The barbecue had been fun, of course—but what I had really been looking forward to was spending a night in a Japanese-style castle.
I couldn’t quite recreate tatami, but the view from the reconstructed tenshukaku and the yagura was excellent, very much like something out of a period drama. And the best part? Those long, creaking wooden corridors and rows of rooms divided by sliding fusuma doors. It was just as I had imagined.
Naturally, I had to test it out. I slid open the fusuma with both hands, stepped into the next room, crossed straight to the opposite fusuma, and slid that open too. Repeat several times and—voilà—I finally emerged onto the long hallway that wrapped around the entire floor.
“Ohhh, now this feels good!”
Honestly, it was frustrating that I was the only one who could appreciate this accuracy. The perfect blend of functionality and beauty, the grandeur and elegance—it was the very image of a Japanese castle. A true masterpiece of architectural artistry.
“…This truly is a mysterious castle,” Till remarked.
“I have never seen anything like it,” Arte said, wide-eyed. “So unique, yet somehow harmonious and beautiful.”
Meanwhile, Kamshin seemed more preoccupied with how steep the staircases were. Fair point. Maybe I overdid it with the angle accuracy.
While we were checking the various floors, Pinin and the other nobles appeared, tiptoeing up the stairs with all the caution of spies sneaking into enemy territory. The moment Pinin spotted me, his shoulders sagged with visible relief.
“O-Oh! Van-dono! To think such a castle could be built in mere hours, and then to this degree…”
“At first, I thought it was merely wooden boards fastened together for show…” another noble muttered, eyes darting suspiciously as he poked curiously at the fusuma.
Apparently, they had assumed I had built nothing more than a stage-prop fortress, a bluff to scare off attackers. Honestly, not the worst idea for stalling an army.
“…M-May we also lodge in this castle?” Pinin asked, adopting an ingratiating tone and—unfortunately—an upward glance that was… unsettling. Still, he was being polite, so I felt inclined to return the courtesy.
I smiled warmly and nodded.
“Of course! I put in a lot of thought to make it as defensible as possible. Please stay and share your impressions!”
That earned me beaming grins.
“Oh! Most gracious!”
“Indeed, the structure is most intriguing!”
“Might we inquire—what other features does it boast?”
The nobles were practically purring with delight. My heart swelled with joy. After all, anyone who could appreciate Japanese castle aesthetics was clearly a good person at heart.
“This castle is designed for defense above all else,” I explained enthusiastically. “The high towers will each be fitted with the latest ballistae. The walls will have protective parapets with evenly spaced openings, so that crossbows and firebombs can be dropped on enemies below. And the staircases are deliberately narrow and steep—so that defenders can stab down from above with spears while making it nearly impossible to climb. I’m also planning on installing improved catapults facing toward the Yerinetta Kingdom’s highway. With all this, even an army with dragons would be stopped cold!”
I got so carried away with my speech that the nobles froze, blinking at me. Uh oh. Did I bore them? Maybe they’d been hoping for some exotic trick, only to hear “standard fortress defense plan.”
Quick! Recovery move!
“Oh, and naturally I’ll be digging a moat around the castle,” I added hastily. “Plus, I’ll link it with the fortress by the Wolfsburg mountains, so we can hold out longer in a siege. Monsters will wander in and conveniently supply us with meat too. And if we set walls and gates at each slope along the path—well, then it truly becomes an impregnable fortress!”
I struck a triumphant pose. The nobles only blinked harder, then lapsed into silence again. At last, Pinin managed a crooked smile.
“…Splendid. Truly splendid. That said, such a project sounds… substantial. When do you expect completion, might I ask?”
Ah. So now they were worried about how long they’d be trapped here.
“Even if I rush, it will take at least a week,” I admitted. “Without your assistance, two weeks. So—may I trouble you all for a little cooperation?”
When in doubt: be humble. That’s the rule. I bowed low. The nobles exchanged nervous glances.
“H-He says… a week…”
“Such power is beyond reason…”
“…I-I for one shall pledge my fealty to Lord Van. First come, first served!”
“Unfair!?”
And just like that, they began squabbling, voices rising as accusations flew. Watching the chaos, I leaned toward Arte.
“…How many do you think will actually stay?”
She tilted her head with a wry smile.
“Most likely… all of them, gladly.”
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