They pressed on, and several dozen minutes later—
"……Are you all right?"
Fiona came to a halt, head bowed. She clutched her chest, struggling to regulate her breathing. Ren couldn't tell exactly what was wrong, but she looked terribly ill, gasping for air.
"I'm sorry. I think I might just be a little tired," she said, offering a brave smile even as large beads of sweat rolled down her forehead.
In truth, she didn't know how to explain her condition other than fatigue. She seemed to steady herself quickly, however, and tried to resume walking.
That was when Ren reached out his arm to stop her. He stepped in front of her to shield her, his eyes narrowing as he peered into the thicket ahead.
A moment later, a figure emerged.
From behind the snow-dusted trees, a werewolf appeared. It was Maydas.
"There you are! I was worried about you two!"
"Maydas," Ren said, his voice hard and cold.
Maydas didn't seem to notice the frostiness. Looking relieved, he approached them. But for every step he took forward, Ren took a step back, keeping Fiona behind him and never taking his eyes off the werewolf.
"W-What's the matter?" Maydas asked.
"Do I really need to spell it out for you?"
"I... I don't know what you're talking about. Is this because we were slow to rescue you? If so, I’m truly sorry—"
"You certainly managed to find a very convenient chartered merchant," Ren cut him off.
Maydas stopped in his tracks, his expression shifting to one of resignation. He shrugged, his gentle demeanor and soft-spoken tone remaining perfectly intact.
"Impressive. You’re even sharper than I imagined."
"So the merchant was your accomplice too?"
Maydas bared his white canines in a wide, pleasant grin. "It was purely coincidental. The merchant happened to be looking for certain monster materials. I simply contacted him and mentioned that the Clausel Adventurer Guild happened to have them."
Ren, who had already suspected the connection, spoke up. "Materials from a Steel-Eating Gargoyle, right?"
"Oh? And how did you know that?"
"The moment you showed your face here, you might as well have confessed."
Ren felt a surge of irritation looking at Maydas’s feigned curiosity.
"I figured the gargoyles moved because they ran out of food... but you were the one who lured them to the Eastern Forest in the first place."
"Heh. Correct."
"And you didn't sell the materials to the guild yourself because you wanted to see how well I could fight."
"Hmm? No, you're wrong about that."
"Wrong?"
"Indeed. Back then, I intended for those Steel-Eating Gargoyles to kill you. I knew they were a mated pair, after all."
It was obvious, but Maydas clearly didn't know about Ren’s battle with Jelququ. He had judged that two gargoyles would be enough to finish Ren off, despite Ren's reputation for slaying a Thief Wolfen single-handedly.
"You truly surprised me. Your survival forced me to revise my plans. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been annoyed just thinking about you..."
"Then why didn't you just attack me from behind while I was fighting them?"
"Of course I considered it. But you had that strange woman with you, didn't you? The one in the elaborate liturgical robe."
"..."
"I mistook her for a guard sent by Marquis Ignat. I never did figure out who she was, but if she wasn't a guard, I should have made my move then."
He had been lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect chance to kill Ren.
So he orchestrated things to lure me here, Ren realized.
The gargoyle materials and the merchant’s request had been the bait. Maydas had used that information to draw Ren out so he could take his life—and Fiona’s as well.
"I take it the suspension bridge was an unexpected turn for you?"
"It was. How did you do it? You made it quite difficult for us to track you down."
"I wonder," Ren replied with a defiant shrug.
Maydas clearly didn't know about Fiona's unique power. That confirmed one crucial thing.
The current state of the Baldur Mountains isn't part of Maydas's plan.
The werewolf’s goal was strictly to kill Ren and Fiona. He didn't have the power to influence the dormant volcano or cause these unnatural pillars of fire. That meant there was some other force at work.
"Lady Ignat, they've appeared, just as I told you they would."
"Yes. I’m ready," Fiona replied.
Ren had warned her before they set out today to be on high alert. Fiona was prepared for a fight. Ren drew his Iron Magic Sword and gripped the hilt tightly as Maydas took another step forward.
"What about your partner? Is he still lying face-down in the dirt?"
Just as Ren asked the question, a voice came from behind them.
"Thanks for the concern."
Ren immediately pivoted to protect Fiona as Kai emerged from the shadows.
"And thanks to that girl, too. I won't forget how she messed with my body when I got close to her, but being nursed back to health made me curious about her power."
"I knew it," Fiona gasped. "It was you as well!"
Just as I thought, Ren mused. They collapsed before because of her influence.
Ren knew her power could affect the mana of others. From Kai's words, it was clear that his "illness" had been caused by being in her vicinity. The other adventurers and the merchant must have suffered the same fate.
"I see. You were trying to kill her before we even arrived."
"That's right. For some reason, the power in my body went haywire because of her. That's why I went down."
"And now you've met up with Maydas to come after me?"
"Hah! You really are sharp."
However, there was still a missing piece as to how Ren had figured everything out. Why Fiona’s life was being targeted remained somewhat vague, and he was largely relying on his knowledge of the game's plot.
But Ren had more information than that.
"By the way... I wonder if it really is the Hero Faction," Ren had whispered before they left the fort.
Fiona had denied it. It was also unlikely to be the Imperial Faction, as targeting her would be political suicide.
So who was it? His previous knowledge finally clicked into place.
Unlike the game, Fiona Ignat is alive, and this is the perfect situation to target her. My intervention has changed the flow of events.
Ren could also guess why he was being targeted. Killing him would devastate Baron Clausel and Licia. If those two were pushed to extremes, they might follow the same path Marquis Ignat did in the original game. That would change the fate of the entire Leomel Empire.
In other words, their true identity is obvious.
Kai drew his sword. "Change of plans. We need to test the extent of Fiona Ignat’s power—"
The two prepared to strike, but Ren spoke again, halting their movements.
"You both have the mark of the Demon King Cult on your bodies, don't you? That power—the power of the Demon King—went out of control because of her. That’s why everyone's mana went haywire."
Kai and Maydas were struck dumb.
Nailed it, Ren thought.
Maydas likely hadn't felt the effects because of high-resistance gear, and Kai was likely fine now for the same reason.
That’s the first time I’ve said it out loud since coming to this world.
Until now, he had used vague terms like "the resurrection of the Demon King." He had been avoiding the name, almost as if he were afraid that saying it would tighten the strings of fate.
"A-Adventurer! What did you just say?" Fiona asked, shocked.
"I’d only heard rumors... but that seems to be the truth of it," Ren replied, keeping his explanation vague.
Fiona seemed to understand the gravity of the word "Demon King."
"Just a rumor? That’s not... how could you possibly..."
"I’m sorry. I have my reasons for needing to confirm it."
He had hesitated to say it, not wanting to show off his knowledge for the sake of a reaction. But he had to know who had caused this chaos and why. He needed to know how to act from here on out.
"Kai."
"Yeah. It's not just the girl anymore. We need to take them both back."
Regardless of what was said, the fight was inevitable. Kai and Maydas would attack, and Ren would resist.
"Don't kill him, Kai."
"Yeah, yeah. I know. Here I come!"
Kai lunged forward, his sword raised high. Ren braced himself. He could tell Kai was far stronger than any adventurer he’d met in Clausel. This was the hidden strength of a cultist.
"Ngh..."
Suddenly, Fiona began to tremble violently behind him. She dropped to her knees, clutching herself and gasping for air.
"So the little lady’s reached her limit, has she?"
"Looks like it!"
"That makes things easier for us!"
Ren didn't have time to process their words. He manifested his Shield Magic Sword to protect them.
What's happening? Why now?
Fiona collapsed onto the ground, struggling to breathe.
Is it the Vessel Cracking? Ren worried. He had assumed she was cured since she was taking the exam, but he feared a relapse.
"Sorry, kid! We can't afford to hold back!"
"We'll have you explain that strange power of yours later!"
The mana shield Ren created shattered with shocking ease. The pair was incredibly strong—their strikes carried more weight than those of the Steel-Eating Gargoyles.
The odds were heavily stacked against him. He was exhausted, protecting a collapsed girl, and facing two experts. Yet, Ren fought on. He recreated the shield and swung his Iron Magic Sword repeatedly. Even in this desperate state, he managed to hold his own.
"Tch! What a nuisance of a skill!"
"Heh. He won't last much longer!"
They were right. Ren’s mana would eventually hit zero. He needed to end this quickly, but the cultists were also wary of the encroaching lava and wanted to finish him off.
"Kai! Do it now!" Maydas roared.
Kai stepped back and raised his sword in a high guard, a smirk on his face.
"Have you ever seen an Art before? ...Lord Hero!"
White light began to swirl around Kai’s blade. As Maydas shattered Ren’s shield once more, Kai lunged forward.
"Ngh...!"
Ren blocked with his Iron Magic Sword, but the light from Kai's blade seemed to drain his strength, bypassing his magical defenses. His stance broke. Maydas followed up instantly, but Ren’s counter was a fraction faster.
"Haah... haah..."
Ren panted, his hands shaking with fatigue. "You’re a Demon King Cultist... and yet you know Holy Sword Arts?"
"Oh? You recognize it? How boring."
I recognize it, alright, Ren thought, forcing a grin.
Holy Sword Art: Lightfall. It was a technique that used mana to weaken an opponent's magical defenses and deliver a devastating blow. It was a versatile skill Ren had used many times in the game.
That means he’s at least at the Swordmaster level!
Swordmaster was the rank just below Sword Saint. Lightfall was a technique only those of that caliber could master.
"Maydas! Again!"
Ren wiped the sweat from his brow. This was bad. His shield was gone, and they were coming at him with Arts.
Think, Ren Ashton!
He couldn't keep making shields forever. He needed to find a way to use the Wooden or Thief's Magic Swords while protecting Fiona.
Then, he felt it. A searing, stinging heat against his cheek.
Curiously, the cultists didn't seem to notice. They were focused on their imminent victory.
"That was—"
"Don't look away, Sir Hero!"
"If you're giving up, just say so!"
Maydas swung his sword down. The stinging heat intensified. Even as he defended, Ren looked for the source.
"It's over now! Go to sleep for a bit!" Kai roared.
Suddenly, a gale of crimson-tinted flames erupted. The blast sent Kai flying back onto the snow.
"What the hell was that?!" Kai barked as he tried to scramble to his feet.
But his bravado vanished in an instant. A pillar of fire erupted directly beneath him, soaring upward with enough force to pierce the sky.
"What is—"
Before he could finish the sentence, Kai was gone. He had been completely erased from existence. No scorched remains, no ash—just nothingness where the pillar had been.
"Kai? Kai, where are you?"
Maydas stood stunned. Ren didn't hesitate; he scooped Fiona up and threw her over his shoulder. He had to get out of there. Even as the world turned to chaos, he remained focused on her safety.
Magma began to spray from the earth around them. More pillars of fire shot into the sky, surrounding Maydas.
"This fire... no way..."
Maydas realized the truth too late. He looked at Ren’s retreating back, wanting to give chase, but he was walled in by the heat.
An opening act. A bit player. A mere diversion.
He laughed at the realization that he and Kai were nothing more than that. As the flames closed in, he understood. Even as a servant of the Demon King, he was nothing compared to the legends.
The heat was so intense it turned everything to haze. He didn't even have the strength left to complain about how ridiculous it all was.
In his final moments, his mind became preternaturally clear. He realized the true nature of Fiona’s power.
"No wonder... she was the one luring the monsters... making everyone's mana go wild..."
The last thing he saw was a world of unending crimson. The brilliant light filled his vision, and he was dead before he could even register the pain.
The pillars of fire were crystals of pure heat, transcending anything humanly possible.