Published: January 17, 2026
【Rosso】
I had heard the rumors. Ever since I heard that the fourth son of the Marquis Fertio family was granted a noble title before the war with the Yelinetta Kingdom fully began.
They said Van Nei Fertio was a prodigy. From a young age, he showed glimpses of his talent, but lacking the blessed aptitude for magic, he was sent off to a remote area within the marquisate.
However, Van blossomed there. Though I thought it exaggerated, with only a few subordinates and about a hundred villagers, he developed the village and even defeated a dragon ascendant. There are stories that His Majesty personally confirmed this, and the rumors have been verified as true. From subsequent heavy responsibilities and conversations with nobles who fought in the war, it seems Van’s talent lies in extraordinary production-type magic and foresighted tactical planning.
The idea and courage to build a temporary fort in the Wolfsburg Mountain Range, where it was said impossible to construct a fort, and that too right before the eyes of the Yelinetta Kingdom’s forces—this is not something even seasoned veterans could easily accomplish. From other battlefields, the tales of Van’s exploits seemed as if I was hearing parts of a legendary hero’s story.
Now, this Van himself came to visit my territory. Even if the reason was to tour and investigate a large ship from the Fiesta Kingdom, I was genuinely pleased by Van’s visit. Meeting him, he really looked like a young child, yet still.
I wondered what impression this boy would form after seeing a ship from an unknown country.
But then…
“...This is unexpected.”
Looking at the detailed blueprints spread before me, all I could mutter was that. Everything was beyond my imagination. Seeing the materials prepared by that child, I found myself completely overwhelmed.
“Sir Van, could we build a prototype ship based on this? Lord Tran will likely return in about one or two weeks. If we construct it secretly and launch a prototype ship, wouldn’t that be worthwhile?”
When I said that, Van showed a slight gesture of thought. The adults with noble titles including myself fell silent, waiting for Van’s statement. This was proof that we recognized Van as a full-fledged head of a noble family. Even Panamera, who treats him like an older sister teasing a beloved younger brother, stayed quietly without making a sound to avoid disturbing Van’s contemplation.
After a few seconds, Van quietly opened his mouth. Everyone fell silent, concentrating on hearing his first words.
Amid that silence, Van spoke calmly.
“Would it be bad to build a trial ship and have Mr. Tran see it?”
“...What?”
I asked back genuinely confused by Van’s suggestion. But the others seemed to understand the meaning of Van’s words.
“...Boy, wouldn’t that make Lord Tran overly cautious toward the Fiesta Kingdom?”
When Panamera said this, Talga lowered his chin and spoke.
“Exactly. If possible, we should not reveal Lord Van’s magic until absolutely necessary, in my humble opinion.”
Talga, who had just recently become a baron, understood what Van meant and answered accordingly. Indeed, if we took Van’s words at face value, those concerns would be natural. But this is the first large ship ever built afloat in this country. Achieving that while Lord Tran is still here is unimaginable.
“...Sir Van, isn’t this different from making a fort? Surely it’s not that simple…”
“Oh, of course, I’m not saying we’ll make the finished product immediately. Just a trial run. Maybe we can only manage to float it for now.”
“That’s true, but…”
While responding confusedly to Van’s casual words, Panamera crossed her arms and muttered.
“...Your Excellency, what would you think if Viscount Van could build a ship in just a few days? Would it be wise to show that to Lord Tran?”
Hearing such a strange question, I nodded hesitantly.
“Honestly, I don’t think it’s that easy. However, if he could build a ship, well... The Fiesta Kingdom already sends ships abroad. Eventually, Van’s abilities and achievements will become known. In that case, it might be advantageous to deliberately share partial information upfront. The two biggest advantages would be earning the trust of the Fiesta Kingdom and intentionally spreading information that limits perceptions of Van’s true abilities.”