Kays Translations

Chapter 3: For the First Time.

"I was nervous. But fortunately, it was Estelle-sama who awarded the medal, so I felt relatively calm, just like usual."

"Hehe, did Estelle-sama look more stern than usual at that time?"

"Well..."

Well, it should be fine to talk about it. Ren had become friends with Fiona this winter, and both of them had already interacted with relaxed attitudes.

"That was only at the beginning. As we went along, she started grinning at how nervous I was."

Perhaps Estelle wanted to ease Ren's nervousness.

Fiona laughed and watched Ren's somewhat disgruntled expression with amusement.

"It was awarded to me in Estelle-sama's office..."

Estelle's office was located on the upper floors of the Lion Holy Sanctuary. Knights from the Lion Holy Sanctuary were present there, but surprisingly, Ren was nervous only at the beginning. Despite the solemn atmosphere of the office, it quickly felt like normal business as usual, thanks to Estelle.

"I received it, but it's not something I usually use, so for now, it's on display in my room."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. It's not an item you wear with your uniform."

The Imperial Military Academy allowed a certain degree of freedom in how students wore their uniforms. For example, Kaito would wear short-sleeved shirt with his uniform pants in the summer, and Ren's classmate Nemu Altia often wore a hoodie. Charlotte Lophelia, a senior who loved Vane, even unbuttoned her uniform or adjusted the length of her skirt to express her style.

Therefore, wearing a medal like this on the uniform was not an issue.

Estelle had also said that it was fine to wear it on the uniform, but the medal he received was very conspicuous.

"I'm not wearing it except on my military uniform. It's appropriate to wear it only when attending formal occasions."

Others who received the medal seemed to be doing the same, so Ren followed suit.

...Well, it does stand out.

The medal Ren received was named the "Saint Grimdor Sword Medal." It was a medal adorned with a black sword at its center, embellished with gold thread, and it exuded an imposing presence when worn on the chest. This medal could only be received by swordsmen who had reached the level of Sword Saint and was awarded by the head of the Lion Holy Sanctuary.

The Lion Holy Sanctuary was sometimes referred to as a semi-independent organization. Due to its association with the founder, the Lion King, who was an absolute presence in Leomel, there were areas where the country couldn't issue orders.

The "Saint Grimdor Sword Medal" presented by the semi-independent organization, the Lion Holy See, was named after a blind knight named Grimdor, who boasted strength second only to the Lion King.

Becoming a Sword Saint as a practitioner of the hard sword technique did not automatically result in special commendations from the country. If they were to grant titles or territories, it would be unfair to adventurers registered in Leomel.

However, Ren had received ample thanks from Ulysses, the lord of Eupheim, for defeating the Messenger of the Giant God Wadatsumi.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

On his way back after seeing Fiona off to the girls' dormitory, Ren strolled through the winter capital.

While enjoying some window shopping in the capital, he glanced at a massive building along the main street.

The Adventurer's Guild, Leomel Empire Headquarters.

Inside the building, there was a space similar to a regular guild. Large-scale requests could be undertaken here, just like in regular guilds throughout the empire.

Ren casually stepped inside.

The interior was more advanced than what he had seen in the Clausel and Elendil Guilds. The voices he heard were also quite different from those in other guilds.

"Oh no, this is not under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Court or the Elven Church..."

"From the nobles in the west, we've received consultations of this nature."

Unlike other guilds, this place had nobles, knights, and bureaucrats among its clients. This guild allowed them to submit requests and even facilitated communication with the provinces.

"You’re Ren Ashton, right?"

A female guild staff member approached Ren as he was looking at the bulletin board.

"We have only standard requests here... but is that acceptable?"

"I just dropped by today without any particular reason... By the way, did you already know who I am?"

"Of course. We received a message from the Lion Holy Sanctuary."

This means:

- In the Imperial Capital Guild, I can handle special requests.

- I have permission to enter the Sword Garden.

These are benefits due to receiving the Saint Grimdor Sword Medal and reaching the rank of Sword Saint as a hard swordsman. Besides these, there were social advantages, increased presence in noble society, and other special changes that Ren had not experienced before.

It's not limited to Sword Saints who handle the hard sword technique, but it's a recognition of Ren's skills as a certain level of proficient person that Leomel guarantees. This applies even in the guild. There were several ways to obtain these rights, but all of them were something special and not easily obtained.

"If you want to take on emblem-marked contracts, please come to the reception over there. We'll guide you in shortly."

These are special requests where the Imperial Capital Guild's emblem is stamped on the contract. They differ from the special requests Ren had undertaken previously and were all high-level requests. Without exception, each one had some sort of complication or danger.

Ren, who had been looking around inside the building even after the guild staff member had left, glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. Although he hadn't intended to stay long, more than thirty minutes had already passed. He had no reason to be here, so he left.

The cold January wind brushed against his cheeks and rustled his hair.

As Ren walked along the bustling main street, he overheard the voices of schoolgirls in uniforms from some academy.

"Hey, did you hear they have new stuff in that shop over there?"

"Oh, right! It's almost spring, after all."

Listening to the conversation of girls in uniform from some academy, Ren continued down the crowded street.

He visited a bookstore and chose spring clothes at a clothing store, and it was already dusk. He had dinner in the capital, and by around seven in the evening, he was thinking about heading back.

His final stop was to pay a visit to the Lion Holy Sanctuary while he was in the capital, say a few words to Estelle, and then head to the station through the administrative district.

As he passed through the area where temples lined the street, he suddenly realized.

...Now that I think about it, this might be my first time here.

Walking around this area for the first time on my own feet, I couldn't help but notice that there are many people here, including priests.

The seal of Rosas Caitas was broken last summer. Even now, only a limited number of people know that Ren and Licia were involved in it. However, the Elfen Church has been claiming that it's the will of the Chief God ever since. The influence remains, and this Imperial Capital Grand Temple, which is further inside, is bustling with pilgrims like never before compared to the past.

"Ah, Vane's power too."

He murmured out loud.

A part of the power that Vane had shown during the incident with the Messenger of the Giant God Wadatsumi. It was the same power he was supposed to use to put Asval, whom Ulysses Ignat was trying to resurrect, back to sleep. However, it seemed like it was just the tip of the iceberg since it was against the Messenger of the Giant God Wadatsumi. Ren had heard a bit about what happened on the Leonardo family's magic airship during the winter break.

When they returned to the academy after the winter break, Vane's story would become a new topic of conversation. 

The evenly spaced lights pouring out from the black antique-style lampposts illuminated Ren's path. His footprints were left behind on the cobblestone streets, which were lightly dusted with snow.

"Once Vane fully awakens..."

It would surely become a significant force against the threat of the Demon king’s Cult. He thought about continuing as soon as possible.

...Huh?

Ren stopped in his tracks when he saw a woman walking toward him. The woman also stopped and looked at Ren.

"..."

"..."

Ren, who had come to a standstill, was surprised by the presence of the woman here. The woman seemed to share a similar sentiment as she looked at Ren.

However, she started walking towards Ren first and approached him.

With Ren in her gaze, she opened her mouth.

"You are quite an intriguing person."

While looking at Ren.

"I've known that you've become much stronger since the Grand Clock Tower incident."

"...Why are you...?"

As they passed each other.

The enigmatic beauty, Sword King Lutreche, said.

"Until we meet again somewhere."

Her hair fluttered in the wind as she crossed Ren's path.

When Ren turned to look back, he couldn't find any trace of Lutreche, who should have been there.

She had disappeared, as if into the falling snow from the winter sky.

She was no longer there.

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