"But, boy. Even so, that alone is no reason for you to be the one to go."
"Yes, you're right."
Lezard hesitated, unable to give the final word. He had relied on Ren's help many times before, and the thought of doing so again made him feel a sense of guilt.
However, Ren had a compelling reason to insist he was the right choice: the Nature Magic he wielded through the Wooden Magic Sword.
(My Nature Magic should be effective even in the Baldur Mountains in the dead of winter.)
Of course, his physical prowess and swordsmanship would also be vital.
Ren knew that sending Weiss would technically be the best option, but the old knight needed to remain at the mansion to protect Lezard and Licia. Recalling Jelququ’s brutal attack, Ren couldn't entertain any other arrangement.
To this point, Ren had never shared the details of his Magic Sword Summoning with anyone. While Licia had witnessed it during their flight, she hadn't pressed for details since Ren seemed reluctant to talk about it, and she hadn't mentioned it to her father, either.
Ren's reasons for hiding the power had evolved. As a child, he had simply avoided speaking carelessly, and remembering the game's scenario made him keep his mouth shut. Recently, however, it had become a matter of self-defense. Precisely because it was such a unique and powerful ability, he believed keeping it a secret was his greatest tactical advantage.
"I am the son of Roy Ashton," Ren said, putting his emotions into his voice to convince the Baron. "Even if I haven't inherited the title, as a knight’s son, I cannot simply stand by and do nothing."
The strength in Ren’s eyes reminded Lezard of the incident in the spring. It was the same look Ren had given when he spoke up to defend Licia when she was cornered by Viscount Given.
Lezard lowered his gaze. He stood in silence for several seconds, deep in thought, before letting out a short breath.
"Weiss. When Ren was still in the village, did Roy not tell you that the boy possessed a Skill?"
"Yes, my lord. There is no mistake."
"Then I see. Ren believes his Skill will be useful in this mission. He was more emotional than usual because he couldn't put the nature of that power into words."
Ren was startled by the Baron’s keen insight, but he fought to keep his expression neutral. Though Lezard noticed the boy’s attempt to feign composure, he didn't point it out. Instead, he chose to respect Ren’s discretion.
"Ren is truly clever. To reveal one's strength is essentially to reveal one's weakness. It is different for a Saint like Licia, but for others, there is little merit in broadcasting your Skill to the world."
"Lord Lezard..."
"It’s fine. Keep the secret of your Skill locked in your heart."
Lezard was now certain. Whatever Skill Ren was hiding would undoubtedly be effective. He had heard the confidence in the boy's voice and knew his desire to go was rooted in his loyalty to the Clausel family.
"Weiss, provide Ren with any magic tools he requires from the warehouse. Anything at all. As long as it isn't a burden to carry, let him take whatever he needs."
"Yes, my lord!" Weiss replied triumphantly, rushing out of the office.
Left behind, Ren looked at Lezard. "Are you sure?"
"Of course. And naturally, I expect you to accept a reward when you return. I won't hear any refusals."
"I understand. For that reason alone, I’ll make sure to return as quickly as possible."
"Please do."
Lezard gave the order, followed by a strict command for Ren not to overexert himself. Ren left the office and headed toward the Old Wing to begin his preparations for the long journey.
"Ren."
Licia’s voice stopped him just as he reached the path connecting the Main Building to the Old Wing.
"You were still awake?"
"Naturally. I'm a member of the Clausel family. I have my own duties to attend to, just like my father."
"I suppose that’s true."
"So, Ren... what are you planning to do?"
In truth, Ren had intended to slip away without telling her. He didn't want to cause her unnecessary worry, and he hadn't wanted to wake her if she was asleep.
But Licia had seen right through him.
"You weren't planning on doing something behind my back, were you?"
"Of course not."
"Hmm... is that so?"
Ren knew he hadn't fooled her for a second. Seeing him try to play it off anyway, Licia let out a long, weary sigh.
"Why are you trying to hide it?"
"I'm not exactly hiding anything..."
"Liar. You know I've caught you, yet you're still trying to dodge the question."
Since she already knew, there was no point in pretending.
"I intended to leave quietly because I didn't want to worry you."
"Good heavens... If you're going to say something so foolish, then mark my words." Licia stepped closer and took Ren’s hand in hers. A soft, white radiance spilled from her palms, enveloping his body. "It worries me far more when you disappear without a word."
Energy surged through Ren’s body, his muscles feeling light and revitalized.
"Was that Holy Magic?"
"Yes. But don't think this means you can be reckless. It’s only meant to ease your fatigue and make your body feel a bit lighter, so you don't get hurt."
It wasn't a powerful combat buff. It was a simple spell to clear away his exhaustion and help him move more easily. It was a small kindness that would likely fade within a few hours of leaving the mansion, long before he reached the mountains.
"I told Weiss I wanted to go too, but he turned me down immediately."
Ren nodded, understanding how she had learned the news. He gave a strained smile at her mention of joining him. "That was probably for the best."
"Since I have no choice, I’ll wait for you here."
"Hearing you say that gives me the strength to do my best."
"Then make one promise." Licia squeezed his hand tighter. As she gripped him, Ren felt as though her desperate emotions were flowing directly into him. Her eyes, as she looked up at him, were filled with a breathtaking, frantic intensity. "Promise me you will absolutely, absolutely come back safely."
Ren could tell she still wasn't truly reconciled with staying behind. She understood the logic, but her heart refused to accept it. Her Holy Magic and this promise were her way of coping with that painful conflict.
Marching through the winter with a combined force of Clausel knights and seasoned adventurers was a reliable affair; they felt little threat from the local monsters. However, the heavy snow added several days to the journey to the Baldur Mountains.
(So, we're finally here.)
Towering before them were the silver-white peaks. When Ren had seen them before, they were only dusted with snow, but now they were draped in a solid mantle of silver. The jagged, razor-sharp ridges—reminiscent of a polished blade—remained, but the raw power of nature had intensified. It was a complete transformation from the landscape he had traversed during his escape with Licia, possessing a majesty that did justice to its reputation as the Last Stage of the game he remembered.
"The snow is even deeper than I expected," one of the knights remarked.
The villages they had passed through were all struggling with the winter, but the Baldur Mountains were in a category of their own.
"Indeed. It’s hard to even tell where the paths are."
The group halted before the traditional entrance used by adventurers.
(In the game, I only ever came here in the summer. It was never like this.)
Ren found himself at a loss. The snowfall was so extreme that there was no visible trail. All around them, the snow was piled higher than a grown man's head.
Maydas, the werewolf adventurer traveling with them, spoke up.
"We could use magic tools to melt the snow or blow it away with wind, but..."
"Wouldn't that risk triggering an avalanche?" Ren asked.
"Exactly. Just as the Lord Hero says, doing that would be asking for a landslide. In the end, we have to move carefully and avoid the heavy drifts. Unless we had wings like a Harpy, we’re stuck on the ground."
Since they couldn't wish for what they didn't have, Ren exchanged a look with the knight and nodded.
"Friends, I propose we set up a base camp here first," the knight said.
"Agreed. Let’s establish a perimeter and plan our next move."
"We'll set out tomorrow then. It’s already past noon; by the time the camp is finished, the sun will be down."
Several knights and adventurers looked frustrated by the delay. Just yesterday, they had seen smoke signals rising from the Mid-slope Fortress, confirming that the stranded party was still alive. They wanted to reach them as quickly as possible. They understood the necessity of the decision—getting themselves stranded would help no one—but they were restless.
(Still...)
Ren had been wondering about something. According to Kai, there were several adventurers guarding the merchant. In this world, adventurers possessed physical capabilities far beyond ordinary humans. Even with a client to protect, he wondered if professional adventurers would really be completely immobilized just by snow, provided the monsters weren't too overwhelming.
"Excuse me," Ren said, turning to the knight. "I see how deep the snow is, but would that alone really be enough to trap experienced adventurers?"
"It’s hard to say. With equipment made from monster materials and the right magic tools, descending should be possible. However, they are responsible for a client." The knight paused. "Though even then, I wouldn't call it impossible. If they were planning a winter crossing of the Baldur Mountains, the merchant should have hired veterans."
"So you're saying they should have been able to make it down?"
"Yes. They might have simply decided it was safer to wait for rescue rather than risk the merchant's life... or, it’s possible someone is injured and they can't move."
If that were the case, a rescue request made perfect sense.
"Either way," the knight concluded, "we need to hurry."