Fun Territory Defense Chapter 205 (Patreon)

In Succession

Finally, additional housing has been built and parks and other facilities have been developed. The library has been postponed due to lack of books, but the two-story school and hospital have been completed.

Incidentally, while I was building those houses, the only carpenter in Seat Village built a house for me, and it was quite nice. It was a good enough completion, with a handmade feel. With this, we can have one house built every two months or so.

If we can get them to build steadily, we can expect the carpenters to improve their skills, and the number of residents who want to become carpenters will increase. There are already farmlands, trading houses, blacksmith shops, inns, restaurants, etc. Materials such as wood, stone, and metal are not a problem, as they are requested by adventurers. In the future, professions such as teachers, doctors, and nurses should be added there.

There are no garment makers or sewers, but that will come later.

"...Anyway, Seat Village is getting splendid."

I muttered softly, sitting on a bench in the newly built park.

"Van-sama? Did you say something?"

Camsin called out to me from a little distance away, perhaps having caught sight of my muttering. I look up to see Camsin playing on the newly built swing, who is looking at me with a serious face, but continues to paddle the swing with a good amount of vigor.

It must be quite interesting for him to be on the swing for the first time. Gently, Arte also paddles on the swing, but this time he looks like he is enjoying himself.

Incidentally, Tyll was looking at them playing on the swings with deep envy; Tyll must have turned nineteen a few days ago, so why does he look so eager to play? No, though there are times when you want to go back to your childhood.

As I watched the three of them enjoying the park with such thoughts in my mind, a young man of the knightly order came to report from the castle gate as usual.

"Van-sama! The knights are all over the place...what's this?"

"Oh, has His Majesty arrived already? Well, if we are going to invade Jiernetta again, the sooner the better."

I guessed that His Majesty had moved as soon as he heard that the Knights had appeared in Seat Village.

"No, no, no, Van-sama? What is that garden I've never seen before...?"

"Hmm? Oh, you mean the playground equipment? The playground equipment is for children only, and you can't play on it. You have to be below 18."

I answered about the playground equipment, feeling uncomfortable about calling a park with playground equipment a garden. Then, for some reason, even Tyll, along with the group members, froze in shock.

They both looked at me with a face like it was the end of the world, so I decided to change the rule with a wry smile mixed in.

"Well, let's make it nineteen. I guess we'll say that it's forbidden from the age of twenty."

"Yosh!"

"Nice!"

My words made their eyes light up and they squealed with joy. Well, I guess I should be happy that they are happy.

"...Ah, someone arrived, didn't they? I forgot."

Suddenly remembering the group member's report, I sat up from the bench. Then, the group member who came to report nodded with a huff as well.

"Oh, that's right! The Order has at least several thousand people! At the most, it is a large group of about 10,000 people!"

"Oh, a large number."

I nodded again at the report and asked Arte and Camsin to interrupt their swing. Laughing at the three of them who followed us with a backward look on their faces, we headed for the castle gate.

As soon as we reach it, we see a magnificent carriage, the official carriage of His Majesty.

"Oh, Baron Van! It's been a long time, but not that long!"

"Welcome, Your Majesty. I'm glad to see you looking so well."

His Majesty, who seemed to be in a good mood, got out of the carriage while greeting the knight on horseback. Aside from the knight on horseback, the soldiers around him who had probably come on foot looked tired, so I guessed that they must have marched at a very high speed.

Noticing my gaze, His Majesty chuckled and scoffed at his own knighthood.

"It will be about two weeks before we leave this Seat Village. In the meantime, give the elite of the royal capital knights a rest. There are other knights in the back row who have joined us along the way. We would appreciate it if you could provide us with a place where we can rest somehow. Oh, and we'll need a good amount of food, do you have any stockpiled?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I was expecting that we would invade Jiernetta Kingdom within two weeks at the earliest, so I have more than enough stockpiled."

When I replied, His Majesty's brow furrowed and the corner of one side of his mouth lifted.

"...Oh? And how did you arrive at such a conclusion?"

"What? Since you have entered the territory of the other country and caused an important stronghold to fall, the other side would want to recapture it immediately, wouldn't they? On the other hand, the offensive side would like to attack as deep into the enemy's territory as possible before the opponent gives up some of his sacrifices and goes on the defensive completely. Considering the positions of both sides, if we were to attack again, His Majesty would remain in Seat Village, and we could use the various nobles to hasten the reorganization of the Kingdom's army. I feel a little sorry for the soldiers made up of peasants, let alone the regular knights, but even if the reward is increased, it would be in the form of extending the duration of the expedition. That's how important time is now, I thought."

When I answered vaguely, His Majesty looked at me with a strange expression, as if he was chewing out his amusement. Could it be that I made a mistake? Van, you are not even ten years old, so you will forgive me, right?

As I looked at His Majesty with some anxiety, I heard a laugh that made me let out a breath.

"Huh, is this really how a child thinks? You have a wonderful talent for warfare. However, you are still inexperienced as a quintessential warrior. If you have a certain number of people, you can take the tactic of attacking without giving your opponent time to think. However, it is not realistic to fight a battle of tens of thousands of people in a row. Especially when you have to go through the Wolfsburg Mountains."

I nodded in agreement and replied to His Majesty who said so.

"I see. Certainly, it would be difficult if there were tens of thousands of people."

If the expedition continues for a long period of time, the stress will be tremendous. His Majesty must have thought of that aspect as well.

Since a road has been built through the Wolfsburg Mountains, there should be relatively no problem with logistics supply. Seat Village, where not only the Bellrango Chamber of Commerce but also the Mary Chamber of Commerce and the Commerce Guilds regularly come to peddle their wares, is a supply point. Supplies can be replenished later and later.

If I only go there, I can get new weapons and armor, and with the adventurers and the mechanical archery team, I will always be able to eat the meat of the large magic beasts. After all, the problem must be stress.

As I nodded my head in agreement, another member of the group who had been standing guard came running from the castle wall.

"Van-sama! Bell-san of the Bellrango Trading Guild has returned! For some reason, Apollo-sama of the Commerce Guild is also with him!"

"What? Apollo-san?"

I asked in surprise when I heard the report. On the other hand, His Majesty nodded as if it was a matter of course.

"Hmm, the Commerce Guild, huh? They are late."

I turn to look at His Majesty, who mutters, and he looks at me, smiling as if exhaling.

"On the way here, we were joined by a group from the Commerce Guild and the Bellrango Chamber of Commerce, but we left them behind right away."

"Oh, I didn't realize that... I mean, how could you do that so quickly when you're moving at least thousands of people..."

I was taken aback by His Majesty's words, but the person in question, perhaps happy that I was surprised, smiled, showing his teeth.

"Hahaha! Don't underestimate our knightly order, which has been training for a long time for the march. Now, what business does a man from a commercial guild come to see Baron Van? I hope you don't mind if I join you?"

His Majesty uttered a half-hearted comment. To that, even the genius Mr. Van would have no choice but to nod with a bitter smile.