Chapter 272: A Birthday Present from His Majesty
After presenting a series of quibbles, I successfully persuaded Esparda. It was a more tense time than the war with the Kingdom of Yelenetta, but I managed to overcome it. I’m so great.
My letter, which had been turned into extremely polite prose by Esparda’s hand, was delivered by the Mary Chamber of Commerce.
While waiting for the results, my tenth birthday arrived.
“Finally, I’ve hit the big one-zero.”
I muttered this without thinking in the middle of a grand ceremony being held by the entire Seatoh Village, led by Esparda. Arte laughed cutely at my words.
“…It might be for a short while, but the difference has shrunk to one year.”
I nodded in understanding as Arte said this in a small voice.
“That’s right. Because Arte is the older sister.”
When I affirmed this, Arte smiled shyly. Well, in a little while, it will return to a two-year difference.
As we were having that conversation, Khamsin was groaning with his arms crossed. Since Khamsin’s birthday is ambiguous, we tentatively set it one month after mine. As for his age, since he is eleven now, he will turn twelve. He’s gotten quite tall, and from a distance, he could almost pass for an adult. From the perspective of someone whose height growth is stalling, I’m incredibly envious.
On the other hand, there was someone with a gloomy face.
“…Don’t worry, we’ll celebrate Till’s birthday grandly too,” I called out to her.
Till laughed with a complicated expression.
“I-I’ll be twelve on my next birthday too… Ah, ahahaha…”
“Eh? Till-san is turning twenty-one, right?”
“Gugu…!”
Khamsin innocently asked back in response to Till’s bad joke. A critical hit to Till’s heart.
“…It’s been almost two years since I came to Seatoh Village. It went by so fast.”
The population kept increasing, and not only the central area inside Seatoh Village’s castle walls but also the area within the star-shaped walls was becoming filled with buildings. Empty lots were rapidly disappearing. If this were Japan, land prices would be skyrocketing.
“Thanks to Lord Van, Seatoh Village has become a place like heaven!”
“We can’t call you a child lord anymore!”
“Who was the guy who said that!”
Even the original residents of Seatoh Village joined the conversation happily while drinking alcohol.
“Not yet! Truthfully, I want more things to eat and more interesting things! Let’s all do our best!”
When I called out to the drunkards, a huge cheer returned. It’s a bright, lively, and good village. Through the passage of two years, I have truly come to love Seatoh Village. Some adventurers repeat their travels like backpackers, but many establish Seatoh Village as their main base. Since Ortho and others organize that aspect, the public order in the Adventurer’s Town was also very good.
Recently, immigration from other territories has decreased, but the number of adventurers is increasing again. Because of the territory I received as a reward this time, not only the land but also the number of subjects will likely increase significantly. If that happens, there are various things I want to do again.
“Since I’m receiving it, I have to think about how to utilize it.”
Muttering such things, I welcomed a fun birthday.
Just a few days later, over thirty carriages arrived at the village.
“Lord Van! A lot of them have come!”
“A lot of what!?”
I jumped out of bed at Till’s loud voice first thing in the morning and replied by spinal reflex. Till seemed confused too, flustered as she prepared my change of clothes.
“L-Lady Panamera, Prince Freightliner of the Kingdom of Yelenetta, and also Lord Talga!”
“Eh? Did everyone come together?”
They all live in different places; could such a coincidence happen? I asked back while changing. Till answered while hurriedly helping me dress.
“Since Lord Van declined, there was a ceremony in the Royal Capital to honor the contributors!”
“Ah, that’s it. Come to think of it, that’s right. Ah, Till. You can’t put trousers on over my head.”
“Ah, I made a mistake!”
Despite the chaotic scene, I finished changing quickly, ran out of the Lord’s manor, and headed toward the castle gate.
“Lord Van! Lady Panamera and Lord Talga are waiting!”
“I heard!”
Khamsin came to pick me up, so we joined up and aimed for the castle gate. When we arrived, Dee and Esparda were already attending to Panamera and the others.
“Oh, boy! Long time no see!”
“Lord Van!”
Panamera and Talga noticed me and waved. Even from a distance, Panamera’s splendid figure and Talga’s physique, a head taller than everyone else, stood out. Talga was in the same armor I had seen before, but Panamera was wearing a magnificent bright red cloak.
“Panamera-san! Talga-san! It’s been a while!”
As I ran toward them waving both hands, Panamera held my head down with one hand.
“Boy! I never thought you’d decline His Majesty’s invitation! I accepted the reward on your behalf, you know!?”
Panamera ground her knuckles into my head while laughing heartily.
“I-I’m sorry!”
Recognizing I was at a disadvantage, I apologized immediately. Then, Panamera sandwiched both my cheeks with her hands.
“And to think you became a Viscount so easily! Cheeky! Don’t raise your peerage rank every year!”
“Wow, I’m sorry for that too!”
Panamera was laughing, but it hurt surprisingly. Is this what sumo wrestlers call “tender loving care” (hazing)? As I thought this, Talga looked at Panamera with a wry smile.
“You were also granted the rank of Count, weren’t you? In this military merit, first place is Lord Van, second is Count Ventury, and third is Viscountess Panamera.”
“Count, Count. Call me Count Panamera! That’s right, I finally got my own territory! Boy, you put in a good word with His Majesty, didn’t you!? Well done!”
Raised to an even higher level of excitement by Talga’s words, Panamera hugged my head to her chest. A reward after the punishment? There is nothing happier than this.
As I was thinking that and grinning, Talga bowed his head to me. It was a knight’s bow. Somehow, I sensed the meaning of the bow from his attitude.
“Talga-san, could it be…”
“Yes. Moving forward, I will be entering under Lord Van’s umbrella.”
“Umbrella, is it?”
Not a subordinate? Thinking that, I asked back, and Talga nodded with a wry smile.
“Yes. Thanks to Lord Van, I was granted the rank of Baron for my achievements in the defense of Centena. At that time, I received a proposal from His Majesty, suggesting that I form an alliance with Lord Van as a Baron. Of course, it is not an equal alliance, but one where Lord Van is strictly superior and I am inferior. I shall become Lord Van’s shield to protect you, and his sword to strike down opposing foes.”
Watching Talga announce this solemnly, I laughed, thinking that even as a Baron, he remained a knight at heart.
“An equal alliance is fine. It’s the same with Panamera-san.”
When I said that and waved my hand, Talga relaxed his expression.
“…Thank you. However, that will not do. I have been instructed by His Majesty to support Lord Van, so please use me strictly as a subordinate.”
“Is that so? Ah, come to think of it, Panamera-san seems to have received territory, but what about you, Talga-san?”
Curious, I asked, but Talga shook his head.
“No, I did not receive territory. Only a peerage and funds to establish a Baron house.”
When Talga answered, Panamera shook her shoulders and laughed.
“Incidentally, I received not only a promotion and monetary reward but also territory.”
“I understood already… Ah, where did you get the territory?”
Since Panamera, who was overflowing with excitement, kept harping on about territory, I asked about it. Having waited for that question, Panamera pulled a map from her bosom. Even folded, it was amazing that she could store it there. Astonishing storage capacity.
“Here! This will become my Panamera Count territory! I intend to significantly remodel the castle and townscape, so cooperate with me!”
Saying that, Panamera pointed to a territory within the Kingdom of Yelenetta.
