Kays Translations

Chapter 20: A Clue of the Gift

Time flew by in the blink of an eye after an earlier-than-planned return home.

Ren had been determined to prepare a gift right away, but even after several days back in Clausel, he hadn’t been able to do so.

He’d been lost.

He also had a lot of work to do managing the old building and he was growing impatient.

“Dangerous…”

Another day went by, and it was late afternoon when he was cleaning the old building.

The day of Licia's birthday, which I had heard from Lessard as soon as I got back, was already less than two weeks away.

This was no longer the time to be cleaning.

This was an important job, but the priority should be the gift for Licia.“I can't do this.”

He hadn’t been able to get the cleaning done, which he had been working so hard on, and decided to give it up for the day.

As Ren ran out of the old building, he squinted in the late afternoon sunlight and crossed his arms, wondering what he should do.

He thought about it and wondered if it would be all right for him to give a gift in his position as the son of a knight. Even if it were, what kind of gift would make her happy?　

There were so many things to consider that he couldn’t come to that conclusion on his own.

So, after all this time, Ren decides to turn to a certain person.

---- Then Ren stepped forward.

The summer sun was heating up the hallway from the old house to the main residence, and Ren walked around to the garden of the main residence.

He headed toward the garden, where he saw Weiss giving the knights a lesson.

“You are pathetic, young men.”

Weiss' voice reaches the knights.

“You can't save the people like this! This winter will definitely be colder than usual! We must consider training with even greater intensity so that we can always be ready to move for our people!”

The knights nodded at the enthusiastic voice.

The knights quickly moved on to a mock battle and continued their training, their voices rising with enthusiasm.

(I’d better come back later.)

Not wanting to interrupt the training, Ren turned on his heel.

He wanted to go back to the old building and start over.

As soon as he thought of that, he heard Weiss's voice. 

“It doesn't sound like you were planning to participate in the training.”

“How’s the training going?”

“I can't always be there to guide them because I have other work to do."

After saying that, Weiss started walking away with Ren.

Ren, walking next to him, was grateful for the time he gave, and waited a bit for him before speaking.

He waits for Weiss to finish toweling off his sweat, then spoke.

“Actually ----“

The consultation is, of course, about Licia.

When I asked him about my doubts, Weiss laughed it off, as he always does.

“What nonsense! How could the young lady not be pleased with a gift from you!”

“But I wondered what it would be in terms of status.”

“For my part, I wonder what your status is. Remember the other day's excursion home. You rode on the same horse with the young lady for a while on the road. Thinking about that, it doesn't matter what your status is.”

“I know it's a little late for that, but I was worried that I might be punished for that, too.”

“Don't worry. I reported it to the master and he laughed.”

If so, he can be rest assured.

......This is a slight digression, but it seems that the gift is fine.

Or, if you think about it, when Weiss told me about the birthday party, I didn't need to be worried because Weiss didn't tell me anything about it.

“After all, your concern is what to give her, right?”

“Yes. Something like that.”

Weiss, however, didn’t take it seriously, but shrugged his shoulders.

“Anything is fine. Since it’s a gift from you. The young lady will accept and appreciate anything.”

Of course, Weiss didn’t make the suggestion in a careless manner, but from the heart.

As a giver, I’m delighted.

That said, Ren can't think of anything that comes to mind.

"Is there anything that Licia-sama wants?”

“Ummm..... As I said before, the lady is not a very materialistic person.”

“I'd like to know if there's anything. I really don't care what it is!”

“Mmm, mmm......”

Weiss folded his arms and looked up to the heavens, looking troubled.

But as a few seconds or a dozen seconds pass, Ren begins to feel sorry for relying on him too much.

I'm sorry. I guess I have to think for myself---

Ren was just about to utter these words when---

“Speaking of which..."

Weiss' mouth moves and his face, which had been looking up to the heavens, turns to Ren.

“I've heard her say before that she wanted a hair ornament.”

“I see.... a hair ornament.”

What kind of hair ornament would look good on Licia?

Since I’m giving it as a gift, I want her to like it.

Ren is anxious about the gift until he’s pleased with it, but in fact, as Weiss said, Licia will be basically pleased with Ren's gift.

But those on the side must think that it is worth worrying about.

......That's it right there!

...... haaaaah!

...... Let's go again!

He thought frantically as he made his way to the house, listening to the heroic voices of the knights coming from the training grounds.

I try to picture Licia in my mind and superimpose the designs I come up with.

But nothing seemed to fit.

(I can't think of anything.)

Suddenly, Ren looked up at the sky and saw a flock of birds.

That was probably a White Hawk. He had hunted them during his escape with Licia, and they were birds with pure white feathers.

Watching the flock, Ren stopped and blinked repeatedly.

Weiss, who was walking next to him, looked at him curiously and stopped to look up at the sky, then at Ren's face.

Unlike before, Ren had a radiant expression on his face.

“What's the matter? Did you come up with something?”

"...... Yes. The question is, can I get it?"

Ren said as he looked up at the White hawk herd.

But it's not the White Hawks that were on his mind.

(I wonder if I can do something about that material.)

It’s about a certain material that is related to the white hawks.

It was a very difficult material to obtain, but Ren's mind was occupied with that material.

He couldn’t pay attention to anything else.

“I may not be able to get it, but I'll talk to the tailor who helped me before, or ask around at the guild.”

This might work.

Ren bowed his head to Weiss with a smile that was not as melancholy as when he began his consultation.

He then says that he is going to go out to the town.

He plans to go to the two places he just mentioned.

“I hope you find what you are looking for.”

"Yes. If not, I'll think of something else then."

I have to be sure first.

Ren bowed to Weiss once more, and then left the main residence of the Clausel family.

******************************

The sky was beginning to erode into a deep red when Ren arrived at the Adventurers' Guild.

He was having an early supper here, and his unusual appearance of being a bit distressed caught the attention of the other adventurers.

“What's the matter, Hero-dono?” 

The werewolf, as usual, called out to him.

He sat down on the seat opposite Ren and turned his kind eyes on him.

“You seem to be in trouble, is there anything I can help you with?”

“No! It's a personal matter, so don't worry about it!”

“I don't mind. I am happy to help you, as I was rescued by hero-dono.”

“If you want to thank me, you’ve already given me money!”

“Don't worry about it. If we can help each other next time we are in trouble, that's all that matters."

He said in a calm voice.

Ren took advantage of his kindness and decided to answer honestly.

“There is a material I’m looking for, but it is very difficult to get.”

“Material? Is it a material that even Hero-dono would have trouble with?"

Ren nodded immediately when asked.

Or rather, there are more materials that are difficult for Ren to obtain nowadays, but he won't bother to point that out.

“Actually ----"

But Ren mentions the name of the material with a gleam of hope in his voice.

Hopefully this werewolf knows a clue and there’s a chance he can do something about it himself.

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