A bit more time passed following the incident with Viscount Given, and the seasons shifted into winter in the blink of an eye.
The entire stretch of farmland was covered not just in morning frost, but in a thick blanket of pure white snow.
While winter was normally a grueling season for a frontier village, the inhabitants were able to prepare luxuriously this year thanks to Ren's efforts. They had purchased more than enough firewood and food to last through the cold months without hardship.
Everything was the fruit of Ren’s daily hunting expeditions.
"Master Ren, that was another successful hunt today."
"It was. I thought it would be harder to move once winter set in, but it wasn't so bad once I got used to it," Ren replied, squinting up at the mid-afternoon sun.
Near the suspension bridge, a stack of over a dozen Little Boars stood as a testament to the success of the day's hunt.
(I feel like my swordsmanship has been improving lately, too.)
This growth came from his decision to fight without relying on the Nature Magic (Small) of his Wooden Magic Sword. Ever since the knights had been stationed in the village, Ren had gone hunting with them every day. His progress was the result of training his raw skills while keeping his Magic Sword Summoning a secret.
(I’m starting to feel like I don’t strictly need to hide it anymore, but I’ve kept it under wraps this long.)
There was no point in changing things now. Since keeping it a secret didn't cause any immediate problems, he intended to continue the charade for a while longer.
"Even so, Master Ren, perhaps you really should consider going to the Imperial Capital," one of the knights remarked out of the blue.
"Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"
"You are undoubtedly destined for greatness. Even in the capital, you could become a knight of significant renown."
"Indeed... I shouldn't say this too loudly, but to us, you seem far more like a reincarnation of the Seven Heroes than the heirs of the Seven Great Ducal Houses."
It was a bit embarrassing. While Ren appreciated the praise, being complimented so unreservedly by two grown men made him flush with awkwardness.
"I have no intention of leaving the village. I am the heir to House Ashton, after all."
This wasn't the first time he’d heard such praise. Whenever it happened, Ren made it a point to state that he was the heir to his family home and had no desire to leave.
"Mmm... what a truly tragic waste..."
"Stop that. You'll only trouble Master Ren if you keep at it."
"Ah... I suppose you're right."
The three of them chatted as they made their way back to the manor. Their footsteps were heavy as they navigated the farm road, which was far more difficult to traverse now than it had been before the snow fell. The only sound was the rhythmic crunch, crunch of boots on snow.
With the snow falling silently, the entire village felt wrapped in a stillness that was absent during the summer.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The manor was as dilapidated as ever. In fact, the roof was currently creaking under the weight of the snow.
(I wonder if we'll even make it through the winter like this.)
Since they had plenty of funds from the Thief Wolfen bounty, Ren decided they would definitely repair the place once spring arrived.
"I’m home," Ren called out as he opened the door to the dirt-floored utility room that led to the kitchen. He expected to see Mireille waiting for him, as she usually was.
However, she was nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, welcome back. If you're looking for the lady of the house, she's over at Granny Rigu’s."
Instead, Lithia was sitting in a chair by the table, resting her chin on her hand with an air of boredom. Her response was so natural and casual that Ren instinctively went along with it without a second thought.
"I see. That explains why she wasn't here."
"Why don't you go take a bath? I brought some Magic Tools from my house; I think you'll find them quite useful."
"I’m interested. In that case, I'll take you up on that."
Ren walked through the utility room, passed by Lithia, and exited the kitchen. He headed for the changing room with a practiced stride, but he immediately noticed something was different.
"No way. That’s a hair dryer."
Looking at the Magic Tool placed in front of the dull mirror, memories of his previous life resurfaced. For someone who had been drying his hair with a towel and standing in front of the fireplace until today, it felt like a sudden leap into the modern age.
With a skip in his step, Ren quickly stripped and stepped into the bathroom.
Where there had never been a shower before, one now stood. Curious about the water source, he inspected it and found it connected to a massive crystal ball—about the size of a human head—at the base of the wall-mounted unit. Apparently, the tool used magic to generate its own water.
When he turned the handle that served as a faucet, warm water immediately cascaded over his head.
"...Wait?"
He let out a dazed sound and crossed his arms. While soaking in the warmth, he remembered that Magic Tools were powered by Magic Stones. After several minutes had passed, the sense of dissonance finally clicked.
"Wait—why?!"
He clutched his head, wondering how he could have been so slow to realize.
But Ren had his excuses. He never could have imagined that the Saintess, who he expected wouldn't return until much later, would travel to the village so early in the season.
Ren scrambled out of the bathroom. He roughly dried his hair with a towel, threw on his clothes, and dashed through the manor.
He bolted straight for the kitchen where Lithia was waiting.
"W-Why are you here?!" he shouted, bursting through the door without a shred of his usual reserve.
Lithia looked up at his frantic entrance and snapped, "What is with the sudden screaming?! My ears are ringing!"
She winced and held her ears, pouting her lips in annoyance.
"I-I'm asking why you're here!"
"Because I came here! Isn't it obvious?"
"Of course you're here if you came here, but that’s not what I meant! I mean... why is the young lady who should be in Clausel currently in this village?!"
Lithia, initially startled by his volume, gradually regained her composure. She took a defiant stance, wearing a lovely, triumphant smile.
"There's only one reason. You wouldn't come to Clausel, so I decided to come to you."
Ren was speechless. She really hadn't given up.
(Come to think of it...)
He remembered that "passionate" letter she had written. It was still tucked away in a small box in his room. He wondered if he should try to probe for her true intentions regarding its contents.
(...No, better not.)
The phrase "let sleeping dogs lie" flashed through his mind.
"I heard you were supposed to be busy, My Lady..."
"Fufu, don't worry. I finished everything."
"Everything?"
"The studies and work I was supposed to finish by the end of winter—every single bit of it. I cleared my schedule and came to this village."
In short, there wasn't a single flaw in her excuse. It was a terrifying display of initiative.
"And... what did you tell the Baron?"
"I told him that House Clausel needs to be proactive regarding Viscount Given’s meddling. If the Lord’s daughter—and a Saintess at that—is seen visiting the village, it might make the other side hesitate to move recklessly."
Faced with such a logical argument, her father, Baron Clausel, likely had no choice but to nod in agreement.
"Also... I’m truly sorry about that whole situation. I wish we had more influence."
Lithia’s voice softened into a dejected sigh. It seemed the trouble with Viscount Given weighed heavily on her. Ren suppressed his earlier agitation, took a steady breath, and sat down across from her.
"So, you haven't made a direct protest to the Viscount?"
"No. To lodge a formal complaint against a higher-ranking noble, we have to rely on a Patron or a high-ranking noble with whom we have friendly ties. For House Clausel, that would mean a Count from the Neutral Faction at the very least."
"And...?"
"Naturally, I’ve made the request. But the Neutral Faction is weaker than the other two."
If they complained simply because of his rank, an even higher-ranking noble from the Viscount's faction might intervene. Most nobles wanted to avoid that kind of headache.
"So the high-ranking Neutral nobles are just waiting to see how the wind blows."
"Exactly. Ugh, I really hate it... Even though we’re all nobles of the same Empire, being treated like this because of factions and ranks is infuriating..."
Lithia seemed genuinely frustrated, venting her emotions to Ren without reservation.
"That reminds me, there was one thing I was curious about."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Even with the differences in rank and faction, I would have thought that your status as a Saintess would give you more of a voice."
"What a coincidence. I used to think the exact same thing."
But apparently, that wasn't the case. Lithia let out another deep sigh.
"There have been many Saintesses throughout history. But unlike the Seven Heroes, we haven't actually accomplished anything grand, have we? Even a Saintess, who is said to be blessed by Lord Elfen, hasn't actually defeated a Demon King."
Ren understood her point. Historically, a Saintess was a figure of reverence. However, in the Leomel Empire, there were those who commanded even greater awe: the Seven Heroes, the holders of absolute bloodlines. Furthermore, the Imperial Faction traced its lineage back to the Lion King, the founder of the nation.
Because the founder of this invincible empire carried as much weight as the Seven Heroes, the Saintess's political influence was surprisingly weak compared to her religious standing.
"That’s enough of that. Now it’s my turn to ask," Lithia said, leaning across the table toward him. Her jewel-like eyes stared intently at his face. "Are you going to accept the Viscount's offer? Or not?"
Ren, who had wondered what she was going to ask, answered casually.
"I'm not. I told you already, My Lady, I have no intention of leaving this village."
"Really? Because if you're lying to me, I’ll personally drag you to Clausel and lock you in the manor."
She made it sound like she would actually follow through. Ren gave a wry smile and repeated, "I'm not going," finally escaping the pressure she was exerting.
"By the way, how was the bath?"
"It was exceptional. If I hadn't realized who brought those tools halfway through, I probably would have relaxed in there for another hour."
"Then, do you want them?"
"They’re certainly convenient, but... I imagine they're quite expensive."
"Don't worry about the cost. The tools I brought were old ones that had stopped working. I just had them repaired using my own allowance, so don't be shy."
"Wow..."
"Hey! What's with the 'wow'?"
"I mean... you're basically saying 'come to Clausel instead of paying me back,' right?"
Using her previous letter as a reference point, Ren’s remark made Lithia let out a strangled "Ugu!"
He had hit the mark, but she quickly tried to feign composure.
"I’m not asking for that much! I just want you to spar with me while I’m here."
"Does that mean you'll be coming back here often?"
"Is that a problem?"
(Well...)
Unfortunately, he didn't have the right to forbid her.
"I don't think the Baron will give his permission indefinitely."
"He’s already let me come twice. Whether it’s three times, four times, or ten times, it won't make a difference."
Ren was intimidated by her sheer force of will. After a few seconds of stunned silence, he cleared his throat and forced a smile.
"If the Baron says nothing, then I have nothing to say either."
In truth, he simply couldn't refuse.
"Fufu, good."
Lithia beamed with a friendly smile.
Perhaps being visited was better than being abducted and taken to Clausel. Nevertheless, it was still an inconvenient development for Ren.
(I kind of want to lose on purpose...)
It was the sort of situation where Ren couldn't be blamed for such thoughts.
"I hope you realize that losing on purpose isn't allowed, okay?"
"Perish the thought. I would never be so disrespectful to you, My Lady."
"Hmm... you say that, but you had the face of someone plotting something wicked."
"No, you’re imagining things."
A brief silence fell between them. The dry sound of a log popping in the fireplace echoed through the kitchen.
"Oh, that’s right. Since you're back, let’s go see your father."
"Is something the matter?"
"I want to use my Holy Magic to speed up his recovery. ...I did it the last time I was here, too. Didn't you know?"
Ren honestly hadn't known. He bowed his head and expressed his sincere thanks to Lithia.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
As expected, Ren was forced to spar with Lithia after sunset.
Lithia had grown significantly in the past two months, showing a different level of skill than before, but the match still ended in Ren’s overwhelming victory. Her frustration was palpable as she declared, "We're doing it again tomorrow morning!"
Once Lithia went to bathe, Weiss visited Ren in the utility room.
"The master was very grateful for your hard work today. As am I. ----So, I was wondering, boy, is there anything I can do for you?"
"Even if you ask me that, I’ve already received a reward from the Baron."
"No, this is strictly from me personally."
Ren still couldn't think of anything.
(It’d be awkward to just ask for money.)
He didn't want his inner "impoverished commoner" to show too much.
"How about I teach you some survival skills and camping knowledge?" Weiss suggested.
Ren was surprised by the unexpected offer.
"It is knowledge that will never go to waste. For example, if you find yourself in an unexpected situation where you must spend the night in the forest, it could save your life."
(I see. Now that he mentions it, that's true.)
Ren understood the necessity and answered immediately.
"Please. I would be honored if you would teach me."
Ren bowed deeply to request the instruction. Weiss waved him off, saying, "Please, don't bow. This is my way of thanking you," and made Ren raise his head.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Ren left the manor around midnight, heading deep into the forest past Sword Rock.
He was continually amazed by Weiss’s strength as the knight led the way through the harsh, snow-covered path. Whenever a Little Boar appeared, Weiss would slaughter it with a sword stroke so fast the eye could barely follow. Ren was left speechless time and again.
Eventually, Weiss stopped in front of a large, fallen boulder. He beckoned Ren into its shadow and sat down, calling the boy to his side.
"First, we must start a fire."
There were several methods, though knights typically used Magic Tools. However, when those weren't available, they used flint. If even that was missing, the final resort was friction from rubbing wood together.
"But if the wood is damp, it won't ignite. Therefore, one must never neglect preparations before reaching that final resort. You must ensure you never fall into such a desperate situation."
Weiss handed Ren a dagger in a leather sheath.
"This is a gift from me. A special mineral is embedded in the pommel, and the leather sheath has been treated as well. If you strike them together forcefully as you would with a flint, it will produce sparks."
"Are you sure? This looks expensive."
"Not particularly. In Clausel, you can buy one for about 10,000 G—roughly a commoner's daily wage."
Even so, it wasn't cheap, Ren thought. But he gratefully accepted Weiss’s generosity and drew the blade as instructed. Weiss took a piece of firewood from his coat and placed it on the ground.
"Since today is training, I borrowed a piece from your manor. Now, I’ll show you how it’s done first, and then I’ll have you try it."
Weiss expertly struck the knife against the sheath. Ren let out an admiring grunt as sparks showered down. Beside him, Weiss’s expression softened as he pulled a small bundle of straw from his pocket and struck the sparks again. After a few tries, a tiny flame took hold of the straw.
Ren took up the challenge, and after several attempts, he finally managed to get the sparks to fly.
Using that as the seed, they built a small campfire and rested their bodies in the warmth.
"By the way, why did we leave the manor right at midnight? We finished preparations much earlier."
"Mmm... I didn't want the young lady to catch wind of this."
"A-Ah... I see..." Ren chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.
The next morning, they woke up before sunrise. Though he’d had only about half his usual sleep, Ren was surprisingly alert. By the time they were walking back through the village farmlands, there wasn't a trace of drowsiness left.
"We made it back early."
"Yes. With this, the young lady shouldn't even be awake yet. I’m going to check on the horses while I’m at it, so you go on ahead, boy."
Continuing their pleasant conversation, they arrived at the manor as planned. Ren parted with Weiss and reached for the door.
The moment he opened it...
"Oh, welcome home."
Lithia greeted him with a voice like a tinkling bell, wearing a radiant smile. However, despite the brilliance of her expression, Ren felt an indescribable, suffocating pressure.
"It must have been cold out there, wasn't it? I don't think you really needed to go out at such an hour."
"Ah... well, you see..." Ren scratched his cheek and gave a vague, non-committal answer.
"Honestly... even I wouldn't be so unreasonable as to ask you to take me into the forest in the middle of the night. Although... being kept in the dark about it did make me a little miffed..."
Lithia’s next words took Ren by surprise.
"Also, we’re skipping our spar today."
Ren initially thought she was angry, but that wasn't it.
"You just got back. You must be exhausted, right?"
"N-No, I’m fine! If it's just a little bit----"
"It’s okay. It would be terrible if you pushed yourself too hard and got sick. Understand?"
Being treated with such sudden consideration threw Ren off his rhythm. However, looking at Lithia’s face, it didn't seem like an act. She was undoubtedly speaking from the heart.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. After all, it’s not fun at all to win against you when you're tired."
She really is a sore loser, Ren thought with a small, fond smile.