Kays Translations

Chapter 26: The Identity of the Object Covered in Cloth

After passing through the station in the Imperial Capital, the group returned to Elendil.

Ren, Ulysses, Werlich, Edgar, and Lessard stood on the long landing strip where magic ships docked in the Hanging Garden.

Several hours had passed since their conversation in the blacksmith district. It was now well past midnight, and not a single visitor remained in the garden. Darkness and silence covered the grounds while a cold winter wind swept around them.

Having heard Lessard’s answer, Ulysses spoke as though he had known it all along.

“Then you still haven’t disposed of Lemuria?”

“No. It seemed disrespectful to discard a magic ship bestowed by His Majesty. I kept hoping that it might be repaired someday.”

“This way, please,” Lessard said, leading them toward one end of the runway-like path.

Ren caught sight of a large object covered in cloth.

(Could that be it?)

He had seen the same silhouette during the game, and had noticed it again after coming to the Hanging Garden as Ren.

They stopped beside the cloth-covered object, whose outline resembled a bullet. Lessard addressed the magic-ship engineers waiting nearby.

“Remove the covering.”

The engineers obeyed at once.

As Ren had expected, a magic ship emerged from beneath the cloth.

It was far smaller than an ordinary passenger vessel. Its bullet-shaped upper hull had translucent wings folded against it like a fish’s fins. Beneath that sleek body ran an open, sailboat-like passenger section adorned with lavish decoration.

“It still looks just as it did when I built it,” Werlich said.

The pleasure on his face was unmistakable.

“I apologize for introducing myself so late,” Lessard said. “I am Lessard Clausel. When His Majesty entrusted Elendil to me, he also granted me Lemuria, the vessel you built.”

“I could tell at a glance that you’ve taken care of her. You didn’t lock her away in a hangar and forget what she’s made of, did you?”

“No. An engineer familiar with the ship advised me that she should be kept where the wind could reach her.”

“That’s right. I used materials taken from monsters with an affinity for wind. The more open air they receive, the better. Thank you for looking after her properly.”

Once the inspection was complete, Lessard and Ulysses gave the engineers strict orders to reveal nothing they had seen or heard that night.

Ren stood beside Werlich and looked up at Lemuria.

“You built this ship, Werlich-san?”

One of the mysteries Ren remembered from The Legend of the Seven Heroes had suddenly appeared before him, and the truth was more interesting than he had imagined.

“I built it for the former emperor many years ago,” Werlich replied. “He was very fond of it, but stopped flying after his health declined. Other members of the imperial family used it from time to time. Then someone repeatedly pushed the central furnace far beyond its limits, and this was the result.”

The furnace and the structure surrounding it had burned out after years of excessive strain. Repairing the vessel would require enormous quantities of rare materials and money, so no one had attempted it. Lemuria had remained in a corner of the Hanging Garden until ownership passed to House Clausel with Elendil.

“As payment, feed me well,” Werlich said. “And once the repairs are complete, send me a famous bottle of liquor every now and then.”

The request was trivial compared with the normal cost of repairing a magic ship, especially when the craftsman was Werlich. Money meant little to him, which was precisely why he asked for things that interested him instead.

Lessard glanced uncertainly at Ulysses, but the marquis laughed.

“He hates work, but once he accepts a job, he sees it through thoroughly.”

“I don’t like hearing that from you, spoiled brat.”

“Understood,” Lessard said. “House Clausel will also give you priority when rare materials obtained in our territory are sold.”

Werlich stared at Ulysses.

“You really are a spoiled brat, aren’t you?”

Then he turned to Lessard.

“I heard House Clausel has a saint. Her sword is almost finished, so I’ll bring it over soon.”

Ren and Lessard both looked surprised by the abrupt announcement.

“Weiss asked me for it a long time ago,” Werlich continued. “Now that all of you have shown up, I may as well finish it.”

He explained that he and Weiss were old acquaintances.

“That must have been when Weiss served in the Imperial Guard, before joining our house,” Lessard said.

“Aye. He saved me during a blizzard in the nearby mountains. I promised to forge him a sword someday, but he said he already had one and didn’t need another.”

(So that sword was forged by Werlich.)

Ren remembered the weapon associated with Saint Licia in the game. Its performance had been so extraordinary that players desperately wished they could obtain it. Learning that the Sword King’s blacksmith had made it explained everything.

“Where will you repair Lemuria?” Ulysses asked.

“In the Hanging Garden’s dock. Lessard will close off one section so only the people involved can enter.”

“Didn’t you just say she should remain exposed to the wind?”

“I did, but repairs require moving her. I’ll keep the air circulating as much as possible and manage the materials carefully.”

“I see. Baron Clausel, can you arrange the dock?”

“Leave it to me.”

“Good. Start preparing Lemuria for transport soon,” Werlich said. “But the moment Asval’s horn arrives, Ren’s armor comes first. I can finish it within a month.”

That raised a question in Ren’s mind.

Werlich had said legendary materials sometimes rejected an intended user. If compatibility mattered so much, using Asval’s horn on Lemuria seemed questionable.

When Ren asked, Werlich shook his head.

“That’s a different issue. I wasn’t saying the horn becomes useless for anything else. Focusing the material on you is simply the best way to draw out its full power in personal equipment. Dragon bones and horns are excellent for magic ships because they’re both light and strong.”

“How would you use Asval’s horn on the ship?”

“There are several methods. We can soften and level the surface with chemicals, or carve the horn into structural supports. In Lemuria’s case, it would be ideal for reinforcing the area around the furnace. Dragon materials can be used in countless ways.”

Strengthening that section would also allow the ship to carry a more powerful furnace safely.

Ren nodded, satisfied.

“This is sudden, Lessard, but begin arranging transport for the horn,” Werlich said.

“Understood. It should reach Elendil within three weeks.”

Ulysses looked to Edgar.

“Send some of our knights as well. The escort and handling will be difficult, so House Ignat will assist.”

“As you command, my lord.”

Despite the late hour, the enormous undertaking was settled quickly.

While Werlich and the others spoke excitedly, Ren looked up at the cold night sky. He remembered the academy district he had seen on the way to the workshop and the decision he had finally reached.

(I have to tell Licia-sama and Lessard-sama about the academy.)

His mind was made up.

He would not enroll for his own advancement alone, but to protect everyone precious to him. He could no longer avoid the future or run from it.

Strength brought freedom, but also responsibility. Ren had decided to accept both and do everything he could for the people he wanted to protect.

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