DEE AND ARB GRABBED A FEW DOZEN MEN AND hastened for the front gates. Even from a distance I could see the massive line of Chivalric Orders trailing down the road, the Wolfsbrook Mountain Range at their back.

One of the men atop the gates looked down, awaiting orders.

“Open it!” I cried. “Open it!”

Dee and I positioned ourselves in front of the gates as they were thrown open. The first people we saw were Count Ventury and his Chivalric Order. Ventury, who had gray hair and the fierce gaze of a seasoned warrior, looked over at us and pulled his chin in.

“Ah, Marquis Fertio’s eldest son. Lord Murcia, is it? You were given charge of this stronghold, then? I am glad to see you well.”

“Th-thank you. I am also relieved to see you well, Lord Ventury.”

Greetings out of the way, Ventury looked behind me and folded his arms. “That must be the famous dragon slayer, Sir Dee. Did you poach him from Lord Van?”

Before I could respond, Dee began to chuckle. “No, no. I may currently be the Murcia Chivalric Order’s acting commander, but I will return to Lord Van’s side soon enough! I wouldn’t leave the Seatoh

Village Chivalric Order to anyone else.”

Ventury blinked a few times and turned back to me. “The

Murcia Chivalric Order? Don’t you mean the House Fertio Chivalric

Order?”

His gaze was sharp. I’d never had cause to speak to a highranking head of house before, so I was a bit nervous, but I decided honesty was the best policy. “I received orders from His Majesty: from now on the Yelenetta invasion is to rely heavily on Van’s powers, so I am to assist him however I can. Van—Lord Van—put me in charge of this new fortress city. We’re already prepared to welcome the royal army, so please make your way to the central castle.”

Ventury squinted and cast his gaze behind me. “This place does seem to have undergone significant changes, and its unique qualities definitely come from Lord Van. So, what is this new stronghold’s name?”

I fell silent.

Ventury frowned at me. “What is the matter?”

“…Th-this is Fortress City Murcia,” I admitted, resigning myself to my fate.

Ventury burst into laughter. “I see! Let me guess: Lord Van’s work?”

I nodded. “That is correct.”

Ventury continued to laugh. “How very like him! Now, would you be so kind as to tell me where the Chivalric Orders will stay?”

“O-of course! The fortress city itself is rather complex in its design, so the M-Murcia Chivalric Order will serve as your guide.” I turned around and called out to the man standing next to Dee. “Marcos, please show House Ventury’s Chivalric Order to the small castle in the back.”

Marcos straightened up and stepped forward with a vigorous “Yessir!”

He was one of the knights with whom I had the longest relationship. While small in stature, Marcos worked hard to become an elite, and he also wielded useful magic.

Even when faced with the commander of the House Ventury Chivalric Order, a man who stood a full head taller than him, Marcos puffed out his chest. “I am Marcos, a private in the Murcia Chivalric Order. This way, please!”

He led the way, and the Chivalric Order bowed to me and followed him. Ventury’s troops moved with perfect coordination, clearly well used to warfare. Once they were gone, Ventury pointed past the gates.

“I will stay here until His Majesty arrives. Where should I wait?”

Oops. I’d forgotten to prepare a resting spot. “Ah, right! Please wait a moment while I prepare a tent for you.”

Trying to hide my panic, I instructed a nearby soldier to prepare a tent. When the next Chivalric Order passed through the gates, I greeted the nobleman and commander and advised them to head further back, and in the meantime, my people finished setting up the tents.

“Right this way, please,” I said to Ventury.

“Mm.”

I guided Ventury and the others to their resting areas, complete with chairs. Two more Chivalric Orders arrived immediately thereafter, but they were both smaller orders, so I was able to finish greeting them relatively quickly.

Eventually came a group bearing the royal banner. The fourhorse carriage passed through the gates, and Ventury emerged from his tent.

His Majesty poked his head out of his carriage. “Oho, to think this fortress could change so much! The last I saw it, it was in shambles. I cannot wait to tour the interior!”

I had to be cognizant of every word that passed my lips. I could not afford to be disrespectful to him in any way. As I took a deep breath, I felt a single bead of sweat roll down my forehead.

“Your Majesty, welcome to Lord Van’s new territory. I hope you will enjoy your stay.” I lowered my head, trying to swallow my nerves.

His Majesty slowly descended from his carriage. He looked at me. “Hmm, you seem to be performing your duties splendidly. How would you like to give me the tour yourself?”

When he smiled, relief settled over me. Thank goodness. He’s in a good mood. I bowed and said, “It would be an honor to serve

as your guide, Your Majesty.”

“Excellent. Then lead the way.”

It was a short exchange, but I was too nervous to carry on extended pleasantries. All I could really do was try to avoid making a bad impression. Other nobles and Chivalric Orders continued to arrive while all of this was happening, but His Majesty took priority. I shot Dee a silent glance; he issued some kind of order to Arb, who made his way to the front gates, leaving a handful of knights behind. It seemed Arb would be in charge of handling the rest of the nobles as they arrived.

Dee, Arb, and the machine bow squad, all tasked with defending the fortress city, were Van’s people. Once the Murcia Chivalric Order was filled out, they would all return to Seatoh Village.

Could I really handle things without Dee or Arb? The Chivalric Order I commanded had many talented men like Marcos, but they lacked experience, and it wasn’t just them; I was inexperienced, too. In fact, I had significantly less experience than they did.

But perhaps thinking this way was my real problem. I lacked confidence. How could someone as unreliable as me be trusted with the defense of a key stronghold? And how could I keep doing so without His Majesty noticing how short I fell in every regard?

With all of these negative thoughts racing around my head, I failed to explain any of the facilities on the tour. I only spoke if His Majesty or Ventury spoke to me first.

“Lord Murcia, what are those small castles?”

“O-oh, right. As you can see, it is exceedingly difficult to get to the center of this fortress city without navigating a complex path. These smaller castles beyond the wall function as defense points. We also have multiple vantage points on the wall for archers, where they can take out enemies trying to attack the small castles.”

Ventury looked up at the wall. “That sort of design became outdated long ago. In an age of powerful mages, some would argue that such a trap could easily be countered by knights standing at the vanguard to block the arrows. What would you say to that?”

He wasn’t trying to insult the design, merely asking a question born of true curiosity. Given his status as a veteran soldier, his question directed everyone else’s attention to me. Van and Dee had told me all about how this fortress city could be defended and the applications of all the facilities within it, but if I didn’t display confidence as I explained how it all worked, my words would fall over deaf ears.

I strengthened my resolve, then faced Ventury directly. “Fear not. In addition to the walls surrounding the fortress city, a contraption called a ‘sengan’ provides further protection. It is not easily destroyed. Lord Van has also developed multi-shot machine bows that can be used from above this sengan. Even if heavy infantry protected the mages, they could not block all of the arrows fired their way. In fact, this structure is designed to make taking out any mages who manage to break past the walls simple and efficient.”

Ventury raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Ah, I see. I suppose an ordinary mage could do little against Van’s fearsome ballistae. Mages like us could always destroy the wall from afar… No. No, in that case the fortress could simply attack us with the ballistae lining the walls. I see. This superstructure is indeed impregnable!”

The other nobles began voicing their agreement, one after another. “So it would be difficult to strike with magic from afar, but also to attack with brute force… I see now. I pity anyone who tries to take this fortress city.”

“As expected of one of Lord Van’s designs!”

“Quite right, quite right.”

A slight sense of inferiority washed over me as I listened to them, but I was also genuinely happy to hear my little brother receive so much praise.

I raised my head and said, my voice coming out a bit louder than intended, “Exactly! This fortress city is nothing like it was before! And the surprises don’t end with the small castles or the city’s interior design: there are countless little traps and systems all over the place! I heard from Van that he wanted to add more, but as it stands, I doubt any fortress city out there is more deserving of being called impregnable! As the person in charge, I can state that definitively!”

Crap, I screwed up already! I was so excited to hear them praise Van. Funny, I don’t think I would have rambled like that if it were me instead of Van. I just don’t have that kind of confidence in myself…

Cold sweat rolled down my face while I waited for His Majesty’s reaction. The man burst into laughter and gently patted me on the back. “Ha ha ha! I see, I see! I thought you to be a bit unreliable at first, but I clearly could not have hoped for a better governor! That confidence of yours recommends you,” he said, more jovially than I could have anticipated. “Actually, I realize now that I have yet to learn the name of this new fortress city. Judging by how definitively you called it impregnable, surely it must have a name?”

I swallowed hard, but there was no way to avoid answering him. “Fortress City Murcia,” I said quietly, making everyone blink a few times.

I led our visitors to the castle tower at the stronghold’s center, even as they chuckled at me. My face was blazing, yes, but at least now His Majesty and the others were conversing freely with me, so perhaps this was for the best. They’d gotten the impression that I was a confident governor. Personally, I was pretty embarrassed about gushing about my much younger brother’s accomplishments as if they were my own, but…all was well that ended well.

With deep relief, I reached the top of the castle tower and turned to face the others. Ventury came up first, followed by His Majesty, and the sight visibly took their breath away.

I knew how they felt. Every floor of this castle was designed so that ballistae or machine bows could be fired from it, and each window had a sturdy covering. The interior of the castle was fascinating, certainly, but it was also filled with drab rooms and hallways and a narrow staircase; the top of the castle tower, meanwhile, opened in all directions, allowing warm light in. And every direction other than that of the Wolfsbrook Mountain Range showed nothing but blue skies.

As if drawn in by the blue horizon, His Majesty and the others walked toward the terrace. Eventually, they recovered enough of their wits to voice their admiration for the view.

“Oooh!”

“This is incredible!”

I followed them out to the terrace. I’d seen it many times already, but even I found myself moved by the tremendous view. Under the blue sky, stretching out toward the horizon, lay an open field bifurcated by the main road. The stunning new castle town was directly in front of us, and to the left and right you could make out parts of the Wolfsbrook Mountain Range.

When you climbed the claustrophobic tower stairs, this was the view that greeted you at the top. The sense of liberation it granted was deeply refreshing. Even the breeze felt amazing. But it wasn’t all for show. Van’s designs served a practical, strategic purpose, and it was time to explain that to the others.

“The top floor here is called the castle tower. The fortress city was designed like a staircase leaning on the slope of the hill. In other words, the wall and gates that face Yelenetta are at the lowest point of the superstructure, crowned by the watchtowers. Next is the castle tower of the first small castle, then the second, then the third. Where we stand now is the highest point in the stronghold.

“Each castle functions as its own defense point, but a key element in this fortress city’s defense system is that even in other places our troops can keep an eye on our surroundings.

Additionally…” I moved to the railing of the terrace and put my hand on it, then pointed at the main road. “The ballistae on the floor below us can fire as far as the center of that main road.”

This caused a stir. When I turned around, everyone was staring at the road. They could not hold back their surprise.

“Say what?!”

“A true threat to anyone who would try to take this fortress

city.”

Frankly, I understood where they came from. Even Van, the mastermind behind the ballistae, had been shocked by the firing range when he tested one out for himself. Yes, the ballistae were less accurate at that range, but they were still a massive threat to anyone approaching the stronghold.

The powerful mages in the group were even more impressed than the rest, given that they normally reigned over the battlefield. Unable to hide the smile creeping across his face, His Majesty remarked, “And you say that he still wants to do more? Now I’m curious as to his plans.”

Ventury put his hand to his chin, his expression one of careful thought. “Hm. Will we be able to handle Yelenetta’s new weapons?”

“According to Van, at their current technical level, we should have no issues. Their cannons have low accuracy already, and the greater the distance at which they fire, the worse that will get. Should one of their shots manage to reach us, the projectile would likely land somewhere in the fortress city, but not necessarily on its actual target. Essentially, it would be pure luck.”

This was, word for word, what Van had told me. His Majesty and Ventury both appeared satisfied by my answer.

“I see,” said Ventury.

“In that case, we have nothing to be concerned about,” His Majesty agreed. “If our enemy chooses to strike at this fortress city with full knowledge of its defensive capabilities, they will do it in an unorthodox manner. They would look for some kind of weakness or opening.”

Van was the most well-researched of us all when it came to the black balls, and it was that knowledge that earned him such deep trust from His Majesty and Ventury.

As other nobles joined the conversation, I noticed some late arrivals beginning to climb up the castle tower. Among them were two faces I hadn’t seen in a year.

“Brother Murcia?”

Jard and Sesto both looked shocked to see me.

Sesto

AFTER TRAVERSING THE LABYRINTHIAN CASTLE, I made my way up a set of steep stairs. I was genuinely astonished by the outer wall, the gates, and the beauty of the fortress city’s interior, but the castle at the center of the stronghold was all dark hallways and stairs.

“I suppose this is the best that could be done in a couple of months,” Jard murmured, putting on airs. “It must have required a great deal of manpower to accomplish.” But the reality was that we could never have accomplished any of this.

To get to the fortress city we had to traverse the treacherous Wolfsbrook Mountain Range, but we arrived to find a beautiful and well-maintained road. There were rest facilities scattered along the path, and to add insult to injury, the mountain road ended in a strangely designed stronghold, all of which was said to have been made by Van when His Majesty first attacked Yelenetta.

The other Chivalric Orders marching with us at the rear discussed it avidly. We entered the Wolfsbrook Mountain Range braced for the dangers ahead, but in total, the journey lasted not even two weeks. We had the road, rest facilities, and fortress to thank for that, and all of it was Van’s doing. The Chivalric Orders were understandably grateful for this, so they were abuzz over Van and his accomplishments.

Jard took every opportunity to complain about this, but after a time I lost the drive to keep whining. Jard was confident in his fire magic and proud of his administrative skills. He believed he was suited to lead troops on the battlefield. But I wasn’t like him. I knew that I had failed as a governor, and when it came to leading people into combat against mountain bandits, I was nothing to write home about. Sure, there were opportunities for me to wield my fire magic, but I never accomplished much of note. If anything, I got in others’ way. Comparing myself to Van made me feel like a pitiable fool.

Honestly, the praise for Van all came down to his abnormal magic abilities. If I had magic like that, I could have accomplished as much as him, and I would have been the one to receive a peerage. In the end, it was all down to luck. When my magic was appraised and I learned that I possessed not just elemental magic, but fire elemental magic, I thought my future was secured. But in my brief year away from home, everything changed. The war with Yelenetta was huge, certainly, and if it were only that, then perhaps I’d have viewed it as a good chance to make a name for myself. The real problem was Van.

When Father sent Van to some middle-of-nowhere village, I assumed Van wasn’t long for this world. Thanks to his fantastical magic, though, not only did he turn his village into all of this, he was even lucky enough to have a dragon conveniently pop up for him to slay.

I continued to walk through the castle, thinking, Just how much can the world love him? If only that could have been me. Eventually, I spotted light at the top of the stairs: we had arrived at the top floor.

Following Jard to the top, I was greeted by a breeze of fresh air redolent of trees and leaves. I heard the sounds of iron grinding against iron…and a familiar voice.

I turned my head, looking past the crowd to seek the source of the voice. Ahead of us stood more than a dozen armor-clad people and, in the back, a single person looking our way.

“Brother Murcia,” I whispered.

Murcia immediately recognized us. “Jard? Sesto? Are you telling me Father doesn’t intend to participate in a battle this size?”

His whispers seemed so much louder than they were. Jard opened his mouth to say something, but before he could get the words out, the other nobles accompanying us dropped to their knees and offered loud greetings. “Your Majesty! I apologize for our late arrival!” said one man, still in his prime.

From the back of the room, His Majesty approached us and nodded. “You need not apologize. I merely used the extra time to tour our new fortress city. As I’m sure you have all seen by now, it is tremendous. With this new fortification as our home base, we will crush Yelenetta with ease.” He chuckled, his shoulders shaking.

One of the few noblewomen among us poked her head forward. She was Viscount Panamera, a noblewoman who’d joined the rear guard to lend us aid because of our tardiness. Rumor had it that she was one of the people who helped slay the dragon that attacked Van’s village. On our journey through the Wolfsbrook Mountain Range, she’d used powerful fire magic to handily set multiple large monsters ablaze. I felt confident assuming that she was the primary reason Van had managed to slay the dragon at all.

She had a commanding presence as she stepped forward, the same attitude she had displayed during our interactions earlier in the march. “Well, well,” she said. “I was excited to see this place for myself, but it is as you say, Your Majesty. It far exceeds my expectations.”

His Majesty nodded and spread his arms out wide. “For ten long years, despite our power and resources, we have failed to extend our borders. Ten years, frozen in time. But I am confident that we can move forward at last. Time moves for us once again! As you must all be aware, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. We will carve away Yelenetta’s territory, and the achievements will go to those who act quickly!”

His smile was fierce, his words those of someone with absolute strength. Words of utter confidence. Words that seemed imbued with magic itself.

He’s right. This is my chance to make a name for myself here. If the fighting gets too fierce, I could be killed…but as long as I stay with a faction that avoids the heavy fighting, I should be able to claim some achievements. But which faction? Who will give me the best chance to use my powers?

As I pondered this, I saw Jard grinning out of the corner of my eye, his fists clenched. He didn’t intend to miss this opportunity to climb the ranks. But while his magic was second only to Father’s, his ragtag group of mercenaries were hardly dependable.

I gave my brother a sidelong glance. I suppose I could just use him and, if things get bad, abandon him.