Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord

After a journey of a month and a half, I finally set foot in the capital city again after a long time.

My family has been knights for generations, so I was originally born in the capital city. However, as soon as my aptitude for four element magic was recognized, I was invited and handed over to the Count Ferdinand's Domain, which offered the best conditions.

It had been eight years since I left home. I endured treatment that made me want to die, studied by cutting into my sleep, and became a squad leader.

My first battle was repelling a bandit group. I burned most of the bandits to ashes there.

Due to that achievement, at the mere age of sixteen, I became a unit commander. In Count Ferdinand's Domain, each magistrate or vassal below a viscount organizes a knight order, and in times of crisis, they must crush any enemies under the command of the count's knight order.

I belonged to that count's knight order.

After surviving two or three battles and gaining military merits, I participated in the war against the Yelinetta Kingdom, where the squad I led performed excellently.

As a result, I became a noble.

Six years later, I was promoted again and became a viscount, so I have had the honor of audience with His Majesty twice at the royal castle.

On those occasions, His Majesty was greatly pleased with my accomplishments and promised to recommend me for entry into the kingdom's largest and strongest Royal Guard.

From that moment, I felt that His Majesty valued martial strength above all.

Therefore, holding the symbol of martial power—the materials of a dragon—in one hand, I requested an audience with His Majesty.

Although I was told the earliest possible date would be the next day, upon informing them that I had slain the forest dragon, I was granted an audience just two hours later. Someone else was postponed to the next day, but that was inevitable.

"This way."

A knight said as he walked ahead. My subordinates and Rango were waiting outside, but the city was probably already in an uproar.

Smiling to myself at the thought, I followed the knight’s guidance down a needlessly spacious and luxurious corridor toward the audience chamber.

The double doors of mithril, gold, and silver were so exquisite that one would hesitate even to touch them. The beauty of the decorations aside, the doors themselves were large and imposing because of the high ceiling.

"Are you familiar with the etiquette of an audience?"

"No. This is the third time."

I answered, and the knight lightly lowered his chin and placed a hand on the door.

"My apologies. Then, into the audience chamber."

As he said this, the knight lightly knocked with his fist. The doors opened with a heavy sound from the inside.

The chamber had a high ceiling, with pillars and knights lined up in order. A gigantic chandelier and magic ore lamps illuminated the room. Thick red evil tiger pelts covered the floor.

For minor nobility from small countries, merely stepping into this audience chamber would be enough to intimidate them.

Stepping on the massive tiger pelt said to rival dragons, I advanced through the chamber. It felt good to walk while all the knights' gazes were on me, but being ordered to kneel fifty meters away from His Majesty was not amusing.

There, reclining in a large chair made from dragon bones and fangs, mithril, and red evil tiger pelts, was the middle-aged king, Dino En Zola Berlinate. He ascended the throne at sixteen and achieved a significant military reform in just twenty years, wielding far greater military power than his predecessor.

That reform focused on merit-based officer recruitment. Commanders must be from noble bloodlines to prevent betrayal and maintain proper command chains.

Therefore, all subordinate officers under the commanders were hardened veterans. This was the military reform His Majesty devised.

This reform took time, effort, and spilled much blood.

Until then, being born into a noble family meant a deputy or officer role in the knight order was guaranteed. That was why incompetents led troops.