It was the final two days of the long holiday.
First, Licia departed Erendil via magic ship. Since she wasn't scheduled to return until that night, Ren spent the day as he always did—practicing his new technique and completing his training at the Lion Sanctum. Shortly after he had returned and finished his bath, he heard the sound of Licia’s voice coming through the open window of his room, signaling her arrival.
Ren headed to the Entrance Hall and found Licia there, just as he had expected. The moment she spotted him, she jogged over to his side.
"I'm back. I brought a souvenir, so make sure to eat it later."
"Welcome back. Thank you for your hard work on that sudden business, Licia-sama."
"No, it was fine. So, what did you do today, Ren?"
"The usual. Just some hunting and swinging my sword."
Licia let out a small laugh. "That’s so like you."
"Hey, listen." Her voice turned bouncy and excited. "If you're up for it, why don't we go into town tomorrow? It’s been a while. My father said I could have the day off."
"That sounds like a great idea. I haven't had a chance to walk through Erendil leisurely in quite some time."
"Right? It looks like a lot of new shops have opened recently, so let's go out together for a change of pace!"
With a beaming smile, Licia said, "I'm looking forward to it!" and left his side.
Lezard arrived just as she was leaving, with Weiss following slightly behind him. He looked toward Ren. "I confirmed the report while on the magic ship during the return trip. It concerns the recent status of the Ashton Family Town."
Lezard took a letter from the inside pocket of his jacket and handed it to Ren. Sensing that it was alright to check it immediately, Ren broke the seal.
Looking at the parchment inside, he saw that the village had undergone a considerable transformation once again. Lezard must have gone to the trouble of taking a painter along, as the sketches depicted the town’s progress in vivid detail.
"I see... there are already facilities serving as a base for merchants in part of the village."
"That refers to the merchants passing through the Clausel Territory," Lezard explained. "I have heard of it as well. With the roads around the village being developed, it seems to be becoming quite lively."
Weiss spoke up then, a pleasant expression on his face. "Young man, I've heard from the knights who stayed behind as well. Between their efforts and your financial support, the village has become incomparably safer than before. The day it is officially called a town is likely not far off."
"It's not just me," Ren said bashfully. "It's only because everyone lent me their strength."
The two men laughed warmly at his humble response.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The next morning.
Ren and Licia met in the Entrance Hall just after nine o'clock.
"Since you've been working so hard on your training, Ren, don't overdo it today."
"I'll be fine. If anything, you're the one who needs to be careful, right, Licia-sama?"
"Hehe, of course I will be."
There were no guards by their side. With Ren at her side, Licia—who was technically the one being protected—was now a capable Strong Sword User in her own right, reaching the Expert Swordsman Class. If anything were to happen to the two of them out there, it would likely be the same even if they stayed inside the manor.
"Are you ready to go, Ren?"
Licia, dressed in her casual clothes, looked elegant. Her skirt suited her perfectly, and the pure white blouse she wore accentuated her charm. Naturally, her lustrous hair was adorned with the Platinum Feather Hair Ornament.
"On the contrary, I'm eager to leave as soon as possible."
"Honestly, Ren. You're just hungry, aren't you?"
"Of course. Since I planned to eat breakfast outside, I'm so hungry I don't know when I might collapse."
"Yes, yes. Well then, shall we go? —Father, we're heading out!"
"Be careful. Ren, I'm putting a burden on you, but I leave Licia in your care."
Ren couldn't quite bring himself to say "leave it to me" with a straight face, so he simply offered a wry smile. Licia looked a bit dissatisfied by her father's comment, but she laughed when she saw Ren’s reaction and forcefully took his hand to lead him out of the mansion.
Once outside, the mid-June sunlight was dazzling. Faced with the brilliant rays that signaled the approaching summer, they both reflexively squinted.
As soon as they left the grounds, Licia let go of Ren’s hand. Even in her casual attire, a sword was tucked at her waist—the famous blade Byakuen, which had become her trademark. Ren, meanwhile, carried his Iron Magic Sword. Its scabbard was a custom piece crafted by Verrich. Since the Magic Sword grew alongside Ren’s own physical development, he realized he might eventually need to have a new scabbard made.
Licia noticed his gaze. "...Is something wrong? Are you curious about my sword?"
"I was just thinking that even in casual clothes, you look like a painting when you're carrying a sword, Licia-sama."
"Hehe, you won't get anything out of me even if you praise me, you know?"
"Not at all. I wasn't expecting a reward."
They laughed together and stepped out onto the main street. The Clausel residence in Erendil was a conspicuous mansion facing the boulevard, making them stand out whenever they emerged. However, since they left the residence together almost every day to attend the academy, it was a familiar sight for the local residents.
Occasionally, shop owners who had just opened their doors along the boulevard would call out to them, or vendors setting up stalls would strike up a conversation.
They eventually made their way to a cafe along the boulevard. They took a seat at a white round table backed by a hedge and spent a few minutes looking at the menu before ordering. Licia chose a set with warm tea, salad, and bread, while Ren opted for a similar set but with a much larger portion.
"Licia-sama, I'd like to ask just in case..."
"Yes, what is it?"
"Even in that outfit, you'd draw your sword if it came down to it, wouldn't you?"
"Of course. That's why I brought it. Besides, you're doing the same thing—wearing a sword with your casual clothes."
"Well, in my case, it's partly because I'm serving as your guard."
After a few minutes of idle conversation, their meals arrived. They ate their fill and then lingered over their warm tea.
"The city is really starting to change, isn't it?" Licia noted.
"I heard from Lezard-sama that the inn reservations are almost entirely full."
Preparations for the Lion King Grand Festival were underway everywhere. Erendil, being so close to the Imperial Capital, was already crowded with overnight guests and visitors arriving by magic ship. Since some of the competitions were scheduled to be held in Erendil itself, the city was particularly vibrant.
Among the passersby, they could see many people who appeared to have arrived from abroad. There were individuals with beast-like features, others reminiscent of reptiles, and some with wings—members of the various Demi-human races. Watching the citizens prepare for the once-every-few-years festival reminded them of their own enjoyment as Executive Committee Members.
"By the way, I think the representatives for the Martial Arts Tournament will be decided soon," Licia said, holding her teacup. "Sera mentioned it the other day. The selection involves the final students competing for points, and since both she and Vane have more than enough, their spots are almost guaranteed."
"I suppose so. Not to mention those from the Archduke Families, but Vane can certainly hold his own."
Neither of them would ever say it aloud—they were never the type to look down on their peers—but any third party who knew their true strength could easily imagine that Ren and Licia would have shattered the balance of the tournament had they entered. Regardless, they had no interest in the tournament and felt no regret about not participating.
"What should we do next? Is there anywhere in particular you want to go, Ren?"
"I wanted to buy a notebook, and I was thinking of visiting a bookstore for the first time in a while. But please, prioritize wherever you want to go, Licia-sama."
Licia smiled. "Then, if the place I want to go is the same as yours, it works out perfectly, doesn't it?"
"If that's the case, it certainly would be convenient."
Licia laughed happily, resting her elbows on the table and tilting her head. "It's decided then. After we rest for a bit, let's head to the bookstore first."
After finishing their break, they left the cafe and walked along the cobblestones. They enjoyed the holiday atmosphere of the bustling town, chatting idly as they went.
Suddenly, Ren stopped. "Wait—"
"What is it?"
"I just saw a classmate. It's rare to see her out here."
Licia followed Ren’s gaze and realized who he was looking at. Nemu Altia, the daughter of one of the Seven Great Archduke Families, was walking along the boulevard accompanied by several adults in work clothes.
Nemu noticed them as well and came jogging over. "Hey, hey! Good morning, you two!"
Ren had only spoken to Nemu for the first time recently, but Licia had interacted with her several times since the start of school. Since Sera and Nemu spoke frequently, Licia had been pulled into their social circle.
"What are Licia-chan and Ren-kun doing here?"
"We're just taking a look around town. What about you, Nemu?"
"Nemu is on her way to the Great Clock Tower right now."
According to Nemu, she had been checking on the tower several times since the incident last year. Previously, technicians from the Altia Family had handled the maintenance, but it seemed Nemu had taken over the task this time.
When Ren and Licia bowed their heads in gratitude, Nemu laughed. "It's fine, really! My ancestor built it, after all, so I have to manage it properly."
"...Nemu, you really are amazing," Licia said softly.
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're already able to manage such a massive facility and Magic Tool."
"Of course! Nemu has been tinkering with Magic Tools since she was a year old. I’m going to make inventions that surpass even my ancestor!"
As he listened to them, Ren took a deliberate step back. To give them space to talk, he excused himself. "I actually have something I need to convey to the knights nearby, so I'll step away for a moment."
He gestured toward some knights stationed in the town and moved about ten Meils away. At that distance, he could still rush back in an instant if needed.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Nemu leaned in close to Licia. "There's something I'm really curious about. Can I ask?"
"Sure, what is it?" Licia replied casually, assuming it wouldn't be anything serious. It was a mistake she would soon regret.
"...Is this a date?"
The question, phrased with an informality one wouldn't expect from a daughter of a Great Archduke Family, caught Licia completely off guard. She replayed the word in her head. A date? If Nemu was asking her, the "date" would have to be with the boy who had been standing right next to her a second ago.
It took about ten seconds for her to fully process the implication.
"~~~!?"
Licia’s face, from her cheeks to her ears and down to her neck, turned scarlet in an instant. She blinked rapidly, took a half-step back from Nemu, and crossed her arms. Trying desperately to feign composure, she brushed back her silken hair and looked away.
"Could you... please not ask such ridiculous questions?" she said, her voice strained as she tried to sound tough.
Nemu saw right through the act. "So it's not a date, then?"
"W-What if it's not?! Is that a problem for you, Nemu?!"
"Not at all! It's just that you're playing together so happily on a holiday, and looking at the way you two stand together, it just felt that way. Ren-kun is also close with the Ignat Family's Daughter, right? So I was just curious what the situation was here."
"........"
"S-Sorry! Please don't glare at me with such a cute face!"
Licia was staring at Nemu with watery eyes and a bright red face. Her embarrassment was reaching its limit; she looked like she might reach out and pinch Nemu’s cheeks at any moment.
"I’ll give you some Romance Guidance as an apology, so please stop glaring at me!"
Licia regained some of her composure at those words, but then she remembered a specific detail and poked at Nemu’s weak point. "What are you talking about? You said before that you have no romantic experience and only interact with boys as if they were friends."
"Ah! You said it! You said the one thing you shouldn't say to a girl my age!"
"If you're going to say that, you should reflect on your own behavior first."
"That's different! But listen—this might actually be useful for you, Licia-chan!"
Nemu spoke with a cheerful confidence, offering advice she had gleaned from who-knows-where. Despite her expertise in Magic Tools, the advice she offered was something Licia could actually follow.
"Alright, listen. First, it's about your manner of speaking."
"Our manner of speaking? You mean between me and Ren?"
"Exactly! The distance between you is important, but you two should be able to be more informal. You should have Ren-kun stop using polite speech, or have him change how he addresses you!"
"I told him before that he could be more informal, but he said he couldn't because he's the Son of a Knight. Besides, we already call each other by our names."
"But Ren-kun still calls you 'Licia-sama' with an honorific, doesn't he?"
"...So, you mean having him call me just 'Licia'—without the honorific... right?"
"Precisely! Just like Vane-kun and Sera-chan!" Nemu gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
Just imagining Ren calling her "Licia" without any titles caused Licia to cover her face with her hands and squirm.
"But it’s hard to tell which is tougher," Nemu mused, "dropping the honorific or dropping the polite speech entirely."
"Y-Yeah! They're both difficult!" Licia paused. "By the way... where did you get this information?"
"To tell you the truth... Romance Novels."
"...I thought as much."
"But it was good advice, wasn't it?"
Licia couldn't deny it. She nodded bashfully. "Yes."
The real problem was that the likelihood of Ren agreeing to either was extremely low, but Licia began to rack her brain for a way to make it happen.
Nemu checked her watch and said it was time for her to go. Ren, who had been waiting for the right moment to return, came back to Licia’s side. Seeing her flushed face, he tilted his head in confusion, but Licia remained silent. Nemu didn't explain anything either; she just laughed.
"See you later, you two! See you at the academy!"
As Nemu walked away, Ren realized he had lost his chance to find out what they had been talking about.
"You don't... have a fever, do you?"
"........"
"Licia-sama?"
Licia looked at him, feeling just a little bit frustrated. "...Dense."
She felt entitled to say at least that much. But almost immediately, she gave him a small, lovely smile.