It was the middle of April.
Ren and Licia received word regarding their entrance exams at the Clausel manor. The first test was scheduled for late May, to be held on-site at the Imperial Academy.
With the date set, they redoubled their efforts, diving deeper into their studies than ever before. Realizing that the exam was only a few weeks away, they felt a sharp, focused tension take hold.
"Ren... I'm... so incredibly sleepy..."
"Me too."
Over breakfast in the dining hall, Licia and Ren spoke with the heavy tongues of the sleep-deprived.
They had been staying up late quite often recently, burning the midnight oil for their exam preparations. It wasn't that they were falling behind; in fact, they were consistently scoring over ninety percent on practice exams. They were virtually guaranteed to pass. Even so, they left nothing to chance, studying relentlessly to eliminate even the smallest possibility of failure.
"Why don't you two take a rest today?" Lezard suggested. "If you push yourselves too hard and fall ill, it will all have been for nothing."
While he acknowledged their dedication, he insisted that rest was equally vital. Eventually, the two agreed that they could afford a break.
Licia appeared to have reached her limit already. As soon as she finished her meal, she retreated to her room, likely to fall back into bed.
Ren intended to do the same, but Lezard called out to him.
"Ren, a letter arrived from Master Verrich."
Ren tilted his head as he accepted the envelope. When he looked inside, he found only a hurried scrawl: "It's done, so come pick it up!"
"The armor I ordered might be finished," Ren said.
"That is excellent news. You should rest today and go pick it up tomorrow."
"No, since it’s ready, I’ll head over now. I can rest after I get back."
"If you say so. Just don't overexert yourself."
After thanking Lezard for his concern, Ren left the room.
As he exited the dining hall, he let out a massive yawn. He gave his cheeks a sharp slap to drive away the lingering drowsiness and began preparing for his trip to the Imperial Capital.
Even after he stepped out of the manor, Ren yawned once more. The cool morning air seemed to wake him up just enough to keep him moving.
They were charcoal-gray gauntlets.
The naturally weathered color of Asval's Horn remained intact. They were lightweight, designed for users who favored mobility, and reached up to the elbows. Upon the thumb, a small but striking crimson gemstone was set into a ring-like decoration, its presence demanding attention despite its size.
They looked like the handguards of a knight’s plate armor, meticulously adjusted for a lighter load.
When Ren saw them in Verrich's workshop, he involuntarily held his breath.
It wasn't just the craftsmanship. Looking at the gauntlets, he could feel a lingering power that vividly brought the image of Asval to mind.
"I call them the 'Gauntlets of the King of Flames'."
Ren was exhausted from his studies, but Verrich looked even worse. Nevertheless, the blacksmith wore a proud, defiant smirk.
"The left one is standard, but the right one is for your sword hand."
Since Ren wore the Magic Sword Summoning bracelet on his right wrist, he had wanted the equipment to feel as natural as possible. Normally, a knight practiced swinging a sword while wearing gauntlets, so there wouldn't be a significant difference in sensation—at least, for most people. However, Ren had prioritized maintaining his current range of motion and tactile feedback above all else.
The right gauntlet covered only about as much as a glove. Verrich had created it by mixing processed fragments of Asval's Horn into a special thread to weave the base. The coloring and design matched the left, with the knuckles and fingers reinforced by the hardened horn.
With this, Ren didn't even have to move his bracelet to his other arm.
"Thank you so much. I think I'll be able to use these without any adjustment to my style."
There was another reason for the left gauntlet’s larger size: when Ren manifested his Shield Magic Sword, having reinforced protection around his arm offered various tactical advantages.
"And this stone on the left thumb..."
"Yeah, that was inside the horn. It’s the most vital organ of Asval’s Horn—or whatever you want to call it. It was clearly the core of the thing's power."
Ren stared at it intently. He remembered that winter day when he had fought Asval. He remembered breaking that very horn to weaken the beast.
"The core was much bigger at first," Verrich continued. "About the size of my head."
"But it’s so small now."
"I spent every day carving and polishing it. I wanted to use it for the gauntlet, but I figured I’d see if I could work it into other parts of the set, too."
The dwarf leaned back, his eyes half-closed.
"I melted down the dust from the carving and processed it into thread by combining it with Thief Wolfen fur. I wove that into the lining, then finished the exterior by shaping the horn for the knuckles and fingers."
"Thief... Thief Wolfen fur!?"
"Yeah. Did you know? Even though it’s only a D-rank monster, its fur is incredibly useful for a craftsman who knows how to handle it. It’s the perfect bonding agent for other high-level materials."
"I see..."
"Make sure to thank that brat later. The fur came from him. It’s almost impossible to find on the market lately, but he said he’d managed to get some by luck a while back."
Ren knew exactly where that fur had come from, but he was careful to keep his expression neutral.
Following Verrich's instructions, he equipped the Gauntlets of the King of Flames on both arms.
(...This is incredible.)
Despite having been measured only once, the fit was perfect. There was absolutely no discomfort. When he moved his arms, the armor followed his every motion as if it were a second skin.
"How’s the fit?"
"I’ve tried on several pieces of equipment before, but I’ve never had anything feel this natural."
"Well, of course it does. I took your measurements myself, didn't I?"
Ren repeatedly clenched and opened his hands. He was confident he could swing a sword exactly as he always had.
"Don't worry if they feel too light. Like I told you, that horn is harder than any metal you'll find."
Ren’s gaze drifted back to the crimson gem on his left thumb.
He hadn't mentioned it until now, but he had been slightly afraid. Since Asval had called him the "weak Ashton," he had worried that using the monster's remains might subject him to some dark impulse.
But now, those anxieties vanished. When he touched the crimson gemstone with his right hand, he felt only a gentle, steady warmth.
"Right! That’s my first job finished!"
With a heavy thud, Verrich collapsed onto his back on the floor. His eyes were already fluttering shut.
"I’m going to sleep. When I wake up, I’m going to drown myself in booze and take a week off."
"Thank you so much! In that case, I’ll... be taking my leave!"
"Yeah, yeah. See ya later..."
Ren wanted to say more, but the blacksmith was already slipping into a deep slumber. Tucking the Gauntlets of the King of Flames into their wooden box, Ren left the workshop with the precious cargo in his arms. After closing the door behind him, he bowed deeply toward the building.
On the way home, Ren decided he wanted to test the gauntlets alongside his Magic Swords. He wanted to see if there were any changes in how he handled them and perhaps test some Nature Magic as well.
To do that, he needed to head to the station.
He planned to return to Erendil and head outside the city walls. He hurried his pace, hoping to get the testing done before his exhaustion caught up with him.
"Ren-kun?"
A voice called out from nearby. Turning around, he saw Fiona walking alongside Edgar.
Since they were just outside the Blacksmith District, it wasn't surprising to see her. The moment she spotted him, she rushed over with light, graceful footsteps.
"Were you visiting the blacksmiths?"
"Yes, I had some business to attend to."
Edgar approached as well, giving Ren a polite nod before stepping back into his usual position a few paces behind Fiona.
"Oh? Is that perhaps—"
The butler's eyes fell upon the box in Ren’s arms. He immediately deduced what it contained. A pleased smile touched his lips, guessing that Ren was on his way to test his new equipment. Ren realized that Edgar had seen right through him.
"I must thank Lord Ulysses as well," Ren said. "I heard he provided the fur for the lining."
"My master anticipated you would say as much. He specifically instructed me to tell you that no thanks are necessary."
As expected of Ulysses. He had seen the conversation coming and provided the response in advance.
Ren gave a wry smile and looked back at Fiona. She asked him how he had been lately. As they walked, Ren explained that he had been buried in exam studies and that he had come to the Imperial Capital today despite his exhaustion.
Fiona listened with a radiant smile, nodding along as if she were simply overjoyed to be in his company.
"So... you’re heading home already?"
"That's the plan. I was going to head to the station, transfer at the hub, and return to Erendil."
Fiona suddenly fell silent. Ren tilted his head in confusion, and she looked up at him with a start. Her jeweled eyes met his directly. This was part of her resolution to be more proactive.
"I’m currently between errands, but if you don’t mind, would it be alright if I accompanied you part of the way?"
"Are you on a job for House Ignat?"
"Yes. I’ve been helping my father with his work lately. That’s why I’m out with Edgar."
Ren glanced at the butler.
"That is correct," Edgar confirmed with a nod.
"I assumed you would be traveling by carriage," Ren noted.
"Lady Fiona has developed a fondness for walking," Edgar explained.
"I can't help it," Fiona added softly. "I’ve finally become healthy. Just being able to move on my own two feet makes me so happy..."
Though it had been some time since Ren had saved her life, Fiona had not forgotten the years of suffering. Every step she took was a small celebration of her health. That was why, despite her status as a high noble, she preferred walking over riding in a carriage.
"In that case—"
Ren didn't know exactly how far "part of the way" meant, but since Edgar didn't object, he nodded.
Fiona let out a tiny, whispered "Yes" and beamed.
The Magic Train was crowded, leaving no seats for the three of them. They managed to find a spot to stand against the wall near the doors. The steady swaying of the train combined with the warmth of the cabin to lure Ren back into his drowsiness.
"I see... Ren-kun, your first exam is almost here."
"It is. I’m hoping to pass without any trouble."
"Fufu, I’m sure you’ll be fine. I’ve heard how hard you’ve been working."
"From Lord Ulysses?"
"Yes! He said he couldn't even imagine you failing!"
While Ren appreciated the confidence, he preferred to stay cautious and avoid any complacency.
"Lady Chronoa should be returning within the year as well," Fiona continued. "Perhaps you’ll get to meet her at next year's entrance ceremony."
"True... that would be something."
Edgar listened to their conversation in silence, keeping his thoughts to himself. Ren didn't yet know that he had already met and spoken with Chronoa—or that the world's greatest mage had taken quite a liking to him. The two encounters Ren had already had with her were still being kept secret.
The train swayed again.
Ren’s heavy eyelids began to droop. Seeing this, Fiona offered him a look of deep, gentle affection.
"Would you like to close your eyes and rest for a moment?" she asked softly.
"N-no, I'm fine! Don't worry about me!"
Despite his protest, the sleepiness was relentless. The rhythmic vibration and the cozy atmosphere were almost impossible to resist. With Edgar standing guard, Ren’s natural defenses lowered just enough for him to begin nodding off. His head dipped forward, then jerked back.
For a brief second, Ren’s eyes drifted shut.
Just then, the Magic Train slowed to a halt at a station, and a surge of passengers pushed toward the doors. The movement shoved Ren forward.
He had been fighting his heavy eyelids, but the moment he realized he was about to fall directly onto Fiona, he reacted instinctively. He raised his free hand and braced it against the wall, pinning her between his arm and the side of the train to keep from crushing her.
"...!?"
The air between them seemed to practically crackle with the intensity of the moment. Fiona looked up at Ren, his face inches from hers. Her neck and cheeks turned a violent shade of crimson in an instant. She stood there, frozen, her eyes wide as she blinked in shock and embarrassment.
"I-I’m so sorry! I lost my focus for a second!"
"N-no! It’s okay! It’s fine, but... but... oh..."
Ren reached his stop only a few minutes later. Though he managed to offer a proper goodbye, Fiona’s heart continued to pound against her ribs like a drum long after he had gone.