Kays Translations

Chapter 13- I cleaned up and started working a little bit

I saw the three of them working outside the empty room.

Ren was greeted by them saying, “Welcome back,” and continued to work on the cleaning.

After some time had passed, the cleaning was almost finished when the sun had set and the room was closed.

“Klonoa-san, what are we going to do with this old book over there?”

“Wait! I’m coming!”

Ren indicated an old book that had been shoved into a crate, and Klonoa took out the book from the crate and checked it.

As usual, Klonoa lightly waved her wand to sweep away the dust.

“It’s a book with old monsters in it. Whenever information in a book like this becomes outdated, it is replaced.”

“But isn’t it a waste to just leave it there?”

“I think so too. But as soon as a new edition of an illustrated book is released, it’s immediately replaced. There are many reasons, such as the academy’s policy, but it was a waste, so I took it to the warehouse.”

“So it doesn’t mean that the information is outdated?”

“I guess some things are like that. But these illustrated books contain information on old monsters, so they are almost the same. It is more difficult to find mistakes.”

“Well, is it okay if I put it here in the room, for example?”

“I guess so! Now that the bookshelves are clean, let’s put them on the shelves. You and Ren can read them when you’re not busy!”

Klonoa said so and sent wind into the crate, sweeping the dust away.

Ren carries the cleaned books into the room and arranges them on the bookshelves.

As he was about to arrange the last book, he turned his attention to its cover.

(—-『Monsters of the Demon King Army “?)

It was a title that had already caught his attention, and he decided he would read it next time.

After a few dozen minutes of further cleaning.

“Thank you for your hardwork, all three of you. Let me at least buy you dinner on the way home!”

The four of them straightened their backs and breathed in pleasantly.

It was easy to wipe the dust with Klonoa’s magic, but we were also sweating, and the ladies were talking about taking a shower.

Ren decided to do so as well, and decided to rent the academy’s facilities.

Then, as they were walking along,

“Speaking of which, Klonoa-san, you don’t have any extracurricular classes this year, do you?”

Licia said.

“Yes – but not just this year. It’s been ever since the incident in the Baldor Mountains.”

(Well, if that’s true, it was this time of year.)

The extracurricular class Licia was talking about was the one where the first-year special class went to the forest as if it were their final exam before entering the school. It is commonly known as a field trip.

However, this is not done these days for the reason Klonoa mentioned.

Even if they did, it wouldn’t have been what Ren imagines.

“…… Jerukku isn’t there either.”

Licia twisted her head when she heard Ren’s mutterings,

“Why did you suddenly mention Jerukku?”

She laid her head down and questioned.

Ren hurriedly made a “No! no!” hand gesture.

“When I hear the word forest, it just reminds me of the old days!”

“Oh, so that’s what it is.”

However, there were surprising differences.

Ren felt a secret sense of accomplishment as he thought about how he had made more differences than he had expected.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Ren and Licia were at the train station on their way back to Elendil.

They stopped and looked at each other before heading to the station platform.

“Ren, if you’re still feeling well, why don’t we stop by the Holy Lion’s Sanctuary?”

“Sounds good. Let’s do it?”

If they wielded their swords for two or three hours and then headed home, they would arrive at the residence not too late.

Instead of boarding the magic train to Elendil, the two of them boarded the one heading to the government office district.

At this time of the day, everywhere is crowded. Licia was glad to see Ren standing by her side to protect her without saying a word.

When they arrived at the government office district, the sky was dark again.

“Ren, you met with the chief the other day, didn’t you?”

Licia said on the way to the Lion’s sanctuary, a place she was accustomed to going to.

“Yes, I did. I didn’t get a chance to say hello to her because of school.”

“Tell me! What kind of a woman was the chief?”

“It’s hard to describe, but I’d say she was the embodiment of the hard swordsmanship, fierce and honest.”

Ren recalled the day they met for the first time.

Estelle is not only strong, but she’s also a person full of dignity as a director, no doubt.

The time they spent exchanging words was short, but that much was clear.

“I think it would be better for me to greet her firmly now that she has already returned to the capital.”

“I think so. However, I think she is a busy person.”

“She is indeed, but there are days like today.”

“No…… It’s the chief of the Lion’s sanctuary, and it shouldn’t be that way—-”

“Yes, so what can I do for you?”

The two of them stopped abruptly, as if to indicate to each other.

They both looked at each other without saying a word and twisted their heads. Thinking it couldn’t be, they turned around behind them to hear the voices that had naturally mingled with theirs.

“That’s a good attitude. Greetings are fundamental.”

There, standing in front of them, was a woman in a military uniform, her head bent in the night breeze.

“But formal greetings are only for noblemen. —- No, the saint is a nobleman. Well, it doesn’t matter. In any case, I don’t like formalities. You should treat me in your usual manner. And those who call me “chief” are enough only for my subordinates. Call me by the respectable name my parents gave me.”

When Estelle said that,

“Chief-san! I thought I had suddenly lost sight of you. Wait, aren’t you two…”

A female knight from the Lion’s Sanctuary showed up late behind Estelle. The knight who came was a woman with whom Ren had often spoken, having often crossed swords with Licia.

She now had two large paper bags in her hands. The slightest hint of aroma and steam was coming out of the slightly open mouths of the bags.

“Take those to the others. I’ll just take our share.”

“I understand. But what about you, chief?”

“I want to talk to them. I’m tired of paperwork. I don’t want to do it anymore.”

“Yes….. I’ll tell the Secretary, so take your time.”

Estelle took out three things from the paper bag held by the knight. They were something round, wrapped in thin paper and steamy with a sweet aroma.

After looking away from the knight, Estelle handed one of them in her hand to Ren and Licia.

She takes the remaining one herself and walks off with them.

Although Estelle was headed to the grounds of the Lion’s sanctuary, it wasn’t a temple-like building where Ren and his group usually set foot.

It was a garden on the grounds, lined with fountains and other features.

Estelle sat down on a step at the edge of one of the fountains and looked at them.

She was sitting in front of the fountain, her hair and cloak flowing, and the atmosphere suited her well.

“That’s the kind of sweetness I like. Because sweet things are soothing when you’re tired.”

Estelle said it was a gift for her subordinates.

“I often buy them for my subordinates and cicilians at the Lion’s sanctuary. I don’t force it on them because some of them don’t like sweets, but it tastes so good that you can leave it on the street and it will be gone in no time.”

Ren and Licia looked at each other.

Thinking that it would be bad to do so, they both looked to see what was wrapped in the paper.

When they opened the wrapper, they found a soft and fluffy bread.

“There is cream inside. It’s funny that an adult would offer such a sweet treat to those in the holy lion’s sanctuary.”

“No, I think everyone will be happy that it’s something that people will struggle to get.”

“I think so, too. If it puts out such a good fragrance in the air, people who are tired from work will be tempted to take them, too.”

Hearing this, Estelle took a bite of the bread.

The cream was still a little warm inside, and it overflowed.

“Is this from the store on the main street by any chance?”

“Hm? Do you know the place?”

“I’ve heard about it from a friend of mine, Sarah. I was wondering about it too.”

“How’s the taste?”

“It tastes really delicious!”

“That’s good. I’ll let the owner know.”

Licia’s cheeks naturally loosened up, and Ren also tasted the deliciousness.

After finishing the bread, Licia straightened up her posture. She had been late in introducing herself because of the sudden meeting and Estelle’s pressure.

“I apologize for the delay, but my name is Licia Clausel.”

“I see. As you probably already know, I am Estelle Osloes Drake. Your Majesty has entrusted me with several estates, and I have also received the title of count.”

By the way, Estelle continued.

“It appears that you’re not accompanied by an escort.”

“Yes, I’m not. The imperial city is safe and Ren is by my side.”

After listening to the story, Estelle enjoyed the last bite of her meal.

“Speaking of which—- I’ve heard the stories too, Ren.”

“About what?”

“That you’re a great swordsman at such a young age. I saw you the other day, doing as you pleased with my beloved men.”

“S-Sorry about that nuisance—“

“What nuisance? It was me who interrupted their morning training, and the reason why you did as you pleased with them was because my men were weak. Damn, my men must be getting a good kick out of this.”

In fact, Estelle was immediately surprised upon her return.

She hadn’t expected the knights of the Lion’s Den who guarded in her absence to have a relaxed attitude, but of course they were more inspired than she had imagined.

It was clear that there was young talent involved there, Ren and Licia.

“You’ll have to deal with them again.”

The three of them then talked about many things.

Estelle was particularly interested in Radius in her absence, and asked about the encounter between Ren and Radius.

Then they talked about Ren and Licia’s sword.

“I heard that you two were taught swordsmanship by Edgar.”

“Yes. But Edgar-san seems to be busy these days, and I haven’t been able to see him much either. I guess you knew about Edgar-san after all.”

“I’ve seen him before at the holy lion’s sanctuary, though I only count him as a hard sword user.”

She has only spoken to Ulysses a few times.

But in case you are wondering, Ulysses has also been working in military affairs. But they weren’t in the same department and didn’t interact with each other in any significant way because they were both so busy. For example, they had visited the same conference room, but that was about it.

They only knew each other’s reputation.

Although they had actually come here to swing swords, Ren and Licia found the conversation with Estelle to be very informative, and they became engrossed in it.

By the time they had talked for an hour,

“It’s about time. You two should be heading home.”

If they were going to train, they would have stayed a little later, but today’s situation was different.

They both knew that Estelle had work to do as well, so they nodded and bowed their heads.

“Thank you for taking the time to spend with us today.”

“I look forward to seeing you again next time at the Lion’s sanctuary.”

“Oh. Have a safe trip home.”

Estelle saw them off from her seated position.

The two of them remained in the same small rear view, and Estelle narrowed her eyes as she stared at them.

“—-Well, what’s going on?”

It was never said what kind of emotion was put into the mutterings or what their true intentions were in the first place.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

After the vacations, the work of the executive committee members got into full swing, and Ren was extremely busy.

The committee members organized the student representatives for each event and worked with the teachers to prepare for the events that required representative selections.

One day, as these days were gradually passing by, at the academy.

A sense of tension was beginning to emerge among the students as they prepared for the selection of representatives for the Lion King’s Grand Festival, which was to be held at the beginning of July. The martial arts competition in particular is the center of attention, perhaps because it is called the highlight of the Lion King’s Festival.

“The third and fourth year seniors are great, but Leonardo is really something else! He’s definitely going to be chosen as a representative!”

“Well, how many representatives are there for the martial arts competition?”

“I thought there were four. I think it was written that there can be up to four representatives from a single school. I think I read that it can be any age.”

As Ren walked through the hallways at lunchtime, he could hear such conversations coming from everywhere.

(Correctly, the school that had the winner last time only had one more person; it was actually three.)

He leans his body against the window sill in the hallway and points out, without saying it out loud.

There is not the slightest inclination in his mind to discuss whether this is a good thing or a bad thing.

But as a result, the Imperial Academy has been winning the martial arts tournament held at the Lion King Grand Festival for the past several decades.

But it’s only natural that the Imperial Academy should be the winner.

(It’s not like the students of a prestigious school that is famous even in other countries to lose.)

That is the prestigious Imperial Military Academy. It would be a loss for the students in the special class to lose to students of the same age from other schools, which would affect the existence value of this academy.

“Well, my favorite is Ashton, though!”

“That’s right! If Ashton gets out, he’s sure to represent us!”

Some of the voices are mixed with those of students who know Ren’s strength. —-or perhaps a special class of students.

As I do so, I look out the window,

“Yo, Ashton.”

A familiar voice reaches Ren’s ears as he listens to the people talking.

The voice comes from right beside Ren, and he turns to look in the direction of the voice.

There, he sees Kaito Leonardo without his uniform jacket, looking very casual.

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