The Lord Just Wants to Have Fun

‘Should I use them as laborers to produce saltpeter?’

Saltpeter, the key ingredient in black powder.
Currently, it was being made from Ya Myeong Sa gathered in the Bat Cave, but that alone wouldn’t be enough to meet the growing demand.

He needed to produce ammunition for 100 musketeers, and when they eventually developed cannons, they would need gunpowder for those as well.

‘On top of that, now that word has spread about the dam being destroyed, even mines and quarries are sending in requests…’

To meet future demand, they needed to establish a saltpeter farm.

That meant collecting manure and having workers manage the conditions so that saltpeter crystals could form properly.

‘And if we increase saltpeter production, we won’t just be making gunpowder—we could also make ice. Which means… sherbet, smoothies, ice cream…’

With the hot weather, the craving for cold drinks and frozen treats had grown stronger.

Just as Philip was lost in thought, Mau’s eyes lit up as he approached.

< Apostle, can you really make ice—or rather, ice cream—from saltpeter?! >

“Well, if you dissolve saltpeter in water, it acts like a refrigerant… Wait, but have you even had ice cream before?”

< Of course! The way sweet chocolate ice cream melts on your tongue—it’s absolutely divine! Now make it, right this instant! >

Mau, completely fixated, was practically ordering Philip to comply.

Philip could only stare in disbelief.

‘This guy… Did he even bother looking for Apostle candidates on Earth, or did he just eat the whole time? No, more importantly, is he really a high-ranking angel?’

For some reason, Philip strongly doubted it.

As he was shaking his head in exasperation, a commotion broke out outside the window.

“Come on, just let me in already! My darling is working in there!”

“Stop insisting and provide proof!”

Philip frowned at the noise and glanced outside, where he saw knights guarding the lord’s manor arguing with a female warrior.

‘Wait, that woman…’

Her name was something like Egypt or… Siria?

Anyway, she was the barbarian warrior he had met back in Campania.

Siria had come multiple times asking to meet Terry.

However, the knights and soldiers guarding the entrance treated her like a suspicious wanderer and refused to let her in.

Since childhood, Siria had shown exceptional talent in both tattoos and swordsmanship. Her dream was to marry a man stronger than herself.

But within her tribe, there wasn’t a single young warrior who surpassed her in strength. A year ago, her father, the chieftain, had even tried to arrange a political marriage between her and the son of a neighboring tribe’s chief.

Outraged, she had run away and crossed into the Laterran continent.

She had met countless knights and mercenaries, yet not one had proven to be stronger than her.

Then, one day, while stopping by a shop in Campania, she had finally found her destined partner.

What started as a minor dispute quickly escalated into a fight, and astonishingly, her opponent had defeated her. On top of that, he was handsome!

Determined to marry him, she had followed him all the way here—only for these stubborn estate guards to block her way.

“I said, let me see my darling!”

“Sir Terry is currently away. If you have no proof, you cannot enter!”

The knight’s firm response made Siria’s eyes burn with frustration.

‘Should I just break through? Or sneak over the wall at night?’

As she debated her next move, she spotted Helen returning from an errand inside the estate.

Their eyes met.

Siria’s face brightened as she pointed at Helen.

“Her! She can prove that Terry is my darling!”

“…Secretary Helen?”

The knights looked skeptical.

Siria dashed over to Helen in one stride.

“It’s been a while! They don’t believe me, so can you just tell them—”

“Who are you? Where are you from?”

Helen’s cold, indifferent response made Siria frown.

“Hey! We met in Campania! You remember me, don’t you?”

“Oh… right.”

Helen clapped her hands as if she had just remembered. Then she turned to the knights and said:

“She’s a wanted criminal from Campania. Arrest her immediately.”

“Hey, carrot-head! Are you serious?! I heard your lord was about to fight a territory war, so I came to help!”

“If you’re a wanted criminal, you can help from prison.”

“You little—! You want me to beat some sense into you?!”

“Go ahead, try hitting me.”

Helen’s sharp voice cut through the tension.
“Calling yourself his fiancée while causing trouble for Sir Terry… Honestly, this is beyond ridiculous.”

“Grrr…!”

Despite standing before a mid-tier Tattooed Warrior, Helen didn’t falter, meeting Siria’s glare with unwavering confidence.

Watching the two bicker, Philip and Mau couldn’t help but grin.

“Hehe, Terry really should’ve seen this.”

< Indeed. A shame, truly. >

With the upcoming territory war, Terry had gone with his father to survey the battlefield.

Thus, his dramatic reunion with Siria was postponed—just for a little while.

******

“Darling~!”

Terry had just returned from the field survey with his father when he was greeted by the sight of a barbarian warrior with green dreadlocks waving affectionately at him.

His expression twisted into sheer bewilderment.

‘Why the hell is that crazy woman here…?!’

Beside him, Carpenter let out a low chuckle.

“Well, well, Terry. Were you dating behind my back?”

Terry practically jumped in horror.

“W-WHAT?! Of course not! I don’t even know this woman that well!”

And it was true.

The only time he had met her was back in Campania, when he was accompanying the lord.

She had picked a fight with him out of nowhere, then ran off after evading the city guards.

“Hmm, really? Well, whatever. I need to report to the lord, so you handle this.”

“Understood.”

As Carpenter walked away, Terry exhaled heavily before turning to the woman approaching him.

His brows furrowed.

“Why exactly am I your ‘darling’?”

Siria grinned, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

“Aww~ Don’t be shy. It’s fine, I’ll take care of everything.”

“…Take care of what?”

“Our marriage, obviously.”

Terry’s face contorted in utter disbelief.

‘What the hell is wrong with this woman? Ever since I first met her, she’s only said and done things that make no sense.’

His frustration rising, Terry turned to Helen, who had just stepped outside.

“Secretary Helen, what exactly is going on?”

Helen let out a tired sigh.

“She came looking for you earlier today. Since she’s a wanted criminal, I instructed the knights to arrest her. But the lord ordered us to let her be.”

“The lord did? But why…?”

“I have no idea. But whatever happens, you must win, understand?”

Terry blinked in confusion.

“Win? Win what?”

‘What else? You win, shake her off, and date me instead.’

Helen caught herself just as that sly thought crossed her mind, and before her face could betray her, the sound of steel scraping echoed through the night.

Sching!

Terry turned his head.

Siria had drawn her twin swords.

“Darling, let’s settle this once and for all. Let’s see who’s on top.”

“…Didn’t you already lose last time?”

“Hehe, you’re strong, I admit that. But that day, I wasn’t at my best. I still had a hangover from the night before.”

Terry sighed.

He already knew that barbarians were eccentric, but this woman was on an entirely different level.

‘There’s no other way. I’ll have to drive her away by force.’

Realizing she wouldn’t listen to words, Terry unsheathed his sword.

“Darling, I’m going all out from the start, so be ready.”

Activating the abilities embedded in the tattoos on her arms, Siria charged.

Terry responded with a powerful slash.

BOOM!

The clash of their swords sent a shockwave rippling through the courtyard.

Terry was pushed back several steps, his arms tingling from the impact.

His expression darkened as he stared at Siria.

“What the—? You’ve gotten stronger.”

Siria grinned, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

“What, did you think you were the only one training?”

Her playful smirk didn’t match the overwhelming fighting spirit radiating from her.

Terry realized he couldn’t hold back.

Enveloping his sword with Aura, he met her charge head-on, unleashing his family’s swordsmanship.

Sparks flew as steel clashed against steel, echoing across the estate.

‘Hang in there, Sir Terry! Crush that unruly woman’s pride and drive her away!’

Helen clenched her fists tightly, cheering for Terry with all her might.

Little did she realize that the more Terry held his ground, the more Siria’s feelings for him would intensify.

******

“Lord Philip, who exactly is that barbarian woman?”

Carpenter, who had already finished reporting on their field survey, gestured toward the window.

Outside, Terry and Siria were locked in a fierce duel.

“Ah, we met her during our trip to Campania…”

Philip briefly explained what had happened.

Carpenter’s brows furrowed in disbelief.

“If something like that happened, you should have informed me immediately.”

“Terry asked me to keep it quiet. Besides, I thought it was just a passing incident.”

“Even so, you must be cautious. She could be an assassin sent by an enemy holding a grudge. Please, don’t overlook even the smallest matters.”

“I understand. But tell me, who do you think will win?”

Siria, now glowing with tattoos of three different colors, was steadily pushing Terry back.

“She’s a mid-tier Tattooed Warrior.”

Carpenter’s sharp eyes gleamed as he assessed the battle.

Tattooed Warriors, he explained, were ranked from low-tier to high-tier based on the number of tattoos they could manifest.

While low-tier warriors were relatively common, mid-tier and above were rarely seen outside the Southern Continent.

Their numbers were small, and they were considered the core military strength of their respective tribes.

“But Terry will win.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“Because that brat’s Aura has already reached Expert High-tier.”

Carpenter had realized it during their last battle against the necromancer—Terry’s skills had surpassed his own.

With a little more refinement in swordsmanship and experience, Terry would fully reach Expert High-tier.

Philip smirked.

“Then why did you approve of this duel?”

“Oh, that? I had a feeling something valuable was rolling my way.”

During his brief conversation with Siria earlier, Philip had learned two crucial things:

The Viscounty of Mirabeau was gathering mercenaries.
Siria’s true reason for coming here.

“She said she crossed the continent because she wants to marry a man stronger than her.”

“So, she met Terry in Campania… And if Terry wins?”

“Then we gain a powerful new warrior in our territory.”

Philip had been developing a musket force, but knights remained the backbone of military power.

For common soldiers, facing a knight clad in heavy armor and wielding a sword imbued with Aura was a nightmare.

And mid-tier Aura Experts were so rare that hiring them with money alone was nearly impossible.

Now, whether Terry would actually accept marrying her was another matter.

Philip had no intention of forcing it.

But even if Terry refused, Siria didn’t seem like the type to leave.

After all, knights as young and strong as Terry were scarce in the entire kingdom.

Philip glanced at Carpenter.

“Terry seems troubled, though. What’s your take?”

“Hmm… Having a sudden daughter-in-law show up is surprising, but… I don’t think it’s a bad thing.”

Most noblemen married before the age of twenty, right after their coming-of-age ceremonies.

Carpenter had secretly worried about Terry, who showed little interest in romance or marriage.

Now, a bride had practically fallen into their laps.

“I’ve heard that Barbarian women are tough, but also strong-willed and hardworking homemakers.”

Philip chuckled.

“I’m glad you approve.”

As they spoke, the tide of battle began shifting in Terry’s favor.

Philip, looking satisfied, turned to Carpenter, who suddenly asked:

“But what about you, Lord Philip? Have you no plans to marry?”

Philip shrugged.

“I have too much to do right now.”

“Still, securing an heir would strengthen both your family and the territory. Why not ask Countess Adrienne to arrange a match for you?”

“I’ll… think about it.”

Philip had no intention of living his life as a lifelong bachelor like in his past life as Kang Hyunsoo.

But he definitely had no interest in a political marriage devoid of love.

‘Speaking of which, by now, that pig of a viscount should have received my reply…’

Philip smirked.

No doubt his face is red with rage.

‘It would be great if he loses his temper and charges in recklessly… Should I provoke him a little more?’