The dragon Asval was an ancient creature that had lived for centuries. Legends said it possessed wisdom enough to understand human speech, yet it was a proud and warlike being that constantly scoured the world for worthy opponents.
However, Asval eventually succumbed to the influence of the Demon King and lost its sanity. The dragon, once a noble seeker of challenges, devolved into a mindless beast of destruction until the Seven Heroes finally struck it down.
Its remains tumbled into a volcano within the Baldur Mountains, where over the passing eons, even its bones dissolved into the magma. The dragon’s presence altered the mountain's very core, forcing the once-active volcano into dormancy. All that remained, untouched by the heat, was Asval’s mana stone, which lay sleeping in the deepest depths of the earth.
(Once Ignat learned of that stone, he used the lingering power of the Demon King to revitalize the area.)
The concentration of mana in the air was artificially spiked, and the local monsters feasted on that power. Because of this, the Baldur Mountains—a region where usually only F-rank or, at most, E-rank monsters appeared—was transformed overnight into a lethal zone.
————
"I despise everything."
A scene from the climax of The Legend of the Seven Heroes I flickered through Ren’s mind. It was a pivotal moment where Marquis Ignat stood before the protagonists at the edge of the Great Pit in the Baldur Mountains.
"I have spent my entire life serving my country, yet I have lost Fiona without being granted even a single drop of mercy."
Facing him, the descendants of the Seven Heroes brandished their weapons. Ignat merely laughed off the protagonist's attempts to reason with him, spreading his arms wide like wings as he spoke. Tears of blood streamed from his eyes.
"If Leomel—if you all—will not acknowledge me, then I shall not acknowledge you. Therefore, I shall negate everything you stand for."
The ritual to resurrect Asval began. Ulysses Ignat stood in their way, wielding sword and sorcery alongside the dark gifts he had received from those plotting the Demon King’s return.
"————Very well. I shall ensure you share the same fate as that Third Prince."
As the battle raged, Asval’s resurrection drew closer. Amidst the suffocating tension, Marquis Ignat fought with the desperation of a man determined to drag the Leomel Empire into the abyss with him.
Eventually...
"Ugh... Fiona... was I... wrong...?"
Just before Asval could fully manifest, the "Strong-Armed" Ulysses Ignat finally fell. However, the resurrection ritual had progressed too far to be halted. Just as all seemed lost, the protagonist awakened the power inherent to the lineage of Hero Lauren. With that power, the Red Dragon Asval was forced back into its slumber just as it reached the threshold of reality.
————
(That brings back memories.)
As Ren was lost in thought, Licia gave his shoulder a firm shake. When he looked at her, she had her cheeks puffed out in a pout.
"Why the sudden silence?" she asked.
"Ah—sorry. I just got distracted for a second."
"I suppose it's fine, but I’m more curious about what you were going to say earlier."
"Right... I was just thinking about the report Lord Lezard received. It mentioned that this winter is going to be exceptionally cold, so I was worried about the snow being a problem."
Licia laughed, her suspicion melting away. "You’re worrying far too early."
Having successfully distracted her, Ren turned his focus back to the map. His thoughts regarding Asval’s resurrection reminded him of another detail: Undead creatures were significantly weaker than they were in life, and they lacked the consciousness they once possessed.
That was why Ignat had planned to raise Asval and many other monsters as Undead—but that concern was likely a thing of the past. If his daughter was alive and well, that dark future should never come to pass.
"Oh, hey. Since you seem so interested in the Baldur Mountains, why don't we stop by? At this time of year, there’s nothing to worry about."
Knowing Ren’s usual curiosity, she clearly expected an immediate yes. However, Ren froze as he stared at the map. He remained motionless for nearly ten seconds before looking up at Licia.
"...Let’s not."
Licia blinked in surprise. She had assumed they shared the same adventurous spirit. "Are you sure? Usually, you’d be jumping at the chance."
"Well... I think it’s better if we stay away from the Baldur Mountains. Even if the monsters aren't an issue, getting lost out there would be a disaster."
In truth, he was simply being cautious. Even if Marquis Ignat wasn't planning a rebellion, Ren saw no reason to go looking for trouble.
(The wise man stays far from danger... or was it avoids? I'm no sage, but I'd rather not go looking for trouble.)
Of course, a special reason might change things. If he had to go to save someone—for his family or for Licia—his resolve would be different. Or, if there was a massive benefit that outweighed the risk...
The two spent the rest of the time chatting about nothing in particular, but just before dinner, another thought struck him.
(Wait... doesn't the Baldur Mountains have a Hidden Map?)
It was an area accessible through a secret entrance, filled with treasure chests containing high-value items and rare gear. As a bonus, it was a guaranteed spawn point for a Steel-Eating Gargoyle. In other words, he could level up his Shield Magic Sword while he was at it.
Those rewards were certainly worth a bit of a detour, but...
(Still, the Baldur Mountains are...)
Indecision gnawed at him, and Ren eventually decided to put the matter aside for now.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
As their itinerary progressed, Ren drew steadily closer to the Baldur Mountains. He felt no fear; he even found himself looking up at the peaks with a sense of calm, noting just how close they had come.
Soon, they arrived at another village. It was a place Ren and Licia had passed through during their flight from the city, though Ren had been unaware of it at the time. This far out, the area was every bit as rural as the village where he had grown up.
"Lord Weiss, I have a matter to discuss."
As soon as they arrived, the knight governing the village approached Weiss. He looked deeply troubled.
He explained that the water levels in the local river had been dropping since the previous day. Consequently, the fish population had plummeted, and the villagers were growing anxious.
"I went upstream this morning to investigate," the knight continued. "I found several fallen trees piled high across the water."
"Hmm? Has there been a storm?" Weiss asked.
"Yes. A few days ago, this region was lashed by heavy wind and rain. I believe several trees were uprooted and have blocked the flow."
The knight had tried to clear the blockage with some of the younger villagers, but the timber was too heavy for them to move. He was hoping to borrow the strength of Weiss and the other knights.
However, Weiss was already swamped. Since they had only just arrived, he had a mountain of administrative duties to handle.
(He probably doesn't want to leave Lady Licia’s side, either,) Ren thought.
That meant the investigation would likely be delayed. Ren decided to step in.
"If you'd like, I can go take care of it."
"Young man? Are you sure?"
"Yes. I can manage some fallen trees. And if there aren't any dangerous monsters, it shouldn't be an issue."
"True enough," Weiss agreed. "Even if you run into anything, it wouldn't be any stronger than what lives in the Eastern Forest."
The path was apparently well-maintained and safe. The village knight offered to guide him, but Ren politely declined.
(Everyone has work to do.)
The local knight needed to coordinate with Licia, and the escort knights were just as busy as Weiss. Ren was essentially the only one with nothing but time on his hands.
"How long is the walk to the headwaters?"
"About two hours for an adult... but are you certain you should go alone?"
The knight’s skepticism was natural. To him, Ren was just a young boy; it was hard to believe he could succeed where grown men had failed. Weiss, however, let out a booming laugh.
"Worry not! This boy is none other than Ren Ashton!"
"W-What!? The Hero from the rumors!? My deepest apologies, Lord Hero...!"
(This is so embarrassing,) Ren thought, cringing inwardly.
"So there's no need to worry," Weiss continued. "But if it's a two-hour walk, wouldn't it be faster to go by horse?"
"Normally, yes, but the path is currently too muddy and ruined by the storm for a horse to traverse safely."
"I see," Weiss nodded.
It sounded like it would take a while even for Ren, but given his physical capabilities far exceeded those of a normal adult, there was little cause for concern. Weiss seemed to share this sentiment.
"I'll head out now, then."
"Very well. Allow me to at least show you to the trailhead."
The village knight remained apologetic to the very end, bowing deeply as he watched Ren depart.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Even after Ren started up the mountain path, the knight continued to watch until he vanished from sight.
(He really didn't need to be that formal.)
Ren trudged along the path, doing his best to ignore the lingering gaze. As he had been warned, the trail was a mess of thick, clinging mud. However, it didn't bother him much. He had spent years hunting in the forests around the Ashton estate, often in much worse conditions than this. If anything, the damp earth and the smell of the woods felt nostalgic.
After more than an hour of hiking, he followed the sound of the rushing water until he finally reached the blockage.
...There it is.
One of the river's branches, the one feeding the village below, was completely choked by a massive tangle of uprooted trees. The only sound was a faint trickle of water escaping through the gaps. Several fish were flopping desperately on the dry riverbed where the water had been cut off.
"I’ll gather those up before I head back."
They were a vital resource for the village, and he didn't want them to go to waste. But first, he had to clear the dam. He considered just hacking the trees apart, but he stopped himself when he realized the debris might float downstream and cause trouble or injuries for the villagers.
"Moving them is the better bet."
Ren stepped into the shallow water and began lifting the heavy logs one by one, tossing them aside. He winced as his clothes got soaked by the splashing water, regretting that he hadn't been a bit more careful.
"Personally, I think you should just let nature magic do the talking, but what do you think?"
Suddenly, a voice rang out from right beside him.