A few days had passed since the journey to Eupeheim, and December was just around the corner. Ren was back in his private room at the Clausel manor in Erendil, having just finished his dinner.
"Isn't this reward a bit much...?" he muttered, staring intently at the object on his desk.
It was the Dragon Vein Furnace. Though small enough to be held with both hands, it was a high-output reactor that generated energy from mana stones. This particular model was a specialized furnace created by fusing the cores of dragon species. It had been manufactured over a century ago in the Shelgard Empire on the Sky Continent.
While its power output was remarkable even by modern standards, it was notoriously difficult to manage. Ren didn't understand the fine technical specifications, but he knew enough to realize it was an impractical, temperamental device despite its high value. Simply put, if handled incorrectly, it would explode with catastrophic force.
Perhaps Ragna had parted with it so readily because of his disdain for Shelgard. Ren knew the scholar loathed the empire that had once been the homeland of the Ashton ancestors. Still, the furnace was a valuable artifact, and Ragna had likely offered it as a reward for Ren’s feat of opening The Unopenable Door.
While Ren appreciated the gesture, keeping such a dangerous object in his room served no purpose.
"By the way, I wonder what happened with that water flow issue in Eupeheim," he wondered aloud.
The cause had remained a mystery up until the moment he left the city. Since Ulysses was the lord there, it was unlikely to spiral out of control, but the thought lingered in the back of his mind.
"I should probably consult Master Verrich about this furnace."
Just as Ren shifted his focus back to the device and visualized the boisterous Dwarf blacksmith, there was a knock on his door. Licia entered the room.
"I was going to ask if you wanted to spar for a bit after this, but... oh, you’ve already hung the painting."
The small portrait they had found in the submerged orphanage in the Old City now occupied a place of honor in Ren's room. Licia walked over to him after glancing at the artwork.
"I was also just wondering what to do with this expensive reward," Ren admitted.
"That's the Dragon Vein Furnace, right?"
"Yes. It’s an old model, but it packs a punch that rivals modern furnaces. It’s a great piece of technology, provided you ignore the fact that it could cause an explosion large enough to level an entire town if you make one mistake."
"Isn't that a rather large 'provided'?"
"Fatally so," Ren agreed. Still, he had an idea. "Don't you think Master Verrich might be able to find a use for it?"
"Oh, you’re probably right!"
Back in early autumn, Estelle had taken Ren and Licia to Verrich's workshop. Around the time of the Lesser Griffin hunt, Verrich had been grumbling about needing a better furnace. This artifact might be exactly what the magic ship Lemuria needed to get back in the sky.
"Are you sure, though? Ragna gave it to you."
"It’s fine. I want to see the Lemuria flying again as soon as possible."
Ren spoke with sincere conviction. He had no personal use for the device, and there was no better destination for it than the ship. He certainly wasn't interested in keeping a potential bomb as a souvenir.
"I remember Master Verrich mentioned that Lord Ulysses was helping him look for furnace-related materials, or even a replacement furnace."
"I think so, too," Licia replied. "But I imagine Lord Ulysses has been quite busy lately."
His schedule wasn't being eaten up by the Gardiknight project, but rather by the shifting political landscape within the Imperial Faction. Ever since the discovery of the Silver King's Shield, Airia, Eupeheim had been swept up in the fervor surrounding the Hero Faction—a situation Ulysses couldn't afford to ignore.
The next morning, shortly after nine o'clock, the town of Erendil was beginning to bustle. Licia woke up in the manor, slowly sitting up and adjusting her disheveled nightgown. She stood and pulled back the curtains as she did every morning.
"It’s a beautiful day—"
She stopped mid-sentence. Lately, the mornings had been dusted with light snowfall, and she had intended to admire the view. Instead, she stared.
"Wait... what?"
Licia realized the horizon looked different than usual. Her hair swayed in the morning breeze as she leaned out the window to confirm what she was seeing. Panicked, she threw on some clothes and ran toward the office where her father, Lezard, usually worked. Having just returned from her travels, she had slept later than usual, but Lezard was always at his desk by this hour.
"Father!"
Lezard and Ren were already in the office. They turned to face her as she burst in.
"It seems you’ve noticed, Licia," Lezard said calmly.
"Y-yes! I felt like something was wrong the moment I looked outside!"
Licia hurried past her father and joined Ren by the window.
"Good morning, Licia," Ren said. "I was half-expecting it to suddenly start moving again, but no luck so far."
Licia followed his gaze toward the Great Clock Tower, the iconic symbol of Erendil.
"I've never seen it stopped before."
It was nearly ten in the morning, yet the massive hands of the clock tower were frozen at eleven o'clock.
By ten-thirty, the group had arrived at the base of the tower. Lezard had already cordoned off the plaza before Licia had even woken up. Standing among the knights was a girl who didn't belong to the Clausel household.
"Cough, cough!"
Nemu Altia emerged from the tower's entrance, waving away the dust. As a descendant of Milim Altia, the God of Magic Tools, she was the foremost expert on the tower’s inner workings.
"Ugh... just climbing those stairs is exhausting..."
"Are you all right, Nemu?" Licia asked.
"I'm fine, I'm fine! My thighs are just twitching a bit. Want to feel?"
"I'll pass, thanks."
"Ehh... you’re no fun."
Nemu had been dispatched as the Altia family representative. She had spent the last hour investigating the cause of the stoppage. Dressed in practical work clothes, she turned to the group.
"Viscount Clausel, a safety device was triggered."
The Great Clock Tower was mostly under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Castle, but Lezard couldn't simply wait for the capital to act.
"As I’ve explained before," Nemu continued, "there are several small components inside the tower that require a constant flow of mana. My ancestor, Milim Altia, installed safety protocols to ensure that if one of those parts failed, it wouldn't damage the entire system. The clock shuts down automatically when it detects significant wear. This was a scheduled stoppage, really."
"So, it isn't actually broken?" Lezard asked.
"Not at all. The Altia family performs regular checks. This is just a routine maintenance stop. If anything, it proves the system is working exactly as intended."
Despite her youth, Nemu’s technical expertise was undisputed. If she said the tower was functioning correctly, it was true.
"In that case, this is a perfect opportunity," Lezard noted. "Heroic Archduke Altia previously suggested that we should replace several of the main gears. We should proceed with that now."
"Good idea," Nemu agreed. "I believe the replacement gears are already being held in the Imperial Capital. We should arrange for transport."
It was a sudden development, but since it had been anticipated for some time, there was no real sense of alarm. However, the specialized components that had reached their expiration date were a different matter. Nemu insisted on handling those personally.
"Those specific parts can only be crafted by a member of the Altia family. They’re responsible for transmitting power from the core system through the gears and magic tools."
"A family secret, I take it?" Lezard asked.
"Exactly. The Great Clock Tower is a labyrinth of complex engineering." Nemu puffed out her chest with pride, making Licia look away with a slight pout. "Leave it all to me! I was sent here to represent the Altia family, after all. I'll have the new parts ready in no time."
Nemu’s skill was well-known; she had assisted with the tower's maintenance several times before. Eventually, civil officials and knights from the castle arrived to discuss the restoration plan with the adults. Nemu left the technical details to her attendants and skipped over to Licia and Ren.
"Licia-chan, are you free today?"
The holiday was nearing its end, and Nemu had only just returned from Eupeheim, but she was already focused on her duties.
"I thought I was, until I woke up to a frozen clock," Licia replied.
"Did your father give you work to do?"
"No, I was actually planning to go shopping with Ren. But I can't exactly go off and play while the town symbol is broken."
"I see, I see. Still as inseparable as ever, I see." Licia blushed and looked away, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. "Anyway, did you need something?"
"I have to craft the replacement parts soon, and I was wondering if you’d come to the forest with me."
"The forest? Why there?"
"I need to go to the lake deep in the woods."
Ren realized immediately what she meant. It was the same lake where he had once overhunted Berserk Fish. That lake sat atop a deposit of iron ore that was exceptionally conductive to mana. Nemu planned to harvest and process it on-site.
"Can you really make the parts that quickly?" Licia asked.
"Oh? Is Licia-chan doubting me?"
"No, I just meant it sounds like a lot of work, even for you."
"Nyufu-fu! Don't worry, it’ll be fine. I just don't want to go alone. It’s lonely! I wanted you guys to keep me company."
Nemu looked at Ren expectantly, but he shook his head.
"I'm going to stay here and help at the tower."
"Help with what?"
"Handling the gears. They're incredibly heavy, and the replacement process will go much faster if I'm here to do the heavy lifting."
Nemu clapped her hands together, looking apologetic. "Oh, right! I totally forgot. I’ve seen those gears; removing the old ones and hauling the new ones up all those stairs is a nightmare."
"I know the layout," Ren said. "I can handle it."
"I know!" Nemu chirped. "I saw Sera-chan before I left the capital, and she said she wanted to come see the tower. I'll just bring her along to the lake instead."
Ren and Licia being separated for a few hours was nothing new, and the woods around Erendil posed no threat to girls of their caliber.
"Wait, are you just deciding that for Sera?" Licia asked.
"She'll be fine. She looked bored anyway."
Licia gave up on arguing with the free-spirited Nemu. A few minutes later, the final member of their group arrived.
"It really did stop," Sera said, staring up at the clock.
"Sera-chan! Nemu and I are going to the forest to gather materials for the repair. Want to come?"
Sera looked at Licia. "Can you give me the actual explanation, please?"
"Of course."
"Hey! Why are you asking her and not me?" Nemu pouted.
"Because you skip all the important details!"
Once the situation was explained, Sera agreed to join. She complained briefly about being called 'bored' behind her back, but she knew Nemu was right. She gave Nemu a playful flick on the forehead.
"Ouch!"
"Explain yourself better next time."
"Yes, ma'am..."
"Anyway," Sera continued, "if Ren is coming along, the forest should be a breeze."
"Ren is staying here to help with the tower," Licia corrected.
"Oh, right. The gears. Those things are massive—it makes sense to have Ren's strength on site."
"So, I'll be here," Ren said. "You three should be careful."
He crossed his arms, thinking. He wasn't worried about them losing a fight to the local monsters, but after the recent incidents with the Demon King Cult, he was wary of human threats. He wondered if they even needed to go personally.
"Nemu needs to have the parts ready by tonight," she explained, sensing his hesitation. "I can't just send someone else to collect the ore. It’s Water Vein Ore—it loses its properties almost immediately after being taken out of the water unless it's processed right away."
"Water Vein Ore?" Ren's eyes sharpened. "I've heard of that."
"As expected of Ashton-kun!"
Sera looked back and forth between them. "Water what now?"
Licia stepped in to explain. "It’s iron ore that has been infused with the mana of aquatic monsters. It’s incredibly hard and conducts mana with almost zero resistance."
"Exactly," Nemu said. "But the mana starts to dissipate the moment it hits the air. That’s why I have to be there to stabilize and shape it on the spot."
Only a few specific components in the tower required such a rare material, but they were the most critical ones.
"Then Lady Altia really does have to go," Ren conceded.
"I told you! And Licia, don't worry. The roads are busy these days anyway."
Ever since the Roses Kaitas incident, the number of pilgrims in the area had skyrocketed. Traveling the roads around Erendil was safer than it had been in years. Lezard also gave his approval, and the girls set off.
Ren spent the rest of the day at the Great Clock Tower. By evening, he was sitting on a bench in the plaza, catching his breath. The bright western sun was suddenly eclipsed by a shadow.
"Hard at work as always, Ren-kun."
It was Fiona Ignat. She had also returned to the Imperial Capital as the holidays drew to a close. Her obsidian-black hair shimmered as she leaned down to offer Ren a towel.
"Lady Fiona? What are you doing here?"
"I heard some students talking in the dormitory salon this afternoon," she said with a soft laugh. "Something about the Great Clock Tower stopping."
"And you came all this way just to check?"
"Fufu, something like that." She also wanted to see if Ren was working as hard as she imagined. She had tidied her appearance and hurried over from the Academy Girls' Dormitory.
"You didn't come alone, did you?"
"I came with Edgar. He was worried about the tower as well... look, he's over there."
Fiona leaned in close to Ren to point him out. Edgar was currently speaking with Lezard.
"It’s better for him to hear the details directly so he can report back to Lord Ulysses," she added.
Fiona’s presence was as lovely as ever. As Ren wiped his face, he didn't notice how intently Fiona was watching him. When she realized she was staring, her cheeks flushed. She realized she had drifted quite close to him and hurriedly took a half-step back—a distance she felt was a necessary compromise for her heart.
"Lady Fiona?"
"E-eek! What is it?"
"That’s my line. Why did you jump?"
"It’s nothing! Nothing at all!"
She had been startled when he spoke just as she was trying to create some distance. Quickly regaining her composure, she asked, "How is the gear replacement going?"
"We're down to the last few. It's gone pretty smoothly."
Fiona looked at the gears lined up at the edge of the plaza. Some were brand new and gleaming, while others were worn and dull. All of them looked incredibly heavy.
"You brought the old ones down and carried the new ones up... by yourself?"
"Mostly. It’s been quite a workout."
The tower stairs were wide enough for transport, but the sheer height made the task daunting. Fiona walked over to a small gear Ren had placed under the bench. It was about the size of a pillow, but it was forged from a dense alloy. She crouched and tried to lift it.
"...I can't even budge it."
"It’s heavier than it looks," Ren said with a sympathetic smile.
Fiona sighed, lamenting her own physical weakness, before heading over to join Edgar and Lezard. Ren stood up and stretched.
"One more push."
He turned back toward the tower. He had lost track of how many times he had climbed those stairs today.
By the time the sun had fully set, Erendil was alive with night-time activity. The town was a beautiful blend of history and modernity, with antique streetlamps casting an orange glow over the cobblestones. The Great Clock Tower was lit up, though its hands remained frozen.
"Ugh... I'm beat!" Nemu groaned, stretching her back as she walked. With her eyes narrowed in a tired but happy smile, she looked like a content cat. Walking between Licia and Sera, the three girls were a striking sight, their combined elegance and beauty drawing stares from everyone they passed.
"That was more of an ordeal than I expected," Sera admitted.
"First we had to dig the ore out of the water with Nemu’s tools, and then we had those flying monsters attacking us in swarms."
"They probably smelled the mana from the Water Vein Ore and thought it was food," Nemu suggested. "Don't you think, Licia-chan?"
"Most likely. They were definitely aggressive."
"Do you two remember how many you took down?" Sera asked. "I lost count after twenty."
"About the same," Licia replied. "I was busy making sure nothing got close to Nemu while she was working."
"Hehe, thanks for that! I was able to finish the parts perfectly because of you guys."
The three returned to the plaza where Ren was sitting on his bench, taking a final break after finishing his duties.
"I wonder where my father is. I'll go ask Ren," Licia said, hurrying over to him.
Nemu and Sera watched her go. "I feel like Licia-chan is definitely in the lead," Nemu whispered. "What do you think, Sera-chan?"
"If Lady Ignat is the competition, I’d be in despair," Sera joked.
"Ahaha! Me too!"
The two shared a laugh before following Licia toward the tower. Fiona was also there, and they exchanged polite greetings.
"Lady Ignat, it’s been a while," Sera said.
"Indeed. You were quite impressive during the Lion King Grand Festival, Lady Riohalde."
They hadn't spoken properly in nearly a year, though they had seen each other in passing during the festival. Nemu, however, was meeting Fiona for the first time and was visibly terrified.
"I-I'm Nemu Altia!"
"Fufu, a pleasure to meet you. I am Fiona Ignat."
Nemu’s nervousness was a mix of being intimidated by the Ignat name and being struck by Fiona’s sheer beauty. Licia and Sera shared a smirk at Nemu’s uncharacteristic loss of composure.
"Lord Lezard and the others have left for the Imperial Capital," Ren informed them. "They’re reporting the tower’s status to the castle."
"I see. Then what are you doing here, Ashton-kun?" Nemu asked.
"I stayed behind to act as a liaison while the final tests are run."
In truth, Ren had done the work of ten men today. He stood up from the bench.
"Shall we go? The Altia technicians are waiting for you, Nemu."
The replacement parts were ready to be installed. Ren led the girls toward the entrance, but he was stopped by a civil official from the castle.
"Excuse me, Master Ashton. Regarding the points Viscount Clausel raised earlier, I have a few more questions for our future planning."
Normally, such questions would go to Licia, but she had just arrived, and Ren was the one who had spent the day overseeing the site. Licia waved them off.
"We’ll handle the work upstairs. Ren, you stay here and finish up with the officials."
Ren agreed. The repair was nearly complete; once the safety checks were done, the Great Clock would tick once more. A few minutes later, Nemu came back down to confirm that the parts were in place.
"So, will you all be heading home after the final check?" Ren asked.
"That’s the plan! Why?"
"Lord Lezard mentioned he wanted to host a dinner for everyone as a thank-you."
This was a rare gathering: the daughters of the most powerful families from the Hero, Imperial, and Neutral factions, all brought together by a shared effort.
"I'm honored," Sera said, looking at the time, "but it’s getting quite late. I'm not sure if we should..."
"It’s already taken care of," Ren interrupted. "Lord Lezard has reserved rooms for everyone at Arnea."
Sera and Nemu stared at him. Arnea was the most exclusive luxury inn in Leomel, owned by the Arnevelde Company. Even high-ranking nobles struggled to get a reservation on short notice.
"Ren!? Are you serious?" Sera gasped. "Even our parents have trouble getting a room there!"
"Ashton-kun... even I know how impossible that place is," Nemu added.
"It’s all settled. You’re all invited to stay the night and enjoy yourselves."
"I'm in! Sera-chan, you’re coming, right?" Nemu was already vibrating with excitement. A girls' night at the most famous inn in the empire was an offer they couldn't refuse.
"I’d love to, but I have to ask my father first..." Sera hesitated.
"Oh, come on! You know you want to! My parents are away in the capital anyway, so I can just send word to the manor."
Licia and Fiona shared a knowing look. They both suspected Prince Radius was behind the sudden reservation, and they were right. Radius had personally arranged the rooms as a reward for their help with the tower. While the prince provided the access, Lezard was footing the bill. A few minutes later, messages arrived from the Riohalde and Altia manors—their fathers had given their blessing.
The dinner at Arnea was exquisite. Even these young ladies, who were used to the finest cuisine, were impressed. The post-dinner desserts were enough to make them forget the day's exhaustion.
The luxury suite was massive, with multiple bedrooms and a central salon where the girls gathered. It was past eight o'clock, and they had all bathed and changed into their nightwear. Fiona, however, had been unable to stay; as a resident of the Academy Girls' Dormitory, she hadn't secured permission to stay out overnight and had returned to campus earlier.
"The exams at our school are just too much!" Sera’s lament echoed through the room.
Following the summer festival, the Imperial Academy had held its mid-term exams. While Sera had scored perfectly in swordsmanship, she was struggling with the humanities.
"Sera-chan, did you actually study?" Nemu asked.
"Of course I did! I worked as hard as I did for the entrance exams!"
"And the results?"
"They were a disaster, okay? Shut up!"
Sera wasn't stupid, but the competition in the Special Merit Class was fierce. Even her 'disastrous' scores were still well above the academy average. Nemu decided not to push it and turned to Licia.
"How about you, Licia-chan?"
"I did well enough."
"Well enough? Licia, come here," Sera said, her voice dangerously calm. She grabbed Licia’s arm and pulled her onto the bed, playfully pinning her down. "You scored over ninety percent in every single subject! How is that 'well enough'?"
"I get that you’re frustrated, Sera, but why are you sitting on me?"
"Because I'm going to do this!" Sera started tickling Licia’s sides.
Licia was a powerful swordswoman, but she was helpless against this. She squirmed and laughed until she finally managed to roll away. Flushed and breathless, she straightened her pajamas.
"What was that for?"
"Sorry, sorry! You were just so cute I couldn't help it."
"I don't even know what that means!" Licia grumbled, though she was smiling as she returned to her seat.
The girls spent the next hour laughing and talking, but eventually, the conversation turned serious. They began to discuss the discovery of the legendary shield in the coastal cave. It was a topic that had sent shockwaves through the entire nobility.
"Hey, Licia," Sera said softly. "Do you think my ancestor’s sword is out there somewhere, too?"
She remembered the look on Kaito Leonard’s face when he found the shield of his ancestor, Light Leonard. She couldn't help but wonder about the blade her own family had lost to time.
"I don't know for sure," Licia replied gently. "But you want to find it, don't you?"
"I do. The Demon King Cult is back, and the world is getting dangerous. As a Riohalde, I feel like I need that sword to protect what matters."
"Nemu feels the same way," Nemu added. "The fact that the shield was found now... it has to mean something."
Unfortunately, they had no clues to follow. Kaito’s discovery had been a stroke of sheer luck.
"I'll be rooting for you both," Licia said with a warm smile. Her encouragement seemed to lift the heavy mood.
Sera took a cookie from the table, its sweetness helping her relax. "That reminds me. There’s a major event coming up."
"A celebration for the shield?" Licia guessed.
"Exactly. A massive gathering of the Hero Faction in the Leonard territory. The heads of all Seven Great Archduke Families will be there."
"And Nemu is going, too!" Nemu added. "We’re all heading there once winter break starts!"
Licia watched them, a thoughtful expression on her face. "The Hero Faction is certainly becoming lively again," she whispered to herself, so quietly that the others couldn't hear.