Early February brought an uncharacteristically warm day.
Ren arrived at the Imperial Academy and made his way to the Academy Principal’s office. He had sent a letter in advance, and they had agreed to meet that morning.
"Thank you for seeing me today," Ren said as he entered.
Since he had other plans afterward, he wasn't in his uniform but was dressed in his private clothes.
"Welcome, Ren-kun! Come on in, have a seat!"
"I’m sorry to drop by on such short notice. I appreciate you making the time."
"Don't be silly. I’m the one who suggested this, after all, so don’t worry about it."
Following Chronoa’s beckoning, Ren sat on the sofa. Chronoa took a seat across from him. Her hair, which resembled shimmering golden silk, was as radiant as ever. Though she was celebrated as one of the world's greatest mages, she possessed a beauty that uniquely blended maturity with a delicate, youthful charm. She watched Ren with a friendly, welcoming smile.
"Right then, let’s get straight to the point—"
That smile vanished instantly at Ren's words.
"Huh...?" she let out a weak, bewildered sound. Her smile twitched as she looked at him with an expression that was hard to define. "Um... are you seriously trying to jump into the main topic already?"
"Well, I’ve taken up your valuable time, Lady Chronoa. I didn't want to waste it."
"No, no! That's not what I mean! Listen! You became a Sword Saint, Ren-kun! A Sword Saint!"
Chronoa had been dying to talk about that. She knew they would have time once the winter break was over, but she had been too restless to wait. While the main objective was important, she desperately wanted to hear the story of how he had grown so strong.
Yet, seeing Ren maintain his usual composed pace—completely unchanged from before the winter break—she couldn't help but chuckle.
"Ahaha. I suppose this is very 'you,' Ren-kun."
"Is it?"
"Yeah. I mean, you haven't changed a bit even after becoming a Sword Saint. It caught me a little off guard."
"Oh, I see."
It wasn't that he wasn't happy. When he had fought the Apostle of the Giant God, Wadatsumi, and achieved the rank of Sword Saint, he had felt a profound sense of accomplishment. But he had settled back into his usual self quickly.
"I still have a long way to go, after all."
The goal he truly aimed for was the distant peak of the Sword King. While reaching the rank of Sword Saint brought genuine joy and a sense of achievement, his heart only raced so much because his eyes were fixed on what lay beyond.
Hearing his reply and seeing the clear, bright expression on his face, Chronoa murmured, "...I see." She smiled gently at the boy. "Yes. You really are yourself, Ren-kun."
Now, for the main topic of the day.
The reason Ren had requested Chronoa’s help was regarding the Holy Relic of the Water Goddess he had discussed with Ragna.
A short while later, Ren and Chronoa were walking side by side through the city. Chronoa wore the robe she typically donned for outings, moving through the winter capital with light, high-spirited steps.
Beside her, Ren looked up at the early spring sky. "The graduation ceremony is coming up soon, isn't it?"
"It is... so many children will be leaving the nest again this year." Chronoa sounded a bit nostalgic, yet genuinely happy. She couldn't help but celebrate the departure of the students who had worked so hard over their four years at the academy.
Soon, the academy gardens and the trees lining the streets would burst into bloom, heralds of spring. This time of year was usually when Chronoa was at her most frantic, but perhaps because Ren had reached out to her for help, she had set her work aside for the moment.
The two were heading toward the Imperial Capital Magic Ship Terminal. It was smaller than the Sky Garden in Erendil, so most travelers preferred the larger hub, making this terminal relatively quiet.
After a brief flight, they arrived at the magic ship dock near Roses Kaitas. The simple facilities built for pilgrims during the Lion King Grand Festival held the previous summer remained in place. The landscape looked exactly as it had when Ren had visited with Licia to hear the choir.
They descended the ramp and headed toward Roses Kaitas, ignoring the surrounding pilgrims. Currently, the area was under the strict management of Leomel and the Elfen Church. Several knights, monk soldiers, and priests stood guard at the bridge leading to the entrance. Ordinary pilgrims were not permitted past the bridge; they offered their prayers toward the unsealed holy land from a distance.
"I’d been told to show my face here again anyway, so this worked out perfectly," Chronoa said.
"I’m sorry. I appreciate you putting it that way."
"It’s fine, really! This is a request from Ren-kun, of all people. Just leave everything to your big sister."
Chronoa had once worked at the Silver Holy Palace, the headquarters of the Elfen faith. Even now, she occasionally performed inspections of Roses Kaitas on behalf of the state.
When they approached the entrance, a Leomelian Knight spoke up. "Lady Chronoa Highland, I assume?"
"That's right," she replied.
"And is the young man with you the rumored Sword Saint?" the knight asked, looking at Ren.
Before Ren could speak, Chronoa answered for him. "Correct. It's fine for him to accompany me, right?"
"Yes, ma'am. We have already confirmed his identity, so there is no issue. However..."
"Hmm? Is something the matter?"
"No, it's just... he doesn't appear to be acting as Lady Highland's guard..."
Chronoa Highland was one of the world's most powerful mages. No matter how skilled Ren was as a Sword Saint, there was no logical reason for someone of her caliber to require him as a guard.
"Ahaha! I just brought him along because I wanted his company!"
"I-I see..."
"Oh, but if I say that, I might get in trouble. Let’s just officially list him as my guard, okay? Is that alright?"
"That should be no problem. Our orders are to accommodate your wishes, Lady Highland. We will record it as such."
Normally, a knight wouldn't allow someone through based on a personal whim, but this was Chronoa. Despite her playful demeanor, her presence commanded respect. Even without the overwhelming pressure of a Sword King, the knight felt no inclination to argue with her.
"Please, pass through."
This was Ren’s second time visiting the Plaza of the Divine Statue at the heart of Roses Kaitas. While it was his first time taking the official mountain path, since the seal had only recently been broken, it was a new experience for almost everyone.
...It’s a relief to be able to see the outside world just by turning around.
Ren thought this as they walked. When he had been trapped here during the Lion King Grand Festival, they were literally inside the seal. They hadn't been able to see the path out, let alone the world outside the mountain. Having Chronoa beside him now only added to his sense of security.
"It’s in ruins, isn't it?" Chronoa remarked, taking in the devastation.
The battle between Ren, Licia, and the Sword Demon had left deep scars across the mountain. Large cracks and shifts in the terrain marked the landscape. It hadn't been this desolate when the two of them were first wandering through it.
Chronoa stopped and turned back to Ren. "...Are you okay? You’re not pushing yourself, are you?"
"Eh? Me?"
"Yes. You and Licia-chan went through a lot of trauma here. I was worried you might start feeling sick being back. Don't force yourself, okay?"
"Thank you. But I’m fine. ...I mean, I have complicated feelings about the fight here and the Elfen Church, but physically, I'm okay."
Ren gave a wry smile that seemed genuine enough. Chronoa nodded, empathizing with his feelings.
"Still, there really is no one else inside."
"Everyone is probably busy hunting down the Demon King Cult," Chronoa suggested.
"Oh right, I think I heard something about that."
He recalled Kaito mentioning it on The Gardiknight during their trip to Eupheim. It seemed the Elfen Church had become extremely aggressive in their crusade against the cult lately.
(Maybe they're trying to regain their prestige, or something.)
He’d heard that they had been particularly focused on this ever since Roses Kaitas was unsealed.
They reached the plaza where the divine statues had stood before the summer incident. Much of the area had collapsed, leaving massive pits that dropped down into underground rivers and lakes. The statues themselves were mostly rubble, barely recognizable.
Ren didn't lose sight of his purpose. He carefully navigated the precarious footholds alongside Chronoa, searching for the Statue of the Water Goddess. There were no knights or priests in sight—only the two of them. The only sounds were their voices and the faint clatter of shifting stones.
"There were always people around back when I visited frequently, but it’s been months since then."
Chronoa spoke cheerfully as she drew a staff from her robe and waved it. A golden, glowing illustration appeared in the air. "This is what the Statue of the Water Goddess used to look like."
"Oh, that's very helpful. But... that means..."
Ren squinted as he navigated the treacherous ground. "It’s clearly that one over there, isn't it?"
"You noticed? Yes, that’s our target, but..." Chronoa gave a cute, helpless shrug.
"It’s incredible. There’s barely anything left."
Ren spoke with a sense of detached honesty. He had come here with the mindset of "if I'm lucky." He only needed to see if there was any residual power left for Ragna to use in repairing the key.
And what he saw...
...Well, I can just barely make out the pattern on the clothes.
Before him lay the shattered remains of the Statue of the Water Goddess. It had been massive—at least thirty meils tall when intact, judging by the ruins that hadn't fallen into the Great Pit. The only things left in the plaza were the base and some fragments depicting the flowing robes of the goddess.
That was why Ren had been able to identify it so quickly.