The Nameless Village in the Clausel territory was the remote frontier land entrusted to Roy Ashton.
That being said, with the rapid development of the surrounding areas in recent years, calling it a "remote frontier" was a matter of the past. Nowadays, the local highways were well-maintained, and the village had gradually become known as a hidden gem—a vital waystation for travelers coming from various regions, including the former territory of Viscount Given.
People had even begun to suggest that it was high time the village was finally given a proper name. Calls for such a petition often reached the manor from travelers, merchants, and the villagers themselves.
Into this village, which remained wrapped in a bustle that only increased year by year even in the dead of winter—
"Huff... huff...!"
A young knight came thundering down the highway on horseback. He had ridden a fast mount all the way from the city of Clausel, the heart of the territory.
Most of the people who saw him racing down the village’s main thoroughfare watched with concern, wondering if something terrible had happened. When the knight finally pulled his horse to a halt in front of the Ashton Manor, the knights stationed in the village rushed over to meet him.
"What’s the matter?" one asked.
"Was there an incident?" another added, noting the man’s exhaustion. "You seem to be in quite a rush."
Despite his heavy breathing, a bright smile spread across the messenger’s face. "Yeah! But don't worry, it's nothing bad!"
With that, he grabbed a bag from his saddle, handed the reins to one of the other knights, and hurried onto the manor grounds.
In the garden, Roy Ashton was inspecting the spoils of a hunt he had conducted before sunrise. Although Roy had grown busy lately with the management of the expanding village, he made it a point to head into the forest to check the state of the woods with his own eyes—a daily routine he refused to abandon.
"You’re certainly making a lot of noise," Roy remarked in a calm, steady tone.
His demeanor was different than it once was. As the leader of a settlement that continued to thrive daily—a land that had grown to a scale that could almost be called a town—a quiet dignity had taken root in Roy Ashton. In that sense, he had begun to resemble his son living in the distant capital.
"Pardon me, sir. There is something I needed to tell you immediately."
The knight stood before Roy, opened his bag, and produced a newspaper. It was a recent edition that didn't usually circulate in Clausel, typically sold only in major hubs like the Imperial Capital or Erendil.
"A newspaper? I’ve been seeing those more often lately, but..."
Until just a few years ago, there had been no reason to see a newspaper in this village. As it developed, merchants began bringing them in, but the articles usually had nothing to do with their quiet life.
"Why bring a newspaper all this way?" Roy asked.
"I want you to see this article."
Roy looked at the page the knight indicated and began to read. A moment later, he let out a sharp gasp.
Quickly asking for the knight’s permission to keep the paper, Roy shouted, "I’ll be right back!" and bolted toward the manor.
Seeing her husband arrive in such a frantic yet strangely joyful state, Ren’s mother, Mireille Ashton, looked up in surprise.
"Dear? Is something wrong?"
"Yeah! Look at this!"
Roy spread the newspaper out on the table in the still-pristine entrance hall. A particular article immediately caught the couple’s eyes. The more they read, the more they realized the details could only refer to their son.
The monsters that appeared in the Ignat and Leonard territories have been confirmed as the work of the Demon King Cult. The military has declared both threats neutralized. During the incident, the Director of the Lion Sanctum was dispatched to personally handle the subjugation, though many witnesses noted a young boy accompanying her. Rumors suggest he frequently visits the Lion Sanctum...
There was joy in knowing their only son was doing well, mixed with a wry smile at the fact that he seemed to have done something incredibly flashy once again. A knight working inside the manor watched them, grinning happily at their reaction.
However, Roy and Mireille eventually looked at each other and crossed their arms, appearing somewhat perplexed.
"Is something the matter?" the knight asked.
"Ah, well..." Roy started.
"Yes... you see..." Mireille added.
They seemed hesitant to speak, but Roy finally pointed to a specific part of the text. "It’s what’s written here."
The article mentioned a knight serving the Clausel Family. It mentioned the Sword Saint class.
"Just how strong is a 'Sword Saint' in actual practice?" Roy asked.
Beside him, Mireille nodded her head vigorously in agreement.
The knight stood there, stunned by the unexpected question. "Y-You didn't know?"
"Well, no... Right, Mireille?"
"That’s right. We’ve lived in this village our whole lives, so we don't know much about the ways of the city."
"But it’s definitely something amazing, isn't it?" Roy pressed.
"O-Of course! Especially a master of the Sword Saint class in the Strong Sword Arts... why, no matter how many of us gathered, we wouldn't be able to land a single scratch on Lord Ren. Ah, no, that doesn't quite capture the scale of it..."
The knight struggled for words before finally settling on a simpler explanation. "He is one of a mere handful of the most elite individuals in the entire Empire of Leomel."
"Isn't that wonderful! To think he’s risen that far!" Mireille exclaimed.
"Yes... he truly has..."
The knight wasn't being condescending; he was genuinely relieved to be the one to deliver the news to the couple. In truth, the knight himself didn't fully grasp just how powerful Ren had become, so part of his explanation was based on his own imagination. Still, considering those Strong Sword Arts, it was only natural that Ren's true power was beyond his comprehension.
Roy looked on with pride. "Well... that sounds like Ren."
He summarized his feelings in those few words, his heart swelling with joy. Outside, the winter clouds began to part, and the light shining through the gaps illuminated the village.
Around the same time.
A girl walked through the snow, wrapped in a high-quality white coat. Her name was Fiona Ignat.
Her elegant beauty and grace were refined with each passing day, never failing to captivate anyone who saw her. Yet, in the presence of a certain boy, she displayed the bouncy, bright smile of a girl her age, shedding her regal aura entirely.
With her silken black hair fluttering in the cold wind, she emerged from the Imperial Military Academy Library alongside that very boy, Ren Ashton.
It was still the middle of winter break, and fluffy snow was drifting down onto the quiet academy grounds.
"I'm so glad you found the book you were looking for," Fiona said happily.
"Upperclassman Leonard told me it was interesting right before the break started," Ren replied.
"Hehe, so that's why you came to search for it."
"That’s the one. Since Upperclassman Leonard recommended it, I thought I’d give it a read before the holidays were over."
The idea of Kaito Leonard reading a book might have seemed strange to some, but it was a fact. Perhaps because the book was a collection of short stories about the lives of various legends, even Kaito—who usually had an aversion to the written word—could enjoy it. Ren had heard that several of the anecdotes in the book had even been adapted into plays.
"It’s been another lively winter this year, hasn't it?" Ren said, sharing a smile with Fiona.
"Though it wasn't quite as shocking as the incident in the Baldur Mountains," she teased.
Ren laughed, knowing it was a joke. Fiona then looked at him curiously.
"But... the Apostle of the Giant God, Wadatsumi, was an incredibly powerful monster too, wasn't it?"
Ren hummed thoughtfully before answering. "Even so, I suppose."
"Even so?"
"Yes. After all, even though he was incomplete, Asval was far stronger."
The memory of the Apostle of the Giant God, Wadatsumi, that had appeared in the Marquis Ignat territory was still fresh. It had been unnaturally enhanced compared to a normal specimen. While the reason was still a mystery, Ren was certain it was the work of the Demon King Cult.
After that battle, Ren had left the area on the magic ship belonging to Estelle, the Director of the Lion Sanctum. On their way, they had encountered another Wadatsumi in a different sea sector.
“The one that showed up in Eupeheim was definitely stronger. I wonder what’s behind that?”
They had been on the deck of the Drake family magic ship, which had lowered its altitude to just above the waves.
In the heat of the struggle, the woman known as the strongest knight in Leomel—Estelle Osroes Drake—had made that observation while letting out a massive yawn. She looked so relaxed that she seemed ready to take a nap at any moment. Despite the presence of a powerful monster nearby, she wasn't the least bit tense; her attitude was exactly as it always was.
“I wonder!” Ren had shouted back.
With his Mithril Magic Sword in hand, Ren had focused all his strength on fighting the sea beast. He glanced back at the great Director while dodging an attack.
“Anyway, Lady Estelle, please help me out here!”
“What’s the matter, Ren? Are you scared because I’m not fighting alongside you?”
“...N-No, it’s not like that!”
“Then there's no problem. Now, pay attention. Don't look away from your target.”
It wasn't just a matter of acting tough; Ren, having reached the Sword Saint class, truly wanted to test the limits of his own strength. He didn't feel that the power he had gained was slipping away like sand through his fingers, but he wanted to commit the sensation to his muscles as deeply as possible so he would never forget it.
Fighting while Estelle watched over him felt perfectly safe. Naturally, Estelle wasn't just being lazy; she wanted Ren to internalize the feeling of his newly awakened power, so she watched his every move closely despite her casual demeanor.
Because he didn't have to worry about the worst-case scenario, Ren was able to swing his sword exactly as he envisioned.
“Haaaaah!”
He had eventually slain the remaining Wadatsumi on his own. After the fight, Estelle had laughed and offered him high praise.
“It seems a monster of this level is no longer a match for you, Ren.”
That winter memory flickered through Ren’s mind.
Since then, his days had been a whirlwind—Licia had hurried to Eupeheim, and he had spent a fair amount of time assisting with the post-battle cleanup. Fortunately, winter break wasn't over yet. Ren was determined to spend his final remaining days of freedom in a way befitting a long holiday.
"I’ll walk you back to your dormitory," Ren offered.
"I’d like that," Fiona replied with a smile.
As they walked, she asked, "What was the atmosphere like at the medal award ceremony?"
That was an event that had taken place just a few days prior.