Fun Territory Defense Chapter 224 (Patreon)

Preparation and Greetings

Now, we need to make preparations and make the trip comfortable: it will take three weeks to get a large group of people to the capital of the Marquisate of Fertio. Three more weeks would be required to travel from there to the border with Shelbia. A one-way trip of a month to a month and a half would be a tough one.

Therefore, we decided to build a luxurious carriage specially made by Van. The model was the "Citisei," a super-luxury sightseeing train that was popular on Earth in a previous life. By the way, I have never ridden on one. I had only seen images of it on the Internet while thinking that I would like to ride it.

With such a vague image in mind, we started work on the "Cullinan," a super-luxury horse-drawn carriage. The wood block frame is the same as that of previous carriages, but the interior is made of brown wood with a uniform ceiling, walls, and flooring, and the doors and window frames are decorated with gold. The cushions of the deep chairs that can be used as beds are made of black magic beast leather to accentuate the sense of luxury. Incidentally, wooden blinds were installed on the windows, and beautifully decorated lamps were also installed.

Even at a quick glance, the interior is luxurious and gorgeous, as if used by royalty. The outside of the carriage is also decorated in a very particular way. The black lacquered base was decorated with goldsmith's work to create a sense of understated luxury.

As proof of this, Apollo exclaimed in admiration when he saw the newly completed carriage.

"Oh! I was inwardly impatient when I heard that they were going to build a carriage now, but I never imagined that they could make a carriage as good as this in a day!"

Apollo walked around the carriage like a dancer as he spoke these impressions.

If Apollo, who is a member of the Merchant's Guild, the largest guild in the world, and who has probably visited many countries, is surprised, then it must be quite well done. I, personally, thought it was well done, so I responded in a good mood.

"It took me a long time to make it, but I think it's very comfortable. But I think it's very comfortable to ride in."

"No, it was completed surprisingly quickly..."

Apollo looks at the wheels and body of the carriage with some dismay, as if checking its construction. He is looking at the strong body, shock-absorbing springs, and interior as if he is devouring them. As a genuine merchant, he may have been racking his brains to see how much he could sell it for.

While I was thinking about this, Roe, who had been making various preparations, came back.

"Van-sama! We have a change of clothes, preserved food, and various seasonings ready!"

"Yes, thank you!"

Apparently, the most important things for the long journey were ready. I thanked Roe with several wagons in tow, while Camsin and Till quickly went to check on the large amount of cargo on the wagons and were amazed at the volume of it.

"That's a huge amount."

"Oh, and many seasonings! I think I can cook as usual with this!"

Camsin and Till are on tiptoe, their upper bodies on the back of the wagon, shouting. Behind them, Arte opened his mouth with a small laugh while putting one hand over his mouth.

"It would normally be a difficult road trip, but thanks to Van-sama, we will be able to spend it comfortably."

"Yes, it is. Even though it's in the middle of nowhere, we'll be traveling along the roads within Scuderia Kingdom, so there will be less danger."

While I answered Arte in this way, I was actually a little worried inside. After all, this time we would be traveling in small groups. In addition to the fact that Dee and Arv had never been away from Seat Village for a long period of time, Espada would also have to remain in Seat Village, and most of the Knights of Seat would also have to remain behind to defend Seat Village.

This means that they would move in small numbers with only Roe, Arte, Camsin, Till, and the elite of the mechanical archery corps, not to mention the possibility of an invasion from elsewhere, as was the case with the attack on Count Ferdinand's territory.

No, if we think about it calmly, it is difficult to believe that they would attack from a bad place when they have built a fortress city in their own pocket and could march on the royal capital at any moment, but somehow I feel uneasy about moving with a few people.

Well, the situation is much better than when I first came to Seat Village, but perhaps I have become too accustomed to my normal life.

"...Well, this should be ready by the end of the day, so we can leave tomorrow morning. Everyone, have you forgotten anything?"

Till looked back at me with a huff as I said this to Arte, Camsin, and Till.

"Ah! Speaking of which, the members of Apkallu and Dwarf have requested a meeting with Van-sama after hearing that he will be away for a while!"

"What? What? You've been saying that for about three days now?"

"I think I overheard something about that the day before yesterday..."

"You overheard it, right?"

Till seemed to have forgotten to report it to me, and when I responded with a wry smile, he just laughed and said "ehehe" to cover up his mistake.

In the evening, Till reported back to me, and I immediately went to Apkallu and the others.

"Van. I heard you are going to war."

"I wish you good luck and give you this stone."

Lada Vesta and Avtovaz, the Apkallu chiefs, said this with stern faces and offered me some kind of ore. The ore is larger and darker than usual.

"What is that? This is..."

He had received similar ores twice before, but judging from the color and texture, it was probably that rare metal that was even called a legend. When I looked at them with this thought, they gave me a deep nod of approval.

"This is a stone that even we cannot see very frequently."

"We have recently taken to calling it Orihalcum, as we humans do."

I accepted it reverently with a small leap in my heart.

"Thank you. I'll take good care of it."

I received the Orihalcum gemstone as I answered. It was heavy and massive.

With this, that plan will take a step forward.

Yes. The creation of a set of equipment for the brave. Recently, Ortho and his team finally completed the complete set of Mithril's equipment, and because of its uniformity, it did not look at all inferior to the Royal Guard.

Wouldn't it be great if Dee and Camsin were equipped with Orihalcum? 

With this simple idea in mind, we were planning to see if we could get Orihalcum.

As I was excitedly moving to store the Orihalcum at the Lord's mansion, I happened to run into the Dwarfs I was planning to meet next.

When Havel, who was in the lead, noticed us, he raised one hand in a good mood and opened his mouth, then froze.

"Whoa...what the heck!"

"Havel! What are you standing still for!"

Havel stopped, and Dwarf's friends in line behind him yelled. Then, realizing I was there, they smiled, raised one hand, opened their mouths, and froze in place.

Till gushes when he sees that we all froze together, similarly dressed.

"Havel-san and the others look like stone statues."

Perhaps reacting to that voice, Havel and the others reactivated. Then they stare at the ore of Orihalcum held by Camsin with a devilish look.

"Oh, oh, ooooh!"

"That, that, that is Orihalcum ore, isn't it!"

And it's bigger than anything I've ever seen...!

Havel and the others became noisy at once. This is not good.

"Camsin, hide it!"

"Ye, yes!"

"No, it's too late!"