This story covers the events behind the scenes of the game that were not mentioned in Chapter One. Consequently, it primarily takes place within the timeline of the first chapter.
『To everyone who has cleared The Legend of the Seven Heroes I, II, and III, we present the story 【The Clausel Incident】. Would you like to begin the download? <<Yes>> / No』
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『Starting 【The Legend of the Seven Heroes: The Clausel Incident】.』
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
This occurred long before Ren Ashton was ever born.
On the lowest floor of the Imperial Library, the pride of the Leomel Empire, there was a place where only a select few were permitted to set foot. It was called the Forbidden Archives—a special repository for documents deemed too politically sensitive for public eyes and precious ancient grimoires.
Usually devoid of life, the silence of this place was broken for the first time in months.
The visitor was Viscount Given, a noble of the Hero Faction and the Assistant to the Minister of Justice. He had come here as part of his official duties to review specific documents requested by the Minister—at least, that had been the pretense.
"What... is this?"
Succumbing to curiosity, he had begun browsing the forbidden volumes. One title in particular caught his eye: The Travels of Adventurer Ashton.
The book sat on the shelf, battered and caked in soot. It was in such poor condition that one would expect the contents to be illegible. And yet, he could not look away.
He leafed through the pages, most of which were blackened with ink to hide the text. It was a common enough title, so he wondered why it was kept here. He was about to give up and close the book, as the censorship made it impossible to read, when...
"Hmm?"
He finally reached a page where the text remained untouched. It was nothing but a list of place names written in succession, seemingly devoid of any deeper meaning.
Viscount Given memorized the list instantly. It was one of his few talents; he possessed a photographic memory for anything he read.
In the end, he found little interest in a mere list of locations, even in a forbidden book. He snapped the volume shut, muttered, "Trivial," and returned it to its place on the shelf.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Several months after his discovery in the archives, the world around Viscount Given shifted drastically.
The Minister of Justice lost a bitter political struggle and was ousted from power. Consequently, Given lost his position as Assistant to the Minister. He decided to leave the Imperial Capital and return to his own territory.
Though it galled him that he could no longer fight for the Hero Faction in the capital, he realized that staying there without an official post would achieve nothing. He intended to bide his time, enriching his lands while waiting for a chance to reclaim his standing.
"Is this truly how it ends?"
He stood in his manor's office, staring through the rain-streaked window as the grey sky faded into night.
"No, it cannot be."
Given was more radical than most in his faction. He believed that to achieve true equality for the people, the Imperial Faction had to be dismantled. He felt he was rotting away in the countryside while his enemies flourished.
"If only there were a catalyst... something to give the Hero Faction the momentum it needs."
He knew his peers were likely fretting over the same problem, but they were men of thought, not action. The Imperial Faction’s influence was growing, led by the formidable Marquis Ignat. If the Hero Faction didn't act soon to pull the Marquis's teeth, they would be marginalized forever.
"Excuse me, Viscount. Your report."
A knight entered and handed him a stack of documents regarding territory management. Given sat at his desk, preparing to finish the mundane work as he did every day.
Or so he thought.
"Hm?"
Unlike other days, he didn't set his pen down after finishing. His eyes fixed on a specific word in the report. The place names were common enough, appearing on every map of the region, yet his intuition screamed at him.
He stared blankly at the page, his consciousness narrowing until the rest of the room faded away.
"That's... right."
It took ten minutes for the realization to strike. He remembered the meaningless list of names from the Forbidden Archives. The reason he hadn't made the connection before was because the names of these locations had changed multiple times throughout history as various lords rose and fell.
"From the Imperial Capital toward the Baldur Mountains, then south... then west..."
He stood up and pulled a large, contemporary map from his shelf. He compared it with ancient records of historical place names, tracing the path with his finger.
"Further west from here..."
His heart hammered against his ribs as his finger slid across the parchment. Finally, his hand stopped. He had traced the journey of the forbidden book to its final destination. He marked the spot with a pen.
It was a place once known as the Forest of the End—a remote frontier even by the standards of the Leomel Empire. Today, it was part of the Clausel Barony, but in the past, it had been a lawless territory claimed by no one.
The question burned in his mind: why was this journey documented in the Forbidden Archives? Why did this "Adventurer Ashton" travel to the very edge of the world?
"Why? What did this man find there?"
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't care about the journals of an adventurer—they were little more than glorified mercenaries. But this book had been hidden in the dark heart of the Imperial Library.
"I don't understand."
Exhausted by the lack of information, Given slumped back into his chair. He rang the bell on his desk to summon a knight to collect his finished work.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
A year later, Viscount Given received a burdensome letter from his patron noble. The instructions were simple: deal with the Clausel family.
Baron Clausel was a man whose personal strength and local influence far exceeded his rank. Though he was part of the Neutral Faction, he was deemed a future obstacle that needed to be cleared.
Given sighed and began to plot. He eventually decided on a scheme to frame the Clausel family. It would be a long game, one that wouldn't lead back to the Hero Faction but might force the desperate Clausels to switch sides for protection.
To execute this, he sought out an Elven criminal named Jelququ.
Their meeting was a stroke of sheer luck. One of Given's knights had been searching distant adventurer guilds for a mercenary capable of doing dirty work without revealing the Viscount's involvement. Jelququ had intercepted the knight, intending to kill him, but became intrigued by the man's identity.
"Viscount, I live for the kill," Jelququ told him later, after the knight had pathetically brought the Elf to Given's manor to save his own life.
"When I was a child, I crushed a bug and felt a pleasure I couldn't describe. Soon, bugs weren't enough. I moved on to small animals, then eventually, I murdered a child of my own kind."
Jelququ spoke of his sociopathy with a twisted sort of pride. He believed he was born to kill. He had no grand design, no political leanings—only the urge to end lives. Given smirked at the Elf.
"Is there value in killing as a noble's pet?"
"Perhaps. I’ve never tried it. I’m willing to entertain the idea, provided the compensation is adequate."
"What is your price?"
"Gold. And information."
Jelququ wanted an astronomical sum, but more importantly, he wanted the secret to breaking the curse engraved upon his body. Given suggested the Principal of the Imperial Academy, but Jelququ refused, wanting to avoid that particular mage's attention.
"Then we have a deal," Given said. "As long as I provide the gold and the leads, you will work for me without betrayal."
"Do you really think you can trust a man who threatened your subordinate to get to you?" Jelququ asked, mocking him.
Given laughed. "I trust you because you haven't killed me yet. That is proof enough that you've found something here more amusing than my death."
They understood one another perfectly.
"A Hero Faction noble hiring a butcher... what a delightful comedy," Jelququ sneered.
"It is a necessary sacrifice. For the Hero Faction to bring true freedom to Leomel, we must rise. Anyone in our path must be removed."
"Then let me just kill Baron Clausel."
"No. The man has value. It is too early for his death."
Given clapped his hands, summoning the pathetic knight who had acted as Jelququ’s guide.
"Y-Yes, my lord?" the knight stammered, kneeling.
"I have work for you."
The knight looked relieved, thinking he was finally back in his master's good graces. But Given didn't finish the sentence.
"Jelququ, this is your first assignment."
The knight’s world blurred. He never saw the Mana Eater drop from the ceiling. Before a single drop of blood could hit the floor, his head was gone, and his body was being devoured.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Time passed, and heirs were born to the Seven Great Archduke Families. A year later, two more were born. The citizens of Leomel rejoiced at the continuation of the legendary bloodlines of the Seven Heroes, oblivious to the factional squabbles of the nobility.
However, a different kind of miracle occurred in House Clausel: the birth of the girl who would become the Saint, Licia.
While the Hero Faction was energized by the new Archduke heirs, the birth of a Saint drew eyes toward the Neutral Faction. It was during this period that Viscount Given made his most crucial discovery.
"Jelququ. That village that survived your raid last year—who was the knight in charge?"
"Hmm? A man named Roy Ashton. Why do you ask?"
The two were speaking in Given's office. The Viscount held a piece of parchment covered in notes he had taken during a recent secret trip to the Imperial Capital.
"Adventurer Ashton... so, you were erased from history after all," Given whispered, a dark, triumphant smile crossing his face. Jelququ didn't hear the words, but he saw the expression.
"You look pleased. Even with the problem of the Saint looming over us?"
"I don't mind. I’ve just secured a trump card I never expected."
"A trump card?"
"Don't worry about it. But from now on, I want you to focus all your efforts on destroying the village overseen by the Ashton family."
"Is that backwater really worth the effort?"
"To everyone else, no. But to me, the Ashton family is worth more than all the gold in the Imperial treasury."
Jelququ asked for an explanation, but Given refused to share it. "This knowledge belongs to me alone," he insisted.
"Fine," the Elf shrugged. "But the knight there is capable. Sending D-rank monsters will just result in another failure."
"Then use a Unique Monster. Can't you control one if it's within the D-rank threshold?"
"I could, but..."
"I will provide whatever funding and time you need. Destroy that village. But listen carefully: you are only to kill the knight and his wife. Their son must be brought to me alive at all costs."
Jelququ couldn't fathom the Viscount's obsession, but Given was paying well and providing valuable leads on his curse. The two remained as they had always been: business partners in blood.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Everything was falling into place.
The trial was rigged, the paperwork was ready, and Jelququ had successfully tamed a Thief Wolfen. The plan was finally launched.
The Ashton village burned as intended. Most of the villagers perished. Roy Ashton was killed, and the apothecary, Granny Rigu, died with him. Even Roy’s wife, Mireille, was left comatose from her injuries.
However, the capture of Ren Ashton failed.
Jelququ sent word of the failure after being forced to flee from the knight Weiss.
"Is this acceptable, my lord?" Given's knight asked as they sat in an inn within Clausel territory.
"As long as the boy is alive, it's fine," Given replied with chilling calm. "Jelququ reports they are heading back here. Once the trial is over, I will simply take Ren Ashton and his mother back to my lands as 'refugees' under my protection."
The knight wanted to ask why, but Given's aura of absolute certainty brooked no questions.
"It's time."
The Viscount stood, donned his cloak, and led his retinue toward the local Temple. They rode through the streets of Clausel under the hateful glares of the populace, but Given only smiled. He didn't care about the commoners.
Inside the Temple, he ignored the burning stare of Baron Clausel.
"The Baron's shadow, Weiss... why isn't he here?"
"Have you forgotten, my lord? He's the one Jelququ fought. He likely hasn't made it back yet."
"Ah, right." Given’s mind was already in the future, imagining how he would use the boy once he was in his custody.
The Civil Official entered and began the formal proceedings, reading the charges against Baron Clausel for failing to protect his people. Given found the morning session tedious. He was only here because the procedure required it; otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered visiting this provincial hole.
His interest only piqued in the afternoon when Weiss and Licia finally arrived—bringing Ren Ashton with them.
"I heard the boy was timid and weak, but he seems to have some spine," Given noted. Ren was clearly at his physical limit, yet he stood there supported by Licia.
"The boy supposedly prefers books to swords," the knight whispered. "We sent spies disguised as adventurers who reported he used to cry during his father’s training."
"Pathetic for a knight's son."
"And yet, they say he has grit. He would fall and rise again, crossing blades with his father even through his tears."
Given watched as Ren leaned on Licia. They looked like siblings.
"It doesn't matter. My plan remains the same."
The victory was already won. He just wanted the trial over with. Watching Ren from across the Temple, Given spent the hours fantasizing about the power he would soon wield.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
He was certain there were no gaps in his defense. The Imperial Faction hadn't intervened, and his goal was within reach.
"The Clausel family is finished. Ren Ashton will be mine, and Leomel will be transformed. All by my hand."
Given relaxed in his room at the inn that night, reflecting on the day's successes. The Civil Official had performed perfectly, dismissing the Baron's counterarguments. Baron Clausel was to be transported to the capital in a few days.
"Is someone there? I’m in a fine mood. Bring some wine; I want company."
He had never invited a knight to drink with him before, but the magnitude of his victory demanded a celebration.
"Is no one there?" he called louder, clapping his hands. Silence met his call.
Puzzled, Given stood from the sofa and headed for the door. It creaked open before he reached it.
"You're late."
"............"
Given didn't look at the visitor's face. He turned toward the window instead.
"Over here. The night view of Clausel is actually quite pleasant with a drink."
He could see why the capital's elites spoke well of this town's aesthetics. Unfortunately, rain had begun to lash against the glass, blurring the lights of the city. He scowled at the weather.
Suddenly, a crack of thunder shook the building, and the magic lights in the room flickered out.
"Check the magic tool. A mana stone must have come loose."
"............"
"I said do it!"
The visitor didn't move. Given, already irritated by the delay, felt his temper flare.
"Why are you standing there like a—"
He turned, his voice rising in anger. At that exact moment, a flash of lightning illuminated the pitch-black room.
Viscount Given saw the reflection in the window glass.
It was an old gentleman in a formal tailcoat. And the gentleman's white shirt was drenched in brilliant, fresh crimson.
"Gah... hck!?"
A sudden shock tore through his chest, followed by a blossoming heat. A viscous, metallic fluid surged up his throat. As his vision began to dim, he looked down to see a jagged pillar of ice protruding from his abdomen. He collapsed from the sofa to the floor, his body convulsing as he met the cold, merciless gaze of the assassin.
"W-Who... are... you..."
"My name is Edgar. Though, there is no need for you to remember it. My house only targeted you as a secondary matter."
Given's breath became a ragged wheeze. He felt the warmth leaving his limbs.
"Viscount Given, your death is a mere coincidence," Edgar said calmly.
He explained that his master, Marquis Ignat, had grown to loathe Leomel ever since the death of his daughter. While the Marquis was investigating the Hero Faction to prepare for its destruction, he had happened upon Given's sloppy schemes.
"Do not flatter yourself. My master wasn't looking for a small fry like you. You simply happened to be in the way while he was auditing your faction."
"You... damn you..."
"And I simply decided to kill you on my way through town."
The world was fading. Given tried to beg, to offer gold, but his voice was gone.
"Personally, I find you quite loathsome," Edgar added, turning his back. "However, I found the nobility of the Saint and the resilience of that young boy—standing tall even after losing his father—to be truly precious."
Edgar reached into his coat, tossed several sheets of incriminating evidence onto the floor, and wiped the blood from his hands as he walked out of the room.
By the time the assassin's footsteps faded, Viscount Given was dead.
The following morning, Baron Clausel was stunned by the news. Not only was his rival dead, but the evidence scattered around the body exposed Given's corruption and the complicity of the Civil Officials. The Baron was cleared of all charges. The Hero Faction, wary of being linked to a dead traitor, abandoned the matter entirely. The assassin was never found, and for years after, the people of Clausel spoke of the night a ghost saved the Barony.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The conflict between Baron Clausel and Viscount Given, culminating in the latter's mysterious assassination, came to be known as "The Clausel Incident."
In its wake, a young apprentice knight moved into the Clausel manor. Though his sword skills were nothing special at first, his diligence was legendary. It was said he had the heart to keep standing no matter how many times the knight commander, Weiss, struck him down.
The boy worked tirelessly, they said, all for the sake of a mother who had yet to open her eyes.
Meanwhile, the Elven mercenary Jelququ also moved on.
"Viscount, it was fun while it lasted," he mused as he left the Given territory behind. He rode across the plains, pondering his next move.
"I can't risk crossing Chronoa Highland, and I can't return home for answers."
He would have to start his search for a cure from scratch. The curse eating away at his soul would not be easily broken.
"Hehehe... fine."
He spurred his horse into a gallop. The wind on his face felt good, though he thought it would be better if it smelled of blood. He smiled, already forgetting the name of the man who had hired him.
"I'll just enjoy the slaughter while I look for a way to break the seal. Isn't that right, Jelququ?"
Jelququ had no idea that he would die four years later. He could not foresee that he would fall before a Descendant of the Seven Heroes, only to have his life extinguished by the Academy Principal herself, Chronoa Highland. That day was still a lifetime away.