"I'd like to keep my name out of it as much as possible," Soren said with a serious expression. "The competition already drew enough attention, and I don't want to be paraded around as some kind of hero. If possible, take all the credit yourself or give it to Commander Ervin and others."
He paused, thinking for a moment. "Also, please announce that I was seriously injured during the incident and will need three or four months to recover. That should explain why I'll be staying out of the public eye."
Then, as if remembering, he added, "Right, and I'll officially forfeit from the competition as well. The injury excuse should cover that too, so it won't look strange."
Lord Asad blinked repeatedly, clearly caught off-guard. "W-Why? You were the one who defeated the Outcasts! You practically won the championship too! If you're worried about the danger, I can assure you we've inc-"
