Following the successful subjugation, the Holy Knight in command formally reported the operation’s completion to the kingdom. Elias, wishing to confirm the details, had Frenn gather the information. Ten days after the battle, he finally received the report in his quarters.
“First and foremost, your name was properly included in the official records, Elias.”
“Oh? So they couldn’t just erase me after all. Though I imagine they’re none too pleased, considering they were the ones who stationed me at a rear-line fortress, only for me to yield such results.”
“That may very well be the case. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to obtain information regarding their exact sentiments.”
“Well, I doubt anyone would openly criticize me at this point… So, how exactly did they report my role?”
“In simple terms, the record states that you collaborated with the hero Misheana in the subjugation of the beast Alder, significantly hampering its movements and creating the decisive opening for its defeat.”
“They didn’t go so far as to say my strike was the finishing blow, then.”
“Visually, the final strike was delivered by the surrounding knights and heroes. Given that, your role was framed as a joint effort with Misheana, and you share the credit with her.”
“I see. That was within my expectations, so I’ve no issue with it.”
For the time being, Misheana was still staying at the fortress. Upon hearing this, she might find it unsatisfactory—after all, she had barely participated in the actual attack. It wouldn’t be surprising if she felt uncomfortable being credited for a victory she had not actively contributed to.
“What about my personal contribution? How much of the total credit do they attribute to me?”
“If the entirety of the operation’s success were rated at a ten, I’d estimate your share falls around a two or a three.”
“That’s more than I expected.”
“Frennkly, I believe you deserved at least half.”
“But I shared the credit with Misheana, didn’t I? Given that, a reduction in my share makes sense… How does the kingdom officially evaluate me, then?”
“They are highly impressed. The fact that a Holy Knight from the Eastern Front achieved such results so soon after his arrival has garnered significant attention. More than the actual battle results, your name may now be circulating within the royal court.”
“I see… Then perhaps I now have the groundwork to formally petition the kingdom.”
“That might still be difficult, at least for the time being.”
“Ideally, if I had single-handedly slain the beast, I could have leveraged it to make rapid progress. But still, if I’ve gained some recognition, I’ll take it as a satisfactory outcome.”
At this point, Elias paused briefly before shifting the conversation.
“…On another note, how are things progressing with the Northern frontier? Now that we’ve slain a long-standing menace, I imagine the kingdom is eager to push forward.”
“As expected, there are those within the kingdom who, emboldened by this victory, are advocating for the elimination of the remaining two great threats in the North.”
“Of course they are. If they ignore the details and focus solely on the results, this battle appears to have been an effortless triumph—no casualties, barely any injuries, and a victory over a foe that had troubled the kingdom for decades. Naturally, they’d think the remaining threats can be handled just as easily.”
“So we ride that momentum to secure further achievements… That’s your plan, isn’t it?”
“Exactly. However, we have no idea where the remaining threats are lurking. Even if another subjugation is planned, it will likely take some time to materialize. Until then, gathering information should be our priority.”
“Information gathering… On what, specifically?”
Elias met her gaze and answered without hesitation.
“First, intelligence on the remaining threats. Then, details about the commanders, knights, and heroes stationed at the front-line fortresses. In addition, we need to understand the broader political landscape of the North and the relationships among the Holy Knights stationed in various fortresses.”
“That doesn’t leave us much time to relax…”
“There’s no need to rush. The only pressing matter is information on the remaining monsters. Everything else can wait.”
“I understand. Given the current climate, another subjugation might be organized sooner rather than later. In that case, prioritizing information on the monsters is our best course of action.”
Elias nodded. “Agreed. That said, investigating the Holy Knights could draw unnecessary attention. I’d rather our inquiries go unnoticed.”
“If questioned, would it not suffice to say that we’re researching the political landscape of the North?”
“There will always be those who read too much into things. If they suspect that I’m specifically investigating the other Holy Knights, they might start viewing me as a potential rival.”
Frenn frowned, clearly considering the challenges of discreet information gathering.
“In that case, we’ll have to gather intel under the guise of casual conversation.”
“Exactly. As I said, there’s no rush. If another subjugation effort is launched, that takes priority.”
“Understood. I’ll start gathering information gradually. What will you do in the meantime, Elias?”
“I’ll be laying the groundwork.”
Frenn tilted her head slightly. “Laying the groundwork?”
“With this subjugation, I’ve secured some level of recognition. I need to determine how Lord Noque views me now. At the same time, I must make it clear that I pose no threat to him.”
“If we act too freely, it could put us in a difficult position.”
“Precisely. While I doubt I’ll be expelled from the fortress outright, they could start saddling me with endless bureaucratic tasks under the guise of keeping me occupied. I’d rather avoid being buried under administrative work and instead ensure I have the freedom to move as needed.”
That said, Elias thought to himself, the fortress’s soldiers and knights had begun to trust him. Even Noque was unlikely to act against him without cause.
“I’ll speak with Lord Noque before the day is over. As for you, Frenn, take your time with the information gathering—no need to rush.”