Before long, they arrived at a weathered workshop tucked away in a corner of the Blacksmith District: Verrich’s Workshop.
Estelle reached for the soot-stained door, which looked as though it might crumble at any moment.
"Hey there, Verrich! I’m here!"
With a forceful bang, she flung it wide. Soot billowed from the frame as the door swung open. Despite its dilapidated appearance, the wood held firm—it was clearly crafted from exceptionally sturdy timber. The scratches Ulysses had carved into it as a child were far more prominent than any signs of decay.
Verrich, who was already inside, didn't look up with even a hint of surprise.
"Oh, Big Sis! I’ve been waiting for you!"
Verrich was both a blacksmith and a magic ship engineer. He possessed the short stature typical of a dwarf, paired with a stocky silhouette corded with muscle. Stroking his beard, he looked past Estelle toward Ren and Licia.
"Hmm? What are these two doing here?"
"Lady Estelle invited us," Ren replied. "Though I haven't been told a single thing about what we're actually doing."
"Is that so? Then this’ll be simple."
Ren didn't point out that it wasn't "simple" to be told nothing; he simply accepted the dwarf’s blunt nature.
"It'll be simple... uh, Ren...?"
"Don't worry," Ren whispered to Licia. "Just assume this is how he always is."
"Oh... right." Licia hadn't spent much time with Verrich, but she understood enough of his personality to offer only a troubled, wry smile. Even if they were occasionally swept aside by the boisterous energy of their elders, they couldn't bring themselves to dislike either of them.
"Alright, let's move, you two!" Verrich barked.
"Indeed," Estelle added. "We’re heading to Erendil immediately to take to the skies!"
"...And why exactly are we heading to the sky?" Ren asked, hoping for a straight answer this time.
Verrich’s voice practically bounced with excitement. "We’re going to harvest materials needed to repair the Lemuria. I had to ask Big Sis to give up one of her precious holidays for me."
While the details of the Lemuria were being kept confidential, Estelle was clearly in the loop. However, even she hadn't been informed that materials from Asval were being used in the repairs.
"Exactly," Estelle said. "Hunting is good for the soul, Ren."
"The repairs are coming along well," Verrich continued. "If we can just fill in the gaps for a few specific materials, we’ll manage... though the parts for the Furnace Core are still a problem."
"Wait—what?" Ren stammered.
He understood the situation with the Lemuria. It was the legendary magic ship found in the Sky Garden of Erendil’s massive station complex. Verrich had been toiling away at its repairs for years, and it made sense that he would need rare materials.
But what Licia asked next was the real heart of the matter.
"Are we actually going to hunt in the sky?"
"That's the plan. We’re heading up on the Drake Family Magic Ship."
Since the mission was ultimately for the sake of the Lemuria, both Ren and Licia were eager to assist. They were also curious about what kind of prey they were looking for.
As they left the workshop, Estelle spoke while they walked.
"Think of this as an unofficial duty. A pack of Lesser Griffins was recently spotted. They are designated as a priority extermination target by Leomel. Ren, do you know why?"
"Because of their ferocity," Ren answered instantly. "When Lesser Griffins form packs, they become incredibly aggressive. It’s common for them to prey on other monsters of C-rank or higher."
"Correct. Physically, they resemble pure-blood Griffins, possessing the body of a lion and the head of a bird. They’re roughly the size of a carriage bed. While they are far inferior to a B-rank Pure-blood Species, they possess immense physical strength and are extremely dangerous."
Usually, the imperial army would be dispatched to deal with them. Occasionally, the Adventurer Guild would take the contract, though it was rare for them to handle larger packs. While no official extermination order had been issued yet, Estelle had caught wind of the sightings, and Verrich had immediately requested her help to gather their materials.
"By the way," Ren asked, "what part of the Lesser Griffin do you need?"
"I need them to process the materials for the pure-blood Griffins," Verrich explained. "The pure-blood parts can only be worked using the specific heat generated by the flames of a Lesser Griffin. It’s a matter of magical compatibility."
Ren nodded. Compared to a ship fueled by the remains of the Red Dragon Asval, Lesser Griffin materials seemed a bit low-grade, but the logic of using them as a processing catalyst made sense.
"The location is a mountain range about three hours away by magic ship," Estelle said. "They’ll likely attack the moment we get close. There have already been reports of human casualties in the area, so don't hesitate to cut them down."
"Is it truly alright for me to be there?" Licia asked softly.
"What's the issue? Speak your mind, Licia."
"My level of skill, obviously."
"You needn't worry about that. I believe both you and Ren are capable of handling them individually, and together, there’s no cause for concern. Besides, I'll be there."
"And don't forget me, Big Sis!" Verrich laughed. "I can hold my own if things get hairy!"
"See? And for me, a few C-rank monsters are nothing more than a nuisance. I could beat them with one hand while yawning."
Verrich grinned at the students. "It’s a perfect chance for practice, so go ahead and hunt to your heart's content!"
The Drake Family Magic Ship was currently docked in Erendil.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
As Estelle had predicted, the journey from the Imperial Capital took roughly three hours.
By the time they reached their destination, the sky was stained a deep madder-red as night crept in from the horizon. The mountains here were steep and jagged, though not quite as imposing as the Baldur Mountains. The peaks were barren, devoid of trees, resembling massive pillars of rock.
The Lesser Griffins had established their nesting ground inside a crater at the summit of one such peak. The Drake family’s ship was smaller than a civilian transport, but its armored hull was incomparably sturdier.
Sensing the approach of the magic ship, the Lesser Griffins took to the sky. The pack seemed to consist of nearly twenty individuals.
"Lady Estelle," Ren said, readying his Mithril Magic Sword. "Do Lesser Griffin packs usually form this suddenly?"
"No, it's rare. In Leomel, seeing this more than twice a year is unheard of. It’s likely an effect of this being a year for the Glacier Crossing."
"Glacier Crossing... Ren, have you heard of that?" Licia asked.
"No, it's news to me."
As they spoke, the Lesser Griffins circled above, looking down on the humans standing on the deck. Several spread their wings and began a steep dive, gliding on the mountain winds.
"I’d be happy to explain, but you’ll get hurt if you lose focus," Estelle warned with a bold smirk.
Ren and Licia nodded. Lesser Griffins weren't just fast; they were incredibly strong. By flapping their wings, they could generate localized gales, and they were capable of breathing jets of fire from their gullets.
One beast dove toward Ren with terrifying momentum. It unleashed a blast of flame, aiming to incinerate him before he could react.
"No interest in me, I take it?" Licia’s voice was quiet, yet it carried an strange weight that seemed to vibrate in the monster's very brain.
The creature's flight path faltered. Before it realized what was happening, its primary flight feathers had been shorn away, leaving it unable to maintain its balance. It lashed out with its forelegs, trying to crush Licia’s face with its sharp talons, but it was useless.
Its claws were gone. Byakuen, clutched in Licia's hand, had sliced them off with a single, lightning-fast stroke.
Estelle let out a low whistle of admiration from the side. "Not bad."
Stunned and falling, the creature was immediately finished when Ren drove his blade through its throat.
"You're making this look easy, Licia," Ren said.
"Thanks. It's my first time against this species, but I'm getting the hang of it."
"Haha... especially after the kind of battle we went through this summer."
They shared a quick smile, acknowledging their encounter with the Sword Demon, but they didn't allow themselves to become complacent. The experiences of that summer had pushed them several steps further in their growth; the Lesser Griffins were no longer the insurmountable threats they might have once been. Still, the experience gained on this battlefield was invaluable.
The monsters, however, were beginning to realize they had underestimated their prey.
With piercing shrieks, the pack intensified their fighting spirit. Their glides became faster, the winds from their wings sharper, and the fire they spat more intense. But that fire was ultimately a form of magic.
"I'll take care of the flames," Ren said.
"Right. I’ll leave that to you today."
Against a regular warrior, the fire might have been a problem. But for a practitioner of the Strong Sword style who had reached the rank of Swordmaster, things were different. Using the Star-Cleaver Art, Ren sliced through the magical fire, causing the flames to dissipate into nothingness.
Even as the surprised monsters tried to close in, Licia evaded their strikes with minimal, efficient movements.
The Mithril Magic Sword, the evolved form of Ren's previous blade, caught the fading light of the sunset. Its lapis-like blue surface still bore the dark, shadowy traces of its origin as the Iron Magic Sword. The blood of the Lesser Griffins slid off the blade instantly, repelled by its magical properties.
Bolstered by the effect of his Physical Ability Boost (Large), Ren fought with even more composure than Licia. In fact, he was currently holding back, finding it easy to keep pace without even nearing his full strength. The Lesser Griffins were almost too fragile for him to properly test the limits of his new sword.
This wasn't the grand debut his Mithril Magic Sword deserved; it was more like a light training exercise. Nevertheless, Ren kept his focus, swinging his blade with the discipline of someone preparing for a much greater stage.
"Ren! Licia!" Estelle called out, watching them from the deck. "I’ll tell you about the Glacier Crossing! It’s a phenomenon that occurs once every dozen years or so in the northern reaches of the Elfen and Martel Continents—"
She explained that when an exceptionally harsh winter arrived, unique glaciers would drift through the ocean. They were formed when the Sky Continent, which drifted far above the heavens, passed through the airspace over those northern waters.
As she spoke, the battle in the twilight was only just beginning.