I'm a nation-toppling beauty

And so, the next day.

Setting aside the stolen fake Breaching Wall Hammer for now…

I began negotiations to see if I could somehow get Mie-chan to hand over the Breaching Wall Hammer after explaining my situation to her.

It wasn't like we were in a hurry, and since I was going to set up a door connected to our base here anyway, there'd be no problem even if negotiations dragged on for a long time.

She had cleared the room of other people, so it was just us in the reception room. With Dea-kun occasionally filling in details, I explained everything to Mie-chan.

Mie-chan listened intently. Her cute face looked sharp and focused, which was also cute.

And then I finished explaining everything.

"… So that's the situation, Mie-chan… Is that a no?"

"Sure thing! Let's return it. We don't use it anyway."

What a turn of events. The negotiations I'd expected to be difficult ended in an instant.

"That was fast! Wait, is that really okay, Mie-chan!?"

"Yep. I understand the situation now, and it's a request from Kari-chan. Besides, we're dwarves, you know? It's more fitting as a symbol of dwarves to display something we made ourselves, right?"

What a turn of events. The negotiations I'd expected to be difficult ended in an instant. (This is important, so I'm saying it twice.)

"Um, don't you need to consult with your superiors or the king or something?"

"Huh? Didn't I mention it? I'm the king. The Queen!"

"Seriously, Mie-chan? So, want to wear some bondage gear?"

"Not THAT kind of queen! … Though I wouldn't mind wearing it?"

Oh right, she did say she governed this town. And this town is the capital.

"So you're royalty, Mie-chan?"

"Ah, it's not like that. In Tessin, whoever's best at crafting becomes king. We're all artisans, after all!"

And the top five are called the Five Elders. Wait, seriously? They're bigwigs.

Major national decisions are made by this council of five, but apparently none of them would refuse a request from me (she stated definitively).

… Oh crap, I'd conquered a nation. I'm a nation-toppling beauty.

So in other terms, everyone with succession rights to the throne is my wife?

Hey! Someone should have told me!!

No wonder even A-rank Mashiro-san couldn't casually place such an expensive order…

Oh, all five of the Five Elders are women, you ask? Can't men become king?

Apparently there have been men who became king through overwhelming skill in the past, but according to them, "Men can't bear children, you know. That puts them at a disadvantage."

"Between materials and the workshop, the workshop ranks higher."

"Ah, so sperm is treated as materials. I see."

And just like how a workshop's reputation rises when it produces excellent works, a child's skill also partially contributes to the parent's evaluation.

… Since the sperm donor is usually uncertain, credit mainly goes to the mother. Otherwise, to the village chief for village-level accounting.

"Hm? So Mie-chan has kids!? I've become a papa!"

"Ehehe, I've got lots of grandchildren too? … Will you come to hate us?"

"No way! If anything, you've become even more attractive!"

I hugged Mie-chan, who was on the verge of tears.

Her small body fit perfectly in my arms… Oh man, this petite lady is a mother? I'm getting excited.

"Ehehe, I can totally tell you really mean that from your heart, so I love you, Kari-chan."

"I love all of you too, Mie-chan!"

I really am super compatible with dwarves. Girls only, though.

"… Ahem."

"Oops, we got sidetracked. So about the Breaching Wall Hammer."

Dea-kun's throat clearing brought us back on topic.

"It was originally called the 'Wall Breaker' too, so why not call the replica a Divine Artifact replica under that name? We can't fully replicate its performance, though."

"Is that really okay?"

"Totally fine! So, let's hold a Divine Artifact Return Ceremony, Kari-chan!"

Mie-chan beamed with a smile as bright as the sun.