「So, Count. There’s something I’d like to ask.」
「Yes! Holy Knight-sama… haa… haa…」
「I’d like a serious answer. How exactly did stories about me and Amilia spread?」
「Yes. What has been passed down is that the third-generation head was killed by minions of the evil god during the march to recapture the royal capital. He was then saved by the two apostles of the gods. After that, he reformed his heart and devoted himself to the people.」
「I see… Hey, Amilia… Is it okay if we tell him?」
「Yes…」
「What is it, Holy Knight-sama, Saintess-sama?」
「Actually…. 」
We told him exactly what had happened back then, that Amilia and I had put on a little performance.
「So that was how it was…」
「Sorry…」
「No! In the first place, harboring rebellious thoughts against the king and slandering Saintess-sama should have brought divine punishment upon me long ago. Yet you corrected my wicked nature and became the very reason my territory has continued to prosper without change to this day! If my heart had remained as it was, the people might have driven me out… Thank you so much.」
「No, well… I just couldn’t stand seeing Amilia insulted… Having it interpreted so grandly is a bit…」
「You defended your wife from slander, didn’t you? Of course it’s natural! And if Saintess-sama herself said such things to me, I would have cut myself down on the spot.」
His eyes were gleaming brightly… Scary…
「I-I see… Hearing you say that actually makes me feel stronger…」
「Yes!」
「Then, let the others introduce themselves as well…」
「Yes. I am, 」
After that, Liliana and the rest gave their self-introductions, but he kept choking up with joy at every single one…
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
「So, Count Daibern. Our departure is likely going to be in about half a month. Will that be all right?」
We were discussing it since the heroes’ training should be wrapping up around then.
「Yes! We will simply camp on a nearby plain!」
「No no. Long-term camping will be hard on the soldiers, won’t it?」
「Not at all! As long as there is resolve, anything is possible!」
That’s exactly the kind of person you shouldn’t say that to… No choice then.
「Noctarl-san, if we gather all the carpenters and woodworkers in the royal capital, how many would there be?」
「Hmm… Using the census from half a year ago, roughly around one hundred and fifty.」
Noctarl-san answered without even pausing. He’s amazing…
「Understood. Starting the day after tomorrow, I’ll build simple lodging in three days. Will that be enough for them to stay for half a month?」
「S-Such a thing! To trouble the hands of Holy Knight-sama!?」
「Hmm… To be honest, I’ve always wanted to try building a small city.」
The trade city of Liberstein that was forced on me when we got married… I really need to start thinking about managing that territory soon too. And honestly, I’ve always wanted to try building a small city of about a thousand people using magic.
「It’ll be a rush job, so it’s going to be really basic, but if the soldiers help out too, I think we can finish it pretty fast.」
Plus, it’ll be good magic practice for Amilia, Selene, and Croco.
「Understood. Our army has people with construction experience, so I’ll select some to assist.」
「Really? That would be a huge help!」
「Hauuu!! Holy Knight-sama’s smile… so noble…」
It’s nice to be appreciated, but… the visuals are just an old man…
「In that case, Noctarl-san, which spot would be okay to build the town?」
I asked while pulling a simple map of the surrounding area from spatial storage (item box).
「If that’s the case, how about here? The underground water source is quite deep, so they gave up on digging a well. But for you, Yuuki-dono, it should be no trouble at all, right?」
「Ugh… Well, I won’t know until I try…」
「It’ll be fine, it’ll be fine! If it’s Yuuki-dono, no problem!」
Noctarl-san laughed heartily. Please don’t say it so casually…
「We’re counting on you! Holy Knight-sama!」
「Do your best, Yuuki-sama!」
「Go for it, Yuuki!」
「Yuuki-san, fight!」
「master, do your best!」
「Well… when everyone says that, I guess I have to try…」
I really am easy to please…
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
「Hmm… What should I do…」
The next day, I was groaning at the planned site.
The place Noctarl-san had chosen was a small hill on a plain.
「So I have to dig from here all the way down to the underground water…」
「What should we do?」
「Hmm… brute force?」
「But Yuuki-san’s brute force is…」
Selene, who had come along, was trembling all over. She was probably remembering the time I used Meteor… Her ears and tail were completely drooped.
「Ah, it’s okay. This time I’m not planning to use that kind of ridiculous power… Probably…」
「Hiiiiii!?」
「Yuuki… how much trauma did you give her exactly…」
「Well… that was more about the spectacle than the actual power, you know… Probably…」
「Even so, Yuuki-sama, Baldor said, 『That was the wrath of the gods… For Demon King-sama to use something like that and still act completely fine afterward… truly a terrifying being…』」
「Seriously…? I thought he was fine with it since he looked totally calm…」
「That was only because he had to maintain the appearance of being one of the Four Heavenly Kings…」
「I see… I see…」
Apparently, it was even more outrageous than I realized… Time to reflect…
「A-Anyway! This time it’s just digging the ground! And if we’re making a well, we have to do it as cleanly as possible!!」
With suspicious looks from everyone, I began the work.
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