Ren and his companions were caught off guard by Ragna's sudden announcement.
"That really is sudden," Ren said. "I expected you to tell us in a more formal setting."
"I originally intended to," Ragna replied. "But this involves Muedi herself, after all."
The name of the Legendary Bard Muedi had been coming up frequently of late. She was a luminary of the Seven Heroes' era, a wanderer whose songs were more than mere entertainment. Legends claimed that her voice could heal the weary and stir the hearts of the brave. Some of her melodies were said to sap the strength of monsters, while others could manipulate the very weather.
"It’s been a while since I heard the key was repaired," Ren noted. "I was starting to wonder if something had gone wrong."
"Well... you could say that," Ragna said, his voice trailing off as if he were weighing his words.
It was a subtle shift in tone, but it suggested there was a specific reason for Ragna’s uncharacteristic haste.
"The repair itself went well enough," Ragna continued. "But the responsiveness was poor. I ended up spending a significant amount of time on adjustments."
"So, you finally located Muedi's Hideout?"
"Naturally. It means our trip to Windea wasn't in vain."
It was only this past spring that they had discovered a likely connection between Muedi and Ren’s ancestor, Cecil Ashton. The trail had started with the Jeno Orphanage, a discovery made after Ren opened the Unopenable Door in the old city district near Eupeheim.
"Back then, we were just looking for the Ring of the Water Goddess to fix the key," Ren recalled. "We didn't expect to run into a Priest of the Demon King Cult."
That memory brought another to mind—the way he had first stumbled upon the special request that led him to Windea.
That’s right... it was thanks to Lutreche that I found Ragna’s emblem-bearing request.
Ren briefly reflected on his encounter with the Fifth-ranked Sword King, the woman known as the White Dragon Princess. Her involvement had been the catalyst for this entire string of events, stretching from spring into early summer.
"So, the fact that you're here now means the key is finally ready?" Ren asked.
"I wouldn't have come all this way otherwise," Ragna said bluntly. He reached into his coat, pulled out a folded piece of parchment, and handed it to Ren. "The three of you can take a look."
Ren unfolded the parchment. Licia and Fiona immediately crowded in from his left and right, peering at the document with intense curiosity.
"It looks like a map," Licia observed.
"The location drawn here... it looks strangely familiar," Fiona added.
"It’s more than familiar," Ren said, pointing to a landmark on the page. "It’s right near where we are now."
"You're right!" Licia exclaimed.
Fiona’s gaze shifted to a red mark in the center of the map. Beside it, Ragna had scrawled a note confirming it as the site of Muedi's Hideout.
"I never imagined her hideout would be so close to the main roads," Ren muttered.
He was half-tempted to doubt it, but Ragna wasn't the type to lie about his research.
"It might not be that strange, Ren," Licia suggested. "Remember, there were no Magic Trains in the era of the Seven Heroes."
"Exactly," Fiona agreed. "If it were too remote, it wouldn't have been practical. Back then, traveling between the Imperial Capital and Erendil took an enormous amount of time."
Even now, the journey took several hours by Magic Train. In an age before such technology, traversing this terrain would have taken days of hard travel.
"True," Ragna said, nodding as he walked ahead of them. "To someone living in that era, this wasn't 'near the capital' at all. It was a journey of several days on foot."
"Wait, Ragna-san," Ren called out. "Are you planning to head there right now?"
"Yes. Ideally, I would have preferred more time to prepare." For once, Ragna sounded frustrated, almost apologetic. "I fixed the key, but because it was stored in such poor condition, the map it’s paired with is barely responsive. I was afraid it might stop working entirely, so I had to come here and force a synchronization."
Ragna explained that the device’s condition had worsened the moment the repairs were finished. He had been working through the night to prepare for this excursion. He had wanted to invite Ren properly, but there simply hadn't been time.
"I see. That explains why you're in such a rush." Ren paused, considering the parchment. "Still, couldn't you have just transcribed the location onto another map like this one?"
"The location isn't the problem. The key itself is likely required to actually enter the hideout. I need to test it while it's still functioning."
"Fair enough."
"Our destination is just ahead," Ragna said.
They were nearing the mark on the map. Once they crossed the canyon, they would be less than ten minutes away. The gnarled tree roots stretching across the gorge reminded Ren of the landscape in Windea.
"What do you say, Ren? Coming along?"
Ren thought of his vision of Eve and her cryptic words about the Ashton bloodline and the tragedies of the Seven Heroes. If there was a chance to find clues about his family's past, he couldn't pass it up. Besides, after everything they had gone through in Windea, he felt he had to see this through to the end.
Before Ren could answer, a voice echoed from the path behind them.
"Lady Clausel!"
The young civil official who had greeted them earlier was approaching, looking for them. Other knights and officials were following close behind, intent on continuing their inspection of the cave system.
Licia and Fiona looked at Ren with sighs of resignation.
"It’s a shame, but we have to get back to work," Licia said.
"We have to finish verifying the surrounding area," Fiona added.
"Don't worry about us, Ren," Licia insisted. "You went all the way to Windea for that key. Go see where it leads."
It was only a short trip, after all. It would be improper for the girls to abandon their official duties for a private investigation.
Ren and Ragna pressed on, crossing the canyon until they reached a flat, open clearing. It was an area of level ground roughly large enough to accommodate a small camp or a few modest houses.
Ragna came to a halt and set his massive bag on the grass.
"Time to prepare," he said.
With a sharp snap of his fingers, the map and the key flew out of the bag. He began arranging several magic tools in a circle around him. He explained that these were specialized instruments designed to bypass the defensive mechanisms of Milim Altia, whose craftsmanship was likely protecting the hideout.
"You said the hideout was here, but all I see is grass," Ren remarked, glancing around.
"Don't worry. It’s here, without a doubt."
"Then let's start looking." Ren scanned the clearing cautiously. "It doesn't look like an Illusionary Barrier to me."
An Illusionary Barrier could disguise a building to look like part of the natural landscape, but it was just a visual trick. One could still feel the physical structure if they walked into it, and anyone with sharp senses—even a commoner—could often spot the inconsistencies.
"There's no sign of spatial distortion either," Ragna added. He was holding a device that resembled a pocket watch, its lid open to reveal a face covered in complex geometric patterns. A needle on the dial was spinning wildly. "I'm detecting traces of ultra-high-rank magic control. I’ve never seen a reaction this strong."
"So, it really is here."
"We just need to find the trigger. Tell me if anything seems out of place."
"In a place this empty? The only place left to look is underground."
Ren knelt down, focusing on the grass at his feet. He saw nothing but lush greenery, a few broken twigs, and some fallen leaves. There were a few wild berries scattered about, too small to be worth eating. A single butterfly flitted past his face, hovering near the ground.
He wondered briefly if his past self from the other timeline had ever stood in this very spot. Frustrated by the lack of clues, he looked up at the sky and sighed.
"Nothing in the air, either."
If there were a floating structure, it would have cast a shadow. But there was nothing but a few distant birds. The butterfly continued to circle him, almost as if it were laughing at his confusion.
It felt like he was being teased, though he knew it was silly to attribute such intent to a common insect. Ren returned to his search, meticulously examining the soil.
Ragna stopped and watched as Ren crawled through the grass. The butterfly had now perched itself firmly on Ren’s shoulder.
"It seems to have taken a liking to you," Ragna observed.
"I think it's just making fun of me," Ren grumbled.
"Then it’s a very intelligent butterfly. You should try to make friends with it."
"There you go again..."
Ren stood up, and the butterfly took flight, dancing around his face.
"Are you really trying to tell me something?" Ren asked. He extended a finger, and to his surprise, the insect landed on his fingertip.
It was a vibrant blue butterfly with a strange, pearl-like luster. As it sat there, reflecting the midday sun, Ren realized it was far too beautiful to be a normal insect. It seemed to be staring directly into his eyes.
It was a long shot, but Ren decided to indulge the thought.
"Do you know where Muedi's Hideout is?"
The butterfly didn't fly away. Instead, it rhythmically twitched its antennae. With every movement, the azure glow of its wings intensified.
"It looks like you found the answer," Ragna said.
"Huh?"
Before Ren could process the comment, the butterfly took flight. It beat its wings vigorously, scattering a cloud of luminous dust that sparkled like falling diamonds.
As the scales settled, the ground began to change. The dust, far more than a single butterfly should have been able to produce, began to coalesce into the shapes of pillars and walls. At first, the structure looked like a ghost made of light particles, but as the glow faded, it solidified into a physical building.
In the center of the clearing stood a quaint, lovely little cottage made of red brick.
"Hoh," Ragna murmured, sounding genuinely impressed. "It was a good idea to bring you along, Ren. Your academic curiosity is a blessing."
"This has nothing to do with studying!"
"What? I assumed you recognized the ancient activation sequence."
"That butterfly did all of this."
"A Jewel Familiar," Ragna explained. "I didn't realize that particular insect was the medium. It's a high-level construct created from a mana-imbued gemstone, designed to follow a set of eternal commands. As long as there's a mana source nearby, it can function almost indefinitely."
It seemed Ragna’s repaired key had finally synchronized with the familiar, though the device was clearly struggling to maintain the connection.
"Just like you thought, Ragna-san."
"Yes. If we had waited any longer, the link would have likely collapsed for good."
Ragna spoke with a confidence that suggested he had anticipated this outcome from the start.
"Well, let's go inside before it disappears again," Ren said, stepping toward the door.
"You know, I’m tempted to ask you one more time."
"To be your assistant?"
"The offer is always open."
"I'll give you the same answer as always," Ren said with a small smile.
The wooden door had no keyhole, but the Jewel Familiar seemed to serve as the lock. When Ren reached out and turned the handle, the heavy, aged wood creaked open.
"Excuse me... sorry for the intrusion," Ren whispered as he stepped inside.
The interior was surprisingly domestic. It was a cozy, circular room with a small kitchen against the brick wall and a round window looking out over the canyon. A table fashioned from a large tree stump sat in the center of the room, surrounded by several smaller log stools. The ceiling was a perfect dome, with a large brass lamp hanging from the center.
Several paintings adorned the walls, immediately drawing Ren's attention.
"What are these?"
"That one depicts a ritual in a nation on the Western Continent," Ragna said, peering over his shoulder. "The figures are clearly beastmen. The one next to it... that massive glacier is a painting of the Sea Untrodden by Man."
That sea lay far to the north of the Elfen Continent—a treacherous region where powerful monsters fought for dominance in a frozen wasteland. While not quite as deadly as the Serakia Region on the Demon Continent, it was a place where no human could survive for long.
The next painting depicted two men. One was a tall, silver-haired man. The other was shown from behind, looking up at a building. Ren recognized the man immediately from the portraits he had seen at the Jeno Orphanage.
"This is the orphanage, isn't it?"
"It is," Ragna confirmed. "It looks like the day the building was completed."
"Then... the man standing next to Cecil Ashton must be..."
Ren assumed the silver-haired man was the director. While his primary goal was to find information on Cecil, the orphanage director was clearly a key piece of the puzzle. Muedi's Hideout had only been found because the map and key were hidden at the orphanage. Every clue pointed toward a deep connection between the legendary bard, the director, and Cecil Ashton.
They were all connected, Ren realized.
The legendary bard Muedi, the director of the Jeno Orphanage, the adventurer Cecil Ashton, and the Blighted Princess who had traveled by his side.
As Ren delved deeper into these mysteries, he hoped to finally uncover the meaning behind the title 'Divine Child'—the name the Sword Demon had used when it recognized the Ashton bloodline at Roses Kaitas.
They searched the rest of the ground floor, but found little else of note. The cottage was sparsely furnished, lacking even a single bookshelf. However, when they reached the back room, Ragna’s expression sharpened.
"So, this is where she hid it."
On a small table beside a plain bed sat a brass-colored lamp. Ragna noticed a tiny, intricate engraving on its base. He examined it for a moment, then traced the pattern with a specialized pen from his pocket.
A line of light raced across the wall, tracing the outline of a door. The brickwork became translucent, revealing a steep stone staircase leading deep into the earth.
"How did you know to do that?" Ren asked.
"This is a specific piece of security tech designed by Milim Altia. It’s one of the few pieces the Ministry of Mysteries has managed to fully decipher after decades of research."
A long, dark staircase stretched out before them, its bottom lost in shadow. As Ren took his first step down, magic lamps set into the walls flickered to life, illuminating the way.
It took nearly ten minutes to reach the bottom. When they finally stepped off the last stair, they found themselves standing at the entrance of a massive, rectangular corridor that stretched far into the darkness.