Chapter 15- Altia’s magic tool

The training hall that Ren visited was that training hall that is also used for swordsmanship classes.

The training hall is now used as a preparation area for students participating in martial arts competitions, and the large door is open.

“You’re the one who put out your hand!』

“Oh, and how dare you ask me to apologize for that? 』

“Wh-You’re the one who put your hands on me first! 』

When Ren stepped to the spot where the tussle had broken out, he attracted even more attention.

The same was true for the committee members’ visit, and for Ren’s appearance, which was rumored to have been the result of an incident in a first-year class.

“What’s wrong?”

When Ren called out to them, those who had been arguing told him the reason in a hoarse voice.

“They’ve been making accusations against us.”

“That’s right! They said we bumped into them on purpose and all that!”

“I see. So, those of you over there are, um, —-.”

“They threw their protective gear and it hit my bag. I wanted to complain because my bag contains the equipment that I will use in the selection process. My friends are watching me, too.”

“There’s no doubt about it. It was obviously thrown at us.”

“I see. So that’s what happened.”

The two continue to excite each other. Finally, they became so angry that they almost grabbed each other’s collars. Since both were seniors, their feelings toward the Lion King Festival were probably stronger than the first years.

“The one who hit me from behind first was that guy!”

The student who had thrown his protective gear was shouting.

“I told you I was sorry about that! As you can see, the training ground is crowded with people and things! Someone pushed me too, and I ran into both of you!”

“I doubt that! How will I know if you didn’t do it on purpose!?”

As Ren listens to the story, he thinks to himself, “That’s not very nice!” but he doesn’t forget that it’s his job to stop them.

But the two sides quickly crossed a certain line and finally —-

“You guys, don’t pick a fight with us just because you lost in the qualifying rounds.”

“Wha—- this! If you’re going to go far…”

Both of them pick up weapons with smashed blades for training.

“—- Senpai.”

And Ren was gentle.

He intervened at the moment both struggling students were in the act of swinging their swords up, but before they could even make a single swing.

Just before the two swords were about to rise above their waists,

“……?”

“Was that…?”

The two swords rolled over with a clang.

They didn’t even know when they were swinging the sword, it was so fast.

The only thing that was clear to those who were watching was that Ren had done something, but that was about all that could be known. The only thing that remained was the fact that the rumored first-year student had easily overpowered the seniors without showing any of his abilities.

“No one can be happier than that.”

Ren, who had been standing between the two for some time, then returned the sword he had just swung to its owner —-, though this sword was lent by the academy, to the student who was carrying it at his waist.

“I know how passionate you all are about the Lion King Grand Festival. Not to mention the ambition and enthusiasm of those who have enrolled in this academy.”

When the struggling students fell silent, Ren exhaled again. The pressure he had been exerting has vanished as if it were a lie.

He continued,

“I think this time it was more like an accident of coincidence. Please calm down a little more.”

“Oh…..”

“Yeah…. maybe…”

The two representatives on both sides replied and spoke in a small voice that they were sorry to the other party.

Was that too much of a show of force? Ren wondered to himself if Radius would have been able to stop them with just his mouth.

Ren looked at the entrance to the training grounds to see what was going on and to wait for the instructors to arrive.

Almost at the same time, the sound of a gentle bell echoed through the training hall.

(—- this sound)

Ren heard the familiar sound of the bell and thought that they were coming.

Hearing the bell, the students who had just been stopped by Ren became even less angry. Several teachers arrive in quick succession, and upon seeing Ren, they step to his side.

“Ashton, I see you’ve stopped the fight. I see swords lying at the feet of the students over there. What kind of fight was it?”

“If that’s the case, it was an attempt, since I stopped it. And even if they had raised it, they might have only intended to hold it up. So basically, it was an argument.”

“Fufu…..Are you paying attention to the seniors because it’s a festival that happens once every two years?”

Ren doesn’t answer, but tilts his head and tries to fawn over it.

The teachers knew what he meant and had no intention of asking any more questions.

The teachers would take care of the rest, regardless of Ren’s feelings.

“I’m going to go now. Please call me if you need anything.”

“I understand. Thank you for your hard work as a member of the executive committee.”

Ren thus moved his feet to leave the training hall.

As he turned away, one of the students who had lost his cool earlier came up to him. He looked embarrassed and thanked Ren for stopping him earlier.

“I know you get excited about this once-every-two-years festival, but please be careful.”

The second-year student understood, though he told him so with a wry smile.

Now Ren was like,

—-There won’t be a next time, you know.

It sounded like he was saying that, and unintentionally made him utter another apology, “I’m sorry”.

The second-year student said nothing more and sent Ren off, feeling as if he were directing a pressure that would cut through an entire body, even though he didn’t have a sword in his hand.

Ren was bathed in the wind as he left the training grounds.

The air outside was slightly chilly as night approached. This was helping to cool down the heat that had just been generated for him now.

“My friends called me to come over and I’m surprised!”

As he was cooling down, a girl standing by the doorway to the training grounds called out to Ren from behind.

“The rumored classmate stopping the seniors, and that classmate is affected by any of Nemu’s magical tools.”

“Isn’t that a coincidence…?”

“Hmmm, Ashton, you doubt the effect of my magic tools.”

“No way. I don’t doubt the quality of the magic tools made by the daughter of the Altia family. The sound of that bell probably has a calming effect on people, doesn’t it?”

“You are indeed a valedictorian, Ashton-kun!”

Ren, who had been praised, turned to the owner of the voice.

The girl standing by the doorway of the training ground was a short girl with an uneven body. She was wearing a large hooded jacket over her uniform and a thick belt with a test tube or some kind of tool attached to it around her waist.

Her face is rather young, but it is easy to imagine that she is cute and eye-catching.

“This is the first time we’re talking, right?

“I guess so! But Nemu knew about you, Ashton. You’re a valedictorian and talks a lot with Licia and Sarah and Vane!”

Her name is Nemu, as she says herself. Her family name is Altia.

The Altias are the ancestors of the Seven Heroes, who designed the Grand Clock Tower of Elendil, and also had a hand in managing the information on the guild cards.

Nemu, who approached Ren, was also a descendant of the Seven Heroes and had considerable skills as a magic tool craftsman, and she was a staunch supporter in the party with Vane at the center.

“How did you do it? It’s a wonder you weren’t affected by Nemu’s magic tool in the slightest.”

“I don’t know how, but you said so yourself, right?”

“Yes. The sound of that bell has a calming effect on those who hear it. I said it might be a coincidence, but you were calm from the beginning.”

“Me?”

“…… So you’re saying it didn’t work because you didn’t need to calm down?”

“That’s all I can think of.”

Ren didn’t give any further explanation and didn’t try to talk too long.

He had the idea of being considerate because they were from the heroic noble family, but he had to go quickly because the executive committee members had not finished their work yet.

Ren said, “Well then,” and left Nemu.

Nemu, who remained alone, watched Ren’s back as he walked away,

“It’s strange. It was a lot of pressure for a long time, even though it didn’t have any effect.”

She went to her friend, wondering and twisting her head.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Ren attended classes as usual and did his work as a committee member.

As those days went by, the preliminary rounds were over for several events, including the oratorical competition.

The committee members had been working even during their lunch break until today, but it has finally started to settle down.

The preliminary selections for the martial arts and other competitions are still ongoing, but still.

Nearly two weeks had passed since the preliminary rounds began to be held after school.

Ren, who wasn’t attending the afternoon swordsmanship class, stepped into the small room of the executive committee members to make good use of the time.

His bag was stuffed with assignments given to him by teachers of various subjects.

“Hello, Ren-kun.”

Fiona, alone in the room, was also working on her own assignments.

Radius and Mirei were nowhere to be seen. When Ren met them this morning, they had said they would be absent from the academy due to official business.

However, it seems that they will be here after school when the committee members begin their work.

“Can I study here too?”

“I’m not supposed to say no.”

Seeing Fiona’s cheeks relax with a smile, Ren sat down in the seat opposite her.

On the table, in addition to the reference books and other materials already spread out by Fiona, there were other materials from the executive committee members that he usually uses.

“Ren-kun? Isn’t Licia-sama here?”

“If you’re asking about Licia-sama, she has official business in Elendil, so she is absent from the academy today. By the way, Radius is also absent on official issues. He is going on a day trip on a magic boat.”

“Does that mean that Mirei-san is also going on a day trip?”

“Yes.”

She stares at Ren as he tries to do his assignment as usual, and her cheeks turn a little red so that Ren will not notice.

She abruptly stood up and said, “I’m going to go open the window,” hiding her face.

“So it’s just me and Re-Ren-kun till school is over….!”

Then, after opening the window, she muttered so that Ren couldn’t hear her.

The heartbeat in her chest, which was already beginning to beat fast, she could feel it speeding up once again.

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