Fun Territory Defense of the Easy-Going Lord

I continued rebuilding buildings day in and day out for two weeks. The cityscape was almost complete in a period much shorter than planned. This was thanks to not only the Seatoh Village Chivalric Order, the Panamera Chivalric Order, and the Cayenne Chivalric Order, but also the adventurers who eagerly gathered materials.

Good grief, what have they done.

Thanks to that, the genius boy Van, who just became a Viscount, ended up building houses from morning until night (ban). Just for Van.

By the way, that was a high-level technique playing on “Van” and “Ban”.

“…Haa, I’m tired.”

Thinking of silly things due to fatigue, I muttered a small complaint.

“Good work.”

Arte, sitting in the chair right next to me, offered words of appreciation. Then, Till quietly poured warm tea into the cup placed on the table.

“Thank you.”

Thanking the two of them, I picked up the cup and brought it to my mouth. While enjoying the mellow aroma and slightly sweet flavor, I gazed at the scenery. The sun was setting, and the sight of the sky turning red little by little lined up with the reddish brick roofs looked very fantastical. It was as if the sky and the city were merging.

Many residents were sitting at tables and chairs specially set up on the city walls for the unveiling of the completed Fortress City Cayenne, and children were clinging to the parapets of the wall, cheering.

By the way, I built a raised platform in the prime seat right above the main gate where Cayenne Castle can be seen directly in front, and Panamera, Zetros, and their groups, as well as the Van party, were sitting around a table there. The main street stretched straight from Cayenne Castle, illuminated by the setting sun, to the castle gate, and three-story buildings with matching designs were lined up at equal intervals.

This is the result of aiming for a cityscape that lets one feel tradition and history properly while being a brand-new and clean city. Thanks to widening the roads, we were also able to plant small roadside trees. I am happy that this has been quite well received.

“…It is a wonderful cityscape.”

“Yes, there surely aren’t many cities as beautiful as this.”

Thomas and Zetros also praised it without reservation.

This might be tooting my own horn, but I feel I was able to create a very good landscape.

“…Excellent work, Boy.”

Suddenly, Panamera muttered that quietly. Turning around, I saw Panamera, legs crossed and elegantly bringing a teacup to her mouth, gazing at the city with a satisfied face.

“I did work hard, after all.”

When I answered with a wry smile, Panamera nodded deeply.

“…It has become a wonderful city, exceeding my expectations. I am looking forward to calling my parents here.”

“Eh? Parents?”

Surprised by Panamera’s deeply emotional words, my inner voice leaked out. At those words, Panamera’s eyes narrowed sharply like blades.

“…Of course, I also have a human father and mother. Is there something you cannot accept?”

Being asked in a low, menacing voice, I instinctively straightened my back.

“N-NO, THAT IS NOT THE CASE.”

“…Well, fine.”

Panamera muttered that with a sigh and gazed at Cayenne Castle colored by the sunset. With Panamera exuding a somewhat sentimental atmosphere, I somehow hesitated to speak.

Perhaps Zetros and the others felt the same; they were silently watching Panamera, who was narrowing her eyes and exuding a fleeting atmosphere.

No, it really is rare. If only her clothes were different, she would have the atmosphere of a sheltered young lady. I will probably never see such a scene of Panamera again. I must burn this image into my eyes while I can.

“…I feel a malicious gaze?”

“Gulp.”

I inadvertently reacted honestly to Panamera’s monologue, which seemed to have read my thoughts. Raising the corner of her mouth at that, Panamera turned around.

“You are too honest, Boy. A noble is someone who ensures their emotions and thoughts are not perceived.”

Even you show it on your face immediately when you get angry, Panamera-san. I thought that, but now is not the time to talk back. Judging so, I nodded meekly.

Looking sideways at me, Panamera laughed as if exhaling.

“Fufu, well, fine. I am in a good mood today.”

Panamera said that in a good mood. With slow movements, she turned her face toward the castle again and shifted her eyes to the sky. The sun was gradually setting, and the sky above was becoming dim. Deep orange and deep blue mixed together, and stars began to twinkle as if coloring the dark sky.

While the beautiful castle was becoming just a silhouette, Panamera muttered quietly.

“It is a commemorative day. Shall we admire the castle a little longer?”

Saying that, Panamera muttered something quietly and reached one hand toward the night sky. Then, she snapped her thumb and index finger to make a sound.

“Firefly.”

The moment Panamera chanted that, countless fireballs were released from her fingertips into the sky. The sight of many fires as small as fingertips rising into the sky was very fantastical.

“Wow…!”

Children’s cheers echoed in the night sky.

The next moment, the fireballs that had soared high into the sky flared up and burst all at once. Countless deep orange flowers appeared in the night sky.

At the beautiful yet powerful fire magic, not only children but also adults were surprised, and applause erupted a moment later.

The sky was dyed red, and the scenery of the castle and the city emerged brightly again.

“This is magic I created when I was a child, thinking I wanted to increase the stars in the night sky. It might be strange for me to say it myself, but I had quite a cute personality back then.”

Panamera muttered that, laughing self-deprecatingly.

I was driven by the urge to retort various things to those words, but as a result, the night sky was indeed beautifully colored and the residents were happy, so I quietly nodded.