Published: January 13, 2026
With ten armored carriages, we swiftly advanced to the border with the Yelinetta Kingdom and discovered the Kingdom of Scuderia’s army engaged in restoration work around the fortress. It seemed they had given up on the walls and buildings, instead tidying up scattered debris on the ground and moving the corpses of enemy soldiers, horses, and dragons.
The battle must have been fierce. The shape and color of the ground had changed drastically.
“Baron Van Nei Fertio has arrived!”
When I called out to the soldiers stationed at the fortress entrance, one of them ran off shouting loudly. Huh? Should I follow them or wait here?
Suppressing my eagerness, I looked around to assess the situation, and from a building inside the fortress that hadn’t collapsed, His Majesty and other nobles appeared.
“Oh! Well done, Baron Van! Thanks to you, we managed to capture the fortress without a hitch!”
His Majesty greeted me warmly, spreading his arms wide, clearly in high spirits. Behind him were Count Ferdinand and Viscount Panamera, both smiling, while My Daddy wore a sour expression.
Accompanied by Dee, Kamushin, Arb, and Row, I bowed deeply to His Majesty.
“Congratulations on your victory in this crucial battle. I had faith in Your Majesty’s triumph and awaited your return.”
“Oh, oh. You’re unusually well-behaved today. Are you perhaps angry at being called twice?”
Though I had only greeted politely, His Majesty read too much into it. I smiled and shook my head.
“No, no. I am simply sincerely happy for Your Majesty’s victory.”
“Hmm... there’s a strange intensity in your words, but I’ll take them at face value.”
Backing away slightly, His Majesty said that. How rude. I wasn’t thinking about trying to earn favor or land near the border. Now, hurry up and hand over that land.
As I smiled brightly at His Majesty, Panamera stifled a laugh behind me, making a sound like the air leaking out of a balloon. Such suspicious behavior. Could it be that he has his eyes on this land? Very well. If that’s the case, we’ll settle it head-on with rock-paper-scissors.
While entertaining these silly thoughts, His Majesty cleared his throat and glanced around the fortress.
“The reason I had Baron Van come all this way is precisely because, as you can see, the fortress suffered extensive damage in the recent battle. Going forward, the Yelinetta Kingdom will likely commit many forces to retake this fortress, which is a critical defensive point. They may even call for reinforcements from the Central Continent. With that in mind, this fortress must be made stronger than any other defensive base.”
His Majesty then fixed his gaze on me.
“We don’t know how quickly the Yelinetta Kingdom will return. This will be a dangerous site... but it is the most important matter for our kingdom. Baron Van, will you take on this task?”
“Yes, I, Van Nei Fertio, pledge my life to construct the strongest fortress!”
Without hesitation, I answered immediately after His Majesty finished speaking. That must have earned me at least a hundred loyalty points.
“Oh, oh. I didn’t expect such a quick agreement. I shall remember your devoted efforts well.”
His Majesty was clearly surprised by my high loyalty. After saying this, he nodded lightly and turned to the nobles standing behind him.
“You’ve all heard! From now on, half of you will remain here to restore and strengthen the fortress! Achievements and rewards will be announced later at the royal palace! Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
When His Majesty announced the plan, everyone responded in unison. Perhaps they had already decided their roles, as they quickly sprang into action.
Watching this, His Majesty and Panamera approached us.
“So, what are you scheming?”
His Majesty asked, and loyal Baron Van shook his head.
“Scheming? No, no... I intend to devote myself entirely to serving Your Majesty.”
“Ugh, that’s awkward! Be honest. You’re usually the type to show your dislike for troublesome matters on your face, especially on the battlefield.”