Kays Translations

Chapter Five: A Sudden Visitor

Half a month’s journey east from Ren’s village lay one of the few sizable towns in the region.

Its name was Clausel.

The town had been built along land that rose toward its center. Roads spiraled up the slope, giving the town a striking, three-dimensional appearance from a distance. The magnificent rows of red-brick houses were famous even among people living in the faraway imperial capital.

At the very center of that town stood a manor grand enough to be called a small castle. It was the residence of Baron Clausel, the noble who governed the surrounding territory.

The manor was conspicuous not only for its size, but also for its ivory-colored exterior. From the front gate, visitors could even glimpse the magnificent garden of which Baron Clausel was so proud.

Those fortunate enough might also catch sight of the baron’s daughter.

It was said that nearly every young man who received one of her smiles became hopelessly captivated, some even mistaking her for an angel or a fairy.

And yet–

“…Haaah.”

That very young lady now stood in one corner of the garden, looking thoroughly bored.

She was a girl with long hair like polished silver infused with amethyst and eyes reminiscent of sapphires. Though her features were still those of a child, they already hinted at a beauty capable of stealing entire nations’ hearts. Her flawless porcelain skin seemed to rival the brilliance of the morning sun.

Even in the smallest movement, she possessed a dignity she could not conceal.

Her name was Licia Clausel.

“My lady.”

A man called out to her.

He was a middle-aged knight dressed in armor, though his gentle bearing made him seem almost like a butler.

“Whatever is the matter? Such a gloomy expression does no favors to that lovely face.”

“Nothing. I was only practicing with my sword.”

“I see. It appears my subordinates can no longer provide you with a proper challenge.”

“That’s why I keep telling you to practice with me instead.”

“My apologies, but I have duties entrusted to me by your father. In fact, I must be away from the manor for some time beginning today.”

Licia blinked repeatedly in surprise.

The change in her expression made her look far more like an ordinary girl her age than the dignified beauty she had been moments before.

“But you’re the knight commander. Why do you have to leave?”

“Your father has ordered me to inspect the territory. I am uncertain how much I am permitted to explain, so please ask him for the details.”

After bowing to Licia, the man began walking toward the manor gate.

Outside, several of his subordinates waited on horseback.

“Is everyone ready?”

“Yes, sir!”

Hearing their response, the man mounted the horse that had been prepared for him.

“Then let us depart.”

He tugged on the reins and led the group down the cobbled road.

Several minutes after leaving the manor, he spoke with a troubled sigh.

“What am I to do?”

“Is something wrong, sir?”

“It is the young lady. She has grown somewhat overconfident of late. I imagine it is because no one her age can stand against her.”

“Our inadequacy is shameful.”

“Even so… Good grief. I could serve as her opponent, but I cannot always spare the time.”

Was there no boy or girl anywhere who could equal Licia–or perhaps even surpass her?

The knight commander sighed again. He doubted such a child would be easy to find.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Beginning the day after his skill leveled up, Ren was permitted to leave the manor grounds.

Mireille raised no objection to Roy’s suggestion.

“You were already entering the forest when you were seven,” she reminded him.

Ren’s possession of a skill also made it easier for them to grant permission.

Delighted by his new freedom, Ren adopted another daily routine: every morning before breakfast, he walked along the paths between the fields.

“Fwaaah…”

That morning, he rubbed his heavy eyelids as he walked.

He was not fully awake, but the aches throughout his body made their presence unmistakable. The sensation reminded him of the moment his skill level had risen.

He would never forget the feeling of suddenly becoming stronger.

Despite that happy memory, his expression remained gloomy.

“I’m glad my skill leveled up, but…”

The reason was the proficiency required for the next level.

“I still have such a long way to go.”

Ren summoned the bracelet and stared at the crystal set into it.

The details of Magic Sword Summoning Technique appeared within the crystal.

– Magic Sword Summoning Technique (Level 2: 46 / 1,000)

That was the source of his sigh.

The proficiency required to reach the next level had increased tenfold.

“No matter how often I look, it still feels impossibly far away…”

He moved on to the skill’s effects.

Level 1: Allows the summoning of one magic sword.
Level 2: Grants Physical Ability Boost (Minor) while a magic sword is summoned.
Level 3: Allows the summoning of two magic swords.
Level 4: *****************************

At least there was some good news. Now that the skill had reached Level 2, its Level 3 effect had become visible.

Only then did Ren consciously realize that he could still summon no more than a single magic sword.

Apparently, the technique revealed the effect of one level beyond its current one.

The real problem remained the thousand points of proficiency required for the next level, and there was nothing he could do about that except continue training.

“Maybe hard work really is the shortest path.”

Ren dismissed the bracelet with a resigned murmur.

By then, he had fully awakened.

Although it was early summer, the morning breeze was still cool against his cheeks. He drew a deep breath of the fresh air and felt as though it cleansed his entire body.

“I should finally test the Wooden Magic Sword’s Nature Magic (Minor), too.”

He had not dared experiment with it in the manor garden.

He hoped to find a suitable place soon. As he continued down the path between the fields, several villagers called out to him.

“Young master, you’re up early again.”

“Good morning, young master!”

They had grown accustomed to seeing Ren on his daily walks and now spoke to him freely.

As he returned their greetings, an elderly woman approached from farther down the path.

“My, my. You’re awake early again today, young master.”

She was Grandma Rigg, the village’s only midwife.

Apparently, she had taken walks at this hour since she was young, and she now encountered Ren almost every morning.

“Good morning, Grandma Rigg.”

After exchanging a casual greeting, the two began walking side by side.

“Your father was boasting about you again. He says you’ll become an even greater knight than he is.”

“Hmm… I wonder if I really can.”

“I’m certain of it. Someday, you may even become a knight renowned throughout the imperial capital.”

“No, I don’t think that’ll happen.”

Grandma Rigg tilted her head at his immediate answer.

“Even if I became that strong, I don’t plan to leave this village. Besides, if I left, there’d be no one to inherit Father’s work.”

“You needn’t worry about that.”

“Huh?”

“Someday, you may have a younger brother or sister.”

Ren nodded. If that happened, it would technically become possible for him to leave the village.

But that still assumed he wished to leave in the first place.

He did not.

“Then my brother or sister can go to the imperial capital instead.”

As he said this, Grandma Rigg suddenly stopped walking.

“Grandma Rigg? What’s wrong?”

She stared toward the crest of a low hill at the edge of the village, her eyes widening in surprise.

“Young master, you must hurry back to the manor.”

“Why all of a sudden…? Wait, those people on horseback–“

Ren followed her gaze.

A group of adults sat astride horses on the hill, every one of them clad in armor.

Even Ren, raised in a remote frontier village, immediately recognized them as knights.

“Those people are messengers from the baron,” Grandma Rigg said.

Her words confirmed Ren’s suspicion.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter