He watched the Magic Ship Lemuria, which had been waiting for the battle to conclude, as it descended from the heavens.
Ren sat atop a pile of rubble, catching the sight out of the corner of his eye before turning his attention to the Knights of the Lion Holy Chancel now entering the plaza.
The Lemuria touched down in a corner of the square, and Werlich stepped out onto the ground.
"So this is what went down, huh?"
The dwarf glanced at Wayne and the others who were busy speaking with the knights, then made his way toward Ren.
The night was well advanced; usually, this was the hour people would be readying for bed back at the mansion.
"Yo, Ren! Nice work!"
"……Yes."
"What's with that? You won, didn't you? You're looking pretty grim for a winner."
"Well…… a lot happened."
Ren’s arm still hung uselessly at his side.
"……That looks unusually bad."
"He was a formidable opponent. I never expected to come out of it completely unscathed."
"Good enough. As long as you're breathing, that's all that counts."
"……Honestly, I feel the same way."
"But listen, you should at least get some first aid. You should have that boy from the Heroic Ducal House…… Merdeg, was it? Have him do something for you with that power of his."
"I already had him look at it. Well…… even after that, it's like this."
Skole was exhausted as well, and his powers were still developing. While Wayne was also present, he was new to wielding the power of a Hero, and his essence was fundamentally suited for combat rather than recovery.
Werlich nodded, accepting Ren’s vague explanation.
"I also gulped down that potion Radius gave me earlier."
"Even with magic and a potion, it’s still that bad?"
"Yeah. That’s just how it is."
Seeing Ren’s silent nod, Werlich could begin to imagine just how spent the boy truly was.
"Don't push yourself too hard—though I guess all that's left is the trip home. ———— Still, this was quite the operation. I was floored to see even the Knights of the Lion Holy Chancel had been deployed."
When Wayne’s group arrived, Orphide had mentioned it as well. Elite knights had been sent to Windea as a contingency. While Orphide would have been too much for them, they were more than capable of handling the rank-and-file Demon King Cultists. They had been positioned to act as reinforcements for the descendants if the need arose.
The fallen Orphide was now the knights' responsibility.
Since everything else could be left in their hands, Ren’s work here was done. Though he hadn't managed to get any information out of the Priest regarding the mysterious girl, he had learned enough from the man's reactions.
Perhaps that alone made it worthwhile. There were undoubtedly several reasons why Ren’s intervention had been significant.
"Ready to head back?"
"————"
"Hey, Ren?"
When Ren, lost in thought, failed to respond immediately, Werlich waved a hand in front of his face.
"Ah, sorry."
"Don't sweat it. You're clearly exhausted."
Normally, Werlich would have given him a playful jab in the ribs. He refrained this time, knowing how poor a shape Ren was in, but he gave a broad grin when the boy finally reacted.
"Can you walk on your own?"
"I'm fine. But if I let my guard down, I might just pass out."
"Then sleep inside the Lemuria."
"……Right. I'll do that."
A Knight of the Lion Holy Chancel noticed Ren standing up.
"Ren-dono!"
Tonight, those dispatched to this land had been ordered to root out the Demon King Cult entirely to ensure Windea was not defiled. While the descendants of the Seven Heroes fought before the temple, these knights had also been swinging their swords for the sake of Leomel elsewhere on the mountain.
"We have successfully completed our mission, exactly as His Highness commanded."
"I'm glad. It looks like we’ll all be making it home safely."
"Yes. However, Ren-dono……"
The knight trailed off, his heart aching to see the boy—who usually performed such extraordinary feats at the Lion Holy Chancel—looking so drained.
"……Leave the rest to us."
"Thank you. I’m counting on you."
The knight felt a surge of respect as he watched Ren walk away, looking battered yet still projecting a quiet, characteristic strength.
Ren offered a brief farewell to Wayne and the others before boarding the Lemuria.
Under normal circumstances, the ship would have avoided such high altitudes, but Orphide’s influence had shifted the local mana, and the Lemuria’s superior specs allowed it to navigate the heights when necessary. The only reason it hadn't come this far earlier in the spring was that it had only just been repaired.
Once inside, Ren bypassed the living quarters and headed straight for the bridge. Protecting his injured arm, he managed to change his shirt before sinking onto a large sofa.
Werlich let out a wry chuckle. "Hey now, go rest in a proper room."
"I'll stay here, just in case something happens."
"Cut it out. Stuff always happens because you say things like that."
"I don't mean it like that. It's just…… how I feel, I guess."
For some reason, he wanted to stay here for now. Realizing that Ren wasn't just being polite, Werlich shrugged and took his place in the pilot's seat.
"Have it your way. Give me a holler if you need anything."
Soon after, the Lemuria’s furnace roared to life. As the ship took to the skies, it gradually drifted away from Windea.
"……Seriously, nothing went according to plan."
Ren’s consciousness faded shortly after that murmur.
Werlich looked back from the helm and saw Ren fast asleep. Resting his head on the sofa’s armrest, he lay with his legs stretched out, a large lap robe draped over him. Werlich gripped the wheel, making a conscious effort to pilot more smoothly than ever before.
Several hours later, in the dead of night, Ren woke up while still on the bridge. As he lay on the sofa, his entire body felt even more leaden and sluggish than it had before he fell asleep.
He tried to push himself up.
"No. Stay down."
"You mustn't overdo it yet."
He heard their voices from just beside the sofa.
"……Huh? Why are you two here?"
Licia and Fiona were there. They were still in their school uniforms, which were unusually dirty, though not nearly as much as Ren’s. They were both holding his injured arm, and while he didn't quite grasp the situation, black and white mana were pulsing from their palms.
"I mean, how did this even happen?"
"How? Because we saw the Lemuria return, obviously," Fiona said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Ren looked at her and noticed the dirt smudging their uniforms.
"By the way, that dirt on your uniforms……"
"We had a bit of a fight on this side, too. Just a small one."
"Wait, what?" Ren stammered. "More cultists appeared after I left?"
"It’s fine. They were just like the ones on the train. They showed up on the highway outside Erendir, so Lady Fiona and I went to check it out."
"W-Why would you do something so dangerous—!"
"Honestly…… are you really one to talk, Ren-kun?"
"Well, that’s because I’m a Knight's Child……!"
"Haa…… there you go again. We’re nobles; it’s only natural for us to defend our land."
He wondered how they had been allowed to fight, but then he remembered that Chronoa had come to Erendir from the Capital. It seemed the two of them, unable to sit still while Chronoa was nearby, had joined her on the highway. In fact, they were likely safer by Chronoa’s side than anywhere else in town. Ren finally understood the state of their clothes.
He looked down at his arm. It felt different now than it had when he left Windea. Fiona smiled, looking relieved.
"Thank goodness. It seems to have worked."
The skin on Ren’s arm, which had been blackened by the lingering effects of Orphide’s power, was slowly regaining its natural color.
"My arm…… the curse is fading."
"We heard what happened from Mr. Werlich. We thought that as the Black Priestess, I might be able to purge the power of the Demon King Cult."
"I see…… so that’s how the curse is being lifted……"
However, the damage to the muscle fibers remained, and most of the pain was still there. Now Licia stepped in, saying, "Leave the rest to me," as she began to cast Holy Magic. Under her touch, even the deepest wounds in Ren’s arm began to knit back together.
"How is it? Does it feel any better?"
"No, well……"
Ren wasn't sure when it had started, but he realized he no longer felt ashamed showing his vulnerability to them. It was a change that had happened without him even noticing.
Still lying down, Ren looked at the two beautiful girls kneeling on the floor beside the sofa.
"———— It still hurts like crazy."
Ren spoke in an unusually weak voice, and beside him, Licia and Fiona immediately offered gentle smiles, looking after him with deep care.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Two days later, after another night had passed.
The Imperial Capital regained its sense of normalcy faster than most expected, and classes at the Academy resumed as usual today. The rainy season was still a bit off, but the recent heat meant many students had already switched to their summer uniforms.
Like Ren, who had his sleeves rolled up, Radius had done the same.
Early in the morning, before classes began, the two were on the roof. Between the aftermath and their own busy schedules, this was the first time they had spoken since the incident at Windea.
"I appreciate the help with Orphide."
"Don't worry about it. It was for my own sake too."
"For your sake?"
"……In the sense that I was fighting to protect my place here."
"Ah, I see."
When Ren blurred the details of his dream with those vague words, Radius nodded without suspicion. Ren planned to share the information about the girl from his dream with Radius and Ulysses eventually. For now, he could just claim he heard it from Orphide. As long as he didn't mention the Legend of the Seven Heroes, there should be no problem.
"The operation was a complete success. Priest Orphide was more capable than we anticipated, but as I said, your assistance made all the difference."
"So, things have finally settled down?"
"For now. I'm already racking my brain over where the Demon King Cult might strike next."
"Got it. A brief respite, then."
The story of Chapter One of Legend of the Seven Heroes II had reached its conclusion. As expected, it was a narrative that contained many elements Ren hadn't known.
He and Radius spoke of several other things. It had only been a few days, yet it felt as if they hadn't talked in months—a testament to how dense and chaotic those days had been.
Furthermore, following the battle with Orphide, his Magic Sword Summoning Arts had reached a new stage.
Level 7: Can summon [three] magic swords simultaneously.
He wondered if he would ever have the chance to use three swords at once. If nothing else, he could summon them in advance and carry them on his person. He might need to talk to Werlich about a custom scabbard.
"Still, you’ve finally shown your hand, Ren."
"It wasn't like that. It was just the right time."
"Is that so?" Radius asked lightly.
"It’s not really worth mentioning."
"The people at the Lion Holy Chancel were laughing about it—saying you finally demonstrated the true strength of a student from our school."
"……And who was saying that?"
"Chief Estel."
"……She’s always saying something strange."
Ren laughed, imagining what she said when he wasn't around.
"Regardless, take it easy for a while."
"That's the plan. Once I've caught my breath, I’ll probably head back to the Lion Holy Chancel to train."
"I’m not sure that counts as taking it easy…… but if that’s what you want, I won’t stop you. Just keep in mind that Ragna might call for you suddenly."
With that, Radius pulled an envelope from his pocket. Hearing it was from that researcher, Ren could already guess the contents. He took the letter and found a characteristically brief message inside.
The key is fixed. I’ll be in touch soon.
Sending a whole letter just to say one sentence was very much like Ragna. Ren tucked the note into his uniform pocket.
"Let me guess—it was short?"
"Spot on. How did you know?"
"I’ve known him a long time. Years ago, I sent him a letter asking for a favor—the details escape me now—and he sent back a reply with only two characters: 'No.' Another time, he sent back a blank page on purpose."
"……Yeah, that sounds like him."
As they spoke, Ren reflected on everything that had happened since spring began. It started with his visit to the Garden of Swords and his meeting with Sword King Lutreche. Because she had suggested he look into his Emblem, he had gone to Windea with Ragna. Their goal was to find the hideout of the Legendary Bard Muedi. He believed the key found at the Geno Orphanage in Eupeheim was the key to that hideout, and that by repairing it, he might find information about Cecil Ashton and the orphanage's founder.
……It was supposed to be a simple investigation, yet this spring had turned out to be incredibly eventful.
"I should get going. I need to speak with Mirei."
"Me too."
Ren parted ways with Radius and headed for a corner of the hallway. Licia and Fiona were waiting for him.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"I can't believe we’re just having normal classes after everything that happened," Licia noted.
"Is it really that strange?"
"The incident is over, after all," Fiona added. "And I think more people would be upset if the Academy closed. Our time here is limited."
As Fiona said, this was a world-renowned institution; perhaps this was to be expected.
"Fair point," Ren agreed.
There was still time before the first period. As they walked toward the cafeteria to kill time with some tea, several people called out to them.
"Clausel! You were amazing the other day!" a student said.
"Yes, thank you," Licia replied.
"Ignat, I heard the news. They say you drove off the cultists with some incredible magic," a passing professor added.
"Thank you, Professor," Fiona said politely.
Many in the Academy knew about their fight near the train and the skirmish outside Erendir. Ren, on the other hand, went unnoticed. Since he hadn't been seen fighting in those specific battles, few even knew he had been with them. The Orphide matter had not been made public; given the circumstances and the opponent, the information was being strictly controlled.
Still, it was only a matter of time before word of Ren's role spread through the school.
Licia and Fiona, however, were still focused on his well-being.
"Is your hand feeling alright now?"
"You were in so much pain yesterday. Are you sure you’re okay?"
Fiona, who lived in the dormitory, had been so worried she had come to Erendir early the previous morning to check on him. Thanks to their help, Ren's arm was finally moving properly today—a recovery that would have been impossible at a normal pace.
"Thanks to you both, I’m much better."
They both looked visibly relieved.
The three stopped on a staircase landing, enjoying the cool breeze coming through the window. Licia brought up a piece of news that was still causing a stir.
"……By the way, I wonder what happened in the Great Sea of Forests."
Estel had gone there to investigate the territory of the Black Emperor Horn Behemoth—a beast so powerful it required a combatant of her caliber. The investigation had been launched after cultist mana was detected in the area.
"Lady Estel said the Behemoth was hiding in the deepest part of its lair and refused to come out, right?"
"She mentioned it seemed to be cowering in fear of something," Fiona added.
Ren was also curious, but there was no way to verify it now. What had happened in the depths of the forest? What could terrify an S-rank beast like that? Investigations were ongoing, but information was scarce.
I’ll keep investigating just in case, but I wouldn't expect much, Estel had told them after reporting to Radius. She had since returned to the forest.
When Ren heard the story, he thought of a specific person. The mysterious girl from his dream—the one Orphide had reacted to.
(Could she be involved……?)
The image of that girl, who seemed to know everything, lingered in his mind.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, they ran into Wayne and the other descendants. Wayne left the others and hurried toward Ren. Licia and Fiona stepped back slightly to give them space.
"Ren! Is your arm okay?"
"I’m not at a hundred percent yet, but thanks to these two, it’s much better."
Behind Ren’s shy smile, Licia and Fiona were beaming.
"Man…… I’m so glad."
"I’m sure it was rough for you guys too. How are your injuries?"
"We’re getting there. Ren, you saved us. I think we’re almost back to full strength."
The battle that night had been a true fight for survival. They had been using potions and healing magic to speed up their recovery, but the fatigue still lingered. Wayne, Sera, and Kaito—the ones on the front line—were still dealing with lingering muscle pain.
Changing the subject, Ren turned to the others. "Senior Roferia, I heard your ancestor's bow was found. Congratulations."
"Thank you. Like I said that night, it’s all thanks to you, Ashton."
"Not at all. I was just curious about the stairs."
This was the second piece of Hero Equipment to be recovered. The Hero Faction would likely gain even more momentum, but as Radius said, if it inspired the people, that wasn't a bad thing.
"I wonder if we’ll find our ancestors' weapons too," Wayne said, looking out toward the horizon.
When Ren said "I'm sure you will," Wayne turned back with a bright, innocent smile.
"It’s weird. When you say it, I actually start to believe it."
They parted ways, the two groups heading in different directions. Wayne turned back one last time as they walked away.
"Hey! Thank you again for everything!"
"I told you, it’s fine! You already thanked me at Windea!"
Ren laughed and continued down the hall with the two girls.
As he watched them go, a memory surfaced in Kaito’s mind—a warning Sera had given him about a year ago.
I’m telling you, if you underestimate Ren Ashton, even your Great Shield might get shattered.
He had dismissed it as nonsense back then, but seeing Ren fight at Windea had changed everything. If that strength had been directed at him……
But there was no reason to fight Ren. He couldn't even imagine a scenario where they would be enemies.
"…………"
"Senior Kaito? Something wrong?" Wayne asked.
Kaito laughed it off immediately. "Nah! It’s nothing!"
He didn't quite know why he had even thought of that…… but the impact of Ren’s power had clearly been that profound.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The midterm exams were approaching. Unlike the exams Fiona had taken as a final-year student, these were the standard midterms for all grades. Even with the recent chaos, their duty as students remained. They had been too busy to study lately, but none of them wanted their grades to suffer.
After school, the three of them didn't head straight home. Instead, they hit several bookstores in the Capital, filling paper bags with reference books.
The city was bustling today. People who had stayed indoors during the incident had flooded out, creating a crowd nearly as thick as the one during the Lion King Festival. You could get separated in an instant if you weren't careful.
Ren was trying to keep them together, but the crush of people forced Licia and Fiona’s hands to brush against each other. Eventually, they simply linked hands.
They shared a wry smile.
"United front for now?"
"Yes. It seems for the best."
Neither wanted to cause trouble for Ren by getting lost, but they both felt a strange sense of conflict holding hands with their romantic rival.
"……Haa."
Their sighs overlapped as they looked at Ren’s back. He glanced back and looked surprised to see them holding hands.
"Sorry. If I were a girl, I could have just held your hands without thinking about it."
They both wanted to tell him that they wouldn't mind even now, but the thought was too bold to say out loud.
"……Don't worry about it."
"……Yes. We’re fine like this."
While they were putting on a brave face, a carriage from the Grand Temple passed by. Because it bore the mark of the Elfen Religion, Licia nearly stiffened, but she found her focus remained on the hand she was holding.
As the crowd thinned, their hands naturally drifted apart. They walked ahead of Ren, chatting about the Great Sea of Forests and school life. They even talked about renting the training hall for a match.
"I won't lose next time."
"Neither will I."
Licia becoming a Sword Saint probably wasn't that far off. Ren, who had achieved the rank first, found himself worrying.
(I wonder what it will take for Licia to cross that threshold.)
Knowing how much he had struggled, he worried she might face a similar wall. She had been a Swordmaster for a long time, and jumping a rank could take years—or decades. Not everyone could make the leap. Both Licia and Fiona, much like Ren, were growing at a terrifying pace. He resolved not to let them surpass him.
And there was one more thing. More important than getting stronger was the memory of that tragedy—the real reason he had gone to Windea.
You can see it, can't you? I’ve killed her.
Why had Saintess Licia Clausel and Ren Ashton ended up in that situation? The answer felt like it was finally within reach.
But I wonder who you are the mastermind for. At the center of such a mess, you might be the mastermind to Leomel. To the Elfen Religion, too. To the cult, you’re the one protecting the descendants. To the cultists you cut down, you’re the mastermind of the plot that lured them there.
Whose enemy was Ren Ashton? The cult? Leomel? The church? Or was he an Enemy of the World? No, that was probably an exaggeration.
He had to find that girl. He found himself thinking that she might know the reason—even if it was a version of her from before the tragedy. It was a contradiction, yet he felt a person like her had to know the trigger.
The cult’s obsession with Leomel, their true goal…… he had to confirm it all. He felt as if all these threads were somehow connected.
And finally, there were her words: Ren Ashton is being toyed with by his bloodline.
Did the blood of House Ashton play a role in those two tragedies? He didn't understand yet, but he was getting closer. He felt he was on the verge of uncovering the truth behind that worldline.
"……Haa."
Ren let out a sigh as he walked.
"I wonder where she is," he murmured almost unconsciously.
The two girls stopped dead in their tracks. They couldn't ignore that. They didn't think he meant it in a romantic way, but they were dying to know the identity of this "she." They turned back to him slowly.
"Oh? Is something wrong?"
"W-Who are you looking for……?" Licia asked tentatively.
"W-Who is it……?" Fiona echoed.
It felt too complicated to explain here. It was a conversation for another time.
"It’s about the cult. I’ll tell you the whole story later."
They accepted the answer with a solemn nod.
Not quite ready to go home, the three of them stepped into a nearby park. Licia and Fiona sat on a bench while Ren stood by. They had bought cold drinks from a stall and sat looking up at the sky.
"The stars are so beautiful tonight," Fiona whispered.
The Capital’s sky couldn't compare to the one at Windea, but it was close. Countless points of light decorated the jet-black void, looking so large they seemed within reach.
This was a peaceful moment, finally earned after the chaos.
Licia spoke up after a few minutes of silence. "Hey Ren, why don't we train together soon?"
"At the Lion Holy Chancel?"
"No. Like we used to at the Academy training grounds."
Ren liked the idea. It would be good for his own goal of becoming a Sword King.
"……But we have midterms first."
The girls both let out a small "Ah."
That was right. Training was important, but they had to survive the exams first. They were all top students, but they hadn't been able to study much lately. The pressure was starting to mount.
"……Want to study in our usual room before we train?" Licia asked.
"I’d like that," Fiona agreed.
Ren decided to join them.
Exams, training, Muedi’s hideout, the girl from his dreams…… Ren had a dozen things on his mind, but he smiled and shared the same thought as the girls.
Under the shimmering stardust, he wondered what kind of "story" the coming season would bring.