The Sky Garden was the largest station in Erendil. Since it doubled as a magic ship dock, its scale was rare even within the borders of Leomel. Simply making one's way down to the ground floor was a workout in its own right.
Once they stepped outside, they were able to board a waiting carriage, offering a brief moment of respite.
Ren climbed into the carriage with the others, and they spent the next few dozen minutes traveling through the heart of the town.
While the bustle didn't quite match that of the Imperial Capital, the streets—steeped in history and charm—struck a perfect balance between urban energy and a comfortable, quiet dignity.
The manor they were headed for was located in the center of town.
Unlike the estate in Clausel, the Erendil Manor stood right on the main boulevard. It had no immediate neighbors; the entire grounds were enclosed by high walls, shielding a white building from the street.
As the carriage passed through the gates, a lush, green garden welcomed them.
"This is a magnificent manor. It’s quite a change of pace from Clausel," Ren remarked.
Lezard gave a self-deprecating chuckle. "Perhaps. But..."
His expression reminded Ren of his parents back in the spring.
"The furnishings and decor are almost identical to what we have in Clausel. I was a noble raised in the countryside, you see, and I struggled to adjust to city life here in Erendil. I wanted at least the interior of the manor to feel familiar, so I commissioned the same furniture craftsman for everything."
"............"
"What is it, Ren? Why the sudden wry smile?"
"I was just thinking that I heard that exact same story once before, back in the spring."
When Ren had returned home to his village, he had heard those very same words from Roy and Mireille. The coincidence was amusing.
When Ren shared this with him, Lezard laughed heartily.
"We are lord and serving knight, after all. It’s only natural we would share the same sensibilities."
Licia and Weiss, who had been listening in, joined in the laughter.
Before long, the carriage pulled up to the manor’s front doors, and a knight stepped forward to open the carriage door from the outside.
"Let’s go, Ren."
"Yes. I’m looking forward to seeing the interior."
Ren stepped out of the carriage and followed Licia onto the manor grounds.
As they entered the building under the watchful eyes of the greeting servants, the meaning behind Lezard's words became clear.
While the layout differed from the Clausel Manor, Ren found himself relaxing as he spotted familiar pieces of furniture at every turn.
Ren, who had occupied the Old Wing in Clausel, was assigned one of the guest rooms. From now on, this room would be his home, serving as his new quarters. After joining Lezard to greet the acting governor, he was shown to his room.
As he had been told, the guest room was reminiscent of the Main Building in Clausel.
He would be able to live here comfortably, without any sense of displacement.
That was likely why he slept so soundly.
That night, having walked the streets of Erendil for the first time and spent his first night in the manor, Ren fell into a deep sleep without a hint of unease. There was nothing to hinder his recovery from the long journey.
The next morning, the group shared breakfast shortly after sunrise, and then Ren stood at the manor gates to see them off.
Licia asked him one last time, her voice tinged with disappointment. "Are you sure you won't come with us, Ren?"
"I'm sorry. Just to be safe, I want to scout the plains and forests outside Erendil to see what kind of monsters are appearing."
By way of an apology, he added, "I’m looking forward to the day I can go outside the town with you, Licia-sama. I’ll work hard today so we can do that soon."
"...Honestly, that's an unfair way to put it."
"I mean it. Well then, please be careful, Licia-sama. You too, Lord Lezard, Weiss-dono."
The carriage carrying the three of them pulled away from the manor.
Once it was out of sight, Ren returned to his guest room to prepare for his excursion.
He was preparing for battle.
It had been a while since he had readied himself to face monsters, and he felt a thrill of excitement.
His fingers felt nimble as he tightened his laces with newfound vigor. Catching his reflection in the room's mirror, he saw that his expression had softened into a slight grin.
Once finished, Ren gave his cheeks a sharp slap.
"Alright... let’s go."
Focusing his mind, he left the room and headed for the manor exit.
Lately, between the travel from Clausel and the time spent in Erendil and the Imperial Capital, he hadn't been able to hunt much in the Eastern Forest.
With every step he took, his motivation grew.
Ren called out to a knight standing in the hallway. "I'm heading out now."
Since this knight had traveled with them from Clausel, he was well aware of Ren's unique circumstances.
"Understood. As the Head of the Family mentioned, please don’t overexert yourself. Be careful out there."
"Thank you. I will."
Stepping outside, Ren took a deep breath of the morning air.
"I need to scout out that 'certain' efficient hunting ground."
Filling his lungs with the air of Erendil—which felt similar to Clausel yet possessed a distinct sharpness—he set off toward the outskirts of town. Along the way, he looked up at the Great Clock Tower, the towering symbol of Erendil.
A little over an hour later, three figures walked through the snow-dusted streets of the Imperial Capital.
Despite the cold, the capital was a hive of activity, possessing a level of energy that even Clausel at the height of a festival could not match.
"Licia. What is that small vial you’ve been carrying lately?" Lezard asked.
"Ren gave it to me. Apparently, when he was studying the Strong Sword Arts at the Lion Sanctum, Edgar-dono prepared this for me as well."
"Ho? Let me see it for a moment."
As they made their way down the crowded Imperial Capital Boulevard, Lezard took the vial and inspected its contents.
When he held it up to the light, the special crystal ball inside rolled with a faint clink.
"Thank you. And what exactly does this have to do with the Strong Sword Arts?"
"Um... Weiss, could you explain?"
"Certainly. My Lord, that vial contains a specialized crystal ball. One must refine the mana used for Arts and project it through the glass into the crystal. If one can shatter the crystal inside, it proves they have the aptitude for the Strong Sword Arts."
"I see. It seems the Strong Sword Arts utilize methods unheard of in other styles."
Licia nodded, though a trace of anxiety flickered across her face.
"I've been working at it every day alongside Ren, but there’s no sign of it breaking yet..."
"Is Ren having the same trouble?"
"Yes. But Edgar-dono said Ren has the talent for it, so it's only a matter of time. I just hope I have the aptitude too..."
"I wouldn't worry too much, Young Lady," Weiss interjected. "You are already becoming proficient in Holy Magic, which is a core part of being the White Saint. That magic requires more precise mana control than almost any other. Given your existing skill with a blade, it would be more surprising if you didn't possess the talent for the Strong Sword Arts."
"...I hope you're right."
Licia took the vial back from Lezard. She held it up toward the winter sky, gazing at the crystal ball and praying fervently for a breakthrough.
Shortly thereafter, Lezard spoke up. "There it is."
Their destination, a tailor shop, came into view.
Lezard had visited this shop many times; it was the very place where he had first met his late wife. The clothes Licia had inherited from her mother had originally been tailored here. There was no better place to have them remade.
"This is a good opportunity. You've grown quite a bit, Licia, so let's pick out some new things for you."
"Is that alright?" Licia asked, her voice bright.
"Of course. You'll want something special to show Ren, no doubt, so pick whatever you like."
"F-Father!"
"There's no need to be embarrassed. Now, shall we? While we're here, I'll pick out something for myself and Weiss as well."
"My Lord? For me as well...?"
"Umu. Consider it a token of my gratitude for your daily service."
Weiss was caught off guard, but when Lezard insisted a second time, he realized it would be tactless to refuse further and bowed his head in thanks.
They remained at the tailor shop until past noon. They left empty-handed, as the garments required adjustments, and would be sent to the Erendil Manor once the tailoring was complete.
After eating at a restaurant along the boulevard, the three of them set out toward the Blacksmith District as planned.
"Are you planning to buy new equipment, Weiss?" Licia asked as they navigated the busy capital streets.
"No, Young Lady. This is for your new sword."
"For me?"
"Indeed. Truth be told, I have been consulting with an acquaintance of mine—a master blacksmith—regarding a blade for you."
He had decided it would be best to have it ready for when Licia began her serious monster combat training.
It wasn't that Licia lacked a sword of her own, but as she grew, her current blade had become too short for her evolving fighting style. Looking toward her future as a warrior, arrangements had been made for a superior weapon.
"Mu, I wasn't aware. You could have told me; I would have provided the funds," Lezard said.
"My apologies, My Lord. However, this is intended as a gift not just from me, but from all the servants of the household."
Lezard realized any further interjection would be in poor taste and simply expressed his sincere gratitude.
Licia turned to Weiss with a curious smile. "If he's an acquaintance of yours, you must have known him for a long time."
"Indeed. He is a blacksmith I met during my days in the Imperial Guard. My, my... I suppose that shows just how old I’ve become."
Weiss chuckled, a distant look in his eyes as he recalled his youth.
A cold winter wind whistled through the streets, blowing past the three of them as they walked.