Chapter 27: Do They Think Ragnar Is a Joke??(1)
The Monster Legion, which had numbered ten thousand, vanished in just two days.
Despite erasing the massive monster army with overwhelming fOrke, the troops of Chaplin Castle did not return to the castle.
They simply advanced deeper in.
And standing before them, Kyle raised his hand and spoke in a low voice.
“Stop.”
Following Kyle, the army of ten thousand ca to a disciplined halt.
Not long after, a single Ork revealed itself before them.
Kyle casually approached the Ork, which boasted an imposing build.
“Is the cleanup finished?”
“You ca slower than I expected.”
“One has to wipe things out cleanly so they don’t beco trouble later.”
At Kyle’s matter-of-fact tone, Yul bared his fangs.
“I dealt with the ones settled in three Iron Mines. Would that be enough as a gift I give to Ragnar?”
“No, it’s insufficient.”
“You’re quite greedy.”
“If it’s to see a wider world, then paying that price is only natural.”
“……I’ll admit it. How much more must I give?”
“Double.”
Yul flinched for a mont, then nodded.
“Six locations, huh…… Would that be worth the cost?”
“If the Ork Tribe pays that much, I’ll allow you to co and go through Ragnar’s lands.”
At the words implying an opportunity to leave the mountain range, Yul’s expression changed with interest.
“Do you truly believe that’s possible?”
“For the Ork Tribe to interact with Ragnar, it’ll take quite a long ti. Ragnar’s residents will also need ti to grow accustod to Orks.”
“Your words are correct. For now, harmony between humans and our tribe would be difficult.”
“Then there’s no need to rush. It seems starting with my companions and the Ork Tribe facing each other would be the beginning—are you prepared on your side?”
At Kyle’s question, Yul calmly nodded.
“Kazar, reveal yourselves!”
At Yul’s shout, the Orks who had been waiting within the mountain range revealed themselves one by one.
Bodies and stature even larger than ordinary Orc.
Orks with elongated tusks and skin of various colors appeared behind Yul, radiating hostility.
And the sa was true for those standing behind Kyle.
“It may seem like a long road ahead, but we can simply grow familiar with one another, no? Isn’t that right?”
“That is correct. Ruler of Ragnar.”
Yul naturally assud that Kyle, as the Successor of the Frostfire, was the Head of the Ragnar Family.
That was the common belief among the Lords.
However, contrary to Yul’s assumption, Kyle shook his head.
“I am not the ruler of Ragnar.”
“……What do you an by that?”
“The current Head of the Ragnar Family is my younger brother. I’ll arrange a eting soday.”
“How peculiar. To hand over such a rightful position to another, even as the Successor of the Frostfire.”
Most humans, once they tasted power, lived desperately to protect it.
But Kyle hated that.
Killing siblings for power, annihilating even bloodlines.
He loathed those wretched beings who reeked worse than the stench of blood.
‘Pramo, show them that you are different.’
Kyle gazed toward the Lord’s Castle and ford a faint smile.
He would be different.
Kyle believed that Pramo, unlike those foul-slling humans, would be able to overco the temptation of power.
As Kyle was lost in thought, Yul stared quietly at the group behind him and spoke.
“I will guide you to the Iron Mines we have secured. The remaining Iron Mines will be taken within two days.”
“Will you permit Ragnar’s army to enter the Monster Mountain Range?”
“It doesn’t seem like you need my permission in the first place.”
Kyle was already a being who surpassed the martial might of the Lords.
A human stronger than himself, and even humans on par with him.
Perhaps because there were two individuals strong enough to not require the Lords’ permission, Yul’s lips naturally curved upward.
Three days had passed since Kyle began moving with the army of ten thousand.
In the anti, the Castellan of Saie could not hide his unease and walked along the castle walls late at night.
And to ease that anxiety even a little, Pan walked alongside him.
After walking in silence for quite so ti, the Castellan spoke in a low voice.
“……The Young Master has changed greatly.”
“Enough to surprise
as well. It must be even more so for you.”
“That’s why I’m worried in one way. What if the Head of the Family becos impatient?”
It was a natural concern.
Kyle possessed everything that Pramo lacked.
Despite the Castellan’s worry, Pan rely smiled faintly.
“It has been a month since the Grand General returned to the Territory. Ragnar, which had been staggering, is standing tall again.”
“……Aren’t you worried?”
“Then let
ask you instead. Do you distrust the Head of the Family?”
That couldn’t be.
After Rai fell in battle, it was all thanks to Pramo that Ragnar could be maintained.
A Head of the Family who unified the northern lands and established a system capable of guarding the borders of the Ragnar mountain range.
If not for Pramo, the Ragnar Family would have turned to a handful of ashes and vanished by now.
As the Castellan shook his head, Pan smiled slightly.
“Trust the Head of the Family who has supported Ragnar until now, and the discerning eye of the Grand General who recognized his talent and left behind everything.”
“……Pan.”
“Why don’t you step down from the position of Castellan now as well? Clinging to that post until the end is nothing but greed. You have a well-raised eldest son—why strain yourself so desperately to keep that seat?”
“I never thought the day would co when I’d hear such words from you.”
“Haha, I never dread I’d say such things to you either.”
While looking at Pan, the Castellan soon turned his head to gaze beyond the dark castle walls.
“I’m glad you seem more at ease. How does it feel to be free of the position of Commander?”
“It feels light. And yet, a corner of my heart felt uneasy—whether the Ragnar Knight Order could operate properly without .”
“……Well, you’ve been Commander for far too long.”
“But you know, the fellows who used to grovel under
while hating one another have started to change.”
“Hm, that’s an interesting story.”
“It’s all thanks to the people who ca with the Grand General.”
Following the Castellan’s gaze to the sa place, Pan added,
“They are strong. So strong that I don’t even think I could win.”
That was a given for Seros, and even Acacia, the training instructor of the Ragnar Knight Order, was so strong that his limits could not be discerned.
Pan was curious about what Kyle, who was leading them, had been doing for the past fifteen years, but he asked nothing.
For fear it might burden him.
And so, Pan could no longer tell the Castellan of Saie any more stories about him.
“Do you know what the Head of the Family is most worried about?”
“Why change the subject. You should finish what you were saying.”
“As one grows old, one feels like talking about all sorts of things. In any case, there is one thing the Head of the Family is most worried about at present.”
“And what would that be?”
“He worries that the family’s stance might change back to how it used to be and place a burden on the Grand General.”
“……A return to the old stance? Is there anyone left in the family who does not acknowledge the Head of the Family?”
“There might be. Because the Grand General’s abilities are simply too outstanding.”
As the Castellan mulled over Pan’s words, he let out a dry laugh.
A remark ca to mind that aligned perfectly with what Pan was conveying now.
“Do you think I should take on an Elder’s post and help the Head of the Family maintain stability?”
“That must be why the Grand General also recomnded an Elder’s post to . And to you as well.”
“……Whether in the past or now, he always seems to be drawing a grand future.”
“Isn’t that why he is called the greatest prodigy in Ragnar’s history? You should step down from the position of Castellan now and stay by the Head of the Family’s side.”
At Pan’s words, the Castellan of Saie looked up at the night sky.
He too knew that, in order to prevent all burdens from converging on Kyle, the Head of the Family’s supporting fOrkes needed to stand firmly behind him.
“……Give
a little more ti to think. When the Grand General returns from the campaign, I’ll make my choice then.”
“Do so. Just don’t overcomplicate it. We only need to burn our final flas for Ragnar.”
They were n born in Ragnar who had devoted their entire lives to protecting it.
Though they were at an age where retirent would not have been strange at all, the two still wished to be of so help to Ragnar.
That was why the Castellan of Saie harbored a desire to hold on to this position a little longer.
‘When the Grand General returns, the outline will beco clear.’
If the monsters settled right before the castle were properly subjugated, he could relinquish the title of Castellan with a clear heart.
However, he did not know.
That Kyle was moving with a vision far broader than his own.
Ti passed swiftly, and as the two n spent the night atop the castle walls, they spotted urgent dispatches racing in from the direction of the Ragnar Lord’s Castle.
“What is it?”
“……That’s what I’d like to know.”
At the sight of urgent dispatches arriving from the early dawn, Pan and the Castellan of Saie descended beneath the castle gate.
When the gates opened, the urgent ssenger sent by Pramo dismounted and urgently dropped to one knee.
“I pay my respects to the Castellan and the Elder!”
“What is it, coming at such an early hour?”
“It is an urgent report. The Head of the Family ordered that this letter be delivered to the Grand General without fail.”
At the ssenger’s words, the Castellan of Saie and Pan briefly looked at one another.
It was now the fourth day since Kyle had set out on campaign.
Yet no news had arrived from Kyle until now.
“Can you tell us what has happened?”
“The Royal Family has sent an envoy delegation.”
At those words, Pan’s face twisted instantly.
“What does the Royal Family demand?”
As the gazes of Pan and the Castellan of Saie focused on him, the soldier broke into a cold sweat, at a loss for what to do.
“It’s fine. Speak.”
“We are not pressuring you.”
Even as they said that, the looks in their eyes were ferocious.
With a sharp aura pouring out as if they might strike sothing down at any mont, the soldier bowed his head deeply and spoke.
“They sent a letter ordering the Grand General to enter the Royal Palace. They also demanded that Ragnar bow its head to the Royal Family and reestablish a lord-and-vassal relationship……”
Crunch!
Both n ground their teeth at the sa ti, clenching their fists tightly.
The Royal Family had not changed at all—still brazen and selfish.
“Castellan, it seems I should return to the Lord’s Castle.”
“Go at once. Assessing the situation there should co first.”
As he turned his gaze away, the Castellan extended a hand toward the soldier.
“Give the letter to . I will deliver it the mont the Grand General returns.”
Bwoooong—
At that mont, the sound of a war horn echoed from the direction of the mountain range.
The two turned their heads to look that way.
“It seems he is returning.”
“I will deliver the letter to the Grand General, so you remain here.”
Without even waiting for the Castellan of Saie’s reply, Pan took the letter from the soldier and rushed forward.
Just then, Kyle—who was returning after completing the monster subjugation and taking over the Iron Mine regions from the Orks—spotted Pan running toward him in haste.
“Seros, hand over the troops and enter the castle.”
“Yes, my lord.”
After entrusting command of the troops to Seros, Kyle approached Pan.
“What happened?”
“……The Head of the Family sent a letter to the Grand General.”
Sensing that sothing was amiss from Pan’s tone, Kyle opened the letter the mont he received it.
After confirming its contents, he emitted killing intent and clenched the letter tightly.
“So Ragnar is being taken lightly.”
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