Kays Translations

Chapter 20: Toward a Clue for the Gift

Time passed quickly after Ren and Licia returned earlier than planned from their trip.

Ren had intended to prepare a birthday present immediately, yet several days after returning to Clausel, he still had nothing.

He could not decide what to give her.

The work involved in maintaining the old manor also kept piling up, which only made him more anxious.

“This is bad.”

Another day slipped away. One afternoon, while Ren was cleaning the old manor, he remembered that fewer than two weeks remained before Licia’s birthday—the date Lessard had told him as soon as he returned.

This was no longer the time to focus exclusively on cleaning.

The manor was an important responsibility, but finding Licia’s present had become urgent.

“I cannot keep doing this.”

Unable to concentrate, Ren abandoned the cleaning for the day and hurried outside. He narrowed his eyes against the summer sunlight and folded his arms.

What should he give her?

After thinking in circles, he decided to consult someone who knew Licia far better than he did.

Rather than taking the covered passage from the old manor to the main residence, Ren crossed the garden. At the training ground, Weiss was drilling the household knights.

“Pathetic!” Weiss thundered. “Do you expect to save our people in that condition? This winter will undoubtedly be colder than any in recent memory! We must raise the intensity of our training so that we are always ready to act for the territory!”

The knights answered energetically and began another round of mock combat.

(I should come back later.)

Ren had no wish to interrupt them. He turned toward the old manor, intending to try again after the lesson.

“Boy?” Weiss called. “You did not appear to be here for training. Did you need to speak with me? We can talk while I return to the residence.”

“Is it all right to leave the training?”

“I have other duties as well. I cannot personally direct every moment of it.”

Weiss joined him and began walking toward the mansion. Ren waited until the knight commander had wiped the sweat from his face.

“Actually…”

His concern, naturally, involved Licia.

When Ren explained that he had no idea what to give her, Weiss laughed away the anxiety.

“So your difficulty is simply choosing the present?”

“Yes. That is about it.”

“Would anything not suffice? The young lady would be happy with any gift from you.”

Weiss did not say it carelessly. He meant every word.

That was reassuring for the giver, but it did not solve Ren’s inability to think of anything.

“Has Licia ever mentioned wanting something?”

“Hmm. As I have told you before, she has little interest in possessions.”

“Please try to remember. Anything at all would help.”

Weiss crossed his arms and looked toward the sky, visibly troubled.

Several seconds passed, then more. Ren began to feel guilty for pressing him.

He was about to apologize and say that he would work it out alone when Weiss lowered his gaze.

“Come to think of it, she once said that she wanted a hair ornament.”

“A hair ornament…”

Ren tried to picture what kind would suit Licia.

He wanted her to like whatever he gave her. Although Weiss was correct that Licia would probably appreciate any present from Ren, there was value in thinking seriously about the recipient.

The shouts of the knights continued behind them.

“That is it!”

“Again!”

“One more exchange!”

Ren desperately imagined one design after another as he walked. He pictured Licia wearing each of them, but nothing felt right.

(I cannot think of anything.)

Then he glanced upward and noticed a flock of white birds crossing the sky.

They were probably White Hawks, the pure-white monsters he and Licia had hunted during their escape.

Ren stopped and blinked.

Weiss looked up at the flock, then back at the boy. Ren’s troubled expression had vanished.

“What is it? Did something occur to you?”

“Yes. The question is whether I can obtain it.”

Ren continued watching the White Hawks, though his thoughts were not about the monsters themselves.

They were about a rare material associated with them.

Obtaining it was notoriously difficult, but once the idea entered his mind, it crowded out every alternative.

“I doubt any shop nearby has it, but I will ask the tailor who helped me before and inquire at the guild.”

The possibility restored his enthusiasm. Ren bowed to Weiss and announced that he was going into town.

“I hope you find what you seek,” Weiss said.

“So do I. If I cannot, I will think of something else.”

First, he had to confirm whether his plan was possible.

Ren thanked Weiss once more, then left the Clausel estate.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The edge of the sky had begun turning red by the time Ren reached the Adventurers’ Guild.

He ate an early supper there, but his unusually distracted expression attracted attention from the other adventurers.

“What troubles you, Hero?”

The same wolfman as before approached and sat across from him, regarding him with gentle eyes.

“You appear worried. Is there anything I can do?”

“No, it is a personal matter. Please do not concern yourself.”

“I do not mind. You saved me, and I would be glad to help.”

“You already repaid me with money.”

“Pay that no mind. If we can aid one another whenever trouble arises, that is enough.”

His calm sincerity persuaded Ren to accept the offer.

“There is a material I need, but it is extremely difficult to obtain.”

“A material that even you find troublesome?”

Ren nodded. In truth, there were many materials beyond his current reach, but correcting the man would accomplish nothing.

“Actually…”

With a faint hope that the wolfman might know a useful lead, Ren told him the material’s name.

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