[Murcia]
"Welcome to Baron Van's new territory, Your Majesty. We welcome you."
I offered the greeting with a stiff, nervous bow. His Majesty slowly descended from his carriage, looked down at me, and spoke.
"Hmm. You're serving as a rather splendid steward, aren't you? Perfect. Would the steward himself show us around?"
Seeing His Majesty laugh as he said this, I felt relieved and bowed again. Good. He seems to be in a good mood.
"Leave it to me. It is the highest honor to be able to guide Your Majesty."
"Is that so? Then, please lead the way."
It was a minimal exchange. I'm too nervous to manage lengthy, polite replies, so it can't be helped. I just have to try not to leave a bad impression. Other nobles and knight orders were still arriving behind him, but His Majesty's words take precedence above all. I glanced silently at Dee, who gave some instructions to Arv and then walked over to me.
Arv left a few knights behind and moved to the front of the gate. It seems he'll handle greeting the subsequent nobles too. Dee, Arv, and the members of the mechanized archer unit handling crucial defense—they are all Van's subordinates. Meaning, once this fortress city's knight order is fully staffed, they will return to Ceat Village.
Will I be able to manage properly once Dee and Arv are gone? My original knight order, including Marcos, has many capable members. But even so, we lack experience. That includes me, the commander. In fact, I'm probably the one with the most overwhelming lack of experience.
No, the biggest problem might be this way of thinking, this lack of confidence. Can someone as unreliable as me really defend what will likely become the most crucial stronghold? And can I manage it without His Majesty finding out about my true state?
Perhaps because I was walking while these thoughts swirled in my head, I ended up just leading the way without explaining the facilities. Consequently, I only ended up answering when His Majesty, Ventury, or others directly asked me questions.
"Lord Murcia. What about that small castle? There seem to be several."
"Ah, y-yes. As you can see, reaching the center of this fortress city requires navigating the pathways on the massive walls via a complex route. Therefore, even after breaching the outer walls, each small castle functions as a defensive point. Also, there are numerous embrasures for firing bows along the walls. From there, we can also attack enemies attempting to assault the small castles."
Answering someone's question, Ventury, who was looking up at the walls, spoke.
"...An outdated structure from long ago. Now that many powerful mages have appeared, such ambushes become difficult if knights who can block arrows stand at the front. How do you intend to handle that?"
He didn't seem to want to disparage the design; it sounded like a genuine question. However, because it was voiced by the battle-hardened Ventury, everyone's attention turned to me. I learned about the fortress's defense and the operation of its facilities from Van and Dee.
I must explain with confidence, or it won't be convincing.
Steeling myself, I looked Ventury directly in the face.
"...Please rest assured. They are protected by mechanisms called 'Sengan,' secured by doors as difficult to break as the city walls themselves. Furthermore, the weapons used to attack from there are rapid-fire mechanized crossbows made by Baron Van. Even if multiple heavy infantry tried to block them, they couldn't completely stop the bolts. Conversely, I believe the structure allows us to effectively target mages who efficiently breach and enter over the walls."
I asserted this forcefully. Ventury raised one eyebrow and smiled.
"Ho? I see. Indeed, facing those terrifying ballistae and bows, the average mage wouldn't stand a chance. Well, if we could use magic, we might try to collapse the walls from a distance... but no, in that case, the ballistae on the walls would handle it, I suppose. I see. This would be quite difficult to assault."
Ventury muttered, impressed. As if agreeing with him, the other nobles also spoke up.
"Difficult to besiege from afar with magic, yet also difficult to attack with sheer numbers... I see, it's a stronghold."
"One should expect nothing less from a design by Baron Van."
"Hmm, indeed."
Hearing their voices stung my inferiority complex slightly, but I was still happy my younger brother was being praised.
As I prepared to respond, my face naturally lifted and my voice grew louder.
"Exactly! This fortress city is completely different from what it was before. It's not just the current small castles and the internal layout; there are countless other amazing mechanisms. I've heard from Van that there were even more devices he wanted to install, but even so, no fortress exists more deserving of the term 'impregnable'! I say this with certainty as the one managing this fortress city!"
I spoke passionately about the fortress's excellence, filled with pride. As a result, the nobles who had been chatting and looking up at the castle and walls until now blinked and focused their gaze on me.
Crap. I've done it already. I got carried away because Van's fortress city was being praised. If it were about my own achievements, my innate lack of confidence would never let me talk this much...
Breaking out in a cold sweat, I glanced at His Majesty's reaction.
Then, His Majesty burst out laughing and lightly patted my back.
"Wahaha! I see, I see! Well, I initially thought you seemed a bit unreliable, but you're exceeding expectations as an excellent steward! That confidence is reassuring."
His Majesty, unexpectedly cheerful, said this and then looked at me and spoke again.
"Speaking of which, I hadn't heard the name of this fortress city. You speak of this impregnable fortress with such confidence. You must have decided on a name already?"
Asked this, I instinctively gasped. But I couldn't not answer.
"...It is Fortress City Murcia."
My voice grew small as I answered in one breath. Everyone blinked.
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