Outside the gates of the girls' dormitory at the Imperial Academy.
Escorting her this far might have drawn unwanted attention, but Fiona insisted she didn't mind. And so, Ren decided to see her all the way to the building’s entrance.
"Thank you, Ren-kun."
The Marquis’s daughter bowed with lingering reluctance. She clearly felt a pang of regret as their time together drew to a close. After this, Ren wouldn't be returning to the Arnea; he was heading back to Erendil. If she kept him any longer, she would only be a nuisance.
"Oh, Lady Fiona?" Ren called out just as she turned to head toward the dormitory.
"Yes?"
"You have something in your hair."
"Eh? Where?"
"Over there... no, further to the right."
"..."
Unsure of where it was, Fiona tilted her head back and forth, her fingers searching through her strands. Seeing her struggle, Ren spoke up again.
"Pardon me."
He gently reached out and plucked the object from her hair. It was a leaf, likely one of the few remaining on the roadside trees, which had fluttered down onto her head. He let it drift from his fingertips and offered a small smile.
"It was just a leaf."
It was a gentle, warm smile—the kind that made one want to gaze at it forever.
"Th-thank you...!"
She hadn't noticed when it had gotten stuck, and in truth, she didn't care. She was simply overwhelmed by the joy and embarrassment of Ren’s sudden, tender gesture.
"Wait!" she called out as they were about to part.
Ren, who had already turned to leave the gates, looked back over his shoulder. "Yes? Is something the matter?"
"...Ren-kun, do you have any plans for the winter break?"
"Plans for the winter break... Let’s see..."
Ren pondered the question for a moment. Several tasks occupied his mind: attending the Lion Sanctum to hone his swordsmanship, gaining experience against monsters while polishing his Arts, and studying for the exams that loomed in the spring. In short, he expected to be in Erendil the entire time.
"That’s about it," he explained.
Hearing this, Fiona’s expression brightened instantly.
"Then... would it be alright if I went to see you occasionally?"
"Of course. If you’re fine with my company, I’m always happy to have someone to talk to."
Seeing Ren nod without a moment's hesitation, a look of pure delight spread across Fiona’s face. She almost skipped with joy, but caught herself, cleared her throat, and straightened her posture with practiced grace.
"I’m sorry for stopping you! Well then—good night!"
Fiona gave Ren a deep, formal bow and retreated into the dormitory with a light step. Ren remained where he was, watching her until she was gone. At the very last moment, she stopped at the entrance and looked back. Seeing that Ren was still there, she waved happily before finally disappearing inside.
Leaving the dormitory behind, Ren did not head toward the station. Instead, he made his way toward the Imperial Academy, a route he knew by heart. At this hour, only a handful of faculty members remained on the grounds. It was a time when students were strictly forbidden from entry without a special reason.
The reason Ren was heading there now was because he was expected.
"I’ve heard everything. You’ve had a difficult time."
The voice belonged to Radius, the Third Prince and Ren’s closest friend. He was waiting with his back against the stone wall surrounding the academy.
"Where are your guards?" Ren asked.
"Estelle is nearby. If anyone tries to attack, they’ll be captured in an instant."
"In an instant, huh? Now I almost want to try it just for a laugh."
A voice called out from the shadows in response to Ren’s joke. "Ren, under what pretext would you have me capture you for 'cuddling' with the Prince?"
It was Estelle. Ren laughed, conceding the point, and stood beside Radius. Having pushed his body to its limit that day, Ren exhaled a long breath and leaned his weight against the wall. Looking sideways, he noticed the heavy, dark circles under Radius’s eyes.
"You haven't been sleeping much, have you?"
"...Lately, I've only managed about three hours a day. I spend my time gulping down large bottles of potions like a man trying to drown his sorrows in wine."
"Whoa... Make sure you don't collapse."
"Knowing you, Ren, I thought you’d tell me to rest."
"I could, but you wouldn't listen anyway. Telling you not to fall over is at least more practical."
"I see. That is certainly true."
"Well, I am curious about what’s keeping you so busy."
Radius hesitated, dodging the question with a vague, "Maybe next time." Ren didn't press him.
"By the way, there's something I wanted to ask," Ren said. "About the factional conflict. Now that the Leonard family’s ancestral shield has been found, the Hero Faction is in an uproar, isn't it?"
"What's this? I thought you had no interest in such things, Ren."
"I don't want to participate in them, no. And I want to make sure the Clausel family never gets dragged into it again. But I was curious about your take on it, Radius."
Radius chuckled softly. "A shield once held by one of the Seven Heroes has been rediscovered. Is that not a wonderful thing?"
He was being sincere. As the head of the Imperial Faction, Radius was still genuinely happy for the good fortune that had visited the Leonard family.
"If the people of our empire are happy, then that is enough. That is how I feel."
"But factional politics are a headache."
"That is also true. Which is exactly why I cannot ignore the situation."
"Is the Imperial Faction planning a countermove?"
"Hmm... rather than planning, we are moving in various ways. Mostly me."
"Is that what you were talking about before? Why you've been so busy lately?"
"Yes. I’ll tell you everything eventually, so please bear with me a little longer."
Although the timeline of history had already shifted significantly, Ren tried to recall Radius's role during this period in the original game. Nothing came to mind—and that realization brought a pang of sadness. He remembered that in the original "Legend of the Seven Heroes," Radius was kidnapped and lost his life during this very winter.
"I hear a grand gathering is being arranged at the Leonard estate," Radius continued. "Every single head of the Seven Great Archduke Families will be in attendance. It's the largest summit we've seen in years."
"Ah, yeah... I suppose that’s right."
"What’s wrong? You’ve become quite evasive all of a sudden."
Ren told him not to worry, and Radius took a moment to breathe. The conversation shifted back to the internal stirrings of the nobility.
"Also, Ulysses claims he’s been lacking exercise lately. He sent a trivial letter suggesting that we should counter the Hero Faction's momentum by taking a long trip and holding a party of our own."
"A long trip? Where to?"
"I'm not sure, but I doubt it would be anywhere as remote as the Baldur Mountains."
Ren stared blankly at him. "You should definitely stop Lord Ulysses and yourself from going there. Absolutely."
Combining the Baldur Mountains, Ulysses, and Radius was an omen of the worst kind. It was meant as a joke, but Ren’s smile felt frozen for a split second.
"I think I’ll head home now," Ren said.
"It is indeed getting late."
Estelle, who had been keeping a respectful distance, stepped toward them. "Ren, shall I have my subordinates escort you to Erendil?"
"I’m fine. I don’t think I’m fragile enough to need a guard."
"Heh, no doubt. Any mugger would be the one running for his life."
After parting with Radius and Estelle, Ren began the trek back to Erendil. Along the way, his thoughts returned to the game lore.
So, it's the event that triggers when the Hero Equipment is found...
If he remembered correctly, this was a specific plot thread from the game. Even in the sequel, the reason why the armaments of the Seven Heroes were scattered across the continent was never fully explained, though many theories existed. Regardless, the equipment was a peerless historical legacy. Because they were the tools used to slay the Demon King, their discovery was a monumental event. While the conversations Ren had shared with Radius and Licia’s group were casual, the rest of Leomel was in a feverish state.
There were likely countless stories unfolding that the game had never depicted.
But beyond the general commotion, Ren had one specific concern.
‘Let's keep doing our best, Vane!’ ‘Yes!’
That was a scene from the Leonard party. Following that celebration, while traveling through the Leonard Territory, an event would occur where the Demon King Cult launched an ambush. In the game, it was a scripted encounter—there was no possibility of defeat. It was purely a vehicle to showcase the overwhelming power of the shield Airia in Kaito’s hands. Once the player repelled the monsters, they gained experience, and the story moved on.
Ren struggled to recall the details, but he remembered trying several times as a player to actually slay the monster in that encounter. It was far too powerful for a random spawn and felt like a deeply significant enemy. But like every other player, he had found it impossible to kill.
"I have to tell them," he whispered.
He couldn't stay silent about the danger. However, the method of delivery was the same old problem. If Ren simply claimed such a thing might happen, he would have no credibility. He lacked the standing to move the adults in power. Still, he felt he could find a way to make them listen.
One of the Unopenable Doors had finally been breached.
Within the Ministry of Mysteries, the investigation led by Ragna’s Lab was drawing to a close for the day.
"Doctor, it’s almost time," a voice called out.
"I’m coming. Wait outside."
Ragna was addressed as either Lab Head or Doctor, depending on the speaker. Over a decade ago, he had been a student himself—not at the prestigious Imperial Academy, but at a common place of learning in a quiet provincial city. Since those days, influenced by his parents, he had dedicated his life to archaeology. His primary focus had eventually become the era of the Seven Heroes.
Yet, in truth, the Heroes themselves didn't interest him much. Between the mix of truth and fabrication in their legends and the political influence of the Seven Great Archduke Families, he found the subject lacked academic purity.
Ragna stood in the room at the back of the orphanage, where the hidden wall painting remained. He stared intently at the image, which was illuminated by the glow of a magic tool.
"There's no mistake."
Looking at the girl in the painting, his conviction solidified. This was the story of the world's origin—the primordial myth. A tale from a time when even light and darkness did not exist.
The myth claimed that before the world began, a single girl existed. She had no name, and with no understanding of why she was there, she simply was. Alone in a void, she had huddled in the silence, shivering with a loneliness so profound that she eventually began to cry.
Her tears drifted through the nothingness and began to glow. This light, the first the girl had ever seen, illuminated the void every time she wept. As the ripples of her tears spread, verdant earth was born from nothingness, flowers bloomed, and an azure sky stretched out to the horizon. The vast ocean rose in waves, and the sun shone upon her.
In the spot where she had once huddled, a small spring formed. When she scooped up the water and scattered it, it reflected the sunlight like diamonds. This shimmering spray, glowing with intense power, gave birth to four sisters.
The Four Primordial Goddesses. The absolute deities who commanded the world's deepest faith.
And the girl herself was...
"Creator God Alice. This Jeno person painted a god that has been long forgotten."
Today, shrines dedicated to the oldest gods were incredibly rare. Over the ages, the focus of worship had shifted to Elfen, and Alice was rarely even mentioned in modern theology. The rise of the War Gods, who governed the Sword Kings, had further buried these ancient myths.
Ragna allowed the myth to fade from his mind. He was finished with the painting itself; he had found a research subject far more captivating.
"This might be the first time I've felt this truly thrilled."
Talking to himself, he left the small room. He passed the researchers remaining in the hall, but the Shelgardian—who lived for the pursuit of wisdom—glanced back at the door one last time before walking on.
He stepped out of the orphanage. The starlight reaching the submerged Old City was faint, and the only real light came from the magic tools surrounding the site. As he walked toward the perimeter of the grounds, a researcher called out to him.
"Doctor, just who was it that broke the seal on that door?"
"Someone in a very specific position," Ragna replied. "As established by Imperial Law, this falls under the Ministry of Mysteries' duty of confidentiality. No one other than myself has the right to know. Do not ask again."
"Understood, sir."
The researchers were gathered near the library. Ragna stood a short distance away, leaning against a stone wall and looking back toward the orphanage.
"‘The traveler who fought the Phoenix said this: I am used to dealing with children. I have helped friends and looked after little ones many times. The hero proved this by soothing the infant.’"
It was a fragment of an old, insignificant tale, preserved only in certain corners of the Shelgard Empire. Stories of the hero who slew the Phoenix were scattered throughout the empire, and in some regions, they included small anecdotes like the one Ragna had just recited.
"...It's bothering me. Why was Ren able to open the Unopenable Door? And why did he mention 'Adventurer Ashton'?"
The Shelgardian scholar pondered the connection. A fragment of a Sky Continent myth, the existence of this orphanage... and Ren’s parting words about his ancestor.
Could all these disparate threads be part of the same tapestry?
"It might be time for a field study."
Ragna returned to the Ministry of Mysteries shortly after. He made quick preparations and told his subordinates, "I’ll be away for a while. I have a lead to investigate."
"Now? We’ve only just gained access to the orphanage!"
"Something else has caught my interest. I’ll be back soon, so see that you proceed with the work carefully. If you so much as scratch a wall painting, I’ll be furious for the next seventy years."
"Yes, sir... we understand. Though, seventy years from now, most of us will be dead of old age."
His tone was sharp as always, but his voice was steady, and the subordinates laughed. Ragna had hand-picked every one of them. He didn't actually doubt their competence; he simply spoke that way out of habit. Because Ragna always produced exceptional results, the Ministry never questioned his sudden departures.
Tonight, he was chasing a new spark of wisdom and lore.
"Let's go."
He left the Ministry alone, dressed in his familiar robe with a massive bag strapped to his back. He looked exactly like the traveler from the rumors.
It was less than a month before he would finally stumble upon a crucial piece of information.