ONE OF THE WOOD BLOCK CONTAINER BASES I MADE had allegedly collapsed on itself. I could only come up with a handful of reasons that might happen.

The first one was simple: a defect in the product. If that was the case, all I could do was apologize. The second was a mistake made when constructing the container itself. I had a hard time believing this had happened, because my adventurers would never cut corners in their work. They knew how important this was.

The final potential cause was that the base itself had been dismantled from within. That would require two or more individuals to lift the ceiling from the inside. In other words, they would have to be deliberately trying to dismantle the structure.

The only realistic options were the first and the third, and both of them were bad news. In the first case, I’d lose the faith people had in me and my creations. It would deal a massive blow to the value of Seatoh Village’s local goods. The third option meant an antagonist was trying to take me down, and by process of elimination, it would have to be another noble.

Weird. How could anyone view my cute li’l self as a threat? I thought. But then someone came to mind. Jalpa.

It was possible that some nearby nobleman was jealous of my exploits and trying to bring me down a notch, but the man who would be the happiest to see me fail was Jalpa. He would never use his Chivalric Order to directly interfere with my business, though, so it was probably wise to assume some other noble was also involved.

“This might be a big problem…” I said to myself.

The whole scenario sounded exasperatingly plausible. I had the king return to his container while I waited inside a carriage for the party of adventurers. Till and Arte were with me, so nobody else could hear my comments.

“Lord Van! Sir Ortho has arrived!” Khamsin yelled.

I looked outside and saw Ortho and his people walking toward us in a line, off to the side of the knights.

“Hey!” I waved to them, and they smiled and waved back.

“Lord Van!”

They picked up their pace after they saw me, so I hopped out of the carriage to greet them. Ortho, Pluriel, and Kusala were all present, making for a total of ten adventurers.

“I heard what happened! One of my bases collapsed? I’m sorry, you guys. I know you worked hard to put it together.”

This was my responsibility. These men and women were cooperating with me, and I had put them in a rough situation. But the adventurers started to panic. “N-no, please don’t apologize! This isn’t your fault!”

“It’s totally not!”

“Not a single one of us thinks there are any issues with your containers!”

Each of the adventurers offered their reassurance. I found myself immensely grateful.

“Thanks, you guys. That means a lot to me. In that case, why do you think the container collapsed? These things should be pretty tough.”

Ortho glowered. He was angrier than I’d ever seen him. “Someone intentionally broke it. Though I don’t know who…”

Another adventurer cut in. “And listen to this! They said the container collapsed on its own, but none of the parts are broken! We went out of our way to reconstruct it, and it’s still standing even now!”

“Yeah!” said one of his comrades. “If it collapsed on its own, then something would be broken, right?! But since they’ve never built one themselves, they probably have no clue how telling it is that nothing’s broken!”

The angry adventurers kept chiming in to agree with Ortho, adding their own complaints to the mix. I understood where they were coming from, but this wasn’t the place to voice their rage. Complaining right next to where the king was resting meant their words would reach the ears of important nobility.

If we pointed a finger at the wrong person, the results would be devastating.

“E-everyone, I get it, please lower your voices,” I said, gesturing for them to quiet down.

But it was too late. “What is the meaning of this?”

I turned around to find Jalpa, Ventury, and two other nobles standing behind me. There was no way we were going to worm our way out of this.

“Did I mishear you?” Ventury continued. “It sounded to me like some lowly adventurers were criticizing us.” He folded his arms, glaring.

I couldn’t afford to let myself be hostile. Etiquette dictated that one should kneel and act docile and compliant when faced with a higher-ranking noble, but everyone’s pride was preventing them from doing so. All they could do was stand in silence. This made Ventury even angrier.

“You fools! It is your fault the march has halted, and yet you dare take this attitude with me?!” His face was filled with rage as he screamed at Ortho and the others, who finally lowered themselves. It looked like they were forcing themselves to obey, though I quickly realized that not a single one of them were actually kneeling.

For my part, I observed the interaction, finding Ventury’s attitude rather curious. He’d claimed it was “their fault,” meaning he felt the problem resided with the adventurers. If that was the case, then Ventury wasn’t the nobleman trying to screw me over. He was close to Jalpa, so I’d thought it possible they were working together, but I was wrong.

“Count Ventury, I apologize for the trouble that my containers have caused you. I am deeply sorry for delaying our invasion,” I said, taking a knee and lowering my head. Before I did anything else, I had to draw his attention away from the adventurers.

To my own surprise, my move was super effective. Ventury folded his arms and sighed deeply. “…It is fine. Raise your head. Quite frankly, both His Majesty and I trust your creations. I believe the container collapsed for other reasons.”

“Oooh, really?!” I raised my head, thrilled by this twist.

Ventury snorted and looked past me. “If we did not, he would not at this moment be resting in one of those containers.”

“Right, that makes sense!” I nodded, satisfied with his answer. That really does make total sense.

Count Ferdinatto and Viscount Panamera, two major nobles within the royal army, were my allies. All told, this situation wasn’t quite as dire as I’d initially thought. If I could get Count Ventury on my side, I’d be able to find the true culprit right away, especially now that I’d cut down my list of potential suspects significantly.

But then I thought things over again. At this rate, our invasion of Yelenetta would be seriously delayed. While there weren’t that many nobles who held important positions in the army, there were, quite frankly, an insane number of soldiers present. Finding two or three culprits in a group that large would take at least two full days of searching. On top of that, we’d need proof to get them to fess up. Without proof, it would take even longer.

In which case…

I looked up at Ventury and Jalpa. “Thank you very much. I would like to make up for things by significantly increasing the speed of the march.”

They looked at me with identical wide-eyed stares.

 

“Trees! Cut down more trees!”

“Carry ’em over!”

“Keep your guard up for monsters! Don’t let ’em get in the way!”

“Hey, you! Cut those weeds more carefully!”

Surrounded by knights yelling to one another, I diligently laid wood block panels down on the road.

Thanks to the increase in manpower, I could pave the road even quicker than I’d done when I was making my way toward the royal march. The speed at which I was receiving timber outpaced the speed of the carriages, so I laid down softened blocks and hardened them along the road. The new road was being constructed at such a fast rate that the soldiers cutting down the trees were the ones who had to take breaks and swap in and out.

Half a day passed in the blink of an eye, so we took a break to eat. In terms of timing, this was probably it for the day. With that in mind, I accepted a cold drink from Till and was sipping it when His Majesty appeared with Panamera.

“Oho! To think you would complete this much road in such a short span of time!” the king said, impressed by our work.

The soldiers who were resting, covered in sweat, quickly knelt on the ground and lowered their heads. Needless to say, Till and I did the same.

“Baron Van, raise your head.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” I looked up.

The king wore an expression of tremendous delight. He raised both arms and looked around at the wood block road. “Incredible! I thought I knew how useful your magic could be, but I was clearly wrong! Never did I think it possible to lay down a road as quickly as a carriage could travel. Depending on your stores of magic energy, we may be able to take down fortresses we could never tackle before! After all, we’ll be able to march easily through any forest, mountain, or river! This will change the face of war!”

The soldiers nearby took in the king’s excited words with looks of surprise on their faces. Panamera nodded and said, “It is as you say, Your Majesty. I would also add that we have the adventurers’ hard work to thank for our safe travels through these perilous mountains. The knights do not have the ability to locate monsters before we encounter them. It would be wise to have our Chivalric

Orders learn that excellent skill from the adventurers.”

The king hummed in agreement. “The adventurers, you say? They are far more capable than I ever imagined! There might have been a little trouble on the road, but I will not forget their impressive accomplishments.”

I was grateful for his praise of the adventurers, but his words also suggested that he had yet to settle on a culprit for this whole container base issue. I suppose I should be grateful that he’s being fair and not siding with the nobility by default, I thought, though I still didn’t feel great about the whole thing.

“I can’t let myself think about this too much. I’m going to rest for today and switch gears,” I whispered. But the king had sharp ears.

“Oh?” he asked. “Hmm, yes, you have used quite a lot of magic since you arrived. I’m sure you’ve hit your limit. Rest well before tomorrow comes.”

I nodded, sure that my face was betraying my relief. I was just glad not to be told to work myself to death. “Yes, Your Majesty. In that case, I might as well make a base where everyone can rest. Khamsin, can you bring me the remaining timber?”

“Right away!”

I started preparing, even as the king blinked at me. He whispered, “You mean to tell me you still have enough magical energy to build more containers?”

I couldn’t help but smirk. You’re in for a surprise, Your Majesty!

“Lord Van, I’ve brought the wood!”

“Nice! There’s lots left, huh?” I looked over at the pile of timber off to the side of the completed road and smiled, then checked the slope of the mountain and the road ahead. As luck would have it, it was a gentle slope, and the road was relatively wide. Already creating a design in my head, I said to myself, “Cool. Okay, I’m going to make a base for everyone from the rank of officer upward to rest in.”

Something like the resting area I’d built near the dungeon would be good. Since I was dealing with high-ranking soldiers and the like, I decided to go all out and make the building super tall so that you could see everything in the area. A long and narrow structure would make people anxious, so I figured I’d increase the size of each individual room and lower the total number of walls.

With that in mind, I placed a hand on the pile of timber and began to pour my magical energy into the materials. I intended to construct a building shaped like a pyramid that would run along the side of the mountain itself. Since we were already deep in the mountains, I also needed to make the walls strong enough to prevent nearby monsters from smashing through and ensure they weren’t textured in a way that would allow creatures to climb them.

The whole thing ended up looking like something out of an old science fiction film. It was massive, and kind of resembled a pyramid partially buried in the ground. Its interior was pretty roughly partitioned, not nearly as elaborate as I would have liked. I decided I would redo it all at some point in the future.

“All right!” I said finally. “Your Majesty, let’s rest here for today. I created a single large door on the surface, but there are no other entrance points, so you can rest easy.”

When I turned around, though, the king was simply staring up at the structure, wide-eyed and slack-jawed.

Panamera folded her arms and looked down at me. “Boy, you went too far.”

 

Because I’d used timber from all the many trees growing along the slope, the base was enormous. Upon opening the large double doors, you were met with a set of stairs wide enough for four individuals to walk side by side. One room was set off to the left side and another to the right, both surprisingly spacious. Of course, because I’d designed it like a pyramid, the rooms got smaller the higher up you went.

“Your Majesty, these rooms are big enough to fit fifty people each, for a total of one hundred. The rooms get smaller as you go higher, but all in all there should be space for at least three hundred people to rest. If it isn’t too much trouble, please take the room at the very top of the building.”

The king looked up at the long set of stairs and blinked. Then he turned to me, wearing an expression that was difficult to describe. “It took you almost no time to build this structure. Are you telling me you can make something like this anywhere? Wait, let me rephrase that. I know now that you could construct something like this on a mountain slope or in the woods, but would you be able to do the same sort of work on a cliff or above a river?”

“I think it would depend on how much timber was available and on the geography of the land. For example, if I were to construct this hanging off the side of a cliff, I would need natural protrusions in the rock to affix it to. To construct it in a river, the water would need to be shallow enough. If it was too deep, even I would struggle.”

The king folded his arms and groaned. In a quiet, serious voice, he said, “So as long as those problems are not present, you are confident in your ability to build such a structure? This is…something else…”

Panamera slipped behind him and pulled my hand. She led me into one of the large empty rooms, then drew her face super close to mine.

“Boy,” she whispered, “you are obviously a genius, but you’ve done something stupid this time. Why would you reveal these kinds of magical skills in front of His Majesty when he’s aiming to expand his territory? Do you understand how much of an advantage it would give us to be able to build fortresses right at our enemies’ throats? And thanks to your abilities, in any kind of environment, to boot? This is something His Majesty would kill for.” Panamera was as kind as she was strong-willed. She could have used me to increase her own standing, but here she was, offering me advice.

“Don’t worry,” I said. “Look at it this way: if he really thinks my skills are that useful, then he won’t do anything that will upset or hurt me.”

By saying this, I implied that His Majesty would have a problem were I to defect to an enemy nation. If he was intent on expanding his territory, then making an enemy of someone who could quickly construct fortifications like this would be bad news for him. I had worked out a way to get him to humor me without actually fulfilling his requests.

Unlike Panamera, who worked steadily to climb the ranks, I was trying not to live up to His Majesty’s expectations. I had no desire to work my way up in the world. My only ambition was to live in peace and enjoy my life. Since Panamera had a completely different worldview, I didn’t expect her to understand where I was coming from.

I raised my head to find Panamera smirking and shrugging. “I see. So by showing off your abilities, you are making a statement about your importance. A move like that requires a lot of courage, boy. His Majesty is a wise man, so I imagine the tactic will be effective, but if you were to try something like this with a less capable sovereign, they would brand you a traitor. You understand this, yes?”

I was humbled. I could sense from her expression and her careful choice of words that she was warning me—in other words, she thought I’d gone too far.

Honestly, I was confident in my ability to use my ballistae for cover if I ever needed to successfully defect, but I also didn’t want to betray Panamera’s goodwill. I lowered my head. “I understand. I will be careful going forward.”

That was when the king entered the room, smiling meaningfully. “Are you finished?”

“Um, did you happen to overhear our conversation?” I asked, tilting my head with a smile.

His Majesty chuckled. “No, not at all…is what I shall say for now. Ha ha ha! I swear, you are a brave child, if nothing else.” He flashed us a smile before walking up the stairs ahead of us.

He was choosing to ignore my comments. Comments that could have been construed as belittling the sovereign of this nation. This guy really is bighearted.

“Looks like things will be okay,” I said, turning back to Panamera.

She wore an exasperated look on her face. “You may not be an elemental mage, but I imagine you will contribute more than enough to the war effort.”

“Ha ha ha. I’m glad I’m not an elemental mage, or I’d have to head to the front lines! All right then, I’ll be resting outside if you need me.” I started for the building’s entrance and Panamera blinked in surprise.

“Are you really choosing to be modest now? Your standards are a mystery to me. You made this place yourself, so why not rest in one of the rooms?”

“Ah, well, I plan to make my own base. After all, it’s still bright outside.”

 

King Dino

THANKS TO VAN, I’D BEEN ABLE TO SETTLE DOWN FOR the day in an environment that should have been unimaginable during a military march through the mountains. The container bases he’d constructed were already impressive, but this new structure was immense. I was able to rest easy. After all, I had my own private room. Compared to the tent I would normally be forced to sleep in, this was a luxury beyond comparison.

There were even small holes to the right and left that allowed fresh air into the room, which was furnished with a chair and a table. The boy had really flexed his skills. More than satisfied, I exited the room and spoke to one of the guards at the door.

“I was thinking of going outside for a bit. Do you know which room Baron Van is staying in?”

“Sir! The baron appears to be resting outside!”

“What?”

I was so surprised I unintentionally raised my voice. Sensing I might be displeased, my guard straightened his back and corrected his posture. I wasn’t actually upset, however, simply surprised. I’d assumed Van was staying in the same building.

“Do not tell me he left because of his peerage?” I whispered, bringing a hand to my chin. It was true that barons were the lowest-ranking nobles other than lord knights, but since it was he who made this building in the first place, he had more right to stay here than anyone.

I sighed, descending the staircase and exiting the building. I had gone to bed fairly early and therefore woken early too. The sun had only just begun to rise.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

As I exited, some of the knights who were camping out nearby looked at me in surprise and shot to attention. I raised a hand, greeting them, then noticed something was off.

“Well, this is unexpected…” I whispered, my attention stolen by the sight around me.

There were numerous two-story bases in the area. Most of the soldiers were still camping outside, but there appeared to be enough facilities for around two thousand men. It looked like an inn town had sprouted from the ground overnight.

I turned to one of the nearby knights. “Was this built this morning?”

I had my doubts, and sure enough, the knight shook his head. I felt I had a decent understanding of Van’s personality at this point, hence why I’d been sure he wouldn’t wake before sunrise just to build lodgings for the soldiers. But did that mean he had this much energy left over yesterday?

“B-Baron Van built these before dinner last night, so, um, the Chivalric Orders talked things over and decided to split into three groups to take turns resting.”

“That is fine. I am not upset that any of you are using these facilities,” I said, paying little mind to the man’s explanation. Then I looked around again.

If we had bases like these set up along the entirety of the mountain road, we could store materials, supplies, and all manner of equipment. The length of time we’d be able to spend on a campaign would see a significant increase, and supplying our troops would become logistically easier and far more secure. The question was: how many people would recognize the potential this held?

“I see now why Viscount Panamera forged an alliance with him,” I said under my breath. “She is as wise as ever.”

The boy’s effective magical range and consistency. The stores of magical energy he possessed. Just how far did his abilities go, and how much magic could he use continuously? He’d spent nearly half the previous day building roads, but still had enough energy to build all of this. It seemed plausible that he could build a castle at the very heart of enemy territory in a single night.

I would need to investigate the extent of Van’s abilities and rethink my entire understanding of magic if I hoped to use them properly. Were this the dwarf nation, Van’s magic would be used entirely for the purpose of smithing. That would be a horrid waste of his limitless potential.

“I will have to dispatch military researchers to Seatoh Village,” I muttered, even though I was outside. “If I have at least ten or so men there, they can put their minds together to produce something profitable for the kingdom. Hmm, and the boy’s tendency to shut himself in at home is unfortunate. He could be working on new roads, flood control, fortresses, weapon development… There is so much work to be done.”

I heard light steps approaching from behind me then. I quickly shut my mouth and turned around.

“You are up early, Baron Van.”

The boy looked at me, wide-eyed. He had his friends in tow. “G-good morning, Your Majesty,” he said. “I was going to say hello first, but you noticed me before I could!”

“Heh, you forget that the battlefield has long been my primary place of work. That said, I am pleased to have finally been able to get one over on you.” I smiled and looked down at the boy, who grinned and nodded.

“Yes, well, I am sorry for my late report. I also apologize for building more structures without your permission. Just to be safe, I left the road alone and prioritized making the bases sturdy and easy to use. I imagine they’ll be useful for a good long while.”

I nodded my head as a matter of course. “The Wolfsbrook Mountain Range was long believed unfit for military campaigns. How could I possibly complain about now having sufficient lodgings here? Though now that I have a strong grasp of your magical capacity, I think I would like to have you build fortresses at strategic points along the road,” I said, gazing into Van’s eyes.

How would he respond? Would he choose to serve my kingdom’s needs, or did he have something else in mind? My words were carefully chosen to discern this.

Van smiled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head, nodding slightly. “Of course. I’ll prepare a number of rest spots and defensive fortifications on the way to Yelenetta’s border,” he said, agreeing to a demand that would be entirely unreasonable to make of anyone else. “However, as I have said before,

I will not participate in combat. I’ll run if I have to, okay? That is all I ask of you, Your Majesty.”

He even managed to mix some humor into his response. Not even ten years old and the boy was a genuine genius. There was no way he didn’t understand the power I possessed as the king.

In other words, he was testing me just as I tested him.

Fascinating.

Once again, I found myself deeply interested in the child known as Van.