Sword Master of a Fa Chapter 66 : Northern Conference (2)

Chapter 66: Northern Conference (2)

Kyle, uncharacteristically, scratched his head.

Because he ended up fighting every ti he ran into Pramo, he had even sought advice from Aaron.

He followed Aaron’s advice, but sothing still felt off.

― Wouldn’t it be better to crack a joke or two and 'talk things out' in a more fun way instead of being so serious between brothers?

Just as Aaron had advised, Kyle even tried making jokes—sothing he had never done in his entire life—in an effort to placate Pramo.

‘But is this really right?’

It was said as a joke, but Pramo’s expression had not been good.

Tilting his head in confusion, Kyle stepped out of the office, and Aaron, who had been waiting for him, approached.

“Lord.”

“What is it?”

“What exactly is the Northern Conference? I need to know what kind of gathering it is in order to prepare properly.”

“There’s nothing in particular to prepare. I’ll be the one persuading the lords.”

“……By the way, did things go well with the family head?”

“Well, I’m not sure whether that counts as having a proper conversation, or if it was just a one-sided notice.”

Aaron had given advice, but he never really expected Kyle to handle it well.

After all, Kyle had lived for a long ti within a one-sided hierarchical relationship in the Tylers Empire.

Even if his personality had changed sowhat, Aaron had assud old habits would not be so easily erased.

“Then I’ll et the family head separately and ask.”

“Do that.”

“But is there really nothing else to prepare?”

“All that’s needed is to properly set up the place where the Northern Conference will be held.”

“And where will that be?”

While it was important for Pramo to maintain his position as family head, it was just as important to show the northern lords the current state of Ragna.

In particular, it would be an occasion to reveal and introduce the alliance with the orc and dwarf clans, who had once been enemies.

“It will be held at the entrance to the Monster Mountain Range.”

“……Are you planning to reveal the alliance with the ork and dwarf clans?”

“Is there any reason to hide it?”

Aaron found it difficult to make a judgnt.

In a situation where he did not even know what the Northern Conference truly entailed, his range of choices was limited.

Still, with Kyle speaking so confidently, there was no reason to oppose it.

“Understood, Lord.”

“Oh, and tell them I want to see Elder Tade once he returns to the lord’s castle.”

“We’ve already received word that he’s on his way back.”

“That was fast.”

The territory’s residents who had taken refuge in Chaplin Castle were already on their way back.

Upon hearing that the situation had been resolved, Elder Tade had not hesitated and ordered the residents to return.

Thanks to that, the residents were expected to arrive by tomorrow.

“Elder Tade made a good decision.”

At those words, Kyle nodded and stared at the mountains visible beyond the window.

“We barely managed to get the family back on its feet. Now all that’s left is developnt.”

“There’s still a long road ahead.”

“Think back to when you first ca to Ragna.”

When he had first arrived, everything had been a ss.

The fact that it had been changed this much in less than a year was a miracle in itself.

Yet Kyle still could not feel satisfied.

He should have restarted the iron mine much earlier, and used it as a foundation to lead Ragna’s leap forward.

Various matters and clashes with the royal family,

along with ever-changing variables arising in the mountain range, had prevented even the restart of the iron mine.

Even so, he had no intention of acting rashly.

“If you rush things, problems will arise later. Rather than moving impatiently, it’s important to slowly and ticulously build a foundation.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Lord.”

“What about Seren’s side?”

“They said the First Legion will likely return to the Tylers Empire soon. The timing has been moved up compared to expectations, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing.”

“Ask them to delay it by at least two more weeks. Once the Northern Conference is over, the outline will beco clear.”

Kyle’s eyes, fixed on the mountain range, were gleaming.

A place known as the northern lands of the Kingdom of Daon.

Countless families had been born and disappeared in the north, and even now, including small territories, there were dozens of families existing there.

Among them, the land of Ragna was the largest, and only about five families were considered prestigious houses of the north.

That was rely the outward appearance; once one delved deeper into the north, the story changed.

Even families ruling small territories wielded enormous influence over the north.

At the far western edge of the north,

an invitation arrived at the residence of a family head whose na was scarcely known.

“Northern Conference, huh…….”

“They say that Kyle Ragna, the current heir of the Frost Fla, has returned to Ragna, my lord.”

“So he was alive.”

“And the current family head of the Ragna family is Pramo Ragna.”

“I know.”

“Most likely, the main agenda of this Northern Conference will be the replacent of Ragna’s family head.”

The middle-aged man nodded as if it were only natural at the attendant’s report.

“The heir of the Frost Fla has been born after a hundred years. No matter how long it took, the laws of the north are still important.”

“However, it is said that Kyle Ragna does not wish to beco the family head.”

“Hm…….”

“They say that Family Head Terrius conveyed his stance that he would not support the opening of a new dynasty if that man does not ascend to the position of family head.”

It was not particularly surprising.

There was no one who did not know that Pramo was his grandson.

But no matter that he was a grandson, the laws of the north were strict, and were akin to absolute rules that had to be followed.

Nodding, the middle-aged man set down the invitation and rose from his seat.

“What aning does that have?”

“……My lord.”

“If the heir of the Frost Fla so desires, that itself becos the law and rule of the north. Newly brewed liquor must be poured into a new bottle.”

With his hands clasped behind his back, the middle-aged man looked toward the small window of the shabby hut.

A world covered in snow for 365 days, a place where one had to take up the sword just to survive.

This was the north ruled by Ragna.

“One hundred years. An unbearably long ti. Forgetting is only natural.”

“…….”

“We must make those who have forgotten rember again. Where this place is, and what the Northern Conference truly ans.”

“Then I will prepare at once.”

“It’s been a long ti since I last looked upon Ragna. It took far too long.”

The middle-aged man closed his eyes tightly, wearing a bitter expression.

He had not known it would take this long.

He had sworn to return within ten years at the longest, yet more than thirty years had already passed without him being able to return to Ragna.

“The elders must have all been executed. Lord Kyle Ragna would not have let them live after seeing them in that state.”

“I understand they were all put to death on the very day he returned.”

“So it was as expected.”

The middle-aged man, who had been letting out a low murmur, soon turned his body.

“I will depart for Ragna while leading the territory’s people rescued from the slave caravan. Shouldn’t we at least present a gift to the Successor of the Frost Fla?”

“I will finish all preparations so that we can depart by tomorrow.”

The day the Northern Conference was held.

Ragna’s lord’s castle was filled with people for the first ti in several decades.

Not only the heads of the major houses, but even the lords who governed small and mid-sized territories were all summoned.

Likewise, Terius’s house head, who was staying in the lord’s castle, looked bitterly at Pramo sitting across from him.

“Are you disappointed?”

“……Grandfather.”

“But this is the law of the North, and also a long-standing tradition. It is only natural for Lord Kyle, the Successor of the Frost Fla, to beco the house head.”

Pramo did not want to refute Terius’s house head’s words.

To be honest, Pramo himself had already made many efforts, ti and again, to return the position of house head to Kyle.

Those efforts ca to nothing when Kyle firmly refused, preventing him from achieving what he wanted.

“Elder Brother will refuse.”

“House Head, this is not a matter where you should make a decision first.”

“Do you truly think I am clinging to the position of house head?”

“…….”

“I have already persuaded him countless tis, and even pleaded with him. Even so, Elder Brother said he would never take the position of house head.”

Despite Pramo’s words, Terius’s house head’s expression remained stubborn.

For the North to stand upright, tradition and law had to be valued.

And above all, he did not want his grandson to continue holding the position of Ragna’s house head.

“It is a heavy seat. Ragna’s house head is a position that requires strength, and an equally strong will, to endure.”

“How could I not know that?”

“I do not understand why the forr house head insists on maintaining such a dangerous and exhausting position.”

It was only natural for one’s arm to bend inward.

He wished for Pramo’s life to be smooth, and hoped he would live an ordinary life.

Others might consider Terius’s house head to be obstinate, but that did not matter.

To him, Pramo’s life was far more important.

“So in the end, you intend to seat Elder Brother in the house head’s position for my sake.”

“……I will not deny it.”

“Elder Brother is soone who has already sacrificed much and endured much.”

“There is no grandfather who would simply watch his grandson walk into a pit of fire.”

At those words, Pramo let out a hollow laugh and stood up from his seat.

To Pramo’s eyes, the words claiming to think of him and act for his sake looked hypocritical.

“When Ragna was invaded by the Orc Legion, what did you do, Grandfather?”

“……House Head.”

“You sent people to drag

to the Terius territory. Was protecting Ragna not that important to you?”

To Pramo, he was not even a good grandfather.

Always placing family first, and valuing only the safety of House Terius.

He was rely a selfish man who would go so far as to abandon the lives of hundreds of thousands of territory residents in order to protect his grandson’s safety.

“……That was the best I could do for you, House Head.”

“Grandfather!”

“The house head’s choice is only one. Leave Ragna and continue House Terius.”

“That is nothing more than Grandfather’s dream that will never be realized.”

At Pramo’s firm words, Terius’s house head bit down hard on his lips.

Then he clenched his fist and slamd it down onto the table.

“How do you not understand? No matter that he is the Successor of the Frost Fla, now that the Northern Conference has been convened, the position of house head belongs to Kyle Ragna!”

“Do not be so certain. The world does not move according to Grandfather’s will.”

“Pramo!”

“I do not know what Mother desires. But I do know that Mother stands behind Grandfather.”

“If you know that, then follow that child’s will!”

“I refuse.”

Pramo turned his body and left the room where he had been staying.

By chance, the man who had beheaded Count Henson with a long spear was standing in front of the door.

The man looked at Pramo and lowered his eyebrows.

“Elder Brother…….”

“Do not try to persuade .”

“Why would I try to persuade you? Are you not far wiser than I am?”

“Haah…….”

At the man’s words, Pramo placed a hand on his forehead.

Seeing that he looked troubled, the man made a suggestion.

“Shall we at least take a short walk?”

“…….”

“As I said, I have no intention of persuading you. Nor do I share Grandfather’s will.”

At those firm words, Pramo nodded and began walking to leave the lord’s castle estate.

The man quietly followed behind him.

After walking for quite so ti, Pramo suddenly stopped.

“Ail.”

“Yes, Elder Brother.”

“Do you also think I cannot maintain the position of Ragna’s house head?”

“……If Kyle Ragna says he will not take the position of house head, that decision will never change. So even if the Northern Conference is held, I believe the outco will not change.”

“Hoo, so Ragna’s house head has no freedom.”

A position that always required remaining in Ragna and being responsible for defending the mountain range.

And one that required living while bearing the burdens of countless others on one’s shoulders.

It was a heavy and frightening seat, but there was only one reason Pramo refused to give up the position of house head.

“That is precisely why I do not want to hand this seat over to Elder Brother. When Elder Brother first returned, I thought this seat was not mine, so I wanted to give it back.”

He had no desire to climb to a higher position.

He simply wanted to lay out a field where Kyle could move freely without worry.

“It seems Elder Brother respects and likes him.”

“He is my elder brother, so is there any reason not to like him?”

Pramo clenched both fists tightly as he looked up at the night sky.

Seeing that, the man also looked toward the sa place.

“Though I am elsewhere for now, soday I will stand by Elder Brother’s side.”

“…….”

“I know that even if I beco the successor of House Terius, that will not change. I was educated that way from the start.”

“I am sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing, Elder Brother? Knowing full well what kind of family House Terius is, I was the one who chose this position.”

Noticing Ail form a faint smile, Pramo glanced sideways at him.

“That aside, it seems you have sothing you want to say?”

“You should do as you wish, Elder Brother. Once you start being dragged around by the family, you will beco soone like , unable to escape.”

“……You regret your choice.”

“Yes, I regret it. However, I hope Elder Brother does not make the sa regret I did. If you move forward without wavering, I will support you to the very end.”

At Ail’s words, Pramo let out a small chuckle.

Then, with a more relaxed expression than before, he nodded.

“I do not believe in myself. I simply believe in my elder brother and move forward.”