Leaving Erendil and walking out into the open air woke Ren up even more. Every time the early spring breeze brushed his cheeks, its coolness felt like a breath of new life.
He didn't venture too far today, stopping at a spot only a few dozen minutes off the main road. Once there, he took out the Gauntlets of the King of Flames and equipped them on both hands. As he flexed his wrists and fingers, the fit felt perfect. There wasn't the slightest hint of discomfort.
It was just after my birthday, so the timing was perfect.
Speaking of April, it was Ren’s birth month. However, this year’s celebration hadn't been as lively as the last. Since both he and Licia were examinees, they had settled for a modest gathering.
Ren confirmed no one was around and summoned a Magic Sword. He called the Shield Magic Sword to his left arm, re-equipped it, and tested its power for a brief moment.
"…Hm?"
It was a sensation difficult to put into words. But now, he felt like he could do it. While wearing the Gauntlets of the King of Flames, a strange sense of confidence welled up within him.
Thinking it was a long shot, Ren extended his right hand.
Suddenly, his left arm pulsed with heat, centered on the deep crimson gem embedded near the thumb. It felt like an inferno—the same searing heat he’d felt when bathed in Asval's flames. Yet, it didn't burn him. A strange contradiction arose: the heat was there, but the pain was absent.
Could it be?
The proof manifested instantly. A crack formed in the air before him, and a Magic Sword began to emerge. It was a blade of burnished brass, etched everywhere with deep crimson patterns.
"…A Flame Magic Sword."
While its appearance wasn't as ostentatious as the Flame Sword Asval, it was still a striking weapon. Previously, the sheer mana consumption had made summoning it nearly impossible, but this time, the drain was manageable.
However, he could tell just by looking at it—if he swung it recklessly or used its power without thought, he would lose consciousness in an instant. It was a blade that harbored immense power and possessed an equally voracious appetite for mana.
Suddenly, the moment Ren gripped the hilt, the world around him plunged into darkness, even though his eyes remained open.
He stood dozens of meters away from a massive peak. There, enthroned upon the Silver Peaks, was the Red Dragon.
"O foolish human driven by greed," the dragon spoke. "If you desire my horn, then try to seize it with your own power."
The Red Dragon was addressing a single man whose back was turned toward Ren. Ren stood frozen. He could do nothing but watch the man’s silhouette.
"…"
"Why do you fall silent? If you feel fear, then that arrogance—"
"I was hesitating because taking it by force felt a bit rude," the man interrupted. "But the fact is, I do want it. So, I’ll ask one more time. Even a fragment is fine. Won’t you share it with me?"
"Ku… kuku… Hahaha! Hahahaha! Enough. Reduce yourself to ash."
The Red Dragon unleashed a torrent of fire. It was a far cry from the inferno Ren had experienced; this was an absolute flame meant to incinerate the world itself. This was the fire of Asval in its prime.
However, when the flames finally ceased, the man was not ash. He stood tall, a single sword gripped in his hand.
"…Are you a Hero?" the dragon asked, its voice laced with newfound wariness.
"No," the man replied. "I’m just an adventurer."
The vision suddenly pulled away. Ren felt as if he were being blown back by a gale, and the world he was witnessing vanished. When he came to, he was back in the forest off the highway.
"…That just now."
That was definitely Asval. And the one facing it was undoubtedly the Adventurer Ashton—the "Strong Ashton" the dragon had spoken of.
He didn't know why he had been shown that sight. Perhaps it was a memory of Asval transmitted through the Flame Magic Sword. Even without a clear explanation, Ren understood one thing perfectly.
"Well, I can’t exactly complain if people call me weak after seeing that."
Compared to that inferno—which dwarfed the one he had faced—the strength of the Adventurer Ashton was staggering. To think the man had stood his ground without a hint of fear made Ren feel small by comparison. He found himself more curious than ever about his ancestor’s true identity.
If I ever get the chance to enter the Forbidden Archives… though that seemed like a pipe dream for now.
As Ren pondered this, voices reached his ears from nearby.
"Hey! It went that way!"
"Drive it into the trap! Go, go!"
Curious, Ren ran toward the shouts, still holding the Flame Magic Sword. A short distance ahead, he found several adventurers busy hunting with traps.
Oh right, I forgot those monsters lived around here.
The quarry was a Wing Wyvern. As the name suggested, it was a member of the Dragon Species with a dark green body. It was a D-rank monster, quite rare for this particular region.
As Ren watched the adventurers gathered in the clearing, his eyes widened. The group had just finished the hunt in a space where trees had been cleared to set their traps.
"Yes! We caught it!"
"W-we managed somehow…!"
Mixed in with the grizzled adults was a pair of teenagers—a boy and a girl roughly Ren’s age.
Vane and Sera…!?
The protagonist, Vane, and the main heroine, Sera. They were right there, celebrating their successful subjugation.
Ren immediately dispelled the Flame Magic Sword before he could be spotted. While meeting them was inevitable eventually, he hadn't planned on it happening today.
Just as he turned to slip away, a voice called out.
"Oh? You there, kid! Sorry, but give us a hand!"
One of the adult adventurers had spotted him. Running now would look suspicious, especially since the man was already walking toward him. Resigned, Ren stepped into the clearing.
"How can I help?"
"We’ve got injured men, and hauling a Wing Wyvern is a massive chore. Sorry to ask, but could you help with the remaining cleanup?"
"…If I’m going to help, I’d actually prefer the heavy lifting," Ren offered.
"Haha! We’ve got enough muscles for that. I need you for the paperwork and details. We’ll make sure you get a reward at the Guild!"
Ren knew exactly what this "cleanup" entailed. After killing a Wing Wyvern, one had to document the surrounding conditions to report back to the Guild, helping them track the damage caused by the species. Ren tried to push back one more time, hoping for a task that wouldn't put him in direct contact with the leads.
However, fate had other plans.
"Excuse me. Would you mind helping me over here?"
Ren let out a quiet sigh as Sera called out to him. There was no escaping it now. He walked over to where the two stood.
"What do you need me to do?"
Ren was struck by a powerful sense of déjà vu. And for good reason—this was the exact encounter event where Vane and Sera were supposed to meet Ren Ashton for the first time. In the game, this moment catalyzed their friendship and led to their promise to reunite at the Academy.
Ren suppressed a wry smile as he looked around. He was tasked with tidying up the traps and summarizing the information for the Guild.
I guess the context is a bit different from the game, though.
In The Legend of the Seven Heroes, Ren Ashton had accepted the same request as Vane and Sera and was part of the hunt from the beginning. In this reality, his entry was purely accidental.
"Sorry about this," Vane said, approaching him. "I'll pay you out of my own share of the reward, so please take it."
"No, it’s fine," Ren replied. "Really, this isn't the kind of work I’d take money for."
"I-is that so…? But I’d feel bad just taking your help for free."
"It’s really okay," Ren insisted.
Faced with Ren’s stubbornness, Vane finally relented. "Then at least let me buy you a meal sometime."
"If the opportunity arises, sure," Ren gave a polite, non-committal answer.
The work was finished quickly. The adult adventurers were busy tending to the wounded and securing the Wing Wyvern for transport, leaving the three teenagers standing a short distance away.
Wait, weren't there supposed to be hidden guards?
In the story, the heirs of the Seven Great Archduke Families were always protected. Even though they fought bravely as descendants of the Seven Heroes, high-ranking nobles didn't just let their children wander alone. There were usually guards lurking in the shadows. In the game, if the player found them, they would say, "Please keep our presence a secret from the Young Lady."
As Ren finished the final task, he remembered what came next. In the game’s script, a battle was about to be forced upon them.
"——Sera!"
"Yeah! I know!"
Vane and Sera both stiffened. Several monsters emerged from the dense underbrush. The two heroes immediately drew their swords.
In the game, this was where the three would fight together—unless Vane and Sera’s levels were high enough. If the player had grinded, the two would wipe out the monsters before Ren could even join the battle. It was a scripted encounter meant mostly for dialogue.
"Leave it to us!" Sera shouted. "You don't have a weapon, so stay back!"
"We’ll finish this in a flash!" Vane added. "Don't worry!"
"Uh… okay. Thank you."
Ren watched them, wondering if he should intervene, but he decided to wait and see. It turned out his help wasn't needed. The two showcased flawless swordsmanship, cutting down the monsters with ease.
I see. They’re above the recommended level.
He recalled the gaming term as he watched them work. The real Vane and Sera were growing much faster than their game counterparts. Their strength was evident in every movement.
When the last monster fell, the two turned to each other and shared a jubilant high-five.
"That proves we’re the strongest!" Sera cheered.
"Yeah! Victory is ours!"
"…Ah, that line."
The familiar exchange caused Ren to let a comment slip. The two looked at him, puzzled. Ren cleared his throat and offered a respectful nod.
"That was quite impressive," he said, praising their skill.