Kays Translations

Chapter 30: To Obtain the Application Forms

The morning after Ren first managed to use Mantle in his hands, he left Elendil with Licia and Weiss.

One of the reasons they had come to Elendil was to give Licia practical experience fighting monsters, and this was their first excursion for that purpose.

They headed to the area near the lake where Ren had hunted the Berserk Fish.

The three walked along a narrow animal trail buried beneath deep snow, their breath turning white in the cold.

They encountered several beast-type monsters on the way.

Far fewer appeared in winter than during the warmer seasons, but they did not vanish entirely.

Licia defeated them without much difficulty.

Her ability made that unsurprising. Even so, she never became careless and listened closely to Ren’s and Weiss’s advice, displaying the diligence that defined her.

The outing still provided valuable practical training.

“Ren.”

Wrapped in her coat, Licia looked toward him as their boots compressed the snow with soft crunches.

“What does Mantle feel like?”

Ren had told her about his breakthrough after returning to the Elendil residence the previous night.

Licia, Lessard, and Weiss had all congratulated him on finally managing to use Mantle in part of his body.

Ten days sounded brief, but his efforts had begun long before then. Since the previous summer, he had learned fundamental swordsmanship, trained his mana control with the crystal vial, and repeatedly faced Mighty Sword practitioners.

To the three people who had watched those efforts, the news was genuinely joyful.

“It is difficult to explain. It feels like invisible armor, or as though invisible muscles have been added to my body.”

“Does it consume much mana?”

“Not as much as I feared. You probably have more mana than I do, Licia-sama, so you may be able to maintain it with greater ease.”

Weiss, who had been listening beside her, smiled.

“This truly is gratifying. I expected you to achieve results quickly, but witnessing it happen is another matter entirely.”

“Edgar-san said I also owe it to you, Weiss.”

“To me?”

“Yes. He said your instruction gave me the foundation that allowed me to grow through real combat.”

Edgar had told Ren that after the sensation of Mantle finally settled into his body.

He had praised Weiss’s teaching before, and now did so again.

“Flattery will not earn you anything from me,” Weiss said, visibly embarrassed.

Ren’s gratitude was sincere.

The Imperial Swordsmanship Weiss had taught both him and Licia had refined Ren’s technique and taught him how to think during battle.

He hoped to continue studying it whenever Weiss had time.

When Ren said as much, Weiss looked away and replied, “As often as you like, provided you are still willing to learn from me.”

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

It was night by the time they returned to Elendil.

Exhausted by the day’s walking and fighting, Ren slept later than usual the next morning.

He stretched comfortably in bed and looked through the window. The sky was clear.

“What should I do today…?”

He had no plans.

He could train at Lion’s Holy Office or accompany Licia outside again, but his body still needed rest, and Licia was unlikely to be ready for another full day after yesterday’s excursion.

After dressing, Ren stepped into the corridor and asked a servant whether Licia was awake.

As expected, she was still sleeping.

(Now what?)

In Clausel, he could always spend spare time maintaining the old manor. The Elendil residence, however, already had servants to handle every task.

Since he had a free day, he wanted to make it productive without sacrificing the rest he needed.

Then he remembered something.

“Oh. That’s right.”

There was an important errand he had not yet completed.

As Ren stood by a corridor window, Lessard happened to pass.

“Good morning. Thank you for looking after Licia yesterday.”

“Good morning. It was valuable experience for me as well.”

Ren then added, “I am thinking of visiting the Imperial Capital today.”

Lessard gave him a knowing smile.

“Lion’s Holy Office? Do not push yourself too hard—”

“No, not today. I just remembered something I need to collect. Since the New Year has begun, I thought I should take care of it.”

“Something you need to collect?”

Lessard tilted his head, then quickly understood after recalling Ren’s recent decisions.

“The Imperial Military Academy.”

Ren needed the application forms for the entrance examination.

Now that he had decided to apply to the Special Class, he could not risk submitting them late.

“The deadline is still a little more than two months away, but there is no disadvantage in preparing early. Licia-sama has already completed her application, hasn’t she?”

“Yes, she has. You really are remarkably well informed.”

“I studied the procedure so I would not make a mistake.”

The knowledge came, as usual, from The Legend of the Seven Heroes. Ren kept that detail to himself.

He informed Lessard once more that he was leaving, returned to his room for his wallet, and departed the residence.

Morning sunlight reflected brilliantly from the silver snow.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Shortly after reaching a station in the Imperial Capital, Ren entered the morning crowd to change magic trains.

A powerful voice called to him.

“Hm? Oh! If it isn’t the good kid—no, Ren!”

Werlich was walking through the station with a paper bag in each hand, apparently returning from shopping.

Ren wove through the crowd and took one of the bags.

“Are you heading back to the Blacksmith District?”

“That’s right! Sorry to make you carry that.”

“It cannot be heavy for you, Werlich-san, but it must make walking through this crowd inconvenient.”

Since chance had brought them together, Ren decided to help before going to the Imperial Military Academy.

They boarded a magic train bound for the Blacksmith District, rode for a short while, and then continued toward Werlich’s workshop on foot.

“The materials should arrive soon, shouldn’t they?” Werlich asked.

“Yes. I heard the delivery was slightly delayed by the snow.”

“That cannot be helped. We will treat the delay as extra preparation time.”

“I thought this before, but for someone who hates work, you are extremely sincere about it.”

Werlich laughed loudly.

“Do not misunderstand me! I only want to do the work I choose for myself!”

The declaration was entirely characteristic of him, and Ren laughed as well.

Before long, the workshop came into view.

“You helped me out, Ren.”

“Please do not worry about it. You are already helping me with the armor and Lemuria. Carrying one bag hardly counts as repayment.”

“Do not be so distant. Since you are here, come in for a drink.”

He meant tea, naturally, not alcohol.

“Well…”

Ren had intended to go directly to the academy and collect the entrance-examination documents, so he hesitated.

Werlich immediately offered the perfect temptation.

“I can show you some of the weapons and armor I have made.”

“Please do.”

That was unfair.

Ren accepted at once and entered the workshop.

He did not emerge until after three in the afternoon.

The visit had consumed more time than planned, but it had also been unexpectedly enjoyable.

Ren exhaled, and his breath turned white in the winter air.

Light snow had begun to fall. Winter darkness arrived early, and a deep blue was already spreading across the edges of the sky.

By the time he reached the Imperial Military Academy, collected the forms, and left again, night would have fallen.

(Not a bad day off.)

He had seen fascinating equipment in Werlich’s workshop, and he could still collect the documents on his way back.

Feeling pleasantly refreshed, Ren headed from the Blacksmith District toward the neighboring academy district.

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