Chapter 10: Escape with the Saintess
All of his senses were dulled.
It felt as though he were not himself, and the scene before him continued to shift beyond his will.
Before long, Ren found himself watching his own back.
Like a shadow following him, it kept a certain distance and trailed behind.
───The village was burning.
Unlike the current Ren, the one carrying only two Little Boars walked numbly down the field path.
The knights walking beside him were at a loss for words.
"Mother...?"
Suddenly, that version of Ren threw the Little Boars aside and began to run.
The knights, who had also begun to run, quickly caught up, and the group rushed toward the Ashton family mansion.
...When they arrived, the mansion was engulfed in a raging fire.
"No..."
Ren, upon seeing that, almost collapsed to his knees, powerless.
However, trembling, he continued to approach the mansion.
But then, he was stopped. The knights restrained him, and his freedom was taken from him.
"You can't!"
"Let me go! Mother—!"
"...No, you can't! If you jump into that fire, even you, Lord Ren, will..."
Still, Ren resisted.
But it was weak.
The sight before him was so feeble, it didn’t even feel like he was looking at himself.
"I promised my father...! I swore to protect Mother no matter what... so...!"
As he stared at the version of himself that wasn’t truly him, Ren caught sight of what appeared to be a simple stone tombstone at the edge of his vision.
It was something unfamiliar, and it gave him an eerie feeling.
Then, from behind, a voice cut through.
"Move aside! Quickly!"
Amid the sound of hooves approaching, a young girl's voice rang out.
Both versions of Ren turned at the sound of the voice, and a dazzling light enveloped the entire area.
───Soon after, a new scene unfolded.
Once again, Ren was shown a version of himself from behind, one that was not truly him.
The sky had turned a dusky evening hue.
Ren, standing in a plain at the edge of the village, stood before numerous burlap sacks lined up in front of him.
"Lord Ren. It's about Granny Rigg..."
"...I understand. I was prepared for it."
Without turning to face the knight, Ren spoke, his shoulders trembling.
The knight then bowed and left, and in his place, Weiss appeared, his armor soot-streaked.
"───Boy."
Weiss pulled the dazed Ren into an embrace, holding him tightly.
Weiss soon found his cheeks wet with tears. After some time, he repeatedly muttered words of apology.
"I'm sorry. If we had arrived sooner..."
"...It's fine. It's all because I was weak."
"But..."
"No... Even with Father, it's the same. The night Father died, I should have had the courage to go pick the Rodon Grass. If I had, Father wouldn't have died, and maybe today’s bandits could have been dealt with."
"That’s not true! It’s our fault!"
"...Some of the knights lost their limbs while fighting. It was thanks to them that we were able to repel the Sheefulfen that Father sent away."
Thus, Ren spoke, saying it wasn’t their responsibility.
"And you helped save Mother. You also eliminated the bandits, Lord Weiss."
"...No, there was one I let escape. I’m sorry. If I had gotten there a little sooner..."
"Please stop. If you keep apologizing, Father will get angry with me."
Ren continued.
"That person from earlier, she must be the young lady... right? It's the first time I've seen her."
"Ah... The young lady was deeply pained by the winter Sheefulfen incident and came to the village as the proxy for the head of the family..."
"Lady Saint is incredible. She could dispel the flames of the mansion."
"...Yes."
"Thanks to her, Mother was saved. I couldn’t possibly hold any resentment against Weiss-sama and the others."
After saying this, Ren sat down weakly on the spot.
Hugging his knees, he bowed his head in front of the human-sized burlap sacks lined up across the plain.
After a moment of silence, Ren stopped thinking.
What should he do from now on? He could no longer live in this village.
Most of the houses had been burned down, and there was barely any food left. The anxiety about the future slowly began to take over his mind.
"...May I sit beside you?"
Then came the voice of a girl—no, Lishia.
Ren raised his head and saw her.
Lishia, her fingertips bandaged, with scratches on her cheeks and other minor wounds.
"I’ve done what I could to treat your mother. I’ve helped as many of the villagers as I could... within my limits."
Lishia, disregarding her own status, had done everything she could to rescue the villagers, even while wounded.
"Thank you... but,"
"But she won’t wake up unless I treat her more. So I’ll protect the survivors and escort them to my town or other villages."
After saying this, Lishia looked at Ren.
She then spoke of the bandits, suspecting they were either part of the Hero faction or the Royal faction.
However, she mentioned that this attack had no signs, not even a hint of being foreseen.
Even so, Lishia and Weiss both blamed themselves, saying it was all their fault. Lishia, in particular, vowed to do anything she could to make amends.
"...Honestly, I don’t know what to do. I don’t have the luxury to resent you. I’m barely managing to take care of my critically injured mother and the villagers."
Without saying a word, Lishia nodded, her face filled with sorrow.
"But Father said. As knights serving the Clouesl family, we must protect this village with our lives... So, I couldn’t think of anything else..."
As Ren finished speaking, large tears spilled from his eyes.
He had been able to hold them back until now, but all at once, the dam broke.
Lishia gently embraced Ren’s trembling body.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Was that a dream...?
Ren opened his eyes, still half-asleep, and wondered.
(Were those versions of me and the young lady from the game...?)
It felt like he was being shown events from a world line he knew nothing about, and suddenly, such a thought crossed his mind.
However, he had no idea why he suddenly had that dream.
One thing that was clear to the current Ren was this:
(The Ren Ashton from the Legend of the Seven Heroes didn't seem to have a hostile relationship with Saintess Lishia.)
Since he was taking lives, there must have been a valid reason for it, but based on the dream-like scene he had just witnessed, it seemed there was something more to it than just a falling out.
Even so, without any further information, there was no room to think it through.
If he didn’t even understand why he suddenly had that dream, he couldn’t even be sure whether it was real or not.
Thus, Ren decided to focus on understanding his current situation.
(This scent…)
The first thing he noticed was the musty smell mixed with the scent of the trees.
Then, he felt an uncomfortable shaking throughout his body, and soon after, he heard the creaking of wood.
He could also hear the sound of something being stepped on, clanking, clanking.
Though it had been dark and unclear until now, as he squinted his eyes to look around, he realized he was lying in a space that resembled an old hut.
He also noticed that his hands and feet were bound.
Where is this?
He could tell it was daytime from the light filtering through the gaps in the walls, but nothing else was clear.
However, from the direction of the sound of labored breathing, he turned his head.
“Lady…!”
There was no memory of being put to sleep by the Beastmaster.
In other words, he was probably being taken somewhere after that.
“Ha… ha…”
“Lady, it’s me! Ren Ashton!”
“…Ah…”
Despite speaking to her, Lishia didn’t respond.
She could only continue to let out strained breaths, sweat beading on her forehead and trailing down her cheeks.
‘Oh? You’re awake, are you?’
Suddenly, a voice came from outside the space.
It was the Beastmaster's voice, the one he had heard at the mansion.
‘You slept well, I assume? Four days of rest should be enough.’
(Four days…?)
If he had slept that long, they must have traveled quite far from the village.
“Ren Ashton, if you stay quiet, you’ll remain unharmed. Don’t think too much, just endure for a few more days.”
“…Answer me. Will Lady Lishia be safe?”
“Of course. But can you trust me when I say she’s safe?”
“…That’s…”
“Don’t worry. I don’t lie.”
The Beastmaster said, with a hint of a smile in his voice.
“In fact, I hadn’t planned for her to be ill until today. I intended to administer medicine if I could acquire it on the way.”
Lishia’s illness wasn’t fatal on its own, but it could lead to death if complications arose.
As Weiss had said, Lishia’s condition was steadily worsening.
In this moldy, dimly lit environment, it was only natural that her condition would deteriorate.
“In the first place, I’ve been giving both of you potions and taking care of you up until now. You should be thankful.”
“What… you’ve got the nerve to say that…!”
“…Ha… ah…”
Ren, on the verge of losing his temper, was still aware of Lishia’s struggle beside him.
For her sake, he couldn’t stay silent.
(He said he would acquire medicine, but I can’t trust those words.)
There was no way Ren would trust the man who had attacked the mansion and killed the knights.
So, he had to escape.
He needed to get away from the Beastmaster and somehow acquire the medicine, or else Lishia would be in danger.
But Ren had never left the village before.
He had no idea where he was, and even if he managed to escape from the Beastmaster, he didn’t know where to go.
Without any knowledge of the land, he might end up dying somewhere along the way.
But…
(Leaving Lady Lishia behind is out of the question.)
Though staying silent would guarantee his safety, he couldn’t bring himself to accept that.
Even if it meant that Lishia might die and the same future as the Legend of the Seven Heroes would not unfold, he was sure that if he abandoned her here, he would regret it.
(Magic sword… It’s not here.)
It must have been hidden somewhere by the Beastmaster since he had summoned it.
But it didn’t matter to Ren.
He could just resummon the magic sword.
Since it hadn’t been damaged, summoning it again shouldn’t be too much of a burden.
As long as he had the magic sword, there should still be a chance, but escaping would have to wait a little longer—at least until the Beastmaster was asleep.
(Escaping in an unfamiliar place at night… That would be foolish.)
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
It had been some time since the light filtering through the gaps in the wood had disappeared.
After waking up, Ren realized that the first night had come.
He suddenly noticed that the carriage had come to a stop.
“So, what would you have done if I had shouted for help?”
“It would have been meaningless. Only I can hear the sounds from within. I’ve placed magical tools for that purpose.”
That’s convenient, Ren sighed.
“Ha… Ah…”
The sound of Lishia's labored breathing could be heard from the next compartment.
The suffering seemed to have worsened even more compared to the daytime.
"Speed up the carriage!"
"It's already night. We'll rest for today and search for a village tomorrow."
The Beastmaster coldly declared these words as he stood up, causing the carriage to shake.
He had been sitting at the driver's seat up until now, but when he stood, he moved to the side of the carriage, unlocked it, and opened the door.
Ren, who was inside, was suddenly thrown something by the Beastmaster.
It was dried meat, completely dried bread, and a leather pouch containing water.
"Make sure you feed the young lady as well."
After finishing his words, the Beastmaster quickly closed the door.
Ren crawled inside the carriage and opened the leather water pouch.
He carried it to Lishia's lips, letting water drip from it, and she slowly began to drink.
After a while, Ren dripped water onto the dry bread to soften it.
He immediately apologized, placing the softened bread between Lishia's lips and gently pressing it against her mouth.
Though it was a bit hard for her to eat, Lishia, despite her struggles, chewed a few bites.
(This isn't enough... It will be impossible to endure for more than a few days.)
Lishia, and Ren as well, were losing their strength.
(Tonight, then. There's no time to waste.)
Once Ren made up his mind, he felt an unexpected calmness.
────Eventually, Ren could faintly hear the Beastmaster’s breathing from outside.
(There's no turning back.)
But Ren knew that defeating the Beastmaster was not the goal.
The objective was to escape, to get out of this situation.
With the presence of a D-rank Mana Eater, there was no other option but to do so.
(Let’s go, Ren—!)
Ren dispelled the iron magic sword from the Beastmaster’s side and summoned a new one.
Clang. He rubbed the sword against something that restrained his arms.
The restraint was a metal chain, but the iron magic sword easily sliced through it.
Ren quickly broke the restraints on his legs and cut the chains binding Lishia as well.
Lifting Lishia, Ren gripped the iron magic sword tightly.
As he raised his arm, his body felt heavy.
Even so, it was a stroke of luck that he could still move.
In truth, after being unconscious for four days, he had thought he might never be able to move again.
(I think something about potions…)
Potions not only restored physical strength but also helped alleviate status ailments.
Along with this, the small boost to physical abilities likely brought some vigor back to his body.
(I'm lucky to be alive.)
Ren swiftly swung the iron magic sword horizontally without making a sound.
He broke the lock to the exit and opened the door, still carrying Lishia.
(…It's fine. He's still asleep.)
Peering outside, Ren spotted the Beastmaster sitting at the driver’s seat, fortunately still asleep, his arms crossed.
Relieved, Ren looked around and realized they were in the middle of a forest, surrounded by darkness.
“Gii…?”
Just then, a voice came from a tree nearby.
Ren looked up and saw two Mana Eaters, perched on thick branches, using them as makeshift beds.
"────How did you escape?"
The Beastmaster, now awake, jumped off the carriage and approached Ren, asking the question.
The Mana Eaters also rose, spreading their wings.
"I thought the sword was near me. Why is it in your hands?"
"It's my sword, so what does it matter?"
"Ah, you're right, it's not my sword. But stop. If you stay quiet, you’ll be able to meet your parents again."
"But what will happen to the young lady?"
"…Sigh. Such loyalty. It's blinding."
The Beastmaster spoke mockingly, then added,
"This is your final warning. If you don't return to the carriage willingly, know that your journey will be filled with pain."
He threatened Ren in a cold tone.
The two Mana Eaters were already floating behind Ren.
If Ren didn’t respond to the Beastmaster’s demands, they would use their power on him.
Suddenly, Ren heard Lishia's voice, weak but clear.
"…Escape… alone…"
When had she woken up?
Ren smiled at Lishia’s determination.
"No, if we escape, we escape together."
These words marked the signal.
The Beastmaster snapped his fingers, issuing orders to the Mana Eaters.
The two Mana Eaters flapped their wings and moved swiftly toward Ren’s back.
Faster than Ren, they extended their necks toward Lishia, intending to tear her apart.
Ren’s heart burned with fury as he heard Lishia’s painful breathing behind him.
"If you change your mind, just let me know. You might only suffer minor injuries."
"Don’t worry! I won’t change my mind!"
Ren, with Lishia still on his back, dodged behind the carriage as the Mana Eaters closed in.
He swung the iron magic sword with force and sliced into the back of the carriage.
The carriage didn’t just get cut; with the momentum of the strike, the cargo bed shattered into pieces.
The Mana Eater, rushing forward, lifted its head, giving Ren a moment of respite.
Taking advantage of this, Ren looked at the Beastmaster.
The Beastmaster, having been shocked by Ren’s display of strength earlier, now met Ren’s gaze and smirked defiantly.
In response, Ren threw the iron magic sword straight at the Beastmaster's face.
The sword grazed the Beastmaster's neck, cutting the necklace that adorned his neck and sending it flying into the air.
"Throwing your weapon, how foolish─!?"
The sword passed by the Beastmaster's side and disappeared in an instant.
In its place, Ren summoned a wooden magic sword that activated nature magic, causing the earth to rise and the roots to entangle the Beastmaster's feet.
Ren knew this was his only chance.
He had to leave now, with the carriage barely intact and the wheels scattered.
Ren noticed a short dagger, likely dropped when the cargo bed was destroyed, lying on the ground.
He grabbed it and mounted the Beastmaster’s horse.
Cradling Lishia in front of him, Ren shouted loudly.
"By the way, I’m taking this with me!"
He thought it might serve as evidence later.
Ren used nature magic to extend vines toward the fallen necklace.
The vines wrapped around the necklace and dragged it toward him, placing it in his hand.
The necklace had broken, and the pendant was shattered.
If this were a magical tool, it had been damaged beyond repair.
"Not bad! But this is where it ends!"
The Beastmaster, now holding a white wooden staff, shouted.
At the tip of the staff, a ball of colorful light began to wriggle.
"…Please, make it in time!"
Ren didn’t know what the Beastmaster intended to do with the staff, but it felt ominous.
Without hesitation, Ren dispelled the wooden magic sword as the Beastmaster raised his staff.
He summoned the Plunderer's magic sword and swung it wildly.
"Wh-Why is my staff…!?"
The Beastmaster was shocked as his staff vanished from his hand, only to reappear in Ren’s.
Luckily, Ren had managed to steal the Beastmaster’s staff.
However, there was no time to relax.
One of the Mana Eaters, soaring through the sky, was closing in fast.
Ren immediately struck it with the staff he had just stolen.
“Giiiii!?”
The staff shattered upon impact, but the Mana Eater was also thrown off balance, its body wobbling.
Seizing this moment, Ren spurred the horse into motion, pulling away from the Beastmaster and the Mana Eaters.
"Without the staff, that power is useless… Damn it, chase them!"
Hearing the Beastmaster’s command, the Mana Eater flapped its wings harder and increased its pursuit.
At this time, Ren, who had no experience in horseback riding, was struggling to stay on the horse.
However, he had absolute confidence that he could escape.
“Beast tamer! I know your weakness!”
“A weakness…!?!”
“Yeah, you should know it yourself, right!? That’s why you’re panicking!”
At that, the beast tamer let out a frustrated sound.
“Monsters of the forest! Hear my voice!”
After the beast tamer’s voice echoed from afar, the sounds of monsters breathing could be heard throughout the forest.
As Ren urged the horse forward, countless monsters brushed past him, some overhead and some to the side.
Some resembled little boars, while others were monstrous creatures that looked like giant beetles.
“Giiiii!”
“Giiiiiiiii!”
The high-pitched voices of the man-eaters pierced his ears.
However, as ten seconds, then twenty seconds passed, the momentum of the man-eaters began to weaken, and after several minutes, the distance between them and Ren increased to the point of almost shaking them off.
(The weakness of distance hasn’t changed.)
This was the true meaning of the words Ren had just spoken to the beast tamer.
The beast tamer could command weaker monsters, but the effectiveness would fade the further the monsters were from him.
This was the case unless special potions were used to make the monsters abnormally excited.
It was fortunate that the knowledge gained from the Seven Heroes’ legend had come in handy.
Still, the goal ahead—escaping this unknown forest and finding a human settlement—was no small feat, and he couldn't afford to relax.
But as he thought things had settled down, an overwhelming fatigue suddenly washed over Ren’s body.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The horse that Weiss rode appeared to be an ordinary gray mare at first glance, but in reality, it had the blood of a monster in its veins, making it faster and more enduring than other horses.
He used this speed to thoroughly search the area around Ren’s village.
But he could not find Ren or Lishia.
Therefore, he ordered a knight who had joined him along the way to search for the two of them and rode off to report to Baron Clausel.
He returned to Baron Clausel’s mansion five days after Ren had escaped the beast tamer.
That is, nine days after Ren and Lishia were abducted.
“──I will take the punishment in place of the guards who died. However, I ask for more time until I rescue the young lady.”
Weiss reported to Baron Clausel in his office, explaining what had happened in the village ruled by the Ashton family, and that Lishia and Ren had been abducted.
“Why? Why did you leave Lishia’s side?”
“...It was a mistaken judgment.”
“Then tell me the nature of that mistake! Why!? Why would the commander of the knights leave Lishia’s side?!”
Baron Clausel approached Weiss, grabbing his chest and raising his voice.
But soon, he paused, realizing something.
“…Are you hiding something from me?”
Weiss’ eyes darted.
“It’s about Lishia, isn’t it? You cursed your own inability, right? You were asked by the Ashton family to deal with the monsters that appeared, so you tried to repay that favor, right?”
Weiss said nothing, his silence answering the question.
“…I’m sorry.”
“No, it was my mistake. If I had been there, I should have left the hunting to others and stayed as her guard.”
“That was not a mistake. It was a proper loyalty. How could I blame Weiss, who responded to Lishia’s strong wishes?”
Weiss, overcome by regret, was speechless.
Baron Clausel released his grip on Weiss’s chest and slowly walked to the window.
Outside the window, a heavy rain poured, reflecting the two men’s gloomy hearts.
“I can’t just sit still any longer.”
Baron Clausel declared in a strong tone.
“I’ll contact the imperial capital! I must inform the nobles of my faction, and even His Imperial Majesty, about this incident!”
He clenched his fist in fury, but there was no evidence to support his suspicions.
Baron Clausel remained convinced that Viscount Given was behind it, but lacked the proof to act.
“I must be cautious to avoid being seen as making false reports… If I can get reinforcements for the search, that would be ideal. By the way, Weiss, what of the other Ashton family members?”
“I’ve sent other knights with them and have ensured the villagers have safely evacuated to a secure village.”
“Good. Then let us move swiftly.”
First, he would contact the imperial capital.
Of course, he would also contact the nearby neutral nobles.
Things were about to get busy.
Baron Clausel, with his mind set, reached for his pen, but before he could take it,
“G-Good master!”
The usually calm butler rushed in without knocking.
“A visitor from the imperial capital has arrived! Hurry to the hall!”
Baron Clausel widened his eyes at the frantic butler.
It was not the time to be surprised by a visitor from the imperial capital.
Who would come and why?
His mind raced as he exited the office and walked across the thick crimson carpet to the hall.
There, seeing the visitors' attire, he was shocked.
“You are Baron Clausel?”
“Ah, yes... who are you...?”
The visitors were imperial officials.
Dressed in gray robes, they were officials from the Imperial Court.
“We have come on the orders of the Minister of Justice.”
One of the officials stepped forward and took a scroll from his pocket.
He unfurled it and showed it to Baron Clausel.
“According to the great law of the empire, Baron Clausel will stand trial.”
“What—why me!?”
“Baron Clausel is suspected of severe mismanagement. I’m sure you know that the nobles who oversee the lands have several duties, right?”
“I am well aware! We, the nobles, are responsible for protecting the people of our lands and the wealth of our territories! But how have I broken any of these duties!?”
“As you know, several villages in Baron Clausel’s domain have been attacked by monsters. During this time, Baron Clausel failed to respond promptly to the damage, which allowed the monsters to spread to the neighboring Viscount Given’s domain, raising suspicions of severe mismanagement.”
Baron Clausel had reasons to defend himself.
But before he could speak, the official interrupted him.
“We’ll hear your defense at the trial.”
“I hear Viscount Given will arrive the day after tomorrow, so the first hearing will be held here at Clausel on that day. The decision about the mismanagement will be made the following day, but…”
“If there’s dissatisfaction with the verdict, the next step will be a trial in the imperial capital. If there’s still dissatisfaction, it will go to a divine trial in the Great Temple of the capital, I suppose.”
“Exactly.”
“However, this is sudden. Normally, we would have been notified months in advance.”
“Don’t you remember? If invasion of neighboring territories is suspected, the usual rules don’t apply.”
“...Ah, that’s right. It was to prevent the lord from fleeing.”
Everything was happening too quickly.
From the time Ren’s village was attacked, to the moment the capital was contacted, to the time Viscount Given left his territory and arrived at Clausel, everything was unfolding too fast.
Including the attack on Ren’s village, things were developing at an overwhelming pace.
It was undoubtedly a flow that had been planned long in advance.
“Then, we shall take our leave.”
The imperial court official bowed one last time before saying they would stay at the town’s inn and leaving the hall.
“...If my fault is acknowledged at the trial, I may lose my title.”
“But, my lord! The damage from monsters is common in every territory! To be held responsible for this would be an injustice!”
“That’s true. That’s why Viscount Given is likely claiming that the damage spread into his domain.”
It’s obvious, but it’s fabricated.
In the first place, Baron Clausel had dispatched knights to the villages as much as possible and had done his best to protect his people.
It was all pressure from Viscount Given, or rather, the Hero faction. The conflict between the Hero faction and the Imperial faction had likely intensified even further.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
At the same time, Ren had just left a certain village.
His attire was a dirty robe, something he had never worn before until today. This was a disguise to avoid being noticed. He had obtained the shabby robe in exchange for monster materials he had hunted the day before in the village he had found.
Naturally, Lishia was dressed the same way.
The clothes they had been wearing before had already been discarded.
Even though they had been looked after with potion-based meals, the rest of the essential care for daily living had not been properly addressed, making it unhygienic.
“My lady, I’ll stop the horse a little further ahead.”
Ren, riding the horse, said to Lishia, who was seated ahead of him.
“...Th...thank you...”
After riding for a few minutes, they reached the edge of a forest. The villages scattered in this area were similar to the village where Ren had lived, with terrain where the forest was just a short distance away.
Ren stopped the horse behind the shadows of the trees and dismounted.
Still a boy, Ren wasn’t tall enough to easily dismount, so it looked as though he jumped down from the horse.
(As expected, it’s not very graceful.)
Even when he stretched his arms, he couldn’t lift Lishia down. So, until today, he had been stopping the horse next to a slope to assist her.
Today, there were no fallen trees or rocks around, so he was thinking about what to do.
(...Well, it’s too late to worry now.)
He had an idea.
He hesitated for a moment since it required using the wooden magic sword, but since he had already used it to escape from the beast tamer and fought monsters in the forest, it was no longer a concern.
“My lady, please allow me to help.”
Using the wooden roots created by the wooden magic sword as a platform, Ren raised himself to a height where he could reach. Once he was at a suitable height, he placed his hands under Lishia’s arms and lifted her off the horse.
He gently sat her down on the roots behind him, and though Lishia looked exhausted, she smiled weakly.
“...Such a strange power...”
“I think so too. Now, let’s start with some water.”
Ren handed her a leather water flask and helped her drink.
Next, he took out a small wooden bowl he had obtained from the village.
Inside was a thick, light green liquid with a strong herbal smell.
“This is a mixture of Meal Grass. Please rest assured, I watched it being grated in front of me, so there’s no mistake.”
Meal Grass was an herb known for its effectiveness against status conditions. In the legend of the Seven Heroes, it was also said to help with headaches and high fevers.
However, this herb wasn’t as valuable as Rondo Grass.
That’s why even someone like Ren, a foreigner, was able to easily exchange for it.
(I’m glad I remembered it.)
It was a bit of an obscure piece of information, as the protagonists never really caught a cold, but now, it was being put to use.
Ren felt proud of his memory.
“Please lick it. I’ve heard it’s extremely bitter, but I need you to endure and swallow it.”
“I understand...”
However, Lishia’s hands trembled weakly.
Ren hesitated, but he held the wooden bowl in his hands and scooped some of the grated Meal Grass with his fingers.
After apologizing, he brought his fingers to Lishia’s lips, and she opened her mouth to take it.
“Bitter...”
“Drink some water. Try not to spit it out.”
Lishia swallowed repeatedly, and it took several minutes to finish the entire bowl.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
By evening, there was noticeable improvement in Lishia’s condition.
Her breathing, which had been irregular, began to settle, and Ren, supporting her from behind, could feel her body temperature gradually decrease.
Her condition, which had worsened in such a poor environment, was now returning to the state it had been in when they met at the mansion.
“Hey.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“...Thank you.”
“No need to mention it.”
Lishia’s tone had regained a little of her usual self.
...There was still some Meal Grass left from the exchange. Relieved, Ren decided he would have Lishia drink it again tonight.
“We were at the edge of Viscount Given’s territory, weren’t we?”
Lishia suddenly said.
“How do you know? I... I mean—”
“Just call me ‘I’ already. It’s easier to talk that way, right?”
After much hesitation, Ren decided to rely on Lishia's words.
"…I was so focused on finding the village, but how did you know that this is the Given Viscount's territory?"
As a side note, Ren knew that this was the Given Viscount's territory. He had learned it when he found the first village and asked the villagers while pretending to be a traveler.
"Look at that."
Lishia weakly pointed to the mountains visible beyond the trees.
In the distance was a massive mountain range with silver snow still remaining near the peaks. The mountains were so grand that they seemed to stretch on forever, with sharp, polished rock slopes resembling blades.
"That's the Baldor Mountain Range. If you look up at that, you'll have a general idea of the location."
Ren nodded gravely in response to her words.
"So, that’s the Baldor Mountain Range."
"Did you know it?"
"Yes. Only the name, though."
He knew many other things as well. That place was where the final boss of the Seven Heroes Legend I battle took place.
(During the game, we used the magical ship to travel, so I never really understood it.)
The magical ship was a type of magic tool. There were also other forms of transportation, like the magical train, both of which were large vehicles powered by magic stones. In Leomel, stations for these were established in all mid-sized cities or larger. But during the game, he never walked around this area, so he couldn't even have guessed the name of the Baldor Mountain Range.
"I should be able to guide you from here."
"That's good to hear. It helps that I won't have to wander aimlessly."
Up until today, Ren had been prioritizing Lishia's condition while searching for villages, but even then, he had been keeping an eye out for familiar sights while advancing on horseback. Thanks to Lishia, he finally felt that he could see a glimmer of hope.
"For now, we need to head back to the Baron’s domain."
"…Yes."
Lishia’s voice, when she replied, sounded somewhat unclear.
"Is something wrong?"
Lishia nodded immediately and spoke.
"From here, the village you were in is too far away."
"Ah... It’s probably because of the path the Beastmaster took. By the way, how many days would it take to reach Clausel from here?"
"…I think about four days."
It was unclear which path the Beastmaster had taken to head toward the Given Viscount’s territory, but fortunately, it seemed he hadn’t gone too far.
"Then, let's get you to Clausel as soon as possible."
"Ha!? I was the one who caused the trouble, so you should be the one to reunite with your family first—"
"It’s fine. My father and the others should be okay."
Despite not having any concrete proof, Ren spoke with confidence, and his voice was reassuring.
"Either way, we should head toward Clausel. The villages along the way aren’t guaranteed to be safe, and I have no idea what happened to my village. I think my father and the others are probably in hiding somewhere."
The words, spoken with a faint smile, made Lishia feel her own helplessness. She was moved by Ren's kindness, but at the same time, she felt a strong sense of self-loathing for being so dependent on him. Even as her mind felt sluggish with fatigue, a faint trace of tears started to form in her eyes.
"Since we're at it, I’ll tour Clausel before reuniting with my family. I can also greet the Baron, so it might work out well."
Ren’s words, laced with a mature kindness, made her smile naturally. Even though she knew it was a considerate remark, it was a precious one for Lishia in her current state.
"…Thank you."
Without realizing it, she leaned even more against the warmth she felt on her back.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
That night, Ren began preparing for their camp.
He told Lishia, who had offered to help, to rest instead.
She watched him prepare the camp with a displeased look on her face.
"You’re used to this, huh?"
"I got used to it in the past few days. Most of it, though, was thanks to Lord Weiss teaching me."
"Weiss? Was it about the winter?"
"Yes. Thanks to that night, I learned a lot of campfire skills, how to deal with monsters, and various other survival tips."
Though it had been a sudden suggestion from Weiss that night, Ren now felt truly thankful for it. It had been especially valuable now that he was with Lishia.
(This time, it’s this guy.)
Ren was about to deal with a monster. The target was a White Hawk, an F-rank monster, which was one rank above the Little Boar.
However, it was no match for Ren. He easily hunted it without much trouble.
"How did you manage to catch a flying monster?"
"I tied it up with vines while it was perched on a tree, then just sliced it."
"That strange sword of yours, huh?"
"Good guess. By the way, the details are a secret."
"...Cheapskate."
Honestly, Ren wondered if there was even a point in hiding it. He had used the magical sword when lowering Lishia from the tree, so it was almost like he had already revealed it.
The only thing he kept secret was the skill's name, possibly due to a bit of rebellious spirit.
(I’ll absorb the magic stones now while I can.)
While Lishia looked away, dissatisfied, Ren found a magic stone and brought it close to his bracelet to absorb its power.
He quietly glanced at the crystal. It had shown noticeable growth compared to before.
If he had been able to hunt monsters like in the warm season, both of his magical swords would have leveled up during the winter. However, the winter had made movement difficult, and since the village had tasks suited for that season, he hadn’t been able to absorb enough magic stones. He had only hunted a few monsters like the Little Boar, and his progress was slow.
Still, ever since he began hunting monsters, his skill growth had accelerated greatly.
"What’s this?"
Ren was distracted by the bracelet when Lishia raised her voice in question.
Ren turned toward her, and she was holding a necklace she had found among the belongings. Her brow furrowed.
"That’s something I took from the Beastmaster."
The necklace was made of a silver chain with a red gemstone, which caught the eye.
Lishia took it in her hand and muttered in a small voice, "A magical tool."
Hearing that, Ren recalled the words of the Beastmaster.
"The Beastmaster said that he used this magical tool to keep our voices from leaking out, so it might be the one. But it’s broken now, so I don’t think we’ll be tracked, even if someone comes after us…"
"Just like you said, Ren. You’re right, there’s no need to worry about that… But we should probably not sell it. If we ever need it, it could become evidence."
She was right. Ren nodded and replied, "Yeah, you're right."
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The next morning, Ren set the horse in motion with the dawn, and by noon, he found a village at the edge of the forest. It was a small village in the plains with only a dozen or so houses scattered around. Though the medicine he had hoped to find wasn’t there, he exchanged goods for food instead. Afterward, the middle-aged woman who had traded with him approached.
"Where are you headed next?" she asked.
"Uh… I’m on a journey without a particular destination, so I haven’t decided yet."
"I see, I see. Well, you might want to try going all the way straight ahead to a place called Clausel."
Ren, wary of the danger in revealing his destination, raised an eyebrow when the name of the place came up. Fortunately, the woman didn’t seem to notice.
"Is there something going on in Clausel?"
"An adventurer who came by recently said that. Apparently, the Baron of Clausel might be punished soon or something. So, it might be a lively place, I heard."
At those words, Lishia suddenly became tense.
"What do you mean!? Why would that be happening...!?"
For a brief moment, Lishia raised her voice. However, she desperately held back her anger, trying not to upset the woman and gather information instead.
"Well, the adventurer said that there are suspicions that the Baron of Clausel might have been the one to send monsters against Viscount Given. There’s a lot of suspicion about that."
"Th-that’s..."
"I don’t know if it’s true or not. The adventurers only overheard it when they were camping alongside Viscount Given’s party on the road."
As Lishia listened, she stood there in a daze. The woman, noticing her distress, asked with concern, "Is something wrong?"
Ren, doing his best to maintain a smile, felt it was time to leave the village.
"She’s been feeling unwell since yesterday."
"Is she alright? If you’d like, you can stay here for a night."
"We appreciate the kindness, but we must hurry. We’ll be on our way now."
Ren gave a small signal to Lishia, who was still stunned, and they left, heading back toward the plains.
Their destination was the direction Lishia had indicated before they arrived at the village.
"My lady. You did well," Ren praised Lishia for maintaining her composure a few minutes after they left the village.
However, Lishia didn’t respond to him. Minutes passed, then several more, but still no reply. Ren, understanding her feelings, didn’t force her to speak and patiently waited for her to open up on her own.
Eventually, she stirred.
"...Hey, Ren."
Her sudden calling of his name caught him off guard.
"Yes, what is it?"
Ren, hiding his surprise, replied without addressing the change in how she called him. His voice remained calm and gentle, not rushing her to continue.
"Why? My father worked so hard all this time... Why is this happening?"
"...It’s probably because Viscount Given is the one responsible."
"No... That’s not what I mean..."
Lishia continued, saying that it was clear Viscount Given was at fault.
"My father has devoted so much to Leomel. Why is he being treated like this?"
"That’s..."
"What did we do wrong...? I may have been young and foolish, but my father doesn’t deserve to be treated like this."
Lishia’s shoulders trembled before Ren. This time, her trembling wasn’t due to her own inadequacy, but because of the chaos that had unfolded recently.
The figure of Lishia, who had shown such strong resolve in the legend of the Seven Heroes, was nowhere to be seen. Now, she was just an ordinary girl showing her vulnerability to Ren alone.
"... Viscount Given’s behavior is clearly strange. No one can deny it. It doesn’t make sense. Why is this injustice allowed?"
Even in her repeated words, there was a faint trace of weakness.
(...But that’s only natural.) Ren thought to himself. Lishia was still a young girl. She wasn’t the saintly Lishia of the Seven Heroes legend.
He felt ashamed for momentarily thinking of her as the character from a game and silently apologized to himself.
"I don’t understand nobles anymore..."
Finally, Lishia’s shoulders shook, and tears streamed down her face. Her tears dripped onto Ren’s arm, still holding the reins, and with her trembling, the pain she felt was conveyed to him, deeply affecting him. It was a sorrowful and heartbreaking sight.
Yet, Ren didn’t have an answer to Lishia’s questions.
Still, he couldn’t ignore her pain.
Almost instinctively, Ren loosened his grip on the reins with one hand and gently patted Lishia’s head.
"...Ren?"
Her hair, unwashed, lacked the silky sheen it once had, looking dull. Lishia never would have allowed her hair to be touched in such a state under normal circumstances, but...
"...If you’re going to do it, do it properly."
Lishia accepted it without showing any disgust. In fact, she even moved her body to make it easier for Ren to pet her.
By the time the sun began to set, Lishia had fallen asleep, likely exhausted. Ren, still holding her, began searching for a campsite for the night while lost in thought.
Was the current situation part of the story of the Seven Heroes legend? Or was it unfolding differently due to Ren’s existence?
(One way or another, Baron Clausel will be falsely accused and lose his position.)
It was undeniably a forceful move, but that sort of unreasonable act could only be permitted through the power of titles and factions.
Ren still wanted to do something about it.
Previously, he had thought that both Lishia and the Clausel family should distance themselves from him, but perhaps, he had grown attached to them. Even in a world full of absurdities, seeing that scenario unfold in front of him didn’t feel right.
(But what can I do to help Baron Clausel? The upper nobles in the neutral faction are unreliable, and what can a child like me do?)
He thought desperately, but no solution came to mind. Yet, when he mentally compared the situation to a game event...
(If I’m not trying to save Baron Clausel, but rather defeat Viscount Given... then...)
Changing his objective brought some clarity. For example, if he could prove that Viscount Given had attacked his village and uncover some evidence of his corruption...
(No, no, no... What good would it do for a kid like me to find evidence...)
Even so, it wouldn’t be a waste. It would buy them some time.
And Baron Clausel wasn’t a fool. He might be a small noble with no factional support, but if they bought time, he’d have room to act and might even avoid being falsely accused.
(So, where would I find evidence of his corruption?)
The best option would be sneaking into Viscount Given’s mansion, but considering what would happen if they were caught, it was best avoided—and there was no time for it anyway.
(This... might be a dead-end...)
At the very least, they needed to reach Clausel. There, they could claim to have been attacked and abducted. They would need to say they were kidnapped by bandits hired by Viscount Given and barely escaped with their lives.
While lacking evidence, it was better than doing nothing.
Ren wasn’t experienced in manipulation or rhetoric, but he couldn’t afford the foolishness of doing nothing.
(Whatever I can do, I have to do it.)
If not, Baron Clausel would fall.
And...
"Zzz... Zzz..."
Lishia, resting her back against Ren, slept soundly. He didn’t know what would happen to her either. Seeing her weakness made him want nothing more than to return the life she once had to her.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The following morning, just as the sun rose, Viscount Given arrived in the town of Clausel.
He appeared to be a man in his prime, a gentleman with neatly groomed gray hair and a well-maintained beard.
As he rode through the main street of the town on horseback, one of his knights approached and spoke to him.
"Viscount, it’s finally happening."
"──Yes. For the future of our faction, the Heroes, we must surely bring down the Clausel family."
"Once we accomplish that, everyone who shares our ideals will be overjoyed."
"Indeed. ...This territory lies between our Heroes faction and the Imperial faction. By controlling this land, our influence will undoubtedly grow."
"If we take down the Clausel family, we will also control the territories near the Imperial capital."
Viscount Given nodded in agreement.
"I would have preferred to bring the Clausel family into our fold as well."
"But those fools refused to listen to your words. There is no choice but to suppress them by force."
As they exchanged words, the Viscount suddenly recalled something.
He leaned his horse closer to the knight and spoke in a low voice.
"In order to revive the declining Leomel, we must corner the Imperial faction. And punish those foolish traitors who claim neutrality. ...People like them, who play both sides, are unworthy of being called nobles."
Seeing the Viscount speak with such determination, the knight felt reassured.
"That aside, Viscount, why were you so obsessed with Ren Ashton? He is indeed a promising young man, but I can't see why he deserves all this effort."
Hearing this, Viscount Given smirked and looked toward the sky.
"The existence of the Saint is also a means to negotiate with the Clausel Baron later. But did you think I would go to such lengths just for that?"
The Viscount proudly continued,
"What I truly desire is Ren Ashton, the one and only. The affair with the Clausel family is just a side matter. I’ve grown tired of the pressure from my vassals."
"Wh-why is that? Even though he is a promising future leader, he is nothing more than the son of a country knight!"
"Everyone says the same thing. But I am the only one who knows that they are wrong."
His tone was filled with confidence, stronger than before.
It carried with it an air of ambition that was both powerful and inspiring.
"──If I can take Ren Ashton... no, the Ashton family, my Given family will rise within the Heroes faction. Not just the Heroes faction, but nearly all the citizens will praise me."
The true meaning of his words was left unspoken, only serving to further intrigue the knight.
But one thing did bother him. Why did the Viscount say Ashton family instead of just Ren Ashton?
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Several hours passed, and Clausel Town was filled with the bustle of the morning.
In the Leomel Empire, every city has a temple.
Within the temple, there is always a large hall. There, not only religious ceremonies take place, but judgments for nobles and other influential figures are sometimes held.
The ceremony, following the imperial law, involves invited spectators and proceeds through a prescribed process.
"It begins now, my lord."
The knight commander Weiss spoke beside Baron Clausel as he took his seat.
Outside the temple, voices were calling out for Baron Clausel. In contrast, inside the temple, it was eerily quiet.
"Look, Weiss. Can you see that man sitting across from us?"
Baron Clausel’s seat was located just before the altar at the back of the temple.
The seats of the claimant, Viscount Given, and the opposing party, Baron Clausel, were positioned across from each other, with the altar between them.
Because of this, Baron Clausel could clearly see the face of Viscount Given, who sat across from him.
"Th-that man..."
Weiss's expression darkened as he saw Viscount Given chatting with the knights he brought along.
"He doesn’t seem worried about today’s argument, does he? He’s acting as if he has no concerns."
"It’s likely true. He must be confident that he can thoroughly denounce me here and win the case. He’s prepared for this, confident that he can win no matter how forcefully he acts."
Weiss, filled with anger, clenched his fists.
The pressure emanating from him filled the air, startling everyone in the temple.
Viscount Given, who had been acting with such ease, caught sight of Weiss and instinctively took a breath at the sight of his furious face.
"Calm down."
But Baron Clausel remained calm.
"But──"
"Just calm down. If you cannot calm down, I will have you leave."
Weiss quickly lowered his gaze, not out of fear of his lord's anger, but out of shame for his lack of composure.
"Here’s something only you should know. I’ve been in contact with a certain noble."
Weiss’s eyes widened in surprise at this unexpected revelation.
"A certain noble...?"
"Yes. I can’t reveal the details yet──but that person has promised to help me. If the situation arises, they will support me."
"So, this person is a higher-ranking noble than you, my lord?"
"Indeed. And they are also of higher rank than Viscount Given."
If that were the case, it would be at least an earl.
Weiss, upon realizing this, smiled with joy, having not known that his lord had secretly gained an ally.
"But I didn’t expect Viscount Given to act this quickly. His support, in the current situation, would be difficult."
Baron Clausel shrugged and gave a self-deprecating smile.
"Because of this, I had to rely on Ren Ashton’s talents. ...How pitiful, for a grown man."
Baron Clausel did not say anything more, instead giving a bitter smile.
"Everyone, it’s time."
An imperial court official declared.
Standing in the center of the room, the official looked around, confirming that everyone was paying attention before continuing.
"Now, according to the great Imperial law, the argument will begin. First, the claimant, Viscount Given..."
The argument proceeded exactly as expected.
Of course, Baron Clausel had not done nothing. He had prepared many counterarguments, anticipating what Viscount Given would say.
He presented how many knights he had sent and what kind of results they had achieved. He also presented the damage reports from villages near Viscount Given’s territory to refute the Viscount’s claims.
The counterarguments were excellently prepared, considering the short time they had to prepare, and it surprised Viscount Given, who had been acting so confidently.
"The court will examine the arguments based on the great Imperial law. The announcement will be made tomorrow morning, at the same time as today’s argument begins. Please do not forget."
At the official’s words, Baron Clausel secretly smiled.
After the judgment that day, Baron Clausel, sitting in his chair, muttered.
"The result is already clear. Even if we buy time, it will only be for two days."
When a noble is judged guilty, they are usually transferred to the Imperial capital.
But if Baron Clausel were to be sent to the capital, there would be no one left to rule this territory.
Though a successor would not be chosen immediately, instructions would have to be given to the remaining officials and knights.
In other words, time would be allowed for the transfer process.
"No, we can buy more time. We can claim dissatisfaction with the ruling and proceed with a trial in the Imperial capital. If that fails, we can appeal for a trial before the gods..."
"It’s impossible. With the way things are, we’ll be interfered with before the trial even begins. They’ll threaten me with things related to Lishia and others."
Hearing this, Weiss bit his lip in frustration and clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms.
On the other hand, Viscount Given’s side appeared to be entirely confident from the start, as if the outcome was already determined.
"Viscount, it seems things are proceeding according to plan."
One of his knights said, and Viscount Given smiled.
"Yes. Thanks to the speed of our actions, the Imperial faction hasn’t interfered yet. It’s finally happening."
Viscount Given smiled as he faced his opponent.
He looked at Baron Clausel’s composed demeanor and felt a slight irritation.
But still, a victory was a victory.
There was no way they could resist anymore, he thought as he exhaled.
──The next morning, the Imperial court officially declared that Baron Clausel was deserving of punishment.
Baron Clausel was soon to be transferred to the Imperial capital.
As Weiss had mentioned, there was still time to buy with the law, but as Baron Clausel said, interference was likely.
Everything was proceeding according to Viscount Given’s plan.
---