Chapter 4 Steel-eating Gargoyle and the New Magic Sword
One day, Ren had a dream.
The dream was of a nostalgic scene from the Legend of the Seven Heroes.
It was one of the events in the Legend of the Seven Heroes II.
A giant monster appeared off the coast of the harbor in the imperial capital.
The reason for its appearance was linked to those who wished for the revival of the Demon King.
After the battle ended, the player was shown a shocking event.
Chronoa Highland, called the greatest mage in the world.
She was pierced through the chest by Ren Ashton’s sword in the Imperial Capital Grand Temple.
The player, upon seeing this, was equally shocked and had a certain question.
Chronoa was, in the game, one of the absolute strongest characters, rivaling the Sword King.
How could Ren Ashton, of all people, have defeated such a character, the academy’s headmaster?
Given there were no traces of a battle within the Grand Temple, it was likely that Ren Ashton had taken actions resembling an assassination.
That was the only conclusion the players could draw.
Naturally, the answer was never made clear.
Ren Ashton never spoke of his motives and, without revealing anything, left the protagonists' side.
He would occasionally appear before the protagonists, but strangely, he only offered advice and never spoke of anything else.
There was only one feeling of discomfort that the player could understand.
Chronoa, who had said she would fight alongside the protagonists, never even went to the harbor and, for some reason, was facing Ren Ashton at the Grand Temple.
Of course, Ren, who was currently dreaming, also didn’t know the answer.
Because he didn’t know, he knew he had to make sure that future would never come to pass.
“…Ugh.”
Ren, waking up, couldn’t help but utter the words first.
The dream had been far too disturbing.
When he sat up in bed, the weight of his mood made him feel like he might even go back to sleep.
However, the thought of possibly seeing the continuation of that dream kept him from doing so.
He thought it might not be bad to stay awake as a form of self-discipline, but today, he felt he wanted to pass on that.
Ren opened the curtains and bathed in the morning sun to dispel his heavy mood.
“…I’ll try my best.”
Ren slapped his cheek hard and forced himself to get energized before leaving the room.
The room he used in the old mansion was not too far from the entrance, a room neither too small nor too large.
He had moved the minimum necessary furniture into the room, and for meals, he cooked his own food using the kitchen in the old mansion.
He wasn’t very experienced with cooking, so he could only make simple dishes, but so far, it hadn’t been an issue.
Ren cooked one of his usual simple meals and filled his stomach.
By the time he finished eating, the gloomy feeling from when he first woke up had vanished.
Afterward, he received swordsmanship training from Weiss before heading to the guild with a steady pace.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Since Ren was the manager of the old mansion, he cleaned it without anyone’s help.
Lishia had tried to offer her help, surprising the servants, but Ren, as usual, refused, puffing up her cheek in protest.
Because he had prioritized that task, it had been a few days since he had gone to the Adventurers’ Guild.
Before he knew it, summer had fully arrived.
Taking a deep breath, he let the morning air, characteristic of summer, fill his lungs, and he felt his mind become more alert.
(From here, I can see all the way to the horizon.)
That was due to the terrain of Clausel
As the town sloped toward the center, Ren’s home in the old mansion provided a good view of the outskirts of Clausel.
“Hey, good morning!”
“Aren’t you the hero? You’re full of energy this early in the morning!”
On his way, he was greeted by the vendors and townspeople at the stalls as he made his way to the Adventurers’ Guild.
Ren had hoped to hear some interesting news at the guild, but there was nothing on the bulletin board.
It was the usual, familiar bulletin board.
He thought it would be another normal day—investigating some matter and hunting on the side.
Suddenly, his stomach made a pitiful noise.
(Was breakfast not enough?)
His body, still in its growth phase, was craving nourishment.
If anyone had heard it, it would have been embarrassing, but luckily, there was no one next to him.
“Aha, that’s a cute sound.”
Just as he was heading to a seat to eat, a woman’s voice came from behind him.
Turning toward the voice, he saw someone sitting at a nearby table facing him.
(I’ve never seen this person before.)
Ren had been coming to this Adventurers’ Guild for a while, so he thought he recognized most of the adventurers in the area.
However, this person was unfamiliar. In fact, he couldn’t even see her face.
She wore a pure white robe, with a hood pulled down so low that her face was hidden, only her mouth faintly visible. The only other feature he could make out was a hint of golden hair that resembled silk.
Her voice also sounded modified, probably altered with some kind of magical tool.
“Come over here. If you’d like, would you like to have a meal with me?”
The woman beckoned Ren over.
“…Uh…”
“Of course, I’ll treat you, so don’t hesitate!”
Perhaps she thought Ren didn’t have any money.
That was a reasonable assumption, given that someone like him, a young adventurer, would probably be at the guild only to do simple jobs to help with his finances.
“I’m fine. I have money with me,” Ren replied.
“Huh? I-I see…”
“Yes. But it seems there aren’t many open seats, so would it be alright if I sit with you?”
Seeing her nod, Ren moved away from the bulletin board and sat down next to her.
Ren, with practiced ease, called over a staff member to place their order.
The woman in the robe, upon seeing this, had her mouth faintly peek from beneath her hood in surprise.
“You’re a regular here, huh? No wonder you seem so mature and experienced.”
“I’m probably just getting older.”
"Ahaha! You even sound so grown-up, huh?"
As they were talking, the woman's food arrived before Ren's. She didn’t touch it until Ren's meal arrived, and only then did she finally reach for her dish.
"Sorry. I shouldn’t have kept you waiting, especially since we just met."
"No, it’s fine. I just wanted to wait, so don’t worry about it."
As Ren dug into his meal, he wondered why the woman had shown interest in him.
"Why did you decide to talk to me?"
"Hmm... I guess it was just a feeling. If I had to say, I heard your stomach make a cute sound, and I wondered what kind of person you were, so I ended up talking to you."
"—So, after talking to me, what did you think of me?"
"I was thinking about how I’d kidnap you."
Ren froze in shock at the unexpected words.
With a clink, he dropped his fork onto his plate.
The woman let out a delighted laugh.
"Ahahaha! I was just joking! If I really did that, the knights would catch me!"
"...Y-yeah, I figured."
Deciding not to probe too deeply, Ren chose to continue eating in silence. He didn’t want to be thrown off balance again by another strange remark. On the other hand, the woman seemed to eat very little and quickly finished her small portion of food. She then stared at Ren with an amused look.
(What’s so fun about this?)
Ren tried not to pay attention to her, but it was hard not to, and his awareness of her couldn’t help but drift slightly toward her. The woman noticed this.
"If you’re curious about me, do you want to come to the Imperial Capital with me?"
Surprised, Ren looked straight at her and without hesitation replied, "I absolutely won’t go."
"Aww... it hurts when you answer that quickly..."
"By the way, you’re from the Imperial Capital, right?"
"Yep. I had some business there. It was a long trip with a magic ship and a shared carriage."
"Ah... right. There's no magic ship terminal in Clausel."
"But it was fun. These kinds of trips aren't so bad."
She said that and suddenly stood up. Reluctantly, she turned her back to Ren and began walking toward the Adventurers’ Guild’s exit. Her face remained hidden beneath her hood the entire time, and Ren never heard her voice either.
"I actually wanted to talk more, but I have business to attend to, so I have to go."
She looked back one last time.
"I’d be happy if we could meet again."
"Yes, if we have the chance."
"Mm-hmm! When that happens, make sure to tell me about your mysterious power!"
With those cryptic words, she left with light steps. Ren dropped his fork onto his plate once again.
"...Why?"
The woman had mentioned "your mysterious power."
It was only natural that Ren would think she was referring to the magic sword summoning Arts.
He hastily stood up and tried to chase after her. When he stepped outside the Adventurers’ Guild and looked around, there was no sign of the woman in the robe.
"...Why?!"
Ren, surprised, voiced his frustration, drawing the attention of several adventurers passing by.
After returning inside the Guild and continuing his meal, Ren heard a familiar voice.
"Yo!"
It was his werewolf companion, who he had spoken with many times before. The man casually greeted Ren and then sat across from him, laughing.
"Are you heading to the East Forest again today?"
"Yes. That’s the plan."
"Then how about joining us today? Some of the younger guys are going deep into the forest, and the Guild asked us to hunt nearby in case something happens."
It wasn’t quite a bodyguard request, but more of an offer to lend a hand if anything came up. The Guild staff probably shared this casually with the man, who had no major plans, and he nodded.
However, Ren had a job to investigate the monster situation.
When he mentioned this, the man shrugged and said, "Guess that’s fine."
"I’d love to go hunting with you if we get the chance."
"Yeah, me too. I’d love to learn a lot from you when that happens."
"Ha ha ha! I’ll have to work hard so I’m ready for that!"
The man laughed heartily as he stood up. As he reached the entrance of the Guild, he glanced at his werewolf companion and said, "I’m off. Make sure you don’t get hurt, hero."
They exchanged words wishing each other safety and then left the Guild.
Ren continued with his meal, but his mind was still preoccupied with the woman. Who exactly was she?
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
By noon, Ren had forgotten the strange encounter from the morning and was fully absorbed in investigating and hunting in the forest. However, his magic sword still hadn’t reached its maximum level.
He was curious about the conditions to reach the next level, but with no leads, he continued hunting, hoping that something would change.
"Alright."
Just then, a sudden scream echoed through the air, followed by a sharp, high-pitched howl.
The intense sound startled Ren, and birds perched on the trees scattered into the sky. He froze for a moment, then turned his gaze in the direction of the noise.
"...Why would something like this happen so close to town?"
He recognized the howl and let go of the Earthworm he had been carrying.
It was clearly an abnormal occurrence, and Ren instinctively started moving toward the source of the sound.
With a powerful push against the ground, he sprinted toward the direction of the cry, weaving through the trees like the wind. He cut through branches and leaves with his iron magic sword as he ran, not slowing down for even a moment.
Soon, a strong, thick smell reached him—blood mixed in the air.
(...It should’ve come from this area.)
He ran for several more minutes.
What he found was a deep rift in the earth. The gap was wide, with tangled roots and a crumbling slope, making it difficult to climb back up once fallen.
Ren noticed several people at the bottom of the rift—men and women—each bleeding.
(They’re alive... but...)
Escaping from this rift would be near impossible without outside help, and they would soon die if not rescued. Ren decided to act quickly. With the power of the magic sword, saving them would be far from difficult.
"Oi! Get up!"
"Dammit... it’s tough!"
The sounds of struggle and pain reached Ren’s ears.
Amidst the chasm in the earth.
Beyond the collapsed men and women, a familiar voice rang out.
Hearing the voices of two men, Ren turned to look in their direction.
There stood a werewolf and his partner, a young adventurer.
Then, a shrill, metallic clang reached Ren's ears.
As he laid eyes on the jet-black iron monster, a thought crossed his mind—I knew it—but even so, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
After all, that monster was—
"Why is a Steel-Eating Gargoyle in a place like this?"
Flapping its wings, the Steel-Eating Gargoyle flew freely through the lowest depths of the chasm.
Its entire body was made of metal, every part of it a lethal weapon.
With its natural agility and formidable physique, it was in a league of its own compared to ordinary gargoyles.
According to the wanted poster, it was supposed to be much farther away from Clausel, yet—
"Damn it... At this rate...!"
The werewolf muttered under his breath.
The two who had been fighting bore numerous wounds.
The werewolf seemed to have lost strength in one arm, but his partner still had some fight left in him.
The Steel-Eating Gargoyle, using the roots sprawling along the rocky walls as footholds, darted around nimbly, exploiting an opening in the werewolf's defense.
"────Huh?"
A feeble voice escaped the werewolf’s lips.
The black iron arm came crashing down upon him.
"You bastard!"
Just before the blow could land, the werewolf’s partner leapt between them.
He raised his shield to block the attack, but the gargoyle's arm pierced through it, striking his shoulder with crushing force.
"Gah—!?"
The impact sent the man flying, slamming him against the rocky wall, where he slumped unconscious.
The werewolf, now alone, glared fiercely at the Steel-Eating Gargoyle.
The gargoyle lunged toward him, raising its black iron arm—
"Kakak!?"
In that instant, Ren stepped in between them.
The werewolf's eyes widened in shock at Ren’s sudden appearance.
"H-Hero!?"
"Now's not the time to be surprised! Hurry and get out of here!"
The ground beneath Ren's feet cracked and crumbled.
Even as he withstood the gargoyle’s immense power with his iron magic sword, he didn’t give an inch.
Instead, he repelled the gargoyle’s body with sheer force.
"…Kururuu."
With an eerie cry, the Steel-Eating Gargoyle kicked off the wall, halting its momentum.
The air burned against Ren’s cheek as a bead of sweat trickled down.
"Tell me one thing. Why is that thing here?"
"I-I don’t know! Maybe it moved from its previous lair…!"
The werewolf and his partner had come here only to check on the young adventurers mining underground resources within the chasm.
Ren recalled their conversation from that morning.
(I see…)
The underground resources they were mining must contain minerals that serve as food for the Steel-Eating Gargoyle.
That must be why it was here.
"Can you evacuate your partner and the fallen adventurers?"
"Y-Yeah! If you can distract that thing, I’ll carry them up in a few trips!"
The hostility emanating from the Steel-Eating Gargoyle was intensifying with each passing moment.
It was wary of Ren, hesitating to attack recklessly.
"I owe you one!"
The moment the werewolf moved, the Steel-Eating Gargoyle took flight once more.
Ren had anticipated this and immediately sprang into action, intercepting the gargoyle before it could strike at the werewolf’s back.
He swung his iron magic sword at the black iron arm reaching for the werewolf.
"Kuruaa!?"
"Tch... Damn, it's tough!"
Ren’s iron magic sword boasted incredible sharpness.
Ever since he had leveled up, he had begun to feel like there was nothing he couldn’t cut.
And yet, he couldn’t sever the Steel-Eating Gargoyle’s arm.
At most, he managed to chip and gouge it, as if his sword had suffered a heavy notch.
A trickle of dark red fluid dripped onto the blade.
"Kakak! Kuruh—Kaaah!"
The Steel-Eating Gargoyle flapped its wings, swiftly leaping into the air before diving toward Ren with a fierce swing of its black iron arm.
Each time the wind pressure grazed his skin, a cold sweat ran down Ren’s neck.
One of its attacks narrowly clipped his thigh, tearing both his clothing and his flesh, sending a spray of blood into the air.
(Never forget. This isn't just any monster.)
But excessive caution could also be a mistake.
Like the Sheefulfen, the Steel-Eating Gargoyle was a special D-rank variant.
However, unlike the Sheefulfen, it wasn’t as much of a threat.
While its defense was superior, the Sheefulfen outclassed it in every other aspect.
Facing it like this made that difference all too clear.
Even among special D-rank variants, their strength wasn’t uniform.
And Ren was no longer the same as before.
He had grown far stronger.
"Haaah!"
Ren let out a roar and swung his magic sword with all his might.
"────!?"
He used the wooden magic sword to summon roots that ensnared the gargoyle’s black iron arm.
A deep gash ran across his cheek, but while the pain was sharp, it wasn’t enough to hinder his movements.
"Gaaah! Giiih!"
The Steel-Eating Gargoyle thrashed against its bindings, its metal-free eyes darting wildly.
Ren leveled his iron magic sword straight ahead.
Even as the gargoyle’s arm occasionally grazed his body, it no longer inflicted deep wounds like before.
Ren was gradually reading its movements and habits.
"That spot isn’t so tough, is it?"
Seizing an opening, Ren drove his iron magic sword straight into the gargoyle.
The blade sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, then—
A jet of dark red fluid erupted from the gargoyle’s eye.
Howling in agony, it tore itself free from the bindings and retreated, clinging to the wall.
But Ren’s pursuit was relentless.
The tip of his iron magic sword gleamed as he lunged forward.
"Kuruuaaahhh!"
Ignoring its deafening screech, Ren pressed on.
The chasm’s lowest depths were thick with damp air as the battle raged on.
The scent of blood filled the air, heightening the tension.
Then, amidst it all, Ren caught sight of the werewolf carrying his comrades to the surface.
In just a few minutes, the werewolf returned to rescue the remaining young adventurers.
"Hero! Are you alright!?"
"Yes! Now hurry!"
The Steel-Eating Gargoyle, now missing an eye, faced Ren with heightened caution.
It was clear—Ren held the advantage.
As the battle continued, one by one, the rescue efforts progressed.
For Ren, who was fully focused, time passed in the blink of an eye.
By the time he realized it, the werewolf had already finished his task.
"This one's the last! Hero, don't push yourself too hard!"
With the final person rescued, Ren turned his attention back to the Steel-Eating Gargoyle before him.
Should he finish it off or retreat for now?
Just as he was weighing his options, a sound cut through the air from above.
(...What was that just now?)
The moment hesitation crept in—
"GYIIIIIHHH!"
A second one.
This new Steel-Eating Gargoyle was even larger than the first, its black iron body gleaming with a sinister sheen.
For an instant, Ren was stunned.
He quickly raised his magic sword above his head, bracing himself as the creature barreled toward him.
The sheer force behind its dive was immense.
Even taking that into account, its raw strength far surpassed that of the first one.
"A... pair!?"
The werewolf, climbing the wall, shouted in disbelief.
"There was no such report from the Adventurers' Guild...! Wait, don't tell me this happened recently—?!"
According to the information available, there had only been one Steel-Eating Gargoyle.
If the new arrival was a male, then the two must have become a pair just recently.
Ren barely managed to deflect the attack as a thought crossed his mind.
(That roar earlier—it was calling for its mate.)
He had fought two Mana Eaters at once before.
They were ranked D, so the situation should be similar.
But this time, Lishia wasn't here.
There was no buff from the Saint of White.
The circumstances were entirely different from back then.
"Kak... Aaaah..."
"Kuruu... Kakakak..."
The new Steel-Eating Gargoyle—likely the male—licked the wounds of its injured mate.
The air grew heavy, as if it were burning against his skin.
From above, the werewolf called out, his voice trembling.
"Hang on! I'll be right back with help!"
But Ren knew he couldn't rely on that.
He had to figure out a way to turn this situation around on his own.
(...If I flee recklessly, the people I just helped could be targeted. In that case, I have no choice.)
He had no grudge against the creatures, but he had no intention of dying here either.
The best course of action was to take down the wounded one first and reduce the fight to a one-on-one.
(If I had the time, I'd have liked to try using the Plunderer's Magic Sword...)
But now wasn't the time for that.
He readied his Iron Magic Sword.
At the same moment, both Steel-Eating Gargoyles leapt into motion.
Their coordination was seamless.
They darted in all directions—left, right, front, back, even above—striking from every possible blind spot with their iron limbs.
"Shff! Shhh!"
"Damn, they're fast... But!"
Their speed was impressive, but not beyond what he could handle.
The Sheefulfen had been far more dangerous.
Compared to that, these two were manageable.
He didn't have to take a direct hit—he could dodge.
Thinking back to the final attack of Yelquq, Ren reminded himself:
(This much... isn't enough to scare me.)
"...Sorry."
The whispered apology was directed at the creatures and the fate they now faced.
Both had their own circumstances, but Ren had no intention of losing.
"This ends now."
As one of the Steel-Eating Gargoyles lunged, Ren slashed across its chest multiple times in passing.
Its tough iron body was beginning to expose the flesh beneath.
That vulnerable spot—
Ren, moving fluidly through the battle, saw his opening and—
"Raaaahhh!!"
With a powerful thrust, the tip of his Iron Magic Sword pierced the Steel-Eating Gargoyle’s chest.
He felt the sensation of flesh being torn—
And then, the sound of a magic stone shattering.
The magic absorbed by Ren's bracelet pulsed faintly.
Cursed Sword (Level 1: 0/2)
It creates a barrier of magical energy. As its level increases, the barrier's strength and range expand.
A sword that functions like a shield—it was an odd concept, but Ren only gave his bracelet a brief glance before deciding not to overthink it.
As he stood there, the first Steel-Eater Gargoyle collapsed onto the ground.
Behind him, the second one—enraged—closed in. At the same moment, the wooden Cursed Sword vanished from Ren’s hand.
“KRAAAAAGHHH!*
Blinded by fury, the remaining Steel-Eater Gargoyle clawed at the walls and floor of the fissure, kicking up a dense cloud of dust like a thick fog.
Then, with its massive black arms, it ripped chunks of rock from the walls and hurled them at Ren.
Using the dust cloud as cover, it launched a relentless assault, trying to pierce through him.
"Hero-dono!?"
The werewolf adventurer, still in the process of escorting the survivors to safety, had no clear view of the battle unfolding in the depths of the underground chasm.
"What the hell is happening down there!?"
The chaotic situation pushed Ren toward a decision.
With his vision obscured and his enemy attacking from blind spots with overwhelming strength, there was no hesitation.
“GYAAAAGHHH!”
The Steel-Eater Gargoyle had closed in completely, its massive arm swinging down on Ren’s unprotected back.
In another second—no, in an instant—it would run him through.
The gargoyle was already certain of its victory.
At that moment, Ren, without thinking, visualized the Shield Cursed Sword in his mind.
He could have dodged the attack, but something about this new sword called to him.
Like he was meant to use it.
As if responding to his will, the Shield Cursed Sword materialized, seamlessly replacing the wooden one.
(So this is... the Shield Cursed Sword.)
The blade appeared in midair, its majestic form distinct from any other Magic Sword he had wielded.
Its jade-green surface was adorned with intricate glowing patterns, and as Ren gripped its hilt, those markings pulsed with an ethereal blue light.
As the gargoyle's arm bore down on him, Ren instinctively raised the Shield Cursed Sword.
“…!?”
A golden, translucent barrier manifested between them, large enough to shield his upper body.
The Steel-Eater Gargoyle slammed its arm into the barrier multiple times, but it only managed to leave the faintest of cracks.
As long as Ren held the Shield Cursed Sword aloft, the barrier showed no signs of disappearing.
But he suspected that, much like summoning a Magic Sword, it consumed mana. If the barrier shattered, he would need to resummon it at the cost of more magic power.
Meanwhile, the werewolf adventurer had just started descending back into the chasm.
But as he did, he was taken aback by the sudden silence below.
Ren, however, paid no attention to him.
His mind was solely focused on the Shield Magic Sword—and ending this battle.
(This thing... is amazing.)
He felt a surge of confidence. Even if this sword failed, he was certain he had another way to counterattack.
Then, with a downward swing of the Shield Magic Sword, the golden barrier shattered, scattering in a dazzling display like diamond dust reflecting the sunlight.
At that moment, Ren turned and unleashed a relentless series of strikes with the Iron Cursed Sword.
And finally, he whispered an apology.
"…Sorry."
Ducking beneath the gargoyle’s massive arm, he struck at its exposed chest.
Just like with the first one, layers of metal were stripped away, revealing the softer flesh beneath.
Seizing the opening, Ren drove his sword deep into the monster’s core.
“Guh…”
A deafening crash echoed through the chasm as the second Steel-Eater Gargoyle collapsed.
Ren exhaled, exhausted.
"…It's finally over."
Though fighting these creatures had been easier than facing the Sheefulfen, it had still been grueling.
One moment of carelessness, and he could have been the one lying on the ground.
If he had taken a direct hit from the gargoyle’s arm, it would have ripped him apart.
"Unbelievable… Hero-dono, you…!?"
The werewolf, finally reaching the bottom, was stunned.
Ren, now drained, had already dismissed his swords.
Only the Iron Cursed Sword remained, and even that was no longer in his grip.
Taking another deep breath, Ren let himself fall back onto the ground, arms spread wide.
"Maybe... I really am getting stronger."
He raised a hand toward the sky, staring at his palm as he muttered those words.
◇ ◇ ◇
At the gates of Clausel, two Steel-Eater Gargoyle corpses lay in the open, their presence impossible to ignore.
As Ren listened to the gasps of passersby, he spoke with one of the gate knights.
"Ren-dono!"
The knight gripped Ren’s shoulders tightly, making him jump.
"Did you truly accomplish this alone!?"
"Well… I kind of stole the spotlight."
"Meaning you had assistance?"
"Not exactly, but it's hard to explain…"
Ren hesitated to take full credit.
After all, the first gargoyle had been engaged by a group of younger adventurers, the werewolf, and his partner before he had stepped in.
"Nonsense. Both were your achievements."
The werewolf adventurer approached, speaking up.
Hearing this, the knight’s eyes widened.
"I knew it!"
"We barely landed any meaningful hits. So in the end, both kills belong to Hero-dono."
The werewolf then added,
"I've already reported to the guild. The other monsters you defeated have been transported as well, so be sure to collect your reward. The adventurers you saved refused to take any of it, saying they didn’t deserve a share."
Not only that, but they insisted that the payment for the resources retrieved from the fissure should go to Ren as a token of gratitude.
When Ren tried to refuse, the werewolf shook his head.
"Take it. You saved their lives."
With that, he left.
The knight next to Ren nodded in agreement.
"Adventurers repay their debts. If they didn't, their reputations would suffer. Since you saved them, there's no reason to refuse. Besides, you could use the money to buy new magic tools for the Ashton village."
"…You're right. I'll accept it."
Still,
(Going back to the old mansion is going to be a pain.)
Considering his position, it wouldn’t be surprising if he was reprimanded for taking on such a dangerous foe without consulting anyone.
That said, he had a reason.
Investigating monsters was part of the job Lazard had asked him to do.
Ignoring them wouldn’t have sat right with him.
If he had ignored the situation back there, and if, by any chance, someone came to believe that the Clausel family had abandoned the adventurers…
That was what concerned him.
Even if adventurers were free to live as they pleased.
As he pondered this, a staff member from the Adventurers' Guild approached, speaking in astonishment.
The Steel-Eating Gargoyles would undoubtedly fetch an unprecedented sum for the Clausel Adventurers' Guild, and as a result, the appraisal would take some time.
The staff member informed Ren that they would later contact the Clausel estate with the results.
Not wanting to linger in the commotion, Ren quietly left the vicinity of the castle gate.
Along the way, many people stopped him to offer grand words of praise and congratulations, which made him feel rather self-conscious.
However, as he neared the Clausel estate, the fervor gradually subsided.
Once things settled, he couldn't help but chuckle at how much heavier his body felt than usual.
(The Shield Magic Sword…)
His impression after using it was that while it was highly effective and easy to wield, it consumed an enormous amount of mana in return.
After reaffirming this, Ren suddenly thought of something and glanced at his bracelet.
(Let’s see how things are looking…)
A wealth of proficiency points had been accumulated.
Yet, he let out a wry smile.
Compared to the numbers he had gained from defeating the Yelquq and Mana Eater, the amount obtained from the Steel-Eating Gargoyles was disproportionately high.
It was no wonder, given their reputation as monsters that granted a significant amount of experience.
Not to mention, there had been two of them.
Still, the undeniable fact remained—he had grown stronger.
And he had even unraveled a few lingering mysteries.
(It seems that magic swords obtained from unique individuals only gain proficiency from the magic stones of their own kind.)
Checking the newly acquired Shield Magic Sword’s proficiency, this was the conclusion he arrived at.
As for whether unique magic stones from a different species could still provide proficiency—his observations of the Plunderer Magic Sword suggested otherwise.
Meanwhile, the Wood Magic Sword was still maxed out.
At this point, all he could do was hope that raising the level of his Magic Sword Summoning would grant some new benefits.
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[NAME] Ren Ashton
[Job] Heir of the Ashton Family – Eldest Son
■ Magic Sword Summoning Lv. 1 0 / 0
■ Magic Sword Summoning Art Lv. 3 1055 / 2000
[Skill]
Gaining proficiency by using the summoned magic sword.
Level 1: Able to summon one magic sword.
Level 2: While the bracelet is summoned, gains a small boost to physical abilities.
Level 3: Can summon two magic swords
Level 4: Gain the effect of [Physical Ability UP (Medium)) while summoning the bracelet.
Level 5: ********
[Acquired Magic Swords]
■ Wooden Magic Sword Lv. 2 1000 / 1000
-Allows for attacks equivalent to basic-level natural magic.
-As the level increases, the attack's effective range expands
■ Iron Magic Sword Lv. 2 814 / 2500
—The sharpness increases as the level increases
■ Plunderer Magic Sword Lv. 1 0 / 3
—There is a certain chance that an item will be randomly stolen from the target..
■ Shield Magic Sword [New] Lv. 1 1 / 2
—Deploys a magic barrier. Improves durability and expands the area of effect with level.
★★★
"So, the problem is how to explain all of this to Lady Lishia—"
Ultimately, it all came down to how he would explain today’s events to Lishia.
"Did something happen with me?"
For some reason, her voice reached his ears just then.
Slowly turning toward the source, Ren spotted Lishia standing by the roadside, accompanied by Yun.
Several female knights, presumably her escorts, stood nearby as well.
Ah… now that he thought about it, they were already close to the estate.
His expression stiffened, and his feet instinctively took a step back from Lishia.
"Hey, what about me?"
"…Uh, well…"
But Lishia closed that one-step gap.
Behind her, Yun gave him a knowing smile and mouthed the words, "Just give up."
◇ ◇ ◇
As soon as they returned to the estate, Ren wasn’t taken to the main building to report to Lazard.
Instead, he was led straight to the old mansion—practically dragged there by Lishia.
Once they reached the sofa in the entrance hall, she told him to sit.
Then, she took a seat right beside him.
"Good. It looks like you didn’t suffer any major injuries."
Lishia activated her holy magic, gently healing the scratches on Ren’s cheek and easing his fatigue.
A soft light and warmth seeped into his body.
"I thought you’d be mad at me."
"Why would I be? You accomplished something incredible. Didn’t you think you’d be praised instead?"
"…Whether it was incredible or not aside, I did fight on my own accord."
"That’s true. But thanks to your bravery, many lives were saved. That’s something to be proud of."
Lishia understood Ren’s position.
After all, it was her father who had entrusted him with this work.
Even so—
"But when I think about how dangerous it was, I feel like I should at least scold you a little."
She giggled as she spoke, and Ren could only agree.
"…You’re absolutely right."
"I was really worried about you, you know."
Pouting her lips, Lishia sulked—but her cheeks were slightly flushed, making her look more adorable than upset.
"You haven’t had dinner yet, have you? Let’s eat together at the main house tonight."
Lazard would surely want to speak with Ren as well.
Following Lishia’s lead, Ren rose from his seat and walked alongside her.
As they passed through the old mansion’s doors and stepped onto the corridor leading to the main building—
"To apologize for worrying you, is there anything I can do for you?"
"In that case, would you accompany me on my next trip?"
The sudden request made Ren tilt his head in curiosity.
"I have plans to visit several villages, like when we went to your hometown."
"Understood. I’ll go with you."
He surprised himself with how quickly he answered.
But at this point, traveling with Lishia hardly felt unusual.
Besides, considering how much he had worried her this time, he felt he should at least go along with her request.
However, Lishia simply laughed and said, "I was joking."
"You don’t need to apologize. It’s true that I was worried, but more than that, I should be praising your courage."
"Being praised and apologizing are two separate things, though."
"…I forgot. Sometimes, you’re even more stubborn than I am."
She regretted joking about the trip.
Of course, she wouldn’t mind traveling with him, but dragging Ren into unrelated matters wasn’t something she wanted.
"Honestly, I’m curious myself. I think it’ll be a valuable experience, so I’d like to go."
"Really? You’re not just saying that?"
"Lady Lishia, do I look like I’m lying to you?"
"…No, you don’t."
Stopping in her tracks, Lishia met Ren’s gaze—and immediately knew he was sincere.
"But still, nope. I can’t make that decision on my own."
Ren shrugged as if to say it can’t be helped but—
(Then I’ll just ask Lord Lazard later.)
Personal interest aside, increasing the combat strength around Lishia was never a bad idea.
Not even half a year had passed since the incident in spring, and Ren wasn’t about to let his guard down.
◇ ◇ ◇
Meanwhile, at the main house—
"This arrived. It’s from the villages near the Baldor Mountains."
"Ah, from the knights?"
In Lazard’s office, Weiss handed him a letter.
Several knights, like Roy Ashton, were responsible for overseeing villages under Clausel’s domain.
This particular letter had been jointly sent by the knights stationed around the Baldor Mountains.
After reading it, Lazard spoke in a low voice.
"We should prepare more firewood and magic tools for this winter than ever before."
"Did they mention something?"
"According to the knights, temperatures near the Baldor Mountains are already dropping lower than usual. That means this winter will be especially harsh—just like before."
"Then we must also prepare for heavy snowfall."
"Exactly. We need to start making preparations now to prevent any deaths from the cold."
Weiss nodded in agreement with Lazard’s assessment.
Then, Lazard shifted topics.
"By the way, Weiss, what do you make of the Steel-Eating Gargoyles?"
"According to the Adventurers' Guild staff, they likely flew here in search of food. Apparently, both of them were rather thin."
Additionally, there were no signs that they had been manipulated.
There were no traces of charm magic or any skills that might indicate the influence of a monster tamer.
"If I recall correctly, the price of a certain mineral recently dropped, didn’t it?"
"Yes… It’s possible that the adventurers in the gargoyles' previous habitat overmined underground resources without any foresight."
"Good grief… Even if we wanted to file a complaint, it wouldn’t be easy."
If those adventurers had broken any laws, that would be one thing.
But hunting monsters and mining minerals weren’t crimes, so there was little to be said.
"That aside…"
Turning his thoughts back to Ren—who was on his way to the main house—
"I was shocked when I first heard that Ren had no talent for Holy Sword Arts. But considering his recent achievements and growth speed, perhaps he has an aptitude for Strong Sword Techniques instead."
That would be ideal.
Ren had firsthand experience from his past life—though that wasn’t quite the right way to put it.
Back in his gaming days, he had learned all too well just how formidable those techniques were.
If he could wield them himself, he’d definitely be interested.
However, Strong Sword Techniques were only attainable by a select few with the right talent.
It wouldn’t be easy to master.
——.