Chapter 0

The Island-Banished Noblewoman
Description:
Marylia, a noble daughter, fought for her country as a brilliant commander, only to be banished by the very nation she served.
But the country didn't know. Marylia was a legendary golem user, and she planned to return home after mass-producing golems on the deserted island.
This story is about a gentle noblewoman who gets serious, builds houses, hunts dragons with golems, makes steel, unravels the island's secrets, and invades her homeland with a cheerful "My, oh my!"

*Note: While magic won't be used to easily advance technology, it will be used to supplement manpower with golems.*
----------
Prologue
"Oh my... What a nice morning."

Marylia Odeil Tyfon woke up.

Before her was an unobstructed view of the sun rising over the horizon. The sky was colored by the dawn, and the vast sea spread out.

When she got up and stretched widely, her golden hair swayed at her neck, gently stirred by the sea breeze.

"Oh, I remember cutting it. Haha, my head feels lighter."

Marylia giggled as she touched her hair, which was now short enough not to reach her shoulders, and immediately started walking to collect driftwood.

… This was the morning of Marylia's first day living on an uninhabited island.

~The Island-Banished Noble Lady~

The decision to banish Marylia was made just a week ago.

The reason was quite simple.

(There is no need for heroes in a peaceful world.)

Marylia was a noble. Or rather, she used to be. That's why she had been fighting for the country until last year.

… Marylia's homeland, the Kingdom of Fractalia, was unfortunately a country lacking in military power. This was because, regretting the numerous sacrifices made in a Great Magic War that occurred long ago, they aimed for a politics that did not rely on military force.

Therefore, for a while, the Kingdom of Fractalia had managed all diplomacy through non-military negotiations, but because of this, they were often underestimated by foolish neighboring countries. Finally, taking advantage of the country's busy state dealing with frequent monster occurrences, the neighboring country Balthoria declared war.

Marylia stood up in response. The Odeil family, Marylia's family, was positioned just with a slight contact to the neighboring country Balthoria. And the first target of Balthoria was not the land near the border where the Margrave vigilantly kept watch, but the territory of the “weak” Baron Odeil family, which was only slightly touching the border.

… However, when Marylia led hundreds of “private soldiers” to fight, she managed to pummel the Balthoria soldiers who came flaunting their military power.

As things escalated, Marylia, who was originally just a baron's daughter, obtained a military position involved in the country's core, and furthermore, she was awarded the new title of Viscountess Tyfon, making a great leap in her career.

… But looking back now, all those great advancements must have been orchestrated.

As a result of Marylia beating Balthoria a bit, Balthoria quieted down, and the war between the two countries reached a stalemate.

For the Kingdom of Fractalia, which had almost no military preparations, it was impossible to conquer Balthoria, and Balthoria also didn't want to suffer more casualties...

Thus, they finally decided to conclude a peace treaty.

However.

At the time of concluding the peace treaty, it seemed necessary to offer a “scapegoat” to Balthoria.

And the chosen one was Marylia.

(This slightly excessive beating was done by Marylia Odeil Tyfon.)

By punishing only Marylia, the world, now peaceful, would have no more threats. Balthoria's anger would be appeased, and both countries could maintain a good relationship and live peacefully.

Thus, Marylia's public execution was decided. That was just a month ago.

Marylia, with a leisurely smile saying 'Well, I kind of expected that,' was escorted from the Odeil family to the royal castle.

Her father, mother, and siblings who saw her off said nothing. They too agreed with Marylia's execution. They probably didn't find it amusing that Marylia, who was not the eldest, was rising in rank so rapidly.

… However, Marylia was not publicly executed!

Marylia spent about three weeks in the royal castle's guest prison, wondering, “Oh... why is the public execution delayed...?” Meanwhile, the country's core was in turmoil, not knowing what to do.

That's right. There were an overwhelming number of petitions for clemency from countless soldiers, knights who fought with Marylia, and the commoners she saved.

So much so that the ministers were pale-faced, saying, “If we force this public execution, the national sentiment might become... quite problematic…”

But since there was an agreement with the neighboring country, they couldn't avoid punishing Marylia. Additionally, if they decided “not to kill her after all” and kept her in the country, it could be perceived as preparing to invade Balthoria again.

… Thus.

"Marylia Tyfon. For the crime of 'independently' invading the neighboring country Balthoria... we hereby strip you of your noble rank and sentence you to banishment!"

"Oh my... wasn't it supposed to be a public execution...?"

Marylia's banishment was decided amidst her confusion. That's how it was.

… Thus, yesterday.

Marylia boarded a ship with a few knights as her guards or rather, her surveillance, left her homeland, and was taken to an uninhabited island untouched by human hands.

"Oh, the sea is beautiful! And what a nice breeze."

As Marylia smiled while her hair fluttered in the sea breeze on the ship, the surveillance knights looked down with gloomy expressions. Some even sobbed.

Even though it was a banishment, it was practically a death sentence. There was no way a noble lady could survive alone on an uninhabited island. Thus, Marylia was allowed to carry a “sui*ide” knife.

... Despite this, Marylia's bright and cheerful smile apparently brought the knights to tears. They were the ones who had deliberately not submitted petitions for clemency, choosing instead to stay hidden to “remain on Marylia's side until the end.” They were, in fact, the ones who most respected and loved Marylia.

"My, oh my, everyone, don't make such gloomy faces? It's a rare sea voyage, so let's enjoy it?"

Marylia, laughing with a light heart, was bound by her hands like a criminal, but otherwise, she looked every bit the noble lady.

Thanks to the maids at the royal castle who had dressed her beautifully, Marylia wore a lovely dress and modest decorations, even though they would be of no use on an uninhabited island. All these were mocked by the higher nobles as “too splendid for a journey to the land of the dead,” and the king frowned at the sight, but Marylia stood tall with pride, bright and cheerful.

"Lady Marylia..."

One of the knights spoke to Marylia. It was Cyril Elegian. He was a comrade who had fought alongside Marylia on the battlefield. Cyril was emotional and overly passionate, but that’s what Marylia liked about him, despite his somewhat overwhelming nature.

"I can't possibly enjoy such a sea voyage!"

"Oh my..."

When Cyril said that with a strained voice, the other knights also nodded slightly, and the sounds of sobbing grew louder.

"Why must someone like you, who fought for the country, be treated this way! We owe our lives to your efforts, Lady Marylia! Why such an unreasonable thing! Why..."

"Oh dear, Cyril, don't cry. I don't know what to do if you cry."

Seeing Cyril beginning to shed tears, Marylia fretted. It was like an older sister soothing her younger brother, though Marylia was only 18 this year, and Cyril had just turned 24. The roles were reversed.

"Besides, island life might not be so bad. Actually, I'm a little looking forward to it."

When Marylia gently said this, the knights, including Cyril, thought she was saying it to comfort them. Their faces grew even gloomier.

… However.

In reality, Marylia was serious.

Unbelievable as it was to everyone, Marylia was genuinely looking forward to this life in exile!

Thus, the gloomy ship arrived at its destination, the uninhabited island, at sunset.

"So this will be my home..."

"... Yes."

While the knights looked downcast, Marylia alone breathed out softly as she looked over the island.

… This uninhabited island was not particularly small. It might be as large as the Odeil territory, or even larger.

The beach before her was covered with fine, white, and soft sand, making it quite beautiful.

Just a little further, dense woods, tangled with vines, indicated an untouched forest.

Looking up, there was a mountain. Yes, this uninhabited island had a large mountain. Perhaps that mountain was a volcano. Marylia, smiling as she looked around the island, murmured, “It's much better than I imagined.”

"Then... I'll remove your restraints."

"Yes, please."

Cyril knelt before Marylia, cut off the rope that bound her hands, and threw it onto the sand.

And then.

"... Lady Marylia. The ship."

"Huh?"

Cyril, still kneeling before Marylia, held out his hand.

"Let's escape. Somewhere far away."

Marylia was taken aback.

She looked around and saw that the other knights were nodding at each other, looking at her with determined eyes.

It seemed they intended to take Marylia and escape!

… However.

"My, you can't do that. You will get into trouble."

Marylia gently brushed off Cyril's hand.

"We are prepared! We would rather not abandon you..."

"I'm grateful, but it's still a no. You are knights, after all."

Marylia's voice was soft, but her words were firm.

"Think about the country. And about the families who trusted you and sent you off. And the people you are supposed to protect… Okay?"

The knights turned pale and stood in despair.

… At that moment, a particularly strong sea breeze blew, making Marylia's long hair flutter wildly.

"Oh... right."

Marylia drew a knife from the scabbard attached to the sword belt that seemed out of place with her dress. The knights hastily tried to stop her, but...

"My hair is going to get in the way. I will cut it."

"Lady Marylia...?!"

As the knights looked bewildered, Marylia gathered her hair behind her neck and, with the unusually rough knife meant for “a noble lady's sui*ide,” she cut it off in one fell swoop.

… While Marylia was nonchalant about it, the knights let out cries of distress. Hair is said to be a woman's life. The knights, who had seen Marylia's long, beautiful hair flutter like a flag on the battlefield, were all the more shocked.

"Oh no, that can’t be, Lady Marylia...!"

"Oh dear, don't be so frantic. Now, um..."

Marylia, holding the freshly cut hair in her left hand, looked around...

"If it's alright, could I have that wooden box over there? Oh, you can leave the contents. I just need the box. It's sturdy and has a lid... it looks perfect."

… She pointed with the knife to a wooden box that was loaded on the boat. It was probably a tool container of some sort. Since it likely contained maps and other items, it should be somewhat resistant to the sea breeze and rain.

"Uh, oh, yes... of course, however…"

"Hehe, I want to keep my hair since I will be using it. Thank you."

She placed the hair in the wooden box that had been quickly brought to her, closed the lid, and then sighed deeply with a gentle smile.

"Thank you for your service. Now, you should return and report the completion of your mission. Heh, things are going to get busy from now on..."

"... Pardon? Umm, Lady Marylia...?"

The knights, worried and anxious, looked at Marylia as if they were thinking, “Has she finally lost her mind?”

However.

"Hey. Maybe three years, or five years... I don't think it will take ten years. Please, wait for me."

Marylia smiled and said.

"Huh?"

"By then, I think I will be able to see you all again."

Another strong sea breeze blew, making Marylia's now short hair and the hem of her dress flutter wildly.

"And then... at that time, I might just complain a bit to His Majesty the King."

Marylia's smile was elegant and gentle... but.

"I will bring an army of iron golems with me."

Her words were neither gentle nor calm!

"I-iron golems...?!"

"Yes. Just from a quick look at this island, see? There's andesite. That means I can probably get iron sand. If I can set up a smelting facility, I should be able to make iron golems… It might take three, or five, or perhaps even ten years, though..."

As Marylia spoke cheerfully, the knights, though dumbfounded, seemed to be pulling back from the brink of despair.

"I'm really looking forward to life on this island. That's the truth. And I love our country, Fractalia. That's also true… But, it doesn't mean I'm not angry at all."

Marylia then smiled, a smile reminiscent of her days on the battlefield.

Just as when she had led golems under the guise of “private soldiers.” Just as when she had covertly turned the knights' armor into golems and manipulated them without their knowledge. She smiled brightly.

"I just don't show it on my face."

"Now! I need to build a place to sleep for tonight! It's going to get busy! Ahahaha."

After seeing off the knights and the ship, who left in tears, Marylia immediately set to work.

The long-awaited, joyful life of banishment on the island was about to begin!