Published: January 17, 2026
The letter’s content was as expected: another envoy from the Fiesta Kingdom had appeared in Marquis Rosso’s territory. However, it seemed the envoy was not Tran, which was the only unexpected detail and somewhat concerning.
More pressing, though, was the current situation of Yard and Sesto.
I quietly gathered information from the knights of the Marquis Fertio family who had accompanied Sesto. The Fertio family had fallen into a crisis, and Yard and Sesto were scrambling to take responsibility and manage the situation.
“...Just between us, some knights are wondering if they can join Lord Van’s knight order. Of course, most believe that fleeing when one’s lord is in danger goes against the spirit of chivalry. But, as for me, the defensive battle at Centena last time was so striking. Like the Border Knight Order, our knight order suffered over a thousand casualties. Meanwhile, Lord Van’s order had no losses at all, and Viscount Panamera’s knight order also suffered barely any casualties...”
“Ah, it’s Count Panamera, you know. If you don’t call him ‘Count,’ he gets really mad. But if you call him ‘Lord Count,’ he becomes super cheerful.”
“O-oh, I’m sorry. I’ll be sure to remember that.”
That’s how I received information from the captain of the Fertio knight order. By the way, Sesto wasn’t being lodged at the lord’s manor but was instead crammed into the top floor of the Kusala Hotel. I heard from Flamilia, Kusala’s wife, that he himself did not want to come out and was locked away in his room.
“...So Yard serves as the liaison between the Marquis Rosso family and the Wang family, and Sesto is the liaison between the Marquis Fertio family, the Wang family, and Lord Van, right?”
Til murmured with a complicated expression, and Arb and Row crossed their arms, groaning.
“It’s complicated because we’ve known Lord Yard and Lord Sesto since they were children.”
“Do children of high nobility usually end up with roles like that?”
“Maybe it’s a desperate measure to at least improve the impression they make on His Majesty?”
Hearing Til’s murmur, Arb and Row exchanged looks that said, “We just don’t know.”
For someone who worked for the Marquis Fertio family, this crisis threatening the family’s status must be difficult to bear. However, Dee and Espada seemed no different than usual.
“Indeed! It’s concerning, but for now, our duty is to give our all as Lord Van’s subordinates! Yard and Sesto are still teenagers! Besides, the Fertio knight order still has Stradale! The once mighty Marquis Fertio family will surely rise again!”
Dee said with a hearty laugh, and Espada quietly nodded at those words.
“Lord Jarpa is still in his early fifties. Yard and Sesto have a decade ahead of them. With good experience and learning, they will surely grow significantly.”
Both spoke with the calm confidence of veterans. Though, in reality, it was basically saying Yard and Sesto were inexperienced for now.
I chuckled wryly at everyone’s demeanor just as a visitor arrived at the lord’s manor.
“Lord Van! Do you require an escort?”
“Ort, what’s the matter?”
It was Ort, currently the strongest adventurer in Seato Village. Pluriel was behind him. They should have been away tackling the dungeon since returning to the village, but perhaps they returned at just the right time.
Curious, I asked, and Ort bowed with excitement.
“Please! If this escort mission succeeds, please pay me in weapons!”
“Huh?”
I tilted my head at Ort’s sudden request. Then Pluriel, standing behind him, furrowed her brows apologetically.
“Sorry, our leader... was clearing the dungeon, but a really tough demonic beast appeared on the deepest fifth floor.”
When Pluriel said that, Ort snapped his head up eagerly.
“Half a day! We fought for half a day without food... We were so close to victory...!”
Ort clenched his fists, trembling in frustration. It was clear he was very upset. Well, the Mohican adventurers had said dungeon clearing was tough, so it was understandable. They prepared everything from food to consumables and spare armor and weapons to stay in the dungeon for several days, and deciding when to advance or retreat was a matter of life and death. Many stories tell of challengers collapsing on the way back after pushing to the dungeon’s deepest parts. It truly is a terrifying place.