Fun Territory Defense of the Easy-Going Lord - Chapter 135

[Another Viewpoint] Independent Fourth Son

[Jalpa]

I was there before His Majesty and hurried to build a large tent and a temporary resting place. I heard that His Majesty had visited Van before, and he may have been entertained in a collapsed house on that occasion.

However, I could not let such a terrible situation happen when I was going with him. At the very least, we had to prepare a building, even if it was temporary, that was large enough for His Majesty to rest in.

With this in mind, we hastened our march, but near our destination, I started to hear agitation among the soldiers.

Because the roads become narrower as they head toward the frontier, the formation becomes narrower as well as we go, and my position becomes a little further back towards the center of the line. Hence, information from the front of the line did not reach me immediately.

“What’s going on up ahead? Check.”

A tall knight in black armor nodded as he rode by. He was Stradale, a young knight captain in his mid-thirties, with a stern face. Stradale looked at me with wide eyes as and then reported.

“We have received a report from the team ahead of us, but we had to suspend the report because the contents were not clear enough. I’m having them reexamine the report, but if you don’t mind, the report we’re receiving now should be fine.”

“Fine. You can simply tell them what is the point of the report.”

Stradale nodded his head in agreement.

“Ahead of us, there is what appears to be a large building. Geographically, it seems to be part of the territory of Baron Van, which is our destination. However, the walls that should protect it were set up behind the building. Also, the walls are huge and seemingly strong.”

Stradale replied without hesitation. He was a serious man, the very picture of honesty. Probably, he did not want to make an ambiguous report, so he had them reexamine the report.

However, the contents of the report certainly made him suspect that the report was questionable.

“The preceding team should have arrived by now, right? Then I will see it with my own eyes directly, without having to wait for that report.”

“Yes, sir.”

Just as Stradale replied, a loud murmur spread out from the front. Like ripples on the surface of the water, the murmur spread all the way around the carriage.

“I hear there’s a bathhouse that can hold over a hundred people.”

“I hear they’ve built rest facilities outside.”

“I heard there are two towns on the other side of the walls, was that place really a crumbling village?”

I heard such voices and looked out of the carriage to see what nonsense they were talking about.

Then, at the far end of the road, I could indeed see a large building from a distance. It was an unfamiliar building, a perfect square shape. At the back, I could indeed see what looked like castle walls.

“What… is that…?”

I lean out of the carriage, uttering a question. Then, as if on cue, I heard Van’s name.

“Van-sama…?”

“Oh, it’s Van-sama. He looks the same as always.”

“Is that Espada-dono with him?”

I followed the murmurs and saw a child-like figure on the other side of the marching soldiers, at the far end of the road. It appeared that they had come out in small numbers, and the group coming toward us appeared to be only a few dozen or so.

“…No sign of Dee-dono?”

Stradale mutters in a small voice. The honest Stradale and the bold and open-minded Dee were often seen arguing and fighting, but they recognized each other’s abilities. Although they never said it out loud, they may have missed each other since Dee was away.

I remembered that when Stradale heard that Dee had been recognized by His Majesty as a dragon slayer, he nodded his head as if to agree without saying a word.

“Jalpa-sama, Van-sama, is here to see you.”

The Stradale looked at Van, who was already in sight, and was calling out to us.

“He has a peerage now, as well. When he comes here, warn him to kneel in front of the carriage and call out.”

“Yes, sir.”

Stradale replied in awe to my words.

After a few moments of waiting to be called, I could hear Van’s voice coming from outside the carriage.

“I see, so you were a member of the Marquis Jalpa’s entourage! Is the Marquis Jalpa over there? I am sorry for the delay in introduction, I am Van Nay Fertio, the Lord of this land! I am Pleased to meet you!”

I overheard a greeting I had never heard before, and I stood up with a sense of irritation. The greeting didn’t sound like he was greeting a noble at all.

“Jalpa-sama, Van-sama, welcomes you.”

I have no idea if he was purposely making me hear his words from, but the disciplined Stradale did inform me of Van’s arrival.

“…I understand.”

I couldn’t show my narrow-mindedness in front of the soldiers who were also observing our exchange. With anger in my heart, I got out of the carriage. Perhaps under the direction of Stradale, the soldiers had created a space by splitting to the left and right only in front of my carriage. He had about 20 to 30 people with Van, they were kneeling and waiting for me.

Among them was the bowman I have seen in our previous battle with the Jiernetta Kingdom. Espada, with his usual difficult to read face, was also waiting a little behind Van. Always trying to be a butler, Espada would not come forward to talk as long as Van was there. It was nostalgic, but also a little sad.

I looked down at Van, Espada, and the others and spoke.

“…Marquis Jalpa Bull Ati Fertio, Baron Van Nay Fertio. Thank you for welcoming me.”

I replied, and Van looked at me smiling.

“No, no, no, you don’t have to thank us, Lord Jalpa, you’ve come a long way first…I’m sure you’ve had a long and arduous journey. You will be reaching my Seat Village soon, so please enjoy the trip until then.”

“…Hm. indeed, then I will have to let you show me around at that time.”

Van nodded as he listened to my words.