The sun had begun its descent.
In the present day, this was a forgotten road, ancient and largely untouched by human hands. Hemmed in by thick, overgrown trees, a small party walked in silence, listening to the rustle of nature and the calls of distant animals and birds.
"Eminence."
One of the men spoke to the figure leading the way.
It was the woman with violet hair, a lover of books whom Ren had encountered twice before. As she had in the past, she cradled a massive tome against her chest, her violet hair swaying gently with every step.
"Why do we not strike at the descendants of the Seven Heroes first?"
"Because that isn’t why we came here. Isn’t that right?"
"But why? Striking at the heart of those descendants is one of the core tenets of the Cult, is it not?"
"I am aware. But we have other matters to attend to as well."
She spoke with a calm that implied he should have known better.
The man looked as though he wanted to press the issue further, but the woman’s serene tone silenced him. He dared not voice even a hint of complaint. It was difficult to say which particular emotion kept him in line, but one fact eclipsed all others:
She was far, far stronger than anyone else present.
That power was the basis of their absolute trust—and the sole reason they followed her.
"Eminence, it is time to reapply the layers."
"Mm, all right. Let's take a break for a moment."
The woman sat down on a convenient fallen log and looked up at the sunlight filtering through the canopy.
The surrounding nature was exceedingly beautiful, as was the deepening color of the sky.
They were traveling along particularly ancient roads and paths rich in nature, far from urban areas, as if blending into the scenery. Yet, not a single monster had appeared along the way. This was not because the beasts feared their power, but because of the magic the woman wielded.
That magic demonstrated a potent efficacy not only against monsters but also against detection by humans or magic tools.
Phantasm of the End——
A unique magic that created a shroud of mana to thoroughly and completely conceal one's presence, magical pressure, and every other trace of existence.
Throughout the long span of history, those born with the talent for this magic could be counted on one hand. Documentation regarding its specific effects or the extent of its influence was virtually nonexistent. However, it was undeniably a magic that boasted noteworthy efficacy.
Following the woman's light finger movements, the magic was woven around them once again.
All those following her were momentarily distracted by the abnormality of the sensation.
"...As expected of her Eminence."
Normally, such a spell would require a long, arduous incantation to activate.
The woman exercised it easily without any of that. It was the result of a singular talent that could not be described by the word "rare" alone.
However, just because she possessed it did not mean she could slip into cities like the Imperial Capital alone.
But if she avoided human settlements and passed through lands where monsters would normally appear... and if the Phantasm of the End was active, she would never be perceived by anyone.
"I wonder if you know."
At the woman's casual voice, the men... the Demon King Cultists, turned their faces toward her.
Their appearance differed greatly from those who had attacked Leomel until now. Some were dressed in attire resembling prestigious knights, and their demeanor possessed an unprecedented composure.
They were elite soldiers, possessing both confidence and pride.
"The Lion King once raced down this road. While staying here with a small force, he was attacked by a vast enemy army and forced into a fighting retreat. It's said that even though he was the King, he served as the rearguard at that time."
The legend went that eventually, the Lion King turned back at the appropriate moment and secured victory.
The woman's expression as she spoke was as serene as ever.
"Eminence, why do you speak of the Lion King with such...?"
"You mean I don't seem to dislike him?"
"Yes. I do not understand how we could possibly like the founder of the country where the Seven Heroes were born."
"It's not that I think of the Lion King with affection. I'm just not particularly negative about him. That's all."
"Why are you able to think that way?"
"I wonder why. I suppose it's because I have my own thoughts on the matter."
The woman gave an indefinite answer without stating anything clearly.
"It's not certain yet. But I'll tell you someday. Definitely, once I've obtained the answer to the question I hold."
After saying that, the woman stood up.
She held the thick book to her chest. It was covered with a cloth jacket.
As the men glanced at the book, the woman spoke.
"Returning to our previous topic, you mustn't only worry about the descendants of the Seven Heroes."
"Are you referring to that Strong Sword user?"
"That's right. Rather than the descendants of the Seven Heroes, that boy——"
If she recalled correctly.
"That boy named Ren Ashton as well."
The country of Leomel had no shortage of people capable of fighting.
There were Chronoa, Lutreche, Estelle, and the members of the Seven Great Archduke Families. Furthermore, there were the descendants of the Seven Heroes like Vane, and even the Strong Sword users. And one must not forget that if the Lion Sanctum was added, the list was endless.
"I understand. We do not know to what extent, but he did fight against Lord Orphide."
"No. Whether he fought Orphide or not doesn't matter right now."
"Then——what is it that concerns you?"
"Because he is strange. We cannot ignore what happened in Clausel long ago, can we?"
Her voice was calm.
But she spoke with a strong will, as if declaring it to be an absolute fact.
"When he was young, he fought and survived against an Elf with a seal carved into him... Jelququ. The White Saint might have done something, but considering what happened after that, he is the one who cannot be ignored."
As she spoke, the woman brought that Elf to mind.
Long ago, that man had contacted her seeking a technique to release the seal carved into his body. Of course, she did not have such a technique, so there was no information she could offer him.
"...And, Ashton... huh."
It wasn't that she had never heard that family name before, but it felt strangely familiar in a way she couldn't place. The reason for that remained hidden within her heart.
Relaxing the corners of her lips, the woman suddenly thought.
"——That boy also seemed like a Strong Sword user."
She recalled the face of the boy she had encountered twice and thought of many things.
Rather than a desire to take his life, it was pure interest.
There was a reason she found herself wanting to know more about him, and she couldn't help but hope that they would——meet again.
Eventually, the group laid eyes upon a plaza surrounded by almost untouched nature, with a stone building towering at its center.
When the woman arrived there, she did not miss the slight glow emanating from the cover of the book she held.
She wove words together in a voice as light as a song.
"Now, Elfen, I have come here."
Spreading her arms, she stood before the door of the building with light steps, but the door did not budge and showed no sign of opening.
However, she began to move with graceful footwork, like a fairy descending upon a ball. The black shadows born from her footsteps increased in number, lining up in an orderly fashion like an attendant army.
She posed a graceful question to them.
"Who am I?"
The melody that pierced the ears, resembling a screeching grudge, was the language of the Demon Continent from ancient times.
——Thou art the One Who Devours the Main God.
——Thou art the One Who Sips the Main God's Blood.
"Then, who are you?"
——We are those who devour the Main God with thee.
——We are those who sip the Main God's Blood with thee.
"Then, what is it that you desire?"
——The flesh of Elfen.
——The blood of Elfen.
The woman laughed, danced, and sang.
"Then, play for me. Let me hear that melody."
Dark, dark shadows surged toward the sealed door.
It seemed it would take a long time for the door to open, but that was a trivial matter now.
The thing she had sought for so long lay sleeping beyond it. That alone was enough to make the woman's heart leap with excitement.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
At a time when a fairly cool breeze had begun to blow.
"He tried to recruit you!?"
At dusk, the three who had left the inn again were talking as they headed toward the bridge. They were discussing the offer Mistolfo had made to Ren.
Licia's startled cry drew the eyes of nearby tourists.
Embarrassed that she had raised her voice, Licia lowered her tone before asking again.
"A Holy Palace Knight? Why would he ask you that...?"
Fiona, who was equally curious, followed up.
"We were certain that you had been given information about the Demon King Cult..."
"Yes... so why were you being recruited?"
"It seemed to be because the Elfen Church has information they don't really make public," Ren explained.
"...So it was a trade-off."
There was much information handled by the Holy Land that was not released to the public.
However, Ren, the one who had been scouted, remained calm, wearing a wry smile.
'I would like you to become a Holy Palace Knight.'
He had been deeply surprised when those words were directed at him.
However,
"I desperately wanted information on Eve, but I have no intention of becoming a Holy Palace Knight."
His feelings toward the Elfen Church aside, that was simply how he felt fundamentally.
The two girls looked visibly relieved at his words.
However, because Ren wanted to know about Eve no matter what, he had tried to persist, offering to do anything else he could.
That was when Mistolfo said:
'Pardon me. I simply wished to know how serious you were.'
It meant that he had intended to speak even if he was refused.
And,
'There is no doubt it would have been reassuring had you accepted, though.'
Including his true feelings, he had been trying to gauge Ren's resolve.
Ultimately, Mistolfo told Ren that the Holy Land was moving to share information about the Demon King Cult with Leomel, and provided a few details about Eve.
However, he also mentioned that all of it was scheduled to be shared officially with Leomel and others in the near future.
"It seems they aren't acting together with the Demon King Cult, just as we thought. Apparently, Eve hasn't shown any sign of cooperating with them since she stole the Tears of Elfen."
"It's good to have confirmation, but... the information is still sparse, isn't it?"
"Did Sir Mistolfo say anything else?"
"Other than that... just that she's strong."
The place where the Tears of Elfen had been stored was one of the few places counted among the Grand Temples. Among them, it was said to be a particularly large-scale one.
All Grand Temples, through the defense systems of the Elfen Church or the host country, often possess barriers that are in no way inferior to the castles of great nations.
Eve, all by herself, had leisurely dismantled them as if it were a minor task.
"I think I've asked this before, but... assuming we found out where Eve is, do you really intend to go looking for her, Ren?"
"I'll go. Absolutely."
Even knowing his opponent was an incredibly powerful individual, Ren had no hesitation.
That being said, the opponent was formidable. It was unlikely Ren would go to where Eve was all alone, and he would only do so after making more careful preparations than ever before.
He was saying the same things as usual.
Seeing Licia and Fiona wearing expressions that seemed to say as much, Ren pointed toward the distance to shift their attention. "Look."
The view of the lake spreading out ahead of them changed its face as night arrived.
As it was dyed in the veil of dusk, the luminous specks that emerged all possessed a brilliance similar to what they had seen near the Gate of the Starry Realm.
Not to be outdone by the previous night, waves of light were born in the sky as well, informing everyone of the arrival of the Night of Prayers.
Several such nights would arrive starting today.
On one of those nights, Fiona looked up at the sky.
"The true identity of the light in the sky and the lake is mana unique to this land. But, you can't help but feel it's more than just that, can you?"
Originally, it was a ceremony known as the Post-War Festival.
At the end of a long war, the souls of the warriors, the thoughts of the people who mourn them...
Quite a few people couldn't help but think that perhaps the light was brought about by something like that.
In fact, that was exactly how Licia and Fiona felt. The three of them, with their arms resting on the railing at a corner of the bridge, were captivated by the shimmer that filled their vision.
"Again——"
When the White Saint spoke suddenly, the two of them turned toward her.
"Don't you think it would be nice if we could come to see this again?"
"Then next time will be next year, I suppose."
"Yes. ...But by then, I'll have graduated."
"Ren and I will be in our third-year. But... it's strange. I feel as though the final exam before enrollment only just ended the other day."
Something significant happened in every season, and at times they had staked their lives.
Over and over again.
When another year passes from now, what will the three of them be doing?
(One year later...)
Ren felt the weight of those words more than anyone.
He felt he had grown significantly closer to understanding why the two tragedies had been triggered. It wasn't just a matter of time passing; he was nearing the truth itself.
If only we can spend this time next year just like this...
As the Night of Prayers unfolded, Ren harbored that wish in the depths of his heart.
The night breeze brushed softly against his cheek.
——The light began to subside around ten o'clock at night, but even at this hour, the number of tourists did not seem to be decreasing.
During the Night of Prayers, Licia and Fiona each fulfilled duties such as greeting nobles as representatives for their fathers.
By the time they returned to their rooms after spending time outside until an hour they would normally have already been back at their manors, it was even later.
As they walked down the upper-floor corridor toward their respective rooms.
"Whew... I think I'll sleep well today."
"We did have greetings and such even during the Night of Prayers, after all."
"Yes. It's rare to do family work in both the morning and the night, but it was a good learning experience."
"That's exactly why you should make sure to rest properly. Especially you, Lady Licia."
"I-I know that!"
When told firmly by Fiona, Licia couldn't find the strength to argue.
They continued such exchanges until just before they parted, and Ren stopped near the two girls' doors.
"Well then, goodnight!"
"Goodnight. Until tomorrow."
Licia and Fiona spoke, and Ren followed.
"Yes. Then, tomorrow morning."
After seeing the two of them to their rooms, Ren returned to his own guest room.
As they had just discussed, it certainly felt like today had been a day where he was constantly on the move. He had been active since the morning, and there had been the unexpected encounter with Mistolfo.
The man had departed immediately after their meeting, but the conversation would likely remain in Ren's head for a while.
"I didn't think I'd suddenly be scouted like that."
He muttered to himself, stretching deeply before heading to the shower.
Once he settled down to wash away the day's fatigue, he collapsed onto the bed within the hour.
As his eyelids began to close on their own, he turned off the magical lamp beside the bed.
What kind of day would tomorrow be? Until the moment he let go of consciousness, Ren thought of nothing but that.