Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 15: The Jet-Black Temple.
That was why Ren felt that he, too, had to give everything he had.
Ulysses’s words had changed the way he thought about the Imperial Military Academy, but for the moment, he intended to concentrate on swordsmanship.
For Licia’s sake as well—she had given up the chance to accompany him so she could prepare for the entrance examinations—he could not afford to waste this opportunity.
His present stay would last five days.
What came after that would depend on what he experienced of the Mighty Sword Style, but he wanted to return having learned everything he possibly could.
“…I’ll do my best.”
Ren called over a waiter.
He enjoyed the cuisine of the Imperial Capital and replenished his strength for the afternoon ahead.
Before long, Ren was walking through the capital without carrying a map.
He went to a station near the restaurant, paid the required fare, and bought a ticket.
He entered the station and waited for a magic train without even consulting the timetable.
The train arrived within minutes. Its white exterior resembled an old-fashioned steam locomotive.
Ren boarded and set out without checking the route map.
Although every part of the journey was new to him, the information he remembered from the games spared him any difficulty.
He traveled toward the district containing the Imperial Capital’s government offices with at least as much confidence as the city’s residents.
The ride lasted approximately twenty minutes, and the ticket had cost 500 G.
After passing through the ticket gate at his destination, Ren emerged into a plaza dominated by a large fountain.
Edgar was standing in front of it, just as they had arranged.
“Ren-sama.”
Edgar bowed when Ren approached.
“It has been some time. Please forgive me for failing to greet you the other day. In my master’s presence, it was not my place to interrupt.”
“It has been some time. Please don’t worry about the other day.”
They spoke as though they were reuniting, but this was actually the first time the two had ever held a proper conversation.
Edgar had been in Clausel about a year and a half earlier, during the Viscount Given incident, but he and Ren had never exchanged words.
Ren had awakened only once while Viscount Given was present, and by the next time he regained consciousness, Edgar had already departed.
Edgar had therefore been looking forward to this meeting.
“Thank you for contacting House Ignat in advance. My master was delighted to receive word from you.”
He was referring to the letter of introduction Ulysses had given Ren.
Because the document stated only that Ren was authorized to enter the Lion’s Holy Office, Ren had not known how he was supposed to proceed.
He contacted House Ignat for further instructions and received a reply explaining that Edgar would guide him on the appointed day.
“Now then, Ren-sama, please follow me.”
Edgar began leading the way.
Rather than taking a carriage, they walked at an unhurried pace through the quiet government district.
(There are a lot of well-dressed people around here.)
Many of the pedestrians appeared to work for important institutions.
Ren could easily imagine that they were well paid. Nobles also walked the streets without attracting attention, a sight that would never have been ordinary in Clausel.
After more than ten minutes of walking and pleasant conversation, they passed through an area filled with large and distinctive buildings.
Beyond it stood the Lion’s Holy Office.
The enormous structure resembled a temple and looked large enough to contain Ren’s entire village.
Its exterior was jet-black from end to end, giving the building an oppressive presence at first glance.
(I can’t believe I’m actually going inside.)
The Lion’s Holy Office had existed in Legends of the Seven Heroes as well.
Players, however, had never been permitted to enter it.
(The Mighty Sword Style was essentially reserved for enemies, after all.)
That did not mean the Lion’s Holy Office was a den of evil.
It was simply an important institution connected to the Lion King.
Even members of the Hero Faction could have legitimate reasons to visit, particularly civil officials whose work required access to its records.
“Ren-sama, shall we?”
Edgar’s voice drew him from his thoughts.
“…I’m sorry. The place overwhelmed me.”
“That is entirely understandable. This is one of the most unusual institutions in Leomel. Because it preserves matters connected to the Lion King, even nobles may not enter without permission.”
Ren’s authorization was undoubtedly the result of Ulysses’s influence.
According to Edgar, the Strong Arm also held considerable standing within the Lion’s Holy Office, so arranging Ren’s entry had presented no difficulty.
“Let us proceed.”
Edgar headed toward the entrance.
There was no door.
Beyond the opening stretched a vast, airy interior where thick pillars continued far into the building.
The pillars and paving stones appeared to be made from a polished black material resembling granite, lending the place even greater gravity.
Edgar exchanged nods with the knights standing guard and promptly walked inside.
Ren hesitated, wondering whether he was truly free to follow, and looked at the guards.
(Something about them is different.)
The knights wore black armor unlike that of either the patrol knights in town or the Imperial Knights.
Their weapons differed as well.
Each carried either a longsword at the waist or a greatsword across the back.
“You may proceed.”
One knight noticed Ren’s hesitation and spoke in an even voice.
“Thank you.”
Ren bowed and hurried after Edgar.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
As soon as Ren and Edgar disappeared into the spacious interior, the knights outside quietly watched the boy’s retreating back.
“That boy was impressive.”
Several voices agreed with the first knight.
“It was a fine sight. His body possesses a single, unwavering core as hard as orichalcum.”
“Edgar-dono himself brought him here. The boy must possess rare talent. He may become an excellent practitioner of the Mighty Sword Style.”
Ren continued after Edgar, unaware that the guards had appraised him in passing.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Knowing nothing of their conversation, Ren walked over the black paving stones.
The sound of his and Edgar’s footsteps echoed through the building.
They occasionally exchanged bows with passing civil officials and crossed paths with knights wearing the same armor as the guards outside, but no one disturbed the silence with spoken greetings.
“Edgar-san.”
“Yes, Ren-sama?”
“Is there a particular reason the knights of the Lion’s Holy Office use so much black?”
“That is the Lion King’s influence. He was a man who favored black.”
“That explains it.”
Ren also asked why the interior was so quiet.
Edgar said there was no formal rule. The solemn atmosphere simply made everyone reluctant to raise their voice.
The silence appeared to be an unspoken understanding shared by everyone within the building.
“Why doesn’t the Lion’s Holy Office have a heavy gate or a tightly controlled entrance?”
“There are two reasons. First, numerous security magic tools have been placed where visitors cannot see them. The second—and greater—reason it has no gate is that…”
Their footsteps continued to echo as Edgar finished his explanation.
“Every knight guarding the Lion’s Holy Office is a practitioner of the Mighty Sword Style. All of them are at least Sword Adept rank, so they offer stronger protection than any gate.”
“S-Sword Adept rank!?”
“Yes. As you may know, ranks in the Mighty Sword Style are generally treated as one level higher than their equivalents in renowned styles such as the Sacred Sword Style. In practical terms, every knight stationed here possesses strength equivalent to at least a Swordmaster of another style.”
Edgar continued before Ren could misunderstand.
“That does not mean a Sword Saint of the Mighty Sword Style is automatically equal to a Sword King of another style. Sword Kings are an entirely separate matter.”
“Haha… Of course.”
Sword Kings were exceptional.
Only five existed in the world.
Ren silently reviewed the recognized ranks of swordsmanship.
Regardless of style, the highest rank was Sword King, limited to the five warriors named by the God of War.
Below that came Sword Saint, then Swordmaster, Sword Adept, Advanced Swordsman, and finally Swordsman.
(Meidas and Kai were Swordmasters of the Sacred Sword Style.)
They were the Demon King cultists Ren had met through the Clausel Adventurers’ Guild and later fought in the Baldor Mountains.
According to Edgar’s explanation, every knight guarding the Lion’s Holy Office was at least their equal, and some were stronger.
In one sense, that was only natural.
This was an important institution in the Imperial Capital of the great nation of Leomel, connected directly to the Lion King who had founded the country.
Of course it would be protected by knights worthy of that responsibility.
Even so, the knowledge forced Ren to reconsider the scale of the place.
Many thoughts crossed his mind as he walked farther into the Lion’s Holy Office.
(This really is incredible.)
Every nearby knight would be considered at least a Swordmaster in any style other than the Mighty Sword Style.
Ren was astonished by information he had never known, yet he also found it entirely believable.
His interest in the Mighty Sword Style only continued to grow.
Is sword saint and sword sage different? I remember that Licia is a sword saint in the game
Her skill is called Sword Saint. The level of her swordsmanship is unknown. She was reportedly stronger than the Protagonist. Lucia was most likely a senior swordsman, as she did not have someone her age defeat her.