Kays Translations

Chapter 3: Klonoa seems to be asking for something

Ren can still vividly recall the day he first visited the Holy Lion’s Sanctuary.

On that day, Ren met Edgar in the capital, and he guided him to the Holy Lion’s Sanctuary.

Ren remembers that his surprise and interest in stepping into a space he hadn’t been allowed to enter in the legend of the Seven Heroes was easily forgotten in front of the sheer power of the hard sword technique.

Ren's feelings haven’t changed since the time he witnessed the Hard sword technique demonstrated by Edgar. In fact, it was no exaggeration to say that he feels even more strongly about honing his skills than he did back then.

The commotion last summer only made Ren's desire to grow stronger.

Early in the morning, Ren and Licia were swinging their swords at the Lion's Holy Sanctuary before going to the academy.

"Haa...... haa......huh!"

When Ren, exhausted, collapsed in a heap, Licia came to his side. She squats down next to Ren and hands him a cold towel.

“Are you going to be able to make it to class?"

“Please leave it to me, I'm okay!”

“Good. Okay, so today's morning practice----."

"...... I’ll rest a little and then we'll finish up again."" ---- No, you won't. If you do that much, you might fall asleep in class, okay?"

Licia’s index finger reaches Ren’s forehead.

Tiny particles of light gushed out from her fingertips, gradually healing the fatigue that had taken up residence in Ren's entire body.

“I think you know, but it’s not so you can swing the sword again."

“---- why did you say what I wanted to say?”

“Because it's what you think, Ren.”

Licia, smiling as if she had no choice, stood up and helped Ren to his feet.

With her help, Ren stood up, took another breath, and looked at the morning sun shining through the glass of the ceiling.

It was still before dawn when he came here, but it seemed a long time had passed.

“You two have been in high spirits today, haven't you?”

“I think back to the commotion at the Grand Clock Tower. It was even more spirited than when Ren-dono said that night, 'I will become such a lion that I will overpower all my enemies’.”

"Oh dear, really, we adults are the ones who die first. You two have inexhaustible stamina."

The two of them, Ren and Licia, left the training ground in the basement while the knights were throwing such words at them.

If they didn’t bathe quickly and get ready to go to the academy, they would be late.

While they were going to take a bath, Licia spoke. A dainty smile appeared on her face.

"Oh, Ren. I'm so sorry, I didn't realize you were talking about becoming a lion in front of the one who has the blood of the lion king.”

“...... I guess I was all sorts of fired up at the time.”

But even then, no one would have kicked Ren's words out as irreverent, and no one would now.

The words of a lion in this lion's sanctuary have a strong meaning that is rare even in this imperial capital.

Nevertheless, Ren's words were respected.

This is due in large part to the speed of Ren's growth and his attitude toward training.

The knights of the Lion’s Holy Sanctuary are generally described as monsters or a handful of elites, but Ren and Licia are so full of talent that these knights doubt their own talents, and Ren in particular is a man of talent. --

Licia, who had been smiling at Ren's embarrassed words, said.

"As I thought, the road to becoming a sword saint is long."

She touched on the position Ren is currently aiming for.

Ren, who stands as a great swordsman, next aims to become a sword saint. Licia has known this for a long time, and she herself spends her days following Ren's lead.

“I have been a swordsman for almost a year now, but this is the biggest wall I have ever faced."

“...... In any school, the hardest part is going from swordsman to sword saint."

“I think that's true, but it's also significant that the school is a hard sword school."

Furthermore, there is a large gap in ability between sword saints and sword kings, as the only one who stands above them is the sword king.

Ren also knows that there is a considerable difference in ability between the upper and lower ranks of sword saints.

.“If Ren continues to get stronger and stronger, I wonder if he will one day become the Sword King.

“The Sword King is a monster, and I don't think it's realistic for me to get that kind of strength. ----“

I remember the last time I witnessed such strength during the Great Clock Tower riot.

If it had been Ren from before.... it would have been absolutely impossible! That attitude may have been shown.

But now, it’s a little different.

“If at the end of my sword refining I become a sword saint.... I'd think about it.”

I could have been strong enough to say this much.

Licia, hearing this next to her, was momentarily perplexed and immediately mouthed, "Me too”.

“So for that, one step at a time.”

“So first of all.... Sword saint?”

“I mean. Every day I'm trying to improve my cloaking skill and become a sword saint, but there's a ridiculously high and solid wall standing in my way, so you can look forward to it, Licia-sama.''

Ren made Licia laugh by jokingly uttering threatening words.

(If I could use that battle technique, there would be more situations where I could take advantage of it in battle.)

He exhaled as he recalled the proof of sword sainthood in hard swordsmanship.

After taking a hot bath and joining Licia, he headed to the Imperial Military Academy, feeling physically tired.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

After the morning classes were over.

There was an assembly at the Imperial Military Academy for all the students. In other words, not only the new students, but also the fourth-year students of the highest grade were present.

The venue was the main auditorium, which was also used for the entrance ceremony, and there were many students around the entrances set up at each level. The hall was crowded with the voices of those who were chatting here before the assembly began.

“I really appreciate the help you gave me, Ren... I think I can handle my next assignment now."

It was Vane who said so. He was the boy who had played many roles as the hero in the legend of the Seven Heroes, and he was considered the only one who had inherited the blood of the brave Ruin.

Ren, walking next to him, looked as if he had no choice.

“Make sure you review too, because if you don't review properly, you'll soon forget.”

“Yeah, I know...... but that class is too difficult. Why is it so complicated?”

“I can only tell you that's just the way it is.”

“Ku ...... that's right! I'd like to know how you studied!”

The two have known each other since before they entered the school and have had many opportunities to talk like this since they entered the school.

The relationship wasn’t as deep as that of best friends, but they are good friends in their own way.

Just now, Ren was using his lunch break to teach Vane a lesson that he said he didn't understand. Vane had a notebook in his hand because of this.

“I think if you do about ten rounds of the reference book, you should be able to remember most of it.”

“.....You're kidding, right?”

“No, I'm serious. I'm not a very good learner, so I've learned more things simply by doing them by number.”

That being said, there were some areas where Ren was an exception because of his ability to remember things.

And this is not the case when he and Licia were taught by Fiona.

Nevertheless, Ren prefers to learn by doing. He wasn’t a fool, as he did quite well on the written exam.

“Since the Valedictorian says so. It must be true.”

“I'd prefer it if I could learn something else dexterously.”

“Not really. I'd have to work harder too.”

They stepped into the main auditorium as they talked.

As they were making their way down the stairs to their seats in the first year class, they asked themselves.

“I wonder what kind of meeting we're going to have today.”

『There are upperclassmen here, so it's got to be that one, right?』

"What's that? What are you talking about?』

I could hear the voices of the same first-year students.

Some of them seemed to have guessed the purpose of this meeting, and Ren also secretly muttered, "Surely it's only that one”.

Vane, on the other hand, seemed to have no idea what was going on and was twisting his head.

Then…

“Vane!”

Ren and Vane turned their heads at the sudden sound of a female student's voice.

The one they saw was Sarah Riohard. She’s the daughter of a heroic noble family who has been in friendship with Licia since they crossed swords when they were children.

She was apparently waiting at the table where she and Vane were sitting.

“My seat is over there, see you later.”

Ren parted with Vane there.

“Ah! Thank you for helping me study earlier!”

“That's enough of that. See you later.”

The next seat is the one that Licia is sitting next to.

The seat was two rows further forward.

A few minutes after Ren had a small talk with Licia, the auditorium became quiet.

The students all closed their mouths at once when they saw the dean of the school, Klonoa Hyland, walking to the podium with a "kon, kon" sound in her footsteps.

Her shiny hair, which reminded them of golden threads, shook as she walked.

“I've asked you here today to talk about a number of things."

Klonoa smiled with her exquisitely shaped beauty as she spoke to the entire student body gathered in the main auditorium.

Many of the male students seemed to be admiring her appearance.

“First, let's start with the new students ----."

She first touched on the lifestyle of the new students and talked about how they were adjusting to life at the institute.

Next, she talked about the second and third years, and finally the fourth year, the highest grade. After talking about life at the institute, Klonoa told everyone about a few things, including some minor announcements.

A dozen minutes had passed since Klonoa took the podium.

The students, regardless of the year, began to fidget.

"Fufu..."

Klonoa, who realized this from the podium, looked on with a smile on her face.

It was a gentle and kind smile.

“Don’t worry. I'll tell you exactly what everyone is looking forward to.”

But she also remembered to warn them lightly, holding up her index finger and gently pressing it to her lips.

Klonoa mentioned a few things to talk about next, "Then ----," she prefaced, and began to tell the story that the fidgeting students had wanted to hear.

"---- this year we have the biennial Great Festival of the Lion King, so we need to start getting ready!"

Wow! Loud voices echoed from all levels.

Klonoa didn’t pay any attention to this, but smiled and told the rest of the story.

As Ren listened to the story, he nodded his head and said "I knew it" without saying it out loud.

(I think it started in the first week of July, right?)

The Lion King Festival that Klonoa mentioned is a large-scale event held in the capital. It’s a competition in which students from schools in the capital gather to compete in a variety of fields.

Students representing various schools compete in numerous fields, such as magic, swords, and oratory. ----

The Lion King Grand Festival, held once every two years, is a major event that attracts people from home and abroad.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

On that night, a letter from Ulysses arrived at the Clausel family mansion.

Since the letter was addressed to Ren, he immediately checked its contents upon receiving it.

After reading the letter, Ren left his room and went to Lessard’s. Licia was also there, which was convenient for Ren.

“Ren? What's wrong?"

“I thought it would be a good idea to tell you both about the letter I received from Ulysses-sama just now.”

Ren walked over to them in the office and briefly told them about the contents of the letter.

The letter reads: "I would like you to have some time off during the Lion King Festival. But if you are going to participate in the competition, you can give priority to that”.

“Did it say why?”

“Yes. He said he would let me know as soon as he had a decision, but that was about it.”

“I see. ...... So, what are your thoughts on this, Ren?”

“I want to give priority to Ulysses-sama’s invitation.”

With Ren's ability, he’s sure to win the students' competition.

But, strangely enough, he wasn’t inclined to participate. Moreover, it was natural that he wanted to cherish the friendship with the strongman more than the honors to be gained from the competition.

“Then, you will not participate in the competition same as me, right?”

“Eh? Licia-sama is not participating in the competition?”

“Yes. Since my father became a viscount, he has been approached by many people. During the Lion King Grand Festival, there are many guests, so I thought I would join him in greeting them."

“...... I told you not to mind.”

“No. It's an important time for the Clausel family to consolidate its ground, and I have to be there.”

When it comes down to it, as for Ren, he wouldn’t have participated in the competition even without Ulysses' words. It is more important for him to escort Lessard and Licia by their side.

“But is that all right? It's the Lion King's Grand Festival, so Licia-sama should have fun too."

Licia shakes her head, "No," she says. Her expression didn’t reveal any special feelings about participating in the competition at the Lion King Grand Festival.

“I want to enjoy the festival, but the Festival of the Lion King lasts for a week, right? So I would be fine if I could go with you and look around when I have time.”

“I understand. I'd be happy to join you then.”

"But are you sure you don't mind? Won’t you like to show off your refined sword skill.”

“I didn’t polish my sword skill because I want to show them off.”

Besides, Ulysses, to whom Ren has often been indebted, went out of his way to send the letter.

It would be a wrong choice not to give priority to friendship with the strongman at this point.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The next day at lunchtime.

“And that's why!”

In front of Ren, who had been summoned to the dean's office, it was Klonoa who crossed her arms, puffing out her chest and saying.

Licia, who had been told that she could come with him, was smiling with a troubled look on her face along with Ren.

“Klonoa-san, what do you mean by that?”

"Yeah, I'll explain! Ren-kun and Licia-chan, look! Let's talk slowly over there!"

They walked to the dean's office and sat down on the sofa, as prompted by Klonoa.

“The two of you, have you gotten used to this Academy?”

Ren winked at Licia and she was the first to answer.

“I’m just starting to get used to it thanks to Klonoa-sama and all the faculty members.”

“Me too. The classes are also very informative and fulfilling.”

Hearing their true feelings, Klonoa smiled brightly and said, "I'm glad”.

“Then let's get down to business. I have a quick question I'd like to discuss with you both."

"...... oh."

"Uwaa... don't make such a bothersome face...."

“Excuse me. When I hear that I am consulted by one of the world's greatest wizards, I get nervous about what kind of a challenge it might be.”

“Don't worry! I'm the dean! I won't force myself to do anything unreasonable to a pretty student!"

“I'm sorry, I misunderstood you.”

Klonoa reached into the inside pocket of her robe and pulled out a sheet of paper.

She said, "Please take it, Licia-chan," and without hesitation, Licia and Ren looked at the words on the paper.

“This is about the Great Festival of the Lion King.”

Ren said.

The paper contains the schedule of the Festival of the Lion King as well as detailed information about the competitions in which students from this academy will participate.....

However, it hasn’t yet been decided who will participate in which competitions.

The number of participants in each event is limited, so the Imperial Military Academy will hold an event to decide who will represent the academy over time.

“I'm happy to say that since we are a prestigious school, students generally participate in one of the competitions. Thanks to you, I don't have a problem with participants.”

“I think. But I and Licia-sama weren't going to participate."

"Really? You weren't going to participate?”

Usually, you would be more pleased to hear that they will participate in some sort of competition.

Especially if you are the dean of a prestigious academy, you would especially want a gem like Ren and Licia, who will go down in history, not just generations, to participate.

And yet, Klonoa had a quick, bright expression on her face as she leaned forward on the table!

“Is it okay with you, Klonoa-sama, if Ren and I don't participate?”

“No, it's fine! We allow complete freedom of participation, and it's no fun to force people to participate!　I want you two to enjoy the festival, but I'm not going to tell you to participate, so don't worry!”

“Ah… thank you. So why were you so happy?”

When Licia said so, Klonoa let out a sight.

She had a tired expression that made her feel the hardships of her daily life.

“...... because it pertains to the consultation I wanted to have with you both."

The two of them, waiting for the rest of the story with a puzzled look on their faces, didn’t look away from Klonoa, who spoke in a heavier tone than usual.

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