Kays Translations

Chapter 4: A Convenient Arrangement for Ren and Licia

Chronois spoke apologetically, as though the words were difficult to say.

“Every time we hold the festival, we cannot find anyone who wants to join the organizing committee…”

That explanation was enough for Ren and Licia to understand much of the situation.

Chronois evidently wanted to ask for their help. She drew another sheet of paper from her robe and handed it to them.

The heading read, “Regarding the Lion King Grand Festival Preparatory and Organizing Committee.”

“So, for short, you mean the organizing committee?”

“Yes. Exactly as you imagined, Ren.”

The committee did not manage the entire Lion King Grand Festival. Its role was limited to coordinating the Imperial Military Academy’s participation.

Its members worked with the faculty to handle negotiations within the academy and organize the necessary information.

There would also be several duties on the day of the festival, but by then the workload would be lighter, so the role was unlikely to ruin Ren and Licia’s other plans.

“Do the teachers not announce this to the students and ask for volunteers?”

“Of course. Starting tomorrow, I will have the teachers recruit volunteers for several days… but I honestly have very little hope this year. That is why I called you here. If the two of you are willing, I hoped you might at least consider it.”

At that point, Ren still did not fully understand what Chronois had meant.

Licia appeared equally puzzled as she listened.

(Why? It is not as though every student will enter a competition.)

They would hear the answer several days later, after school in the same dean’s office.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Two days later.

As Chronois had said, the academy allowed time for students to volunteer for the organizing committee. Astonishingly, not a single person applied.

Ren wondered how that could happen in an academy with so many students.

“Everyone here chooses to enter the competitions, and the organizing committee is unpopular because it involves so much administrative work…”

Chronois explained with the same weary air as before while Ren and Licia sat on the same sofa they had occupied during their previous visit.

“But serving in such a position at this academy should have a positive effect on a student’s prospects after graduation.”

“Exactly! Until recently, I thought the same thing you do, Ren!”

Chronois spoke emphatically, but her expression remained gloomy.

“It truly does help. However, graduating from this academy already provides more than enough advantages. Because of that, many students would rather earn an excellent result in an actual competition…”

“I see. Even if they cannot represent the academy in their best discipline, they would rather enter an event without a limit on participants.”

“…Precisely.”

That tendency was especially pronounced in the Special Class. Its students had almost no reason to go out of their way to serve on the organizing committee.

The academy offered them many opportunities to demonstrate their value more effectively than committee work. Its students therefore paid no attention to the committee—or, more accurately, they were already working so desperately toward other goals that they had no time to join it.

Given the nature of the Imperial Military Academy, it was only natural for students to seek excellent results in the competitions.

In other words, the students were not doing anything wrong.

(That is why Chronois asked us.)

(Yes, it seems so.)

Ren and Licia exchanged a glance, silently shared the thought, and gave one another wry smiles before looking back at Chronois.

After reading the documents, Licia had reached the same conclusion as Ren: the committee work would not conflict with House Clausel’s obligations around the festival. She therefore left the response to him.

“May I ask how many students you usually recruit?”

Chronois moved very slowly.

Had her body been mechanical, every gear within it would have seemed to creak from the sluggish motion.

She rose and stood before the window through which the spring breeze entered.

Whenever the warm wind stirred her hair, a sweet floral fragrance spread through the room.

“…About ten.”

Ren’s and Licia’s cheeks twitched at the muttered answer.

Although Chronois could not see their faces, she sensed their reaction and hurriedly turned around.

“B-But it will be fine! The students on the committee mainly coordinate communication between other students. The faculty will handle things such as distributing materials and finalizing the schedule!”

“But if Lady Licia and I are the only students, that still leaves eight people…”

Ren’s observation was sharp—no, entirely ordinary.

Licia followed it with another concern.

“And Dean Chronois, more guests than ever will probably visit from both within Leomel and abroad this year…”

“Yes… The previous festival invited no guests and consisted only of student competitions.”

“What?”

Ren voiced the question that arose while listening to them.

“Was the previous Lion King Grand Festival different from the usual one?”

The festival Ren knew was an enormously lively event.

The last one should have occurred shortly before his first visit to the Imperial Capital. Even before becoming academy students, Vayne and Sera had watched the event, grown inspired, and resolved to work harder.

It was also an important event connected to Vayne’s awakening.

Those facts came only from Legend of the Seven Heroes, but Ren tilted his head at this unfamiliar development.

“It was because of the Baldor Mountains incident. Its consequences spread to the other academies as well, so as a precaution, that year’s festival was restricted to student events.”

“Ah, that explains why Lord Lessard never mentioned anything like this at the time.”

“Exactly. Many people consider this year’s festival the first true Lion King Grand Festival in four years.”

Four years earlier, at the festival before the last, Lessard had only recently been entrusted with Elendil and had little room to spare. Elendil, close to the Imperial Capital, became so crowded that nearly every inn filled, but forcing every related duty upon a man who had only just taken charge of a major city would have been unreasonable.

Imperial Castle officials and other nobles had therefore divided the necessary work among themselves.

“This is only my guess, but because this will be the first truly lively Lion King Grand Festival in so long, many students probably want to enjoy it with everything they have.”

That desire, combined with the nature of the academy, had produced a year with no volunteers.

“Now that you mention it, that makes sense. Between entering events and everything else, they probably have no room to serve on the committee.”

“Exactly! I expected something like this might happen at this year’s festival… but I never imagined we would receive zero applications…”

Considering those circumstances and the nature of the academy, Ren could understand.

Nearly everyone who enrolled there possessed an ambitious goal. Given what they had endured to overcome the difficult entrance examinations, their priorities were understandable.

(And from what she just said, this will effectively be Lord Lessard’s first time handling the Lion King Grand Festival.)

If so, Ren had no intention of withholding his cooperation.

Even as a student, he wanted to help however he could by serving on the organizing committee.

The results of that work could also improve House Clausel’s reputation.

“Chronois, this year’s Lion King Grand Festival sounds as though it will be extremely busy.”

“…It will be fine. If necessary, I will do the work of ten people.”

That was hardly realistic, but Chronois did have a proper plan.

She and the other faculty members could help. In fact, when too few students joined the committee, teachers sometimes made up half its membership.

The committee’s primary role was to coordinate the various parties and represent the students.

For that reason, it was considered better not to include too many teachers, but unavoidable situations did arise.

Failing to prepare for the Lion King Grand Festival would have been a far greater disgrace.

(But in Legend of the Seven Heroes, I think Chronois left the Imperial Capital during the festival, saying some important work had arisen.)

Ren remembered that such an event had occurred, though he did not know why.

He possessed no further information, so he set the matter aside for the time being.

“What do you think, Lady Licia?”

“I help with House Clausel’s work, and you sometimes assist with the paperwork too. I think we are more accustomed to administrative work than most people our age.”

Even so, they needed a few more members.

If they were to act as representatives of the student body, relying only on two first-years would be unsettling.

(Hmm…)

Ren considered the problem and looked up at the ceiling.

Then he remembered one condition they would need to place on accepting the role.

“Lady Licia and I would like to accept. However, there is something we need to discuss.”

Ren explained Ulysses’s request and House Clausel’s circumstances without concealing anything. Chronois immediately waved both hands in alarm. “I-I am sorry! Then please do not force yourselves!”

“No, it will be fine as long as we are given some time away on the day of the festival!”

“Exactly! If you permit Ren and me to leave occasionally, we would very much like to help!”

In truth, the arrangement was not a bad one for Ren and Licia.

Doing work connected to the Lion King Grand Festival, rather than limiting themselves to Ulysses’s request and House Clausel’s duties, would also benefit their futures.

It would unquestionably help them make their names known and form useful connections.

In other words, for two people with little interest in the competitions, the arrangement offered nothing but advantages.

They would become busier, but that was no serious problem as long as they retained some freedom to adjust their schedules.

“Besides, part of me thinks working behind the scenes may be more enjoyable.”

“I feel the same. Since it is such a special festival, I would be happy to take part in this way.”

“The preparation period is often the most enjoyable part of an event like this.”

After hearing their answer, Chronois smiled broadly, bowed deeply, and thanked them.

(But two people are nowhere near enough. We should discuss this on the way home.)

The fact that no one had volunteered during the recruitment period meant they could no longer expect anyone else to come forward on their own.

Ren therefore thought of a particular person and hoped that person had not yet left the academy.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

“That is the situation. Could you introduce me to anyone?”

“I do not know why your first thought was to ask me for an introduction rather than ask me to join.”

Ren had contacted Radius and found him in the garden on the academy rooftop.

“Huh? I can ask you to join?”

The two continued talking while gazing at the madder-red evening sky.

“What I do not understand is why that surprises you.”

“You are the Third Prince. Asking you to serve on the organizing committee felt inappropriate.”

“That has nothing to do with it.”

“Really? I also thought you might enter one of the competitions.”

“I would be lying if I said they did not interest me, but I have duties during the Lion King Grand Festival as well. I must speak with guests from other nations and, depending on who they are, guide them personally.”

Those obligations were why Radius had neither volunteered for the organizing committee nor intended to enter a competition.

However, he could not dismiss Ren’s invitation.

After borrowing Ren’s strength so many times, Radius had no hesitation about helping him.

“Are you truly sure? You still have duties as a member of the Imperial Family.”

“Do not concern yourself. I will not be occupied with official business at every moment, so I can handle the committee work as well.”

Radius seemed capable of completing every task perfectly, no matter how busy he became.

Ren decided that continuing to ask hesitantly would itself be rude, so he returned to his usual manner.

“Then will you help?”

“Leave it to me. That gives us three committee members.”

“I heard they usually have around ten. We are probably still short.”

“Perhaps. Still, I am certain the three of us could accomplish enough work.”

(Now that he says it, he may be right.)

With Radius involved, there was no doubt.

Even so, more help would be better. Ren and Licia both had times when they could not assist, and Ren had no intention of irresponsibly leaving everything to Radius.

Radius did seem capable of finishing it all alone, but—

(What sort of friend would that make me?)

Ren disliked the idea of inviting someone and then abandoning the work to him.

If he accepted the role, he wanted to fulfill it responsibly.

“Applications close at noon tomorrow, if I remember correctly. Since there are currently no volunteers, we will have to recruit our own companions. You intend to ask Fiona Ignat as well, do you not?”

“Yes. I looked for her before coming here, but Lady Fiona had already returned to the dormitory.”

As a young lady who studied beside Ulysses himself, Fiona would surely prove helpful.

However, she might have duties for House Ignat and lack the time to join the committee.

Ren admitted that concern.

“What are you talking about? Fiona would never refuse a request from you.”

“How can you be so certain?”

“Never mind. That was merely a private remark spoken loudly enough for you to hear.”

“That is no longer a private remark…”

Radius refrained from saying anything more tactless and swallowed the rest of his words.

Standing in the evening breeze, he smiled in obvious amusement at Ren’s response.

“Heh… Even that Sword King moved for reasons no one understands. If you ask, Ren, perhaps anyone will obey.”

“No, I understand the Sword King’s actions even less.”

The intentions of the female Sword King who had helped during the Grand Clock Tower incident the previous summer remained unknown.

Whether Radius or the Emperor questioned her, she offered only a single answer: “Because I was curious.”

According to the Emperor, she would never answer differently no matter how often they asked.

“In that case, I will invite one person as well.”

Ren sat on a nearby bench and leaned against its back. Radius rested against the rooftop fence and turned toward him.

“A friend?”

“A childhood friend who has served me for many years. She is a female student who advanced to the fourth year this spring.”

Ren searched his memory, wondering whether anyone like that had ever appeared beside Radius.

Fourteen years had passed since Ren’s birth in this world, and lately it had become especially difficult to search the memories from his previous life. Even after painstakingly examining those fading memories, he could recall no one matching Radius’s description.

That was probably because Radius died in Legend of the Seven Heroes I, leaving him with few appearances and limited background information.

“She is the daughter of Count Arkhaise. Have you heard of her?”

“Sorry. I do not think so.”

“Then I will explain. Until several years before my birth, House Arkhaise belonged to the Hero Faction. A disagreement within that faction led the family to join the Imperial Faction instead.”

“I see… What sort of family are they?”

“A prestigious civil-service family that has produced chancellors in the past. The current head serves as an aide to His Majesty. That is why his daughter remains at my side.”

The current head and the rest of the family appeared to be exceptionally capable civil officials.

Ren understood why the Imperial Family had kept one of them close even after the family changed factions.

“Still, hearing that Radius has a childhood friend makes her sound impressive.”

“Hm? Why?”

“I am not sure. I simply imagine someone extremely capable.”

“She is… capable. She performed admirably during the Grand Clock Tower incident last year, and before that, when you destroyed the Demon King cult’s hideout, she exercised her abilities at my side.”

“Oh. She is even more impressive than I imagined.”

“Her competence is beyond criticism. She also served as student council president at this academy last year, so she will unquestionably be useful—at least where competence is concerned.”

Radius had been adding oddly qualified remarks to his praise for some time.

It was unusual for him to praise someone so strongly, yet those peculiar additions made the description linger even more powerfully in Ren’s mind.

What sort of woman was she?

Ren could at least imagine that she was someone around whom the Third Prince could relax.

“She is simply rather… distinctive. Her ability is genuine.”

“R-Right… understood.”

The remarks only made Ren more curious, but if Radius praised her this highly, her capability could not be doubted.

“Since this is effectively the first Lion King Grand Festival in four years, I doubt the students’ attention will turn toward the organizing committee. By noon tomorrow, the five of us will probably be confirmed as its members.”

Ren felt the same and nodded.

The committee would have only half the usual number, but Ren did not feel anxious.

On the contrary, with those five members, he felt certain there would be no problem at all.

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