Before he knew it, the boy had fallen into a deep sleep in front of the shrine.
The exhaustion hadn't hit him during the heat of battle, but now that the adrenaline had faded, he realized just how much he had overextended himself.
Before opening his eyes, he retraced the events that had led him here.
After the fight, he had made his way to the shrine to apologize for the violence he’d brought to its grounds... and then his fatigue had finally reached its limit. Between his physical exertion and the massive drain on his mana, he had slipped into a slumber so deep it felt like losing consciousness.
It was likely the toll of mimicking the Sword Demon’s techniques and pushing his new capabilities as a Sword Saint to their absolute peak.
...But.
There was one thing he didn’t quite understand.
The back of his head was enveloped in a soft, warm sensation.
When he finally opened his eyes, the mystery was solved.
"Good morning, Ren-kun."
Ren woke to find himself resting on Fiona’s lap. I see, he thought with surprising composure.
Her silk-like hair swayed in the sea breeze, occasionally brushing against his cheek.
"I’m sorry. Am I... taking an incredible liberty right now?"
"P-Please don't put it into words like that, it makes me nervous...!"
Ren offered a smile to the bashful Fiona and sat up.
"How did you get here?"
"I came on the battleship over there."
Several warships were anchored around the solitary island, their crews surveying the island and its surrounding waters. They had arrived only ten minutes earlier.
Fiona had found Ren while searching the area. Seeing him sleeping on the stone pavement surrounding the shrine, she had decided to offer her lap, wanting to do at least that much for him.
Ren truly did have a strange history with lap pillows. Whether he was consciously aware of that was another matter entirely.
"...Ah."
Fiona’s eyes drifted to the Flame Magic Sword thrust into the stone pavement nearby.
"Is that different from the one I saw back in the Baldur Mountains? No... it looks slightly different, doesn't it?"
"It is. That one was more... magnificent, for lack of a better word. An incredible Magic Sword. Though, I’m not actually sure how to call that specific one out yet."
"A Magic Sword...?"
He had already told Licia during the summer, and both Chronoa and Radius had long since seen through the fact that he possessed a mysterious power. Since this was a good opportunity, he decided it was time to tell Fiona as well.
"It’s a Magic Sword. It’s my special power—the one I used a few times when we were in the Baldur Mountains."
"Ren-kun, is that the power you told me to keep secret when we were leaving the mountains?"
"That’s the one. I call it Magic Sword Summoning."
Just as he had with Licia, he explained the nature of his ability.
Fiona, like Licia, had witnessed his blades many times before. She had already suspected it was a unique power of his. Hearing the truth behind the secret made her expression soften with genuine happiness.
"Thank you for telling me," she said, her voice bright with joy.
Sharing the secret left Ren feeling refreshed, as if a weight had been lifted from his heart. Chronoa had told him back in the summer that keeping secrets from those close to him would eventually become a heavy burden. It seemed she had been right.
As they spoke, Estelle approached them.
"Are you awake, Ren?" the female hero asked with a bold laugh.
Ren considered the question for a moment. "In which sense do you mean?"
"Both, of course."
"In that case, I’ve managed to wake up safely in both senses."
He had awakened as a Sword Saint, and he had awakened from his exhaustion.
"That's good to hear. It was quite a melody you played."
"A melody?"
"Your body was ringing, wasn't it? That was the resonance of mana and your Enshroud. It stops once your body adapts to the change, but we call that phenomenon 'The Sword Saint Sings.'"
"Ooh... that sounds cool..."
Fiona and Estelle laughed at Ren’s simple, impressed reaction.
Ren finally stood up and offered a hand to Fiona, helping her up from the stone pavement.
"According to Fiona, this shrine is connected to the Lion King," Ren noted.
"Eh? Is that so?"
Fiona picked up the explanation. "Back when the Lion King was still alive, his ship was wrecked, and he drifted to this solitary island. Believing his survival was due to the protection of the Water Goddess, he ordered this shrine to be built here."
"There is no better place to awaken as a Sword Saint. I'm sure the Lion King is blessing you as we speak."
Ren nodded thoughtfully, looking back at the shrine. It was a fascinating piece of history.
"In the end, why did that monster appear here of all places?"
"I think we might find that answer inside. That’s why I came. Let's head in."
At Estelle’s prompting, Ren followed her toward the back of the shrine. Perhaps due to his lingering fatigue, his legs felt unsteady for a moment. The Black Priestess reached out from beside him, supporting his arm with a smile.
"Thank you."
"Fufu, please don't let it bother you."
Ren felt a bit embarrassed. The dizziness passed after the first few steps, and he continued on his own.
The shrine was a rugged, stone construction, devoid of any ornate decoration. There was supposed to be an altar in the innermost sanctum, but it had been smashed aside to reveal a hidden staircase leading deep underground.
Estelle proceeded down without a hint of hesitation. Ren and Fiona followed close behind.
"Magnificent. It's rare to find ancient formulas laid out with such precision."
There were traces of countless magical traps and protective barriers throughout the passage. Elaborate patterns were engraved into the walls, floors, and ceiling, but every single one of them had been drained of its power. According to Estelle, they had been forcibly broken, reduced to nothing more than inert carvings.
At the bottom of the stairs lay a small basement. Several treasures were scattered across the floor. In the center stood a pedestal decorated with intricate reliefs.
Estelle examined the carvings. "The Lion King likely offered an Undine's Mana Stone here."
A Water Spirit. The relief was carved in the likeness of an Undine. In ancient times, spirits were said to show themselves far more frequently than they do today. When a spirit died, it left behind a mana stone—items that the Leomel of that era prized as great treasures.
"An offering to the Water Goddess. There is no higher tribute."
Though it was a rare item, a mana stone was still just a mana stone. It didn't possess the inherent power of a Holy Relic; its primary use was as a high-output power source for magic weapons.
Estelle continued, "It’s clear that someone broke in here."
"Right. The Apostle of the Giant God, Wadatsumi I fought was significantly stronger than a normal individual of its species."
"So you’ve been studying the standard monster ranks as well? Good. You are as diligent as ever."
Ren cleared his throat, choosing not to mention that his knowledge came from a 'previous life.'
"So it used a powerful mana stone as bait to force its own evolution?"
"Indeed. From the Cult's perspective, feeding an Undine’s Mana Stone to a monster was far more effective than letting Leomel use it to power a magic weapon. That was likely the intruder’s logic."
If more time had passed, that Wadatsumi might have become even more monstrous.
"Well, I believe I understand the situation now."
"Lady Estelle, is that enough?" Fiona asked.
"The moment they broke in here, it was obvious they were looking for something. Likely equipment belonging to the Seven Heroes. Since Airia was found near Eupeheim, they probably suspected other relics might be resting here as well—that is my theory."
If the Demon King Cult viewed the heroes' equipment as a threat, they would naturally want to seize or destroy it. That was the most likely motive for the attack.
(...Come to think of it.)
In the original plot of The Legend of the Seven Heroes, there was no mention of an attack near Eupeheim related to Airia. But then again, in that timeline, Ulysses was already working with the Cult. If they wanted to investigate something, they could have done so without resorting to a direct assault.
Additionally...
(Maybe it was intended to be used as a sacrifice for Asval's resurrection.)
Speculating on the potential uses of the Undine's Mana Stone, Ren let out a slow breath.
The three returned to the surface. It was a winter evening, and the sun was already dipping toward the horizon.
"Between the Glacier Crossing and the seasonal shifts, the monsters in the north and the surrounding seas are more active than usual. There was plenty of 'food' available. The conditions were perfect to accelerate the Wadatsumi’s growth."
"Does that mean, Lady Estelle, that they even factored the Glacier Crossing into their plans?"
The Waterway Abnormality had been a direct side-effect of the Wadatsumi's presence. Eupeheim, with its intricate canal system and vast coastline, was particularly susceptible. The monster's sheer power had disrupted the natural flow of mana in the water long before it actually attacked.
"The influence was so minute that standard magic tools couldn't detect it."
But the disturbance had peaked today as the Wadatsumi drew closer to the city. The strange surges in the canals were caused by the monster's mana warping the currents from beneath the surface.
"But Lady Estelle," Fiona interjected, "the water abnormalities in Eupeheim started back in autumn. Airia was discovered after that. The timeline doesn't quite match up..."
"Fiona's right, but the Demon King Cult was likely making preparations long before that. The discovery of Airia simply gave them a reason to strike now. If it hadn't been Airia, they would have found another excuse to attack somewhere else."
Estelle spoke with total conviction, as if a formal investigation would only confirm the obvious.
Ren looked up at the sky, absorbing the information.
"By the way, Ren... what exactly triggered your awakening as a Sword Saint?"
"I was actually hoping you could tell me."
"Hmm... I’m not sure. I know you've survived many life-or-death struggles. You fought alongside Licia, and though I don't know the specifics, I imagine you had similar experiences with Fiona in the Baldur Mountains."
"Um, well..."
Fiona looked away, seemingly finding it hard to speak, so Ren gave a noncommittal answer.
"You don't have to tell me. I’m just guessing," Estelle said. "But if that's the case, you've had plenty of life-threatening experiences already. Clearly, those weren't the trigger. You needed a different kind of experience."
As they walked down the path from the shrine toward the coast, Estelle suddenly stopped.
"Yes!" she exclaimed, nodding to herself just seconds later. "Ren, tell me—have you ever fought a powerful enemy entirely on your own before today?"
"Eh?"
Ren blinked at the unexpected question. Thinking back, he realized that in almost every desperate struggle he’d faced, someone had been by his side. Whether it was Licia or Fiona, he had always had an ally. He’d faced Jelququ, Asval, and even the Sword Demon, but he’d never been truly alone.
(...)
He realized he hadn't. He had never fought through a major threat from start to finish without backup.
"If you haven't, then perhaps deep down, you weren't fully acknowledging your own strength."
"What do you mean by that?"
"You were likely trapped by the unconscious belief that you weren't 'there' yet because you hadn't proven you could win on your own. It's not that you lacked confidence, but you were suppressing your own ferocity. You were showing your opponents too much respect and holding yourself back."
"...Ah. So, it’s like I was putting a limiter on myself."
"Something like that. And, of course, the timing was simply right."
Through his experiences over the summer, he had already acquired the necessary power. All he needed was a shift in consciousness.
To suppress a true powerhouse using nothing but my own strength and my own sword.
That realization had been the final key that unlocked his true potential.
They eventually returned to Eupeheim via battleship. While the city remained in a state of high alert, the three took a brief moment to rest at the harbor.
Ulysses, who had been occupied with the emergency response, finally managed to rejoin them. He had already expressed his thanks on the ship, but he did so again more formally.
"Still, I never imagined you would become a Sword Saint so soon," Ulysses said, looking genuinely pleased. "It’s unprecedented for a student to reach that level in the Strong Sword Arts."
"Even I was taken aback," Edgar added with a respectful bow. "To hear such a beautiful melody... I cannot thank you enough for allowing me to witness it."
"N-No, really... it's only because everyone has been looking after me that I finally managed to..."
As they spoke, a knight approached Estelle and knelt before her. His face was pale with tension.
"A report, your Excellency. Heroic Archduke Leonard and his party have engaged an Apostle of the Giant God, Wadatsumi."
"Go on."
"Yes! They successfully repelled the monster. There are no casualties reported, and the Archduke is safe."
Ren felt a wave of relief. It matched the events of the game timeline; Vane and the others were safe. But the report wasn't over.
"The creature fled toward the eastern sea. It's estimated to be one to two hours away from Eupeheim by magic ship. We have received requests from multiple sectors asking for the Chief to personally intervene."
"I'm afraid I'm on vacation," Estelle replied flatly. "I thought bringing my personal magic ship made that clear."
"E-Eh? U-Um..."
"I have His Highness's endorsement for this leave. Since it was practically a royal order, I’d hate to disobey it."
She was clearly teasing him. A mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes. Fiona and Ren shared a quiet chuckle.
Then, Ren spoke up. "Lady Estelle."
Interrupting a conversation between a knight and the Chief of the Sanctuary was a massive breach of etiquette, but he did it anyway.
"Is your offer to give me some training still valid?"
"Of course. I intended to spend this entire vacation overseeing your progress, Ren."
"In that case, I’ve rested enough. Shall we head out?"
The reporting knight looked bewildered, but the others quickly caught on.
"It seems there’s a conveniently powerful monster nearby. I suppose we could go on a little hunt," Estelle said.
"If you would be so kind."
Ren and Estelle began to walk toward the docks. Finishing off the escaped monster would ensure the safety of Eupeheim. There was no reason to wait.
The knight finally realized the previous exchange had been a performance and let out a long, shaky breath of relief.
"Ren-kun, wait a moment."
Fiona took Ren’s hand, stopping him. She pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped away a smudge of soot from his cheek. She clearly wanted to go with him, but she knew she had responsibilities here in the city.
"Please be careful. If anything happens, I’ll come for you immediately."
"I'll be fine. Lady Estelle is with me, so I doubt I'll even have to do anything reckless."
"Honestly, Ren-kun..."
Fiona gave him a final, lingering look as they parted.
"Ren Ashton! Are you sure about this?" Ulysses called out.
"I’m sure. I want to test these new sensations while they’re still fresh in my mind. ...Oh, but if it’s not too much trouble."
Ren stopped and turned back toward the Marquis. He had looked deathly exhausted only a short while ago, but that fatigue seemed to have vanished completely.
"I’ll be back soon. I’d love to have a good meal when I return."
Ulysses stared at him for a moment, then burst into a booming laugh. "Hah! Of course! I’ll have the finest feast prepared for you!"
With that, Ren headed back toward the battlefield.
As they walked through the bustling streets of Eupeheim, Ren glanced at his companion. "You were a bit mean to that knight, Lady Estelle."
"I know. But His Highness really did frame this as an order. I just needed a good excuse to 'obey' it while technically remaining on vacation."
"I figured it was something like that."
As they blended into the crowd, they met up with Verrich, who was leaning against a streetlamp.
"Yo, Ren."
"Verrich-san. It feels like it’s been ages."
"Doesn't it? I heard you did something incredible out there."
"Maybe. I’ll tell you all about it on the ship."
"Ha! I'm looking forward to it!"
The magic ship dock wasn't far. Night was finally beginning to settle over the city.
"Tell me, Ren... how does it feel to spend your winter break hunting monsters that threaten the Empire?"
"I could ask you the same thing, Lady Estelle. How does it feel to spend your vacation doing the same?"
Estelle was momentarily taken aback. Before she could retort, Ren continued. His white breath curled into the cold sea air.
"I told Radius something once," he said, recalling the Great Clock Tower Incident. "I told him I would become a lion... one that suppresses everything."
Was he living up to those words? As he reflected on the growth he had achieved that day, a quiet confidence settled over him.
Estelle smiled. "Yeah. If it's you, Ren, I’ve no doubt you will."
The Sword Saint turned his gaze toward the sea and stepped toward the battlefield once more.