Sword Master of a Fa Chapter 36 : The Foundation Had to Be Set Right (1)

Chapter 36: The Foundation Had to Be Set Right (1)

Kyle returned to Ragnar without even eting the northern lords and looked up at the Lord’s Castle.

Without taking his eyes off it, he spoke to Akun behind him.

“Akun, Commander.”

“Yes, Grand General.”

“What do you think is the most urgent thing that must be done now?”

“Wouldn’t it be important to start by building the iron mine infrastructure?”

“You’re wrong.”

Reorganizing the iron mine and selecting miners was important.

However, there was sothing even more important.

“The forr Ragnar Family generated enormous profits through the iron mine. Because of that, profit creation inevitably beca skewed to one side.”

Akun, who sensed what Kyle was getting at, let out a low hum.

“Are you saying that we must create a ans of generating new profits, excluding monster byproducts and the iron mine?”

“That’s right.”

“As you know, the land of the north is barren. It is a cold land covered in snow 365 days a year. Farming is impossible, and raising livestock is also difficult.”

“At the very least, we must find a way to be self-sufficient without relying on rchant guilds.”

“Is there such a thod?”

“To do that, we must first find a magic stone mine.”

To properly handle magic stones, mages were, of course, necessary.

However, unlike the abundance of knights it had possessed since ancient tis, Ragnar had always been lacking in magical strength.

That was still the case now, but what differed from the past was that the situation of the territory was far more complex than before.

There were mountains of tasks to deal with even without mages, and with no administrators who could handle practical affairs, the manpower shortage was severe.

It was a phenonon caused by the death of the previous Head of the Family, who should have handed over authority before generational change could even begin, and by Kyle leaving the territory.

“Wouldn’t it be difficult to bring in magical strength from outside as well? Mages who live noble lives rarely co to the north.”

There were no families in the north known as prestigious mage houses, and most that existed were knight families.

Akun’s words had rit, but Kyle did not change his expression.

“I believe that once we find a magic stone vein, that problem will resolve itself naturally.”

“But if you, Grand General, were to leave the territory and move into the mountain range, wouldn’t the residents of Ragnar beco anxious?”

“Don’t worry. We will proceed once Pramo returns to the territory.”

Turning his head, Kyle looked in the direction beyond the snow mountains where the Rak Territory lay.

News that Kyle had left the Rak Territory spread to the northern lords.

The lords greatly regretted that he had departed just as their regular gathering was about to begin.

“Viscount Rak, how was Grand General Kyle when you saw him at the Royal Capital?”

The northern lords focused their expectant gazes on Viscount Rak.

Viscount Rak, who had been calmly drinking a cup of warm tea, suddenly had his hand holding the teacup tremble.

He grabbed his shaking arm with his other hand and set the cup down.

“I confird that Ragnar is by no ans weak.”

“Viscount, what do you an by that?”

“Just rember this. It will be carried out just as we vowed when we first joined hands with Ragnar.”

The lords, looking at Viscount Rak’s trembling eyes, nodded simultaneously.

It was known that the northern lords had united around Ragnar, but in truth, Viscount Rak was their center.

In place of Pramo, who could not leave Ragnar Territory, he had served as the focal point, soothing and rallying the lords.

However, not all northern lords followed Viscount Rak’s words at face value.

“Viscount, that’s not the kind of vague answer we wanted.”

When one man spoke with a frown, Viscount Rak stared straight at him.

“There are two Masters.”

“What do you an by that…?”

“Grand General Kyle, and Sir Seros who follows him. That ans Ragnar has two Masters, when there isn’t even one in the Daon Kingdom.”

A heavy atmosphere settled over the conference room where the northern lords had gathered.

No one believed Viscount Rak’s statent.

Just then—

Bang!

In the space filled with silence, the door burst open and Pramo strode in confidently.

Fixing his gaze on the northern lords, he spoke to Seros behind him.

“Sir Seros.”

“Give the order, Head of the Family.”

“If there is any lord who tries to leave this place from now on, cut them down without rcy.”

“I will follow the order.”

At the sight of Seros standing by the door with his hand on the hilt of his sword, the lords were flustered.

They could not grasp what was happening.

They first had to understand why Pramo was suddenly turning the atmosphere so hostile.

“Head of the Family! What is the aning of this behavior?”

“Please, take your seats. It is rely a asure to prevent variables from arising. I have no intention of threatening the lords.”

At Pramo’s relaxed expression and tone, the lords drew their necks in.

In the anti, Viscount Rak realized that he was seated in the place of honor and stood up from his seat.

“Head of the Family, please sit here.”

“Viscount Rak.”

“…Please speak, Head of the Family.”

“What do you intend to do, Viscount?”

“I already conveyed my decision to the Grand General in the Royal Capital. Ragnar’s decision will beco my path as well.”

At his firm answer, Pramo finally ford a faint smile.

“I rember the first ti you and I t.”

“I, too, cannot forget that mory.”

“The first words you said to

then—has that resolve remained unchanged even now?”

“Yes, it has not changed.”

After answering Pramo’s question, Viscount Rak slowly knelt on one knee.

“I pledged that the Rak Family would open the path so that the Ragnar Family could ascend to the position of the Royal Family.”

At Viscount Rak’s words, mories of that ti vividly resurfaced, and Pramo nodded.

He had wanted to remove the shackles that had bound Ragnar all this ti, but because of the pact docunt, he could not drag down the Royal Family in the na of his own family.

From the beginning, the family ant to bring down the Daon Family had been the Rak Family.

But now, the flow had changed.

This opportunity had arisen because Kyle had returned.

‘Big Brother was always like that.’

He was never greedy, and even though it was rightfully his, he gave it to Pramo without reservation.

And this ti was no different.

Pramo knew well that Kyle was once again setting an example as an elder brother.

For Kyle’s sake as well, Pramo wanted to unite the north as one.

“Viscount Rak, what should we do first?”

“You must overturn the north.”

“How much blood must be shed to overturn the north?”

“In this place, you need only see the blood of exactly three people…… but after that, you may have to spill quite a great deal of blood. Then let

ask you just one thing as well.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Do you have the resolve to bear it, even if much blood is spilled?”

At the question asked with a hardened expression, Pramo placed his hand on the table.

Then, tapping the tabletop with his ring finger, he gently closed his eyes.

‘Too much blood has already been spilled. But if the blood shed here can prevent even greater victims…….’

When Pramo opened his eyes again, Viscount Rak was able to see them.

Eyes as firm and strong as Kyle’s had been in the Royal Capital.

At that, Viscount Rak felt his heart stir greatly.

The thought took strong hold that soone with the power to captivate people like Pramo should beco king.

“I will follow you.”

Although Pramo gave no verbal reply, Viscount Rak bowed his head.

As silence lingered in the conference room, Viscount Rak lifted his head and turned his gaze toward the door.

“Knight, bring

a sword!”

At Viscount Rak’s shout, the door opened and a knight walked in carrying a sword.

He then respectfully presented the sword to Viscount Rak with both hands.

“Even if only a part of the burden that the Head of the Family must carry going forward, I will bear it together with you.”

With those words, Viscount Rak drew the sword.

The lords, who were unard inside the conference room, jumped to their feet in shock at Viscount Rak’s actions.

One of the lords hurriedly tried to escape the conference room, but Viscount Rak swung his sword faster than he could move.

Slash—

As the blade grazed the lord’s neck, blood sprayed across the floor.

Even after dealing with one lord, he did not stop his sword.

Rather, he moved even faster toward another target.

He slashed the chest of a lord standing dazed, then drove his sword into the heart of the man beside him.

“Hoo…….”

The number of lords Viscount Rak killed totaled three.

He let out a deep breath and handed the blood-soaked sword back to the knight.

At that sight, Pramo spoke in a low voice.

“Viscount Rak, it was sothing I could have done myself.”

“How could I allow the hands of the monarch to whom I swear loyalty to be stained with blood?”

“……Thank you.”

“You must not hesitate. If you have already decided, then push forward steadfastly. I will stand by the Head of the Family’s side.”

The lords were stunned by Viscount Rak’s resolute voice and actions.

But Seros alone was inwardly admiring Pramo.

‘So blood truly does not lie. Though my lord and the Head of the Family appear different, they are also alike.’

It was enough to make him wonder when Viscount Rak had been made one of their own.

At a glance, it was clear that while protecting everything, he had also been steadily preparing for the future.

Seros alternated his gaze between Viscount Rak and Pramo.

‘Is it heavenly fortune, or is it destiny?’

Soon, Seros let out a quiet chuckle.

Kyle’s words from when he had served as Vice-Commander of the Special Operations Unit ca to mind.

— Heavenly fortune? Destiny? I don’t believe in that kind of superstition. All that matters is acting by my own will and preparing.

Just as Kyle had said, this was not heavenly fortune or destiny, but the result of Pramo’s own preparations.

Because he had worked to expand the Rak Family while reducing the Royal Family’s influence, he had been able to seize the opportunity when it arrived.

At that mont, Viscount Rak, who had been looking at Pramo, opened his mouth.

“The lords who did not attend the gathering should be attacking three territories by now.”

“Do you require reinforcents?”

“No. I have already dispatched soldiers of the Rak Family as support forces, so they will occupy the territories as quickly as possible.”

Most of the territories bordering the Monster Mountain Range were ruled by lords who followed Viscount Rak’s will.

That ant they were forces supporting Pramo.

The lords Viscount Rak had just cut down were puppets of the Royal Family.

He knew that they had been reporting the situation in the north to the Royal Family and receiving tax reductions, but he had been waiting for the right mont.

That mont simply happened to be today.

Turning his gaze away from Viscount Rak, Pramo imdiately asked Aron.

“Military Strategist, how do you think the Royal Family will respond?”

“The Royal Family will request assistance from Ragnar. The Empire’s 1st Legion is that powerful. And its commander, Duke Luna, is a formidable Master despite being a woman.”

He had never expected Emperor Adrian to move like this.

Given that the war with the Holy Empire of Ru had ended not long ago, he had not anticipated the mobilization of a legion.

However, this was an unparalleled opportunity granted to Ragnar.

“With no Masters, the Daon Kingdom will ultimately need Big Brother’s and Commander Seros’s help.”

“That is correct.”

“Big Brother will never take actions that benefit the Daon Family.”

Before bringing down the Daon Family, the north needed ti.

To unite the lords as one and gather them around Pramo, at least a month or more might be required.

Seeing Pramo’s worried expression, Aron spoke in a confident voice.

“The 1st Legion will not move from the border. I am certain of this.”

“Is that truly so?”

“The Tylers Empire is issuing a warning toward the Daon Kingdom. A warning not to move recklessly.”

Depending on how the Daon Kingdom acted, the 1st Legion might move, but it would not march imdiately.

In effect, the 1st Legion was buying them ti to unite and overturn the north.

Using that ti to engage in a tug-of-war with the Royal Family and stall was not difficult.

Still, Pramo felt an inexplicable restlessness.

“Then what should I do?”

“You must return to Ragnar. Only then can our lord move freely, can he not?”

“Hm…….”

At the suggestion to return when he had barely done anything, Pramo placed a hand on his chin.

At the very least, he needed ti to discuss future plans with the lords present here.

Seeing Pramo deep in thought, Viscount Rak added,

“Leave the cleanup to

and return to Ragnar now.”

“Would it not be better for the Military Strategist to return as well?”

“I have matters to attend to. I believe I should go to the border with Commander Seros.”

“The border—why……?”

“It is our lord’s order.”

Those currently carrying out the family’s most important roles were all Kyle’s people.

Pramo sotis forgot that they were knights who called Kyle their lord and pledged loyalty to him.

Only then did Pramo nod at Aron’s words, forming a faint smile.

Aron returned the smile.

“As long as our lord remains in Ragnar, we will always stand on the Head of the Family’s side and fight. So please do not feel uneasy.”

“I know that. I was rely wondering what intention Big Brother had in sending the Military Strategist to the border.”

“If you are truly curious, you could ask our lord directly.”

Still smiling, Pramo lightly shook his head.

“Is that really necessary? I do not wish to make Big Brother uncomfortable.”