With a gentle smile, the magic stone in Run's hand was even larger.
Run, while tossing the magic stone in the air, looked down at Jed with a calm gaze.
Jed's eyes followed the magic stone as it went up and down.
"Do you need to hesitate? If you contract with me, you won't have any regrets. Or, you can return that magic stone."
Especially, after touching the actual magic stone, he didn't want to let it go.
Even if Jed worked his entire life,
or even his children's children, it was something he could never obtain.
He immediately lunged forward.
"Please use me, Jed Musket, as a doormat! Master!"
He couldn't resist the tangible benefits right in front of him.
A visible result is more important than a thousand words.
The prostrate Jed still held his hands together in front of his bowed head, as if in reverence, holding the magic stone.
Run looked down at him and fell silent for a moment.
'I see why Pashias could make such unfair contracts with the dwarves.'
He clicked his tongue inwardly, but it was still a good thing for Run.
"Then, I'll take it that you agree to the contract."
With the mutual agreement concluded, Run immediately formed a subordinate contract on the spot.
A young dwarf embodying greed. A supporter of the reformists.
- Belongs to: Run Eclipse (Lune Eclipse)
- Servant transformation complete.
- Personality: Greedy, (financially) loyal, calculating
Although he had become a Servant, his loyalty was quite different from Heumi's.
'Unbelievable. This guy... Is it okay like this?'
Of course, he had intended to take advantage of his greed.
While Run was coming to terms with it, the contracted Jed examined his body excitedly.
"Ho. This is the transformation, huh? I can feel Master Run's aura, and it's very reassuring!"
"Sure. Oh, because you're my subordinate, I can summon you immediately when I call, so just remember that."
"Ooh! That's very convenient!"
'Why does he like being a subordinate so much?'
Run didn't know, but this was actually a stroke of luck for Jed.
Through this, Jed Musket would become the first free dwarf, greatly influencing the continent.
In the future, he would become the head of the largest trading company on the continent, selling the only dwarf-made weapons and owning both a trading company and a blacksmith business.
This was the beginning of the Musket Trading Company.
"Ah, by the way, show me the key to the black market for a moment."
"Yes. I'll return it right away."
Hesitantly, Jed glanced at the two large magic stones he was holding and reluctantly handed over the key.
Run took the key and examined it carefully.
Meanwhile, Jed pushed the magic stones deep into his backpack, fearing they might be taken away.
He then cautiously approached Run.
"Is there any problem with the key?"
"No. I heard dwarves aren't good at handling magic, but you opened the passage with this key. I was just curious about how it works."
"Oh. Haha! That makes sense. I don't use magic; the key just draws power from the magic stone and automatically casts the pre-engraved magic, making it a storage-type artifact!"
"Ho. That's the principle, huh."
Run calmly returned the key.
"Thanks for showing it to me."
"Not at all! Then, I'll head back now!"
Relieved, Jed exhaled deeply after getting the key back.
Worried that Run might ask for it again, he quickly created a door.
"I'll lead the way! Just relax and let the passage take you."
The passage, like when they entered, rippled slightly and led back to the abandoned house.
When they emerged, the morning stars were already in the sky.
"Wow! It's already morning. Time really flies, doesn't it?"
"That's true. Everyone will gather in the castle later today. What will you do?"
In response to Run's question, Jed smiled brightly.
"I need to organize the items I got from the black market. Are you going to the castle right away, Sir Run?"
"Yes. I don't want my brother to find out I went out at night. I'll get some rest and then go."
"Yes! I'll see you at breakfast. Take care, Sir Run!"
He seemed determined to show what being a subordinate meant.
Bowing deeply, he respectfully greeted Run, who shook his head.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!
After parting with Jed, Run walked leisurely toward the castle without using magic, as if on a stroll.
It was a quiet time with few people around.
Run slowly extracted a form of magic from his hand.
He recalled the earlier incident.
Run had carefully examined the key artifact from Jed.
He understood its structure.
'When the key is inserted into the magic stone, the pre-engraved magic on the key activates.'
The magic stone was the fuel.
It was a simple principle.
At that moment, Run wanted to experiment with one more possibility.
'If any magic works, it doesn't have to be a magic stone, right?'
In short, Run successfully replicated the <Black Market Key>.
While a magic stone was necessary for dwarves who couldn't handle magic, it was an unnecessary constraint for him, a black dragon hatchling.
Additionally, he had the skill of 'magic thread drawing' he learned from Ferdigand in his youth.
Run copied the intricate magic array engraved on the original key using 'magic thread drawing.'
The result was the 'magic key' glowing white in his hand.
'The key point is whether this works properly... The only way to confirm is to try opening a door.'
The theory was perfect, but an experiment was needed to verify it.
However, it was time to return to the castle.
Run reabsorbed the key's magic into his body.
Now that he could use it whenever he wanted, there was no need to rush.
'Jed won't know unless I tell him. Maybe this is the price for his mischief.'
Walking slowly as if on a morning stroll, he used a teleportation spell to his room when he saw the guard dwarf at the castle gate.
At the breakfast table prepared by Berdin, Run announced to everyone that Jed had become his subordinate.
"You made Jed your subordinate?"
Ferdigand looked genuinely surprised, and Heumi stared at Jed with a sausage in her mouth.
Jed smiled brightly and warmly interacted with everyone.
Heumi, with wide eyes and perked-up black ears, asked for clarification.
"So, Uncle Jed is Heumi's junior?"
When Run answered, Jed also smiled humbly.
"Yes! Please take care of me, Miss Heumi."
"Sure! Heumi will take care of you too!"
Heumi's cheerful smile gave Jed a warm feeling.
Meanwhile, Ferdigand asked Run seriously.
He was a red dragon who understood the nature of dwarves well.
Even aside from the poor relationship with dwarves, their tendency to work hard for immediate benefits was far from loyalty.
"Yes. He's very loyal and will be very useful in the future."
'Of course, loyal to money.'
He had already identified this talent.
On the contrary, because of this trait, if he dangled the right carrot, the guy would work even harder for his own benefit.
'He'll be a great investment, increasing my wealth.'
Moreover, he got along well with the children.
Even though Run was a higher predator than Jed, he had protected the young Run in the <Abandoned Mine Dungeon>, so he was likely to get along well with Heumi and Baekya.
"Indeed, from your perspective, he was willing to risk his life to protect you. I understand."
It felt like a misunderstanding, but it didn't matter.
Dwarves have a lifespan of about 200 years, rarely exceeding 300.
From Run's perspective, living for an incredibly long time, it meant he wouldn't have to see Jed for his entire life.
After finishing his thoughts, Run lifted his barley tea and gently shook it.
"So, I want Jed to be able to move freely in and out of the territory as my subordinate."
Since Pashias also hoped to help the next Black Dragon Elder grow, there was no need to be negative about giving up just one dwarf.
"That makes sense. Even dragons can't treat someone who has become your subordinate casually. Do as you please."
A sound of a head turning sharply was heard.
His intense gaze seemed to pierce Run's cheek.
If the situation allowed, he would have immediately swung his 'Pararium' and set off fireworks in celebration.
The greedy guy had obviously calculated this point.
'He may seem naive, but he's quite shrewd when it comes to weighing costs and benefits.'
And having such a subordinate was a benefit for Run.
Jed had already handed over half of the items he bought from the black market to Run and received a large magic stone and a down payment