"Ren, you spoke with someone from Shelgard this summer, didn't you?"
"Yes. Through Lord Ulysses' introduction, I met a man named Richter Leonhardt."
"Ho—now that's a real big shot."
In a rare move, Ragna showed genuine interest in someone other than Ren or Radius.
"The Leonhardt family... weren't they working themselves to the bone during that recent upheaval?"
"By upheaval, do you mean the succession dispute within the Shelgard Archducal House?"
As Ren recalled, the story went something like this:
Within the Shelgard Empire’s Archducal House, two brothers had come to blows. The elder believed Shelgard should intervene in foreign conflicts to secure national interests, while the younger argued that such expansionism was outdated. This ideological rift eventually dragged in the rest of the nobility, sparking a full-blown succession war.
Richter, whose family was renowned as a line of prestigious knights who had served Shelgard for generations, had traveled to the Imperial Capital during the summer.
The Leonhardt family had struggled desperately to bring an end to the conflict, but in the end, both archducal brothers perished. Ashamed of his perceived helplessness, Richter felt he could no longer live as a knight of Shelgard.
Eventually, at his father-in-law's suggestion, he turned to commerce and achieved massive success as a merchant. Richter was a man of pleasant character who, like many Shelgardians, harbored a deep love for heroic epics.
"Just like our own factional conflicts here in Leomel, it’s a story of fools," Ragna remarked.
"...I suppose so."
"I wonder what became of the younger brother's wife and daughters after they fled. If the girls are still alive, they’d be adults by now. In every era, children are caught in the crossfire of their parents' feuds. It’s so absurd it almost makes me want to laugh, don’t you think?"
"I don't think I’d laugh. I do think it’s absurd, though."
"All of it—it’s just the unreasonableness that infests this world. In the end, unless you become an individual capable of suppressing everything with sheer force—like the Sword King or the Witch of the Academy—there is no true freedom. Hmph... once again, God lays bare His own incompetence. Splendid."
Bringing the heavy conversation to a close, the two shared a final cup of tea to settle their minds. Before they knew it, a significant amount of time had passed.
"I should be heading back soon. Please let me know if you discover anything else."
"Right. Sorry to make you come all this way today—actually, wait. I'll walk with you."
Stopping Ren, Ragna stood up and accompanied him out of the room. He walked over to the massive pack he carried when disguised as the Bag Traveler, which sat in the hallway, and reached toward its closed mouth.
As he moved his hand, the bag opened of its own accord. Ragna reached deep inside.
"I’ll give you something from my collection. The reward I promised."
He produced a small, ornately carved wooden box that fit easily in one hand. Ren took it, feeling the weight.
"So, the reward is what's inside?"
"I’m glad you asked. Inside is—"
Just as Ragna was about to launch into a delighted explanation, the elevator doors at the end of the corridor slid open. A researcher from the Ministry of Mysteries emerged and hurried toward them.
"Lab Head! Regarding the matter in the Old City..."
"Good grief, talk about poor timing. Ren, my apologies, but the details are in the memo I tucked inside. Just read that."
"Understood."
Just as Ren prepared to leave for good, the researcher headed back to the elevator. Finding himself alone with Ragna for a final moment, Ren spoke up as if catching a stray thought.
"I hope you don't mind a random question, but have you ever heard of an adventurer named Ashton?"
"What’s that? Ren! Don't tell me you’ve finally developed a desire to follow in my footsteps! Is that why you're asking about adventurers!?"
"My apologies. Never mind."
"I don't mind at all, but who exactly is this 'Adventurer Ashton'?"
"Well... it seems he’s an ancestor of mine."
Avoiding the more complicated details, Ren simply stated the familial connection. He omitted the story of the Dragon Elder he had heard from his father, Roy, since Fiona was so deeply entangled in the events of the Baldur Mountains.
However, even if he had shared more, it likely wouldn't have led to an answer. Ragna thought for a moment longer but ultimately shook his head.
"I’ve never heard the name."
Even searching the depths of Ragna’s vast knowledge, the name didn't ring the slightest bell.
Reflecting on it, the Adventurer Ashton was a truly anomalous figure. Ren had heard stories from his village—tales of a man strong enough to defeat the Red Dragon Asval in his prime. The fact that such a person had left no mark on official history suggested incredibly unique circumstances.
If anything, Ragna’s ignorance of the name only served to emphasize just how special the Adventurer Ashton truly was.
By the time they emerged from the coastal cave, the world was blanketed in darkness.
Standing on the sand, Sera arched her back in a long stretch, letting out a satisfied sigh as she looked up at the night sky. It was different from the sky she saw in the Imperial Capital. While she didn't usually care for the positions of the stars, she could tell they were very far from home.
"Oh, I know! Hey, Sera-chan!" Nemu called out with a mischievous grin.
Sera turned just as Nemu, standing at the water's edge, plunged her hands into the surf.
"What—hey! Nemu, don't you dare splash me!"
"Pfft! It’s your own fault for letting your guard down, Sera-chan!"
Watching the two girls immediately begin to frolic, Charlotte joined in as well. The three of them played in the shallows, the sound of splashing water echoing across the quiet beach. Watching them, Kaito gave Vane a weary smile.
Their faces showed the strain of the day.
"Don't those girls ever get tired? I’m about ready to collapse right here."
"We were exploring that cave all day, so I think they just want to unwind since the view is so nice," Vane replied.
"I guess... but seawater is the natural enemy of my shield."
"I thought you said it was made of a special metal. Does it still rust?"
"Well, yeah. It’s just stupidly resistant to it, that’s all."
Kaito sat down on a massive boulder on the beach. Vane took a seat on a similar rock nearby. The girls continued their game, their laughter bright against the crashing waves.
"You know, Licia Clausel was terrifyingly strong yesterday," Kaito noted.
"She’s a Strong Sword user, and apparently at the Master Swordsman Class," Vane said.
"Yeah. Which means if she uses Holy Sword Arts, she’s basically at the Sword Saint Class. How does that even work? How can someone our age reach that level?"
"...I imagine she’s put in an incredible amount of effort."
Licia certainly had talent, but Vane felt her dedication was what truly set her apart. He exchanged a look with Kaito, feeling his own resolve to train harder grow even stronger.
Vane stood up and walked toward the girls. Kaito watched his back, secretly wondering which of them would eventually capture Vane’s heart.
Vane reached the group and called out to them. "Everyone, we should really be heading back."
"Ehh?! Vane-kun, come play! Whoa—Sera-chan! We’re talking here!"
"You're the one who left yourself open, Nemu!"
"Ugh, fine! If that’s how you want to play, I’m going all out!"
"U-Um... you two... it’s really late..."
Watching the two continue their water war, Charlotte Rofelia gave Vane a graceful, helpless smile. "Give it up, Vane."
"It’s impossible. These girls are completely focused on—eek!"
"Caught you, Sharo!"
"...Fine. I accept your challenge! Taste the finesse of Rofelia Family Archery for yourselves!"
Whether archery techniques were actually useful in a splashing contest was debatable, but her aim was certainly true. Left with no other choice, Vane gave up and joined the chaos.
The next morning, they were back in the same spot.
They had been visiting the cave for several days straight, both for exploration and their own training. They had fought several monsters recommended for subjugation, pushing deeper than they had managed the day before.
By noon, the group sat down to eat the rations they had brought. They rested by the light of their torches.
"Anyway, for the next fight, Vane and I will take the lead—"
Kaito, who was perched on a convenient rock, tumbled over before he could finish his sentence.
"Wha—?"
He had been explaining the strategy with such grand gestures that he’d accidentally shifted his center of gravity.
"Whoa-oa-oa-oa!"
"K-Upperclassman Kaito?!"
Kaito went rolling down a nearby slope. Perhaps because he was desperately trying not to drop his food, he couldn't catch his balance, letting out a series of undignified yelps as he tumbled.
"Hah! Nothing to it!"
When he finally came to a stop, Kaito held his sandwich aloft like a trophy. He stood up, gave a triumphant smirk, and polished off the rest. After swallowing, he leaned a hand against the nearby rock wall to look cool.
"Yeah, when you’re as good as me, a little fall is nothing."
"Kaito-kun, you have such weird confidence sometimes," Nemu teased.
"Yeah? Thanks, Nemu."
"I wasn't complimenting you, but okay."
Suddenly, there was a sharp crack, followed by the sound of stones skittering across the floor. The rock wall Kaito was leaning on began to crumble. The center of the collapse was exactly where he had slammed his hand.
The ground beneath them began to vibrate. Water trickling down the walls turned into a fine spray that hit their faces.
Charlotte was the first to sound exasperated. "Kaito! You put way too much weight on it!"
"Yeah! ...Wait, this isn't the time for that, Nemu!"
"Right! This looks actually dangerous!"
Fearing a cave-in, the five of them began to panic. However, the shaking remained localized. Kaito, who had reflexively braced his greatshield, let out a confused "Huh?"
"Look at this. It looks like it keeps going."
A path that hadn't been there before had opened up in the stone wall, and a cool breeze wafted through. The tremor had caused a section of the wall to collapse, revealing a hidden tunnel.
"Sharo, didn't you say you’d memorized the map of this cave?" Sera asked.
"I did. But I’ve never seen this path before."
"...Based on how this looks..."
"Yeah," Nemu added, "it looks like a hidden passage. What do we do? Should we check it out?"
Deciding that a quick look couldn't hurt, all five nodded. They packed up their lunch, tightened their gear, and stepped into the darkness beyond the wall.
The atmosphere changed immediately.
What should have been a simple cave was suddenly illuminated. The floor, walls, and ceiling were embedded with stones emitting shimmering silver particles of mana. They walked for ten minutes, wondering where this magical trail led.
At the end of the tunnel, they emerged into a smooth stone gallery. The space was perfectly spherical, the walls polished to such a high gloss they looked like glass—a chamber clearly shaped by human hands.
In the very center of the room, something was floating.
Kaito was the first to speak, his voice a mere whisper. "...No way."
"Upperclassman Kaito, what is it?" Vane asked.
"That... that thing floating there."
"What is it? It looks like a shield..."
Silver mana particles, even more brilliant than those in the hallway, radiated from the object. It was surrounded by a dense wall of crystal that seemed to ward off any intruders.
Dumbfounded, Kaito took a step forward.
"It’s just like the books said! That has to be..."
It was the treasure of one of the Seven Heroes—the warrior who had protected the Hero Ruin, the ancestor of the Leonard family. It was the legendary greatshield that had seen countless battles against the Demon King.
"The legendary shield of my ancestor—Airia!"
In that moment, the name of the relic—which Ren would have called 'Hero Equipment'—was spoken for the first time in centuries. As a descendant of the Leonard family and a wielder recognized by the shield itself, Kaito watched as the crystal barrier began to shatter.
The greatshield used by the legendary Light Leonard had found its new master. A new chapter of Leomel’s history was beginning.