The estate’s gardens were sprawling.
The grass blanketing the ground was a carefully chosen blend of varieties designed to stay lush throughout most of the year. While it would eventually wither in the deep winter, it remained a vibrant, healthy green even now, in the late stages of autumn.
The two girls were a perfect fit for the scenery—more radiant, in fact, than the flowers surrounding them.
"I’m so sorry... My father has been looking forward to this for a very long time..."
Fiona offered the apology for what had transpired immediately after Licia and Lezard arrived at the mansion.
It was no exaggeration to say Ulysses had anticipated this day for years; he had been dreaming of it since the very moment Fiona’s life was saved. Because of that, he had welcomed the two from House Clausel with overwhelming intensity. He had been so insistent on personally showing them the estate that he had practically dragged Lezard away with more force than was strictly polite.
Fiona had worried that such an aggressive welcome might intimidate their guests, but Ulysses refused to cut any corners, leading to the current situation. Indeed, the level of hospitality awaiting Licia was something usually reserved for the Imperial Family.
Even now, walking alone with Fiona, Licia felt as if she were being treated like a princess.
"It’s fine. I was happy just to see Marquis Ignat looking so joyful," Licia replied.
"Haha... It helps to hear you say that."
Their supple legs, extending from beneath their skirts, came to a stop in front of a flowerbed where autumn blossoms were in full bloom.
"What beautiful flowers."
"They only bloom in autumn. Their name is—"
Licia listened, noting that things were, surprisingly, just as they always were between them. She leaned over slightly, watching Fiona as the other girl brought her face close to the petals.
Licia was confident that she knew Fiona’s charms better than anyone else. The charming, radiant look of a high-born lady in love—a side of her never shown to the opposite sex—was surely Fiona’s most captivating state. Even to another girl, the sight of an elegant noblewoman falling in love with the simple honesty of a village girl was so alluring it was almost bewitching.
"? Is something the matter?"
Noticing Licia’s gaze, Fiona looked up with a blink of surprise. Even in that casual pose, she was an utterly wonderful girl.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Inside the Ministry of Mysteries, where Ren had set foot just yesterday.
Today he was visiting alone, without Radius, but he felt no nervousness. Ragna was waiting for him in the same high-rise room as the day before.
"I’ve been waiting."
Ragna greeted him from his desk, projecting the same air of arrogance as their previous meeting.
"Ragna-san, I heard some people call you the Lab Head," Ren remarked.
"Ah, only in the sense that I run this particular laboratory. Sometimes they call me 'Doctor,' but it’s no big deal. This is just one of many research labs kept by the Ministry of Mysteries. When you think about it, the Ministry is full of strange people."
"Strange people?"
"Don't you think it's odd they'd welcome a man like me with the status of a Lab Head?"
Ren thought back on their interaction from the day before. He spoke with less reserve this time, though he remained careful to maintain a respectful distance.
"You might be unique, Ragna-san, but isn't that treatment because the wisdom and romance you pursue are so valuable?"
"Ho."
At that, Ragna’s mood visibly brightened. Hearing the word he so often used himself, his face relaxed into a smile.
"My intuition was right. Ren, you really are a man who understands romance. It was worth calling you here specifically this morning."
"That’s right. Why did you call for me?"
Ren stepped toward the desk.
"Tell me, are you interested in the Old City?"
The Old City was the site they had discussed yesterday—the place where the mysterious "dead" mithril had been excavated. It was also the place Licia had taken a detour to see.
"I’ve heard it’s a beautiful place, but that’s about the extent of my knowledge. I'd like to see it, but I don't really know what the area is like."
"It’s a fascinating place. Many of the buildings submerged in the water are made of stone, and many still retain their original forms."
The thought of those mansions remaining beneath the water, with schools of colorful fish swimming through the ruins, was almost fantastical.
"It sounds like there are still rare items sleeping down there."
"Yes, exactly!" Ragna’s voice rose with excitement. "It’s said that Eupeheim at the time was even more bustling than the Imperial Capital. Being a strategic trade hub, it was a place where new technologies from across the continent intersected."
"Heh... Does that mean there are research institutes submerged there, too?"
"Of course. There were several."
That was the reason the area remained under public management. It made perfect sense why the Ministry of Mysteries would conduct regular surveys. Ren found himself more intrigued by this than by the dead mithril.
"The Seven Heroes were rising to power back then. That means it was an era when the techniques of Milim Altia—the so-called God of Magic Tools—were still alive and well."
"Does that mean the security devices she created are still functioning?"
"Yes. Large mansions and research institutes possess magic tools she personally crafted. Those tools protect the buildings themselves. Even now, hundreds of years later, her technology remains difficult to bypass. That’s the primary reason everything takes so much time."
Ren felt his heart race as he listened. The town, mostly submerged, seemed to hold more secrets and legacies than he had imagined. Regarding the places protected by the ancient security systems, Ren commented, "Calling them 'The Unopenable Doors' makes it sound quite cool, doesn't it?"
Ragna’s eyebrows twitched. Then, he nodded.
"Yes... that is incredibly cool. I want to open those doors, yet a part of me almost wishes they’d stay closed forever."
"I understand. It feels like the most fun part of the journey is right before you reach the destination."
"You have excellent taste. Very well, I shall let you brew the most expensive tea in this room, Ren."
Having found a kindred spirit, Ragna’s mood improved even further. The fact that he remained as overbearing as ever was typical of him, but it was clear the distance between them was closing.
Once Ren finished brewing the tea and returned to the desk—
"I’ll give you something good as a bonus. I won't charge you for it."
Opening a drawer, Ragna pulled out a piece of folded, aged parchment.
"...What is this?"
"A 'Secret Map.' Well? Do you feel the excitement yet?"
Ren couldn't deny it. Taking the parchment, he opened it immediately. The map was a moderate size, fitting comfortably within his hands. Deep creases remained from where it had been folded for a long time.
"Wait... Is this the Old City?"
"You can tell?"
"I just guessed from the terrain. I’ve never actually been there."
On the map of the Old City, several red marks were scattered. Notes in Ragna’s handwriting, such as the dates of previous surveys, were also recorded.
"There are several doors sealed by ancient magic tools. The red marks indicate the buildings where they remain."
"Heh... So you don't just blow them up or force them open?"
"I understand the urge. You could check the contents in one go that way. However, we want to avoid destroying historical architecture and the environment. And incidentally, it’s strictly forbidden by Imperial Law."
"...That 'incidentally' isn't incidental at all. Also, just to be sure, I'm not saying I'm interested in blowing things up."
It was a mere murmur born of curiosity, nothing more.
"But why give such an important map to me?"
"That’s my spare. It grew old, so I prepared a new one."
"That's not what I mean—I'm curious why you're giving it to me so suddenly."
"Think of it as a small gift for a boy who understands my romance. There’s no other reason."
"...Thank you. I don't know if the chance to use it will ever come, but if it does, I’ll be sure to use it."
Ren paused, then asked, "But how do you even investigate a submerged town?"
"Sometimes we use diving equipment, but in many of the places where security devices remain, there is actually air inside even if they are submerged. If you ever see it for yourself, you'll find the scenery is fascinating."
"In other words, you’re saying I should go with you if the chance ever arises."
"Indeed. When you read a book, it’s no fun if someone tells you the ending first, right?"
"Well, that’s true."
Besides, it was hard to put the scenery into words. It was faster to see it in person, Ragna added.
"I suppose the only problem is that entry permission is required."
"Just think of it as 'if the opportunity arises.' That map is proof of the romance we share. I wrote it personally, so it's not exactly classified information. Use it as you like."
"Thank you. Then I won't hesitate."
Once Ren tucked the map away, he began to wonder if there was another reason he had been summoned so early in the morning.
There was indeed another reason. Ragna handed Ren several books regarding holy magic and ancient myths.
"Take them. They’re all books I’ve read several times."
"Ah, thank yo—wait, I’m sorry, what language is this?"
"Languages from the southern Martel Continent and the dialects of the beastmen on the Western Continent. Try reading them with a dictionary. It’ll be good study."
"...Can you read these without a dictionary, Ragna-san?"
"They are merely the languages of men and demi-humans. Anyone could learn to speak them fluently after a few weeks of study."
Ren decided to simply ignore how absurdly gifted the man was.
However, Ragna noted that Ren shouldn't expect more information than what they had discussed yesterday. He had prepared these books simply in case Ren wanted to research something on his own. Ren thanked him deeply and made a mental note to buy a language dictionary.
"Oh, that’s right."
Ragna slammed his feet onto the desk and laughed, a provocative expression on his face.
"If you manage to open one of those Unopenable Doors, I’ll give you a reward."
"Wow... You’re saying that while sounding absolutely certain that it's impossible, aren't you?"
"About half of me is. But if it opens, that’s a victory too."
"Are you serious? If the Bag Traveler is promising a reward, I’m going to have pretty high expectations."
"I don't mind. Should that day come, I promise to give you an interesting prize from my personal collection."
Ragna laughed. Immediately after, there was a hurried knock at the door. When Ragna answered with a look of annoyance, several researchers entered.
Apparently, his afternoon schedule had been moved up, and Ragna had to leave immediately. He offered Ren a sincere apology, despite having been the one to call him there in the first place.