A dozen or so seconds after the group had split into two and four, Charlotte spoke to Vane.
"So, that's the boy who's always so cozy with the Saint."
As she spoke, Charlotte pulled Vane’s arm against her. It was a pointedly provocative move, performed right in front of Sera.
"Wait—! Sharo-senpai!?"
"I'm just so tired... let me borrow your arm for a bit, Vane."
Naturally, Sera shoved her way between them.
"Let. Go. Of. Him!"
"Eek, you're so forceful, Sera."
Vane let out a heavy sigh—he had lost count of how many times he had done so today. It was the mark of total exhaustion. Clearly, his fatigue didn't stem from the battles they had fought outside the city.
Charlotte, having been shaken off by Sera, turned to look at the pair walking further away. Charlotte possessed the confidence that she would rank first or second even if she fought every student at the Imperial Academy. Of course, she would be vying for the top spot with Kaito. Lately, she had even begun to think her position might be in jeopardy given the growth of Vane and Sera.
But after witnessing Licia firsthand, her perspective had shifted.
"I suppose that's only to be expected of those who study the Lion King's Sword."
"What!? Sharo, did you say something?"
"Nothing at all. I just thought Sera was cute, and that we, the Descendants of the Seven Heroes, had better work hard too."
"I don't see how calling me cute and working hard are related..."
"If you don't get it, let's just call it Sera's loss."
"Wh-What!?"
Charlotte nimbly slipped out of Sera's grasp. She began clinging to Vane again, sending Sera back into a panic.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Ren and Licia. Eupeheim at night possessed a beauty quite different from its daytime charm.
"I received my father's permission to go outside the city today."
"So that's what you were up to. How was the excursion?"
"It was wonderful. It felt different than our usual routines, and seeing the Heroic Archduke Family Arts performed right in front of me was quite educational."
"Oh, that does sound interesting."
"Sera and the others are going again tomorrow. They said there's a cave beneath the cape, and they want to explore deep inside."
"Wait, didn't you go into the cave today?"
"Only a little way. We took a lot of detours, so we kept it short to make sure we got back on time."
"It is a fair walk from the city, after all."
Ren faintly recalled an event like that. However, his memory had faded enough that he couldn't bring back every detail.
In the timeline of The Legend of the Seven Heroes I, it occurred after Radius was kidnapped. It was around the time Vane and the others visited Eupeheim, just as the story shifted toward the arc where Strong-Armed Ulysses Ignat was framed as the mastermind. Visiting the coastal cave was an optional event outside the main plot. Exploring it allowed players to proceed through the climax in the Baldur Mountains with an advantage.
Ren could recall about half of that information. Putting those details aside, there was no reason to stop her, given the strength of the monsters in the area. Knowing that guards from the Archduke families were likely lurking nearby, he didn't want to object to Licia's social life or dampen her mood.
Licia continued.
"Ren and I were invited too, but... we have to go to Marquis Ignat's manor tomorrow, right? That's why I turned them down."
"Haha... I suppose that's true."
No invitation could carry more weight than one from that Strong-Armed man.
"Hey, Ren, what about you? What kind of person did you meet at the Ministry of Mysteries?"
"I—well, yes. Mr. Ragna was an incredible person."
"By Mr. Ragna, do you mean the man who was the Third Prince's teacher?"
"Yes. Since he was Radius's teacher, 'incredible' is really the only way I can describe him."
Usually, when Ren used such a word, it meant the person in question had a very unique personality. Ren realized then that everyone he had met lately was a "character" in their own right, so he figured this was simply the norm.
"I wonder if I'll ever get to meet him?"
"I'm sure you will. In fact—"
There was a simple way to explain Ragna's identity. After all, Licia had met him back in the Imperial Capital as well.
"What would you say if I told you the traveler with the bag was actually Mr. Ragna?"
Licia's eyes widened, and she stopped in her tracks. She placed a hand over her mouth—elegant and lovely. She let out a melodic giggle.
"That's amazing. What a coincidence."
She offered a smile that captivated every man walking nearby. After they had continued on for a bit, Ren spoke again.
"Actually, there's more."
It might not have been the best topic for a casual stroll. Even so, there was something Ren wanted to tell Licia as soon as possible.
"—And so, I believe something similar is happening within your own body, Licia."
He shared everything he had heard from Ragna.
"So that's why I was able to use more Holy Magic than ever before at the very end of the fight with the Sword Demon."
"I believe so. However, it wouldn't be wise to start using Holy Magic recklessly all of a sudden, so let's just keep an eye on things for now. I should consult with Chronoa-san as well."
"Right, let's do that."
A gentle smile played across Licia's face. Then, she came to a sudden halt.
"Licia? What is it?"
"Um... you see..."
Licia clasped her hands in front of her chest. Faced with Ren's kindness, she spoke.
"I've been constantly, constantly helped by you, Ren, so..."
Even if it was embarrassing to offer a formal thanks, she couldn't help herself.
"I want you to know that I'm always thinking 'thank you,' okay?"
It wasn't that Licia never said thank you unless she was being formal. From the time they had spent together in the Clausel territory, she had always been a girl who properly expressed her gratitude. She had just wanted to say it clearly tonight. Ren understood that.
Later that night, he gave the same report in Lezard's room at the inn.
"Then it seems we can rest easy for now."
Lezard was just as relieved as Ren. The night in Eupeheim slowly deepened.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The next morning, about an hour after Ren and the others had finished breakfast, the Ignat family's escort arrived at the inn. The time was a little past ten.
Ren was about to board the carriage following Edgar's guidance when—
"Pardon me."
Just before he climbed in, someone called out to him. It was a civil official from the Ministry of Mysteries.
"Chief Ragna says he has something he wishes to discuss with Master Ren Ashton. ...However, seeing the situation—"
Lezard, who had been watching, interjected.
"Is Chief Ragna the gentleman you met yesterday?"
"Yes," Ren replied.
Ragna held the title of "Chief" because he oversaw a research lab within the Ministry. Ren turned back to the official.
"Did something happen suddenly?"
"I was only told to summon you. But seeing as the Ignat family is here, it seems my timing was poor."
Seeing the official's hesitation, Ren and Lezard exchanged a look. Ragna had shared a great deal of knowledge yesterday. While the invitation from Ulysses was not to be taken lightly, he also wanted to avoid ignoring the summons of someone who had provided such valuable information.
Here, Edgar stepped in to provide a solution. "If I may."
"My master already heard from His Highness that Master Ren visited the Ministry of Mysteries. He suspected that might be the case today as well."
In other words, they had already anticipated this. Even without knowing the details, Ulysses wouldn't set an impossibly tight schedule, especially when it involved someone Radius had introduced. There was plenty of room in the itinerary.
Therefore:
"I shall inform my master personally. Given that the other party was introduced by His Highness, I believe this is the proper course of action."
"Are you sure?"
"Think nothing of it. —Sir from the Ministry of Mysteries, do you happen to know the schedule for the rest of the day?"
"Chief Ragna has an appointment in the afternoon as well, so he will certainly be free until then. We have also prepared a carriage to bring Master Ren Ashton back."
"In that case, Master Ren, why don't you join us at the manor once you're finished?"
Ren accepted Edgar's proposal.