It was the morning of the day Baron Clausel’s guilt was to be officially recognized—the twelfth morning since Ren and Licia had been taken away.
Around that same time, Ren was washing their clothes in a small stream he had discovered deep in the forest.
(This is the last of it.)
Once he finished, Ren wrung the garments out to remove the moisture and returned to where he had left the horse. Near the animal sat a large boulder. Licia, who had been sleeping with her back against it until only ten minutes ago, was now awake and waiting for him.
“...Thanks,” she murmured, her face reddening slightly as she realized Ren had washed her things along with his own. “B-But next time, let me do it! I mean it!”
“No. Crouching like that is surprisingly tiring. It would be too much of a burden on your body.”
“It’s fine! I’m healthy enough for that now!”
While her outburst was mostly born of embarrassment, Ren didn't mind. Her vigor was a clear sign of her recovery. He gave a wry smile as he began tying the wet clothes to the horse’s saddle. They would inevitably pick up the scent of the animal, but there was no other way to dry them on the move.
“Haa... I wish we could find definitive evidence that Viscount Given is behind all of this.”
“It’ll be difficult,” Licia admitted. “Especially while our main priority is reaching Clausel.”
“True... Hmm, what should we do?”
Delivering Licia safely was paramount, yet the thought of arriving empty-handed felt like a bitter defeat. Seeing him hesitate, Licia smiled.
“Don’t worry. I have an idea.”
“Wait, really?”
“Really. Thanks to you, Ren, I think I can manage it when the time comes.”
“...Thanks to me?”
Ren tilted his head, but Licia only gave a small, cryptic laugh. Realizing he wouldn't get a clear answer, Ren shifted his focus back to the journey.
“We’ll head out after a short rest.”
“Yes. Let’s.”
They couldn't afford to linger if they wanted to reach Clausel today.
“Once we arrive, we have to find out about your parents immediately,” Licia said.
“Right... Once I know they’re safe, I’ll write to them.”
“A-A letter?”
“Yes. Even if they’re taking refuge in a neighboring village, a letter should help put them at ease.”
Ren spoke without much thought, but the word "letter" sent Licia’s mind racing back to the moment shortly before their escape—back to the letter she had accidentally discovered in Ren’s room. The one that had looked suspiciously like a confession of love.
While Licia sat there flustered, Ren busied himself with the final preparations.
(We have enough food... Oh, I should get rid of this Magic Stone I drained yesterday.)
He checked his bag, spotting the empty husk of a Magic Stone from a monster he had hunted. Since he had already absorbed its mana, there was no point in carrying the weight. He gripped it in his palm, ready to toss it aside.
“Hey... listen.”
(I wonder if it’s okay to throw it in the stream.)
“I said, listen!”
Ren didn't know what was on Licia’s mind, but when he turned to her and saw her cheeks and neck flushed bright red, he panicked.
(Did the fever come back?)
He rushed to her side and placed a hand on her forehead. “What a relief. You don’t seem to have a fever.”
Licia’s heart hammered against her ribs. He was so close, looking at her with such gentle, honest concern.
“T-That’s not it!” she stammered, backing away.
“Then what is it?”
“Just tell me one thing!” She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. “Ren, you’re hiding something from me, aren't you?”
Ren tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
“I know this is a bad time. But it’s been bothering me so much I have to know. Why... why were you treasuring that?”
Her resolve wavered at the end, causing her to speak vaguely. It was a mistake.
(What is ‘that’?) Ren wondered, offering a confused smile.
“Oh, for heaven's sake! Don’t make me say it! You know perfectly well! The thing that was in your room, too!”
“I really have no idea...”
But then, a realization struck him. It was in his room, and given the context, it had to be something they had touched upon recently.
(Ah, she means the Magic Stones.)
He was still holding the empty one, after all. He didn't understand why he would be scolded for it, but he remembered his mother, Mireille, once criticizing his father, Roy, for being overly obsessed with them.
(Does she think I have some weird obsession?)
He had several empty stones in his room; to a noble girl like her, it probably looked like a bizarre, perhaps even unseemly, hobby.
(Well, at least she hasn't seen the part where I actually absorb them.)
He looked her straight in the eye. He wasn't ready to reveal his ability yet, so he scrambled for a boyish excuse that might mirror his father’s old habits.
Licia’s heart skipped a beat as his gaze intensified. She clasped her hands over her chest, trying to hide her racing pulse.
“I’ve just... been interested in them since the first time I saw one,” Ren explained.
He hoped that being the heir of a knightly house would make his interest in "materials" seem natural. But Licia’s reaction was anything but natural.
“Y-Y-You’ve been... interested!?”
She buried her face in her hands, her skin turning a shade of crimson that seemed impossible. She peered at him through the gaps in her fingers. “Auu... you didn't have to look at me like that when you said it. That’s unfair... saying something like that so suddenly...”
“My apologies. But it’s true. I’ve always been interested.”
“I-I get it already! I heard you the first time!”
Licia huffed and turned away. To Ren, she looked genuinely troubled by his "eccentric hobby." To Licia, who was suffering from a massive misunderstanding, her heart wouldn't stop racing.
(I guess having all those empty stones in my room was a bad look,) Ren thought. He realized that to a normal person, someone who stared at Magic Stones all day probably looked a bit touched in the head. (I’ll have to be more careful.)
He saw her stealing glances at him and decided to apologize properly.
“I shouldn't have treasured it just because I was interested. Like you said, from now on, I won’t do it anymore—”
“I-It’s fine! You can do whatever you want, Ren!”
“...Eh?”
Ren was utterly baffled as she spun around, her face still bright red. He thought she had been rebuking him, but now she was telling him to keep doing it? He stared at her, blinking.
Licia’s eyes shimmered with a hint of bashful tears. “The name.”
“What?”
“Oh, honestly! I’m not happy about forgiving you for a reason like that, but after hearing you say that, I don’t have much choice!”
“Wait, choice about what?”
“About your name! I’m saying you can call me by mine!”
Her voice, tossed out with a mix of defiance and desperation, drifted across the grassy plains. Their misunderstanding remained perfectly intact.
Evening was approaching when they reached the outskirts of the territory.
“Ren! I can see the hills! We’re almost to Clausel!” Licia cried out joyfully.
Her complexion had returned to a healthy glow, and her voice was full of life. Ren, supporting her on the horse, felt a massive weight lift from his shoulders.
(We’re going to make it.)
“Hey, Ren! Once we cross those hills, it’s a straight shot to the town!”
“So we’re finally safe?”
“Yes! My father’s knights will be there. We can find out about your family right away!”
They were so close. But as they crested a rise, a shadow fell over the path. The sun was dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in blood-red hues, when the sound of approaching hoofbeats reached them.
In seconds, they were surrounded.
“I’m glad we found you,” said a familiar voice.
It was the knight who had visited Ren’s village as Given’s messenger. Under different circumstances, seeing a familiar face might have been a relief. But Ren and Licia immediately went on high alert. Ren braced himself, hand hovering near his sword.
“Baron Clausel asked for our help in searching for you,” the knight continued. “Now, come with us. We’ll take you to a safe location.”
The claim was laughably transparent. They were surrounded on all sides, and Ren suspected more knights were lurking in the treeline.
(Fight? Or run?)
Running was the better option, but Ren wanted a confession. He wanted evidence that Given had ordered the attack on his home.
“Ren,” Licia whispered, her voice meant only for him. He saw the look in her eyes; she was thinking exactly what he was.
“We’ve come this far,” Ren whispered back. “Let’s see how much we can get out of them.”
“Is it okay? You’ll be in danger too.”
“It’s a bit late for that. I’m ready for whatever happens.”
Licia turned back to the knights, her expression turning cool and regal. “Can you leave this to me?”
The knights were already growing restless. “You,” Licia said, pointing to the lead knight. “Whether we go with you depends on your answer to one question.”
She reached into their pack and pulled out a magic tool—the broken necklace. She held it up for all to see. “Do you recognize this?”
“...I do not,” the knight replied, though his brow twitched.
“Oh? You seemed to react just now.”
“I said I don’t know it. What is it?”
“This,” Licia said, her voice carrying across the clearing, “is a magic tool I took from the thieves who kidnapped us. I’m planning to take it to the Merchant Guild for an investigation.”
The knights stiffened.
“I became quite close with the Guild Master in the capital,” she lied smoothly. “I’m sure they can track down who bought this, or who owned it previously.”
“That’s impossible,” the knight scoffed, though sweat began to bead on his forehead. “There are thousands of such tools in the Empire.”
“Perhaps. But this is an expensive, high-grade item. Not something that circulates widely. If we find the source, we’ll know if the thieves bought it themselves or if someone gave it to them. And if it’s the latter... well, the person who provided it will have some very difficult questions to answer in court.”
It was a total bluff, but Licia delivered it with such conviction that the knights’ composure began to crumble.
“Unless, of course,” she added, “you’d like to take it as evidence?”
“Yes! Give it to us!” the knight demanded, his voice too loud.
“How foolish. I have no obligation to give anything to you. This is my father’s land, after all. I’ll only hand it over to the proper authorities.”
Tension crackled in the air. The knights exchanged frantic glances. Licia’s bluff had backed them into a corner; they couldn't risk her reaching the Guild with that necklace.
“We insist!” the knight shouted. “You must accompany us immediately!”
The horses lurched forward.
“Ren! Now!” Licia cried. “Go! If they try to stop us, cut them down!”
Ren kicked the horse into a gallop. As they tried to break through the line, the lead knight drew his sword and swung. Ren parried with the Iron Magic Sword, the impact chipping the knight’s blade. In the same motion, Ren’s blade flashed out, slicing across the back of the knight’s hand.
“You brat!” the knight roared, reaching out to grab them.
Licia lunged forward, her hand glowing with a sudden, brilliant light. A burst of magic slammed into the knight’s outstretched hand, leaving a stark white burn.
“Thank you, foolish knight,” Licia laughed as they galloped past. “Since you’ve laid a hand on me, I can drag your master to court for a separate crime entirely!”
“After them! Don’t let them escape!” the knight screamed, clutching his scorched hand.
They had practically confessed. By reacting to the bluff, they had confirmed their connection to the kidnappers. Now, they were desperate.
“I’ll go ahead to Clausel and report to the Viscount!” the lead knight shouted to his men, veering off the main path.
Ren and Licia rode hard, weaving through the trees. Ren summoned his Wooden Magic Sword, using Nature Magic to sprout roots and vines behind them, tripping up the pursuing horses and widening the gap.
The chase went on for hours. They dodged patrols and slipped through thickets, finally emerging from the forest under a blanket of stars.
(Just a little further...)
Ren stroked the horse’s mane. The animal was exhausted, its breathing ragged, but it refused to slow down.
“...Ren. If it comes to it, leave me,” Licia whispered.
“Don’t be stupid.”
“S-Stupid!?”
“Completely stupid. Stop saying nonsense and look for the path!”
His voice was sharp with desperation, and Licia went quiet, nodding obediently.
“Straight ahead! Cross that ridge!”
They pushed the horse to its absolute limit. Then, as they crested the final hill, a figure appeared, perched atop a large boulder.
“I knew you would have to pass this way.”
The Beast Tamer’s voice was like a cold wind. Jelkku stood up, spreading his arms. His robe sleeves fell back, revealing intricate, glowing patterns etched into his skin.
“Sorry, but a contract is a contract.”
The ground beneath them groaned. Earth mounded and cracked as dozens of monsters—insectoids, rodents, and warped beasts—clawed their way out of the soil.
“You won't give up, will you? Then I’ll use force. And if that fails... I’ll just kill you.”
Two black vortices opened behind him, and two Mana Eaters crawled out, screeching.
From the forest behind, Given’s knights finally burst into the clearing. “There they are!”
But their triumph lasted only a second. The monsters Jelkku had summoned turned on them instantly.
“Wait! We’re on the same side—Gwaaaah!”
The knights were swarmed, their screams joining the sickening sound of bone being crushed.
“They wouldn't have been much use anyway,” Jelkku said coldly. “Better they serve as bait.”
“Ren,” Licia said, her voice steady. “Lend me a sword.”
“I can't give you these, but...” Ren reached into his pack and handed her the dagger Weiss had given him.
The monsters lunged. Ren pulled the reins, swinging the Wooden Magic Sword to smash the brow of an insectoid while Licia leaned out, neatly slicing the throat of a beast that jumped at them from the side.
They fought like a single entity. Ren used Nature Magic to create barriers of roots, while Licia, despite her exhaustion, moved with a fluid, lethal grace.
“You’ve gotten even stronger!” Ren shouted, parrying a claw.
“I had to! I wanted to beat you in a spar!”
“We’ll have that match! I promise!”
They carved a path through the horde, but Jelkku remained unfazed. He watched from his boulder, a mocking smile on his lips.
“I’ve seen enough,” the Beast Tamer said. “Hunt them down.”
The two Mana Eaters—monsters of the same rank as the Thief Wolfen—took to the air. But to Ren, their movements seemed sluggish. The power Licia had shared with him through her Holy Magic was surging through his veins, heightening his senses to a superhuman degree.
“Go!” Licia cried, her hands glowing as she poured the last of her strength into a protective veil. “I’ll protect you! Just run!”
Ren kicked the horse forward, straight at Jelkku. A blast of hellfire erupted from one of the Mana Eaters, but Licia’s white veil held—barely. It shattered into fragments just as the heat dissipated.
“Impossible!” Jelkku hissed.
Ren leaped from the horse as it reached the boulder, the Iron Magic Sword flashing in his hand. He slashed at Jelkku, but the Beast Tamer stepped back at the last second, a vine from his own Nature Magic pulling him out of harm's way.
“You brat...” Jelkku’s hood fell back, revealing his handsome, golden-haired elven features.
“I know who you are, Jelkku,” Ren spat. “I know why you’re here. You made a deal with Given to find a way to break the Elfen Seal on your arms.”
Jelkku’s eyes widened. “How could you know that?”
“I know a lot of things. I know you’re an exile and a murderer. And I know your time is up!”
Ren lunged again. Jelkku ordered one of his Mana Eaters to intercept. The creature threw itself between them, and Ren’s blade pierced its chest. But the monster used its dying strength to ram the horse, throwing Licia into the air.
Ren abandoned his attack, diving to catch her before she hit the ground. They tumbled across the grass, coming to a halt near the bodies of fallen monsters. Licia was unconscious, her mana completely depleted.
Jelkku was on his knees by his fallen Mana Eater, a deep wound in his shoulder pouring blood. He began to laugh—a high, shrill sound of pure madness.
“I haven't killed enough... I wanted to see so many more people die...” He looked at Ren with terrifying, bloodshot eyes. “Mana Eater... eat me.”
The remaining Mana Eater hesitated, then obeyed. It tore Jelkku’s arms from his body, devouring them. Jelkku screamed in a mix of agony and ecstasy as the monster began to grow, its body twisting and expanding until it was ten times its original size. It grew extra limbs, extra wings, and fangs longer than Ren’s horse.
It was no longer a mere monster. It was a dragon-class horror.
“Kill... them...” Jelkku wheezed, his chest pierced by a wooden root he had summoned to prop himself up. He was dying, kept alive only by a high-grade potion he had forced into his system.
The giant Mana Eater vanished from sight, moving with impossible speed. Ren barely had time to brace himself before a massive blow sent him flying. He coughed up blood, his ribs cracking under the pressure.
(It’s B-rank... or higher...)
The monster was a blur of violence. It toyed with Ren, batting him across the clearing like a doll. Ren crawled back toward Licia, his body screaming in protest.
“End... it...” Jelkku gasped.
The Mana Eater leaped into the air, its jaws opening to swallow them both.
Ren tried to stand, but his legs gave out. Is this it?
Then, a faint voice reached his ears. “...Thank you.”
Licia was awake, though only barely. She reached out, her trembling hand overlapping with his. “You protected me... so many times... thank you.”
A warm, brilliant power surged from her hand into his. It was her final act—the very last of her Holy Magic. “Take it... Ren, please... just you... stay safe...”
She slumped back, unconscious once more. The white veil she had created shattered.
Ren stood up. Every fiber of his being was in agony, but his eyes were sharp as blades.
“I’m not going anywhere without you,” he whispered.
The Mana Eater roared and dove. Ren summoned the Iron Magic Sword, the Holy Magic flashing around the blade. He met the monster’s gargantuan strength head-on, the impact sinking his feet into the earth.
“I’m not... letting it end here!”
With a roar of defiance, he repelled the blow, the sheer force of his counter sending the massive beast tumbling backward. But the cost was total. Ren’s arms hung limp at his sides, his muscles shredded. He collapsed to his knees, his vision blurring.
(Move... damn it, move!)
Jelkku’s wheezing laughter echoed across the hill. The Mana Eater scrambled to its feet, eyes glowing with fury.
Ren’s hand, still wearing the magic bracelet, rested near Licia’s chest. Suddenly, a light—different from Holy Magic, yet just as brilliant—erupted from the bracelet.
A new entry appeared in his mind.
[ ???? (Level 1) ]
He didn't care what it was. He didn't care why it was there.
(Anything... if it can save her... give me anything!)
The Mana Eater leaped for the final kill.
Ren felt a golden lightning wrap around him. A shadow of a longsword appeared in the air, and he reached out, gripping it with a strength he shouldn't have possessed.
The world turned white. A pillar of light pierced the heavens, a celestial wind howling through the clearing. The Mana Eater didn't even have time to scream before it was dissolved into particles of light. Jelkku, still propped up by his wooden root, was swallowed by the radiance, his madness finally silenced.
The light faded, soaking into Ren and Licia, healing their broken bodies. Ren looked at Licia, saw that she was breathing normally, and finally let his eyes close.
The next morning, Baron Clausel was being led through the town gates in chains. Viscount Given rode at the head of the procession, a smug smile on his face.
“Everything is in place,” Given remarked to the knight beside him. “Once we reach the capital, the Hero Faction will handle the rest.”
The knight hesitated. “Viscount, I still don’t understand... why the boy?”
Given smirked. “I discovered a connection. A secret that no one else in the Empire has realized. Once I have Ren Ashton, my influence within the faction will be absolute.”
He looked toward the horizon, his brow furrowing as a lone horse appeared in the distance. It was the Beast Tamer’s horse, but the rider wasn't Jelkku.
Knight Commander Weiss broke from the line, racing toward the approaching animal.
“Young lady!?” Weiss cried out, his voice full of shock.
Licia was the one holding the reins, with Ren slumped unconscious behind her. She looked exhausted, her clothes torn and stained with blood, but her eyes held a terrifying, cold light.
“Weiss,” she said quietly. “Don’t say a word. I’m taking him to the mansion.”
She rode straight toward Viscount Given.
“So, you are Viscount Given,” she said, her voice ringing out across the square.
“Saintess,” Given replied, his tone mocking. “I am glad to see you safe, but you should mind your tongue. Your father is a criminal.”
“I don’t have any courtesy to waste on a man like you,” Licia snapped. She held up the broken magic tool. “Do you recognize this? It belonged to the elf you hired. Once the authorities investigate it, I’m sure they’ll find the link back to you.”
“A single trinket proves nothing,” Given laughed. “And what of the knights who supposedly attacked you? Do you have proof of that as well?”
“I have my word. And I have the faces I remember.”
“Your word against mine? I think the courts will find that insufficient.”
Licia bit her lip, her exhaustion making it hard to find the right words. But then, a weak voice spoke from behind her.
“...Show us... your hand.”
Ren had opened his eyes. He looked like he could barely hold his head up, but his gaze was pinned on the knight standing beside Given.
“Ren!” Licia cried.
“The back... of your hand,” Ren wheezed. “Show them.”
Given’s knight froze.
“Show us,” Weiss demanded, stepping forward.
The knight tried to pull away, but Weiss’s hand was already on his hilt. “Show us before I draw my steel.”
Trembling, the knight removed his gauntlet and unwrapped a bloody bandage. There, on the back of his hand, was a fresh sword cut and a stark white burn—the unmistakable mark of Holy Magic.
“A coincidence?” Weiss asked, his voice like grinding stones.
Given laughed, though it sounded forced. “Fine! We’ll settle it in the capital! The original judgment stands; the Baron must be moved!”
“I don’t think so,” a new voice interrupted.
The sound of slow, rhythmic applause came from the gate. An elderly gentleman in a refined tailcoat stepped forward, a polite smile on his face.
“Wonderful,” he said. “A truly beautiful ending to such a courageous story.”
“Who are you?” Given spat.
“My name is Edgar,” the old man replied, bowing to Licia. “I am here on behalf of my Master. Since the two of you have performed such a miracle, I believe it is time for me to lend a small hand.”
He turned to the Viscount. Given sneered, but then Edgar pulled a small, jeweled knife from his coat. On its hilt was a noble crest.
Given’s face went pale. He began to sweat, his arrogance vanishing in an instant.
“ Official,” Edgar said, addressing the imperial representative. “My Master believes there are far too many inconsistencies in this case. By his authority, we demand a retrial here in Clausel.”
“B-But!” the official stammered. “The Hero Faction—”
“My Master has a significant debt to young Ren Ashton,” Edgar continued, his voice turning cold. “He intends to see that debt repaid. He will support House Clausel until the very end.”
The official wilted. Given looked as though he had been struck.
Edgar leaned in close to Given, whispering so only the Viscount could hear. “You’re wondering why he moved, aren't you? It’s simple. Because those two succeeded in their miracle, my Master can now act without reservation. And because the boy saved a life precious to him.”
Edgar smiled, a sharp, dangerous glint in his eyes. “Did you really think you had outmaneuvered him?”
Without another word, Edgar turned and walked back into the town, leaving Given ruined in his wake.