Sword Master of a Fa Chapter 24 : Iron Mine Recapture Operation (2)

Chapter 24: Iron Mine Recapture Operation (2)

Inside Chaplin Castle.

There, Kyle, who had been waiting for Pramo’s decision, noticed that Seros was showing signs of discomfort.

“Why is that?”

“……It seems Acacia is trying to disobey my orders again. He should have arrived long ago, but he isn’t coming.”

However, at Seros’s words, Kyle shook his head.

“Acacia isn’t disobeying your orders.”

“But, my lord…….”

“Commander Akun.”

“Yes? Why is Commander Akun coming up here…….”

“Commander Akun must have persuaded him. And Acacia, that simple fellow, must have gone along with the persuasion.”

Kyle’s words—that Akun must have persuaded Acacia—were filled with certainty.

Even so, Seros still tilted his head with a doubtful expression.

“No matter how simple he is, there are tis when he doesn’t even listen to Aron.”

“Their dispositions might just match well. Isn’t that right, Aron?”

Aron, who had been examining the map beside them, lifted the corner of his mouth without even looking at Kyle.

“It seems Commander Akun is more capable than I thought.”

“Is there a reason you think that?”

“By now, I believe Commander Akun is gathering information and, taking advantage of the mont when those creatures are scattered, is aiming to hunt large monsters. If I were in the Ragnar Knight Order’s position right now, that’s what I would do as well.”

Aron stopped looking at the map and turned his head.

At his words, Kyle nodded as if in agreent.

“The Ragnar Knight Order are people who think of the territory above all else. Rather than wasting ti, they would move on their own and sohow try to find a way to break through this situation.”

Seros closed his mouth and lowered his head, as if he hadn’t thought that far.

Kyle lightly patted Seros on the shoulder.

“Don’t feel too bad about it, Seros. There’s no need to say anything to Acacia either.”

“……Understood.”

Kyle rose from his seat and walked over to the window.

When the monsters’ advance stopped, the forces of Chaplin Castle that had been maintaining a battle stance returned to their respective positions.

Looking at the peaceful castle, Kyle turned his gaze and asked Aron a question.

“Is the plan finished?”

“Yes, the plan formulation is complete.”

“To execute the plan perfectly, how many troops are needed?”

“Ten thousand will suffice, my lord.”

“Aron, do you think an ordinary territory can make ten thousand troops available?”

Kyle asked deliberately in a skeptical tone, but Aron didn’t take the bait.

Soon, Aron replied with the corners of his lips curling upward.

“In reality, even a duke of the Empire finds it difficult to possess a force of ten thousand. However, Ragnar is not an ordinary territory, is it? Ragnar can deploy ten thousand and still have troops left to defend the castle.”

A place where even after committing ten thousand to monster subjugation, twenty thousand troops remained.

That place was Ragnar.

Watching Aron, who had grasped things so clearly, Kyle nodded in satisfaction.

“The forces deployed on the mountain front line aren’t only from the Ragnar Family.”

“I can clearly imagine how much effort the Head of the Family put into establishing this system. He truly is an impressive person.”

“I know. He’s my younger brother, but a remarkable one all the sa.”

“This is the first ti I’ve seen it. My lord not being stingy with praise.”

“Aron, blood is thicker than water.”

Pramo and the people of the Ragnar Family did not know.

Just how proud Kyle was of Pramo at this mont.

Seeing the corners of Kyle’s lips lift, Aron let out a small chuckle.

“That’s fortunate.”

“I don’t know what you find fortunate.”

“My lord looks more at ease than when you were in the Empire.”

At Aron’s candid words, Kyle fell silent for a mont, then murmured in a small voice.

“Because it’s ho.”

The next morning, urgent dispatches from the Lord’s Castle arrived at Chaplin Castle.

However, the one who brought Pramo’s letter was not an ordinary soldier.

The captain of Chaplin Castle’s defenses offered a salute the mont he saw Pan in armor.

“I pay my respects to Elder Pan!”

“It’s been a while, Defense Captain. Have you been well?”

“I have been well, without incident.”

“Where is the Grand General?”

“He is staying at the Castellan’s mansion.”

“Is that so. Could you guide ? And also convey to Castellan Saie to co to where the Grand General is.”

“Yes, understood.”

At Pan’s request, the defense captain guided him to the mansion where Kyle was staying.

In the anti, the news that Pan himself had arrived at Chaplin Castle reached ahead of him.

Kyle asked back the soldier who delivered the news.

“Elder Pan personally?”

“Yes, Grand General.”

“He said he’s coming here?”

“Yes, he will arrive shortly.”

Nodding, Kyle was about to head out of the room at once.

At that mont, however, the door opened and Pan entered.

“I pay my respects to the Grand General.”

“There was no need for Elder Pan to move personally.”

“The Head of the Family requested it. Just in case, he told

to go to the front line and assist the Grand General.”

“……In any case, you ca well.”

Pan added words of thanks and handed the letter he was holding to Kyle.

Kyle imdiately unfolded the letter on the spot, and its contents were written very simply.

[I will follow my elder brother’s decision.]

After reading the letter, Kyle looked at Aron and issued an order.

“Prepare to move the troops. Begin the subjugation operation.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Aron replied loudly and flung the door wide open.

Hearing that Pan had co to the castle personally, the Castellan rushed over at full speed, and just then he was standing in front of the door.

As Aron bowed his head silently and stepped aside, Castellan Saie entered the room and strode toward Pan.

Soon, Castellan Saie embraced Pan and repeatedly patted his back.

“Pan, how long has it been?”

“It seems it’s been four years. The last ti we t was at the Head of the Family’s inauguration ceremony. Seeing your face, I’m relieved you seem well.”

“It’s good to see you after so long, but I didn’t expect you to co in person like this.”

“It’s a matter of urgency.”

After Pan and Castellan Saie briefly exchanged greetings, they separated.

Kyle, who had been quietly watching the scene, finally called out to Castellan Saie.

“Castellan Saie.”

“Yes, Grand General.”

“We will begin the subjugation operation, so make preparations for departure. The required force is ten thousand. The remaining five thousand troops must be left behind to defend the castle.”

“I will prepare imdiately.”

“And Castellan Saie, please remain in the castle together with Elder Pan.”

Kyle intended to block the routes so that the monsters settled in the mountains could not move toward Chaplin Castle.

However, no one could know how things might turn out.

So monsters might break through the encirclent and flow into Chaplin Castle.

Just in case, defensive forces had to be left behind in the castle.

Fortunately, five thousand troops sent in support from the fortress had arrived, so even if ten thousand were deployed, there was no concern about the castle’s defense.

At that mont, however, Castellan Saie looked at Kyle with a resolute expression.

“Grand General, I will depart together as well.”

“That won’t do. Castellan, please remain.”

“……As a commander who leads troops, I cannot stay in the rear.”

At Castellan Saie’s words, Pan stepped in.

“Saie, do as the Grand General wishes.”

“Pan…….”

“Remaining in the rear and taking responsibility for supplying the troops that have departed is also a grave duty.”

After letting out a low sigh, Castellan Saie finally nodded at Pan’s persuasion.

At that sight, Pan turned his gaze and spoke to Kyle of the news he had not been able to convey earlier.

“News of this has also been delivered to the Rapid rchant Guild. They promised to supply goods as quickly as possible, so there shouldn’t be any shortage of food.”

“How does Pramo plan to move?”

“He said he would hire blacksmiths and miners. In addition, he said he is preparing to send a large workforce to Chaplin Castle, so he will be waiting only for the Grand General’s word.”

Pan, while conveying what Pramo was proceeding with at the Lord’s Castle, stopped and ford a faint smile.

“So, for the sake of the Head of the Family’s efforts as well, please be sure to recapture the iron mine.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.”

With those words, Kyle left the mansion, and Seros and Aron followed behind him.

Seeing the corners of Kyle’s lips lifted, Seros also let a smile form at the edge of his mouth.

“Are you in a good mood?”

“My younger brother grew up splendidly, so there’s no reason for

to feel bad.”

“Then, for the sake of the Head of the Family’s hard work as well, we absolutely must recapture it.”

Despite the determination in Seros’s voice, Kyle said nothing.

He simply kept walking straight ahead.

After resting for about a day at Chaplin Castle, the soldiers and knights gathered in one place.

Soon, Kyle finished arming himself and stood before the ten-thousand-strong army drawn up in formation.

“I am Kyle Ragnar, the Grand General of the Ragnar Territory.”

The voice, spoken as if in a whisper, echoed throughout the entire castle.

There was power in his voice, and authority was revealed as well.

“We will not end our mission with a monster subjugation operation. We will advance all the way to the entrance of the mountain range where the iron mine is located.”

Even at Kyle’s plan, revealed for the first ti, the soldiers did not waver.

Rather, fervor filled their eyes.

Four years ago, the Previous Head of the Family had once entered the mountain range with five thousand troops, declaring that he would recapture the iron mine.

Even though he could have mobilized more forces, the Previous Head of the Family had taken only the minimum number of troops.

He knew better than anyone that he had to preserve his forces in preparation for his own failure.

Of the five thousand death-defiers who entered the mountain range like that, fewer than five hundred returned alive.

Perhaps even this ti, more than half of the ten thousand troops might not return alive, but they felt no fear.

If the iron mine were restored, Ragnar would stand tall once more.

At that mont, stability would co to the north, and they believed that families scattered across each territory would be able to continue their lives more safely.

“I promise you. So that there will be no needless sacrifice from you, I will take the lead at the very front and spearhead the recapture of the iron mine.”

Even if the fact that he had reached the rank of Master were to be revealed, Kyle had no intention of rely watching from the rear for this battle.

Creeeak—

As the tightly shut main gate of Chaplin Castle was thrown wide open, Kyle, standing at the very front, turned his body.

“We march.”

His red eyes were burning more fiercely than ever.

Kyle began to move forward.

The Special Operations Unit followed behind him, and ten thousand troops moved as one.

Looking at the mountain range before him, Kyle steeled his resolve.

‘We must sweep away the monsters settled in the mountains in one stroke. Only then can we minimize the loss of strength.’

When Kyle began the march together with ten thousand troops, the Ragnar Knight Order was roaming all across the mountains.

Akun took charge of overall command, while Acacia handled the processing of large monsters, dividing their roles.

Standing atop a tree, Acacia made his eyes gleam sharply.

‘Over the past day, the number of large monsters hunted totaled around a hundred…….’

Watching the large monsters, Acacia began to wonder whether agreeing with Akun’s intent had truly been the right choice.

‘By stirring up the mountains everywhere with guerrilla warfare, the scattered monsters are gathering again.’

Large monsters that had been moving thoroughly on their own began to form groups instinctively to protect their lives.

Even small monsters that had been trying to build hos abandoned the settlents they had already made.

At a ti when monsters, regardless of size, were banding together to protect themselves, it was no longer possible to strike them recklessly.

After thinking deeply with his arms crossed, Acacia soon turned his body.

He then ran toward the cave that the Ragnar Knight Order was using as a hideout in order to et Akun.

Upon arriving at the cave entrance, Acacia saw that Akun was outside and approached him.

“Commander, the entire mountain is unsettling. I’m worried we may have needlessly stirred up a hornet’s nest.”

At Acacia’s voice, filled with concern, Akun shook his head.

“Now all that remains is for the Grand General to arrive here.”

“What do you an by that?”

“Handling the monsters scattered across the entire mountain one by one is not a difficult task.”

“……That’s not the answer I want to hear in this situation.”

“The monsters will be gathering back into one place. Even abandoning the settlents they worked so hard to build.”

“……Are you saying you anticipated this?”

“Yes, it’s proceeding exactly as I expected.”

Acacia frowned.

As Akun said, dealing with the scattered monsters sequentially would have been the easier task.

Acacia also knew as common sense that if the monsters rged back into one, it would beco a more difficult battle.

“Then what exactly are you aiming for?”

“I made the Ragnar Knight Order move throughout the mountains because I wanted the monsters to gather back into one place.”

“Commander!”

“I’ll continue. It was for the purpose of saving ti.”

“……Ti?”

“The Grand General will never end this fight with just a monster subjugation operation.”

At Akun’s explanation, Acacia muttered one of Kyle’s objectives to himself.

‘……Recapturing the iron mine.’

“I judged that the Grand General would not want to waste ti here.”

“So if the monsters are gathering into one place as you intended, once our lord arrives, we can wipe them out in one stroke, is that what you’re saying?”

“I trust the Grand General.”

At those words, Acacia let out a hollow laugh.

It was a strategy only possible because Akun understood the habits of monsters well.

‘It feels like I’m looking at Aron.’

Still lifting the corners of his lips, Acacia nodded as if he understood Akun’s words.

“So all we have to do now is wait?”

“As if. The Ragnar Knight Order will keep moving without rest until this war ends.”

***

The true culprit who had created the current situation.

Orks who had revealed themselves up to the front of the Monster Mountain Range were gazing in the direction where the Ragnar Territory lay.

Among them, the largest Ork stepped forward and spoke in a low voice.

“Kazar, I wonder whether the descendant of Ragnar will accept my proposal.”

“Lord, isn’t there also the assumption that the descendants of the Ragnar Family are weak? If they don’t accept our demands, we can simply crush them with force.”

“That must never be said. The ones at a disadvantage are us, not Ragnar. And the human who passed through here recently bothers .”

At the Lord’s words, the red-skinned Ork frowned.

He had not forgotten Seros—the human who had dared to swing a sword at his king and fled.

He had wanted to capture him alive, but because no pursuit order was given, he had been forced to let him go.

“Lord, may I ask why you are concerned about a re human?”

“……Because he was not below my martial power.”

“…….”

“Kazar, if that man is a human who stands beside Ragnar, then the descendant of Ragnar may be even stronger than him. At that point, intimidation by force becos impossible.”

At the Lord’s confident voice, the Ork called Kazar bared his fangs.

“Alliance or not, wouldn’t it be enough to just go beyond the mountain range and wipe out the humans?”

“No. We absolutely need the Ragnar Family’s permission. Only if the one who inherited the Frostfire gives permission can we go out without restrictions.”

“……But will the descendant of Ragnar really give permission?”

“There’s a high chance they won’t. But if we can obtain that permission…….”

Stopping his words and sinking briefly into thought, the Ork Lord soon clenched his fist tightly.

“Being pushed back this far is humiliating. But for the safety of the tribe, I will pay any price whatsoever. So do not oppose .”

“How could I oppose the Lord’s opinion? I will simply follow.”

“……If they have received the greeting I sent, the descendant of Ragnar will co soon. Command the Orks and wait inside the mountain range.”

After sending the Orks who had co out to the mountain range entrance back inside, the Lord gazed indifferently in the direction of the Ragnar Territory.

‘If the descendant of Ragnar rejects my proposal, what choice must I make?’

The Lord’s eyes sank deeper and deeper.