Several days had passed, and the incident in the Baldur Mountains was being discussed far and wide within the Imperial Capital.
It was impossible for such an unprecedented disturbance to be ignored, especially since the prestigious Imperial Military Academy—an institution famous across the world—was at the heart of the matter. Naturally, many people, beginning with the members of the Board of Directors, sought to hold Academy Director Chronoa Highland responsible for the crisis.
However, Chronoa had already left the country by national decree before the final exam had even commenced. Furthermore, the minutes held by the Board clearly recorded her statement expressing her intent to remove the Baldur Mountains from the list of candidate locations. Consequently, the voices demanding her head gradually faded into silence.
"I heard an interesting story, Edgar," Ulysses Ignat said as he exited the grand conference room within the Imperial Castle. "It seems a noble belonging to the Board of Directors was found dead."
"Would that be the same noble who performed the final inspection of the magic ship Lady Fiona was aboard?"
"The very same. Apparently, the man committed suicide by drinking poison. He was dead before this entire incident even came to light. The knights are currently swarming his estate, desperate to gather information."
"But they likely won't find anything, will they?"
"I suspect as much. The sheer level of preparation suggests he intended to die from the very beginning."
The Marquis Ignat paused, leaning his back against the wall and crossing his arms.
"I heard the corruption in his house had progressed quite far, but the interesting part is his expression. They say his corpse was smiling."
"As if he did not fear death at all?"
"The man was likely rejoicing. If he served a master, and this chaos furthered that master's goals... then he probably found joy in being useful, even in death."
"It seems he was a loyal retainer on par with myself," Edgar remarked.
Marquis Ignat let out a short laugh, but his body surged with a powerful, killing intent. Though the smile remained on his face, his aura was so overwhelming that passersby involuntarily held their breath.
"By the way, what became of the magic ship that transported the examinees?"
"It crashed in the southern wastes. Because of that, everyone who knew the truth of the Baldur Mountains died on impact. It took the examiners at the original testing site several days to realize anything was wrong. That delay is exactly why it took the Capital so long to mobilize."
"I see. That dead noble certainly went to a great deal of trouble. He was high-ranking enough to serve on the board, after all; he staked his life to orchestrate this singular catastrophe. Even the manipulation of the merchant purveyor was likely his doing."
Ulysses let out an annoyed sigh.
"It seems we’ve entered an era where even political factions cannot be trusted."
The culprit had targeted an exam where children of both the Hero Faction and the Imperial Faction were present. The parents of the Special Merit Class students shared a common rage that transcended their political allegiances.
"The Demon King Cult, was it? I believe the adventurer who rescued Lady Fiona—and Master Ren—mentioned them," Edgar said, his phrasing deliberate.
At the mention of that, Marquis Ignat’s anger softened slightly.
"I heard he supposedly caught wind of it at the Guild. I was fortunate that Fiona was willing to tell me his story."
It had happened only a few days prior.
“Fiona, you were saved by an adventurer, and Asval’s end was essentially self-destruction, correct?”
“Yes. It is exactly as you say, Father.”
“And since then, your power has stabilized significantly. This is also true?”
When Fiona had finally returned to him, Ulysses had been overwhelmed by the joy of seeing her alive. These were the answers he received when he finally questioned his beloved daughter. As a parent, however, he couldn't help but feel a sense of dissonance in her words.
“Good grief... both my daughter and that boy are quite sloppy with their lies.”
“Father...? What did you just say?”
“Nothing. I was just whispering how glad I am that you’re alive, Fiona.”
Recalling that conversation, Marquis Ignat exhaled a tired breath.
"She’s my daughter, but she’s far too naive. If I were to formally inquire with the knights of House Clausel, they would be obligated to provide the name of every adventurer present."
"Lady Fiona and the young adventurer were likely too exhausted to consider every detail. Or perhaps the boy had no real intention of hiding it from you in the first place."
"Likely the latter. He probably just wanted some time to settle his own affairs before the storm hit, so he asked Fiona to buy him that time."
Ulysses understood Ren’s scheme and bore him no ill will for it. Thinking of the boy who had saved his daughter not once, but twice, he decided to respect his wishes for now.
"Eventually, word will arrive through Baron Clausel. It will be framed as information the Clausel knights 'happened' to witness. That boy won't make a mistake in how he handles that."
Content to wait, the Marquis turned his mind to his own duties.
"There’s nothing left for me in the Capital. Let’s head home. I have more important work to do than arguing over who to blame."
Edgar, who had served Ulysses for many years, felt a slight chill. He had expected his master to leave a trail of ruined houses in his wake before leaving the Capital. He would not have been surprised if the Marquis had personally disposed of several rival nobles. Ironically, the other nobles were the ones currently screaming for blood.
"Is that quite alright, Master? I expected you to leave a more permanent mark before departing."
"Hmm... I have my thoughts, but this is all a farce. With no concrete information on the Demon King Cult, any move we make now is just shifting blame. It’s a waste of time. I’d much rather be home with Fiona."
Ulysses spoke with conviction, but a hidden thought flickered in his eyes.
In a different corridor of the palace, another pair was walking.
One was a silver-haired boy with a dignified face, around the same age as Ren. Walking beside him was a woman slightly his senior—a hybrid of human and the Cait Sith race, possessing cat ears and a tail.
"And that’s how it is, nya."
"What do you mean 'that’s how it is'? Start from the beginning and don't skip the details," the silver-haired boy said with a sigh. His handsome face was clouded with exasperation. "There was a mark found on the body of the director who committed suicide, wasn't there? Start there."
The hybrid girl gave a sheepish laugh. "Nyahaha!" Because she possessed many human traits, her Cait Sith heritage was mostly limited to her ears and tail, making her quite lovely.
The silver-haired boy reached out and lightly pinched her cheek.
"Why was I pinched, nya!?"
"Because you were being sloppy, you fool. Besides, it didn't even hurt."
"True, nya. But as expected of Your Highness! To be able to adjust the strength of a pinch so perfectly—you truly are a genius, nya!"
"Be quiet. I don't want praise for something like that. Just tell me what you found."
The girl cleared her throat, her relaxed attitude vanishing. Her expression turned serious, and her voice hardened.
"The mark on the director’s body contained mana signatures identical to those once found in the retainers of the Demon King, nya."
"So, they are either remnants of the Demon King Army or fanatics plotting his resurrection."
"That is the most likely conclusion, nya."
"Then we have a problem. If there are people in this country captivated by the Demon King’s power, even our own factions cannot be trusted."
"Then, what will you do, nya?"
"It’s simple. I must gather allies I can trust to help me root out those siding with the Demon King."
Despite his firm tone, the hybrid girl groaned. "Finding people who share Your Highness’s resolve will be difficult, nya."
"I can't do this alone. If I try to strike at the enemy by myself, I’ll only end up being devoured."
"I know, Your Highness! But while finding allies is good, I really wish you’d hurry up and choose a personal knight, nya!"
"I’m trying, but I haven't met a single knight I actually get along with. It can't be helped."
The silver-haired boy sighed again at his attendant’s persistence.
"Now that even the Imperial Faction is suspect, what I need are comrades who share my convictions."
Hearing Marquis Ignat’s words, Edgar smiled.
"Hmm? What is it, Edgar?"
"I simply didn't expect to hear such a sentiment from you, Master. However, I believe your intuition is correct."
Ulysses offered a self-deprecating smirk. "If the Demon King Cult is involved, I need someone I can entrust my life to. Someone who is brilliant, of course, but also someone with a strong heart. Good grief. Even as I say it, I realize how difficult that is to find."
The Marquis racked his brain. Chronoa was an obvious choice, but he wanted someone else as well. Baron Clausel was trustworthy, but he needed a broader circle of allies.
“I only wish I could find a personal knight alongside the allies I seek...”
A voice drifted from around the corner ahead of them. Ulysses turned the corner and came face-to-face with the speaker.
"Oh?"
"Hmm?"
A stunned sound escaped Ulysses, followed by a questioning note from the silver-haired boy. The two stood in silence, searching each other’s eyes for hidden intent.
"Well, well... Prince Radius."
"So it was you, Ulysses."
The two remained silent for a long moment. Both realized their private conversations with their attendants had likely been overheard, yet they continued to probe one another. Even in the presence of Ulysses Ignat—a man so powerful that most nobles fled from his path—the boy named Radius did not flinch. He stood with a regal, majestic air, staring back without blinking.
"Do you have a moment?" Radius asked, breaking the silence.
"I had planned to return to Eupeheim immediately, but if the invitation comes from Prince Radius himself, I shall accompany you anywhere."
Ulysses smiled broadly. As Radius began to walk, he asked a question over his shoulder.
"If your daughter had died, what would you have done?"
"Are you referring to this recent incident? Or back when the Imperial Family refused to provide the materials for her condition? Which is it, Prince Radius?"
"The latter, naturally."
Edgar felt his heart hammering against his ribs. He was terrified of what his master might say if he chose to be honest. However, Ulysses spoke in a light, conversational tone.
"If Fiona had lost her life because of that refusal, I would never have forgiven the Leomel Empire, nor the Imperial Family."
"And what would you have done with that hatred?"
"It’s only a hypothetical, but I likely would have sought the destruction of the Empire. To that end, I suppose I would have started by taking the life of the Third Prince—the man rumored to be the next Emperor."
"Hmm. Yes, you likely would have."
Radius stopped and turned to face the Marquis.
"But Ulysses, don't you think we can join forces for a common goal? Even if you harbor a grudge against the crown—against me?"
"Oh? You aren't afraid I’ll put a sword in your back?"
"I am certain that if my actions benefit your daughter, you are the type of man to choose the practical advantage."
Silence fell again for several minutes. They stared into each other’s eyes, speaking no words. Their attendants stood frozen, barely daring to breathe or even blink.
"Haha! You are the very first person to speak so boldly to me!" Ulysses laughed, extending his hand.
Radius took it firmly.
In the story Ren once knew, these two were the killer and the victim. Ren would not learn until much later that in this world, they had joined hands.
Ren returned to Clausel by carriage. He let out a long sigh as the exhaustion finally caught up with him, looking out at the town's center.
I’m finally home.
Exactly three weeks had passed since he had parted ways with Fiona. The delay had been caused by the Imperial magic ships that had arrived in the mountains. Numerous knights from the Capital had been aboard; while Ren wasn't their primary target for interrogation, the Clausel knights had been swamped with the aftermath, and Ren had stayed behind to assist.
The adventurers who had served as guards had voluntarily gone to the Capital for questioning. There was little to worry about there; some had even been recruited by noble houses on the spot. Furthermore, Fiona had handled the official explanations for the Clausel knights. She told them about the bridge, the betrayal of Kai and Meidas, and the existence of the Demon King Cult. In her version of events, she made it very clear that it was thanks to 'Ren'—not some anonymous adventurer—that they had survived.
"Master Ren, we’re almost there," said the knight sharing the carriage.
"One of the two most intense periods of my life is finally coming to an end."
"And what was the other one?"
"The time I was escorting Lady Lithia to Clausel, of course."
It was a light joke, and they shared a brief smile. Ren looked out the window at the familiar streets. Townspeople spotted him and called out greetings, and a wave of nostalgia washed over him. He realized that, without noticing, life in Clausel had truly become his home. The comfort of it was like a balm for his soul. He closed his eyes, and his eyelids immediately felt heavy with a fatigue he hadn't fully acknowledged.
The carriage finished its climb and came to a halt in front of the Baron’s estate.
"Master Ren, we’ve arrived."
"Eh... already?"
"You look exhausted. We’ll handle the initial report to the Baron, so why don't you go inside and rest?"
Ren was tempted to agree, but he knew he had caused a great deal of worry. Even if the full report waited until tomorrow, he needed to show them he was safe. He slapped his cheeks hard to wake himself up and stepped out of the carriage.
In that instant—
"Ren!"
Lithia was running toward the carriage, her face a whirlwind of emotions: joy at his return, worry over the news she’d heard, and a desperate desire for him to be safe.
"The moment the report about the bridge reached us, the young lady tried to head to the mountains by herself," the knight whispered to Ren before stepping aside.
Lithia reached Ren’s side, breathing heavily. From the manor entrance, Lezard and Weiss were also approaching, but Lithia reached him first. She grabbed Ren’s hand.
"Ren! Welcome ho—"
She stopped abruptly. Her eyes fell on the burns on his hand. She realized instantly that the injuries likely extended up his arm. Without another word, she took his less-injured hand and pulled him toward the house.
"Father! I’m taking Ren with me!"
Without waiting for a reply, she led him toward the main manor. As they passed Lezard and Weiss, Ren offered a weak "I'm sorry." The two men simply smiled warmly, as if to tell him not to worry.
I’m so sleepy...
The tension that had kept him going finally snapped. As they entered the manor and passed the sofa in the entrance hall, Ren’s legs gave out. As he slumped toward the sofa, he inadvertently pulled Lithia down with him.
"Re-Ren...?"
Lithia sat on the sofa to catch him, guiding his head onto her lap. He lay there, half-conscious, resting on the Saintess’s knees. He tried to push himself up, mumbling an apology, but a hand pressed gently against his shoulder.
"Rest, Ren. You’ve done enough."
Warmth flooded through him—the feeling of her Holy Magic. His eyelids grew even heavier.
"I... I worked hard."
"I know."
"And... I'm really tired."
"I know that, too."
Lithia’s hand moved to his burns, and a soft, white light enveloped them. The lingering pain and the throbbing heat began to fade away.
"What happened out there, Ren?"
"It’s going to sound like a story someone made up..."
Lithia giggled softly as she watched him struggle to keep his eyes open. She wanted to hear his voice just a little longer, even if it was selfish. He was so honest and vulnerable like this; she didn't want the moment to end.
"I fought people trying to bring back the Demon King... and I fought Asval after he came back to life."
"My, how impressive. But you won, didn't you?"
"Aren't you... going to doubt me?"
"Why would I ever doubt you?"
Lithia’s voice was calm, but her heart was racing with shock. For now, however, she focused entirely on healing him.
"Oh... Lady Lithia. There was something I wanted to ask."
"Ask me?" She tilted her head.
"The words you hid on that paper..."
"Wait—no way! You found them!?"
"I saw them in the light... I’m sorry. But..."
She had hidden those messages specifically so he wouldn't find them until later, and her face flushed with embarrassment. But when Ren spoke again, her heart melted.
"They made me feel so warm. And the dagger you gave me... I used it to break Asval’s horn. I’m only alive right now because of you, Lady Lithia."
Lithia was stunned for a moment, but she quickly masked it with a soft smile.
"Fufu... I suppose my charm worked after all."
She assumed her mana had been effective against the undead dragon. She had a thousand more questions, but seeing how drained he was, she prioritized his rest.
"Do you want to sleep like this?"
"...Yes."
"Fufu, such an honest boy."
Ren no longer had the energy to be anything else. Lithia looked down at him with an expression of pure, maternal affection and stroked his hair.
"Then, good night."
Her voice was as gentle as her touch. Ren began to drift off, but then he suddenly forced his eyes open one last time.
"What is it?" she asked softly.
"I’m back. I’m home."
He finally gave her the answer to her greeting before his eyes slid shut for good. Lithia smiled, using her finger to brush a stray hair from his cheek. He was already deep in the world of dreams.
"Yes... welcome home, my hero."
The hero slept upon the Saintess’s lap, and the Saintess continued to heal her hero.
When Yuno eventually came to check on them, she stopped in her tracks. To her, the scene was nothing short of divine. The sight of the White Saintess and her hero was like a masterpiece brought to life—a sacred painting made real.