Assembling the Subjugation Team
"Shut your mouth if you don't want to die, Capier." From that moment, he had officially become the new Hero.
That meant he could wield the Holy Sword at will. His power would soon grow unstoppable, beyond anyone's ability to halt. Perhaps in just a year, not even the entire kingdom could defeat him.
King Ration gazed at Capier and spoke.
"Hero, it's time to form the subjugation force to defeat the Demon King's army."
"Do you have anyone in mind?"
"If not, I shall appoint them myself."
Capier pondered briefly before replying.
"There is one. For the rest, I shall follow Your Majesty's command."
"Haha, you've already got someone in mind?"
"Yes, someone with special abilities."
"What is their name? I can't contain my curiosity."
"Frensia."
"Frens...ia?"
The king had heard the name before. She was the girl found with the fallen Capier—a woman from a fallen noble family said to have been granted power by the Goddess.
"Hmm..."
In truth, the king had planned to fill the hero's expedition entirely with saintesses and priestesses from high noble families.
Capier already possesses ample martial prowess.
Instead of assigning knights, it would be better to surround him solely with saintesses and priestesses who can amplify his strength.
Saintesses enhanced the hero's abilities through buffs, while priestesses protected allies with shields, healed the wounded, and mended injuries. The hero then slaughtered enemies with overwhelming force. It was the perfect composition.
Of course, this setup would be unthinkable if Capier weren't strong enough.
Even before receiving his official baptism, he had wielded the Holy Sword and slain a griffon under Beibaros's command. Now, as the true Hero, his power was self-evident without needing to witness it.
"Capier, is there a specific reason you must include this Frensia in the subjugation force?"
"She possesses sufficient ability, and I owe her my life."
The king sought to leverage the powerful hero to elevate noble status and his own authority. The ideal method was a subjugation force composed purely of nobles, allowing them to claim great merits. The people would naturally revere the nobility, and the king's prestige—proven by his command over them—would soar to the heavens.
Thus, while the Hero was unavoidable, including someone branded a "fallen noble" like Frensia was distasteful. He had even silenced the knight order captain to conceal her status as a Saintess.
"Your Majesty, may I presume to speak?"
As the king wore a contemplative expression, Capier continued.
"If you permit her inclusion, I promise to annihilate Legion Commander Rabiarus and all his subordinate demons within a month."
"What...? Is that truly possible?"
"If I fail, I shall take my own head."
The new Hero not only driving Beibaros's legion commander to ruin in a month but also eliminating another? If achievable, public support would skyrocket beyond measure.
If it's real, they wouldn't even protest a massive tax hike.
The king was avaricious. Money, honor, power—even as king, his greed knew no bounds. He feigned benevolence and rationality for the people, but it was mere theater to sate his desires, never sincere. After all, the masses preferred merciful rulers over tyrants.
True loyalty unobtainable by force, myriad benefits—he coveted them all.
If he truly subjugates Rabiarus in a month, one fallen-noble saintess poses no issue.
"Haha, Hero, you truly please me. Very well, I specially grant permission."
"My deepest gratitude, Your Majesty."
"For the rest, I shall assign one saintess and two priestesses."
Capier was confident that a subjugation force of one hero, two priestesses, and two saintesses would unleash astonishing power. He knew he was an outlier beyond norms.
At the king's gesture, the women waiting behind stepped forward. They bowed politely and spoke.
"Noble Hero, it is our honor to join you on this journey."
Capier returned the bow.
"The honor is mine."
After a brief exchange of greetings, the king asked Capier,
"Hero, when shall the subjugation force set out?"
"We depart tomorrow. Preparations are complete."
"Very well. Rest for today."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
He bowed formally, turned, opened the door, and exited. Trailing him were the saintess and two priestesses.
Watching his retreating figure, the king thought,
A useful pawn has entered my grasp.
But he did not know. Capier was no mere pawn.
In the lodgings assigned to the Hero, a woman addressed Capier.
"Hero...?"
"What is it?"
"We should introduce ourselves..."
"True, we'll be traveling together. Basic information is essential."
As Capier nodded for her to proceed, the white-haired woman spoke shyly.
"I am Henessi. One year ago, I was chosen by the Goddess and became a saintess."
As her words ended, the red-haired woman beside her chimed in, tossing her locks.
"I'm Rasitena. As you can see, a priestess."
Next, the robed girl beside her stammered awkwardly.
"U... um... I'm... Merian... also a priestess..."
She kept covering her face, as if deeply embarrassed.
Capier glanced at each in turn.
"I'm Capier."
His introduction was curt.
-Thud
-Thud
-Thud
Right after, Capier headed somewhere. Priestess Rasitena asked,
"Hero, where are you going? That's not your quarters."
"To meet our remaining comrade."
"Oh~? She must be impressive, then?"
Capier offered no reply.
-Creak
The door opened, and Frensia hurriedly straightened her disheveled clothes in surprise.
"Frensia."
"C-Capier! What if you just barge in without knocking?!"
She had been lying on the bed; her hair and attire were a mess, which she frantically fixed.
"Frensia, as I mentioned before, you've been decided for the subjugation force."
While recovering in the kingdom, Capier had explained the potential formation of the force to Frensia and asked if he could include her. Initially stunned that Capier was truly the Hero, she accepted—believing it unlikely to happen.
"R-Really...?"
Thus, her response was incredulous. Joining the Hero's subjugation force meant immense glory, envy from multitudes, and regular state subsidies. Some might covet it for base gain, but not her.
I get to travel with Capier from now on...
She wanted to know more about him. Stoic yet righteous, the man who saved her at the cost of his life—she yearned to observe him closely.
As Frensia was moved by the prospect of staying with the Hero, Rasitena beside her questioned sweetly,
"Oh, so you're Frensia?~ The Hero's personal pick—how thrilling!"
"From which family? Surely high nobility, chosen by the Hero."
"I... um..."
As Frensia fidgeted, she smiled and continued.
"By the way, all three of us are, naturally, high nobles~ What family are you from, Frensia?"
"W-Well..."
Frensia hesitated to reveal her status. Who would admit to being a fallen noble?
"Hm... Surely not a commoner?"
Frensia squeezed her eyes shut and answered.
"I... belonged to the Pandelaros family."
The Pandelaros family. Its patriarch died subjugating monsters; his wife took her own life. A tragic noble house, commonly called "fallen nobility."
"Heh, from a fallen noble house... How lowly."
Rasitena grimaced in disdain.
"How can a fallen noble stand with the Hero? You don't seem qualified."
Capier answered calmly in her stead.
"She is a saintess granted power by the Goddess. Her qualifications suffice, regardless of birth."
"Even so, traveling with such base blood... I can't accept it."
As Rasitena's scolding persisted, Frensia looked wounded, on the verge of tears—but she held them back fiercely.
"I don't know how you sweet-talked the Hero, but don't you think you're a burden? Your presence will tarnish our honor too."
"How did a wretch like you seduce the Hero? Did you offer your body or...?"
The Hero beside her pressed a blade to her throat. Rasitena trembled violently and cried out.
"Wh-What are you doing...!"
"Nothing's off-limits for the Goddess's proxy, eh? Explain your insolence. If there's no justification, I'll execute you on the spot for blasphemy."