This BL Novel Is Ruined Now - Chapter 195

BLR has been completely translated on Patreon

Chapter 195

Translator: Yonnee

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“Huh? Are those people…”

The latecomers to the banquet, resembling dwarves in their short stature and limbs, were somehow different from the others. Forgetting propriety for a moment, Reina gazed intently at them, and they felt her gaze, so they too looked towards Reina.

But then,

“Hmm?”

The one Reina locked eyes with suddenly flashed a faint smile and nodded.

‘Why are they acknowledging me as if we know each other?’

Had they met before?

But that couldn’t be. This was her first encounter with dwarves in her life.

Confused, she tilted her head, and the dwarf at the forefront, an elderly one, slightly crinkled his eyes.

‘Now he’s even smiling?’

Why’s he smiling? It’s so unnerving.

Feeling a weird dissonance mixed with slight embarrassment, Letis approached Reina just in time.

Joining her amidst the groups enjoying drinks and food, Letis casually sat beside her.

“How is it?”

After taking a sip of wine, Reina placed her silver goblet on the glass table and asked back,

“What do you mean?”

“The dwarves. You had high expectations, right?”

“Oh, just… I don’t know…”

As she gave an ambiguous answer, Letis chuckled lightly.

“Less exciting than you thought, huh?”

“Yeah. You said they were interesting, but I can’t see what’s so fascinating.”

Dwarves, known for their hearty eating and drinking but lacking artistic spirit, simply perpetuate their craftsmanship out of necessity.

That was the world’s general perception of dwarves.

But the dwarves she actually saw seemed like a group of people collectively engulfed in gloom.

“They’re not soulless, but they remind me of children reluctantly dragged on a family trip… quite unique.”

‘Except for one.’

Her amethyst eyes drifted to the center of the hall, where Duke Mao was laughing heartily.

‘The Duke and her entourage seem quite happy.’

Observing this, it seemed that not all dwarves naturally had gloomy personalities.

Caught in thought, Reina quickly shook her head and refocused on Letis.

“So, what exactly did you find so interesting about them?”

“Their lack of enthusiasm is what’s interesting. It’s even more pronounced in the forge.”

“Oh, is that it?”

She sounded somewhat deflated, and Letis laughed softly.

“They barely muster the energy to raise a hammer, but the items they produce come out as legendary weapons. Isn’t that so funny?”

Well… it wasn’t exactly a comedic situation, but if that’s what Letis found amusing.

“Alright. If you find that fun, then that’s good enough.”

As they exchanged such mundane conversation, Letis leaned in closer and whispered to her.

“Want me to tell you something that might actually interest you?”

“Something interesting?”

“Yes.”

Lettis leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and gestured towards the dwarf servants attending the delegation. Their expressions were neither sad nor angry, just ambiguously flat.

“Do you know why they seem so lifeless?”

How could she know, never having properly spoken to them?

As she shook her head, Letis whispered even more quietly.

“This is just my speculation, but I think it’s because they’re not adequately compensated for their labor.”

Compensated?

“Is the Duke a miser?”

“No.”

“Then why?”

“It’s kind of a secret known only to those who travel to and from the Dwarven Principality…”

Letis gestured for her to come closer.

Reina followed his request and listened intently with a tense expression.

“Here in the Dwarven Principality, the economy operates solely on a co-op structure for production and distribution.”

“…What?”

Co-op? Why was such a term used in a place like this?

That was something she never imagined she’d hear after having reincarnated in this world.

“So, you’re saying there’s no system of private property?”

“Yes.”

“Wow…”

To encounter that here.

‘But wait a minute… isn’t something off here?’

In an era where there were hardly any absolute monarchies beyond city-states…

Contrary to Reina’s startled reaction, Letis seemed calm. His demeanor was a stark contrast to his earlier cautious approach in telling the story.

Slightly puzzled, Reina casually asked him.

“Is such a system natural here?”

“No?”

Then why are you so nonchalant?

Perhaps reading Reina’s questioning gaze, Letis continued to explain on his own.

“It’s somewhat similar to an older economic system, but it’s not our place to get involved, right?”

“Ah…”

Thinking about it, the concept of ‘private property’ was largely absent in societies before the emergence of surplus products.

So, it makes sense to think that way…

‘But that ‘older era’ refers to the distant past.’

Thus, the current state of the Dwarven Principality, if strictly analyzed, was more akin to a form of communism than retaining aspects of the old society.

“Why are you talking about it so cautiously then?”

“For the same reason, it’s not our business.”

Meaning it shouldn’t be mentioned carelessly.

“Well… that’s true.”

Having run her tongue along the inside of her cheek, Reina scanned the banquet hall.

Perhaps it was after hearing Letis’ explanation…

The space, adorned with all kinds of gold and silver on roughly cut stone, began to be interpreted differently.

‘It doesn’t make sense to say that there’s no private property on the premise that there’s a lack of surplus products…’

Especially considering how expensive ‘Made in the Dwarven Principality’ items sell. A mid-tier dwarf-made dagger costs as much as a commoner’s. A slightly better one costs as much as a noble’s villa.

‘So, all that money received is…’

Her gaze once again shifted towards the duke.

“…….”

‘The dwarves, reluctantly continuing their craft just to meet their unbearable food expenses’ – when that was said, how much did they have to eat for it to make sense?

Was it not that they don’t save money because they’re gluttons, but rather that they’re simply not given money to save?