As long as the demon strongholds were destroyed and the two high-ranking demons who ruled over them were dealt with, there would be no enemies capable of surpassing humanity at this front.
Earl Islan had played a crucial role in expanding mankindâs territory through his ingenuity and wisdom. As he had said, he wasnât entirely incompetent.
âWhy did that b*stard abandon me?â
It was almost admirable. Was he really going to leave me behind and carry out his duties properly?
When I later confronted him about it, he explained that, as a 4-star summoner, if I were in danger, there would be no chance of victory even if they came to my rescue.
Rather than taking such a futile risk, he believed it was a better decision to close the gates quickly, report the situation to the capital, and prepare for further action.
He had done his best to convince me of this logic.
From a personal perspective, it felt frustrating, but his judgment had been purely utilitarian.
What if an enemy appeared that I couldn’t even touch before dying? That would mean encountering a top-class or noble-class demonâfoes so powerful that even with everyoneâs combined strength, annihilation would be inevitable.
I understood his reasoning. Logically, it made perfect sense.
But my heart refused to accept it.
âHmm, Iâm sorry. I apologize again and again.â
Earl Islan would always say that with a smile whenever he saw my dark expression. They say you canât spit on a smiling face, but he made me want to give him another punch instead.
In the end, I received better treatment than the earl and returned from the expedition.
Not to mention, my test scores were the highest. We had slaughtered countless demons and even beheaded top-class ones. If I hadnât been ranked first, it would have been blatant manipulation. UnlessâŚif someone else actually managed to take down the demon king?
Fortunately, no such thing had happened. No one had awakened some miraculous ability and taken the demon kingâs head.
That meant my name, Ian Clark, was proudly listed as the top-ranking cadet.
***
[Stella’s POV]
ââŚWhat the hell is this?â
Stella, who had been confident that she would achieve first place this time, frowned as she looked at the report card.
In the final exam, cadets with a large number of summons had an overwhelming advantage. And Stella was a noble summoner with both 4-star and 3-star summons.
Not to mention, her summons, Ifrit and Salamander, specialized in mass extermination.
âThis is nonsense!â
âWhat?â
âI took down three mid-level demons, countless low-level demons, and an uncountable number of lesser ones. And yet, Iâm second place? What could possiblyââ
âOne of the highest-class demons.â
ââŚWhat?â
Stella fell silent.
A top-class demon.
A being that couldn’t be resisted unless one had a 5-star summon. Even the most accomplished dukes had never taken one down alone.
It was difficult just to catch a glimpse of one, let alone encounter and defeat it.
And yetâŚ
A mere cadet?
âLiar. No, thatâs impossible. Youâre lyingââ
Stella trailed off, unable to finish her sentence. A cadet who had taken down a top-class demon? There was no conceivable way to surpass that.
Fortunately, Ian offered an explanation that seemed somewhat reassuring.
âIt wasnât top-class from the start. At first, it was just a high-level demon.â
ââŚAre you kidding me? Even a high-level demon is a bigger achievement than mine.â
âIâm not kidding.â
Hearing that, Stella, unable to hold back, raised her hand. To onlookers, it might have seemed like a playful gestureâa light slap on Ianâs forearm.
Neither the one who hit nor the one who was hit seemed particularly bothered by it.
âUgh⌠whatever. Then youâd better get ready.â
âReady? Ready for what?â
ââŚYou took down a top-class demon. Hasnât anyone told you?â
âSo what?â
âNow that youâve done that, the imperial family will be calling for you soon.â
âTheyâll be calling for me?â Ian tilted his head in confusion.
The emperor? Again? Hadnât it been a while since their last meeting?
Would he be able to get another treasure from the Emperorâs vault this time? He had thoroughly enjoyed Annaâs formal dress, which he had acquired on a previous occasion. He was already looking forward to the possibilities.
Unfortunately, reality was less exciting.
âThe Emperor will grant you the title of duke along with various rewards. But there wonât be any formal dress or heirlooms this time.â
âThatâs a bit disappointing.â
âNow that the four ducal houses occupy all major defensive regions, even if you receive a territory, itâll be somewhere inlandâŚâ
Stella sighed, brushing a hand through her hair. It was an inconvenient truth, but one that had to be said.
Ianâs reputation had already risen so high that even the heirs of the other ducal housesâwho had never paid him any attention beforeâwould soon be taking an interest in him.
âIf youâre interested, I can give you the territory of Eritz. Of course, you’d have the inner lands insteadâŚâ
âWhat would I even do with that territory?â
ââŚWhat do you mean? You need land to earn money, harvest heirlooms, and attract vassals.â
âAnd then what? Why would I need vassals?â
ââŚBecause it strengthens your power. Donât you get it?â
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