GalaxyTL
The inside of the mine was a complicated, maze-like cave. Th-This is it! This is the “dungeon” I’d always imagined!
I was once taken to the dungeon where Gil-san found me, a while back, but it was so ordinary I wondered if it was even a dungeon… Because there was a sky and a grassy floor. But even then, it was a strange space, with stairs and doors appearing out of nowhere.
But it’s odd how this mine’s more dungeon-like than an actual dungeon. Well, I guess that’s how reality is.
It really is like a maze, isn’t it!? We’d definitely get lost, absolutely. When I discreetly asked, even Gil-san said he’d get lost. Isn’t that… impossible? And the paths change every time we go through? Just how?
“Ronny, do you know the way?”
“Yeah, I know. I can kind of… sense which way to go.”
So it might be like a racial trait. When I went to the High Elf Village, I could clearly see the entrance. Maybe Dwarves don’t get lost in this mine. In that case, it makes sense that even Gil-san wouldn’t be able to reach the destination.
We walked for… about 30 minutes, by my sense of time. Gil-san’s carrying me since I’m not very strong. Sorry. But Licht was walking until the very end, even though he was breathing heavily. Apparently, being carried by Ronny would be pathetic, and being carried by Gil-san or Kei-san would crush his spirit. Victory for male pride.
We arrived at a heavy-looking gate. Quite the gate. Gil-san said the teleportation magic circle’s inside. Apparently, we just need to get on, and then he’ll channel magic power, and we’ll be instantaneously teleported to the human continent side of the mine. The Dwarves are amazing. With this, no one who’s not supposed to be here can pass through. …Except for slaves.
I’m sure there were innocent people among them, but it can’t be helped. There’s no way for them to tell the difference between the criminals and those who were kidnapped. But it’s a frustrating topic.
“I’ll be the one channeling the magic power.”
“Eh, but… with this many people, won’t a lot of your magic power be drained?”
“I’ll drink a recovery potion once we arrive, and it’s not a significant amount anyway.”
“Guh… ‘Not a significant amount,’ he says… Just how much does he have?”
I’ve heard about it, and I know how strong he is, but it’s when we can compare him like this that Gil-san’s awesomeness becomes clear. When we were captured and had to channel magic power into the teleportation magic circle, even Licht, who seemed to have the most magic power, could only do it 6 times. I managed to do it 5 times. And that’s considered a lot. And yet, Gil-san said it’s not a significant amount, even though he’s going to be using more than us for this magic circle. No wonder Licht’s stunned.
“For the Demon King, it’s like being bitten by an insect. And Meg, in the future, you’ll have the same amount of magic power as the current Demon King. It’ll be easy for you to surpass me.”
“That’s scary!”
Great power attracts great turmoil. It’s definitely not a good thing! It’s why the Demon King went on a rampage in the past, after all. …Will I also go on a rampage?
“…We’ll find a solution before that happens.”
“Gil-san…”
Gil-san must have sensed my unease. So basically, they still haven’t found a solution. We still have time, there’s no need to rush, but… This unease won’t disappear easily.
“Everyone’s on the magic circle, Gilnandio.”
“Mmm, I see. I’m starting.”
Kei-san said this cheerfully, as if to change the mood. That’s right, this isn’t the time to be worrying. Ronny’s situation is what’s important right now! When we nodded towards Gil-san, he started channeling magic power, and the circle glowed.
I endured the familiar floating sensation, and then slowly opened my eyes, which had involuntarily closed. The scenery didn’t look that different, but there was someone standing there who hadn’t been there before.
“Ronaldo.”
“…Father.”
The patriarch himself came to greet us. A well-built Dwarf with the same reddish brown hair as Ronny. Their eyes are also the same color. I can feel the blood ties. But Ronny’s much thinner and more delicate.
As I observed the two of them in silence, Gil-san stepped forward and spoke.
“Rodrigo, Dwarf patriarch, we have brought your son back to you, safe and sound, as promised.”
That concludes our duty, I guess. The patriarch, Rodrigo-san, glanced at Gil-san and nodded curtly.
“Hmph, you made me wait a long time. But a promise is a promise. Contact me when you want to use the magic circle to go back. Ask someone else to guide you outside. …Let’s go, Ronaldo.”
He spat those words out, turned on his heel, and was about to head deeper into the mine. Eh, already!? He’s too hasty! It was at that moment…
“W-Wait, Father…!”
Ronny mustered his courage and called out to his father. Rodrigo-san stopped at those words, but he didn’t turn around. Silence fell, and Ronny kept opening and closing his mouth, starting to say something, but then stopping, over and over. C-Come on!
“I… want to go with them.”
He finally said it, squeezing the words out.
“I want to leave… the mine! I want to… see the world!”
His voice was trembling slightly, but it was loud and clear. It seemed like once he started talking, he couldn’t stop.
“Because I’m… the patriarch’s son… I thought it was wrong… to think this way… Even though I’m a Dwarf… I’m strange… I thought that.”
He looked down for a moment, and then lifted his head. His eyes were shining brightly.
“But I… don’t want to live a lie. I want to live my own life! As your son… Father!”
Rodrigo-san still hadn’t turned around. But his words must be reaching him.
So we’ll wait patiently. But when there was still no response, it seemed like Ronny was searching for the next words to say.
“…Hmph. I’m not your ‘Father’ anymore.”
“Eh…”
Rodrigo-san said that dismissively, still not turning around. And then he started walking. Ronny, looking shocked, was frozen to the spot. No way…
“But I’m still your dad. …Don’t forget to come back and visit every year.”
“!”
Rodrigo-san, you’re too blunt! Geez! You’re so dishonest! So that means… you’re allowing Ronny to leave the mine, right? When you said you’re not his “Father” anymore, you meant that he’s no longer tied to his position as the patriarch’s son, right? It’s hard to tell because you won’t just say it! But that’s how I’m going to take it!
“Th-Thank you… Dad!”
Ronny called out towards Rodrigo-san’s retreating back. But as expected, he didn’t react. But I get it now. He’s probably sad and conflicted, deep down. I’m starting to understand what kind of person he is!
“Let’s go then? I’ll guide you… from here to the outside.”
“…I’m counting on you, Ronaldo.”
Ronny, after watching his father leave until he was out of sight, said that with a cheerful expression. When Gil-san lightly patted him on the shoulder, Ronny started walking ahead.
I guess the Dwarf patriarch isn’t always a hereditary position. Well, that makes sense. Their birth rate’s too low to begin with. But Ronny, who was born with the slim chance of being the patriarch’s son, must have been raised to be the next patriarch. I think Rodrigo-san’s decision was actually quite bold. Or rather, he’d probably vaguely realized it.
Ronny’s now taken a new step, freed from the chains of being the patriarch. I want to support him.
And at the same time—a small feeling of anxiety pricked my heart, knowing my unavoidable fate, as the next Demon King.