After walking for another ten minutes or so, we stepped into a restaurant where a table had just opened up.
It faced the lakeside street we had been strolling along, and we were drawn inside by its airy, open design, where the terrace made up the bulk of the seating. The prices weren't excessively high, and there were many young people our age around. However, the stylish storefront still exuded a distinct sense of class.
As we sat at a terrace table flanked by neatly trimmed hedges, the sprawling scenery made me feel as if I were receiving special hospitality.
"What will you two have?" I asked.
"There are so many things that look good... but I think I'll go with this lunch set," Fiona said.
"Then I'll have that too!" Licia added.
As soon as we finished ordering our lunch sets, we were served glasses of ice-cold fruit water. Since it was a hot day, they likely brought them out ahead of the food. Perhaps because this was the first time I could truly settle down since arriving in Crushera, I felt a sense of peace.
"I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve been able to just relax like this," I murmured while looking out at the lake.
"I feel the same way," Licia agreed. "Crushera is very lively, but it has a calming atmosphere."
"We were so busy studying for exams until recently, after all," Fiona said. "It’s not exactly a celebration, but I finally feel like I can say, 'It’s over!'"
"Come to think of it, we haven't actually had a proper wrap party yet," I noted.
"You’re right... Now that I think about it, we really haven't," Licia replied.
Since we had been running around dealing with so many issues even before the exams this year, we finally felt a collective sense of relief. Without a word, we all picked up our glasses as if by prearranged signal. Finally—here and now, once again.
"To the last two months or so—good job, everyone," I said.
It wasn't just for the exams, but for everything related to the Windea Incident. As I spoke, Licia and Fiona followed suit.
"Yes, good job."
"Hehe, well done, everyone."
The three of us lightly clinked our glasses together, producing a pleasant ring. When I eventually muttered, "I'm glad I came," while enjoying the meal that arrived, Licia laughed.
"Isn't it a bit early for that?" she teased.
I listened to the sound of the water lapping against the shore and felt the cool breeze blowing through the shaded terrace. Even though we were just eating, I felt as if my entire body were being washed clean.
"I don't think I want to look at a reference book for a while," Licia said.
"Me neither. They got especially thick once I entered the fourth-year..." Fiona sighed.
"Lady Fiona, how did you feel about the exams?" I asked.
"For the most part... they were the same as always. Thanks to that, I ended up getting quite sleepy at the academy. If I hadn't been commuting from the dormitory, it would have been difficult."
"...I almost fell asleep several times on the magic train on the way back," Licia admitted.
But that period was behind us for now. At least until the final exams a few months away.
"Ren, what do you want to do this afternoon?" Licia asked.
"We could just relax in the room, or if you two have somewhere you want to go, we can go there."
"I told you, you should prioritize your own needs, not ours," Licia insisted. "You don't have any work to do today."
"That's right," Fiona added. "Coming here to relax is one thing, but your recovery is the most important part."
Seeking the healing power that resided here was one of the major reasons for visiting this land so far from the Imperial Capital. The true nature of the healing power that had dwelled in this region since ancient times was said to be the remnants of the power of spirits from long ago. Because that mana dissolved into nature—into the air and the water—one could be affected by it just by being in Crushera.
However, there was a way to receive that influence even more strongly. I turned my gaze toward the lake.
"I heard that the healing effect is stronger the closer you are to the source of the water."
"Is it different from the lake water?" Licia asked.
"It seems it’s not quite the same in the lake itself. Over there... you see the stream connecting to the lake? They say the further upstream you go, the better it is."
As the girls looked from the lake toward the greener surrounding terrain, they could see the hilly areas encircling the area. In one spot, a section where massive bridges were built to overlap was connected to the surrounding hills.
One of those bridges was adjacent to a flow of water leading into the hills. That watercourse had already been structured from the point where it met the lake. In a corner of the lake, sluice gates and arched decorations were installed along the stream, and the path continued deep into the hills. The sluice gate and its vicinity, in particular, featured beautiful patterns carved into the stone surfaces. It boasted a conspicuous majesty that looked like it might lead to a temple or a castle. The gate itself was so massive that its height and scale were several times that of the Erendil Manor.
But right now, in that place—
"Isn't the crowd near the sluice gate incredible?" Fiona noted.
"...We can tell even from where we're sitting," I agreed.
As Fiona was speaking, I questioned the waiter who came to clear our dishes. "Is it always that crowded near that sluice gate over there?"
"It is not usually quite this busy," he replied. "However, with the Night of Prayers close at hand, and the fact that the entire Crushera region is bustling during the summer..."
"Right, it is a famous summer resort," I said.
"However," the waiter continued, "the crowds around the Gate of the Starry Realm should settle down by tomorrow."
So that sluice gate has a name, I thought, nodding silently.
"Why does it settle down so quickly?" Fiona asked.
"Guests tend to favor other sights. As you can see from here, it is a massive and magnificent historical sluice gate, but Crushera has many tourist attractions..."
Just as Licia and Fiona were immediately intrigued, there were also many shops that were famous in the Imperial Capital lined up nearby. Since its reputation as a summer resort was strong, the sluice gate was not the primary destination for most tourists.
Shortly after the waiter left, we stood up from our seats. After a meal that could be considered either an early lunch or a late breakfast, we had picked out several other places besides the Gate of the Starry Realm where the water was said to hold a strong healing power, but—
"It seems everywhere only clears up after the evening," I told them. When I had casually asked the clerk while paying at the counter, that was the gist of the reply. I checked my watch and confirmed it wasn't even noon yet. Since many of the places I had scouted were popular tourist attractions, everywhere was crowded right now. If we were unlucky, we might have to wait in line until evening just to get in.
I squinted against the bright sun as I spoke. "If we wait outside for hours, it won't really feel like we're resting our bodies."
"I think it would be better to go after the evening," Fiona suggested. "It’ll surely get a bit hotter in the afternoon, too..."
There was no point in succumbing to heatstroke in exchange for healing my arm. If it would clear up in a little while, we just had to wait. In the meantime, we could go shopping or do some sightseeing. But first, we needed to leave our luggage at the inn.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Before noon, after finishing the check-in at our inn, I stepped into the guest room and exhaled.
"...Thanks, Radius. I think I'll be able to relax thanks to you."
It was no wonder I spoke so formally. It was a space unlike Erendil, let alone the places I had stayed in the Imperial Capital or Eupeheim. The room, decorated primarily in white, featured a wall of windows that offered a panoramic view of the landscape centered on the lake—vibrant greens, the deep blue of the water, and the massive bridges that symbolized the city.
After dropping off my luggage, I went out onto the terrace to enjoy the view for a few minutes before returning to the room. Strapping my sword to my waist and carrying only a few small items like my wallet, I left the room and returned to the ground floor via the magic lift.
In the center of the wide lobby was a large fountain whose rim doubled as a bench. I walked over to the boy sitting there.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Vane."
"Ah, shall we go then?"
I left the inn together with Vane. Licia and Fiona were nowhere to be seen; they were likely heading toward the inn on the opposite side.
As for how things had turned out this way—when the three of us reached the vicinity of our inn after lunch, seven familiar people had appeared from the inn across the street. Vane and the other descendants of the Seven Heroes had finished their meal and were about to go explore Crushera.
During our conversation, Sera had made a suggestion. "Want to go together?"
We had decided to visit the Gate of the Starry Realm after the evening. Until then, we had only planned to do some sightseeing or shopping, so there was no reason to refuse.
"Vane and the boys said they have places they want to go, so we were talking about going shopping and such," Sera said. "We want to see the famous sweets shops, too."
The shops Licia and Fiona were interested in were included in that plan. Hearing that, it was my turn to suggest something.
"In that case, I'll go with Vane and the guys. Since we’ve come all the way to Crushera, I want you two to enjoy yourselves as well."
"But..." Licia started.
"Listen, Licia, why don't you just accept Ren's consideration?" Sera interrupted.
"...I know, but..."
"If you know, then it’s fine, isn't it? I'm sure Ren would feel awkward if you two couldn't relax while you're here in Crushera."
Sera then turned toward Fiona. "Lady Ignat, would you like to come with us too? I’d like to thank you properly for your help during the exams!"
Fiona was also concerned about me, but she didn't want to slight my concern for her. "Yes. May I join you?"
Licia, and Fiona as well, had spoken with the Hero descendants many times. Since last year, those opportunities had been especially frequent, and there were times when Sera and Nemu relied on them. There might be shops they could enjoy more freely if it was just the women. From my perspective, I felt strongly that I wanted them to have fun—and that was how the groups split.
Besides Vane, there were two other boys among the descendants of the Seven Heroes: Kaito Leonard, and Squall Meldeg, who carried the blood of the Great Saint. Squall had recently demonstrated his talent during the Windea Incident by activating a massive barrier, despite being only a first-year. But the two of them were not here right now.
"Where are Upperclassman Leonard and Meldeg?" I asked.
"They were here a moment ago, but... Upperclassman Kaito noticed something and ran off," Vane replied.
"I wonder what caught his eye."
Curious, I left the inn with Vane. Outside, we found Kaito with his eyes sparkling in front of a large cart. The cart was being pulled by a small, wingless dragon, but Kaito was distracted by the items loaded onto it.
"Hey, Ashton! Look! Beastman weapons!"
It wasn't uncommon for the physiques of beastmen to be twice that of a human. Loaded onto the cart were numerous weapons that were roughly the same height as we were.
"Kaito. I don't think Upperclassman Ashton would be interested in beastman weapons," Squall said with a hint of exasperation.
I betrayed that expectation. "Excuse me, shopkeeper. Since these are beastman weapons, is this Patterned Steel?"
"You have a keen eye! Just as you say, these items are special pieces that are only excavated and processed on the Western Continent—"
"...So you are interested," Squall muttered, surprised. He smiled slightly and watched from the side as Kaito and I spoke with the merchant.
Eventually, when the merchant moved on, we prepared to depart. I looked toward the entrance of the inn across the street and exchanged glances with Licia and the others as they came outside.
Have a good time, Ren.
See you this evening.
They didn't speak the words, only moved their lips with smiles and waves. Across the wide path, I did the same.
Yeah, see you later.
The sunlight was growing even stronger, but the breeze was cool and pleasant, especially since we were so close to the massive lake.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
"Nn—! Crushera after exams is the best!" Kaito laughed, stretching his arms toward the sky.
The descendant of the Great Saint took advantage of the opening. "The final exams are next, you know."
"Gwah! I thought I could finally catch my breath... That’s cold, Squall!"
"Ah... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be such a wet blanket," Squall apologized.
"I think he's just being considerate so you don't relax too much, Upperclassman Kaito," I said.
"That’s true, but... no, it’s my fault for saying something unnecessary," Squall said.
"By the way, Upperclassman Kaito, how were your exams?" I asked.
Kaito grinned with a triumphant expression. "Me? I... well, just between us, I managed to stay just above the score my mother specified. Just barely!"
"Ooh..."
While I had a few questions about that, I figured it would be tactless to say anything if Kaito was happy.
"Still, this is nice," Kaito said.
"What is?"
"As you can see, walking through town with just us guys isn't bad, is it? It’s easier to just relax that way sometimes."
"I understand the feeling, but aren't you always the same even when we go out with everyone, Upperclassman Kaito?" Vane pointed out.
"That’s not true, Vane. ...Hey, am I always the same?"
"Yes," the Hero's descendant replied instantly. Kaito then turned toward me.
"Ashton?"
"You always brighten everyone up, just as usual," I said.
"What! Is that how it is!"
While feeling once again that the outcome of a conversation changes significantly depending on how you phrase things, I asked a question. "Where should we go now?"
"If we go toward the magic ship dock, there's a large building where various shops are gathered," Kaito said. "We’ll go there and buy things for swimming."
"Which means we'll be swimming while we're in Crushera."
"Yeah. Well, that’s if we have time, but I’m planning to teach Squall how to swim this year."
"...Eh, really?" I couldn't hide my surprise and reflexively turned to Squall.
"I requested it, albeit reluctantly," Squall said.
"He seemed to have some thoughts after the Windea Incident," Kaito explained. "He said if he ever had to go somewhere where swimming was necessary, he’d be a burden to his comrades. I told him it was fine because I’d just carry him, but..."
"I appreciate the offer, but it’s better to be able to swim for oneself," Squall said firmly.
"Well, that’s true. Vane, you can swim, right?"
"Probably about as well as most people," Vane replied. He had plenty of experience playing in rivers in his home village.
On the other hand, there was me. While I had been doused in seawater while fighting the Apostle of the Giant God, Wadatsumi, I certainly couldn't say I had been swimming. That said, back in the village, I used to help my father with work in the river, so I wasn't completely useless in the water.
"By the way, Squall, didn't you just say 'reluctantly'?" Kaito teased.
"It’s not about being taught by you. It’s about being forced to reconfirm just how physically weak I am," the Saint’s descendant explained with a deep sigh.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
At the same time, the six girls, joined by Licia and Fiona, were walking in the exact opposite direction. They were also aiming for the building where many shops were gathered.
"Hey, Liz! Wait up!" Charlotte called out.
"Fuffuffu. I can see the new robes from my favorite workshop! I have to hurry!" Lizred chirped.
"I understand, but don't go off by yourself! We're here too, so wait!"
"I truly wish to wait, but my feet are moving on their own!"
"Haa... your feet are as convenient as ever."
The other four girls walked down the street, talking as they followed behind Lizred and Charlotte. Suddenly, Sera began to speak softly.
"I feel like the beautiful women around me often have strong quirks once they open their mouths." Her gaze was fixed on Charlotte.
Licia replied, "Where did that come from all of a sudden?"
"Because the closest beautiful woman to me, other than my mother, was Sharo. Sharo looks like an incredibly expensive jewel if she keeps her mouth shut, but once she opens it—"
"Once she opens it?"
"She’s annoy—well, she's too cheerful, isn't she?" Apparently, something had happened before they joined up.
"...Did you almost say something else just now?"
"Must be your imagination."
Because they had known each other since childhood, they were blunt with one another. Having successfully slowed Lizred's pace, Charlotte approached the girls behind them.
"How rude. I properly choose who I annoy. That’s why I only do it to people like Sera, isn't it?"
"As for me, I'm only reluctant about being chosen as that person," Sera shot back.
"You say that, but you don't actually hate it."
"...See? This is what happens when she opens her mouth," Sera said.
Licia and Fiona could only manage an awkward smile. Charlotte noticed their expressions and spoke up. "But you know, there are people who are cute whether they keep their mouths shut or open them."
She didn't say who she was referring to, but it was obvious she meant Licia and Fiona. Charlotte gave them a lovely wink and then headed back toward Lizred, humming a tune in high spirits.
"I'm sorry, Lady Ignat," Sera said. "Sharo has such a strange way of interacting with people."
"N-No, not at all! I don't mind it!" Fiona waved it off. She and Charlotte hadn't really had much of a relationship before this, but in this group, the awkwardness vanished quickly.
"By the way," Nemu said with a smile. "Aren't you two going to swim in the lake or the inn's pool? That inn has a huge pool and restaurant on the roof, right?"
"I don't think we have any plans for that," Licia said.
"That's right. We were only thinking about our duties," Fiona added.
"Ehh! That’s a waste! It’s summer break, so don't you want to swim too, Lady Ignat!?" Nemu pressed.
"Yes... I hadn't really thought about it," Fiona admitted.
"Licia-chan, can you swim?" Nemu asked.
It wasn't that she couldn't swim, exactly. Last year, after the seal of the Time Cage was released, she had fallen into an underground lake with Ren.
"I think it’ll be fine. ...Probably," Licia said.
"I see. Can you swim, Lady Ignat?"
"Yes, a little. I used a pool for my rehabilitation after I recovered from my vessel cracking, so I have some experience."
"Ahaha, Nemu is the same! Which means... I wonder if Ashton-kun can swim too."
Licia answered Nemu's question. "Ren should have been in the river several times when he was in the village. He laughed and told me he once slipped while setting a fish trap... but that’s actually quite dangerous, isn't it?" She let out a sigh.
Thinking it sounded very much like Ren, Fiona agreed, "That really is dangerous."
They finished Lizred's shopping and then moved on to shops with accessories and stationery. They stopped at a cafe for a break and visited shops that sold specialty soaps. Before they knew it, quite some time had passed since they had split from the boys.
As the six girls began heading back to the inn, a carriage stopped in front of them, and a nobleman who knew Sera and the others showed his face.
"My, everyone!" He was a young man, one of the nobles belonging to the Hero Faction. The words he spoke next, however, would leave them with a sense of irritation just as they were about to return—
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The time goes back about an hour. Shortly after we had split up, the boys were gathered at a game stall in a corner of the town.
"Ugh! I can't hit it!" Kaito groaned. He was using a magic tool to fire water balls at targets, but he had just failed his tenth attempt. "Squall! I’m counting on you!"
"Me!? I’ve never done target practice before!?"
"Neither have I! But you look like you’d be better at it than me!"
"...If you’re going to go that far, just this once." Squall's result was only slightly better than Kaito's. He tried a few more times, but it didn't go well, and Squall looked unusually frustrated.
As Vane and I watched with a laugh, Kaito tried again. "Shopkeeper! One more time!"
The game was difficult because the targets moved around. However, it seemed Kaito had finally figured out the patterns.
"—Alright! Finally!" He hit all the targets and let out a joyful shout. The shopkeeper laughed and handed him the prize: a massive plushie that looked like a cute version of a Little Boar.
"Wait a second," Kaito told us, then walked over to a little girl nearby who had been eyeing the prize. "Here you go, I finally got it."
"Thank you, big brother!"
After the girl and her father thanked him and left, Kaito spoke with satisfaction. "Well then, shall we go too? Licia and the others should be coming back soon."
We had spent the afternoon like any group of boys—visiting a fishing pond and eating from food stalls.
"We don't usually play like this," Kaito said.
"It was fresh," Vane agreed. "It’s easier because it’s just us guys."
As they talked, I caught sight of the sluice gate again in the distance. Its name was the Gate of the Starry Realm. Up close, its presence was simply massive and solemn.
"Are you interested in that?" Squall asked.
"I only learned the name today, so I was wondering what kind of place it was."
"I heard there’s a path leading to a temple beyond it," Squall explained. "But they say it’s unknown which god it enshrines. It’s an old temple that even the Ministry of Mysteries hasn't been able to identify."
The healing waters of this land come from upstream, and though they don't flow directly from the temple, the source is in the same area beyond the gate.
"They say the one enshrined there isn't a god of healing or the Goddess of Regeneration," Squall continued. "Records were likely lost during the war or the Demon King's invasion."
The path beyond the gate is covered in deep fog, and because visibility is so poor, no one usually goes there.
"The name 'Gate of the Starry Realm' comes from the fact that the stars can be seen more beautifully here than anywhere else," Squall added as we neared the inn.
I looked down the street and saw the girls walking toward us from the opposite direction. It looked like we were all reuniting just in time.