Chapter Sixteen: An Unexpected Spoil of War

The girl launched herself forward without warning.

She crossed the distance between them in an instant.

(What!?)

Her footwork was swift and refined, almost like a gust of wind. Ren was bewildered by the sudden attack, but the girl showed no hesitation as she aimed her dagger at his shoulder.

(She’s fast.)

She was not as fast or powerful as Roy, yet the path of her blade was sharper and smoother than anything Ren had encountered before. It reminded him of Weiss’s swordsmanship.

Ren understood all of that in a moment.

“For a mock battle, wouldn’t wooden swords be safer?”

Although he had been caught off guard, he parried her strike with ease.

“Impossible…”

The girl retreated several steps, astonishment staining her beautiful features.

“If you want to continue, we should fetch wooden swords first,” Ren said. “These are still dangerous.”

“The edges have been blunted. They’re perfectly safe!”

A metal weapon would still hurt if it struck someone, but Ren swallowed the objection and sighed.

The girl closed in again, displaying brilliant technique. Each exchange was precise, yet Ren repelled every attack. Her breathing gradually grew ragged.

“This is wonderful!” she exclaimed. “I’ve never enjoyed myself so much!”

Even exhausted, she showed no intention of surrendering.

She stepped back and reached for her dress. Ren stared in disbelief as she pulled it off—but beneath it she wore a fitted white outfit resembling a military uniform, designed to let her move freely.

(That dress seemed familiar somehow.)

Before Ren could grasp the memory, the girl attacked again.

Freed from the heavy dress, or perhaps simply more determined, she became faster and sharper than before.

“How about this?”

Her blade flashed toward him with skill far beyond what anyone would expect from a girl her age.

Even so, she was no match for Ren.

“No, this ends now.”

Deciding that the fight had gone on long enough, Ren stopped yielding ground. He drove more strength through his dagger and used the clash of their weapons to break her balance.

“No—!”

Her weight shifted onto one leg. Ren pressed forward, and she toppled backward onto the ground.

“I win.”

Ren straddled her to pin her in place and planted his dagger beside her neck. Her arms had lost their strength, and she fell silent beneath his unwavering gaze.

A few seconds passed before color spread across her cheeks.

“Too close…”

“What?”

“I said you’re too close!”

Ren sprang upright and backed away.

“Sorry! I only wanted you to admit defeat.”

The girl understood that he had meant nothing else, but it did little to ease her embarrassment. Her face turned bright red.

“I’ll make you regret humiliating me!”

She leaped to her feet and attacked again, eyes wet with frustration. Her technique remained refined, but impatience had introduced small flaws into her movements.

“You’re still going?” Ren cried.

“Of course! I never admitted defeat!”

“What kind of argument is that?”

Ren no longer wanted to fight. He was afraid he might injure her if this continued.

He needed to force the match to end—perhaps by knocking away her weapon or taking it from her. Striking it from her hand carried its own risks, but stealing it might be possible.

(That should work.)

His gaze fell on the Thief’s Magic Sword covering his finger.

Its effect was random, but perhaps it could take the dagger from her hand.

Ren swung his hand.

A strange current of air swept around the girl. Her soft hair fluttered, and surprise appeared on her face.

“I heard you possessed a skill, but was that wind magic?”

Ren barely heard her. He was certain the magic sword had stolen something. An object had appeared in his free hand, and its texture told him it was cloth.

At the same time, he learned that the Thief’s Magic Sword consumed far more mana than expected. The burden was much heavier than using the Wooden Magic Sword.

“My lady, enough! Boy, you must stop as well!”

Weiss’s arrival distracted Ren before he could inspect what he had taken. Uncertain how to explain that he had stolen something with his skill, he hurriedly concealed it.

(At least the fight is finally over.)

He breathed in relief as the Knight Commander dismounted and approached.

“Lord Weiss, why are you here?”

Ren placed the practice dagger on the ground. He had no desire to keep holding it.

“My apologies for arriving without warning. The truth is—”

“Weiss, allow me to explain,” the girl interrupted.

“Understood, my lady.”

She walked forward and stopped a few steps from Ren, then performed a graceful curtsy. Though she still wore the white military-style clothing beneath her discarded dress, every motion possessed the dignity of a noblewoman in a ballroom.

“I have brought a letter to House Ashton in my father’s name.”

Cold sweat traced Ren’s neck. Her words gave him a dreadful suspicion.

“My father praises House Ashton for defeating the Thief Wolfen, and he has high expectations for Ren Ashton’s future.”

“I… see. Thank you.”

“What kind of reaction is that? Aren’t you pleased?”

“My lady,” Weiss said, “the boy is clearly confused. You have not even introduced yourself.”

“Oh. You’re right.”

The girl cleared her throat, then smiled with flawless elegance.

“I am Licia Clausel, bearer of the White Saint.”

You know who I am, don’t you? her expression seemed to ask.

Ren nodded stiffly. Once Licia appeared satisfied, he looked toward the sky with unfocused eyes.

So this was the girl whose name he had tried so desperately to avoid.

“My lady, your dress,” Weiss said, lifting it from the ground. “You are covered in sweat. Let us continue this conversation inside.”

“Very well.”

The two exchanged those words with perfect calm while Ren remained frozen nearby.

(Why is this happening?)

He had spent years trying to avoid becoming involved with Licia Clausel. Yet she had suddenly appeared at his home before he had even found a way to refuse meeting her.

“My lady, I cannot permit you to disappear the moment I look away.”

“You and the others rested far too long. I couldn’t wait, so I rode here alone.”

Their conversation continued behind Ren. Then he remembered the item in his hand.

He turned away and cautiously looked down, hoping he had taken a handkerchief or some other object he could claim had fallen during the fight.

Instead, he found a pair of mature-looking red silk underwear.

(…Underwear.)

Ren shoved it into his pocket before anyone could see and clutched his head in silent despair.

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