Chapter 16: Surprisingly, the night was not angry

As soon as he returned to the mansion, he didn’t go to the main residence to talk with Lessard, but was taken directly to the old building.

Yes, he was really taken.

Licia told him to go this way first, and he did as she asked. Weiss, on the other hand, said he was going to go to Lessard’s place, and they went their separate ways.

And then, after arriving at the old building.

When they arrived at the sofa set up at the entrance, Licia sat down next to Ren, after telling him to sit there.

“Good. You don’t look seriously injured.”

As she exercised her sacred magic as she had declared, she gradually healed the wounds and fatigue left on Ren’s cheeks.

Light and warmth seeped into his body.

(…… Huh?)

I thought she was going to be pissed off.

But there wasn’t the slightest sign of it.

“I honestly thought you were going to get angry.”

“Why? I think you should rather be praised for doing something great.”

“I fought on my own….. whether it was amazing or not.”

“You don’t have to let it off like that. So many people were saved thanks to your courageous actions.”

Licia understands Ren’s position.

She knew that her father had asked him to do a job for him, and if he came across a disturbance while doing so, he would surely do what he did this time.

I had this conviction.

“I’m honored by the compliment—- but I wondered if you should be a little angry with me, given that I fought against a dangerous opponent.” 

In fact, Ren’s goal was to defeat the steel-eating gargoyles from the first day he visited the guild, but he shouldn’t have done it without any consultation with Licia and Lessard.

That’s why he always intended to consult with them before actually taking action.

But because of the emergency situation, that wasn’t possible.

“But I was worried about you.”

Again, on the subject of feelings, this was simply Licia’s concern for Ren.

“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Then I won’t be mad at you this time —- but it might be a little frustrating. You’re getting stronger and stronger without me.”

Licia pouts her lips.

But her cheeks were puffed and she was sulking adorably.

“And yet, there really aren’t many injuries.”

“I have some scrapes on my cheeks and things like that, but on the other hand, that’s about it.”

“You’re really getting too strong.”

As Licia said this, she continued to use sacred magic.

The faint warm light soothed the fatigue that accumulated in his body.

The comforting feeling made his eyelids almost close involuntarily.

Licia smiled at the relaxed expression on his face.

“I know you haven’t had dinner yet, so let’s eat together at the main residence tonight.”

“No… I don’t want to be spoiled.”

“My father was worried and surprised too, you know.”

Lessard also wanted to talk to him.

Licia told him this and he nodded honestly, feeling obligated to report it.

“I’m sorry…”

Licia smiled at Ren as he apologized and stood up.

“Shall we get going?”

“Yes.”

Licia stood up first, and Ren followed her lead and began to walk shoulder to shoulder with her.

He immediately opens the door of the old building and walks into the corridor that leads to the main residence.

As they walked down the hallway, Ren opened his mouth as if he had just remembered something.

“Is there anything I can do to apologize for the trouble I’ve caused you?”

“Ummm…… then, can you accompany me on my next outing?”

The abrupt words she said made Ren tilt his head.

“Is it a tour?”

“Yes. Like when I visited your village. I’m planning on visiting several villages.”

“I understand. Okay, I’ll go with you.”

I thought it was a quick answer, but I felt it was too late for me to act with Licia.

This time, I decided to respond honestly, partly because of the worry I had caused.

However, Licia, the one who made the proposal, laughed and said, “Just kidding”.

“I don’t need an apology. It’s true that I was concerned, but I have to give you credit for his courage.”

“No, there’s a difference between praise and apology.”

“I forgot……. You can be even more stubborn than I am at times.”

Licia regretted telling Ren about the outing as a joke.

She’d be happy if they could go together, but then again, it wasn’t her taste to involve Ren in business that had nothing to do with him.

But Ren was positive, even without the apology.

“To be honest, I’m curious as well, on a personal note.”

“Really? You’re not kidding?”

“Do I look like I’m lying to you?”

“…… No, It doesn’t.”

Licia, who had stopped once to look into his eyes, was immediately convinced.

“Ku. It’s my fault that I said it in jest, but I can’t decide on my own if you can accompany us.”

Ren shrugged his shoulders as if he had no choice.

(I’ll ask Lessard-sama later.)

Apart from my own interest, it’s to increase the strength around Licia.

Because it had been less than half a year since the spring incident, and Ren personally wasn’t without the idea that he should be vigilant.

—- Eventually, the two returned to the main residence and presented themselves to the eyes of the servants.

“Young miss, I’ve prepared dinner for Ren-dono as well.”

“Thank you.”

The conversation went smoothly, as if the servants had expected this to happen.

Ren apologized to Lessard at the dinner table shortly thereafter.

**********************************　

After dinner at night.

When Ren apologized, Lessard said two things.

First, he praised Ren for his great work.

Second, he told him not to be reckless, as Licia had said.

He had a look of sincere concern for Ren, somewhat similar to Licia’s.

He had promised before that he would bring Ren back to the mansion if he did anything reckless, but he didn’t seem to be doing so.

The reason was because Ren was not injured in any way.

“It’s a bit grandiose to say I apologize, but I’d like to accompany Licia on one of her outings sometime.”

Ren brought up the subject of what he and Licia had done.

But Lessard laughed bitterly, saying, “No apology is necessary”.

“You don’t have to go along with my daughter’s selfishness.”

“That’s not true. I’m interested too, and I’d be happy to accompany her if you’ll let me.”

It wasn’t only an apology for the worry he had caused.

Ren had only recently decided that he wanted to experience a variety of things. He nodded his head at Licia’s suggestion of an outing this time, thinking it would be an experience that wouldn’t be wasted.

Of course, it also made him feel dependable in front of Lessard.

He looked apologetic after calling his daughter selfish, but he respected Ren’s willingness to do so and didn’t object further.

“…… at least it’s safer than dealing with two steel-eating gargoyles.”

“Les, Lessard-sama!”

“Haha, it’s true.”

Ren was teased, but in the end, Lessard told him to do him a favor.

Then, as if at the right moment, Weiss steps in.

“Excuse me, my lord. —-Oh, isn’t it the boy?” 

Weiss praises Ren’s behavior once again, and then steps to the side of his lord, Lessard.

“So, what’s up Weiss?”

“—- This. It’s from the villages near the Baldor Mountains.”

“Ah, from the knights.”

There are a number of knights like Roy Ashton who take care of the villages.

Among these knights, the knights who had villages in the vicinity of the Baldor Mountains sent a letter in their joint names. Ren knew it was business and wanted to leave immediately, but he stopped when Lessard spoke to him.

“Wait a minute. This is the village where you’re headed. You can continue to listen to what I have to say.”

“My lord? What’s that about?”

“It’s about Licia’s upcoming tour of the village.”

“Oh, I’m going with you.”

(Oh, you’re coming with us, Weiss-sama?)

Ren joined the conversation saying “I’m going too.”

Soon after, Lessard raised an eyebrow.

“I guess we’d better have more firewood and magical tools than ever this winter.”

After confirming the contents of the letter, Lessard said in a low voice.

“Is that so?” 

“Yes. According to the knights in charge of the village, the area around the Baldor Mountains is colder than usual. If that’s the case, this winter will be very cold. It has been that way in the past.”

“Then we must be on the lookout for snow.”

“Yes, we will. We must start preparing now so that no one will freeze to death.”

Weiss nodded in agreement.

“According to the staff of the Adventurers’ Guild, there’s a strong possibility that they flew here in search of food. Apparently, both animals were emaciated.”

They also said that there were no signs that they had been artificially moved.

There are no traces of charms used on them and they’re not likely to have been affected by the skills of a magician.

“As I recall, the price of a certain mineral has recently dropped.”

“Yes….. in other words, adventurers in the area have exhausted the underground resources.”

“I suppose so. I can’t complain at all, even if I wanted to.”

If the adventurers acted against the law, it’s a different story, but you can’t complain about the fact that there’s no problem with hunting and gathering.

Exhaling a sigh, Lessard looked at Ren.

“I’m really sorry about the trouble, Ren.”

“No, don’t mind me. I was able to defeat both of them.”

“Good grief, that’s exactly what I mean. He’ll grow up very quickly, won’t he? I have to admit, that’s more shocking than the appearance of the steel-eating gargoyle.”

“He will. I’ve been instructing him in imperial swordsmanship, and I can’t wait to see how much he grows later on.”

Then Lessard says with a final laugh.

“I was shocked when I heard that Ren didn’t have talent for the holy sword, but judging from his work and the speed at which he has grown, perhaps he does have the gift for hard swordmanship.”

It would be best if he could learn that swordsmanship.

It’ll be a bit of a misnomer to say that Ren has learned it firsthand, but he’s been made to understand its strength so much during his gaming days that he’s attracted to the idea of learning that strength.

However—

(Who’s going to teach me that?)

There are only a few people who have mastered the hard sword technique, so the number of people who can teach it is limited.

The only people Ren could remember were all his enemies from the game era.

When he thought about it, he couldn’t help but think that it would be difficult to master.

　

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