Chapter 43: The New Castellan of Chaplin Castle (1)
The underground prison that existed within the Ragnar Lord’s Castle.
Benshi, who was imprisoned there, sat on the floor with an emaciated appearance, lost in thought.
Kyle, who had captured him, had not conducted a single interrogation.
From Benshi’s perspective, it was impossible to understand why he did not even resort to torture.
At that moment, a shadow suddenly revealed itself within the underground prison.
“Are you bored?”
At the question from the shadow, Benshi frowned and tilted his head.
“Who are you?”
In a place where not a single ray of light entered, this place was filled with darkness twenty-four hours a day.
For Benshi, who had lived within blinding darkness, recognizing the other person’s face was no easy task.
At his words, the shadow brought the torch he was holding close to his face.
“Kyle Ragnar. The one who threw you into this place.”
“……Kill me.”
Benshi thrust his neck straight toward Kyle.
Even if only to conceal information about Those Who Worship Darkness, he had to die here.
However, rather than interrogating him, Kyle merely stood in place and looked down at him.
“There is no information I need to extract from your mouth. I already know everything anyway.”
“How could the likes of you possibly know our organization?”
“Among Those Who Worship Darkness, you are probably someone belonging to the Dark Constellation. I know that there isn’t much information to be obtained from a mere low-level overseer like you.”
At Kyle’s words, Benshi’s eyes widened beyond what could be tolerated.
Even if he wanted to deny it, the information that had just come from Kyle’s mouth was top-secret intelligence that must never leak outside.
“…….”
“You must be securing people through the Slave Merchant Guild and creating Dark Knights.”
“Just who in the world passed that information to you?”
“Who do you think it was?”
“Don’t toy with me!”
“Judging by how you’re shouting like that, it seems you really want to die. Well, since there’s nothing left to extract anyway, dying here wouldn’t be such a bad outcome.”
“You bastard!”
Killing intent surfaced in Kyle’s eyes reflected within the torchlight.
The Dark Constellation.
Those who had once waged such a fierce war were trying to raise their heads again.
It was something that must never be tolerated.
Kyle quietly looked at Benshi, whose face was twisted with rage, then soon shook his head.
In any case, there was no information to be gained from this man.
‘All I need is to make him open his mouth.’
But how could he make him speak?
Those belonging to the Dark Constellation could never open their mouths carelessly.
The reason was that their freedom had been stripped away due to a taboo.
Knowing this well, Benshi began clutching his head, wondering who would have dared to divulge secrets even at the cost of having their head burst.
“Speak! Who the hell was it that gave you that information?!”
“That’s not what’s important right now, is it? Do you really think Ian Kailers is dead?”
At the name spoken from Kyle’s mouth, bewilderment settled into Benshi’s eyes.
How could that name come out of Kyle’s mouth?
Within the Dark Constellation, he had been called a demon.
Through a war with Ian Kailers that had lasted ten years, the Dark Constellation had suffered wounds from which it could not easily recover.
It had dealt them such a devastating blow that those who had been based in the Tylers Empire were forced to operate in a remote border nation.
“……That demon is alive?”
“He’s not someone who would die easily.”
“……Then what kind of relationship do you have with that demon?”
“You should never have touched Ragnar.”
If they were going to touch it, they should have finished everything before he returned.
That way, Kyle would have cast aside all other matters and fought the Dark Constellation.
But not now.
There was something more important left than annihilating the Dark Constellation.
“What are you talking about…….”
“You will soon pay the price for touching it so clumsily. Watch carefully from this underground prison.”
“What are you telling me to watch?!”
Kyle formed a faint smile and looked toward the entrance shrouded in darkness.
Kyle asked the man standing there expressionlessly,
“How long do you think it will take for this prison to be filled?”
“I will make sure it doesn’t take long.”
“That is not the answer I wanted.”
Kyle had no intention of filling this prison.
More precisely, he did not want to waste space on trash that had no need to be kept alive.
The Special Operations Unit member tilted his head, unable to grasp Kyle’s true intent, but Kyle turned his body and walked toward the entrance.
“I won’t let this go! I’ll survive no matter what and take revenge on you!”
Just as Kyle was about to ignore Benshi’s screaming, he suddenly turned his body back around.
“I almost forgot to tell you this. The one called Sinoah is dead. I figured you might be curious about whether he was alive or not.”
At Kyle’s calm words, Benshi’s eyes widened.
“Then why did you spare me?! Why?!”
Ignoring Benshi’s shrieking cries, Kyle climbed up out of the prison and spread his palm to shield his eyes from the intense sunlight.
Once he had calmed down somewhat, he turned his head toward the Special Operations Unit member who had followed him.
“Is Seros still not back?”
“Yes, my lord. There has been no word of his return yet.”
“It’s already been five days—just what in the world is he doing out there…….”
With only the dinner appointment with the Rapid Merchant Guild’s successor remaining, all matters that needed to be handled at the Lord’s Castle had already been completed.
It had already been five days since he had sent Seros to convey his intentions to Duke Luna.
The fact that Seros’s group, who should have returned long ago, had still not come back caused Kyle to frown.
“The military strategist moved together with him, so they should arrive soon.”
“And the dinner appointment with the Rapid Merchant Guild’s successor?”
“The Head of the Family said it will be this evening.”
“Understood.”
That evening.
Four figures sat around a wide dining table, looking at one another.
Among them, the boy sitting beside Merchant Guild Head Tade looked around the dining hall with sparkling eyes.
At that sight, Merchant Guild Head Tade placed his hand on the boy’s leg beneath the table, as if telling him to calm down.
Only then did the boy offer his greeting to Pramo Ragnar, the Head of the Family of the Ragnar Territory.
“I am Shen, the successor of the Rapid Merchant Guild.”
“Nice to meet you, Shen.”
At Pramo’s reply, the boy rose from his seat and bowed politely.
The blue eyes were clear and transparent, as if gazing at the sky.
“I never thought I would see you right in front of me like this. If my elder brother were to see how much you’ve grown, he would be very pleased.”
“Thank you, Head of the Family.”
As Elise looked at Shen with a satisfied smile, Kyle entered the dining hall.
“I’m late, Merchant Guild Head.”
At Kyle’s apology, Merchant Guild Head Tade shook his head and replied.
“Not at all. We just arrived as well.”
Kyle headed toward the dining table, then stopped and stared intently at Shen’s face.
“So you’re the successor of the Rapid Merchant Guild?”
“That’s correct, Grand General.”
“You look different from your father.”
Kyle patted Shen on the shoulder and then took his seat.
<Shen Rapid>
Talents : Trade D-rank, Speech D-rank, Spear Technique D-rank, Management D-rank
Potential : Trade A-rank, Speech S-rank, Spear Technique A-rank, Management A-rank
Unawakened Abilities : Talent Recruitment S-rank, Administration S-rank
After checking Shen’s attributes, Kyle formed a faint smile.
He was a child far more outstanding in many fields than expected.
It seemed he had properly inherited the disposition of his grandfather, Merchant Guild Head Tade.
“Merchant Guild Head Tade.”
“Yes, Grand General.”
“This child will become someone outstanding in many fields in the future. If things go well, he will rise to the position of Chancellor.”
At Kyle’s words, Tade’s eyes widened.
It was completely different from what he had said when he met Reni.
— The successor of the Merchant Guild Head would suit the path of a sage rather than the path of a merchant.
Tade still could not forget those words Kyle had spoken after looking at Reni back then.
After Reni died like that, Merchant Guild Head Tade lived for many long years in regret.
If he had sent him to the Sage Tower rather than making him the successor of the guild, as Kyle had said at the time, he might still be alive today, enjoying the full span of his life.
“……Thank you.”
The corners of Merchant Guild Head Tade’s eyes grew slightly moist.
Kyle possessed extraordinary abilities, and when it came to recognizing another person’s talent, he had an innate gift.
Someone with such talent had given Shen a favorable evaluation.
As Merchant Guild Head Tade was calming his surging emotions, Kyle changed the topic before even lifting his cutlery.
“So, have you given it some thought?”
At Kyle’s straightforward words, Merchant Guild Head Tade’s expression stiffened for a moment, but he soon met his gaze without avoiding it.
“……Out of my own desire, I would like to utilize the Rapid Merchant Guild independently.”
“I understand.”
“However, after hearing the Grand General’s evaluation, it’s true that I feel tempted.”
He had attended the meal with the intention of refusing, yet he wavered all of a sudden.
If Kyle had not mentioned the word Chancellor, Merchant Guild Head Tade would have refused the elder position right here.
“Don’t look only at the present.”
“Grand General, may I ask just one more thing?”
“Of course.”
“Did you perhaps exaggerate Shen’s talent in order to bind me to you?”
“Merchant Guild Head, do I look like someone with such a flexible personality?”
At Kyle’s words, Tade gave a faint smile and shook his head.
Kyle was never someone who would flatter others or exaggerate just to get what he wanted.
“I asked something unnecessary. I apologize.”
“It’s fine.”
“For this child’s future, I am someone who can do anything. However, this is not something I can decide on my own. If you grant me just one month, I will persuade the branch heads.”
That was something that naturally had to be understood.
True to being one of the Daon Kingdom’s top ten merchant guilds, the Rapid Merchant Guild was an organization that employed many people.
It was not easy for merchants who had moved freely and independently to accept having to act while belonging to somewhere.
“Very well. However, if you need help, tell me anytime. Pramo will take care of it.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“It’s only natural that I should be considerate. If the one who will shoulder Ragnar’s core is the Merchant Guild Head, I can rest easy.”
After finishing the main discussion, they wrapped up the gathering in a warm atmosphere while eating.
After even drinking tea, Merchant Guild Head Tade stood up from his seat together with Shen.
“Then, after persuading the branch heads, I will come to see you again, Head of the Family.”
“Thank you for making such a difficult decision. If you need my help, please request it anytime.”
“I will do so. Grand General, are you returning to the front lines again tomorrow?”
At Merchant Guild Head Tade’s question, Kyle nodded.
“That’s right.”
“Then, since we need to establish a branch of the Rapid Merchant Guild, I will send one of the branch heads to Chaplin Castle.”
“There’s no need to rush.”
“I’m thinking of sending Branch Head Raina, whom I encountered with the Grand General some time ago.”
“Do you wish for an escort for the branch head?”
“How could I possibly entrust Branch Head Raina’s escort to the Grand General? I’m merely asking in the sense that it would be good if they could move together.”
Kyle looked at Merchant Guild Head Tade with an impassive face.
Moving together to Chaplin Castle would not be a problem.
‘The moment the iron mine is resumed, Chaplin Castle has a high chance of becoming the second city of the Ragnar Territory. We need to prepare from now on for the infrastructure to be properly established.’
When Kyle nodded to show his agreement, Tade broke into a bright smile.
“Thank you, Grand General.”
“We’ll depart tomorrow evening, so prepare the trading caravan.”
“Understood. Then I’ll be on my way.”
Once Tade and Shen left, Pramo, who had been maintaining a smiling face, stuck out his lips as if displeased.
There had definitely been a promise.
That they would have a meal together before leaving for Chaplin Castle.
Seeing Pramo’s expression, Kyle let out a soft chuckle.
“Let’s have lunch together tomorrow.”
“It would be even better if it were dinner.”
“Keeping me at the Lord’s Castle for too long isn’t good for you either.”
“But still…….”
“I’ll come at lunchtime tomorrow. By the way, Elise, you received the sword manual that Deni delivered properly, right?”
At Kyle’s question, Elise nodded.
She had received the book titled Blue Frost Swordsmanship from Deni.
“If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask me when I return to the Lord’s Castle. It won’t be easy to master.”
“I’ll do my best to learn it.”
At Kyle’s words, Elise did not shrink back and instead set her expression with firm resolve.