Verdi lay in the southern Iron Kingdom of Chervil. Even within Verdi, our estate was considered a remote backwater. Unlike other places, which at least had local specialties such as milk, cheese, or wine, ours had jack shit. So little that I wondered whether it even deserved to be called an estate.

A modest little country village, small and welcoming.

That was the image of our estate I carried in my head. My own little estate, small and precious.

Yes, that was certainly what it had been until very recently...

“This is the west square! The east square is still under development, but the north, south, and west squares are looking quite respectable now. The commercial district will go over there, and the residential district where everyone will live—”

“Squares? Our estate shouldn't have enough land to divide it up into squares...”

“I bought the surrounding land with the money you sent. On top of that, I brought the other nearby villages without lords under our estate. In the Iron Kingdom, any land above a certain size must belong to a noble of at least baronet rank, you see? I looked into it, and young Lord Arhan just barely qualifies. You're practically a fallen noble, but you still retain a rank of baronet or higher.”

“There's a law like that? The nearby villages just give the village chief's job to whoever's oldest.”

“Remote country villages like these often follow the old customs. Officials aren't likely to come all the way out here to conduct inspections, either. But older people do worry about what might happen, you know? So I explained the law to the elders of the surrounding villages and persuaded them. We'd only be lending them our name. They could remain village chiefs as they were, within the bounds of the law. Nothing would change...”

“...”

“So all the surrounding villages merged with ours. For the uncooperative ones, I used the money you sent to carry out hostile takeovers. Once I'd consolidated more than ten villages, I recruited local bards and spent money on one festival after another. Then the chiefs of the surrounding villages started coming to me, saying they wanted to join us.”

There was one thing I'd overlooked.

“... What am I looking at, Master?”

「This is what mages do. It's commonplace in the Empire and the archipelago. The estates near the Iron Kingdom's capital probably compete just as fiercely.」

“...”

「For village chiefs who'd been quietly managing their estates according to their own customs... it must have felt almost like a natural disaster had descended on them.」

I'd focused too much on how young Haylin looked.

She was a mage. A dark mage had kidnapped her and forced her through an education based on rote learning, but she was still a fully fledged mage. And mages received all kinds of specialized training, not just in magic, but in protecting and expanding their own “domains.”

“It's a little embarrassing, since nothing's properly finished yet.”

Haylin had far too much talent for estate management. With specialized training added to that talent, she'd swept through the lands of this rural backwater.

“...”

I was briefly speechless at how grand my small, precious estate had become. As I listened to Haylin's dizzying explanations, I eventually reached a conclusion.

“So the estate's bigger. Fucking sweet.”

「Hoho. Spoken like a true Caravan.」

Somehow, I felt I was becoming more and more like Master.

* * *

Thanks to the efforts of Haylin, a genius at estate management, the Caravan estate had made spectacular progress. Of course, it still hadn't grown beyond the scale of a village, but even that was a tremendous leap forward. What had our estate been like before? It had been worse than a ruin—a place rumored to be a land of death. Now, though, it had places worthy of being called squares, and people coming and going.

The golems Haylin had modified from Jerry Selpit's were tilling the fields, while workers from other villages also helped develop the village. Apparently, quite a few people wanted to become residents of our estate. Haylin said she hadn't accepted them yet because she needed permission from me, the nominal lord, but I gladly approved their requests to move here. We couldn't leave the empty cottages cold and abandoned forever. Above all, I was happy to see life returning to the village.

Our estate, which I'd thought would remain dead land forever, had come back to life. I was more than happy. I was deeply moved. Our former butler and nanny, and the residents who'd been forced to leave, would have been delighted to see this. To them, this estate had been home, their livelihood, their everything.

Along with that joy came a pang in my heart.

I told Haylin she could freely withdraw and spend the money sitting in my name at the 「Red Bank」. When she heard exactly how many gold coins I'd earned in the steel city, she started calling me her master, but I somehow managed to straighten that out.

The estate bustled with activity.

It seemed to shine even brighter than it had before that incident.

I couldn't help feeling proud.

“You've done a decent job managing things with insufficient capital. But this isn't an efficient way to run an estate. It might be good for now, but you'll lose out in the long term. Hmph. This is where your poor choice of teacher shows. Being blinded by immediate profit is exactly how dark mages operate. I heard the descendant of steel killed Jerry Selpit. So you're his apprentice?”

Meanwhile, Audrey the witch surveyed with interest the estate that had developed under a mage's management. She had nothing to do until I reached a sufficient level anyway, so she took an interest in Haylin. I told Haylin that Audrey was a witch and an honored guest. I added that she shouldn't treat her carelessly and should keep her happy.

Haylin had nodded and said she understood.

“It's true that I was a dark mage's apprentice. You're Lady Audrey, correct? You must have received a much finer education than I did, and I'm sure your expertise extends beyond magic. I'd be grateful for any guidance you could offer.”

But then.

“... Hmm. There's one thing, though. I can't agree that this will cost us in the long term. Doing things your way would take far too long. We need to gather money in the short term first and produce visible results. That way we can naturally absorb the surrounding villages, can't we? To be blunt, the people of Verdi are uneducated. With people like that, clear, visible changes are more persuasive than numbers and theory. In that respect—”

Haylin, too, was a mage after all.

“Are you arguing with me? What you're saying is only true within Verdi. Apply it to other estates, and I'm right! According to what I learned...”

“We're talking about Verdi right now, so being right within Verdi is what matters. What you've suggested could be used efficiently on other estates, Lady Audrey. But this isn't another estate, is it? You're only theorizing from behind a desk. You've had a good education, but you don't understand practical work.”

“Y-you...”

“Besides, we can't look only at monetary profit. Time is a resource too, after all. That's what I was taught. Do the witches of the Heavenly Empire classify only material wealth as resources? That's more disappointing than I expected.”

“Y-you take that back.”

“I'll take it back if you convince me logically.”

“W-wait. I'll show you. Why! I'll show you why I'm right!”

I couldn't tell who was right just by listening, but Audrey's flushed face told me who had won the argument. Usually, the first person to get worked up and angry was the loser. Haylin had debated estate management with a witch, someone who stood at the very pinnacle of mages, and won. A little girl who'd never had a proper education and had only recently started managing an estate.

'That's insane talent.'

Haylin, who'd been hiding an extraordinary talent for estate management, continued talking with Audrey. As I watched, they seemed to get along surprisingly well. That was a relief. I'd been worrying about what to do with a witch who kept making obnoxious remarks and whining, but we'd barely arrived at the estate and someone had already appeared to handle her.

“Y-you. Fine, I'll give you estate management. But how much do you know about magic?”

“Very little. But I was kidnapped by a dark mage and subjected to rote learning, while you are a witch chosen by a great god, Lady Audrey. Naturally, you'd be more proficient at magic than I am, wouldn't you? If you're hoping to beat me at that, I'll concede.”

“W-when did I say I wanted to beat you? That's not it. I just... Ugh, this is so annoying!”

“There's no need to get annoyed. I have my shortcomings too. If there's something I don't know, may I ask you about it whenever I need to? Not just estate management, but magic as well...”

“Of course! Do you think I can't even teach you that? Believe it or not, I've been called the cleverest of all our sisters. My nickname in the Heavenly Empire was ‘Clever Audrey’...”

On top of everything else, Haylin, whose magical abilities were somewhat lacking, now had a chance to train in magic. I smiled contentedly as Audrey chattered away in triumph and Haylin responded with an impressed “Wow!” I'd successfully passed off one troublesome burden.

I revised my assessment of Haylin.

Previously, she'd been “a useful little mage.”

Now?

'A troubleshooter who takes care of the annoying stuff herself.'

By my standards, that was the highest praise.

* * *

Haylin had taken on the task of handling Audrey the witch.

They argued about all sorts of things, but their debates were productive. Those discussions would determine our estate's development, which made me proud. And Seolyun? As always, she'd picked up her sword and vanished into the training grounds the moment we returned.

“I want to refine what I've gained.”

It was nothing new. With Seolyun, Haylin, and even Audrey gone, I was left alone with Tom, the caretaker. The two of us strolled through the estate. Its transformed scenery was full of life. As befitted a rural backwater, there wasn't a single young person around; most of the residents were elderly. No one was clinking beer mugs in the tavern, there were no boisterous conversations, and no men and women making passionate love. But I was content with the gentle vitality that filled the place.

For the first time in ages, it felt as though I was walking through the estate as it had been before “that incident.” When I wandered aimlessly like this, Mother would call me in for dinner. Or Father would appear and play some amusing prank. If my curiosity led me toward the forest, the hunters would stop me, saying it was dangerous, and the butler would scold me. Smoke would rise from the chimneys, and when a delicious smell drew me over, the generous residents would each offer me something to eat. Roast chicken eaten while strolling the streets around this time of day, after playing to my heart's content, had tasted so good. Yes, truly.

“Young lord.”

“Yes?”

“You look happy.”

“Do I?”

“You do.”

Tom looked at my face and smiled kindly.

“In the steel city, you often seemed impatient. Like someone being pursued, as though you'd die if you rested for even a moment.”

“I see.”

“Yes. But now you look very much at ease. This must be a precious place to you. It's good to see. Very good indeed.”

Tom's voice warmed my heart.

It resembled the voice of the butler who'd always looked after me at the manor, so long ago. For a while, we walked on and on in silence. Eventually, we reached the hill on the estate. There was a gravestone on it. Beyond the gravestone, the sunset glowed scarlet. Twilight.

“How romantic. I'm glad I followed you to this village. It's been so long since I've felt this peaceful. I think I've put my vacation to meaningful use.”

“Have you?”

“Yes. As I've grown old, I've come to appreciate things like this. Peace, and quiet happiness.”

Tom grinned.

I looked at him and spoke.

“Tom.”

“Yes?”

“The Hall of Fame weapons I took with me. You said you'd teach me how to care for them.”

“That's right. The condition of old blades varies enormously depending on how they're maintained.”

Tom spoke with the twilight at his back.

“In the past, there were many people like me who specialized in caring for old blades. People laugh at it as old-fashioned now, but there used to be those who believed that souls dwelled within blades.”

“Souls?”

“Long ago, a blade was a swordsman's lifelong companion. The blade they chose when they first took up the sword would usually stay with them until the moment they died. Even if it broke, they'd find some way to repair it and keep using it. Because they believed a soul dwelled within their sword.”

“...”

“The sword of a warrior who fought bravely, a mother's sword swung desperately to protect her child during the Age of War, a sword someone drove into their own throat when they could no longer endure starvation... People in the old days believed that every one of those swords held a soul of its own. Now everyone laughs at the idea. That's why there are hardly any people left who collect or maintain old swords. Everyone thinks there's no point.”

Tom smiled.

“I'm a man of the old days, young lord. I still believe souls dwell within swords. That's why tending the Hall of Fame brings me such joy. Polishing blades that may hold the souls of brave warriors, caring for them so their light doesn't fade... I enjoy it very much.”

“...”

“I don't know whether you feel the same. Perhaps you've merely humored me because I'm old and love blades so much. Perhaps, in your heart, you think I'm a pathetic, foolish old man who doesn't act his age.”

The twilight slowly deepened to red.

“I've told you before. I'm your fan. Your duels are full of fire and excitement. Watching your sword truly makes me believe that blades have souls. Strength, speed, technique... It feels as though none of those things mean anything before you. That's why I like you. I love your fiery sword and those duels that set my heart racing.”

Tom smiled with pure sincerity.

It was a boyish smile, incongruous with his old, wrinkled face.

Looking at him, I spoke.

“Tom.”

“Yes?”

“Can you promise not to cut me down, no matter what I say? Can you promise to remain my fan, and my friend, from now on?”

Tom didn't ask why I was suddenly saying this.

He simply nodded.

“Before the nine goddesses and the seven chief gods, I swear it on my soul.”

“Are you sure you can swear that? You don't know what I'm going to say.”

“It's all right. A warrior's soul shows through in their duels. I believe I've seen your soul through yours. I don't know how you feel, but I consider you a friend and a splendid warrior. So it's all right. Don't be so afraid. Tell this old man whatever is on your mind. Take your time. I'll listen.”

After hearing those words, I slowly turned my head.

Then I erased all the excuses I'd come up with. That I'd accidentally lost them, that some vicious robber had stolen them, that I'd sold them because I was short of money—I threw out those idiotic excuses. I didn't want to say such things to Tom after he'd shown me his true feelings.

Tom hadn't come to my estate solely to maintain the weapons in the first place. He'd gladly come because he liked me and considered me a friend. His proposal to visit had been an excuse to write me a recommendation for the Endless Duel. Even if I'd declined to invite him, he would gladly have written that recommendation for me. I knew how sincere he was.

A boy and an old man.

Even at a glance, the difference in the years they'd lived was obvious as they stood before the twilight. But what did that matter before the burning scarlet sunset?

“Tom.”

At that moment, however briefly, I set aside Suspicion. I set aside the lies that were always on my lips. Beneath the reddening sky, I let my voice emerge as a boy's.

“Do you know of the family called 「Caravan」?”