It happened early the following morning.
Baron Clausel hadn’t managed to buy as much time as he’d hoped. He had been backed into a corner, and the stage for his transfer to the Imperial Capital was already set. He was to be paraded through the surrounding towns before being taken to another territory, where he would board a Magic Ship bound for the capital.
He wasn't even permitted to have Weiss by his side. He was just now passing through the gates of his own city. The townsfolk of Clausel watched the procession with bated breath, their eyes filled with apprehension.
From his position at the head of the line, Viscount Given watched them and sneered.
"Viscount. It won't be long now."
"Indeed. It has been a very long road."
The knight who spoke was the same one who had clashed with Ren in the forest. Viscount Given nodded, a thin, cold smile playing across his handsome features.
"All that remains is to deliver the Baron to the capital."
"And after that?"
"The members of the Hero Faction in the Imperial Capital will take care of the rest."
"I see. However, Viscount, if I may ask one more thing..."
The Viscount glanced at him. "What is it?"
"I understand why we kept Licia Clausel alive. Using the girl as a hostage to threaten the Baron makes sense, and marrying her off into the Hero Faction later will strengthen our unity. But... it's Ren Ashton I'm curious about."
"Ah, so you're worried about the boy."
"Yes. Was he really worth the risk of keeping alive? You spoke as if he were the primary prize in all of this..."
Viscount Given smirked, his eyes clouding over with a distant memory.
"It was nearly ten years ago now. I happened upon a certain piece of information quite by accident."
"Information, sir?"
"Precisely. It was a stroke of luck. While I was in the Imperial Capital researching the history of the Clausel territory, I stumbled upon a connection I hadn't been looking for. I soon realized it was a secret that no one else in the world had noticed."
"And—what kind of connection was it?" the knight asked, his voice eager.
Given’s expression soured slightly as he reined in the knight’s curiosity. "You will understand in due time. Once I have secured my fame within the Hero Faction and gained a voice that can command my meddlesome patron nobles and even the High-ranking Nobles... only then will the truth be revealed."
He let out a long, satisfied breath.
"I have spent years preparing for this. Unlike the Saint, I made meticulous arrangements to ensure that Ren Ashton, and he alone, would end up in my hands."
That was why he couldn't afford to let them escape. Given had already received the report about the encounter in the forest from the knight beside him. He had been furious and had reprimanded the man severely on the spot. However, because capturing the children was the priority, he had deferred any real punishment for the time being.
"You and the others will head back to the hills immediately after we clear the town."
"Understood. They should have been captured by now."
"They had better be. I will not tolerate any more incompetence. Not from Jelququ, and certainly not from you."
"I... I am deeply sorry."
"If you're sorry, prove it with results. If you fail, I shouldn't have to tell you what the consequences will be."
The knight nodded silently, withered by the Viscount’s harsh tone.
"Besides, that light from last night is bothering me," Given added.
It was his only true concern. Since none of the other knights had returned to report, that pillar of light had been weighing heavily on his mind.
"We have only just managed to outmaneuver the Imperial Faction. Failure is not an option. Do you have any idea how much effort I’ve exerted to bring us to this point?"
"Yes, sir. By valuing speed and applying the right pressure to the surrounding lords, you’ve managed to keep them at bay."
"Exactly. Never forget that this moment was bought with meticulous planning."
He had spent years coordinating with his patron nobles to ensure the Imperial Faction wouldn't catch wind of his scheme until it was too late.
"It’s almost over."
The end of the Clausel family was at hand.
As Baron Clausel looked out toward the horizon beyond the city gates, the morning sun began to crest.
"—Who goes there?" Given muttered.
A lone horse was plodding down the main road toward them. It approached slowly, silhouetted against the rising sun.
While Given squinted in confusion, the knight beside him noticed something odd. Wasn't that the same horse that had been pulling Jelququ's carriage?
Just as the knight opened his mouth to tell the Viscount—
"—Milady!?"
Weiss’s voice thundered from the rear of the procession. Ignoring the protests of Given’s knights, he spurred his horse forward.
What is happening? Given wondered, his composure fracturing. With all those knights and an elf like Jelququ... are you telling me they escaped?
Panic began to take root in his heart. He pulled his horse to a halt just outside the gate.
"Tsk... Viscount!"
"Stay back! None of you can handle a man like Weiss. We need to see what they intend to do first."
He could hear the Baron’s voice behind him, but Given ignored it, ordering his men to tighten the perimeter around the prisoner. Meanwhile, the horse from the road continued its slow approach.
"Milady! I have no words to excuse my failure! I shall pay with my life—wait, the boy!?"
Weiss started to shout an apology, but his words died in his throat when he saw Ren slumped over on Licia’s back.
"It’s fine," Licia said quietly. "Everything that happened... it was by my order."
"But—!"
"We’ll talk later. Right now... I won't let his sacrifice be for nothing."
Weiss reached out to take Ren from her, but Licia’s grip didn't waver. She insisted on carrying him back to the manor herself, her stubbornness brooking no argument. She was visibly haggard and trembling with exhaustion, but the sheer force of her will left Weiss speechless.
"—You must be Viscount Given."
Licia’s voice was weary, yet her eyes held a cold, unwavering resolve that Weiss had never seen before. The rowdy atmosphere of the crowd vanished instantly. Even Weiss felt compelled to remain silent in the face of her intensity.
"I am pleased to meet the Saint, but I must ask you to mind your tone. I am a Viscount—"
"You are the one who should mind your tone. I have no courtesy to spare for a criminal."
"—Hoh."
Given let out a sharp, competitive laugh. "You certainly have spirit."
He nudged his horse forward. Licia stopped her mount and waited for him, keeping Weiss at a distance.
"However, let us not be mistaken. The criminal is your father."
"Is that so? Then look at this. Can you still act so bold once you've seen it?"
Licia held up the magic tool Jelququ had used. Given’s brow furrowed for a fraction of a second.
"What is that?" he asked, feigning ignorance.
"A magic tool belonging to the elf you hired. If the authorities investigate it, I'm sure they'll find a clear trail leading back to you."
"Hahaha! For a Saint, you certainly have a vivid imagination!"
"Ren and I—Ren’s entire village was attacked by the elf you hired."
"And what does that have to do with me? Surely you don't think one trinket constitutes evidence?"
"I said it would be clear if it were investigated, didn't I?"
Licia’s mind was clouded by exhaustion, and she struggled to find the words to counter him. Given didn't flinch. He was a man who had prepared for every contingency, and he knew how to bully his way through an argument.
"...Furthermore, we were attacked by your own knights in the forest."
"By my knights? Are you sure it wasn't someone in disguise?"
There was no proof. Licia had managed to humble the knights in the forest, but she hadn't yet found the leverage to shake the Viscount’s confidence. Behind her, Weiss was trembling with rage, his hand hovering near the hilt of his sword.
"I remember their faces. The knight standing right beside you is the one who drew his sword against Ren and me."
"Hmm... is that true?" Given asked smoothly.
"N-No, sir! As per your orders, I was commanding the perimeter outside Clausel," the knight lied.
"There you have it. It seems the Saint-sama has been misled by someone."
"I wonder about that. Perhaps it would be best if we all went back into the city to discuss this properly?"
"Regrettably, that is unnecessary."
Given was determined to force the issue. He had the momentum, and he wasn't about to let a pair of children ruin his plans now. When he tried to move his horse forward, Weiss blocked his path.
"Viscount Given! As the commander of the Clausel knights, I believe Milady’s testimony warrants a thorough investigation! I propose we return to the city at once!"
"I said it is unnecessary. If you have a grievance, you can raise it during a new trial in the Imperial Capital."
Given knew that once they reached the capital, the Great Nobles would ensure the Clausel family never had a chance to speak. Even if Licia was no longer a hostage, he would find new ways to crush them. It would be a total defeat. That was why the Baron had been stalling, hoping for a miracle.
As Given’s horse drew level with Licia’s—just as they were about to pass—a voice broke the silence.
"............Show me... your hand."
It was faint and weak, but unmistakable. Ren, who should have been unconscious, had spoken.
"Ren!?"
"Boy!?"
Ren didn't respond to their cries. He slowly lifted his head from Licia’s shoulder and reached out a trembling hand. His eyes were glazed with pain, but the sheer weight of the gaze he leveled at the knight beside Given was overwhelming.
"Show me... your hand... now!"
"W-Who do you think you're talking to?" the knight stammered.
"Your knight... obviously...!"
Licia suddenly realized what he meant. Ashamed that her own fatigue had made her overlook the obvious, she whispered a quiet "I'm sorry" to Ren and turned back to the knight. Relieved, Ren slipped back into unconsciousness.
"...Show us the back of your hand. You should have a wound there—one that Ren and I gave you."
The decisive evidence Given thought didn't exist was right in front of them.
"...V-Viscount."
Given was speechless. He had believed himself untouchable, yet he was being backed into a corner by a dying boy.
"Let's see it," Weiss growled, stepping toward the knight.
"No, I... I'm on duty..."
"I won't ask again. Show us."
"You're wrong! My hand is—!"
"Show it now, before I decide to let my sword do the talking."
"Hieee...!"
Terrified, the knight fumbled with his gauntlet and pulled it off. Beneath it, his hand was wrapped in bandages. Weiss forced him to remove those as well.
"Hoh... just as Milady and the boy said. That is quite the injury."
"T-That’s just... a wound from my duties!"
"Perhaps. But the blood is fresh, and the bandages are soaked. It's quite a coincidence, isn't it? Especially since that white burn mark is characteristic of Holy Magic."
The evidence was piling up too high to ignore. A murmur of agitation swept through the crowd, from the citizens at the gate to the knights on both sides.
"It seems you didn't have access to a very high-quality potion," Weiss continued. "But did you know? Wounds caused by Holy Magic leave scars that even the most expensive potions can't fully erase."
The knight had no more excuses. But Viscount Given was still desperate to win.
"Hahahaha! Very well! Then we shall arrange a new trial to prove my knight's innocence! Regardless, it can all be settled in the Imperial Capital! The first trial is already over, so the transfer of Baron Clausel will proceed as planned!"
Given signaled his men to move. The procession began to lurch forward again.
"............What do I do... what can I do?"
Licia began to cry, great tears rolling down her cheeks. This was the reality she loathed—the sheer, unyielding weight of noble status. It was an absurdity that allowed a man like Given to trample over the truth simply because he held a higher rank. It felt as though all of Ren’s effort, all of his suffering, was being erased.
But then, a new sound cut through the air.
"Magnificent. And what a truly beautiful sight the two of you are."
It was the sound of slow, rhythmic clapping coming from the city gate. It was a theatrical sound, entirely out of place in such a tense confrontation.
"Such courage to be praised, such dignified nobility. It is as if I have just witnessed the climax of a most wonderful tale... Yes, that is exactly how I feel."
The voice was mature and refined. A man stepped out from the gate, walking calmly between Viscount Given and Licia.
"Fortunately, the stage has been set for my intervention. Therefore, as a finale to the miracle these two have performed, I shall lend a small hand."
The man was an elderly gentleman dressed in a crisp tailcoat, looking every bit the professional steward.
"Who are you?" Given demanded, his voice laced with hostility.
The gentleman ignored him and looked at Licia instead.
"Saint-sama. Please, leave the rest to me."
"Who... are you?"
"My name is Edgar. Rest assured, I am only here to offer a little assistance in concluding the story the two of you have written. I have no intention of trampling upon your miracle."
"Assistance...?"
"I wish to help lower the curtain. That is all."
The gentleman offered a polite smile, then turned his gaze toward Viscount Given.
"Viscount Given, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I have come to Clausel on the orders of my master."
"Then reveal your master’s name at once!"
"Oh, how rude of me. As for my master..."
Edgar was facing away from Licia, so she couldn't see what he pulled from his inner pocket. It was a jeweled knife, its hilt adorned with a specific, intricate crest.
Given’s face went pale. "—!?"
"Ah, it seems you recognize it without me needing to speak the name."
"D-Don't be absurd! You're an impostor! This is a trick!"
"Forging a ducal crest is a capital offense. I don't believe a man of your standing, Viscount, would fail to understand the gravity of such a claim."
Licia watched from behind Edgar in a daze. Given, who had been so arrogant and immovable only moments ago, was suddenly trembling, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Now then, gentlemen from the Ministry of Justice."
Edgar ignored the Viscount’s panic and addressed the civil officials.
"My master has granted me the authority to act as I see fit should I find any irregularities in these proceedings. I speak with his voice."
"I... I see. And the one represented by that crest is..."
"Yes. There is only one house permitted to bear this mark. By my master’s decree, I propose that this trial be suspended and a retrial held here in Clausel, as the current proceedings are rife with inexplicable inconsistencies."
"B-But wait!" one of the officials stammered, likely a pawn of the Hero Faction.
But Edgar’s next words silenced all opposition.
"My master owes a massive debt to the boy known as Ren Ashton of the Clausel household. Therefore, my master has declared that he will see this matter through to the very end."
Licia and Weiss were utterly bewildered, but the effect was immediate. The civil officials backed down, and Viscount Given looked as though the blood had been drained from his body.
Edgar stepped close to the Viscount and spoke in a voice so low only the two of them could hear.
"You seem curious as to why my master would move for such a thing," he said, his voice cold despite the pleasant smile on his face. "It was the miracle those two performed that allowed my master to intervene without hesitation."
"You... a man like him wouldn't move for something so trivial...!"
"Indeed. He moved because Ren Ashton saved the life of a certain individual. ...Ah, that reminds me."
As Edgar moved to pass him, he whispered one final thing.
"Did you not say earlier... that you had outmaneuvered everyone?"
Leaving Given frozen in his tracks, Edgar turned and walked calmly back into the city of Clausel.