Published: January 13, 2026
The demonic beast attack and its subsequent subjugation marked the shocking climax, bringing the barbecue event to an end.
Well, it was almost time to finish the meal anyway, so that was fine. The leftovers were taken home by everyone as provisions for the next day, and the soldiers expressed their delight.
However, the knights above the rank of commander quickly forgot about the meat and focused their attention here. At the same time, the nobles approached us.
“Lord Van… did you develop a poison so potent that even a scratch can bring down a large demonic beast?”
Viscount Pinin muttered in astonishment. Tilting my head at those words, I set down my teacup filled with tea on the table.
“Huh? I thought my story was somewhat well known… oh no, could it be that I was just overestimating myself!?”
I instinctively looked at Arte for confirmation. If I had been mistakenly thinking Van-kun was super famous, it was incredibly embarrassing. What a disaster. I wished I could just disappear into a hole.
Blushing, I watched Arte’s wry smile.
Then, Pinin opened his mouth with a serious expression.
“...Of course, I had heard rumors even before being summoned to this battle. I’ve also heard you defeated a large dragon. But when I visited the Dwarf forge in the town last time… I thought it was because of those that you achieved such feats.”
“That’s right. I heard you used arrows with terrifying power… but after all, arrows are just arrows, or so I thought.”
Farina nodded in agreement with Pinin’s opinion and responded. Hearing that, I heaved a sigh of relief.
“That’s right. Nobody expects to slay a large demonic beast with arrows. I was surprised myself.”
Laughing as I agreed, Pinin and Farina looked at me with wide eyes, as if the poison had been drained from them.
Then someone burst out laughing.
“Ha... ha ha ha!”
Their laughter was contagious, and soon other nobles and knight commanders also began laughing.
The atmosphere instantly relaxed, and Arte, Til, and Kamushin also eased up.
Pinin and the others hadn’t had a chance to prove themselves in the previous battle—they were placed far behind in the long marching column through the mountains and couldn’t join the fight.
Not having directly witnessed the fighting style of the Seato Village knight order, combined with the abnormal development of Seato Village, made them suspect that His Majesty or Jarpa might have been helping. This fueled their great doubts about Van, a rising noble.
Because of this, even though I was treated as the greatest contributor in the large battle that His Majesty himself joined, they were probably jealous and quietly held resentment toward His Majesty in their hearts.
Yet, whether because of the barbecue event’s power or because they now understood the true capabilities of the Seato Village knight order handling mechanical bows and ballistas before their eyes, Pinin and the others’ attitudes visibly softened.
“No, from the start I thought Lord Van was different.”
“Understandable why His Majesty would personally appoint you.”
“By the way, is it possible for me to purchase that terrifying weapon as well...?”
The nobles suddenly became very humble compared to earlier. Haha, such cute fellows. They’re mostly middle-aged men with beards but somehow look as harmless as pet iguanas. Good, good, eat as much meat as you like.
Smiling with a joking thought like that, Pinin looked at me seriously and spoke.
“Lord Van… to be honest, I had underestimated you as a child. Because of that, even after seeing the developed towns in your territory, I assumed His Majesty or Marquis Fertio must have lent a hand… but deep down, I understood. I comprehended it.”
Muttering that, he looked up at the freshly completed Kumamoto Castle and narrowed his eyes.
“If something like this can be built in front of me in less than a day, I have no choice but to believe it.”
When Pinin laughed saying that, the other nobles also laughed along.
At that moment, Dee returned from the city walls where he had been for the demonic beast subjugation, and he spoke.