Ren knew the carriage was locked by the sound.
He hoisted Licia up and gripped the Iron Magic Sword tightly. As he raised his arm, his body felt heavy, but he considered it a stroke of luck that he could move at all. After being in a coma for four days, it wouldn't have been surprising if he were completely paralyzed.
(I think he mentioned a potion...)
It was a concept different from the ones in his previous life—an item that was a staple of fantasy. In the games he remembered, potions were used to remove status ailments in addition to restoring health. Between that and the effects of his Physical Ability Boost (Small), he had managed to pull through.
(In any case, it saved me.)
Without making a sound, Ren swung the Iron Magic Sword in a vigorous horizontal sweep. He followed it with a vertical flash, cleaving the carriage lock in two. The door cracked open, and Ren caught it to keep it from making a noise as he set it aside.
(...It’s okay. He hasn't woken up.)
Leaning out, he spotted the Beastmaster sitting in the driver’s seat. Fortunately, the man remained asleep with his arms crossed. Relieved, Ren looked around to find they were in a forest shrouded in pitch-black darkness. He had no sense of the terrain.
However, having already resolved to escape, Ren took a step forward.
"Gii...?"
The sound came from above. Ren looked up to see two Mana Eaters perched on a thick branch of a nearby tree. Their eerie, bulging eyes glowed a deep crimson as they peered down at him.
"——How did you escape?"
The Beastmaster stepped down from the carriage, waking up as he approached. The Mana Eaters sat up and spread their wings in response.
"The sword should have been by my side. Why is it in your hand?"
"...It’s my sword. Why should it matter to you?"
"Ah, it certainly isn't mine. However, don't try anything foolish. If you remain obedient, you might still see your parents again."
"And what about the young lady?"
"Such beautiful loyalty. It’s quite dazzling," the Beastmaster sneered. "This is my final warning. If you don't return to the carriage of your own accord, your journey will be one of constant pain."
He pressured Ren with a cold, ruthless voice. The two Mana Eaters were already hovering behind the boy. If Ren didn't give the answer the Beastmaster wanted, they would surely strike.
Suddenly, Licia’s voice reached Ren’s ears.
"...Run... away... by yourself..."
Ren wondered when she had regained consciousness, but he couldn't help but smile at her nobility.
"No. If I'm leaving, you're coming with me."
That was the signal. The Beastmaster snapped his fingers, and the two Mana Eaters flapped their wings, closing in from behind. A shrill "Gii!" echoed through the forest.
Gripping the Iron Magic Sword, Ren took a deep breath and lunged forward.
"Heh! You’re young! Did you think you could win against a Beastmaster with just a sword!?"
"We'll see about that!"
The Mana Eaters bore down on him. They were swifter than Ren, even with his physical reinforcement; they extended their necks, trying to tear into Licia as she hung over his shoulder. Hearing her labored breathing against his back, Ren’s heart blazed with fury.
Abruptly, he pivoted.
He circled behind the carriage, dodging the Mana Eaters. Without losing momentum, he swung the Iron Magic Sword and struck the back of the carriage. Through a gap in the splintering wood, he saw the Beastmaster’s face.
Ren met his eyes and threw the Iron Magic Sword with all his might. The Beastmaster twisted his body to dodge. The blade grazed the side of the man's neck, and the necklace he wore flew into the air.
"Hmph... Throwing your weapon is fool—ish!?"
The Iron Magic Sword vanished into thin air the moment it passed the Beastmaster. In its place, Ren summoned the Wooden Magic Sword. He slammed it into the earth, causing roots to bulge from the ground and bind the Beastmaster’s feet.
Seeing his opening, Ren leaped from behind the carriage. On the way, he spotted the dagger Weiss had given him and scooped it up. He also snatched the necklace that had been knocked from the man's neck. The chain was snapped and the pendant was shattered; even if it had been a Magic Tool, it was far too damaged to function now.
Ren considered his next move.
(Should I try to take him down? No—don't get greedy!)
He might have been able to win. If he killed the Beastmaster, the Mana Eaters might vanish. But he was exhausted and had no guarantee of victory. He couldn't afford to take the risk.
"Not bad! But that’s enough!"
The Beastmaster grabbed a White Wooden Staff. A sphere of multicolored light began to swirl at its tip.
"Tch... Make it in time!"
Ren didn't know what the staff did, but it felt dangerous. The moment the Beastmaster gripped it, Ren summoned the Thief's Magic Sword and swung his arm.
"Wh-Why is my staff—!?"
To the man’s shock, the staff vanished from his hand and appeared in Ren’s. He had successfully stolen it. But there was no time to celebrate. One Mana Eater was closing in from the side, and the other was directly in front of the Beastmaster.
"Zeaaaaaaah!"
Ren dodged an attack in mid-air and struck the Mana Eater with the stolen staff. Then, in rapid succession, he brought the staff down on the carriage's hitch. The impact shattered the wood, and the staff itself broke under the weight of Ren’s strength.
Startled by the noise, the horse began to bolt. Ren reached out and forcefully mounted it.
"Without the staff, that power... Gh, pursue them!"
The Mana Eaters flapped their wings vigorously at the Beastmaster’s command. Ren, who had no experience with horses, struggled to stay in the saddle. He dismissed the Thief's Magic Sword and summoned the Wooden Magic Sword, using its vines to tie himself and Licia together. Ensuring they wouldn't fall, he galloped into the thick forest.
"Beastmaster! I know your weakness!"
"A weakness...!?"
"Yeah, you know it too, don't you!? That’s why you’re panicking!"
The Beastmaster let out a frustrated grunt. "Monsters of the forest! Hear my voice!"
Following his cry, the sound of breathing monsters erupted from all directions. Creatures reminiscent of Little Boars and giant beetles passed above and beside Ren as he urged the horse forward.
"Gigigigiii!" "Giiiiiiii!"
The Mana Eaters’ shrieks pierced his ears. However, as the seconds ticked by, their momentum began to wane. Within minutes, the distance had widened until they were on the verge of losing them entirely. The other forest monsters slowed down as well.
"...Are we safe now?"
After riding for another ten minutes, Ren felt certain they had escaped.
(Distance is still the weakness, then.)
That was the truth behind his shout. Beyond summoning Mana Eaters, the Beastmaster could command monsters weaker than himself, but the effect weakened the further they traveled from him.
(The real problem starts now.)
He was glad he could put his knowledge of the Legend of the Seven Heroes to use. But he couldn't let his guard down; he still had to navigate an unknown forest and find a settlement.
As the immediate danger passed, a wave of exhaustion hit him.
"My lady, I’ll get the medicine for you. I promise."
When Ren spoke in his usual tone, Licia whispered a faint, "...I'm... sorry."
The horse Weiss rode appeared to be an ordinary dapple-gray, but it was actually mixed with monster blood, making it faster and more durable than any normal mount. He used this speed to search every inch of the area around Ren’s village.
But Ren and Licia were nowhere to be found.
He ordered the other knights to continue the search while he rode back to report to Baron Clausel. He arrived at the manor on the morning of the fifth day after Ren’s escape—nine days since the kidnapping.
"——In place of the fallen guards, I will accept all punishment. However, I ask for a reprieve until the young lady is rescued."
In the Baron's office, Weiss reported the tragedy at the Ashton village and the abduction of the two children.
"Why? Why did you leave Licia’s side?"
"...It was a failure of judgment."
"Then explain that failure! Why!? How could the Knight Commander leave her side!?"
Baron Clausel rounded on Weiss, seizing him by the lapels. But then, a realization struck him.
"Are you hiding something from me?"
Weiss’s eyes shifted.
"It was Licia, wasn't it? She hated being helpless while sick. To repay her debt to the Ashtons, she asked you to hunt the monsters, didn't she?"
Weiss remained silent, but his silence was an answer in itself.
"...I am sorry," the Baron whispered.
"No, it was still my mistake. If the strongest person was there, I should have sent the others to hunt while I remained as her guard."
"That isn't a mistake. It is true loyalty. How can I punish you for honoring Licia’s wishes?"
Weiss, consumed by regret, could find no words. The Baron released him and walked toward the window. Outside, a heavy rain fell, matching their somber moods.
"We can't sit still any longer," the Baron declared. "Contact the Imperial Capital! Inform the nobles of our faction and His Majesty the Emperor immediately!"
He was furious, his fists trembling. But he had no evidence. He was certain Viscount Given was behind this, but he had nothing to prove it in court.
"We must be careful not to make a false report... It would be a miracle if we can just get reinforcements. Weiss, what of the Ashtons?"
"I've assigned knights to escort them and the villagers to a safe location."
"Good. Then let’s move."
He wanted to reach out to the Imperial Capital and nearby neutral nobles. He needed help.
"If we move carelessly, the other factions will tear us apart. We must be cautious."
"Understood!"
Just as the Baron was about to reach for his pen, the door burst open.
"My—My Lord!"
The steward, usually the picture of composure, rushed in without knocking.
"Guests from the Imperial Capital...! Please, hurry to the hall!"
Startled, the Baron hurried out. He walked across the thick crimson carpet to the hall, but froze when he saw the guests' attire.
"Baron Clausel, I presume."
"Ye—Yes... and you are...?"
They were civil officials dressed in the grey robes of the Ministry of Justice.
"We have come by order of His Excellency, the Minister of Justice."
One official stepped forward and produced a rolled parchment, unfurling it before the Baron.
"By the authority of the Great Imperial Law, Baron Clausel, you are hereby ordered to stand for a Trial."
"What—Why me!?"
"You are suspected of significant Poor Governance. As you know, nobles entrusted with land by the Emperor have certain obligations."
As the official spoke in a monotone, Weiss whispered, "That Viscount Given... he actually involved the Imperial Capital."
"I am well aware of my duties!" the Baron snapped. "We must protect our people and our land! Which of those do you claim I have failed!?"
"Several villages have suffered continuous damage due to your failure to take prompt action, allowing the monster threat to spread into the neighboring Viscount Given’s Territory. His Excellency the Minister of Justice received this report from Viscount Given and has ordered this Trial."
The Baron had plenty of rebuttals, but every time he tried to speak, the official cut him off with, "Speak at the trial."
"Viscount Given will arrive the morning after next. The first arguments will be held here in Clausel that same day. The verdict will be handed down the following day, but——"
"If I am dissatisfied, I go to the Imperial Capital. And if I am still unhappy there, I seek a Divine Trial at the Grand Temple. Is that it?"
"Precisely."
Everything was moving too fast. The news reaching the capital, Viscount Given’s arrival—it was all unfolding with unnatural speed. It was a trap, orchestrated long in advance. Both the Baron and Weiss realized it now.
"Now, if you'll excuse us."
The officials bowed and left, stating they would stay at a local inn.
"If I am found guilty, the Clausel family will lose its title," the Baron said grimly.
"But My Lord! Monster damage happens everywhere! To lose a title over this is unheard of!"
"Exactly. That’s why Given claimed the damage spread into his own lands."
It was a fabrication. The Baron had done everything possible to protect his people. This was the work of the Hero Faction—the struggle between them and the Imperial Faction was turning deadly.
The Baron closed his eyes, thinking.
"...I still don't understand why they took the children."
Viscount Given was obsessed with Ren, but if he wanted a hostage, Licia should have been enough to force the Baron’s hand. Given the brutality of the attack on the village, he couldn't rule out the possibility that they might kill her. But did Ren really have value as a hostage? He was a promising boy, certainly, but...