Chapter 18: The Legend of the Red Dragon and an Elusive Woman

Asval was an ancient red dragon that had lived for centuries. His intelligence allowed him to understand human speech, and legends described him as proud, warlike, and forever searching for a worthy challenger.

Then the Demon King drove him mad.

The dragon that had once waited for strong opponents became a rampaging calamity. The Seven Heroes finally defeated him in the Baldor Mountains.

Asval’s body fell into the volcano that existed there at the time. Over many years, the corpse melted completely—even the bones disappeared—and the change inside the mountain eventually rendered the volcano dormant.

Only the dragon’s magic stone survived, buried deep within it.

In the original game timeline, Ulysses Ignat learned of that magic stone. With aid from conspirators who possessed remnants of the Demon King’s power, he activated the surrounding region. The concentration of ambient mana rose unnaturally, strengthening every monster in the mountains.

A place normally inhabited by F-rank and occasional E-rank creatures became one of the most dangerous areas in the empire.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

“I hate everything.”

Ren remembered the final battle of Legend of the Seven Heroes I.

Marquis Ulysses Ignat stood before the enormous opening of the dormant volcano. The descendants of the Seven Heroes faced him with their weapons drawn.

“I devoted my life to this country,” Ulysses said. “And when Fiona died, not one person showed me mercy.”

The protagonists tried to reason with him, but he laughed at them. Bloodlike tears ran from his eyes as he spread his arms.

“If this country will not acknowledge me, then I will not acknowledge it. I reject all of you.”

Behind him, the ritual to resurrect Asval had already begun.

Ulysses fought with his sword, his own magic, and power received from those plotting the Demon King’s revival. His goal was not merely to defeat the heroes. He intended to destroy Leomel itself.

“I will treat you as I treated the Third Prince.”

The battle continued while the resurrection advanced.

The protagonists refused to surrender. Ulysses refused to abandon the vengeance that had consumed him.

At last, mortally wounded, he collapsed before the ritual was complete.

“Fiona… was I wrong?”

Those were among his final words.

But his death did not stop the ceremony. It had progressed too far for ordinary methods to reverse.

The protagonist then awakened the power inherited from Hero Loren’s bloodline and forced the incompletely revived Asval back into slumber.

Ren remembered that entire sequence vividly.

“Ren?”

Licia shook his shoulder.

He returned to the guest room and found her looking at him with puffed cheeks.

“Why did you suddenly stop speaking?”

“Sorry. I was thinking.”

“About what? You looked as though you remembered something important.”

Ren could not explain the game timeline.

“I was thinking about Lord Lessard’s warning. If this winter is unusually cold, the snow around the mountains may cause serious problems.”

“You worry too far ahead,” Licia said with a laugh.

She accepted the excuse, allowing Ren to return his attention to the map.

Another piece of game knowledge came to mind. An undead creature was normally several levels weaker than it had been while alive and lacked its original consciousness. Ulysses had planned to resurrect not only Asval but other monsters as undead servants.

That future should no longer occur. Fiona was alive, and the despair that drove Ulysses toward rebellion had been removed.

“You seem interested in the Baldor Mountains,” Licia said. “Since we are already nearby, why don’t we visit? At this time of year, there should be nothing dangerous.”

She clearly expected Ren to agree immediately.

Instead, he stared at the map for several seconds.

“We should not.”

Licia looked genuinely surprised.

“You don’t want to go?”

“The monsters may be weak now, but the terrain is unfamiliar. Getting lost would create trouble for everyone.”

The real reason was caution. Even if Ulysses had no motive to rebel, Ren did not want to approach the location of the game’s final disaster without a compelling need.

He would go to save someone, protect his family, or protect Licia. Curiosity alone was not enough.

The conversation moved to ordinary matters until a servant came to call them for dinner.

Only then did Ren remember something else.

(There was a hidden map in the Baldor Mountains.)

A concealed entrance in the game led to an area containing several treasure chests. They held valuable items that could be sold for large sums and special equipment that could not be obtained elsewhere.

More importantly, a Steel-Eating Gargoyle was guaranteed to appear.

That would allow him to raise the Shield Magic Sword’s proficiency.

The rewards were significant enough to justify some risk.

(But that still doesn’t mean I should rush into the mountains.)

Unable to settle the matter, Ren postponed the decision.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

As the territorial tour continued, the group gradually drew closer to the Baldor Mountains.

Ren did not sense danger. He could even look up at the distant peaks without the unease he had felt while studying the map.

The party eventually reached another village. During their escape, Ren and Licia had passed close to it without realizing where they were. The settlement was rural and resembled the Ashton village more than the prosperous village where they had stayed earlier.

“Weiss-sama, there is a matter I must report.”

The knight responsible for the village approached as soon as the party arrived. Concern showed plainly on his face.

“The river’s water level has been falling since yesterday. The number of fish has also decreased, and the villagers are becoming worried.”

“Did you investigate upstream?” Weiss asked.

“Yes. I went this morning and found several trees piled across one of the branches feeding the river.”

“Was the weather severe?”

“Several days ago, strong wind and rain struck this area. The trees appear to have fallen then and blocked the water.”

The knight and several young villagers had attempted to move them but failed. He had hoped the Clausel knights could help.

Weiss had duties to complete immediately after arriving. He also preferred not to leave Licia without sufficient protection.

Ren stepped forward.

“I can inspect it.”

“Boy?” Weiss said.

“I should be able to move fallen trees, and the local monsters are not dangerous.”

“That is true,” Weiss admitted. “The creatures here are no stronger than those in the Eastern Forest.”

The village knight offered to guide him, but Ren declined.

Everyone else had official work. The knight needed to report to Licia and Weiss, while the escorts had responsibilities throughout the settlement. Ren was the only person free to go immediately.

“How far is it?” he asked.

“About two hours on foot for an adult. Are you certain?”

The knight’s doubt was reasonable. Ren was still an eleven-year-old boy, and the villagers had already failed to move the obstruction.

Weiss laughed.

“There is no need for concern. This is Ren Ashton.”

“The hero everyone speaks of?” The knight bowed quickly. “Forgive my rudeness.”

Ren endured the title with embarrassment.

“Would riding be faster?” he asked.

“The recent storm left the path too muddy for a horse.”

Ren’s physical ability exceeded that of most adults, so the distance was manageable even on foot.

“I’ll leave now.”

The knight described the route carefully and bowed again as Ren departed.

The path was exactly as difficult as promised. Mud covered the ground, and fallen branches made progress awkward.

Ren did not dislike it. He had spent years hunting around the Ashton village and had crossed similar terrain many times. The familiar conditions stirred a faint sense of nostalgia.

After more than an hour, he reached the upstream branch.

Several fallen trees were wedged together where the water divided toward the village. Only a thin stream forced its way through the gaps. Fish stranded by the changed flow flopped across the wet ground.

“I’ll gather those on the way back.”

They were important food for the village and should not be wasted.

Ren considered cutting the trees apart, then stopped. If large pieces were swept downstream, they could strike the villagers or damage structures near the river.

“Better to lift them out.”

He stepped into the water and began moving across the obstruction from above. The current soaked his clothes before he adjusted his footing, leaving him to regret not being more careful.

“Wouldn’t Nature Magic make that much easier?”

A woman’s voice suddenly came from nearby.

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