Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord

Finally, the additional houses were built, and the park was also completed. The library has been delayed due to a shortage of books, but the two-story school and hospital are finished.

By the way, while I was overseeing these constructions, the only carpenter in Seato Village built a house by himself. It turned out quite nice. It had a handmade feel but was sufficiently well-made. At this rate, we could probably have him build about one house every two months.

If we can get consistent construction work going, the carpenter’s skills will improve, and more residents will want to become carpenters. We already have farmland, trading companies, a blacksmith, inns, and restaurants. Materials like wood, stone, and metal are supplied by adventurers, so there’s no problem there. In the future, we should see professions like teachers, doctors, and nurses appear.

There’s no clothing shop that does sewing yet, but that can wait for later.

“...Anyway, Seato Village is really coming along nicely.”

I quietly muttered as I sat on a bench in the newly completed park.

“Lord Van? Did you say something?”

Kamushin called out from a short distance, noticing me muttering. When I looked up, I saw Kamushin playing on the recently installed swings. He was looking at me seriously but was swinging with quite some enthusiasm.

His first time on a swing must be really fun. Arte was also quietly swinging, and she looked genuinely happy.

By the way, Til was watching the two of them play on the swings with deep envy. Til should’ve just turned nineteen recently, so why did he look so eager to play? Well, everyone wants to feel like a child again sometimes, I suppose.

As I watched the three of them enjoying the park, a young knight from the knight order came running from the castle gate to report as usual.

“Lord Van! There are so many knights... but what is this!?”

“Oh, has His Majesty already arrived? Well, if we’re to launch a renewed invasion of Yelinetta, the sooner the better.”

Hearing that the knight order had appeared in Seato Village, I guessed that His Majesty must have moved quickly.

“No, no, no, Lord Van? What on earth is that unfamiliar garden...?”

“Hm? Oh, you mean the playground equipment? That’s for children, so no playing on it if you’re over eighteen.”

I found it strange they called a park with playground equipment a “garden,” but I answered their question anyway. Suddenly, Til and the knight who came with him froze, shocked.

They looked at me as if it were the end of the world, so I smiled wryly and decided to change the rule.

“Alright then, let’s make it nineteen. So it’s forbidden from twenty years old and above. How’s that?”

“Alright!”

“That’s great!”

Their eyes lit up and they cheered at my words. Well, I suppose it’s good that they’re happy.

“...Oh, someone was coming, right? I almost forgot.”

I suddenly remembered the knight’s report and stood up from the bench. The knight who had come to report also looked startled and nodded.

“Ah, yes! The knight order numbers at least several thousand! It might even be as many as ten thousand!”

“Oh, that’s quite a large force.”

I nodded at the report again, and asked Arte and Kamushin to stop playing on the swings. They reluctantly followed me, their reluctance amusing me, as we headed toward the castle gate.

When we arrived, a magnificent carriage befitting His Majesty immediately caught my eye.

“Oh, Baron Van! Not that it’s been that long since we last met!”

“Welcome, Your Majesty. It’s good to see you in good health.”

His Majesty stepped down from the carriage with a cheerful look. While the knights on horseback looked fine, the soldiers who must have come on foot showed signs of fatigue, so they must have marched at a considerable pace.

Noticing my gaze, His Majesty laughed and gestured toward his knight order.

“We’ll stay here in Seato Village for about two weeks. During that time, please let the elite of the Capital City Knight Order rest. There are other knight orders who joined us along the way in the rear ranks as well. It would be helpful if you could provide a place for them to rest. Oh, and I suppose you’ll need a fair amount of food. Do you have enough supplies?”