The students spent their lunch break in various ways. Some prepared for afternoon classes, others retreated into self-study, and many simply gathered in groups to chat.
Fiona had a specific goal in mind as she walked down the corridor lined with first-year classrooms.
"Excuse me," she said, calling out to a group of students from the first-year Special Merit Class.
The boys and girls turned, clearly surprised that someone like Fiona would approach them so suddenly.
"Does anyone happen to know where Ren Ashton is?"
"Ashton? I believe he's—"
A girl began to answer, but a boy cut her off eagerly.
"I think he's in the backyard! I saw him heading that way with some friends!"
"I see! Thank you very much!"
Fiona gave a graceful, elegant bow before turning and heading away. The students watched her retreating figure, and the boy spoke up again.
"Why is Ashton so close with Lady Ignat anyway?"
"Who knows? I heard he talks with the Third Prince sometimes, too. Maybe House Clausel is trying to cozy up to the Imperial Faction?"
"Wait a minute. If that's the case, what about how close Lady Clausel and Lady Riohard are? I thought everyone said they were closer to the Hero Faction our families belong to."
"Listen to you," a girl interrupted with a heavy sigh. She and the boy were both children of nobles belonging to the Hero Faction. "Even as someone from the same faction, that feels impossible to me."
"Huh? Why?" The boy looked miffed.
"The incident with Viscount Given, for one. No matter how close he is with Lady Riohard, there’s no way Ashton would join the Hero Faction after something like that."
She continued without giving him a chance to argue.
"Besides, my brother was shocked when he saw him at the entrance ceremony. You remember the chaos during the final exam a few years ago, don't you?"
"What about it?"
"My brother was an examinee that year. He said that when they fled to the fortress in the Baldur Mountains, Ren Ashton was among the rescue party."
"...Are you serious? Ashton would have been eleven at most back then."
"My brother is certain. Back then, Ashton probably accompanied the House Clausel knights to the mountains. Maybe the connection between House Clausel and House Ignat dates back to then?"
The girl's brother was the same boy who had once acted tough in front of adventurers on a suspension bridge during the Baldur Mountain incident. He had supposedly asked the adventurer who helped him to become his personal knight later on.
"Viscount Clausel maintains neutrality, but if he were to choose a side, it would clearly be the Imperial Faction."
The boy’s shoulders slumped, unable to find a counterargument to her logic.
Fiona, unaware of their conversation, hurried toward the backyard. She tried to maintain a dignified pace, but her steps were naturally brisk. As she stepped outside, she smiled at the large tree where she had reunited with Ren.
More than a year had already passed since then. These days, simply having him by her side made her happy. She broke into a light run.
Eventually, she heard Ren's voice mingling with others. Thinking it would be rude to interrupt, Fiona stopped and leaned against a nearby tree to wait. One by one, four male students emerged from the backyard. They all looked startled to see Fiona and gave quick bows before departing.
"I suppose it's fine now," she whispered, stepping forward.
Ren had taken off his uniform jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves. He looked uncharacteristically casual, with more buttons undone than usual.
"Oh, Lady Fiona? Ah, apologies for my unseemly appearance."
"P-Please, don't mind me! I'm the one who intruded so suddenly!"
Fiona was momentarily caught off guard by Ren’s relaxed look, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Were you training?"
"Something like that. Ever since I sparred with Lady Licia in swordsmanship class, people have been asking me to teach them Imperial Swordsmanship."
With the representative selection for the Lion King Festival approaching, many students had been seeking Ren's guidance. Ren had no real reason to refuse and accepted their requests when he had free time. Though he didn't realize it, many of these students were nobles, making it an excellent way to build connections.
"So that's why there were so many people here."
Fiona spoke happily, as if Ren’s popularity were her own, and sat down on the grass beside him, hugging her knees.
"So, Lady Fiona, what brings you here?"
"That's right! Actually—"
Fiona explained the matter of the vacant room that Radius and Mirei had mentioned.
Ren, Licia, and Fiona eventually visited the academy on a holiday to clean the designated room. Radius and Mirei had intended to help, but their schedules hadn't lined up. Even if they had been free, Licia and Fiona likely would have stopped them, given their royal and high-ranking status.
The room featured a door that led out to the back of the library. Ren, carrying dust-covered books and wooden boxes outside, wiped sweat from his brow and exhaled toward the cloudless blue sky.
He looked back inside at Licia, who was busy cleaning.
"Lady Licia! Do you have a moment?"
"Yes? What is it?" Licia poked her head out, broom in hand.
"About us being exempt from swordsmanship class—did Lady Riohard say anything?"
"She screamed, 'Whyyyyyyyy?!' at the top of her lungs."
Licia gave a perfect imitation of Sera’s reaction. Apparently, Sera had eventually accepted the situation, nodding and saying it couldn't be helped.
"I can almost hear her... wait, Lady Chronoa?"
As they spoke, Chronoa approached them in civilian clothes. Though it was a simple outfit—a knit top and a long skirt—she possessed an aura that made the ordinary look extraordinary.
"Lady Chronoa? What are you doing here?" Licia asked.
"Well! I thought I’d help out!"
"P-Please, don't worry about us! We can handle the cleaning!"
"It’s fine, really. I was the one who roped you into the Executive Committee in the first place."
Chronoa pulled a staff from her belt and gave it a light flick. The dust clinging to Ren and Licia’s clothes vanished instantly.
"That's an impressive spell."
"If I'm being honest, it's just Wind Magic. I'm just controlling it with a bit more precision than usual."
That "precision" was exactly what made it difficult, yet Chronoa made it look effortless.
"I thought I heard Lady Chronoa... oh?" Fiona emerged from the room and blinked in surprise.
As Fiona set down a dusty wooden box, Chronoa flicked her staff again to clear the debris.
"Thank you very much," Fiona said, stepping forward.
"I’ve come to lend a hand."
"Oh... but is it alright for the Academy Director to be doing chores?"
"Why wouldn't it be? Besides, this is my first full day off in two months. I want to spend it doing something fun."
Ren tilted his head. "If it's your first break in that long, shouldn't you be resting at home?"
"...Ren-kun, you only say that because you don't know how I spend my days off," Chronoa said, her gaze drifting toward the horizon. The light seemed to drain from her eyes. "When I finally get a rare holiday and decide to relax, I often find the day has ended while I'm still in bed. Or I go out to shop and lose all motivation the moment I get home. You’ve surely never experienced that kind of despair, have you?"
When Ren tried to look away, Chronoa sidestepped into his line of sight, smiling like a mischievous fairy. Ren found himself unable to look away a second time.
"You haven't, have you?"
Feeling an odd pressure behind her words, Ren quickly replied, "It'll go much faster with the four of us."
"Yay!" Chronoa cheered.
Licia and Fiona watched with helpless smiles as Ren gave a deliberate cough.
"Actually, this is perfect timing."
"Eh? Because I'm here?"
"Yes. There are several things here we don't know how to handle. I was hoping you could check them for us, Lady Chronoa."
"Leave it to me! I am the Director, after all. I can tell the difference between trash and treasure!"
It was her job to know, but Ren decided not to point that out. Chronoa seemed genuinely happy to spend her holiday with them, and he didn't want to ruin the mood—especially if it meant that hollow look returning to her eyes.
"For example, what about this?"
"Wow, that's still here! That was a Magic Tool used in the Academy Festival five years ago. It generates a fog-like mist."
"And this one?"
"That brings back memories! A former student custom-ordered that. When you pour mana into it, it floats and glows dimly while swaying around."
The others exchanged dry smiles.
"What were they used for?"
"An attraction called the 'Undead House'—a haunted house to scare guests. It was incredibly popular; quite a few people ended up in tears."
Ren nodded, packing the discarded items into boxes or tying them with twine. He carried a load to the trash collection area on the academy grounds.
As he dropped off the last of the waste, the sound of clashing metal reached his ears. It was a violent, powerful sound he recognized. He turned toward the nearby training square.
There, he saw two boys sparring with sword and shield.
Wayne and Kaito?
Ren caught himself using Kaito's name without a title, but he figured it didn't matter since it was only in his head. Wayne noticed Ren and waved, while Kaito lowered his massive shield.
"Ren! What are you doing at the academy on a holiday?" Wayne called out.
Ren approached them. "Just some errands. What about you, Wayne?"
"Oh, well—"
Wayne gestured toward his partner. "Let me introduce you. This is Senior Kaito Leonall."
"Hey! I’ve heard about you, Ashton! Good to meet ya!" Kaito gripped Ren's hand with immense strength. "As for me and Wayne here..."
Kaito had invited Wayne because he wanted to test his skills. They had made the promise a while back, specifically aiming for a day when the academy was quiet.
"...Senior Kaito is so strong I can't even land a hit," Wayne admitted.
"Well, he’s from a Heroic Ducal House. It's only natural that he’s on another level."
"I know that, but I still hate losing!"
Kaito turned his attention to Ren. "Hey, Ashton. I heard about that swordsmanship class. The second-years are all buzzing about how strong you are. Even Sera said you were the real deal. They say you're even stronger than the Saintess of House Clausel?"
"I wouldn't know. I don't think about it much."
"Hoh. Is that so?" Kaito’s eyes gleamed with interest. "Tell you what. Since we're all here, why don't you join us and work up a sweat?"
Kaito swung his arm in a circle, his large shield strapped tight. But Ren declined immediately.
"I’ll have to pass."
Kaito stumbled back with comical exaggeration. "Why!?"
"I’m actually here on business. I'm on the Executive Committee for the Lion King Festival. We were cleaning the room we'll be using."
Kaito stared at him, mouth agape. Then, he bowed deeply.
"Thanks! If you're doing the grunt work for the committee, I can't complain. But... wait, does that mean you aren't entering the representative selection?"
"That's right. I have other duties."
"No way... and here I was hoping for a crack at someone strong..."
"Senior Kaito, it’s thanks to the committee that we can even have a tournament," Wayne reminded him.
"I know, I know! Like I said, I'm grateful! I'll give up for now. But after the festival is over, you've gotta give me a match!"
Ren promised to consider it and headed back to the library. He joined the girls again, and by the time the sun began to dip, the room was almost spotless.
"Lady Chronoa! What about these old books?"
"One second!" Chronoa trotted over and flicked her staff to clear the dust from a box of old volumes. "These are encyclopedias of ancient monsters. They replace them whenever even a small part of the information becomes outdated."
"Seems like a waste to just store them away," Ren noted.
"I agree. But the academy can't teach outdated info. I thought it was a pity, so I moved them here instead of throwing them out."
"Is the information really that old?"
"For ancient monsters, not much changes. It's actually hard to find mistakes in these."
"Then we should keep them here. We can use them for reference," Ren suggested.
"Good idea! The shelves are clean now, so let's line them up. You three can read them whenever you're bored."
Ren began shelving the books. As he reached the final volume, he paused to read the title: Monsters of the Demon King Army.
It looked interesting. He made a mental note to read it later.
Thirty minutes later, the work was finally finished.
"Good work, everyone! I’ll treat you all to a meal soon!" Chronoa said, stretching.
Though her magic had kept the dust away, they had all worked up a sweat. Licia and Fiona wanted to use the academy showers before heading home, and Ren decided to do the same.
On the way to the showers, Licia spoke up. "By the way, Lady Chronoa, there aren't any extracurricular lessons this year, are there?"
"Not just this year. They’ve been suspended ever since the incident in the Baldur Mountains."
The lessons usually involved the Special Merit Class heading into the forest, much like the final enrollment exam.
"I guess it's because Jelkku isn't around anymore," Ren murmured. The Beast Tamer was originally supposed to have appeared during those lessons.
"That’s a name I haven't heard in a while. Why bring up Jelkku?" Licia asked, tilting her head.
"Oh, uh, no reason! I just thought of the forest and remembered the old days."
"Hehe, we were doing nothing but trekking through the woods back then."
Ren smiled to himself. He had managed to change many events from the original Legend of the Seven Heroes.
After their showers, as they walked toward the station, Licia turned to him. "Hey, do you still have any energy left?"
"Of course. Why?"
"Would you like to stop by the Lion Holy Chancel?"
Ren nodded immediately. "I’ve got enough energy to swing a sword for a few hours."
They boarded a Magic Train bound for the Government District. It was the evening rush, and the car was packed. Licia felt a surge of happiness as Ren stood close to her, silently shielding her from the crowd. She looked up at him.
"Is something wrong?" Ren asked.
"No. I just think you're the same Ren as always."
"Huh?"
"Hehe, nothing."
Licia turned back to the window. By the time they reached the Government District, the sky was dark.
"So, what's the Director like?" Licia asked.
"It's hard to describe... she's like the embodiment of the Strong Sword Arts. Fierce and straightforward."
"I should probably introduce myself."
"I think so, too, but she seems incredibly busy."
"That's usually true, but I have my free days, too," a voice said.
"No, no... she's the Director of the Lion Holy Chancel, there's no way she—" Ren stopped mid-sentence.
The two of them froze. They slowly turned toward the source of the voice that had joined their conversation.
"That’s the right attitude. Manners are fundamental," the woman said.
Standing before them was a warrior in a military uniform, her cloak fluttering in the night breeze.
"But keep the formal greetings for the nobles—wait, the Saintess is a noble. Whatever. I dislike stiffness. Treat me normally. Only my subordinates call me Director. Call me by the name my parents gave me."
As Estelle spoke with her usual commanding air, another woman's voice followed.
"Director! I turn my head for a second and you... oh, it's you two."
A female knight appeared behind Estelle. She was a regular sparring partner for Licia and often spoke with Ren. She was carrying two large paper bags that emitted sweet-smelling steam.
"Deliver those to the others. I’ll take our share," Estelle commanded.
"Understood. And for you, Director?"
"I want to talk to these two. I'm sick of paperwork. I refuse to do another page."
"Yes, yes... I'll tell the clerks. Take your time."
Estelle took three items from the bag—round buns wrapped in thin paper.
"Here." She handed one to Ren and one to Licia, then began walking toward a garden area within the Chancel grounds.
She sat on the edge of a fountain and looked at them.
"This is a sweet I'm fond of. It's good for a tired body."
She explained that she often bought these for her staff. Ren and Licia opened the wrappers to find soft, warm bread. They took a bite, and warm custard cream flowed out.
"This is delicious," Licia said, then paused. "Is this from that shop on the main street?"
"You know it?"
"A friend—Sera—told me about it. I’ve been wanting to try it."
"I see. She has good taste."
After finishing the snack, Licia straightened her posture to properly introduce herself. "I apologize for the delay. I am Licia Clausel."
"Umu. I believe you already know, but I am Estelle Oslos Drake. I hold the rank of Count and oversee several territories for His Majesty."
Estelle looked at them. "You don't have a guard with you, Licia?"
"The capital is safe, and I have Ren."
"True. Ren is Swordmaster-class despite his age. I recall him giving my dear subordinates quite a hard time the other day."
"My apologies for that..." Ren said.
"Don't be. I'm the one who told you to spar. If my knights couldn't handle you, it's because they're weak."
Estelle had actually been quite impressed. Her knights had been far more motivated since Ren and Licia had started visiting.
"Keep sparring with them. It does them good."
They talked for over an hour. Estelle was particularly curious about Prince Radius during her absence and grilled Ren for details on how they met. Eventually, she checked the time.
"It’s getting late. You two should head home."
"Thank you for today," Ren said, bowing.
"Goodnight, Director," Licia added.
Estelle stayed seated by the fountain, watching their retreating figures. As they disappeared into the darkness, her eyes narrowed.
"Now then... what to do?"
She whispered into the night wind, her gaze fixed on the spot where Ren had been.