Ren found himself unable to return to the forest for several days after his initial investigation. The reason was simple: Licia was back at the manor.
Fortunately, it was soon decided that Licia would be leaving Clausel for an overnight trip. Ren resolved to throw himself into his work during her absence, and his efforts over the following days proceeded smoothly. The investigation Lezard had requested yielded significant results, and his hunting spoils were just as impressive as those from his first outing.
He successfully secured the funds for the magic tools he had set his sights on, exactly as planned. After purchasing several in town, he arranged for their delivery by a knight bound for the Ashton village. Naturally, he had made sure to buy himself a proper wallet by then as well.
Roughly a month had passed since that first investigation. While Licia's presence at the manor had prevented him from hunting recently, there was one thing Ren had been eagerly anticipating.
"Ren-sama. This is for you."
One morning, a servant of House Clausel handed him a letter. It was from Roy and Mireille—the long-awaited news Ren had been hoping for, delivered by a knight who had recently returned from his home village.
"Thank you," Ren said, offering a polite nod before retreating to the solitude of his guest room.
Sitting at the desk, he used his Iron Magic Sword to extravagantly slice open the seal. Inside, he found a page filled with heartfelt thanks.
Thank goodness...
Roy and the others were clearly overjoyed by his gift. The magic tools functioned as streetlights, brightening the once-dark village paths and making life much safer for the elderly residents. Since Roy was handling the monster hunting, there was no shortage of mana stones to power them. Along with their gratitude, his parents expressed how much they missed him and urged him not to push himself too hard.
Ren felt a swell of relief. If I can provide for them like this, maybe this life isn't so bad after all, he thought. It was better for the village if he remained elsewhere—provided he wasn't there to serve as a catalyst for another incident like the one in early spring.
Leaving the desk, Ren stepped into the hallway and sought out the knight who had just returned. He found the man in a nearby corridor and asked about the state of the village.
"Everyone was absolutely delighted, Ren-dono," the knight replied with a smile. "It was like a festival. Roy-dono and Mireille-dono were even moved to tears by the news of your success."
"Thank you... I'm glad to hear that."
Ren hurried down the hall toward Lezard’s office, his pace quicker than usual. After a quick knock and a call to enter, he found the Baron seated at his desk.
"It sounds like you’ve received good news," Lezard said. "Please, tell me everything."
Ren approached the desk and shared the contents of the letter. "My parents and the villagers were very happy with the magic tools I sent."
"I see. That is wonderful news."
At the very least, Ren’s efforts were already bearing fruit. His current lifestyle—a period of self-improvement and martial training—would serve his future well. His savings were growing, and his plan to study Imperial Swordsmanship under Weiss was soon to begin.
"Have your previous concerns been eased somewhat?" Lezard asked.
"Perhaps... yes. At the very least, I’ve realized I can still support my village even from here in Clausel. I’ll be learning from Weiss-sama soon, so I intend to broaden my horizons while doing the things I can't do back home."
Ren’s resolve was firmer than before. He needed to grow stronger. As long as his presence risked bringing trouble to the village, he would support them from afar. He would hunt to support himself, study with Weiss, and spar with Licia as Lezard requested. He would maintain this life until the reconstruction was complete.
"With that in mind, I’m thinking of renting a house of my own," Ren announced.
"Ah, for the independence you mentioned?"
"Yes. I can earn my own living now, so I should try to make it on my own."
It felt wrong to remain a guest indefinitely. Ren insisted he had already been compensated enough and was ready to move forward with his plan. But Lezard greeted this with a wry smile.
"I forgot to mention this, but it will be difficult for you to rent a house on your own, Ren."
"Wh-Why?"
"Think about it. How old are you? Eleven? And your parents are far away. Landlords are usually hesitant to lease to a child."
He’s right...
Ren realized he had overlooked a fundamental issue. Who would even act as his guarantor?
"You’re mature for your age, Ren, but you're still just a boy," Lezard continued.
Even in a world where children grew up fast, living entirely alone at eleven was rare. Unless one were an orphan, there was usually no reason for it. Moreover, his ties to House Clausel might actually intimidate potential landlords.
Ren didn't want to rely on Lezard further, but he was stuck. Sensing his predicament, Lezard offered a compromise.
"There is an old wing at the back of this estate that the servants used until a few years ago. Everyone has moved to the new quarters, so the building sits empty. How would you feel about using that Old Wing?"
Ren hesitated. It felt like more charity, which was exactly what he wanted to avoid. But Lezard added a condition.
"I’ll let you stay there on one condition: you act as the caretaker. I need someone I can trust to keep it clean and handle basic maintenance, like weeding the garden."
It was a job an eleven-year-old could handle. Lezard explained that because the Old Wing was connected to the main manor, they couldn't just hire a stranger for security reasons. The knights and servants were already too busy.
"I see..." Ren murmured.
"It would be a great help to me if you accepted," Lezard said.
Ren could tell the Baron was looking out for him, but he also sensed the practical benefits for both sides. "If you’ll let me pay a proper rent, then I’ll do it."
"Agreed. I’ll set a price with the caretaker's salary deducted. It's a separate job from your investigations, after all."
The rent wasn't exactly cheap, but given the space and location, it was a fair bargain.
"That’s perfect. I accept."
"Excellent. You can head over whenever you like to inspect the place."
Ren thanked him and left the office. He wondered if this truly counted as independence, but given his age and the fact that he was paying his way, it felt like a significant step. He would work hard here until the village was restored.
Returning to the guest room, he began to pack his few belongings. He had very little—mostly the wooden box Roy had brought from the village. He picked it up, ready to inspect his new home. As he stepped into the hallway, he ran right into Licia.
"Ren? What are you doing?" she asked, tilting her head at the box in his arms.
"I'm preparing to move," he replied.
"Move? Who is?"
"Me, of course."
Licia froze instantly. It was as if she had been plunged into absolute zero, her entire body locking up in total shock.