Kays Translations

Chapter 17: The Ring of the Water Goddess.

In a part of the mountainous region that makes up Windea, there was a gap resembling a cave carved into the rocky terrain. As they ventured deeper, it became clear that this area did not belong to the ancient territory of the Azure Deer of the Land.

Navigating through what looked like a cave filled with green-glowing minerals embedded in the rocks, the two continued their conversation.

“Why did those creatures come after us so quickly, even though we didn’t touch the plants created using nature magic?” 

“Maybe they were in a bad mood?” 

“Well, I can’t deny that.” 

Nevertheless, the magical power that erupted from the wind crystal must have been good bait for creatures like that.

“Or maybe they were after the Wind Crystals in your bag, Ragna-san.”

“No, that’s not it. My bag has a special design that separates the inside from the outside. It can hold more than it appears to, so I doubt they would have noticed,” 

“Then, perhaps it really was because they were in a bad mood,” 

As they continued forward, the cave-like passage with green-glowing crystals embedded in the rocks remained sufficiently wide for five or six people to walk side by side, and the glow from the crystals lit their path.

(What’s this?)

Ren noticed something peculiar. There were signs on the ground, as if it had been trampled, and the walls and ceiling inside the cave were irregularly carved or collapsed. It was clear that someone or something had entered.

However, Ren couldn’t recall any events like this, and he grew more cautious. Ragna, similarly wary, suggested they continue forward.

After about ten minutes of walking, they reached the deepest part of the cave. The circular open space was vast, with a height and diameter of over twenty miles. A spring with a depth up to Ren’s knees occupied the center, and the water in the spring emitted a beautiful greenish-blue light when it rippled.

Even this area appeared to have been tampered with, with rocks damaged and irregular scars on some of them.

In the center of the spring, a shining blue crystal, polished to perfection, held the power of the Water Goddess, along with a ring.

Although it could be obtained in the legend of the Seven Heroes and could enhance water magic when equipped, Ren and Ragna wondered…

“This situation seems strange too,”

Ragna said.

Ren waded into the water towards the center without worrying about getting wet. He noticed that the beautiful blue crystal, which should have been seated, bore countless scars, as if it had been struck by swords.

However, the ring that had rested inside it remained. 

Did someone try to take it by force?

But such an event was not in the legend of the Seven Heroes. The presence of the Demon Cult crossed their minds due to the lack of information.

However, with too little information, they couldn’t be sure. 

Ragna’s problem now was how to take out the ring.

“However, it seems that someone tried to forcibly extract it from the wind crystal. However, it seems it was unsuccessful.”

“…It looks that way.”

“In that case, there’s a high possibility that even if we try to extract it, the same result will occur.”

“No, it should be fine.”

Ren said this with a knowledgeable look, then quickly corrected himself.

“Um… I think it would be a good idea to bring the Wind Gem closer. As Ragna-san mentioned, the wind and water of Windea have a high affinity.”

Perhaps, that way, they might be able to reach the Water Goddess’s Ring, or so he implied.

The Wind Gem was a rare treasure, with only a few in the world. And the Water Goddess’s Ring was a unique item with only one in the world.

Ragna had hesitated to take the ring out of the blue crystal, but then he said, “It can’t be helped.”

“What’s important is that someone tried to forcibly take it out,” 

The man who disliked the gods sighed deeply and said before prompting Ren.

“It’s worth trying Ren’s suggestion. It would be much better if we took it out ourselves rather than dealing with the troublesome guys. As a member of the Mystical Agency, I can’t overlook this.”

Regarding Ragna’s experimental idea, Ren knew that it was safe to take out the Water Goddess’s Ring. Ren, holding the Wind Gem that Ragna took out of his bag, approached the blue crystal without hesitation.

As a precaution, he maintained a position that protected Ragna.

“Look… It seems to be working.”

“Yeah, it looks that way.”

The Wind Gem emitted a gentle green wind as soon as it approached the blue crystal.

“It’s a situation that I don’t quite understand, but it’s an interesting phenomenon.”

The wind enveloped the blue crystal. It erased the faintly carved scars on the surface and then pulled the Water Goddess’s Ring from within as if sucking it in.

It seemed like it was being swept away by the wind.

After that, the ring fell into the water a few seconds later.

“Well, it’s been quite a mysterious journey.”

“Ragna-san, we’re not done yet because we still have to go back.”

“Oh… right.”

Ren reached out to pick up the Water Goddess’s Ring, which had fallen into the water. However,

“Huh?”

The Water Goddess’s Ring moved on its own before Ren could touch it.

It emerged from the water by itself and floated in front of Ren.

The ring emitted tiny sparkling grains of magic power, and when Ren wondered where they were going, they were absorbed into the crystal of Ren’s bracelet.

During the short time when Ragna averted his gaze, something happened.

・Water Sword――――

For a moment, it felt like words appeared on the crystal of the bracelet. However, it disappeared before Ren could fully read it.

Ren immediately turned his attention to the crystal, but the words that emerged were the same as what he had seen when he went to Rose’s Caitas before.

“Ren, what happened?”

“Oh, nothing. The ring suddenly floated up, so it surprised me.”

“Yeah, I understand. I’m hesitant to touch it so easily, but…”

“It should be okay. Look.”

Seeing Ren confidently gripping the ring, Ragna was initially surprised and his cheeks twitched in amazement. The Water Goddess’s Ring was carefully stored in the box that Ragna had been holding onto, and Ren was entrusted with its management.

“I’ll report this to various authorities,” 

“As a member of the Mystical Agency?”

“Yes. However, I’ll handle the information with caution because there’s a possibility that the Demon Cult had targeted it. Be careful, too. By the way, have you mentioned the emblem with the mark to anyone?”

Ren mentioned it to Licia, Fiona, Lessard, and Ulysses.

After a few seconds of contemplation, Ragna decided to send a letter to those individuals, just mentioning the emblem without providing too many details. It was a kind of code.

“In that case, why not ask Radius to investigate?” 

With Radius’s innate special abilities, he might be able to detect any traces of Demon Cultists in the area.

Ren proposed this, but Ragna rejected the idea.

“No, it won’t work. Given the current situation, we won’t find any traces even if we tried. Radius’s powers are something I’m familiar with. The reason is simple: I’ve trained with him. Calling Radius now would be too late, and any attempt to search for traces would be futile.”

“Well, it’s a pity… Then there’s no other option.”

Ren acknowledged that the situation was beyond help.

After this, there was a discussion that it would be physically and technically difficult to bring Radius to a place like this.

“I’ll contact you later about the repair of that key. By the way, the high alertness of the Azure Deer might be due to this,” 

“Is it a remnant of someone sneaking in here?”

Ragna nodded. 

“It’s still just speculation, though. So maybe they were more cautious of intruders than the Wind Crystals.”

In any case, it was only a hypothesis. The only evidence we had were the numerous scars on the blue crystals and the disarray inside this cave.

Ren had a nagging feeling that something else might happen.

(For now, I should also check the temple.)

He was concerned about Vane and the others.

“Shall we go to the temple and check on the spring?” 

“Sure, why not.” 

“Thank you. Well, there should be someone else at the spring.” 

“Someone else? Who would be in a place like this?”

“My friends.”

“Imperial Military Academy students? They don’t seem like ordinary students, though.”

“That’s for sure. One of them is the one rumored to be the descendant of the hero Ruin.”

“I see. That’s interesting.”

Their destination wasn’t too far away.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Furthermore, Vane and the others were higher up.

It had been quite a struggle for them to get this far. Although this mountain path had a high elevation, it occasionally formed rivers with Windea’s water running along the rocky terrain, devoid of sand and soil.

Fish were swimming in these waters, displaying bright colors similar to those seen in coral reefs. Some were considered luxury fish, and the sight of them amazed Vane and his group who were camping outdoors.

However, at one point, they had to cross the river, which was a challenging task due to the strong current. They had also encountered monsters along the way, causing them to stop multiple times.

There were places where the wind had a deep shade of green, forming walls.

The group had been working together to overcome such natural fortresses and find the path ahead.

“Over there.” 

Charlotte said confidently.

Charlotte Lophelia. She was a skilled archer and adept in wind magic, making her perfect for sensing Windea’s presence. Throughout the journey, her judgments had saved the group on multiple occasions.

Standing on the edge of a cliff, feeling the wind blowing outside the mountainside, Vane wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“We’re almost there,” 

“Finally! I can’t wait. I’m tired of showering with magic items. I just want a proper bath.” 

Charlotte replied with a grin.

“I see. Should we take one together when we get back?” 

“Don’t say weird things! Come on, we need to think about the next path!”

“Hmm… So you’re saying I should finish thinking about it?”

“That’s not it!”

Vane, who had quickly negated the idea, regained his focus and began examining their surroundings.

His profile looked completely different from a year ago. Charlotte couldn’t help but notice.

“It’s so different from back then,” 

She whispered softly, so softly that Vane couldn’t hear.

Back then referred to before they entered the preparations for the Lion King Festival.

Charlotte had asked Sarah multiple times about Vane at the parties they attended. Sarah seemed to think highly of Vane, and it even looked like she might be in love with him.

However, when Charlotte first met Vane, he didn’t seem dependable at all. She even doubted whether his strength was real. She hadn’t expected a day when her initial impression would change.

“Nice to meet you, Vane-san.” 

She had greeted him on their first meeting, but her tone had been rather indifferent.

She didn’t have any particular interest in Vane, and even if she did, it was probably because he was a boy Sarah had feelings for.

Her impression of him hadn’t changed, and it hadn’t gotten worse or better after a few conversations.

However, there was an incident that served as a turning point.

“Where is it?” 

She asked in frustration.

She had a necklace that she cherished from her childhood.

It had been passed down by her grandfather and was usually worn except during baths and sleep.

One night, she realized it was missing before her bath. She searched her room and even scoured the mansion but couldn’t find it. She ventured outside the mansion, searching the garden and the front gate, but it was nowhere to be found.

“I see.”

“I’ll let you know as soon as I find it.”

The next day, she checked the academy’s lost and found, but it hadn’t been turned in. Vane, seeing her in such a state, decided to talk to her.

“Lophelia-senpai, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, um, just looking for something.”

“If you’d like, can I help?”

This was the event Ren remembered from earlier. 

They searched and searched until the sky turned pitch black after school. 

They were searching for Charlotte’s necklace, which had fallen off when she was walking through the capital, and it turned out that someone had found it, planning to sell it through a shady trading company.

They struggled to get it back and eventually ended up in a fight with the guards of the corrupt trading company, finally putting an end to the whole ordeal.

“Haa…Haa… You went too far…”

“It’s not just me. Charlotte-senpai did too.”

“I know, but… Ugh, we’re going to get scolded together!”

In that moment, Charlotte’s attention was captivated by Vane’s fearless stand, and also by his determination to protect her.

The boy who was once just a friend had become more than that.

After the incident, members of the Heroic family and even Sarah scolded them severely, telling them not to do anything reckless!

“Vane and Charlotte, no more reckless actions, got it!?”

“Yeah… I understand. I apologize.”

“I’m sorry too. I did a lot without thinking.”

They had run out of time to get Charlotte’s necklace back and had ended up fighting, even though they hadn’t planned to. Although they hadn’t had time to call for backup, both of them repeatedly expressed their regrets.

“Both Charlotte-senpai and I just… really wanted to do something…”

“Ch-Charlotte-senpai?”

Vane had been calling her “Lophelia-senpai” until yesterday. Now he was using her name.

“Why did you suddenly change the way you address her?”

“Oh, um… Charlotte-senpai said it was okay.”

“I see. Well then, you should talk to me properly too.”

“Huh!?”

The change in how he addressed her would cause another commotion, but that was a different story. Now, it was a fond memory for Charlotte.

“Charlotte-senpai?”

While Charlotte was gazing at the grown-up Vane, Vane, worried about her silence, spoke up.

“It’s nothing. Boys really grow up fast, don’t they?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“So, Vane-kun, you’re a boy too, after all.”

“Ha-ha.”

Charlotte’s good mood was a mystery to Vane until the end, but for now, they needed to focus on the path ahead.

As the two of them considered their next move.

“……………….”

They heard a loud noise from somewhere, something that sounded like the roar of a large creature and the sound of something colliding.

“Charlotte-senpai, did you hear that noise just now?”

“I heard it. Just to be safe, let’s hurry and meet up with everyone.”

Vane exchanged glances with Charlotte and remained alert to their surroundings. They soon rejoined their companions, but no further events occurred.

They had reached the height where the temple they were looking for was located. They all sat down on the ground, exhausted from the strenuous journey along the challenging path they had traversed.

Fortunately, with all seven descendants of the Seven Heroes gathered, they had a magician capable of healing. Thanks to this, they quickly recovered, and within thirty minutes, they were standing up and looking around.

Next to Vane, Lizred approached. 

“What do you think that loud noise and roar from earlier were?”

“Kaito-senpai mentioned it too, but it might have been monsters fighting.”

“It was definitely a loud noise. If it was monsters fighting, it means powerful monsters. We need to be cautious on our way back.”

They had explored the path to this point while following the same route they had taken up to now. Since they had parked the airship Deus higher up than the Lemuria, they had saved a lot of time on the climb.

“Hey, Vane!”

In response to Kaito’s call, Vane headed to where he was waiting. The temple that sat in this place was large, and it had a complex structure that followed the sharp terrain typical of Windea.

Sometimes, it had an arched structure that stretched over steep cliffs, while other times, stone buildings like cottages stood on top of rocks used as pillars. There were no walls in the temple; instead, it was open with rows of thick pillars, giving it a sense of openness.

“Well, let’s go.”

“Go where?”

“Come on, Vane, it’s obvious. Why did we come here?”

With a hearty laugh, Kaito gestured in a certain direction. The goal they had come here for was the spring.

This place had prominent stone designs, but it also had a small garden-like area. The surroundings were overgrown with trees, and various colored flowers bloomed, catching Vane’s eye. 

The wind around seemed to be flowing toward that spring.

“Vane,” 

Sarah called.

“Let’s go. We need to confirm if the legend is true.”

“Yeah!”

Vane’s face, filled with determination, looked gallant, and his steps were resolute.

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