Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord

Bell Rango Trading Company branch in Espa Town, Medici Shop.

The main store in Seato Village specializes in buying materials, but aside from that, the branch offers the same selection as the main store.

In other words, it’s very busy. In fact, since it’s the closest to the main road, sales here might even be busier than at the main store.

Peeking inside, I saw that despite the shop being made fairly spacious, it was packed with customers.

No, the number of customers was definitely higher than at the main store. It must be thanks to the beautiful shop owner.

“Are there no more spears left?”

“Sorry, the spears were all sold out the other day…”

“I’d like a shield too.”

“Oh, we do have small shields!”

“No, something around this size, a large one.”

“Sorry, we don’t have shields that big…”

A young employee near the entrance was swamped with customer requests.

When that employee noticed me, their expression suddenly froze.

“Ma-manager! Lord Van! Lord Van is here…!”

The employee called out to the manager with a voice mixed with sobs. Hearing that, the adventurers and villagers who were customers also turned to look this way.

Then, Medici appeared from the back, looking exhausted.

“Ah, Lord Van! Thank you so much for coming! Uh, are you here to deliver weapons or armor today…?”

Medici asked hesitantly, so I honestly denied it without thinking.

“No, that’s not why…”

“A-ah!”

As soon as Medici heard my words, he collapsed to the ground in tears. Pitiful.

“I-I’ll be fine. I’ll make them right away! Here, give me the materials! I’ll make them in no time!”

I hurriedly tried to comfort him, and Medici lifted his tearful face and began to pray.

“Th-thank you, Lord Van…!”

“You’re welcome…”

After responding, Medici stood up and immediately called to the employees.

“Bring the materials! Wood, iron, Mithril, please!”

“Yes!”

Seeing his desperate figure and voice, I thought to myself that this was some kind of war too.

After a while, I gave it my all to make weapons and armor again for the first time in a while. The adventurers lined up excitedly, so I made boxes and a price list, asking them to put the money in there.

“A dagger! Iron is good!”

“Straight? Curved? Single-edged?”

“Uh, well… double-edged and straight!”

“...Alright, something like this?”

“Whoa!? So fast! Amazing! Thank you!”

Driven by momentum, I quickly handled one customer after another. The goal was under five minutes per person.

After about two hours, every customer received their orders.

“I worked hard... I’m not an assembly line worker, you know. What was a baron again? Another name for a factory manager?”

“I’m sorry, I have no idea…”

Tired, I ended up teasing Til. Then, as if the gods were watching, swift divine punishment came.

“Lord Van! I’ve brought them!”

Along with that voice, Ort appeared leading a group of adventurers.

“I want a greatsword and a full set of armor! Oh, and for a shield, a large one with a bit of a curve, please!”

Seeing and hearing his happy face, I slumped in my chair.

Ash. I turned to ashes. Burned out completely white. From now on, call me High Baron Van.

In despair, Van-kun spent the entire day producing weapons and armor.

Well, it’s not like I’m in a rush to join the war, so it’s fine, but this really isn’t baron’s work.

Grumbling, the next day I had a meeting with the Seato knight order.

I gathered everyone in the empty lot of Seato Village and stood on the podium.

Including former residents of a neighboring village and slaves, the knight order had grown to about one hundred people. Well, that was still small, but considering the village population, it was probably too many.

With everyone’s attention, I began to speak.

“Um, knights of the order. This will be the Seato knight order’s first expedition. The destination is the largest nearby fortress city, Scudetto. It is currently believed to be in the middle of a defensive battle.”

When I said that, everyone’s expressions stiffened, especially the villagers and slaves with no combat experience.