A grand victory banquet is underway in the Lord's Hall of Border Town.
In addition to Witch, the entire leadership of the City Hall and the First Army was present, including Noble-born Barov Mons and Carter Lannis, as well as commoner-born Iron Axe and Kemo Stryl. Roland particularly struggled to persuade the latter, pulling him from the lab to attend what he called a 'meaningless' banquet.
To make the townspeople feel the same way, he not only gave public speeches but also ordered the kitchen to bake a large batch of white bread using refined starch left over from making explosives. These were distributed to the town's residents—anyone could claim a limited-edition treat at the town hall with just their ID card. By the time the First Army was still on their way home, most of the townspeople had already heard about the victory in the battle.
Of course, they may not understand the purpose and significance of this expedition, but as long as there is free bread, it is a day worth celebrating for them.
This was also Roland's first' elegant 'banquet modeled after the royal capital's tradition.
No barbecued meats or large chunks of stewed dishes. Every ingredient is sliced into small pieces and arranged on pristine white plates. Side dishes contain a variety of seasonings, allowing diners to dip according to their preferences—a concept reminiscent of modern buffet restaurants.
"Welcome back," he said, holding two glasses of fruit wine toward Anna. "Thank you for the journey." "You've already said that at the dock," Anna replied, taking the glass. "And my answer remains the same: no hardship." The glasses clinked softly, and the girl's eyes sparkled with a sweet smile. Roland held back the urge to embrace her, then raised his glass to the other witches in celebration.
"Me, me?" Thunder roared.
"You have a share too," Roland called for the waiter, took down a glass of cider, and said, "Thank you for the trouble." "I want white!" the little girl said, lifting her head.
"Uh..." After a moment's hesitation, he finally agreed. The little one's curiosity was always so strong—had he kept refusing, she might have imitated the nightingale's song and sneaked into the kitchen to steal a drink. "Alright, but just one glass." "Mm!" Just as Roland handed her a glass of low-alcohol wine with ice and grape juice, she suddenly leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
"Keh... This is the fjord's custom again?" "Exactly," Lightning nodded vigorously, "My father said so!" The witches weren't particularly surprised since it wasn't their first time seeing it, but Sylvie and the others stared wide-eyed, then turned to Roland with accusatory glances—making him turn away awkwardly. Could the fjord really have such a tradition of kissing the leader at victory celebrations?
Next, he raised a toast to his subordinates.
When the Chief Alchemist's turn came, he leaned in and whispered, "Your Highness, I've read your *Intermediate Chemistry* twice, but there are still many unclear points." "It discusses the microscopic composition of matter, which involves a lot of physics. You'll need to refer to another book," Roland pointed. "I suggest you finish reading *Elementary Physics* first, then start over with the chemistry section. That way, many questions will be answered." "I plan to do that too, but..." He paused. "Your Highness, why do ancient texts use different colors on their covers? Do they have special meanings?" "Well..." Roland pondered. "The color indicates its level and difficulty of acquisition." "Is that so?" Kaimo thought. "From green to purple, the darker the color, the more profound the knowledge recorded. So *Advanced Chemistry* must be black?" "No, it's orange." "Ah?" Kaimo froze. "Why?" Roland smiled. "Who knows."
Halfway through the banquet, he stepped out of the hall and onto the castle terrace. The evening breeze carried a chill that made Roland shiver. With autumn already halfway through, he realized the long winter brought by the Demon's Moon would soon blanket the western lands.
This year, however, has taken a starkly different turn from last year. Trade with the Margarete Chamber of Commerce has brought in substantial working capital. Beyond exchanging for food and supplies, a significant portion of these gold dragons has been distributed as wages to the residents. According to statistics from the convenience market, sales of various goods have shown notable growth recently, with items that significantly improve quality of life—such as meat patties and eggs—exhibiting particularly rapid sales increases.
This clearly reflects the gradual improvement in living standards among residents. Notably, with indigenous communities now enjoying brand-new free housing and significantly higher salaries, they are beginning to indulge in gourmet dining experiences that were previously only available during festivals. Meanwhile, newly arrived populations remain focused on saving for home purchases. Once they establish stable housing, the market is poised to witness a new sales surge.
What do people truly need? Sometimes, simply having enough to eat and drink is enough to make them feel grateful to the Lord and follow Him to the end of their lives.
In this era, most people are easily satisfied.
"Your Highness, beware of catching a cold." Nightingale appeared from behind, clutching a thin leather jacket. She tossed the garment to Roland, casually pulled out a piece of dried fish, and stood beside him. "What are you thinking here?" "Nothing," he said with a smile as he draped the jacket over his shoulders. "Just suddenly wanted to check my territory." "The town seems quite lively," Nightingale pointed toward the brightly lit square. "It's already evening, yet so many people haven't returned home." "Because today marks the premiere of the new play 'Dawn'," Roland said with a slight smile. "And it's the troupe's first performance in the town in months. The people must be eager to see Miss May and Lady Erin again." But then, Miss May would soon become Lady May Lannis. He hadn't anticipated his Chief Knight would act so swiftly to claim the Star of the West. When the other party mentioned it earnestly, he took a moment to process the news. The Chief Knight's wedding required the Lord's approval, and Roland naturally had no objections to such a welcome event. Their wedding date was set for the end of the Dark Lord's Month—the very day Border Town was officially established.
"When I first entered the town, it was a desolate place," the Nightingale sighed. "Now, even standing in the castle, I can almost feel their joy." "Life keeps getting better day by day," Roland said, lifting his head to gaze at the cloudless, starry night sky and taking a deep breath. He knew there was still much to do—expanding education, building public healthcare, strengthening cultural development, and encouraging childbirth. These efforts would become the solid foundation of the Western Border, paving the way for unifying Graycastle.
"What about us?" Nightingale tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with cunning.
"Of course," Roland patted her head. "I promise."