Erendil, the Town of Prayer.
It was a quiet town located about an hour and a half from the Imperial Capital by Magic Train.
The reason Erendil was known as the Town of Prayer traced back to the founder of the Leomel Empire—the Lion King himself. It was said that he never failed to offer prayers in this land before departing for war. In essence, it was a town of high prestige and ancient history.
While not exactly a metropolis, the town was larger than Clausel. Surrounded by low stone walls and nestled within lush green plains, its interior was paved with gray cobblestones. Fountains, a clock tower, and verdant parks were scattered throughout, creating a tranquil and pleasant atmosphere. Naturally, the merchant and adventurer guilds stood side-by-side along the main thoroughfare.
Baron Clausel, who had been entrusted with this land by the Emperor several years ago, had no intention of leaving his home territory until his daughter—the Saint—was older. Consequently, it was well known that he employed an acting governor to manage the town’s affairs.
In that very town of Erendil, one particular day...
A bandit group that had been terrorizing the local highways until quite recently was captured to the last man. Most were former adventurers, but every one of them was found unconscious and shackled outside the city gates. The knights were currently in the process of hauling them to the guardhouse.
Meanwhile, in a corner of a back alley within the town, two boys who did not know each other's faces were exchanging words.
"I never expected someone to locate their hideout faster than the knights and wipe them out single-handedly," said the boy dressed in luxurious clothing.
"Haa... You were the one who egged me on. Did you really think I wouldn't notice?" Ren replied with a dissatisfied sigh.
"Forgive me if I caused offense. I was simply astonished by your quick wit. Please, overlook my prying. I have never had the experience of speaking like this with someone whose face I do not know."
"Neither have I. But well... whatever. It’s fine. It wasn't a bad job for me, either."
The two continued their conversation without looking at one another. They had never met face-to-face; all they knew of the other was their voice and temperament.
"How should I pay the promised reward?" the boy in the fine clothes asked.
Ren began to walk away, speaking over his shoulder. "Just donate it to the Lord of this town. I don't need it. Use it for the sake of the people here instead."
Leaving those words behind, Ren vanished into the shadows of the alley, his footsteps echoing against the stone.
The remaining boy smirked. As he began walking in the opposite direction, a cat-eared woman appeared out of thin air and fell into step beside him.
"Mirei, I’ve found a truly fascinating man."
"Nya? Is he a poet who recites funny songs-nya?"
"Don't be ridiculous. You were watching the whole time, weren't you?"
The boy’s profile was alight with good humor. Mirei looked at him as if witnessing a rare phenomenon.
"Your Highness, did you really take that much of a liking to that boy-nya?"
As the title suggested, the boy was a member of the Imperial Family. He was Radius, the Third Prince of the Leomel Empire.
"I might even say I’ve fallen for him. He possesses an intelligence and wit one can grasp just by speaking to him. His fierce swordsmanship surpasses even those—but more than anything, his courage has kindled a heat in my heart I have never felt before."
"Nyanyanya!? Your Highness!? What are you saying-nya!?"
"Rest easy. It is not romantic affection, but an admiration for the man's character. Besides, it is a first for me. Until now, not a single person has ever addressed me with such a casual, blunt attitude."
His voice, melting into the silence of the alleyway, was tinged with genuine joy.
"Come to think of it..." Radius added, as if remembering a vital detail. "That man... he was a master of the rigid sword, wasn't he?"
The calendar winds back about one year.
It was just after April, and Clausel was being embraced by the gentle warmth of spring.
Looking back, the recent winter had been a chaotic season. Because of the materials from the Thief Wolfen Ren had hunted, a young lady’s life had been saved. That lady was Fiona Ignat—the only daughter of Marquis Ignat, the man destined to become the final boss and rebel against Leomel in the original Legend of the Seven Heroes I.
Ren had met her in the Baldur Mountains by pure chance and ended up fighting to protect her. However, since the mountains were also the site of the Imperial Academy's final exam for the special merit class, the incident where the students were framed and attacked by the Demon King Cult was still a very fresh memory.
After that ordeal, Ren had focused on recovery, but he couldn't exactly cut ties with Marquis Ignat. They occasionally exchanged letters.
Fortunately, the Marquis rarely pressed him for details regarding the incident. Ren had falsely reported that he’d heard rumors of the Demon King Cult at the guild, and the Marquis had accepted it without further interrogation. The Marquis likely realized that prying would only make Ren uncomfortable; he had surely judged that maintaining a good relationship was the most beneficial path forward.
In truth, Ren wouldn't have been able to provide more information even if asked. Having only played up to Legend of the Seven Heroes II, his knowledge of the Cult was limited. While he remembered where they might appear next, explaining how he knew such things at this stage was nearly impossible.
Ren was currently in the old wing of the Clausel manor. As the person entrusted with its management, he was about to start his daily sweeping. Basking in the afternoon sunlight streaming through the window, a stray thought crossed his mind.
"...I feel like that guy's flames were even more dazzling than this sunlight."
During the winter incident, the Flame Dragon Asval had been incompletely resurrected through Fiona's power—the power of the Black Priestess.
According to Fiona, the Black Priestess was the equivalent of a Saint for monsters. Normally, it wasn't a power meant to raise the dead as undead, but because Asval possessed a soul far more powerful than ordinary monsters, it had achieved a miracle. The mana that granted power to monsters had somehow triggered a resurrection.
Because the revival was incomplete, Ren had been able to win. Had the legendary dragon returned with its full strength, he wouldn't have stood a chance.
"I suppose I was strengthened by Lady Fiona's power as well."
Ren recalled the black mana that had flowed from Fiona, granting him strength.
"In the end, what exactly happened?"
The world he had wandered into after losing consciousness, the black magic sword he found there, and the fact that the flame magic sword from Asval’s mana stone had transformed into the "Flame Sword Asval" all remained mysteries.
He couldn't help but believe these changes were influenced by the Black Priestess. The fact that the mana she used to empower monsters had vanished after the incident suggested a deep connection.
Regardless, thinking about it wouldn't provide the answers.
Ren turned his focus back to cleaning. He moved the heavy, antique furniture piece by piece, diligent in his quest to banish every speck of dust. By the time the sky turned crimson, he sat down on a chair in the second-floor hallway to rest. The slanting light reflected off his bracelet, projecting characters onto the crystal surface.
Ren Ashton Job: Ashton Family Eldest Son
Skills: - Magic Sword Summoning (Level 1: 0/0) - Magic Sword Summoning Arts (Level 4: 2549/3500)
Level 1: Can summon one magic sword. Level 2: Gains Physical Ability Boost (Small) while a magic sword is summoned. Level 3: Can summon two magic swords. Level 4: Gains Physical Ability Boost (Medium) while a magic sword is summoned. Level 5: Unlocks Magic Sword Evolution. Level 6: ***
Acquired Magic Swords:
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Wooden Magic Sword (Level 2: 1000/1000) Enables attacks equivalent to Nature Magic (Small). Range expands with level.
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Iron Magic Sword (Level 3: 2390/4500) Sharpness increases with level.
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Thief's Magic Sword (Level 1: 0/3) Chance to randomly steal an item from a target upon attack.
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Shield Magic Sword (Level 2: 0/5) Deploys a Mana Barrier. Effectiveness and range increase with level.
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Flame Magic Sword (Level 1: 1/1) Its hellfire is the dragon’s wrath, the incarnation of power.
Ren’s power had changed drastically since the start of winter. Between Asval, the Steel-Eating Gargoyles, and other hunts, his proficiency had skyrocketed.
One particular detail caught his eye.
Level 5: Unlocks Magic Sword Evolution.
This line held his curiosity captive. The Wooden Magic Sword’s proficiency was capped, refusing to level up further. If that was because it needed to "evolve" next, everything made sense. While the boost to his physical abilities was great, he was far more excited for the evolution.
He doubted the Flame Magic Sword would evolve the same way.
(The Flame Sword Asval feels like a different case.)
Unlike the others, he couldn't gain proficiency for it anymore because Asval was gone and its stone was destroyed. Its current state was likely a direct result of Fiona’s mana.
Regardless, he had high hopes for the Wooden Magic Sword.
"I guess I’ll just keep working at it, bit by bit," Ren muttered.
"Ren!"
A voice called out from below his window. He opened it to see Licia waving up at him.
"Father is calling for you! If you have time, could you come to the main building? He said he’d love for you to join us for dinner!"
"Understood! I'll head over as soon as I've cleaned up!"
Licia beamed with a lovely smile at his response.
During dinner that night, the conversation turned to Ren's birthday party, which had taken place a few days prior. Licia had been so upset about missing his birthday the previous year that she had spearheaded the entire event this time.
As the meal wound down, Baron Lezard cleared his throat. "Ren, you may take a break from your duties for a while starting next week."
"Eh?" Ren froze.
(Wait, is this the part where I get... let go?)
In other words, fired. But that was impossible. Lezard wouldn't do that, and even if he tried, Licia would never allow it. Ren knew this, but the suddenness of the announcement had startled him.
"Forgive me, I didn't mean to alarm you. I’m referring to what we discussed back in winter."
"Winter... Ah! You mean my homecoming?"
Lezard nodded. "Exactly. As I mentioned before, several construction projects are underway around the Ashton village—the main road and the perimeter walls, specifically."
"So I can really go help out? But I thought we decided I should return in secret because of the situation with Viscount Given...?"
"Don't worry about that anymore. Our ties with Marquis Ignat have strengthened. At this point, it’s unthinkable that anyone would dare attack your village. Just focus on enjoying your trip home."
Lezard explained that he had wanted to send Ren sooner, but the Baldur Mountains incident had delayed the plans. Because of the sudden timing, they hadn't even been able to send word to Ren's parents yet.
"Since we won't be in Clausel during that time either, you can relax and take your time."
Ren was about to ask what he meant when Licia beat him to it.
"Father? What do you mean by 'we' won't be here?"
"I mean you as well, Licia."
"Wait, do we have a trip planned too?" Licia tilted her head, clearly having been kept in the dark as well.
"We need to go to Erendil. As you both know, the factions have been restless since the last incident. Between that and the aftermath of Viscount Given’s downfall last year, I need to make an appearance there."
Ren thought about Erendil. It was the town near the Capital—the place he had initially assumed he was being sent to when he first reincarnated into this world.
(So we'll head to a port and take a magic ship?)
Lezard confirmed his guess. They would ride south for ten days to a larger city and board a magic ship there, as Erendil had its own docks.
"Hey, Ren," Licia said, leaning in. "Do you want to see Erendil too?"
Ren crossed his arms and looked at the ceiling. Erendil was essentially a suburb of the Imperial Capital. For someone who had spent his life avoiding the Imperial Academy, it was a place he felt as much trepidation about as the Baldur Mountains.
But could he avoid it forever?
(...Probably not.)
As long as he was under the wing of the Clausel family, ignoring Erendil was impossible. He already had ties to the Marquis and Fiona, so the gravity of the Capital was pulling him in whether he liked it or not.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested."
"Really? Then you have to come with us next time!"
If Licia was going, he had to go. With the threat of the Demon King Cult looming, he felt much better being by her side to protect her. He wasn't about to abandon her now.
"Look forward to it! Erendil is such a beautiful town."
"Now, Licia," Lezard teased. "Ren is quite diligent. He probably knows all about Erendil already."
"Oh, Father! I was trying to be the one to tell him!"
"Haha, well, this is Ren we’re talking about."
Licia stared at Ren expectantly. Since she seemed so eager to play the guide, he didn't want to admit he knew the town's layout from the game. He searched for the right words.
"...I, uh... I hear it has some very efficient hunting grounds."
Licia and Lezard both stared at him, completely speechless.