As night fell, Elias and his group gathered around the fire for a meal. The atmosphere was calm and relaxed, and with no sign of monsters, they engaged in lighthearted conversations.
Elias observed his companions. Jemie was deep in discussion with the other female mage, while Luke and Reina seemed to be strategizing for tomorrow. The knights and soldiers shared laughter, indicating that their camaraderie was strong.
Meanwhile, Frenn ate quietly, though she occasionally paused when Jemie or someone else engaged her in conversation.
(…This expedition turned out to be beneficial in more ways than one.)
Elias considered their next steps. The battle was going well—there was little doubt that they could eliminate the remaining monsters tomorrow. But what then?
Would they continue hunting monsters with Luke and Reina now that they had gained confidence?
(Or should I expand the search for similar monster nests…?)
The idea was tempting, but perhaps it was too ambitious for now.
(I’ll figure it out after we’re done here.)
“Elias.”
Luke’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.
“After we finish this mission, I wanted to ask you something.”
“Go on.”
“This battle has been an invaluable experience. I was hoping you could continue training us after this.”
“That’s fine by me,” Elias agreed without hesitation. “But first… you should set a clear goal.”
“A goal?”
“I mean, what kind of knight do you want to become?” Elias clarified. “Do you see yourself fighting on the front lines of the northern frontier? Or do you want to become someone like Lord Nork, leading battles through strategy and command?”
Luke fell silent, seemingly caught off guard by the question.
It was clear that, up until now, his only focus had been improving his combat skills—he hadn’t considered his long-term aspirations.
“…That’s a difficult question,” he admitted after some thought. “But after experiencing battle firsthand, I feel that I should wield my sword for peace and order.”
Elias nodded.
“Figuring out your ultimate path will take time,” he said. “For now, you should focus on strengthening your skills. If you can prove your ability to defeat monsters, your chances for advancement in the northern forces will increase. That will give you more options in the future.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
“No need to thank me,” Elias shrugged. “Advancing the frontier is the kingdom’s goal. That requires strong knights. I’m just doing my part to follow that directive.”
However, he knew there was more to it than that.
Politics played a significant role.
No matter how skilled a knight was, political maneuvering could limit their opportunities. It wasn’t something Elias could change, but he could at least warn Luke and Reina about it.
“…I’d like to train as well,” Reina suddenly spoke up.
Elias turned to her.
“You too, huh?”
“I don’t know what my long-term path will be either,” she admitted. “But right now, I know that strength is what matters most.”
Elias smiled.
“Alright. Once we’re back at the fortress, we’ll intensify your training.”
“If that’s the case—”
This time, one of the younger knights raised his hand.
“We’re not strong enough to fight monsters, but… we’d like to train too!”
“…I don’t mind, but if too many people join, it’ll be harder to manage.”
“The real issue is manpower,” Frenn pointed out.
“Elias, you can’t handle all of this alone. Maybe you should bring in another knight from the Eastern Front.”
“…That’s an idea,” Elias muttered.
(There are plenty of skilled fighters in the East who might be willing to help…)
At that moment, everyone finished their meal. Elias glanced toward the mountain, then nodded.
“There’s no sign of monster activity. We’ll stick to the original plan—we take turns on watch.”
Then, looking at Jemie, he added,
“You’re a hired mage, not a soldier. You should rest.”
“I can keep watch too,” Jemie offered.
“Well, as long as you do your part in battle tomorrow, that’ll be enough.” Elias smirked. “I expect you to have Luke and Reina’s backs.”
“Fair enough. I’ll take you up on that.”
She paused, then fixed him with an inquisitive look.
“One more thing—do you have any plans after this job?”
“You mean monster investigations?” Elias frowned. “Right now, there’s no set plan.”
“I see…”
“Why do you ask?”
“I’m interested in your magic. Your detection spells, combat techniques… I’d like to learn more about them.”
“…Hmm. That’s tricky,” Elias admitted. “Since this is a military fortress, I can’t just let you in freely.”
“Instructor,” Frenn suddenly interjected.
Elias turned toward her, puzzled.
“If our goal is to strengthen the mages at the fortress, wouldn’t she be an ideal candidate?”
“Oh? You’re acknowledging my skills?” Jemie smirked.
“The issue,” Frenn continued, ignoring her, “is whether Lord Nork would approve.”
Elias sighed.
“I’ll have to run it by him first…”
Looking at Jemie, he added,
“It sounds like you have a lot you want to learn too.”
“I do.”
“…Alright, I’ll consider it,” Elias said. “But don’t get your hopes up too much.”
Jemie chuckled.
“That’s fine. I appreciate the consideration.”