"I have been eager to hear your story. Won’t you start from the beginning—perhaps with what happened in Clausel?"
Lezard and Ulysses both nodded at Ren’s questioning glance, leaving the floor to him. While the cheers of the martial arts tournament echoed through the Imperial Capital Grand Coliseum, Richter leaned in to listen.
"It started when a monster called a Thief Wolfen appeared near our village—"
Ren began his account from that very first battle.
He spoke of the circumstances that had eventually led to his flight with Licia.
"So, you fought that elf alone? You truly escaped such a predicament while protecting the Saint?"
"No, I only succeeded because of Lady Licia’s assistance. Honestly, I think I was just lucky. Fortunately, the horse the elf brought with him listened to me, so we were able to get away."
"Lord Leonhardt, that horse is now Ren’s partner. I have yet to see it with my own eyes, however," Ulysses added.
"Ho, that is fascinating. They say a horse with monster blood chooses its master based on their character. It seems you charmed the beast with your own potential."
"She’s a very relaxed girl. It’s possible she just wanted to graze peacefully by my side."
Richter laughed at Ren’s humble joke, his eyes sparkling with growing interest as the story continued.
As the account of their journey reached a natural pause, a stadium attendant appeared to pour tea for the group before quietly withdrawing.
Ren moistened his throat, which had grown dry from the long explanation.
"Lord Leonhardt, you really do enjoy these kinds of stories, don't you?"
"I love them, to be precise. On the Sky Continent, many of us are quite fond of heroic epics."
"Is that a cultural trait of your people?"
"Indeed. It is not a preference unique to me."
Richter’s mother, whom he had mentioned was of mixed heritage, was born in the southern Martel Continent. According to him, the people there were exceptionally passionate, and his tan skin was a reflection of that bloodline. Aside from his personal background, however, the citizens of the Shelgard Empire as a whole tended to favor legends of heroes.
"The reason lies with the hero who once saved our nation."
Since Richter seemed to be in high spirits, Ren played the part of the polite host. "I would be honored to hear that tale, if you would be willing to share it."
Pleased, Richter began his narration.
"In the distant past, the Sky Continent was home to a guardian deity known as the Phoenix."
When a Phoenix reached the end of its life, it would turn to ash and be reborn as a chick. Having repeated this cycle countless times, the Phoenix—once thought to be eternal and wise—eventually lost its mind. It became a creature of destruction, and countless lives were lost to its fury.
"But there was a hero who brought peace to that Phoenix."
The hero appeared out of nowhere and asked the Shelgardians where the Phoenix could be found. He ventured to the center of the continent, where the deity resided, and engaged it in a fierce struggle. The Phoenix’s supposedly inexhaustible regeneration weakened as the battle raged, until finally, the hero’s sword pierced its throat.
"The hero stood by the people of the Sky Continent. He prayed for the fallen and devoted himself to the reconstruction of our land. Deeply moved by his nobility, the Emperor of that era told the hero, 'I wish to reward you.'"
The hero was entitled to anything—all the wealth and fame the Sky Continent could offer.
However, he desired neither, a choice that stunned the people.
"The hero asked for nothing but the blood flowing from the Phoenix’s throat. He replied that he would be satisfied with just enough to fill a single small vial."
"...The blood of the Phoenix?"
"Supposedly, it possessed incredible power—the very life force of the Phoenix itself. Whether that is true, who can say? Regardless, it would have been a treasure beyond measure."
There was no way to verify the legend now; the truth had been lost to time.
"It is said the hero stayed on the Sky Continent for a short while longer before vanishing one day without a word. He never revealed his name, leaving as quietly as he had arrived."
"...He sounds like an incredible man. I wonder just how strong he must have been."
"Who knows? I am curious myself, but like the blood of the Phoenix, no proof of his strength remains."
The Phoenix’s remains were buried with great ceremony by the Emperor of that age, and a new capital was built upon that site. Following the hero’s example, successive emperors were expected to be paragons of strength. The current Emperor was no exception, reigning as the Fourth-ranked Sword King.
(My ancestors were apparently strong, but the heroes of the Sky Continent sound just as amazing.)
Ren kept the thought to himself and resumed his own story at Richter’s prompting.
By the time Ren finished, Richter looked thoroughly satisfied. He had listened with rapt attention, and now he sat in a contented silence, like a theater patron savoring the end of a grand performance.
"A wonderful story. I look forward to hearing the heroic tales you will weave in the years to come. To that end, I hope House Leonhardt can remain a lasting friend to both House Clausel and House Ashton."
"Lord Leonhardt, does that mean you will accept the proposal I presented to you regarding the Clausel Territory?" Lezard asked.
"Yes. I wish to make a new investment. I have developed a deep fondness for the land that produced a boy like him. If that 'Strong-Armed' man of yours is also involved, I hope to forge an even closer bond in the future."
Richter answered without a moment's hesitation.
He was a decisive, refreshing man. While the finer points were left for a later date, the negotiations were proceeding flawlessly.
"I would like to finalize the arrangements before I return home. Forgive my haste, but my past experiences have taught me to make decisions I won't regret."
Ulysses and Richter shared a meaningful look, and Richter offered a bittersweet smile.
"Do you remember the incident, Marquis Ignat?"
"Of course. The succession dispute within the Archduke family of the Shelgard Empire is quite famous."
"...It is a painful subject for me. My own House Leonhardt was entangled in that chaos. We advised the Archduke family to settle matters peacefully, but the result was... well, you know."
"Oh? Was that why you resigned your knighthood?" Ulysses asked, as if the pieces were finally falling into place.
Richter nodded slowly, letting his words spill out bit by bit. It was a gesture of respect toward Ren for sharing his own history, and a thank-you to Ulysses for arranging the meeting.
"I served my country as a knight, yet I failed to fulfill my duty and allowed the nation to fall into turmoil. I could not forgive myself for remaining in that position."
Richter, his expression clouded by remorse, turned his gaze back to Ren.
"Lord Leonhardt..."
Ren wasn't sure how to respond to such a sudden, heavy confidence.
Richter offered a quick apology for the mood. "Forgive me. Many years ago, a dispute over succession broke out in an Archduke's house, dragging many nobles into the fray."
There had been two brothers in that house.
The younger brother had warned his elder that his ideals were dangerous. The older brother was an expansionist, believing Shelgard should intervene in foreign conflicts to secure its own interests. The younger brother argued that such thinking was outdated, leading to a bitter rift.
"How was the dispute settled?" Ren asked.
"There was no settlement. In the end, both brothers died. Though there were talks of a distant relative taking over, the Archduke's house was eventually dissolved entirely."
First, the younger brother was killed by a low-ranking noble loyal to the elder brother. His wife and only daughter—who were also believed to have perished—actually vanished, disappearing without a trace. Richter and others had searched for them, hoping to offer protection, but they were never found.
Meanwhile, the older brother was assassinated by a noble who had been a devoted follower of the younger brother.
As the struggle involved a family of immense power, the entire Sky Continent had been thrown into chaos. It was a cycle of blood that left no survivors and no happiness in its wake.
"I felt I had lost the right to be a knight. While I was struggling with my own powerlessness, my father-in-law visited me. He was a merchant from the Martel Continent. He suggested that I serve my homeland in a different capacity. Since I had relatives who owned trading firms, I decided to try my hand at it."
Because he had taken such pride in his knighthood, he had initially struggled with the transition. But the thought that he was no longer a knight—that he had failed the very core of his duty—haunted him. Richter had essentially fled into an apprenticeship under his father-in-law.
He had considered becoming a civil official for a time, but his father-in-law’s support had been instrumental.
Fortunately, Richter possessed a natural talent for commerce.
By leveraging the connections he had made during his military days, he built a trading company that became famous across multiple continents.
"Perhaps that is why I look at you and see someone who shines brighter than the morning sun. Or perhaps I simply admire you for achieving what I could not."
Richter’s words were clearly sincere. This was the true reason he was so drawn to Ren, and why his heart soared at the boy's stories.
"In those days, the late Former Marquis Ignat was also a great help to us."
"Indeed," Ulysses sighed. "The woman who vanished was originally an attendant at the Imperial Castle. If even a minor tension had arisen between our nations because of her, it would have been quite a... well, it would have been a headache."
Ulysses cleared his throat, deciding that the conversation had become too somber. This was the Lion King Grand Festival, after all. He directed everyone’s attention back to the tournament arena below.
"Look there. The boy from the Leonard family is about to fight."
Ren turned his gaze toward the coliseum floor.
The match between Kaito and a student from another academy began with the referee's signal. Kaito let out a fierce roar and dominated the fight from the first second. The power gap was so immense that his opponent was never given a chance to mount a defense.
The descendants of the Heroic Archduke families continued to display their overwhelming strength for the spectators.
Next up was Sera Riohalde. Utilizing the fluid, elegant swordplay she had refined since childhood, she danced around her opponent and secured a victory as effortlessly as Kaito had.
The crowd was mesmerized by the youthful brilliance of the Archduke's children.
"Oh."
Ulysses checked his watch and realized he had monopolized Ren’s time for far too long. He hadn't set a strict schedule, but he didn't want to keep the boy from his other duties.
"My apologies. I've kept you here quite a while."
"...Is it already that time?" Richter said regretfully, looking at Ren and Lezard. "Would the two of you care to join us for an early dinner? Marquis Ignat is going to show me around the capital this evening, and I would love for you to come along."
Lezard bowed deeply, his voice sounding genuinely apologetic. "I am honored by the invitation, but I have several other engagements I must attend this evening..."
"I thought as much. You are the man of the hour, Viscount Clausel. It was a long shot, I suppose."
Ren had originally planned to accompany Lezard, but given the circumstances, it seemed appropriate for Ren to represent the house and join Richter. Lezard clearly agreed, as he caught Ren’s eye and gave a small nod.
Ren ended up attending the dinner alone. On his way back, the sky had not yet fully darkened as he walked through the capital.
"I'm sorry. I feel bad making you walk me all this way..." Fiona said, sounding bashful.
She was here because she had also been invited to the dinner.
As Ren walked beside her along the main boulevard toward the station, he offered a reassuring smile. "Please don't worry about it. I’m the one who’s always in your debt."
"...Honestly, you’re far too kind."
With her profile bathed in the fading crimson of the twilight, Fiona tilted her head slightly.
"Hehe."
She let out a happy little laugh.
This time alone with Ren was an unexpected treasure. She hadn't dared to hope that she would get to enjoy the festival atmosphere with him like this during the Lion King Grand Festival.
To make matters better, she could continue to enjoy the festivities until she had to return to the dormitory. Because her appearance and status made her stand out, she had changed out of her uniform into a disguise—glasses, a hat, and a summer-knit sweater that suited her perfectly.
They stopped at various stalls along the way. Fiona delighted in the simple things, finding joy in sharing frozen treats as they walked.
I wish this time could last forever.
The thought was constant and intense.
As they reached a particularly crowded section of the street, Fiona's hand reached out instinctively.
"Oh—I'm sorry!" she gasped, realizing she had grabbed the hem of Ren’s shirt.
"It's fine. It would be a disaster if we got separated in this crowd."
Fiona apologized, but the contact made her think back to the Baldur Mountains. She remembered grabbing the hem of his coat just like this before they crossed the suspension bridge, and the memory filled her with a quiet warmth.
Even so, she couldn't help but feel that her relationship with him hadn't progressed much since those days. She was grateful to be living so close to him now, but in the grand scheme of things, that was the only real change.