In recent years, the Imperial Military Academy had drawn more attention than ever, both from within the Empire and from abroad.
The class that enrolled the year before last had been the initial catalyst for this scrutiny—not only because of the incident in the Baldur Mountains but also because the daughter of the renowned Ulysses Ignat was a student there. Last year, the momentum continued when two children from the Seven Great Ducal Houses enrolled, followed by another two this year. Among the current freshmen was Wayne, a boy who carried the blood of the Hero Ruin, though no one but Ren was yet aware of that fact.
By mid-April, the new students had gradually acclimated to the academy, and several core classes had begun in earnest. Two figures in particular had become the focus of intense fascination for the entire student body, regardless of gender. These two happened to cross paths just outside the school gates one morning.
They were Lithia, who would turn fourteen this summer, and Fiona, who was nearly sixteen—the "Twin Peaks" of the academy’s beauty. Lithia’s youthful charm had grown more refined, her height increasing as her silhouette took on a more mature grace. Fiona was no different. Her beauty, a subject of awe since the moment she enrolled, had reached even greater heights, though she retained an innate loveliness that never failed to captivate onlookers.
They were girls of a mystical quality, possessing an exquisite balance of elegance and grace.
"Lithia-sama."
Fiona spoke as they entered the school building together. She found it strange that Ren was nowhere to be seen and wondered if something had occurred.
"Is Ren taking the day off?"
"He told me he’d come in the afternoon if he could. I’m not sure why, but he made the decision after speaking with my father this morning. I... I really don't know the reason."
"...The fact that you repeated that twice suggests you aren't satisfied with the situation, Lithia-sama," Fiona said, her smile as effortless as a painting.
Next to her, Lithia pouted her lips slightly, looking equally picturesque. The two decided to stop by the faculty room before heading to the rooftop to chat before their classes began.
"I thought we were going to school together, but then my father suddenly summoned Ren to his office. When Ren finally came back out, all he said was that he’d be absent for the morning!"
At the academy, students weren't strictly required to report every absence. However, since the term had just started and Ren was a student representative alongside Lithia, he felt it was only proper to check in during these first few weeks.
Listening to this, Fiona tapped a finger against her lips, her expression growing suspicious.
"He didn't give you a reason... and it was right after a meeting with Viscount Clausel. I suspect something is afoot."
"Right? Especially after what happened at the Great Clock Tower last summer."
"And the Viscount wouldn't tell you anything either?"
"No. Father just told me 'not to worry about it.'"
As they walked, they caught snippets of conversation from a group of girls in the courtyard.
"Did you hear? Those first-years are already making a name for themselves in the Guild. Apparently, they hit D-rank just the other day."
"No way! They're that strong as freshmen?"
"Well, she is the daughter of House Riohard. Rumor has it the boy with her is just as strong, maybe even stronger. No wonder they’ve been so active since enrollment."
Judging by the mention of Riohard, the students were discussing the children of the Seven Great Ducal Houses. These families were descendants of the Seven Heroes who had defeated the Demon King and stood as the pillars of the Hero Faction within the Empire. Naturally, they were always in the spotlight.
The gossip soon shifted to Ren and Lithia.
"The Saintess of Clausel is a first-year, too. And I heard the boy who served as the student representative is supposed to be incredible."
"I’ve heard the Saintess is amazing, but what about the boy?"
"My younger brother is in the Special Merit Class, and he told me that during the entrance exam, the Saintess did all the fighting. Apparently, the boy barely even drew his sword. Even when he did, the monsters were so weak that nobody could tell if he was actually strong or not."
Catching these words, Fiona looked toward Lithia.
"Did Ren really not fight much during the final exam?"
"He didn't. He was too busy watching the other examinees to make sure no one got hurt."
While Ren’s heroics in the Baldur Mountains were a matter of record, his role during the exam had been primarily supportive. The examiners, however, had taken note of his level-headedness and conduct, which was why his grades remained exemplary.
The conversation in the courtyard continued. "I heard even more kids from the Heroic Ducal Houses are enrolling next year."
In a sense, Sera and her group were figures destined for the center of the stage. Conversely, Ren and Prince Radius operated more like heroes in the shadows. While the people of Clausel and Ren’s home village knew of his strength, the public eye was naturally drawn to the prestigious descendants and the likes of Wayne.
However, Lithia and Fiona were entirely unbothered by the rumors. Both had been saved by Ren, and they prided themselves on knowing his true strength better than anyone.
When they reached the faculty room, Lithia went inside alone. She informed the homeroom teacher that Ren would be absent for the morning but would attend the afternoon sessions if possible.
"Understood. I've noted the situation."
The academy was home to many nobles and foreign royalty, making it common for students to miss time for undisclosed reasons. The teacher simply nodded, used to such arrangements.
Just as Lithia was about to leave, she overheard a conversation between two other faculty members.
"His Highness the Third Prince will be attending from the afternoon at the earliest. If he cannot make it, he will be absent for the day."
"Official business, I presume."
"His Highness, too?" Lithia whispered to herself.
She stepped back into the hallway, looking deep in thought. "Let’s go," she told Fiona, and they began heading for the rooftop.
"Is something wrong?" Fiona asked, noting the change in Lithia’s expression.
"I overheard something in the faculty room. Apparently, Prince Radius is also taking the morning off."
"...On the same day as Ren?"
Fiona’s thoughts immediately aligned with Lithia’s. The two shared a look of near-certainty, their voices overlapping as they spoke.
"Could it be...?"
"Lithia-sama."
"Fiona-sama."
They spoke again simultaneously as they pushed open the rooftop door.
"It can't be a coincidence that Ren and His Highness are both missing on the same day!"
"And he was given work by my father—they’re definitely doing something in secret!"
Since the rooftop was empty, they didn't hold back their voices. It was a foregone conclusion for them; given the history of the Great Clock Tower, the idea that Ren and Radius being absent at the same time was unrelated was impossible.
The two girls looked at each other and nodded.
"...They’re doing something behind our backs again, aren't they?"
They spoke the exact same words at the exact same moment. Since they themselves had been able to come to the academy without issue, they assumed whatever was happening wasn't a world-ending catastrophe, but the secrecy still rankled.
At the same time, far from the Imperial Capital and Erendir, deep in the heart of the mountains...
In a landscape of jagged cliffs and sharp peaks, a lone boy stood flanked by two knights. Their battle against the monster before them was nearing its conclusion.
(I need to wrap this up soon!) Ren thought fiercely.
Having turned fourteen just before Lithia, Ren had grown into his features, inheriting his mother Mireille’s gentle lines and his father Roy’s sharp intensity. It was a neutral, handsome look that had already begun to catch the eyes of his female classmates.
"Ren-dono!"
"The target is trying to gain altitude!"
At the call from the knights clad in pitch-black armor, Ren dashed up the rock face. The sharp, uneven stone would have easily skewered anyone who slipped, but Ren moved without a hint of fear, pursuing the monster as it skimmed the steep slope.
"Ren-dono!? Surely you aren't going to—!"
The creature he pursued was a massive raptor with two pairs of wings, its feathers a deep, poisonous green.
Rewinding to that morning, before Ren had parted ways with Lithia...
An envoy from the Third Prince had arrived at the Clausel Manor with a letter.
"A powerful monster has been sighted in a remote region. The information isn't public yet, but an adventurer was injured last night. Before I request a formal hunt from the military or the Guild, I want to investigate the matter personally. Given the recent unrest at the Clock Tower, I want this handled as quietly and quickly as possible."
Because there was a possibility of Demon King Cult involvement, Radius wanted Ren’s assistance. While the situation wasn't classified as high-risk yet, Radius preferred to act preemptively. Lezard had called Ren into his office after breakfast to discuss the matter.
"———That is the situation."
"I understand. I’ll go and check it out just in case."
The letter had suggested meeting in the capital, so Ren had walked to school with Lithia as usual before slipping away once they arrived at the gates.
"...Work from my father?"
"We spoke before I left the house. If all goes well, I’ll be back for the afternoon classes."
Lithia had looked skeptical, but she had eventually nodded in agreement.
As Ren walked through the capital, a Knight of the Lion Holy Chancel approached him. He was guided to a carriage hidden in a back alley, where Radius was waiting.
"Thanks for coming."
"No problem. What are the details?"
"I’ll give you the file. Take a look."
The documents described a monster known as a "Forest-Devourer." By the Guild's metrics, it was roughly equivalent to a lower-tier C-rank. It was a powerful creature that normally lived far from civilized areas.
"It has a bottomless appetite. As its name implies, it’s capable of stripping a forest bare," Radius explained.
"I've heard of them."
"Normally, they never come this close to the capital. Once we take it down, I want to use my Analysis skill to see if there’s anything suspicious about it. Naturally, I don't expect you to do this alone. I’ve assigned several Knights of the Lion Holy Chancel to assist, and I have other units deployed elsewhere."
In general, it was said that five trained knights were required to handle a single D-rank monster. While the strength of monsters varied even within the same rank, that was the standard baseline. For a C-rank, one would typically want several times that number.
Of course, the math changed when dealing with elite fighters.
"It’s a fairly high-rank monster. Can you handle it?"
"It’s fine. No problem at all."
As a Swordmaster-class Strong Sword User who had faced the trials of the previous summer, Ren’s voice didn't waver.
And now, in the present...
Ren swung his Iron Magic Sword toward the sky, unleashing a wake of pressure that sliced through the atmosphere. The Forest-Devourer, momentarily losing its balance in mid-air, looked down to see Ren closing the distance by kicking off the mountainside with explosive force.
"GRAAAAAA!"
The bird let out a piercing screech and forced its wings to flap. Purple lightning crackled across its plumage before discharging toward Ren.
Ren didn't even perceive the electricity as a threat. With a single swing of the Iron Magic Sword, he used the Art "Star-Cleaver" to negate the magic entirely.
"Sorry. I can't overlook a monster that’s attacked people."
The Forest-Devourer put everything it had into its next move. Seeing that its magic was useless, it turned its entire body into a weapon, lunging with its beak and massive wings.
"GRUUUUU!"
The creature’s strength was exactly as advertised by the Guild. As the tip of its wing brushed past Ren, the sheer wind pressure left a cut on his arm. However, Ren saw through the follow-up attack, and his counter-slash tore through the creature’s primary wing.
The desperate assault of a C-rank monster was intense, even for the current Ren. It possessed a level of raw physical power that neither the Thief Wolfen nor the Steel-Eating Gargoyle could match, giving Ren a fresh challenge to overcome.
Wind pressure buffeted him as the massive wings flailed, claws raking the air. Realizing it couldn't escape while Ren was present, the Forest-Devourer used its bulk to slam Ren into the mountainside, intending to crush him against the rock.
Even so, the monster didn't try to fly away. Perhaps it sensed that the boy within the cloud of dust would never let it escape alive.
"GRRRRRAAAAAAA—!"
It charged, purple lightning wreathed around its body, aiming its razor-sharp beak at the spot where Ren had impacted.
But it was never going to reach him.
A flash of light glittered far above the knights' heads as the Forest-Devourer froze in mid-air. Just before gravity could pull it down, a vertical line appeared from its chest to its head, slicing through its neck and beak with surgical precision.
The knights watching from below saw Ren standing amidst the settling dust. He was using the Iron Magic Sword as a crutch against the gouged rock, a calm smile on his face.
Later, as Ren and Radius headed back to the academy aboard a magic train...
"———I’ve said it before, but you’re far too reckless," Radius scolded in their private cabin.
"What? What was reckless?"
When Ren asked with a look of genuine confusion, Radius’s eyebrow twitched.
"I sent those knights with you for a reason! I know you can defeat a C-rank, Ren, but the point was for you to do it without getting hurt!"
"I'm sorry. I was just so focused on making sure it didn't get away."
"Sigh... fine. Since you aren't dead, I’ll let it go."
The two knights had done a considerable amount of work before the monster took flight. Once the creature realized it was losing and tried to retreat, Ren had taken matters into his own hands with a display of overwhelming force.
(Using the Flame Magic Sword is too exhausting, after all,) Ren thought.
A knock sounded at the cabin door, and the silhouette of a knight appeared through the glass.
"I need to step out for a moment," Radius said.
"Sure, got it."
Once Radius left, Ren checked his Mastery levels. He confirmed that the growth rate had slowed down recently. Between his entrance exam studies and the lack of opportunities to hunt outside of Clausel, he hadn't been grinding as much as he used to.
On the flip side, since he had begun training at the Lion Holy Chancel, he had acquired new Arts, and his actual swordsmanship had grown significantly. Also, ever since defeating Asval, he noticed that the Mastery gained by his Magic Sword Summoning Arts often differed from the Mastery of the physical sword itself—a phenomenon that didn't happen when he was just hunting Little Boars.
"Well... it is what it is," Ren sighed.
Radius returned a moment later. "What are you sighing about?"
"Nothing. How’s the situation?"
"The knights were coordinating with the Guild before we left. They just finished summarizing the reports."
"The Guild? What for?"
Radius sat back down across from Ren. He held several sheets of paper and glanced at the top one.
"Since the victim was an adventurer, we had to report the kill. It’s a tedious process, but I’ve handled the documentation of how we dealt with it."
"I figured you’d just use your royal authority to keep it quiet."
"I could have, but as I said, there was an injured witness. The Guild was actually minutes away from posting a formal subjugation bounty."
The fact that Ren had taken it down before the post went live was the key.
"I’ll need you to sign a few things. I’ll take care of the rest."
"What am I signing?"
"Since the bounty was about to be posted, the reward money and administrative approvals were already processed within the Guild. Regardless of the reward I'm giving you personally, you have a legal right to the Guild's payout."
"Oh, I see. But..."
"The knights are on official duty, so they aren't eligible for the bounty. I’ll provide them with a separate bonus, so don't worry about it."
"Wow. You answered every question I was about to ask."
"I’ve spent enough time around you to predict your thought process."
There were several documents: the bounty payout, the estimate for the sale of the Forest-Devourer's materials, and various permits. The Magic Stone wasn't included because Ren had absorbed its power before crushing it. The castle would be purchasing the materials so Radius could examine the corpse for traces of the Demon King Cult.
Even though it was based on standard Guild rates, the total amount was staggering.
"I get this much?"
"Use it for your tuition—ah, wait, your tuition is already covered. Send it home, then."
"I’ve tried, but my parents keep telling me to spend it on myself. They won't really accept any more money from me."
"Then save it. You’ll find a use for it eventually."
Ren agreed and signed the papers. However, there was one more document that required his signature. When he looked at it, his eyes widened. It was a Guild Rank notification.
"Looks like my rank is going up."
"Expected. You did plenty of work for the Guild before the semester started, didn't you? Including that job for Ulysses."
"Yeah, guarding that merchant friend of his."
The document officially recognized Ren as a B-rank adventurer. After the stress of the entrance exams, Ren had taken on several jobs over the winter as a way to clear his head, which had brought him to C-rank. This latest subjugation had pushed him over the threshold.
(I might actually make it for the end of the afternoon classes.)
Ren adjusted the sleeve of his shirt, hiding the bandage on his wrist. He had treated the cut with a potion, but he’d wrapped it just in case. He didn't mind. Looking out at the capital passing by the train window, he tried to remember what his afternoon schedule was.
The afternoon session was Herbology, held in a specialized lab.
"In Herbology, the distillation still and the alchemy still are of paramount importance. As you all know, these two are essential for the refining of any potion."
Ren stood outside the door of the lab, listening to the professor's lecture. After a quick breath to steady himself, he quietly pushed the door open. The room was filled with shelves of test tubes and potted medicinal plants. The professor, an elderly, dignified gentleman, looked up first, followed by the thirty or so students of the Special Merit Class.
"Forgive me. I’m late."
"I was informed of the situation. Come, take your seat."
Ren walked to his desk next to Lithia. The moment he sat down, she gave him a pointed look. She reached over, shielded from the others' view, and pulled up his sleeve. Seeing the bandage, she flashed him a "sweet" smile that carried a terrifying amount of silent pressure.
"You’re going to tell me everything later, understand?"
"...Yes."
Lithia’s resolve—that she would let him off for now but expect a full accounting after class—was palpable.
"Now, as for why the distillation still is essential..." The professor scanned the room and settled on Ren. "Ashton, as you’ve just joined us, perhaps you could tell us why we use distillation in potion making?"
Ren stood and answered without hesitation. "To separate the water content from the medicinal components of the plant."
"Correct. Everyone, what Mr. Ashton has described is the absolute baseline of the craft. You likely all learned this for your entrance exams. However, in this class, we aim for a deeper understanding." The professor smiled kindly. "Tell me, Ashton, how does one increase the efficacy of the separated components?"
"It varies depending on the specific component being extracted."
"And do you know the methods used to achieve that?"
"I know a few. For instance..."
As Ren began to detail knowledge that far exceeded the standard first-year curriculum, the professor’s smile widened, and he stroked his white beard.
"Excellent. It seems Mr. Ashton is more than prepared for this course."
The bell rang, signaling the end of the session. "Well then," the professor said. "We’ll leave it there for today. Do not forget to review today's material before our next meeting."
He left the room, followed by the students.
"Ren, let’s go," Lithia said.
Radius had given Ren permission to tell the girls about the hunt, so he had no reason to keep it a secret. Lithia leaned in with a giggle.
"Was that more of your study results?"
"Granny Rigu, the pharmacist back home, taught me quite a bit."
"Fufu, I see."
Ren gave an awkward smile and followed her out. Once they found an empty classroom, Lithia immediately told him to roll up his sleeve.
"Hold still. I’m going to heal you."
She held her hands over his arm, and her Holy Magic flowed. The cut beneath the bandage was enveloped in light; the faint sting and heat Ren had been feeling vanished instantly.
"Lithia-sama, has your magic gotten stronger again?"
"Oh, maybe."
She mentioned it had been particularly noticeable since last summer. Her growth rate was becoming truly staggering.
"How’s the arm? Any pain?"
"None at all. I actually feel better than I did this morning."
"Don't say such silly things. Just because I’m here to heal you doesn't mean you can go looking for trouble."
They shared a laugh. Before Ren could start his story, the voices of other students drifted in through the open window.
"What are you doing after this?"
"Wanna go shopping?"
"Count me in! Let’s go!"
Ordinary students were discussing their plans for the evening. Ren and Lithia stood by the window, the curtains fluttering around them as they looked out.
"Hey, Ren," Lithia said softly. "Don't you think it’s a little funny? You and me, attending this academy together?"
Ren understood her meaning immediately.
"I suppose so. I spent so much time turning down the Viscount’s invitations, and now here I am, commuting to school with you every day."
"Right? It just made me realize how much has happened."
Ren felt a similar sense of nostalgia. Everything that had happened had led them to this moment.
Lithia smiled up at him. "But we’ve been together since we were small. I guess it’s only natural that our lives would be full of 'events.'"
When Ren looked back on their journey, it seemed like a lifetime of memories had passed in the blink of an eye. The same held true for Fiona. When the two girls finally heard the full story of the morning's hunt later that day, they weren't shocked—they had predicted as much. But as girls in love, they simply couldn't help but worry until they heard the words from his own lips.
Ren could still vividly remember the first time he set foot in the Lion Holy Chancel. He had met Edgar in the capital, and the steward had guided him inside. The sheer awe and curiosity he’d felt—stepping into a place that was inaccessible in the game—had been briefly eclipsed by the terrifying power of the Strong Sword. Even now, the majesty of the building never failed to overwhelm him.
Early that morning, Ren and Lithia had been training there before school. As Ren lay flat on his back, gasping for air, Lithia walked over and handed him a towel soaked in cold water.
"Are you going to be able to stay awake in class?"
"Leave it to me... I'll be fine."
"Good. Then let’s wrap up for the morning—"
"Just give me a minute to rest, then one more round."
"—Absolutely not. If we keep going, you’ll be snoring through your lectures."
Her logic was irrefutable. "...Fine."
Lithia pressed her index finger to his forehead. A faint pulse of light removed the lingering fatigue from his body.
"Just so we’re clear, this isn't so you can pick up your sword again."
She smiled as the first rays of the sun began to filter into the training hall. They had arrived well before dawn, and time had slipped away.
"You two were quite spirited again today," a Knight of the Lion Holy Chancel remarked, walking over.
"It reminds me of the night at the Clock Tower," another added. "You have even more intensity now than when you swore to become a lion that could crush any foe, Ren-dono."
"We adults can barely keep up with you. Your stamina is bottomless."
Ren chatted with the knights for a few moments before leading Lithia away from the underground arena. They needed to bathe and change, or they’d be late for school.
"You really told the descendants of the Lion King that you were going to become a lion yourself," Lithia teased with a sparkling smile.
"...I think I was just a bit worked up at the time."
Yet, no one had ever mocked him for those words. His staggering growth rate and his sheer dedication to training made his ambition feel like an eventual certainty rather than a boast. Even the elite knights of the Holy Chancel sometimes looked at Ren and Lithia’s talent and doubted their own.
"Is the path to Sword Saint still a long one?" Lithia asked.
"It is. It’s been nearly a year since I became a Swordmaster, and I’m hitting the biggest wall of my life."
"I’m not surprised. Going from Swordmaster to Sword Saint is the hardest leap in any style."
The rank of Sword Saint was a rare peak, occupied only by a few. Below it was Swordmaster and Sword Expert, while above it were only the five Sword Kings who stood at the absolute pinnacle of the world.
"If you keep getting stronger, do you think you’ll become a Sword King someday?"
"I don't know. Those people are literal monsters. It’s hard to even imagine reaching that level."
He thought back to the sheer power he had witnessed at the end of the Clock Tower incident. A year ago, he would have dismissed the idea entirely. Now, things were different.
"But... I suppose it’s alright to dream of reaching that height, isn't it?"
"Then we’ll start with Sword Saint," Lithia said firmly.
"Exactly. It’s a massive, sturdy wall, but I’ll break through it. Just you watch."
"I will. And I’ll be right behind you."
Ren laughed, his competitive spirit stoked by her words.
After the morning sessions, a full school assembly was held in the Great Auditorium. The area around the entrances was packed with students of all years, the air thick with the sound of chatter.
"Ren, you really saved my skin... I think I can actually handle the next assignment now."
The speaker was Wayne, the descendant of Hero Ruin.
"It’s no problem," Ren replied. "But you need to review properly, or you'll forget everything."
"I know, I know. But that class is just too much. Why does it have to be so complicated?"
"That’s just the nature of the subject, I guess."
"Man... hey, Ren, seriously, how do you study? What’s your secret?"
Ren and Wayne had been acquainted since before the term started, and they spoke often. While they weren't best friends yet, they were certainly on good terms.
"I think if you read the textbook cover-to-cover ten times, you’ll remember most of it."
"You’re kidding."
"I’m serious. I’m not naturally gifted, so I just have to put in the reps."
"If the student representative says so, I guess that’s the way."
"I mean, if you can find a more efficient way, go for it."
They chatted as they made their way toward the freshman section.
"What’s this assembly for, anyway?"
"The upperclassmen are here, so it has to be 'that.'"
"That? What’s 'that'?"
Several students around them seemed to know, and Ren whispered to himself, "It couldn't be anything else." Wayne, meanwhile, remained completely lost.
"Wayne! Over here!"
A girl’s voice called out, and both boys turned. It was Sera Riohard. With her striking brown hair and amber eyes, she possessed an undeniable presence that commanded attention.
"Well, see you later, Wayne," Ren said.
"Yeah, thanks again!"
Ren moved a few rows down to join Lithia.
"Helping Wayne again?"
"He was stuck on something, so I gave him a hand."
A few minutes later, the auditorium fell silent as the Director, Chronoa Highland, walked onto the stage. Her golden-blonde hair shimmered under the lights, and her witch’s hat swayed with every step. She smiled out at the assembled students.
"First, to our freshmen..."
She spoke about the adjustment to academy life and checked in with each year level in turn. After about ten minutes of administrative notes, the students began to grow restless with anticipation.
"Yes, yes, I’ll get to what you’re all waiting for," Chronoa said, placing a finger to her lips with a playful warning. Once the room settled, she continued. "This year marks the biennial Lion King Festival, so it’s time to begin our preparations!"
A massive cheer erupted from the crowd. Chronoa watched them with a beaming smile.
(I knew it,) Ren thought.
The Lion King Festival was the premier event of the academy. Representative students from all the major schools in the capital would compete in magic, swordsmanship, and oratory. It was a massive, nation-wide event that drew nobles and merchants from across the world, turning both the capital and Erendir into a hub of festivity.
Even after the assembly was dismissed, the students remained in high spirits. As Ren, Lithia, and Fiona walked out, they noticed Chronoa leaving the stage. Her smile, however, seemed to twitch for a fleeting second.
"Is something wrong?" Fiona whispered.
"Maybe she’s worried about the festival?" Lithia wondered. "Ren, have you heard anything?"
"No... nothing."
"It is a bit strange," Fiona noted, and the others couldn't help but agree.