It was a holiday, and a carriage rolled aimlessly through the streets of the Imperial Capital.
Three people were inside: Ren, Radius, and Ragna, who had joined them to provide an update on the progress of the key’s repair.
Radius was currently informing the other two about a temple in a foreign country that had been attacked along with its surrounding town.
"I’ve been making as many inquiries as possible, just as you requested, Ren."
It would have been ideal if Ren could have prevented the attack or predicted exactly where the enemy would strike so they could prepare, but he didn't know the specifics of the Demon King Cult’s movements in foreign lands.
"The Holy Palace Knights dispatched by the Holy Land were annihilated. The temple has been reduced to rubble, and it has been confirmed that all the stored Holy Relics were either destroyed or stolen."
"How did you obtain that information?"
"Through various means—infiltrating shadows and other clandestine methods."
Otherwise, it was doubtful whether such sensitive information would have been shared at all. Every country had its secrets, even those on the same continent, so such measures were necessary.
"Is there anything else? Do we know the extent of the damage?"
"One more thing. Survivors who fled the town in desperation described the attacker as being dressed like a nobleman. They said he simply wouldn't die, no matter how many times the Holy Palace Knights ran him through or scorched him with magic."
Ren paused to think, a specific individual coming to mind. This was a powerful figure within the Demon King Cult whose appearance in The Legend of the Seven Heroes roughly aligned with the current timeline.
He recalled the existence of the Priest he had suspected before.
"It’s the Demon King Cult. That man likely ordered his subordinates to target the Ring of the Water Goddess as well."
As he spoke, Ren felt certain the man was a high-ranking member of the Cult. He needed to find a way to share more detailed information with Radius as soon as possible.
"That implies he is an exceptional powerhouse even among the Cultists," Ragna remarked. "They clearly have a grander scheme. If that man was indeed the one searching for the Ring of the Water Goddess, it’s a serious concern."
Ragna leaned back, continuing his analysis.
"The cave Ren and I discovered had been thoroughly ransacked. There must be a specific reason they desire the ring so badly. On the bright side, the fact that we were the ones who took it remains a secret. The Cult likely doesn't know we have it, so they’ll probably return to the cave. They’re a group strangely obsessed with hoarding Holy Relics, after all."
"I agree," Radius said. "It would be foolish to do nothing when we can anticipate their next moves."
"But it’s also incredibly dangerous," Ren interjected, drawing the attention of the other two. "Radius, can you estimate just how strong he is?"
"It’s difficult to say, but he is clearly on a level far beyond the Cultists we've encountered so far. The Holy Palace Knights are highly skilled, yet they were wiped out. I can't even begin to imagine the outcome if the elites of the Lion Sanctum were to face him."
"Then we can't decide on a definite course of action just yet," Ragna said with a sigh. "I'm sure you have enough on your plate as it is, Radius, between military preparations and administrative duties."
"True enough."
They didn't intend to be complacent, but they remained composed. The discussion reached a temporary conclusion, and Ragna shifted the topic.
"Regarding the magic tool that points to Muedi's Hideout. You know the broken key? Repairs will likely be finished in less than a month—why are you looking at me like that, Radius?"
"My apologies. I wasn't doubting you; I was just surprised because I expected it to take much longer."
"That just shows how delicately crafted it is. By my estimation, it’s a piece of Milim Altia’s handiwork."
"In that case, the materials needed for the repair must be quite precious as well."
"Exactly. That’s why I’m curious to see what we find. We're still debating how to handle the Ring of the Water Goddess, but for now, I'll continue to lend you my expertise."
"And we will continue to manage it in secret," Radius added.
"Undoubtedly."
That concluded the business for the day. Normally, they would have stopped the carriage to let Ren and Ragna off, but the atmosphere felt a bit too professional, so they lingered for a moment of casual conversation.
"The Imperial Castle Conference is approaching. What are your schedules?"
"I will be attending the conference from the first day to the final day," Radius replied. "I also intend to make an appearance at the party."
"I only plan to attend the party," Ren said. "Lord Lezard invited me. What about you, Ragna?"
"I have no intention of going. Right now, my only interest is repairing that key."
"Oh? You aren't concerned about the Cult?"
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't, but I'll leave that mess to you lot. I’ll focus on what I need to do. It’s simpler that way."
"That sounds like you, Ragna."
Their peaceful morning chat continued for another thirty minutes.
"What are your plans for the rest of the day, Ren?"
"I'm heading to the academy."
"The academy? On a holiday?"
"I know. But Licia and Lady Fiona are there, so I thought I'd go check on them."
Ren had traveled into the capital with Licia that morning and had dropped her off at the academy before meeting Radius.
It was shortly before one in the afternoon.
Ren hadn't asked for the details, but he assumed Licia and Fiona were studying at the library. However, when he arrived at the academy gate, Edgar was waiting for him.
"Master Ren, the ladies are at the training ground."
"The training ground? Why there?"
"It would be best if you saw for yourself."
Ren followed Edgar, feeling a sense of curiosity. As they approached the training ground, the sound of combat reached his ears through the half-open doors.
The air shook with the boom of a massive impact, and a sudden chill crept across the floor.
"Ugh... You can still cast more!?"
"T-That’s my line, Lady Licia! How many times are you going to cut through my magic!?"
Recognizing their voices, Ren hurried inside.
"My turn now!"
"I won't lose either!"
Licia was dancing across the floor, her training sword flashing through the air with nimble grace. Her opponent was Fiona, who specialized in ice magic.
Unlike the ice Arts Edgar had once shown Ren, Fiona’s magic seemed to sprout from the ground the moment it manifested in the air. She even unleashed a shimmering wind of frozen particles reminiscent of Diamond Dust.
It was a beautiful, breathtaking sight. Ren found himself entranced, momentarily forgetting why they were even sparring.
Licia, who had attained the Master Swordsman Class, was using techniques like Star-Cleaver to deflect the onslaught, yet the sheer volume of Fiona's ice magic was closing in on her.
It seemed like a dead heat, but the end came in a flash.
"...It’s my win."
"...It’s my loss."
Fiona landed softly on her back on the training floor. Licia stood over her, training sword poised at the ready.
Ren applauded almost instinctively.
Startled by the sound, Licia offered Fiona a hand to help her up. After they had brushed the dust from their uniforms, they approached Ren.
In the meantime, Ren turned to Edgar. "So, why the sudden sparring match?"
"The ladies are concerned about the rising activity of the Demon King Cult," Edgar explained. "Lady Licia wanted to practice against magic, and Lady Fiona wanted to practice against a sword. Given their respective levels of skill, they decided it would be mutually beneficial to train together."
The two girls arrived at Ren's side, both slightly out of breath.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Ren."
"My apologies, Master Ren. We kept you waiting."
Their combat styles were still fresh in Ren's mind. He was particularly impressed by Fiona, as he hadn't seen her fight seriously in quite some while.
Ren praised their performance before asking Fiona a question. "Lady Fiona, who taught you magic?"
"I’ve been a student of Lady Chronoa since I was a child. Edgar gives me pointers now and then, but most of my training comes from her."
"I see. That makes perfect sense."
When Ren thought of the most powerful mages he knew, Chronoa was always at the top of the list.
The two girls took a moment to recover their strength before preparing for another round. Ren excused himself and headed toward the academy cafeteria.
Even on a holiday, the cafeteria remained open for students engaged in extracurricular activities. He picked out a few light meals and snacks, had them packed into a paper bag, and returned to the training ground.
By the time he got back, they had finished their final bout. The sky was beginning to dim, making it the perfect time for a snack and a cold drink.
"Here, I brought some food."
They could have sat down to eat immediately, but the girls were self-conscious.
"W-We need to wash off the sweat first!" Licia exclaimed.
"Y-Yes, exactly!" Fiona agreed.
"Oh, I understand. I'll wait here with Mr. Edgar."
The two girls hurried off to the shower room attached to the training ground. Ren sat down with Edgar, sipping tea and engaging in light conversation while they waited.
In the shower room, the girls took their time drying their long hair. It was a tedious task, even with the help of magic tools.
The space was clean and bright, with white tiles and lingering traces of steam. The two sat side by side on stools in front of a large mirror, working through their hair in silence for a few minutes.
Eventually, they began to talk.
Licia mentioned how she was training with Estelle at the Lion Sanctum nearly every day, pushing herself to reach the rank of Sword Saint. Fiona spoke of her frequent lessons with Chronoa.
Both girls had put in an extraordinary amount of effort to reach a level of skill that far surpassed their peers. Today's sparring had been a first for them, but they both felt it had been highly productive. They were already looking forward to the next time.
"Next time, I will be the one who wins," Fiona said firmly.
"No, I’ll win next time too," Licia countered with a playful smile.
"...Still, this was the first time we've done something like this. I think I got a bit too worked up."
Fiona gave a shy, charming smile. Licia agreed; the match had provided a level of tension she had rarely experienced.
However, she couldn't help but notice something else.
"...Was it really just because it was a new experience?"
Their eyes met in the mirror, but Fiona quickly looked away. She was clearly trying to hide her expression.
"Aha! Don't you dare look away! You were trying harder because Ren showed up, weren't you?"
"I-I have no idea what you're talking about!"
"Your voice is shaking! Look at me when you say that!"
In the relaxed atmosphere of the shower room, Licia’s tone had become informal and teasing, much like the way she spoke to Ren. She realized she had slipped into a more casual attitude, similar to when they had first discussed their mutual feelings for him.
Licia immediately softened her expression. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so blunt."
Fiona turned back to her quickly. "Please don't apologize! I actually like it when you speak to me like that, Lady Licia."
Licia thought to herself that this girl was truly unfair—so beautiful, so pure, and so earnest.
"Then... what if I spoke like this all the time?" Licia asked, testing the waters with a joke.
To her surprise, Fiona actually took the question seriously. She tapped a finger against her lip, thinking for several seconds before giving an answer that left Licia stunned.
"...If you did that, then it might feel strange if you kept calling me 'Lady.' Perhaps it would be better if you just called me Fiona-san... or even just Fiona."
"...That’s not really an answer to my question, is it?"
Licia and Fiona. Their relationship, which had truly begun in the dormitories years ago, remained a complex yet simple thing. Neither of them could quite put it into words, but they both understood the bond they shared.