Published: January 15, 2026
【Talga】
Lord Van is an exceptional lord. I had thought I fully understood that. However, somewhere deep in my mind, the fact that he was still a ten-year-old boy must have lingered.
I couldn’t quite discard the notion that he simply had an astonishing level of knowledge and initiative for a ten-year-old.
But that idea was shattered in an instant.
I myself was not merely guarding a fort. Fortunately, having earned military achievements in the Capital City Knight Order and gained His Majesty’s favor, I was able to rise through the ranks at an unimaginable pace. I had been entrusted with the great responsibility of defending a crucial base. Achieving this could even lead to an appointment as the magistrate of a small town.
With that in mind, I had thought I was learning much while maintaining the base. Since the capital had sent not only knights but also a civil official, I believed my daily lessons were fulfilling.
Yet, Lord Van’s knowledge and way of thinking were in a league of their own.
Even a single phrase Lord Van casually uttered made that clear.
“There’s a saying like, ‘No people, no country,’ right? So, I think making the territory a place where everyone living there enjoys life is the most important. Provide proper clothing, food, and shelter, give people places to work, and then prepare perfect defense facilities aiming for a peaceful territory. If you do that, naturally, the people living here will trust their lord, don’t you think?”
Lord Van said this as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. How many nobles would sincerely agree with such words? Perhaps it was a coincidence, but among the nobles I had met so far, very few seemed to think like Lord Van.
Moreover, Lord Van responded so accurately to the requests of the common folk as if he had once lived as one himself, even building facilities that far exceeded their expectations. Such fresh ideas and knowledge are simply not something a ten-year-old boy could possess.
The towns Lord Van created are not only neatly organized but also structured with remarkable efficiency. He repeatedly emphasized the importance of hygiene, and as part of that, the sewage system, large communal baths, water collection, and boiling devices he had installed were unlike anything I had ever seen.
Seato Village and the adventurers’ town, equipped with these, were indeed comfortable and maintained in a clean state. Thanks to attention to hygiene, few villagers fell ill, and the overall atmosphere of the territory was bright.
Supporting the idea that Lord Van’s way of thinking was correct, the efficient construction of the territory and improved living standards of the people seemed to maintain a generally high level of productivity.
“Lord Van! We’ve got delicious vegetables!”
“Lord Van, Apcaluru and the others caught some fish!”
“Lord Van, how about holding a barbecue party soon?”
Walking through the territory, residents called out to Lord Van one after another. At first, I thought it was a coincidence, but apparently, this was the usual sight. Lord Van’s governance enriched the lives of the people and contributed to building their trust.
It was wonderful and definitely worthy of being a reference, but there was still more about Lord Van’s life that astonished me.
“Hmm! You can’t cut if your stance is so timid!”
“But our builds are so different! I can’t face you head-on!”
“If you can do that, you’re a full-fledged swordsman!”
“No way!”
During morning training, Lord Van was whining as Dee pushed him hard. Finally seeing a glimpse of his childish side, I felt somewhat relieved, but Dee cheerfully looked back at me.
“Hmm. Talga, would you kindly teach Lord Van a move? It would be good practice for him.”
“A sparring partner?”
Surprised by Dee’s words, I asked again. Dee shook his head and smiled broadly.
“No, a mock match.”
“W-w-me? Of course, I don’t mind, but the difference in build is huge…”
I found myself looking down at Lord Van’s head. He was barely half my height. The height difference was so great that it wouldn’t even be a proper practice. Our muscle strengths were also completely different, so I doubted he could even block my sword strikes. Setting aside that it wouldn’t be much of a workout for me, from Lord Van’s perspective, this was almost bullying.