Chapter 38: The Foundation Had to Be Set Right (3)
Even as he walked toward the outskirts where the Rapid rchant Guild had settled, Kyle checked the shops lining the street.
Various types of shops were beginning to line both sides of the road.
Many were undergoing interior construction, and he was certain that most of them were shops the Rapid rchant Guild was preparing.
As Kyle slowly strolled down the street, examining things in detail, a woman briskly walked up behind him.
“Excuse , are you Grand General Kyle?”
Because of his distinctive hair color, it was easy to recognize him.
The territory inhabitants wandering the streets had also recognized Kyle, but they were pretending not to notice.
And then, a woman appeared who openly asked for Kyle by na.
Kyle turned his body toward the voice calling him and slowly opened his mouth.
“That’s right.”
“I’m Raina, the branch head of the Rapid rchant Guild.”
“So you’re the owner of the weapon shop?”
“Yes, Grand General.”
“The quality wasn’t bad. But I wouldn’t call them excellent weapons either.”
At Kyle’s blunt assessnt, Raina curled the corner of her lips upward.
“That’s sothing we can steadily improve from now on. The iron from the Monster Mountain Range is top-grade, after all. And the blacksmiths of this territory have been evaluated as the finest artisans.”
“Isn’t that just glory from the past?”
“Is it really? From what I’ve heard, in Ragnar Territory, once children turn ten, they start holding hamrs and wielding swords. ‘The territory inhabitants of Ragnar are artisans themselves.’ Is there anyone who doesn’t know that saying?”
Kyle looked at Raina, whose red eyes glead.
“Don’t be overconfident.”
“Of course not. A re rchant couldn’t possibly act arrogantly before the Grand General. I truly wanted to et you at least once.”
Raina gracefully moved her right arm toward her abdon and bowed her head, and at her gesture, Kyle glanced around at the territory inhabitants.
“I look forward to your contributions.”
“I’ll do my utmost. For the revival of Ragnar.”
Kyle did not respond to Raina’s words and simply walked forward.
As Raina tried to follow after him, a territory inhabitant stepped in front of her.
“Please do not follow.”
“…….”
“Please do not disturb the Grand General’s thoughts.”
There was no way the territory inhabitants didn’t know Kyle’s face.
No, even if they didn’t recognize his face, they wouldn’t fail to realize that he was Kyle Ragnar.
The reason they pretended not to notice him was because they didn’t want to disturb his thoughts.
He was soone who, upon returning to the family, had been so busy trying to revive it again that he couldn’t even look around the territory.
After returning after fifteen years, he had been forced to move tirelessly without even a mont to reminisce about his childhood mories.
And now, that man was finally strolling through the streets with a bit of leisure.
“I see.”
“If the Grand General needs the branch head, he will co looking for you.”
Leaving only those words behind, the territory inhabitant departed.
While Raina stood blankly in the street, Kyle had already arrived at the building where the Rapid rchant Guild was based.
As he walked forward, a rcenary guarding the entrance approached him.
“Where are you coming from?”
“I’ve co to see the rchant Guild Head. Tell him that Kyle Ragnar has arrived.”
Upon hearing Kyle’s na, the rcenary’s expression instantly stiffened, and he imdiately went inside the rchant building.
A short while later, rchant Guild Head Tade hurried out to the entrance.
“When did you arrive?”
“I arrived late yesterday.”
Seeing Kyle standing at the entrance, Tade bowed his head respectfully.
“I heard that you went to the Royal Capital. Were you able to achieve what you wanted?”
“There’s no longer any reason to watch the Royal Family’s mood.”
“Congratulations. You’ve finally removed the shackles placed upon Ragnar.”
“It took far too long. If my father had heard this news, he would have been pleased.”
A lifelong dream Rai had longed for.
Breaking the pact docunt connected to the Daon Family had been his long-cherished wish.
The Daon Family, who had lived while mutually supporting one another, had suddenly changed at so point.
The Royal Family demanded only the Ragnar Family’s sacrifices, and even as the situation steadily worsened, Rai had endured desperately.
“He would surely have been happier than anyone else.”
“rchant Guild Head.”
“Yes, Grand General.”
“The territory lacks administrative personnel.”
“As expected. I anticipated that. How would you like the Rapid rchant Guild to provide support?”
As Tade was about to dive straight into the main topic, he realized they were standing at the entrance and shook his head.
“My apologies. Please, allow
to escort you inside first.”
“That won’t be necessary. We’ll discuss the important matters next ti. I ca today to request support.”
“How many administrative personnel do you need?”
“Can you support us to the fullest extent possible? This is not unrelated to the Rapid rchant Guild either.”
“Understood. I’ll mobilize administrative personnel imdiately.”
“And Pramo will be returning soon. At that ti, I’m thinking of recomnding the rchant Guild Head for one of the vacant elder positions.”
Although he had not yet heard a reply from Castellan Saie, he was certain that the elder position would be accepted.
He planned to recomnd Tade as one of the elders, alongside Pan and Viscount Saie.
“Grand General, how could a rchant like myself…….”
“Don’t dismiss it. Think about it seriously. If the rchant Guild Head chose Ragnar, then Ragnar must also give sothing in return.”
“……I will consider it very seriously.”
“Thank you.”
Kyle grasped the hands of rchant Guild Head Tade, who was standing with his hands clasped together.
He did not want the Rapid rchant Guild to remain rely one of the top ten rchant guilds.
“The Rapid rchant Guild will beco the greatest rchant guild in this country. That is also the compensation I can offer to a rchant Guild Head who has suffered in silence for so long.”
“……Grand General.”
“Thank you. For making such a difficult choice.”
The foundation of the Rapid rchant Guild had been concentrated in the Royal Capital.
Abandoning what had been built through long effort and settling in Ragnar was not an easy decision.
“From the mont the Grand General, the Successor of the Frostfire, returned, the decision was no longer difficult.”
The key that would unlock the shackles placed upon Ragnar had returned.
Historically, the Rapid rchant Guild had been inseparably bound to Ragnar, and it also knew what kind of pact Daon and Ragnar had ford.
rchant Guild Head Tade wore a gentle smile, and Kyle looked at him and spoke in a low voice.
“There are far too many things that must be done from now on. Please help the Head of the Family closely.”
“I will do so.”
“I’ll trust you.”
“Thank you for trusting , Grand General. By the way, are you touring the territory?”
“I’ve already seen all the places worth looking at. There’s only one place left that I must go.”
Kyle’s gaze fixed upon the snow mountain.
At his words, Tade nodded.
“I won’t interfere. Please be sure to visit again next ti.”
“I will. Ah, and on the way here, I saw a woman nad Branch Head Raina. She was quite bold.”
“She’s a child who only causes trouble because of that personality.”
“With that level of daring, I think she’ll be a great help to the rchant Guild Head. She also seems to have so talent.”
Seeing Kyle, who seed stingy with praise, view Raina positively, rchant Guild Head Tade showed a faint smile.
She was already one of the branch heads he had been keeping an eye on.
“I’ll make sure to guide her properly so she doesn’t go astray.”
“By the way, I should see that child soti. I’ll be sure to make ti later.”
He had heard that Reni’s son, who had passed away, and also the grandson of rchant Guild Head Tade, had co along.
Kyle wanted to properly see and assess the successor of the Rapid rchant Guild.
Understanding the intent behind his words, rchant Guild Head Tade nodded firmly.
“I’ll be waiting.”
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
After parting with Tade, Kyle retraced the path he had co, searching through his mories.
Before long, he arrived in front of a shabby house.
As he opened the door and stepped inside, the strong stench of alcohol wafted out.
“Is the owner here?”
A place that had inherited the sa craft for over ten generations in Ragnar.
It was a shop that produced the alcohol Rai had loved during his lifeti.
“The shop’s been closed for ages now, and you co saying you want to buy liquor……”
White-haired and aged, the old man turned his head to look at Kyle and tightly gripped his cane.
“Could you sell
just one bottle of liquor?”
“……Young Master Kyle.”
“I apologize for only coming to greet you now, Elder.”
The old man’s eyes gradually grew moist.
He knew why Kyle had co here, which was why he couldn’t bring himself to drive him away.
“Hoo…….”
“I ask this of you. I’ll pay however much you wish.”
“I’m not so money-crazed fool. How could I take liquor money from you, Young Master? Even so, I had been waiting.”
“……You knew I would co?”
“I had so idea, but I didn’t expect you to co this late.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m fine. I heard news that you accomplished so many things as soon as you returned.”
Dragging his leg that looked uncomfortable, the old man approached Kyle.
At that sight, Kyle opened his eyes wider than usual.
“……What happened to your leg?”
“Don’t you know what it ans to live on the harsh land of Ragnar?”
The old man gave a faint smile and held Kyle’s hand.
“I should have co to see you sooner. I ca far too late.”
“Just seeing you return like this and being able to see your face is more than enough. I never thought I’d be able to see you again while I was alive.”
“…….”
“Please wait just a mont. I’ll bring the liquor.”
“I’ll get it.”
“How could I possibly have the Young Master run errands? It’s fine.”
Releasing the hand he had been holding, the old man walked deeper into the shop and soon returned holding a bottle of liquor.
“This is a liquor I made at the request of the late Head of the Family.”
“……My father, you say?”
“He told
his wish that Young Master Kyle would surely return one day and bring this liquor to him. He always said he wanted to have a drink with his grown son. Please take it. It’s a liquor that’s going to its rightful owner after ten years.”
Looking at the clear liquor contained in the tiworn bottle, Kyle tightly bit his lip.
The old man, who had been quietly watching his face, gently closed his eyes and spoke.
“Are you finally going to visit the Head of the Family now?”
“Perhaps… I was afraid.”
“Young Master…….”
“Isn’t that truly shaless of , as a son?”
Seeing Kyle’s eyes filled with sorrow, the old man took his hand again.
“The Head of the Family will be happier than anyone else.”
“Elder…….”
“How could he not be happy? You, whom he prayed would simply stay alive, have returned having grown so well.”
At the old man’s words, Kyle lowered his head deeply.
“I’m on my way back after breaking the pact with the Daon Family. I’ve returned after fulfilling the dream my father wished to achieve, so only now do I feel I have the face to visit him.”
At those words, the old man’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t close his mouth.
It was the dream Rai always spoke of whenever he bought liquor from this place.
Upon hearing that Kyle had fulfilled that dream, the old man’s face slowly twisted.
“……You’ve worked hard.”
As tears flowed down the corners of his eyes, Kyle lifted his head and forced a smile.
“Are you no longer making liquor now?”
“There’s no one to carry on after . The one son I had also died in battle against monsters.”
“……Elder.”
“Hoo…… Could the Young Master perhaps find
a suitable successor? There’s no one who wants to learn how to brew liquor.”
“I’ll send you soone suitable as quickly as possible.”
It was a technique too precious to let disappear like this.
Above all, he couldn’t allow the lineage of the liquor Rai loved during his lifeti to be cut off.
Just then, the old man covered his mouth and coughed softly.
“It seems this old man doesn’t have much life left.”
“……I’ll send soone within today.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Holding the liquor bottle he had received from the old man, Kyle left the shop and headed for his next destination.
A bustling restaurant crowded with people.
Seeing even a line ford outside, Kyle looked into the shop with a troubled expression.
With the possibility that they might close due to running out of ingredients, Kyle approached the young man standing at the very front.
The young man tilted his head at the sight of Kyle suddenly appearing.
“What is it?”
“I’d like to ask for your understanding. Would it be all right if I placed just one order before you?”
After diligently waiting in line for one’s turn, there was no way anyone would feel good about soone openly saying they wanted to cut in.
However, the young man Kyle asked for understanding rely gave a faint smile.
“……Would that not be acceptable?”
“You may do so, Grand General.”
“…….”
“You don’t need to look at
like that. I’m one of the soldiers who defend Ragnar Lord’s Castle.”
At the young man’s words, Kyle slightly nodded.
“I’ve heard that this is a restaurant the Previous Head of the Family favored.”
“That’s right.”
“Even if you had entered without asking for understanding, no one would have criticized you, Grand General.”
But Kyle didn’t want to do that.
He didn’t want to flaunt his status and take away soone else’s hardship.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to say that. I know that the fact I’m alive, and that the territory inhabitants here are alive, is all thanks to you, Grand General.”
The young man stepped aside for Kyle and added,
“You may go in. I only need to wait a little longer.”
Those standing in line nodded at the young man’s words.
Since they were already waiting, waiting just a bit longer was no great matter.
Lightly bowing his head to the young man who had yielded his place, Kyle entered the shop.
He ordered the food Rai had liked and waited.
When the food was neatly served on a dish fifteen minutes later, Kyle took out one gold coin.
However, the server waved both hands and firmly refused.
“The owner told
to tell you that he won’t accept money.”
“Take it.”
“I’m rely an employee who must follow the owner’s instructions. If I take money here, I’ll be put in a difficult position.”
At the server’s words, Kyle scratched his head and accepted the dish of food.
Then he placed the gold coin on the table.
“This is for the people currently waiting in line. Since they yielded for , I’d like to express my thanks.”
At Kyle’s words, the server clasped both hands together and bowed his head.
“You really didn’t need to do this, Grand General.”
“I hope you won’t refuse my sincerity.”
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