Ren knew he had to push himself as well.
He had taken Ulysses’s words to heart, and while he still had his reservations about the Imperial Academy, his primary focus for the moment remained his swordsmanship. He felt he had to give this his absolute all—if only for Licia’s sake, since she was currently enduring the grueling pressure of her own entrance exam studies.
His stay was slated for five days for now. What he did after that would depend on his first impressions of the Strong Sword Arts, but he intended to squeeze every bit of knowledge he could out of this trip before heading home.
"Alright... let’s do this," he muttered, calling over a waiter.
He savored the delicacies of the Imperial Capital, fueling up for the afternoon ahead.
Soon, Ren was navigating the city without so much as a map. He made his way to a station near the restaurant, paid the required fare, and purchased a ticket. Stepping onto the platform, he waited for the Magic Train without bothering to check the timetable.
The train arrived in less than a few minutes. Its exterior was painted a pristine white, though its silhouette was reminiscent of a retro steam locomotive. Ren boarded the carriage and traveled onward, not needing to glance at the route map even once.
Despite the journey being full of firsts, he didn't struggle in the slightest thanks to the meta-knowledge he possessed. With an air of familiarity that matched or even exceeded that of the local citizens, he headed toward the district where the capital’s government offices were concentrated.
It was a twenty-minute ride on the Magic Train, and the ticket had cost him 500G.
When Ren passed through the station’s ticket gate and stepped outside, he found himself in a square dominated by a massive, ornate fountain. Edgar, the man he was supposed to meet, was already waiting there.
"Master Ren."
The elderly gentleman bowed as Ren approached.
"It has been quite some time. I must apologize for my silence the other day. In the presence of my master, it was not my place to speak out of turn."
"It's been a while for me too. And please, don't worry about the other day."
Though they spoke as if they were old acquaintances, this was actually the very first time the two of them had truly exchanged words. Edgar had been present at the Clausel estate when the incident with Viscount Given erupted a year and a half ago, but Ren had only regained consciousness briefly in front of Given himself. By the time he had truly come to, Edgar was long gone.
Because of that, Edgar had been eagerly anticipating this meeting.
"Thank you for contacting our house. My master was quite pleased to receive word from you."
The "word" in question concerned the letter of recommendation Ren had received from Ulysses. Since the letter only granted him permission to enter the Lion Sanctum, Ren hadn't been sure of the proper protocol for visiting. When he had reached out for clarification, the response had stated that Edgar would personally guide him on the appointed day.
"Now then, Master Ren, if you would follow me."
With that, Edgar began to lead the way. They didn't board a carriage; instead, they walked slowly through the quiet, dignified streets of the government district.
(There are a lot of well-dressed people around here,) Ren noted.
Many of those walking nearby clearly worked for high-level institutions. It wasn't hard to imagine they were all high-earners. Even those who appeared to be nobles walked the streets like ordinary citizens—a sight one would never see back in the Clausel territory.
They walked for about ten minutes, maintaining light conversation, until they cleared a row of massive, distinctive buildings. There, the Lion Sanctum stood.
It was a structure reminiscent of a grand temple, so vast that Ren’s entire home village could likely have fit inside its footprint. The exterior was a uniform, imposing jet-black, radiating a heavy pressure even from a distance.
(To think I'm actually going in there.)
The Lion Sanctum did exist in the lore of The Legend of the Seven Heroes, but players were never permitted to set foot inside.
(Strong Sword Arts were basically restricted to enemy NPCs, after all.)
That being said, the Lion Sanctum wasn't some den of villains. It was simply a prestigious institution dedicated to the legacy of the Lion King. Even members of the Hero Faction had frequent cause to visit, especially the civil officials.
"Master Ren? Is something the matter?"
Ren was slow to react to Edgar’s voice and quickly offered an apology.
"Sorry... I was just overwhelmed."
"It is only natural. This is one of the most unique locations in all of Leomel. As an institution bound to the Lion King himself, even high-ranking nobles are forbidden from entering without express permission."
The fact that Ren had been granted entry was a testament to Ulysses’s immense influence. According to Edgar, the "Strong-Armed" Marquis had significant clout within the Lion Sanctum, making it simple for him to secure Ren’s invitation.
"Come, let us head inside."
Edgar led him toward the entrance. The Sanctum had no doors; instead, it opened into a vast, airy hall supported by thick pillars that stretched deep into the interior. The pillars and flagstones were made of a black stone polished to a mirror-like sheen, resembling obsidian or dark granite, which only added to the structure’s gravity.
Edgar offered a brief nod to the knights stationed at the entrance and moved inside without hesitation. Ren followed, glancing at the guards and wondering if he really belonged in such a place.
(Something feels... different about them.)
He was looking at the knights guarding the entrance. They were clad in jet-black armor, distinct from both the city watch and the Regular Knights. Even their weaponry was different; unlike standard knights, those at the Lion Sanctum carried either longswords or massive greatswords slung across their backs.
"Please, proceed," one of the knights said in a level, dispassionate voice, noticing Ren’s hesitation.
"Ah—thank you."
Ren gave a quick bow and hurried to catch up with Edgar.
As soon as the two vanished into the depths of the hall, the knights outside shared a brief look.
"That boy just now... he was something else."
When one knight spoke, several others murmured in agreement.
"Indeed. I saw it too. He carries a core within his body as tempered and unyielding as Orichalcum."
"The venerable Master Edgar brought him personally. He is undoubtedly a youth of rare talent. He will likely make a formidable Strong Sword User."
Unaware that he had been evaluated and praised from the shadows, Ren continued deeper into the Sanctum, his footsteps echoing against the black stone.
Ren followed Edgar across the dark flagstones, oblivious to the knights’ conversation. The sound of their rhythmic walking resonated through the quiet hall. They occasionally exchanged nods with passing civil officials or knights in black armor, but the atmosphere was too heavy for casual greetings.
"Mr. Edgar?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"Is there a reason the knights here all wear black?"
"It is due to the legacy of the Lion King. He was a man who famously favored the color black."
"That makes sense."
Ren then asked why the interior was so unnervingly quiet. Edgar explained that there wasn't a specific rule; rather, it was simply the result of the solemn atmosphere. The silence was maintained by a sort of tacit agreement among all who entered.
"And why are there no heavy gates or security checkpoints?" Ren asked.
"There are two reasons. First, there are numerous security magic tools hidden from sight throughout the building. And the second... well, the main reason there are no gates is this."
Edgar paused as their footsteps rang out in the hall.
"The only knights permitted to guard the Lion Sanctum are practitioners of the Strong Sword. Since their minimum rank is that of an Expert Swordsman, they themselves are considered a defense far sturdier than any gate of iron or wood."
"Wait—Expert Swordsman rank? As the minimum?"
"Indeed. As you may know, the grades within the Strong Sword style are typically considered one level higher than the equivalent rank in other prestigious schools, such as Holy Sword Arts. In practical terms, every knight within these walls is equivalent to a Swordmaster or higher."
Edgar added a small clarification.
"Of course, whether a Sword Saint of our style truly equals a Sword King of another is a matter of debate."
"Haha... yeah, I imagine so."
A Sword King was a different beast entirely. There were only five such individuals in the world, and they stood atop the martial hierarchy.
Ren ran through the rankings in his head. Regardless of the style, the peak was always the five Sword Kings. Below them was the rank of Sword Saint, followed by Swordmaster, Expert Swordsman, Advanced Swordsman, and finally, Swordsman.
(Maydas and Kai were Swordmasters in the Holy Sword style.)
He thought back to the two Demon King Cultists he had fought in the Baldur Mountains. According to Edgar, every single knight in this building was as strong as—or stronger than—those two.
It made sense, in a way. This was a vital institution in the heart of the capital, dedicated to the nation’s founder. It stood to reason that only the strongest would be stationed here.
Still, the realization left Ren with plenty to chew on. Walking through the Lion Sanctum, he felt his perspective shifting.
(This place really is incredible.)
Every guard he passed was the equivalent of a Swordmaster. Surprised by this new information but finding it strangely logical, Ren felt his curiosity regarding the Strong Sword Arts reach a fever pitch.