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“A ch-chance? What exactly do you mean?”

“Please let me join in too.”

Perhaps because she felt left out, Aira started muttering as she tried to join our quiet discussion, but after lightly patting her on the head and leaving her be, I decided to prioritize my conversation with Nadja.

“Let’s incorporate the entirety of Mount Magros, including this dungeon, into Wenti.”

“Would that really be all right? Managing a dungeon brings great profit, but it is also extremely dangerous. Considering what might happen…”

“I think that would be far better than letting the desert people manage it, the ones who would try to monopolize the resources like the older generation above Vis-san and the others. And if there is a dungeon here, then—it means Wenti, which people have had trouble reaching because of inconvenient transportation, will gain something that can draw people in. We could also attract adventurers, so we should be able to establish a branch of the Adventurers’ Guild too.”

“Th-that is certainly true… in other words, if we can solve the various problems with the dungeon, then it will be nothing but benefits.”

“Yeah, so as for me…”

“Please let me join in too, mutter mutter mutter mutter mutter.”

“—Wah!? Hey, Aira, do not mutter that much right into my ear!”

She muttered furiously right beside my ear.

It tickled so much that I could not help but shiver, then I stepped back.

Since my breathing had grown ragged, I took a deep breath to calm myself down before once again turning toward the dwarves.

“If you are willing, would you allow me to incorporate Mount Magros into my territory—Wenti? If this place becomes part of my domain, then I will take over the management of the dungeon. As for you dwarves, Vis-san, you would be free either to continue working here or to come to Guinea, so I think it would increase your options. …Ah, of course, if you need the minerals from here, I will make it possible to have them transported as well.”

“A deal that caters to us this thoroughly… it feels almost too favorable to us. Are you truly sure about this?”

“Yes. The truth is, we are currently looking for skilled blacksmiths and craftsmen. And to scout them, we intend to stop at nothing.”

“If you are willing to go that far… then we must live up to your expectations.”

I reached out my hand to meet the one Vis-san held out to me.

When we shook hands, his grip was as strong as a vise.

I was really glad I had not fought him head-on yesterday… if I had done something like that, some part of my body might have gotten torn off.

The dwarves, seeing the two of us shaking hands, let out cries of triumph.

From somewhere, a voice shouted, “A feast!”

Or rather… the dwarves, who loved alcohol more than their daily meals, started noisily agreeing, and before I knew it, some had already started going off to look for drinks so they could launch into another banquet just like yesterday.

Watching their backs, I hurriedly stopped them.

“W-wait a moment, please! The most important part is still not finished!”

Beside me, Nadja let out a sigh.

“Are creatures like this really craftsmen worth using…? I am extremely doubtful, Woody…”

“Yeah, I think… it will be fine. Their skills should be real… probably.”

After watching them for two days, my eyes kept drifting to all their various shortcomings outside of craftsmanship, but if they were craftsmen, what mattered was the quality of the products they made.

It would be fine… right?

Seeing the dwarves looking disappointed because they could not drink, even I, the one inviting them, started to feel a bit uneasy…

For now, I would pull myself together and first have them make preparations to evacuate.

And after that—

“For now, let’s go hunt down the monsters that have built up and built up. I’m counting on you, Nadja.”

Hearing my words, Nadja looked at me blankly.

Then in an instant, she tightened herself up again.

“Yeah—leave it to me, Woody! My arm has been growing dull lately, and I could do nothing about it!”

Saying that, she flashed a lively smile.

The beauty of that dignified profile made me stare before I knew it—.