There weren’t enough hands. Not even close.
Thinking that, I watched the defensive training led by Dee.
“Left! Your judgment is too slow! You haven’t accurately gauged the enemy’s effective range! If they can strike at the same distance as us, then the only factors left are precision and speed! Focus on speed and accuracy!”
“Yes, sir!”
I had appointed Murcia as the acting commander of the stronghold, but there was no way I could simply leave the Ceat Village Knights, who had never been led in battle, in his hands and walk away.
So, for the time being, Dee and Arv stayed behind to assist in maintaining the knight squad. Among the knights currently in training were also those from the Marquis family under Murcia’s command. There were about a hundred of them. Oddly enough, even the adventurers who had come along as guards were being trained by Dee.
I glanced at the scene out of the corner of my eye and turned to Rango, who had climbed up to the keep. He was looking around with an expression of curiosity, completely transformed into a tourist.
“Uh… have all the supplies been brought in?” I asked.
Rango snapped his attention to me with a start.
“Yes, sir. As instructed, we’ve delivered ten wagons’ worth of supplies, including preserved food, seasonings, and alcohol. We also brought clothing, so I believe there’s no issue regarding basic needs. However, weapons and armor are not included. Is that acceptable?”
“I made those while waiting. There are plenty of arrows for the ballista, so we should be fine on that front,” I answered.
“As expected of you,” Rango said with a wry smile, nodding.
Then, as if he suddenly remembered something, he pointed to the floor and spoke.
“Oh, right… Van-sama. Congratulations on acquiring your new territory.”
I couldn’t help but smile at Rango, who had forgotten the greeting he should have said first. I made a troubled face, thinking how Bell would scold him for that.
“That’s great and all, but the problem is we’re short on people. I’d guess Ceat Village has over three thousand residents, but we probably need about a thousand people here too… For defense, we want at least a thousand to two thousand knights, but with our current numbers, we can only station around three hundred. And I can’t reduce the village’s defense either.”
I massaged my temples, thinking over the dilemma.
Rango replied casually, as if it were nothing.
“From what I understand, around five hundred people were added while you were away, but even that isn’t enough. If it’s urgent, how about purchasing more slaves? If they work in Ceat Village, they’d be happier than being bought elsewhere. They’d likely be grateful as well.”
“Hmm… really? Won’t people start thinking Van loves slaves too much? It doesn’t seem like a good image to have, buying a bunch of them,” I said honestly.
Rango let out a faint laugh and waved his hand vaguely.
“No, no. That used to happen frequently a few years ago. Whenever the Scuderia Kingdom expanded its territory, a flood of war slaves, orphans, and debt slaves appeared. And with new lands, there were many places lacking labor. Buying slaves to provide manpower was normal in those cases.”
“So basically, that’s me right now. Huh… so maybe there are more slaves because we’re fighting the Yerinetta Kingdom? People taken as prisoners of war or something?”
Curious about the current state of slavery, I asked, and Rango tilted his head with a serious expression.
“…Well, it seems we did gain a fair number of slaves during the recapture of Scudetto and the defense of the Ferdinant counties, but I wouldn’t recommend using those war slaves. Both Ceat Village and this stronghold will likely be frontlines against the Yerinetta Kingdom, and considering potential betrayal, it’s safer not to purchase them. It’s better to consider those who were kidnapped—debt slaves, thieves, bandits, that sort of thing.”
“I see… then I’ll pick good, trustworthy slaves. Also, if there are traveling merchants going back and forth between Ceat Village and this fortress, could you let me know?”
“Understood… By the way, is the stronghold’s name officially ‘Fortress City Murcia’? If I recall correctly, Van-sama, you have a family member named Murcia…”
“Yes, yes. Murcia-nii is the acting commander here. We’re also in the process of forming the Murcia Knight Squad,” I explained.
Rango nodded with a faintly awkward expression. At the same time, a cough came from behind.
“Huh?”
I turned and saw Murcia standing there, his expression a mix of complexity and surprise.
“…I didn’t hear about Fortress City Murcia, though the Murcia Knight Squad is one thing,” he muttered, a note of displeasure in his voice.
This could be bad. I might get scolded.
Instantly, I adopted my most innocent, younger-brother Van expression, eyebrows in a worried arch.
“Eh? Murcia-nii, you didn’t like it…? I’m sorry… I just thought your legend was starting here, so I went ahead and decided the name… But I just wanted to make you happy…”
When I offered my sad little excuse, Murcia’s face softened, and he waved his hands.
“Oh, no, I’m not angry… I was just a little embarrassed…”
“Really? So that means Fortress City Murcia and the Murcia Knight Squad are officially recognized?”
“Uh… well, I guess… but still…”
“Thank you, Murcia-nii!”
I exclaimed my gratitude without giving him a chance to speak. The kind-hearted Murcia could only manage a strained smile.
Later, Thill would comment, “That’s a bit too much, don’t you think?”
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