Published: January 12, 2026
The name of Dee, the strongest knight and dragon slayer, quickly spread among the adventurers who came to Seato village.
The adventurers were filled with fear, to the point that they would greet Dee whenever they saw his face.
"Lord Dee, good day!"
"Thank you for your hard work!"
"Hello there!"
Are you guys from the baseball club or something?
I nearly blurted that out, but well, since it seems like security will improve, I decided to keep quiet.
"You lot, if you cause trouble, I won’t forgive you."
"W-we won’t! We don’t want to get cut down!"
Dee’s words carried tremendous weight.
On the other hand, it seems I, as a child lord, am being regarded with amusement.
“Lord Van, is there a place nearby where we can buy weapons?”
“There’s a merchant named Bell in the village.”
“Thanks a lot!”
The adventurers casually approached and asked. Some even asked rather probing questions.
“Lord Van, why are you in such a remote area?”
“I was kicked out of my home.”
“Eh, poor Lord Van.”
“Right? Nobles can be harsh.”
“Lord Van, you know some difficult words.”
“That’s because I’m a lord.”
With such surprisingly friendly conversations, the adventurers quickly adapted to this land.
Seeing this, Ort and the others half-opened their eyes and spoke.
“...When did so many competitors show up...?”
“Huh? Ort, when did you guys get back?”
I turned to ask, and Ort groaned with an indescribable expression.
“...We lingered too long exploring around the dungeon and just got back. So, with this many adventurers here, Kusala must have reported...?”
“Yeah. She’s back. And she brought a beautiful woman with her.”
“Huh?”
Ort and the others widened their eyes. Pluriel poked her head out from the side, tilting her head with suspicion.
“Kusala brought a woman?”
“No way.”
As heartless words were muttered among the group, Kusala appeared riding a carriage.
“Oh, gentlemen. You were late, so I was thinking of checking on you. The guild’s investigator and staff arrived a day late. Shall we start exploring the dungeon tomorrow?”
Kusala said this with a smile. From the edge of the carriage’s canopy, Flamilia revealed her face.
“Um, Lady Kusala?”
Flamilia called out gently. Kusala smiled awkwardly and nodded.
“Ah, yes. This here is Miss Flamilia Stratos, who traveled with me from the capital city to this village. And this one is my adventurer comrade.”
Kusala introduced each person, and Ort and the others stared in astonishment.
“I was going to help out, but since you just got back, no need to go today. Let’s do our best tomorrow.”
She said with a wry smile, then turned the carriage around.
“Well then, we’ll stay at the inn. See you tomorrow.”
“Ah, then, please excuse us.”
Kusala gave a triumphant farewell, and Flamilia bowed politely. We all watched their departing forms in a daze, then everyone looked at me.
“Lord Van?”
“Did we just dream that?”
“What on earth was that?”
Hearing such comments, I recalled the words Til, Kamushin, and Arte had told me.
“They say you bravely saved them from an orc attack. It’s no wonder they rely on you as a hero.”
“Hero...”
“Kusala did...?”
I nodded knowingly at the bewildered Ort and others. But the fact remains a fact. I must accept it.
“So, maybe I’ll build a small house for Kusala and Flamilia. Would it be okay to build it right next to here?”
“T-to think that will be their new home...!”
“Damn it, why didn’t I go to the capital city instead of Kusala back then...!”
I could hear the men lamenting. For now, best to leave them be.
Thinking so, I turned to the calmest-looking Pluriel.
“So, what’s the dungeon like?”
“Huh? Oh, about the dungeon. There haven’t been many demonic beasts coming out around it. The entrance is near steep cliffs and is a very dangerous spot even within the forest.”
“Deep cliffs?”
“I think quite deep. The entrance is cave-like, wide enough for two people to enter side by side. We went inside once to see if it was a cave or a dungeon. With stairs, first-floor pillars at the entrance, glowing magical crystals on the walls and ceiling inside, it’s definitely a dungeon.”