Published: January 13, 2026
【Yelinetta Soldiers】
A strange pair appeared on the hill. Upon receiving the report, the Second Knight Order in charge of the lookout hurriedly climbed the castle walls.
“Could it be that they came through the Wolfsburg Mountain Range?”
When asked about the gathering location, that was the first thing that came out of their mouths. The others around them nodded seriously as if thinking the same.
“It’s not like it’s our knight order returning, right?”
“They say there’s no sign of a Wyvern, but how did those two get through the mountains?”
“Are they skilled adventurers? But still, just two people...”
The comrades all said things like that while climbing the castle wall and went to confirm the situation. When they arrived at the scene, most of the knight order had already assembled. The upper part of the castle wall was designed wide enough for soldiers to line up in three rows and ready their bows. So many soldiers had rushed here to check the situation that the space was filled.
“Hey, hey, what’s with this formation? If you gather here without thinking about your posts, the sergeant will tear you apart.”
I couldn’t help but be exasperated, but in the end, I became part of the crowd myself. I stretched to look at the outside scenery through the space between the heads of the soldiers in front.
Sure enough, there were two human figures on the hill—a large man and a child. They wore armor, but no matter how you looked at them, they didn’t seem like adventurers. Nor were they likely scouts from the knight order. A child like that couldn’t possibly have passed through the Wolfsburg Mountain Range.
So then, who exactly were they? It felt like seeing ghosts. Perhaps everyone shared the same unease, because despite the large crowd, not a single whisper could be heard.
At that moment, the sound of footsteps clashing like metal came running up.
“What the hell are you all standing around for!? Suspicious people have appeared...!”
The knight commander of the Second Knight Order, Steier, ran over with an expression full of urgency, clutching his helmet under his arm. His booming voice resonated in our stomachs, making everyone straighten their backs. Steier shook his thick beard, donned his helmet, pushed through the front line of soldiers, and stood at the edge of the castle wall.
Then, blinking as he looked at the two figures on the hill, he quickly regained his composure, as expected of a knight commander, and opened his mouth toward them.
“...I ask you! This is an important outpost at the westernmost edge of the Yelinetta Kingdom! What business do you have here? Please state your purpose!”
He questioned them in a clear voice. Hearing this, the two on the hill lifted their heads. The child spoke first.
“Uh, I am Baron Van Nei Fertio of the Kingdom of Scuderia! We’ve come to build a fort today... Ah, should I not have said that? Is this going to cause trouble later?”
He was apparently a noble lord. The child who claimed to be the baron looked anxiously at the man standing beside him after introducing himself. The man shook his head lightly in denial.
“No, Lord Van’s name will soon be known here in Yelinetta anyway. It’s just a matter of sooner or later.”
When the man said that with a smile, the child named Van shrugged his shoulders and sighed.
“Can’t be helped... I’ll just own it.”
Van said this with a sigh and then raised his face again. Standing before a massive enemy fortress and a large knight order, he showed no sign of fear whatsoever. What is with that child?
Knowing their true identity only increased the sense of unease.
Van paid no mind to our feelings and spoke again.
“Uh, let me greet you properly! I am Van Nei Fertio, Baron of the Kingdom of Scuderia! We have come to build a fort on this hill today! Once it’s done, we will leave! We’ll leave immediately! If you have any questions, please visit the village of Seato in the Kingdom of Scuderia later! Now, we will begin construction!”