Van

OVERWHELMING POWER.

Dee, the deputy commander of my father’s Chivalric Order, was equipped with a Van-made long sword and armor. Esparda, meanwhile, had all the skills of a seasoned butler and great prowess as an elemental mage. Then there were the extra-large, mega-strong ballistae made by yours truly.

With our powers combined—and a lot of help from Lady Panamera and her knights—we defeated the forest dragon that ruled the land out here in the middle of nowhere. This conquest was monumental to the citizens of the nameless village, and it gave them more confidence in their abilities—although that was just an excuse to justify the awful state of the place.

Fires here and there warmed the village with their glow, and the celebratory mood was still going strong. The only problem was that the villagers, who should have been taking part in the festivities, were strewn on the ground like zombies, rocking side to side.

Corpses. They looked like corpses.

“When I told them to have fun, I didn’t think they’d keep going for three whole days,” I muttered.

Till, the maid with long chestnut-brown hair, offered a pained smile. “I do think it’s about time they switched gears.”

Khamsin, the butler-in-training with deep-blue hair, sighed and nodded. “This is because you’re too soft on others, Lord Van,” he said with a smile.

“You have some meat on your lips,” I pointed out.

“Huh?!” He panicked and rubbed his fingers around his mouth.

I couldn’t help laughing as I looked out at the village. “Well, I suppose we can all just work harder starting tomorrow. Skinning that dragon for materials was no small feat.”

Till and Khamsin nodded in tandem, wearing identical forced smiles.