Chapter 5: While living in the academy

(Well, if only Fiona and his friend would agree to it.)

It was definitely a groundless fear, but Ren was thinking about it.

The executive committee will be made up of the neutral faction and the royalist faction, right?

“I wonder if the heroic faction will say anything about that.”

“I don’t think they will. The committee members are not as valuable as you think they are. It’s a showoff, but it’s nothing compared to competing. Just because you took the trouble to accept the position doesn’t mean it will have a big impact on your future.”

As Ren has often thought, it doesn’t mean that there’s no impact on the future.

Doing a good job will be appreciated, but it’s best to compete and achieve good results, and it’s many times better to achieve good results in other examinations within the academy.

So, for a job I was willing to take on, it was too much like a chore.

“I was talking with someone from the heroic faction family over there.”

“Huh? Where?”

“Look, there he is. Look at the tree in the corner of the schoolyard.”

Radius pointed with his eyes to a corner of the schoolyard.

Ren got up from the bench and looked in that direction.

“His name is Vane, I think. The boy who is with Ren’s classmates is a member of the Baron family who is in the heroic faction.”

Looking in the direction Radius had told him to look, he saw that he was indeed there.

The other one is a senior student who just started his second year this year.

His name was Kaito Leonard.

He is tall and has a toned, muscular body. The school’s uniform allows for a certain amount of freedom in dress, and Kaito was there in his rough clothes, just a T-shirt over a pair of slacks.

(Is this the event where Kaito and Vane meet for the first time?)

Vane gets to know the members of the heroic faction at this academy, and the first person he gets to know is Kaito, who is a year older than him. He’s a very pleasant man, with a refreshing personality that seems to laugh at everything.

After a losing event against him in the finals of a martial arts tournament at the Grand Festival of the Lion King, he joins the main character’s party. After becoming a member, he plays an active role as a shield.

The reason why Kaito becomes a shield is deeply related to his ancestry in the Leonard family.

Kaito’s ancestor, one of the Seven Heroes, protected the other Seven Heroes with his great shield.

The ancestor’s shield was shattered by the Demon King, and if you can find them, a sub-event will occur to rebuild them. This is the so-called event to obtain the heroes’ equipment.

“The honor of the academy can be left to them. The members of the heroic faction should be able to put up a good enough showing in the practical competitions.”

Radius said flatly, without a hint of concern.

“Are you sure? It might affect the factional warfare.”

“I’m not saying it won’t, but it won’t put the royalist faction on the back foot. We have a particular advantage in oratory and other areas, so it’s not something we should be concerned about.”

“Ah, so it’s a difference in strength.”

“Yes. The one I mentioned earlier that I would ask to join us also won first place in the speech contest at the last Lion King Festival.”

“Oh, wow.”

“Roughly, it is the people who bring talk of nobility to a place where students show off their skills. I know that this is a beautiful thing to say.”

Radius, who described it as a beautiful thing, was mocking himself.

Ren continued to talk about the executive committee members and it made him understand how many times he could count on Radius to be there for him.

Ren realized that more time had passed than he had expected.

“I’d better get going.”

When he mentioned that he was leaving, Radius stopped him, saying, “Wait”.

“I’ve made use of my powers and magic tools to verify a lot of things about what happened with Shinrin kurai the other day. But there doesn’t seem to be any connection to the Demon cult.”

“So it was just one of those random cases?”

“It seems so. It’s not uncommon for monsters to cross the sea after losing a territorial dispute. It must be something like that.”

Ren nodded honestly and was relieved that, for the moment, the recent incident did not seem to be getting bigger.

“We’ll be on the lookout again, but let me know if you learn anything else.”

“Yeah, I know.”

They parted this time, and Ren left the rooftop.

After parting with Radius, Ren left the rooftop and headed for the hallway leading to the entrance of the academy.

Licia was waiting for him there and smiled when she saw him.

“Have you had a chance to talk to him?”

“Yes, I did. I was initially going to just ask him to introduce me to someone, but Radius himself agreed to help me out.”

“Is it okay? To ask his highness the third prince to help out…”

“I was worried at first too, but he told me many times not to worry about it, so I think it’s okay.”

Ren says it simply, but he can say so because he is Ren.

For Licia, whose father has only been a viscount for a short time, she can’t immediately nod her head and say, “I see”.

But considering how close Ren and Radius are, she didn’t really wonder.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Around the same time.

“That’s what I’m saying! He’s really strong!”

Vane and Kaito Leonard were still in the schoolyard.

The three, joined by Sarah, who had come to pick up Vane, were talking about something.

“There’s no doubt about it! I’m talking about Ren Ashton whom Kaito also saw at the entrance ceremony! He defeated those Demon cult in an instant!”

“Impossible! Riohard, are you an idiot? He’s not only the same age as us, he’s also a freshman and he’s an incredible swordsman? That’s not true! Are you making fun of me because I get a red mark on every written exam?”

“Eh seriously —- Kaito, you get a red mark every time? How did you manage to advance to the second grade?”

“I’m doing something about it in other subjects! That’s why my father gets angry when I take an exam!”

Sarah and Kaito knew each other.

And since they were only one year older than each other, they could talk to each other without any reservations.

“Let me back up. First of all, your argument is unreasonable, Riohard. Above all we’re talking about the hard sword technique. Do you really think that someone our age can use that stupidly special style of swordsmanship?”

“I’ll say it again and again. He’s really that strong.”

“If it’s the saint from the Clausel family, then I’ll believe it. But I just don’t think it’s true.”

“Oh that’s enough. Let’s go, Vane.”

Then Sarah turned her back on Kaito with a sigh.

She walked with light steps and called out to Vane.

“Sarah! is Kaito-senpai alright?”

“I’ve had enough of that muscle brain. I don’t think he’ll believe it until he sees it for himself.”

Tired of not being listened to, Sarah turns and walks away.

Kaito tells Sarah and Vane, who follows her, towards her back.

His voice was as faint as it had been a moment ago.

“I don’t know. I don’t think it will be any different when I see it.”

“Oh yeah. As expected of a member of the Leonard family, who insists on protecting everything with his shield, his pride and joy.”

Sarah, who was walking, suddenly stopped.

Vane, walking next to her, follows suit.

Then Sarah says to Kaito in a different tone of voice that sounds like a warning.

“No one has ever shattered a shield held by the Leonard family. That was your pride. The House of Riohard respects that in itself, and I respect it too.”

She turns to Kaito and says with a sigh.

“No. it was shattered by the demon king.”

“You’re hitting a sore spot.”

“I’m not making fun of you. Leonard’s power protected the heroes, and thanks to that, the heroes were able to defeat the Demon King. I’m just saying that something similar may not always happen.”

“….Are you talking about Ren Ashton being the Demon King?”

The reaction was so out of the blue that Vane almost blurted it out.

Of course, Sarah was stunned, but it couldn’t be. The Demon King is the descendant of a knight in the service of the Clausel family and is now by Licia’s side.

“That’s not what I mean. Looking down on Ren Ashton may end up breaking your great shield.”

“He must be the Demon King after all!”

“Huh? Why can’t you imagine the strength of  the Lion King there?”

“That’s because our ancestors didn’t fight the lion king, and we didn’t have our shields shattered by a hard sword user.”

“I’m telling you, you’re going to be crushed.”

“Sarah, calm down and take a deep breath.”

Sarah, reprimanded by Vane, looks up to the heavens and repeats her breathing as she is told.

“Suuu…..haaa…. thank you….I’ve calmed down a little bit.”

A calmer Sarah had no intention of speaking further and was able to control her excitement from earlier.

“Ren Ashton maybe the first hard sword user to shatter the Leonard family’s great shield.”

It is true, as she often says, that Sarah respects the Leonard family and its power.

Sarah just wanted to speak clearly about the strength of Ren that she has witnessed. She just wanted to tell him that he should not underestimate him, as she is well aware of Kaito’s strength.

“I’m sorry. I was just having a bit of a bad day myself.”

“I thought you were. You’re not the kind of person to take someone lightly like an idiot.”

“But, well, I’m surprised, because Ren Ashton is stronger than the saint who beat you to a pulp. It’s a bit of an outlandish story, you know.”

Now Kaiteo begins to walk.

He let out a big sigh and left the place.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The next morning, at the academy.

“I’d be happy to do it.”

When Ren told Fiona about the executive committee, she said so without a pause.

With a dazzling pretty smile.

They were in an empty classroom.

They leaned their backs against the window sill of the empty classroom and exchanged a few words with the spring sun shining on their backs.

“Are you sure? If you’re planning to participate in some kind of competition or something, please give priority to that.”

“I’m fine with that. The teacher had asked me to participate, but I’m not really interested in it.”

“Does that mean you have a job for the Ignat family?”

“No. there’s nothing in particular.”

Ren, who was surprised that the answer was easier than he had expected and at the same time pleased to have her help, says, “Thank you,” and smiles.

“That’s unusual. I was told that most of you are in the competition.”

“Haha …… maybe, but I’m going to the festivities with you, Ren-kun.”

Fiona looked repeatedly at Ren standing next to her.

She tries not to be obvious to him, but their eyes meet unexpectedly, and she turns away in a hurry as a slight blush appears on her cheeks.

“N-Nothing! I guess I wasn’t in the mood this year!”

“You don’t have to say that like it’s someone else’s problem. I’m not afraid of anything if you’re going to help me, Fiona-sama.”

“I will do my best to meet your expectations. By the way, besides myself, are Ren-kun, Licia-sama, and His Highness the Third Prince the only other three?”

“No. Radius will call on one more person.”

“His Royal Highness the Third Prince? I wonder if it’s someone I know….”

“The daughter of the House of Arkhise, I believe?”

“Oh, yes, I know her! He’s invited a great person!”

Fiona began to talk about information that Ren didn’t know.

The more he asks, the more he finds out that she was a great person, just like Radius said.

“She participated in the first exam to test her ability and passed the final exam with a perfect score. I heard that even after entering the academy, she has never gotten anything other than a perfect score on an exam.”

“Isn’t that amazing?”

“I think so too. After she quit as president of the student council, she seems to have been asked by many teachers to do it again.”

“Oh …… but why did she quit as student body president?”

“I think it was because His Imperial Highness the Third Prince entered the school. I heard that she has been by his side since he was a child, so I think it was so that she could do the same on campus.”

The reason why the daughter of the Arkhise family resigned as student body president is just as Fiona imagined.

Last year, the year Radius entered the school, she did everything without a hitch, but after all, if she wanted to spend more time by Radius’s side, the position of student body president would be a hindrance.

For this reason, she had retired from the position last year.

Incidentally, Ren has yet to see that woman who they say is by Radius’ side.

Fortunately, as the story progresses, Fiona tells him what she looks like.

“I heard she has an ancestral alien. Her father and mother are purebloods, but there are some aliens in the Arkhise family. I have heard that they are not completely alien, but are considered half-bloods.”

“Wow. It’s possible for a person’s race to change due to ancestry.”

“But it’s very rare. The rest of the time my father told she usually works at the castle as well.”

Fiona had met her in person several times in the academy.

On the other hand, they had never spoken. When the daughter of the Arkhise family is by Radius’ side, she’s always focused on supporting her master, Radius, and never opens her mouth.

(I wonder if she was also reserved when she’s with Radius.)

Ren and Radius are precious male friends to each other.

Radius told Ren that she was working properly during the commotion at the Grand Clock Tower, and he guessed she was still too reserved to show her face at the places where the two boys played together.

“Fuwaa…..”

Suddenly, Ren yawned absentminded.

Perhaps it’s because he has been swinging his sword at the Lion’s Sacred Office since this morning, but he becomes slightly sleepy in the afternoon.

“Oh my. Did you train this morning as well?”

“I’m sorry for exposing my sloppy appearance.”

“No problem. I think it’s because you’ve been working hard.”

The fact that he shows his weakness proves that he’s more open than before.

Fiona was secretly happy about it.

“Licia-sama used sacred magic on me, so I’m still recovering.”

“I heard that Licia-sama is very fast with the hard sword, but she is also very good with sacred magic.”

“The speed of growth of her sacred magic is even faster than that of the hard sword.”

Licia-sama is a talented and hardworking person. Apart from her daily sword training, she is also dedicated to improving her skills in sacred magic and is often seen training at the mansion.

She sometimes invites Ren to train with her as well.

She is also said to be training to use sacred magic on Ren after training at the Lion’s Sacred Office.

“—- Um, I digress…”

Ren said, suddenly remembering the words.

“Fiona-sama, your physical condition hasn’t changed since then right?”

“When you say since then, do you mean since Asval?”

“I was told by Ulysses-sama that everything is fine, so I was relieved, but I was wondering if you’ve been doing well lately.”

“I’m fine. The dark priestess’s tingling magic power has disappeared since then.”

Fiona looked up at Ren who stroked his chest in relief.

She was happy that he was worried about her and her cheeks blushed a little.

Ren looked at the clock in the empty classroom and noticed that it was almost time for class to start, so he said, “Shall we get going?”

“Let me know if there are any more developments. I’m usually at the dorms, so you can come by anytime.”

They left the empty classroom and walked around campus.

Soon, Licia and Sarah appeared from where he was going. He saw Licia making a short run and approaching him to talk to him.

“I see you two are as close as ever.”

Sarah, who arrived a little later, shrugged her shoulders as she spoke to them.

“Can’t we?”

“No, I think Licia should do as she pleases—- By the way, Ren, have you seen Vane?”

“If you’re talking about Vane, I saw him heading upstairs just now.”

“Thanks. I’m going to go now, so you two don’t be late for class.”

Sarah who was walking next to Licia and Ren stopped and turned around.

“In May, there will be a selection committee for the competitors who will participate in the Lion King Festival in each category, right?”

“Yes, what about it?”

“The two of you are going to participate, right? Aren’t you two aiming to be the representatives of the martial arts competition?”

“No. Ren and I won’t.”

“Why not? I was looking forward to fighting with you two there!”

But when they told her the reason, she nodded her head and said, “I see”.

When she heard that they were going to be a member of the executive committee of the Imperial military academy, words of gratitude were the first thing that came to mind for those who, like Sarah, were going to take part in the competition.

Therefore, Sarah gently bowed her head and then said.

“But I’m looking forward to the swordsmanship classes starting soon.”

In this academy, the special class in particular has a high degree of freedom in selecting classes.

As long as they have no problem obtaining the required credits, they can focus on the areas in which they want to improve.

One of these classes, swordsmanship, was the one she was looking forward to the most.

“Let’s go to class.”

“Yes.”

Ren and Licia talked about the committee members as they walked to the classroom.

The nominations for the committee members would close at noon.

As expected, there were five members, including Ren, but there was no need to worry. Each one of them has outstanding abilities compared to others of their age.

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