This BL Novel Is Ruined Now - Chapter 193
Chapter 193
Translator: Yonnee
—
Two weeks before Ethan received the news—
The diplomatic delegation from the Pluntria Empire finally reached the expansive central avenue of the Dwarven Principality.
“It’s remarkably organized.”
The capital of the Dwarven Principality, Maoratan, was a city of deep gray rock. Originally solid stone, it was artificially shaped for convenience, giving it a rough yet planned appearance reminiscent of ‘a vanished civilization from memory.’
“Weren’t dwarves said to lack mages?”
Did they build all this purely with physical strength?
“Fascinating, isn’t it?”
Startled by the sudden voice beside her, Reina slowly nodded.
“It’s impressive how they’ve built such a wondrous civilization without magic.”
“That’s why there’s a saying that dwarves’ technological prowess surpasses even the gods.”
Letis, who had shared this bit of information, slowed his pace to match Reina’s. Having just graduated from the academy, he started working as the head of the Bureau of Daily Technology, the pride of the Ministry of Technology.
Normally, even members of the nine households would start from the bottom, but House Stymist was an exception. The rest of the Ministry’s bureaus, except for the Patent Office, were entirely practical, so there was no need for a skilled Stymist to start from the bottom.
Surprisingly, the non-Stymist Ministry officials didn’t mind this arrangement. If one was skilled, age didn’t matter. It was truly a merit-based department.
‘Well, that’s why I was placed in the Ministry of Technology, not somewhere else.’
Lost in thought, Reina shifted her focus back to Letis beside her.
‘Why does he still look like an overprotective older brother, even out of his academy uniform?’
Noticing her gaze, Letis met her eyes.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Oh… nothing. You’ve been to the Dwarven Principality quite often, haven’t you?”
“Not too often, maybe three or four times a year?”
To visit the notoriously reclusive Dwarven Principality with the changing of seasons. They must be really close.
Internally admiring this, she asked another question.
“What’s the Dwarven Principality like?”
She really wanted to ask, ‘Is it easy to befriend dwarves?’ But asking that would give away her ulterior motives.
“The Dwarven Principality?”
“Yeah. People say it’s quite bleak. Is that true?”
Letis casually draped an arm around her shoulder and patted her head.
“Worried?”
Caught off guard by the natural contact, she looked up at him.
“…Aren’t you forgetting I’m spoken for now, friend?”
“How could I?”
“Then you should refrain from such friendly gestures.”
Reina shrugged off his arm. Letis looked at the now-empty space beside him and chuckled.
“Really changed, haven’t you?”
“Of course. Things have changed, so I have to as well.”
Letis looked at her for a moment, then chuckled and said,
“You’re always exciting. Never boring.”
“I don’t know about exciting, but let’s keep that excitement within the bounds of friendship, okay?”
Her earnest plea marked their arrival at their destination.
“Wow… it’s tall.”
They had reached a large square in the heart of the Dwarven Principality.
“This square seems larger than any in Pluntria.”
“That’s not true. It’s not actually bigger. It just looks spacious because there are no buildings around.”
“Ah, I see. But what is that?”
Reina pointed towards the square’s center, where a furnace was emitting flames.
The furnace she indicated stood on grey cement, giving off a somewhat out-of-place aura, like a lone flower blooming amidst concrete.
“Ah, that’s the ‘Beginning of Grace’. Well, it’s not a furnace actually used, but it’s a sacred artifact that even the most reluctant dwarves would risk their lives for.”
“A sacred artifact?”
“I’m not sure if it’s truly divine, but it’s a symbol sustaining the Dwarven Principality. But you might be more interested in this?”
Following his direction to the right, she saw a rock village meticulously carved like a maze.
“Ooohh… What’s that? It looks like you could easily get lost there.”
“You think so because we’re looking from above. If you go down there, you’ll find small doors between the walls, so it doesn’t really feel like a maze.”
“It still seems complicated.”
“Not as much as that.”
He pointed to a grand pyramid at the end of the long road, resembling the Mayan Chichén Itzá.
“That’s Nar, the Duke’s castle.”
Overwhelmed, Reina unwittingly gaped.
“Whoever leads this place must be an incredible ‘ruler’.”
“Why?”
“The imperial palace in Pluntria was personally built by the founding emperor, but there are no dragons here.”
Meaning not even 1% of Pluntria’s labor force was involved in building the Pluntria Imperial Palace.
“So, to build something this grand, it must have required immense labor.”
There would hardly be a concept of ‘fair wages’ in this era.
“You’re different.”
“How so?”
“While most marvel at its strange grandeur, you’re focused on the practical aspects.”
“Oh, others probably think similarly. They just don’t say it.”
Unconcerned, Reina surveyed the structure in front of her. Dwarves, known to infuse magic into their creations but not to use it themselves, must have built this purely through labor.
“A lot of dwarves must have died building it…”
She mumbled to herself, and Letis snapped his fingers and winked.
“That’s correct.”
He cheerfully answered the grim fact and led her.
“Let’s go. The banquet is about to start.”
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