Kays Translations

Chapter 40: In a corner of the town

Ren, alone and without stopping, was now aiming for a certain place with a clear goal in mind. It was the familiar mansion of Elendil.

Upon returning to Baron Clausel's mansion, Ren was greeted with the words

“Welcome home. If you are looking for the young lady, she’s still studying.”

The servant, who had just arrived here from Clausel, told him so.

She was a servant who had been watching Ren and Licia closely and was also the woman in charge of Licia's personal care.

Ren didn’t want to disturb Licia, so he quietly made his way to Lessard’s office.

As soon as he arrived at his office, he said to him

“I have something to report to you.”

"Hmmm... once again, something sudden."

Although he seemed a little surprised, he showed no signs of agitation and invited Ren to come to his side.

Seeing Ren stand opposite his table, Lessard joked.

“A short time ago, I received a report of damage caused by what appeared to be bandits.... I don't suppose you’ve caught the rumored bandits. What have you done?"

“............"

Ren was silent.

Seeing this, Lessard blinked repeatedly. He was puzzled as he folded his arms, and after a dozen seconds of thinking, he said.

“Which was stronger, Asval or the other?”

“Eh.......?"

“I'm sorry. I was startled and made a strange joke.... but there is a part of me that’s not as surprised as I thought I was.”

At least not compared to when he heard that Ren defeated Asval.

When he heard that the Demon cult were involved there, he couldn't help but be more surprised than he was at Asval.

Instead of marveling, he bowed his head.

“Thank you."

It was out of the blue.

“The bandit riot will come to an end thanks to you, Ren. I haven't forgotten that the demon cult is involved here and we don’t know what they're thinking, but for the time being....”

“Won't you scold me for being so selfish?"

This is because the knights were also involved in solving the bandit case.

It was not because Ren thought that he was being too modest. He asked this in light of his position, the relationship between the knights, and his involvement with the Clausel family.

“I'm not so lofty as to be able to scold you for your good deeds. Besides, I told you. I'm grateful to you."

For Lessard, the Lord of Elendil, Ren's success was also a source of great joy.

He’s not one to scold Ren for his kind-hearted behavior, but only to praise him for it.

“But, well, I'm certain there is a certain saint out there who is strongly concerned about what you've done that's dangerous."

“I'll explain myself later......”

“Do so. But Licia isn't unhappy with you either. I ask your forgiveness only because I am concerned about you.”

“I know that. Licia-sama is a kind person.”

After that, Ren shared that he had met with the Arne Verde Trading Company in the plains and that they were in charge of transporting the bandits.

“That helps too. 'Thanks to you, the Clausel family will be more politically competitive.”

“Ah....Now that you mention it, it’s true.”

“But don't use it as an excuse to overdo it. Licia and I can only be rest assured that you’re in good health."

It was a gentle voice and with a smile.

Ren has no regrets about his behavior today, but he swears to himself that he will never do anything that would make him throw away his life so easily.

Ren was once again satisfied with today's results.

It was only one paragraph of the story, and it wasn’t the end yet, considering the back story with the demon cult.

Rather, we should say that this is where the real work begins, but Ren is happy that he was able to prevent this before things got any bigger.

(After all, there was no such event. What am I going to do?)

Ren's activities have made it inevitable that things will happen that he doesn’t remember.

Originally, it was because they were attacking in a completely different way, since Ulysses had already turned on the demon cult and was working in the shadows at this time.

To Ren, who was thinking about many things, Lessard laughed again.

"You've done the Arne Verde Trading Company a great favor. I can't help but feel that you have more political power than I do, as was the case with the Marquis Ignat.”

“No! No! Even if you say so, I can't do it alone......”

“What about the Arne Verde Trading Company? You came back right away out of concern for me, but didn't they want to talk to you as well?”

“I think so. So I left them with a message to contact me through the guild if they needed anything.”

He spoke, remembering what had happened on the plains, and soon after.

There’s a knock on the door of the office, and Weiss steps in after hearing Lessard’s answer.

In Weiss' hand was a letter.

“It’s for the boy, brought by a man from the guild.”

That was quick.

How fast do they work? He has only been back in town for a short time.

“Weiss. What did the Guild's messenger say?”

“Nothing in detail, but the report I just received from the master, plus the contact with the boy, plus the look on the guild members' faces, I can only imagine what happened.”

“But you weren't as surprised as you were at the Asval incident, were you?”

“You are right. I was just thinking that the boy might have crushed the bandits, but strangely enough, I’m not as surprised as I was last year. I found myself nodding my head and thinking, Ah, it’s the boy after all----“

“It was sudden, but I thought it would be good for Elendil."

“I know, and so does the master."

Weiss came to Ren's side and gently stroked his head.

Weiss, tall and straight for his age, can do so without difficulty, as he is still bigger than Ren.

It would be surprising that in another year or so, Ren would grow to be about the same height.

“The person who sent the letter wanted you to check it right away. I'm sorry, but can you do that?”

“Sure.”

Ren opened the envelope and inspected inside.

The letter was written in haste and lacked politeness.

In summary, the guild had a message from the Arne Verde Trading Company. The message was to go to a certain place.

(Where is this?)

Ren recalled in his mind the path indicated by the letters.

First, go to the back of the alley right next to the guild, then turn right and go to the end of the alley.

Looking at it, It’s nothing more than an empty alleyway. I don't know why the Arne Verde Trading Company asked me to come there, but I knew they didn't want to set things up.

I think they want to talk in secret, in a place where they will not be seen.

“I'm going to meet with the Arnevelde Trading Company.”

“Are you sure? I can have a knight accompany you....”

“No need to worry. I'm glad you're concerned, Lessard-sama, but please have your knights guard the mansion.”

Ren said and left his office.

Heading to the unpopular back alley directed by the other party.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The first time I walked down one, I saw the same swordsmen I had seen earlier.

“Go inside. Stop just before the turn.”

“I ask you this just to be sure. What happens if I go around the bend?”

“I can't say, but I want you to do it anyway.”

There’s no need to be stubborn here.

Ren replied that he understood and proceeded to do as the man instructed.

The back of the building is not well lit.

Still, the sun was shining just right at the corner.

As soon as Ren stood in front of the corner, he heard a voice.

“You shocked me earlier."

It was Radius, who was just beyond the turn, though Ren couldn’t see him.

It was his own voice, very different from the one he had heard through the leather tent. Ren recognized that voice, just as he had with Ulysses.

This made Ren think, "No way”.

He felt this way because of the current situation as well as their exchange on the plains.

(......)

Ren feigned calmness without revealing any of his thoughts.

If my prediction was correct, I thought that since I was dealing with the other party, I should just ask Ulysses, who is the leader of the royalist faction, about it.

It wasn’t that he didn’t remember the shock.

He was trying so hard to suppress his feelings.

(And if so, why was he here?)

He didn't even have to go to that place himself, considering his position.

Ren thought it would be a bad idea to get riled up here, so he kept his mind in check.

“I commend you for finding the bandits' stronghold with such little information you had.”

“I’m thinking now that you must have expected it too----.”

Ren's tone changed when he realized that he might be dealing with Radius.

“---- And why did you change your manner of speaking? I didn't ask you to change it.”

He may say that, but it shouldn’t be so.

The fact is that Ren, who had regretted the exchange on the plains, couldn't imagine being so open and casual here.

I can't be sure if the other party is Radius, but a polite tone should do no harm.

“Do as I just told you. Okay?"

"May I ask you why....?"

"Because it's easier to talk that way. Since you treated me like that once, there's no need to be so formal.”

Okay? He encouraged me to do so.

Ren still hesitated and delayed his reply for a few seconds.

After a moment of hesitation, he turned around and looked at the swordsman from the Arne Verde Trading Company. The man nodded reluctantly.

Even if the other party was Radius, it seemed unlikely that he would be called disrespectful.

“To answer your question earlier, since you were the one who moved so quickly, I thought it wouldn't be surprising if you were aware of the bandits' hideout."

When Ren gave up and said it with such an attitude, Radius nodded in satisfaction.

“Actually, I noticed around the same time as you. I was looking for maps and information on the area at the time, and I got the answer a little late.”

Ren nodded, "So that's why," when he learned that it was those documents he had been reading in the leather tent.

Otherwise they wouldn't have gone to the trouble of setting up a base on the plains.

“But I was surprised again that you would even notice such a thing.”

“Haa.... you fired me up and you thought I wouldn't notice?”

"Don't say that. In any case, you were the one who noticed it first.”

“No. Not that way, but when I was trying to find the bandits in a strong position. You told me to do whatever I wanted."

“That was partly because I was curious about your strength, but equally because you were stubborn.”

“I can't argue with that though."

Ren was a little remorseful because he actually was.

But he wouldn't have been able to actually stay in that place. Like when he talked to Lessard, Ren didn’t regret his actions.

“I'm sorry if I offended you. I was just surprised at your quick thinking. Forgive the details. I have never had the experience of talking like this with a person whose face I don’t know.”

“I don't have any experience like that either. It's just, well, I don't care anymore. It wasn't a bad job for me."

The two continued their conversation without showing their faces.

Asking each other what they usually do. The two of them talked for more than ten minutes, exchanging small talk about nothing out of the ordinary, so to speak.

Radius looked at his watch where Ren could not see it and said, "It's time”.

“I'm sorry, but I must leave now. I've had a very productive time. I appreciate it.”

“My pleasure. I'll be going now, too.”

Ren released his back from the wall he had been leaning against and turned his back to the corner. Radius also turned his back and they started walking at the same time.

“How do I pay what I promised you?”

“Donate it to the lord of this town. Don't worry about me, it's for the good of the town.”

And that was it.

No more words were exchanged, and the two men left.

Soon after, Mirei appeared in front of Radius.

She appeared out of nowhere and walked next to him.

“Mirei, I found an interesting man.”

“Nya? Is he a poet who reads funny poems?”

“Don't be silly. You should have seen the situation?”

As for where Ren was being watcherd, it was since he was on the plain.

Even if he did not appear in public, he was confirming various things with his own eyes.

“Your Highness, do you like that boy that much?"

“I can say that I fell in love with him. The intelligence and quick wit that can be seen just by talking about it. The caustic sword technique that surpassed others ---- and above all, courage, made my heart harbor a fever I had never experienced before."

“Nya!!!! Your Highness! What are you talking about!?”

“I'm not in love with him, but with his personality. ---- And it's the first time I've ever seen anyone treat me in such a casual manner.”

The voice that blended in with the quietness of the back alley was certainly joyful.

“You say that now, but your Highness told him to be open minded with you?”

“But no one has ever listened to me when I've asked them to.”

“The reason is that he didn't know that you were the prince. But if you have such passionate feelings for him, why did you talk to him without seeing his face?”

“That’s fine. We'll be able to talk face to face soon anyway, so I'm just going through with today's encounter to the end."

"...... Good grief, I don't really understand the male mind, Nyah."

“I don't really understand the female mind, so it's all the same to me.”

Come to think of it...... Radius said as he remembered.

“That boy was a splendid hard sword user.”

"That's true, nya. It wouldn't be strange if he became that powerful at such a young age, and his name would be popular, nya..."

“His name is Ren Ashton. I don't remember any nobleman named Ashton....”

“I also remember that there was a knight of that name in the Clausel family, whom Marquis Ignat is rumored to be getting to know these days.”

"Well, you know him well.”

“I was curious about Marquis Ignat's movements before, so I did a lot of research.”

Radius understood a lot of things.

So is the reason why Ren Ashton lives in this town and why he has come to visit that plain. I can even understand why he accepted a special request from the Arne Verde Trading Company the other day.

“Speaking of the Clausel family, there was also the recent disturbance with the heroic faction.”

“I don't have any proof, but it's rumored that Edgar-san helped them out there nya----“’

“Where did you hear this rumor?”

"It's just a rumor that I've been working on in my brain based on the information I've gathered nya.”

"......I see."

I have my doubts about whether I can call it a rumor or not, but I don't care.

The only thing that mattered to Radius now was Ren Ashton.

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