Chapter 51: Circumstances of the Dwarf Tribe (2)
A group of craftsn that appeared only in legends.
They were often called shorties, or a tribe obsessed with alcohol.
A race of dwarves with short stature, long beards, and compact, muscular physiques.
Iron, the head of the dwarves who managed all the mines of the mountain range and one of the Seven Lords, let out a long sigh.
“Where did those prideful bastards run off to?”
“Chieftain, could it be that they moved toward the entrance of the mountain range?”
“The Ork bastards? Yul is not the type to make that kind of judgnt.”
“Even an Ork Lord wouldn’t have had much choice if he wanted to survive.”
“There’s no way he made contact with the Ragnar Family. Yul is absolutely not the type to make such a foolish choice.”
Iron, who had been stroking his long beard, tightly shut his eyes.
“……There’s no helping it.”
“If the Ork Lord doesn’t help, we absolutely can’t deal with the Ice Dragon. No matter how strong you are, Chieftain, hunting it is only possible if one of the Lords joins forces with you.”
“Damn Ice Dragon, it put out all the forges! On top of that, even the Eternal Fla, the treasure of our tribe, is about to go out…… Damn it!”
“We must deal with it as quickly as possible, or else relocate to a place without the Ice Dragon.”
“Do you think I don’t know that!”
Unable to contain his anger, Iron swung the staff he was holding and struck the head of the chattering dwarf beside him.
The dwarf, struck once by Iron, clutched his head with both hands and made a pitiful face.
“Then what are we supposed to do!”
“Are you raising your voice at
right now!”
Though he was the one who got hit, the one who struck him shouted even louder, and the dwarf lowered his head deeply and muttered in a small voice.
“No…… There’s no other way, is there? But we can’t exactly go looking for the Ork Lord either.”
“Why can’t we?”
“Well, if we accidentally step into Ragnar’s territory and run into humans, wouldn’t that be disastrous?”
Compared to the other Lords, dwarves and elves were races well known among humans.
Dwarves, in particular, had exerted trendous influence on human blacksmithing techniques.
Although the ancestors of the tribe had chosen to wage war against humans, the current dwarves were different.
“Even if we do run into soone, it’ll probably be soone from the Ragnar Family.”
“That’s even more of a problem…….”
“It’s not a problem at all. The Ragnar Family and the Lords are bound by a pact anyway. From the Ragnar Family’s perspective, there’s no need to fear us.”
It was a matter of extre urgency.
If they failed to resolve this problem, they might have to abandon the settlent they had occupied for hundreds of years.
It was a situation where the Dwarf Tribe could survive only by addressing the fundantal problem.
Even though they hadn’t had exchanges with the Ork Tribe, it was better than extending a hand to other tribes they were on bad terms with.
Having made his decision, Iron slamd the floor with the staff he was holding.
Bang!
The ground caved in as a golden Blade revealed itself from the staff.
“Summon the Hamr Corps! The destination is Ragnar’s territory!”
At Iron’s decision, the dwarf beside him tilted his head as if feeling uneasy.
But there was no persuading soone who had already made up his mind.
“Yes, Chieftain.”
As the dwarf moved his short legs busily and ran toward the village where the tribe stayed, Iron ground his teeth audibly and turned his body.
“Head of the Family, the eting location seems especially unusual today.”
“Seeing it like this, it feels quite new.”
“From the outside, it looks like a very peaceful place.”
The three who had officially received the Head of the Family’s permission and beco elders of the Ragnar Family were standing behind Pramo, each gazing at the surrounding scenery with different expressions.
“You said a mid-term inspection was needed, so we ca…… but I have no idea where elder brother is.”
Due to Kyle’s sudden request while he was staying at Chaplin Castle, Pramo had to bring along not only the elders but also the Chief Administrator, including the Ragnar Knight Order.
With the news that Seros and Kyle, who had beco the Castellan of Chaplin Castle, had already entered the mountain range, Pramo was now entering the mountain range as well.
While looking around for Kyle, a monster that looked like an ork appeared in Pramo’s view.
“Are you the Head of the Ragnar Family?”
Seeing an ork who, while not fluent, could still use the Continental Common, Pramo asked with tension.
“……Are you of the Ork Tribe?”
He already knew that Kyle had been talking about an alliance with the Ork Tribe all this ti.
In order to resu operations at the iron mine, a monster subjugation operation had begun from the vicinity of the entrance.
With Kyle and Seros both having stepped in, there was no way monsters would be roaming near the mountain range.
“That’s right. At the request of Kyle Ragnar, I ca as a representative of the tribe to guide the Head of the Family’s group.”
“I see.”
“The Continental Common hasn’t quite settled on my tongue yet, so please understand my use of informal speech. The Head of the Family may also speak informally to us.”
“No, this is more comfortable for
than speaking informally.”
“Is that so. You have a different personality from Kyle Ragnar.”
“I would appreciate it if you thought of it as rely a difference in the level of force we possess.”
“Understood. I will guide you to the tribe.”
“Is it acceptable for the knights to enter the tribe while ard?”
“Our tribe and Ragnar are already in an alliance.”
That single sentence was enough.
Pramo’s concern that they might be displeased with Kyle’s decision vanished at once.
Soon, following the ork’s guidance, they headed toward the tribe located near the entrance of the mountain range.
A place where houses made of White Tree were clustered closely together.
The place the Ork Tribe had chosen as their new settlent was surrounded on three sides by cliffs.
As a result, there was only one entrance through which one could enter the tribe.
“You chose the location brilliantly. I never imagined such terrain existed at the entrance of the mountain range.”
At Pan’s words, Pramo tilted his head.
The iron mine area was Ragnar land, and Pan was a veteran who, as the Commander of the Ragnar Knight Order, had entered the mountain range many tis.
It was strange that soone like him wouldn’t know terrain that wasn’t even far from the entrance.
At that mont, the ork resolved Pramo’s doubt.
“This terrain was artificially created.”
Originally, this place had simply been a mountain, but with the orks’ strength and tireless physical power, they had created a naturally advantageous fortress.
If a castle or fortress were built here, the terrain was so favorable that no monster would be able to break through it.
While looking around in admiration, Pramo turned his head and fixed his gaze on the ork.
“Did you even carve out the rock?”
“That’s right. In order to form the cliffs, carving stone was a natural necessity.”
“What did you do with the carved stone? Did you discard it?”
“It was useless, so we just piled it up to one side. Do you happen to need the rocks?”
They did.
To prepare for a Monster Wave, building walls was the top priority.
And to build walls, rocks and stones of various sizes were necessary.
As Pramo nodded, the ork spoke in a calm voice.
“Kyle Ragnar said that the Ork Tribe’s range of activity would be decided at this conference. If we are allowed to enter Ragnar’s territory, we will transport the rocks for you.”
This conference was not only ant to set mid-term settlent goals, but also to firmly announce the alliance between Ragnar and the Ork Tribe.
At the ork’s words, Pramo nodded once more.
In the anti, they arrived at the settlent where the Ork Tribe had taken root, and warriors wearing crude weapons welcod Pramo’s group.
After carefully observing the scene, Pramo turned his gaze toward Tade.
“Elder Tade.”
“Yes, Head of the Family.”
“It seems we will need to supply a large quantity of weapons to the Ork Tribe. If my elder brother decides so, please prepare to support them without holding back.”
“I will do so.”
“Chief Administrator Saphiro should also assist Elder Tade and prepare the weapons and armor to be provided to the orks.”
The ork who had been listening to the instructions beside them showed a surprised expression.
However, Pramo paid it no mind and shook his head while surveying the settlent.
There was only one thing he liked—the terrain.
He was concerned about the lack of infrastructure, and about the Ork Tribe’s lifestyle culture being unsanitary.
As Pramo walked while thinking about what support would be needed going forward, Kyle ca into his sight.
“You ca? Head of the Family.”
Kyle approached Pramo and spoke in a low voice.
Behind Kyle stood Seros, and an ork larger than the average orc was looking at Pramo with apparent curiosity.
“For one born with Ragnar blood, you are quite weak.”
“Yul, speaking like that is disrespectful to the Head of the Family.”
“I am rely speaking honestly.”
“He is the head of Ragnar. Choose your words carefully.”
At Kyle’s words, Yul tilted his head.
Of course, being called weak was a humiliating remark to a warrior.
However, in Yul’s eyes, Pramo seed to possess sufficient talent.
“I only ant that he is weak compared to the Ragnar bloodline. His fra is good, and judging by his hands, the many calluses suggest a considerable amount of training. Of course, it seems his body cannot operate Aura, but if he were to properly learn a single external martial art, I believe the Head of the Family would certainly beco a strong warrior.”
It was not sothing to say in this setting, but from Yul’s perspective, Pramo was by no ans weak.
If he properly learned an external martial art, he possessed a body capable of fighting knights who used Aura.
“……I am Pramo Ragnar, Head of the Ragnar Family.”
“I am Yul, Lord of the tribe. Pleased to et you.”
When Yul extended a hand more than twice the size of a human’s, Pramo grasped it.
After briefly exchanging greetings, Pramo looked up into Yul’s eyes.
“I heard from the ork on the way here. That you artificially created this terrain…….”
“That’s right. Originally, this was just a mountain. We rely altered the terrain a bit in preparation for monster invasions.”
“It must have been dangerous.”
“Orks are not only skilled in combat, but also possess exceptional ability when it cos to altering terrain.”
At Yul’s words, Pramo’s eyes sparkled.
If they possessed such ticulous craftsmanship as to carve away an entire mountain, it could be of trendous help to Ragnar as well.
As the conversation between Pramo and Yul continued, Kyle extended his hand.
“I think it would be best to sit down and proceed with the conference.”
“Ah, yes.”
Thus, everyone sat down at the tables and chairs Kyle had prepared in advance.
Kyle swept his gaze over those seated and spoke first.
“If the Head of the Family permits it, I intend to allow the Ork Tribe to leave the mountain range.”
“I will follow elder brother’s will.”
“And among the Ork Tribe, won and children without combat capability will be relocated to Chaplin Castle, and about two hundred warriors of the tribe will be stationed at the castle to guard them.”
“I will permit that as well.”
Pramo answered Kyle’s words without the slightest hesitation.
There was no way Kyle would have made such a significant decision without careful thought.
To oppose a decision made through countless deliberations and judgnts would have been to directly deny Kyle’s judgnt.
As the negotiations began in earnest, Kyle straightened his posture and placed his hands on the table.
“Then we must now decide the items that the Ragnar Family will support the Ork Tribe with.”
“I have not examined everything in detail, but I believe supplying weapons and armor to the Ork Tribe should be the priority. Of course, food is a basic support item, so I will not bring it up.”
Food was a basic support item, so there was no reason to ntion it, but Pramo drove the point ho in advance in case of misunderstanding.
anwhile, Yul straightened his back and, following Kyle, placed his large hand on the table.
“State the items the Ragnar Family will provide to our tribe.”
“As ntioned earlier, we will ensure that weapons and armor are supplied. However, since human and ork physiques differ, the armor will need to be manufactured separately.”
Since orks were larger than humans, custom production was unavoidable.
“I agree.”
“At present, it is important to determine the number of ork warriors.”
“I believe it is roughly five thousand.”
“We will teach you how to keep accurate statistics and records. The orks will also need to make many efforts to live alongside humans. What the Ragnar Family will provide to the orks is not limited to material resources.”
“Not only material resources…….”
“We will provide knowledge, and culture. In return, there is sothing the Ork Tribe must provide to Ragnar as well.”
Yul, eting Pramo’s eyes, stared down at him and spoke.
“What is it?”
“We need the Ork Tribe’s labor force.”
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