Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord (お気楽領主の楽しい領地防衛 ～生産系魔術で名もなき村を最強の城塞都市に～)

What a pretty scene.

Thank you. All of our hard work has paid off.

I bet everyone's delighted to live in such a wonderful village.

It's been a while since you came to this village. What do you think?

Me?

Would you live here?

Huh?

W-Well...

I mean, setting aside engagement proposals, what do you want to do?

It's fine to put your own feelings first.

What I want to do?

I want to get engaged to Lord Van.

But, um...

You want to get engaged?

Should I pretend I didn't hear that?

Please.

I see. I see.

U-Um, Lord Van, you seem kind of happy all of a sudden.

You're imagining it.

EASYGOING TERRITORY DEFENSE BY THE OPTIMISTIC LORD

THE TIMID GIRL'S BEAUTIFUL MARIONETTE DANCE

THE TIMID GIRL'S BEAUTIFUL MARIONETTE DANCE

Lord Van! We've returned from the royal capital.

Welcome back. Did you set up your trading company easily enough?

Yup. Everything went swimmingly, thanks to you, Lord Van.

And just as we promised, 30 platinum. Here you are.

Oh, thank you.

Till. If you would.

RICHES

It's my first time ever handling such a large amount of platinum.

Um, isn't Lady Panamera coming back to the village?

She said she had to go report to Count Ferdinatto.

She thinks allying with you will be more interesting than sticking with the count.

Huh? So she'll be living in this village?

No, she said her plan was to be given land near this village.

Knowing Lady Panamera, I'm sure it won't take long for her to get it.

That's true.

That woman's likely to become queen before anyone realizes.

Also...

We present you with this masterpiece we found in the royal capital.

I-Is this what I think it is?!

It's a machine bow, capable of firing up to ten shots in a row.

It's the latest tech in the royal capital.

Thank you! I can create new ballistae with this!

Yahoo!

I'm so happy!

Good for you, Lord Van.

Is he more excited about that than the platinum?

Thank you so much, you two!

So pulling this lever causes the next bolt to slide down?

This is the happiest I've ever seen you look, Lord Van.

Oh? Is it?

Incredible.

Huh? It's not moving.

So even you fail sometimes.

Huh?

Oh, m-my apologies. I didn't mean anything by it.

I fail at things all the time.

Aside from my magic, I can't pride myself in anything.

That's not true.

You have amazing talent with the sword and with your studies.

I really don't have anything.

Huh? Talent?

If you'd like, I'll introduce you to my fiendish butler

and the monstrous commander of my chivalric order.

You'll become just as "amazing" as me in no time.

That reminds me, what's your magical aptitude, Arte?

U-Um, Lady Arte?

Lord Van won't force you to answer.

If you don't want to say, that's fine.

No.

M-My...

My aptitude is for marionette magic.

Marionette magic.

Just like my production magic, it is considered useless by nobles,

so it is equally loathed.

However...

Wow, I've never seen that magic before. Could you show it to me?

Huh? U-Um...

M-My magic?

Well, people with an aptitude for marionette magic are rare.

Of course, that's probably because many people hide it.

Even so, you're the first person I've met who can use it.

This is fate, Arte.

Can you move this?

This is incredible magic!

There's limitless potential in this magic, Arte!

That was magnificent. So, so impressive, Lady Arte.

Can you also perform that dance you made the puppet do?

Oh, y-yes.

Although I'm a little better at making the puppet dance than doing it myself.

No, no, that's still really amazing.

Let's get Lord Van to make more charming puppets.

I bet if you put on a show with them, the villagers would be delighted.

You're right. That does sound fun.

While we're at it, I can make a puppet using the mythril ore Arte discovered.

But my magic isn't fit for showing off to others.

The same could be said for my magic.

Plenty of people have told me that it's unfortunate I have production magic.

My father even called me a failure.

But I've brought everyone happiness with this magic.

I'm sure they'll all enjoy your marionette magic, too.

I've always lived under the assumption that I'm worthless, but...

If you think I can do it, Lord Van, I'll give it a try.

What's this?

What's going on?

Did you hear anything?

What's happening?

Lord Van summoned us all here.

I wonder what's going to happen.

Are the people in the back good?

What's Lord Van going to do?

I can't see.

Thank you, everyone, for gathering here today.

We will now put on a show using Lady Arte's magic.

Put on a show using magic?

What kind of magic?

Wow. It's like it's alive.

But isn't that...

It's marionette magic, right?

Didn't someone try to take out the royal family and nobility using that?

You bring me such grief!

What's this?

It stopped?

I hope she's not losing control.

Lady Arte.

Hey, everyone. Don't go thinking the puppet's going to curtsy to you.

"The magic of vile criminals."

Marionette magic often gets labeled as such and discriminated against.

You're about to see what Lady Arte's magic can really do.

How is everyone going to view her after this?

How will they interact with her?

She must be terrified imagining all that.

But it'll be okay.

What a lovely dance.

Lady Arte's marionette magic breathes life into lifeless objects.

It is truly wonderful magic.

Bravo!

That was a beautiful dance!

Yes, what incredible magic!

Marionette magic is capable of that?

The way it moved was incredible!

I was so scared.

Lady Arte, move your doll some more!

I always thought this was an awful aptitude.

Your doll was beautiful!

Do some more!

I've never seen anything so beautiful!

Arte, you did it.

Thank you so, so much.

Lord Van, urgent news!

What is it?

A carriage bearing the royal family's crest is heading our way.

The royal family?

Hi, young man.

Panamera. It's been a while.

Say, that's an awfully lukewarm response. Did you find another woman?

Arte and I have grown much closer.

It's been a while, Lady Panamera.

Hey, boy. What kind of trick did you pull?

How has she changed so much in such a short time?

Well, I wonder what it could've been.

Arte appeared to lack confidence in her magic,

so I just told her how wonderful it is.

You've got some slick moves. Your future looks bright.

Whoops. I got caught chatting.