Kays Translations

Chapter 31: Information Obtained

Night soon fell, and Ren began preparing their camp.

Licia offered to help, but he ordered her to rest. She watched him work with a dissatisfied expression.

“You’re surprisingly accustomed to this.”

“I’ve had plenty of practice over the last few days. Weiss taught me the basics before that.”

“Weiss? During winter?”

“Yes. That night taught me how to dress a monster, start a fire, and manage a camp.”

Weiss’s sudden lesson had seemed unreasonable at the time. Now Ren was deeply grateful for it, especially because he had someone ill depending on him.

For dinner, he had hunted an F-rank monster called a White Hawk, one rank above a Little Boar. It had posed little danger to him.

“It flies,” Licia said. “How did you catch it?”

“I waited until it landed in a tree, bound it with vines, and cut it down.”

“That mysterious sword again.”

“Exactly. Its true name remains a secret.”

“Stingy.”

Ren privately wondered whether there was any meaning left in hiding it. He had used the Wooden Magic Sword in front of her repeatedly, including to lift her from the horse. Keeping only its name secret was little more than stubbornness.

While Licia turned away in a small show of displeasure, Ren removed the White Hawk’s magic stone and let his bracelet absorb its power. He glanced at the crystal.

――――――

Ren Ashton

[Job] Eldest Son of House Ashton

[Skill]
Magic Sword Summoning (Level 1: 0/0)

Magic Sword Summoning Technique (Level 2: 898/1000)
Level 1: Can summon one magic sword.
Level 2: Gains Physical Ability Boost (Minor) while a magic sword is summoned.
Level 3: Can summon two magic swords.
Level 4: *****************************

[Acquired Magic Swords]
Wooden Magic Sword (Level 2: 714/1000)
Allows attacks equivalent to Nature Magic (Minor).
Its effective range expands as its level increases.

Iron Magic Sword (Level 1: 714/1000)
Its sharpness increases as its level rises.

Thief’s Magic Sword (Level 1: 0/3)
Has a fixed chance to steal a random item from a struck target.

――――――

In terms of the number of magic stones Ren had obtained, both ordinary magic swords could have progressed farther. Roy’s injury, however, had taught him the importance of preserving resources for emergencies. He therefore kept roughly half of the Little Boar stones to sell instead of absorbing them all. The money would be modest, but modest was better than nothing.

“What’s this?” Licia asked.

She had found the broken necklace among their belongings. Its silver chain and red jewel made it striking even in its damaged state.

“I took it from the Beast Tamer. The chain snapped when I attacked him. I kept it because I thought we could sell it for travel money.”

Licia examined it. “It’s a magic tool.”

“He said our voices couldn’t be heard outside the carriage. This may be what created the barrier. It’s broken now, so it shouldn’t allow anyone to track us.”

“You’re right about that. But don’t sell it. It may become evidence.”

Ren immediately saw the wisdom in her suggestion. “Understood.”

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

They departed again at dawn. Licia did not wake until they had already traveled some distance, her body still demanding more sleep than usual.

By noon they left the forest and discovered a small settlement on the plain, barely more than a dozen houses.

(We should stop, just in case.)

They still had food and water, but medicine remained important. Licia was recovering, yet more supplies could only help.

“My lady, let’s visit the village.”

“All right.”

A middle-aged woman approached when they arrived.

“Young adventurers? That’s unusual. What brings you here? Looking for something?”

“Medicine, if anyone has some to spare.”

The village had neither prepared medicine nor Meal Grass. Ren nevertheless traded monster materials for ordinary food. Eating nothing but monster meat would not be good for Licia.

“Where are you headed?” the woman asked.

“We haven’t decided. We’re simply traveling.”

“Then you might continue to Clausel. I heard the town will be busy soon.”

Ren’s eyebrows almost rose at the sudden mention of their destination.

“Why will Clausel be busy?”

“An adventurer who passed through said Baron Clausel is about to be punished.”

Licia gasped and spoke before she could stop herself.

“What does that mean? Why would that happen?”

Her voice sharpened, then she forced herself to regain control. They needed information, and angering the woman would gain them nothing.

“I don’t know whether it’s true,” the villager said. “The adventurers only overheard it while camping with some of Viscount Given’s party. They said Baron Clausel had sent monsters into Given territory, along with other accusations.”

“That can’t be…”

Licia went pale and fell silent. The woman looked worried.

“Is something wrong with her?”

Ren shaped his face into a reassuring smile. It was time to leave before their disguises failed.

“She has been ill since yesterday.”

“You can stay the night if she needs rest.”

“Thank you, but we’re in a hurry.”

He signaled Licia and led the horse back toward the plain, following the direction she had indicated earlier.

Several minutes after leaving, Ren said, “My lady, you handled that admirably.”

She did not answer.

Minutes passed, then more than ten. Ren understood enough not to force her to speak. He waited until she was ready.

At last her shoulders moved.

“Ren…”

She had called him by name without a title. Ren hid his surprise.

“Yes?”

He kept his tone gentle and unhurried.

“Why? My father has worked so hard for so long. Why is this happening to him?”

“Because Viscount Given is behind it.”

“No. That isn’t what I mean. I already know he is behind it.”

Her voice trembled.

“My father has devoted himself to Leomel. Why must he suffer this? What did we do? I may have been childish and foolish, but Father has done nothing to deserve such treatment.”

Ren could offer no answer.

“Given’s conduct is wrong no matter how anyone looks at it. It has no reason, no justice. So why is he allowed to do it?”

The girl before him was not the legendary Saint Licia from the game. She was simply a frightened child whose family was being crushed by a stronger noble. Ren felt ashamed for ever confusing the two.

“I don’t understand nobles anymore,” she whispered.

Her shoulders shook, and tears fell onto Ren’s arms around the reins.

He still had no answer. But he could not ignore her pain.

Almost without thinking, Ren released one hand from the reins and stroked her head. It was not the touch of a lover, but the gentle reassurance of an older brother comforting a younger sister.

“Ren…?”

Her hair had lost its usual silk-like shine after so many days without a proper bath. Licia would ordinarily have hated anyone touching it in such a state – or touching it at all.

Yet she leaned slightly into his hand.

“If you’re going to do it,” she murmured, “then stroke it properly.”

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The next morning, shortly after sunrise, Viscount Given entered the town of Clausel.

He was a mature man with carefully groomed gray hair and beard, the picture of an elegant gentleman. Beneath that exterior lay an ambitious political schemer devoted to expanding the Hero Faction.

One of his knights rode beside him along the main street.

“At last, my lord.”

“Yes. For the future of the Hero Faction, House Clausel must fall.”

“Those who share our cause will rejoice when it is done.”

“This territory lies between the Hero Faction and the Imperial Faction. Controlling it will expand our influence, and defeating Clausel will also give us a foothold near the imperial capital.”

Given had once hoped to absorb House Clausel instead.

“They rejected every approach you made,” the knight said. “Force is the only option left.”

Given moved his horse closer and lowered his voice.

“Leomel is in decline. We must drive back the Imperial Faction and punish the traitors who call themselves neutral. Such opportunists are unworthy of nobility.”

The knight regarded his lord with admiration, then ventured another question.

“Why are you so intent on Ren Ashton? He is talented, but I cannot understand why you have gone to such lengths.”

Given smiled and looked toward the sky.

“With respect, my lord,” the knight continued, “can that boy truly possess greater value than the saint?”

“He can.”

The speed and confidence of the answer made the knight’s eyes widen.

“The saint will be useful when I negotiate with Baron Clausel. But do you think that alone would make me act so aggressively?”

Given’s smile deepened.

“The one I truly want is Ren Ashton. Clausel is incidental. I have grown tired of pressure from my own superior lords as well.”

“Why? However promising he may be, he is merely the son of a rural knight.”

“Everyone says the same. I alone know they are wrong.”

His voice carried absolute conviction.

“If I obtain House Ashton, House Given will rise within the Hero Faction. No – nearly every subject of the empire will praise me.”

He did not explain what he meant.

The knight was left wondering why Given had corrected himself from Ren Ashton to House Ashton.

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