Chapter 5: Special Individual
From the day Weiss and his men departed, Roy’s life became more hectic than ever.
He woke earlier than usual to head into the forest and returned home even later at night.
Day by day, week by week, the exhaustion on his face grew more apparent.
“...Dear, you should take a break, even if it’s just for a day.”
At the dinner table, Mireille suggested he rest, but Roy refused.
“I can’t. I have to hunt as many monsters as possible to keep that thing from getting too close to the village.”
He simply smiled, saying he just needed to endure for thirteen more days.
(If I had known things would turn out like this, I would’ve trained to fight monsters in the forest, too…)
Regret wouldn’t change anything, but Ren couldn’t help thinking it.
Naturally, he asked Roy to take him into the forest as well.
But Roy refused outright. No matter how many times Ren pleaded, his father wouldn’t budge.
——Time passed, and Ren spent his days feeling frustrated.
Then, ten days after Weiss had left, night fell once more.
The sky, once dyed crimson, was being swallowed by darkness.
In just a few more minutes, night would fully take hold.
“Mom, Dad still isn’t back. Isn’t it way too late?”
Feeling uneasy, Ren went to the kitchen and called out to Mireille.
“Hmm… Maybe he’s just working extra hard today…”
She tried to reassure herself, but worry quickly took hold.
“I’ll go check on him.”
“I’ll go instead.”
“No. It’s too late, and it’s dangerous.”
Her firm tone left no room for argument, but Ren wasn’t convinced.
He quickly came up with a compromise.
“It’s dangerous for you to go alone, too.
I’ll just follow in secret if I have to, so it’d be safer if we went together, right?”
“Haa… Ren, why do you have to be so clever in the worst ways?”
Mireille had no way to talk him down.
She considered forcing him to stay, but the thought of him sneaking behind her in secret seemed even more dangerous.
In the end, she reluctantly agreed to let him come along.
(This is the first time I’ve gone out at night since becoming Ren…)
Stepping out from the kitchen’s earthen floor, he felt the cool night breeze brush against his cheek.
The scent of grass, flowers, and earth tickled his nose, carried by the wind.
The chirping of insects filled the air—a sound he would have preferred to hear on a peaceful night instead.
“Ren, give me your hand.”
The two of them walked hand in hand.
“Be careful not to trip.”
Mireille said as she held up a torch.
The faint glow of the stars and the village lights weren’t enough to illuminate their path.
In this darkness, even a few meters ahead was difficult to see.
A single misstep could send them tumbling.
——About thirty minutes after leaving the house, they came upon a path lined with torches on either side.
“That’s the entrance to the forest. That river separates the village from the woods.”
The path between the torches led to a wooden suspension bridge.
It wasn’t crafted with the finesse of a skilled artisan, but it's thick log construction made it clear that it was sturdy.
“Where could he have—huh?”
Mireille suddenly froze.
Standing beside her, Ren followed her gaze.
On the other side of the bridge, leaning against a tree, was a figure sitting motionless.
The moment they realized it was Roy, they rushed forward.
(…Something’s wrong.)
Even with them approaching, Roy barely reacted.
All he did was slightly tilt his head in their direction.
He didn’t even lift his gaze—just breathed heavily, his shoulders rising and falling irregularly.
“Honey! We were so worri—”
Mireille’s words cut off mid-sentence.
Ren, noticing the same thing, gasped.
“D-Dad?!”
The man who had left that morning, full of life, was now slumped against a tree, blood pouring from his body, staining the ground in a deep red.
“Mirei…lle… Re…n…”
“Don’t talk! Just stay still—we’ll get you home right away!”
“...No… you… must… run…”
Roy’s trembling arm reached out.
His bloodied fingers grasped Ren’s shoulder, but his grip was weak.
“...G-go…! My blood… will… attract… monsters…”
With those final, halting words, Roy fell still.
But when Ren placed a hand on his chest, he could still feel a faint heartbeat.
Then—
From the shadows of the trees, heavy, excited breaths filled the air.
“Brruuuuh!”
“Hff, hff…!”
“Bruuaaah!”
Three Little Boars emerged from the darkness.
Their bodies, about the size of large dogs, were covered in thick, mud-stained fur that was tough like armor.
Their fangs, sharp and deadly, could tear flesh apart in an instant.
(They were drawn by the scent of blood…)
“AAAAAAGH!”
Ren had no time to decide whether to fight or flee.
One of the Little Boars had already charged straight at him.
“Mom! Get Dad back to the house!”
“Ren!?”
“Just go! I’m the only one who can fight right now!”
Ren stepped forward, positioning himself between the boars and his family.
But he had never fought beasts before—not even in his past life.
Unlike humans, he had no idea how they moved in battle.
Seeing the Little Boar bare its fangs at him, sweat trickled down his neck.
“Bruuuuuh!”
The monster leaped at his throat.
Ren reacted on instinct, gripping the wooden magic sword at his waist and thrusting it forward—jamming it into the boar’s mouth like a bit, forcing its jaws apart.
"…Guh, grhh…!"
Even so, he couldn’t fully kill the momentum and ended up falling backward, landing on his rear.
The Little Boar's filthy, yellowed fangs dripped with foul-smelling saliva as they drew closer, intensifying Ren's fear. But he fought to keep himself under control, gritted his teeth, and pushed forward with all his might.
To his surprise, he easily shoved the beast away.
(I see… My training with Dad has made me a lot stronger.)
Riding that realization, Ren sprang to his feet and swung his wooden magic sword down onto the Little Boar’s head.
A second one immediately lunged at him, but unlike before, Ren was calm and prepared.
"Bwuh—!?"
With another powerful swing, his sword slammed into the second boar's skull.
Even the creature’s thick, armor-like hide was no match for Ren’s raw strength.
"Grhh…"
"Agh…"
Both Little Boars collapsed with weak cries, their heads deeply dented where the wooden magic sword had struck.
Seeing this, the remaining boar let out a pathetic squeal and turned tail, fleeing into the darkness.
"Ren!? I can't believe you’ve gotten so strong…!"
Mireille was still supporting Roy, her steps sluggish due to the difference in their sizes. She had only just managed to cross the suspension bridge.
"We’re good here! Let’s hurry and get Dad back to the house!"
Ren took Roy off Mireille’s hands and, with urgency in his steps, made for home.
As they left the bridge behind and made their way through the pitch-dark fields, Mireille’s eyes lit up when she spotted their house.
"I’ll go fetch Granny Rigg!"
"Granny Rigg?"
"Yes! She has an apothecary skill—she’ll know what to do!"
The walk back, dark and desolate as it was, felt neither lonely nor eerie.
Ren was far too preoccupied with worry for his father.
◇ ◇ ◇
By the time Roy's treatment was finally over, dawn had just begun to break.
The door to his parents’ room creaked open, and a weary Granny Rigg stepped out.
"Granny Rigg! How’s Dad!?"
Ren had been sitting on the floor outside the room all night, waiting anxiously for any updates. He jumped to his feet and hurried over.
"…You can breathe easy for now," she said. "His condition is still precarious, but he’s stable."
When Ren had laid Roy down in bed the previous night, he’d seen his father’s wounds up close. A deep gash ran horizontally across his abdomen, nearly spilling his insides.
According to Granny Rigg, his bones had been shattered in multiple places as well.
And yet—something didn’t sit right with Ren.
(Dad wouldn’t struggle against Little Boars—not if I can take them down myself.)
That could only mean one thing:
Roy had fought that monster.
His father knew the forest like the back of his hand and wasn’t reckless enough to venture too deep. That meant the creature Weiss had warned about had come closer to the village.
That thought sent a chill down Ren’s spine.
"…Can I see Dad?"
Granny Rigg nodded, then said she would return later that afternoon to check in again before taking her leave.
When Ren stepped into his parents’ bedroom, he saw Roy lying on the large bed.
His entire body was wrapped in bandages—no longer white, but stained and dirty. It was a painful sight. His eyes were closed, but the faint rise and fall of his chest confirmed he was still breathing.
"When he wakes up, we have to tell him," Mireille murmured. "That we’re only safe now because of you, Ren."
She sat on a round stool beside the bed, looking just as exhausted as Granny Rigg had.
Ren took in her weary figure before turning his gaze back to his father.
His father had fulfilled his duty as the village’s knight. But now that he was gravely injured, who was left to protect the village?
Ren asked himself this question.
And in his heart, he already knew the answer.
(There’s no one else—it has to be me.)
"…Mom. Starting tomorrow, I’ll take Dad’s place."
At the sound of her young son’s declaration, Mireille bolted up from her stool.
"No, absolutely not! You’re smart, Ren—you know what this means, don’t you?! The monster that attacked your father wasn’t just a Little Boar!"
"I think so too! But—!"
"There are no buts! If your father couldn’t defeat it, then what will you do if it appears again?!"
Ren flinched at her words. She was right.
But that didn’t mean he could back down.
"Dad isn’t reckless. He wouldn’t have gotten this badly hurt unless that monster was closer to the village than we thought."
"That’s…"
"Which means we don’t have time to hesitate."
…Besides—
"As an Ashton, it’s my duty to protect this village, just like Dad."
Mireille fell silent.
Seeing that pained look on her face made Ren’s heart ache, but he couldn’t take back what he’d said.
Even Weiss, the knight captain of the baron’s forces, had said it: The Ashton family had a responsibility to defend the village.
"I thought about evacuating everyone," Ren continued. "But if we leave, we’ll run into monsters no matter where we go. And in the end, I’m still the only one here who can fight."
Until reinforcements from the baron arrived, they had no choice but to hold out in the village.
◇ ◇ ◇
Mireille had no choice but to accept it.
Ren was right. As the son of a knight, this was his duty. And she had no argument to refute that.
However, she made him promise one thing—he wouldn’t take unnecessary risks.
She also placed restrictions on him. He was only allowed to patrol within thirty minutes’ walking distance past the suspension bridge. If anything seemed wrong, he had to return immediately. And no matter what, he had to be home by evening.
"Oh, there it is."
A few hours after Roy’s treatment had settled, Ren was standing just past the suspension bridge leading into the forest.
He had returned to retrieve the two Little Boar carcasses he had slain the previous night.
Not only could their materials be sold, but he also wanted to remove them to avoid attracting the monster that had injured Roy.
"Alright… up we go."
Thanks to the minor Strength Boost from his skills, he was able to hoist both Little Boars onto his shoulders at once.
The stench of blood and fur stung his nose, but he had to endure it.
As he grimaced at the smell—
"Huh—?"
Something warm began to seep from the Little Boar’s chest.
At first, Ren thought it was blood. But it wasn’t.
The moment he dropped the carcass to the ground, something incredible happened.
A cluster of shimmering particles—like an aurora—slowly drifted from the boar’s chest toward Ren’s arm.
Eyes wide in astonishment, he hurriedly removed his leather armor to check his bracelet.
A long-awaited change had finally come.
Both Magic Sword Summoning Arts and Wooden Magic Sword had gained 2 proficiency points each.
"…So, it really does have to be a magic stone from a monster I personally defeated."
Even though his prediction was proven correct, he couldn't exactly be happy about it.
He would have preferred to confirm it under better circumstances—by venturing into the forest with Roy at his side, defeating a Little Boar under his father’s watchful gaze.
With a sigh that carried a hint of satisfaction, Ren adjusted the Little Boar on his shoulder.
"…I should test the Wooden Magic Sword soon too."
But for now, he was heading back to the estate. He’d have to test it tomorrow.
Tomorrow would mark the real beginning of his time in the forest. With that in mind, Ren steeled himself for what lay ahead.
◇ ◇ ◇
The next morning, he woke up earlier than usual.
Since there was no point in going back to sleep, he got ready and headed for the forest.
"If you look at Tsurugi Rock, you can tell which direction you're facing."
Mireille had given him that useful piece of advice before he left the estate.
Tsurugi Rock was a massive stone formation that jutted out like a sword—something Roy had explained to him before.
It was located about an hour and a half into the forest. As Ren recalled this, he went over his objective for the day once more.
(I just need to hunt monsters within thirty minutes of the bridge.)
With his resolve set, he stepped into the forest.
The branches swayed, leaves rustled, and the sounds of birds chirping mixed with the murmur of a nearby river reached his ears.
"Ugh…"
His foot sank into the muddy ground, and cold, damp sludge seeped into his shoe.
The unpleasant sensation made him grimace.
As he tried to wipe off the mud, he noticed something slithering up his arm—a leech.
Given the environment, it wasn’t surprising to find one here, but that didn’t make the sensation any less disgusting.
Fortunately, it hadn’t latched onto him yet, so he easily flicked it away.
"This is what you’d call… a real hill climb, huh…"
He muttered the joke to himself, then immediately cringed and looked up at the sky in embarrassment.
Brushing off the last bits of mud, he resumed walking—his steps now heavier, not from exhaustion, but from self-reproach for making such a dumb joke at a time like this.
Just then, the bushes suddenly rustled violently, and a mud-covered Little Boar burst out.
"Bwooo!"
"Seriously? Another one…?"
They said wild animals were naturally wary of others, but this Little Boar was different.
Then again, monsters weren’t the same as regular animals to begin with.
Still, he didn’t expect one to charge at him so boldly on its own.
Yet, Ren showed no hesitation as he raised the Wooden Magic Sword and—
"Bwohh!?"
—delivered a sharp strike to its head.
"And just like that, my first battle of the day is over."
With that, he hoisted the Little Boar onto his shoulder.
Just like yesterday, a warm sensation welled up from the creature’s chest.
Checking his bracelet, he saw that both Magic Sword Summoning Arts and Wooden Magic Sword had gained one proficiency point each.
"Come to think of it, mother did say they were empty."
Yesterday, after bringing the Little Boar back, he had handed it over to Mireille.
The moment she began to process it, she had remarked, “The magic stone inside is empty.”
Magic stones were crystallized mana that grew within a monster as it matured.
When drained of mana, they turned a translucent white, losing all their value.
Mireille had found it curious at the time, but Ren didn’t need to worry about that anymore—
From now on, the magic stones belonged to him.
◇ ◇ ◇
“…Okay.”
That was all well and good, but what now?
Recalling what happened yesterday was fine, but carrying a Little Boar on his back while fighting wasn’t exactly practical.
At the same time, leaving it behind didn’t sit right with him either.
With no other choice, he decided to carry it closer to the suspension bridge—
"Oh, come on…"
Just as he was about to move, two more Little Boars appeared, almost as if they had been waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
"Fine by me."
Ren grabbed the Little Boar he was carrying and hurled it at the newcomers.
For a brief moment, both of them flinched in surprise.
Ren seized that opening, quickly closing the distance and taking down one of them with a swift strike to the head.
The second one, realizing the danger too late, let out a pathetic squeal and tried to flee.
If only he had some way to attack from a distance—
"…Wait. I do, don’t I?"
That’s right—he had planned to test it.
The Wooden Magic Sword came with an ability—one that was likely its true strength—Lesser Nature Magic.
That said, he had never used magic before.
How was he supposed to activate it?
Thinking back to the game, Ren recalled seeing elves use magic to ensnare enemies with roots and vines.
However, nothing seemed to be happening.
Maybe there was a specific activation requirement?
With that in mind, he tried swinging the Wooden Magic Sword at the fleeing Little Boar.
"Bwohh!?"
As the sword came down, glowing green particles scattered into the air, drifting down to the ground.
Then, without warning, roots erupted from the earth, coiling around the Little Boar’s neck and stopping it in its tracks.
In mere moments, the creature lost consciousness from lack of air.
"Whoa… That’s amazing…"
As he approached to finish it off, he found it was already on the verge of death.
Not wanting to prolong its suffering, Ren raised the Wooden Magic Sword and swiftly brought it down on the creature’s skull.
◇ ◇ ◇
By the time he returned to the estate in the late afternoon, Mireille greeted him with a stunned expression.
"Y-You took down all of these yourself!?"
"Yes. They kept attacking me so aggressively."
A total of twelve Little Boars.
As a result, both Magic Sword Summoning Arts and Wooden Magic Sword had gained twelve proficiency points each.
"Even your father rarely brings back this many… W-Wait! How did you even carry them all!?"
"I carried half on my back, and for the rest, I tied them up with some vines I found in the forest and dragged them until they snapped."
"I-I see…"
(Well… That part’s a lie.)
The vines weren’t something he had found in the forest—he had created them with the Wooden Magic Sword.
It was a result of experimenting with Lesser Nature Magic, using his memories from the game as a reference.
As it turned out, the process was surprisingly simple.
All he had to do was strongly will it—Let roots emerge! Let vines appear!—while swinging his sword.
(I couldn’t create anything else, but I guess that’s to be expected from just "Lesser" Nature Magic.)
That said, the vines and roots disappeared as soon as he dismissed the Wooden Magic Sword.
(I’ll have to be careful not to overuse it.)
It was clear that using nature magic consumed mana.
He could feel the same draining sensation that occurred when he summoned the sword.
Mana was something he needed to cultivate further.
Just as Ren reaffirmed his priorities, Mireille let out an excited gasp while inspecting the Little Boars.
"Wow! These pelts will sell for way more than the ones your father brings back!"
"Huh? Why’s that?"
"There aren’t any deep cuts! Your father does his best with his sword, but that always ends up damaging the pelts. But since you’re using a wooden sword, there’s not a single scratch!"
Though she wasn’t exactly suspicious, her eyes lingered on Ren with a puzzled look.
Meanwhile, Ren let out a wry smile as a thought crossed his mind.
(Hope I can keep this up tomorrow, too.)
He silently offered a prayer to the chief deity, Elphen, then stretched his back with a deep breath.
It was only then that he realized just how exhausted he was.
Taking over his father’s hunting duties had worn him out far more than he expected.
(…I’ll have to keep pushing myself.)
With that thought, determination filled his expression.
◇ ◇ ◇
On the second day, Ren hunted the same number of Little Boars as the first.
On the third, he increased his tally, and with each passing day, his results continued to improve.
By the time the seventh day arrived, he had yet to suffer a single injury.
It was late afternoon when he made his way back to the village.
"You’re amazing, young master!"
"As expected from the heir of the young lord!"
"Oh, another solid day’s work, I see!"
The villagers’ voices reached his ears as he returned from the forest.
Lately, they called out to him far more often than when he was just wandering around the village.
And every time, their first words were always praise.
It didn’t feel bad to hear it.
Still, given the constant pressure he put on himself, there was no risk of him getting carried away.
(Looking at it this way… I really have taken down a lot, haven’t I?)
He responded to the villagers with a polite nod, then pulled back his armor to check his bracelet.
—Wooden Magic Sword (Level 1: 97/100)—
He didn’t bother checking his Magic Sword Summoning Arts proficiency.
Since each Little Boar only gave one point to both skills, he knew it would still take quite some time before Magic Sword Summoning leveled up.
There was still a long way to go.
But once his Wooden Magic Sword reached the next level, something exciting awaited him.
That was—
—Iron Magic Sword (Unlock Conditions: Magic Sword Summoning Arts Level 2, Wooden Magic Sword Level 2)—
The Iron Magic Sword.
The thought of unlocking a new magic sword made every battle worth the effort.
Right now, tapping on its name didn’t bring up any details—likely because they would only be available after unlocking it.
(I doubt iron has any special abilities, but… still, I can’t wait.)
At this rate, he was sure to unlock it by tomorrow.
Just thinking about it sent a surge of excitement through him.
His steps grew lighter, almost as if he were about to start skipping.
And yet, he was still dragging a bundle of Little Boars tied together with vines.
To the villagers, it must have been quite the bizarre sight.
As Ren approached the mansion, his light steps came to an abrupt halt.
“…What’s going on?”
Through a window, he saw silhouettes darting frantically through the halls.
Even from a distance, he recognized them—Mireille and Granny Rigg.
Something had happened.
The moment that thought struck him, he hastily dropped the bundle of Little Boars he had been carrying and rushed inside.
Mireille was too preoccupied to notice his return.
That only deepened Ren’s sense of unease.
He quickly followed after her, watching as she hurried up the stairs.
“Mom! What’s wrong!?”
Just as Mireille was about to enter Roy’s room, Ren placed his hand over hers on the doorknob.
“R-Ren!? Oh… Right… It’s about time for you to be home…”
She was acting strangely.
She wasn’t trying to push him away, but she was clearly desperate to get inside the room, her restless gaze flickering from side to side.
“Wait—”
Before Ren could say more, Granny Rigg’s voice cut in.
“Young master! Step aside!”
She pushed him back forcefully, her face set in a grim expression.
With a firm grip on a wooden bucket filled with freshly brewed medicinal herbs, she flung the door open and disappeared into the room.
“Madam, you should stay outside for now! You’ll only be in the way!”
With that, she slammed the door shut.
Ren stood there, stunned.
Mireille, standing beside him, reached out with trembling hands, then sank to her knees on the slightly dirty floor.
She pulled Ren into her arms, holding him tightly.
Her body was shaking.
“…Something happened to Dad, didn’t it?”
Mireille’s grip tightened.
Her trembling only grew worse.
“Mom… Is there anything I can do?”
“…No.”
“Anything at all. If there’s anything I can do—”
“There isn’t. Not for me, not for Granny Rigg either.”
“What… What do you mean?”
Ren stared at her, desperate for answers.
A single tear fell from Mireille’s eyes, landing on the floor.
“…It happened right after Granny Rigg came to check on him this evening. Your father’s condition took a sudden turn for the worse.”
She fought to keep her voice steady as she explained.
Roy had rapidly deteriorated, to the point where they could barely keep him alive using their most precious medicinal herbs.
But those herbs would run out by the end of the night.
“Madam! Please fetch my medicine box from my house! My husband will know where it is!”
Granny Rigg stuck her head out from the room to call out to Mireille.
“Ren, stay in your room and don’t get in Granny Rigg’s way, okay?”
Even as she forced herself to stay strong, pain filled her expression.
She hugged Ren one last time before sprinting out of the mansion.
The moment Granny Rigg disappeared back into the room, Ren ignored her orders and followed her inside.
There was no way he could just sit and wait.
“Granny Rigg! Is there no way to get more of those herbs!?”
“They don’t grow around here anymore! They used to grow at the base of Tsurugi Rock, but they were wiped out during a harsh winter over a decade ago!”
Unlike Mireille, her response was sharp and filled with frustration.
Of course, she was doing everything she could to save Roy—having Ren question her now was only getting in the way.
(The herbs…)
Ren’s gaze fell on the unprocessed herbs beside Granny Rigg.
Fortunately, he could still see what they looked like before they were brewed.
They had distinct, star-shaped leaves—an unmistakable feature.
(…So it’s Rondo Grass?)
Rondo Grass was a common medicinal herb in the legends of the Seven Heroes.
Even a rural-born protagonist in those tales could buy it without issue.
But Ren’s village wasn’t just rural—it was in the middle of nowhere, a place so remote that adventurers and merchants rarely passed through.
Apparently, the village had some stock, but not nearly enough.
(I’ve used this item so many times. There’s no way I’m mistaken.)
Ren couldn’t accept Granny Rigg’s claim that Rondo Grass had gone extinct—not until he saw it with his own eyes.
There was no way he could just sit here and do nothing.
But fear held him back.
Venturing into the forest at this hour was already dangerous enough.
On top of that, there was still the looming threat of that monster.
And yet, he would have to go all the way to Tsurugi Rock.
Fear was only natural.
(…But this isn’t the time to hesitate.)
If he did nothing, his father would die.
Ren clenched his fists, steeling his resolve.
He didn’t say a word to Granny Rigg as he turned and left the room.
Glancing out the window, he spotted his mother sprinting down the farm path.
“…I’m sorry, Mom.”
Muttering a quiet apology to her retreating figure, he turned his gaze toward the forest.
Then, past it—toward the distant silhouette of Tsurugi Rock.
Without another moment’s hesitation, he dashed out of the mansion.
◇ ◇ ◇
——After some time in the forest, the dense trees began to thin out, and the path gradually opened up.
So far, he hadn’t encountered a single Little Boar.
It was likely because of his unusually tense presence—perhaps the creatures sensed it and chose to stay away.
He pressed forward for several more minutes.
(Finally…)
He emerged from the forest into an open clearing.
A small lake stretched before him, and at its center stood Tsurugi Rock—an enormous boulder jutting downward like an inverted icicle.
The night had already settled in, but under the starry sky, the area remained surprisingly visible.
But how was he supposed to reach Tsurugi Rock?
There was a space to stand at its base, but the area was surrounded by water.
The lake wasn’t impossibly deep, but it was still far deeper than Ren’s height.
Even for an adult, it would be wise to use a boat.
However, Ren remembered the existence of the Wooden Magic Sword.
He swung it down, creating a path of wooden roots leading to Tsurugi Rock.
Walking carefully across the improvised bridge, he arrived at the rock’s base and scanned the ground for any sign of the Rondo Grass.
(So it really isn’t here.)
He had clung to a sliver of hope, but just as Granny Rigg had said, there was none in sight.
Ren then shifted his gaze upward, toward Tsurugi Rock’s steep, nearly vertical cliff face.
He gripped the Wooden Magic Sword and swung it again, this time causing vines to sprout along the rock’s surface.
“Whoa… This is really handy.”
Grateful for the minor boost to his physical abilities, he began his ascent.
Fortunately, he didn’t feel any fear of heights or falling.
Scaling something as tall as a ten-story building with his bare hands would have been impossible in his previous life.
Acknowledging this fact, Ren exhaled as he climbed.
When he found a suitable ledge, he paused to wipe the sweat from his forehead and glanced up.
(That’s—!)
His eyes caught something near the top—likely close to the summit.
Swaying in the night breeze, illuminated by the starlight, were the leaves of a plant.
A smile unconsciously spread across Ren’s face.
“It’s not extinct after all, Granny Rigg.”
The five-pointed leaves, reminiscent of a pentagram, rustled gently in the wind.
His spirits lifted, Ren lunged forward, grasping the vines once more.
His climbing speed increased noticeably, his strides wider and more determined.
His breath grew slightly ragged, but he didn’t slow down.
After a few more minutes of steady climbing—
“No doubt about it! It’s Rondo Grass!”
The plant still existed.
A dense cluster of it clung to the flat summit of Tsurugi Rock.
Ren didn’t know how much he needed, but there was more than enough.
However, just as relief began to wash over him, he noticed something unsettling.
A short distance from the Rondo Grass, scattered across the ground, were the bones of some kind of beast.
Feeling a prick of unease, Ren moved closer to examine them.
They were the remains of Little Boars.
But bones weren’t the only things strewn about.
Among them were various pieces of jewelry, glimmering under the starlight.
“……”
Sweat formed on his clenched fist.
Little Boars couldn’t possibly climb Tsurugi Rock.
And there were no known flying monsters in this area.
Then there were the scattered jewels—
A certain monster’s name surfaced in Ren’s mind.
(I need to hurry.)
A terrible premonition gripped him.
He hastily gathered as much Rondo Grass as he could, then relied on the vines to make his way down.
Descending as quickly as he dared, he reached the base of the rock and surveyed his surroundings.
He stepped onto the wooden path he had created earlier and crossed the water.
Regulating his breathing, he wiped the sweat from his brow once he reached the shore.
(I have to get out of the forest—)
Taking a cautious yet urgent step forward—
“—!!”
“Bwoo…!”
“Gahh!”
Three Little Boars suddenly burst into view, their bodies trembling with fear.
Then, without warning, they charged straight at Ren.
“Now of all times?!”
Their terrified yet aggressive behavior left Ren momentarily puzzled, but he quickly refocused.
Frustrated that they had drawn attention with their loud cries, he swung the Wooden Magic Sword.
The battle was brief.
The three Little Boars fell in an instant.
Ren barely spared them a glance, intent on leaving immediately—
But then—
—
The night wind abruptly ceased.
Beyond the swaying grass in front of him, a massive shadow appeared at his back.
Though he couldn’t see it directly, the moonlight cast its silhouette on the ground.
Ren instantly knew what it was.
“So that’s why they were running away…”
The shadow’s four tails swayed eerily.
Then it raised its head toward the sky.
“…So you’re the monster everyone’s been talking about—Sheefulfen.”
Ren turned to face it.
Just as he suspected, standing before him was the very monster he had feared.
It looked like a wolf, its body covered in pure white fur.
It had four tails and six eyes.
Its body was massive—easily the length of three full-grown men standing shoulder to shoulder.
And it had two particularly dangerous traits.
The first was its sheer speed.
The second was its mastery of wind magic, which it used not only for attacks but also to steal its opponent’s belongings with invisible gusts.
In the game, this monster was an extremely rare encounter.
Many players went through the entire storyline without ever meeting one.
(…The jewels up there should have been a dead giveaway.)
Sheefulfen was classified as a mid-to-high-tier D-rank monster.
But it wasn’t just any D-rank—it was a special variant, a rare breed among its kind.
Defeating one yielded valuable rewards, making it well worth the challenge.
But—
“Damn it…!”
The opponent was far too dangerous.
Without hesitation, Ren turned and bolted.
He had only one goal—to escape.
To make it back to his village alive.
“—OOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNN!!”
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A deafening roar pierced his ears.
That roar—it hadn’t changed from the game.
The howl of a Sheefulfen threatening its prey.
“Hah… hah…!”
His legs felt like they were about to snap from overuse, but Ren didn’t stop running, not even once looking back.
Yet, within seconds, the trees on either side of him were violently swept away by a powerful gust.
The Sheefulfen, clad in a whirlwind, was already upon him.
“—!?”
Ren barely dodged, but the momentum sent him sprawling onto the ground.
As he struggled to his feet, he narrowed his eyes at the Sheefulfen, which had stopped in front of a tree just ahead.
“My bad. I won’t go near your nest again, alright?”
A Sheefulfen—an enormous wolf unlike anything he had ever seen.
Seeing it in person, he was overwhelmed by its sheer size.
Its silver fur radiated a majestic aura, and the four tails swaying behind it exuded an intense presence beyond that of any ordinary wolf.
Six eyes locked onto him, each and every one filled with a predatory focus, making Ren’s heartbeat pound in discomfort.
“There’s plenty of Little Boars around, right? Go for them instead.”
The Sheefulfen didn’t respond.
Ren tightened his grip on the wooden magic sword in his hand, knowing it was probably useless.
Still, he continued speaking to the beast, trying to keep himself calm.
The Sheefulfen’s crimson eyes gleamed as it flicked them toward him.
It took a quiet step forward, slightly hunching its back, baring its fangs.
“…Move.”
Ren’s gaze turned sharp with hostility.
He didn’t have time for this.
More than the fear of facing a formidable foe, he feared not making it back in time with the herbs for his father.
“Grrr…”
But the Sheefulfen didn’t budge. Instead, it let out a slow, menacing growl.
The air around Ren twisted with chaotic gusts, encircling him.
(Wind magic—!)
The Sheefulfen was manipulating wind, forming invisible arms of air to strike.
Sensing the attack, Ren twisted his body and leapt back, spinning midair to evade.
But a sharp pain ran across his cheek.
When he touched his face, his fingers came away smeared with fresh blood.
The realization hit him instantly.
(This isn’t a monster I should be fighting—!)
Running wasn’t an option either—he already knew escape was near impossible.
Which meant, in the end, he had no choice but to face it.
At that moment, he noticed something.
(…Its leg… is injured?)
Ren saw the Sheefulfen subtly favoring one of its front legs.
A deep gash marked its limb.
It didn’t take long for him to figure out the cause.
(Father… That’s his doing.)
His father had fulfilled his duty as a knight.
That’s why he had managed to escape.
And why the Sheefulfen hadn’t attacked the village immediately—because of its injury.
The tension gripping Ren’s body loosened ever so slightly.
(Still, it won’t let me go that easily.)
If he turned his back now, his life would be snatched away in an instant.
His only choice was to use natural magic to obstruct the Sheefulfen while keeping his distance and making his way to the village—but that, too, was easier said than done.
So close to Tsurugi Rock, escaping like his father had would be impossible.
(And my only weapon is a wooden magic sword… How am I supposed to fight with this—?)
His mind, sharpened by the crisis, raced for a solution.
He recalled the time he had fought an elf in The Legend of the Seven Heroes I.
That battle had also taken place in a forest.
At the time, he had struggled against the elf’s natural magic and the environment itself.
But unlike them, he could only use weak natural magic—limited to tree roots and vines.
“…Even so, I can’t just give up!”
“Grr!?”
The Sheefulfen, momentarily ensnared by roots and vines, tensed.
Ren didn’t hesitate—he rushed forward, seizing the moment.
With all his strength, he swung his wooden magic sword down at the Sheefulfen’s skull.
“Damn…! How hard is this thing!?”
The impact sent a painful shock through his hands.
The Sheefulfen let out a piercing screech, its six eyes blazing with murderous rage.
But Ren didn’t flinch.
He gripped his sword, ready to strike again—
Then—
“What—!?”
The wooden magic sword shattered from the hilt up.
The handle itself dissolved into mist.
At the same time, the roots and vines binding the Sheefulfen also vanished.
(Did it break from that last impact…? No, I can just resummon it—!)
The sword was a summoned weapon.
It could be summoned again.
Focusing, Ren tried to summon it as usual—
And it reappeared with ease.
But at the same time, a sudden headache pulsed through his skull.
(Because it broke…?!)
The mana cost was far greater than usual.
And to make matters worse, the Sheefulfen was already preparing to counterattack.
“Gwoooooh!”
Fortunately, the impact to its head had left lingering effects.
It wobbled slightly as it lunged, jaws wide.
But even slowed, its attack was still deadly.
“Gh…!”
Ren barely managed to dodge, rolling across the ground.
The damp earth stuck to his lips, filling his mouth with a bitter taste.
He spat it out and forced himself to his feet, steadying his breath.
(Hitting its head again… isn’t realistic.)
Maintaining the roots and vines consumed too much mana.
Breaking the wooden magic sword repeatedly was unsustainable.
And the Sheefulfen’s wind magic was relentless.
It was hopeless.
The monster, enraged, charged once more.
Ren blocked each attack with his wooden magic sword, desperately holding his ground.
How much time had passed?
His body wavered from exhaustion.
That’s when—
“Gah—!?”
Like a raging storm, the Sheefulfen lunged.
Its fangs sank into his side.
The leather armor barely slowed them down.
Pain burned through him as blood splattered into the air.
Ren twisted his body, managing to tear himself away before the beast could rip into him further.
His side was drenched in crimson.
(Healing herbs—! No, I can’t…!)
He clenched his teeth.
The herbs were for his father.
He couldn’t waste them.
But at this rate, he would collapse before reaching the village.
He needed something—anything—to turn the tide.
As he wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes fell on the crystal embedded in his bracelet.
He remembered checking its status earlier that evening.
—Wooden Magic Sword (Lv. 1: 97/100)
And more importantly——Iron Magic Sword (Unlock Condition: Magic Sword Summoning Arts Lv. 2, Wooden Magic Sword Lv. 2)
Just three more Little Boars.
And he had already defeated them earlier.
He just hadn’t had the chance to absorb their magic stones.
“Gwaaaah!”
The Sheefulfen roared.
Ren, clutching his burning wound, forced himself to run.
“Hah… hah… Just stay put…!”
He wove countless vines around the beast, buying time as he rushed toward Tsurugi Rock.
Again and again, he stalled the Sheefulfen with entangling roots.
His mana was nearly depleted.
His vision blurred from blood loss.
But he had no choice.
With desperate effort, Ren forced his legs to keep moving.
At last, he saw it—the Tsurugi Rock, surrounded by a lake.
And there they were, the three Little Boars he had been searching for.
Confirming their presence, Ren mustered the last of his remaining strength.
He reached them—just in time.
Before the Sheefulfen could tear into them, Ren arrived at the Little Boars' side.
Stretching out the hand with the bracelet equipped, he let out a scream.
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!"
One, then two. Finally, the power of the third magic stone was absorbed into the bracelet, causing the embedded crystal orb to emit a faint glow.
Ren's eyes darted to the bracelet, not missing the words that appeared.
・Iron Magic Sword (Level 1: 0/1000)
Its sharpness increases as it levels up.
Ren panicked, wondering if the sword had any special powers, but he could only pray that it was at least sharper than an ordinary blade.
"Groooooooh!"
Without looking back, Ren threw away his wooden magic sword.
The weapon barely missed the Sheefulfen’s forehead as it dodged, landing just behind its four tails.
"Graaaaaaaaaaaah!"
The enraged beast bared its fangs, lowering its stance and aiming straight for Ren’s throat.
Its claws, sharp as blades, gleamed under the starlight as it raised both forelegs.
But then—
Vines erupted from the wooden magic sword lying behind the Sheefulfen, winding tightly around its upper body.
Even so, the beast pressed forward with killing intent.
Ren met its gaze head-on, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
"This is my—!"
Just then, the wooden magic sword vanished, and the air beside Ren cracked apart.
From the fractured space emerged a sword of solid black iron, its color unbroken from hilt to tip.
"!?"
The vines binding the Sheefulfen disappeared, and the sudden freedom left the monster momentarily bewildered.
Ren seized the opportunity, lowering the Iron Magic Sword into a stance, its tip aimed upward.
"This is my last strength—!!"
Without hesitation, he thrust the blade deep into the beast’s open maw.
The sword pierced through its hardened skull from within, its bloodied tip glistening in the night air.
A faint, bluish sword flash lingered in its wake.
"Guh...aaah..."
The white wolf let out a weak cry.
Its six eyes lost their light, and with a final exhale, the beast’s body went still.
At the same moment, Ren felt the power of the magic stone being drawn into his bracelet.
"I... did it..."
And then, he collapsed.
His vision blurred, the world around him fading into darkness.
Even so, he tried to push himself up using the Iron Magic Sword as a crutch, but his body refused to obey.
The sword disappeared, followed by the bracelet.
Face-down on the ground, Ren’s eyelids slowly closed.
—Father, Mother... I'm sorry.
Murmuring these words, he drifted into unconsciousness.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Not even a few minutes had passed before the sound of hooves echoed around the Tsurugi Rock.
"The roar came from this direction—Captain!"
"What is it?"
"By the lake! There's a fallen monster and... a boy?"
Five knights from the Clausel Baron family had arrived.
Rushing toward the collapsed Ren and the slain Sheefulfen beside him, they dismounted in unison.
The knight referred to as Captain knelt down and lifted Ren's body.
"He's alive... Thank goodness."
But blood continued to pour from Ren’s wounds without stopping.
Realizing the urgency, the Captain pulled out a small vial from his pocket and poured its liquid over Ren's abdomen.
The liquid glowed faintly blue, slowing the bleeding.
Still, it wasn’t enough.
Determined, the Captain drew his sword and cut Ren's clothing into strips, using them as makeshift bandages to press against his wounds.
Meanwhile, the other knights raised their voices in shock.
"This... This is a Sheefulfen!?"
"Captain! It's a Sheefulfen! The unidentified monster—it's a Sheefulfen!"
Hearing this, the Captain’s eyes widened in disbelief.
"Impossible... A child this young couldn’t have taken down such a beast alone!"
But there was no time for astonishment.
The Captain knew Ren needed immediate treatment.
Hoisting Ren onto his horse, he prepared to depart—
That was when a bundle of medicinal herbs slipped from Ren’s pocket, catching the attention of one of the knights.
“Captain, could this boy be the one the commander spoke of…?”
The captain’s eyes widened in realization.
“Yes… This child must be the only son of the Ashton family. Something must have happened to his father. That would explain why he entered the forest alone in search of Rondo Grass.”
“In that case, it seems our timely arrival was not in vain.”
“Indeed. Someone, carry the Sheefulfen’s remains! We’re taking this boy back to the Ashton estate at once!”
The sound of hooves echoed once more.
The rhythmic clatter, which had briefly disturbed the usual quiet of the village, now steadily approached the Ashton estate.
They rode through the forest, crossed the suspension bridge, and passed the farmland until the mansion came into view.
Finally, the horse carrying Ren came to a halt before the estate.
“We are knights from Clausel! Is anyone here?!”
The captain dismounted and carefully lifted Ren from the horse as he called out.
Hearing his voice, Mireille rushed out of the house, her face filled with fear.
“You are… W-Wait, Ren?!?”
“There is no time for greetings! Take us to his room immediately!”
“Y-Yes…! This way!”
Ren was swiftly carried to his room, where the knights immediately began treating his wounds.
They had been trained in healing techniques to tend to injuries sustained in battle.
Mireille, unable to assist, was ushered out of the room and left standing in the hallway in a daze.
That was when the captain approached her.
“I apologize for the bluntness of my question, but… did something happen to Lord Ashton?”
“…Yes. My husband’s condition took a sudden turn for the worse…”
The captain had suspected as much.
Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved the Rondo Grass.
“This was in your son’s possession. He held onto it as if it were his most precious treasure.”
“Ren… No… You didn’t…”
Understanding everything, Mireille collapsed in tears.
Her legs nearly gave out, but the captain’s words kept her standing.
“Milady, please… do not let your son’s efforts be in vain.”
Mireille gasped, her thoughts turning to Ren, who was still being treated behind that closed door.
Biting her lip, she turned away from the room and whispered,
“Ren… I’ll be back soon.”
With that, she hurried off—to bring the Rondo Grass to Roy.
--