Chapter Seventeen: Regretting His Rash Behavior

Roy and Mireille were astonished when Ren brought Licia and Weiss into the manor. They immediately began preparing to receive their noble guests.

Roy couldn’t leave his sickroom, so Weiss went there to hear about his condition. Licia, however, asked to speak with Ren privately.

(I’m glad we keep the guest room clean.)

Ren refused to bring the baron’s daughter into his own bedroom and instead guided her to one of the manor’s few guest rooms.

“Why do you think I came all the way to this village?” Licia asked as soon as she sat on the old sofa.

Her presence somehow made the worn furniture look like the work of a master craftsman.

“I thought you came to deliver a letter from Baron Clausel.”

Now that he knew her identity, Ren spoke much more formally than he had during their fight.

“I’m afraid that was only an excuse.”

Licia smiled triumphantly.

The White Saint, Licia Clausel.

In Legend of the Seven Heroes, she never formally joined the heroes’ party, but she supported them during event battles. Only a highly leveled protagonist could rival her strength.

(No wonder she looks so remarkable.)

Her beauty and strong personality had made her one of the game’s most popular characters. She couldn’t be romanced, however, and players had called her the unconquerable heroine. Even Ren had been shocked by her death in Legend of the Seven Heroes II.

“So you had another purpose.”

“Of course. I wanted to judge you for myself. Weiss praised you for defeating a Thief Wolfen alone even though you’re the same age as I am.”

“Lord Weiss gives me too much credit. My father injured it first, and I was fortunate enough to finish it. It wasn’t entirely my achievement.”

“Is that so?”

“The rest was mostly luck.”

Ren chose his words carefully, hoping to make Licia lose interest in him. Being disliked would be preferable, though he couldn’t afford to insult his liege lord’s daughter.

Licia leaned forward with an amused smile.

“That’s strange. The way you speak makes it sound as though you don’t want me to like you.”

(Exactly.)

Ren answered only with a strained smile.

Since his reincarnation, he had sought a peaceful life and tried to avoid the future described in the game. Licia was one of the people he had most wanted to avoid. Yet House Ashton served House Clausel, so cutting all contact with her was impossible.

At the very least, he hoped they wouldn’t become close.

“It doesn’t matter whether I like you,” Licia said.

“Pardon?”

“Would you come to Clausel?”

She revealed her true objective.

“Our fight convinced me. You’re not merely strong; you’re brave. You picked up the weapon without hesitation even though I challenged you without warning.”

(So taking the dagger meant accepting the challenge…)

Ren had picked it up without understanding anything. Courage had played no part in it.

“I didn’t know it was a challenge.”

“You don’t need to be modest.”

“No, I truly—”

“I understand. You’re not like those noble boys who do nothing but boast.”

Every attempt to lower her opinion of him only seemed to improve it.

“That’s why I want you to come to Clausel,” Licia continued.

Ren had trained diligently and knew he was stronger than most children his age, but he disliked showing off. Despite the misunderstanding, Licia seemed to have recognized that part of his personality.

(She works hard too.)

She had traveled all the way to this remote village because of her desire to improve, though her stubbornness clearly played a role as well.

“And I hate losing,” she added. “I can’t return home carrying the shame of defeat.”

“I thought you said you hadn’t lost.”

“That was a figure of speech.”

“So you want me to move to your town so I’ll be available whenever you feel like sparring.”

“Good. You understand.”

Her desire to improve was genuine, but her competitiveness seemed even stronger.

“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of leaving this village.”

Surprise widened Licia’s eyes before she recovered her composure.

“Do you dislike me?”

Ren wanted to avoid her, but that didn’t mean he hated her.

“No. If I leave, my father will be the only person here capable of fighting. If another monster like the Thief Wolfen appears, the village might not survive.”

“I understand the village’s circumstances. What about your own wishes?”

“You mean if the village didn’t need me?”

“Yes.”

“I would still remain. I like living here, and I have no desire to move to a city.”

Licia fell silent. She crossed her arms and pressed a finger to her lips as she thought.

“I never give up,” she muttered.

“What was that?”

“I was speaking to myself.”

“You said you would never give up.”

“You imagined it.”

It was obvious that he had heard correctly, but Licia refused to admit it. She abruptly stood and changed the subject.

“I’m sweaty after our fight. May I use your bath? I’ll pay for the firewood.”

“There’s no need. The water is already heated.”

“You heat bathwater every day? Do you have a magic tool?”

(Magic tools… Right. Those exist in this world.)

Magic tools operated using magical power. Some were small enough to carry, while others were large fixtures. Most used processed magic stones as fuel or drew mana directly from their users. That was one reason magic stones had been purchasable items in the game.

They were expensive, however, because few artisans knew how to make them.

“We can’t afford one,” Ren said. “I heat the water before going hunting so I can wash away sweat and monster blood when I return.”

He guided her to the bathing room. Though the manor was old, Mireille cleaned it carefully every day. Licia didn’t appear dissatisfied.

“Next time, I’ll bring a suitable magic tool from my home,” Licia said.

“Thank you—wait. Next time?”

Licia stared at him for a moment.

“You know, I appreciate being shown around, but I can’t undress while you remain in the room.”

Ren hurried out before she could misunderstand his silence.

Moments later, he heard her startled voice through the door.

“What…? Why is my underwear…?”

The thick door and echoing room made the rest impossible to hear, but her surprise was unmistakable.

“Is something wrong?” Ren called.

“Nothing! Everything is fine! Don’t worry!”

He could only tell her to call if she needed anything before retreating.

Back in his room, Ren remembered the object still hidden in his pocket.

“How am I supposed to return this?”

He had considered slipping it into her luggage while passing the guest room, but one of Licia’s knights stood guard outside. Leaving it in the dressing room was equally dangerous; someone might discover it and begin asking questions.

He looked toward the fireplace.

He could burn it. Throwing it into the forest or river was another possibility, though either felt wrong. The village rubbish would eventually be burned, but it might be found first.

The fireplace was the safest answer.

Ren bitterly regretted using the Thief’s Magic Sword so carelessly. Just this once, however, he would have to silence his conscience and destroy the evidence.

“Ren! I’m coming in!”

Mireille’s voice sounded from outside.

Ren spun around in panic. There was no time to light the fireplace. He couldn’t let his mother see what he held.

“What a pathetic situation…”

He yanked open a drawer in his wooden desk, shoved the stolen underwear into a small box inside, and closed it just as Mireille entered.

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