The Extra Prince Sets Out To Conquer The World

The dwarf with a six-stranded braided beard, Belt Bifleod, lightly shouldered a hammer larger than his own body and asked,

“What business do you have, coming all the way to a place like this?”

The dwarf’s gaze was directed at Adgale.

If it were a human, they would have been enraged after having their home broken into like this. Being a dwarf, he was acting like a typical dwarf.

After all, compared to the transcendent in front of him, the traps that had been set up were infinitely worthless to Belt.

I stepped forward with a grin.

“I came because I have business with you.”

As I stepped forward, Belt frowned and waved his hand.

“I wasn’t asking you, human greenhorn.”

At his words, I boldly retorted.

“But to obtain what you desire, you’ll have to talk to me. ‘Elder’ of the Bifleod clan, Belt.”

For dwarves, the number of strands in their braided beard symbolized their skill and status.

Dwarves grow beards when they become adults. Then, when they are recognized as a master, they start braiding their beards.

A dwarf with a six-stranded braided beard was a symbol of someone acknowledged by all dwarves as the most skilled.

When I mentioned the dwarf’s name and clan position, he was surprised and showed interest in me.

“You know my name? Well, it’s not strange since you found this tightly hidden place. I heard that humans don’t uniquely select their representatives based on skill. Young human, are you their representative?”

For dwarves, the one who is recognized solely based on ‘skill’ becomes the leader of the group. The standard of skill was, of course, the number of strands in the beard.

“That’s right. If I decide to leave this place, my ‘second great-uncle’ will also leave. Understood?”

The reason he was welcoming us right now was entirely because he coveted my second great-uncle.

At my answer, Belt nodded.

“Alright, come inside for now.”

The dwarf maintained informal speech even after knowing I was the representative.

Dwarves only respect true masters. That’s why he showed respect to Adgale, a master of swordsmanship, but spoke casually to me.

The dwarf guided us inside the wall.

The interior was divided into several partitions like rooms.

The place Belt guided us to was a spacious room with nothing but a bed.

I thought a dwarf’s room would be quite luxurious.

As if he had noticed my thoughts, he calmly laid a blanket on the floor.

“You probably think it’s sparse. I think so too. I didn’t expect anyone to come here.”

“No, we’re the ones who suddenly barged in.”

Rather, it could be said that he showed sufficient courtesy just by not kicking us out.

I took off my shoes and sat on the blanket Belt had laid out.

Belt sat across from me and went straight to the point without beating around the bush.

“I’m curious how you knew my name and this place, but that’s not important, so let’s skip that for later. I’ll be blunt. What do you want? What do I have to do to gain that person?”

At his question, I smiled bitterly.

As expected, dwarves are just those who don’t know social etiquette?

“You skipped too much context. I don’t mind talking like this, but the second great-uncle whose help you actually need doesn’t understand. If you have something you want, you should first say exactly what you want and why you want it. We’re meeting for the first time today, aren’t we?”

At my point, he was flustered.

Judging by his anxious appearance, I felt like smiling naturally.

There’s nothing easier to take advantage of than an impatient opponent.

“Ahem, I’m not good with words. I don’t know where to start or what to say…”

“Then I’ll speak on your behalf. Let me know if there’s anything wrong.”

I took out alcohol and cups from my subspace, moistened my throat, and began to speak.

The reason why Belt, the elder of the Bifleod clan, wanted a transcendent was because of an incident that occurred 15 years ago.

About 15 years ago.

Belt Bifleod was peacefully hammering iron in a land untouched by human feet.

The village he was in was a small village where dwarves of the Bifleod clan lived together.

The Bifleod clan was known for producing many outstanding swordsmiths for generations among the dwarf clans.

“Good. Sharp, sturdy, and beautiful.”

Belt was satisfied with the sword he had made and performed the finishing work.

At that moment, a dwarf with a four-stranded braided beard rushed into Belt’s forge.

“Elder! Belt Elder!”

Despite the young dwarf’s urgent cry, Belt focused on the finishing work without losing concentration.

“Don’t act rashly, Jier Bifleod. Aren’t you quite old now?”

Aside from having a lush beard, the two dwarves looked so youthful that they could pass as children.

Dwarves were one of the races that, like fairies, didn’t age in appearance unless in exceptional cases.

Even with Belt’s reprimand, the young dwarf was anxious.

“Do I look calm right now?! The Sword Master is urgently looking for you, Elder! Hurry!”

“What? The clan leader?”

The clan leader of the Bifleod clan was Kor Bifleod, one of the Six Masters of Exquisite Arts, known as the most outstanding six craftsmen in the world.

There were various theories as to why the world’s most outstanding craftsmen were limited to six, but the prevailing one was that it originated from the dwarves’ tradition of a six-stranded braided beard.

As such, throughout history, most of the Six Masters of Exquisite Arts were dwarves, and the dwarf clans that produced them were revered by all dwarves.

In the distant ancient times, when fairies and dwarves, now considered extinct, existed in the world, they competed for that position.

However, in modern times, most of those positions were held by dwarves.

“What’s the matter?”

At Belt’s question, Jier shook his head as if he didn’t know.

“Some person, who I couldn’t tell if they were human or fairy, came from outside, and after the Sword Master had a brief conversation with that person, he urgently told me to bring you, Elder.”

A person whose essence was indistinguishable as human or fairy.

It was rare for a dwarf who had eyes to perceive the essence of all things to be confused about their essence.

Moreover, it might be understandable for a young dwarf who hadn’t braided their beard, but it was even rarer for a dwarf with four braids.

However, Belt believed in Jier’s eyes.

To be precise, he knew of beings that simultaneously possessed the essence of humans and fairies.

“A highlander, a fairy with human blood, has come.”

Highlanders looked infinitely human at a glance, but their essence was infinitely close to fairies.

The thicker the human blood, the more the fairy blood manifested its existence as if showing off.

At the same time, since human blood also exhibited power without being outdone, they were born with an innate ferocious fighting spirit and were also called a warrior race.

Belt quickly finished the finishing work and headed to the clan leader’s forge.

In the forge, the Sword Master, one of the Six Masters of Exquisite Arts with a six-stranded beard, Kro, and a short woman with dark brown hair were sitting face to face.

Although she was said to be short, she was at least a head taller than the dwarves.

“Did you call for me?”

Belt sensed a sharp force from the woman who had come as a guest.

It was as if a single sword had taken the form of a person.

“The judge has arrived. Belt Elder, this person has come to challenge me, putting the title of Sword Master on the line. Elder, you’ll have to act as the judge.”

At the Sword Master’s words, Belt furrowed his brows.

“Of all times, you’re saying this now?”

Currently, the Bifleod clan was facing two problems.

At a time like this, a challenger came to take the title of one of the Six Masters of Exquisite Arts. There was no way to view it positively.

At Belt’s gaze, the highlander laughed heartily.

“Ahahaha! Don’t look at it that way. Since the Sword Master has put his title on the line, I have also wagered quite a lot.”

At her words, the Sword Master nodded.

“It’s not well known to the world, but this person is a transcendent. If I win this match, she has agreed to help solve one of our concerns.”

“Among the belligerent highlanders, transcendents are quite rare. And I’m even rarer among those transcendents.”

If it was a strong transcendent, it would certainly be of great help in solving the clan’s problem.

At their words, Belt nodded.

“Are you telling me to act as the judge?”

“That’s right. In this village, Belt Elder, how many people can match your eyes?”

“It just so happens that Elder Ti, Elder Lize, and Elder Set are all away, leaving only me.”

“Well, there’s that too.”

The Sword Master smiled brightly, and Belt let out a small sigh.

“I understand. But does the challenger’s side have a prepared judge?”

At Belt’s question, the highlander laughed heartily.

“Ahahaha! No. What can be as accurate as a dwarf’s eyes? In fact, there’s no one here who would deceive their own eyes even without a judge.”

At her words, the Sword Master nodded.

“Then let’s begin.”

The two masters each took their hammers and stood in front of the furnace, starting to work the bellows.

The dwarves of the village gathered to watch their match.

In terms of materials and equipment, the match was equal, but it was disadvantageous for the challenger.

Putting aside the familiarity with the forge, all the equipment was tailored to the dwarf who owned the forge.

However, the highlander challenger didn’t seem to mind at all and silently heated the iron and began hammering.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

With each strike of the hammer, small sparks flew in all directions, and a loud sound rang out, but the two masters paid no attention.

They simply focused on the swords they were making.

As the two swords were completed, the dwarves couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

The sword made by the Sword Master with all his strength was indeed a sword, but the challenger’s sword was also formidable.

“Look.”

“See for yourself.”

The swords of the two masters were grasped in Belt’s hands. Both swords seemed to be famous swords that could make a name for themselves in the world.

However, as Belt examined them closely, he couldn’t hide his shock.

“…How can this be, how can a sword be like this!”

Seeing the sword made by the challenger, Belt collapsed in shock.

“The winner is… The winner is…”

As he mumbled, unable to open his mouth, the clan leader spoke on his behalf.

“…The winner is you. Challenger, no, the new Sword Master.”

At Clan Leader Kor’s declaration, the dwarves gasped in surprise.

Since the opponent didn’t put forth a judge, it wasn’t impossible to argue the result.

However, that was something that could never happen as a master.

Not acknowledging defeat was no different from denying everything accumulated over the years, so Kor shed tears.

The new Sword Master bowed her head and paid her respects to the former Sword Master.

“It was only a very slight difference.”

“Yes, it was only a very slight difference. But to me, that difference feels too great. Later, after honing my skills again, would it be alright for me to seek you out and challenge you again?”

At Kor’s question, she smiled and nodded.

“Come find me anytime. Exchanging with an outstanding master is something I have always aspired to.”

With that, the new Sword Master left, and the clan leader gave a task to all the dwarves of the clan.

“Craftsmen of the clan, train. Train and train to surpass this sword. Anyone is fine. Reclaim the position of the Six Masters of Exquisite Arts once again!”

One year after the highlander left the village.

The fame of the Sword Master, Areha Han, one of the Six Masters of Exquisite Arts and one of the top ten swordsmen in the world, resounded throughout the world.

By killing a dragon with her sword.

“…So you thought the difference between Sword Master Areha Han and the Bifleod clan originated from their senses as transcendents, and you wandered the world to meet a transcendent.”

At my words, Belt nodded.

“That’s right. But I couldn’t meet a transcendent. And I couldn’t reveal that I was a dwarf and go find one, saying I wanted to meet them.”

“Not only would there be no guarantee of meeting one even if you went looking, but you could also end up being restrained and treated like a half-slave, so it’s only natural.”

That’s why dwarves didn’t even approach cities where humans lived.

“You’re staying in this city for two reasons. One is that it’s a trading city, making it easy to obtain materials. The other is to somehow find a connection to transcendents by pretending to be a merchant specializing in dwarf weapons.”

“That’s correct. I never thought a transcendent would come looking for me like this before I even properly started my activities.”

Belt smiled bitterly.

I told him the reason why I had come all the way here.

“Belt Bifleod, join me. Then I will help solve the three problems your clan is shouldering.”

I coveted an outstanding blacksmith.

I coveted his clan.

I coveted everything they would make.

I glanced at the Protector of the Nation and said with a smile,

“I will treat you well, respect you, and do my best to help. I promise on the name of Yuan del Azdemian Duplion, the prince of this country.”