The teenagers scrambled in confusion at the adventurers’ sudden arrival. Even as they cried out in astonishment, they never took their eyes off the monsters before them, holding their own with practiced skill.
"Wh-who are you!?"
"I don't know, but don't drop your guard!"
As the teenagers shouted to one another, Maydas cut through their anxiety.
"We don't know the situation either, but we’re here to help!"
Seeing the newly arrived adventurers and knights engage the monsters, the teenagers stopped questioning things for the moment and focused on the fight. Shouts and the ring of clashing steel echoed through the air.
Several of the youths were proficient magic users. In this world, magic was a power one couldn't use so lavishly unless they were born with a specific Skill.
Incredible, Ren thought.
Every one of the teenagers using magic was highly skilled. One unleashed fireballs, while another summoned winds that rivaled the blizzard to slice through monster hides. At this rate, they might not even need much help.
The moment that thought crossed Ren's mind, the blizzard grew even more violent. Through the whiteout, he spotted a lone figure fighting in isolation some distance away, surrounded by a swarm of monster shadows.
That was the person who truly needed backup. Ren turned his steps toward them.
"I’m going to help that person over there!"
"Understood!" a knight replied. "I’ll say it again—do not overextend yourself!"
"Right! Stay safe, everyone!"
Ren left the knights behind and sprinted toward the solitary fighter. Unlike the terrain they had just crossed, the snow here didn't reach his knees, but his ankles still sank into the powder. Leaning into his physical stats, Ren blurred across the battlefield like a gale.
He reached the figure just as a monster lunged for their back. With a single fluid motion, Ren cut the beast down with his Iron Magic Sword.
The person spun around at the sound, letting out a startled cry. "Who... who are you!?"
"I'm with the rescue party!" Ren shouted back.
Despite the chaos of battle, the girl’s voice reached his ears with surprising clarity. The blizzard obscured her face, but Ren was momentarily struck by the sight of her black hair fluttering in the wind as she unleashed magic from both arms.
The girl was equally stunned.
This person’s magic is incredible, she thought.
The aura from his sword is immense, Ren noted.
Without another word, they fell into a rhythm, cutting through the encroaching monsters. The two of them were so dominant that the idea of them struggling was laughable.
Why are kids who can fight like this out in the Baldur Mountains?
Ren’s swordsmanship, which tempered ferocity with the rock-solid foundations Weiss had drilled into him, gave the monsters no opening. By the time the girl realized what was happening, the creatures were falling one after another.
"I'll handle the ones at a distance," Ren told her.
"Right. Understood."
The girl responded immediately. Before they knew it, they were naturally fighting back-to-back. Ren controlled the immediate perimeter with his blade, while the girl’s ice blades pierced any monsters that tried to stay out of reach. It was a flow of combat so seamless it looked choreographed.
This is... strangely easy. It’s like he knows my movements better than I do.
They pivoted in perfect sync, and before they knew it, only one monster remained. Ren’s sword and the girl’s magic pierced the creature almost simultaneously.
The girl looked around, seeing the fresh snow stained crimson with monster blood, and realized the battle was over. Her adrenaline spiked and then plummeted, leaving her weak.
"It’s over..."
She sank to the ground beside Ren, her voice thin with exhaustion.
"Are you all right?" Ren asked.
"I-I'm sorry... This was the first time I've fought so many monsters. Once I realized it was over, my strength just... left me."
Her voice was as clear and beautiful as a mountain stream, and her tone was touchingly earnest. Since they had been fighting back-to-back, Ren turned toward her and reached out a hand. Just as he did, the blizzard finally broke.
With the air clearing, Ren finally saw her.
"Ah... thank you."
"Don't mention it."
As she spoke, Ren was momentarily breathless. She was a vision of overwhelming beauty that seemed to transform the desolate landscape. Her hair was a striking mix of obsidian and amethyst, and her features were as delicate and refined as polished gemstones. Standing in the snow, she looked like a winter spirit. Even for Ren, who spent every day with Licia, this girl possessed an almost mystical aura.
The girl looked at Ren’s extended hand and took it.
"...Huh?"
"What...?"
The moment their palms met, it felt as though a spark of purple lightning had jumped from the necklace at her throat. It happened so fast they both wondered if they had imagined it, and they simply tilted their heads in confusion.
However, when Ren’s gaze lingered on the jewelry, he felt a surge of doubt.
That’s a Necklace of Warding.
There was no mistaking it. It was a magic tool from the world of The Legend of the Seven Heroes. Its design was exactly as he remembered it from the game.
Why is she wearing such a piece of junk?
The Necklace of Warding was a legendary item created by one of the Seven Heroes, and only a few existed in the world. However, its actual utility didn't match its rarity. Furthermore, it certainly didn't have an effect that discharged purple lightning.
Must have been my imagination, he decided, letting go of her hand once she was back on her feet.
"Good! Looks like you two are safe!" Maydas called out as he approached.
He brushed the snow from his winter gear and looked at the girl. "I heard from the others. Apparently, you’re the one leading this group."
The girl nodded silently. She looked like she wanted to ask who Ren and Maydas were, but Maydas pressed on.
"Sorry to be blunt, but I need to know why a group of teenagers is out in a dangerous place like this."
"...Before I answer, please tell me—are you with the Clausel family?"
She looked past them to the knights who had just arrived. She sounded certain, likely having recognized the crest on their armor.
"We are," a knight replied. "We were dispatched by the Head of the Family to rescue the adventurers stranded here."
Seeing the knight’s posture and hearing his official reply, the girl’s tension finally snapped. A faint, relieved smile touched her lips, and she whispered a small "Thank goodness." Her breath came in a short, white puff of relief.
"I think this part is better left to you," Maydas said, taking a half-step back to let the knights take the lead.
The knight nodded and turned back to the girl. "Pardon me, but may I ask your name?"
"Ah... my apologies. I should have introduced myself sooner."
The girl straightened her posture and gave a perfectly refined bow. Her grace was so elegant that, had they been in a ballroom, she would have captivated every man in the room.
"I am..."
When she spoke the next words, everyone present was struck dumb. Even if Ren had been the greatest sage in history, he could never have predicted this encounter. It was an upset on the level of his first meeting with Licia.
"I am Fiona. The only daughter of Ulysses Ignat."
The name falling from her lovely lips sent a shockwave through the group. Ren, caught completely off guard, could do nothing but blink in stunned silence.