Fun Territory Defense of the Easy-Going Lord

【Van】

“Lord Van, preparations are complete,” Khamsin announced, puffing out his chest. He was wearing the full-body suit of armor specially made by Van, which was a rare sight. Although it was a lightweight full suit made from magical beast hide for Khamsin, whose body was still developing, the quality of the material meant it would offer considerable defense.

Furthermore, he had the Mythril blade strapped to his waist. Personally, I think it would be better for him to carry the auto-repeating mechanical bow, but Khamsin refuses to part with the sword for even a moment.

Till, on the other hand, had stored the Van-special axe I gave her long ago and was holding the auto-repeating mechanical bow close to her chest. Since she was still dressed in her maid outfit, it simply looked like a personal protection item. When I asked her what she did with the axe, she said she was displaying it in her room as a family treasure. I actually know it’s being hoarded in her closet-like storage space.

Next was Arte. Arte was fully prepared to fight with all her strength. To utilize her specialty, puppet magic, she had two wooden-block dolls seated side-by-side. They were equipped with the same Mythril gear as before, and their weapons were halberds. These were heavy weapons that only a strongman on the level of Dee could wield, but the puppets operated by Arte swung them around effortlessly. They were the ultimate fighting force, capable of going toe-to-toe even with large, adult-dragon-class magical beasts.

As for Law, I had long ago presented him with armor, gauntlets, and greaves made from Mythril and the hide of a large magical beast. As a result, Law also looked clearly more distinguished than the average Knight Commander. Behind him, the ten members of the Mechanical Bow Unit stood in formation, accompanied by an armored carriage that was also equipped with a mobile ballista.

I looked at my magnificent comrades and nodded deeply.

“Yes. With this, we can easily scatter the Kingdom of Yelenetta forces if they appear. A one-and-a-half-month journey doesn’t scare me at all.”

When I told them that, everyone proudly nodded back. Even so, I couldn’t completely shake off my anxiety. I was confident that our fighting power was far superior to that of any typical knight order, but we would be crushed by the sheer force of numbers if we faced a huge army.

Not wanting to show my unease, I smiled and gazed into the distance. I hope this won’t be a dangerous trip.

Just as I was thinking that, a knight on horseback approached us.

“A message from the gatekeeper! Viscount Panamera has returned! She is expected to arrive at Seatoh Village shortly!”

“Huh?”

At the messenger’s words, I couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion.

【Panamera】

“Well, we meet again sooner than I expected, boy!” I announced, stepping down from the carriage and looking at the familiar faces. The boy standing in the center, Van, offered a wry smile and nodded.

“You’re right. It was much sooner than I expected, too.”

Hearing his reply, I felt a slight curiosity.

“Sooner, you say. Did you also predict the enemy’s movements, boy?” I asked. Van pointed to the merchant-like man standing behind him and replied.

“No, it’s thanks to Mr. Apollo’s information.”

The merchant-like man shook his head with a wry smile. I glanced at him and then checked the appearances of the servants and subordinates standing around the boy. Their weapons and armor were clearly well-made, designed to withstand intense combat.

“I see. It appears your preparations are already complete. What is your destination?”

“First, we’re aiming for the Lord’s castle in the Fertio County. Just to confirm the situation.”

“Hmm, straightforward. I don’t dislike simple thinking. In that case, my Knight Order and I shall accompany you. I guarantee a safe journey, boy.”

When I said this with a laugh, Van’s eyes sparkled, and he smiled.

“Really?! Yay!”

Van cheered like a child, a rare sight. I felt a heartwarming affection for the display, but I couldn’t stand around watching forever.

Shifting my focus, I looked at Van and his group one by one.

“As you know, we are in the middle of an invasion strategy against the Kingdom of Yelenetta. We must move to Marquis Fertio’s location as quickly as possible and resolve the issue. I would like you to help my Knight Order replenish our materiel and food supplies. We shall depart early tomorrow morning. Do you have any objections?”

“No, that’s fine. Oh, by the way, we’ve recently produced some excellent distilled liquor. The Dwarves also gave it high praise.”

“Oh! That sounds delightful! Very well, let’s have a taste test before loading it onto the carriage, shall we?”

We exchanged those words with a laugh, and I was guided to the Lord’s manor. While the liquor was tempting, the great public bath was my priority. Since discovering Seatoh Village, I had become utterly captivated by the charm of this huge bath, which even royalty couldn’t access. Sinking slowly into the spacious, open water is a pleasure beyond compare.

I quietly approached Arte, who was standing near Van, placed a hand on her head, and stroked her soft hair.

“Good, Lady Arte! Shall we enjoy the hot water in the great public bath together!”

“Y-yes… Wait, what!?”

I laughed at the surprised look on Arte’s face when I suddenly spoke to her and enjoyed the peaceful scenery of Seatoh Village. This truly is a wonderful village. If I ever acquire a domain, I would like to create an atmosphere just like this.