The visiting Regular Knights provided one last morning of sword instruction before finally departing from Clausel.
It happened shortly thereafter.
Ren had been summoned by Lezard and was visiting him in his office.
"A report has arrived from your village, Ren."
Lezard, standing by his desk, picked up a document bound with string. He handed it to Ren, gesturing for him to look inside.
"Is it alright for me to see this?"
"Of course. There are letters from your parents included as well, so you should read them."
Ren looked through the papers without hesitation. While much of the technical information was unfamiliar to him, the summary was clear: the reconstruction was proceeding smoothly. In fact, unlike before, proper roads were being paved, and the village was becoming more prosperous than it had ever been.
Thank goodness...
While Lezard’s cooperation played a massive part, there was another reason for this. Regarding the proceeds from the sale of the Thief Wolfen materials, Ren had repeatedly and firmly told his parents that they could use the entire amount for the village.
Naturally, his parents had adamantly refused at first, insisting, "That’s Ren’s money." However, they were eventually swayed by Ren’s sound argument—"I am a member of the Ashton family too, so this is what I should do"—and finally relented, pushed by the sheer intensity in his eyes.
But one passage in the letter caught his attention.
"Since you have the chance, why don't you relax in Clausel a bit longer, Ren? ...Just between us, squeeze the Baron for all the kindness he's worth! The village hasn't quite settled down yet, so you can leave the rest to us and the Baron!"
These were by no means words intended to push him away. The letter continued:
"...Mireille and I are going to work very hard. We'll hurry the reconstruction so we can all live together again! Of course, if you’ve taken a liking to Clausel, it’s also fine if you decide to live there permanently!"
Furthermore, Roy apologized over and over again for his own perceived helplessness. Contrary to the half-joking tone at the start of the letter, Roy’s frustration was painfully palpable. Mireille had added her own words as well; half the letter was filled with the couple expressing their deep regrets.
Father... Mother...
In reality, Roy’s assessment wasn't wrong. It was clearly safer for Ren to stay in Clausel, and it was better for his future. As parents, their stance was only natural. Considering the chaos of the spring, it was an extremely reasonable conclusion. Even if Ren was the eldest son of the Ashton family, their desire to keep him safe was a feeling they couldn't suppress.
Roy had always respected Ren’s autonomy, but he was still a father. He couldn't help but wish for his son’s bright future and pray for his safety.
On the other hand, Ren had his own lingering doubts.
If there’s a chance I’ll become a lightning rod for trouble... then maybe I shouldn’t go back to the village at all.
Viscount Given had possessed an extraordinary, unsettling obsession with Ren. Looking at it from another perspective, if Ren hadn't been there, a disturbance of that magnitude might never have occurred.
The village is better off without me.
Realizing this brought a sharp pang of sadness. But more than that, there was a part of him that was willing to accept it if it meant safety for the village. If he thought of the villagers and not just himself, he could keep these poignant emotions in check.
"However," Lezard’s voice broke through his thoughts. "Even though I offered to provide magic tools for their daily lives, they refused."
"Knowing my father, I expect he was being reserved?"
"Yes. He adamantly declined, saying that since I am already devoting so much to the reconstruction, it would be shameful to accept any more charity."
Lezard paused, as if just remembering something. "By the way, Ren, what do you want to do from here on? If you wish, you are welcome to stay here until you inherit your house."
"I... well..."
"...It seems you have something on your mind."
Ren fell silent. The thoughts he’d just entertained clung to his mind, refusing to budge.
"Speak freely. Ren, I want you to tell me what is troubling you."
Lezard’s tone was calm and gentle, possessing a depth of character that invited confidence. Ren, realizing he hadn't been able to hide his emotions, regretted his lack of composure but decided he couldn't keep quiet any longer.
"Actually—"
He honestly confessed what was on his mind. Lezard listened intently, eventually responding with a heavy, thoughtful tone.
"So that was it. I hadn't mentioned it, but Roy consulted me as well. He knows you are a talent with a promising future, and he fears you might be targeted again. He said that if it’s a monster, that’s one thing, but if the opponent is a noble, it’s too much for him to handle. He asked if I could take you on as a knight at the Clausel manor."
According to Lezard, this conversation happened when Roy and Mireille were last in the city. The two of them had pleaded with him, their faces full of sincerity, stating they wanted to prioritize their son’s safety over their own desires.
"I told them I would abide by Ren’s feelings."
If Ren decided to live in Clausel, Lezard would protect him with everything he had. In exchange, he would dispatch new knights to the Ashton village and ensure the family line was cared for if Ren didn't have siblings to take over.
"There are far more people who know Ren’s name now than before. However, rumors that our house has connections with Marquis Ignat might deter them from acting openly. ...But no one can guarantee that."
"...Yes."
"I also see that you are prioritizing your parents and the villagers over yourself."
That was also undeniably true.
"You are worrying because you want to protect your family more than yourself. Your hesitation to return home stems from the fear of what might happen if another incident follows you there."
Ren nodded with a pained, bitter smile.
"You believe the village is better off without you because you’ve prioritized their existence over your own, haven't you?"
"...I suppose so."
"This is my personal opinion, but I don't think you need to rush such a monumental decision. At the very least, you should stay in Clausel until these worries fade. As Roy said, just take it easy until the reconstruction is finished."
It was much better than returning home burdened by such heavy doubts. Lezard’s empathy was clear as he reached out to Ren’s heart.
"Is there no way to truly resolve this worry?"
"It is not an easy thing to fix. As long as you live in this world, there will be unreasonableness regardless of where you stand. An unreasonableness that often feels impossible to resist."
However, Lezard’s voice grew firm.
"But if Ren becomes an 'unreasonable' force himself, the story changes."
"Does that mean... I should become a high-ranking noble?"
"No, that's not it. There are existences in this world that even the greatest nobles find 'unreasonable.'"
A god? Ren wondered. No, Lezard said they actually existed. If so, was it the Emperor? But that wasn't something Ren could just become.
As Ren looked on, bewildered, Lezard provided the answer.
"—A Sword King."
Ren felt as if those words had physically seized his heart.
"L-Lezard-sama!?"
"The five Sword Kings are bound by nothing. They act according to their own will. Some among them serve His Imperial Majesty, but that is merely because she chooses to do so."
"N-No! But a Sword King is...!"
"As you know, they are the five strongest swordsmen in the world."
He knew that. But the suggestion felt absurd. Regarding the Sword Kings, Ren knew of one he could eventually challenge—the woman serving the Emperor whom Lezard had mentioned. However, even in the game, she was an opponent you couldn't defeat unless your levels were maxed out and you had incredible luck.
And even then, the lore says she’s pulling her punches considerably...!
Being told to become such a monster felt insane.
"Fufu."
"Lezard-sama!? Why are you laughing!?"
"Ku... kukuku... sorry. Seeing you look so genuinely shocked is quite refreshing."
However, Ren’s tension eased. The heavy weight that had been pressing down on him felt suddenly lighter.
"In any case, there is no harm in polishing your skills, is there?"
"That... is true, but..."
"It’s fine to worry about your future for now. If you use this time to refine yourself, it will serve you well when you eventually inherit the Ashton name. ...Or, even if you were to leave the family in a different capacity to seek a new life, the experience would be invaluable."
"...In other words,"
"Yes. As I said, you should live in Clausel at least until the reconstruction is over. I welcome it, and I know Licia would be delighted."
Ren could agree with that for now. As for becoming a Sword King—well, that was a dream for another day.
"You could train with Weiss alongside Licia. Or, looking ahead, you could try your hand at knightly duties. You could even find work here to help the village. Gain experience and use your time effectively."
The training and the knight work sound fine, but I wonder if there’s anything I can really do for the village from here.
"As for your living arrangements, do not worry. You may stay in this manor as long as you wish."
"N-No... I can't keep imposing like this..."
"It’s not an issue. Your parents offered to pay for your keep, but I have absolutely no intention of accepting money from the Ashton family for that."
"But..."
Ren tried to protest, but the truth was he had no funds of his own. If he were to leave the manor and live independently, he’d need a place to stay, rent, and money for food.
I tried to act tough, but I'm stuck.
If he worked as a knight apprentice, he might get a small salary. He could live modestly. However, Ren had forgotten that it was nearly impossible for an eleven-year-old child to rent a house on his own.
Lezard’s voice broke into his silent realization. "I'll say it again: don't worry about the money. I promise to take responsibility for you until you’ve settled."
"No, I can't accept that."
"Good grief... you really are as stubborn as your father."
"Because you've already done more than enough for me, Lezard-sama. Between the reconstruction and the arrangements you've made for my parents and the villagers, I'm already deeply in your debt."
He couldn't just keep being a charity case. Ren offered an alternative.
"For now, I'll try to find work in town."
"...So you truly refuse my care?"
It was a clever way to put it—phrased so that refusing would seemingly wound Lezard’s pride. Lezard was aware of the manipulation, but he had said it because he truly wanted Ren to stay.
"...I'm sorry."
Even so, Ren held his ground. Seeing this, Lezard moved to his next plan.
"—Then, let us do this."
Motivated by both a desire to repay the Ashton family and his duty as the adult currently responsible for Ren, Lezard made a proposal. He wanted Ren’s work to be something he could personally oversee.
"If you insist on working, then it's only fair that I be the one to hire you, right?"
Surprised, Ren could only blink in silence.
"As for the job, I want you to do something similar to what you were doing back in the village."
"The work I did in the village... do you mean monster subjugation?"
"Exactly. You know the dangers that arise when monster populations grow unchecked. I've been planning to conduct a survey of the local monster activity."
The job would involve monitoring the status of monsters in the vicinity and submitting periodic reports. Naturally, he would be paid, and since it was a direct request from Lezard, Ren wouldn't feel like a burden. It was a perfect compromise.
"While you're at it, you're free to hunt for your own profit as well. You can even take on requests at the Adventurer Guild."
That piqued Ren’s interest immediately. "The Adventurer Guild?"
"Indeed. Have you heard of it?"
"Yes, I know of it, but..."
Ren was stunned because the guild was the last place he expected to be mentioned. He was the son of a knight serving the Clausel family. He’d never considered going to a guild to sell monster parts for cash.
Wait, is that even allowed? he wondered. And then there was the question of taxes.
"Hmm? Interested?"
"...A little, actually."
"What do you want to know? How the system works? Or perhaps how it reflects on your standing as a knight’s son?"
"Both. I’m curious about the expectations and the taxes."
"In short: since this is my request, it poses no issue for the Ashton family. As for any money you earn from hunting while on the job, you can keep whatever you make through the guild. Indirectly, the guild pays taxes to me anyway, so everything is above board."
This was all news to Ren, and it was fascinating. Returning to the village was his priority, but thanks to his Magic Sword Summoning skill, he was always on the lookout for monsters—and more importantly, mana stones. Combining his training with a way to earn money seemed like an excellent idea.
"You are free to use the funds from selling materials however you like. You could even buy magic tools and send them back to the Ashton village."
Ren’s face lit up. "I can really do that!?"
His voice was full of genuine excitement. Even while living far away in Clausel, he could still contribute to his home.
"Of course. Once the guild taxes are paid, what you do with your earnings is your business."
Ren knew how much magic tools could change lives. The idea of "working away from home" while training suddenly had a lot of appeal. It would help his parents and the villagers, and it would make him stronger.
Becoming strong will never be a waste of time.
Someday, another "unreasonableness" might strike. If he was strong enough, he could prevent things like the incident with Jelququ. If he had the strength to act before disaster struck, he could truly protect people.
I'll experience everything I can while supporting myself in this town. Maybe then I'll figure out what I’m supposed to do next.
Ren’s expression hardened with determination.
"One more thing. I don't have my parents' permission for this. Is that going to be a problem?"
"Actually, you already have it."
"...Eh?"
"Roy and Mireille gave their blessing. When they were here last, they laughed and said that if you decided to stay in the city, you’d eventually find your way to the Adventurer Guild."
As expected, his parents had seen right through him and discussed it with Lezard beforehand.
"Mireille and I were hesitant at first, naturally, because of the danger. But Roy said that if his son—who is already stronger than him—decided to do it, he had no right to stop him."
Ren smiled at the very Roy-like sentiment.
"Eventually, Mireille and I agreed, under the condition that if you do anything reckless, I have the authority to bring you back to the manor immediately."
Framing it as a formal request from the Baron was Lezard’s way of ensuring he could protect Ren if needed. It wasn't meant to be a leash, just a necessary precaution.
"So you're okay with me fighting monsters, even though you don't want me in danger?"
"I found that contradictory myself, but Roy’s explanation was convincing."
Ren had already taken down a Thief Wolfen and a Mana Eater. Roy had pointed out that while Ren could handle monsters, the political power of nobles was a different kind of threat entirely. Roy was confident that Ren, who had been fighting in the woods since he was a small child, wouldn't be reckless when it came to beasts.
"So, as long as I'm careful, I'm allowed to work outside the town?"
"That is correct. Your official status will be... well, not a knight apprentice. You’ll be an individual hired by me personally, who hunts monsters on the side."
With his worries cleared, Ren felt ready to start his new life. Seeing the boy clench his fist in determination, Lezard smiled warmly.
"I'll have Weiss show you the way. You should visit the guild at least once."
"No, if you just tell me the location, I'll go myself. I don't want to trouble Weiss-sama."
"I see. But at the very least, take this."
Lezard pulled a wallet from his coat. He took out two silver coins and handed them to a confused Ren.
"This is 20,000 G. If you’re taking monster-related jobs, the registration fee is 15,000 G. Use the change to enjoy a nice lunch."
"N-No, I can't! I'll do jobs that don't require a fee first and save up the money myself!"
"Don't be ridiculous. This is an advance for the job I've requested. I'll be quite troubled if you don't accept it."
Ren hesitated, but Lezard held the coins out firmly, clearly not intending to back down.
"...Then, I will borrow it. I promise to pay you back."
He had to pay the fee eventually, so he accepted the help for now. Seeing Ren’s familiar stubbornness, Lezard could only shrug his shoulders with a fond, knowing smile.