Chapter 4:Recognized by the Knight Commander
If one were to travel eastward from Ren’s village for half a month, they would eventually reach one of the few urban areas in this region.
That city was called Clause.
The cityscape was built along the natural rise of the land, elevating toward the center.
The roads leading upward spiraled around the incline, giving the city a three-dimensional appearance.
The grand sight of red brick houses stacked along the slopes was famous even among the citizens of the distant imperial capital.
—At the heart of this city stood a grand estate, often referred to as a small castle.
This estate was the residence of Baron Clause, the ruler of the surrounding lands.
Beyond its sheer size, the mansion’s ivory-colored exterior made it stand out even more.
From its gates, one could even catch a glimpse of Baron Clause’s prized garden.
If one were lucky, they might even spot his daughter.
It was said that any man who met her gaze would undoubtedly fall under her spell, some even mistaking her for an angel or a fairy.
However—
“...Sigh.”
At that moment, the young lady stood in a corner of the garden, looking rather bored.
She was a girl with long hair like polished silver infused with amethyst and eyes reminiscent of sapphire.
Her delicate features, still carrying traces of youth, already hinted at an enchanting beauty that would one day captivate all who saw her.
Her porcelain-white skin, flawless and unblemished, gleamed under the morning sunlight.
Even though she carried herself with elegance, there was an undeniable air of nobility and dignity about her.
Her name was Lishia Clause.
“Oh my, young lady.”
A man addressed her.
He was a middle-aged knight clad in armor, yet he carried himself with the refined demeanor of a butler.
“What troubles you? That adorable face of yours is far too lovely to frown.”
“It’s nothing… I just finished my sword training.”
“I see. It would seem that none of my subordinates can challenge you anymore.”
“That’s what I’ve been saying, haven’t I?
If only you would be my opponent instead.”
“I must apologize, but I have duties entrusted to me by the master. Besides, starting today, I will be away from the mansion for some time.”
Hearing this, Lishia blinked in surprise.
Her expression, in contrast to her refined beauty, now reflected the innocence of a girl her age.
“You’re the Knight Commander. Why would you leave?”
“The master has ordered me to inspect the territory. I am unsure if I am permitted to share the details, so please inquire with the master if you wish to know more.”
With that, the knight bowed his head before departing.
◇ ◇ ◇
Outside the gates, his subordinates were already waiting for him on horseback.
“Let’s move out.”
The knight mounted the horse his men had prepared and gave the command.
With that, the group set off from the mansion, their horses’ hooves clattering against the cobblestone road.
After a few minutes, the knight muttered to himself.
“…This is a problem.”
Hearing his words, one of his subordinates turned to him.
“Sir? What’s the matter?”
“The young lady seems to have become… overconfident lately. It’s likely because she has no worthy opponents among those her age.”
The knight’s subordinate nodded in understanding.
“Indeed. I heard that during her recent visit to the imperial capital, she defeated noble and knight children alike.”
“That is precisely the issue. I wouldn’t dare wish for someone to surpass the young lady…
But at the very least, if there were a boy or girl who could match her, that would be ideal.”
With that, the knight quietly gazed up at the sky, silently hoping that such a person would appear.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Since the day his skill leveled up, Ren had thrown himself even more into sword training.
Days passed in the blink of an eye.
Three years had gone by since he first picked up a sword.
Now, Ren was ten years old.
His body had grown sturdier, inching closer to that of an adult.
Summer was just around the corner.
Ren recalled something from a few days after Roy had discovered his skill.
"From today on, you’re free to walk around the village on your own."
Mireille had agreed, on the condition that he returned home before dark.
Overjoyed, Ren had made a habit of taking a morning walk along the farm paths before breakfast.
Even after three years, he continued this routine, rubbing his sleepy eyes as he walked.
“…Still a long way to go.”
He muttered, gazing down at the summoned bracelet on his wrist.
The crystal embedded in it displayed the details of his Magic Sword Summoning Arts:
・Magic Sword Summoning Arts(Level 2: 659/1500)
That was the reason for his sigh.
The amount of proficiency required for the next level had skyrocketed since his last level-up three years ago.
"So after three years, this is all I’ve got, huh..."
Ideally, he would have trained with Roy every day, but the Ashton family, which governed the village, had various responsibilities.
Winter preparations, seasonal farming tasks—Ren helped out with them all daily.
On days when he could only train for a short time, he sometimes gained just a single point of proficiency.
Muttering in frustration, Ren turned his gaze to the next section.
Level 1: Able to summon one magic sword.
Level 2: While the bracelet is summoned, gain (Small) Physical Ability Boost.
Level 3: Able to summon two magic swords.
Level 4: ************************.
Now that he had reached Level 2, the details for Level 3 had become visible.
It seemed that only the next level's abilities would be revealed at a time.
(I’d really like to try out the wooden magic sword’s (Small) Nature Magic soon...)
He had hesitated since it didn’t seem like something he could test inside the manor.
Just as he was thinking about that, an elderly woman called out to him.
"Oh my, young master, you're up early again today."
The woman was the village’s sole midwife, an elderly lady named Granny Rigg.
She was the one who had been with Mireille at Ren’s birth, her voice full of wisdom and experience.
Happening upon each other by chance, the two began walking side by side.
"Your father was boasting about you again, you know. He says you’re going to become a great knight in the imperial capital someday."
"Mmm... I don’t really have any plans to leave the village, though. I mean, if I leave, there won’t be anyone to take over Dad’s work."
"Oh my. If you had a little brother or sister, that wouldn't be a problem, would it?"
If that happened, then Ren might have the option to leave the village.
But first and foremost, did he even want to leave?
"Then my little brother or sister can go to the capital instead."
Ren had no intention of leaving.
Hearing that, Granny Rigg let out a resigned chuckle—then suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"Granny Rigg? What’s wrong?"
She was looking toward the edge of a small hill at the village’s outskirts, her expression one of surprise.
"Young master, you should hurry back to the manor."
"Huh? Why all of a sudden... Oh? Those people on horseback over there..."
Ren followed her gaze to the edge of the hill and noticed them too.
A group of about ten adults, all clad in armor, sat atop their horses.
Even Ren, with his limited experience in the frontier, could tell.
They were knights.
"...Those men are envoys from the baron."
With those words, Granny Rigg confirmed Ren’s suspicion.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Roy, the village steward, was bewildered by the sudden visit.
Seeing his reaction, the elderly knight leading the group stepped forward and spoke.
"Apologies for the unexpected visit."
His first words were an apology.
The old knight had an air of refinement—one could easily imagine him in a tailcoat rather than armor.
"N-No, not at all! But, may I ask why you’ve come to my—ahem —to our village?"
"Of course, I shall explain. But first, I’d like you to accept this."
The old knight reached into his armor and pulled out a piece of parchment.
"A village to the south has suffered attacks from monsters. The details are written here."
Roy took the parchment and read through it.
Moments later, his expression darkened.
"Suspicious monster sightings in the area...?"
"Indeed. According to the reports, it's a beast-type monster—one said to move as swiftly as the wind. Several villages have already suffered attacks, and there have been casualties."
"…Do we have an estimated rank for the creature?"
"At the very least, it’s expected to be D-rank."
Upon hearing that, Roy’s expression grew even more grim, his brows furrowing deeply.
"However, rest assured. By the lord’s decree, knights are being dispatched to the surrounding villages. This village is also scheduled to receive reinforcements, so for now, we ask that you remain on high alert."
"That would be a great help! But… how long will ‘for now’ be?"
"It will take at least twenty days. There are many villages to cover, and selecting the personnel is taking longer than usual. Especially since this village is quite far from the manor, we cannot send reinforcements immediately."
The old knight spoke hesitantly, his tone laced with an apologetic air.
As for Roy, although his expression remained grim, there was a hint of relief in his eyes at the knowledge that knights would be dispatched.
“I understand. In that case, for the next twenty days, I’ll conduct more thorough patrols of the forest than usual.”
“My apologies for the burden. But please, don’t push yourself too hard. I’ve heard that you are the only one in this village capable of fighting. If something were to happen to you, it would be disastrous.”
“No, in the worst-case scenario, my son can fight as well.”
Wearing a proud expression, Roy beckoned to Ren, who had been listening nearby.
“Hm… This child can fight?”
“Yes. Ren, come and greet the knight commander.”
(S-So this man is the knight commander…?)
The knight commander was essentially the highest-ranking knight serving under the baron.
Ren hadn’t expected to encounter such a high-ranking individual, so he quickly straightened his posture and cleared his throat.
“It is an honor to meet you. My name is Ren Ashton. I look forward to your acquaintance.”
At Ren’s polite greeting, the knight commander let out an impressed “Ho.”
“A fine introduction. I am Weiss.”
Introducing himself as Weiss, the knight commander crouched before Ren, bringing their eyes level.
“How old are you?”
“I turned ten this spring.”
“Ho, quite mature for your age. However…”
Weiss turned his gaze to Roy, a doubtful expression on his face.
“I understand that he is your esteemed son, but surely a ten-year-old child cannot be expected to slay monsters.”
“There’s no need to worry! Ren is far stronger than I was at his age and highly skilled with a sword!”
“Oh…? That much, you say?”
“Yes! And on top of that, he possesses a skill as well!”
“What? A skill too? Now, that is a surprise.”
Being praised so much was nice, but having the compliments keep coming made Ren feel a little embarrassed.
He silently prayed for the conversation to end soon.
Perhaps his prayers were answered, as Weiss soon rose to his feet and addressed Roy.
“Having a capable heir is a fine thing. —Now, changing the subject, may I trouble you to allow us to rest in this village for a day?”
Roy immediately responded, “Of course.”
However, after glancing at the number of knights accompanying Weiss, he realized they would need to prepare a proper welcome.
There wasn’t enough food to go around.
Although Weiss insisted that they needn’t go to any trouble, Roy couldn’t simply leave things as they were.
While Mireille busied herself preparing to receive the knights at the mansion, Roy decided to go hunting in the forest to secure more food.
Weiss offered to help, but Roy firmly declined and left the mansion alone.
Seeing this, Ren stepped outside to see him off.
“By the way, Father, I heard that the people who came with Lord Weiss are also knights. Why were they speaking so formally to you?”
“Ah, even among knights, our Ashton family is in charge of the village. That puts us in a higher position.”
“Ohhh, I see.”
“Well then, I’m off!”
Though the morning had been unusually hectic, Roy’s figure heading toward the forest was just the same as always.
Then, as soon as Roy was out of sight, the mansion’s doors opened.
Stepping out was Weiss, who approached Ren.
“As I thought, we should lend a hand as well.”
It seemed Weiss felt uncomfortable just being on the receiving end of hospitality, as he already had his sword at his waist, ready to set out.
However, upon hearing his words, Ren followed his father’s example.
“No, that won’t be necessary. As my father said, please take your time and relax.”
“Hm… But still—”
“You and your men have been traveling between villages, haven’t you? You must all be quite exhausted. Please, just for today, allow yourselves to rest.”
Seeing that Ren wouldn’t budge no matter how much he insisted, Weiss finally gave up.
With a weary sigh, he said, “Very well,” and was about to turn away—
—Or so it seemed.
Instead, he knelt before Ren, bringing their eyes level once more.
“You truly are a well-mannered child.”
“Ah, no… I was just raised in the countryside, so I learned from books.”
“There’s no need for such humility. I know many knights’ children, but none as refined as you. Speaking with you reminds me of the young lady of my household.”
“The young lady…? You mean the baron’s daughter?”
“Yes. She is the same age as you, and just as mature.”
Ren continued the conversation out of courtesy, but truthfully, he wasn’t particularly interested.
It wasn’t like he’d ever meet her, after all.
So he didn’t give it much thought——Until a certain name made him freeze.
“She was born with the skill Saint of White. Before long, all of the empire will know her name.”
Wait… What did he just say?
Ren’s head tilted slightly in confusion.
He was certain Weiss had just said she possessed the skill Saint of White.
(W-What the hell…?)
That skill undoubtedly belonged to the saint Ren Ashton had slain in Legends of the Seven Heroes II.
Her name was—
“L-Lishia Clausel…?!”
Ren couldn’t stop himself from blurting it out.
Hearing that, Weiss furrowed his brows and let out a small chuckle.
“Come now. I admire your knowledge, but you mustn’t be so informal when referring to the young lady.”
Ren crossed his arms, deep in thought, despite knowing it was improper to do so in front of the knight commander.
“H-Hold on… The map I read in the archives didn’t have any mention of a Clausel family estate…”
Ren unintentionally muttered his thoughts aloud, prompting Weiss to respond with a thoughtful “Hmm.”
“That map must have been quite old. I imagine it was made long before recent changes took place. Still, the terrain hasn’t shifted, so Lord Roy must have kept it for reference.”
Ren found himself nodding at the explanation, but another question quickly surfaced in his mind.
“But… wasn’t the Clausel estate supposed to be closer to the imperial capital?”
As far as he knew, the Clausel family’s estate was a noble household located near the capital.
That was why Ren hadn’t been too concerned when he learned they were affiliated with a baron.
He hadn’t seen anything alarming on the maps in the archives either.
“Yes. The Clausel estate is indeed near the imperial capital.”
“…Huh?”
Ren blinked repeatedly, as if urging the speaker to continue.
"Last year, I was granted land near the imperial capital as well. It was both a celebration of the birth of the ‘White Saintess’ in the Clausel family and a reward for the lord’s success in enriching his domain."
Naturally, this revelation shook Ren. However, he had yet to meet Saintess Lishia.
As long as he didn’t kill her and simply lived quietly in this village, everything should be fine—Or so he was thinking when—
"In due time, you too will have to pay your respects to the lord and the young lady."
"—Huh?"
"Haven’t you heard from Roy? It is customary for the heir of the knightly house overseeing the village to present themselves to their patron noble. Once you come of age, you will likely have to greet them as well."
Ren wanted to avoid that if possible, but refusal didn’t seem to be an option.
(But it’s fine… it’s just a greeting…)
For now, he shelved the thought, deciding to worry about it when the time came.
"—By the way, I heard that Lord Weiss serves as the captain of the baron’s knights."
Ren spoke up to change the subject, hoping to calm himself.
"Hm? And what of it?"
"My apologies for bringing this up suddenly. It just seems unusual for someone of your rank to be stationed in a remote village like this..."
"Ah, that. Well, as I mentioned earlier, this matter is of great concern to the lord as well."
That was why a high-ranking knight like Weiss had left the manor.
If they found the monster causing the disturbance, they needed to be able to eliminate it immediately.
"If it turns out to be a D-rank monster, even if my subordinates fight together, it will be a dangerous opponent."
Hearing Weiss’s words, Ren recalled the monster classification system from The Legend of the Seven Heroes.
Monster ranks were determined by the neutral worldwide organization known as the ‘Guild.’
While the evaluation criteria varied, the primary factor was the level of threat posed to people.
The ranks ranged from S at the highest to G at the lowest.
A D-rank monster, in particular, was on par with one of the early bosses in The Legend of the Seven Heroes.
(My father is probably stronger than Lord Weiss’s subordinates… I think.)
However, in The Legend of the Seven Heroes, it took a four-person party to defeat such monsters.
Ren wasn’t sure if Roy could handle one alone.
If he had known things would turn out this way, he would have started training with the sword much earlier.
Regretting that, Ren muttered to himself, "Guess there won’t be any training today..."
"Hm? Training? You mean Roy has been teaching you the sword?"
Ren nodded. "Yes."
"If you don’t mind, I could take his place. I owe you all for your hospitality."
"A-Are you sure?"
"Of course. That is, if you’re willing."
Seeing an opportunity for a rare experience, Ren beamed and said, "Please!"
With that, he headed to the storage shed to fetch a practice wooden sword for Weiss.
While there, he also discreetly grabbed his own wooden magic sword.
—Ten or so minutes later, just before the training began.
"Lord Weiss. May I observe?"
A knight under Weiss’s command approached and asked.
Weiss, ever proper, sought Ren’s permission before allowing it.
"Start with your usual routine as a warm-up," Weiss instructed.
"Yes!"
Ren did some light stretches before gripping his wooden magic sword.
For some reason, his body felt lighter than usual today—he was in top form.
"Here I go—!"
He stepped in toward Weiss. Just like he always did with Roy, he closed the distance like the wind, without holding back.
"Hm—!"
"—What?!"
Weiss’s subordinate and even Weiss himself raised their brows in surprise.
Then, as Weiss caught Ren’s sword strikes, his expression gradually softened into an amused smile.
"Oh… Your strength and form are impressive…!"
The impromptu training session continued.
By the time it ended, the sun was nearly setting.
Weiss, growing increasingly invested, had thoroughly trained Ren.
—That night, while lying in bed, Ren was startled when he checked his bracelet.
• Magic Sword Summoning Arts (Level 2: 669/1500)
His proficiency had increased by ten points in one go.
From this, he realized something new.
The stronger his opponent, the more proficiency he gained.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The next morning—
After finishing breakfast, Weiss and his men promptly began preparing for their return to the baron.
Once daylight fully illuminated the village, they mounted their horses.
"Sir Roy. Despite our sudden visit, you have shown us great hospitality. I am grateful. But please, remain cautious. You have a duty as a knight to protect this village, but if you fall, all will be for naught."
"I understand. I will uphold my duty as an Ashton and safeguard myself as well."
Hearing this response, Weiss gave a final word of thanks before ordering his men to ride out.
The Ashton household, including Ren, watched as the group departed.
To ensure proper etiquette, they stood outside the mansion for several minutes, seeing them off until they disappeared from sight.
──── The group left the village, riding toward the baron’s estate.
They crossed hills, passed through forests, and even traversed shallow rivers.
As the sun began to set, they prepared to make camp for the night.
“Lord Weiss, I heard you sparred with the Ashton heir yesterday.”
One of the knights spoke up while setting up camp.
Following his words, several others joined in.
“I hear Sir Roy is usually the one training him. But isn’t he not particularly skilled at teaching?”
“Hm… That’s rather unfortunate, isn’t it?”
Hearing their remarks, Weiss tilted his head slightly and said, “You seem to be mistaken—
that boy is strong.”
The unexpected statement left his subordinates dumbfounded.
However, the knight who had witnessed Ren’s training remained unfazed.
Recalling what he had seen, he spoke with enthusiasm.
“Lord Weiss, wasn’t that boy a prodigy?”
Weiss nodded.
“Indeed. He’s still rough around the edges, but without a doubt, he has talent.
More than that, he’s incredibly intelligent.
He absorbs everything I teach him at an astonishing rate and never gives up—he’s a relentless hard worker.”
His subordinates were utterly shocked.
They had never seen Weiss praise someone so openly before.
And when he continued, their astonishment only deepened.
“To be honest, I would love to have him in the Clausel Knights.”
“C-Captain?! He’s still just a ten-year-old boy!”
“Are you serious?!”
“What are you saying? That ten-year-old is already stronger than you lot. In fact, his skill surpasses that of the young lady herself.”
Weiss’s tone was unwavering, and even those who had worked with him for years could tell he was not exaggerating.
His subordinates could only stare in stunned silence.
However, his expression soon turned grim.
“Still, even if that boy were with them, we must hasten reinforcements.”
Weiss’s primary concern remained the D-rank monster that had prompted him to travel all the way to the frontier.
If it were merely a G-rank Little Boar, his knights wouldn’t struggle regardless of how many appeared.
Even against F-rank monsters, a single knight could handle up to five at once.
But once they reached D-rank, the situation changed entirely.
“Even so, Lord Weiss, didn’t Sir Roy once take down a D-rank monster alone?”
“Yes… It was before Lady Ashton conceived the boy.”
Weiss looked up at the sky, murmuring,
“I pray they remain safe this time as well.”
He then offered a silent prayer to the chief God, Elphen, for the peace of the land.
--