Ren had expressed his willingness to Weiss, but he couldn't help feeling anxious about whether his parents would actually allow it.
However...
I can’t believe they agreed so readily.
It wasn't just Roy; even Mireille had given her immediate consent. When Weiss returned to the manor and explained the plan, they had both been surprisingly nonchalant about the whole thing.
Though they were startled at first, the news that Knight Commander Weiss of the Clausel family would be personally overseeing the training was enough to sway them. If a man of his stature was involved, they figured it must be fine.
"Sword Rock, was it? Let’s prepare to make camp once we’re past it."
Weiss spoke over his shoulder, a torch in one hand as he led the way.
The winter forest was buried in snow, making every step a chore. Yet, Weiss seemed entirely unaffected by the terrain, forging ahead with a powerful, steady stride.
He’s incredible.
It was likely the sheer difference in their physical strength and build.
What was more...
"Bruuuuuh!"
When a Little Boar lunged at them from the brush, Weiss cut it down with a single, casual stroke of the sword in his hand. His core didn't shift a fraction of an inch, and the strike was so swift that Ren wasn't even sure his eyes had tracked the blade.
Just how strong is this man?
As Ren trailed behind, staring at the old knight's broad back, Weiss seemed to sense his gaze and turned around.
"Hm? What’s the matter?"
"I was just thinking about how amazing you are, Lord Weiss."
"Hahaha! Is that all? If it’s you we’re talking about, boy, you’ll be stronger than me in no time!"
Weiss praised him while effortlessly hoisting the Little Boar carcass onto his shoulder. On the surface, he looked like an aging veteran, but he clearly possessed a level of physical power that belied his years.
"Now then, I’ll leave the next few monsters to you. Can you fight in the dark, boy?"
"I should be fine. I’ve done it once before, and I managed to get through it then."
In any case, the only things likely to appear were more Little Boars. No matter how dark it was or how much the snow hampered his movements, they were no threat to him.
As they pushed toward the area beyond Sword Rock, Ren dispatched several Little Boars without a hitch. He did so with complete composure, his actions as natural as breathing.
"——I see. It’s no wonder the young lady is no match for you."
Weiss murmured the observation after watching Ren’s combat style for a while.
"They're only Little Boars, sir."
"And yet, every single one took a thrust to the forehead. You pierced their skulls without being off by so much as a hair's breadth. Your reaction speed is equally remarkable."
Ren had his bracelet summoned and the Wooden Magic Sword at his waist, but for tonight's work, he held a standard steel weapon. Still, being praised so bluntly was genuinely embarrassing.
I might never get used to being complimented...
Ren learned that realization even before he began his survival training.
————
Eventually, some time after passing Sword Rock, the two came to a halt in a clearing dominated by a massive boulder.
Weiss, still carrying the boar, approached the rock. He gestured for Ren to follow him into a large, hollowed-out alcove. Stepping inside offered immediate relief from the biting cold and the softly falling snow.
"First, we must start a fire."
There were several ways to go about it. Weiss explained that the primary method used by knights involved magic tools. However, if those weren't available, they used flint. As a last resort, they would have to rub wood together.
"But if the wood is damp, it won't catch. That is why you must never neglect your preparations. You have to be careful not to let yourself fall into a situation where you're forced to rely on the final resort."
As he spoke, Weiss handed Ren a dagger encased in a leather sheath.
"This is a gift from me. The pommel has a special ore embedded in it. The leather sheath has been modified as well; if you strike the flint against it with enough force, it will produce sparks."
"Are you sure? This looks quite expensive."
"Not particularly. In Clausel, you can get one for 10,000 G—about what a commoner makes in a day."
Even so, that’s not exactly cheap, Ren thought.
Nevertheless, he accepted Weiss’s generosity and drew the dagger as instructed. Meanwhile, Weiss pulled a single piece of firewood from his coat and set it on the ground.
"Since this is training, I took the liberty of 'borrowing' a piece from your manor. Now, I’ll demonstrate first, and then I’ll have you try, boy."
Weiss rubbed the knife against the sheath with practiced ease. When sparks showered down effortlessly, Ren couldn't help but let out a soft "Oh" of admiration.
Beside him, Weiss’s features softened as he pulled a small bundle of straw from his pocket. He struck the flint again, and after a few repetitions, a faint flame flickered to life within the straw.
"Now, I want you to produce this tinder."
"Understood. I'll give it a try."
Ren set to work. It took about ten attempts before he finally managed to produce a solid spark. He transferred the fire to the fresh straw Weiss provided. The tool was clearly designed to be beginner-friendly. Weiss also showed him how to properly catch the firewood, and Ren soon found himself getting the hang of the process.
"We have to go find more firewood next, right?"
"That would be part of the training, yes, but we needn't go that far tonight. For now, we'll use a magic tool for warmth."
Weiss reached back into his pocket and produced a small vial. When he uncapped it and placed it on the ground, it began to vent a steady stream of fire after a few seconds.
"It will soon have the heat of a proper bonfire. Until then, I'll teach you the other method of fire-starting and how to dismantle a monster."
The "other method" turned out to be the friction fire technique. Weiss showed him how to carve the wood to create the necessary friction points and demonstrated the grueling process of rubbing them together until they smoked.
When Ren tried it himself, it took significantly longer than the flint method. He didn't manage to produce a flame until more than thirty minutes of exhausting effort had passed. It was a moment that made him appreciate the wonders of modern tools from the very bottom of his soul.
"You have a good feel for it, boy."
"...It felt like it took forever, though."
"Not necessarily. Most first-timers struggle just to get smoke. Now, on to the dismantling."
The target was the Little Boar they had brought with them. Weiss explained that he would be teaching Ren how to process the meat specifically for consumption.
"First, regarding the edible portions of most monsters——"
Because Ren was used to seeing Mireille do this at home, he was able to handle the sight of fresh organs without any hesitation. He joined in the process partway through, following Weiss’s instructions.
They spent nearly an hour on the task, with Weiss teaching him everything from how to properly bleed the carcass to how to treat the pelt. Once the meat was ready, they skewered it on branches and roasted it over the magic flame. The meat smelled wonderful, but without seasoning, the flavor was a bit lacking.
Well, it’s not too bad.
Maybe it was just the atmosphere of the forest, but it didn't taste nearly as bland as he'd expected.
"By the way, sir, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask."
"Hm? What is it?"
"Why did we wait until just before midnight to leave? Everything was ready hours before that."
"............I didn't want the young lady to hear of it."
"Ah... right. That makes sense."
If Licia had found out, she would have absolutely insisted on coming along. Ren knew he couldn't have stopped her, and he suspected Weiss was in the same boat. That was likely why, when Weiss had offered him the training, Ren hadn't explicitly asked for her not to be included. Given his status, it wasn't a request he should have been making anyway.
"We'll be returning tomorrow while the young lady is still asleep. It’s a demanding schedule, but..."
"Compared to the day I fought the Thief Wolfen, this is nothing. I’ll be fine."
"——Hahahaha! I suppose so! No wonder you haven't uttered a single word of complaint, unlike my usual subordinates!"
Ren shrugged and gave a wry smile.
For the rest of the night, Weiss taught him various skills: how to camp in the cold, how to stand watch, how to manage a fire, and even how to conceal his presence in the wilderness. It was only one night of instruction, barely scratching the surface, but Ren felt these were skills that might one day save his life. To him, this experience was already a precious asset.
The next morning, they woke up well before dawn.
Despite getting only half his usual amount of sleep, Ren felt surprisingly alert. They left the massive boulder behind, traversed Sword Rock, and crossed the river bridge. As planned, they reached the village early, walking along the snow-laden paths between the fields.
"We made it back in good time."
"Umu. The young lady should still be fast asleep."
The two shared a bit of light conversation as they reached the manor. But the moment Ren placed his hand on the door and pulled it open...
"Oh, welcome back."
Licia greeted him with a voice as clear as a bell, a brilliant smile on her face. However, she was radiating a pressure that was nearly impossible to describe in words.
And yet, she didn't seem truly angry.
"It must have been cold out there, wasn't it? ...I don't think you really needed to leave at such an hour."
Since she was the very reason they had left so late, Ren had no idea how to explain himself. He just scratched his cheek and gave a vague, non-committal smile.
"Honestly... even I wouldn't be so selfish as to demand to be taken into the woods in the middle of the night. Though... I admit I was a little miffed that you kept it a secret from me."
"Ahaha..."
"But it’s fine. Also, I’m canceling our sparring session for today."
Ren initially thought she was calling it off because she was mad, but that wasn't the case.
"You're tired, aren't you?"
"N-No, I'm okay! I could manage at least a little——"
"No. It would be a disaster if you pushed yourself and got sick. Right?"
She was calling off the session solely out of concern for his exhaustion. Weiss stood by, looking stunned. He had clearly expected her to insist on fighting, considering that was her primary reason for visiting the village.
This feels... different.
Being shown such genuine consideration caught Ren off guard. Looking at her face, he could tell she wasn't acting.
Her words had come from the heart.
"Besides, winning against you when you're exhausted wouldn't make me happy at all."
And that part, undoubtedly, was also her honest opinion.