Kays Translations

Chapter 24 – How to Use Sacred Magic, and…

White light shone in the garden at night.

It was the same day Ren had spoken with Chronois about the Magic Sword Summoning Technique.

“How is it?”

Licia, who was producing the white light, had asked Ren about the effects of her Sacred Magic.

They sat facing each other on the garden terrace.

“Your Sacred Magic has become more refined again, Licia-sama.”

“I am glad. All that practice seems to have paid off.”

“I know you practice every night, but even so, this is far beyond merely rapid improvement.”

“Is it? But the same can be said of your sword, Ren.”

That was true, but Licia’s Sacred Magic had also developed at an astonishing pace. It was almost unrecognizable compared with the magic she had used when they first met. Her Sacred Magic had already been impressive during the battle with Yelquq, yet her present ability could not be compared with what it had been then.

Her swordsmanship went without saying, but the growth of her Sacred Magic also amazed Ren.

“There is still something I cannot accept.”

Licia stared intently at him.

“What is it?”

“You are not lying when you say my Sacred Magic has improved so much, are you?”

“Of course not. I am not flattering you.”

“If you say so…”

Licia’s lips pouted slightly.

At the academy she seldom displayed such a natural, age-appropriate expression. She showed it often around Ren because she could be herself with him, without pretense.

“Even when I cast Sacred Magic on myself, I still cannot beat you.”

“Come to think of it, we have not had a proper bout recently.”

“We have been so focused on our sword training that we have not had the opportunity.”

When Licia combined Sacred Magic with Mantle, her abilities rose dramatically. Her sword speed, physical movements, and many other aspects all surpassed their ordinary level.

What frustrated her was that, even after all this time, she had still never defeated Ren.

The first time she had faced him while using Sacred Magic was at the Ashton manor. The next was at the Clausel mansion. They had sparred many times since moving to Elendil, but the outcome had never changed.

Licia remembered those bouts.

“Mmm…”

She remained seated before Ren, her lips pouting again.

She did not glare at him resentfully. Her expression was closer to disappointment in herself.

Even so, perhaps because it was Licia, she still looked adorable.

“Would you like to have a bout for the first time in a while?”

“No, I will hold back. The Lion King Grand Festival is almost here. It would be terrible if we overdid it now and were injured.”

Licia returned to her usual smile.

A considerable amount of time had passed since they came to the garden.

Ren stood first, moved to Licia’s side, and offered his hand. Her expression softened with pleasure at his thoughtfulness.

“I will not lose next time.”

“Neither will I.”

They ended their training for the night and returned inside the mansion.

As usual, they planned to study and rest before retiring to their separate rooms.

They first took hot baths, then relaxed in their respective rooms.

A servant soon came to summon them. Lessard wanted both of them in his office.

Ren arrived first, with Licia following shortly afterward.

Lessard explained how they should receive guests during the Lion King Grand Festival and how arrangements in Elendil would differ from normal.

While confirming those details, he continued.

“The other matter concerns operating magic ships along a route that is not normally used.”

Ren and Licia looked surprised, and Lessard explained further.

“As you both know, many guests will come from within Leomel and from abroad. Countless devout followers of Elfen will be among them. Foreign visitors in particular often take this opportunity to visit Elfen temples and other places of worship.”

“The Great Temple in the Imperial Capital will be crowded, will it not, Lessard-sama?”

“Naturally. Elendil also has venerable temples where the Lion King prayed before departing for battle. Those old temples will likely be crowded with Elfen worshippers.”

Licia remained curious about the unusual magic-ship route, which did not appear directly connected to the Great Temple.

“Father, what does that have to do with the magic ships?”

“That matter is–“

Lessard unfolded a map.

It was a new map prepared specifically for this occasion. Red lines already marked the route the magic ships would follow, accompanied by detailed figures such as distances and estimated travel times.

“The destination is roughly thirty minutes from Elendil by magic ship. The ships will carry passengers near an ancient sacred site not far from the Imperial Capital.”

Lessard placed a fingertip on one point of the map as he spoke.

(I am sure that is…)

Roses Caitas.

The site had existed since ancient times, and no one knew who had created it.

Its terrain resembled a vast portion of a mountain that had been gouged away, with enormous statues of gods arranged within. In ancient times, the place had been crowded every day with countless followers of Elfen.

Ren also knew that the entrances were now sealed because of an attack by the Demon King.

(It was inaccessible in Legend of the Seven Heroes too.)

An icon resembling the site had appeared on the game map.

Players could not enter it and could only hear about Roses Caitas at places such as the Great Temple in the Imperial Capital. Because the map included such a conspicuous icon, players had speculated that it might appear in Legend of the Seven Heroes III.

Now that Lessard had pointed out the location, Ren became intensely curious about what the place was truly like.

“Do the two of you know about this site?”

“Yes, of course.”

“I know of it as well.”

“Then I will omit the basic explanation.”

Several circumstances had led to the present plan.

“Most of Roses Caitas is now sealed together with the mountain, but the foot of the mountain is an exception. Anyone attempting to climb farther is stopped by the seal, and the dense mist prevents people from seeing inside. It is still possible to approach the site.”

Since many visitors wished to go there, special magic-ship service would be provided.

There was no magic-ship landing area near Roses Caitas, so a temporary one would be established in an open clearing.

There was another reason as well.

“A road runs there from Elendil, but it is very old. Much of its stone paving is broken. When the road is rebuilt, a proposal has been made to establish a way station between Elendil and Roses Caitas.”

“By a way station, do you mean building a town?”

“No, nothing on that scale.”

The facility would include a knights’ outpost and help manage the road’s security. It would naturally have an inn and other services as well, making the project commercially worthwhile.

Ren pictured something slightly more developed than his home village had been when he last returned.

“Because these plans are under consideration, a considerable number of officials and nobles are visiting the area each day in addition to the pilgrims. During the Lion King Grand Festival, nobles and merchants who are not usually in the Imperial Capital will also be present, making this especially convenient.”

That was actually the stronger reason for establishing the temporary magic-ship service.

“Is the area around Roses Caitas safe?”

Ren asked because a journey by land required traveling a long road where monsters might ordinarily appear.

Lessard assured him there was no problem.

“The Holy Land and Leomel manage the region together, so not a single monster lives in the surrounding forests. The seal around Roses Caitas is extraordinarily powerful and has not changed in hundreds of years.”

The site was also filled with sacred power, making the area safer still.

Ren could only marvel at the seal’s strength.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

“When the Demon King’s army approached the Imperial Capital, Leomel and the Elfen Church joined forces to repel it. Roses Caitas, which became a battlefield, has remained sealed ever since.”

Sera explained this the following day during a break between morning classes.

She continued while walking down the corridor with Licia.

“The seal incorporated mysteries of the Elfen Church, so people say the same seal could no longer be created today. I have been near Roses Caitas before, and its power was obvious even from outside.”

Such a great seal had been used to erode over time the power that the Demon King had bestowed upon his subordinates.

Even the Elfen Church could not purify that power completely, so a method requiring many years had been chosen.

The outcome might have been different if the Seven Heroes had been present at the time, but…

“So why did you suddenly bring up Roses Caitas, Licia? Did the Great Temple summon you?”

“No. It only came up while I was speaking with my father yesterday.”

“Ah, Viscount Clausel must be busy. This is because the number of magic-ship services is being temporarily increased, right?”

“Yes. I have never visited Roses Caitas, but I thought you might have seen it.”

“It has been a long time. Why not go and see it yourself?”

“I cannot. My schedule is already full, and there is no need to go during such a busy period.”

“That is true. You have both organizing-committee work and House Clausel’s affairs to handle.”

Unlike in the past, higher-ranking nobles rarely pressured House Clausel so openly. Even when they tried, the house had gained enough influence to answer back. In other words, its members could conduct their work without being overly constrained by rank.

As the two girls walked down the corridor, they noticed Ren walking alone on the opposite side.

Licia stared at him, and Sera watched her from beside her.

Then Licia spoke hesitantly.

“Um…”

Her manner was unusually uncertain, and even Sera found the sight striking.

“Sera, has Vayne always called you by your first name?”

“My first name? What do you–“

Sera followed Licia’s gaze toward Ren and immediately understood.

“Ah, I see…”

Asked such a question by Licia of all people, Sera thought back to how things had once been between herself and Vayne.

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