Chapter 411
Chapter 411. Genius and New Lands
“You’re Kusemon Bon Dae, right?”
It all started one day, suddenly.
As Kusemon was brainstorming designs for a new creation in her workshop located in the Dwarf Quarter of the Demon Lord’s Castle, a horde of demon warriors barged in all at once.
“Sorry, but it’s an order. You have to come with us.”
“Eh?”
Before Kusemon could react, she was restrained.
“What are you doing? This is outrageous!”
“We Dwarves are guaranteed safety!”
“How can you just stand by and let this happen?!”
Kusemon was pressed down, and the other Dwarven craftsmen, including Fisero, protested fiercely, but the demon warriors forced their way through, blindfolded her, and carried her away like a package.
(What on earth is happening to me!?)
Even Kusemon, usually so carefree, couldn’t find her usual cheerfulness. Why was this happening? Was it because of something wrong with the costume she delivered to one of the queens the other day? Or had she somehow offended other demons? But even so, was it really so misguided for demons to interfere with the Dwarven race that had a pact with the Demon Lord?
(Am I going to be executed!? No wayyy!)
She had so many more things she wanted to create! Trembling with fear, Kusemon heard a demon whisper, “Don’t struggle. It’s dangerous,” and then they stuffed her ears with plugs.
“????”
Completely baffled, she was made to sit on something hard and saddle-like.
And then, the next moment, there was a rush of wind and the sensation of her insides floating.
(No way… Am I being put on a dragon!?)
It was her first experience, but she somehow sensed she was flying.
“Gyawaah!! Nooooo!!”
At that moment, Kusemon realized she must be afraid of heights. She instinctively began to thrash around, but was bound by some hard material and could scarcely move at all. She would later realize that she had been magically restrained with transformed demon bone material.
(What is going on!? Where are they taking me?!)
Was this a kidnapping!? Had she become too famous as a Bon Dae-style craftsman…!?
While she found herself captive in the Demon Lord Kingdom, in truth, Kusemon had no complaints about her life as a prisoner. Recognized by Demon Lord’s Prince No. 7 Zilbagias and favored by Demon Lord’s Prince No. 3 Diagias, she was free to pursue her creative endeavors.
Without having her artistic expression denied, she was able to dive into her work freely! Even though things had quieted down a bit lately with Zilbagias being exiled and Diagias sent away (?), she had the perfect amount of leisure to brainstorm new ideas for creations.
Is there really this wonderful work environment!? She had long thought so—but now Kusemon became painfully aware that this was also a place where any race could face unreasonable treatment, a land of savages.
Swaying on the dragon’s back for what felt like several hours—it was a hellish experience that felt like several days to Kusemon. By the time they finally landed, she was utterly exhausted, reduced to being carried like luggage.
“We’ve arrived.”
The earplugs were removed, and she was made to sit in a chair. Then, the blindfold was taken off.
“Where am I…?”
It was dazzling. Looking around, she found herself in a spacious hall, adorned with opulent, gold-gilded decorations rarely seen in the Demon Lord’s Castle.
“This is… a castle…?”
Where on earth could this be? As she wondered, the demon who had abducted her crisply reported, “Your Highness, we have brought her!”
“Oh, you made it here.”
The voice responding was far too familiar to Kusemon.
“Dia-sama!?”
In the hall, Diagias entered boldly dressed only in a loincloth, showing no shame whatsoever.
“Oh, Kusemon!? How did this happen?!”
Diagias widened his eyes at the sight of Kusemon bound by bones.
At that moment, Kusemon realized she was not about to be executed or subjected to something worse.
“Dia-sama, this is terrible! This guy did it without any explanation, blindfolding me and stuffing my ears! I was brought here all of a sudden! Where even is this place?!”
Kusemon expressed her grievances without holding back.
“Ughh… that sounds terrible.”
Diagias shot a reproachful look at the kidnapper demon.
“Well, you see… Dwarves are basically prohibited from leaving the Demon Lord’s Castle residence area. When we conveyed your wishes to His Majesty the Demon Lord, we received permission on the condition that ‘no information must be given to prevent her from escaping,’ and that’s why we had to do it this way…”
“But still, couldn’t you have done it a bit differently? She’s our guest!”
The kidnapper demon’s excuse was stuttered and awkward, and Diagias, unusually loud, quickly approached and released Kusemon from her bone bindings.
“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to scare you. Right now, I can’t be away from Evaroti for long, but I wanted a new piece from Bon Dae, so I thought I’d have Kusemon come. I asked my father on a whim, and it turned into this… I’m really sorry.”
Diagias looked dejected, and his unexpected humility made Kusemon’s complaints dissipate.
“Well… it can’t be helped! These things happen!! I’m relieved to know that I won’t be executed, so please, don’t worry about it, Your Highness!”
“Of course not! There’s no way I would execute you!! You’re an invaluable asset to the Demon Kingdom!! If anyone tried to do that, I’d stand up to even Father!”
Diagias screamed with a fierce expression. With the importance he placed on her, Kusemon couldn’t help but feel a little better about it. When she thought of the hellish flight she had endured, it made her think twice…
“By the way, you mentioned Evaroti? Are we close to the front lines?”
“Ah, the front lines have pushed a bit further, so it’s not that close. But we are relatively near the border.”
“Um, Your Highness, we shouldn’t divulge too much information…”
Diagias, however, easily answered, as his subordinate tried to warn him.
“The condition of not giving information applies to you. It has nothing to do with me.”
“Haa…”
Since Diagias said so, it meant he held the highest authority in that room. That’s how the Demon Kingdom worked.
Meanwhile, Kusemon curiously observed her surroundings, musing, “So, this is the rumored Autonomous District?”
“…Do you want to go back?”
Diagias tentatively asked, seemingly guilty, noting her attitude.
“No! Not at all!!”
Kusemon firmly denied it.
“I can’t see myself being able to create as freely as I do now if I return home! Furthermore, with all my valued clients, including Dia-sama and many others, I have zero complaints about this work environment! Plus, having access to high elf skins as materials is a privilege only the Demon Kingdom can offer!”
Puffing with excitement and sparkling eyes, Kusemon was met with Diagias’s warm smile.
“Oh, that’s good to hear.”
“Although there were various mishaps… That is why I wanted to request a new piece from you.”
“Woohoo! If it’s an order from you, Dia-sama, then of course I will take it on!”
“Thank you. What I want is for Libidine’s outfit, but unlike the previous tight-fitting style, I’d like a looser feel around the belly this time. Also, not black, but a softer white color would be nice. And—”
“Hmm, hmm…”
As Kusemon expanded her inspiration while listening to Diagias’s various requests—
So it was that, though she had only been temporarily relocated, Kusemon, thanks to Diagias providing her with the best working environment and tools, ultimately made up reasons to stay in Evaroti and became the first Dwarven inhabitant of the autonomous district.
Even as Dwarves in the Demon Lord’s Castle protested Kusemon’s kidnapping, going on strike, and accusations rained down on Diagias for wanting to monopolize the Bon Dae artist (as interpreted by others), Kusemon’s precedent caused many Dwarven captives to express a desire to be relocated to the Evaroti Autonomous District for a change of scenery or their own workshops.
At this point, no one could foresee that Diagias’s whim to summon Kusemon would set off further developments for the Evaroti Autonomous District.
