“I will speak well of you to His Majesty myself.”

The offer that came from the Count’s mouth was, in fact, utterly disappointing.

All he could say was that he would speak well of me to the King?

“Is that all?”

“You don’t seem to realize how great this is.”

“…”

I fell silent.

It was unspoken affirmation.

I didn’t know what else would come from speaking to the King, but such vague words were not what the Protagonist had expected.

Perhaps I didn’t know.

It was just that the Protagonist thought this way because he didn’t know.

In fact, it could have been a tremendously great reward in the Capital City.

I didn’t give up hope and listened carefully to the other person’s words.

“You seem to think that achieving military accomplishments is the end of it, but in reality, it’s even harder to get them recognized.”

“Why?”

I didn’t quite understand.

Did he mean someone would steal the credit for what the Protagonist had done?

I thought that could be the case.

Perhaps the other party would not acknowledge it.

“Military accomplishments can be exaggerated as much as one wants. And even if the other party acknowledges them, it’s rare to receive proper compensation. Most of the time, they give insufficient compensation or none at all, using various excuses. That’s because of the opposition’s checks and balances. The King just pretends to be sorry and utters superficial words. If even a Noble faces this, it’s obvious what will happen to a lone wanderer like you, without even looking closely.”

“Can’t the Count just give it to me?”

There was no need to go to the King’s chamber.

It was about helping the Count, so if he gave a reward, that was enough.

However, the other person shook his head.

“You don’t know why Nobles and Mercenaries are flocking to The North.”

“Well, to get a share…”

“To be more precise, it’s to be recognized by the Royal Family.”

“Why do they specifically want recognition from the Royal Family?”

“Because that’s even greater. Even if you receive the same Title, the Title I bestow is merely a single-term Title. In contrast, a hereditary Title that passes down through generations can only be bestowed by the King. To become a proper Noble, you have no choice but to be recognized by the King.”

“Hereditary Title…”

The Count added that Nobles with single-term Titles, which would end upon his death, were not truly recognized.

Commoners might bow, but among Nobles, those with single-term Titles were subtly ignored and considered inferior.

“Almost all Nobles gather for the Title Conferment Ceremony personally bestowed by the King. If I speak well of your achievements, you can gain recognition there. It’s a process you must go through to properly enter Noble society.”

The Count’s voice became excited.

It seemed like such an honorable and great thing.

His tone was even imbued with sincerity.

The Protagonist also imagined it.

It would be interesting if an Alchemist appeared at the Title Conferment Ceremony, if not for others.

He wondered what kind of reaction the Alchemist would have if the Protagonist received a proper hereditary Title.

No, it would probably just become bothersome.

Even the Count, who was far more distinguished than the Alchemist, was clinging to him almost like a courtship, so the Alchemist’s reaction would likely be even more intense.

However, the Protagonist’s feelings for Lorina had somewhat faded.

He already had two women.

He didn’t want to get stabbed by a knife out of someone’s jealousy if he made more.

“Well, I’m not so sure.”

Thinking that, the Count’s offer didn’t seem very appealing.

After the war, all he would face upon returning were bothersome matters.

It was useless for others to acknowledge him.

I wondered what good it was, since they weren’t giving anything extra.

“You don’t seem to know how honorable and great that is, so I’ll put it simply. It means the King will give out a considerable amount of gold and jewels, even if it’s just to save face.”

Gold and jewels.

That one phrase resonated with me more than the words he had uttered.

When I made a face that showed I understood, the Count pressed his forehead as if he had a headache.

I didn’t know why.

Still, a question remained.

It was about Charlotte’s existence.

I thought it wouldn’t matter if she was there, even if the Count wasn’t the one to deliver the message.

“Sir Charlotte has her limits.”

“…”

It seemed to show on my face.

I felt like I needed to learn how to control my expressions separately.

“But I am the Family Head of a Noble family and a ruler who governs territory. Even the King cannot ignore my words. My recommendation means your position will change.”

“Does it matter whose recommendation I have received?”

“Depending on who is behind you, people’s perceptions will change. People will think twice every time they try to touch you. In that regard, I am confident that I am a good option. In the North, I would be the best, excluding the Border Count.”

It was different from a Guardian, but in any case, being a recommender meant being the one behind them.

He was saying he would be the Protagonist’s background.

It wasn’t bad.

The Count, who could be called a great Noble, had many soldiers in his Capital City.

It seemed like there were more than a hundred trained soldiers, and with a large city, his wealth was considerable.

There were few Nobles who possessed such large territories.

This was because the King’s territory was limited.

Unless a war of conquest was waged, new Nobles could not acquire estates even if they wanted to.

At best, it was about having one’s own manor as the Protagonist.

Those who, like the Count, held territory and passed it down through generations, had no reason to fail.

Unless it was a special situation like now.

“What is a Border Count?”

“It is someone whose territory is located on the border and can maintain a powerful army of private soldiers to ward off foreign powers. Being far from the capital, they don’t need to worry about the King’s court no matter what they do. Especially the army led by Marquis Deculein at the end of the North, where monsters are ceaseless, can be called the kingdom’s top military force.”

“Top military force…”

He couldn’t quite grasp it.

He thought the soldiers commanded by the King were the strongest.

Because he was the highest noble.

The protagonist also knew that the knights belonging to the King’s royal guard were strong.

But after hearing the story, it seemed that the Border Count was stronger.

It was different from what the protagonist knew.

It also made sense.

Fighting makes people stronger.

Unlike the peaceful capital, it seemed that the soldiers would have become stronger in the North, where battles occurred.

The protagonist also became stronger through fighting.

If he had only trained, he would never have come this far.

“Why are you telling me all this?”

He was starting to want to hear the Count’s true intentions.

He hadn’t revealed his true feelings yet.

“What the Shaman said… and after hearing from Sir Charlotte, I wondered. How could a boy like you display such magic? And I made a guess.”

The Count’s eyes trembled slightly.

“You… even though you are human, have you received a blessing?”

He was slightly surprised.

He recalled what the Shaman had told him.

It is difficult for humans to receive blessings.

Just receiving one was considered a great feat.

The Count seemed to know that fact as well.

Otherwise, his eyes wouldn’t be trembling like that.

“I know which god blessed you.”

“Really?”

My voice involuntarily rose.

The Protagonist had received a blessing.

But he didn’t know which god had given the blessing.

Unlike the Orcs, he didn’t even know what actions the god favored.

It felt like walking with his eyes closed.

But the Count’s words snapped him to attention.

If he knew which god it was, he could understand why he received the blessing.

That was very important.

The blessing had saved the Protagonist’s life every time he was in danger.

If it weren’t for the blessing, the Protagonist wouldn’t even be here.

“Do you also know what the god likes?”

The Count nodded.

“Mages’ personalities gradually change according to the system they train in. Water mages become relaxed. Ice mages become cold. But you are the exact opposite, which is why I’m interested.”

“Interested…”

He vaguely remembered hearing that mages sought safety.

It seemed he had heard it from Charlotte.

She had said the Protagonist’s personality was closer to a Warrior’s than a Mage’s.

He had suffered losses because of it, but the gains were far greater.

Because if his personality wasn’t like that, the Protagonist wouldn’t have received the blessing.

The god was tired of the ordinary.

If everyone’s personality was the same, and only one was different, it seemed likely to attract attention.

“Water Mages act altruistically, but they don’t risk their lives like you do. Think about it. Even after training in magic, he acts like that, so what was he like originally?”

It meant that if the Protagonist hadn’t trained in magic, his personality might have been similar to Charlotte’s.

Perhaps he might have been even softer.

It was hard to guess.

There was a Capital City similar to now.

The Protagonist came first before others.

Even so, he didn’t seem like he would sacrifice his life for others.

“If your actions remain consistent, you will receive a Blessing. I wish for you to demonstrate what the Shaman spoke of.”

“But that’s truly a Miracle…”

“Even if it’s a Miracle, it doesn’t matter.”

The Count cut him off.

His face was stern.

It was the face of someone who had resolved themselves to something.

“People need hope. They want to cling to even a Miracle that is unlikely to happen. But you have already performed a Miracle. You can be a lamp that illuminates people’s path forward.”

“…”

“I will give you anything you desire.”

The Count pleaded.

“Please help me.”

“I need… time to think.”

Leaving the Count, who was trying to hold onto the Protagonist with words, he exited the Office.

His mind was complicated.

The Count sank into his chair.

Soon after, two Old Men entered the Office.

They were Benedict and Viscount Hobbs.

“Count. Did you get an answer?”

“I didn’t.”

“That’s regrettable.”

The two Old Men truly looked regretful.

The Mage’s value was immense.

So much so that they wanted to hold onto him no matter what.

This feeling intensified after the battle.

The Count, above all, felt this way.

He regretted it.

“I should have listened to you. I shouldn’t have ignored the words of those who have supported me for so long.”

His first impression of the boy was not strong.

A Mage, not common, but not particularly great either.

That was the extent of the impression he received.

But once the battle actually began, it was different.

In a Castle battle, a single low-ranking Knight’s achievement is about ten Orcs.

Even if they achieve great feats, an Orc Warrior Chief is the limit.

Though a group of them might be able to face Chieftains, they rarely fight such favorable battles.

Even the low-ranking Knights, who are considered the main force, are like this.

And common Knights were out of the question.

Those below them were even weaker.

It took several of them to take down even one Orc.

Yet, a single intermediate Mage killed thirty Orcs.

An intermediate Mage who, in terms of strength alone, would lose against a low-ranking Knight.

If he had achieved such a feat, even defeating a Troll, no one would believe it.

The Count also found it hard to believe at first.

Trolls were beings they couldn’t handle.

They couldn’t win.

Due to their size, a Troll could be called a nightmare.

A battle with Knights was the worst.

Leaving aside their unreachably large size, the massive clubs that rendered even their much-vaunted heavy armor useless were utterly terrifying.

On the contrary, heavy armor became a hindrance when facing trolls.

To fight them, one needed to be agile even while wearing heavy armor.

It took one intermediate knight, more than ten low-ranking knights, and an entire archer company, raining down arrows, to barely take down a troll.

One hundred mediocre mercenaries couldn’t even catch one.

But a mage defeated it.

The report stated that only three low-ranking knights were involved in confronting the troll.

Although there were soldiers nearby, they had vanquished a monster that typically required most of the forces assigned to an entire city wall.

And when the warrior claimed that the soldiers were all there was, the Count couldn’t help but realize why Viscount Hobbs had tried to keep the boy, even mentioning his daughter, during their first meeting.

The fact that he could have had him made the regret even deeper.

There was a chance to make him his person.

If he had steered the conversation to accept Viscount Hobbs’s offer, it would have been done.

The other party would have had no choice but to agree.

But the Count ignored those words.

He thought it was absurd to give his daughter to a mere mage who appeared from who knows where.

But that was a misconception.

The mage showed his worth, and the Count realized his choice was wrong.

If he had known beforehand, he would never have made that choice.

With a sigh of regret, the Count sighed.

Rael headed to the banquet hall.

He was hungry, having not eaten anything for an entire day.

He hadn’t noticed it when he was facing the Count.

He looked around.

He brought food on a plate and sat alone at a round table to eat.

As he was filling his stomach, someone approached him.

“May I sit here for a moment?”

She was a young woman.

“Yes.”

The woman sat down, expressing her gratitude.

He glanced at her.

Her appearance was captivating.

Her unique rolled hairstyle and half-closed, sleepy eyes looked lifeless.

Her dress, adorned with elaborate decorations, was far from ordinary.

Considering that those who attend this banquet are at least quasi-nobles, it wouldn’t be strange to consider her a noble lady.

The woman clasped her hands and stared intently at him.

“You eat well.”

“I’m a good eater.”

“Do mages usually have big appetites?”

“I’m probably an exception.”

“I see.”

The woman smiled.

Her eyes, however, weren’t smiling, which was eerie.

“Can you tell me more about yourself?”

“On our first meeting?”

“That’s not very important between a man and a woman.”

“Between a man and a woman…”

The woman leaned forward slightly.

Her upper body also bent.

His gaze involuntarily dropped downwards.

He swallowed.

“I’m very interested in you.”

Her voice was monotone.

But the intent behind it was conveyed.

The other person was hitting on the Protagonist.

“What’s your name?”

“Name?”

“You should at least know the name of someone you’re interested in, shouldn’t you?”

He looked at the woman.

She was an unusual woman.

She openly displayed an expression of complete disinterest, yet spoke with an abundance of charm.

“…It’s Rael.”

“Rael.”

The woman murmured, as if savoring the name.

He wondered if the Protagonist’s name was really that unusual.

Perhaps she was saying it for another reason.

He didn’t know the reason.

“My name is Chloe. My family is Haines.”

“Haines? Isn’t that a Count family?”

“That’s right.”

He was surprised.

She was a Count’s daughter.

It seemed the Count had sent her.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for this.

He remembered the Count’s initial dislike.

He couldn’t hide his displeasure when the Viscount suggested marrying off his daughter.

But now, he was using his daughter to try and impress the Protagonist.

It was a clear indication of how anxious he was.

The Protagonist did not give him a proper answer.

He could refuse at any time in the Capital City.

That’s why he might have been putting his daughter forward.

Because he was anxious.

It was useless to the Protagonist.

He already had Amelin and Charlotte.

Most importantly, even if Chloe showed such a friendly attitude for now, she might completely deny it later.

Chloe kept talking to him throughout the meal.

However, a conversation wouldn’t be established if both parties didn’t continue it.

When the Protagonist only gave short answers, the conversation kept breaking off.

The lady seemed tired and left after saying goodbye.

It was a relief.

Honestly, if she had pushed any further, he thought it would have been dangerous.

Perhaps because she was the Count’s daughter, she was incredibly beautiful.

She had a strange charm.

The Protagonist wasn’t sure what kind of charm it was.

He felt like he was drawn to her unique aura.

He shook his head.

He headed to the guest room in the Lord’s Castle.

He didn’t return to the inn.

It was already time for people to be asleep.

He didn’t want to wake Amelin, who was sound asleep.

He also felt like he would be devoured if he went back at night.

He was tired because he had used a lot of energy yesterday.

He lay down on the bed.

The bed was so soft that he felt like he would fall asleep quickly.

As he was about to fall asleep, someone knocked on the door.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

“Chloe?”

It was the Countess’s voice.

I couldn’t guess what business brought her here so late at night.

The door opened even though I hadn’t answered.

Chloe locked the door as soon as she entered.

I looked at her.

She was wearing a cloak.

No one said anything.

Only our gazes intertwined.

The cloak fell to the floor.

I swallowed.