Vane and Sera both looked a little bashful.
Ren was certain they were used to being praised, yet as he delved into his old memories of the game, he recalled that they weren't particularly accustomed to being lauded by peers their own age.
"I can't believe you're around the same age as me," Ren said. "You were both amazing."
He spoke from the heart. He didn't harbor any condescending thoughts about being the powerhouse who had slain Asval, nor did he think they had a long way to go. In reality, the two standing before him were undoubtedly among the most capable individuals of their generation.
"Thanks. But we still have a long way to go," Sera replied.
"Yeah," Vane added. "Sera... er, I mean, the girl with me—she has a friend who's apparently much stronger. That’s why we have to keep working harder."
"Oh... is that friend of hers a noble as well?"
"That's right. Have you ever heard of Saint Licia?"
I know her very well, Ren thought.
When Ren remained silent, Sera began to explain, seemingly assuming he was ignorant of the name. Ren felt as though he was witnessing the kind nature beneath her spirited personality.
Furthermore, Ren realized he had just made a slight slip of the tongue by speaking as if he took it for granted that Sera was a noble. However, he could easily pass it off by claiming he had seen her somewhere before, given her high-profile family.
"She’s the daughter of the Clausel family, the Lords of Erendil," Sera said. "I've known her for a long time."
"I see..."
Sera and Vane began to walk, suggesting they continue the conversation as they headed back to town. Ren agreed, and the three of them left the area together.
As they walked, Sera reflected on her friend.
"You said earlier that you couldn't believe we were the same age. But Licia is stronger than me, and she says there’s someone even stronger than her."
"If I remember right, Sera," Vane cut in, "you said it was the son of a knight who serves her family?"
"Right, right. He’s like a goal for her. She said she’s working hard so she can beat that boy one day. She told me he’s incredibly strong and that she’s always enchanted by his swordsmanship."
"Heh... is that so?"
Ren mostly let the words wash over him—or rather, he forced himself to act that way to maintain his composure. Consequently, the walk back was filled with a deeply awkward tension that only he felt.
By the time he returned to the Guild and received his share of the reward, his sleepiness had completely vanished.
It was past evening when he returned to the manor. Licia, who was already awake, greeted him warmly. She was delighted by his new Gauntlets of the King of Flames, remarking on how well they suited him.
Encouraged by her high spirits, Ren let a thought slip.
"Ah, that reminds me."
He was truly happy, so he spoke without thinking. He had no ulterior motive; he was simply, purely glad to hear it.
"I was happy to hear that you're enchanted by my swordsmanship, Lady Licia."
The world seemed to stop.
The smile on her face didn't fade so much as it solidified. Her cheeks twitched. She looked as though she had been frozen in a block of ice.
"Where... did you hear that?" she asked.
Licia desperately forced a smile, trying her best to appear calm. Ren, caught up in his own happiness, failed to notice the warning signs.
"On my way back, I went outside the town to check the fit of my gauntlets. I happened to run into Lady Riohalde while she was fighting monsters—"
"I-I don't know! I don't know what you're talking about! I have absolutely no idea!"
Ren had met Sera. This fact was significant, but for Licia, there was something far more pressing. She instantly grasped that Sera was the source of the leak and fell into a total panic.
"Eh? Um..."
"That's why I said I don't know! Admiring... or whatever... I have no idea what that’s about!"
It was a complicated feeling. Licia didn't mind saying such things to Ren's face; during their sparring sessions, she had told him before that his sword was captivating. However, having those words reach his ears indirectly through a third party brought her an indescribable sense of shame.
"Wait! Did Sera know who you were!?"
"No. We didn't really introduce ourselves. I suppose we just talked without knowing each other's identities..."
"Then... then you heard everything!?"
He didn't know how far "everything" went, but Sera had certainly mentioned that Licia viewed him as a goal. Licia hadn't actually said anything scandalous, but she was simply mortified that she was being discussed behind her back.
With a huff, Licia turned her back on Ren and marched away. She slumped onto a sofa in the entrance hall, pulling her knees up and hugging a cushion tightly against her chest.
Ren approached with a wry smile. Even though she knew her anger was irrational, she spoke in a small, needy voice.
"...Next week, I want to go shopping in the Imperial Capital."
When she heard him reply, "I shall accompany you," a genuine smile finally returned to her face.
Inside a carriage parked in a secluded corner of the Imperial Capital, Radius and Ulysses met away from prying eyes to discuss the recent bandit incident.
"Lady Chronoa returns in October," Ulysses noted. "It would be best to settle things before then. Their reasoning is sound."
"However, I do not understand," Radius replied. "Have they forgotten the existence of our Sword King?"
"They likely believe she will never leave His Majesty's side. Though it is a bit of a gamble, they must believe that if the Demon King Cult acts quickly enough, they can achieve their goals before she can intervene."
"I see. That is not entirely off the mark. She is single-mindedly obsessed with protecting His Majesty, after all."
"In any case, there is no need to borrow her strength. Not now that we have joined forces."
"Then the issue is at what stage we shall lay our hands on them," Radius said, his gaze sharpening. "Of course, I have not forgotten. It is our turn to strike first."
However, they still needed to pin down the movements of the Demon King Cult. Unlike the common bandits, the Cult had yet to leave a clear trail. If they could not uncover them by summer—when the Cult was expected to move—their strategy would have to change.
"I suppose we have no choice but to lure them in and sink our teeth into their throats," Ulysses murmured.
"Leave the details to me. I shall give it further thought as well."
Their consultation ended shortly thereafter. As the summer days approached, the two began to weave a web of stratagem.
On the final day of May, Ren and Licia's first exams came to an end.
When the testing was over, it felt almost anticlimactic. The two walked through the Imperial Capital with their usual easy demeanor.
Weiss, attending them as always, spoke up. "How do you both feel about your performance today?"
"I think I did well," Licia said. "I didn't really get stuck on anything, and I even had time to spare."
"Me too," Ren added. "I finished relatively quickly, so I spent most of the time reviewing my answers."
"That is good to hear. You're quite like yourself, boy—exactly as I expected."
The next exams would be held in July, followed by others in September and November, leading up to the final exam in January of the following year. Both students braced themselves, resolved to maintain their momentum.
"Lady Licia."
"Yes, what is it?"
"Since the exams are over, would you like to go to the Lion Sanctum starting tomorrow?"
"I'll go! Ah, but I have plans the day after tomorrow..."
"Then let's set aside a few of the other days to train. I think it's fine to rest our heads and move our bodies for about a week."
"Indeed," Weiss agreed. "Young Lady, I shall inform the Head of the Family as well. Since you both are perfectly prepared for the next exams, a change of pace would be beneficial."
Licia was overjoyed. A change of pace was welcome, but more than anything, she was simply happy that Ren had invited her.
"Lady Licia, you're steadily mastering the Strong Sword Arts as well," Ren noted.
"Mm-hmm! It’s thanks to you teaching me at the manor. I think I'll be able to use Enshroud on my hands soon!"
Licia was a genius in her own right. Because she possessed a spirit that never shied away from tireless effort, she grew at a speed incomparable to ordinary people. The same was true for Ren. Though he would never label himself as such, he too possessed a rare, peerless talent.
Watching the two of them grow made Weiss's heart swell with pride.
The following day, Licia and Ren visited the Lion Sanctum and immersed themselves in a day of intense training.
"Just what is your body made of?"
With a dull thud, a man's greatsword fell to the ground. He was the same hulking knight Ren had sparred with on the day he first mastered Enshroud; they had crossed blades every time Ren visited since.
The knight sat on the ground, drenched in sweat and gasping for air.
"Even if you ask what it's made of... it’s just as you see..." Ren replied.
Ren reached out a hand to help the man up, but the knight declined, preferring to remain seated as he recovered.
"Your effort is beyond reason. How can you move that much? I never imagined back in winter that I would be the one to tire out first."
"Haha... I have to work hard, or Lady Licia will overtake me in no time."
Ren looked toward Licia, who was practicing her swings nearby.
"The Saint is certainly extraordinary," the knight admitted, "but you are several levels above her."
Ren's motivation wasn't just his rivalry with Licia; the threat of the Demon King Cult weighed heavily on his mind. He hadn't forgotten how he had overwhelmed them in the spring, but he wasn't arrogant enough to assume he could do it again without further growth.
There was no negligence. There was no pride. Having passed through that spring, Ren had increased his strength by yet another fold.
The following week, the sky over the Imperial Capital was a leaden gray, and a light rain began to fall.
Ren was at the Imperial Academy. He had just finished signing up for the Second Exam in the same building where he had collected his application weeks prior.
Lately, one thought had been bothering him.
It’s strange how there’s been no word, he thought.
He was thinking of Ulysses and Radius. Since it was clear the Demon King Cult was involved in the spring's bandit troubles, he couldn't imagine those two were sitting idle. Yet, there had been no news of progress.
Lost in thought, Ren opened his umbrella and stepped outside. He had only walked a few paces when a voice called out to him. Standing there, dressed in a light summer uniform, was Fiona.