Chapter 52: Circumstances of the Dwarf Tribe (3)
At Pramo’s requested conditions, Yul snapped his fingers.
He knew why Pramo had demanded labor.
With the help of the Ork Tribe, they had reclaid the iron mine area, but the Ragnar Family still had not begun mining iron.
“Clever, Head of the Family.”
“Pardon?”
“Wasn’t it deliberate that you first spoke about support with weapons and armor? I knew it was to steer the negotiations in your favor.”
“…….”
“The miners who must go into the Monster Mountain Range to work cannot be ordinary people. To et those qualifications, the Ragnar Family needs more ti. Am I wrong?”
“I will not deny it.”
“You must be quite troubled that you cannot mine iron during the ti spent educating and training the miners.“
Yul was also a leader who had to rule over a clan and bear responsibility for them.
Of course, human and Ork cultures were different, but Yul had studied many things as well.
He had devoted a long ti to learning human culture and modes of speech.
“Do not assu that our tribe is ignorant of human culture.”
“If I offended you, I offer my apologies.”
“This too must be part of human culture. Not laying bare one’s true intentions and drawing out what one wants while hiding them as much as possible. But I will warn you.”
“Please speak. I will take it to heart.”
“For our tribe and the Ragnar Family to maintain an alliance, trust must co first. Deceiving each other and telling lies are also elents that destroy trust.”
At Yul’s blunt warning, Pramo rose from his seat and bowed his head.
His words were absolutely not wrong.
To maintain firm trust between the Ragnar Family and the Ork Tribe, they must not probe or deceive the other party.
“I am sorry.”
“I understand. It is a habit ford while negotiating among humans.”
“I will be as mindful as possible from now on.”
“We shall do the sa. If the Ragnar Family makes a request, the tribe will et it as much as possible. If you need manpower capable of mining iron, we will deploy our warriors. However!”
At Yul’s suddenly raised voice, everyone turned their attention to him.
Yul swept his gaze over the people, then looked straight at Pramo again and continued in a low voice.
“Ragnar must also deploy its knights.”
If the Ork Tribe deployed warriors to the mines, the Ragnar Family likewise had to commit comnsurate forces.
However, after glancing once at Kyle, Pramo shook his head.
“At present, the Ragnar Family is lacking in knightly strength.”
“I heard there is a group called the Ragnar Knight Order. Deploy them.”
As Yul continued to press his demand in a firm voice, Kyle, who had been watching quietly, stepped forward.
“Yul, that seems difficult.”
“What is the reason?”
“The nation to which Ragnar belongs is the Daon Kingdom. You know this, yes?”
“I do.”
“The Daon Family is applying pressure to bring the Ragnar Family under its control. If the Ragnar Knight Order leaves the Head of the Family’s side, the Daon Family may send people to assassinate the Head of the Family.”
At the ntion that they might face the threat of assassination, Yul crossed his arms.
“Well, after several hundred years, the Daon Family must have changed a great deal.”
“If the Ragnar Knight Order is deployed to the mines, there will be a gap in the escort forces protecting the Head of the Family.”
“Even so, we cannot be the only ones to move. Dissatisfaction will surely arise. Kyle Ragnar, I would like to hear your thoughts.”
“Yes, if the Ork Tribe must send warriors, then Ragnar must likewise deploy comnsurate forces.”
“Indeed.”
At Yul’s nodding agreent, Kyle called out to Taro, who stood behind him.
“Taro.”
“Yes, Grand General.”
“Select knights from Chaplin Castle suitable for deploynt to the mines.”
“How many should I select?”
“Fifty.”
“I will select them as quickly as possible.”
“Include Deni among those fifty.”
“Understood.”
At Kyle’s judgnt, Yul nodded.
Then, gazing at Kyle, he lifted the corners of his mouth.
“I will deploy five hundred warriors of the Ork Tribe. Even if they are lower-ranked warriors, their stamina will absolutely not fall behind that of knights.”
“Thank you for making the proper decision.”
“The thod of adjusting things while making mutual concessions. Among human cultures, that is what I like most.”
At Yul’s words, Pramo widened his eyes.
He had not expected Yul, who had been confined within the mountain range, to know human culture in such detail.
And Kyle felt the sa.
‘After the conference ends, I should ask him about it.’
While Kyle was briefly lost in thought, the conference resud, and Pramo made an effort not to repeat the sa mistake.
He spoke honestly about the family’s situation, and Yul, seeming to find that admirable, wore a satisfied smile.
“May Ragnar first show goodwill to the Ork Tribe?”
“I will hear what kind of goodwill you an.”
“I have not been able to examine this place in detail, but I would like to teach human construction thods to the Ork Tribe.”
“Does our tribe’s construction look crude to you?”
“To speak frankly, yes. When a blizzard cos, it will collapse quickly. I think that if it is built sturdily, it will require much less effort when making repairs.”
Despite the blunt manner of speaking, Yul accepted it with a calm expression.
Ragnar had already shown goodwill to the tribe first.
Kyle had been the first to propose protecting the weak who had no combat ability, so now it was ti to repay that debt.
“The land around here, including the mountain range, is always covered in snow, causing great difficulty in movent. Am I correct?”
“That is correct. Therefore, there is the inconvenience of having to transport food and supplies to the Orks one by one.”
“In that case, I would like to discuss mounts.”
In a way, it was not rely a problem of transportation, but of mobility.
At the words that a problem he had pondered over for countless periods would be resolved, Pramo’s eyes sparkled.
Looking at Pramo’s eyes, Yul opened his mouth once more.
“Do you happen to know a monster called an Ice Wolf?”
“Hmm…… I have not heard of it.”
“Even on the most slippery ice, or in terrain where snow sinks deeply, it is a creature that moves with great speed.”
“But is it not difficult to ta monsters?”
“Before that, let
ask just one more thing. Have you ever heard of the Dwarf Tribe?”
Elves and Dwarves.
They were tribes that appeared in legends most familiar to humans.
Especially in the case of the Dwarf Tribe, they were famous for possessing blacksmithing skills far superior to those of humans.
There was even talk that the Sacred Sword of The Holy Empire of Ru had been forged by Dwarves.
“I am aware.”
“Among the races whose lords did not wish to leave the mountain range, there are the Dwarf Tribe and the Elf Tribe. Although the Ork Tribe was neutral, I too have long thought that their stance was not wrong.”
There were only two races that viewed the Ragnar Family or humans favorably.
The Dwarf Tribe and the Elf Tribe, who were not unrelated to humans, had fiercely opposed the lords who insisted they must go out to the continent, resulting in a prolonged standoff.
“Are you saying that the answer regarding mounts lies with the Dwarf Tribe?”
“The Dwarf Tribe tas and rides Ice Wolves for mobility. To learn that thod, we will have to negotiate with the Dwarves.”
“But would the Dwarf Tribe really join hands with Ragnar?”
“That is…… sothing we must try.”
At Pramo’s question, Yul trailed off.
No matter that Yul was also a lord, persuading the stubborn Dwarves was no easy task.
Kyle, who had remained silent until now, read Yul’s expression and stroked his chin.
“Dwarves, huh…… According to the history books, they are a race that firmly establishes grudges and debts once ford.”
“That is correct. Repay kindness without fail, and repay enmity twice over. That is the direction of the Dwarf Tribe.”
“Hmm…… That problem is best considered slowly.”
Just as the conference was nearly coming to an end.
Kazar, the red-skinned one responsible for the tribe’s defense, rushed over in haste.
Yul rose from his seat and looked down at Kazar with cold eyes.
“What is the matter? I clearly recall telling you not to intrude during the conference.”
“My apologies, Lord.”
The red-skinned Kazar bowed his head to Yul with a flustered expression.
He had wanted to avoid interrupting the conference if at all possible, but unexpected visitors had arrived, leaving him no choice.
“The leader of the Dwarf Tribe has co to visit the tribe, leading Hamrdan.”
At the news that the Dwarf Tribe—who should have been deep within the mountain range—and moreover their leader, had co personally, Yul and Kyle looked at each other at the sa ti.
The Dwarves were not the sort to budge over trivial matters.
“What business does Iron have coming here?”
“He asked
to convey that he urgently wished to et you, Lord, and had a request.”
At Kazar’s words, Yul finally nodded.
Coincidentally, the Dwarves had just co up in the conference, so Kyle’s eyes also showed interest.
No matter the reason the Dwarf Tribe had co all the way to the mountain entrance, this might beco a good opportunity.
“Head of the Family, may I ask for your understanding?”
“Of course. We can arrange another conference later.”
All the important matters had already been negotiated, so there was no problem even if the conference ended here.
When Pramo gave his permission, Yul turned to look at Kyle.
“Kyle Ragnar, will you co along?”
“I will.”
As Kyle and Seros rose together with Yul, the roughly two-hour conference ca to an end.
As Ragnar’s people were preparing to depart to move back to Chaplin Castle, Iron, who had appeared at the entrance of the settlent where the Ork Tribe was stationed, flashed his eyes.
‘A presence even stronger than Yul’s. And there is another presence similar to Yul’s. But it carries the scent of a human…….’
Dwarves were a sensitive race.
Their five senses were highly developed, and their sense of sll was exceptional as well.
Sensing the human scent mixed among the Ork sll, Iron frowned.
He had never imagined that Yul would truly join hands with Ragnar.
As Iron pondered whether it was right to ask for help from Yul, who had allied with humans, the very person he had been searching for finally revealed himself before his eyes.
“Iron, for soone so heavy in the seat, what brings you all the way here?”
“……Yul, your forces have dwindled greatly.”
“As you can see, we were shattered so badly that it is a miracle we are even clinging to life.”
At Yul’s overly calm words, Iron let out a deep sigh.
The Ork Tribe had been a race that never lagged behind in numbers among the lords’ forces.
Once, they had possessed over one hundred thousand warriors, but now only a handful remained.
Eventually tearing his gaze away from Yul, Iron looked at Kyle with half-lidded eyes.
“The human beside you is a descendant of Ragnar. I never thought a human who mastered Frostfire to its peak would appear.”
“I am Kyle Ragnar, a descendant of Ragnar.”
“I am Iron, leader of the Dwarf Tribe.”
At the introduction of Iron, who stood only about waist-high, Kyle extended his hand.
Seeing a human offer a handshake first, Iron showed a surprised expression.
“If you are a descendant of the Ragnar Family, you should know who I am, shouldn’t you?”
“I do. One of the Seven Lords.”
“Why do you show such excessive goodwill toward , who leads a race that was once an enemy?”
Ignoring the offered handshake, Iron looked up at Kyle with a face full of wariness.
Kyle withdrew his hand and silently nodded.
‘Did I get ahead of myself?’
Iron’s reaction was only natural.
Two hundred years might be a long ti for humans, but for long-lived races, two hundred years might be no different from twenty.
Just as Kyle, standing here as Ragnar’s representative, found himself in an awkward situation, Yul stepped forward in front of Iron.
“The alliance between Ragnar and the Ork Tribe has been concluded. If you are wary of Ragnar, then the Ork Tribe has nothing to discuss with the Dwarves either. Will you simply return?”
At the words that the alliance had already been concluded, Iron flinched for a mont.
He wavered between turning back as he was, or asking for help.
Iron pressed his lips tightly together and slightly bowed his head.
‘If he is a descendant of Ragnar who inherited Frostfire…… he might be able to deal with that damned Ice Dragon.’
For the Dwarf Tribe to survive, they had to resolve the current problem at all costs.
No, even if the tribe abandoned their habitat and fled, that Ice Dragon would surely pursue the Dwarves relentlessly and tornt them.
“Hoo…… We are the ones at a disadvantage.”
“Why did you, who never left the mountain range, co all the way here?”
“Yul, the Ice Dragon has awakened.”
At Iron’s words, Yul frowned.
He knew all too well that the awakening of the Ice Dragon ant a great crisis for the Dwarf Tribe.
“……This is the worst.”
“To be honest, even if you and I act together, it may still be difficult to put down the Ice Dragon.”
“It will be difficult.”
“Perhaps this is fate.”
Iron turned his gaze toward Kyle and clenched his fist tightly.
The ability to wield cold and heat to the extre.
With Frostfire, it might be possible to defeat the Ice Dragon.
‘Seeing him this close, I am certain. To face that descendant of Ragnar, at least two lords would have to step in.’
Having reached his decision, Iron approached Kyle with a resolute expression.
Then he raised his hand and grasped Kyle’s.
“The leader of the Dwarf Tribe makes a request of the Ragnar Family. Help us.”
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