Radius was in Gargazia, a mid-sized city located a short distance from the Imperial Capital.
He was staying there for the business he had mentioned to Ren and the others before leaving the Academy—meeting with members of the Imperial Family before the start of winter break.
The royals he was scheduled to meet did not normally reside in Gargazia, but he had traveled here because it served as a convenient midpoint for their discussions.
Radius let out a weary breath in his room at the inn.
"Welcome back. You must be exhausted, nya."
"Yeah. It was draining, but I’m glad it went smoothly."
"I thought as much, nya. Now then, how about a drink to celebrate?"
Radius assumed Mirei had prepared a potion to help him recover from his fatigue, but he was mistaken.
Instead, Mirei handed him a glass filled with a liquid that gave off a sweet, inviting aroma.
"It’s a restorative to lift your spirits, nya."
Though the explanation was brief, Radius simply said, "I see," and brought the glass to his lips. It tasted of honey and fruit juice—a flavor Radius had known well since childhood.
Whenever he was exhausted in the past, Mirei would often prepare this for him. Unlike a potion, it didn't provide immediate physical recovery, but if he were asked which he’d rather drink after a long day of work, he would choose this every time.
"Shall I rub your shoulders for a bit, nya?"
She looked at him with concern.
Without waiting for an answer, the girl reached out and touched the shoulders of the weary Third Prince.
Radius let out a long sigh. "I appreciate it," he murmured. Behind him, Mirei offered a gentle, knowing smile.
"Starting next year, our interactions might become a bit more complicated, Mirei."
"Nya? I'll be by your side, so why would that be, nya?"
"I mean within the Academy. You’ll be graduating next spring."
Currently in her fourth year, Mirei would be celebrating her graduation ceremony in just three months, finally leaving the prestigious Imperial Military Academy behind.
Mirei nodded, her expression momentarily tinged with sadness.
As they sat in silence, Radius slowly closed his eyes. Mirei remained quiet, wanting her tired master to rest as much as possible, but then—
"——Nya?"
Hearing a knock at the door, she stepped away from Radius's side. She left the room briefly and returned a moment later to find Radius already awake.
"It seems Master Ragna has arrived, nya."
The man had a habit of appearing without warning.
Radius let out a sigh and said, "I'll be right there," as he adjusted his clothes.
Ten minutes later, in the living room of the guest suite.
"Did you wake up because you sensed your teacher's presence?"
"Don't be absurd. Mirei told me you were here."
"How disappointing. Regardless, you’ve been looking quite busy lately, haven't you?"
"If it's that obvious to you, then spare me the surprise visits in the future."
Radius let out a wide yawn.
Room service arrived shortly after. Since Mirei had excused herself, the two men sat alone at the table.
"I feel bad for her," Ragna noted.
"I'll apologize to her later. Now, Ragna, why are you here?"
"Have you heard about the attack?"
Ragna changed the subject abruptly, but Radius followed without missing a beat.
"If you're referring to the incident with the Wadatsumi, Messenger of the Giant God, I know everything. Apparently, Ren and Estel hunted down the one that escaped. According to Estel's report, Ren has reached the rank of Sword Saint—though the details are still being suppressed."
"Heh. Reaching the Strong Sword Swordmaster-class at that age... isn't that a record?"
"He’s tied for the fastest in history."
"Hm? Then who was the other? That fierce Commander lady?"
"Estel became a Sword Saint at eighteen. The other person reached it at fourteen, just like Ren."
"The Sword King?"
"Yes," Radius replied curtly.
"So, Ren is a future Sword King, then?"
"You're getting ahead of yourself."
"One is free to speculate, isn't one?"
It wasn't a wrong assessment, but it was certainly premature.
"Speaking of Ren, I heard something from Ulysses as well. Ren opened the Unopened Door, didn't he? To leave that mystery behind and go wandering off... you seem to be investigating something quite unusual."
"Are you curious?"
"It would be a lie to say I wasn't, but I don't expect you to give me a straight answer."
Seeing Ragna's smirk, Radius continued without waiting for a confirmation.
"But I'll ask anyway. What exactly are you looking into?"
"Adventurer Ashton. Is there a problem?"
The answer was so nonchalant that Radius sat there, stunned.
The shock was enough to make him forget his exhaustion in an instant.
"Don't look so suspicious. I heard the name from Ren himself."
"In that case... have you already concluded your investigation?"
"I haven't been wasting my time. Let's just say the situation is looking promising."
Ragna didn't elaborate, simply exhaling in silence. He seemed to be on the verge of saying something else, but for once, he hesitated and clumsily changed the subject.
"You don't like my company?"
"Not particularly. It's better than you being a ghost."
"Hmph. You should just be honest and say you're happy to see your teacher."
Ragna reached inside his robe and pulled out an envelope. It was sealed with Magic Tool Sealing Wax.
"What is this?"
"The answer to our earlier topic. Everything I’ve gathered regarding Adventurer Ashton."
"Wait—did you actually find something!?"
"Just a bit, within the limits of what can be traced."
In contrast to Ragna’s calm demeanor, Radius stared at the envelope with intense focus.
"Read it later. You’re busy, so you’d best prioritize our conversation for now."
"Always the know-it-all, Ragna."
Ragna stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the city.
"I'll ask again: haven’t you been busier than usual lately?"
He deliberately repeated the question.
"And what if I have?"
"Don't get prickly with me, my dear former student."
Ragna’s expression softened as he decided to drop the teasing. Still standing by the window, he turned back to Radius with a faint smile.
"I went through a lot of trouble to come all this way. Did you think it was just to deliver a letter or engage in idle gossip?"
"Stop talking in circles. Just say it."
"I came because I sensed the time was right. Don't you have a request for me, Radius?"
Without meeting his eyes, Radius gave a small, reluctant nod.
"Yeah. Perhaps I do."
"If you could just be a bit more honest about it, I wouldn't be opposed to entering your service officially."
"Let me ask you: how did you find out?"
"I didn't have to hear it from anyone. I can tell just by looking at you. 'Ah, Radius must be preoccupied with that business'—that sort of thing."
"So you're saying this is all based on your intuition."
Ragna walked over and stood directly in front of Radius. He grabbed the collar of the Prince's shirt and forced him to look up. Despite his small frame, the Shelgad man possessed a certain commanding presence, and his smile was nothing short of mischievous.
"Go on. Say it. Ask your teacher for a favor."
Radius let out a long, weary sigh at the provocation.
"Fine. I'll ask honestly. Ragna, will you enter my service?"
"Why? You have to be specific, or I won't understand, will I?"
"That is——"
For various reasons, the words were still difficult to voice. Ragna seemed to take great delight in the lingering silence. Finally, he threw out a lifeline.
"You're going to be named Crown Prince, aren't you?"
This was a turn of events that had never occurred in the original Legend of the Seven Heroes. Radius had been expected to become Crown Prince in that timeline as well, but because he had lost his life, the moment never arrived.
"It seems you've been busy traveling and negotiating with the members of the Imperial Family who don't live in the capital. I imagine you'll be speaking with Marquis Ignat and the others soon?"
"You really do see through everything."
"Naturally. So, how has it been? Dealing with those relatives who usually keep to themselves?"
"They're a troublesome lot. I never want to do this kind of political groundwork again."
"I don't blame you. So, when is the ceremony?"
"If you mean my appointment as Crown Prince, the date isn't set. Summer at the earliest... or perhaps autumn."
Ragna gave a simple "I thought so," as if he had already deduced as much, and headed toward the door. His business seemed concluded, and he was ready to make a quick exit.
"Making me beg before you leave... you're as insufferable as ever."
"You hate it?"
"Not quite. Though I was tempted to strike that smug face of yours when you leaned in."
"Don't be shy. The fact that you don't say you hate it proves you're still as dishonest as ever."
As he walked away, the small Shelgad man added, "I’ll say this just in case: I would have been on your side even without this little performance. That hasn't changed since the old days."
"Then what was the point of all that?"
"It’s a hobby. I don't think you need any more explanation than that."
"I see. Well, I’m glad I could reconfirm your terrible personality, Ragna."
"Lucky you. You got to rediscover your teacher's charms."
Reaching for the doorknob, Ragna gave one final piece of advice before departing.
"Keep the contents of that letter secret. I don't fully grasp the scope of it yet, but this matter is far more significant than I imagined. The fact that their names have been erased from history suggests something major."
Burn it once you’ve finished reading.
With those parting words, he vanished as suddenly as he had appeared.
Mirei, who had been waiting in the hall, stepped back into the living room.
"Is he gone, nya?"
"Yeah. And he saw right through my preparations for the appointment."
"Nyahaha, that sounds like him, nya."
Radius immediately broke the seal on the letter.
The single sheet of parchment inside had been inscribed with a Magic Tool Pen. Even if Radius forgot to destroy it, the ink was designed to vanish on its own after a set time.
Radius began to read the letter in silence.
The author of the letters found in the orphanage was seeking Phoenix materials.
He read on.
I wonder why. Did they intend to craft equipment, or keep them as treasures? It’s unclear if there was another purpose, but——
Ragna had noted several curious connections between the data.
The woman mentioned in the letters—the "her"—is what interests me. The text suggests the author traveled to the Sky Continent specifically for her sake to obtain the Phoenix materials.
Without realizing it, Radius reached for the tea Mirei had set out for him. In a rare lapse of manners, he was too absorbed in the text to even thank her.
Materials from a creature as legendary as a Phoenix are among the rarest treasures in the world. I’ve never heard of them being used for common equipment or mere decoration. Many records from the Demon King’s era were lost to fire, which may be why so little remains. However, consider this theory:
Radius felt his heart skip a beat.
The Eroding Princess of folklore. Legends say she demanded impossible treasures. If we assume one of those treasures was Phoenix materials, things become very interesting indeed.
Previously, Radius would have dismissed such a leap as nonsense, but this time he couldn't. Ragna's follow-up logic held a strange, undeniable weight.
What were those "dead" Mithril coins in the orphanage? Or the pen recovered from the Old Quarter? If those items were affected by the curse of The Eroding Princess, the dots begin to connect.
"But Ragna..." Radius whispered.
Reading this, Radius is probably thinking "no way."
"Of course I am, you old fool."
I can imagine the look on your face. But you can't just laugh off my theories as bedtime stories anymore.
He continued to the next section.
I believe that the sister of the orphanage director, Geno, was The Eroding Princess herself. And there’s no need to be coy anymore: the author of those letters is the man known as Adventurer Ashton. Given the anecdotes, I can find no other logical conclusion.
"I know," Radius murmured.
The unidentified hero whose very existence was scrubbed from the history of Leomel. I’ll keep digging, but if you’re interested, Radius, you should look into it once your own affairs are settled. If we can find out more about the man named Geno, we’ll inevitably find the truth about The Eroding Princess. Oh, one more thing—I found something curious in a book by a researcher who studied the nation's frontier.
Cecil Ashton.
A legend spoke of a man by that name who had saved a remote village. It was the name Ragna had managed to uncover in his brief but intensive search for Adventurer Ashton’s identity.
Having finished the letter, Radius stood up, walked to the fireplace, and tossed the parchment into the embers.
"Should I tell Ren directly?"
The parchment shriveled and caught fire, turning to ash.
The flames of the hearth reflected in the Third Prince's eyes as they swayed gently in the dark.