Ren could still vividly recall the first day he stepped into the Lion Sanctum.
He had met up with Edgar in the Imperial Capital that day, entering the sanctum under the man’s guidance. Any surprise or curiosity he’d felt about entering a space inaccessible in the world of The Legend of the Seven Heroes had been eclipsed the moment he witnessed the sheer, overwhelming power of the Strong Sword.
His feelings hadn't wavered since. If anything, it was no exaggeration to say that his resolve to hone his skills was stronger now than ever before. Since the incident last summer, Ren’s hunger for growth had only intensified.
In the early morning, long before classes began at the academy, Ren and Licia were already at the Lion Sanctum, swinging their swords.
"Whew... hah..."
Ren lay spread-eagle on the floor, utterly spent. Licia approached and knelt beside him, handing him a towel chilled with water.
"Do you think you’ll be able to stay awake during your lectures?" she asked.
"Leave it to me... I’m perfectly fine!"
"That’s good. In that case, for today’s morning practice—"
"I’ll rest for a second, then do one more set and fin—"
"No, you won't," Licia interrupted, pressing her index finger to his forehead. "If you don't call it a day here, you're going to fall asleep in class."
"Right..."
Tiny particles of light burst from her fingertip, gradually soothing the fatigue that saturated Ren’s body.
"I think you know this already, but I'm not doing this so you can go back to swinging your sword."
"How did you know that was what I was going to say?"
"Because I know how your mind works, Ren," she replied with a resigned smile as she stood and offered him a hand.
Ren took her hand and pulled himself up. He caught his breath, glancing up at the morning sun streaming through the glass ceiling. It had been dark when they arrived, but a significant amount of time had clearly passed.
"You two were certainly full of spirit again today."
"It brings back memories of the Great Clock Tower Incident. Your presence was even more intense than that night you vowed to become a lion that crushes every enemy, Lord Ren."
"Good grief... honestly, we adults are going to wear out first. You both have bottomless reserves of stamina."
Accompanied by the praise of the knights, Ren and Licia left the underground training ground. They had to hurry and bathe to prepare for the academy, or they would be late.
While walking toward the baths, a lovely smile played across Licia’s face.
"Honestly, Ren. To think you’d talk about becoming a lion right in front of the knights who serve the descendants of the Lion King."
"...I think I was just a bit worked up at the time."
However, no one had dismissed his words as insolent then, and no one did so now. Within the Lion Sanctum, the word "lion" carried a weight that was rare even within the Imperial Capital. Despite that, Ren’s words were treated with respect.
It was a respect earned solely through the speed of his growth and his devotion to training. While the Lion Sanctum Knights were often called monsters or elites by the public, even they looked at the talent displayed by Ren and Licia and doubted their own abilities—particularly in Ren’s case.
Licia giggled at his embarrassment before turning to a more serious topic.
"Is the path to becoming a Sword Saint still as far away as ever?"
She was referring to the rank Ren currently aspired to reach. Having attained the rank of Swordmaster, the next step was Sword Saint. Licia understood this well; she spent her own days chasing after Ren’s back as he forged ahead.
"It is. It’s been nearly a year since I became a Swordmaster, but I’m hitting the biggest wall I’ve ever encountered."
"...In any style, the jump from Swordmaster to Sword Saint is said to be the hardest."
"I’m sure that’s true, but I think the fact that I’m practicing the Strong Sword Arts makes it even more difficult."
Furthermore, because the only rank above Sword Saint was Sword King, the power gap was immense. Ren was well aware that the difference in strength between a top-tier Sword Saint and a lower-tier one was staggering.
"If you keep getting stronger at this rate, I wonder if you’ll eventually become a Sword King yourself."
"Sword Kings are absolute monsters. I don't think it’s very realistic for me to achieve that kind of power, but..."
Ren recalled the strength he had witnessed at the climax of the Great Clock Tower Incident. In the past, he might have flatly denied the possibility. Now, things were different.
"I do find myself wondering... what if the ultimate end of my path is to become a Sword King?"
He had grown confident enough to at least voice the ambition.
Licia blinked in surprise for a moment, then quickly nodded. "Me too."
"One step at a time, then."
"So, first... Sword Saint?"
"Exactly. I'm working every day to improve my Enshroud to reach that level, but I've hit a very high, very sturdy wall. You have that to look forward to as well, Lady Licia," Ren joked, making her laugh.
If I can master that Art, I’ll have a much easier time in combat, he thought.
He took a deep breath, thinking of the technique that served as the proof of a Sword Saint in the Strong Sword style. After bathing and regrouping with Licia, they headed to the Imperial Academy, though the morning’s fatigue still clung to Ren’s limbs.
It was after the morning lectures had concluded.
The Imperial Academy held a general assembly for all students, meaning everyone from the first-years to the final-year students was present. The venue was the Great Auditorium—the same place where the entrance ceremony had been held—and the entrances on each floor were crowded. Until the assembly began, the hall hummed with the noise of students chatting.
"Ren, you really saved my life... I think I can actually manage the next assignment now."
The speaker was Vane. He was the boy who had been the protagonist of The Legend of the Seven Heroes, the sole bearer of Hero Ruin’s blood.
Ren, walking beside him, sighed. "Make sure you actually review it, or you'll forget everything immediately."
"Yeah, I know... but that class is just too hard. Why does it have to be so complicated?"
"All I can tell you is that's just the way it is."
"Ugh... Right! Ren, you have to tell me how you study!"
Since they had known each other since before enrollment, Ren and Vane spoke often. They weren't quite best friends yet, but they were on good terms. Ren had just spent his lunch break helping Vane with a subject he was struggling with, and Vane was still clutching a notebook full of Ren’s explanations.
"I think if you go through a reference book about ten times, you’ll remember most of the content."
"...You're kidding, right?"
"No, I’m serious. I’m not particularly naturally gifted, so I usually just rely on repetitions to make things stick."
That said, Ren was a quick learner, so there were some subjects where he didn't need that much effort. He also didn't need to do that when he and Licia were being tutored by Fiona. Regardless, Ren preferred the brute-force method of repetition for his studies. Considering he had achieved top marks on the written exams, his methods were hard to argue with.
"Well, if the Student Representative says so, it must be true."
"I know I'm the one suggesting it, but if you can find a more efficient way to learn, you should probably do that instead."
"Nah. I think I just need to put in more effort."
The two entered the auditorium and began climbing the stairs toward the first-year seating.
"I wonder what this meeting is about today."
"The upperclassmen are here too, so it has to be that."
"That? What are you talking about?"
He heard other first-years whispering. It seemed several students had already guessed the purpose of the assembly. Ren secretly agreed; there was really only one possibility. Vane, however, remained clueless, tilting his head in confusion.
"Vane!"
A girl's voice called out, causing both Ren and Vane to turn. It was Sera Riohalde, the daughter of the Heroic Archduke family who had been a close friend of Licia’s since childhood. She appeared to have been waiting for Vane at their designated seats.
"My seat is over there, so I'll see you later," Ren said, parting ways with him.
"Yeah! Thanks again for the help with the studying!"
"Don't worry about it. See ya."
Ren continued down two rows to where Licia was already seated. A few minutes after they finished their small talk, the auditorium fell silent.
The students stopped talking as one when they saw the Academy Principal, Chronoa Highland, walking onto the stage. Her rhythmic footsteps echoed through the hall, and her lustrous, gold-spun hair swayed as she moved, drawing every eye in the room.
"I’ve asked you all to gather today because there are several things we need to discuss," Chronoa said, a smile gracing her exquisitely beautiful features. Most of the male students looked absolutely captivated by her.
"First, regarding the first-years..."
She began by touching on the daily lives of the new students and asking how they were adjusting to the academy. She then moved on to the second and third-years, and finally the seniors in their final year. After covering general academy business and a few minor announcements, about ten minutes had passed.
The students, regardless of their year, began to grow restless.
"Fufu."
Chronoa smiled from the stage, sensing their anticipation. It was a gentle, knowing look.
"Don't worry. I’m going to talk about the thing you’re all waiting for now."
She raised an index finger to her lips in a playful gesture for silence. After ticking off a few more necessary items, she finally got to the point.
"This year marks the biennial Lion King Grand Festival, so it’s time to start our preparations!"
A massive cheer erupted from the audience. Chronoa didn't bother trying to quiet them this time, simply smiling as she let the excitement wash over the room.
Ren nodded to himself. It starts the first week of July, if I remember correctly.
The Lion King Grand Festival was a massive event held in the Imperial Capital. Students from all the city’s educational institutions would gather to compete in various fields—magic, swordsmanship, debate, and many more. Because it only happened once every two years, it was a major event that drew spectators from across the continent.
That evening, a letter from Ulysses arrived at the Clausel manor.
It was addressed to Ren, so he immediately read it before heading to Lezard’s office. Licia was there as well, which was perfect.
"Ren? What is it?"
"I thought I should let you both know about a letter I just received from Lord Ulysses."
Ren approached them and summarized the contents. The message was simple: I would like some of your time during the Lion King Grand Festival. However, if you are participating in the competitions, please prioritize those.
"Did he mention a reason?" Lezard asked.
"No. He said he would explain properly once the details were finalized, but that was all."
"I see... and what do you intend to do, Ren?"
"I'd like to prioritize Lord Ulysses’s invitation. I didn't have much interest in participating in the competitions anyway."
With Ren’s strength, a victory in a student tournament would be a foregone conclusion. However, he felt no desire to enter. More importantly, his friendship with the Strong-Armed Marquis was far more valuable than any trophy.
"Then you’re just like me," Licia said. "I’m not participating either."
"Oh? You aren't, Lady Licia?"
"No. Ever since Father was promoted to Viscount, we’ve received so many invitations and inquiries. We’re expecting many guests during the festival, so I plan to stay and help him with the social duties."
"I told you not to worry about that," Lezard noted.
"I have to. This is a critical time for solidifying the Clausel family’s standing. I need to be there."
Even without Ulysses’s letter, Ren realized he likely wouldn't have competed. Guarding Lezard and Licia was a much higher priority.
"Are you sure, though? It's the Lion King Grand Festival. Don't you want to enjoy yourself, Lady Licia?"
Licia shook her head. She didn't seem to have any regrets about skipping the events. "I do want to see the festival, but it lasts a whole week, doesn't it? I’ll be happy if Ren and I can find some time to walk around together when things are quiet."
"I understand. In that case, I would be honored to accompany you."
"But what about you, Ren? Don't you want a chance to show off how much your swordsmanship has improved?"
"Not really... I didn't train this hard just to show off."
Besides, Ulysses had gone out of his way to reach out to him. Prioritizing his relationship with the Marquis was clearly the right choice.
During the lunch break the next day.
"And that’s the situation!" Chronoa declared, crossing her arms and puffing out her chest with a look of pride.
Ren had been summoned to the Principal's Office, and Licia had come along with him. Both of them could only offer troubled, awkward smiles.
"Lady Chronoa... what situation are you talking about?"
"Oh, I’ll explain everything! Come on, Ren, Licia! Let’s sit down and talk!"
Urged by the principal, they moved to the sofas.
"Have you two settled into the academy yet?"
Ren caught Licia’s eye, and she spoke first. "Thanks to you and the rest of the faculty, we’re adjusting well."
"The same goes for me. The classes are very productive. I feel like I'm learning something new every day."
Chronoa looked relieved. "Good, good. Now, let’s get down to business. I have a consultation for the two of you."
"Oh boy..."
"Hey! Don't make that face like this is going to be a huge pain!"
"I apologize. It’s just that when one of the world’s greatest mages asks for a 'consultation,' I can’t help but brace myself for a disaster."
"D-don't worry! I’m the principal! I would never force an impossible task on my precious, adorable students!"
"Of course. I’m sorry for the misunderstanding."
Chronoa reached into the inner pocket of her robe and pulled out a sheet of paper. She held it out so that both Ren and Licia could read it.
"This is about the Lion King Grand Festival, isn't it?" Ren asked.
The paper contained the festival schedule and detailed information on which competitions the academy was entering. However, the names of the representatives were still blank. Since some events had limited slots, there would be internal selections over the coming weeks to decide the academy’s champions.
"Our academy is prestigious, so fortunately, most students are eager to participate in something. In other schools, a lot of students just want to play around at the festival, but I never have a shortage of volunteers."
"I’m sure. However, Lady Licia and I were planning to sit this one out."
"R-really?! You aren't going to participate?!"
Normally, a principal would be disappointed to hear that. Especially with students like Ren and Licia—talents who wouldn't just define a generation but would likely be recorded in history books—you would expect a principal to beg them to compete.
Instead, Chronoa looked like she was about to leap across the table with joy.
"Are you truly alright with us not participating, Lady Chronoa?" Licia asked.
"It’s fine! Totally fine! We allow completely voluntary participation here, and it’s no fun if I force you. I want you two to enjoy the festival! I’d never be so haughty as to command you to enter, so don't you worry about that!"
"Thank you... but then, why do you look so happy about it?"
Chronoa let out a long, heavy sigh. Her expression shifted instantly, taking on the weary look of an administrator burdened by daily struggles.
"Because... that’s exactly why I wanted to consult with you two."
The two students waited for her to continue, unable to look away as Chronoa’s tone became uncharacteristically solemn.