Kays Translations

Commemorative [SS] for the release of the first volume] Events at the Beginning of Autumn (1)

It was a day in September.

The letters from the Imperial Academy arrived at Clausel's house in Elendil.

Two letters, one to Ren and one to Licia.

The two, who had just finished their morning training, checked the letters in the garden of the mansion.

“I think I passed.”

“Me too. Now we finally have to take the third test.”

“Yes, the final exam is all that's left.”

The two seemed to be exchanging words in a casual manner, but they had smiles on their faces.

The reason why they were so calm, unlike the first test, is because they were so full of confidence.

As they were talking while wiping the sweat from their training with a towel, Weiss came over to them and called out.

“It seems you have received the results of the test.”

Licia told Weiss the results of the test, and he smiled.

He didn't expect both Licia and Ren to fail the exam, but when he heard that they actually passed, he can't help but be happy.

“Please tell the master of the house about it.”

“Of course. I was going to take a shower and then go with Ren to report it.”

As Ren remembered.

“After I report to Lessard-sama, I think I'll go to the capital for a bit.”

"What do you want, boy?"

“I'm going to the Imperial Cadet Academy to submit my application for the third examination in person.”

“Then I’ll go with you.”

“What? Licia-sama, you also have something to do in the imperial capital?”

Licia who nodded in response had plans to meet her friend Sarah.

Licia and Sarah hadn’t been able to see each other directly after the Clock Tower fiasco, and Sarah was worried about Licia and invited her to have dinner with her----.

"I was thinking of leaving the mansion before noon. How about you, Ren?”

Licia smiled happily when Ren said, "Of course it’s fine”.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The two ladies met for the first time in a long time on the terrace of a stylish restaurant in the imperial capital.

“I was really, really worried about you!”

The two women leaned forward on the round table covered with a white cloth, with Sarah’s face close to Licia's.

Licia let out a huff at her abrupt behavior.

“I'm glad you're worried about me. But I heard that you were so worried about me that you almost rushed forward without listening to the knight's restraint."

“Ugh! I couldn’t help it. I was worried about you!”

“I know that.”

Licia, with a smile that would make even the same-sex Sarah fawn over her, said in a gentle tone of rebuke.

Sarah was slightly mortified, but she reluctantly backed away and sat back down in her chair.

"How did it end up like that?”

“You know, ----?"

"Come on...it's impossible that you didn't hear anything. His Highness the Third Prince and the knights of the Holy Lion’s Sanctuary were there. Father says that Marquis Ignat might have been working on it.”

Licia, however, wasn’t inclined to answer any further.

The fact that she couldn’t answer her friend Sarah, who was so concerned about her, created a sense of apology in her heart that she could never ignore.

Still, the reality was that she couldn’t answer.

But she didn't want to neglect Sarah.

“It's not like the Clausels have become part of the royalist faction or anything. Don't get me wrong about that."

She told Sarah only what she could answer.

“....I’m the daughter of a heroic noble. I understand the hassle of being a noble.”

“Thank you. I want to remind you that I consider you my best friend.”

“---- yes, yes."

Sarah said bluntly and rested her cheekbones on the table.

The side of Licia's face was blushing with embarrassment.

“Oh, by the way..."

Suddenly, Sarah turned her gaze back to Licia.

“How did you do on the second test?”

“I passed without a hitch.”

There are only two more exams left.

The third exam, which will be held in mid-October, and the final exam, which will be held right after the new year.

“You didn’t use a letter of recommendation like me, did you?”

“Same as you? You're the daughter of a heroic nobleman, you didn't use a letter of recommendation either?”

"Yeah. I couldn't prepare a letter of recommendation for Vane, so I thought I'd take the exam from the beginning."

Licia was surprised that Sarah's father allowed it.

“It’s hard, but if you fail at the very beginning, what's the point of using a letter of recommendation?”

I guess so.

Licia chuckled.

"Did he also pass the test that you say you took?"

"Yes. How about you? I heard that the boy who is stronger than you is taking the exam?”

“We both passed.”

“So it won't be a dream when we get to see what it's like to be in the special class.”

While they were chatting, the food they had ordered began to arrive.

Slowly, the spent more than 10 minutes of chatting and enjoying the meal.

“There was something that bothered me about what you said earlier.”

Sarah said so.

“What do you mean earlier?”

“You know, about the boy who is stronger than you. You said that he also passed the exam, but I probably know someone who is stronger than him.”

If we take her word for it, there’s a boy of the same age who is stronger than Ren.

Licia, perhaps because it was coming from Sarah’s own mouth, didn’t consider the words to be idle talk, but rather asked.

“You mean someone our own age?”

“Of course. I'm sure of it, because I've seen it firsthand.”

(I can't imagine anyone my age being stronger than Ren.)

While thinking so, Licia listened to the rest of the conversation.

Then Sailor continued by saying, "I saw him last month,"

“He showed up on horseback with His Highness the Third Prince. I’m sure he is the same age as us. He was a hard swordsman, so he must have been the Third Prince's trump card or something.”

"You mean he was by the side of His Highness the Third Prince during the Clock Tower riot?"

“Yes! He showed up with His Highness the Third Prince, and he wiped out the Demon cult with his ridiculous swordsmanship! It was even more shocking than when Licia beat me to a pulp!"

"Hmm...... He was that amazing?"

"He's not just amazing! That ability isn’t just great, if it wasn’t a hard sword skill. It would be a sword saint level!”

In other words, she wanted to say that he was a great swordsman in the hard sword arts.

Licia, who was listening to the conversation, hits back and thinks, while pretending to be amazed.

(---- It’s definitely Ren.)

Licia had her own explanation for that night. She had heard that Ren had been working with Radius and had ridden to the Grand Clock Tower on horseback.

It was so hard to imagine anyone but Ren here.

Perhaps Sarah is too much overwhelmed by the impression she got last year when she met Licia again.

Licia has become much stronger in the past year, but Ren has grown even stronger at a monstrous rate, which probably led to this misunderstanding.

(I don't know what to do.)

Licia knew who the misunderstood person is. She wondered whether she should tell her that his name was Ren.

She was reluctant to tell her that Ren had been working alongside Radius.

It would be well known one day anyway, but she felt no need to mention it here and now.

“It's delicious. Do you want to try some?”

“Yes, I'll take some of it.”

Fortunately, the topic changed and Licia went along with the flow.

“But then again, going away and partying before the third round of the exam in October wouldn’t give me enough time to study for the exam."

Sarah let out a sigh while looking a little annoyed.

Listening to the story, Licia felt like she caught a glimpse of how busy the Royalist family was.

“What's wrong with you all of a sudden? You’re the daughter of a royalist noble, so you’re used to it.”

“Normally, yes. I wouldn't mind if there wasn't a third exam, but isn't it the same for you?"

“Me? Why do I have anything to do with the party that Sarah is going to attend?”

Looking at Licia who replied while tilting her neck, Sarah blinked her eyes blankly.

“What are you talking about? I'm talking about the party that the Clausels will be attending.”

“...... Eh?"

“I guess you haven’t heard.."

Licia who had no idea of what was going on just nodded.

However, it wasn’t that she had been disappointed that Lessard didn’t tell her, it was just that the Riohard family had received word of it earlier.

“There's a party at Galgazia. The host seems to be Viscount Galgazia."

It was a town about six hours away from the imperial capital by magic ship.

The town is slightly smaller than Elendil.

During the legendary days of the Seven Heroes, the main character Vane would visit the town, but it was a place where he would only digest the sub-events and not have much to do with the main storyline.

“Why is the Clausel family involved in that party?”

“My father said it was because Baron Clausel was one of the collaborators in the large-scale project that Viscount Gargazia was leading.”

“My father?”

One year ago, Licia attended a party held in the imperial capital, where she was able to meet Ulysses and Fiona.

Recalling Ulysses' praise of Lessard's accomplishments on the spot, Licia realized that this must be what he was talking about.

“So you thought I was invited too.”

“That's right. I think the Clausel family will be contacted soon.”

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The same evening, Ren and Licia were in the hall studying for an exam.

Lessard steps to the spot and tells Ren after taking care of the two.

“I'm sorry, but there’s something I want to ask you Ren----."

It seems that a message had just arrived from the Imperial capital, and the sender was Radius.

“If possible, he would like a few days of your time at the beginning of next month, if possible, to talk about the monster that appeared during the Great Clock Tower riot.”

“You mean the Tyrant of the Unholy Sky Aiuro? I believe I heard something about a few cinders falling on Elendil ----“

That monster was easily slaughtered by the sword king who somehow joined the battle line at that time.

All that was left of it was the cinders that fell in the town.

“The Third Prince was said to have been examining the cinders. He thought there was no chance of gaining any information from it, so he took it to a specialized institution.”

“Well, why am I involved in this?”

"Well, it seems that he invited you to come with him to hear the results of his investigation.”

"Oh..... is that what you mean?"

I don't mind that much. I would just go.

Also, Lessard, who always respects Ren's autonomy, wanted Ren to give his consent when dealing with the third prince.

Naturally, he knew Ren would, too, and he had no reason to refuse.

"I understand. I will prepare a reply immediately. It would be better to have someone deliver the reply to him, this evening."

"That would be great. I'm really indebted to you, Ren.”

“No, the Ashton family is always indebted to you.”.

Then Licia, who was sitting directly across from Ren, said.

“Even now, I still feel strange about it.  To think that Ren has become a friend of His Highness the Third Prince.”

“I've always been surprised, too.”

“It’s a lie. You haven't shown the slightest sign of fluster since the summer.”

“I guess I was too surprised before Licia-sama heard about it. I was quite surprised even like that.”

Ren sat down, shrugged his shoulders, and scratched his cheek.

Beside him, Licia and Lessard looked at each other and chuckled.

Then, the next day.

A guest arrived in the morning, this time leaving another letter at the mansion.

It was a knight who claimed to be an envoy of Viscount Galgazia.

It seems that he has decided to extend an invitation directly to the Viscount Clausel, who is the talk of the town, and has sent a messenger.

After receiving the letter, Lessard said to Licia at breakfast.

“It’s an invitation to a party.”

“You mean the party I heard about from Sarah?”

“It seems so. It says it will be held at the beginning of October.”

“Beginning of October? Does that mean that Ren can’t go with me?”

“Ummm.... apparently so.”

He has already responded to Radius, so it's impossible to come here and say no after all.

The question of whether the third prince or the party is more important depends on the time and the occasion, but approximately the third prince should be given priority.

Even if Ren and Radius are friends, Lessard cannot say so.

In the first place, Lessard didn’t like to make him withdraw his previous statement for his own convenience.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

A few days passed, and Licia left Elendil with Léssard.

They went to the Hanging Gardens, boarded a magic ship, and headed for Galgazia, about four hours away.

Galgazia is one of the cities, though not as big as Elendil, and is much larger than Clausel.

After getting off at the magic ship station, which was set up on level ground and was different from the hanging gardens, Licia said.

“There are so many magic ships.”

The wide plain was covered with cobblestone pavement, and there were many magic ships scattered about. These ships were either floating slightly above the ground or anchored to special mobile towers.

Carriages for those who got off the ships can also be seen.

“There are many privately owned magic ships parked here.”

“I can also see luxurious carriages, which is a result of this, isn't it?”

“Yes. Probably all of them belong to some noble or wealthy family.”

“Should we also own a magic ship?”

“It would be convenient if we could own one, but we would have to pay for its upkeep.”

The Clausel family is by no means poor.  The financial power of the Clausel family has been increasing year by year.

However, the Clausel family doesn’t need to have a private magic ship.

"The Clausel family has more than a certain amount of discretion in the management of the Hanging Gardens because we’re are in charge of Elendil. We have a lot of flexibility in the operation of the magic ship, so we probably don't need to force ourselves to own it just yet.”

“Even if we owned the ship, we wouldn't have much to do with it, would we?”

"Unfortunately."

They shrugged their shoulders and chuckled as they talked.

"Someday, perhaps, a magic ship will stop at Clausel as well. In that case, there will be no harm in having a magic ship.”

Weiss, who had been waiting a step ahead of Licia and Lessard as they passed through the ramp to the surface, expressed his thoughts.

“We will definitely need them if Clausel is to grow.”

“Oh dear. How many decades are we talking about? It will grow to a size where a magic ship yard will be necessary.”

“At the rate we've been going, it won't be more than a decade.”

The Clausel family has grown remarkably in recent years, so much so that even Ulysses Ignat admits it.

The existence of Ren has also had an impact and he was even made a viscount. And since he is attracting attention from all factions, it goes without saying that Lessard is very talented.

The fact that he’s participating in this party is proof of that.

“Let's go, then, both of you.”

Wishing both Elendil and Clausel the best of luck, the group boarded a carriage to the inn where they would be staying for the day.

The party is scheduled to begin tomorrow when the sun begins to set.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

To ensure no disrespect to any of the invited guests, rooms had been prepared for everyone at the most exclusive inn in Galgazia.

Lessard and Licia had separate rooms, but they were in Lessards’s guest room as they headed to lunch.

“It seems we have a table reserved in the restaurant on the top floor. Let's have lunch there.”

“Yes. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of food they will serve.”

Seeing Licia's happy face, Lessard was also smiling happily.

The two left the guest room and met up with Weiss, the escort who was waiting outside.

The three of them headed for the elevator to the top floor, where they had an unexpected encounter.

“Licia!?"

Sarah was waiting for the elevator to come...

"Oh? Is that Viscount Clausel I've heard so much about?”

Sarah's father, the current head of the Riohard family, was there.

The man's name was Elk Riohard. He’s a tall, slender, handsome man in his mid thirties with brown hair like Sarah.

His swordsmanship was at the level of a sword saint, and his ability was high among the members of the same faction.

“Prince Riohard. I haven't seen you since we met at a party in the imperial capital when Licia was a child.”

“It's nice to meet you, too. We seem to be going to the same restaurant. Well, why don't you join us on the way?"

In front of her father, Sarah swallowed her request to join him at the dinner table.

“Licia, can I come to your room later?”

“Um..... father?”

“I'll take care of the work, you just have to take advantage of Miss Riohard's hospitality.”

“It’s outrageous to say that I am spoiling her. She’s always being spoiled by that lady. No, it’s more of a nuisance than being spoilt.”

Then the daughter heard her father's words and looked embarrassed.

She seemed to be trying to escape, anticipating the next phrase.

“I’m sorry about that, Licia-dono. If Sarah is being too loud, you can always tell her about it. If you don't want to tell her directly, send me a letter. I will give my daughter a stern talking to."

"Oh, Father! You don't have to say that much!”

“Then follow in Licia-dono’s example. You’re too old-fashioned. You’re going to have a little brother next year.”

As they listen to the story, both Lessard and Licia are surprised to hear that she’s going to have a younger brother.

They celebrate the birth of the second child in the Riohard family. This is the only thing that has nothing to do with factions.

After talking about it for a while, Lessard turns to Weiss.

“My Licia is quite the tomboy in front of Ren too.”

“...... I can't say."

Weiss was unable to say anything about the secret conversation and turned away.

On the other hand, Licia knew what they were talking about, and she looked as embarrassed as Sarah did earlier.

She, too, couldn’t say anything in reply, so she had to keep quiet.

“I’m glad to have met you, Licia. Now, tomorrow's party will be different and more enjoyable.”

The elevator was about to stop at this floor.

"Oh? Aren't the usual parties fun?"

“It’s just a lot of formalities. I have to smile all the time and my cheeks get sore after the party.”

“Come to think of it, you’ve said that before.”

“Yeah. That’s why I’m really glad you’re here this time.”

Eventually, the elevator stops and the doors open.

Slowly, it began to reveal the person who was inside it.

“Let's have fun at the party! I'd smile all the time if you were by my side. ----“

It was suddenly.

Sarah's cheeks, which had looked amused until then, stiffened as she looked behind the open elevator door. In a manner of speaking, she kept smiling.

However, it was as if she had frozen in an instant.

“Sarah?" Licia twisted her head and looked inside the elevator and realized why.

When she saw a pair of men and women in the elevator, she knew there was nothing she could do about it.

“----Haha!”

The man in the elevator laughed, not caring at all about Sarah's nervousness.

One of the girls he had with him looked apologetic, having seen what was going on.

“Oh? Neither Viscount Clausel nor duke Riohard are getting on the lift? Aren't you going to the restaurant on the top floor?"

He was the only one in the room who kept his usual tone to the end.

Although Lessard wasn’t as nervous in front of Ulysses as he used to be, he was still surprised at the sudden encounter.

The current head of the Riohard family, one of the seven great heroic families, also had to be unintentionally nervous.

(...... Looks like it’s going to be a lively party)

No, somehow Licia was also calm.

Licia, seeing this situation of the three families meeting in her heart, thinks that she has to do something about the situation at first.

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