The Special Merit Class was the pride of the Imperial Academy.
On this day, the students had been gathered at a magic ship dock to be transported to the site of their final exam. Every single person there wore high-performance winter gear, all for the sake of the test they had finally reached.
The location was a dock established in a town several weeks away from the Imperial Capital. The magic ship prepared for the journey was a masterpiece of engineering. Even if it encountered a powerful monster in the sky, it was built with the supreme purpose of delivering the candidates safely to their destination. The crew members were also selected exclusively from those with over twenty years of experience.
Furthermore, the surrounding area was kept under strict management until the very moment the students departed. Once they boarded the vessel, their safety was guaranteed to a degree that rivaled the Imperial Castle itself. Even upon reaching the exam venue, faculty members and knights from the capital were stationed there as a precaution. The possibility of any subversive elements infiltrating the site was virtually nonexistent.
Eventually, the final checks were completed.
"Captain," a crew member called out in the bridge. "All designated confirmations and inspections are finished."
"Then, we set sail."
Inside a magic ship, the bridge was a specialized space where numerous magic tools were connected in a series. This particular vessel was even more unique than most. To maintain absolute fairness for the exam, the destination remained classified until the moment of departure. As the signal to set sail was given, the flight path materialized on a glass-plate magic tool in the center of the room.
"What—!?"
The captain gasped. The rest of the crew was left equally speechless.
"Is there no mistake?" the captain asked, turning to the nearest crewman.
"Th-there shouldn't be! The magic tool craftsmen, the magic ship administrator... even the Directors of the Imperial Academy confirmed it!"
The captain snatched up the report. It detailed over a hundred confirmation items, listing exactly when and with whom each had been verified. According to the document, several crew members had checked the details with both the craftsmen and the Directors.
"You lot, are you absolutely certain there is no mistake?"
"Y-yes!"
"We checked time and again! When we asked if it was correct despite it being winter, they told us that it is in exactly such an environment that true worth is tested..."
The crew had been shocked at first, but the Directors and craftsmen had insisted that the flight path was correct and matched the designated exam venue.
"...Very well. We will proceed according to the determined route."
Convinced at last, the captain gave the order to depart. The furnace inside the magic ship began to glow, using mana stones to generate lift. Soon, the vessel reached the high altitudes far above the dock.
"Target: the Baldur Mountains."
With those words, the magic ship carrying the candidates raced through the sky. They were heading toward the last stage of The Legend of the Seven Heroes I—the very place that the Academy Principal, Chronoa, had intended to avoid.
Time wound back a few days.
A week had passed since Ren repaired the roof, and the year was only a few days from its end. Weiss had told him that on the final day of the year, a dinner party would be held at the main building to show appreciation for the servants and knights.
Ren was looking forward to the celebration, but his plans were interrupted at dawn.
"My apologies, Boy."
A knock sounded at the door of Ren's room in the old wing, accompanied by Weiss’s voice. Ren woke immediately and checked the clock; it was just past four in the morning.
I wonder what happened?
Rubbing his heavy eyelids, Ren climbed out of bed, threw on a coat, and opened the door. The biting morning air turned his breath into white mist.
"I am sorry for the late hour."
"It's fine. Did something happen?"
"...Yes. I hesitated to bring this to you, but I judged it necessary."
Weiss spoke in a solemn tone as he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. Ren took it, but the hallway was too dim to read clearly. He ushered Weiss inside and turned on a magic tool lamp to examine the document. It was from the guild.
"...A nomination request?"
It was a notification for a nomination, just like the one he had declined recently. However, the content this time was grim.
"Historic snowfall near the Baldur Mountains..."
The ongoing snow had intensified, overwhelming the neighboring villages despite their preparations. Furthermore, people were now trapped in the Baldur Mountains, the epicenter of the storm.
"An emergency smoke signal from an old fortress in the mountains?"
"Exactly. A report regarding the situation reached the Baron as a separate matter almost simultaneously. The Head of the Family has already decided to dispatch knights to the surrounding villages, but..."
Meanwhile, the nomination request from the Adventurer Guild had been addressed specifically to Ren. The client was Maydas, the werewolf adventurer and partner to Kai. While the situation was dire, they weren't entirely missing.
"Near the middle of the Baldur Mountains, there is an old fortress that adventurers use as a refuge. In emergencies like this, they hole up there and raise smoke signals to call for rescue."
Just as Ren read, those needing rescue were currently sheltered there. Fortunately, the fortress had food, and as long as they could stay warm, they could survive. Water could be managed by melting snow, but the adequacy of their food and fuel remained a concern; one couldn't expect an old fortress to be well-stocked.
I don't think they can last more than a week or two in there.
Ren knew the fortress well. During his time playing the game, it was a frequent resting point used to heal characters. There was never much firewood inside; survivors would have to rely on whatever gear they had brought with them. Even if they hunted monsters for food, their physical strength would eventually fail in the cold.
That’s why I thought they should have called it off...
Thoughts swirled through Ren's mind. Maydas had helped him with the Platinum Feather, but the Baldur Mountains in this weather were no joke. Still, if lives were at stake, he couldn't afford to hesitate.
Wait—there's a reason I can't ignore this.
Recalling a specific detail, Ren’s hesitation vanished.
"Is Lezard-sama awake?"
"Umu. He should be in his office."
Ren asked Weiss to take him to see Lezard immediately. He changed quickly and hurried through the connecting corridor to the main building. Unlike the usual quiet of the early morning, the main building was a hive of activity. Ren felt guilty about imposing on Lezard at such a time, but his concern had to be addressed immediately.
"Head of the Family. I have brought the boy," Weiss announced at the office door.
A reply came from within, and Weiss opened the door to let Ren inside. Lezard was by his desk, looking uncharacteristically frazzled as he moved between his files and shelves.
"Ren, what is it?" Lezard asked. Despite the chaos, he didn't seem to find Ren's presence a nuisance.
"I will be brief. I would like your permission to accept the nomination request I received."
"Denied. There is no need for you to risk yourself, Ren," Lezard dismissed him instantly. "Adventurers take risks based on their own judgment. You have no obligation to lend a hand."
It was a cold reality, but Ren didn't back down. While his gratitude toward Maydas played a part, there was a political reason why he had to go.
"Did you know, Lezard-sama, that the escort target is a chartered merchant for a certain noble?"
Lezard stopped in his tracks. Behind Ren, Weiss’s eyes widened. "Could it be..." he muttered.
"Sit down," Lezard said, gesturing toward the sofa. He realized this was something he needed to hear in full.
"One of the adventurers trapped is an acquaintance of mine," Ren explained. "According to him, the client is a chartered merchant for a noble belonging to the Hero Faction."
Lezard put his hand to his forehead and sighed at the ceiling. "How troublesome at a time like this..."
"Head of the Family, we cannot afford to ignore a chartered merchant for the Hero Faction," Weiss added.
"I know. With the Given incident still so fresh, we must be careful. Regardless of our friendship with Marquis Ignat, the Hero Faction undoubtedly has a grudge against the Clausel family."
They couldn't afford to look negligent. Since the scandal involving Viscount Given had happened less than a year ago, they all knew that any perceived failure on their part would be exploited.
"I apologize. I should have reported this when I first turned down the request," Ren said.
"Hmm? Ah, it would have been best to know sooner, but the result likely wouldn't have changed."
Lezard wasn't just being kind; even if he had known about the merchant earlier, there was little he could have done. He could have warned them about the mountains and suggested a change in plans, but a merchant close to the Hero Faction likely wouldn't have listened to a neutral lord they distrusted. They probably would have accused him of trying to interfere with their business.
Detaining or monitoring them would have been even worse, as it could have been interpreted as a hostile act against the Hero Faction.