Category: JP WN

“The monsters have returned to their nest. There’s no immediate threat of combat—everyone, stand down.”

At Elias’ words, Luke and Reina let out quiet sighs of relief. Meanwhile, Jemie, still watching the mountain, spoke up.

“I sensed the monsters’ presence… but they’re not beasts.”

“You can tell?”

Elias turned toward her, curious. Jemie nodded.

“Yes. I’ve studied monsters for a long time. I haven’t seen them yet, but based on their aura, they likely have some form of exoskeleton.”

(She can deduce a monster’s characteristics just from its presence?)

Elias himself had no such ability—this was clearly the result of her extensive research.

“Can you tell anything else?”

“Hmm… judging by how their presence moves, they don’t seem to be bipedal.”

“The way their presence moves…?”

“It’s just an educated guess based on how their energy shifts. We’ll need to confirm it ourselves.”

“No, that’s already useful information. Thanks.”

After thanking her, Elias scanned the rest of the group.

“We’ve gathered enough information for now. I’ll report to Lord Noque and await further orders… Jemie, are you heading back to town?”

“Do I have another option?”

“You mentioned wanting work in the North, right? My post is at a support garrison, but it’s still a foothold in the region. If you come with us, you might gain valuable information.”

“But you’re not just offering this for free, are you?”

“Of course not. If you’re willing, I’d like you to train our personnel in magic. If we do end up launching an attack, we’ll need better-prepared fighters.”

“Hmm… I don’t know what kind of training you expect, but it’s not impossible. Still, are you sure about bringing an outsider into your garrison just like that?”

“Your guild rank speaks for itself. As for the garrison’s lord, I’ll handle convincing him.”

Jemie fell silent, contemplating the proposal.

Frenn and the others remained equally quiet, seemingly deferring to Elias’ judgment.

After a moment, Jemie let out a small sigh.

“…Fine, I’ll go with you.”

“Then stay close. We’re heading back.”

With that, Elias led the group back to the garrison.

Upon returning, Elias gave his report to Lord Noque, who responded with a simple instruction:

“Wait for further orders.”

Jemie, despite being an outsider, was easily accepted into the garrison. This was likely due to Noque’s previous stance on improving the fort’s capabilities.

Her instructional skills also proved to be better than anticipated—her training sessions yielded immediate results.

As it turned out, she had previously been a researcher at a magic academy and had even published academic papers.

“Not that academic papers mean much to people out here on the frontier,” she had mused wryly.

Elias, however, found one thing curious—if she had such credentials, why had she left the academy and come here?

When he asked, she simply replied:

“I have my own reasons.”

She didn’t elaborate further, but the sheer determination in her eyes was enough for Elias to sense that her resolve was not ordinary.

Four days after Jemie’s arrival, the orders finally came.

Elias reported to Noque’s office to hear the official response from the kingdom.

But the words that followed were far beyond his expectations.

“The kingdom has ordered a subjugation operation… however, they want us to assess if we can handle it alone first.”

Noque himself sounded perplexed by the decision.

Elias frowned.

“In other words… they want us to take care of it ourselves?”

“Essentially, yes.”

“That’s an extremely bold decision… Are reinforcements not an option?”

Noque let out a deep sigh.

“…You know how the nobility has been debating whether to exterminate the remaining major threats in the North?”

“Yes. The capital has been buzzing with that discussion.”

“That debate is still unresolved. As a result, certain noble factions have started privately hiring heroes and knights to act on their own accord.”

Elias narrowed his eyes.

“They’re acting before the kingdom officially commands them?”

“Yes. Some nobles see the slow response from the kingdom as a chance to seize credit for themselves. The government is now struggling to control them and is busy quelling these unauthorized campaigns.”

Elias exhaled sharply.

“So the victory over Alder has made them overconfident.”

“Precisely. The zero-casualty victory against the magical beast has warped their perception. They now believe more threats can be easily eliminated, and many are trying to be the first to do it.”

“And this has led to a bureaucratic gridlock, preventing them from deploying proper reinforcements?”

Noque nodded grimly.

“Exactly. It sounds absurd, but it’s the reality we’re facing.”

Elias pinched the bridge of his nose.

“So, because of this political mess, we’re left with no choice but to handle it ourselves?”

“That’s the gist of it, yes. However, it’s not a direct order—if we cannot manage it alone, we have the option to delay the operation.”

Noque watched Elias carefully, awaiting his opinion.

And so, Elias opened his mouth to speak.

The defeat of the magical beast Alder had led to a significant number of individuals receiving recognition, and one such person was Hero Misheana.

Though she felt dissatisfied—believing she had done little to deserve the honor—Elias had advised her,
“You cannot overturn a reward already given.”

After that, she stopped voicing complaints.

However, there remained a lingering concern—her newfound fame meant that the kingdom would now expect her to achieve even greater feats.

Would she be able to meet those expectations?

“That’s exactly what I want.”

Rather than feeling pressure, Misheana grinned fearlessly.

“I’ll head straight for the front lines.”

“…Are you sure?”

“I’ll be fine, trust me. Of course, I know I still have a lot to learn. But next time we meet, I’ll be strong enough to beat you in a duel, Elias.”

And with that, she departed for the northern frontlines.

According to reports from Frenn, she was performing admirably, earning the trust of knights and other heroes alike.

Whether her achievements could compare to the Alder subjugation remained to be seen, but knowing that she was thriving put Elias at ease.

(If I ever make my way to the front lines, I should check in on her.)

Elias’ group finally arrived at Nanan Mountain.

It was a small, densely wooded peak, distant from the expanding frontlines.

Upon seeing it, Jemie narrowed her eyes.

“…Yeah. There’s something here.”

“You can tell?”

“Only vaguely. But… it’s unsettling.”

“We’ll start setting up the detection spell. Give us a moment.”

Elias and Frenn immediately began their preparations, while Jemie observed.

“Is that a state-issued spell?”

“It’s been modified a bit.”

Elias efficiently completed the setup—the spell was an adaptation of a detection method used in the eastern territories, originally developed by the kingdom for tracking magical creatures.

(The terrain here is different, but the types of monsters aren’t vastly different from the east. This should work just fine.)

The ritual circle was completed in about fifteen minutes. The ground glowed faintly, signaling that it was active.

“Alright, success. Jemie, you just need to channel your magic into the circle to keep the spell going. I’ll handle the actual scanning.”

“Understood.”

Jemie extended a hand, and a soft surge of magic flowed into the spell.

Elias closed his eyes, shifting his focus toward Nanan Mountain.

Compared to his previous attempt, the detection spell now revealed much more detail about the mountain.

And immediately—something felt wrong.

“…There are no animals.”

A mountain, no matter how small, should have wildlife—squirrels, birds, small predators.

Especially one far from human settlements.

But Nanan Mountain was completely devoid of life.

“Is that because of the monsters?”

“Or maybe the mountain itself is unnatural…” Reina murmured.

Luke, standing beside her, nodded.

“That does seem likely.”

Elias redirected the detection spell, zeroing in on the cave.

He had already pinpointed its location during the last survey, but now, using the enhanced detection spell, he could map its structure.

The cave was deep.
It did not lead into an underground network—it was a closed-off space.

But the real problem was—

Elias suddenly pulled back his focus.

“…This is worse than I thought.”

Frenn immediately asked, “What did you find?”

For a moment, Elias said nothing. Then—

“The monster nest is bigger than expected.”

“…Bigger?”

“The monsters themselves are low-threat, but their numbers are the issue. There are at least thirty of them in there.”

Luke and Reina exchanged uneasy glances.

Frenn turned her gaze toward the mountain, her expression sharp.

“…If the numbers are that high, we’d need a full subjugation force.”

“But we don’t even know what kind of monsters they are yet. And since they haven’t caused any human casualties, there’s a chance the kingdom might ignore this problem…”

Jemie crossed her arms, watching the mountain.

“Will they really send a subjugation force just because of our report?”

Elias considered her words carefully.

“You think they’ll dismiss it?”

“It’s possible. Or they might downplay the risk, even though we confirmed the nest.”

“…It’s true that since they haven’t attacked yet, the kingdom might delay any action.”

But just then—Elias froze.

He refocused on the mountain.

“…Wait.”

Several monsters were emerging from the cave.

“Some of them are coming out.”

The atmosphere within the group instantly shifted.

If they were heading down the mountain, that meant—combat was imminent.

Luke gripped his sword, readying himself.

The monsters moved—

Several minutes passed.

Elias spoke again.

Four days after submitting the request, Elias finally received a response from the guild. According to their report, they had found a mage who qualified not by rank, but by sheer magical capacity.

While this meant she wasn’t a top-tier adventurer, her guild rank was decent, so she wasn’t a complete novice either. Wanting to assess her himself, Elias made his way to the guild in town.

There, he came face to face with—

“…Hey.”

A woman.

She looked twenty-ish, with long black hair, dressed entirely in black—a black robe, a black cloak, even the staff she carried was black.

Everything about her screamed unapproachable, exuding an almost intimidating air.

(…Is she doing this on purpose to keep people from underestimating her?)

That was the first thought that crossed Elias’ mind.

“…Just to confirm, you’re the one accepting the request?”

“Yeah, that’s me.”

“Can I have your name?”

“Jemie Diras. Just call me Jemie.”

The name matched the one given by the guild, so Elias nodded and got straight to the point.

“This is a reconnaissance mission. The likelihood of engaging in combat with monsters is low… but we’ll be approaching a monster nest. Any concerns?”

“Not at all. I’d rather fight them, honestly.”

(…She’s the combative type, huh.)

Elias sighed internally but assumed she wouldn’t be reckless enough to provoke a fight unnecessarily.

“Alright. Your role will be to maintain detection magic throughout the investigation. We’ll rely on your control for the search.”

“Got it.”

Jemie agreed without hesitation.

“I heard from the guild that this is your first time accepting a job related to the northern frontier.”

“That’s right. Until now, I’ve only taken requests around the capital.”

“This assignment isn’t in the frontlines, but… are you planning to use this as a stepping stone to take on more jobs in the north?”

“Something like that.”

Elias pieced it together.

Her rank wasn’t bad, but in the north, there were plenty of mages at her level.

She was likely struggling to get work in the frontier, so she decided to take this lower-risk mission as a way to establish a foothold.

“Alright, I understand. Since there’s a possibility of battle, you’ll need to follow instructions exactly. That’s a condition. Can you do that?”

“Of course.”

Jemie nodded.

At first, Elias had found her intimidating, but after talking to her, she didn’t seem like a problem.

Satisfied, he officially hired her for the job.

After securing Jemie’s cooperation, Elias returned to the fortress, instructed Frenn to expedite preparations, and reported everything to Noque.

With that, everything moved quickly—within two days, they were ready.

Elias contacted Jemie, and they all rendezvoused at a predetermined location before setting off toward Nanan Mountain.

“Alright, let’s move out,” Elias commanded.

The team consisted of:

Elias
Frenn
Jemie (hired mage)
Luke
Reina
Two soldiers (carrying supplies)

A total of seven members.

Since the mission was purely investigative, they expected to return the same day and hadn’t brought any camping gear.

The journey to the mountain went smoothly, with no trouble along the way.

On the way, they made a quick stop at the village where they had previously conducted interviews.

Elias asked if there had been any changes since their last visit—

“Nope, nothing’s changed,” the villagers reported.
“We haven’t seen anything unusual or heard any strange noises from the mountain.”

Since the situation had remained stable, Elias decided to continue toward Nanan Mountain.

As they walked, Jemie spoke up.

“You know, when I took this job, I thought it was a pretty strange investigation.”

“We were already in the middle of another mission when this came up,” Elias explained.
“You’re aware of the recent subjugation of the magical beast, Alder, right?”

“Of course.”

Her tone shifted slightly.

Elias noticed but chose not to press further.

“After the battle, we needed to survey the area for any residual miasma or the emergence of new monsters. That’s why we were scouting around the fortress’ surroundings.”

“And that’s how you discovered a monster nest in Nanan Mountain.”

“Exactly. The nest is far from human settlements, and no one has actually seen the monsters up close, so it’s not an immediate concern. But the kingdom wants to investigate it before it becomes a problem.”

“So this mission is to confirm what type of monsters are in there.”

“That’s right.”

Jemie suddenly narrowed her eyes.

“When I saw your name on the request… I thought you might be the Holy Knight who fought against Alder.”

(…She heard the rumors, huh.)

Elias nodded.

“Yeah, that was me.”

“I assumed you’d be in the frontlines.”

“I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. The strategy was already in place, and I executed it. Besides, I wasn’t alone—I relied on many others to take it down. It wasn’t just my victory.”

As he spoke, a certain figure crossed his mind.

Mishena.

She was no longer at the fortress.

By now, she was at the northern front, battling monsters.

The next day, Elias once again descended the mountain and made his way toward the town.

Managing frontier warriors and adventurers is difficult for the kingdom, so this responsibility falls to the Warrior Guild.
Also known as the Adventurer’s Guild, it is where the kingdom typically places requests whenever they need to hire temporary personnel.

Upon arriving at the town’s guild, Elias explained his requirements to the staff.
However, their response was less than reassuring.

“We do have mages registered here, but we can’t guarantee that they meet your exact requirements…”

“Given the high level of expertise you’re asking for, the reward will have to match accordingly.”

Elias carefully examined the proposed payment.
Although not cheap, the cost was still within budget, so he formally submitted the request and left the rest in the guild’s hands.
Preparing at the Fortress

Upon returning to the fortress, Elias found Frenn busy making preparations.
He informed her that, for now, they simply had to wait.

“Have you set specific criteria for hiring?” Frenn asked.

“Yes. The mage must either have a good reputation—meaning their guild rank must be above a certain level—or they must possess a measurable amount of magical power above a set threshold.”

“Magical power alone is enough to qualify?”

“Relying only on guild rank would severely limit our choices, considering the town’s size.”

“If we end up with someone highly ranked, that’s fine, but if we choose based on magic capacity, what kind of person are we likely to get?”

“Most likely, someone with potential but little to no experience.
Since this job is only a reconnaissance mission, all we need is someone who can maintain detection magic—combat ability is not a priority.
Of course, if that’s the case, the burden on me and the knights will be greater.”

“I suppose that can’t be helped…
The nearby town is a crossing point for people heading toward the northern frontier, but the main hub for warriors is elsewhere.”

“The guild agreed to post the request in those areas as well, but considering the nature of the job and its reward, it’s unclear if anyone seeking frontier combat will actually accept it.
That’s why the town we visited has a higher chance of attracting candidates.”

“This is tricky…
I just hope we get someone who will actually follow instructions.”

“That’s up to luck.
We need to prepare for the possibility that no one accepts the request.”

“Are you considering choosing someone from within the fortress?”

“I was already planning to take someone along to assist with detection magic.
I’ll ask whoever has the highest magic capacity to train and assist us.”

“How long will that take?”

“Depends on their aptitude.
Detection magic requires a different skill set than attack spells.
It could take weeks.”

“Which will be faster—a guild recruit or training someone internally?”

“We can only hope we get a response soon…
Anyway, Frenn, continue preparing.”

“Understood.
But since we don’t know exactly when the investigation will start, I can only prepare general supplies—I can’t fine-tune provisions for each person.”

“That’s fine.
Either way, now that preparations are underway, we should cover all possibilities.”

“Got it.
Once I’ve settled preparations, I’ll return to my investigation.”

“Good. I’ll leave it to you.”

Since the guild didn’t immediately send a response, the days passed without any new updates.
Meanwhile, Elias focused on selecting and training personnel for the investigation.

Luke and Reina would be joining him.
A magic user from the fortress was chosen.
Basic training in detection magic was provided to ensure backup in case the guild’s recruit never arrived.

During the training session, the selected mage, a young woman, commented,

“You’re surprisingly skilled at teaching.”

Elias, adjusting his stance, responded,

“As a Holy Knight, teaching magic isn’t exactly part of the job.”

“…So how did you learn it?”

“In the Eastern Front, we were constantly short-staffed.
Sometimes, knights had to handle everything themselves—including magic.
I had no choice but to learn.”

“And that made you stronger in the process.
That’s rather interesting.”

“My goal is to master combat.
Learning magic was a valuable experience, but in an ideal situation, knights and mages should remain separate roles.
Otherwise, the workload becomes too much.”

“And yet, here you are, teaching me magic.”

“Exactly.
If I could, I’d gladly dump this task on someone else.”

The mage let out a laugh.

“…Detection magic is complex.
Learning it properly will take time.
Won’t this delay the mission?”

“That can’t be helped.
We know for certain that there are monsters, but they haven’t caused any problems in the town or villages so far.
A slight delay shouldn’t matter.
If they were actively attacking, we’d be moving much faster.”

“I see…
If the person we hire turns out to be capable, I’d like to observe their magic.”

“Assuming they show up at all.
But once this is over, I can try to arrange that.”

“Thank you.”

The mage nodded, showing a newfound determination.

Elias and his group eventually reached Mount Nanan. It was a small, forested hill, far removed from the active frontier development zone. As Elias observed the terrain, he noted to himself that this would indeed be a good hiding place for monsters—secluded and unlikely to be discovered.

“Alright… let’s see about these monsters.”

Activating his detection magic, Elias began scanning the area. Seeing this, Luke spoke up.

“You’re casting detection magic from this distance?”

“The cave is supposedly midway up the mountain, right? If I aim directly, I should be able to reach it.”

As he responded, Elias located a hollow space that matched the description of the cave given by the villagers.

“There’s a pocket of dense mana within an empty space… That must be the cave. Now, the question is whether there are monsters inside.”

Elias carefully focused his magical perception, probing deeper. Meanwhile, Luke and Reina attempted to sense the cave as well, but they couldn’t reach that far and ultimately gave up on their efforts.

After a moment of silence, Elias muttered,

“…Hm?”

As he continued his search, something caught his attention.

“Ah, I see now.”

“Did you find something?” Luke asked.

Canceling his magic, Elias nodded.

“Yeah, I’ve got a good idea of what’s inside. The cave doesn’t have any other exits, and it extends underground, forming a labyrinth-like structure.”

“And the monsters?”

“That’s the thing… They’re definitely there. And there’s a lot of them. No doubt—it’s become a monster den.”

Luke and Reina fell silent at this revelation.

“I was expecting a lone monster at most, but this is an infestation,” Elias continued. “We’re not going to be able to clear them out on our own.”

“Is the threat level high?”

“I only detected their presence, not their strength,” Elias admitted. “We could wait until nightfall to observe them, but…”

He turned his gaze toward the mountainside, where the cave was hidden.

“I can’t tell what kind of monsters we’re dealing with just yet… The real question is: what do we do?”

“We need to identify them first,” Luke suggested.

“Agreed. My detection magic can’t pinpoint their forms,” Elias said.

“Plus, with only three of us, engaging them is too risky. As long as we stay clear of the area, there shouldn’t be any immediate threat. For now, let’s warn the villagers to avoid the mountain, then report back to the fortress.”

“So, are we certain that we’ll be eliminating them?” Reina asked.

“That’s for Noque to decide,” Elias replied.

“Mount Nanan is pretty far from the active frontier, so it might not even fall under our jurisdiction. This is something for the higher-ups to settle.”

With that, Elias turned his gaze toward the village.

“For today, let’s wrap this up. We’ll inform the villagers about our findings and head back—”

Returning to the fortress, Elias relayed the investigation results to Noque.

“The threat level is still unknown, but there’s definitely a significant number of monsters present.”

“…Is there a chance they’ll move toward this fortress?” Noque asked.

“Highly unlikely,” Elias replied.

“They seem to be settled in Mount Nanan. And we’ve already warned the local villagers to stay away, so we shouldn’t see any incidents for now.”

“I see… But knowing that monsters are there and doing nothing about it doesn’t sit well with me,” Noque muttered.

Elias nodded. “That’s understandable.”

“But at the same time, our fortress is a rear support base,” Noque continued. “Wouldn’t it be overstepping to launch a purge mission?”

“There is an argument to justify it,” Noque admitted.

“The village you visited serves as a supply waypoint for our fortress.
If these monsters threaten that route, it could disrupt logistics for frontier expansion.

Even if the risk is low, it’s still a potential hazard that shouldn’t be ignored.”

“That’s true,” Elias acknowledged.

“First, I’ll report this to the kingdom, but considering the lack of detailed intelligence, I doubt they’ll immediately order an extermination mission,” Noque continued.

But then, after a pause, he reconsidered.

“…No, actually, they might approve it immediately.”

Elias raised an eyebrow.

“Why do you say that?”

“The recent Magic Beast extermination,” Noque explained.

“Right now, both the northern frontier and the entire kingdom are in a heightened state of vigilance regarding monsters.

Mount Nanan might be far from the main frontier, but given the current climate, ignoring a known monster den might not be an option.”

“I see… With everyone on edge, any potential threat would be viewed as something to be eliminated immediately,” Elias mused.

“But most knights and warriors are already deployed at the frontier, aren’t they?”

“That’s the issue,” Noque replied.

“Even if an extermination is authorized, we have no idea how many forces they’ll allocate to it.

Since it’s not a frontline engagement, they might assume it doesn’t require a large-scale force.”

“Meaning,” Elias concluded, “the extermination squad could end up being small.”

“Exactly,” Noque affirmed.

“In that case, what’s your stance on handling this?” Elias asked.

“I support further investigation,” Noque said.

“If we report the monster presence, we may be ordered to conduct a proper investigation.

And since we’re the only viable forces nearby, the responsibility may fall on us.”

“So, you’re saying that our fortress may be the one tasked with clearing them out?” Elias asked.

“There aren’t any other military units nearby,” Noque reasoned.

“Aside from city guards, and they’re not trained for monster extermination.

If we argue that securing supply routes is critical, then yes, we may be the ones deployed.”

“I see… Well, let’s await orders for now,” Elias decided.

“If we’re given the mission, we’ll formulate a proper strategy. Until then, we’ll hold off on making any moves.”

Noque nodded in agreement. With that, their discussion concluded.

“Would you two mind if we stopped by that village to gather some information?”

As Elias posed the question, both Luke and Reina nodded in agreement. Thus, they proceeded to visit the farming village and speak with the locals.

The sudden arrival of knights startled the villagers at first, but once Elias explained that they were conducting a routine investigation, they readily cooperated.

The first person they questioned was a farmer. When asked if he had seen any monsters, he responded,

“Hmm… I’ve spotted small ones in the forest every now and then. But we’re told to run away immediately if we see any, so I don’t know much beyond that.”

“I see… We fought the Magic Beast Alder during the recent expedition. Did anything change around here because of it?”

“Ah, yeah, we heard about that. But nothing’s changed in the village.”

“Understood. Thank you for your time.”

After thanking the farmer, Elias moved on to interview other villagers. However, the responses they received were all similar—no signs of major changes or noteworthy disturbances.

“Hmm… Looks like everything is completely peaceful,” Elias concluded.

“It’s safe to say that the defeat of Alder hasn’t caused any notable shifts,” Luke added.

Elias nodded in agreement.

“Alright, let’s head back. Sorry if this trip felt a little dull.”

“Not at all,” Luke said. “Hearing your insights has been educational, and investigations like this help maintain peace. It’s meaningful work.”

Reina also nodded in agreement. Seeing their enthusiasm, Elias felt satisfied with the outcome of this excursion.

(This was a good chance to build rapport. I should keep interacting with them, maybe train together as well.)

While the full extent of their growth remained uncertain, Elias planned to continue evaluating and guiding them.

Just as they were about to leave the village, however—

“Excuse me, knights!”

A woman called out to them.

“Would you mind listening to my concerns?”

Elias turned to her and asked,

“…What seems to be the issue?”

The woman hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“There’s a small mountain a bit northeast of here. It’s not quite within the active frontier development zones, but it’s nearby.”

Hearing this, Elias glanced at Luke.

“Do you know the place?”

“It’s likely Mount Nanan—a small, forested hill,” Luke answered.

“Yes, that’s the one. About halfway up the mountain, there’s a small cave,” the woman continued.

A cave?

Elias nodded slightly and asked,

“Is there something inside the cave?”

“Some of us go to Mount Nanan to gather wild nuts and berries,” she explained. “We usually don’t go far beyond the entrance, so there’s never been an issue… But recently, some villagers claimed they heard voices coming from inside the cave.”

“So, you think a monster might be living there?”

“It’s only a possibility, but… yes.”

Elias took a moment to survey the village.

He saw people chatting casually in the background—no signs of widespread concern or fear.

“Are others in the village worried about this as well?”

“Not really,” the woman admitted. “Since Mount Nanan is a bit far from the village, most people don’t go there often.”

“I see… We’ll check it out and see what we find.”

Hearing that, the woman expressed her gratitude before departing.

Elias turned to Luke and Reina.

“A cave on a remote mountain… It’s possible that miasma has settled there. But if we’re just scouting with detection magic, it won’t be too much trouble.”

“I understand,” Luke replied.

“I agree,” Reina added.

Since both of them were on board, they decided to head toward Mount Nanan.

As they traveled, Luke voiced a concern.

“If there really was a monster in that cave, wouldn’t someone have spotted it by now?”

“The ‘voices’ the woman mentioned could be a trick of the wind, or any number of natural causes,” Elias reasoned.

“In other words,” he continued, “we can’t assume it’s a monster just based on sound alone.
If we want to be sure, we’ll need to use magic detection.”

Luke nodded before asking another question.

“If there is a monster, why has no one seen it until now?”

“Cave-dwelling monsters tend to have certain traits. For example—if it’s sensitive to sunlight, it might never leave the cave during the day,” Elias explained.

“People rarely venture deep into the mountains at night, so if it only comes out after dark, it makes sense that no one has seen it yet.”

“But even if it only moves at night, wouldn’t someone have spotted it near the base of the mountain?”

“That depends,” Elias said.

“If it remains inside the mountain’s range, rather than venturing close to human settlements, it’s entirely possible it’s gone undetected.”

“Investigations like this are rare, and people generally don’t patrol uninhabited areas,” he added.

(Monsters that have survived for a long time in such conditions tend to be stronger than average… but considering this is within human territory, it likely isn’t anything too dangerous… right?)

Luke then asked,
“What level of threat do you expect?”

Elias crossed his arms, considering the question.

“A monster’s power depends on how long it has lived and how much magic it has absorbed over time.
If this thing has been in the cave for years, it could be stronger than expected.”

“But at this point, it’s impossible to gauge its threat level,” Elias admitted.

“For now, let’s focus on scouting.
If we do find a monster, we’ll discuss our approach before engaging.
We also need to report our findings to Noque.”

Hearing this, both Luke and Reina nodded in agreement.

Elias turned to Luke with a question.

“You mentioned earlier that you were appointed as a knight. Did you attend a knight academy?”

“No, my case is a bit unusual,” Luke replied. “I originally trained at a swordsmanship dojo. My master saw potential in me and suggested I undergo knight training. I took the examination and was accepted.”

“—I see. So that’s how it happened,” Elias mused, looking at Luke with renewed interest.

“There are several paths to becoming a knight,” Elias continued, “but in your case, you were recommended by your sword master.”

“Yes. Normally, one must attend a knight academy to qualify, but if someone demonstrates exceptional skill, they can be recognized and knighted without formal schooling.”

(That explains why he stands out in terms of technique…)

In the Kingdom of Rundell, there were multiple paths to knighthood. The system was designed to ensure that talented individuals were not overlooked, allowing capable warriors outside the nobility to rise. Ultimately, this was meant to secure manpower for frontier development and monster suppression.

The typical route involved attending a knight academy—a structured education where students trained in both martial and theoretical studies. Those who successfully graduated would then be officially knighted by the kingdom. However, this system had drawbacks:

The academic demands were rigorous, making it difficult for many students to keep up.
The cost of tuition was high, making it inaccessible to commoners.

As a result, most academy students were nobles. Some merely attended for prestige, using the knight title as a status symbol rather than to serve.

Though the knight academy was intended to produce warriors, it was still an academic institution, and students seeking credentials rather than combat experience were not uncommon.

One major advantage of this route was rapid promotion. Whether this was due to noble status or the credibility of knight academy graduates was debatable, but it was widely regarded as the elite path to knighthood.

Noque Tyruse, the lord of the fortress, was undoubtedly a product of this system.

However, there was another route to knighthood—one that Elias himself had taken.

Luke, now curious, asked,
“Elias, how did you become a knight?”

Elias smirked.
“You’ve probably heard that I was born a commoner, so you might have guessed… I climbed the ranks the hard way, from a mere soldier to a knight.”

The second path was to rise through the military ranks.

Unlike the academy route, becoming a soldier was relatively easy.
Candidates simply had to pass an aptitude test and a basic physical examination.

However, most soldiers remained in their positions indefinitely—serving as city patrols, gate guards, or garrison troops without ever advancing.

Elias, however, had been stationed in an area heavily infested with monsters.

He fought relentlessly, honed his skills, and pushed himself to the limits.
Eventually, the kingdom recognized his prowess and deemed it a waste to keep him as a mere soldier, bestowing upon him the title of knight.

“In the East, while not as extreme as the North, we had our fair share of monster battles,” Elias explained.
“My assignment happened to be in a particularly dangerous region, and that’s what led me here.
If I had been stationed elsewhere, I’d probably still be some nameless gate guard.”

“But in the end, you became a knight… and now even a Holy Knight,” Luke remarked.

Elias let out a small chuckle.
“The kingdom saw fit to promote me, though personally, I find the title a bit heavy for my shoulders.”

He shrugged as he spoke, though both Luke and Reina didn’t seem convinced.

They had witnessed Elias single-handedly slay the Red Wolf, a Threat Level 2 monster, with ease.

To them, it seemed only natural that he would be recognized as a Holy Knight.

“That’s my story,” Elias concluded. “What about you, Reina?”

Reina hesitated before replying.
“I attended a knight academy, but… my situation is a little different from the usual case.”

“Hm? How so?” Elias asked.

“Not all knight academies are the same,” Reina began.
“I went to one in a remote backwater town—it was tiny, with barely any students.
Among them, I ended up as the top graduate.”

“That’s impressive,” Elias remarked.

Reina shook her head vigorously.
“It was just a coincidence,” she insisted.
“I only got knighted because I placed first. But compared to top graduates from the capital’s knight academy, the gap is astronomical.
If I had been at one of those elite schools, I’d probably be near the bottom.”

(She’s being awfully self-deprecating…)

Elias found himself pondering her words.
Clearly, she had encountered something in her journey that made her painfully aware of her limits.

“But you made it to the North, which means you were recognized for your skills,” Elias pointed out.

“…I was knighted for my practical combat ability, at least.”

(So she had natural talent with the sword…?)

Elias found himself reassessing the two knights.

He had not yet seen them in real combat, but he had a better understanding of their backgrounds and potential.

(The North is filled with people from different paths, he mused.
There must be even more with unique circumstances… and as for me—)

As he pondered, Elias continued leading the survey.

Before long, the group emerged from the forest—and a rural village came into view.

With his plan now in motion, Elias sought approval from Noque to conduct a survey of the area surrounding the fortress.

There were two objectives for this mission. The first was to confirm whether any monsters were present, the primary reason for the survey. The second, however, was to foster interaction and build rapport with the knights stationed at Noque’s fortress.

A “knight” in this region did not always mean a mounted warrior. Unlike the conventional image of knights riding gallantly on horseback, those engaged in the northern frontier rarely rode steeds. Horses were more commonly used for transporting supplies than for combat. When fighting monsters, the terrain often consisted of rugged slopes and dense forests, making mounted combat impractical.

Thus, the real distinction between knights and ordinary soldiers lay in their training and equipment.

Elias led the group down the mountainside at a deliberate pace, carefully scanning his surroundings for any disturbances. His measured approach allowed those accompanying him to follow without issue.

For this mission, Elias had chosen two knights—one man and one woman. The selection had been deliberate.

“Seems clear. How about you two?” Elias inquired, glancing back at his companions.

The knights both shook their heads. It was the male knight who spoke first.

“There are traces of wildlife, but no signs of monsters.”

His voice was composed and precise, reflecting his meticulous demeanor. He had smooth, chestnut-brown hair and a calm, expressionless face. His tone was neutral, almost detached, as he relayed his observations.

“The tracks belong to small animals. It seems that as human presence has expanded, larger beasts have retreated deeper into the wilds.”

“I see… Once we return, we should check past reports on monster sightings.”

“The last recorded sighting was three months ago,” the knight responded.

“Oh? You checked the records in advance?” Elias raised an eyebrow.

“I reviewed the documentation before this mission,” the knight stated matter-of-factly.

“Impressive,” Elias remarked, nodding in approval. Then, he posed another question.

“What kind of monster was spotted three months ago?”

“A creature resembling a rabbit. It was not aggressive toward humans, so it was classified as non-threatening.”

“Got it. Thanks.”

“Um… is there really a chance that monsters could be nearby?” the female knight asked.

She had striking red hair, loosely tied back in a casual bun. Though she addressed Elias with proper etiquette, her tone was more relaxed compared to her colleague’s.

“We’re conducting this survey because we suspect the presence of monsters following the appearance of the Red Wolf,” she continued.

“More precisely,” Elias clarified, “we’re checking whether that incident led to any shifts in monster activity or any changes in the flow of miasma.”

Both knights turned their attention to him.

“Powerful monsters continuously emit miasma. Normally, when a monster is slain, its miasma fades. However, in rare cases, residual miasma lingers.”

“How does that happen?” the female knight pressed.

“For example, if the lingering miasma settles in an area prone to accumulation, it may persist for an extended period.”

“So if it lingers, it could cause problems?”

“Exactly. When new lands are opened for settlement, areas with stagnant miasma are typically purified. However, if a powerful monster’s miasma interferes with that purification, it may render the treatment ineffective.”

“You seem quite knowledgeable about this,” the male knight noted.

“I’ve spent over twenty years fighting monsters. This is standard knowledge in the East. The specifics might differ, but I doubt the fundamental nature of monsters changes drastically between the North and East. This information should be applicable here as well.”

Even as he spoke, Elias remained vigilant, continuing to scan the surroundings. Unlike usual, Frenn was not present on this mission.

The reason Elias had specifically chosen these two knights was straightforward—he needed capable fighters.

If they were to confront high-risk monsters in the future, Elias would need allies among the fortress knights. It was essential to identify those who had the potential to fight alongside him.

Among those he had observed, these two had caught his attention.

The male knight was named Luke.
The female knight was named Reina.

Ideally, he had hoped to encounter a monster to gauge their combat skills in a live scenario—but…

(Of course, things rarely go that conveniently.)

It was an expected outcome, so Elias mentally adjusted his approach.

“I understand your skepticism,” he told them, “but for now, let’s continue. The possibility of monster activity isn’t zero.”

Luke and Reina both nodded.

Though their personalities and speech differed, they both seemed diligent and committed to their duty.

(For now, I’ll keep the conversation going and observe them.)

“How long have you two been stationed at the fortress?” Elias asked, shifting the topic.

This was an opportunity to assess how they would respond when the conversation turned away from their mission.

“This is my second year,” Luke answered first.

“I was knighted and then assigned to Emile Fortress.”

“Two years—would you say that’s a long time for this fortress?”

“No, not particularly. But there aren’t many who stay for more than five years.”

“Do they transfer elsewhere?”

“Yes. After spending time in the North and gaining experience, knights are often reassigned.”

Elias frowned slightly.

(What kind of personnel management is that…?)

Something about it felt off, but he kept that thought to himself.

Turning to Reina, he asked, “What about you?”

“I’ve been here for three years,” she replied.

“So that makes you the senior knight.”

“I suppose, but our roles have been different, so Luke and I haven’t interacted much.”

“Yeah, this is probably the first mission we’ve done together,” Luke added.

Since they had little prior interaction, their conversation remained formal.

“Who decides these assignments? Noque?” Elias asked.

“Probably,” Luke replied.

(So placement isn’t necessarily based on swordsmanship skill…)

That was useful information.

Satisfied with the responses so far, Elias continued his questioning, steadily gathering more insights.