Prologue
In The Legend of the Seven Heroes I, a series of incidents unfolded in the imperial capital as the story progressed.
A certain noble died under mysterious circumstances.
A royal guard, having lost his sanity, bared his fangs at the Third Prince.
The prince was abducted.
And the knight who had supposedly taken him was found brutally slain.
Regardless of faction, attacks continued without end, and in a matter of moments, the once-glorious imperial capital of Leomel plunged into chaos.
Some claimed it was an invasion by a foreign nation.
Some roared that it was the wrath of the Supreme God.
But that wasn’t the case.
No one had expected that all of this was a declaration of war by a single noble.
All the commotion, beyond what common sense could comprehend, had been orchestrated by a man consumed by vengeance.
However, that future would never come to pass.
Because the existence of one man—Ren Ashton—had drastically altered the fate of the mastermind behind the turmoil, the leader of the royalist faction, Marquis Ignat.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Eupeheim.
Among the coastal cities within the Leomel Empire, it was the grandest.
With its majestic and elegant appearance, it had long been called the White Crown and was praised as the City of Water.
Built along an almost circular coastline, the city was particularly famous for its enormous port.
It was a picturesque town, beloved by generations of emperors, where houses of white brick stood in neat rows.
Gondoliers steering boats through the numerous canals were a popular sight for visitors.
The city lay about a month's journey by horseback from Clausel and roughly two weeks from the imperial capital.
As a crucial hub for Leomel’s maritime trade, the noble overseeing Eupeheim had to be highly capable—a keen strategist who would show no weakness to neighboring nations.
Because of that, many nobles feared him.
The Lord of Eupeheim—Ulysses Ignat.
A strikingly handsome man with lustrous black hair that shone with a deep blue sheen, and a young noble at just thirty-five years of age.
“Ah, Edgar.”
He called out to his butler, who had only just returned from Clausel.
The setting was the garden of his grand mansion, an estate fittingly described as a small castle, located at the heart of Eupeheim.
“Yes, my lord. I have just returned,” Edgar responded.
It had been nearly two months since he last set foot in Eupeheim.
That spring, he had traveled to Clausel under his lord’s orders, in response to the reckless actions of Viscount Given.
Marquis Ignat had extended his aid to Baron Clausel, to whom he owed a great debt.
In the end, thanks to the exceptional efforts of Ren and Leshia, the incident was brought to a close.
Now, after some time had passed, Edgar had finally returned to his lord’s side.
“I’m relieved to see you’re well, my lord.”
“Of course I am! Besides, it’s a fine day today, isn’t it? I was just thinking of stirring up some trouble for the Hero Faction while I’m at it!”
Ulysses said cheerfully as he glanced at a seating area in the garden.
He took a seat, motioning for Edgar to do the same.
However, for a servant to sit beside his master was unthinkable.
“My apologies, but I am merely a butler.”
“How cold of you… Well then, shall I stand instead? That would make us equals, wouldn’t it?”
But of course, Edgar could not allow his master to stand.
In the end, he relented and took a seat.
“Tell me about what happened in Clausel.”
Edgar recounted the events in detail.
From the civil official who had been working under Viscount Given, to the first trial, and the final verdict.
He continued, describing how Baron Clausel had nearly been taken to the imperial capital and how Ren and Leshia had returned just in time.
Finally, he told Ulysses of the two’s remarkable achievements.
“I see… So he was truly an exceptional boy?”
“There is no doubt.”
“Even compared to the children of the Eirhardt family?”
"Ha. I'm sure even you, my lord, would agree that Len Ashton is worth more than gold itself."
Hearing this, Ulysses broke into a carefree smile.
"That was a good story. Thanks to you, I feel like my irritation toward His Majesty has lessened a little."
"…My lord, if I may—"
"Don’t say it. I already know. His Majesty refused to provide the materials because of the royal family’s interests."
He understood the reasoning, but that didn’t mean he had to accept it.
"Fiona’s unique constitution played a role in that matter as well. It wasn’t something that could be easily resolved—I know that."
But still...
"Sometimes I wonder—what would I have done if Fiona had lost her life?"
"That is…"
"I might have staged a coup. Assassinated the Third Prince, the heir apparent, and wished for the downfall of Leomel.——Haha, don’t look at me like that."
Edgar’s expression twisted with tension as he listened.
Every word his master spoke was far too perilous.
Under normal circumstances, such thoughts were unthinkable.
But this was only according to common sense.
Edgar knew that Ulysses, the man seated before him, was someone who could overturn such norms.
"Fortunately, however, Fiona's condition could only be controlled with the materials from the Sheefulfen."
"Exactly. That’s why I’d like to maintain a good relationship with the Clausel family."
"Oh? Not the Ashton family?"
"Technically, both. But you see, dealing with nobles is such a hassle. If I were to extend my hand to the Ashton family now, I’d be no better than that foolish viscount."
"My apologies."
Ulysses waved it off with a cheerful tone.
"Will you reach out to them?"
Edgar's question carried a deeper meaning—would his master attempt to bring the Clausel family into their faction?
"Baron Clausel is a proud man among the independent nobles, despite having no patrons. If you were to make a move—"
"Don’t. That kind of crude maneuvering is the same as the Heroic Faction’s tactics. The baron is already being suspected of leaning toward the Royalist Faction, so if I acted carelessly, it would be like repaying kindness with betrayal."
Ulysses let out a bitter chuckle and shrugged.
At that moment, a voice called out to them.
"Father?"
Soon after, a young lady appeared, carrying the scent of flowers with her.
With the assistance of a maid, she walked toward them with unsteady steps.
The necklace on her chest—a silver chain adorned with a jet-black gemstone—swayed with each motion.
"Edgar! You're back!"
Her long, jet-black hair swayed like polished obsidian as she moved.
As the spring breeze lifted her waist-length locks, the sunlight illuminated her delicate features, giving her an almost ethereal beauty—like a fairy or an angel.
Her snow-white skin was flawless, and her refined facial features made her seem older than her actual age.
In truth, she was two years older than Ren and Leshia.
"F-Fiona! Please, wait! Let me assist you!"
Edgar called out in alarm, but Fiona simply smiled bravely.
"Don’t worry about it. I need to push myself too."
With determination in her steps, she made her way to the garden table.
Still holding onto the maid’s hand, she settled into a chair, taking a moment to steady her breath before lifting her gaze.
"Welcome home, Edgar."
Her proud, dignified lavender eyes met his.
This young lady was none other than Fiona Ignat—the daughter of Ulysses Ignat, and the final boss of The Legend of the Seven Heroes I.
In the game, her death led Ulysses to despise Leomel, turning him into an enemy aligned with the Demon King’s cult.
But now, Fiona was alive.
Because Ren had hunted the Sheefulfen, she had been spared from the fate of death.
Still, she had not yet recovered enough to walk on her own.
Even so, she devoted herself to rehabilitation every day, and those around her had witnessed her unwavering determination.
"How was your journey to Clausel?"
"It was a fruitful journey. However, Lady Fiona—"
Despite addressing her respectfully, Edgar dared to offer a firm suggestion.
"As I have mentioned before, please refrain from speaking to us lower-ranked servants in such a manner."
"Hehe, but you already know, Edgar. I’ve always spoken this way because of my mother’s influence."
"Even so—"
"No good. You’ll just have to accept it."
Though her tone was lighthearted and playful, a deep, unyielding resolve shone in Fiona’s eyes.
"Father, I would like to visit Clausel and express my gratitude to Ren Ashton personally."
"I would too, but Baron Clausel has asked us to wait. With our differing factions—and considering my status as a marquis—it’s complicated."
"Then… what about a letter?"
"That’s a good idea, but for now, we should respect Baron Clausel’s wishes. Be patient a little longer."
"…I see."
Fiona lowered her gaze in disappointment.
Ren had saved her life.
She didn’t want to cause trouble for his master, Baron Clausel.
But still, she wanted to express her gratitude no matter what.
Fiona looked up at the sky and offered a silent prayer to the High God Elfen.
Someday, I will meet him and thank him properly—no matter what.