Sword Master of a Fa Chapter 63 : Even If You’re Late to the Party, There Are Lim

Chapter 63: Even If You’re Late to the Party, There Are Limits (3)

When Viscount Rak lowered his head, Count Henson, satisfied by the gesture, spoke in a gentler tone than before.

“Then I’ll leave the rear to you.”

Count Henson gave his shoulder a few light pats and was about to leave his seat.

Then, as if sothing had occurred to him, he turned back and looked at him again.

“By the way. The Henson Family has been running a business lately.”

“What kind of business is it?”

“Monster byproducts processing. The northern monster byproducts fetch whatever price people ask for, don’t they?”

At Count Henson’s words, Viscount Rak nodded with a faint smile.

“If we can clean up Ragnar, I’ll hand over the monster byproducts to the Henson Family at a cheap price.”

“If you do that, I’ll do my best to help the Rak Family advance into the central political arena. Heh heh.”

Count Henson extended his hand.

Viscount Rak respectfully clasped his hand with both of his own and lowered his head.

Seeing that, Count Henson laughed heartily and turned away again.

“Then let’s depart for Ragnar’s Lord’s Castle first.”

“Yes. I’ll follow right behind.”

Count Henson wiped the smile from his face and took on a serious expression.

Because it had to be finished swiftly, even the royal family spared no expense in their full support.

Having even provided magic stones in massive quantities so that an army of ten thousand could move, this operation absolutely had to end in success.

‘Ragnar, I’ll make you a sacrifice for the Henson Family.’

If he could swallow Ragnar and bring the entire North under the Henson Family, he could rise all the way to the long-dread-of ducal rank.

Count Henson’s mind was already occupying Ragnar, painting a smooth road and a rosy future ahead.

Before long, the army led by Count Henson departed from Rak Territory.

Watching that scene, Viscount Rak grinned.

However, the knight beside him still wore a worried expression.

“Lord, is it really all right to hand over even our weapons and equipnt?”

“It’s fine.”

“But……”

“They were supplies that were going to be sent to Ragnar anyway. They’re offering to transport them for us—there’s nothing for us but to be grateful.”

At Viscount Rak’s words, the knight finally relaxed his expression and let out an exclamation of admiration.

anwhile, Viscount Rak looked at the army growing more distant and muttered in a low voice.

“Even if you’re beating the drum late, there’s a limit. This has gone too far.”

“I think the sa.”

“Tell the northern lords to move. Have them weave the encirclent tightly so those people can never leave the North.”

“I’ll deliver the ssage at once!”

As the knight bowed his head and quickly disappeared, Viscount Rak ground his teeth.

People like Count Henson, who lived like greenhouse flowers, were overflowing in the Daon Kingdom now.

On the other hand, capable individuals were unable to see the light of the world because of their status.

Now was the ti for the country to beco a place where those with ability could properly show their worth.

‘If it’s the Head of the Family, he’ll surely overturn this rotten kingdom.’

Kyle and Pramo, having returned to Ragnar’s Lord’s Castle, were sitting in the study and talking.

“Brother, what are you planning to do?”

“Pramo, do you want to try acting a bit?”

“……Pardon?”

At Kyle’s sudden question, Pramo tilted his head in confusion.

He had no idea what kind of acting he was being asked to do.

“You don’t look confident.”

“……If it’s to protect Ragnar, shouldn’t I do it even if it’s dangerous?”

At Pramo’s resolute expression, Kyle shook his head.

It wasn’t dangerous.

What kind of older brother could tell his younger brother to risk his life?

It was rely simple acting.

“I’m not telling you to get captured.”

“Then……?”

“Just act as if I’m not here. Naturally draw the royal army into the Lord’s Castle, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

He had expected to be asked to perform dangerous acting, but what Kyle asked for was simple.

Honestly, drawing the royal army into the Lord’s Castle was very easy.

“……Is that really all I have to do?”

“Are you worried?”

“That’s not it.”

“Pramo, why do you think wars break out between nations, or civil wars occur within a country?”

To seize power, or under the na of revolution, rebellions had arisen and civil wars had broken out.

Wars between nations were like acts of plunder carried out for soone’s gain.

It was a rather sudden question, but that was how Pramo thought of it.

“To gain profit, isn’t it?”

“As you said, the nation that wages war seeks to gain sothing. Conversely, there are also nations that must bear trendous losses because they lack power.”

“……I don’t understand why you’re bringing up such precedents in this situation.”

“The most important thing in war is justification.”

He had worked hard until now to create proper justification, and he was still doing so.

Moreover, the opponent had committed a blunder by handing Ragnar a justification favorable to them.

There was no way Kyle would fail to use that.

“From now on, we’ll create that justification. Ragnar will beco an important weapon that controls the starting point of the civil war.”

“……Understood.”

“You don’t seem to understand.”

“I think that if I stay by your side, I’ll understand soday.”

At Pramo’s words, Kyle let out a small chuckle, stood up, and walked toward the window.

“How is the evacuation of the territory’s inhabitants to Chaplin Castle coming along?”

“It’s nearing completion.”

“As long as that’s wrapped up well, nothing will happen.”

Once before, when the Orc Legion invaded, the castle had been reduced to ruins and the territory’s inhabitants had been evacuated.

The difference from back then was that previously there had been no proper thod, so evacuating the inhabitants had been a last resort.

But now, it was in preparation for any possible damage.

They couldn’t allow unnecessary casualties from the royal army’s attack that would even reach the inner castle.

Catching the aning behind Kyle’s words, Pramo nodded.

“I believe so.”

And so, while a massive evacuation numbering in the hundreds of thousands was underway at Ragnar’s Lord’s Castle—

The troops deployed on Ragnar’s front lines were converging in one place.

“Elder Pan, Castellan of Casio Castle has arrived.”

With the order for troop assembly, it was the Ragnar Knight Order that beca busy.

Controlling the forces gathering from all directions and informing them of the current situation was no easy task.

Still, fortunately, Pan and Elder Saie remained behind to command the troops.

In the anti, the Castellan of Casio Castle approached them.

“Has the Castellan of Casio Castle arrived?”

“It’s been a long ti. Commander Pan…… no, Elder.”

“Indeed. I don’t even know how long it’s been since we last t.”

Elder Pan naturally spoke down to the Castellan of Casio Castle.

That was understandable, as the Castellan of Casio Castle was not a person of Ragnar.

He was a vassal of the Rak Family and, as a knight, had been responsible for the defense of Casio Castle.

“I heard that Elder Saie also stepped down from the position of Castellan. I should have stopped by Chaplin Castle before that, but I’m sorry I haven’t been able to visit often.”

“Don’t say that. I know you’ve been doing your utmost as the Castellan of Casio Castle.”

Elder Saie added while patting the Castellan’s shoulder.

“You’ve gone through a lot in a foreign land all this ti.”

“What do you an by that……?”

“Once this matter is over, it’s been decided that all the soldiers deployed on the Ragnar front will be sent back to their respective hotowns.”

“……Elder.”

“Hasn’t it taken too long? It’s already been four years. It’s ti for you to return ho as well.”

The period he had remained in Ragnar as a successor after the previous Castellan died in battle against monsters.

Before he knew it, four full years had already passed since he assud the position of Castellan of Casio Castle.

“But why make such a decision all of a sudden…….”

“After the Grand General returned, Ragnar is now facing change. No, the entire North is.”

At Elder Saie’s words, the Castellan of Casio Castle nodded.

“I heard the news that the covenant binding Ragnar was annulled.”

“In the short ti since he returned, so many things have changed.”

“Since my lord has chosen to share Ragnar’s fate, even if the Castellan of Casio Castle is replaced, I intend to remain on the front lines until the end.”

He already knew that talk of replacing the Castellan had co up.

But he didn’t feel bitter about it.

After all, the one slated for replacent was a Master.

“……Castellan.”

“I’m fine. I’ve heard that everyone by the Grand General’s side is outstanding. If soone more capable than

sits in the next Castellan’s seat, I’ll gladly yield my position.”

“It may be because the Grand General hasn’t t you yet. He recognizes talent better than anyone, so he’ll surely recognize the Castellan’s worth as well.”

At Elder Saie’s words, the Castellan of Casio Castle’s expression turned bitter.

Kyle Ragnar.

His reputation had spread throughout the entire North, and he was also a well-known figure on Ragnar’s front lines.

He had reached the realm of Master, the dream stage all swordsn desired, and was the older brother of Pramo, the Head of the Ragnar Family.

And he was an extraordinary man who had revived Ragnar from the brink of collapse.

However, he did not belong to Ragnar, but to the Rak Family.

He thought that discrimination was inevitable.

“I don’t expect anything, nor do I wish to be recognized. Isn’t it enough as long as I myself can stand proud?”

Just as the Castellan of Casio Castle let out a small sigh, Kyle, having t with Pramo, appeared at the assembly point.

Elder Pan, who spotted Kyle first, lowered his head.

When Kyle fixed his gaze on the face of a man he had never seen before, Elder Saie, having read that look, opened his mouth.

“This is the Castellan of Casio Castle, Grand General.”

At Elder Saie’s words, Kyle showed an interested expression.

Casio Castle.

Like Chaplin Castle, it was a strategic stronghold.

He had already looked into the Castellan governing Casio Castle and knew that he was a person of the Rak Family.

“Nice to et you. I’m Kyle Ragnar.”

As Kyle naturally extended his hand for a handshake, the Castellan of Casio Castle respectfully clasped it with both hands.

After the handshake, Kyle’s expression was subtle.

Even so, he continued to look at him with apparent interest.

Not knowing what that ant, the Castellan tilted his head, but before he could ask, Kyle spoke.

“Did you bring all of Casio Castle’s troops with you?”

“Yes, Grand General. I left one thousand troops behind at the castle and brought the rest under my command.”

“We’ll begin the operation in two days.”

As the Castellan of Casio Castle and the other commanders nodded, Kyle turned his body.

The troops gathered from the three fortresses and two castles on the front lines numbered around thirty thousand in total.

All the soldiers densely filling the assembly grounds were facing Kyle.

Kyle slowly swept his gaze over them and took a deep breath.

“To those of you who have supported the safety of the North, I wish to express my gratitude as Ragnar’s Grand General. After this battle ends, you will return to your hotowns.”

At Kyle’s words, the soldiers began to murmur.

Even the knights started whispering among themselves.

Only the Castellan of Casio Castle, who had already heard the situation from Elder Saie, stood with firm eyes.

“May I ask one question?”

When the Castellan raised his hand and spoke, Kyle nodded.

“The situation on the front lines has not yet stabilized. In reality, we don’t know when or where monsters might invade.”

“That’s true, but the situation isn’t favorable for concentrating military power in Ragnar alone.”

“……Does it look like sothing is about to happen?”

“Signs of a large-scale monster wave are appearing soon. The front lines will expand from Ragnar to the entire North, and judging from the current state of each territory, I determined that there’s no guarantee we can repel a monster wave.”

He added an explanation about the terror of a monster wave and the fact that even its scale couldn’t be predicted.

At that, the once-noisy soldiers and knights tightly shut their mouths.

“……If we wish to stay, may we remain?”

“I know you’ve done your utmost to guard the front lines for a long ti. Ragnar will actively step forward to grant what you desire. However, those who truly wish to stay may do so. The decision lies with you.”

As sighs flowed out from various places, Kyle silently nodded.

He had heard that a considerable number had married won from the territories where the castles or fortresses were located.

Even if many were unable to leave because they had families, he didn’t want to force them to stay here and fight a war.

To Kyle, they were no different from benefactors who had protected Ragnar when he wasn’t here.

“Don’t worry. I promise that those who wish to return will be sent off together with their families.”