I Became a Level -99 Vicious Lord

“Makgeolli?!”

The Dwarf’s eyes widened.

The ‘Makgeolli,’ which was similar to the real-world rice wine, was the favorite drink of Dwarves.

Dwarves couldn’t resist Makgeolli.

So, the proper approach to persuading Dwarves was to treat them with Makgeolli while gently calming them down.

Knowing this characteristic of Dwarves very well, Otto approached them while treating them with various foods along with Makgeolli.

[Kindness to a Stranger 2]

Description: Enjoy alcohol and food with a stranger and listen to their story. You might hear a story that is hard to believe…?

Type: Scenario Quest

Reward: None

Otto accepted the connected quest, ‘Kindness to a Stranger 2,’ and started treating the Dwarf with great care.

Meanwhile…

(Did you see that?)

Otto sent a triumphant glance towards Camille and Kairos, who were sitting at another table.

“The guide really appeared? Unbelievable!”

“Impossible!”

Camille and Kairos were amazed as Otto’s words seemed to come true.

(Kids, you really know nothing. Absolutely nothing.)

Meanwhile…

-Munch! -Munch! -Munch!

The Dwarf ate the food like someone who had been starving for days.

-Gobbling!

-Gulp! -Gulp! -Gulp!

The Dwarf eagerly drank the Makgeolli that Dwarves loved so much.

“Does it taste good?”

“*Munch* *Munch* Well, compared to Dwarven food, it’s mediocre, *Munch* *Gulp* I can barely eat it, *Gobble*, but it’s not bad, *Munch* *Gulp*”

“Oh, I see…”

“Gulp!”

“Excuse me, but what’s the name of the person who possesses the Hand of the Creator?”

The term ‘the person who possesses the Hand of the Creator’ was a respectful way of addressing Dwarves.

“My name is Erickson, *Munch* *Munch*”

“I see. I’m Otto.”

*Munch* *Gulp* *Munch* *Gulp*

“Take your time and enjoy the food and Makgeolli. There’s plenty.”

Otto patiently waited for Erickson to finish eating.

The problem was that Erickson spent nearly three hours eating the food and drinking the Makgeolli.

(Dwarves really take their time with meals.)

The Dwarves’ eating habits were well-known, and there were even jokes that they spent half of their day eating.

(There’s nothing I can do about it.)

Knowing this, Otto waited.

And as a result…

“Those damn bastards… chasing me away…”

Erickson, who was now quite intoxicated, started mumbling.

[Notification: Quest ‘Exiled Dwarf’ has been triggered!]

The quest details were as follows:

[Exiled Dwarf]

Description: Listen to Erickson’s story.

Type: Scenario Quest

Reward: None

Seeing the quest window appear, Otto sensed that the time was right and secretly felt relieved.

“Is there something wrong?”

“What’s wrong…?”

Erickson looked at Otto with half-opened eyes.

“Well, there seems something bothering you and you seem quite upset.”

“Those damn bastards expelled me.”

“Those damn bastards?”

“Those stubborn bastards who don’t listen! They expelled me!”

-BANG!

Erickson slammed his glass down, roughly, venting his anger.

“Well, what happened?”

“If I tell you, it’ll be a long story.”

“I’m more than willing to listen.”

“It might not be an interesting story for a human like you, though!”

“Just listening is an honor.”

“For a human, you have quite good manners!”

“Of course, that’s how it should be.”

“I was exiled from our tribe.”

“Why?”

“Well, you see…”

Then, Erickson began to tell his story.

***

The dwarves formed a tribal society and lived scattered across the continent.

The reason for the tribal society was that Dwarves had different interests and skills.

Some Dwarves were interested in weapon forging.

Some Dwarves were interested in arts like carving and painting.

And some Dwarves were interested in crafting accessories like rings, bracelets, and necklaces.

Naturally, Dwarves with similar interests gathered together and formed tribal communities.

The Dwarves living in the Kashmir Mountains were no exception.

As their tribe’s name, ‘Red Anvil,’ they were skilled Dwarven blacksmiths who used the minerals from the Kashmir Mountains to create various weapons.

“I have discovered a completely different… new mineral….”

Startling words came out of Erickson’s mouth.

“It’s a liquid metal…”

“Not mercury, is it?”

Otto deliberately asked a foolish question, knowing the answer, to provoke Erickson further.

That way, Erickson would become more talkative when he got heated.

“HMPH! Mercury, you say!”

As expected, Erickson’s voice rose with anger.

“Do you think I can’t tell the difference with mercury?”

“I apologize. I was just surprised by your discovery of a new liquid metal.”

“Well, I suppose so.”

Erickson spoke with a hint of pride.

“This new liquid metal is something I discovered for the first time.”

“What is this new liquid metal?”

“I haven’t named it yet, but… that liquid metal has some astonishing properties.”

According to Erickson, the liquid metal reacted to mana, making it a mysterious mineral.

He said that its form could freely change when infused with mana, and it could expand or contract, altering its volume and mass.

(I know it well.)

Otto was also very familiar with the metal Erickson discovered.

This liquid metal, known as ‘Metalrium’, was one of the most valuable resources in the game.

The reason was that using Metalrium, it was possible to create powerful armor called ‘Full Metal Armor’ to enhance knights.

Otto had plans to secure not only the “Scripture of Reconciliation,” but also Metalrium from the Kashmir Mountains.

Then, he would transform the soldiers of the Kingdom of Lota into a Steel Legion armed with Full Metal Armor.

Of course, there was still a long way to go to complete the Steel Legion…

“The problem is that the Dwarves from our tribe are preventing the mining of this liquid metal.”

“Why? It’s a remarkable discovery. If we mine that mineral and conduct research, it could be a great achievement that will be remembered in history.”

“Well, yes! But…”

Erickson furrowed his brow and continued.

“The issue is that the place where this mineral is buried is the burial site of our tribe’s ancestors.”

The place Erickson mentioned as the “ancestors’ tomb” was also the location where the “Scripture of Reconciliation,” was kept.

“Demolishing and excavating the tomb of our ancestors might be considered sacrilegious. However…”

“It’s a great discovery, isn’t it?”

Otto subtly tempted Erickson.

“If it’s a groundbreaking discovery that can change history, wouldn’t it be acceptable to relocate the ancestors’ tomb to another place? Even the departed ancestors might appreciate it from the afterlife, don’t you think?”

“That’s what I mean!”

At that moment…

[Notification: Erickson’s Favorability towards you has changed from ‘Polite Man” to ‘Man who Understands Me’!]

[Notification: Erickson’s Favorability towards you has increased by 100!]

[Notification: Erickson’s Favorability towards you has increased by 100!]

(More notifications...)

As Otto scratched the itchy spot, Erickson’s favorability towards him skyrocketed.

It was only natural.

The current Erickson was in a somewhat fragile state of mind.

He had just been expelled from his tribe, was starving, and filled with anger.

But now, Otto was providing him with warm food, refreshing drinks, listening to his story, and even cheering him up. It was impossible for his heart not to open up.

***

That night.

After moving Erickson, who had fallen asleep from drinking, to the room, Otto had a conversation with Camille and Kairos.

“Is that Dwarf going to be our guide?” Camille asked Otto.

“Yeah,” Otto nodded.

“If I push a little harder, he’ll guide us,” he said.

“What about the Red Anvil tribe?” Camille asked.

“To be honest, I don’t have an answer.”

No matter how stubborn Otto was, he didn’t have a way to persuade those strong-willed Dwarves.

“We’ll have to knock them down.”

“They’ll resist.”

“It’s easier to seek forgiveness than to persuade.”

“I see…”

“They are Dwarves, after all. Honestly, I want to resolve things amicably, but there’s no way. We’ll have to knock them down and then try to pacify them. It might take years.”

“Perhaps even decades.”

“I know, but there’s no other way.”

Just then.

-Bam!

The door burst open as if it would break, and a group of giant savages rushed into the tavern.

“Huh?”

Otto looked at the savages and raised an eyebrow.

“Why are they here already?”

“Do you know them?” Camille asked Otto.

“I know them well.”

“Who are they? They don’t seem to be from around here.”

“They’re nomads living in the Haver Prairie.”

The Haver Prairie was located about 1,000 kilometers away from the Kingdom of Lota.

Although it was a harsh land, the population had recently exploded, and many nomads were living there.

“They are the Kongurat tribe. The most aggressive and influential tribe in the Haver Prairie.”

“How do you know that?”

“I studied a bit?”

…Although he said that, Otto actually didn’t know it from studying.

The Kongurat tribe was a force led by one of the hundred lords.

Otto had played the game as the lord of the Kongurat tribe.

He quickly quit because it didn’t suit his taste.

“Why did they come here?”

“I don’t know.”

Otto also didn’t know why the nomads from the Haver Prairie had come all the way to Lucerne.

(They’re too fast.)

Actually, it wasn’t so surprising that the Kongurat tribe revealed themselves in Lucerne.

When playing the game as the chief of the Kongurat tribe, there was a very low chance of obtaining a clue about the “Scripture of Reconciliation,”.

However, it wasn’t the time for a clue about the “Scripture of Reconciliation,” to appear now.

At the earliest, it would be by the end of this year.

If it’s delayed, the Kongurat tribe wouldn’t even reveal their noses until next summer.

(Why?)

Otto’s head started to spin with the sudden variable.

Although the game didn’t perfectly align with reality, it was natural for his head to be overwhelmed by an unexpected variable.

(How did the Kongurat tribe obtain a clue about the “Scripture of Reconciliation,?)

He tried to recall.

A few seconds later.

“Ah!”

Finally, Otto figured out why the Kongurat tribe had appeared in Lucerne sooner than expected.

“Right, that’s it. It’s my fault.”

“What do you mean?”

“I called them.”

“You mean we called those nomad warriors?”

“Yeah.”

“I haven’t done such a thing.”

“You probably did.”

“I’m certain I didn’t.”

“I’m certain you did.”

“….?”

“Trade route.”

Otto said to Camille in frustration.

“We opened the northern trade route. We subdued the ogres and took control of their breeding grounds.”

“….!”

“That trade route passes through the Haver Prairie. It’s also the territory of the Kongurat tribe.”

“Ah!”

“And Upper Rank is conducting trade through that trade route. They obtained a clue about the “Scripture of Reconciliation,” in the process. So…”

Looking at the Kongurat tribe warriors entering in a line, Otto spoke.

“We called our competitors with our own hands.”