Chapter 59: Northern Conference (2)

Grace widened her eyes in surprise at the unexpected interruption, and even Elaine seemed a little taken aback by my action.

The funny thing was—

Even I was nervous enough that my heart was pounding.

‘I wasn’t planning to speak up, but…’

Looking back, I had gotten involved in quite a few matters for someone who was supposedly just an ordinary soldier.

The only reason I had been able to get away with it was because Grace had taken a liking to me, and Elaine valued me highly.

If the two of them hadn’t supported me, things would have turned out very differently.

Thinking about it objectively, there had been moments when I had definitely overstepped my role.

A part of me even wondered why they hadn’t found my knowledge and actions suspicious enough to interrogate me.

I had tried my best to avoid showing any signs of being a possessor, but Grace and Elaine weren’t the type to let things slide easily.

That was why I had intended to lie low for a while.

Just like how powerful skills in games had cooldowns, and machines needed to be turned off occasionally to prevent overheating—

I figured it was time for me to step back after drawing too much attention during the Snowflake Tower incident.

That event had earned me a knighthood, but that, too, had made me stand out even more.

It was a special appointment granted for my contributions to the Snowflake Tower, which meant my name had spread far and wide.

Even people passing by during my escort duties had recognized me.

The Snowflake Tower had even sent a congratulatory gift—a massive floral arrangement, despite this being the North. Apparently, it was the work of Sara, an external mage of the tower.

And now, I was in a council of the most influential figures in the North, where crucial policies were being decided.

Even as a newly appointed knight, this was no place for a mere attendant like me to interfere. I had intended to just observe.

‘Screw it. Let’s go all in.’

Maybe it was just a possessor’s occupational hazard, but if I had information no one else did, I felt an irresistible urge to use it.

Was this the curse of knowledge?

Well, since I lacked the intelligence to build a super high-tech AI-powered robot to protect world peace—

I would simply walk my own path.

“Luke?”

Elaine, standing in front of me, studied me for a moment before quickly composing herself. Then, she turned to Grace and gave a slight nod.

It was a silent request for permission to let me speak.

Receiving the signal, Grace returned to her usual composed expression and addressed me.

“Very well, Sir Luke. Speak.

This council exists for the future of the North, and anyone who has something of value to contribute is welcome to do so.”

“Thank you.”

I first introduced myself briefly and politely to the gathered officials.

As courteously as possible.

And then—

“Ah, so you’re the young knight who was granted special appointment in the plaza that day.”

“I heard you played a significant role in the Snowflake Tower incident.”

“Haha! Played a role? Nonsense! Our Snowflake Tower owes a great deal to this young man. He’s a promising talent.

Frankly, I’d love to bring him over to our side if I could.”

The last voice was from a familiar old man.

I chose to ignore it.

Now that I lacked mana, that old man had started eyeing me instead.

I had expected some resistance to an unfamiliar young knight speaking up, but the reception was surprisingly warm.

Perhaps it was because the people of the North had a culture ingrained in their DNA that respected strength, regardless of status.

Or maybe it was because the master of the Snowflake Tower had practically showered me with praise.

Regardless, this meant I could speak without feeling too pressured.

“Hero Aran will come to the North.”

“That’s quite the bold statement. What makes you so certain?”

“Low was running a secret organization called Black Crow. However, since he is now imprisoned here, that organization has been left without a leader.”

“Hmm…”

“It is unlikely that His Highness the Prince was unaware of Low’s criminal activities. If His Highness knew of the organization and still allowed it to operate, wouldn’t that mean he has some means of controlling it?”

I paused briefly, taking the opportunity to gauge the reactions of those around me.

Everyone was listening intently.

“That is a logical assumption. But how does this connect to your claim that Aran will come to the North?”

“Low is also one of the Hero’s targets.

We know that Low is here, but the Hero does not. So he will inevitably search for him.

And since Low himself admitted that he was sent here under the prince’s orders—if His Highness leaks information through Black Crow that Low is in the North…”

“Then Aran will come looking for Low.”

“Exactly.”

As Grace and I exchanged remarks, the administrative officer nodded.

“I see your point.”

“Sir Luke, may I ask a question?”

The first question—

And it came from a major figure.

Lynell Deepsnow, the head of House Deepsnow and one of the Northern high nobles, addressed me.

“If His Highness truly has the ability to manipulate the Hero’s actions, why would he send him to the North?

He would be creating a situation where two powerful forces—Aran and the North—might unite.

Would it not be more efficient to send Aran somewhere remote and eliminate him separately?”

As expected of a noble house that rivaled the Northrein family.

Lynell’s reasoning was sound.

For someone unfamiliar with the Hero’s Party, Lynell’s reasoning was understandable.

“Lord Lynell, your point is valid. However, His Highness the Prince was once a member of the Hero’s Party himself.

More than anyone, he would know that it takes at least two of the Seven Heroes to definitively defeat the Hero.”

“Hmm!”

“If the archer Shira has been defeated, that leaves only three of the Seven Heroes.

Among them, the Grand Lord of the West is already focused on the North, which means that in order to take down the Hero, both His Highness and the Master of the Golden Tower would need to act together.

But according to Low, now that he has failed, the Master of the Golden Tower will be moving toward the North instead.”

“You believe the enemy’s words?”

“Low is a man who doesn’t have even a snowflake’s worth of loyalty.

If he says he’s aligning himself with Your Grace, then he likely means it—at least for now.

That being the case, the information he provided about his former comrades is probably accurate.

After all, he was once part of the Hero’s Party himself.

Of course, that doesn’t mean we should trust him.

He’s the type who will undoubtedly betray us in the end.”

“You may not be able to trust the man, but you can trust his information.

I agree with that.

That’s exactly the kind of person he is.”

Grace, who knew Low well, backed my statement.

Even so, Lynell didn’t back down and continued his questioning.

“Then why would they deliberately lure two of the Seven Heroes’ strongest forces to the North?

If the Hero and the North join forces, even the Seven Heroes wouldn’t be able to handle them.”

“Because individual combat and large-scale warfare are completely different matters.”

“Hmm?”

At that moment, an unexpected ally spoke up on my behalf.

It was Günther, the commander of the elite troops.

“The Ironclad Legion under Grand Lord Dorgon…

So they intend to use them to make up for the missing strength of the Seven Heroes?”

“Precisely.

As Commander Arthur pointed out earlier, even an overwhelmingly strong individual will struggle against an organized military force.

Instead of engaging the Hero in small-scale battles, they would prefer a large-scale war, where their chances of victory are higher.

This also allows them to justify their actions, all while eliminating both the Hero and the North in a single decisive battle.”

After finishing my explanation, I observed the reactions in the room.

This was the best I could do.

In truth, these people would have figured this out on their own given enough time.

Unlike me, a possessor, they were true Northerners—hardened veterans and some of the kingdom’s greatest military minds.

It wasn’t that they couldn’t reach this conclusion.

I had merely given them a clearer path to get there.

Like a navigator guiding the way.

Once the route was set, how they traveled it was up to them.

Each person doing their best in their own role—

That was the essence of cooperation.

“I find Sir Luke’s reasoning to be persuasive.”

Günther, who had supported me earlier, spoke again.

“Lord Lynell, your strategy of isolating and eliminating enemies one by one is a sound military tactic.

However, doing so would require them to split their own forces.

Against unpredictable threats like the Hero, that would be an unwise approach.

And just as we grow stronger when we unite, so do they.

That’s why they’re choosing to end it all here and now.”

“I agree as well.”

The moment Günther finished speaking, another voice chimed in.

I turned my head to see who it was.

“Commander, you too?”

“If the Hero remains in one place instead of moving unpredictably, then the enemy can focus their remaining forces elsewhere.

For example, on the Golden Tower.”

“…!”

“If the Golden Tower joins forces with the Western Army, we don’t know whether the Central region will intervene.

But even if we have the Hero on our side, wouldn’t that still be a formidable force to face?”

Arthur’s statement elicited heavy sighs from various figures in the room.

The combined strength of the kingdom’s greatest mage tower and its most powerful military force…

Even with the Hero, it wouldn’t be an easy fight.

“Do not worry, Commander.

We have our own mage tower.

Those golden fools may look impressive, but they don’t scare me in the slightest.”

“We have always placed our faith in the Snowflake Tower.”

At Dariel’s confident declaration, Arthur gave him a nod.

“Then, shall we conclude that we will accept Aran into the North?

Lord Lynell, do you agree?”

“…Ugh.

Given the reasoning presented by those here, I will withdraw my objection.”

Phew.

At last, it seemed that there was consensus on allowing Aran to enter the North.

What they didn’t know was that Aran’s arrival in the North was inevitable.

First—

As much as I regretted saying this, the battle against Dorgon was not something the North could win on its own.

If we wanted to be certain of victory, we needed Aran’s strength.

Second—

Defeating Dorgon wasn’t the end.

Behind him stood none other than the prince of this kingdom.

For Aran to defeat him, there were many things he needed to obtain in the North first.

And no, I wasn’t talking about Salamander’s Scale.

If that was such an essential item, I wouldn’t have been able to snatch it so easily.

Wait a minute.

Now that I had taken the Salamander’s Scale, Aran might actually end up weaker than he was in the original story.

If that’s the case, I’ll need to find something else to make up for it.

As I was contemplating what to give Aran instead, I suddenly felt an intense gaze on me.

It wasn’t Elaine.

She had already refocused on the meeting.

More importantly—

There wasn’t just one person watching me.

‘…As expected, they see me as a person of interest.’

The sources of the gazes directed at me were—

Lynell Deepsnow.

Diplomat Grindel.

Elite Troop Commander Günther.

Knight Commander Arthur Gravaine.

Master of the Snowflake Tower, Dariel.

Some of these stares were expected, but others caught me off guard.

Still, I couldn’t afford to show any reaction.

At least, as far as I knew, he hadn’t even made contact with Dorgon yet.

I had no interest in debating whether it was right to kill an infant Hitler.

“We strayed a little from the topic because of Aran. Let’s return to the main discussion.”

Grace, breaking the tense atmosphere, continued speaking.

“I agree with Lord Grindel’s proposal.

I do not fear war, but as the administrative officer pointed out, the economic impact on the North will be severe.

Therefore, while we must fight when necessary, I want to ensure that we secure trade routes by bringing the East and South to our side.

This aligns with Lord Deepsnow’s suggestion as well, does it not?”

Grace glanced at Lynell, who looked somewhat displeased from their previous exchange, but he still gave a reluctant nod.

“Then, the first step is to use the Snowflake Tower incident as evidence to expose the Central and Western regions’ atrocities and sway the kingdom’s public opinion in our favor.

Lord Grindel, I want you to immediately depart for the East and South to secure their support.”

“Understood.”

“We will reconvene after a short break to discuss the second phase—how we should prepare for war after the public relations effort, and how to respond if they resort to military provocations.”

Announcing the break, Grace stood up first to ease the tension among the attendees.

With the Northern Grand Duke leaving, some officials also stepped out for a brief respite, while others remained in the conference room, discussing matters amongst themselves.

Since I was an attendant, I had to stay with Elaine, who remained at her post.

“Luke.”

“Yes?”

“You did well back there.”

I had worried that she might scold me for overstepping, like when I had pointed out security flaws to Sophia at the Snowflake Tower.

But instead, Elaine’s words were praise.

“If you were still just a soldier, I would have reprimanded you.

However, you are now a Northern knight—a quasi-noble.”

“Ah…”

“Do not forget this.

You are the hero who resolved the Snowflake Tower incident and was granted a special knighthood.

That honor is not given by luck.

It is a qualification bestowed only upon those who are truly exceptional, without the need for any examinations.”

“…”

“You have earned your place through your own abilities.

So as a Northern knight, you must never shrink away in such meetings.

Always stand tall.

And if you seek to rise further, make use of this opportunity.”

“…Thank you.”

Elaine’s encouragement gave me strength.

At the Snowflake Tower, I had been an outsider meddling in another organization’s security.

That had been an overreach.

But this time, I was a legitimate participant in the meeting, giving my input as someone with a seat at the table.

It was an entirely different matter.

“Still, at least give me a heads-up next time.

You startled me.”

“Ahaha, my apologies.”

As I laughed sheepishly and offered a lighthearted apology to the grumbling Elaine—

“Greetings.”

A young silver-haired man approached us, flashing a friendly smile as he greeted us.