Natsuki Subaru's annihilation of the White Whale, one of the Three Great Mabeasts, and his complete slaying of the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop of Sloth—these two shocking achievements were, without a doubt, indelible and immense contributions to the entire world. Either one was enough to be immortalized in the annals of history, and now that both legends were the work of a single person, it was destined to be recorded in the kingdom's official history, becoming a heroic epic passed down for generations.
As for the matter of Natsuki Subaru resolving the Great Rabbit incident, less than a week had passed since it occurred, so the news had not yet fully spread throughout the Royal Capital and was therefore not formally mentioned at this merit conference.
However, most of the kingdom's citizens had already learned of it to some extent through caravans, travelers, and news from the border.
Now, the talk of the streets and alleys was the fervent discussion of Natsuki Subaru and the series of glorious victories he had achieved. From commoners to nobles, everyone was curiously discussing how this black-haired youth had, by his own power, accomplished a great deed that even successive Sword Saints had failed to achieve.
In short, Natsuki Subaru's name was spreading to every corner of the kingdom at an astonishing speed, making him a true legendary figure on everyone's lips.
Meanwhile.
Inside the grand hall, the light from the crystal chandeliers cast a soft glow, illuminating the entire space in brilliant splendor. Everyone's gaze, as if by unspoken agreement, focused on Natsuki Subaru, a mixture of awe, admiration, and curiosity woven into their varied expressions.
"Natsuki Subaru, your actions make even me feel inadequate," Reinhard said, gazing at Natsuki Subaru, his golden eyes shining with sincere admiration.
"To accomplish so many great deeds in such a short time is beyond the scope of common sense. Your contribution to the kingdom has not only saved countless lives but has also brought us hope. This merit will be remembered forever."
"I must admit, I initially underestimated your strength, Sir Natsuki Subaru." Julius also bowed slightly, his tone becoming earnest.
"You have proven with your actions that you are a worthy hero of the kingdom, possessing not only extraordinary strength but also uncommon courage and wisdom. These qualities are worthy of study by all knights."
Felix bounced closer, the cat ears on his head swaying with his movements, his amber eyes shining with excitement:
"Subaru-kyun is so amazing, meow~ These are things that even Reinhard couldn't do, ya know."
"It's nothing, I just did what had to be done."
Natsuki Subaru maintained a humble smile and nodded to the crowd.
In his heart, however, he knew clearly that these achievements were all thanks to the advantage of his foreknowledge and the powerful ability of his unique leveling system. If he hadn't known the plot of the original story, understood the enemies' weaknesses and patterns, and had the superhuman strength and skills granted by the system, it would have been impossible for him to accomplish these feats.
However, in the eyes of the kingdom's people, the situation was entirely different. To them, this black-haired youth from another world had, in just two short months, accomplished great deeds that this world hadn't managed in centuries.
Slaying the White Whale that had plagued the world for four hundred years, eliminating the rampant Great Rabbit, subjugating the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop of Sloth, repelling the Sin Archbishop of Greed... Any one of these was a legendary feat worthy of being recorded in the history books. What was even more unbelievable was that all these accomplishments were concentrated in one person, and completed in such a short period of time.
"This is practically a miracle... Knight Natsuki Subaru, a hero of the Lugunica Kingdom!"
"Even the Sword Saint, Lord Reinhard, has never achieved such feats..."
In this world where the strong are revered, Natsuki Subaru had earned everyone's respect with his tangible strength.
Finally, the representative of the Sage Council, Miklotov, solemnly announced:
"In light of Knight Natsuki Subaru's outstanding contributions to the Lugunica Kingdom, the Sage Council has decided to bestow upon him the honorary title of 'Hero of the Kingdom' and will establish a special chapter in the kingdom's official history to record his achievements!"
Thunderous applause instantly filled the hall, surging like a powerful tide.
Of course, in addition to the honorary title, the Sage Council also awarded Natsuki Subaru a generous reward of gold coins and a mansion in the Royal Capital.
It must be understood that in this world, honor is paramount.
Even the previous Sword Saint, Theresia, did not receive such a grand commendation after winning the Demi-Human War. After all, the significance and impact of national affairs and a cause concerning the fate of all humanity were naturally on different levels.
"Still, now is not the time to let my guard down."
Natsuki Subaru calmly accepted everyone's congratulations, but his mind was exceptionally clear.
While these honors brought some happiness, what was more important was the continuous improvement of his strength. In this world fraught with danger, the threat of the Witch Cult had not yet been eliminated, and Emilia's situation was still perilous.
Only by constantly growing stronger could he truly protect the people he wanted to protect.
"With my unique leveling system as my greatest advantage, there's almost no limit to my growth," Natsuki Subaru mused internally. "I gain experience from every battle and get stronger with every level up. As long as I continue this cycle, I will one day reach a height no one else can touch."
The abilities granted by the system allowed him to grow continuously through combat, a growth rate that no one in this world could match. Every level up unlocked new skills and raised his stats, allowing Natsuki Subaru to become stronger at an astonishing pace.
And as his level increased, the skills and abilities he unlocked grew ever more powerful. From a weakling who initially struggled even to protect himself to the current Shadow Monarch who could stand on his own, this transformation took only two short months.
"Emilia, Rem, Beatrice... everyone important to me, I will protect them with these hands," Natsuki Subaru clenched his fists, a determined light flashing in his eyes.
"The Witch Cult, the Sin Archbishops, no matter how many enemies come, I will defeat them one by one!"
Because this is the path I have chosen, and the path I must continue to walk!
Even if a god stands in my way, I'll kill them for you to see!
After the merit conference ended, a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere filled the royal palace lounge.
"Subaru-kyun, you really stole the show today, meow~" Felix winked playfully, his cat ears twitching slightly as he looked at Natsuki Subaru.
"The entire Royal Capital is talking about you now, ya know. Everywhere you go, you can hear people discussing the hero who subjugated the White Whale and slew the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop."
"Even the vendors at the market are saying that if it weren't for Subaru-kyun, who knows how long the Royal Capital would have had to live under the shadow of the White Whale, yup~"
"You're the most famous person in the Royal Capital right now!"
"It's not that big of a deal..." Natsuki Subaru laughed it off. "The title 'Hero of the Kingdom' is too much, it makes me feel awkward."
Here we go again, here we go again. Felix is a guy, yet he always acts cute so naturally... Though he is admittedly very cute.
"It's not an exaggeration at all, meow~" Felix tilted his head, looking at Natsuki Subaru, his cat ears twitching slightly with the movement.
"The new knights at the training grounds are all talking about Subaru-kyun's feat of subjugating the White Whale. If you went to the knight order, they'd definitely surround you for autographs, meow~"
"Everyone in the Royal Capital is saying that Subaru-kyun is the kingdom's most dazzling hero, meow~"
"I hear a lot of noble ladies want to meet you. Want Felix to introduce you to a few? I can arrange a tea party, ya know. They're all very elegant and well-mannered young ladies, meow~"
Natsuki Subaru stroked his chin, speaking with some surprise.
Am I really that popular?
"Indeed, Sir Natsuki Subaru." Julius, who was standing nearby, chimed in. "Today's award ceremony was most impressive. You not only demonstrated extraordinary strength but also the character and humility befitting a true knight. You are fully deserving of this honor."
"Thank you both." Natsuki Subaru scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. "But honestly, I don't really care much about titles like 'Hero'. After all, I'm a modern person who's only been in this other world for two months. It just feels a bit surreal."
"Everyone here is talking about your achievements," Julius continued, his amethyst-like eyes filled with sincere admiration. "Subjugating the White Whale, defeating a Sin Archbishop... these are not things an ordinary person could do. What's more commendable is that you've remained humble throughout. In my opinion, that is more precious than any of your victories."
"Well, it was mostly good luck," Natsuki Subaru said modestly.
"And it wasn't something I did alone. Crusch, Anastasia, and Wilhelm-san all helped a great deal. Without their assistance, I couldn't have accomplished any of it alone."
"You are too humble, Sir Natsuki Subaru." Julius shook his head gently, his expression turning serious.
"In the battles against the White Whale and the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, your resolve and actions perfectly embodied the spirit of a knight. This cannot be achieved by luck alone. It requires extraordinary courage and decisiveness. If you hadn't found the White Whale's weakness, our White Whale subjugation team would have likely been annihilated."
It was a fact that whether it was dealing with the White Whale that had plagued the world for four hundred years, or killing the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop of Sloth, Natsuki Subaru had successfully solved problems the kingdom had failed to resolve for centuries.
From this point alone, he deserved everyone's praise and respect. These accomplishments had surpassed the scope of what an ordinary knight could achieve, bordering on legendary.
Not to mention, Natsuki Subaru had also repelled the Sin Archbishop of Greed, Regulus, and resolved the Great Rabbit crisis. Any one of these was a great deed worthy of being recorded in the annals of history.
"To be honest, I still haven't quite processed it all," Natsuki Subaru said frankly in response to Julius's praise.
"The identity of a hero doesn't feel real to me. I just did what needed to be done—protecting those who need protection and fighting the enemies I must confront."
As he said this, Natsuki Subaru thought of the memories from the original story and sighed softly.
"When it comes down to it, I'm just an ordinary person who wants to protect the people important to me."
After all, his initial goal when he was first transported to this other world was simply to survive and protect his important people. In the original story, the Natsuki Subaru from back then had died countless times, activating Return by Death over and over to achieve these things.
But he himself had been able to do it all thanks to the power of his unique leveling system, getting stronger step by step.
While these honors were gratifying, he absolutely could not become complacent. In this other world where the strong are revered, only by constantly growing stronger could he protect the people important to him.
And with the help of the system, Natsuki Subaru believed he could definitely do it.
"Perhaps it does not feel real to you yet," Julius said, watching Natsuki Subaru earnestly, his gaze filled with understanding.
"But your actions have deeply moved everyone. This contribution is worthy of everyone's most sincere gratitude."
"Exactly!" Felix chimed in excitedly, his cat ears twitching and a sly glint in his amber eyes.
"Everyone in the Royal Capital is saying that Subaru-kyun is the kingdom's most dazzling hero, meow~"
"I hear a lot of noble ladies want to meet you. Want Felix to introduce you to a few? I can arrange a tea party, ya know. They're all very elegant and well-mannered young ladies, meow~"
"Uh... I think I'll pass." Hearing this, Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but shoot Felix a weary look.
He knew the guy was just teasing him. He then added,
"Speaking of which, I should probably go find Emilia."
Seriously, I can't keep talking like this. Felix always manages to derail the conversation.
Besides, why would I want to meet noble ladies? I'm terrible in those kinds of situations. And more importantly, I already have Emilia and Rem in my heart. There's no way I'd do something like that!
"Leaving so soon?" Felix pouted, his cat ears seeming to droop.
"I wanted to hear more of Subaru-kyun's heroic tales~ Like how you eliminated the Great Rabbit?"
"Next time." Natsuki Subaru waved his hand, bidding them farewell. "These stories are long. We can talk about them some other time when we have the chance. See you later, Felix, Julius."
Honestly, getting acknowledged by a straight-laced guy like Julius felt pretty good. After all, he's a true knight, unlike a half-baked one like me... Earning his approval means my efforts weren't in vain.
But for now, the most important thing is to get away. Who knows what other crazy things Felix will say if I stick around.
Natsuki Subaru thought to himself.
On the other side.
Watching Natsuki Subaru's retreating back, Felix turned to Julius and tilted his head.
"How much of what you just said was serious? Especially your comments about Subaru-kyun."
"Every word was serious," Julius replied slowly, his gaze still following Natsuki Subaru's distant figure.
"Sir Natsuki Subaru is not only powerful, but more importantly, he has a pure heart. He doesn't seek empty fame, only focusing on protecting others. Such a quality is especially precious in this day and age. Frankly, his appearance has changed many things, not just in the fight against the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishops and the White Whale, but more importantly, he has given people hope."
Julius paused here, a perceptive light flashing in his amethyst-like eyes.
"I can feel that he will achieve even greater things in the future."
"I trust your judgment, meow~" Felix's cat tail swayed gently as he smiled.
"Subaru-kyun is just that kind of person who constantly creates miracles... But then again, Julius-kyun, your evaluation of him is surprisingly high~ It's rare to see you praise someone so much."
"Because I see the potential in him..." Julius said softly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"In these turbulent times, we need heroes like him. Not false heroes who chase after fame, but true heroes who fight for others. Moreover, I believe his arrival was no accident. Perhaps he is the one who can change the fate of the kingdom."
"Now that you mention it, Subaru-kyun is certainly special, meow~" Felix crossed his arms, thought for a moment, and nodded reflectively.
"But Julius-kyun, you think so highly of him, don't tell me you're trying to recruit him?"
"No, I simply admire his abilities and the way he handles things. And..." Julius shook his head gently, then gave a meaningful smile.
"Do you think that kind of person can be easily recruited?"
"You've got a point, meow~"
The two shared a smile and continued their conversation in the lounge.
In the distance, Natsuki Subaru's figure had already disappeared down the corridor, but the shockwaves he left behind lingered in everyone's heart.
Come to think of it, that guy Julius is surprisingly a good person. Although I thought he was a bit pretentious at first, the fact that he can acknowledge others so sincerely, and is so upright himself, proves he's a true knight.
As for Felix... same as always, a cute cross-dresser.
With these thoughts, Natsuki Subaru quickened his pace, heading in Emilia's direction.
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