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Interchapter: Legend of the Seven Heroes III — DLC: The Clausel Incident

“To everyone who has completed Legend of the Seven Heroes I, II, and III, we present the story DLC: The Clausel Incident. Begin download?  Yes / No”

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“Download complete. Launch now?  Yes / No”

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“Legend of the Seven Heroes: The Clausel Incident will now begin.”

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

This story began before Ren Ashton was born.

At the lowest level of the Imperial Library—one of the Leomel Empire’s proudest institutions—lay an area accessible to only a select few. It was called the Forbidden Archive. Politically sensitive records, rare grimoires, and other materials that could not be made public were stored there under strict control.

The place normally stood deserted. One day, however, a visitor entered for the first time in months.

He was Viscount Given, a Hero Faction noble who served as assistant to the Minister of Justice. Officially, he had come to inspect documents at the minister’s request.

“What is this…?”

Curiosity drew his attention away from his work. He examined several books stored in the archive, and one badly damaged volume caught his eye.

The Travels of Ashton the Adventurer.

The cover was smoke-stained, and the book was so tattered that it seemed unlikely any of its contents could still be read. Most pages had indeed been blacked out. The ordinary-sounding title only made Given wonder why the book had been placed among forbidden records.

He was about to abandon it when he found a page whose writing remained visible.

It contained nothing but a succession of place-names.

Given memorized every one of them. He possessed an exceptional memory and could retain the contents of almost anything he read. Even so, a bare list of locations did not appear useful.

“Boring.”

He returned the book to its shelf and resumed his work.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Several months later, Given’s circumstances changed dramatically. The Minister of Justice lost a political struggle and was removed from office. Given consequently lost his position as the minister’s assistant and left the Imperial Capital for his own territory.

He told himself he could rebuild his influence by enriching his domain. Yet as a particularly ambitious member of the Hero Faction, he resented being forced away from the center of imperial politics.

One rainy evening, he stood at the window of his study and stared at the darkening sky.

“Can I truly accept this?”

No. In his mind, the Imperial Faction had to be weakened before the Hero Faction could bring what he called true equality to the people. While Marquis Ignat—the foremost noble of the Imperial Faction—continued expanding his influence, Given believed his faction could not afford to remain passive.

A knight entered with an ordinary territorial report.

“Viscount, these require your attention.”

Given completed the routine work quickly. Ordinarily, he would have set down his pen with a sigh. This time, however, his gaze remained fixed on one of the place-names in the report.

The list from the forbidden book returned to his mind.

He realized why the names had seemed unfamiliar: several referred to territories whose names had changed when their lords changed. Given fetched a large map and historical records, then traced the old names in the sequence he had memorized.

“From the Imperial Capital toward the Baldor Mountains… then south, and farther west…”

His finger crossed the map, passed into Clausel territory, and stopped at a frontier once called the Farthest Forest. The area had belonged to no noble house in earlier ages; it had simply been classified as imperial land. Now it lay within Baron Clausel’s domain.

Given marked the location.

Why had a forbidden travel record begun in the Imperial Capital and ended there? Why had an adventurer named Ashton journeyed to such a remote forest?

A commonplace adventurer’s tale would not have interested him. A book hidden in the Forbidden Archive was another matter.

“Ashton the Adventurer… who were you?”

The surviving information was too limited to answer him. Nevertheless, the mystery remained lodged in his mind.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

One year later, Given received an order from his patron lord: deal with House Clausel.

Lessard Clausel possessed ability far beyond what his rank as a baron suggested. Although he belonged to the Neutral Faction, he could become an obstacle to the Hero Faction in the future.

Given chose a long-term scheme. House Clausel would be framed for misrule and placed under political pressure. If the plan succeeded, the Hero Faction could weaken Clausel without exposing its own involvement—and perhaps force the baron into its ranks.

To carry out the covert violence required by the scheme, Given formed a partnership with a criminal elf named Yelquq.

Their meeting was accidental. One of Given’s knights had traveled to a distant Adventurers’ Guild while concealing his employer’s identity, searching for people who could be used against Clausel. Yelquq approached because he had intended to kill the knight. Terrified, the man disclosed whom he served, and the elf ordered him to arrange a meeting with the viscount in exchange for his life.

When Yelquq arrived, he spoke without shame.

“I enjoy killing, Viscount. As a child, I found pleasure in crushing insects. When that bored me, I killed small animals. When that ceased to satisfy me, I killed children of my own people.”

The pleasure had convinced him that killing was the purpose for which he had been born. He required no cause beyond his own desire.

Given smiled.

“Would killing at a nobleman’s command still have value?”

“I have never tried it. That makes it worth experiencing. Naturally, I expect payment.”

“What do you want?”

“Money—and information.”

Yelquq demanded an enormous fee and knowledge that might release the seals carved into his body. Given suggested consulting the dean of the Imperial Military Academy, but Yelquq refused. He had no desire to draw the attention of Chronois Highland and wanted another source.

“As long as you continue searching and continue paying me, I will accept your work. I will not betray you while our arrangement remains profitable.”

“You threatened one of my knights and forced him to bring you here. Why should I trust you?”

Given’s smile contradicted his words.

“Because I have not killed you,” Yelquq replied. “I could have taken your money and left. I did not, because working for you promises greater amusement.”

They understood one another perfectly.

“A Hero Faction noble hiring an assassin,” Yelquq said. “What a splendid comedy.”

“Necessary sacrifices must be made if the Hero Faction is to bring true freedom to Leomel. Every future obstacle must be removed.”

“Then let me assassinate Baron Clausel.”

“No. He has value. Killing him now would be wasteful.”

Given clapped for a servant. The knight who had brought Yelquq entered, relieved to believe he had been forgiven.

“You called for me, Viscount?”

“Yes. I have work for you.”

The knight knelt.

“Yelquq, this is your first assignment.”

A Mana Eater clinging to the ceiling swallowed the knight’s head. Before blood could even fall, it consumed the rest of his body.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

In time, heirs were born to several of the Seven Great Houses. Their births delighted citizens throughout Leomel, regardless of faction, because those houses were tied to the legendary Hero.

A different kind of child was born to House Clausel: Licia, the girl who would become known as a saint.

The new heirs strengthened the Hero Faction’s prestige, while news of Licia drew attention toward Clausel. Around that time, Given made another discovery.

“Yelquq, what was the name of the knight who governed the village that survived last year’s attack?”

“Roy Ashton. Why?”

Given held parchment covered in information gathered during a recent visit to the Imperial Capital.

“Ashton the Adventurer… You were erased from history, weren’t you?”

Yelquq did not understand, but Given’s delight was obvious.

“You seem pleased, despite the troublesome saint.”

“It no longer matters. I have acquired an unexpected trump card. From now on, devote greater effort to destroying the village governed by House Ashton.”

Yelquq saw only an ordinary frontier settlement.

“Everyone else would say the same,” Given replied. “But to me, House Ashton is worth more than gold, silver, or any treasure.”

He refused to explain further.

Yelquq warned that Roy Ashton was capable enough to defeat an ordinary D-rank monster.

“Then use a Unique Monster within the D-rank category,” Given said. “I will pay whatever time and money it requires. Destroy the village. Kill the current head of House Ashton and his wife—but bring me their newborn son alive, no matter the cost.”

Yelquq could not understand why the child mattered. Yet Given continued paying him and continued searching for a way to release his seals, so the elf asked no more questions.

Their relationship was only business.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Everything proceeded smoothly in the original course of events.

The tribunal’s result was prepared in advance. Given’s bribed officials were in place. After considerable effort, Yelquq succeeded in controlling a Unique Monster called a Thief Wolfen.

The plan was executed.

The Ashton village burned. Most of its residents died. Roy Ashton and Grandma Rigg were killed, while Mireille Ashton suffered grave injuries and never regained consciousness.

Only one important objective failed: Ren Ashton was not captured.

Yelquq reported that he had escaped after fighting Weiss. Given remained confident.

“If the boy is alive, there is no problem. They will return to Clausel soon. Once the tribunal is concluded, I will take Ren and Mireille Ashton to my territory.”

His knights repeatedly wondered what he wanted from them, but Given disclosed nothing.

On the morning of the tribunal, he left his inn with an escort and rode directly to the temple. The people of Clausel glared at him with open hostility. Lessard Clausel did the same from within the temple.

Given noticed that Weiss had not yet returned, then quickly dismissed the matter. He was already imagining the work that would begin after Ren was placed in his hands.

The civil official opened the proceedings and recited the accusations against Baron Clausel. Given found the formalities dull because the outcome had already been decided.

His mood changed when Weiss and Licia entered with Ren.

The boy was exhausted and had lost his father, his home, and many people he knew, yet he still walked into the temple beside Licia. That alone revealed more strength of character than Given had expected.

“I heard he was timid and preferred books to swords,” Given murmured.

A knight recalled old reports from agents disguised as adventurers. Ren had cried during Roy’s harsh training, but he had repeatedly stood up and faced his father again.

“So he does possess courage,” Given said.

Licia supported Ren closely, making them resemble siblings. Given nevertheless dismissed any admiration he felt. The sight changed none of his plans.

Ren Ashton would belong to him.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

After the tribunal, Given returned to the inn convinced of victory. The bribed official had rejected Lessard’s defense and found him guilty. In several days, Baron Clausel would be transported to the Imperial Capital.

“House Clausel is finished. Ren Ashton will be mine, and Leomel itself will change by my hand.”

In unusually high spirits, Given called for someone to drink with him. None of his knights answered.

At last, the door creaked open.

“You took long enough.”

Given did not look at the newcomer. He gazed instead through the window at Clausel’s nightscape while rain began striking the glass.

“Come here. Wine tastes better with a view.”

Thunder split the sky, and the room’s magic lights went out.

“Check the lighting tool. A magic stone may have come loose.”

The figure remained silent.

“Do it quickly.”

Given’s anger grew. He turned just as lightning illuminated the room for an instant.

Reflected in the window stood an elderly gentleman in a tailcoat. His shirt was red with blood.

A violent impact struck Given’s body. Warm blood rose in his throat. When he collapsed from the sofa, he saw a pillar of ice piercing his abdomen and the old man’s merciless eyes looking down at him.

“Who… are you…?”

“My name is Edgar. There is no need to remember it. My house regards your death as little more than an incidental task.”

Given’s body grew cold.

Edgar explained that, in this original timeline, Marquis Ignat had come to hate Leomel after losing his only daughter. While preparing to strike the Hero Faction as part of his revenge against the empire, Ignat’s agents had discovered Given’s suspicious activities.

“Do not mistake yourself for an important target,” Edgar said. “Information about you merely crossed our path while we investigated the Hero Faction. I happened to stab you while passing through.”

Given tried to beg for his life, but no voice came.

“Personally, however, I find you contemptible. The noble saint and the boy who remained brave after losing his father were far more worthy of respect.”

Edgar turned away. He scattered several sheets of parchment across the room, wiped the blood from his hands, and left the inn.

Given died before Edgar disappeared from sight.

The next morning, Lessard Clausel was shocked to learn of the murder. Documents exposing Given’s crimes surrounded the body. Clausel was initially suspected, but an investigation simultaneously uncovered Given’s bribery and proved that the civil official presiding over the tribunal had conspired with him.

House Clausel was publicly cleared. Hero Faction nobles, eager to prevent deeper inquiry, made no further move.

The assassin was never identified. For years afterward, many residents of Clausel avoided walking the streets at night.

The affair—including Given’s conspiracy and assassination—became known as the Clausel Incident.

In that original timeline, a young apprentice knight later lived in the Clausel mansion. His swordsmanship was unimpressive, but he trained diligently and continued standing no matter how many times Weiss knocked him down.

He trained for the sake of his mother, who never awakened.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Yelquq’s circumstances also changed after Given’s death.

“It was not a bad arrangement, Viscount.”

He left Given’s territory on horseback and considered his future.

Chronois Highland remained too dangerous to approach, and he could not return to his homeland. He would have to begin searching from nothing for another way to break the seals that reached into his bones.

“That is fine. I can search while enjoying more killing.”

The wind carried the scent of the plains. Yelquq smiled, already forgetting Given.

Four years later, he would die.

He had no way of knowing that descendants of the Seven Heroes would defeat him—or that Chronois Highland, dean of the Imperial Military Academy, would personally take his life.

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