Kays Translations

Chapter 9: A saint accustomed to defeat

The reason why we headed for the imperial capital shortly after our arrival in Elendil was because of Lessard’s work. It was for this reason that he didn’t head for the mansion, but moved around busily.

The magic train, powered by a magical stone, was much faster than a horse, and Ren arrived at the capital in no time.

The scenery there was also somewhat nostalgic and familiar to him.

The tracks that accept the magic train from outside the capital. The station, where the tracks fan out, sits in the center of the main street. In addition, the railroad lines for the magic trains that travel around the capital are elevated, expanding the railroad network in the spacious imperial capital.

The capital, divided into several sections, is dozens of times larger than Clausel, and is lined with countless houses.

There are huge luxury inns that are renowned both locally and internationally, and even a renowned research institute. The headquarters of numerous guilds are also located here, and there are more prestigious schools, including the Imperial Academy of Military Science, than can be accommodated on a single hand.

Furthermore, the aristocratic district, lined with the residences of the top nobility residing in the capital, is truly a sight to behold.

Of course, not all of this can be seen from the station.

Only a small portion of it can be seen from the station, which is only a few stories high. Ren, who had just gotten off the magic train, walked out with an exclamation of "Oh ......".

He proceeded down the platform, which was crowded with station passengers, and looked up at the far end of the Imperial City from the railing where he could see outside.

He walked straight down the main street to see the symbol of the Imperial City sitting at the end of the street.

“The Imperial City must be big."

Weiss, who came up next to him, said.

Ren, who was always surprised even in Elendil, opens his mouth with the most surprised expression of the day.

"It’s more than I imagined. I can only be amazed at the difference between what I see on the screen and what I see with my own eyes.”

“Huh? What do you mean by "screen"?”

“No, no! it’s Nothing!”

Ren regretted his useless words.

He regained his composure and turned his attention to the symbols of the imperial city.

Many of the major cities in the country of Leomel have buildings that can be called symbolic.

However, there’s one building in the capital that’s a symbol of Leomel itself and shouldn’t even be compared to all of them.

That’s the Imperial Castle.

The whole light-gray structure, lined with soaring spires as well as numerous outer and side towers, is a complex construction of arched paths that rise far above the ground. The complexity of the building is the culmination of architectural skill and design, and it is a fantastic building that does not seem to belong to the world of man.

It’s a crystallization of mystery, a place where it wouldn’t be out of place if it were said that the gods live here.

“I think every time I come to the Imperial City that the Imperial Castle alone could cover most of the town of Clausel ----."

And Licia, who came by after Weiss.

“Weiss is really amazing, isn't he? He used to work in that imperial castle when he was young.”

“Come to think of it, Weiss-sama, you used to be a knight of the Kingsguard, weren’t you?”

Weiss mentioned this at Licia's birthday party held last year.

Weiss, who had come to Ren's side as he was remembering, indicates the sword at his waist.

“This is the sword I received from His Majesty. It was given to me in the audience chamber when I was still a knight of the Kingsguard.”

Ren was curious as to why Weiss was in the service of the Clausel family.

But he wasn’t in a mood to ask, because Weiss had a wistful look on his face ever since he mentioned that he had been a Kingsguard knight.

(Let's not bring it up right now.)

It sounded good as he thought he was reading the air.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The four of them headed for the inn with the other knights.

There are a number of reputable luxury inns in the capital, but the group chose to stay at one that wasn’t too upscale, but promised satisfactory security.

The reason for not returning to Elendil's mansion was that the party would be held at dusk.

Followed by an evening party, and the gathering was expected to last until late at night.

Ren walked into Lessard’s room and sat down on the sofa in the luxurious room.

“Are you sure you’re okay waiting until late at night?”

“Of course. I've offered to accompany you, so there's nothing wrong with waiting alone.”

“I'm sorry. Then I will take your word for it.”

Lessard, who was sitting on the opposite side of the room, apologetically lowers his head, and Ren, seeing this, hurriedly asks him to raise his head.

“If there’s anything you need, please let the knight know. If you want to take a look around the capital, I’ll get you a guide.”

"Isn't it okay for me to look around the Imperial Capital alone?"

"Hmm? But I think you will get lost without a guide.”

It can be said that it is too late to decide whether to attach an escort.

Ren has been going alone to the eastern forests in Clausel to investigate monsters, and he has just been active in the Baldor Mountains in the winter.

In the imperial capital, where there are also many patrolling knights, there’s nothing to worry about.

“I think I'll be fine. I’ll only go to the main streets and other wide places.”

“If that’s the case, then that's fine with me.”

After the conversation was settled, Ren got up and left Lessard’s room.

The room next to Lessard was the one where Licia was staying in and the further was Ren's room.

"Oh, Ren. What did you and my father talk about?"

“I was just asking him if I could go to the Imperial City by myself to have a look around.”

"Good. I want to go with you.”

“No, you can't, Licia-sama. You’ll be busy changing clothes from now on.”

“Hmm. I understand."

Even as she says this, Licia's lips pout in frustration.

“I'll go say hello to Marquis Ignat for you.”

Ren said, "Please do so," and was heartbroken to see the look on Licia's face as she still wanted to go outside with him.

“If you don't mind, will you show me round the imperial city next time?”

“Huh ---- yes! Leave it to me!"

Licia smiled prettily at Ren's concern and found that her own heart was beginning to beat fast. She almost reached out her hand to Ren's back as he turned his back to her ---- but today's party is an important event.

Marquis Ignat is coming, so they have to brace themselves.

“ ...... Ren is always helping me out, so I have to be on top of my game too."

Licia, who had been bracing herself, watched Ren until he was out of sight, and then went to visit Lessard in his room.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The party held at the residence of the nobleman who lives in the imperial capital is usually a particularly glamorous affair.

The carriage and the nobles gathered in the garden of the luxurious mansion. The costumes of the ladies and gentlemen who get out of the carriages are also very glamorous.

Everything that was tinged with the madder color of twilight was the flower of the imperial capital nobility.

Lessard and Licia, who went to the venue exchanged words with nobles of the same faction, as well as those belonging to the Heroic and Imperialist factions.

Licia was always the center of attention. Her outstanding appearance, which earned her the name "Keisei," caught everyone's attention. Even in a venue frequented by many noble daughters of outstanding appearance, she was singled out for special attention. (TN: Keisei literally means “to tilt a castle” and basically  translates to beauty so great it can cause the fall of a lord)

“...Phew."

Licia exhaled at the break that finally came after the stand-up greeting.

Seeing his daughter, Lessard smiled, glass in hand.

“You look tired.”

“Yes. My cheeks are almost pulled back.”

“Me too, actually. My cheeks will be sore tomorrow.”

"Fufu… Father."

The two joked with each other and mocked themselves for not being accustomed to parties.

As they were doing so, another nobleman came up to them.

However, unlike before, this nobleman was someone Licia didn’t have to worry about.

“Good day, Baron Clausel.”

The one who came was Sarah Riohard, whom Licia had met again in the spring.

As the daughter of a heroic faction noble, she was also invited to this party as a matter of course.

“Riohard-san, it’s been a long time. I heard that my daughter was rude to you the other day. How can I apologize?”

“Ugggghh...... she wasn't rude at all, so don't worry about it!”

Lessard spoke about the standoff at the Elendil stuffing station.

“But where is Riohard-san's father?”

“He's somewhere else. He’s talking with the heroes.”

“......Riohard-san is it okay for you to come to me?”

“It’s fine. I have strongly told my father not to indulge me in the affairs of factions.”

Licia and Lessard wondered about that.

But in any case, they were honestly grateful for Sarah’s concern for the Clausel family and her willingness not to bring the problems caused by the differences between the factions into the family.

“So, Sarah, what made you leave your father and come to me?”

“Nothing in particular. If I had to say, I was tired, just like Licia, so I thought it would be more convenient for both of us to be together.”

Sarah’s cheeks showed a slight hint of tiredness.

Apparently, she was also busy greeting many nobles. She, like Licia, also has an eye-catching appearance, which may have something to do with it.

“I thought Sarah was used to parties.”

“I’m used to it, but that doesn't mean I don't get tired.”

They laughed and then lightly clinked glasses and toasted each other.

They both took a few sips of the fruit water that had been poured into their glasses to moisten their thirsts.

“I didn't get a chance to ask this in the spring, but what kind of training do you do at Clausel, Licia?”

"Nothing much, just swinging a sword in the garden.”

“Ho...... really that's all she does?”

“Yes, that's right. Father?”

Lessard, who had been quiet beside her, nodded, "Yes," and then looked at Sarah.

“Licia, besides being taught swordsmanship by the knights of our family, has done nothing more than cross swords with the son of the knights who serve our family."

There was no indication that Lessard was intentionally hiding anything.

The fact that Sarah also realized this deepened her doubts.

"How could she be that strong without defeat......Lies?"

Besides doubt, surprise.

Born into a family of noblemen, Sarah was educated from an early age to be a gifted swordsman, even if she didn’t show it off.

She begged for the teachings of not only the current heroic Baron Riohard, but also other renowned swordsmen who could be called upon because they were in the Imperial Capital.

There’s no clear guideline as to which rank is equivalent to the heroic baron.

However, in general, it’s often considered the marquis, and even before its origin, they had a high status as noblemen, so there’s no difficulty in calling a famous knight.

Licia, however, claims to have received no such education.

Despite this, Licia's life, in which she boasts of her superior abilities, is one in which Sarah cannot help but wonder.

“I experience defeat every day."

Licia's voice was neither winning nor humble.

“So you’re your own enemy.”

“No, it's a boy. Not really my enemy.”

“Then, are you imagining a boy stronger than you and fighting him in your mind?”

“A real boy. The boy my father was talking about earlier.”

Lessard said he was the son of a knight in the service of their family.

Thinking back to those words, Sarah brought the glass in her hand to her mouth and quietly drank the fruit water. As she stood there, stunned, the waiter at the hall poured a refill and walked away.

Then Sarah wet her throat again with the fruit water and said, "Huh?"

The pause was because it took her a while to understand.

“You seem surprised, but it's true. He's a boy the same age as you and me.”

“Ke-- but that means Licia is losing in the last minute of the fight or something like that!”

“No, it's not. I'm being played with, and I'm still losing.”

"What ----?”

Sarah was bewildered wondering if this is what it meant to be speechless.

Licia smiled daintily at that.

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