Chapter 75 : Three Months Later (2)
Chapter 75: Three Months Later (2)
Kyle entered the mountain range and met Iron, the chieftain of the Dwarf Clan.
At present, the place where the Dwarf Clan would settle was in the middle of active construction.
Before long, houses were being built, and it was starting to look like a proper village.
“Chieftain, do you perhaps have a specialized search team assigned to look for iron ore?”
At Kyle’s sudden question, Iron wiped the sweat dripping down and replied.
“Dwarves are those who live their entire lives forging weapons. Naturally, mines are an extremely important resource to our clan, so we have long organized specialized search teams to operate separately.”
“I know there are about four iron ore mines around this area.”
“There seem to be quite a few hidden iron ore veins.”
The Ragnar Family had discovered four iron ore mines in the past, but it was likely that there were also iron deposits buried deep underground that had yet to be found.
Moreover, it was only because this was near the entrance of the mountain range that the number of iron mines was limited. If one went deeper inside, it was only natural that considerable resources would be buried there.
“Besides iron ore, there should also be many mana stone mines.”
“Hm…… mana stone mines do exist, but they are dangerous.”
“Of course, the Dwarf Clan also possessed about two mana stone mines, but…….”
They were all taken away.
With monsters attacking day and night without pause, even the Dwarf Clan had been forced to raise both hands and feet in surrender.
Mana stone mines held tremendous value once discovered, but the problem lay with the monsters.
Monsters sensitive to mana would swarm endlessly, after all.
That was why even the elves never settled anywhere near mana stone mines.
“A mana stone mine is necessary.”
At Kyle’s calm statement, Iron scratched his head.
With the dwarves’ exploration abilities, they could certainly find a mana stone mine.
No, in truth, finding one was not particularly difficult.
After all, a mana stone mine would exist in a place where monsters were absurdly concentrated.
“We can find one. But the problem is seizing and defending a mana stone mine.”
After checking Iron’s expression, Kyle crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
Of course, Ragnar could function perfectly well even without a mana stone mine.
‘But for Ragnar to develop further, mana stones are necessary.’
A large quantity of mana stones was also required to produce icebreakers.
However, the reason for wanting to build icebreakers was that ships capable of smashing through the thick ice of the Northern Sea were needed.
They had intended to build them to purchase food and daily necessities through trade, but thanks to the Continental Battlefield stepping in for Ragnar, the production of icebreakers had been put on hold.
Furthermore, if contracts with the Continental Battlefield were maintained steadily in the future, there would be no need to cling desperately to trade.
“That works out well.”
“……Yes?”
“I know that there is one mana stone mine in this area.”
They had already been planning to subjugate the ever-increasing number of monsters at least once.
They had to prevent an invasion like the previous one from happening again.
“But Sir Kyle, if we are to clear out a mana stone mine, we will also have to accept heavy losses.”
“I’m not saying we’ll seize it right away.”
“Besides mana stone mines, there should also be gold and silver mines. I understand that gold and silver are minerals of great value to humans.”
To dwarves, gold and silver were merely minerals weak to heat and lacking in durability.
They held no value whatsoever to monsters, so even if the mines were found and mined immediately, there would be no problems.
Kyle nodded and looked at Iron.
“Iron production from just four mines should be more than sufficient, right?”
“Of course. If we search for gold and silver mines, we can find them and finish preparations for mining within a month.”
Ragnar was at a stage where the quality of its forces had to be improved.
Money was not an option but a necessity to maintain the army and train new soldiers.
Not only the wages that had to be paid to soldiers, but also food and weapons required a great deal of money.
“For now, it’s time to strengthen Ragnar’s military power. It would be best to search for gold and silver mines first.”
A regular meeting held once a month at the Lord’s Castle under the initiative of the Family Head.
Sapiro, the chief administrator of the Ragnar Family, reported the situation so far to Pramo.
“Family Head, iron ore production has now entered a stable phase.”
It had already been three months since the North was sealed off.
One month was spent preparing to resume the iron mines, and over the following two months, iron ore mining had been ongoing.
Fortunately, with the addition of dwarves specialized in mining work, the preparation period could be drastically shortened.
On top of that, as residents of the North began to flock to Ragnar where work was plentiful, there was no longer any need to worry about manpower.
As Pramo nodded at Sapiro’s words, Yul spoke next.
“Family Head, the warriors’ armaments have all been completed.”
All the iron mined over the past two months was now being consumed entirely within Ragnar.
They began by supplying high-quality equipment to the warriors of the Orc Tribe.
From head to toe, it was all iron armor crafted by dwarves.
Listening quietly, Kyle spoke up in his role as Ragnar’s Great General.
“All members of the Ragnar Knight Order have also been issued leather armor made from monster byproducts.”
Currently, in the conference room of the Ragnar Lord’s Castle, Yul and Iron, along with Kyle and Pramo and other figures from Ragnar, were seated.
For three months, Ragnar had focused on strengthening its military power.
Not only had the knights’ training been carried out, but new equipment had also been fully distributed.
After Yul and Kyle spoke about matters related to military strength, Elder Tade continued.
“Funds have stabilized as well through the sale of gold, silver, and copper.”
As preparations steadily progressed in anticipation of the monster wave, the Rapid Merchant Guild took responsibility for selling the gold, silver, and copper refined by the dwarves.
Currently, 80% of the gold, silver, and copper produced by the Ragnar Family was handed over to the Continental Battlefield.
The remaining 20% was handled by the Rapid Merchant Guild, being discreetly circulated within the Kingdom of Daon.
Pramo continued the discussion.
“Over the past three months, we have achieved a great deal of progress. Everyone has done their best in their respective positions, and fortunately, the royal family is only maintaining a standoff at the northern border without making any moves.”
It was fortunate.
The orb containing the recorded voice of Count Henson had intimidated the royal family.
Even so, it did not mean that this was no longer a crisis.
As the First Legion of the Tyless Empire withdrew, some of the forces stationed at the border were moved to the Northern Boundary Line.
Construction of walls was currently underway across the entire North to drive the monsters toward the interior lands.
“Military Officer, how far along are the wall constructions currently underway across the North?”
“They are 70 percent complete.”
It was an astonishing speed.
In truth, this was also a result of deploying orcs and dwarves.
Ragnar spared no effort in building the walls, even using knight forces as manpower.
It could be said that almost all residents living in the North had been mobilized.
Ragnar fully funded the construction costs, and each territory gathered every bit of manpower they could deploy in order to survive.
As stated at the Northern Conference, if a monster wave truly occurred, it was only natural that the entire North would be swept away.
That was why Ragnar proposed a method to minimize damage.
Following Kyle’s insistence that it be completed within six months, the walls were being built lower than standard walls, while utilizing terrain with many gorges and cliffs.
“Brother, are the monsters’ movements alright?”
“It’s still ambiguous to make a precise judgment. Seori is continuing reconnaissance, so if a monster wave begins, she will inform us immediately.”
At Kyle’s words, Pramo silently nodded and tapped the table lightly with his fingers.
Another problem still remained, making it difficult for him to truly relax.
Sapiro, who also knew what that problem was, looked no better than Pramo.
“Soldiers who had departed for their hometowns are returning to Ragnar together with their families. Of the twenty thousand troops who left, approximately six thousand have completed their return.”
Although it was not even half, when including the soldiers’ families, the number of people who had migrated to Ragnar already amounted to roughly twenty-five thousand.
Moreover, as the number of northern residents migrating to Ragnar gradually increased, the Lord’s Castle had now reached a state of saturation.
“The situation at Chaplin Castle is the same.”
“If the number of migrating residents continues to increase like this, both the Lord’s Castle and Chaplin Castle will eventually reach saturation.”
Ragnar Lord’s Castle had originally been designed to accommodate over five hundred thousand people.
As the territory began to decline and residents left, there had been ample space to accept migrants.
The problem was that far more people than expected were now gathering.
For now, it was still possible to accommodate them, but considering the future, some decisive measures were necessary.
“Family Head, what about expanding the Lord’s Castle? Since it is not divided into an inner and outer fortress structure, expansion should be entirely possible.”
Pramo considered Sapiro’s suggestion, then shook his head.
As Sapiro said, separately expanding an outer fortress was a good approach.
However, rather than concentrating the population in the Lord’s Castle, it might be better for them to spread out.
Pramo looked at Kyle and asked.
“Brother, what do you think about creating a second city?”
“Well, it’s true that the distance between Chaplin Castle and the Lord’s Castle is quite far.”
Even if knights rode at full speed, it took an entire day to travel between the Lord’s Castle and Chaplin Castle.
For ordinary people, it was a distance that took at least two or three days.
“Of course, we could expand an existing fortress and upgrade it into a castle, but I want to build an entirely new castle.”
“It would require a considerable budget.”
“Even so, I believe it’s something that must be done.”
Considering the merchants who would come to Ragnar after the conflict with the Kingdom of Daon ended, Pramo’s opinion was the correct one.
Kyle nodded and rose from his seat.
“I can’t leave my post for long. Let’s end today’s meeting here.”
“Understood.”
“Just in case, even if a monster wave occurs, the Family Head must remain at the Lord’s Castle.”
“I will keep that firmly in mind.”
Unlike last time, there must never again be a situation where the Lord’s Castle was left vacant and they came to the frontlines.
Moreover, unlike then, the number of territory residents who needed protection was increasing at an enormous rate.
Given the circumstances, Kyle taking responsibility for the frontlines and Pramo for the rear ensured that any variables could be addressed in time.
“Then I’ll be off first.”
Kyle left his farewell to Pramo and exited the conference hall.
Following behind him were Yul, Iron, and Seros.
“Seros, I heard that the Continental Battlefield decided to install a teleportation gate.”
“The Continental Battlefield has agreed to take full responsibility for all funding and required personnel. Aron judged that it would be best to install it at Ragnar Castle, so that is how it will proceed.”
Even traveling from Rak Territory to Ragnar using a teleportation gate consumed a great deal of time.
With transporting goods also being an issue, it was fortunate for Ragnar that the Continental Battlefield would support all costs and manpower to install a teleportation gate.
“For now, we’re returning to Chaplin Castle.”
The reason Kyle was in such a hurry was that the monsters’ movements had become increasingly active recently.
He had not said anything in particular to Pramo, but it was a situation where a monster wave could begin at any moment.
Those leaving the Lord’s Castle to return to Chaplin Castle ran forward at full speed.
It was fortunate enough that they had been given three months of time.
‘The most important thing is that the North does not suffer damage.’
Everything about letting the monster wave flow into the interior of the Kingdom of Daon was done to minimize damage to the North.
And in order to lure or push back the monsters, a prerequisite was needed.
The heart of the Ice Dragon.
‘Monsters will instinctively fear the Ice Dragon. Even if there is some existence controlling the monsters from behind, it won’t be able to control fear itself.’
Kyle silently looked down at his tightly clenched hand.