Around the same time, inside a magic ship approaching the Imperial Capital.
If this were a scene from The Legend of the Seven Heroes, it would have looked something like this:
"Still, that was incredible, Vane."
The dialogue would take place during an event just before the ending of the first game, with the party gathered in the ship’s main hall. At the center of the conversation was Vane, the descendant of the Hero, who had stopped Ulysses Ignat's ambitions at the very last second in the Baldur Mountains.
"That light... Vane, just as I thought, you really are the descendant of Hero Ruin, aren't you?"
"I wonder. I don't really feel it myself," Vane replied, hesitating.
Seeing him struggle for an answer, Sera Riohalde spoke up. "It was a light just like the one when you saved me in the forest all those years ago."
She was referring to the childhood incident that had first brought them together.
"I suppose that’s how you stopped Asval's complete resurrection. But that power... it didn't feel like Holy Magic or White Magic at all."
"Ah, Nemu thinks so too!" Nemu Altia chirped.
"That’s true," Charlotte Rofelia added. "I've visited the temples many times on Rofelia family business, but I’ve never seen a member of the clergy use power like that."
Vane remained seated on the sofa, staring at his own palm. He replayed the time spent in the Baldur Mountains over and over, thinking of the tragedy that had swept across the Leomel Empire while reflecting on his companions' words.
"A lot has happened, and I can't think about it calmly yet. For now, I think it’s enough just to have made it back safely with everyone."
Everyone nodded at his words, celebrating the end of their grueling journey.
As they traveled, a sweeping landscape rolled past the magic ship’s window. It was a remote region far from human settlements, situated on mostly flat land, yet featuring a rare topography where several massive rivers merged. This pocket of wilderness was located about a two-hour flight from the Imperial Capital.
"Sera, what is that?" Vane asked, his curiosity piqued.
"That is Windea, the Place Where Water and Wind Sleep."
At the heart of the terrain, the massive rivers converged into a giant lake, vast enough to swallow a small city whole. It was surrounded by lush green forests and plains. In the center of the lake stood a tower-like mountain with sharp, rocky cliffs. Its peak reached higher than the magic ship itself. Above the clouds, particles of light—reminiscent of azure mana and the fresh greenery of midsummer—drifted on the wind.
"They say the water and wind of the Elfen Continent eventually flow toward that place." Sera laughed softly, adding, "I don't know if it's actually true, though."
"Is that light above the clouds the mana that’s gathered there?"
"It seems so," Sera continued. "The water drawn into the mountain from the lake turns into pure mana and is released back into the world. The wind dissolves into that mana, is reborn just like the water, and flies from the sky to every corner of the continent. Legend says Windea is a domain created by the Water Goddess."
In the original game, this was an event where Vane, carrying the blood of Hero Ruin, would undergo a minor awakening and gain access to new abilities.
And now, in this timeline, a similar conversation was taking place. The only difference was that they were returning from the Leonard Archduke Territory rather than the Baldur Mountains.
"Heh... I had no idea a place like that existed."
"It’s been a long time since I’ve seen it myself—"
As Vane expressed his admiration, Sera stood proudly beside him to continue the explanation. Seeing this, Charlotte hugged Sera from behind to tease her, causing Sera to squirm as she tried to break free.
"I told you! Sharo, you're always so sudden!"
"Oh stop, don't be so mean to me~"
Sera eventually gave up with a heavy sigh. Resigning herself to the fact that Charlotte was essentially piggybacking on her, she decided to ignore the girl and get back to the topic. "Honestly, you're hopeless. Anyway, they say that once every few hundred years, a spring near the temple at the mountain's peak—which is usually dry—fills with water."
"It’s not just rainwater, right?"
"Of course not. It’s water imbued with sanctity, possessing the power to ward off evil. It supposedly wells up from nowhere. They say it reacts particularly strongly to the power of the Hero, though—"
Everyone but Vane froze. Then, as if they had practiced it, they all turned to look at him. Vane accepted their collective gaze and gave a firm nod.
"If my power can help in the fight against the Demon King Cult, then I think we should investigate it."
Since Vane had made up his mind, no one raised an objection. If he was willing to go, they wanted to support him.
"Then it’s settled! We have to go to Windea soon!"
"I-Impossible! Sera-chan, climbing a mountain like that in this weather is insane!" Nemu cried out.
"Yeah... even for someone with my muscles, that would be a nightmare," Kaito added. "Windea is said to be even more treacherous than the Baldur Mountains. We really should wait until spring."
"For now, why don't we aim for Spring Break?" Charlotte suggested. "We can just go together after those kids enroll."
"That makes sense. It's not like the spring is guaranteed to be full this year anyway."
Despite their logic, the girls couldn't help but feel that this year—now that Vane’s power had manifested—surely something would happen. In this world, such suggestive signs always carried weight.
In the original reality, many players had viewed this event as a prelude to the second game. And they had been right. The Legend of the Seven Heroes II: Chapter One: Bloodline of the Hero was the start of the story of the boys and girls who had grown through their first adventures.
However, that wasn't the only thing they needed to discuss.
"I want to talk with Ren once winter break is over," Vane said.
"Yeah! Exactly!"
"Geez, Kaito-kun! Don't suddenly shout like that!"
"Whoops, my bad, Nemu."
Kaito couldn't help his excitement. The news they had heard this winter was simply too shocking to ignore.
"I mean, what is going on with Ashton? If the rumors are true, he soloed an Apostle of the Giant God, Wadatsumi."
As Kaito spoke with a manic energy, Charlotte added her thoughts while still clinging to Sera’s back. Sera had completely given up resisting and was now idly messing with Charlotte’s bangs.
"It’s not just a rumor anymore. Given the people who were actually present at the scene, it had to be him."
"But I heard the Director of the Lion Sanctum was there too, right? And the Ignat family's steward."
"I know that," Charlotte countered. "But the Director was reportedly inside the city, and the steward was attending to Marquis Ignat. If someone fought it on that island, it was Ren."
"Man... then it really was him."
The winter hours continued to tick away slowly.
While the magic ship carrying Vane’s group flew through the distant sky, Ren followed the advice Lutreche had given him and made his way to the Adventurer Guild’s Imperial Capital Headquarters.
Despite the thick crowds, he headed straight for the reception desk.
"Ren Ashton-sama, welcome. We have been expecting you."
"I came because of what we talked about the other day. Is it okay?"
"Certainly. You’ve come to check the Emblem-bearing requests, correct?"
"This way, please," the receptionist said, guiding Ren toward the back of the building.
It wasn't a staff area, but a luxurious suite reserved for VIPs. At the end of a long, carpeted hallway was another reception desk within this exclusive wing. It felt less like a guild and more like the interior of a high-class hotel. The requests posted on the wall were written on paper that looked and felt expensive.
Besides Ren, there were only a few other adventurers present, along with a handful of nobles, wealthy merchants, and knights who had come to post their own commissions.
"Do you have any specific requirements?" the receptionist asked.
Ren thought for a moment. Lutreche hadn't given him any details, so he wasn't sure what he was looking for. "I'll take a look on my own for a bit, thanks."
"Understood."
Once the receptionist stepped away, Ren turned his attention to the posted requests.
-
Subjugation of monsters on the air route to the Demon Continent. Combat will take place on the deck of a magic ship. Daily wage: 5,000,000 G + subjugation materials divided equally.
-
Request to travel to the territory of the 'Black Emperor Horn Behemoth' to collect shed horns. Reward negotiable. Due to the target being a powerful S-rank individual, multiple special conditions apply.
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I wish to hear the Siren’s song. Seeking escort to the desolate seas. Daily wage: 17,000,000 G.
There were many others. Ren recognized several of them as events he had encountered or heard about in the game. However, none of these felt like they were connected to the cryptic advice Lutreche had given him.
He stood there for several minutes, groaning as he scanned the board.
"Wait, this is..."
His eyes locked onto a particular sheet.
- Relic hunting. Luggage carrier. Meal preparation. Assistance with document organization. Other miscellaneous chores. Reward negotiable.
Compared to the high-stakes, big-money requests surrounding it, this one was incredibly plain. Ren was certain that no such request had existed in The Legend of the Seven Heroes.
But that wasn't why it caught his eye. It was the name of the client.
"...Ragna-san?"
The name written on the form was "The Bag Traveler."
The researcher from the Ministry of Mysteries—Ragna.
Since nothing else on the board had piqued his interest, Ren pulled the request form from the wall and took it back to the counter.