Chapter 26- The Lion King Festival begins

The day before the Great Festival of the Lion King began, on a morning when the academy was closed.

“If it’s just a little bit, it might be usable.”

Ren, who had also come to the forest to train with a new technique.

After finishing his training with the flame magic sword, he looked at the bracelet next to the monsters that had attacked him. He had been training for a new skill and fighting the monsters that attacked him, so he had accumulated a certain amount of skill.

As for the iron magic sword.

Iron Magic Sword (Level 3: 4400/4500)

The number is just right for the next level.

Unlike the wooden magic sword, the Iron magic Sword had a lot of proficiency required to level up from the beginning. Ren remembers that it took a lot of effort to even get to this point. So when he thought that he would soon be able to level up, his cheeks naturally relaxed.

(I wonder if the Iron Magic Sword will evolve soon.)

I wonder what it will be called when it evolves.

Just imagining it makes my spirits soar.

But that’s all for today. It has been quite some time since I left town, and it would be bad if I got injured before the Lion King Festival.

Ren calmly thought about this and then returned to Io’s side.

“Io, let’s go home.”

“Hihin! 』

It has already been nearly two hours since the sun rose.

He tied up the hunted monsters with a rope, carried it, and rode Io as it was. Io didn’t mind the weight and began to walk as usual.

He passed through the forest and proceeded along the road.

He was about to return to Elendil, stop by the guild, and then head back to the mansion when he heard a voice.

“Hey, Ren.”

It was on the way there that Estelle called out to him.

On the main street amidst the morning bustle.

“Good morning. What brings you to Elendil today?”

“I’m off duty, so I thought I’d get some fresh air. It is crowded in the capital, so I came to Elendil where there are fewer people.”

But, unlike usual, Elendil is also very crowded. But it’s still a lot better than the capital.

“What happened to you, Ren? Did you leave town just to come swing your sword?”

“Yes, something like that.”

A deceitful Ren asked Estelle.

Because they had met in Elendil like this before.

“Estelle-sama, what kind of work do you usually do?”

“Me? I am checking the work that comes into the Holy Lion’s Sanctuary and managing the knights. For a person who holds the position of director, I do a lot of field work.”

“I see. So that’s why you are usually busy.”

Estelle said with a sigh, “I’m back home, but I can’t spend time with my husband because of all the work I’m doing” Even the minister needs to take a break. I can understand why she would want to walk outside like this.

(I wonder if her husband is in the capital.)

I can tell from her demeanor that she and her husband are on good terms. And yet, when she walks the streets alone on her days off, Ren’s prediction may not be far off the mark. Or maybe Estelle’s husband was also busy and their holidays didn’t match. ……

“Fuwaaa…..”

Estelle let out a yawn.

“Even though I’m off duty, I still have to go to the Holy Lion’s Sanctuary in the afternoon —-By the way, Ren, how’s your swords skill been since then?”

“So-so.”

“…… hmmm. I heard you had some kind of change of heart.”

“Huh? How did you know?”

“Unlike the other day, you seem to have a sunny expression on your face. And so did the fact that you answered without hesitation.”

Ren chuckled and scratched his cheek.

In fact, he was in better shape than before because of a lot of things. Satisfied with the way Ren was looking, Estelle looked at her watch and then turned to walk toward the Hanging Garden to return to the imperial capital.

She turned her back to Ren…

“I have to go. Be encouraged, young man.”

“I understand. Have a safe trip back to the capital.”

“Hmph… who do you think you are talking to?”

Estelle said over her back, raising one hand and waving it lightly.

“The essence of the hard sword is “Star Killer and look up at the black,” as the lion king said in the battlefield. If you want to become a sword saint, you must never forget this.”

After saying this, she walked away from Ren. He looked at her, ruminating over what she had just said.

Estelle, on the other hand, walks alone on the busy streets of Elendil,

“He’s a strange boy—- he’s getting stronger every time I see him, as if he were a different person.”

She smiled happily and muttered.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The beginning of a new week.

Klonoa looked around at the students gathered in the main auditorium and said

“Everyone, as a student of this academy, you must enjoy yourselves in a moderate manner! Don’t forget to thank those who have worked so hard for this festival!”

As soon as she had said that, she snapped her fingers.

All the doors leading out of the main auditorium were opened at once, and a large number of students stood up in high spirits.

“Welcome and Good luck everyone!”

A voice similar to a cheer echoed through the auditorium.

The Lion King Grand Festival, which begins today, will be held at venues all over the capital, and they will be crowded. In particular, the Imperial Grand Arena, where the martial arts tournament will be held, is expected to fill the huge hall with spectators.

“Oh! Let’s go, let’s go! 』

Kaito Leonardo, seated with the second-year students.

“Let’s go, Vane! 』

“Ah! 』

Sarah Riohard and Vane near Ren and Licia.

The students competing in the martial arts competition left the main auditorium, attracting a lot of attention, especially from the students who were competing in the other competitions. However, the students participating in the other competitions also carried expectations without losing sight of them.

They are going to each venue with their chests out as representatives of the institute.

Today, none of the students wanted to stay in the auditorium to talk to each other.

—-This was the first morning so far.

The location has changed, right next to the section of the Imperial Capital where the study halls are lined up.

The plaza there is usually lined with food stalls for students, but during this Lion King’s Grand Festival, it was different. Unlike usual, the headquarters of each dormitory prepared by the Lion King’s Grand Festival management was located there.

“This will be our headquarters,”

Radius said.

This was a simple building, but it was reasonably sturdy and soundproofed to the extent that once inside, one could not hear the voices outside very well. The fact that there is also furniture and a small kitchen for work use shows the high level of convenience. At first glance, the structure resembled a small private home.

Once everyone was seated, Radius continued.

“Basically, this is where we will work. But there will be no more work than during the preparation period. We will stay at this headquarters from today onward.”

From today onward, we will remain here at the headquarters and work even harder behind the scenes than before.

“There may be times when students who are participating in the competition may come to you with questions, and there may be times when teachers will contact you with some matters to share. But we have already prepared the necessary supplies at each venue, and the teachers are there, so there is not much work for us to do on site.”

However, there are a few jobs to be done, because it is not zero.

That is what the headquarters is for, and the executive committee members are stationed there for that purpose.

“I’m going to take some time off after this. I was going to ask Ren to work at the venue of the martial arts tournament. I want all three of you, except me and Ren, to work here.”

He says that the section of the building where this headquarters is lined up is well guarded. He says that HE is there, and that there are also knights of the Holy Lion’s Sanctuary in the area.

There is no need to worry, since there will be some of the Ignat escorts in hiding anyway,…….

“Radius, would you like me to escort you along the way?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got a lot on my mind this time, and I’ve decided to take Estelle with me. She should be waiting for me near this square.”

“…… oh.”

Then he doesn’t need me.

Ren chuckled involuntarily.

“Ren, you had plans to talk to Ulysses and the others, as I recall. If that’s the case, it would be easier for you to work over there.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“I don’t mind. I’m usually in my position to take care of everyone.  There is also our academy’s preparation room there, so you can do your work there. I have prepared a memo of what you need to do there.”

Radius said and quickly left the headquarters.

Ren looked at Mirei after seeing him off. She immediately knew what Ren meant and spoke up.

“If it’s something like this, I’ll leave it to you nya. Ren-dono should have no problem working alone in the Imperial Capital Great Arena, so you don’t have to worry about that either.”

“I understand. Then, I’ll leave the headquarters to you.”

“L-Leave it to me nya.”

“So, Licia-sama, Fiona-sama, I’m going to the Imperial Capital Grand Arena.”

Then, the two ladies looked at Ren and smiled.

“Have a nice day and take care.”

“We’ll be over here, so if you have any trouble, please call us anytime!”

After exchanging a few words with them, Ren put the unnecessary luggage on a shelf in the headquarters.

He mouthed the words “I’m off” once again and stepped outside, squinting in the brilliant sunlight.

As he walked around the plaza, he noticed a slight perspiration floating on the ground,

“It’s summer already!”

I felt like it was spring just a few days ago, but I couldn’t help but laugh at the thought that it was already summer.

The footsteps to the arena are even lighter than usual.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The arena was already crowded.

The spectators were excited because the memorable first match would soon be held. The heat of the summer wasn’t to be outdone by the excitement of the spectators.

Ren was on the first floor of the arena, in the connecting corridor leading to the arena.

There was a preparation room next to the connecting corridor for the use of the committee members and faculty members of each school.

Ren, who had just left there, was watching the representatives of each school.

(Everyone is nervous.)

Among them, Ren turned his attention to one boy sitting on a bench.

Even Vane, a boy full of courage, was nervous about representing a prestigious school at such a huge event.

After all, he will be competing in the opening round of the tournament right after this.

The usual person to be by his side, Sarah, was not here as he was getting ready for his turn to go on the field soon.

“It’s okay…. just do what you can. You’ve been working hard since you left the village. Show them what you’ve done —- Vane.”

I thought I heard Vane muttering.

Ren looked at Vane, then went back inside the preparation room and emptied a wooden box placed in the preparation room. The drinks in the containers were cold because of the magic tools inside the crate.

It is not Ren’s job to distribute these.

It is the job of the teachers of swordsmanship and other classes, but Ren, who took one of them in his hand, once again left the preparation room.

He approached Vane and sat down next to him.

“You’d better have a few drinks before you go.”

“R-Ren! Why are you here?”

“I guess it’s part of my job as a committee member.”

“Ah… so that’s why.”

Vane took a sip of the drink he received from Ren. The next time he opened his mouth wide, this time he gulped it down at once.

“Haha… it’s really cold.”

Vane, whose throat was dry due to tension, seems to have loosened a little from the exchange just now.

Sitting next to Vane, Ren began to think about what to say next.

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