Kays Translations

Chapter 4 — I’ve Never Doubted Him

The leaves on the trees lining the Imperial Capital’s main avenue gradually fell, and the branches shed their autumn colors.

After what they had experienced that summer, Ren and Licia devoted themselves to training with even greater intensity.

Days passed in Elendil, at the academy, and at the Lion’s Holy Office, and one change in particular became apparent.

During a break in the training grounds deep within the Lion’s Holy Office, Ren wiped away his sweat.

…It really hadn’t been a dream.

The experience had been dreamlike, though not in any pleasant sense. His feelings about it remained complicated.

What had happened inside the Cage of Time was nevertheless real.

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Ren Ashton

[Job] Eldest Son of House Ashton

[Skills]

• Magic Sword Summoning (Level 1: 0/0)

• Magic Sword Summoning Technique (Level 6: 586/6500)

Level 1: Can summon one magic sword.

Level 2: Gains Physical Ability Up (Small) while the bracelet is summoned.

Level 3: Can summon two magic swords.

Level 4: Gains Physical Ability Up (Medium) while the bracelet is summoned.

Level 5: Unlocks magic sword evolution.

Level 6: Gains Physical Ability Up (Large) while the bracelet is summoned.

Level 7: Can summon three magic swords.

Level 8: *************************************.

[Acquired Magic Swords]

• Great Tree Magic Sword (Level 4: 1726/3500)

Allows attacks equivalent to Nature Magic (Medium).

Its area of effect expands as its level rises.

• Mithril Magic Sword (Level 4: 2151/6500)

Its sharpness increases as its level rises.

• Thief’s Magic Sword (Level 1: 0/3)

Has a fixed chance of randomly stealing an item from the target.

• Shield Magic Sword (Level 2: 0/5)

Creates a magical barrier. Its power and area of effect increase as its level rises.

• Flame Magic Sword (Level 1: 1/1)

Its inferno is the wrath of a dragon and the embodiment of power.

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The battle with the Sword Demon had been real. It was neither a lie nor an illusion.

The Physical Ability Up (Large) gained at Level 6 gave Ren strength beyond anything he had possessed before, especially when combined with the growth earned through battle and training.

It would prove invaluable the next time he was forced to fight.

After everything he had already experienced, Ren assumed such a day would eventually come.

At Level 7, he would be able to summon three magic swords. Since he had only two hands, perhaps he could summon the third and keep it sheathed. Either way, he still had a long road ahead.

There was one more piece of information that the crystal in his bracelet did not display.

He had become aware of it only after the battle in Roses Caitas. It was a power gained when he pierced the Sword Demon’s magic stone—something separate from the magic swords themselves.

Conceptually, it was probably a Battle Technique.

A new and formidable power had taken root within Ren.

He had noticed it only after the battle.

As he was about to think back on it—

“Taking a break?”

Estelle Osloes Drake, Director of the Lion’s Holy Office, suddenly entered the training ground.

Ren looked away from his bracelet and turned toward her.

“Thank you for your hard work, Estelle-sama.”

“Mm. You appear to be training diligently again today. Good. But still…”

She surveyed the people practicing around them, then murmured, “Hmm.”

“Ren, I need to ask you something.”

“Yes—wait, what!?”

Without warning, Estelle pulled him closer and slung an arm firmly around his shoulders.

“Why are you doing this all of a sudden!?”

“Just be quiet and answer me.”

“A-All right! But seriously, what brought this on!?”

“Calm down. I’ll explain properly.”

“If you want me to calm down, perhaps you should approach me a little more calmly.”

“Now that you mention it, that is true.”

Estelle was far taller than Ren. As he sighed beneath her arm, she asked,

“What is going on with Licia?”

Licia had also come to the Lion’s Holy Office that day and was practicing swordsmanship nearby.

While continuing her bout, she repeatedly stole glances at Ren after Estelle seized him.

“What do you mean?”

“Licia has not used Sacred Magic at all lately. I permit magic in certain exercises, so why does she refuse to use it?”

Ren knew the answer, but he could not reveal it, so he offered an excuse.

“She said she had relied on Sacred Magic too much and allowed her swordsmanship to suffer.”

“Oh, so that was it! Excellent. Her diligence is admirable!”

Estelle released his shoulders, and the young magic sword wielder exhaled in relief.

Licia finished defeating her training partner and walked over.

“Thank you for your hard work, Estelle-sama. And, um…”

“Relax. I was not trying to eat Ren alive.”

“A-Ahaha… Estelle-sama, what are you saying?”

“Was that not what worried you? You kept watching us while swinging your sword. Winning so one-sidedly was impressive, but allowing yourself to be distracted could have caused an injury. Be more careful next time.”

“You really notice everything, don’t you? I’m sorry. I’ll be careful from now on.”

Licia nodded, wearing an embarrassed expression.

Ren checked his wristwatch.

“Estelle-sama, we should be leaving soon.”

It was already late.

They had come to train after finishing their academy lessons, and a considerable amount of time had passed.

Ren and Licia took quick baths, then left the Lion’s Holy Office.

The cool wind of the approaching winter eased the warmth still lingering in their bodies.

Normally, they would have headed straight to the station and returned to Elendil.

It was already past nine at night, so they could not afford to linger for long.

“Could we take a small detour?”

Licia wore her usual smile, yet it seemed faintly fragile.

Ren studied her expression and nodded without hesitation.

“Of course. Where would you like to go?”

“Not far. I just want to walk one station farther than usual.”

They were in the government district, which remained lively even at night.

Civil officials were not the only people about. Many knights worked night shifts, and numerous restaurants catered to them.

A boy and girl of their age looked slightly out of place there.

“By the way, what were you and Estelle-sama talking about?”

The question did not come from jealousy.

Licia likely already suspected the answer.

“She asked why you haven’t been using Sacred Magic.”

“I thought so,” Licia said with a wry smile. “She noticed.”

“This is Estelle-sama we’re talking about. It was bound to happen eventually.”

“Yes. I know.”

“I told her you had been relying too much on Sacred Magic and neglecting your sword. For the record, that is not what I actually believe.”

“I know. Thank you for covering for me.”

The stars in the autumn sky formed a view that seemed both different from summer and somehow the same.

A faint white breath escaped Licia’s lips.

“I’m still a little afraid.”

It was a vulnerable yet determined smile she showed only to Ren.

“Ever since then, I keep thinking about what would happen if it happened again. It makes me afraid to use Sacred Magic.”

The memory of their battle at Roses Caitas against the Sword Demon, once a general of the Demon King’s army, never left her mind.

Had Ren’s voice not brought her back, she could not imagine what might have become of her.

Since that day, Licia had not used Sacred Magic even once.

“I don’t ever want to become like that again.”

Ren listened to her fears, looked up at the night sky, and released a faint white breath of his own.

“It’ll be all right.”

“Ren?”

“I don’t know what caused the change in your body, but…”

His smile was as gentle as it had always been.

Even if he did not understand the cause, even if others might call his confidence baseless, Ren would turn it into certainty through his own actions.

“I’ll stop it. No matter how many times it happens, I absolutely will.”

“Idiot.”

She was happy to hear it, but she was worried too.

“What if there is a second time and I attack you?”

After regaining consciousness from that inexplicable state, Licia had described the experience as though the magic stone inside her had obeyed Ren when he commanded it.

The same thing might never happen again.

Or it might.

Because there was no guarantee, Licia could not stop worrying.

“The power I had then was strong enough that I could probably have defeated the Sword Demon alone, wasn’t it?”

“That is true. But even then, it will be fine. I’m clearly stronger than you, Licia, so I’ll absolutely find a way to stop you.”

Caught off guard, Licia blinked several times.

Her anxiety receded a little, and she answered in an almost teasing, dependent tone.

“Oh? Is that a challenge to the me who recently grew another step? You never know. I might overtake you very soon.”

“You needn’t worry. I’m training hard enough to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“Y-You really said it!”

“I did. I want you to understand that I’m serious.”

They were the only words Ren could find that truly met her fear head-on.

The magic sword wielder’s promise seemed to wrap gently around the White Saint.

“I’ll always stand in front of you, Licia. I’ll stay ahead of you, close enough that you never have to believe there is anything to fear.”

“…”

“Do you doubt me?”

Licia pinched the hem of Ren’s coat and looked up at him.

“Don’t make me say it out loud. It’s embarrassing enough already.”

Snow began to fall from the long autumn night.

It had arrived a little earlier than in previous years.

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