Heading for the Subjugation

“We should not be reckless, as Lord Noque has said. However, this is an ideal opportunity to strengthen the garrison’s forces.”

“That may be true, but there are risks involved,” Noque cautioned.

“Yes. The subjugation must be approached with caution. Fortunately, from what we have observed, the monsters do not appear to leave their nest all at once. If we gradually reduce their numbers, we can eliminate them without suffering casualties.”

At Elias’s reasoning, Noque let out a thoughtful hum, nodding in approval.

“Preparations must be made to account for unexpected situations… Lord Noque, I would like to select the personnel myself.”

“Judging by your selection of knights for the prior investigation, I take it you already have an idea of who you wish to bring?”

“Yes.”

At Noque’s words, Elias nodded in confirmation.

“Very well. I shall leave it to your judgment… How many will you require?”

“To ensure we are prepared for any contingencies, I estimate that ten men should suffice.”

“That is a rather modest number. Are you certain that will be enough?”

“Yes, it will not be an issue.”

“Very well. I shall entrust this to you.”

Noque placed his faith in Elias’s experience as a veteran knight who had fought numerous monsters. He had no objections regarding the personnel selection.

Without wasting time, Elias departed from Noque’s office and began assembling the team. Along the way, he ran into Jemie.

“This garrison will be handling the subjugation ourselves. Would you be willing to join the battle?”

“You mean I’ll actually be fighting?”

“That’s right.”

“…Fine by me.”

She agreed without hesitation. If she truly wished to become active in the North, combat was an unavoidable reality.

“Good. Then, I’ll gather Frenn and begin the preparations.”

“When are we leaving?”

“Within a few days.”

“In that case, there shouldn’t be an issue.”

Her response caught Elias’s attention.

He narrowed his eyes. “Is something bothering you?”

“The monsters in that cave seem to be in a defensive state. For now, they’re merely observing the outside world. But the real issue is their numbers. The cave doesn’t connect to any deeper passageways, does it? That means that as their population grows, they will eventually overflow.”

“That is a valid concern.”

“We don’t know when that will happen, but even if the cave still has space now, that decision is not ours to make—it’s up to them. If they feel their nest is too small, they will begin to emerge.”

“So while they have remained inside thus far, there is a possibility that they could suddenly start moving out?”

“Exactly. And the monsters I detected outside before… what were they doing? That was the first time I had sensed them. They may have been scouting for a new habitat.”

“…If we assume the worst, then the sooner we subjugate them, the better.”

Elias nodded and came to a decision.

“Gather your supplies. If you need anything, let me or Frenn know.”

“Understood. I’ll be ready.”

“Good. I’m counting on you.”

Without further delay, Elias began mobilizing the unit.

 

Two days later, the preparations were complete.

Elias and a total of ten personnel set out from the garrison.

Combat Unit:

Elias (Frontline Commander)
Jemie (Magic Support & Combat)
Luke & Reina (Knights-in-Training, Frontline Fighters)

Support Unit:

Frenn (Logistics & Coordination)
Two soldiers (Carrying supplies)
Two novice knights (Reinforcement & Base Guard)
One mage (The female magician who had been training in detection magic)

As they marched, Elias addressed the group.

“I will now go over our strategy.”

“The frontline will consist of me, Jemie, Luke, and Reina. The two soldiers will set up camp near Mount Nanan alongside Frenn. This may turn into a prolonged battle, so we need a staging ground.”

“I would prefer we avoid a prolonged engagement,” Frenn noted.

Elias nodded.

“Everyone else will guard the base camp. If anything unexpected occurs, remain on high alert.”

“Are four attackers enough?” Jemie asked.

“The cave’s narrow structure means that a large force will be difficult to maneuver. If the situation escalates, we will retreat and reassess.”

“…That does little to ease my nerves,” Reina admitted.

Her unease was understandable. She lacked experience in monster combat, and they were up against a large horde.

But Elias remained resolute.

“Don’t worry. Some of the monsters may be formidable, but you two can handle this.”

“Are you certain?” Reina asked skeptically.

“I am. You’ll understand why once the battle begins.”