Even after being left alone, Ren did not slow his pace. He headed toward a specific destination with a clear purpose: the Erendil Manor, a place he had now grown well-accustomed to calling home.
Upon his return to the Clausel residence, he was greeted at the door.
"Welcome home, Ren-sama. If you are looking for the Young Lady, she is still busy with her studies."
The greeting came from an attendant who had recently moved from the main Clausel estate to this manor. She was a woman who had spent much time observing Ren and Licia and was currently in charge of attending to Licia's personal needs.
Not wanting to disturb Licia’s concentration, Ren decided to head quietly toward Lezard’s office instead.
As soon as he arrived and stepped inside, he spoke.
"This is a report after the fact, but there is something I must tell you."
"Hm? You’re certainly in a hurry today."
Lezard appeared slightly surprised, but he beckoned Ren closer without any real sign of agitation. He sat at his desk and looked at the boy standing across from him, offering a small joke.
"Just a short while ago, I received reports of damage caused by a group believed to be a bandit gang. ...Surely you haven't gone and captured those rumored bandits, Ren? Tell me, what have you been up to?"
Ren remained silent.
Seeing that silence, Lezard blinked repeatedly. He sat there stunned for a few moments, crossing his arms and pondering the situation. After about ten seconds of silence, he spoke again.
"Who was stronger—you, or Asval?"
"……Eh?"
"Forgive me. My mind was reeling, and I let a strange joke slip. ...And yet, I find myself unexpectedly unsurprised."
At the very least, it was nothing compared to the shock he felt when he first heard that Ren had slain the dragon. Even hearing that the Demon King Cult was involved didn't seem to rattle him more than the Asval incident had.
Instead of further marveling at the feat, Lezard bowed his head.
"You have my thanks."
It was abrupt, but sincere.
"Thanks to you, the bandit disturbance will likely come to a final end. I haven't forgotten to consider what the Demon King Cult might be plotting, but for now... this is enough."
"Are you not going to scold me for acting on my own?" Ren asked.
He knew that knights had also been involved in investigating the bandits. He wasn't asking out of a sense of self-deprecation, but rather because he was considering his own position, his relationship with the knights, and his responsibilities to House Clausel.
"I am not so grand a person that I would scold someone for such a magnificent achievement. Besides, didn't I say it? I am grateful to you."
As the Lord of Erendil, Ren's success was a cause for great celebration. To scold him for acting with his characteristic kindness would be unthinkable; he deserved only praise.
"Though, I expect a certain Saint will be quite worried when she hears you did something so dangerous."
"...I intend to explain everything to her myself later."
"Please do. But remember, Licia isn't going to be angry with you. She only worries because she cares. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive her for that."
"I know. Licia-sama is a very kind person."
Ren then went on to explain his meeting with the Arnevelde Company on the plains and shared that he had left the transport of the captured bandits to them.
"That is also a help. Thanks to you, the political influence of House Clausel continues to grow."
"Ah... now that you mention it, I suppose that’s true."
"However, please don't take that as a license to be reckless. Both Licia and I can only be at peace if you remain healthy and safe."
Lezard’s voice was warm, and he wore a gentle smile.
Ren had no regrets about his actions that day, but he vowed in his heart never to throw his life away carelessly. He felt a quiet sense of satisfaction with the results of his efforts. This was merely one chapter closed, and considering the Demon King Cult's involvement, it was far from over. In fact, the real struggle might be just beginning, but he was relieved he could stop the situation before it escalated further.
As I thought, there was no event like this in the game. I wonder what they’re planning, he wondered.
Because of Ren's presence, things he didn't remember from the original timeline were bound to happen. Originally, Ulysses Ignat would have already defected to the Demon King Cult by this point and been operating in the shadows. Since that hadn't happened, the cult was clearly taking a different approach.
As Ren sat lost in thought, Lezard gave another wry smile.
"It’s as if you’ve sold a massive favor to the Arnevelde Company. Between this and the matter with Marquis Ignat, I can’t help but feel you have more political sense than I do."
"N-No, that’s not it... I couldn't have done any of this alone..."
"So, what did the people from the Arnevelde Company have to say? You seem to have rushed back out of consideration for me, but surely they wanted to speak with you further?"
"I think so. That’s why I told them to contact the guild if they had further business."
Hardly a moment after Ren finished recounting the events on the plains, there was a knock at the door. Upon Lezard's permission, Weiss entered.
He held a single letter in his hand.
"A messenger from the guild brought this for the boy," Weiss announced.
They were certainly fast. Ren had only just returned to the city, yet they were already moving.
"Weiss. What did the messenger say?" Lezard asked.
"Nothing in detail. However, given the report that reached you earlier, Lord, and now this contact for the boy... one only needs to look at the guild employee's face to imagine what transpired."
"But you weren't as shocked as you were with Asval, were you?"
"Quite right. While I did suspect the boy might have been the one to crush the bandit gang, strangely enough, I did not feel the same astonishment as I did last year. I found myself simply nodding and thinking, 'Ah, so it was the boy after all.'"
"...It was a sudden decision, but I believed it would benefit Erendil," Ren said.
"We know that. Both I and the Head of the Family," Weiss replied.
He stepped to Ren's side and gently patted the boy's head. Weiss was exceptionally tall and stood with the rigid posture of a career soldier, still towering over Ren enough to do so with ease. However, in another year, they might be the same height—it wouldn't even be surprising if Ren grew to be the taller of the two.
"The one who sent this said they wanted you to check it immediately. My apologies, but can I ask you to look at it?"
"I understand."
Ren broke the seal and examined the contents. The handwriting was messy, clearly written in a great hurry.
To summarize, the guild had been entrusted with a message from the Arnevelde Company. They wanted him to go to a specific location.
Where is this?
Ren traced the directions in his mind. First, go deep into the alleyway right next to the guild, then turn right... then continue to the end...
No matter how he looked at it, the location was just a deserted back alley. He didn't know why the Arnevelde Company wanted him to go there, but he didn't sense any hostility. He assumed they wanted to speak privately, away from prying eyes.
"I’m going to go meet with the representative from the Arnevelde Company."
"Is it safe? I could have a knight accompany you..."
"There's no need to worry. I appreciate the offer, Lezard-sama, but please keep the knights here to guard the manor."
With that, Ren left the office and headed toward the secluded backstreet indicated in the letter.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
When he arrived at the designated spot alone, he found the same swordsmen he had seen earlier.
"Please go further in. Stop just before you reach the corner," one of them instructed.
"I'll ask just in case—what happens if I go past the corner?"
"...I cannot say, but I would strongly advise you to follow my instructions."
Ren saw no reason to be difficult. "I understand," he said simply, walking forward as directed.
Sunlight struggled to reach the narrow space behind the rows of buildings. However, right at the corner, a shaft of light poured down from the sky.
As Ren stood just before the corner, a voice reached him immediately.
"You surprised me earlier."
Ren could not see him, but the man on the other side of the corner was Radius. It was his true voice, completely different from the one he had used through the leather tent on the plains. Ren recognized that voice, just as he had recognized the voice of Marquis Ignat.
Could it be? he thought.
Given the current circumstances and their interactions on the plains, he had a strong suspicion. However, Ren kept his expression neutral and feigned composure. If his guess was correct, his conversational partner was someone of extreme importance. He decided it would be best to confirm it later with Ulysses Ignat, the Head of the Imperial Faction.
He wasn't exactly calm—he was just doing his best to suppress his shock.
And if it really is him, why on earth was he out there in person?
Given his status, there was no reason for him to venture out to such a place himself. Ren disciplined his heart, knowing that showing agitation now would be a mistake.
"To find the bandits' nest with only those meager clues... it is worthy of praise."
"For my part, I find myself thinking that you had probably predicted its location as well," Ren replied.
Because he suspected the man was Radius, Ren had shifted to a more formal, polite tone.
"Why do you think that? —And why have you changed the way you speak? I don't recall asking you to be so formal."
Ren found himself in a difficult position. Having realized who he might be talking to, he regretted his casual behavior on the plains. He couldn't imagine continuing to speak so bluntly to someone who might be a Prince. Even if he wasn't entirely certain of the man's identity, there was no harm in being polite.
And yet, Radius persisted. Though Ren still lacked absolute proof of his identity, the man spoke as if such things were irrelevant.
"Speak to me as you did before. Understood?"
"...May I ask why?"
"Because it makes for a better conversation. Since we have already spoken that way once, there is no need to stand on ceremony now. Is that clear?"
He pushed for an answer. Ren hesitated for several seconds, caught in a state of indecision. At a loss, he looked back at the swordsman from the Arnevelde Company—though he now doubted that was their real organization. The man simply gave a helpless nod. It seemed that even if the person around the corner was Radius, Ren wouldn't be charged with lese-majesty for following orders.
"—Fine. To answer your question... you all were moving so quickly that I figured you must have already suspected where the bandit gang hideout was."
When Ren finally gave in and reverted to his casual tone, Radius gave a satisfied nod that Ren could sense in his voice.
"To be precise, I arrived at the answer at roughly the same time as you. I was scouring the maps and information of the surrounding area back then, which is why I was slightly delayed."
Realizing that the documents Radius had been reading inside the tent were those very maps, Ren nodded. "So that's why." That explained why they had set up a base on the plains in the first place.
"Still, for you to notice even that... you continue to impress me."
"Hah... you're the one who provoked me into finding them. Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
"Don't be like that. Regardless, you were the one who reached the answer first."
"No, I mean back when I was aggressively trying to hunt them down. You told me to 'do as I pleased,' remember?"
"That was partly because I was curious about your strength, but also because you were incredibly stubborn."
"...I can't argue with that."
Since it was true, Ren felt a slight pang of self-consciousness. However, he knew he wouldn't have been able to stop himself anyway. Just as he had told Lezard, he didn't regret his actions.
"I apologize if I offended you. I was merely surprised by your quick wit. Let us put the small things aside. I, too, have never had the experience of talking like this to someone whose face I haven't seen."
"I haven't either. But... whatever, it's fine. It turned out to be a decent job for me too."
The two of them continued their conversation without ever looking at one another. They spent about ten minutes in idle, unremarkable small talk, discussing what they usually did with their time.
Eventually, Radius looked at his pocket watch—hidden from Ren’s sight—and announced, "It's time."
"My apologies, but I must return. This was a very fulfilling time. You have my gratitude."
"Same here. I'll be going now, too."
Ren pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning against and turned away from the corner. Simultaneously, Radius also turned, and the two began to walk in opposite directions.
"How should I pay the reward I promised you?" Radius called out.
"Just donate it to the Lord of this town. I don't need it, so just use it for the sake of Erendil."
That was the end of it. No further words were exchanged as they walked away.
Before long, Mirei appeared at Radius’s side. She seemed to materialize from nowhere to walk beside her master.
"Mirei, I have found a truly fascinating man."
"Nya? Is he a poet who recites amusing songs-nya?"
"Don't be ridiculous. You were watching the whole time."
She had been watching him since they were out on the plains. Even if she hadn't shown herself, she had witnessed everything.
"Highness, did you really take that much of a liking to that boy-nya?"
"I've practically fallen for him. Intelligence and quick wit evident in every word. A fierce, relentless swordsmanship that surpasses even those—but more than anything, his courage. It has sparked a fire in my heart unlike anything I've ever experienced."
"Nya-nya-nya!? Highness!? What are you saying-nya!?"
"Rest easy. It is not romance, but a profound respect for his character. —And besides, it is a first for me. Until now, there has never been a single person who treated me with such a lack of formality."
Radius’s voice, blending into the quiet of the back alley, was filled with genuine delight.
"You say that, but you're the one who told him to be casual-nya."
"And yet, no one else has ever actually listened to me when I asked."
"That's because they knew you were the Highness-nya. But if you feel that strongly about him, why were you talking without even looking at his face-nya?"
"That was fine for now. We will be able to speak face-to-face soon enough anyway. I simply wanted to carry today's meeting through to its conclusion in that specific way."
"...Good grief, I'll never understand the hearts of men-nya."
"I don't understand the hearts of women either, so we are even."
Radius seemed to remember something as they walked.
"That man... he was a magnificent Strong Sword User."
"He certainly was-nya. If someone that skilled is around at such a young age, it's a wonder his name isn't more famous-nya..."
"He called himself Ren Ashton. I don't recall a noble family by the name of Ashton..."
"I didn't either—but now that I think about it, I believe there was a knight with that family name serving House Clausel. You know, the family Marquis Ignat has been showing an interest in lately-nya."
"Oh? You're well-informed."
"I did a lot of digging because I was curious about what Marquis Ignat was up to-nya."
A great many things suddenly made sense. The reason Ren Ashton lived in this town, the reason he had been out on the plains, and why he had accepted the Arnevelde Company's special request.
"House Clausel... they were the ones involved in that recent trouble with the Hero Faction."
"There's no hard evidence, but the rumor is that Lord Edgar assisted them-nya."
"Where did you hear that rumor?"
"It’s a rumor I constructed inside my own head based on the data I collected-nya."
"...I see."
Radius had his doubts about whether that could officially be called a "rumor," but he let it slide. For now, the only thing that mattered to him was Ren Ashton.