Kays Translations

Chapter 7: Working with Him.

When Ren brought the request sheet to the counter,

“The client has requested an interview with any prospective applicant,”

the receptionist explained. The door to the room opened at that very moment, and, to Ren’s delight, Ragna appeared in his Bag Traveler guise.

Before noticing Ren at the counter, Ragna glanced at the requests posted on the wall and saw that his own sheet was gone.

“Oh? Someone is interested in a request like that? They must be quite the eccentric—”

Then he spotted Ren at the reception counter. The mouth visible beneath his deeply drawn hood curved into a pleased smile.

“The gentleman who just arrived is the client.”

The receptionist was about to suggest that they conduct the interview then and there when Ragna startled her.

He stepped up beside Ren and slapped his hand down on the request sheet resting on the counter.

“No interview is necessary. I will work with this young man.”

“Are you certain, sir?”

“We know each other. If he is willing to accept, that suits me perfectly. For several reasons, I was reluctant to approach him directly, but this could not have worked out better.”

“I will explain the details to him myself,” he added before walking out of the guild.

Once Ren and Ragna were outside, Ragna said,

“I considered asking you directly, but you are still a student. I did not want to impose on you for my own convenience.”

After seeing Ren take an interest in the Emblem Contract, however, he had decided to approach him.

Ren no longer wondered why Ragna had been in that room. He had presumably already heard the circumstances.

“Were you interested in the item I am searching for, or did my name catch your attention when you read the request?”

“Both.”

That was not a lie. He suspected it was connected to Lutreche’s advice, but he saw no reason to mention that yet.

Pleased by the answer, Ragna continued.

“Why do you think I am searching for sacred relics?”

“Not merely for the romance of discovery, I assume. If that were your only reason, you would probably search alone. Is there another purpose?”

“Yes. Do you remember the orphanage in the Old Town?”

The Old Town orphanage was the mysterious building whose locks had opened the instant Ren touched it. In the director’s room, they had found letters exchanged between the director, Geno, and Cecil Ashton—the Adventurer Ashton.

It was also where they had discovered the painting Ren brought home.

“I remember. Did you find something else there?”

“We did. The investigation has continued since our visit.”

Ragna drew a small key from inside his robe. It was a slender, rodlike key that shone like blue crystal or sapphire, with jagged teeth at one end. The bow had shattered, however, leaving the key badly damaged.

“This was found in the director’s room. It is not an ordinary key, but a magic-tool key.”

“Then it cannot function properly while it is broken?”

“As perceptive as ever, Ren.”

Ren listened with growing interest as Ragna readily confirmed his deduction.

As they walked, Ren wondered where Ragna was taking him. Upon entering an alley, Ragna stopped, set his enormous bag on the cobblestones, and snapped his fingers. The bag opened by itself.

He removed an old envelope, inside which lay an equally aged sheet of parchment.

“Do you know of the legendary bard Mudi?” Ragna asked.

“Of course. She lived in the era of the Seven Heroes, did she not?”

The songs Mudi composed while traveling the world were still performed in many lands. They were not only musically exquisite but magical as well: they could soothe listeners, inspire them, and even drain the strength of monsters.

“What does Mudi have to do with this?”

“The presence of this key at the orphanage suggests some connection to Cecil Ashton. There may be records hidden in Mudi’s hideout, and I intend to get inside.”

“So this is the key to Mudi’s hideout?”

“Exactly. I do not know why it was at Geno Orphanage, but we should make use of the fortunate discovery.”

“Then why repair the key at all? Could you not simply break down the door? Destroying only the door might be forgivable.”

“Good grief. You still favor rather wild—and heroic—solutions. Depending on the situation, I appreciate them too…”

In truth, forcing the door would be the most direct method. The problem was that they did not yet know where the door was.

“That will not help us yet. Look closely at this.”

Ragna held out the old parchment. When he brought the broken key near it, the parchment emitted a faint flash.

According to him, the parchment was a map.

“So the map is the magic tool paired with the key.”

The map merely glimmered, however, without revealing a location. At most, a few faint lines seemed to suggest the outline of terrain.

“As you have probably realized, we cannot break down a door when we do not even know where it is. We have not reached that stage.”

“Which is why you are searching for material to repair the key…”

“Precisely. This key was extravagantly fashioned from a gemstone blessed by the Goddess of Water. Only material of the same nature can repair it. Items connected to sacred relics are troublesome that way.”

In other words, he needed a sacred relic—or part of one—associated with the Goddess of Water.

The Elfen Church’s treasury likely contained several suitable items, but there was no chance the church would sell them.

Ren understood that much, but it only confirmed how difficult the request was.

“Even as an Emblem Contract, you might not have found anyone willing to accept it.”

“You point out the contradiction yourself, despite having accepted it.”

“That is different. Had your name not been on the request, I might have decided otherwise.”

Perhaps Lutreche’s advice had influenced him after all.

Ragna had listed only baggage carrying, meal preparation, document sorting, and other minor work because he had originally intended to handle the difficult part himself.

Ren smiled wryly. Surprisingly, however, the uncertain road ahead did not make him particularly anxious.

He already had one possible lead in mind.

“I may know where to look.”

“Oh?”

Ragna removed his hood and studied Ren.

His dignified Shelgadian features were as striking as ever.

“Do you know the temple in Windea, the place where water and wind slumber?”

“Yes. The spring beside it fills with water only once every several centuries.”

When that happened, water also emerged throughout Windea, transforming the region into a landscape of extraordinary beauty.

In the game, touching the spring’s water strengthened Vayne and made his status as the Hero’s descendant far more apparent.

For the other characters, rather than the players, that event was what largely confirmed his ancestry.

“That place is said to be connected to the Ring of the Goddess of Water. According to the legend, the ring becomes visible only when infused with magic.”

“…”

“Um…”

Ren looked at Ragna, whose eyes had widened.

For once, the man’s expression and gestures betrayed genuine surprise.

“I happened to research it out of curiosity! I was only guessing that something like that might exist…!”

“…”

“Could you please stop staring in silence?”

“My apologies. I was deciding whether to embrace you and kiss your cheek.”

“Please do not.”

Ragna laughed, plainly amused.

“Yes, such legends do exist. They claim that a ring matching your description is hidden somewhere in Windea.”

The Ring of the Goddess of Water was valuable equipment that strengthened water magic. Its description in the game also hinted that it possessed another, still-unknown power.

“And the ring cannot be seen by human eyes until it is filled with magic.”

“Exactly! I had heard that part of the legend too.”

“Then your theory may not be far-fetched. It would be worth investigating once spring arrives.”

“That is surprisingly patient. I expected you to insist on leaving immediately.”

“Travel to Windea is impossible in this season. Whether we go overland or by magic ship, we must pass through extremely hazardous terrain.”

At this time of year, the region around Windea was saturated with wind and water mana, making even ordinary travel exceedingly difficult.

Wind charged with elemental power blew with exceptional force, and when it mixed with water mana, freezing blizzards swept across the region.

The weather was too dangerous by either land or air.

“I also have other work to finish, and your winter break is nearly over. Spring is the sensible time to go.”

“Agreed.”

Ragna repacked the items, hoisted the bag onto his back, adjusted his hood, and continued in an animated voice.

“The problem is that we do not know whether the spring will fill with water when the season changes.”

Ren knew it would happen that year, but for anyone unaware of the game’s events, the uncertainty was natural.

To such a person, the journey could prove fruitless. To Ragna—the embodiment of intellectual curiosity—that was a trivial concern. Besides, the ring had not yet appeared, so forcing their way there in winter would accomplish nothing.

“Even if we find it, we should probably avoid taking the ring. I would hesitate to remove an artifact I have not studied.”

“You are not going to say you want it for research?”

“Let me rephrase that. It is less hesitation than distaste. Sacred relics are troublesome to handle, and I would rather have nothing to do with them.”

Come to think of it, Ragna had always been cynical about gods. He had said something similar when they first met at the Bureau of Mysteries.

“Then could we borrow only the Goddess of Water’s mana and use it to repair the key?”

“I will prepare whatever is necessary to make that possible.”

Or perhaps—

“If some of the Goddess of Water’s power remains in the statues at Roses Caitas, that may also suffice.”

“Could you not visit as a researcher?”

“That was my original intention, but the Elfen Church has an absurd dislike of researchers like us. They refused to allow my laboratory to participate.”

“I see…”

Chronois had visited Roses Caitas several times. Ren decided it might be worth consulting her.

With the business discussion concluded for the moment, they turned to casual conversation.

“I only just realized—you came all the way to the Imperial Capital.”

“I was shopping while I was here to post the request. If the mood strikes me, I may also visit Radius.”

As they talked, Ren remembered something obvious: they would not be the only ones traveling to Windea in the spring.

(Vayne and the others will probably go as well.)

Ren did not yet know what they would do in this altered timeline, but he was almost certain they would make the journey.

“I am sorry to ask after accepting, but may I tell Licia and the others about the request? Leaving without explaining would worry them.”

“You may tell those close to you. Use your own judgment.”

“Understood.”

The winter wind brushed Ren’s cheek.

Then—

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Ren was struck by the familiar sensation of the scenery before him blurring. In the alley, a Ren Ashton and a Ragna from another timeline were speaking.

The conversations of people passing nearby reached him faintly.

“Apparently Ren Ashton was the brat of some knight who served House Clausel.”

“He is the worst kind of criminal. He murdered the noble girl whose family cared for him, and even killed Chronois Highland. I hope they catch and execute him soon.”

At those words, Ragna addressed Ren.

“Listen only to my voice. Understood?”

Ren Ashton revealed nothing through his expression.

The two continued speaking in the alley.

“Did you meet Edgar?”

“Yes. We are acting separately for now.”

Their exchange showed that this scene occurred after the dream Ren had witnessed in Eupheim.

“I see… I am surprised he truly survived. And the descendants of the Seven Heroes?”

“They are probably following the Demon King cult’s trail by now.”

“I see. What will you do next, Ren?”

Asked that question, Ren Ashton looked up at the sky for a moment before answering.

“When necessary, I will help Vayne and the others. Apart from that, I am concerned about that woman’s movements.”

Ragna’s eyes widened in alarm.

Once he recovered, he warned Ren Ashton.

“Do not pursue her. It is too dangerous. I have traveled the world and seen countless powerful people, but she is in a class of her own.”

“I know. But that does not mean I can ignore her.”

Ren Ashton put on the robe he had been carrying under one arm and drew its hood low, concealing his face.

He was a criminal whose name had scarred Leomel’s history. Walking through the heart of the Imperial Capital should have been perilous, yet he showed no fear.

“Are you serious? This may cost you far more than an injury.”

“I stopped fearing death long ago.”

His answer was immediate and unwavering.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The scene vanished like a mirage.

Although ‘returning to the original world’ was not quite the right expression, those were the words that came to Ren’s mind.

Ragna noticed his sudden silence and, with an unusually concerned expression, asked,

“What is wrong? Are you feeling ill?”

“No, I am fine.”

“Do not dismiss anything that troubles you. Depending on the symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately.”

“Ha ha… You are right…”

The winter wind brushed Ren’s cheek once more.

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