As night fell, Ren began the familiar task of preparing their camp.
Licia offered to help, but he insisted she rest. She watched him with a slightly pouting, dissatisfied expression as he moved about his work.
"You’re quite adept at this, aren't you?"
"I’ve had plenty of practice over the last few days. It’s mostly thanks to the training I received from Master Weiss."
"From Weiss? Do you mean back during the winter?"
"Yes. Thanks to that night, I learned how to butcher monsters, start a fire, and all the essential skills for camping."
While Weiss’s sudden proposal had been unexpected at the time, Ren was now deeply grateful for it. It would have been difficult enough on his own, but it was indispensable now that he was responsible for Licia.
(I’ll use this one today.)
Ren prepared to butcher his latest kill. It was an F-rank monster called a White Hawk, one rank higher than a Little Boar. Even so, it had been no match for him; he had hunted it without any real struggle.
"How did you manage it? It’s a flying monster."
"I found it perched in a tree and bound it with vines. After that, it was just a matter of finishing it off."
"That mysterious sword power of yours again."
"A keen observation. Though the details remain a secret, if you don't mind."
"...Stingy."
To be honest, Ren wondered if there was any point in keeping the secret anymore. He had already used the Wooden Magic Sword to carry her down the cliff; he might as well have told her outright. Perhaps his refusal to name the skill was just a small act of rebelliousness.
(I should absorb the mana stone while I have a moment.)
While Licia looked away in mock annoyance, Ren found the mana stone and brought it close to his bracelet. As it absorbed the energy, he stole a glance at the crystal. He could see clear progress compared to before.
Ren Ashton
[Job] Ashton Family Eldest Son
[Skills] - Magic Sword Summoning (Level 1: 0/0) - Magic Sword Summoning Arts (Level 2: 898/1000) Level 1: Can summon [one] magic sword. Level 2: Gains [Physical Ability Boost (Small)] while a magic sword is summoned. Level 3: Can summon [two] magic swords. Level 4: ***.
[Acquired Magic Swords] - Wooden Magic Sword (Level 2: 714/1000) Enables attacks equivalent to Nature Magic (Small). Effect range increases with level. - Iron Magic Sword (Level 1: 714/1000) Sharpness increases with level. - Thief's Magic Sword (Level 1: 0/3) Randomly steals an item from the target at a set probability.
In truth, considering the number of mana stones he had acquired, both magic swords could have leveled up by now. However, Roy’s injury had taught Ren the vital importance of being prepared. Instead of using every Little Boar Mana Stone on himself, he set aside roughly half of them to sell later. Even if it was a mere pittance, it was better than having nothing. Because of that, his current growth remained at this level.
"What is this?"
Licia’s voice broke his concentration. While he was focused on his bracelet, she had pulled a necklace from their luggage and was frowning at it.
"I took that from the Beastmaster. The chain snapped and it fell off when I attacked him, but I kept it thinking we could sell it for travel funds."
The item was striking, featuring a silver chain and a deep red gemstone. Licia held it up, whispering to herself. "It’s a magic tool."
"He mentioned something about keeping our voices from being heard outside," Ren added. "It might be the device responsible for that. Since it’s broken now, I don’t think they can use it to track us... but I wanted to be sure."
"You’re very thorough, Ren. You’re right, we don't need to worry about tracking. But... let’s not sell it. If things get difficult, this could serve as evidence, couldn't it?"
She was exactly right. Ren nodded immediately. "Good point."
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The next morning, Ren set out at the first light of dawn.
Licia didn't wake until they had already covered some distance. She had fallen into a deep slumber, likely because she still hadn't fully recovered her strength.
Around noon, they emerged from the forest and spotted a village on the plains—a small collection of about a dozen scattered houses.
(We should probably stop there.)
Though they still had enough food and water, he wanted to see if they had the medicine they originally set out for. Even though Licia was on the mend, it was better to be safe.
"My Lady. Let’s stop in for a moment."
"Right. I understand."
Ren guided the horse toward the village. As they arrived, a villager approached them.
"Little adventurers, eh? That’s a rare sight."
A middle-aged woman greeted them with a curious smile.
"What brings you to our village? Are you looking for something?"
"Yes. We were hoping to find some medicine."
After some negotiation, Ren traded monster materials for food. Though he was disappointed to find they didn't have the medicine or Meal Grass he sought, food was a necessity. Eating nothing but monster meat would eventually take a toll on Licia’s health.
"Where are you two headed?"
"Um... we’re just traveling without a set destination for now," Ren lied.
"I see, I see. Well, if that’s the case, you might consider heading toward Clausel. It’s quite a ways further down this path."
Ren’s eyebrows twitched at the mention of their destination. He had been careful to hide their intent, so the sudden name-drop was a shock. Fortunately, the woman didn't seem to notice his reaction.
"Is there something happening in Clausel?"
"An adventurer who passed through recently mentioned it. They said things are going to get quite lively there soon."
"Lively...?"
"That’s right. I don’t know the specifics, but apparently Baron Clausel is going to be punished for something."
Licia gasped. Having remained silent until then, she suddenly spoke up, her voice urgent.
"What do you mean!? Why would such a thing—is that really happening!?"
Licia had nearly shouted. She quickly caught herself, desperately suppressing her surging emotions to keep the conversation going. She couldn't risk offending the woman if she wanted more information.
"Who can say for sure? That adventurer said there are all sorts of suspicions. Rumor has it the Baron set monsters on Viscount Given."
"Th-that's impossible..."
"I don't know if it's true or not. Those adventurers only overheard it while camping with the Viscount’s men along the road."
Licia stood frozen, her face pale. As the woman looked at her with concern, asking if she was alright, Ren forced a polite smile and prepared to leave. They needed to get away before she lost her composure entirely.
"She hasn't been feeling well since yesterday," Ren explained.
"Oh, the poor thing. Are you sure you're alright? You’re welcome to stay the night if you need rest."
"Thank you for the kind offer, but we’re in a hurry. We should be going."
Ren gave Licia a quiet signal, and they moved back out onto the plains, following the direction she had indicated before they reached the village.
"My Lady. You did very well back there."
A few minutes after they left the village, Ren praised her for maintaining her cool. However, there was no response. Several more minutes passed, then half an hour.
Ren sensed the turmoil in her heart and didn't try to force her to talk. He waited with quiet patience for her to open up on her own.
Finally, her shoulders began to tremble. When she at last spoke, her voice was a fragile whisper.
"...Hey, Ren."
The sudden use of his name without an honorific caught him off guard.
"Yes? What is it?"
Ren hid his surprise and chose not to comment on the change. He kept his tone as gentle and calm as possible, making sure not to rush her.
"Why? My father has worked so hard for so long... so why is this happening?"
"...It must be because Viscount Given is behind this."
"No, that’s not what I mean..." Licia said. It was already obvious to her that the Viscount was the culprit. "My father has devoted his life to Leomel. Why does he have to suffer this kind of treatment?"
"That is—"
"What did we do to deserve this? I know I might have been young and foolish, but there is no reason for my father to be targeted like this. So why?"
Licia’s shoulders shook violently. This time, it wasn't out of a sense of her own inadequacy, but out of pure grief and fury at the injustice. In this moment, she bore no resemblance to the legendary Saint Licia from the game.
"...The Viscount's behavior is blatant. It defies all reason. Why is such an injustice being allowed to happen?"
Her voice grew weaker with every word.
(—Of course.)
The Licia sitting before him was still just a young girl. She was not the Saint Licia from the Legend of the Seven Heroes—at least, not yet. Ren apologized to her in his heart, realizing that comparing her to a game character was an insult to the real person suffering in front of him.
"I don't... I don't understand the nobility anymore..."
Finally, she broke. Licia buried her face and wept. Her tears dripped onto Ren’s arm as he held the reins, and her trembling body conveyed a depth of sorrow that words couldn't reach. It was a heartrending sight.
Ren didn't have an answer to her question. But he couldn't just ignore her pain. Almost instinctively, he released one hand from the reins and gently patted her head. It wasn't the gesture of a lover, but the tender comfort of an older brother to a younger sister.
"...Ren?"
Her hair was tangled and dirty from their time in the wilderness, its silk-like luster long gone. Ordinarily, Licia would have been mortified to have anyone touch her hair in this state. In fact, she wouldn't have allowed anyone to be so familiar with her at all.
"...If you're going to do it, at least do it properly."
Despite that, she didn't push him away. Instead, she leaned into his touch, moving so it was easier for him to comfort her.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The following morning, shortly after sunrise, Viscount Given arrived in the town of Clausel.
The middle-aged man looked every bit the gentleman, with his neatly groomed gray hair and beard. However, behind that polished exterior was a man of deep duplicity and vast ambition. As a prominent member of the Hero Faction, he was obsessed with expanding his party's influence.
"Viscount."
As they rode through the town's main thoroughfare, one of his knights spoke up.
"The time is finally here."
"—Indeed. For the future of the Hero Faction, House Clausel must fall."
"Once the deed is done, I’m sure our comrades will be most pleased."
"Of course. This territory sits right on the border between the Hero Faction and the Imperial Faction. By seizing this land, our influence will grow exponentially."
"And by taking House Clausel's lands, we also secure a foothold near the Imperial Capital," the knight added.
Viscount Given nodded. "I would have preferred to bring House Clausel into our fold."
"Yes, but they refused every advance you made. At this stage, force is the only language they’ll understand."
As they spoke, the Viscount leaned in closer to his knight, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
"To truly reform a declining Leomel, we must push the Imperial Faction to the brink. And we must punish those fools who claim to be 'neutral.' Such fence-sitters are traitors to their class and don't deserve the title of nobility."
The conviction in the Viscount’s voice left the knight feeling a surge of confidence in his leader.
"One thing, however, Viscount."
"What is it?"
"...Why were you so fixated on Ren Ashton? He is certainly a promising boy, but I can't see how he is worth this much effort."
Viscount Given let out a small chuckle and looked up at the sky.
"Viscount? I don't mean to overstep, but surely Ren Ashton isn't more valuable than the Saint herself—"
"But he is."
"—!?"
The knight's eyes widened. The Viscount had cut him off with a voice so saturated with confidence that it was impossible to dismiss it as a mere whim.
"The Saint is a valuable piece, no doubt—a tool to be used in negotiations with Baron Clausel later. But do you really think I would move this aggressively for her alone?"
Viscount Given smiled triumphantly.
"The one I truly want is Ren Ashton. The destruction of House Clausel is merely a secondary benefit. I was getting bored with the pressure from my own patron nobles, anyway."
"But why? No matter how much potential he has, he’s just the son of a country knight!"
"That’s what everyone says. But I alone know the truth."
His voice grew even more resonant, filled with the weight of a grand ambition.
"—If we secure the Ashton family, House Given will reign supreme within the Hero Faction. No, not just the faction; the entire empire will come to praise my name."
He left the true meaning of his words unspoken, letting the knight’s imagination fill in the gaps.
But one detail stood out to the knight.
Why had the Viscount stopped saying "Ren Ashton" and instead corrected himself to say "the Ashton family"...?