Kays Translations

Chapter 9: Get on the Guardian Knight. [1]

Since it was self study time in the afternoon, Ren headed to a small room in the library that he had used when he served as a member of the Lion King Festival organizing committee.

Today, Radius was alone in this room, which they frequently used even after the Lion King Festival.

"Ren?"

Ren entered the small room and took his usual seat.

He mentioned the invitation Ulysses brought to him the other day. It's just right to talk about it here, he thought.

“I mean ----."

He mentioned the invitation he received from Ulysses to join the Guardian Knight and talked about going on a railway journey in November.

"How about introducing the person you mentioned at that time?"

Radius nodded in agreement.

During their stay in Eupheim, they didn't have tightly packed schedules. It was more like a holiday spent in Eupheim for Ren, Licia, and Lassard to relax and unwind.

So, it wouldn't be a problem if Ren left his seat for a while.

"I'll inform the other party about you. I'll make sure I can show up on that day too. I'll be heading to Eupheim on a magic ship, so be prepared for that."

"Huh? Radius, are you..."

"I declined Ulysses' invitation. It's not really a place where members of the royal family should be present. Besides, I have other matters to attend to. I want to work on them until the last minute," Radius explained.

"I see. If there's anything I can do to help, let me know,"

Ren offered.

"No, don't worry about it. I can't rely on you for this,"

His voice still sounded fatigued, just as it did the other day.

It seemed that it wasn't trouble related to the Demon king’s cult or anything like that.

"In short, it's a family matter..."

Radius said, with a suggestive tone and a hint of relief in his voice.

Ren couldn't delve into what the royal family called "family matters," so he pretended not to notice and acted as usual.

"It doesn't seem like your family matters are as difficult, right?"

"Yeah, even I think so."

Radius agreed.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

A few more days passed.

The largest station in the Imperial Capital was bustling like never before.

The people around were those who had been invited by Ulysses. They were invited from various regions regardless of factions.

The rumored Guardian Knight train car was larger than the conventional magic train. Unlike the previous train cars, it was a two-story structure, with not only height but also width extending to the maximum limit of the station. Its streamlined physique seemed to claim that it was different from previous vehicles.

During the ceremony, Radius, representing the royal family, gave a congratulatory speech.

Soon, the invited guests began boarding the Guardian Knight.

"This is for you."

Receiving it directly from Radius would stand out, so he receive it from a knight.

What Ren received was an envelope with a luxurious appearance.

"His Highness only mentioned that it's an introduction letter.”

The knight explained.

Ren understood and glanced at Radius standing at a distance.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

With just the movement of their lips, they easily communicated their intentions. Radius left the station with his escorts.

Ren and Licia boarded the train like the other invited guests.

Soon after departure, the Guardian Knight rapidly accelerates. In no time, it leaves the city behind and heads towards its destination, Eupheim.

It's interesting to see how the scenery outside the window quickly changes.

Though Lessard and Weiss are also present, they are on a separate journey. Ren and Licia visit the carriages designed to be a café during the day and a bar at night.

"It's amazing. It's so fast, yet it hardly shakes."

"Indeed, it's the latest model."

After Ren and Licia's conversation, Fiona gracefully smiles and says.

"Fufu…I'm glad you're enjoying it."

The three of them are here because Fiona invited them. The walls of this carriage are made of a large glass panel that serves as the window, allowing a panoramic view of the scenery outside. They enjoy a leisurely time here.

"Licia, you're here."

The carriage door opens, revealing Sarah. She is also one of the invited guests on the Guardian Knight. She is wearing her uniform, just like Ren and the other three.

Today, they attended supplementary classes at the academy before the ceremony, so they boarded the train in their uniforms. Ren remembers seeing other young masters and mistresses dressed similarly.

...What should I do?

It's not that Ren is dissatisfied with Sarah’s visit, but he realizes that he is the only male among the group of girls. While it's nice to talk to them here, he asks.

"Riohard-san, is Vane also here?"

"Yes, he's accompanying me as my escort. He went to the observation car with Kaito a while ago."

Although this carriage could also be considered an observation car, the one Sarah mentioned has an even better view, with the ceiling covered in glass.

It seems like a good place to enjoy the scenery, so Ren decides.

"Well, I'll go check out the observation car for a bit."

When he enters the corridor, he sees that it's bustling with invited guests as well. There are boys and girls wearing uniforms from the Imperial Military Academy, as well as others wearing uniforms from different academies who were likely involved in this project. They are the children of parents who played a role in this event.

"Shall we go?"

Ren passes by the guests and walks down the corridor.

Upon opening the door to the observation car located at the rear, he sees that it's even more crowded than the carriage he was in earlier. However, he quickly spots Vane and Kaito.

"Oh?"

Kaito, sitting by the window, notices Ren and waves his hand, calling him over.

"Ashton! Over here!"

Though it's quite an attention-grabbing way of calling him, Ren doesn't mind and goes to the seats where the two of them are sitting.

Naturally, both Vane and Kaito are also wearing uniforms.

Ren takes a seat next to Vane, facing Kaito. On the table in front of them, there is a board game similar to chess that the two boys are competing in.

"Do you want to join, Ren?"

"Nah, I'll just watch."

While saying that, Ren puts his hand into his pocket and takes out a small paperback book.

"Once again, you have an unusual book, Ashton."

It's a book Ren bought a few days ago at a bookstore in the capital. He casually picked it up while stopping by with Licia on their way back from the academy.

"It's interesting. Would you like to read it, Leonardo-senpai?"

"Do you think I would willingly read a book?"

"...I don't know how to respond, so please excuse me."

"Hahaha! Sorry, sorry."

Then, Vane, sitting next to him, noticed the book in Ren's hands.

"'Even a Little Bore Can Understand! Basics of Magic Ships'...?"

"Yeah, it's a book that talks about magic ships, as the title suggests."

After working on the repairs of Lemuria the other day, Ren became interested in reading books like this. It was just that, nothing more and nothing less.

Even though Ren was a complete novice when it came to magic ships, the book turned out to be surprisingly interesting when he gave it a read.

"Oh... Ren, you read books like that too?"

"Once in a while. So, while watching you guys compete, I thought I'd read."

Neither Vane nor Kaito paid any mind to Ren reading a book, and they spent time together in the same space like understanding friends.

Ren flipped through the pages occasionally glancing at the ongoing game on the board.

"Alright! One more time, Vane!"

"Sure, I won't lose next time either."

As the intense match unfolded, Ren felt as if the voices of the two by his side were getting distant, absorbed in his book.

"Oh... Hey! Tha... that's...!"

"We're in a... com... petition... fair... and... square..."

"I won't... lo... se..."

While an intense competition was taking place beside him, Ren remained still and silent.

Unbeknownst to him, tea had been placed on the table. It must have been the consideration of those in this carriage.

Ren lifted the teacup to his mouth and repeated the motion of setting it down several times. By the time he finished drinking a cup, Vane and Kaito had entered their third round of competition.

"By the way..."

It was Kaito's usual tone, without any particular emotion.

His words caught Ren's interest as he was engrossed in his book.

"I heard that, upon the orders of the High Priest of the Elfen Church, their prided strongest forces are in motion. They seem to be seriously engaging with the Demon king’s cult."

"What's that? You don't mean it's a move orchestrated by the Elfen Church, do you?"

"That's the possibility, Ashton."

"...Huh? Are you serious?"

Those who worshipped the main god, Elfen.

The fact that their top brass was taking action astonished Ren.

"I heard that some temple in a certain place was attacked before. Wasn't it before the Grand Clock tower of Elendil was attacked? The rumor was that a sacred treasure was stolen, so the Elfen Church probably can't overlook it."

What Kaito was referring to was the Tears of Elfen, a sacred treasure that had been stored in the Elfen Church's temple.

"Does the Elfen Church know about the Demon king’s cult’s movements?"

"It's possible. They have branches all over the world, so they might know something."

"Well, that makes sense."

At times like this, organizations like the Elfen Church must be strong, Ren thought.

After emptying the contents of the teacup, Ren noticed the service staff and they immediately poured another cup for him.

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