"I have a good sense, as I told you before. Anyway, this spirit can help with the work in the fire lair, but I'm raising it to release it in the volcanic zone, so don't worry too much."
"What about the ones already sold?"
"Well, usually they become servitor spirits for those without spirit affinity or are used in alchemists' research. But this black market only opens once a year, and there aren't many keys to begin with."
I didn't think that was all he knew.
He probably only revealed the kind of information he could tell a child.
But it wasn't the right time to press him for more details.
"I should start my business too, or the weapons I brought will be a waste. What will you do, Rune?"
"I'll look around separately. It's not a big market, and I'll come back even if I have to fly."
"Alright. Since you can't return to the original place without me, come as soon as the sun starts to set."
'How much free space is left in my subspace pocket?'
His pocket was already full of the mana stones and gold coins Christina had given him.
Rune immediately began to explore the market.
Most of the items were disappointing compared to what he had seen in a dragon's treasure vault, but there were some quite interesting things.
Rune picked up everything that seemed useful.
Among them, there was one item he found particularly satisfying.
'<Curse Tool Making Kit>. I should try it out in the black room when I get back.'
Even a simple curse tool like the 'Weakening Potion' had proven quite useful.
He looked like a child who had just received the toy he wanted, feeling very pleased.
Even the recipe with the required materials was included.
It was quite surprising that the seller was a demon, but the item was genuine.
'They were surprisingly considerate.'
Through his conversation with the demon, he learned that mentioning one's identity was taboo in this black market.
It was quite puzzling that Jed alone knew about this place.
'Isn't there at least one more dwarf who should know?'
When he returned, Jed was just finishing up his business.
He seemed to have made quite a profit, smiling broadly.
"Yes! Dwarf-made weapons are always popular."
With a proud answer, Jed slung his backpack.
To help Jed, who found flying difficult, Rune gave him a cookie to boost his energy and cast a spell to increase his speed.
"Wow! Whoa! This is exciting!"
Jed spread his arms and enjoyed the wind as he ran at a speed where his feet were invisible.
Rune gauged the timing and then asked a question he had been curious about.
"Why do only you know about this place among the dwarves?"
"Because leaking our weapons to the outside has been forbidden since ancient times. If the traditionalists found out... they'd cut me off."
Jed made a gesture of slicing his throat.
"Your village is closed, so the traditions are strictly followed."
"In a way, it's natural. If it had been known during Lord Phasias' time, our ancestors' heads wouldn't have been safe. At best, they'd only be key keepers. Someone might even harm them out of envy for the ownership."
Before Ferdikion, the red dragon Phasias lent territory to the dwarves in exchange for weapons made exclusively for him.
Given his greedy nature, if he knew about such a key, Jed might have rotted in a dragon's treasure vault for life.
Jed glanced at Rune, who nodded.
They stopped simultaneously.
Jed looked intently at the key he took out from his pocket.
"Before we go, there's one thing I want to ask of you, Rune."
Jed's eyes darkened. He looked at the young hatchling intently and spoke.
"A pledge not to reveal any information about this key to anyone."
"I heard that dragons have a verbal command magic that binds them to their word, using their name."
He was asking Rune to bind himself with a verbal command.
And he was only a 10-year-old hatchling.
"Would I do such a thing?"
Despite the cold gaze, Jed remained unfazed.
"Then I can't. The key can only create a passage back to the original place if the first user uses it again."
If Rune didn't cooperate, he couldn't return to the original village.
'Taking the key by force isn't an option either.'
To Rune, who didn't answer immediately, Jed said apologetically.
"I'm sorry, but keeping the secret has been the way to preserve our lineage. Please understand, Lord Rune."
'So that's why he answered my questions so readily.'
If he followed, he wouldn't be Rune Eclipse.
He didn't know where he heard about the verbal command magic, but he clearly didn't understand it well.
'If he knew what it was, he wouldn't say such things lightly.'
To force a verbal command on a hatchling to keep a secret could make all dragons enemies of the dwarves.
'Ignorance is bravery, but what a pity. However,'
Though he clicked his tongue, the dwarf's greed was also a good target.
'If I play this right... I might be able to make this black market my own.'
'You, become my servant.'
If used well, he could turn from a nuisance into a useful subordinate.
Rune, hiding his true thoughts, began to speak.
"Really? That's a shame. I have a better proposal for both of us."
"No matter how good the proposal, it can't be more valuable than my life."
"Is that so? You're more cautious than I thought. You're passing up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for your dwarf life."
Rune casually crossed his arms behind his head.
Jed had no idea what this little hatchling was about to say.
"Secrets? Of course, I'll keep them. In addition, I want to entrust you with the exclusive supply to the black market."
"Exactly. I saw quite a few good items in the black market today."
Seeing Jed's puzzled expression, Rune continued.
"But I can't always visit the black market, so I need someone to buy for me. Of course."
Rune paused for dramatic effect and stared intently at his counterpart.
"I plan to pay you sufficiently for your efforts."
Jed's eyes wavered slightly.
Jed, who had been collecting materials from monster loans by joining teams entering the 'Abandoned Mine Dungeon,' had a strong materialistic greed.
"I plan to continue exploring dungeons. However, I'm not interested in the items that come out of them."
Indeed, Rune hadn't picked up a single item in the 'Abandoned Mine Dungeon.'
He had only watched the fights from a distance and enjoyed the scenery.
Of course, he had taken the bones of the hidden boss, but Jed hadn't seen it.
"So, it doesn't matter who takes them."
Rune smiled and dangled the bait.
Only then did Jed understand and nod enthusiastically.
'Of course! Why would a hatchling destined to become a black dragon elder need monster skins?'
He had already received a precious 'Seal of Fire' from Ferdikion.
Even the theme for the upcoming craftsman competition was Rune's equipment.
A strong person who had already gained much and was expected to gain even more.
Jed quickly thought it through.
'If I think about it, it's more beneficial to be on his side.'
He had realized through the 'Abandoned Mine Dungeon' that a strong person's friendship could bring wealth.
He had received the 'S-grade Battle Axe Pararium' for protecting Rune from danger.
'And if he takes me to other dungeons in the future, I'll get various dungeon byproducts and...?'
Jed reached a surprising conclusion and covered his mouth with his hand.
He could leave the red dragon territory!
Moreover, he might be able to sell dwarf-made weapons to the outside naturally.
If done well, he could earn funds from dungeons and export weapons to various parts of the continent, gaining recognition for dwarf culture.
Perhaps he could legally achieve the 'cultural openness' that reformist dwarves wished for through Jed.
The more he thought about it, the more he couldn't let this opportunity slip.
'It's up to me! The dream of the <Reformists>! The future!'
Jed's eyes began to sparkle.
The hopeful dwarf's eyes were somewhat burdensome from Rune's perspective.
'Is he really that greedy?'
It felt like he could hear the sound of Jed's mind working.
'...He looks like a dog happy to have meat in front of him.'
Regardless, his proposal was working well on Jed.
"However, you have a point. Such matters require mutual trust."
"Y-Yes...? Ah, I did say that... but... you see..."
Regret was already building in Jed's mind.
He had thought that maintaining a good relationship would bring many benefits, but he had spoken rashly.
Rune watched Jed, who was fidgeting like a dog with a full bladder, and deliberately delayed his response.
"Hmm. I thought about it."
Jed looked at Rune with tense eyes.
"Yes. Like a black rice, becoming my subordinate."