Chapter 6: The Saintess's Arrival
One afternoon, several knights from various villages returned to the city of Clausel, far from the village where Ren lived.
Upon arrival, they headed straight for the baron’s mansion and made their way to his office, where he awaited them.
The knights who had returned from the Ashton family’s village reported that the mysterious monster had, in fact, been a Sheefulfen.
When the baron and Wiess heard that Ren had slain it alone, they couldn’t hide their astonishment.
"Wiess! I had heard about Ren Ashton, but I never imagined he was that powerful!"
"I-It’s true that he showed great potential! But to think he managed to defeat a Sheefulfen alone…"
Shaken by the revelation, the two men continued listening to the knights’ report.
As a precaution, some knights had been stationed in various villages before the rest returned.
Once the report was finished, the baron dismissed everyone except Wiess and spoke.
"…In any case, we must prepare a reward for the Ashton family."
"Perhaps we should exempt them from this year’s taxes. Additionally, it may be best if you personally visit and commend them when the time is right."
"Then let’s go with that. Sigh… Even so, we need to continue investigating the other nobles. I still have my doubts."
"Indeed. A monster as formidable as a Sheefulfen shouldn’t appear in that region in the first place."
Seeing Wiess nod in agreement, the baron slammed his hand on the desk.
"Hmph! It has to be the work of the Hero Faction or the Royalist Faction!"
With that declaration, he stood up and roughly threw open the window, looking down at the city.
He didn’t speak much about these two factions, but the frustration on his face made his feelings clear.
Wiess, standing beside him, also bore a grim expression.
"We can’t afford to let our guard down. For now, the knights stationed in each village will remain where they are."
The baron’s voice was firm.
"Understood! I’ll inform them to leave at least two or three knights in each village."
"See to it. …And Wiess, I believe it would be best for you to visit the Ashton family’s village once more."
"Understood. I assume you want me to ask Lord Roy if anything unusual has occurred in the village?"
"Yes. There is no one I trust more with this task than you."
"…I shall see it done."
With that, Wiess bowed and left the room.
As he walked down the corridor, he spotted Lishia leaning against the wall.
Her graceful presence, befitting a saint, was unwavering as she turned her gaze up to Wiess and spoke.
"Is it true?"
"Could you clarify, my lady?"
"You know what I mean. A boy my age, single-handedly defeating a Sheefulfen of D-Rank."
She must have heard the story from those who had left before him.
It was likely that her interest had been piqued.
"It appears to be the truth. That boy possesses talent so exceptional that I have no doubt he could achieve such a feat."
"Then… he’s really stronger than me?"
Wiess answered without hesitation.
"Without question."
"Then let me fight him."
Just as quickly, Lishia took a step forward.
"As the White Saint, I refuse to lose to someone my own age."
"Sigh… My lady, you must realize how unreasonable this request is."
"I do. And I’m asking anyway."
"In that case, I shall answer plainly. It is impossible. Not only would it take significant time to reach the Ashton estate, but with the recent incident involving the Sheefulfen, we cannot afford to lower our guard."
"…"
"Of course, if we were to escort you, there would be no issue. However, I cannot justify bringing you along simply because you wish to challenge him."
"Hmm… I see."
For a brief moment, Wiess thought she had given up.
She lowered her gaze, clasped her hands together as if in prayer, and exuded an air of fragility.
But then, she lifted her head again.
Her expression remained elegant, yet a triumphant smirk played at her lips.
"My father, no doubt, intends to reward the Ashton family by exempting them from taxes and offering his personal commendation, correct? But he’s a busy man. Wouldn’t it be better if I went in his place?"
Wiess cursed his own careless words.
He was well aware that Lishia wasn’t just a naturally gifted swordswoman—her intellect and unwavering diligence made her a formidable scholar as well.
With a sigh, he pressed a hand to his forehead.
"Heh. I suppose I should pay Father a visit."
With that, Lishia stepped away from the wall and walked off, turning her back to Wiess.
Naturally, he followed after her.
"Please, my lady, at the very least, refrain from outmaneuvering the lord again today."
"My, what a terrible thing to say. I don’t outmaneuver Father—I simply consult with him, that’s all."
She turned to him with a graceful smile, her expression as composed and charming as ever.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Time passed.
Nearly two months had gone by since the Sheefulfen incident, and autumn had begun to set in.
As preparations for winter got underway throughout Baron Clausel’s domain, Ren made his way to the peak of Tsurugi Rock, a burlap sack in hand.
There, bathed in the warmth of the sun’s rays, he had dozed off.
Lying sprawled out at the peak, he let the increasingly chilly wind wash over him.
"…I fell asleep."
Realizing this, Ren slowly opened his eyes and covered his mouth as he let out a yawn.
His gaze then landed on the crystal embedded in the magic sword summoning bracelet on his arm.
As he stared at it with sleepy eyes, he could see the strength he had gained from the battle with the Sheefulfen reflected within it.
Ren had hunted a total of twenty Little Boars yesterday and the day before.
By cross-referencing various pieces of information and running the numbers, he could determine the proficiency gained from the Sheefulfen.
The result was 80.
That meant both his Magic Sword Summoning Arts and the magic sword itself had each gained that much proficiency.
"I guess the proficiency gained from fighting monsters is the same as the proficiency absorbed from magic stones, huh?"
However, the two wouldn’t always result in the exact same number. If he trained without fighting monsters or failed to absorb the magic stone’s power, only Magic Sword Summoning Arts would gain proficiency.
After confirming many things, Ren finally turned his attention to the name that stood out the most.
—Plunderer’s Magic Sword.
Judging by the name, it was a magic sword obtained from the Sheefulfen’s magic stone.
It was basic knowledge that fulfilling special conditions could increase the number of magic swords available for summoning, and apparently, that condition had just been met.
Would he be able to obtain more new magic swords from the magic stones of special monsters in the future?
With that thought in mind, Ren dismissed the wooden magic sword at his waist and summoned the Plunderer's Magic Sword.
"More like a gauntlet for my fingertips than an actual sword."
The Plunderer's Magic Sword had the appearance of a silver gauntlet covering only his hand.
Ren equipped it on his index finger and swung his hand at a Little Boar bone lying nearby.
But nothing happened.
He then tried swinging it toward a small bird flying nearby.
This time, a gust of wind burst forth from his hand and struck the bird in midair.
The bird, startled, flapped its wings and flew off somewhere—leaving one of its feathers behind in Ren’s palm.
(So it only activates when used on living beings, huh?)
That meant there was no point in using it haphazardly.
Furthermore, the Plunderer's Magic Sword consumed a significant amount of mana with just a single use, making it impractical for repeated use.
(And another thing...)
Even though only a small amount of proficiency was required to reach the next level, the Plunderer's Magic Sword hadn’t gained any from the Little Boar’s magic stone.
Ren had two theories.
Either the Plunderer's Magic Sword required magic stones from monsters of a certain strength, or it could only gain proficiency from the Sheefulfen’s magic stone.
Ren was particularly inclined toward the second theory.
The proficiency needed to level up was so minimal that, considering the rarity of Sheefulfen, it wouldn’t be surprising if it was tied specifically to them.
With those thoughts in mind, Ren got to his feet.
The reason he had come to the summit of Tsurugi Rock was to retrieve the jewelry hoard left behind by the Sheefulfen.
He definitely hadn’t come here just to lounge around.
Reminding himself of his objective, Ren opened the burlap sack he had brought and began gathering the scattered jewelry.
(This is kind of a fresh experience.)
Back in the game, loot was automatically acquired through the system after a battle ended.
But now that the game had become reality, that system didn’t exist.
Instead, he had to collect the items that monsters had hidden away himself.
It was a completely different feeling from bringing back the Little Boars he had hunted.
That said, everything lying here was essentially junk.
Among the items dropped by the Sheefulfen, the true prizes were special weapons and armor—whereas jewelry and other valuables were just sellable trinkets.
Still, there was no need to be disappointed.
Until now, he had kept his Magic Sword Summoning bracelet hidden, but from today onward, he could openly wear it by claiming it was one of the bracelets he had found here.
And if he sold the remaining jewelry, it would benefit the village.
...That said, there weren’t any bracelets among the jewelry.
Even so, he could just pretend the one he always wore was something he had found today.
Ren convinced himself of this.
"Hm?"
He suddenly tilted his head.
Among what he had assumed to be only jewelry, there was one object that clearly stood out.
He picked it up.
It was a large crystal ball, about the size of his head, dyed a deep blue reminiscent of sapphire.
Inside, a swirling mist of blue light flickered like lightning.
"This is..."
Ren gazed at it, suspecting it might be an item he recognized.
But before he could delve deeper into his thoughts—
"Lord Ren!"
A knight’s voice called out from a distance.
Startled, Ren hastily stuffed everything into the burlap sack.
Then, using vines created from his wooden magic sword, he lowered himself to the ground.
As he stepped off the roots and crossed the lake, the sound of hooves approached.
By the time Ren dismissed the vines, the knight had already arrived.
"Lord Ren! How many times must I tell you to inform us before entering the forest?!"
"Haha... Sorry. I figured it would be fine by now."
"Honestly... It’s only been a short while since that night. Please, don’t overexert yourself."
(...Oh yeah. It has only been two months.)
That night, thanks to the baron’s reinforcements arriving earlier than expected, Ren had narrowly escaped death.
But his wounds had been severe—deep enough to reach his internal organs—and it had taken days for him to regain consciousness.
Still, with the help of the knights’ medicine and his own resilience, he had recovered to the point where he could move as before after some rehabilitation.
That was why it had taken him so long to retrieve the jewelry from Tsurugi Rock’s summit.
Since the items were valuable, he had considered asking the knights stationed in the village to collect them.
But they had been busy dealing with the aftermath of the Sheefulfen incident, making it hard to ask.
"So, Lord Ren. What brings you all the way to Tsurugi Rock?"
"I was looking for something."
Ren opened his burlap sack and showed its contents.
"O-Oh! Could this be—!"
"Yep. The treasure the Sheefulfen had hidden. I’d like to sell it and use the money for the village. Would that be alright? You know, in terms of taxes and all that."
"There shouldn’t be an issue. Treasures obtained from defeating monsters belong to the one who slayed them. Technically, as a member of the Ashton family, you were fulfilling your duty to protect the village, so normally there would be a tax... but this time, it will be waived."
The village had been exempted from taxes for the year as a reward for the Sheefulfen’s defeat.
"The same goes for the Sheefulfen materials you asked us to sell. The head of the household has decided to purchase them himself—at a price slightly above market value."
"Really? That sounds like a hefty sum."
"Indeed. While the material isn’t suited for crafting equipment, it is valuable as an ingredient for medicine. This will provide you with enough wealth to live comfortably for over a decade."
"Wow, that’s amazing!"
"Sir Roy won’t be able to move for a while, so having financial security should be reassuring."
"He said he could move, but when I poked his upper body, he nearly passed out."
"That’s... rather harsh."
"This is necessary. Otherwise, my father would just insist he’s fully healed."
Hearing Ren’s exasperated words, the knight chuckled.
"You truly are a worthy heir to the Ashton family.
Now then, let us return to the village.
We’ve already finished today’s hunting duties, so you need not worry."
"Thank you. In that case, I’ll take you up on that offer."
Ren apologized as he was helped onto the knight’s horse, and the two rode off together.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
After returning to the manor, Ren went straight to his room.
He placed the burlap sack onto the firm, cushion-less sofa.
Most of the jewelry inside was meant to be sold.
But the one item that had been mixed in with them was a different story.
Ren pulled out the blue crystal ball and set it down on the table beside the sofa.
"I knew it… There's no doubt about it."
A blue lightning-like glow and a misty haze shimmered within the azure gemstone.
Ren reaffirmed the overwhelming presence of the item before him and became certain—it was a rare item he knew well.
"—The Azure Jewel of Serakia."
This was something from the time before the legend of the Seven Heroes became Ren’s reality, back when it was still just a game.
Among the rare drops from the defeated Sheefulfen, there was an item that countless players had desperately sought to uncover the true purpose of.
That item was the Azure Jewel of Serakia.
It was the rarest drop among all items obtained from the Sheefulfen, boasting an extremely low drop rate.
In the game era, if the protagonist, who was assigned the Beast Tamer skill, reached the maximum level, the item’s description would finally be unlocked, revealing a cryptic message:
<It appears to be an egg. The surface, which seems to be a shell, is so hard that even the most legendary blades cannot scratch it. Touching it reveals an immense power. If one were to offer a vast amount of magic power and the horn of a great dragon, it might be possible to hatch it. Once it is born, it will swear absolute loyalty to its master.>
Upon reading this, many players immediately thought of a particular monster from the game’s lore.
According to the game’s setting materials, before the Seven Heroes defeated the Demon King, there was a creature that once turned against him.
This creature was said to have wielded absolute power over ice and darkness, causing even the Demon King considerable trouble.
The name Serakia in the item’s name seemed to refer to the frozen wasteland where that monster once dwelled—a land of absolute zero.
"…What do I do with this?"
Should he keep it, or sell it?
Selling it would bring an incredible fortune.
However, he was already set to receive a significant sum from the other jewelry alone.
From the perspective of the village’s future, more funds would always be beneficial.
Yet, if this truly could hatch into a powerful monster, he didn’t want it falling into someone else's hands.
The monster was said to swear absolute loyalty to its master, but allowing such power to run unchecked was dangerous.
Discarding it was out of the question, and with its extreme hardness described in the item’s entry, destroying it was likely impossible.
"…For now, I guess I’ll just hold onto it."
That said, hatching it seemed nearly impossible.
The horn of a great dragon was required, but there was no information on how to obtain it or what exactly it was.
Because of that, despite its extreme rarity, it had ultimately been nothing more than a high-value trade item during the game era.
Ren then made his way to his parents' room.
He had planned to discuss the jewelry he obtained from the Sheefulfen, but it seemed Roy and Mireille had already heard about it from the knights.
"I already heard about the treasure! Great job, Ren! I heard from the baron that there won’t even be taxes on it!"
"Yeah, that’s what I heard. Thanks to that, we’ll finally be able to repair the mansion."
"Ren, you’re the same as always… Don't you ever want something extravagant? Like high-class gear! Or maybe getting your skills appraised?"
Not in the slightest.
In fact, if someone made plans like that on his behalf, he’d probably be too annoyed to talk to them for days.
"More than that, I’d like to order a good stock of medicinal herbs. We’ve completely run out."
"H-Hey! This is your treasure, Ren! You should be treating yourself to something nice!"
"That’s right! We’re happy that you’re thinking about us, but you risked your life for this…!"
"Thank you. But this wasn’t my achievement alone."
The fact that they had managed to take it down was only possible because Roy had severely wounded it beforehand.
Even so, Roy and Mireille couldn’t help but feel a little guilty hearing Ren’s words.
(I really do want to use it for the mansion and the village, though…)
Even so, his parents still put him first, making them unsure of what to do.
Not wanting the conversation to take this turn, Ren held up his arm, revealing the magic sword summoning bracelet on his wrist.
"In that case, would it be okay if I kept this bracelet? It’s one of the things the Sheefulfen had gathered, and I’ve really taken a liking to it."
"Of course! But are you sure there’s nothing else you want?"
"You don’t have to limit yourself to just one thing. If there’s anything else that caught your eye, just say so!"
"Well… Ah, in that case—!"
Ren had been wondering how to bring it up, but this was the perfect chance.
Feigning ignorance of the Azure Jewel of Serakia’s true nature, he casually told his parents that he found a pretty-looking stone and wanted to keep it.
They readily agreed, listening attentively to his request.
"I’m more than satisfied, so please use the rest for the mansion and the village."
Hearing Ren say that once again, his parents could only let out a small, reluctant chuckle.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The following afternoon, Ren stepped out into the garden.
Holding a wooden training sword in one hand, he moved his body fluidly, a Plunderer's magic sword worn on one of his fingers.
The Plunderer's Magic Sword had no effect on anything other than living beings.
So Ren's targets were the little birds that occasionally flew by.
Of course, the purpose of this was to practice using the Plunderer's Magic Sword.
(That’s the one real drawback…)
As long as he had the summoning bracelet active, he at least received the minor boost to physical ability.
However, since he could only summon one magic sword at a time, making full use of the Plunderer's Magic Sword meant he had to forgo using the Wooden Magic Sword—and that also meant giving up his Minor Nature Magic.
If he could raise his Magic Sword Summoning level, he’d be able to summon two swords at once, but that was still a long way off.
(…Well, I guess I don’t need the Wooden Magic Sword for Little Boars.)
The Ashton family owned regular metal swords.
He could simply take a smaller one and head into the forest.
Just as that thought crossed his mind—
A floral fragrance drifted in, accompanied by a clear, melodious voice.
"—Are you Ren Ashton?"
The voice came from behind him.
Near the weathered fence surrounding the mansion—one that had yet to be repaired.
(That girl…?)
She was beautiful. Delicate.
A striking young girl who looked as if she had stepped right out of a fairy tale, reminiscent of a fairy or a goddess.
Ren found himself staring at her, two thoughts crossing his mind—
There was no girl like her in the village.
And… he felt like he had seen her somewhere before.
"Yeah… I’m Ren Ashton."
Still struggling to process his thoughts, he responded nonetheless.
The girl’s silky, lustrous hair fluttered in the autumn breeze as she gracefully stepped toward him.
The way she moved—it brought to mind the word lily.
Paired with her elegant dress, the sight was breathtaking.
"Good. I’ve been wanting to meet you."
"Me…?"
"Yes. You’re the only thing I’ve been thinking about lately."
Her passionate words only deepened Ren’s confusion.
She took a step closer—then another.
Ren couldn’t look away.
No—her presence was so captivating it felt as though looking away wasn’t even an option.
"Has your injury healed?"
"Yeah. I just recovered recently."
Hearing that, the girl narrowed her eyes and smiled.
Then, she suddenly reached behind her back—
And tossed a dagger toward him.
Ren instinctively caught it, puzzled.
When he looked back at her, she was holding an identical dagger in her hand.
"Wait, boy—! Do not—! Do not take that—!"
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Suddenly, a familiar voice reached Ren from afar.
When he looked, he saw Weiss riding a horse, approaching him. The voice was too distant to make out clearly, but Ren couldn’t help but wonder why that man was here in the village.
(For now, I’ll just wait.)
With that thought in mind, Ren squatted down and picked up the dagger that had been thrown at his feet.
It had no blade, and it was crushed—damaged beyond use.
"How brave. You picked up the sword even though I could’ve stopped you. Perhaps it's a sign of your confidence?"
"…Huh?"
"Would it be alright if I start the match?"
"Uh… sure?"
Ren replied with a questioning tone, but to the girl, it sounded like an affirmative response.
Hearing that, the girl’s face broke into a genuine smile of joy, and she raised the dagger she held.
Then, with a sharp lunge, she quickly closed the distance between them.
She moved as fast as the wind, her footwork smooth and refined.
Naturally, Ren was bewildered by the sudden onset of a battle.
However, the girl, without any regard for Ren’s confusion, aimed her dagger at his shoulder.
(…She’s fast, but)
It wasn’t as fast as Roy. And the force likely wasn’t the same either.
But the way she wielded the dagger was sharp and graceful—something Ren had never seen before.
He quickly recalled his training with Weiss.
Having processed it all in an instant, Ren called out,
"If this is a mock battle, I think a wooden sword would be safer, don’t you think—!"
Even though he had fallen behind, Ren effortlessly parried the girl’s blade.
She stepped back, taking several paces away, her beautiful face now full of astonishment.
"Heh…! Amazing! This is the most fun I’ve ever had in my life!"
Though she was overwhelmed, the girl remained defiant and didn’t utter a word of surrender.
She then took a step back, reaching for the hem of her dress.
Ren, watching her closely, couldn’t believe his eyes.
…The girl had discarded her dress.
"Eh?"
However, she wasn’t in her underwear. Beneath the dress, she wore a military-style outfit in white, practical for movement.
(That outfit… it looks familiar.)
Just as Ren tried to recall where he had seen such attire, the girl closed in on him mercilessly.
Perhaps the change in clothing made her movements swifter, or perhaps it was the shift in her mindset, but her speed and sharpness were even greater than before.
"How about this!"
The refined swordplay of the young girl didn’t resemble the sword of a child at all.
But to Ren, it wasn’t enough to match him.
Deciding it was time to end the match, Ren summoned even more strength, employing a different strategy than before, aiming to break her stance.
"Wha…!? No way!"
As the girl’s body was forced back by Ren’s sword, her weight shifted to one leg, unbalancing her.
She fell backwards, unable to catch herself, and her back hit the ground. Her bottom made contact with the earth as Ren’s sword continued to press against her.
Eventually, the force of Ren’s strength caused her entire back to meet the ground.
"…I win."
Ren's dagger was now pressed against the side of the girl's neck.
With Ren straddling her, her arms were pinned, and she couldn’t muster any strength. Under his powerful gaze, she was silent.
However, after a few seconds, the girl’s cheeks slowly began to flush.
"…I-I said…"
"Huh?"
"That… that’s too close!"
Ren quickly stood up and backed away from her.
"S-Sorry! The situation just… I wanted you to admit defeat, so I…!"
There was no other reason.
The girl seemed to understand, but her embarrassment was something she couldn’t hide.
Ren’s eyes were drawn to her flushed cheeks.
"…I’ll make you regret making me feel embarrassed!"
The girl stood up abruptly, her eyes glistening with tears of embarrassment, and swung her sword.
Her movements remained graceful, but there was now a sense of desperation, and it had become somewhat sloppy.
"Eh, are we still going!?"
"Of course! You haven’t made me admit defeat yet!"
"…W-What an outrageous argument!"
In any case, Ren had no intention of continuing the fight.
He was afraid of injuring the girl.
He wanted to finish it quickly, but...
"Young lady, that’s enough! And you too, boy, please stop!"
Finally, Weiss’s voice reached Ren’s ears as he hesitated about his next move.
In response, Ren calmly asked Weiss,
"Lord Weiss, what brings you here?"
"Oh... sorry for the sudden visit. Actually, I—"
"Weiss, let me explain."
"…Understood."
The girl took a few steps forward and then stopped just a few paces from Ren.
She then curtsied.
Unlike the dress she had discarded, the outfit she wore now had a military-like appearance, yet she still exuded an undeniable air of grace and nobility as she performed her curtsy.
With that graceful gesture, it was as though her surroundings sparkled, like a party hall.
Ren, captivated by her outstanding beauty and the smile on her face, unconsciously found himself mesmerized.
"I’ve come as my father’s representative to deliver a letter to the Ashton family."
Cold sweat ran down Ren’s neck as he listened.
From the girl’s words, an unpleasant premonition began to form in his mind.
"My father spoke highly of the Ashton family for their role in defeating the Sheefulfen, and he also expressed great expectations for Ren Ashton’s future."
"Ah, yes... thank you..."
Noticing Ren’s unclear response, the girl repeated with slight frustration,
"What’s with that reaction? Aren’t you happy?"
"My lady, the boy is likely confused. Also, you haven’t introduced yourself yet."
"Oh, now that you mention it, you’re right."
The girl cleared her throat and straightened her posture.
With a graceful smile, she finally introduced herself.
"I am Lishia Clausel—'The Saint of White.’ You knew about me, right?"
She asked, pressing Ren, who was still stunned.
Ren awkwardly nodded in response, and once he saw her satisfied expression, he looked up at the sky.
Her gaze, too, seemed to be fixed on something far beyond.
"My lady, your dress..."
Ren, still distant, heard Weiss take the discarded dress from Lishia’s hands and speak.
"I’ll change after later, since I’ve gotten a bit sweaty."
"Understood. But my lady, I cannot overlook the fact that, while I was away during our break in the forest, you came here alone on horseback."
"The break was too long. That’s why I came here on my own."
Unlike the surprised Ren, the two of them exchanged calm words.
Meanwhile, Ren, still stunned, pondered to himself.
(I don’t understand... How did this happen?)
He had never expected Lishia to show up suddenly.
Recently, he had been thinking of ways to avoid any more meetings, but the force of her appearance left him speechless.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
After guiding Lishia and Weiss to the mansion, Roy and Mireille hurriedly prepared to welcome them. However, since Roy couldn’t move, he was only able to report the current situation to Weiss from his sickroom.
However, Lishia didn’t stay in that room.
Without hesitation, she called out to Ren and suggested they talk in the guest room.
"Hey, do you know why I came to this village?"
Sitting on the old sofa in the guest room, Lishia stared at Ren, who was seated across from her, and asked.
Even the sofa she sat on seemed like a masterpiece crafted by a master artisan.
"I believe you said you had a letter from the Baron," Ren said, adjusting his tone compared to their first meeting, now speaking to a young noblewoman.
"Unfortunately, that’s just an excuse," Lishia replied with a confident smile.
────The Saint of White, Lishia Clausel.
While she didn’t join the party of the Seven Heroes in the legend, her ability was substantial, and only the protagonist with a sufficiently high level could stand a chance against her in event battles.
(...No wonder she stood out so much in appearance.)
Lishia was a character who, with her exceptional beauty and charm, captivated many male players. Her popularity ranked among the highest of all characters.
However, she was famous for being an "unattainable heroine," as it was impossible to enter a romantic relationship with her.
"So, if that was an excuse, you must have another reason for coming," Ren said.
"Yes, of course."
Lishia nodded enthusiastically and continued with a joyful tone.
"I wanted to see for myself. The one whom Weiss praised for his strength, the one who defeated the Sheefulfen on his own, even though we’re the same age."
"It seems Weiss has overestimated me. The Sheefulfen was injured by my father, so not all of it was... my skill."
"...Heh, how strange."
Lishia leaned slightly forward with a provocative smile.
"Your words just now sound like you’re saying you don’t want to be liked by me. It seems like modesty, but is that really all there is to it?"
(...She’s sharp.)
Ren silently smiled wryly. But, there was no wonder in his behavior.
Since his reincarnation, Ren had sought a peaceful life and had been taking steps to avoid the same future as the one in the legend of the Seven Heroes. Above all, avoiding an encounter with Lishia had been a top priority, so he couldn’t afford to be liked by her now.
However, their relationship as noble and knight was one that could not easily be severed.
So, at the very least, he had to act in a way that wouldn’t lead to a close relationship.
"But even if you don’t like it, it doesn’t matter."
"────Huh?"
"Won’t you come to my town?"
With those words, Lishia revealed her true intentions.
"From the duel earlier, I’m certain. Not only are you strong, but you also have courage. You picked up your sword without hesitation when suddenly challenged to a duel—proof of that courage."
Lishia admired not only Ren’s strength but also his character.
(So that was a duel challenge...)
By taking the sword that was thrown, he must have accepted the challenge.
"I didn’t know that was a duel challenge. So, whether I have courage or not isn’t really relevant."
"Heh, you don’t have to be so modest."
"No, that’s not it..."
"I understand. You’re not like those noblemen who just talk a big game."
As her misunderstanding raised her opinion of him, Ren realized that no matter what he said, it would be futile.
"────That’s exactly why I want you to come to Clausel, by any means necessary."
In truth, Ren had been humbly working hard.
He knew his fighting abilities were superior to those of his peers, but he had also been diligent in his studies, never slacking off.
However, he preferred not to flaunt it.
There was some misunderstanding now, but it seemed Lishia understood Ren’s character.
(This girl must be a huge effort-maker.)
Lishia had deliberately taken the time to come all the way to this remote place.
Even if there was some force behind her actions, there was no doubt that her desire for self-improvement was the core of it.
"Besides, I’m very competitive. I can’t go back after losing to you."
"Wait, aren’t you admitting you lost?"
"It’s just a play on words."
"Ha... So, in the end, you’re asking me to come to your town so we can always duel, right?"
"Good. It seems like you understand my intention."
"I’m sorry, but I’m not planning on leaving this village."
Lishia’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment, but she quickly regained her composed demeanor.
"....Hmm. So, you really don’t like me?"
It was true that Ren didn’t want to form a relationship with her.
However, he had other concerns besides the story of the game.
"It’s not that. If I leave the village, the only person who can fight will be my father. If another monster like the Sheefulfen appears, this time the village could collapse."
"I understand your situation. But what about your personal feelings?"
"Do you mean leaving the village, excluding the village's circumstances?"
"Yes."
"Even so, I don’t plan on leaving. I like living here, and I’ve never had the desire to live in a city."
Upon hearing this, Lishia fell silent.
She crossed her arms and placed her fingers on her mouth, deep in thought.
"────I won’t give up."
"Um, did you just say something...?"
"Don’t mind it. It’s just a mutter."
"Not giving up or something..."
"No, it's nothing."
Despite Ren’s point being obviously correct, Lishia stubbornly refused to speak any further.
Suddenly, she stood up and said, "I’m sorry, but I’d like to borrow the bath. I got sweaty during the duel earlier, and I’ll pay for the firewood."
She changed the subject as if nothing had happened.
"Don’t worry about the firewood. The water’s already been heated," Ren replied.
"Oh? You keep it heated regularly? Could it be some kind of magical tool?"
(Magical tool... right. This world does have those.)
Magical tools are convenient items that operate using magic. They come in various forms, ranging from small, portable items to large, stationary ones.
In general, they either run on magic stones as fuel or use the user’s own magic to operate. During the era of the Seven Heroes, magical stones were also used as tradeable items, which is why.
However, magical tools are generally expensive, as only a few craftsmen can make them.
"We can’t afford magical tools. The reason the water is heated is because I go hunting. I heat it in advance to wash off sweat or monster blood."
As they talked, Ren guided her.
The old washbasin and bath in the mansion were well-kept by Mireille, so despite their age, they were clean.
Once the tour was done, Ren felt relieved that Lishia hadn’t seemed dissatisfied. He turned his back to her.
"I’ll bring a suitable magical tool from my mansion next time."
"That’s very kind... Wait, next time!?"
"…………U-um, you see, it’s a bit embarrassing to say this after you’ve shown me around, but… I can’t undress with you standing there."
Ren wished he’d been taught the meaning of those words before saying them, but since he didn’t want to create any awkward misunderstandings, he reluctantly left the room.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
That evening’s dinner was arranged by Lishia, and she, along with the three members of the Ashton family, engaged in friendly conversation during the meal.
However, once dinner was over, Ren excused himself and quickly left the table.
He felt a little rude for doing so, but he made up an excuse about needing to take care of the horses Lishia and the others had ridden.
But Lishia, as if sensing his escape, followed him outside the mansion.
"So… is this the after-dinner exercise you mentioned?"
"As expected, you catch on quickly."
It was only natural that Ren understood; Lishia wasn’t wearing a dress but instead was dressed in white attire resembling military uniform.
"I-I think it’s a bit too much to sweat at this hour…!"
"Don’t worry about it. I can’t sleep well unless I take a bath before bed."
Lishia smiled brightly, her expression almost ethereal under the moonlight.
However, just like during the day when she threw a sword at him, Ren couldn’t help but look away from her delicate smile.
"Ah! That’s it! Wouldn’t it be better if the young lady didn’t do this? If you do, Lord Weiss will get angry!"
"Too bad. I’ve already gotten permission from Weiss, so there’s no problem. And from your parents as well."
"S-such a thing...!?"
That commander of the knights... was he persuaded?
However, there was little Ren could do about his parents. When a foster daughter asks for something, refusing is almost impossible.
But Ren had an idea.
(Wait, I just need to not pick up a sword, right?)
If that happened, the fight wouldn’t take place.
Relieved, Ren thought to himself, but then Lishia spoke.
"If you don’t pick up a sword, I’ll just stay longer than planned."
"…Actually, I’ve been feeling like I want to get some exercise anyway."
Ren’s clever plan was instantly dismissed, and with a faint smile, he spoke.
"How strange, I’m a little irritated now... Why do you keep rejecting me like this?"
(I’m definitely not going to say it.)
Lishia, seeing Ren’s dry smile, raised an eyebrow.
But when she saw Ren pick up his sword, she seemed to lower her guard slightly.
"Alright? If I win, you’ll tell me the reason. Also, I’ll have you join us, so prepare yourself."
"And if I win, what happens?" Ren asked, returning her question.
Lishia squinted her eyes and said,
"In that case… I’ll come visit this village again!"
Ren realized that no matter what, he would be the one to lose. His eyes dulled, and he was left with a vague expression.
He stood there, his grip on the sword weak, though Lishia charged toward him with renewed determination.
Feeling that she had found a clear opening, she swung her sword, but it was effortlessly blocked by Ren.
"Wh-why could you block it!? You were off-balance!"
"Well, even if you say that…"
Thanks to their previous battles, Ren had become accustomed to Lishia’s movements. Even though this was only their second clash, he had already developed more efficient ways to counter her strikes than during the first fight.
(I don’t even need to beat her!)
Ren was well aware of her exceptional determination.
What made things difficult for him was her deep-seated competitiveness.
But considering her abilities, if he deliberately lost, she’d catch on immediately. And that would only make her angry.
At that point, she might even ask Clausel to abduct him.
"So why do you want to win against me so badly!?"
"I told you! I’m competitive! And as the 'White Saint,' I don’t want to lose to a boy my age!"
The two of them continued to clash swords, all while talking.
"I don’t see why being the 'White Saint' matters!"
"My 'White Saint' skill gives me great swordsmanship, physical abilities, and even divine magic! I can’t stand losing when I have all that!"
Essentially, it was a skill that combined swordsmanship, physical enhancement, and divine magic.
The divine magic was particularly powerful. It included healing spells, holy magic for undead, dispelling curses, and detoxifying poisons. In addition, she could use buffs on herself and her party members, which made events she participated in significantly easier.
"From here on out, I’m going all out! I’ll definitely beat you!"
Lishia’s movements changed.
For a moment, she was enveloped in a dazzling light, and then her speed increased dramatically. The strength in her strikes felt like that of a completely different person.
(That’s divine magic...!)
It was the blessing of the great god Elphen, and since it increased physical abilities, it stacked with the previous effect.
(At this point, she’s definitely stronger!)
Ren’s expression changed.
"You should’ve used that earlier!"
"I know! But if I used it without Weiss’s permission, he’d get mad!"
That meant she had gotten permission this time.
(You’re too soft on her!)
Ren frowned, and with that, he tightened his grip on his sword. His eyes grew sharper, and the slight advantage Lishia had was now in jeopardy.
Then—
"…Liar."
The last clash of blades ended in an instant.
Before Lishia realized what had happened, Ren’s sword was pressed against her neck, even before she could raise her own sword in defense.
"I win," Ren said, his voice steady as he looked Lishia in the eyes from an uncomfortably close distance, close enough that she could feel his breath.
"…I’m not defeated yet," Lishia mumbled.
Whether it was from nervousness or embarrassment, her voice trembled as tears welled up in her eyes.
On the other hand, Ren couldn’t help but grimace.
(She’s ridiculously competitive…)
In the end, Ren lowered his sword and took a step back.
There was no attempt to retaliate from Lishia, though she seemed to be still processing the fact that she had been so close to defeat.
At that moment, the sound of clapping echoed.
Along with the claps, Weiss appeared, accompanied by a few knights.
"To defeat the young lady while she was using divine magic... impressive. As expected from the hero who single-handedly defeated the Seaf Wolf at such a young age."
"We were surprised as well!"
"Indeed! Soon enough, you may become a knight whose name will be known throughout Leomel!"
After the knights expressed their admiration,
"I told you, didn't I? Sir Ren is truly strong."
A knight stationed in the village recently spoke in an amused tone.
Wiess repeated the sentiment.
"My apologies, boy. As they said, you are strong. I wanted my lady to fully understand that strength."
In the end, the Ashton family served the Clausel household.
If it was for the sake of the lady, there was little Ren could say in protest.
"Now then, my lady. You must have grasped the extent of this boy's strength down to your very bones."
"…………"
"You are strong, my lady. However, this boy became strong despite not having the same advantages as you. In other words, if you continue to push yourself, you may be able to catch up to him."
(If anything, she'd probably surpass me in no time.)
"If you understand, then when you return to the manor, I expect you to train even harder than before."
"Yes… I understand."
Lishia nodded, then turned to Ren.
"Sorry for dropping in on you so suddenly today. But this was a valuable experience for me."
"A-Ah… Same here."
"────If you come to Clausel, we can spar every day, you know?"
"I'm afraid that's a separate matter entirely."
Ren remained firm in his refusal.
Lishia, seeing this, let out a small chuckle and turned on her heel, heading back to the manor.
"My deepest apologies once again. Please forgive me. I will make sure to inform the lord of Ashton House’s assistance."
"It was nothing, really."
"No, it was not. Wouldn't you agree?"
Wiess turned to his subordinates, prompting them to respond.
"I'm sure this was a great learning experience for the young lady."
"Indeed. She often seems bored when training against us, after all."
"Boy, as they said, this was meaningful. ────If possible, I had hoped you would stay a few more days and continue training with the young lady…"
(I’d really like to avoid that.)
"However, we must depart by tomorrow morning."
It was earlier than Ren had expected.
The realization surprised him, but at the same time, it was a welcome relief.
"The young lady convinced the lord to let her visit this village. But aside from discussing rewards for Ashton House, she has other duties to attend to. She must tour the neighboring villages and calm the unrest caused by recent events."
While meeting Ren was one of her objectives, Lishia had also presented her father with tasks she would accomplish in return.
As the daughter of the ruling family, she hadn’t neglected her responsibilities.
(Really, at her core, she’s a good and honest person.)
"I’ll make sure to express my gratitude again tomorrow morning."
Wiess bowed with the grace of a butler before leading his men away.
────Or so Ren thought, until they returned with Lishia.
"Hey, hey, can I stop by your room later with Wiess?"
She made the request so suddenly that Ren blinked in surprise before responding.
"Is something the matter?"
"I thought I’d take the chance to ask about how you usually train. Wiess is curious too. So, will you stay up just a little late and talk with us?"
Ren composed himself and nodded.
"I don’t mind."
At his response, Lishia’s face lit up with joy.
Seeing her so openly delighted was a reminder of her purity and elegance, truly befitting of a saint.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The next morning, Lishia awoke with the sunrise.
She wanted to spar with Ren again, but unfortunately, she had to leave the village today.
She felt a strong reluctance, but there was no avoiding it.
As she busied herself with packing, a thought suddenly occurred to her.
────That’s it!
Yesterday, she had invited Ren to Clausel, only for him to turn her down.
If words weren’t enough, then she would show him how serious she was through a letter.
Determined, Lishia pulled out a sheet of parchment and an envelope from her luggage.
Then, she sat at the guest room’s desk and picked up a pen.
"Now then… what should I write…?"
The issue was that Lishia had little experience writing personal letters.
She had written plenty before, but they were all formal greetings and pleasantries.
She had never written anything like this before.
But still, Lishia continued to move her pen with determination.
…Writing letters was also a noble's refinement.
With a touch of poetic phrasing, she carefully composed her message in elegant handwriting, befitting a baron’s daughter.
Once she was satisfied with what she had written, she let out a breath.
“My Lady, it’s me.”
Wiess’s voice came from outside the door.
When Lishia responded, “You may enter,” he promptly stepped inside.
As soon as he saw her at her desk, he noticed that she had been writing a letter and approached her.
“Is that a letter of gratitude for the Ashton family?”
“No. I still need to write that one, but this is a different letter.”
Wiess tilted his head in curiosity, wondering who the recipient might be.
Then, Lishia handed him the letter.
“Would you mind checking it for me, Wiess? This is a letter I wrote for that boy.”
“I see, so it is addressed to the young man.”
“Yes. I want him to come to Clausel no matter what, so I plan to give it to him before we leave.”
Taking the freshly written letter, Wiess read through it as requested.
Meanwhile, Lishia retrieved another sheet of parchment and began composing a letter of thanks to the Ashton family.
Unlike the letter to Ren, her writing progressed smoothly with this one.
Once she had finished, she looked up at Wiess, who was still standing, and asked for his opinion.
“Well? What do you think?”
“…Ah, how should I put this…”
“What? Did I make a mistake?”
“N-No, there are no issues with the handwriting or the wording itself.”
“Then what is it?”
Lishia frowned slightly at Wiess’s unusual hesitation.
After a moment of internal struggle, he finally spoke with a resigned sigh.
“My Lady, this reads like a love letter.”
Lishia froze, her eyes widening in shock.
“A love letter?”
“Yes. Upon reviewing its contents, it comes across exactly as one.”
“…Tell me. What part of it makes it seem that way?”
Wiess hesitated again, but when he saw Lishia’s composed demeanor, he knew he couldn’t ignore her question.
However, beneath her outward calm, her heart was pounding loudly.
“For instance, here: ‘The excitement I feel toward you has only grown stronger since we met.’”
“T-That’s just what I mean! I had heard he was amazing even before meeting him, but when I actually saw him, he was even more incredible! That’s all I was saying!”
“I understand your intent, but as written, it sounds like the words of a woman deeply enamored.”
“Wha—!?”
“And another example—”
“Wait, there’s more!?”
Lishia’s face turned red as she recoiled in disbelief at the continuation.
“Here: ‘Your valor, your strength, your noble spirit—they call to me, urging me never to give up on you.’”
“That’s the truth! After witnessing such incredible swordsmanship, who wouldn’t want to spar with him again and again?”
“However, the way it is phrased, it resembles the words of a village maiden enraptured by a hero. If you read it again, you will understand.”
At Wiess’s prompting, Lishia took back the letter and reread it.
Her initial shock had somewhat subsided, and she now appeared calm.
Her flushed cheeks had returned to their usual color, and her heart had steadied from its frantic rhythm.
“…It really does sound like a love letter.”
It wasn’t just because it was her first time writing a personal letter.
Perhaps it was her strong desire for Ren to come to Clausel that made her pour too much emotion into it.
Realizing this, Lishia prepared to write a new letter.
But just as she reached for another sheet, Wiess reminded her, “My Lady, it’s time to depart.”
Reluctantly, she had to give up on rewriting it.
As for the unintended love letter, she considered tearing it up and discarding it.
However, Wiess urged her to hurry, leaving her no choice but to abandon the idea of disposing of it here.
Feeling flustered, she folded the letter roughly and shoved it into her pocket.
She decided she would get rid of it once they had left the village.
Hurrying out of the mansion with Wiess, Lishia exchanged final words with the Ashton family.
She apologized for the sudden visit, expressed her gratitude for their hospitality, and formally acknowledged the rewards regarding the Sheefulfen incident.
Then, she quickly set off from Ren’s village.
As they crossed the suspension bridge linking the village and the forest—
A sudden gust of wind blew from ahead, making Lishia raise her hand to shield her eyes.
At the same time, the wind lightly rustled her clothing.
“My Lady, are you alright?”
“Yes, don’t worry. It just surprised me a little.”
Lishia reassured him with a gentle smile, and the horses continued forward.
…She hadn’t realized it at that moment.
That same gust of wind had lifted the letter from her pocket and carried it away.
--