Kays Translations

Chapter 13 – After Cleaning Up, the Work Gradually Begins

Outside the empty room, the other three were still hard at work cleaning.

They greeted Ren with “Welcome back,” and he resumed helping them.

After some time passed, the sun began to set and the cleaning was nearly finished.

“Chronois-san! What should we do with these old books over here?”

“Wait there! I’m coming!”

Ren pointed to the old books packed inside a wooden crate, and Chronois pulled one out to inspect it.

As usual, Chronois gave her wand a light wave and swept away the dust.

“These are books about old monsters. Whenever even part of the information in books like these becomes outdated, we replace them.”

“Still, isn’t it a waste to leave them shut away?”

“I think so too. But illustrated guides get replaced as soon as a new edition is published. There are various reasons, including academy policy, but it seemed wasteful, so I moved them to the storeroom.”

“So the information itself is not necessarily outdated?”

“Some books may be, but guides like these record information about old monsters, so almost nothing changes. Finding an actual error would be harder.”

“I see… Then it would be all right to keep them in this room, for example?”

“Sure! The bookshelves are clean now, so let’s arrange them there. You and the others can read them whenever you have free time.”

Chronois sent a gust of wind into the crate and blew away the dust.

Ren carried the clean books into the room and arranged them on the shelves.

As he was about to shelve the final volume, his eyes fell on its cover.

(——Monsters of the Demon King’s Army?)

The title immediately caught his interest, and he decided to read it another time.

They continued cleaning for several dozen more minutes.

“Good work, all three of you! At least let me treat you to dinner on the way home!”

The four of them stretched their backs and drew satisfied breaths.

Chronois’s magic made removing the dust easy, but they had still worked up a sweat, so the women began discussing taking showers.

Ren decided to do the same and use the academy’s facilities.

As they walked through the building,

“Come to think of it, Chronois-sama, there will be no extracurricular lesson this year either, will there?”

Licia asked.

“Right… but not only this year. They have been suspended ever since the incident in the Baldor Mountains.”

(Now that I think about it, this was when it was supposed to happen.)

The extracurricular lesson Licia meant was an outing in which the first-year Special Class entered a forest, almost like a final examination following admission. It was commonly nicknamed the field trip.

However, for the reason Chronois had mentioned, it had not been held in recent years.

Even if it had been held, it would not have unfolded the way Ren remembered.

“…Yelquq is gone too.”

Licia tilted her head at Ren’s murmur.

“Why did Yelquq suddenly come up?”

She cocked her head and voiced her confusion.

Ren hurriedly gestured with both hands.

“N-No reason! Hearing about a forest simply reminded me of the past!”

“Oh, I see.”

Even so, it was surprising how much had changed.

Thinking about how many differences he had created without realizing it, Ren felt a quiet sense of accomplishment.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Ren and Licia were at the station to return to Elendil.

Before heading to the platform, they stopped and looked at each other.

“Ren, if you still have energy, shall we stop by the Lion’s Holy Office?”

“That sounds good. Let’s do that.”

If they swung their swords for two or three hours before leaving, they would still reach the residence at a reasonable hour.

Instead of boarding the magic train bound for Elendil, they took the one headed toward the government district.

Everywhere was crowded at that hour. Licia was pleased that Ren silently stood beside her as though shielding her from the crowd.

By the time they reached the government district, the sky had grown another shade darker.

“You met the Director the other day, didn’t you, Ren?”

Licia said as they followed the familiar road to the Lion’s Holy Office.

“Yes. Since I had the academy afterward, I did not have much time to greet her properly.”

“Tell me about her! What kind of person is the Director?”

“It is difficult to describe, but she struck me as the embodiment of the Mighty Sword Style itself—fierce and forthright.”

Ren recalled the day they had first met.

Estelle was not merely strong; she unquestionably possessed the dignity befitting the Director.

They had spoken only briefly, but that much had been unmistakable.

“Now that she has returned to the Imperial Capital, I should properly introduce myself to her.”

“I agree. Still, I imagine she is a very busy person.”

“Indeed, but there are days like today.”

“No, no… She is the Director of the Lion’s Holy Office, so surely that cannot be——”

“Yes. Then what should I do——”

The two stopped at the same instant, as though they had planned it.

Without a word, they looked at each other and tilted their heads. Then, suspecting the impossible, they turned toward the voice that had naturally joined their conversation from behind.

“That is the right attitude. Greetings are fundamental.”

A formidable woman stood there, her military uniform fluttering in the night breeze.

“But formal greetings are only necessary with nobles——no, the saint is a noble too. Well, never mind. In any case, I dislike excessive formality. Treat me as you normally would. And only my subordinates need call me Director. Use the fine name my parents gave me.”

As Estelle finished speaking,

“Director! I wondered where you had suddenly disappeared to… Oh, it is you two.”

A female knight from the Lion’s Holy Office appeared behind Estelle. She often crossed swords with Licia, and Ren knew her well enough to speak with her frequently.

She carried two large paper bags. A fragrant aroma and wisps of steam escaped from their slightly open tops.

“Take those to the others. I will keep only our share.”

“Understood. But what will you do, Director?”

“I want to speak with these two. Paperwork has exhausted me. I refuse to do any more.”

“Yes, yes… I will explain it to the civil officials, so take your time.”

Estelle removed three round objects from the knight’s bag. Each was wrapped in thin paper and gave off sweet-smelling steam.

After seeing the knight off, Estelle handed one to Ren and another to Licia.

She kept the last for herself and led the two away.

Estelle remained within the grounds of the Lion’s Holy Office, but she did not enter the temple-like building Ren and the others usually visited.

Instead, she headed into a garden filled with fountains and other decorations.

She sat on the raised edge of one fountain and looked at the two of them.

With her hair and cloak stirring in front of the fountain, the setting suited her remarkably well.

“That is one of my favorite sweets. Sweet things truly hit the spot when the body is tired.”

Estelle explained that she had bought them as gifts for her subordinates.

“I often buy these for the subordinates and civil officials at the Lion’s Holy Office. I do not force them on those who dislike sweets, of course, but they taste good enough that any left in the corridor vanish almost immediately.”

Ren and Licia exchanged glances.

Deciding that refusing would be rude, they examined the paper-wrapped treats.

Inside each wrapper was a soft, fluffy bun.

“There is cream inside. Ha… Is it not amusing for grown adults—members of the Lion’s Holy Office, no less—to receive such sweet treats?”

“No. Judging by how quickly they disappear, I think everyone is pleased to receive them.”

“I agree. With an aroma this good, anyone exhausted from work would be tempted to take one.”

Pleased by their answers, Estelle took a bite.

Ren and Licia followed, and still-warm cream spilled from inside the buns.

“Are these from the shop along the main avenue, by any chance?”

“Hm? You know it?”

“My friend Sera told me about it. I had been curious to try one.”

“And how does it taste?”

“I-It is delicious!”

“Good. I will tell the owner.”

The flavor naturally softened Licia’s expression, and Ren savored it as well.

After finishing her bun, Licia straightened her posture. The sudden encounter and Estelle’s imposing presence had delayed her introduction.

“Forgive my late introduction. I am Licia Clausel.”

“Indeed. You probably already know, but I am Estelle Osloes Drake. His Majesty has entrusted several territories to me and granted me the rank of count.”

Estelle continued.

“It appears you have not brought an escort, Licia.”

“No. The Imperial Capital is safe, and Ren is with me.”

At other times Weiss might accompany her, and when she went out with Sera, guards from House Riohard sometimes joined them. Estelle listened and enjoyed the last bite of her bun.

“Come to think of it——I have heard about you too, Ren.”

“About me?”

“You have already reached Swordmaster rank at such a young age, have you not? I also saw you having your way with my beloved subordinates the other day.”

“S-Sorry for the trouble I caused…”

“What trouble? I was the one who interrupted their morning training, and you had your way with them because my subordinates were weak. Ha… I am sure it was excellent stimulation for them.”

Estelle had, in fact, been surprised immediately after returning home.

She had never expected the knights who guarded the Lion’s Holy Office in her absence to grow lax, but they were even more driven than she had imagined.

It was obvious that the young talents Ren and Licia had played a part.

“Keep giving them opponents to measure themselves against.”

The three went on to discuss many things.

Estelle seemed especially curious about Radius during her absence and questioned Ren in detail about how the two of them had met.

They also discussed Ren and Licia’s swordsmanship.

“I heard that Edgar has taught both of you the sword.”

“Yes. But Edgar-san seems busy lately, so I have hardly seen him either. I suppose you knew him after all.”

“Only to the extent that we have crossed paths at the Lion’s Holy Office as fellow practitioners of the Mighty Sword Style.”

She had spoken with Ulysses only a handful of times as well.

Ulysses had once handled military affairs, but they had belonged to different departments. Both were extremely busy, so they had never developed any notable connection. They might have attended the same conference room, but little more.

In other words, they knew each other primarily by reputation.

Ren and Licia had come to swing their swords, but they found their conversation with Estelle so informative that they became absorbed in it.

After they had talked for about an hour,

“It is getting late. You two should head home.”

They would normally have trained until later, but today was different.

Both knew Estelle still had work to do, so they nodded and bowed.

“Thank you for making time for us today.”

“I look forward to seeing you again at the Lion’s Holy Office.”

“Likewise. Take care on your way home.”

Estelle remained seated as she watched them leave.

Even after their backs had grown small in the distance, she continued staring after them with narrowed eyes.

“——Now then, what am I to do?”

The emotion behind her murmur—and even what she truly meant—was never revealed.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

After the holiday, the organizing committee’s work began in earnest, and Ren became exceedingly busy.

The committee gathered the students representing each event and worked with the teachers to prepare the events requiring internal selection trials.

As those days gradually passed, tension began to build throughout the academy.

The selection of representatives for the Lion King Grand Festival, scheduled for early July, was approaching. The martial arts tournament in particular drew everyone’s attention, perhaps because it was considered the festival’s showpiece.

“The third- and fourth-year students are impressive, but Leonaal-senpai is on another level! He will definitely be selected!”

“How many representatives are allowed in the martial arts tournament again?”

“Wasn’t it four? Up to four from each school, regardless of age. I think that is what the rules said.”

As Ren walked through the corridor during lunch, he heard such conversations everywhere.

(Strictly speaking, the school that produced the previous champion gets one extra entrant. The normal limit is three.)

Leaning against the corridor window frame, he silently corrected them.

He had not the slightest intention of debating whether the rule was good or bad.

In any case, the Imperial Military Academy had won the Lion King Grand Festival’s martial arts tournament for the past several decades.

That was only natural, in a sense.

(It would be strange for students from a prestigious academy famous even abroad to lose.)

This was the renowned Imperial Military Academy. If Special Class students lost to peers from other schools, it would call the academy’s very prestige into question.

“Still, my favorite is Ashton!”

“Right! If Ashton enters, he is guaranteed a place as a representative!”

Voices from students who knew Ren’s strength joined the discussion—most likely members of the Special Class.

Ren was pleased that they supported him, but he had never intended to enter the Lion King Grand Festival and could only smile wryly as he looked outside.

“Hey, Ashton.”

A familiar voice reached Ren as he listened to the surrounding conversations.

It came from directly beside him, so he turned toward it.

Kaito Leonaal stood there in a casual outfit, without his uniform jacket.

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