Suddenly, the girl lunged with sharp precision.
She closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye.
(Ngh!?)
Her footwork was fast and refined, moving like a gale across the grass.
Ren was understandably bewildered by the sudden start of the battle. Ignoring his confusion, the girl drove her dagger toward his shoulder.
(She’s fast, but...)
She wasn't as fast as Roy, and her power likely lagged behind his father's as well. However, her bladework possessed a fluid sharpness he'd never seen before, reminiscent of his training sessions with Weiss.
Grasping the situation in an instant, Ren spoke even as he parried.
“If this is a mock battle, I think a wooden sword would be safer—!”
Even while staying on the defensive, he deflected her blade with ease.
“Ngh... No way!?”
The girl retreated a few steps, her beautiful face tight with astonishment. Ren maintained a resolute stance as he addressed her.
“I don’t mind a match, but it’s dangerous unless I use my wooden sword. If you want to continue, we’ll do it after I go get it.”
“No! The blade is blunted, so it’s fine!”
Even so, a metal blade is still going to hurt, Ren thought. He swallowed the remark and let out a resigned sigh.
The girl pressed him again, her swordsmanship superb. However, Ren parried every attack without difficulty. Gradually, her breathing grew ragged.
“Hehe...! Amazing! I’ve never had this much fun in my life!”
Despite her fatigue, the girl remained defiant, refusing to utter a word of surrender. She put some distance between them and reached for her dress. Ren, watching her closely, suddenly doubted his eyes.
She cast the dress aside right there in the garden.
She wasn't stripping to her undergarments, however. Underneath, she wore a white, military-style uniform designed for mobility.
(That outfit... I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere.)
Just as he tried to grasp the memory, the girl charged again. Perhaps because she could move more easily, or perhaps due to a shift in her focus, her speed and sharpness had increased.
“How about this!”
Her strikes transformed into a flurry of flashes as they assaulted him. It was a refined style that seemed far beyond the capabilities of such a young girl.
Still, she was no match for Ren.
“It’s not enough!”
Deciding it was time to end this, Ren poured more strength into his movements. Unlike his previous defensive maneuvers, he began to actively break her posture.
“No way...!?”
Using her sword as a fulcrum, Ren shoved. Her center of gravity shifted heavily toward one foot, and she fell backward. Still pressed by Ren’s blade, she landed hard on her backside. Finally, succumbing to Ren’s overwhelming strength, she was pinned flat against the earth.
“—I win.”
Ren drove the dagger into the ground right beside her neck.
He straddled her upper body, pinning her arms so she couldn't resist. Faced with his intense gaze and undeniable strength, the girl fell silent. After a few seconds, her cheeks began to flush a deep crimson.
“...ou’re... too...”
“Hm?”
“I said... you’re too close!”
Ren scrambled up, putting some distance between them.
“S-Sorry! It was the heat of the moment! I was just trying to get you to admit defeat, so I just...!”
He had no other motive, and the girl seemed to realize that. Still, she couldn't hide her embarrassment. Ren found himself momentarily entranced by her bright red cheeks.
“Argh...! I-I’ll make you regret embarrassing me like that!”
The girl stood up vigorously and swung her sword again, her eyes watery with shame. Her movements were still refined, but there was a certain impatience to them now—a frantic sloppiness.
“Eh? You’re still going!?”
“Of course! You haven’t made me admit defeat yet!”
“—What a ridiculous argument.”
Regardless, Ren had no intention of continuing. He was afraid of accidentally injuring her, and he wanted to end this as quickly as possible.
(What should I do? ...Ah, I know.)
If she wouldn't give up, he would have to end the fight by force. He considered knocking the sword from her hand, but that required a heavy impact. Then he looked at the ring on his finger—the Thief's Magic Sword. He wondered if its power could disarm her.
(Maybe this will work.)
Ren focused on the ring, just as he did with his Wooden Magic Sword. Even though the special effect was random, he figured it was worth a try.
“...Eh?”
The moment Ren swung his sword, the Thief's Magic Sword activated. A mysterious wind swept through the girl, causing her hair to flutter upward. A look of surprise crossed her delicate features.
“...I’d heard you had a Skill, but I didn't know it was Wind Magic.”
(What is she talking about?)
Ignoring her misunderstanding, Ren felt a weight in his empty hand. From the texture, he could tell it was cloth. He also realized that the Thief's Magic Sword consumed significantly more mana than his other weapons; the strain on his body was immediate and heavy.
“My lady, that is enough! Young man, you stop as well!”
Distracted by Weiss’s arrival, Ren decided against checking his prize immediately. He wasn't sure how to explain the fact that he had technically committed a theft—even if it was through a Skill—so he decided to keep it hidden for now.
(At least it’s over.)
Ren let out a sigh of relief as Weiss finally reached them. He looked up at the knight and tilted his head.
“Lord Weiss? What are you doing here?”
Ren placed the dagger on the ground, realizing it would be awkward to keep holding it.
“Ah... forgive me for the sudden visit. To tell the truth—”
“Weiss. I will explain.”
“...As you wish.”
The girl stepped forward, stopping a few feet in front of Ren. She performed a perfect curtsy. Despite her military-style attire, she exuded an irrepressible grace and nobility. Her demeanor was so dazzling it felt as if the garden had been transformed into a grand ballroom. Ren found himself nearly entranced by her smile.
“I have come to the Ashton house as my father’s representative to deliver a letter.”
Cold sweat trickled down Ren’s neck. A terrible premonition began to take root.
“Regarding the Thief Wolfen subjugation, my father wishes to praise the Ashton family. He also expressed high expectations for Ren Ashton’s future.”
“Ah, yes... thank you very much...”
The girl looked miffed at Ren’s tepid reaction.
“What’s with that face? Aren’t you happy?”
“My lady,” Weiss interrupted. “The boy is likely confused. Besides, you haven’t introduced yourself yet.”
“Oh, you’re right.”
The girl cleared her throat and straightened her posture. With an elegant smile, she finally spoke her name.
“I am Licia Clausel. The White Saint.”
You knew who I was, didn't you? Her eyes seemed to ask as she dealt the finishing blow to the stunned Ren. He could only nod, his cheek twitching, before looking up at the sky with a hollow expression.
“My lady, your clothes,” Weiss said, picking up the discarded dress.
“I’ve broken a sweat, so I’ll put it on later.”
“I see. Understood.”
The two continued their conversation calmly, while Ren remained frozen in a daze.
(I don't understand... how did this happen?)
He never imagined Licia would show up so suddenly. He had been trying to find a way to avoid meeting her entirely, but her overwhelming momentum had left him with no choice.
“Regardless, my lady,” Weiss continued, “I cannot condone you taking advantage of the moment I stepped away.”
“Don’t you think you and the others were taking too long of a break? That’s why I rode ahead on my own.”
Ren suddenly remembered the item in his hand and turned his back to them. He needed to check what he had stolen with the Thief's Magic Sword and figure out how to return it. He hoped it was a handkerchief—something he could claim she had dropped during the scuffle. It felt like cloth, so it had to be something like that.
However, when Ren looked at his palm, his heart nearly stopped.
(...It's underwear.)
It was a pair of mature-looking red silk underwear.
This was no joke. Ren hurriedly shoved the garment into his pocket and clutched his head with both hands in pure, unadulterated agony.