Kays Translations

Chapter Twenty-One: A Saint Who Blends In Strangely Well

In the end, no one knew the truth.

Viscount Given was suspicious, but there was no proof that he had sent either monster into Clausel territory.

They could not afford to remain unguarded, however.

Baron Clausel extended the knights’ assignments in the surrounding villages by roughly half a year and ordered them to remain until spring. Ren’s village, where direct contact with the Thief Wolfen had occurred, received an indefinite garrison.

The order arrived after the beginning of November. Another month passed while reports and instructions moved busily through the territory, and winter settled over the village almost before anyone noticed.

The fields were no longer covered by morning frost but by pure white snow.

Thanks to Ren’s hunting, the village had prepared far more comfortably than in previous years. There was plenty of food and firewood, and House Ashton still possessed much of the wealth earned from the Thief Wolfen.

“Another excellent hunt, Ren,” one of the Clausel knights said.

“It was. I thought moving through the forest would be much harder in winter, but once I became accustomed to it, it wasn’t so bad.”

Ren looked up at the pale afternoon sun.

A dozen Little Boars lay in a pile beside the bridge, proof of the day’s success.

(My swordsmanship has improved lately.)

The reason was simple. He had been fighting without relying on the Wooden Magic Sword’s Nature Magic (Minor).

Since the garrison arrived, knights always accompanied him into the forest. Ren therefore used an ordinary sword and concealed Magic Sword Summoning.

He sometimes wondered whether hiding it was still necessary. Yet he had kept the skill secret for years, and revealing it now would create questions he had no desire to answer.

His proficiency continued to rise regardless. He summoned the Thief’s Magic Sword over one fingertip, where it could remain hidden like a small piece of armor, and thus retained Physical Ability Boost (Minor) while wielding a normal weapon.

He saw no reason to change that arrangement.

“Please leave the Little Boars to us,” a knight said.

“I always tell you that I’ll carry some too.”

Ren lifted four Little Boars across his shoulders.

The sight was strange enough to wound an adult knight’s confidence. Yet after Ren’s victory over the Thief Wolfen, no one could call it unbelievable.

“Ren,” one knight said as they walked, “have you ever considered leaving this village?”

“Why ask that all of a sudden?”

“You’re certain to achieve great things. You could become a knight whose name is known throughout the imperial capital.”

“Indeed,” the other said. “I should not say this too loudly, but you seem more like a reincarnation of one of the Seven Heroes than the heirs of the Seven Great Houses do.”

Ren was pleased by the praise but deeply embarrassed by two adults delivering it so earnestly.

“I am the heir of House Ashton. I have no intention of leaving the village.”

It was the answer he always gave.

“What a waste…”

“Enough. Any more will trouble him.”

“Right. Forgive me.”

The three continued along the field road. Snow made every step heavy, turning the walk itself into a form of training. Apart from the crunch beneath their boots, the village was wrapped in a silence rarely found during summer.

* * * *

The Ashton manor was as old as ever. Its roof groaned under the snow.

(Will it survive the winter?)

Then Ren remembered the money from the Thief Wolfen. They could probably repair the roof dozens of times with that sum. It was easy to focus on medicinal herbs and forget the many other ways the money could improve their lives.

“I’m home.”

He entered through the door beside the kitchen, expecting Mireille to answer.

Instead, a girl seated at the table rested her cheek in one hand and spoke with perfect ease.

“Welcome back. Your mother went to Grandma Rigg’s house.”

Her response sounded so natural that Ren accepted it without question.

“I see. That explains why she isn’t here.”

“Why don’t you bathe first? I brought several magic tools from the Clausel manor. I think you’ll find them useful.”

“That sounds interesting. I’ll take your advice.”

Ren walked past Licia and headed for the washroom.

The room had changed.

“This is a hair dryer.”

A magic tool sat before the manor’s cloudy mirror. Until now he had dried his hair with a towel and the heat of the fireplace. The device felt like an abrupt leap into modern life.

He undressed and entered the bath, where another surprise awaited him.

“There is even a shower.”

The Ashton manor had never possessed one. A crystal sphere nearly the size of a person’s head was fixed beneath the device on the wall. It generated both water and heat through the power of a magic stone.

The convenience was astonishing. They no longer needed to carry water from the river or even draw it from a well.

“How much does something like this cost?”

Ren did not intend to ask Licia. He was almost afraid of hearing the price.

Warm water fell over him.

“This is wonderful…”

For one dangerous moment he imagined how comfortable life at the Clausel estate might be.

(No. Don’t think that way. I can earn money here and make this manor just as comfortable.)

Proud of resisting civilization’s temptation, Ren smiled at his reflection.

Then a question surfaced.

“Wait.”

He folded his arms beneath the shower.

“Why is she here?”

It was astonishing that he had not asked sooner. He had been tired after hunting, and Licia had acted so naturally that his mind had accepted her presence as ordinary.

But she was the baron’s daughter. She was supposed to be in Clausel, not sitting in House Ashton’s kitchen as though she lived there.

Ren hurried out, roughly dried his hair, dressed, and rushed back through the manor.

“Why are you here!?”

He flung open the kitchen door.

Licia covered her ears and glared.

“Why are you suddenly shouting? My ears hurt!”

“Then explain why the young lady who should be in Clausel is sitting in our kitchen!”

“Because I came here!”

“Obviously! I’m asking why!”

Ren’s delayed reaction was embarrassing, but Licia’s presence was still far more shocking.

After recovering from his outburst, Licia smiled with quiet triumph.

“There is only one reason. You refused to come to Clausel, so I came to you instead.”

Ren stared at her. She had not abandoned the idea of training with him at all.

“I heard you were busy.”

“Don’t worry. I finished everything.”

“Everything?”

“All the studies and duties assigned to me before winter.”

Her determination was frighteningly efficient.

“What did you tell Baron Clausel?”

“I told Father that House Clausel needed to act more aggressively regarding Viscount Given. If the lord’s daughter—and a saint—stayed in this village, the viscount might hesitate before making another careless move. Father could hardly reject such a sensible argument.”

Ren immediately understood why Baron Clausel had yielded.

Licia had not come merely because she wanted another match. She had completed her responsibilities and turned her visit into a defensible political measure.

Licia Clausel was hardworking, decisive, and intelligent.

Ren had not expected to meet her again so soon.

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