The dormant volcano, briefly awakened by Asval’s power, had eventually returned to its slumber. The overflowing lava flows and the intense heat had vanished, leaving the landscape in a fragile, silent peace.
In the Baldur Mountains, which had been utterly transformed by the recent chaos, a young man and a young woman were making their way down the slopes.
“...Where am I?”
Fiona, who had fallen into a deep sleep at some point, finally opened her eyes.
She had very little memory of what had transpired after Asval’s defeat. She remembered that Ren’s power had achieved the impossible, but beyond that, she couldn't recall doing anything herself.
Confusion struck her the moment she fully regained her senses. She realized she was being carried on Ren’s back, moving steadily through the snow-covered mountain path.
“M-Master Ren!?”
“Good morning. I’m sorry about this. I didn't know what else might happen, so I thought it would be best to head down the mountain as quickly as possible.”
It seemed she had lost consciousness immediately after the battle. Realizing this, Fiona felt her cheeks flush with a mixture of self-loathing and sheer embarrassment.
Naturally, she insisted she could walk on her own, but Ren informed her that her ankle was severely swollen. Even when she tried to act tough—insisting she was fine and that he had already been through enough—Ren simply gave her a look of mild resignation.
“At least wait until we reach a flatter path,” he told her.
And so, they continued.
As Fiona’s initial tension began to ebb, she suddenly noticed a strange lightness in her body—a sensation she had never felt before.
“Just as I thought... it’s decreased.”
“Lady Fiona?”
“Ah, um... the black power that should be inside me. Only a small portion remains.”
“...Hm?”
Fiona took a few deep breaths before speaking again.
“It’s about the skill I was born with—the power of the Black Priestess.”
It was sudden. Ren had been curious about her skill for some time, hesitating over how to ask, but now she was offering the truth herself.
“I’m sorry for keeping it a secret for so long. It wasn’t a power I was really supposed to talk about.”
But she couldn’t keep it hidden anymore. When she considered that this power had invited Asval’s resurrection and dragged Ren into such danger, she couldn’t stay silent, regardless of her father’s orders.
“Is it really okay to tell me?”
Fiona nodded and continued her explanation.
“Master Ren, were you familiar with a skill called the Black Priestess?”
“To be honest, it’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
“Then let me explain what it is.”
According to Fiona, the Black Priestess was effectively a dark counterpart to a Saint—specifically for monsters. Historically, some who served the Demon King had possessed this skill. Considering that history, Marquis Ignat had kept her power a closely guarded secret and strictly forbade Fiona from mentioning it to anyone.
“My father was worried about my future. He is a powerful man, so even if the world knew his daughter possessed such a skill, his own standing would likely remain unshaken.”
“Ah... I can sort of imagine that.”
In short, for a man as influential as Marquis Ignat, having a daughter with an ominous skill wouldn't be much of a political handicap. Ren knew this from his knowledge of the game's lore as well.
However, Fiona was a different story. It was easy to imagine her being shunned or despised. In the Leomel Empire, the legacy of the Seven Heroes was paramount; given the Black Priestess’s history, people would surely look at her with prejudice. Her father had likely hidden the truth to ensure she would never have to face such a cold reality.
“So, you’re saying the power of the Black Priestess is weakening?”
“N-no! It’s not exactly that the power itself is weakening. It’s more like... a part of the power that was inside me has mysteriously quieted down.”
It was a vague explanation, and Fiona herself didn't seem to fully grasp what was happening. Ren tilted his head, thinking it over.
“Could it be related to you manifesting that power similar to Necromancy against Asval?”
“...I don't think so. The Black Priestess doesn't actually have the power to revive dead monsters as Undead.”
She explained that the skill provided mana that empowered monsters, significantly boosted her own magical aptitude, and granted her a massive mana pool from birth. But according to Fiona, the specific part of her mana that affected monsters was what felt like it had vanished.
That dragon seemed to sense Lady Fiona’s presence early on, Ren thought. So it probably couldn't be categorized like a normal monster.
Ren speculated that because Asval possessed strength far beyond other creatures, the "monster-empowering mana" might have interacted with the dragon’s unique state, accidentally reviving it as an Undead. Given how incomplete Asval’s resurrection had been, the theory felt plausible.
Which means, just as I thought... it was because of me.
He thought back to the Flame Sword Asval. Just before he had unleashed that power, he had found himself in that strange void with the jet-black longsword. If that phenomenon had been influenced by Fiona’s power, then the pieces started to fit.
It was reminiscent of the radiant magic sword influenced by Licia’s mana. However, Licia had a Mana Stone embedded in her body to facilitate that link. Fiona did not.
“I hope you don’t mind me asking, but Lady Fiona... you don't happen to have a Mana Stone inside you, do you?”
“E-eh? No, I don't... why would you ask that so suddenly?”
“No reason. I was just asking something even I don't quite understand.”
Fiona looked puzzled, but she eventually offered a small smile.
Ren, however, felt he had confirmed his suspicion.
Lady Licia has a Mana Stone, and she uses that power to help me manifest magic swords. But Lady Fiona is different.
In Fiona’s case, it felt as though her power as the Black Priestess had manifested a strength that had been dormant in Ren’s own body from the start. If a portion of her power had "quieted down," it was likely because she had instinctively pledged that power to him. That would explain everything.
Of course, nothing was absolutely certain yet.
“...Will I be targeted by the Demon King Cult from now on?” she asked softly.
“Actually, I think that’s unlikely.”
On this point, Ren could speak with confidence.
“W-why?”
“I won’t say the chance is zero, but Maydas and Kai clearly didn't know about your Black Priestess skill. If they had, their entire plan would have been built around Asval’s resurrection from the very beginning.”
But it wasn't. The fact that the two cultists were just as confused by the situation proved that Asval’s awakening was an accident even to them. Their true goal was likely to force Marquis Ignat to defect from the Empire. The plan had shifted from the original game timeline simply because Fiona was alive in this one.
“They’ve realized they can’t trap you even under these extreme conditions. If anything, they’ll probably find it harder to make a move against you now.”
Marquis Ignat had been caught off guard once, but he wasn't the type to be fooled twice. This plot only worked because of the unique circumstances of the Imperial Academy entrance exam.
Furthermore, if the part of the Black Priestess power that affected monsters had truly gone dormant, the cult would have little reason to seize her for her skill alone. Of course, her value as the Marquis’s daughter remained, so they couldn't afford to lower their guard.
Still... I'm pretty sure I'm the cause.
The Black Priestess power had linked with his Magic Sword Summoning and transferred a portion of itself to him. That said, he couldn't just enter that mental void at will. Ren had checked the crystal on his bracelet earlier, but the name "Flame Sword Asval" wasn't there. It had reverted to the standard "Flame Magic Sword," and the mysterious name associated with the jet-black blade had also vanished.
It was the same as when he was under Licia’s influence. To manifest that power again, he would likely need Fiona to provide her strength once more.
It felt as though the Black Priestess had pledged her loyalty to Ren. That was why she felt she had lost something.
Eventually, a thunderous roar echoed from the sky. Ren looked up, his eyes widening at a sound he rarely heard.
“Magic Ships...”
Several massive vessels were sailing gracefully through the air. The knights of House Clausel had clearly gotten the word out, and the rescue fleet had finally arrived at the Baldur Mountains.
“Well then, Lady Fiona.”
The time to part was approaching. Ren knew too much to keep it all to himself, and he would eventually have to report what he knew to the authorities in the Capital, including Marquis Ignat. But first, Fiona would be leaving his side.
“I have two requests for you.”
“Yes. Anything, Master Ren.”
“I appreciate that. Well...”
His first request was for her to withhold his name when she spoke to her father about who had saved her. He suspected the Marquis would see through it eventually, but he needed to buy time. He needed space to think.
Coming into direct contact with the Demon King Cult had changed things. He needed to decide if he could keep living as he had been, or if he needed to change his path.
“Could you just tell him that a helpful adventurer saved you?”
“O-oh... that's going to be so embarrassing to say...”
“I’m sorry. Honestly, it feels a bit weird for me too.”
Ren was certain that if Fiona said those words, her father would realize the truth instantly. The man would understand who saved her and exactly why that person wanted to remain anonymous. Ren wasn't trying to hide his existence forever—he just needed a moment of peace to process everything.
Though, I bet he’ll figure it out in seconds, Ren thought.
Regardless, he intended to provide information—at least as much as he could without revealing his knowledge of the game. He would cooperate through Lezard Clausel. In any case, a meeting with Marquis Ignat was inevitable, especially with the standing invitation to his mansion. But after everything that had happened, it would likely be a while before things settled down enough for that meeting to take place.
I’ll have to report the Asval situation too...
Naturally, he would have to omit the details about the Black Priestess. He would claim he was caught up in the chaos by chance and fought to protect Fiona. As for the cult, he’d attribute his knowledge to things he overheard Maydas and Kai saying. The more he thought about it, the more he realized he had a mountain of things to organize.
“Master Ren, what was the second request?”
“It’s about that title.”
“Title...? But you are Master Ren. What else would I call you?”
“It’s just... being called 'Master' is a bit embarrassing. If possible, I’d prefer it if you just used my name.”
Fiona firmly refused, insisting she couldn't be so casual with her savior. However, Ren found it equally unbearable to be addressed so formally by the daughter of a Great Noble. He persisted, and eventually, Fiona gave a look of defeat.
“Then... how about Ren-kun?”
She still seemed a bit hesitant, but when Ren agreed, she finally relented. Then, it was her turn.
“Since we’re doing this, Ren-kun, why don't you stop calling me 'Lady'—”
“That is impossible for far too many reasons, so please spare me.”
“Hmph.”
He couldn't yield on that one. She was the daughter of a Marquis, after all.
“I’ll give you a souvenir, so please forgive me.”
Ren reached into his pocket and pulled out a small object. It was a Star Agate Fragment he had scavenged. Fiona gasped when she saw it, taking it gently from Ren’s hand.
“...It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
“You’ve had a lot of terrible experiences here. I wanted you to have at least one beautiful memory to take home.”
It was true that the ordeal had been harrowing, but Fiona knew with absolute certainty that it wasn't just a bad memory. She had finally met the boy she had wanted to thank for years, and he had saved her life yet again. There was no way she could ever call that a bad memory.
“Ren-kun. Thank you so much for saving me... not once, but twice.”
She squeezed the Star Agate fragment tightly in her hand.
“Will I... see you again?”
“Of course. I’ve already been invited to your home by the Marquis, after all.”
“A-at that time, please let me host you properly! I will practice brewing tea every single day until then! I’ll work until even the attendants approve...!”
“I actually like the tea you brew now, though.”
He wasn't just being polite, but Fiona looked down, her face turning red. She nodded silently, vowing to herself that she would become an expert for his sake.
“Lord Ren!”
“Over here! I hear voices!”
Even though it hadn't even been a week, the voices of the Clausel knights sounded incredibly nostalgic.
The path had leveled out, so Fiona finally climbed down from Ren’s back and stood on her own. Ren reached out a hand to steady her on the uneven ground, just as the thunderous roar of the Magic Ships filled the air once more, signaling their final rescue.