【Zetros】
"The next step is the key defense equipment for the fortress city."
With that remark from Panamera, even though the fortress city had just been completed, Van found himself walking back and forth along the city walls every day. Among us, the town’s administrators, concerned voices kept arising, saying, "Surely we’re making Van work too hard, aren't we?"
I, too, felt that the burden on Van was becoming too much.
"Even though he’s our ally and his title is lower, Van-sama is the head of a viscount's family. I’m worried that we’re pushing him too hard."
Seeing this, I suggested it, but Panamera shook her head, denying it.
"I'm sorry for the boy, but this place will likely become the front line in case of an emergency. The sooner the better. In return, when the boy is in trouble, I’ll assist him with all my strength. It’s clear, isn’t it?"
With a smile, Panamera said this, and hearing it, Van, who was standing nearby, raised a hand in protest.
"Labor deserves compensation! I also require sweets!"
"It can’t be helped. I’ll prepare some special sweets for you."
"Yay!"
Panamera, laughing wryly, agreed to Van’s demand, and Van, like a child, raised both hands in joy. Seeing that, it seemed that nothing would change in their relationship over something so trivial. Despite the age gap, they acted almost like real siblings. I couldn’t help but think that.
Afterward, Van installed fifty large crossbows along the walls in just one week, and next to them, he even built a warehouse to store arrows. After praising the results of the defense equipment, Panamera made another request.
"Can we haggle down the cost of the ballista?"
"No. The cost of the arrows remains fixed!"
Panamera placed a hand on the newly completed fiftieth ballista and smiled as she said this.
She’s really pushing her luck. Van crossed his arms and made it clear with his whole body that he was rejecting the request, and we, as the town’s administrators, felt the same. Any further requests for cooperation should come with an additional payment of several platinum coins, but such a budget doesn’t exist.
"Panamera-sama, this is going too far."
"We should stop taking advantage of Van-sama's kindness."
Thomas and Baratt hurriedly admonished Panamera’s excessive demands. Panamera, looking displeased, crossed her arms and sighed.
"Have you ever seen the power of this ballista firsthand?"
"No, I haven’t, but..."
In response to Panamera’s question, Thomas answered on behalf of the group. Panamera snorted and laughed, then jerked her chin toward the commander.
"Macan, do a test shot."
"Yes."
After a brief exchange, Macan moved in front of the ballista. It seemed he was already familiar with the operation, as he quickly loaded an arrow and began preparing.
"Target that tree over there. It’s a little far, but try to hit it."
"Yes."
Panamera gave her instruction as if it was nothing, and Macan immediately responded. The target she pointed to was quite far away—certainly a distance that a regular bow wouldn’t reach. Even a siege weapon like the ballista would be lucky if it could reach. Telling him to hit it was a fearsome request.
I watched, thinking that, but Macan quickly finished preparing and took aim.
"...I’m firing."
"Alright."
At Panamera’s signal, the ballista shot a steel arrow. The sound of impact seemed to shake the air itself, and the shot arrow flew straight toward the target.
However, gradually, the arrow veered off course, possibly because Macan aimed slightly higher to account for the arrow’s drop over the distance. To our amazement, the heavy steel arrow flew past the intended target and struck another tree instead.
We could clearly see from afar the large tree toppling as it was hit at the base, and the force of it stunned us.
"...Did you miss the target?"
"No, I just missed my aim. I’m sorry."
"Well, it’s to be expected; you’re not used to it. From now on, include ballista targeting and firing training in the knights’ drills. Ensure the arrows are always made in-house with iron rods before firing."
"Understood."
The two of them calmly discussed the results of the ballista test and the plans going forward. However, for us, having just witnessed the power of the ballista, we were far from calm.
"...I see. That’s a real threat."
"Just like the cannons, it will be difficult to deploy mages on the battlefield."
Belville and Bilt, perhaps from the perspective of the Yellenetta Kingdom, were discussing the threat of the ballista in hushed voices. Indeed, if struck head-on, there was no doubt it would shatter anything in its path. The attack would be overwhelming and one-sided, leaving no chance to fight back.
Seeing our reactions, Panamera spread her arms wide.
"So, what do you think? Don’t you want more of these ballistas?"
In response to Panamera’s question, Belville immediately agreed.
"Yes, I want them."
"See?"
After receiving the approval of her subordinate, Panamera smiled and turned her gaze to Van.
"For additional ballistas, each one costs five platinum coins!"
"Ugh...! That's expensive, boy!"
It seemed that with just one subordinate’s approval, she couldn’t be swayed. Van easily presented the additional costs, though considering that one ballista could rival the power of a mage, it was still a bargain.
"Panamera-sama, please stop pushing too hard."
With that, I said, and Panamera fell silent, her face twisted in annoyance. Seeing that, Van let out a wry smile.
"...Well, I can’t help it. Fine, I’ll make ten more ballistas when I come next."
When Van said that, Panamera gave him a doubtful look.
"Really? For free?"
"Yes, for free."
"What about the ones on the wagons?"
"Mobile ones? Well, I can make one of those too..."
"Alright!"
Van, looking troubled, agreed, and Panamera clapped her hands together with a smile.
"Did you all hear that? Van Viscount’s promise. We should look forward to it!"
With a joyful smile, Panamera said this, and Van smiled bitterly again. That expression, strangely enough, made me think that, at that moment, Van was the older sibling and Panamera the younger.
Perhaps it was because of that feeling, but when I looked at the cityscape Van had helped to create, my perspective changed.
A beautiful, functional, and sophisticated castle. The town wasn’t just aesthetically pleasing, but it was also designed for efficient trade, easy defense, and comfort for its residents. All of this couldn’t have been learned just by reading books; it involved empathy, consideration for others.
Of course, the ability to come up with such ideas was part of it, but to think all of this came from a child who was about ten years old—it didn’t make sense to just call him a genius.
"...Could Van-sama possibly have elven blood?"
Without thinking, I asked this question aloud. In response, Van burst out laughing.
"Elven blood? No, no, you’re praising me too much. Heh heh."
"Van-sama, I wasn’t talking about your appearance!"
"Huh? Wasn’t I being praised?"
"I think you were being praised, but..."
The conversation between Van, embarrassed, and his attendants, who were trying to correct his misunderstanding, unfolded. Thomas and the others watched with smiles, but I wondered—if all of this had been calculated behavior, what then?
One thing was for certain: never should we make him our enemy. If he stood by our side, there was no one more reliable, but if we became enemies, there would be no more terrifying opponent.
In the less-than-a-month time since meeting him, I had come to this evaluation of Van.
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