Published: January 13, 2026
“They’re here! The caravan!”
“Report to Lord Van! Hurry!”
From atop the city walls, members of the Seato knight order spotted several horse-drawn carriages appearing in the distance and immediately sent out messengers.
The messenger galloped on horseback through Seato village, which had grown significantly larger and filled with many buildings since before.
Outside the lord’s manor, Van happened to be stepping out.
He blinked for a moment but quickly noticed the messenger’s desperate expression and spoke.
“They’ve arrived!?”
“Y-Yes! It’s the caravan!”
“Good! Report to the Bell Rango Trading Company! Also, prepare the ballista! Get the catapults ready too!”
As Van gave his orders, Kamushin and Til jumped up in surprise.
“Lord Van!?”
“Are you planning to attack the caravan!?”
Their faces went pale, but Van nodded solemnly.
“No commercial guild investigators have come before. Let’s just say that… But of course, that’s not the case.”
He gave a troubled smile as he spoke.
“I think it’s better to disclose everything from the start rather than hiding it clumsily. The proud military secret of our Seato village is the ballista and catapults. We’ll show their power as proof that we’re hunting large demonic beasts.”
Hearing this explanation, Kamushin and Til breathed a sigh of relief.
“There’s been so much war lately, I thought Lord Van had turned into a battle maniac…”
“I’m relieved to see Lord Van as usual.”
At their words, Van’s cheeks twitched.
“…There’s a lot I want to say, but the commercial guild’s investigation is important now. Let’s head over.”
Van sighed and led the way, taking the two along to meet the investigation team.
[Van]
Sometimes, I forget that I’m a noble myself. Even when I’m in the lord’s manor, I’m ridiculously busy. Without a doubt, I must be the hardest working in this world—a fragile-looking beautiful boy, Van-kun.
Poor Van-kun.
Thinking such foolish things, I arrived at the city wall.
The gates were already open, and just outside, the investigation team stood dumbfounded in front of the drawbridge.
That said, I couldn’t tell who among them were investigators. There was a caravan likely belonging to the Mary Trading Company, surrounded by many adventurers. Middle-aged men who looked like merchants sat in the driver’s seat.
Scanning the group staring blankly up at the walls, I spoke.
“Hello. I am Van Nei Fertio, lord of Seato village. May I ask your affiliations?”
No response came. Actually, I wasn’t even noticed.
Is it because Van-kun is small that they don’t notice me? Even though I grew five centimeters in a year. If this continues, by twenty years old I’ll be about two meters tall, and by thirty, two meters fifty centimeters. My growth knows no bounds.
Lost in such thoughts to escape reality, Dee, who had been following closely, suddenly shouted.
“I am Dee, the chief retainer and captain of the Seato knight order under Baron Van Nei Fertio! And this is the lord of Seato village, Baron Van Nei Fertio!”
His booming voice turned every head in the investigation group.
Clearing my throat, I introduced myself again. Then, a tall man emerged from the center of a large carriage. He looked to be just under forty, slim, dressed in black attire resembling a suit.
Two women followed him down. One was a red-haired girl, appearing in her mid-teens, dressed elegantly with eyes full of intelligence and confidence. Though young-looking, she was surely an investigator or a high-ranking member of the Mary Trading Company.
The other was a familiar face. Dressed in slightly revealing merchant-style clothes for going out, she was a woman of about thirty. This was Rosalie, the female merchant from the Mary Trading Company’s shop in the Fertio Marquisate’s first city.
While Rosalie quietly bowed in the back, the middle-aged man at the front placed his hand on his chest and smiled like a weary salesman.
“Pleasure to meet you. I am Apollo, an investigator for the commerce guild assigned to the Kingdom of Scuderia.”