Chapter 27: The Mystery of the Sword Saint (Sake)

On another day after school, Ren got off at one of the stations along the main street.

As he walked out of a stationery store, he noticed the familiar figures of two people—the Seven Great Hero Family members in their school uniforms.

“Hey, Ren.”

There were three of them.

Kaito, who called out to Ren first, followed by Vane and Charlotte.

They must have been taking a detour on their way home.

They approached Ren.

“Are you guys taking a detour?”

“Yeah, we happened to run into each other. We were talking about grabbing a meal together,” 

Kaito replied.

“What about you, Ren? Want to join us?”

Ren hesitated for a moment at Vane’s suggestion, then nodded quickly.

He thought he could still get home before it got too late, so he figured it would be fine.

“By the way…”

Vane asked Ren right after they started walking.

“During winter break, if you’re interested, would you like to come with us to Kaito’s place?”

“Huh? Isn’t there an event for the Heroic faction?”

“Yeah, that’s right… Apart from the gathering for the Heroic faction, we just thought it’d be fun to spend the winter break together.”

It wasn’t just Vane who seemed hesitant about bringing this up; the other two also seemed to have something on their minds.

Probably because of what happened with Viscount Givens, they felt apologetic. Even if it was just Viscount Givens going berserk, especially for Kaito and Charlotte, the fact that their family was at the forefront of the Heroic faction made it impossible to ignore.

Without explicitly stating anything, Ren shrugged his shoulders.

“I’ll probably be studying or swinging my sword. I might also go hunting with Estelle-sama.”

“Isn’t Estelle-sama the head of the Holy Lion’s Sanctuary?”

“Yeah, that’s right. She’s the strongest knight Leomel is proud of. My dad apparently had a match with her in the past, but he could only last for about ten seconds.”

It would be hard to believe that there was anyone who hadn’t heard that name.

Curious about the invitation, Kaito asked.

“Ku, Ashton is still trying to get stronger! Vane! We can’t afford to lose either!”

Kaito had become even more aware of his desire to get stronger after finding his ancestors’ shield.

Of course, not just him, but the descendants of the Seven Heroes, in general, were influenced, and they were trying to grow at an even faster pace than before.

Vane’s appearance also seemed to have become more rugged.

Looking at Vane, Ren said. 

“I’m rooting for you, Vane.”

“Thanks. I’ll do my best.”

He gave Vane a gentle smile.

And suddenly, Ren offered some advice.

“By the way, watch out for the Demon king’s Cult.”

Later, he planned to offer different advice through Estelle and the others.

Although he didn’t know if the same battle would occur on this world, based on his judgment that what could be conveyed should be conveyed, Ren wanted to raise awareness about it.

The event to acquire the Hero equipment was nothing more than a so-called sub-event.

However, he thought that maybe he could do something.

“Haha! I understand!” 

Vane replied.

“It’s all good, Ashton. Our heroic families’ strength will be united, and all the heads will be present.”

“Well… I understand that, but…”

Ren chuckled as he carefully chose his words.

Perhaps he knew that there were things in battles that could still be managed.

Seeing Ren’s smile, Vane suddenly looked at his hand and closed his mouth.

“Vane?”

After a few seconds, when Ren called out to him, Vane smiled and said, “Sorry.”

“Lately, I feel like I’m starting to grasp something. Sometimes, when I wake up or before I go to bed, it just suddenly happens… I can’t really explain it, but I feel like I’m getting stronger than before.”

“Hahaha! Seriously? What the hell is that?”

“It’s okay to laugh, Kaito, but… I really feel that way.”

“It’s awful to laugh at someone, you know? Come on, Vane-kun, let’s comfort you. See? Gentle and beautiful Charlotte-senpai will pat you gently.”

“I told you! Charlotte is always in a hurry!”

Ren smiled again at their closeness, and once again, he silently cheered on Vane, particularly for the changes he was about to undergo. This was likely because he was getting closer to awakening as the inheritor of Hero Ruin’s power.

But, Ulysses was not their enemy. Asval couldn’t be revived anymore.

Where exactly would Vane go to awaken?

Ren didn’t know, but he was convinced that Vane would undoubtedly awaken somewhere.

…Even if the scenario changed, some things wouldn’t.

Having experienced this many times, Ren’s thoughts held persuasiveness.

The Seven Heroes’ descendants were likely to be the counterparts to the Demon king’s Cult. Now that one of the Hero equipment pieces had been found, they would walk the same path as the Seven Heroes with even greater determination.

Silently, Ren wished for their success.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

After parting ways with Vane and the others, Ren visited Verlich’s workshop and talked about the Dragon Vein Furnace.

“Alright!”

As soon as Verlich heard the story, he raised his clenched fist.

“That’s enough! Once we gather the materials and everything else we discussed before, we can somehow get it to the trial run! Just a little more until Lemuria reactivates!”

“In that case, I’ll leave it in your hands, Verlich-san.”

“Yeah, yeah! Wait with the feeling of being on a massive ship!”

By chance, Estelle had also come to Verlich’s workshop that day. She was there to sharpen her sword, Kuroi.

Estelle sat next to Ren’s chair.

“Lemuria, was it? I’ve heard it was an extraordinary ship.”

“Of course, sis! It was a ship I worked my ass off to make, to the point where you can’t create a more advanced magic ship than that!”

Estelle took a giant jug from the table and chugged it down in one go.

She swiftly emptied it as if she were drinking water. She immediately poured herself a second cup from the barrel at her feet and drank it just as easily.

“Are you drinking alcohol?”

“That’s right. It’s from my Drake region.”

“You’re amazing, sis! Us dwarves can handle alcohol, but drinking that much Drake region liquor would burn our throats!”

“I’ve been drinking since I was a child. It’s a habit of the Drake people.”

“What about the legal aspect in the Empire?”

As they continued talking, Estelle poured herself more alcohol from the barrel on the floor.

She seemed to be sneakily glancing at Ren’s face more than before.

Still, she downed another cup with momentum, then started pouring her fourth. It felt like one would lose just by touching the subject.

She whispered softly. 

“This is a childhood story. Let’s forget about it due to the statute of limitations.”

Estelle showed no signs of being drunk.

“Ahem. With such a renowned ship, why doesn’t Viscount Clausel establish a magic ship terminal?”

“No, no, no, it costs too much money.”

“Well, if you think about it, it would be quite expensive to establish one. It’s Viscount Clausel we’re talking about, after all. Even if the Ignat family supports it, he seems reluctant.”

“Something like that has already happened.”

“Hmm… But it’s a shame. It’s a magnificent ship.”

Estelle hesitated and drank another cup.

By now, one couldn’t help but wonder how she managed to hold so much alcohol in her slender body.

“Sword Saint’s mystery…”

“Huh? What about the Sword Saint?”

“Just thinking how amazing the Sword Saint is.”

“Mm? Ren, you’ll become a Sword Saint before you know it, so stop being so formal.”

While drinking her fifth cup, Estelle laughed.

She showed no signs of stopping her drinking spree.

“I don’t know about other schools, but it’s often said that a strong swordsman needs some kind of trigger to become a Sword Saint. I think I mentioned this before.”

Indeed, Estelle had led her subordinates and reached a critical point.

While doing her best to return with her subordinates, she ultimately became a Sword Saint.

“Based on my assessment, your skills are Sword Saint-level. It’s just that you lacks some elements required to be recognized as Sword Saint-level, like certain battle techniques and so on. Once you become a Sword Saint, you’ll undergo a transformation again.”

“That sounds incredibly half-hearted, doesn’t it? I mean, my current self.”

“Yeah, it is. You’re a half-baked person, huh? Hahaha!”

It wasn’t a laughing matter, but somehow, it felt more comforting to have it said so straightforwardly.

Estelle wasn’t just laughing; she also said.

“I’ll give you one piece of advice, Ren.”

Those words led Ren to a certain turning point.

He had no idea about it at the time.

“Like I said before, our essence lies in ‘Star Slayers, Admiring the Darkness.’ The Lion King sang this phrase on the battlefield, and it carries meaning. Even the stars, once considered magic, will create a dark sky if they’re all exterminated. That darkness is the essence of the strong swordsman.”

“Basically, the shortcut to growth is to keep fighting, right?”

“Yeah, exactly. So, you should keep swinging your sword.”

The Lion King, who expressed stars as magic, completely crushed everything on the battlefield.

Among scholars, it was interpreted as proof of victory that the dark sky was born when the stars disappeared.

“But you know, if I’m going to look up at something, I’d rather it be a night sky full of stars.”

For a moment, Estelle looked surprised, then she chugged the jug and laughed.

“Ahhahahah! Ah, you’re right!”

“Hey! I get startled when you suddenly put your arm around me!”

“Don’t say that! However, to dare say such words to the head of the Holy Lion’s Sanctuary… Well done! Winter break should be coming up soon, right? I’ll take care of you and Licia this winter!” 

As Ren looked perplexed, Estelle immediately began explaining what she was going to do.

“Training. Just like before, we can go on a trip on a magic ship.”

“That means, you’re going to train us every day…”

“Every day won’t work. We need to have assignments.”

“…You really have that all figured out.”

“Of course. If you just swing your sword without fulfilling your duties, it won’t be beneficial for your future. Relying solely on physical strength will lead to difficulties in the future.”

Then Verlich crossed his arms and looked at them. After a brief thought, he spoke up.

“Sis, if Ren is going to become the Sword King, things might change, right?”

“Yeah, you’re right. That’s true.”

“I apologize, but let’s focus on the current matter.”

Ren didn’t mean to neglect his studies. He interrupted the conversation that was moving forward with enthusiasm and sighed.

“Speaking of which, Estelle-sama, do you know about the Heroic Faction’s party?”

“Of course. It’s a gathering of nobles after an event hosted by the Elfen religion, right?”

“Yes, that’s the one. But do you know if Leomel will take any action as a country?”

“Is it in celebration of finding the Seven Heroes’ equipment, and the royal family will be involved?”

“It’s something similar. Like setting up a special holiday…”

“There’s no such thing. I heard that foreign dignitaries will visit, but it’s the responsibility of the heroic families to handle it, and Leomel doesn’t plan to get involved as a country. The Second Prince will visit the Leonardo family and convey his congratulations on behalf of His Majesty.”

The royal family couldn’t entirely ignore this matter. It was a celebration that wasn’t related to the Heroic Faction, the Royalty Faction, or the Neutral Faction. Since it was related to the Seven Heroes who saved the world, Ren understood that they were avoiding any political entanglements.

“Why are you suddenly talking about this?”

Ren had a reason for bringing this topic up, as it reminded him of a past event battle.

He couldn’t stay silent when he knew that the Demon king’s Cult would appear and was considering how to convey that information.

“I just had a feeling that the Demon king’s cult might show up.”

“The heroic family has also received information from the city. It seems that they are targeting Leomel for some time now. If they hear about finding the Seven Heroes’ legacy, they will undoubtedly act.”

However, they couldn’t just ignore the fact that the Seven Heroes’ equipment had been found.

If they did nothing in this situation, it would seem as if Leomel was afraid of the Demon king’s cult. Politically, and also for the sake of the uneasy people given the current situation, this event could become a new hope.

“The Seven Heroes’ power might become an obstacle for the Demon king’s revival in the future.”

“They’ll want to destroy it desperately. Of course, we’ve considered that. The Second Prince will visit as a representative of His Majesty, and the holy lion’s sanctuary will dispatch many knights. There will also be several escort ships during the journey.”

The hard sword user, who used to be enemies in the game, were well known to Ren. He realized that they provided even more stability than the event battles in the game and thought that the monsters that were supposed to be repelled might end up being defeated instead.

However, Ren didn’t underestimate them.

“The Leonardo domain is rich in water sources. If the Demon King’s Cult attempts to manipulate monsters, aquatic monsters are likely to be utilized.”

He unintentionally spoke in a more explanatory tone and Estelle laughed as she looked at Ren.

“Like you said, that area is abundant in water sources. It’s only two weeks by horse to the Water Capital Eupheim. The water flowing from the surrounding mountains enriches the land. Monsters living in the water are probably easy to manipulate.”

They had perfect countermeasures for such situations.

Estelle continued, explaining that even if a battle broke out, the safety of the Leonardo domain was guaranteed. She mentioned specific areas and places to be cautious, which left Ren with nothing more to say even if the probability of an attack was high.

(I don’t need to be on guard that much.)

From the presence of the enemy to their movement route, everything was already covered. If they were already taking all these measures, there was nothing more Ren could do.

Anything beyond this point would be an event outside the scenarios Ren remembered.

“It’s terrifying if the water sources are contaminated. Both the heroic family and the knights are on guard.”

If they were fully prepared, it should be fine.

Estelle then mentioned a few names of monsters, one of which was a monster Ren actually fought during an event battle in the Seven Heroes’ legend.

“So if we decide to take action, that’s a different story. Many people, including you, are probably expecting the Demon king’s Cult to make a move. The heroic family and those around them seem to be planning to launch an attack before being attacked. Of course, we’ve discussed it too, but handling the heroic domain is troublesome.”

Come to think of it, Ren thought.

(In the scenario during the Seven Heroes’ legend, the Demon King’s Cult hadn’t become publicly known around this time.)

Because of this, Estelle couldn’t say such things, and they didn’t even have that choice.

“The Second Prince is meticulously preparing for it. He’s consulting with Ulysses Ignat so that they can capture any Demon King’s Cult members if they show up. The Holy Lion’s Sanctuary is also secretly moving, but that’s just between us.”

“Ahh… I see.”

Unlike the Seven Heroes’ legend, it seemed that if the two of them cooperated, there were advantages.

“The heroic family’s members will have a substantial escort. There’s no need to worry.”

The more he listened, the more he realized that everything was well-prepared. In fact, there was no need for Ren to caution them or inform them about anything; everyone was already vigilant and ready, even more so than Ren could imagine.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The next morning, Ren was outside the Lion Sanctuary with Fiona. 

“It’s rare to see Fiona-sama at the Lion sanctuary,” 

Ren remarked.

“I woke up early, and I thought it would be nice if I could go to the academy together with you guys,” 

“Ah, I see. But sorry, we’re going in the opposite direction.” 

Ren said apologetically.

“Uh-huh! If we can walk together like this, I would do it every day…” 

Fiona murmured with a hint of embarrassment, enjoying the happy moment.

“Winter break is coming soon,” 

Fiona said as they watched the fluffy snowfall.

“Um… Ren, what are your plans for the winter break? If you don’t mind, I was thinking of spending it together with you…” 

Fiona tried to express her wish, but she gave up when she heard Ren’s words.

“Estelle-sama invited me, so I’ll probably be busy with various training during the winter break.”

“I-I see! That’s so like you, Ren!”

However, Fiona’s slightly downcast expression was immediately brightened by Ren’s words.

“But I’m worried about the exams afterward, so if you don’t mind, during the winter break, Fiona-sama, I was thinking… if you could teach me… I’ve been thinking of asking you for help with my studies,” \

Ren hesitated and finally asked.

“Leave it to me!” 

Fiona replied in a slightly anxious voice.

Her cheeks seemed to have turned red, probably not due to the winter cold. With a proud smile, she placed her hand on her ample chest.

“I’ll teach you for as many hours as you need, anytime.”

She assured Ren with a reliable promise.

“Is it okay with your work in Eupheim?”

“Uh… I’ll be going home for a few days, but other than that, it should be fine.”

As they chatted, Ren recalled his time in Eupheim.

“By the way, has the anomaly in the waterways been fixed?”

“I heard that the abnormalities in the town have been resolved. However, my father and the others are investigating the water veins outside the town, and they seem a bit strange.”

They spent their time here, mixing in some reminiscences.

After finishing their preparations, Licia came out of the Lion sanctuary a few minutes later.

Later in the afternoon, the winter break would officially start, so the first half of the morning was spent in homeroom classes held in each classroom.

After that, all the students gathered in the main auditorium for an assembly.

The final speech was, of course, given by the academy director, Klonoa.

“Make sure to keep your promises and have a fun winter break!”

Klonoa didn’t like long speeches, especially seeing the restless students. She always wanted to finish her greeting quickly so she could entertain the students.

Seeing her thoughts, the students cheered for the arrival of the winter break.

As the assembly came to an end, everyone cheered with joy.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

During the winter break, many of the academy’s facilities were still open. It was a shorter time compared to regular days, but many students still visited the library.

When Ren and Fiona had their reunion after the events at Baldor mountain, the library was also open.

Now, in a small room at the back of the library, the former student council members were gathered.

“I’m so drowsy…” 

Were the first words that came out of Radius’s mouth.

He had dark circles under his eyes and yawned, showing even the yawns he rarely made.

While surprised at his unusually relaxed appearance, Licia and Fiona asked, but Ren, who occasionally saw such a sight from Radius, inquired.

“Is it because of that busy work?”

“Yeah. I’ll be back in the air in two hours today.”

“Oh, really? Where are you going?”

“I’m going to meet my family, who don’t live in the Imperial Capital. They all have difficult personalities, but there are a few things I need to talk to them about.”

They exchanged some meaningful looks, but the conversation ended there.

Nyahaha, laughed Radius’s attendant, Mirei Arkheise, a girl with cait sith blood running through her veins.

As the daughter of a count, she was always by Radius’s side, supporting his work as his attendant.

“His Highness Radius’s winter break schedule is jam-packed, nya~”

“Mirei-san, So from today until the last day of the winter break, he’s completely booked?”

“Mmm. I have a schedule planned down to the minute, nya.”

“…Radius, are you okay with that?”

“If you ask me whether I’m okay or not, naturally, I’m leaning towards not okay. But there are things that must be done, so I’ll give it my all. And for that, let’s enjoy potions again today, shall we?”

Radius got up from his seat.

He yawned again loudly, then left the room with Mirei by his side.

Before Radius and the others left, Ren wanted to say something to him.

“Estelle-sama is going to train us, but won’t you be going with us, Radius?”

“Indeed. Estelle hasn’t taken her vacation yet, so it’s a good opportunity for her to use it. I asked her to take it all at once. Well then, all three of you, have a fulfilling winter break.”

Even though they were told this by a man who was fully occupied with work, Ren was the only one who could manage to nod with a smile, albeit a wry one.

The remaining three exchanged glances.

“What should we do?”

“I wonder.”

Seeing Ren and Licia hesitating, Fiona made a suggestion.

“If you don’t have any plans for the afternoon, why don’t we work on our winter break assignments for a little while?”

There was no reason to refuse.

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