Chapter 27: At Lion’s Holy Office Again

About a week before the New Year, Werlich visited the Clausel residence shortly after sunset.

“Werlich-dono!”

“It’s been a while, Weiss.”

The dwarf exchanged a brief greeting with Weiss in the entrance hall, set down a pale wooden box, and said, “Here’s what I promised,” before leaving almost immediately.

His abrupt arrival and departure seemed to stir nostalgic memories in Weiss.

“Please accept this, my lady.”

Weiss opened the box and lifted out the sword inside.

Licia received a straight sword in a black scabbard. When she drew it, a flawless white blade appeared.

(I knew it.)

Ren’s eyes widened. The prediction he had made after hearing about the weapon in the Hanging Garden had just been confirmed.

“It’s beautiful…”

Licia gazed at the blade in fascination, and Weiss smiled at her delight.

“It may still be slightly large for you, but you will grow into it. Werlich named the sword Byakuen.”

In The Legend of the Seven Heroes, Byakuen was virtually synonymous with Licia and possessed attack power among the highest in the game.

Ren remembered its description:

“A masterpiece made by polishing divine metal orichalcum for many years with holy water from the Silver Holy Palace, Nodias. Its edge ranks among the finest of all renowned blades. However, it tends to resist its wielder’s mana, and few people in the world can suppress that resistance and master the weapon.”

Players could never obtain it. Like Licia herself, who had been known as an unromanceable heroine, Byakuen had always remained beyond their reach.

“Thank you. I’ll treasure it,” Licia said.

“It is an honor to hear that. I look forward to seeing your Mighty Sword Style expressed through this blade one day.”

“I’ll work hard. Ren, let’s both do our best!”

“Yes. I won’t let myself fall behind you, Licia-sama.”

Licia suddenly turned back to Weiss.

“May I use this sword during my training against monsters?”

“Of course. Its length and weight differ from your current weapon, so do not force yourself at first. Take your old sword as well.”

“I understand. I promise I won’t overdo it.”

With light, excited steps, Licia headed toward the dining room, where dinner had already been prepared. Ren and Weiss followed.

(Today is probably the right time to tell them.)

It would be better to speak before Licia left for her monster-combat training. That training was part of her preparation for the Imperial Military Academy’s Special Class entrance examination. Now that Ren had made the same decision, the timing could hardly be better.

He did not want to lose his resolve by waiting for some supposedly perfect opportunity.

During dinner, Ren confirmed once more that his decision had not changed. A place he had resolved to avoid since infancy now seemed like the best path forward.

After the meal, while Licia and Lessard were talking, Ren spoke.

“There’s something I need to tell both of you.”

“What is it?” Licia asked.

“Has something happened?” Lessard added.

Ren took a deep breath, then stated the future he had chosen in a clear voice.

“I’m going to apply for the Special Class at the Imperial Military Academy.”

Silence fell over the table.

Ren had already told Licia that he intended to leave Clausel and continue protecting her. This time, however, he was presenting a concrete plan rather than a vague intention.

“Then… we’ll attend the academy together?” Licia asked.

“Yes, provided I pass.”

“Of course you’ll pass! Father, did you hear? Ren is taking the same entrance examination as me!”

“I heard. This is wonderful news.”

Lessard was genuinely relieved. Having Ren at the academy would make Licia safer, and seeing a person of Ren’s character eventually inherit House Ashton was encouraging for the future of Clausel as well.

“Then you must study for the examination alongside Licia,” Lessard said.

“I plan to study while continuing the work I can do here.”

“Ren, this is the Special Class examination. Even you cannot prepare for it entirely on your own.”

Ren had always been diligent, and the academy examination had appeared as an event in the game, so he already possessed more background knowledge than people might expect. Even so, he would need to study harder than ever to eliminate any chance of failure.

(I’ll need proper reference books.)

He would visit the Imperial Capital soon and begin preparing. He also needed to write to his parents and explain his decision.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

At noon the next day, Ren traveled alone to the Imperial Capital to tell Werlich that transport arrangements for Asval’s horn had been completed.

Licia, Lessard, and Weiss were occupied with House Clausel’s official business that day and the next, so Ren handled the errand himself.

A letter might have been sufficient for an ordinary craftsman, but Ulysses’s warnings about Werlich ignoring his correspondence remained fresh in Ren’s mind. Delivering the message in person was safer.

On his way back, Ren stopped at Lion’s Holy Office, which he had previously visited with Edgar.

The knight guarding the entrance remembered him.

“It has been some time, Ren-dono.”

He was the same knight who had demonstrated wind magic at Edgar’s request during Ren’s earlier training.

Still clad in jet-black armor, the knight approached with a gentle smile that contrasted sharply with his imposing appearance.

“Are you alone today?”

“Yes. Edgar-san said I could use the training hall in the rear. I hoped to observe your training and learn from it, or perhaps spar with someone if the opportunity arose.”

Normally, having Edgar present would make things easier, but the visit had been arranged too suddenly for Ren to contact him.

Fortunately, the knight had good news.

“Edgar-dono is here today. I assumed you had an appointment with him.”

“Edgar-san is here?”

“Yes. He arrived this morning and said he was preparing to instruct you, so I thought you planned to meet today.”

The coincidence was perfect. If Edgar intended to remain, he could introduce Ren properly to the other knights.

Ren asked permission to enter, and the knight nodded immediately.

“Someone is almost always practicing here. Off-duty knights also come frequently, so you should never lack an opponent, regardless of when you visit.”

His tone made it clear that Ren was welcome to return without hesitation.

“Even at night?”

“Even at night.”

Inside, Lion’s Holy Office was as solemn and quiet as Ren remembered. The atmosphere changed as they passed the smaller training room he had used with Edgar and continued deeper into the complex. A pressure strong enough to prickle his skin drifted through the corridor.

Edgar had once mentioned a vast atrium and training hall at the very rear of the building.

Beyond an enormous stone door, a railing overlooked a large arena sunk partly below ground. Sunlight streamed through a high glass ceiling, illuminating a floor of packed earth rather than stone.

The pressure intensified.

The knights training below had noticed Ren and were looking up at him. Their attention was not hostile; one even offered a small smile. Nevertheless, being observed by more than a dozen Mighty Sword Style practitioners produced an intensity Ren had rarely experienced.

Among them stood Edgar, speaking with the assembled knights.

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