-sounding wish for soil where crops would grow well, I sent Mana into it; the label changed from sand to soil, and the color turned blackish. The Mana consumption was also somewhat high, but now that I’ve leveled up too much, it’s a negligible consumption. This if I take my time, it seems I could return the entire surrounding area to fertile land.
Ah, there’s no water. At this rate, it’ll wither immediately. Hmm, should I make the drainage at the bottom a bit worse to collect water before putting the soil back? I’ve dug three meters, so it won’t cause root rot. In the meantime, I have to either draw river water or pull an underground vein upward.
Alright, since I’m at it, let’s mix in some fertilizer with my skill, I mixed in the fertilizer I had made from monster corpses and put it back with a don, and it changed into a state like a field that had been plowed all over.
”””~~~!? “””
I shot a smug face at everyone for a moment, but they were so speechless there was no reaction. Thinking this was a bit lonely in its own way, I Growth-ed some vegetables and such halfway, then took them out of the Inventory while they were standing, and immediately repositioned ten centimeters of soil at the base; a field planted in an orderly fashion was completed.
”Alright. The rest is seeing how it goes.”
Soil is microbes related too, I hear. Even if the outward appearance is fine, I can’t say anything for sure without seeing how it goes. Well, I think it’ll be fine as long as I set up the environment. If it’s no good, I can just bring soil from over there by air and cover it.
”Next is the water supply. In that case, digging a well is the easiest right now.”
And so, I performed a vertical dig at random, went down underground and dug around, and since I hit a water source immediately, I adopted a hydraulic pump and also made an automatic pumping system using wind power. With this, if the wind blows moderately, a reservoir should be created.
Since I was able to create such an environment so smoothly, I brought out a mansion next to it.
”After that, an outer wall is also necessary, but… it’s fine if vegetables and such are stolen, so let’s hold off on an outer wall that feels oppressive for now. Because the military will definitely come attacking.”
”Eh… is it okay ssu, being that defenseless?” Amelia expressed doubt.
”Yeah. The field is nothing more than bait to get along with the surroundings. Because only commoners will be lured by that. It’s more convenient to delay contact with those in power as much as possible.”
First, I intend to become friends with the villagers, gather information, and think about what kind of approach might have a possibility toward the town.
”If we show them the field, there’s a possibility we’ll be accepted.”
”Is it okay ssu?”
”I’ve already obtained power so that I won’t lose, so there’s no need to feel fear, right? It’s just a matter of holding hands if it’s desired.”
’Aaaah…’ while being stunned, they let out voices of agreement.
”Either way, we’ll need collaborators on this side…”
”Yeah. That said, we don’t have to stick to this place specifically, so take it easy, okay?”
Yes. If we can just gather people, we could even start a country in the Uncharted lands⁵. I can do anything freely. It’s just that a world completed only by ourselves is boring, so I’m just thinking that if possible, I’d like to take root in the human cultural sphere. It’s a world where there are unexplored lands that don’t belong to any territory. Places to belong can be created as much as one wants.
”Your stature as a person is already different… as expected of Master…”
Perhaps because people were gone, Maria, who had started talking to some extent, was sending a gaze of respect.
”Well, it’s just that there’s a lot I can do thanks to my skills. Anyway, I’ve finished the things I needed to do, so let’s just relax today.”
And so we entered the mansion and had Charlotte and Maria make home-cooked meals. Luna-chan and Amelia were my conversation partners.
”Lord, aren’t you going to try and lure the locals out?”
”Hmm~, that would be faster, but… could Amelia pull it off?”
”What?”
”No, I thought you might pass for a dwarf.”
”…Even for Lord, that’s rude. I am not a shorty like that.”
The way she puffed out her cheeks was funny and I ended up laughing, so I was hit poka poka.
”Fufufu, Amelia-san is also just a girl when she’s with Ibuki-sama,” Luna-chan laughed.
Eh, is she different usually?
When I asked that, they said she feels more dignified or something. Certainly, there are many times when she’s sharp, but unfortunately, she just looks young to me.
”No matter what we do, we have to know more about this area. We also found out it’s not a habitat for flying-type monsters, so tomorrow let’s observe slowly from the sky. We’ll be able to see a bit if we use a telescope.”
While talking like that, the meal was ready, so everyone had a lively time and the day ended.
At night, the ones who came to the bedroom were Charlotte and Amelia. Since Maria and Luna don’t seem like the types to come themselves, when I announced it was about time to sleep, they returned to their own rooms.
In one way or another, it became a very rare combination. However, since they both say what they want to say honestly, their compatibility surprisingly doesn’t seem bad, and I received service via cooperative play.
And the next day, we took to the sky again and performed reconnaissance from a high place with a telescope; I predicted that one side was likely a dwarf village. Even though it’s a village, there are many chimneys and it’s a bit industrial, so it’s only to that extent.
”It’s probably Nyan-chan’s village, right?”
”That possibility seems high.”
While saying so, everyone’s gaze turned to Amelia.
”If it’s Amelia-san…” Luna-chan let out a voice of expectation.
”Don’t ask for the impossible. Even though I can’t speak the language here, asking me to fake being a dwarf as a dwarf is too much.”
To those words from Amelia, we said in unison, “Ah, that’s true.”
Since Nyan-chan could speak normally, I thought they could speak it…
No, wait. Why can she speak normally? Even though she said she had come to work away from home without any interaction at all?
Well, even if I think about that now, the answer won’t come out.
”Then, I’ll go. If it’s me, the talk will probably go through.”
When I said that, a voice came from Charlotte: “You can’t go aloneee ssu.”
”Then I’ll go as a guard. I’m good at staying quiet.”
”I’m also fine with staying quiet…”
Amelia and Maria said that, but I can’t leave Charlotte and Luna-chan behind either.
”No, just one of you. If the only one staying is Luna-chan, whose Combat Class is Priest…”
”Then, I’ll leave it to you. If you’re going to the dwarves’ place, it’s easier if you’re thought of as a different race.”
Ah, is it because it’s easier to be questioned about where you’re from? Either way, I think if I go, it’ll be found out immediately that I’m a human, so I don’t intend to hide it.
While thinking that, I didn’t correct her and decided to charge into the village with Maria. Since it’s not that far, we ran to a nearby road and I summoned a wagon full of food. And a departure in a robe-clad figure covering the whole body, which is the standard for these occasions.
”Master… in an emergency, is it okay to attack?”
Maria turned a serious gaze this way.
”No, it depends on the degree. If it’s just having a weapon pointed at us, let’s run. If it reaches a stage where they corner us and perform a direct attack, then it’s fine.”
”I understand…”
While nodding, I continued the consultation with Maria as she pulled the wagon.
”Whatever happens, I don’t think we can keep pretending, so I’m thinking of revealing that we’re humans from the start. Let’s go with the setting that we’re merchants who came to work away from home, just like the Underground organization.”
”…Yeah. It seems dangerous, but it can’t be helped. That’s still more realistic.”
”Wait… by any chance, do you think it’s dangerous?”
When I asked that, Maria nodded with a natural expression.
”Even though we prepared with the intention of fighting Dole?”
”Ah…” Maria let out a small voice.
Yes. I trained with the intention of taking on a country. I don’t think there’s danger in a single village that likely has no combat power. At least, in terms of the Mana amount I Sensed, there are only ones with really low levels.
”Yeah. It’s because of that level of leeway that I’m doing this so haphazardly. So Maria, you can relax too, okay?”
Yes. If I thought it was absolutely necessary, I would have asked Nyan-chan for cooperation. If they don’t have a humanity that makes me think they’re good people, I don’t feel like choosing this side anyway, so this much is just right. I think it seems interesting to buy up all the Slaves and start a country in the Uncharted lands⁶, and once Erina’s aim is decided, I can make a place to belong on the human side too.
”…Master doesn’t think about occupation or anything even if your combat power is superior, huh.”
…Maria is surprisingly radical.
”O-oh. Nothing’s been done to me, after all. To begin with, I came here with the feeling that if we could become friends, we could live happily. If I do something like stealing, it would be putting the cart before the horse, right?”
”Yeah… Master is justice after all…”
”No, justice is something completely different depending on the person, you know?”
”Yeah. Master is my justice.”
…She’s a slightly strange girl.
”Did I say something weird?”
”No, if you understand that everyone is different, then isn’t it fine?”
As we were talking, the village approached and people’s figures were visible. No, they must be dwarves. A pair of girls who looked like children but had a sense of age were resting by the roadside.
”You guys, where are you from?”
”Ah… I’m a merchant who came to sell food…”
When I announced that, “Wh-what did you say!?” the two of them stood up.
They came pattering over and peered into the wagon. They were wide-eyed at the mountain of vegetables piled up in bulk.
”T-tell us the price!”
”Umm, before that, may I tell you about our circumstances?”
When I said that, they nodded, so I told them clearly.
”Knowing that there are those from this side who have come to the human territory to work, I am a human merchant who came thinking I could do business from this side as well; even so, would you be willing to trade with us?”
At that voice, they were startled and stepped back a few paces.
”A human, you say…?”
”Yes. However, I’m a commoner, so I’m not participating in the war at all. Even so, if you say you hate trading with humans, I’ll turn back, but…”
”W-wait a minute. We can’t decide, so just wait a minute!”
Wait for me, they pointed their palms this way and after backing up a few paces, the two of them started running toward the village.
”Oh boy, I wanted to get a little more information before the village head or someone came out…”
”Um, before that, Master… the language was the same, wasn’t it…?”
At Maria’s voice, I unintentionally let out an “Eh…”
That it wasn’t that I alone was understanding it through a cheat ability.
”You were taught that it was different, right?”
”No… rather than being taught, through songs…”
How famous the song seems to have a phrase ‘The words of a hideous devil that cannot even be understood’. So there was a recognition that the language was naturally something different.
”Hearing that, it’s somewhat intentional, isn’t it?”
I think the Soldiers who are actually fighting would find out, though… Are the Soldiers being silenced?
”Yeah. As expected, you suspect intent… I’ve also heard words like ‘Those who hear the devil’s voice will be led astray and their thoughts will be stained.’ Is it so that the war won’t end, I wonder?”
”That possibility seems high. Anyway, there must be an inconvenience if there’s interaction.”
While talking in front of the village gate, several people came out of the village.
—
Summary:
Ibuki splits his party, leaving some to manage their current base while he ventures into the desolate Rock Valley mountain range. Using his Crafter skills, he terraforms a patch of wasteland into fertile soil, builds a mansion, and establishes a water source to attract local dwarves. He approaches a dwarf village with Maria to initiate trade, only to realize the language barrier between races is a artificial myth maintained by propaganda.
—
Trivia:
- Ibuki can now remove Slave Crests without causing mental harm.
- The ‘wasteland’ is so barren that there is zero natural greenery or water.
- Ibuki uses monster corpses as fertilizer for his terraformed field.
- Amelia is mistaken for a child/dwarf because of her stature but is a powerful combat class.
- The ‘different language’ belief is reinforced by popular songs in the human world
—
Character Insight:
Ibuki shows growth as a leader by planning long-term infrastructure and diplomacy rather than just immediate survival. Maria shows a darker, more radical side, being willing to consider occupation, though she ultimately defers to Ibuki’s peaceful approach.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The author uses Ibuki’s Crafter class to bypass traditional Isekai survival struggles, focusing instead on the social and political ramifications of terraforming a dying world.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Lotte – 12-year-old slave girl under Ibuki, a scaredy-cat blue mage (water/ice) standing just 130cm with fluffy light-brown hair and big watery eyes. Lacks magic confidence, gets shocked by his OP power, one of the group’s sensitive lil’ sis types dreaming of spell-slinging skills.
• Meena – A young girl and slave who is easily overwhelmed by Ibuki’s crafting abilities. An 18-year-old thief with a youthful appearance. Height is approximately 140cm (4’7).
• Erina – A 17‑year‑old swordswoman and slave under Ibuki’s contract, originally from Paul, with drill hair, a refined noble‑like air and speech suggesting she was once a high‑born lady.
• Rosanna – Older ex-slave in the party, rocking that high-born noble vibe—volunteers for intel on dark orgs, spots the crew’s busted power levels. Loyal AF, scouts underground, bows deep with solemn grace while opening up on missions.
• Ibuki – Broke high‑schooler from Earth who got tossed into another world with the “Crafter” class he first thought was useless—turns out it’s totally busted. Black‑haired, germaphobic, and low‑key bitter but sharp as hell. Uses Synthesis, Processing, and Inventory skills to survive, craft gear, and haul loot while exploring. Currently a Level 10 otherworlder, wielding a stone axe, traveling the frontier forest with Charlotte, and just trying to stay alive long enough to find a bit of peace.
• Shirley – 14yo ex-knight family swordswoman, Ibuki’s 2nd slave (8-gold scapegoat from Karl), rocking long red hair, dignified cool beauty in tight white dress—shocked by the chill vibes at first. Fanatic loyalist, weapon tester, security guard, blunt questioner of his slave game, one of his 3 wives, combat/sales pro but can’t cook.
• Fran – A young member of the group who is easily flustered. Member of the group who expresses moral or existential concern over the ‘unnatural’ leveling process.
• Luna – A 15-year-old girl with rose-pink hair, roughly 155cm tall. A Priest who suffered trauma and physical abuse (welts on her arms) due to her inability to use recovery magic during previous forced training. A companion who recently received armor and weapons from the protagonist.
• Amelia – Quiet, expressionless white short-hair girl with red eyes—smallest in the crew but arguably strongest—once robotic, now opening up, happy with Master’s food/clothes, craving to repay kindness. Ibuki’s loyal CQC bodyguard who goes full deredere lovey-dovey post-intimacy, struggles with personal dreams but sticks by his side.
• Maria – A 16-year-old swordswoman. Has long, lustrous red hair and a sharp, dignified facial structure. One of the new recruit.
• Charlotte – Short, skinny late‑teen slave girl with messy brown hair, feline eyes, and a soft, slender body. Was an Ex‑Level 8 farmer, now Level 10 and bound to Ibuki, who she calls “Master” and calls herself his wife. Wears rags at first, then pretty clothes he makes, plus his bat‑wing hairband. Blushy, clingy, protective, and easily emotional, she follows him on runs, fights, and flights while always worrying if she’s useful enough.
• Hero – Ibuki’s upperclassman from Earth—summoned as the naive Hero with emotional, mentally fragile personality. Empathetic yet reluctant and inadequate-feeling, lacking survival instincts and political skills. Currently in despair and terrified by his situation.
• Lisha – Mature native babe with killer curves, huge rack, long brown hair, big-sis vibes—polite shy type who hangs back gathering intel on other Heroes. Head of Sha-sha brand, acting chair, runs group logistics/training with authoritative feminine flair.
• Nyan – A Dwarf girl, daughter of Doran. 20 years old but looks like a child. Dark-skinned, cat-like vibe. From the mountains.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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