Past the stone stairs carved into the mountainside lay a massive plateau, a wide expanse of stone-paved plaza surrounded by towering divine statues dozens of mails high.
In ancient times, this place drew the faithful of Elfen.
It was said that countless believers once climbed those endless stairs, weeping with joy when they finally witnessed the mystical aura radiating from the divine statues.
The place was called Roses Kaitas.
In the old tongue, the name meant "The Land of Audience with God."
Roses Kaitas was not the work of any man; it was a mystical sanctuary that had existed since the beginning of time.
Now, however, many of the statues were shattered beyond recognition, and few remained even half-intact.
The cause was the Demon King.
The Demon King had unleashed his aides upon this land, baring his fangs against the gods.
Ever since, even the most devout followers had been unable to set foot in Roses Kaitas. Fearing that the Demon King would target the site again, Leomel had used a special power to seal the entrance.
Several hundred years later, a young man and woman stood together in that very place.
Facing an existence that could only be described as an absurdity, the two exchanged words with their usual familiarity.
"Hey, Ren."
Licia spoke up, looking into Ren’s face.
"Do you ever think that if things hadn't turned out like this, you would’ve wanted to participate in the Imperial Capital Festival? If we were there, we’d only be fighting people our own age in the tournament. We might even be facing each other in the finals by now."
"No, I can't say I have any regrets."
"Fufu. I thought you’d say that."
"Though, I wouldn't mind adding 'The Flipside' to the end of the festival’s name," Ren remarked.
The two looked at each other and shared a laugh.
Who could possibly imagine that while the Imperial Capital celebrated its massive festival, this was happening behind the scenes?
Ren gave a self-deprecating smile. Before plunging into the life-or-death struggle occurring backstage, he spoke again.
"Maybe this is just our style."
"Maybe it is. Standing away from the spotlight to fight certainly feels like us."
"...It’s a bit late for this, but won't you please evacuate after all?"
"Don't be silly. It really is too late, and you know as well as I do that I can't," Licia replied with a wry smile, her grip tightening on Byakuen.
Her hand did not tremble as she held the famous sword that had become her symbol. She looked up at Ren and smiled, her eyes showing no trace of fear. Even as she stared at the overwhelming absurdity beyond the swirling sandstorm, she remained resolute.
"Or is it that you’re unhappy having me by your side?"
Ren unleashed a flash from his Iron Magic Sword against the approaching sandstorm.
When the gale—a manifestation of magic—was dispersed by the strike, Licia stepped a pace ahead of Ren and turned back. Still wearing a lovely, beautiful smile, she reached her hand toward him.
Waves of light erupted from her fingertips, enveloping Ren's body.
"Well?" her eyes challenged him playfully.
"Despite the situation, you’re the same as always, Lady Licia."
"If I’m going to die, having you next to me is enough. It just means my clock stops a few decades earlier than planned."
"————I see."
Ren took Licia’s hand.
An exceptionally bright flash of light bathed them both as power surged through their bodies.
"Don't get mad at me if you get hurt."
"You’re being tedious. You’ve taken a Saint’s hand, Ren—be prepared for the consequences."
The weathered statues stood in ruin, many shattered long ago by the Demon King’s aides. The tension in the air was suffocating, yet Licia continued to smile at Ren’s side.
"My holy magic is much stronger than it used to be. Look forward to it. It might even make your Magic Sword a bit sharper."
The two threw themselves into the fight against the impossible, swinging their blades.
Surrounded by countless divine statues, the life-or-death struggle occurring in the shadows of history began.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The story traces back about three months, to the middle of April.
In recent years, the Imperial Academy had been drawing more international and domestic attention than ever before.
The year level that had enrolled two years prior had gained notoriety due to the incident in the Baldur Mountains, especially since Ulysses Ignat’s daughter had been involved. Furthermore, two heirs of Heroic Archduke Families had enrolled last year, and two more had joined this year.
Among them was Vane, a descendant of Hero Ruin, though no one but Ren knew that truth yet.
It was during the time when the new students were finally settling into academy life and their classes were beginning in earnest.
Two girls happened to meet outside the school gates—the "Twin Beauties."
Currently, these two students drew the most attention from the entire student body, regardless of gender.
There was Licia, who would turn fourteen in the summer, and Fiona, who was nearly sixteen.
Licia's loveliness had been further refined, and her height and physique had taken on a more womanly grace. Fiona was the same. Her beauty, which had been the talk of the school since her first day, had increased another notch, yet she retained a charming daintiness that captivated every eye.
They were mystical girls who possessed a perfect harmony of elegance and beauty.
Even though they belonged to different political factions, the sight of them talking together was enough to entrance onlookers, many of whom secretly wished those smiles were reserved for them alone. Dressed in their uniforms, the two were so radiant that they stirred an almost painful longing in others.
The unfortunate reality was that such wishes would never be granted, but be that as it may—
"Lady Licia?"
As they entered the school building, Fiona addressed her friend.
Finding it strange that Ren, who was usually glued to Licia’s side, was missing, she wondered if something was wrong.
"Is Ren-kun absent today?"
"He said he’d attend from the afternoon if he could. I’m not sure why, but he apparently decided after speaking with my father this morning. ——I don't know the reason, though."
"Ahaha... saying it twice suggests you aren't exactly pleased with that, Lady Licia."
Fiona’s wry smile was a picture of grace, and Licia’s slight pout was equally charming.
Deciding to chat before their lessons began, they bypassed their classrooms and headed toward the rooftop. On the way, Licia mentioned she needed to stop by the staff room to discuss Ren's situation.
"I mean, it was so sudden! We were supposed to go to school together, but then my father called for him alone—and the moment Ren came out of the office, he just told me he was taking the morning off!"
Licia intended to notify the school. While the academy didn't strictly require a notice for every absence, school had only just started, and since Ren was a Freshman Representative alongside her, she felt a sense of responsibility to inform them.
"How strange..." Fiona mused, looking skeptical. "Taking a leave of absence without telling you, especially after speaking with Viscount Clausel... something must have happened."
"Right? After what happened at the Great Clock Tower last summer, I can't help but wonder."
"But Viscount Clausel didn't tell you anything either?"
"No. Father just told me not to worry about it."
As they walked, they noticed a boy and girl in the building across the courtyard. They could faintly hear other students in the courtyard discussing that pair.
"Did you hear? Those first-years are already making a name for themselves in the Guild. I heard they reached D-rank just recently."
"D-rank!? That’s incredible! And they're only first-years?"
"Well, she is the daughter of the Riohalde family. And the boy with her is supposedly just as strong, maybe even stronger. That’s why they’ve been so active since enrollment."
The conversation quickly shifted to Licia and Ren.
"Speaking of first-years, isn't there the Saint of Clausel too? I heard the boy who was the Freshman Representative is also supposed to be amazing."
"I’ve heard the Saint is incredible, but I’m not so sure about the boy."
"Oh, my younger brother is in the Special Merit Class, so I heard about him."
"Really? Was he at the same site for the final exam?"
"Yeah. But he said the Saint defeated almost all the monsters herself. The boy didn't even use his sword much, and even when he did, the monsters were so weak that nobody could tell if he was actually strong."
"Huh... I guess the others might be stronger then. He probably just has good grades since he was the representative."
Overhearing this, Fiona looked at Licia.
"Did Ren-kun really not fight much during the exam?"
"Yes. Ren was focused on watching the surroundings to make sure the other examinees didn't get hurt."
Ren’s primary focus had been support, a habit born from his experiences in the Baldur Mountains. He hadn't stood out during the finals, but the examiners had noted his level-headed conduct and rewarded him with high marks.
"I heard heirs from other Heroic Archduke Families are enrolling next year too."
"I can't wait. Every family except the one with Hero Ruin's blood will be gathered here."
In that sense, Sera and her companions were the types to garner praise on the main stage, destined to shine even brighter. In contrast, Ren and Radius acted more like heroes in the shadows.
While the people of Clausel and Ren’s home village knew of his feats, it was clear that the descendants of the Seven Heroes or Vane’s group would always be the ones to capture the public eye.
However, neither Licia nor Fiona seemed to mind.
As people whose lives had been saved by Ren, they felt they knew his true strength better than anyone. They took a quiet pride in being among the few who understood just how powerful he was.
Eventually, they reached the staff room. Licia went inside alone and informed the homeroom teacher that Ren was away but might arrive in the afternoon.
"Is it only Ashton?"
"Yes. He was speaking with my father, so I believe it’s work, though I wasn't told the details."
"I see... I understand the situation for now."
Since the academy hosted many nobles and foreign royalty, students often took leaves for undisclosed reasons. The teacher, used to such arrangements, simply nodded.
"I’ll be going then," Licia said.
As she was about to step out, she caught a fragment of conversation between two other teachers.
"The Third Prince will be attending from the afternoon at the earliest. If not, he’ll be absent for the day."
"Understood. Public duties, most likely."
Licia muttered, "The Third Prince too...?" and stepped back out into the hall.
She looked deep in thought as she rejoined Fiona.
"What is it?" Fiona asked.
"I overheard something in the staff room. It seems the Third Prince is also absent today."
"...On the same day as Ren-kun? That’s quite a coincidence."
Fiona’s thoughts immediately mirrored Licia’s. Rather than just wondering, they both felt a surge of certainty.
"Could it be...?" they whispered simultaneously as they reached the final landing before the rooftop.
"Lady Licia."
"Lady Fiona."
Their voices overlapped as they pushed open the door to the rooftop.
"I don't think it’s a mere coincidence that Ren-kun and the Third Prince are both absent on the same day!"
"Neither do I! And especially since he was given an assignment by my father—they’re definitely doing something together in secret!"
Since the rooftop was empty, they didn't hold back their voices. They were in total agreement. Recalling the incident at the Great Clock Tower, there was no way these absences were unrelated.
The two looked at each other and nodded firmly.
"They're hiding something from us again, aren't they?" they said, their words perfectly in sync.
Since the girls were still able to attend the academy, the situation probably wasn't a world-ending crisis. Even so, they couldn't help but be intensely curious about what those two were up to.