Kays Translations

Chapter 4: What His Best Friend Said

Ren returned to the Hanging Garden, the vast multifunction station that was one of Elendil’s proudest landmarks. Licia was there to welcome him.

Her beautiful hair, like amethyst and silver melted together, shimmered more brightly than the stars in the night sky. She was growing more mature little by little without losing any of her delicate charm.

As soon as Ren arrived, she greeted him in a buoyant voice.

“Welcome back, Ren.”

It was their first meeting since that morning. Ren answered, “I’m back,” then looked around.

“Huh? Is it just you, Licia?”

“Yeah. Father and Weiss were here until a little while ago, but they left for the Imperial Capital just as you arrived.”

They had gone to attend to a minor matter.

Asking about guards would have been pointless. Licia was formidable in her own right, and the station was surrounded by guards and knights.

The two began walking side by side toward the ground level.

The night was growing late, and the cold wind stung their cheeks when they stepped outside.

As they walked along Elendil’s lively nighttime streets, Licia glanced at Ren beside her. Since winter break began, she seemed to have to look up at him just a little more than before.

“Did you find the book you wanted to read?”

“I did, but apparently it’s popular. I was lucky to borrow it at all—the librarian said someone else still had it yesterday.”

“That’s good. I wanted to read it too.”

Licia looked interested, so Ren asked, “Would you like to read it first?” She shook her head. “No. You borrowed it, Ren. I’ll read it after you’re finished.”

“In that case, I’ll bring it to you when I’m done.”

“Yeah, I’ll be waiting!”

She smiled happily at that small promise, her steps unusually light.

Then, a little later—

“Shall we practice before bed tonight?”

“Let’s.”

After that exchange—

That night, Lessard and Weiss still hadn’t returned.

It was past ten, and both Ren and Licia would soon be going to bed.

They went to the mansion’s hall and began their training.

Since the incident at Roses Caitas, Licia had felt an aversion to using Sacred Magic. She had discussed it with Chronois, and after Ren’s conversation in Eupheim with Ragna—the Bag Traveler who headed a Bureau of Mysteries research office—she resumed training in the latter half of winter.

Following Headmistress Chronois’s advice, Ren and Licia had begun practicing Sacred Magic together a little at a time.

“Hey, Ren. Isn’t it more effective when I use it on you?”

“It does seem that way… Maybe it’s because I forced your magic stone to listen to me back then.”

“Then does that make you the master of my power?”

Licia said with a laugh.

“Not exactly. It’s more like, ‘You’re such a nag, Ren, so I suppose I’ll do as you say.’”

Sacred Magic was more effective when Licia used it on Ren than when she used it on anyone else, including Lessard and Weiss. It clearly had something to do with Roses Caitas, but the exact reason remained unknown.

“Shall we stop here for today?”

“Yeah. Let’s practice again tomorrow.”

By the time their bedtime training ended, Ren’s eyelids had grown heavy.

He returned to his room, made his usual preparations for bed, switched off the magic lamp, and lay down. A large yawn escaped him before his eyes closed.

—Shortly after dawn, someone knocked on Ren’s door.

When he opened it, a servant stood in the corridor holding a letter.

The sender’s name was written plainly on the envelope.

“From Radius?”

“That’s what I was told. An Imperial Guard knight asked that you read the contents for the details,” the servant replied.

Ren nodded, returned to his room, and broke the letter’s seal.

He removed the parchment and followed Radius’s handwriting with his eyes.

“I would like to meet at the academy today or tomorrow, if you have time. I’ll be reading in the small room we always use. Please come if you can.”

He had added that Ren shouldn’t worry if he was too busy.

Radius, who had been unusually occupied since the previous year, finally seemed to be settling down. He apparently spent the occasional day off reading at the academy.

It was a rare invitation from his busy best friend.

Ren had no reason to refuse, so he decided to go that very day.

He hurried to the dining room and ate breakfast. Licia came down a little later, saw him preparing to leave, and tilted her head.

“Where are you going at this hour?”

“Radius invited me to the academy, so I’m heading over.”

“All right. Be careful.”

After breakfast, Ren finished getting ready and went to the entrance hall, where Licia saw him off. His breath turned white when he stepped outside. Once he passed through the front gate and reached the main street, he glanced at the snow-covered Grand Clock Tower.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

At the academy, Ren headed to the library, entered the small room at the back, and called his friend’s name.

Radius sat in a chair with a book in one hand, enjoying the quiet. The moment Ren called to him, his expression softened.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Forgive me. You simply seem so completely unchanged.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Think about it. When was the last time we met?”

“Wasn’t it when we talked about House Leonaal’s party?”

“Exactly. It was shortly after Silver King Shield Airia was discovered—more precisely, before you defeated Giant God’s Messenger Wadatsumi.”

Radius had been so busy that they hadn’t found another opportunity to meet until now.

The investiture ceremony didn’t count, since it had been administered by the Lion’s Holy Office rather than the castle. The Wadatsumi incident had also filled Radius’s schedule with unexpected obligations.

What Radius meant was simple.

“After everything you’ve accomplished, I find it amusing that you’re still exactly the same.”

“How else was I supposed to change?”

“Fair enough. Even so, I never imagined that a boy only one year younger than me would attain the Sword Saint rank in the Mighty Sword Style.”

Radius closed his book and placed it on the table.

Ren took a seat nearby and began to relax.

“The people at the Lion’s Holy Office said the same thing.”

“To the knights?”

“Yes. The first time I trained there after becoming a Sword Saint, everyone congratulated me. But once I began practicing as usual, they said, ‘You really haven’t changed at all.’”

“Ha… I can imagine.”

Even to the knights of the Lion’s Holy Office, Ren appeared unchanged while training.

His approach had become more severe, however. Perhaps because his limits had risen with his mastery of the Mighty Sword Style, he could now endure much more demanding training. Yet that very dedication still seemed entirely like Ren.

“Your letter said you wanted to talk. Is it something serious?”

“To some extent. A great deal happened while we were unable to meet. Ragna investigated several matters concerning your ancestors, and I wanted to tell you what he found as soon as possible.”

Apart from the main subject, Radius had also wanted a chance to talk with Ren after so long.

“Ragna? You mean the place in Old Town… Geno Orphanage, was it?”

A building once known for its ‘door that wouldn’t open’ had unlocked when Ren touched it. It proved to be an orphanage called Geno Orphanage.

“It has only been a few months since those letters were found there. Did something else happen?”

“Yes. That’s simply the kind of man Ragna is. No matter how difficult a problem may be, he quickly produces some result. Later stages of an investigation may slow him down, but he always achieves something.”

“I stand corrected.”

Radius took a folded sheet of paper from his coat and handed it to Ren. It was the same investigation report Ragna had previously given Radius, and Ren now read the information that had surprised his friend.

It took only a few minutes to finish the report, but several more to organize his thoughts.

He sighed and looked at Radius.

“Who was Cecil Ashton, really?”

“I can’t say. He appears to have been someone exceptional, and the same is true of the Corroding Princess. Much remains unknown, but there’s no doubt that this is a major step toward the heart of the mystery.”

“It still feels as though we’ve only taken the first step.”

“One step is far better than none.”

Radius gazed through the window without focusing on anything in particular.

“Hey, Ren.”

“Hmm? What’s up?”

“There’s one more matter I want to discuss, separate from House Ashton.”

Despite the sudden change of subject, Ren answered in his usual unhurried manner.

“Oh? What is it?”

“It concerns the reason I was so busy until recently. Everything has finally been settled enough for me to tell you.”

Ren had risen to prepare something warm to drink.

He drew hot water from a magic device and poured it into a teapot. When he added the leaves, their pleasant fragrance mingled with the steam.

As Ren continued preparing the tea, Radius spoke.

“It’s been decided that I’ll become Crown Prince. The formal appointment will come later.”

“Oh. That’s impressive.”

“Indeed. My efforts were worthwhile, and all the necessary groundwork is complete. I may be formally appointed in summer, autumn, or perhaps a little later. Many of the great nobles have already realized what’s happening.”

“So it’s essentially been decided behind closed doors.”

“That’s a simple way of putting it, yes.”

Ren carried over the finished tea and set a cup before Radius with a soft clink.

Holding his own cup, Ren stood beside the window overlooking the snowy scenery.

He took a sip to wet his throat.

A moment later, one eyebrow rose. “—Hm?”

“Wait. Did you just say you’re going to become Crown Prince?”

“I did.”

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