Chapter 45: On a rainy day

Fiona, dressed in her summer uniform, visited Ren, who had just finished his application for the second exam.

Due to a certain business, she had a plan to meet with Ren.

“Ren-kun, thank you for your hard work.”

She smiles as she says this.

Today’s rain in the capital meant that no bright sunshine could reach the city.

She was wearing a short-sleeved gilet which pushed up her bossom.

The rainwater on her arms seemed to accentuate the glamour of her neatness.

“Here is the letter my father gave me. I’m sorry, Edgar seems to be busy today, so I brought it for you.”

Hearing her apologetic words, Ren smiled.

“Never mind. Was this addressed to Lessard-sama?”

“Yes, that’s what I heard.”

“I understand. I’ll make sure to give it to Lessard-sama. I can walk you back to your dormitory if you like.”

“I’ve already made it twice as difficult for you, Ren-kun.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

The two talked as they walked.

At first they were going to mention the letter, but since they hadn’t had much opportunity to talk recently, they started by talking about Ren’s first exam.

Fiona knew that Ren had passed the first exam.

Or rather, it was obvious when he applied for the second exam.

“How did you do on the first exam?”

“Somehow I got a perfect score and so did Licia-sama.”

“That’s great! I was sure you both would pass, but I didn’t expect you to get a perfect score! Then, the second exam —- No! I know you’ll do fine on the final exam too!”

“I hope so. By the way, how was your first exam, Fiona-sama?”

Ren, who thought it was impolite to ask, regretted it after he said it.

Never mind! Ren was about to tell her in a panic, when Fiona, looking embarrassed, said that she too had received a perfect score.

“Fufu….. I was physically weak, so the only thing I had to do was study……”

It was hard to answer the self-mockery in her voice.

Ren, on the other hand, said, “It’s a result of Fiona-sama’s efforts”.

“I think Klonoa-sensei would be surprised to see a boy like you, Ren-kun.”

“—- The dean, right?”

For Ren, this is someone whom he has mixed feelings for.

(I’ll definitely be nervous when we meets for the first time.)

But I will continue to try not to have the same future as in the game.

I have changed many destinies in the past. I’m not as afraid as I used to be.

“As I recall, Klonoa-sensei will return in October, so we will see each other at the entrance ceremony next year.”

“I remember she is away from Leomel because of her work.”

“You’ll see her at the entrance ceremony next year. She’s been away from the capital for a long time because of her job at the Silver Palace of Nodias. But after the disturbances in the Baldor Mountains, it seems that she tried to return home once.”

However, the work that Klonoa is involved in is not limited to Leomel, but also involves other countries.

She couldn’t return so easily, and she also received a letter from Ulysses asking her to leave the matter to him, so she had no choice but to give up the idea of returning home.

“Speaking of which…”

Ren said.

“Ulysses-sama seems to be very busy these days.”

“You mean my father? He’s certainly very busy. He seems to have entrusted a lot of work to Edgar, so I guess it has something to do with that.”

Ren then fell silent as they walked.

Fiona, walking next to Ren, looked at him and secretly flushed a reddish color in her cheeks when she saw him looking more mature again.

Ren then realized that he had been silent, and immediately said.

“I’m sorry for being silent.”

He looked at Fiona and his eyes met hers.

“I-I wasn’t looking at you.”

“Eh?”

“No! it’s nothing. I just misunderstood.”

The main goal is to first find out why Ulysses and Radius are so quiet.

Ren shook his head and said “Huh?”

(I sent a letter to him before, but he brushed it off. ……)

I asked Ulysses in a letter what had happened to the bandits. His reply was, “Don’t worry about it!” And that’s about it, in summary.

The rest of the letter was just small talk and words of admiration from Fiona.

“But Ren-kun, why are you so concerned about my father?”

“—-Fiona-sama, have you heard that the demon king’s cult might be behind the incidents relating to the bandits?”

“I’ve heard about it.”

“I’ve been wondering about that. I was told that Ulysses-sama was working with Radius on a number of things, but I haven’t heard from him at all.”

“I’m sorry, you’re referring to his highness the third prince, right?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you call his name out like that….?”

“Radius told me to call him that, so I thought I’d do so without further ado.”

No wonder Fiona is surprised.

She’s the daughter of Marquise Ignat, who is the leader of the royalist faction, so her respect for the royal family is stronger than that of other factions of nobles.

Ren called out the third prince, and the third prince forgave him for it.

She couldn’t catch up with these thoughts.

“Re-Ren-kun, so is that how it is ……?”

Therefore, Fiona gave up what she thought.

“Even I told you to change your tone of voice when talking to me too …….”

She muttered softly and thought back to her exchange with Ren in the Baldor Mountains.

She felt a certain frustration toward the third prince.

“I’ve been wondering why I haven’t heard from Ulysses-sama. I’ve been trying to contact him, but he’s been very evasive.”

Fiona prioritized Ren’s thoughts.

“I don’t think it’s possible that my father hasn’t done any research.”

“That’s right, isn’t it? I know Ulysses-sama is working without my knowledge.”

“Yes. Ren-kun.”

Fiona says what she suddenly remembered.

She found out not long after the bandit riot.

“I hope this is of some help— but it seems that what was stolen before was the material stored in each of the workshops.”

Fiona mentioned that Ulysses and Radius had previously met in Eupheim and had talked about it there.

The documents containing information on the magical tools contracted by the various trade associations and the magical tool craftsmen were all stolen.

It was as if they were only targeting information on magical tools installed throughout the town, a fact that came to light.

“Are they looking for gaps in security?”

Ren immediately uttered the same words that Radius had uttered at the time.

Fiona immediately denied it, saying, “I don’t think that’s all it is”.

“Because the demon cult is involved. I don’t think those who would do what they did in the Baldor Mountains would end up just looking for gaps in security.”

“If that’s the case, they’ve got other aims —-.”

They then thought for a while.

In the meantime, it’s probably true that they are looking for gaps in security, so much of the information on the stolen goods is kept secret. This is especially true for information obtained from the Dispel skill user whom Ulysses ordered Edgar to capture.

Only a handful of people know about it.

(What is the purpose of this?)

Unfortunately, they have reached the front of the dormitory, so his time with Fiona came to an end.

Fiona said, “I don’t mind the time!” but Ren, who was concerned about keeping her company too long, decided to leave her.

On the way home, Ren was lost in thought as the magic train rode by.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The night he returned to the mansion.

It was a rather damp and hot night after the rain.

Ren had been invited by Licia to join her on the balcony, drinking cold fruit water and taking in the evening breeze.

“Ren? Something on your mind?”

There was no way Licia couldn’t have known.

If Ren was lost in thought, even for a moment, she would immediately notice.

“Actually, it’s —-.”

Ren also shared his recent thoughts with Licia.

Licia knew from the beginning that he would be receiving a letter from Fiona today. Licia heard Fiona’s words at that time, and she was troubled by them as well.

“I don’t think they’re just looking for gaps in the security either.”

Licia then expressed the same thought as Ren and Fiona.

“Maybe they intend to do something with the foothold they’ve gained.”

“I know……… problem is that we don’t really know what that something is.”

“Didn’t Marquis Ignat tell you?”

“I asked him in a letter before and he brushed me off. I think he is trying to keep me out of it.”

“I think Marquis Ignat is a kind man. And also because Ren tries to do too much on his own.”

“Well, I can’t argue with that. ……”

But the conversation continued, not because Ren wanted to force his way into it, but because he was curious about the hidden reasons.

“So, did Fiona say anything else?”

“I heard that the dean of the Imperial Miliary Academy will be returning in October. I think it’s regarding the stolen items as well.”|

Ren then mentioned some of the commonalities among the stolen items.

“….. Phew.”

Licia muttered meaningfully and put her hand over her mouth.

The next thing she did was to moisten her throat with cold fruit water and then opened her mouth.

“If the demon cult is going to do something, don’t you think it will be before Dean Klonoa returns?”

Ren mutters, “Sure,” and thinks as Licia does.

Because Klonoa is one of the best wizards in the world.

No doubt, she would be a hindrance and a marvel if she was there.

(If the demon cult moves, it will be before October.)

After all, some say, what will they do there?

But this time, unlike just a few dozen seconds ago, it was possible to predict that Ren would be there.

Because only if we know the limited time.

(—- I see.)

The idea of what if, in light of the stolen goods, snatched at my mind.

“Licia-sama. Please tell me about the magic stone in that place that you are going to replace in the summer.”

I had already given my answer.

The stolen items also led me to a certain conclusion.

Licia nodded her head and immediately said, “I’ll have to tell my father”. But Ren stopped her by grabbing her hand as she stood up to do so.

“Wait. I want you to remember today’s letter.”

“…… you mean that perhaps my father has heard from Marquis Ignat?”

“It would seem so. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be consistent. As expected, I have to talk to Lessard-sama, otherwise it might interfere with Ulysses and Radius’s plan.”

Licia nodded her head as Ren looked at her and said, “Yes, that’s right”.  But her face was mysterious.

“But then, I wonder if we should meddle …….”

Licia’s and Ren’s thoughts went something like this.

Ulysses and Radius are working for a purpose that doesn’t involve Ren or the Clausel family, but this time they contacted Lessard out of necessity.

However, they don’t intend to involve Lessard any further either.

Thinking back on Ulysses’ actions up to this point, it is easy to imagine something like this.

The question is, if that is the case, should I be the one to interfere? If Lessard knew what was going on and didn’t inform me, then I’d have to ask me myself: ……

“He’s trying to keep us out of it, and you’re asking if it’s okay for us to meddle?”

Licia nodded.

To put it another way, Ulysses has prepared a force that will be fine without Ren, and are ready to take matters into their own hands with the demon cult.

The meaning of Ren’s participation in this is clearly zero in terms of practical benefit. It would be just like getting involved in unnecessary danger, and there is a high possibility that he would get in the way of the plan.

“I think it’s better to wait and see how things go.”

Licia noticed at last was that her hand was still in Ren’s grasp.

No wonder she panicked.

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