Following the extermination of the monsters, the fort was filled with renewed vigor. Training sessions became more rigorous, and the overall combat strength steadily increased.
At the center of this progress were Luke and Reina. Their firsthand experience in defeating monsters had accelerated their growth, which in turn inspired the other knights. Seeing their peers improve spurred them on, making their swordsmanship training all the more intense.
Similarly, Jemmy’s presence had a profound impact on the fort’s mages. Under her guidance, their prowess in magic improved at a pace even Elias had not anticipated—in just ten days, they had already shown remarkable progress.
Watching this unfold, Elias reflected on their development.
(They were already training to become Holy Knights and Court Mages. The potential was always there—what they lacked was merely the opportunity to grow.)
By the time they had been stationed in the North, they must have already possessed significant talent. Elias merely provided the catalyst for their advancement.
He continued to spar with them, observing their techniques and gauging their growth. In one-on-one duels, he still remained undefeated, but there was no denying that they had sharpened their skills significantly since before the monster hunt.
“The knights are getting stronger—anyone can see that.”
Jemmy remarked when she encountered Elias within the fort.
“The mages as well. Their fundamentals are solid, and they learn quickly.”
Elias nodded.
“Agreed.”
“The remaining issue is coordination.”
“Right. In an actual monster hunt, knights and mages must work in tandem. It might be time to start joint exercises.”
Jemmy folded her arms.
“I wouldn’t be much help in that department. Tactics aren’t exactly my specialty.”
“I know. That’s something I’ll have to discuss with Lord Nork.”
A few days later, the fort’s troops were divided into two groups to conduct training in coordinated combat.
Nork personally devised the strategy scenarios, and although the first few simulations were clumsy, they revealed several key areas for improvement.
One unexpected outcome of this exercise was Elias gaining a newfound appreciation for Nork’s strategic expertise.
“I can only contribute by drafting battle plans on paper.”
Nork said modestly, analyzing the results of the drills. Since the fort’s role was mostly logistical support, there had been little chance for his tactical acumen to shine. But it was clear that he possessed a keen mind for military strategy.
“The soldiers’ coordination is still lacking… we have a long way to go.”
Elias commented as they reviewed the results.
“Improving individual combat ability was our first priority,” Nork responded. “Now that we’ve achieved that, we can focus on teamwork.”
Elias nodded before changing the subject.
“How are the other forts perceiving our efforts?”
Nork scoffed lightly.
“They don’t seem particularly concerned. Since the extermination of the Elder Monster, they’ve assumed that our fort is simply training in response to past threats. No one suspects we’re preparing for a major frontline campaign.”
“What about the capital?”
“No major interest there either. And frankly, I have no intention of moving to the front lines myself.”
Nork leaned forward slightly.
“That said… I’ve noticed you’ve continued your investigations, even during training.”
Elias nodded.
“Yes. Since we found a monster nest near Nanan Mountain—despite it being away from major settlement routes—I expanded the search to other areas.
So far, I’ve only come across low-threat monsters—nothing that would pose an immediate danger. I also found no major deposits of miasma.”
Nork exhaled in mild relief.
“So there’s nothing to be concerned about…?”
Elias hesitated for a moment before responding.
“There is one thing.”
Nork’s gaze sharpened.
“Go on.”
“Some of the developed areas—places that have already been cleared and settled—are showing small traces of miasma.”
“Any idea what’s causing it?”
“At this point, I can’t say for sure. It could be a lingering effect of the Elder Monster… but it’s strange for miasma to suddenly appear in safe zones. There might be a monster involved that we haven’t detected yet.”
Nork folded his arms thoughtfully.
“The other forts should be aware of this already, but we should issue a formal warning nonetheless.”
“Is development still progressing as planned?”
“Yes, but at a cautious pace. However, as I mentioned before, certain nobles are pushing to eliminate all major threats so they can claim territories before the kingdom officially secures them. It’s causing some… complications.”
Nork’s expression turned grim.
“Will the miasma dissipate on its own?”
Elias shook his head.
“There are no surrounding sources for it to continue accumulating, so yes, it should fade over time. However, if miasma keeps reappearing, that means something—or someone—is generating it. In that case, we’d need to launch another investigation.”
Nork’s brow furrowed.
“Alright. Then I’ll issue a formal order for a miasma survey. You will lead the investigation. Choose your team as you see fit.”
“Understood.”
With that, Elias left the meeting, already planning his next move.
Elias muttered to himself as he walked.
“If we’re dealing with miasma, I should bring Jemmy… and probably some of the fort’s mages as well.”
The battle against monsters had been a crucial turning point, but the mystery of the miasma suggested that their challenges were far from over.
With that in mind, Elias began assembling his next expedition team.