Published: January 15, 2026
Alright!
Tomorrow, the 26th, is the announcement of the Next Light Novel Award 2022!
It’s scheduled to be broadcast from 7 PM, so I’m eagerly waiting with excitement!・:+.\(( °ω° ))/.:+
・YouTube Live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHZECwAHuV4
This expedition will likely last for a long time. Although I haven’t heard His Majesty’s full plan yet, the speed of the invasion must be crucial.
If that’s the case, the nobles cooperating with us will probably be larger in number than ever before.
Since nobles from other regions might come, I have to make sure they get to know the charm of Seato village.
With that in mind, I started sketching a plan in my head to build a hot spring facility by the lakeside. For some reason, a hot spring facility famous from an anime movie where a god stays came to mind, but I have no idea how it’s structured.
So, I imagined a hot spring inn I’ve actually been to. That inn wasn’t adjacent to a lake, but if possible, it might be fun to build it so that it slightly extends over the lake.
If I create a two-story building that’s long horizontally, with an open-air bath on the outer side of the first floor, it would probably give off a great atmosphere.
However, at that scale, it would surely take close to a week. The hot water supply would definitely be insufficient.
“The hot spring inn probably won’t be ready in time, so maybe I’ll build it after everyone leaves Seato village,” I muttered.
Panamera, who was walking ahead, turned to the side and spoke.
“What’s that? Are you worried and want His Majesty to come?”
“No, that’s not it!”
Panamera grinned mischievously and teased me. When I puffed my cheeks in anger, she laughed gleefully.
She was totally acting like a bully. Maybe I should double the price of the weapons we’re going to sell next time as payback.
As I pondered how to get back at her, Panamera raised the corner of her mouth and averted her gaze toward the knights lined up beside the highway. Then she took a breath.
“His Majesty has issued an order! Many knight orders are assembling for the invasion of the Yelinetta Kingdom! During this time, they will camp here in front of Seato village to regain their strength! Also, all senior officers and above should gather here for a meeting about supplies and camping locations!”
Panamera shouted the order loudly. Because it was His Majesty’s command, the thousands of knights immediately followed. Maybe one reason why her voice carried so well was that.
Impressed, I watched Panamera’s leadership in action. Once other nobles and knight commanders assembled, she quickly selected the top fifty and sent them to Seato village. Since the campsite was between the adventurer town and Seato village, we wouldn’t be threatened by demonic beasts.
In Panamera’s case, she might just be thinking that since it’s just camping, they should be cautious of demonic beasts themselves... Well, it’s good that we could handle His Majesty’s sudden unreasonable demands.
While thinking so, Panamera turned back with a mischievous smile.
“So, boy, how far did you get with Miss Arte?”
“Huh?”
Taken aback by the sudden question, I tilted my head. Then I heard a short scream from behind.
“P-Panamera-sama!?”
Arte called Panamera’s name with a trembling voice, her face red as an apple. Panamera burst out laughing and patted my back.
“Ahahaha! Something's going on, isn’t it? How about it, boy? Did I hit the mark?”
“Uh, Panamera-san, are you drunk? Can you stop teasing me for a bit?”
I complained seriously as Panamera laughed and patted my back vigorously, but she didn’t listen at all. Arte was already hiding behind Til, leaving me as Panamera’s only target.
“Don’t be mad, don’t be mad. I was just teasing a bit, right? Hey, let’s have dinner soon. I’d love to hear your stories—it’d be good drinking fodder.”
“Absolutely not. You just want to tease me.”
Amid this banter, we returned to Seato village.
The next day, it was Arte’s father, Count Ferdinand, who arrived. Perhaps because he was more serious this time, the number of knights was greater than before.