The man told Ren not to go inside.
Against the glow from inside the tent, Ren could see only a silhouette. Even with the midday sun shining bright outside, the figure remained a faint shadow, tucked away in a corner where the light couldn't reach. The person was seated in a chair, and from the outline, Ren could tell he was a boy about his own age—his frame was noticeably smaller than the men standing guard outside.
"Ren Ashton, was it?"
It was a boy's voice.
However, the tone was unnaturally gravelly, distorted as if by a magic tool. That was likely why Ren couldn't recognize it, even though the voice felt like one he should have known.
"Yes. I'm Ren Ashton."
"There is no need for such formality. Please, make yourself at ease."
"To what extent?"
"You may speak as if we were friends of the same age."
"..."
"What is it? Why are you silent?"
"My apologies. It just occurred to me that I don't really have anyone I’d call a friend my own age."
The boy inside the leather tent went quiet.
Until a moment ago, his silhouette had been holding a book while addressing Ren. Now, he set the book down on the table beside him. The faint thud of it closing reached Ren's ears.
The boy turned his head toward Ren.
"Hahaha! So you don't know how to speak to a friend because you have none? Well, it can't be helped, then!"
"...I’d appreciate it if you didn't laugh."
"Forgive me. But there is no need to worry about status just because I am an Arnevelde Company executive. Please, speak in a way that feels natural to you."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. To you, I am merely a stranger whose face you have never seen. I only wish to talk for a moment, so do not let it trouble you."
Ren figured that since the man was insisting so much, it would be rude to keep being stiff and formal. Besides, if the executive was practically begging him to speak casually, he wouldn't have any right to complain later.
"Alright," Ren said, though he still felt a bit hesitant. He decided to take the boy at his word. "So, why'd you want to see me?"
The swordsmen of the Arnevelde Company nearby flinched. Some of their cheeks even twitched in disbelief at Ren's sudden shift to casual speech.
Unaware of their reactions, Ren waited for an answer.
"I heard an interesting story. I was told you accepted a request from our company. Is that true?"
"Yeah. What would I gain by lying?"
"Then one more thing. Have you ever sent a report to us?"
"Yeah, on the first day I took the job."
The silhouette inside the tent gave a slight start.
Ren's guards exchanged glances, their brows furrowing as they looked at one another.
"What about it?" Ren asked.
"I remembered it because someone had sent a very intriguing report. I wanted to meet you if the opportunity ever arose. Now you understand why I arranged this meeting."
"Ah, that makes sense. Well, I'm glad it worked out. Though I was surprised to hear the request was completed right after that."
Ren spoke as if he genuinely believed the investigation had concluded smoothly.
Inside the tent, the boy grew contemplative. He sat with his hand to his chin, crossing his legs as he weighed his words.
"You seem quite invested in this incident."
It would have been a lie to say otherwise. To Ren, who felt he needed to run toward any falling sparks and douse them with a bucket of water the moment he saw them, this wasn't something he could simply ignore.
"We believe the culprits are members of a bandit gang. They are dangerous."
"I know. I'm just looking into it. I'm not going to do anything reckless."
"You say you won't be reckless, yet those are bold words. Have you no fear? Even though the enemy crushed a caravan guard's legs with Earth Magic?"
"...I won't say I'm not scared, but I think it’s scarier to do nothing while the situation gets worse."
The boy fell silent again, seemingly deep in thought.
"I shall tell only you this. The reason we are here is that we discovered what appear to be traces of the bandit gang just a few hours ago."
They hadn't used the victims as bait or abandoned them. As soon as the boy had received the information, he had rushed to the scene. He had contacted the regular knights and done everything in his power to ensure there were no further casualties. It was also his swordsmen who had intervened when the caravan was attacked.
"Except for my subordinates and me, no one should know this, but I have already taken steps to secure the area. All that remains is to locate the bandit gang hideout and annihilate them."
"You make it sound easy, but that’s impressive. I’m glad to hear no one else is in danger."
"Which is why you should step back. There is no need for you to push yourself."
"..."
The boy added that based on the Arnevelde Company’s investigation, the bandits were growing desperate. For the first time, the group that had been so cautious was starting to leave a trail. He was trying to emphasize the danger to convince Ren to return to town.
"It is believed these thefts were not planned by the bandits themselves. Someone is behind them, pulling the strings. Otherwise, they wouldn't be stealing such meaningless items."
"I see. So the mastermind was missing something from the earlier thefts and got angry."
"Exactly. I'm of the same mind. Though... I'm impressed you deduced that so quickly."
"It's not like there couldn't be other reasons for them to be flustered. But if a group that was previously so meticulous is suddenly panicking, it feels more natural to assume their boss is furious."
The boy’s shoulders shook with amusement. "Even without their desperation, I believe we would have found them soon enough, but this certainly speeded things up."
"Ooh... I’d expect nothing less from the Arnevelde Company. Thanks for the info. Now I think I can find their hideout, too."
"Wait, wait, wait... why are you being so stubborn?"
"Sorry. I’m not trying to be difficult, it’s just my nature. I've learned the hard way that it's better to do what you can yourself."
Ren’s words weren't born of arrogance; he simply couldn't stand by and watch. His past experiences had taught him that taking the initiative was often the only way to protect what mattered.
With a wry smile, Ren turned his back to the tent. He vaulted onto Io and stroked her mane. The horse gave a soft, satisfied whinny.
"Besides, the way you put it, the bandit gang is more dangerous than ever. They’re desperate enough to keep attacking innocent people just to finish their job."
"I’m glad you understand. That is why I suggested you go back to town."
"It's the opposite. If they’re that dangerous, I definitely can't just ignore them."
For a moment, the boy wanted to burst out of the tent just to see Ren's face. He wanted to see the expression of the man who could say such things, and find out how he intended to hunt the bandits. But he restrained himself and sighed.
"I will say it one last time: don't do it. You won't find anything by searching aimlessly."
"And what if I do find them?"
"It's not a matter of money, though I would certainly increase the reward from the request form. I'll be blunt—you can't do it. Even if you found their hideout, do you really think you wouldn't be overwhelmed?"
"Hmm... there are about ten of them, right?"
"Yes. There is no reason for you to die in vain. You're a smart boy, so surely such a foolish—"
Ren laughed.
The boy inside the tent and the men standing guard all felt it. Their eyes widened at the sudden, overwhelming pressure of the strong radiating from that smile.
"It's to protect everyone I can. That's far from foolish."
He spoke with absolute conviction and turned away. Io’s hooves crunched on the gravel as he began to move.
"...I have never met a man as stubborn as you. Fine, do as you wish. If you find their hideout before the knights, it will be a marvel. And if you actually manage to capture them, I’ll double your reward."
"You sound like you've given up and are trying to bait me at the same time."
"You're the one who forced my hand. I'll say it again: do as you please. Let’s see how much you can accomplish with nothing but the terrain, Earth Magic, and a group that has left no trail until now."
This was the information Ren had to work with.
"They have kept their location secret for a long time. Do you really think you can find them?"
Ren processed the information in his head, organizing his thoughts as he decided where to start. Only one logical conclusion emerged.
"So that's where they are," Ren muttered, his voice certain. "I think you were definitely trying to bait me with those last words."
With a firm tug on the reins, Ren galloped away, leaving the plain behind.
As soon as he was gone, the boy inside the tent called for one of the men.
The leather tent was a magic tool designed to muffle voices, ensuring strategy meetings remained private. He had merely adjusted it so his voice sounded distorted. From the inside, his natural voice was clear.
"Prince Radius."
The man who entered addressed the boy by his true title.
"Why did you say those things? We and the regular knights can handle this ourselves."
"I know. But I was curious—no, I felt I had to know. I felt that if I didn't confirm Ren Ashton's strength here, I would regret it."
"...He certainly possessed a strange, formidable presence for his age."
"Regardless, I cannot allow him to be hurt. I command you, the Personal Guard Knight Order. Follow him. Lend him your aid before he comes to any harm."
It wasn't just that he felt responsible for baiting the boy. Radius was determined to stop the bandits' rampage, and that included protecting Ren from his own recklessness.
"Understood. If the boy finds the hideout, we will intervene immediately."
"Please do. His intuition is fascinating, but he cannot expect to take down a dozen bandits alone."
"As you wish, Prince Radius."
The man of the Personal Guard, still disguised as an Arnevelde swordsman, left the tent. He coordinated with his comrades, assigning men to shadow Ren in secret. Even with those men gone, the force protecting Radius remained formidable.
"Still, who is this Ren Ashton? He couldn't possibly find the hideout, could he?"
Radius expected to find the bandits by evening. Between the new leads and the search parties he had deployed, his plan was near-perfect. Even Ulysses had praised his tactical formation.
But Radius didn't know Ren.
He knew nothing of the life the boy had lived, and so he couldn't grasp the depth of Ren's resolve or the source of his stubbornness.
Radius, too, would be shocked within a matter of hours.
For what the boy who slew the Red Dragon Asval achieved was never mere recklessness. It was the crystallization of pure courage and devotion—a display of truly heroic valor.