Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord

We held a barbecue party, using Arte’s puppet dance as entertainment.

Where did all the initial confusion and fear go?

Everyone happily enjoyed their meal while watching the puppet dance on the makeshift stage.

The puppet danced beautifully on the stage, illuminated by bonfires on all sides.

Arte also looked delighted as she made the puppet dance.

“Is your mana okay?”

I asked, and Arte nodded with a bright smile, sweat glistening on her forehead.

“It’s fine. Compared to moving a mithril puppet, manipulating paper is easy.”

Arte answered excitedly, and indeed, the puppet moved with plenty of vitality.

“Is it the material? If it was difficult because it’s metal, maybe a higher specific gravity makes it harder for mana to flow?”

Questions kept coming to mind.

But for now, I would be satisfied just knowing Arte was happy.

I had to end today as the best night ever—for Arte’s sake.

With that thought, I brought up topics to keep her entertained, and we laughed together late into the night.

The next day, as the villagers groggily headed to work, exhausted and hungover from last night’s excitement, one of the villagers watching the highway reported in.

“Lord Van! Some amazing carriage is coming!”

“An amazing carriage?”

I tilted my head, and Ort’s group, who happened to be passing by, turned around.

“Oh, that’s probably a messenger from the capital city, right? This time they’re a bit late, but usually when there’s a dragon hunt, they send a messenger immediately to check the situation.”

Ort explained, and Pluriel chimed in.

“Ah, maybe it’s because Lord Van became a baron, so there were preparations and paperwork for that letter.”

“And also to check the dungeon.”

Quite a lot going on.

“I see. So it doesn’t seem to be bad news.”

I nodded thoughtfully and mumbled, and Ort and the others raised a hand with a wry smile.

“Sounds kind of interesting, can we watch too?”

“Huh, interesting? Well, sure.”

Though I didn’t quite understand Ort’s reasoning, I agreed.

Hearing this exchange, the villagers and adventurers looked intrigued.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s Lord Van’s ennoblement ceremony.”

“What is Lord Van becoming?”

“He’s a baron.”

“Wasn’t Lord Van from a marquis family?”

“Lord Van himself isn’t a marquis.”

Everyone began chatting loudly, and I groaned alone.

Those guys have gotten pretty bold lately. I don’t mind, but any ordinary noble would be furious.

“Lord Van, will there be a barbecue party when you become a baron?”

“This is the best morning ever!”

Some adventurers started hyping up the barbecue talk on their own. Such free spirits.

“It’ll be at night, though.”

I answered with a sigh, and the adventurers jumped up with joy.

“All right!”

“Lord Van, I’ll prepare the grill for the meat!”

“Where’s the charcoal!?”

“It’s too early!”

I tried to rein in the noisy adventurers, but they didn’t hear a word.

Because the adventurers made a fuss, the villagers also began helping with preparations. I watched as grills, charcoal, and barrels of wine were lined up and gave up.

No good. Those guys are barbecue junkies. Maybe I should set up a rehabilitation center—one where meals are only vegetables and fruits.

While thinking that, the carriage arrived in the village.

Apparently, the royal family’s crest was on the side of the carriage, and I had no choice but to go greet it at the village entrance.

The star-shaped walls were completed, so I just had to go to the main gate. By the way, the ballista hadn’t yet adopted a rapid-fire mechanism and was still a double-shot type.

“Lord Van, maybe you should bring all your subordinates with you...”

Espada’s words made me nod. Indeed, it wouldn’t look dignified for just me, a child, to greet them. I understood and ordered everyone to assemble.

The Seato village knight order lined up with one hundred members, including the ultra-strong rapid-fire mechanical bow unit of fifty led by Dee. Then the Espada knight order of thirty lined up.