Kays Translations

Chapter 16: The First Night Welcomed by the White Crown.

They continued onward, chatting and enjoying their lively excursion.

Before long, an old road unlike the paths they had followed thus far appeared before them.

It was an abandoned highway that ran straight toward a district now almost entirely submerged.

The group left their previous route and walked along the old highway for a while.

“Is that it?”

“Yes. This is your first time seeing it too, isn’t it, Licia? It’s mine as well.”

Beyond a low hill, the landscape changed completely.

A town from several centuries ago came into view.

—Old Town.

It was a remnant of Eupheim that had suffered immense damage when the Demon King’s army advanced upon the Imperial Capital.

At the time the Demon King’s army ran rampant, Old Town had been a newly developed district in the still-young city of Eupheim.

Then it was attacked from beyond the city center. Repeated assaults by powerful monsters, including Sword Demons, drastically altered the terrain.

The surrounding rivers joined with the sea, and the entire affected district sank beneath the water.

The group followed the old highway to its broken end and looked down upon the submerged town.

Many of the stone houses still retained their shapes, creating a scene like ruins resting at the bottom of the sea.

Colorful fish swam gracefully through the drowned streets.

“We need permission to go any farther.”

Sera stopped just short of the water.

Because of its historical value, Old Town was periodically surveyed by the Bureau of Mysteries. Knights also patrolled it, though not often.

Specialized magic tools had been installed for security. Tourists and adventurers were free to visit this area, but entering Old Town itself required the lord’s permission.

They had only come because it was visible along the way. This was a sightseeing detour; their true destination lay farther ahead.

“Sera, should we get going?” Nemu asked.

“Yes. We can stop by again on our way back.”

They left the old highway and returned to the direction where rocks and trees crowded the landscape.

As they continued along the monster-haunted path, another creature appeared.

This one, however, was different from the monsters they had encountered before.

“If Licia is joining the battle, this should be just about right.”

Sera spoke boldly, though her posture was more guarded than before.

The monster resembled an enormous horse covered from head to hoof in scales like those of a dragon. It was D-rank, but close to C-rank.

Because it wielded lightning magic, even greater caution was required.

Without warning, it prepared to unleash its spell. Electricity crackled around its hooves.

Watching calmly, Licia drew Byakuen from her waist.

She gave the blade a light swing, as though brushing away dust, then stepped in front of the others as they assumed combat stances.

“Don’t worry.”

Had Licia learned the Sacred Sword Style and become a Sword Saint, she would likely have used Arts combining Sacred Magic and the Sacred Sword Style to protect everyone and cut down the attacking monster alone.

“Licia!”

But everything was different now.

With Sera and Vayne calling from behind her, Licia did not turn around.

“Don’t worry.”

Before the flash could reach her, she swept Byakuen sideways once more.

The surging lightning broke into motes of light and vanished like mist.

The magic had disappeared—or rather, it had been severed.

《Oh? Is that a challenge to the me who grew another step stronger the other day? You never know. I may overtake Ren before long.》

She had said those words to Ren in autumn, on their way back from the Lion’s Holy Office.

Recalling them now filled Licia with quiet satisfaction.

As a Swordmaster, had she managed to draw even a little closer to Ren? Their formal ranks might now stand at the same height, yet her answer remained, “Of course not.”

Sera, Vayne, and the others stared in astonishment.

They understood what it meant to sever magic—and what it meant for a practitioner of the Mighty Sword Style to accomplish such a feat.

Within the Mighty Sword Style, Licia had reached the Swordmaster rank. Practitioners of the Mighty Sword Style were generally considered equivalent to someone one rank higher in another school, so among Sacred Sword Style users, would her ability be comparable to a Sword Saint?

The ranks were not necessarily equal in every respect, but that comparison was broadly accurate.

In other words, Licia was a warrior in a different class altogether.

“Sera, why are you standing there in a daze?”

“R-Right… Everyone, let’s go!”

Licia yielded the next move, and Charlotte’s arrow finally pierced the monster between the eyes.

It collapsed with a deep impact that shook the ground. Licia smiled at everyone’s astonishment, sheathed Byakuen, and said:

“That was easier than I expected.”

“…Yes.”

They continued onward, still stunned, until a breathtaking vista opened before them.

Beyond Eupheim, hidden in the shadow of a cape and reachable only by following a winding route, lay a secret paradise.

《Coastal Cave: The Great Legacy》

A cobalt-blue sea, white sand, and the gentle murmur of waves.

The mouth of a nearby cave seemed to invite the descendants of the Seven Heroes toward a new adventure.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

It was evening. In summer, the sun would still have been in the sky, but with winter approaching, darkness had already fallen.

Ren, on his way back to the inn, met Licia as she returned from outside Eupheim.

“Ah—Ren!”

Licia ran toward him wearing a radiant smile she had not shown Sera and the others.

Sera watched with a gentle, knowing smile.

“Are you on your way back too?”

“Yes. After our discussion ended, I stopped at a café with Radius.”

“Hee hee. So you were about to walk back.”

Licia had already heard what Ren’s business concerned. Since it involved her, she appeared a little apologetic.

“And I happened to meet you at just the right time… What about you, Licia—oh?”

Ren finally noticed Sera and the others.

They came over to join him and Licia.

“It’s rare to see you doing something separately from Licia,” Sera said.

“Not really. It happens fairly often at the academy, doesn’t it, Vayne?”

“Yes, but this isn’t the academy.”

“…Well, I had business of my own today.”

Kaito burst into a booming laugh. Ren glanced at the greatshield strapped to his back.

“Gah-ha-ha-ha! That’s right. Ashton has his own affairs to handle too!”

“Exactly. More importantly, where did you and the others go with all that equipment, Senior Leonaal? And why is everyone wearing their uniforms?”

“We went to that famous cape. You know the one?”

“Kaito, even Ren can’t identify a place from that much information—”

Sera sounded exasperated, but Ren answered:

“The beautiful place past Old Town, right?”

“See? Ren knows everything.”

“Yes, yes. Think whatever you like.”

Sera sighed, and Vayne smiled at her.

Meanwhile, Charlotte turned to Ren.

“So you’re the boy everyone talks about.”

After a brief exchange of introductions, she continued:

“We borrowed the White Saint for the day.”

“Then Licia went outside the city with you after all.”

“She did. She’s remarkable—far stronger than you would expect from someone younger than us.”

Ren already considered that obvious, but he was pleased to hear it nonetheless. He nodded, privately delighted.

With Charlotte, Ren had now met five descendants of the Seven Heroes. The remaining two were a year younger than him, so he had yet to encounter them.

Vayne and the others might already know them, but Ren belonged to another faction and was still a stranger to them.

“Licia, wasn’t Miss Altia with you?”

“Nemu said, ‘I’m already sleepy!’ and went straight back to the inn.”

Ren had simply arrived as the group was about to separate.

Licia pinched the sleeve of his coat.

“Could we have a little fun before going back?”

“Of course.”

“Can we have dinner too?”

“I don’t mind, but if we return too late, Lord Lessard may worry…”

“Y-You’re right… Then some other time…”

“No, it’s fine. We can return to the inn first and then go out again.”

“Really!? Then I want to!”

Finding her friend’s efforts endearing, Sera made sure not to interfere.

“We’re heading to the inn where Sharo is staying. See you later.”

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