Noticing Ren gazing toward the Academy District, Ulysses recalled their meeting that summer and spoke.
"Well? Have you warmed up to the idea of attending that academy?"
Ren had found himself contemplating the matter frequently since that night. He had reflected on Ulysses's advice and had reached several conclusions regarding his future.
"I’m leaning toward it, quite strongly actually," Ren replied.
"Ho... Unlike the other day, you’ve started giving me a fairly clear answer."
"When I weigh the disadvantages against the potential benefits, there's certainly a lot to be gained."
"For instance, the advantages I might provide?"
"Eh? Are you planning to give me something as well, Lord Ulysses?"
Seeing Ren’s bewildered expression, Ulysses followed suit with a look of mock surprise.
"If you were there, I could rest easy regarding Fiona’s safety. Did it never occur to you that I might smooth the way for you?"
To Ulysses, who already felt a great debt to Ren, his daughter Fiona remained his absolute priority. He knew that having a boy of Ren’s caliber by her side would make her safer than ever before.
However, Ren hadn't been thinking of that. He hadn't protected Fiona in the Baldur Mountains to curry favor, and his current motivation was no different.
"There is much to be gained at that academy, but I wasn't making calculations based on Lady Fiona. Though, of course, I would appreciate any assistance you're willing to offer."
"...I see. No wonder both of them fell for him," Ulysses murmured.
The whisper only reached Edgar’s ears. As Ren leaned in to ask what he had said, Edgar interjected, "Meeting you, Master Ren, has been a truly valuable asset for us," leaving the boy flustered by the sudden praise.
"I feel as though I’ve just heard exactly why I want to be your ally," Ulysses said, seemingly in high spirits. "Now then, back to the topic at hand."
He continued warmly, "You are a kind soul. Previously, when you claimed that academy was beneath you, you were essentially trying to protect yourself for your own reasons. But since that night, I’ve seen a different emotion surfacing in your eyes."
Ren remained silent, waiting for Ulysses to voice the conclusion.
"———It is devotion."
"So you saw right through me, then."
"I still don't know exactly why you were avoiding the academy before. But you, who were once desperate to protect yourself, have now prioritized someone else's safety over your own. Isn't that right?"
"...Seriously, how much of me can you actually see?"
"As much as there is to see," Ulysses replied with a smile.
Ren reaffirmed his relief that this man was an ally.
"I find that devotion of yours precious. It’s born of the same courage you used to change your core convictions—the very crystallization of your kindness. Knowing you as I do, it’s no wonder you’ve overturned your previous stance to aim for the academy. That's what I believed, at least."
There was no room left for argument. From top to bottom, Ulysses was exactly right.
With so many people to protect now, Ren no longer placed himself at the top of his internal hierarchy. His parents, the village, Licia, and Fiona all ranked higher. If he had remained obsessed only with self-preservation, he would have kept the same mindset he’d held since he was an infant. But he couldn't do that. In fact, his current situation felt more natural.
Then there's the matter of the Demon King Cult, Ren thought. Their movements have been faster than expected.
By saving Fiona's life, he had forged a new destiny. As he had reminded himself countless times, remaining passive and silent would be the height of folly, leaving him perpetually reactive. He had experienced the consequences of being a step behind far too often, and he refused to let it happen again.
That was why Ren had made his decision. It wasn't just about devotion or self-sacrifice; it was a proactive stance against unforeseen threats.
Strictly speaking, if he only wanted to learn the skills of a civil official, any school would do. But if he wanted to protect those he cared for, the Imperial Academy was the only choice. It was the only place where he could hone his strength while staying close enough to act as their shield.
"So, if you attend, which will it be? The General Class? Or the Special Merit Class?" Ulysses asked.
"Initially, I thought the General Class would suffice, but the Special Merit Class offers more flexibility with one's schedule. If I go, I'm aiming for that."
"A wise choice. You can receive a fine education in the General Class, but its prestige pales in comparison to the Special Merit Class. If you truly wish to learn, don't do things halfway. Aim for the top."
The two continued through the crowded streets toward their destination.
Besides, if I want to forge a different path, the Ren Ashton from the game was in the General Class, Ren noted.
To avoid the "halfway" measure Ulysses mentioned, the Special Merit Class was undoubtedly the right goal.
"Well, with your skills, you'll pass without a doubt."
"You sound very certain. Do you not think I might fail the entrance exam?"
"I don't. Call it a hunch, but I'm certain you'll enter with the highest marks."
"A... a hunch?"
"Now, don't go scoffing. My intuition is rarely wrong. In the past, I won a trade war against a rival nation based on a similar feeling. In the end, relying on a hunch isn't a bad way to live."
Liar, Ren thought.
Ulysses called it a hunch, but that didn't tell the whole story. In his case, it was a pseudo-hunch—a conclusion reached through an overwhelming amount of information and strategic calculation.
"While I have the chance, there was something else I wanted to ask, Lord Ulysses."
"Ask away. What is it? If it's about Fiona, I'll tell you anything. My daughter might be embarrassed if she found out, but don't you worry! I'm more than happy to tell you."
"Yes. Lady Fiona is involved, but—"
Ulysses stopped in his tracks, as did Edgar. Both men went silent. Ulysses then closed the distance between him and Ren by half a step.
"I'll answer anything. Anything at all," he said, his voice suddenly thick with passion.
Unfortunately, Ren’s question was about to fall short of Ulysses’s apparent expectations—whatever those were.
"I was wondering why you, who clearly adore Lady Fiona, gave your permission for her to attend the Imperial Academy."
"...Oh. I see. That's what you meant."
Ren felt a pang of guilt at Ulysses’s visible disappointment. Nevertheless, the Marquis gave his answer.
"I’ve assigned the best guards possible and personally verified the security. But even so, you find it strange that I would let her away from my side, don't you?"
"Yes."
"The answer is simple: I want Fiona to acquire the strength to protect herself. Every person eventually meets their end. I will, too. I cannot protect her forever."
It was natural for a parent to protect their child, but equally important to raise them to be independent. Ulysses spoke with a deeply sincere expression.
"To call it being a doting parent... would be an insult to all parents who love their children. I certainly adore Fiona, but I refuse to be a parent who fails to prepare his child for the world."
"Thank you for telling me. That’s a valuable lesson."
"Is it? I'm glad you think so. By the way, how do you find Fiona? She’s quite beautiful, isn't she?"
The topic shifted so abruptly that Ren blinked in surprise. He couldn't afford to give a poor response, though a poor response was impossible anyway. By any standard, Fiona was a lovely, striking girl.
"Of course. I think she is a very beautiful and charming person."
"Can I tell her you said that later?"
"Um... pardon?"
"No, don't mind me. Just talking to myself."
It was clearly not a monologue. Lacking the nerve to press the Marquis on his blatant teasing, Ren simply kept walking in silence.
About ten minutes later, Ulysses finally stopped.
The trio had arrived at a weathered stone house tucked away in a corner of the Blacksmith District. It was a dilapidated building with visible cracks and makeshift wooden reinforcements—hardly the sort of place a Marquis would frequent.
Ren recognized the building from the game, though he recalled it as a place where no significant events occurred.
Ulysses reached for the door. "Edgar, would you mind covering the back exit?"
"As you wish."
"It sounds as though you're expecting the Dwarf inside to make a run for it," Ren remarked.
"Indeed. If I’m not careful, the man will flee the moment he sees me. He's an utterly outrageous fellow."
To think a person would try to escape a man like Ulysses required a unique kind of nerve. Ren’s curiosity grew, his heart pounding in anticipation of meeting the craftsman.
The moment the old wooden door creaked open—
"Don't you dare open that! No one's home!" a voice roared.
Except you, Ren noted dryly.
He recognized that voice.
"Hahaha! I see you're in, Verrich! It's me, Ulysses!"
From deep within the cluttered, messy interior, a provocative shout rang out: "Get lost! I’ve got nothing to say to a brat like you!"
Ulysses stepped inside with a boisterous laugh. "Kukuku... Hahaha! I won't let you get away today! I've already secured the back exit!"
The sound of crashing pottery and clashing metal echoed from the back of the room. A moment later, a Dwarf emerged from behind a pile of junk that stood taller than a man. It was the same Dwarf Ren had helped once before.
"In that case, I'll take you down my—Ngo?! It's not just the brat, the good kid is here too!?"
"Who are you calling a 'good kid'?" Ren blurted out.
Verrich, the Dwarf he had once carried on his back, lost his aggressive momentum and let his massive hammer rest on the floor.