Chapter 2: Fine, I’ll Give You a Castle—But You Have to Build It Yourself!
“Valzen Ducal Calendar Year 10, June 16 — Clear skies, at the Valzen Ducal main camp.”
[Glenn’s Perspective]
The post-war rewards ceremony was nothing short of a storm.
I, Glenn, who had been nothing more than a foot soldier until just days ago, was now standing before my lord, the Duke of Valzen.
“—Thus, for his outstanding merit, Glenn shall be granted the rank of baron and the lands of the Helden Hills!”
At the Duke’s declaration, the assembled commanders erupted into murmurs.
From a mere foot soldier to a noble in a single leap.
It was like something out of a dream.
Overwhelmed with emotion, I trembled and bowed my head deeply.
“Y-Yes, sir! I am deeply honored!”
However, the Duke of Valzen curled the corner of his lips into a grin and continued with something outrageous.
“Indeed. However, there is no castle on that land yet. Very well, I shall grant you a castle as well. However—build it yourself!”
“…Huh?”
Without thinking, I let out a dumbfounded voice.
This time, the murmurs among the commanders turned into laughter.
“Baron Glenn, the Helden Hills have long been contested territory with the enemy, and thus remain a barren land where no one lives. Only by developing it, building a town, and constructing a castle will you truly become a lord. Do your best!”
(This is insane! So he’s basically saying he’ll give me a title and wasteland, and I have to do everything else myself?!)
It seemed my life had taken a sharp turn in a ridiculous direction.
What I had been given was only the title of “baron” and a single parchment declaring my ownership of the land.
No funds, no materials, no people.
All I had was the luxurious golden armor of Marquis Caledon, captured in the Battle of Helden, and my own ambition.
“—You will truly lend it to me?”
I was in the mansion of Dario Bolani, the greatest merchant in the capital of the Valzen Duchy.
Despite being a complete stranger, I had been led into a reception room, where I bowed deeply to the master of the house, Dario.
With his stout body and flashy striped attire, the man before me stared at me as if appraising my worth.
“Hmm… Baron Glenn. Everyone in this city knows that you are the hero of the ‘Miracle of Helden.’ However, lending a large sum without any collateral…”
Dario deliberately let out a sigh.
From my pocket, I took out the arrow with that carved doodle.
“This is proof of my ‘luck.’ And my collateral is none other than the Duke of Valzen himself.”
“Oh?”
“The Duke is testing my worth. If I succeed in this venture, he will surely favor me even more. And if that happens, the Valzen Duchy will prosper further, bringing enormous profits to merchants like you. This is an investment in the future!”
Even I knew it was an outrageous argument… no, more like a complete bluff.
But Dario Bolani narrowed his fox-like eyes even further, and then burst out laughing while clutching his stomach.
“Kukuku… how interesting! I like it! Hard to believe you were once a mere foot soldier. Very well, I, Dario Bolani, shall bet on your ‘luck!'”
And so, I ended up taking on an enormous debt to build a castle and a town.
(Alright, first I need to gather people. Skilled craftsmen, mercenaries who’ve fallen on hard times after the war. As long as I have money, there should be plenty of ambitious people willing to come!)
I confirmed the weight of the leather pouch filled with gold coins I had received from the merchant Dario.
It was the weight of my future itself.
The legend that would later be known as the “Free City of Glennfilt” began with the outrageous debt of an unknown foot soldier.