Ch.353Awarding Ceremony

After putting our heads together with Leonore, we finally decided what to teach.

The actual lecture would come a bit later, but at least I had settled on a topic.

‘Practical Combat Theory Against Major Hostile Entities.’

In short, I would teach how to efficiently take down monsters, non-humans, and magical beasts. As far as I knew.

This way, I’d have plenty to explain.

Of course, I’d have to explain based on game players’ strategies rather than my own standards.

If I explained based on my standards, the entire lecture would boil down to “just dodge slightly and strike hard, then they die. Simple, right?”

—-

Around that time, Millia and Demian returned to the reception room after finishing their bath.

It took longer than I expected, making me wonder if they had done something in the bathroom, but when I casually asked, they said they had bathed separately, which is why it took so long.

While I was at it, I told them about my future plans.

“I need to go to Landenburg for a while, so in the meantime… train with Leonore and hunt some suitable magical beasts. Building your strength should be the priority right now.”

Like Leonore, both of them were novices who had only recently reached Master level.

Their accumulated Karma was still shallow, and they lacked practical experience fighting magical beasts.

Rather than having them join me on the eastern expedition where war could break out at any time and waste their time, it would be better to leave them on the island to build their strength on their own.

In other words, it was an auto-hunting growth strategy.

While war might be different, for simple magical beast subjugation, two Masters should be able to handle either the hunt or retreat without much trouble.

“When you participate in subjugation missions, just say I sent you, and you’ll receive support for most things. Troops, information, supplies. Anything. If anyone tries to disrespect or use you, you can challenge them to a duel and eliminate them, I don’t mind.”

“Um, is that really okay…?”

“Of course it is. You agreed to become my knights, right? Unless they’re direct descendants of a ducal family, other nobles won’t be able to say anything against my name.”

To begin with, there wouldn’t be many people bold enough to act up when Master-level knights are participating in subjugation, but even those with enlarged livers wouldn’t dare to be impudent before my name.

Moreover, now that these two had officially become knights under my command, any achievements from subjugations they participate in using my name would become my accomplishments as their lord.

So, the more magical beasts they defeat and the more people they save, the more not just their reputation but also mine will grow.

Not as a warrior, but as an imperial noble.

I’ve already built enough reputation as a warrior.

The Empire’s First Sword, Humanity’s Hero, Winter Slayer. In truth, there’s nowhere higher to climb.

So now, it’s time to firmly establish my reputation not just as the strongest warrior, but as a protector of the people and an honorable noble?

That was Leonore’s advice.

For someone like me who had built my position relying on connections with the upper class without a power base, the fervent support of the people would be like insurance.

Insurance that would help me stand independently as an imperial noble even if my relationships with Ludwig, Leopold, or Lacy were to deteriorate.

[Futile. What help would the support of such weaklings be to you? They’re just weeds that would be swept away with a single blow.]

Hersella mocked this, but my thoughts were different.

If I had no power, it would be one thing, but for someone with power to gain overwhelming support from the people… it could become a threat that I might declare independence or even start a rebellion if pushed.

That would make people think twice before messing with me.

Even without such serious reasons, I was beginning to feel the need to manage my reputation.

Fighting day in and day out seemed to be making some people think of me as some kind of butcher hungry for slaughter, roaming battlefields.

—-

After wrapping up that important conversation, there was only one topic left.

“So, what are you going to name the knightly order?”

That’s the problem.

“Median Knights” seems too lazy, and “Sword of Median” sounds like I’m copying Ludwig.

“Well… I’ve been thinking about it, and for now, how about ‘Epée de Ciel’? What do you think?”

Epée de Ciel.

It was the result of a hard-won compromise with Hersella, who had stubbornly insisted on “Blood Sword of the Heavenly Horse Order.”

“Sword of Heaven? Not bad, but it sounds like a name for a knightly order exclusive to the Church of Elpinel.”

“True. Come to think of it, Haschal was a paladin of the Church of Elpinel. Though it was just an honorary position since I don’t have holy power.”

Despite saying that, both of them nodded readily as if it was a better name than expected.

“Leonore, what do you think?”

“I think it’s fine too… but if you want to include ‘heaven’ in the name of a knightly order, you’ll need permission from the Church of Elpinel. Well, since you’re close with the Archbishop, getting permission should be simple.”

Apparently, to officially use words like ‘heaven’ or ‘sun’ that symbolize the gods of each church, you need permission from the respective church.

“Then does Millia’s nickname ‘Arrow of Imela’ also need permission?”

“Huh, me?”

Yes, Millia, I’m talking about you.

Because you openly displayed such deep and intense affection, you got the nickname “Arrow of Imela” despite not even belonging to the Church of Imela.

“Nicknames are fine. To begin with, such nicknames are only given to knights who have performed worthy feats. If Millia’s fame grows even more, the Church of Imela might even try to appoint her as an honorary paladin. There’s the issue of not having holy power, but with you as a precedent, there shouldn’t be much opposition within the church.”

Paladin Millia, that seems incredibly unsuitable.

Judging by her behavior, she’s not a paladin but a knight of lust.

No, since Imela’s domain is ‘love,’ perhaps it’s actually quite fitting?

“On the other hand, for knightly order names, permission is needed because they could overlap with the names of each church’s paladin orders. Like the Celestial Knights of the Church of Elpinel, the Solar Knights of the Church of Saulite, or the Scale Knights of Astraea.”

That was a reasonable explanation.

It would be unacceptable for a secular lord’s knightly order to use the same name as a church’s paladin order.

Anyway, with that, the name of the elite knightly order was tentatively decided as “Epée de Ciel.”

—-

Afterward, light rest and casual conversation continued.

We sipped drinks with snacks and refreshments brought from the dining hall, having everyday conversations until late into the night.

Of course, only Leonore was allowed to drink alcohol.

Demian and Millia also seemed to want some wine, but I strictly forbade it, so they had to quietly drink tea instead.

From what I could see, if these two had alcohol, they’d forget my warnings and roll around together in the middle of the night.

After chatting for a couple of hours, we disbanded.

I carried Lena, who was sound asleep hugging my thigh with no intention of waking up, to her bed, then returned to my room to sleep.

Fortunately, I was able to sleep soundly that night.

Demian and Millia must have been quite tired too, as they slept quietly.

—-

The next morning, I headed to the Grand Cathedral in a carriage sent by Leopold.

“Look! Baron Median has arrived!”

“Hurray for Radiance! Hurray for the Winter Slayer!”

“Waaaaaah!”

There was an enormous crowd gathered throughout the city, apparently for the grand award ceremony meant to widely proclaim the Empire’s resilience and the hero’s status.

There were so many people gathered that I thought if we gave swords and armor to everyone present, the Imperial Army’s restoration would be complete.

The crowd’s cheers were close to a roar, and flower petals and bouquets scattered along the carriage’s path covered the roads.

…Who came up with the idea to scatter flowers? Did they think I was going to a wedding?

The coachman driving the carriage was already covered in flower petals from head to toe, practically half a plant-person.

Not in the medical sense, but visually.

“You’re popular, miss. Why don’t you smile and wave a little?”

“…It’s already noisy enough. If I did that, it would cause a riot.”

I sighed as I watched the crowd pushing and shoving each other, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of my face through the carriage window.

“Aaargh! Don’t push! Stop pushing!”

“My foot-! My foooot!”

…I wonder if there might be casualties at this rate.

“Everyone step back! Anyone who crosses the soldiers’ line will be detained!”

“9th Infantry Division! Calm the citizens down!”

Fortunately, knights and soldiers stationed along the path to the Grand Cathedral controlled the crowd, preventing unintended injuries.

—-

I had already learned about the award ceremony procedure when I had a private audience with Leopold.

There weren’t any complicated procedures.

Other nobles had long since received their rewards based on merit, and this ceremony was just a formality for me alone.

I just needed to kneel on one knee and respond appropriately to what Leopold himself said.

It wasn’t a difficult task.

After traveling for about thirty minutes, the Grand Cathedral finally came into view.