RD | Chapter 14

“How are you going to protect us?” The village chief asked slyly, his eyes rolling.

Ian’s group was being chased by the Demon Archduke. Moreover, the companions following him were not even soldiers, let alone knights, and they didn’t even have horses nor armor.

Even with a group like this, they might be able to overpower the village chief, but… how would they protect the village?

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The one exploiting them was the Demon Archduke. And besides, there was no reason to trust their promise of protection.

What kind of scheme were they plotting by stepping forward like this?

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He had a duty to protect the village.

Ian’s group could feel the dismissive tone.

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“What!”

Blocking a subordinate who raised his tool with his hand, Ian turned to look at Sema.

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“Show them. What happened to the Demon Archduke.”

Sema realized his role.

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He found a bowl that had collected rainwater and brought it over. Then, with his magic staff that was as tall as him, he touched the water container.

“<Water Mirror>!”

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The power of magic was absorbed into the water container. Since the spell was cast on a corpse, it worked instantly this time.

Ripples spread across the water’s surface, and the trembling waves reflected a single shape.

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It was the figure of the Demon Archduke buried in the darkness, collapsed. Anyone could see that he wasn’t resting but was undoubtedly dead. The eyes staring blankly into the void were those of a dead man.

“Gasp!”

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“He, he’s dead!”

Even the villagers who had heard belatedly about the village chief being taken gathered around. They too witnessed the miracle created by the mage.

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The village chief touched the water container with trembling hands.

“This, this… how in the world…?”

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Ian did not miss the moment when their hearts wavered.

“We’ve caught the Demon Archduke. He won’t trouble you anymore. Swear your loyalty. If anyone tries to oppress you in the future, I will protect you.”

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“……!”

Upon hearing the splendid words, the village chief put down the water container and knelt.

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“Until now… you are the first person to say you would protect us, Lord Ian. That duke only dominated us; he didn’t actually protect us. We have been without a master for a long time.” The village chief swallowed.

Ian wanted them to speak straightforwardly. Were they going to pledge loyalty or not?

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“We have betrayed you, Lord Ian… Will you forgive us?”

‘Why is that betrayal?’

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Ian had never trusted them. How could he trust people he didn’t even know?

“I told Louise the same thing. I know—it’s oppression by force.

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…And His Majesty did not recognize you as his subjects. Even if you considered yourselves masterless, there was nothing to be done about it.”

“But tell me—how can you call it betrayal when you, without a master, were sold to a master who doesn’t even exist?”

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“Ah.” Suddenly, the village chief burst into tears.

Ian, surprised by his sensitivity, almost forgot what he had to say next.

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”…I won’t ask about past mistakes. If I did, wouldn’t I have to question my father’s mistakes as well? That would be disloyal of me as a son.”

“This lord-vassal contract is between you and me. Swear your allegiance—become my subjects.”

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Ding!

[‘Traitor Village’ has been offered an alliance.]

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Ian licked his lips and waited. But there was no response because the village chief was crying. His wrinkled face was soaked with tears, even wetting his beard.

Ian had no choice but to pat his shoulder.

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“Is there anything else you want?”

“No! How dare I! …I will swear my allegiance. I will become your subject, Lord Ian!”

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The residents of ‘Traitor Village’, watching from afar, wiped their tears away.

How long had they been called traitors, unable to find a place to belong?

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No—long before they were branded the traitor clan, they had already been a people without a land to call their own…

That person was willing to accept them as subjects.

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“Good. This land is yours.”

Ding!

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[‘Traitor Village’ has accepted the alliance offer.]
[‘Traitor Village’ has been registered as an ally.]

Ian clenched his fist invisibly.

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‘Done.’

Sema said brightly, “Ah, thank goodness. If they hadn’t accepted, you would have killed everyone, right? Right, Lord Ian?”

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“Shut up.”

“……?”

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The people who were moved paused.

‘Could our new master be a tyrant?’

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Ding!

[People suspect you are a tyrant.]

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‘This bastard.’ Ian, without realizing it, kicked Sema.

Ding!

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[People are convinced you are a tyrant!]

“……”

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Ian confirmed two things while In the Traitor Village.

First, the Louise route has not yet begun.

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‘The village chief exists.’

It wasn’t a situation where only Louise and a few people remained, having to crawl into an underground defense.

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“Although the village was small, it had enough manpower to immediately mobilize about thirty able-bodied men.”

Since all thirty of these were warriors capable of hunting like Louise, it was not a weak force.

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The second thing he confirmed was that the village was extremely poor.

‘……’

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Because of this, Ian abandoned the idea of collecting taxes.

‘A rebellion would break out.’

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The village had just reached a loyalty of 30 to 40. Ian had no intention of testing their loyalty.

Therefore, the schedule for those returning to the dungeon was set.

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People who had long suffered from monsters seemed to find peace in leaving the open plains for the narrow caves. After all, building a village on monster-infested plains was far too dangerous.

If the dungeon had been large enough, Ian would have taken in the villagers himself. But for now, increasing the population inside the dungeon was impossible.

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Besides, this village—having survived until now—must have its own ways to endure.

‘Though they might eventually perish.’

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If Ian helped Louise’s level increase, wouldn’t the possibility of avoiding destruction go up?

“Let’s gather food to eat.”

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As soon as Ian gave the order, people scattered into the nearby forest. They were hungry too.

The king, surprisingly, didn’t distribute food to them… for some absurd reason like ‘it makes your body heavy when defending’, but anyway, the food that was not distributed was eaten along with the king’s party and monsters.

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Thus, the dungeon people were starving.

‘The class system does have its advantages.’

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After giving orders and leaning against a tree, Ian witnessed a strange scene shortly after.

“Louise, carry this.”

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“Louise, cut some branches.”

“Louise! Where are you, you bastard?”

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‘……’

It was the sight of Louise being treated like a slave.

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‘Have they all gone mad?’

Ian was curious.

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Louise was a sharpshooter who could shoot one person per arrow. He could massacre everyone here in just 22 seconds.

The biggest problem was that he was included in that massacre.

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Ian called out to the slave overseers.

“What are you guys doing?”

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“Ah, Lord Ian. We were disciplining this lazy bastard, Louise.”

“Who’s being lazy?” Ian raised an eyebrow.

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Louise, carrying a load of wild herbs on a carrying frame, spotted Ian and bowed deeply.

The man who had been making Louise work was carrying less than half of his load.

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‘It might be due to the difference in strength, but…’

Do you have any conscience?

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When Ian looked at him with disbelief, the man averted his gaze.

“He listens well when spoken to! Isn’t it that children grow up through discipline?”

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“You do your job.”

“Louise! Move this too!”

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“Isn’t that not even a load in your eyes? Move it together!”

But Louise was also being pushed around from the other side.

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“……”

Ian held back a sigh. He found a long branch, took it, and tapped it against the tree.

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When someone made an annoying noise, people looked over. Confirming their attention, Ian spoke.

“From today, we’re implementing an anti-discrimination law. Work with your own hands instead of making others work. Is Louise your subordinate?”

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“But, that guy is from the traitor clan…”

‘As expected, that’s what you would say.’

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“He’s my subordinate. And you’re mine too. Don’t you know that all are equal before the king? Who are you to line up people under me? Are you royalty?”

Of course, the man protesting wasn’t royalty.

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‘Thankfully, this is a worldview where the king holds divine authority.’

The only thing Ian had was being the king’s son. He intended to make good use of that.

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Louise looked at Ian with surprised eyes.

“Lord Ian…”

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‘Be very moved.’

However, there were side effects to Louise’s emotion.

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Ding!

[People think you are a tyrant!]

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‘……’

Why do they keep insulting me when I have the right cause?

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Ian felt wronged!

They filled their stomachs with vegetable soup and went to sleep.

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It had been a tiring day, so no one could stay awake. Ian too, fell asleep in a corner of the dungeon, covered with a blanket, listening to others snoring.

He fell asleep as if fainting, and when he opened his eyes, he saw the cave ceiling dimly lit.

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Morning had come.

Ian placed his palm over his eyelids. A deep sigh came from his chest.

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“Ha…”

‘It didn’t wake me up…’

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It seems that this was the reality…

Ian roughly washed his face and woke up. He plunged his face into the cold lake, but it was not a dream that would shatter.

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He accepted reality with a bitter taste and called Sema and Louise.

There was no point in dwelling on the unavoidable; it would only sour his mood.

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“Let’s go get food. Not by gathering, but something we can farm.”

The gathering command would be useless in winter, and inefficient. To feed the people inside the dungeon, they ultimately needed to farm within the dungeon. And farming required the <World Tree>.

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Whether to level up the dungeon or to survive, obtaining the <World Tree> was essential.

Ian had planned to slowly acquire the <World Tree>, but with a 4-star hero in hand, there was no need to wait.

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‘Let’s get it now.’

He was tired of vegetable soup and wanted to eat something else.

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Ian nodded with his chin on his hand.

“We need to get seeds or seedlings.”

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Sema asked, “Where do we get such things?”

“I plan to borrow from the Elf Village.”

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“Ah…”

‘This is who he is.’

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Sema understood. Although there was never a time when humans and elves got along well, if Ian said ‘borrow’, then so be it, right?

“……?”

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Amidst Louise’s confusion, the journey of the thieves began.