Ren spotted Edgar walking alone just ahead of him.
"Edgar-san?"
Ren hurried over and called out, confirming it was indeed him. Noticing Ren, Edgar offered a bow with practiced elegance.
"Master Ren, are you out shopping?" he asked.
"I am," Ren replied. "And you?"
"I was out picking up a few things requested by Verrich-dono. My master is currently at Verrich-dono's workshop, so we were acting separately for the time being."
"Ah, so Ulysses-sama is in the Imperial Capital as well."
"Yes. In fact, we finally finished transporting those materials to the workshop last night. My master traveled here to inspect them personally."
When Edgar mentioned "those materials," there was no question he meant the parts harvested from Asval.
"Right... come to think of it, I believe you mentioned the transport was taking a while."
"Indeed. Since they are such massive items, the heavy snow caused significant delays."
Ren hummed in thought. He had only planned to browse the shops in the Imperial Capital at random for the rest of the day, so he wondered if he should head to Verrich's workshop as well. When he mentioned this to Edgar, the man nodded in agreement.
Taking the cue, Ren set off toward the workshop alongside Edgar. They headed to a nearby Magic Train station and rode the rails until they reached the edge of the Blacksmith District.
As they walked, Ren noted how lively the capital was everywhere they went, chatting idly with Edgar until they arrived at Verrich's door. Inside, both Verrich and Ulysses looked up in surprise at their unexpected visitor.
"Hm? Oh! If it isn't Ren!"
"Well, hello! I didn't expect you to arrive with Edgar. Come here, won't you?"
Following the invitation, Ren approached the two men in the main hall. As soon as he drew near, Verrich abruptly pulled a measuring cord from his pocket and began taking Ren's dimensions.
"Um... what?"
"While you're here, let me measure you," Verrich grunted.
Ulysses laughed. "Verrich is itching to get back to the forge. Since you happened to show up, he figured he might as well get started, especially since the materials arrived."
"I see... that explains the suddenness." Ren set the paper bag filled with his new reference books on a nearby table to give the blacksmith room to work.
"Doing some shopping?" Ulysses asked.
"Yes, just some reference books. I happened to spot Edgar-san on my way back, and when I asked what he was up to, it led to this."
"Haha, well, that worked out. It saves us time in getting your armor started."
"True. And it gave me a chance to see you as well, Ulysses-sama."
"Oh? Did you have business with me?"
It wasn't exactly business, but Ren told him about his recent encounter with Fiona. Ulysses already knew, of course—it was unlikely the news wouldn't have reached his ears—but Ren had something else on his mind.
"Why were you keeping it a secret from Lady Fiona that you and I were in contact?"
"Sorry, sorry. I simply forgot. No deeper meaning to it, I promise."
Ren stared at him. That is a blatant lie.
In the end, Ren couldn't fathom what Ulysses had been thinking. Realizing he would never get the truth out of the man, he simply shrugged and said, "I see."
Ulysses quickly changed the subject, introducing a topic that piqued both Ren's and Verrich's interest.
"Hah? A theft, you say?" Verrich asked, still measuring Ren.
Ulysses mentioned, as if it were mere gossip, that several magic tool workshops had been robbed just the other night. It hadn't mattered if the craftsmen were part of a merchant guild or independent; they had all been hit on the same night.
"Strange business. Did they have some particularly expensive Magic Tools on hand?"
"Hard to say. Curiously, I hear money and typical valuables were largely left untouched."
"Well, that's got nothing to do with this kid," Verrich grunted. "Sounds like a job for the military or the knights."
"True enough, but there’s no harm in keeping one's ears open."
Ren offered a wry smile as he listened to the ominous talk. He didn't recall any event involving workshop robberies in the original game's lore, but after the incident in the Baldur Mountains, he couldn't afford to be complacent. He was secretly grateful for the heads-up.
"Alright. That's enough for now, Ren," Verrich said, finishing his work. "I should have it ready by April. You're still growing, so I'll need to keep making adjustments even after it's finished."
"Thank you. I'll be in your care."
"Don't mention it. I'm the one getting to work with Asval's horn." Verrich grinned, crossing his thick, muscular arms. "So, how’s your progress with those Strong Sword Arts?"
"Slowly but surely. I feel myself getting stronger bit by bit, so I just have to keep at it."
"Glad to hear it. Anyway, once I'm done with Ren's armor, I can start on the repairs for the Lemuria."
"How long do you think that will take?" Ren asked.
"A year or two, I reckon. Since I'm working solo, it'll take about that long."
"Wait—you're doing it alone?"
"Of course I am. Do you see any assistants or disciples lurking around?"
"N-No, I just assumed you'd use the Magic Ship Engineers as temporary help..."
Verrich scoffed, his response perfectly in character. "Do you really think I have the kind of personality that can work with other people?"
Ren had no retort for such a blunt admission. He merely maintained a polite, slightly forced smile to avoid being rude. Ulysses laughed at the exchange before checking his watch.
"Well then," the Marquis said. "I'm afraid I have to be going. Verrich, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Yeah. I'll hammer out the details with Ren. If I need specific materials, I'll put a list together for you to order."
"Understood. Until next time."
Ulysses and Edgar stepped out of the workshop. The weather was pleasant, and the heavy coat and muffler Ulysses wore felt a bit warm. He unbuttoned his coat, letting the breeze catch the lining as he walked.
"Now then, we have work to do," he murmured.
"Yes, sir," Edgar replied.
The two left the Blacksmith District, vanishing into the flow of the Imperial Capital as they began their secretive mission.
Back in the workshop, Ren continued his consultation with Verrich. He explained that he wanted to avoid heavy, plate-like armor in favor of something flexible. He specifically requested that the finger and joint areas be designed for maximum mobility.
"Since it’ll be easier to adjust later, shall we start with a set of gauntlets?"
"Yes, that sounds perfect."
With the first piece of equipment decided, they headed to the back of the workshop. The forge area was surprisingly orderly—a glimpse into Verrich’s underlying seriousness regarding his craft. Lying on the floor was the massive horn Ren had retrieved from his home village.
"It’s a magnificent piece. I took a closer look yesterday, and despite the weight, the hardness is extraordinary."
"...I'm sure it is," Ren replied, remembering the struggle to sever it. Looking at the ashen-gray, weathered surface, he was briefly transported back to that desperate battle. He had truly fought for his life that day.
"Anyway, it’s a bit of a change from the original plan, but I’m thinking of boldly cutting away the section near the base. I’ll make sure the cut-offs are put to good use, so don't worry."
"I trust you. But why the change of heart?"
"It’ll be faster to show you than to explain."
Verrich led him to the horn and handed him a jeweler's loupe. "Look closely where I’m pointing."
Ren put the loupe to his eye and peered at the base. He saw a network of tiny, vein-like channels stretching through the material.
"I've worked with countless dragon horns, but I've never seen one with internal organs like this," Verrich remarked.
Could this be it? Ren wondered. Asval had weakened significantly once the horn was broken. If the source of its power was housed within, it was undoubtedly connected to these channels.
Verrich nodded, seeing Ren’s realization. "Horns are special to dragons, but that must have been especially true for Asval. Well, I won't pry. Knowing it’s worth the extra effort is enough for me."
He intended to start that very day. Verrich grinned, showing his white teeth. Ren bowed deeply, thanking him, before they returned to the finer details of the armor's design.
Several servants and knights from the Clausel estate eventually arrived in Erendil, bringing Ren and Licia’s personal belongings with them. Naturally, this included Io, the horse Ren had claimed after the battle with Jelququ. Io was extremely fond of the servant who usually cared for her and had reportedly spent her days in relaxation. She hadn't been bothered by her first flight on a Magic Ship, seemingly as comfortable in the sky as she was on the ground.
With the arrival of familiar faces and comforts, life in Erendil began to feel more settled.
Three weeks passed since Ren’s consultation with Verrich. Both he and Licia were kept busy with entrance exam preparations and rigorous sword training. Fiona was in the same position, spending her days immersed in the academy’s year-end testing.
By late February, the snow in the streets of the Imperial Capital and Erendil had mostly vanished.
"Are you not interested in ranking up, Ren-dono?"
The question came from a large Strong Sword User who favored greatswords. Ren had just finished training at the Lion Sanctum after a quick trip to Verrich's to check on his armor's progress.
"Ranking up? In what?"
"In the guild. I was surprised to hear you were still E-rank."
"Ah... that."
"Someone of your skill could surely rank up without effort. Is there a reason you're holding back?"
"I just don't want to deal with Special Requests," Ren admitted.
"Special Request" was the catch-all term for missions commissioned by nobles or the state. To reach D-rank, an adventurer had to complete at least one. Ren avoided them because they were notoriously labor-intensive—investigating criminal leads or high-level subjugations could take days or even weeks. Withdrawing from a request carried heavy penalties, making him even more hesitant.
"Right now, I have my hands full with the Strong Sword Arts. I figure the rank can wait a bit longer."
"I see. Spoken like a true apprentice," the man chuckled.
Ren stretched and picked up his training sword again. "I'm sorry, but would you mind going another round with me?"
"Good grief... really, boy, just how much stamina do you have?"
"I could ask you the same thing. I’m always watching the rest of you swing those heavy swords without ever seeming to tire."
Ren offered a refreshing smile as he stepped back into position. The large man shrugged, a wry smile of his own appearing.
"I suppose I can't afford to get lazy, either," he muttered, genuinely impressed—and slightly intimidated—by Ren’s terrifying rate of growth.
The Imperial Castle provided a sweeping view of the capital from one end to the other.
While Ren was honing his skills at the Lion Sanctum, a boy sat on a stone balcony in the upper reaches of the castle, studying a piece of parchment. At this height, the clouds often felt within arm's reach. The wind was still biting, as the warmth of spring had yet to truly arrive, but the boy didn't seem to notice.
This was Radius Vin Leomel, the Third Prince. Even as a young man, he possessed a distinct, refined aura as his hair fluttered in the breeze. He let out a slow breath, his mind made up.
"Now then."
He spoke in his usual commanding tone. "Mirei."
A lovely girl of mixed Cait Sith and human descent appeared instantly. She stepped onto the balcony to join him.
"You called, nya?"
"It's about the recent string of thefts. I have a few concerns, so I’ve decided to issue an official request to the guild."
Mirei’s ears twitched at the news. How sudden, she thought, though she simply smiled. For the prince, this was business as usual.