Reincarnated as the Mastermind of the Story Volume 2 Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Lost Candidates and Fallen Adventurers

The gray, rugged cobblestones, along with the walls and ceiling made of the same material, welcomed everyone. 

As fingers slid along the wall, they could feel a damp, gritty texture. The windows were small, and even during the day, the light from torches spaced evenly along the walls was the only thing keeping the place from being too dim. The sound of everyone’s footsteps echoed through the fortress, devoid of any decoration.

“I am Meidas. Excluding the knights of the Clausel family, I am commanding the adventurers during this rescue mission,” Meidas lightly introduced himself as he led the group, walking next to Fiona.

At this moment, Fiona mistook Ren for an adventurer.

Given Miedas’s words, it wasn’t difficult to see why she would mistake Ren, who wasn’t dressed as a knight, for an adventurer.

“Why are children like you here in the Baldor Mountain Range?” Ren asked as Fiona continued walking without stopping.

“We’re students preparing for exams. We’ve been taking refuge here in the fortress for the past few days,” 

“Students?”

“Yes, this place is the final exam site for the special class of the Imperial Officer Academy.”

This explanation shocked Meidas. Ren and the knights also looked surprised.

“I didn’t expect it, but... is this really the special class of that prestigious academy?” Meidas asked in disbelief.

“Haha! Hey, Meidas! Watch your manners!” A nearby adventurer teased Midas.

“W-wait, I know! But forgive me! I’m not used to speaking with nobles... and besides, you guys need to introduce yourselves!” Meidas urged the other adventurers.

However, the adventurers hesitated.

“I’ll pass. Last time I took a bodyguard job for a noble, they complained about my attitude,” one adventurer said.

“I’d prefer to pass as well. For a rural adventurer like me, meeting with those academy students is too much of an honor,” another added.

“If we got involved with someone from a noble family, we’d get into all sorts of trouble. If something goes wrong, they might blame us for the mishap, and that’s the last thing I need,” a third adventurer chimed in.

Adventurers had their own reasons for avoiding introductions, even when dealing with nobles.

“But I won’t ignore it. If the students don’t interfere with us, I’ll protect them,” one adventurer declared.

“We’ll keep to ourselves, then. If you do that, we’ll guarantee their safety. Keeping out of each other’s way is the reward,” another adventurer agreed.

As someone had previously said, they might receive a sizable reward from the students' parents. However, the adventurers knew well the strength of the powerful figures behind them. If they were to get blamed for something, it could be disastrous. In other words, they wanted to keep their identities hidden for self-protection.

Especially, the presence of Fiona Ignat likely influenced their caution.

“Understood. We’ll do it that way,” Fiona said, nodding, as if she had some experience with the unreasonable nature of nobility.

As they continued walking, Meidas apologized, but Fiona smiled brightly in response.

“However, if you’re students from the special class, wouldn’t this snowstorm not be much of a challenge for you?” Meidas asked, still skeptical.

The Imperial Officer Academy was the most prestigious in the Leomel Empire, and only a select few could enter the special class. Students aiming for that class were likely to be more skilled than rural adventurers.

Ren, too, was thinking along the same lines.

“We can’t win against adults in terms of physical strength,” Fiona replied, explaining why they had chosen to take refuge. “If it had only been a few days, we might have been fine, but when we decided to evacuate, we had already walked for more than a week through the mountains.”

For someone of their age, a winter march was incredibly difficult.

Even if they were stronger than the rural adventurers around Clausel, the strain of camping out for extended periods was overwhelming.

“And on top of that, an unusually large number of monsters appeared, forcing us to expend more energy than necessary,” Fiona continued.

Meidas immediately responded, “It might have been easier to target a group of young ones like you.”

But the knight added, “The path we marched had fewer monsters. Perhaps they were gathered on your side of the mountain.”

Meanwhile, Ren was quietly pondering.

(The special class exam is certainly difficult. The final exam is a symbol of that... but...)

It was a test held in a designated area, where students were expected to follow a set route. The exam tested physical strength, endurance, quick thinking, and cooperation within groups.

There must have been examiners present, but...

(They’re not here, though. This is still an exam, so they wouldn’t push them too hard...)

If even seasoned adventurers were calling for help due to the extreme weather, it was hard to believe that the examiners would leave them to their fate, no matter how prestigious the academy. The students included noble children and others connected to high-ranking families, and if something happened, it could lead to a major issue.

So, where were the examiners?

“Did you notice?” One of the adventurers walking beside Ren muttered with self-deprecation.

“This situation isn’t normal. Someone with power must be behind this, someone who could easily wipe us out. The students are related to nobles from all factions, so if someone were to harm them, it’d be a huge mess.”

“That’s why you all acted so differently, didn’t you?” Ren said, understanding.

“Exactly. I know it’s rude, but we all look out for ourselves,” the adventurer admitted.

While the two conversed, Fiona suddenly stopped walking. She stood before a door leading to a large hall at the back of the fortress.

“We were relieved to find out there were others already here when we arrived,” she said, though her expression remained grim.

When the door opened, everyone immediately understood why. Inside the hall, simple bedding was laid out, with adventurers like Kai and some merchants who were likely the ones they were supposed to protect, lying on the ground. They were all struggling to breathe in pain.

“K-Kai!?” Meidas rushed to his companion’s side.

Other adventurers who had come to assist followed him closely.

“As you can see, the people in this fortress are all in no condition to walk,” Fiona explained, confirming their worst fears.

The knights, who shared Ren’s suspicions, remained calm and asked Fiona, “Miss Ignat, if there’s anything else you know, please share it with us. We came from Clausel after seeing the smoke signal, but we’re still trying to understand what’s happening here.”

Fiona nodded solemnly.

“One of the other students with me knows some healing magic. According to them, the people here have an abnormally high amount of magic circulating in their bodies,” she explained, her face shadowed.

Her lips trembled slightly as she spoke. “It appears to be a symptom similar to a broken vessel.”

At this, the knight gasped in surprise.

“When an individual carries an amount of magic power that exceeds their body’s capacity, it turns toxic and begins to damage the body. This condition was usually seen in children born with excessive magic... but why would adults, like the adventurers, be affected?”

"...It's unfortunate, but I don't know the reason behind it. However, 'Kiwake' is a disease where the higher the amount of magic power one is born with, the higher the death rate. However, those individuals over there are said to be out of immediate danger."

The symptoms of 'Kiwake' are similar but not identical to the disease Lishia once suffered from.

Ren, who lacks knowledge in medicine, couldn't fully comprehend the explanation, but roughly speaking, it involves whether or not it is directly life-threatening.

Also, since 'Kiwake' usually manifests immediately after birth, this is one of the differences in symptoms.

The one who examined the adventurers said that the abnormal amount of magic power tormenting their bodies is gradually stabilizing, and they should regain their strength after a while.

"That’s why the recent signals were raised by us," Fiona said with a sorrowful smile, then tilted her head.

The knight crossed his arms and began thinking, but bowed to Fiona before heading toward the fallen adventurers.

"There are many things we need to consider, but first, we will check on the adventurers’ condition. After that, we would like to consult with you regarding your descent from the mountain."

With that, the knight turned and walked away, while Fiona secretly thought, "So once again, the Clausel family will lend me their strength."

She then stepped into the hall as well.

At that moment, an event occurred that instantly dispelled the tension in the air.

"What a hassle. If they don’t increase our reward later, this just won’t be worth it," said one of the female adventurers accompanying Ren, sighing.

She exchanged glances with another female adventurer before turning her gaze toward Ren.

"We’re staying here for the night anyway, so let’s at least decide on our rooms already."

"Yeah. We can leave the rest to the men."

With that, the two leaned suggestively against Ren.

"How about sharing a room with us?"

Ren was momentarily stunned by surprise, but he quickly responded in an irritated tone.

"Uh—please don’t mess around at a time like this."

Far from being swayed by their seductiveness, he found their lack of awareness in this situation to be more of a nuisance and dismissed them with a sigh.

Stretching out both arms, he peeled the two women off of him.

They laughed at his indifferent response and walked away.

Ren let out a frustrated sigh, but then suddenly froze.

At some point, Fiona, who had entered the hall earlier, was now standing by the doorway, watching him with a wry smile.

"A-Ah... um..."

"Just so we're clear, I wasn’t entertaining those two or anything like that, okay?"

"D-Don’t worry! I saw everything...!"

It was an incredibly unfortunate moment.

Luckily, Fiona had not misunderstood the situation, but the air between them remained awkwardly heavy.

(This is bad. Now it’s even harder to introduce myself.)

For Fiona, Ren was nothing short of a lifesaver, but this was hardly the ideal first meeting.

He had no particular desire for a grand introduction, but even so, this encounter was undeniably awkward.

In this critical situation, the last thing he wanted was to confuse Fiona any further.

(Clearly, I should talk to everyone and find a better opportunity.)

Fiona still thought Ren was just another adventurer, and there was also the agreement between adventurers and examinees to not interfere with each other.

For now, he decided to postpone introducing himself.

The only issue was how to act in this tense atmosphere.

"Ignat-sama! I have something I’d like to discuss...!"

An unexpected lifeline appeared.

A female examinee approached, taking Fiona’s hand as she spoke.

Judging by her expression and the way she occasionally glanced at Ren, her concern seemed rather complicated.

"I’ll take my leave here," Ren said, turning his back to Fiona.

"Ah... Adventurer! Truly, thank you for your assistance!"

She deeply bowed to his retreating figure, expressing her heartfelt gratitude.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Not long ago, that same examinee had been troubled by one particular concern—the final exam results.

For the examinees, this exam determined their future.

But now, having to take refuge in this fortress and receiving aid from adventurers and Clausel knights had left many of them deeply unsettled.

(Wasn’t that against the rules...?)

That evening, Ren pondered this as he ate an early dinner of grilled meat in the fortress dining hall.

Sitting beside him, a knight continued the explanation.

"Examinees must prove their worth through their own strength. However, I can’t help but feel something is off."

"Something off?"

"Yes. If I recall correctly, the exam location for the special scholarship class is always reported to the local lord. At that time, the region is sealed off to prevent any outside interference."

Yet, this time, there was no sign of such a restriction.

In fact, adventurers had been present even before the exam began.

"It’s practically impossible for this to be an accident."

"It does seem incredibly suspicious, but how can you be so sure?"

"Because the security measures for the special scholarship exam are that strict. The more likely explanation is that an outside force intentionally interfered."

"Wait a minute. If the security is that tight, yet outside interference is still possible... doesn’t that mean...?"

"There are plenty of nobles with enough authority to override the rules, regardless of faction."

The knight gave a complicated smile.

Another knight chimed in.

"Or maybe even royalty."

"Even though Ignat Marquis' daughter is here? For what purpose?"

"The idea that royalty would be involved is ridiculous. And it’s hard to imagine the Hero Faction making a move either. Picking a fight with Marquis Ignat seems unlikely. Even if they wanted to frame the Clausel family, the risk is far too great."

Ren maintained a composed smile despite the unsettling discussion.

"I heard the academy principal left Leomel. If someone exploited that opening, it’s not entirely out of the question."

Ren had never heard about Chronoa leaving Leomel before, but he dismissed it, assuming it had nothing to do with him.

"In any case, our duty to protect remains unchanged," the knight explaining the situation concluded.

"Regardless of the circumstances, we cannot ignore the examinees. If we fail, it will only cause trouble for our lord. Even if some examinees refuse assistance, we should force them to descend the mountain for their safety."

With Fiona Ignat present, they had to proceed with the utmost caution.

Everyone steeled themselves with a sense of tension and duty.

One knight, however, turned to Ren with a wry smile.

"Still, I must say, Ren-dono, I was quite surprised."

"Are you talking about Lady Ignat?"

"Yes."

"Oh, I was surprised too."

"Same here. She probably never imagined she would meet the person who saved her life in a place like this."

That was certainly true, and Ren could only smile wryly as he took another bite of his meat.

"She also happened to see you getting entangled with those female adventurers. What do you all think about that?"

"…Ren-dono, this meat is quite delicious as well."

"I personally recommend this one. You should give it a try."

Even without saying it outright, they were clearly trying to console him, and Ren felt a little touched.

At the very least, no one misunderstood the situation and thought he had been flirting with those women.

However, because of that incident, he had missed an important opportunity.

"I was planning to introduce myself, but that threw everything off."

"Perhaps it would be better to do so after descending the mountain. That way, both of you will be able to speak more calmly."

"So you think so too?"

"Fortunately, Lady Ignat still believes you to be just another adventurer. The attitude of those adventurers was certainly disgraceful, but because of that, she likely won’t think to ask for your name."

"Ah… well, there is that unspoken wall between adventurers and examinees."

Thanks to that, he would likely remain uninvolved for the time being.

He had asked the knights to refrain from mentioning his name or referring to him as a hero.

The last thing he wanted was to startle Fiona in this situation.

If it could lead to unnecessary confusion, it was best to avoid introducing himself for now.

Besides, Ren himself wasn’t quite mentally prepared yet.

"If I don’t introduce myself now, there’s a chance I’ll get scolded by Marquis Ignat later…"

"I don't think Marquis Ignat would be angry over something like that. Though it may sound a bit presumptuous, since Lady Ignat was saved by your strength, Ren-dono, it would be best to tell her that you prioritized a calm descent from the Baldur Mountains."

"However, if any of them  asked for your name, we won’t be able to remain silent."

Though the possibility of that happening seemed extremely low.

In any case, they decided to observe the situation for now, and one of the knights shared their plans going forward.

"As for tomorrow’s schedule, we’ll need to consult with the adventurers. Some of them will have to descend."

"Because many of the refugees are still in the fortress, we’ll be calling for reinforcements, right?"

Everything was aimed at ensuring that Fiona and the other examinees would be safely brought down the mountain.

"That’s correct. Otherwise, we won’t be able to safely escort the fallen adventurers or the examinees down the mountain. We’ll also be bringing along plenty of magical tools to help with that."

"It would be best for Ren-dono to accompany us as well."

"Indeed. Ren-dono, you’ll need to descend first thing tomorrow. If you were to get injured, Miss Lishia would be heartbroken waiting for you back at Clausel."

The knight who said this did so with a hint of jest.

However, Ren shook his head.

"I’ll remain behind. I’m still useful as a combatant, and I’ll stay by the side of Lady Ignat and the other examinees to protect them."

Some of the knights expressed reluctance, but Ren's words were reasonable.

In the end, it was decided that Ren would stay.

Tomorrow morning, a few knights and several adventurers would descend ahead to bring back the supplies and magical tools left at the foot of the mountains.

They would also use signal fires again to ensure quick communication with those at the base of the mountain.

Most of the forces would remain at the fortress, so there was no need to worry about that.

(There were too many people in need of rescue, so without this arrangement, we wouldn’t have enough hands.)

Thus, the decision was made to avoid dividing the group into first and second squads and to instead prepare for a flawless operation.

When Ren and Fiona eventually descend, they would be able to do so with the utmost care.

Among the examinees stranded in the mountains, many were young nobles, both domestic and foreign, so it was important to treat everyone with respect, not just Fiona.

"There were several seriously injured among the fallen. We’ll need to be careful when descending together."

"No, it seems things should settle down in a few days. But until then, it’s better not to force anyone to move. I’ve heard that it’s difficult to even take them out into this extreme cold, and if we’re not careful, they could lose their lives."

Ren became curious about the knights' conversation.

"So, how are they treating the injured now?"

"They’re using Lady Ignat’s skills to care for them."

There was no one else capable of treating them, and it wasn’t a condition that could be handled with potions.

As Ren wondered what kind of skill that was, another knight spoke up.

"We plan to inform Lady Ignat of our plans shortly. Ren-dono, what will you do?"

Ren couldn’t exactly say he was heading to Fiona.

"I think I’ll rest now to prepare for tomorrow."

With that, Ren left the knights and made his way to his room within the fortress.

Once in his room, he opened his bag and took out a magical tool that emitted light.

However, not knowing how to use it, he was troubled and quickly unfolded the note that Lishia had prepared for him.

"Ah... I see..."

Ren muttered, holding the note up to the light of the fireplace, when he suddenly noticed what seemed to be the shadow of some writing.

The shadow he found was the message Lishia had secretly left for him.

"…If you take too long to return, I’m coming after you."."

The faintly glowing text made Ren smile as he read it.

"Did I really need to find this?"

Though it was true that Lishia had hidden the message, he wasn’t sure what to think.

After some hesitation, Ren remembered the time when Lishia had failed to properly deal with a love-letter-like letter, and he smiled again.

"If this was a mistake, maybe Lady Lishia really has some strange connection to letters..."

Ren said, dimming the light from the magical tool and lying down on the bed.

As he stared at the soft glow, he thought of Lishia back at Clausel and felt an unexpectedly warm sensation in his heart.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

In the garden of the Clausel mansion, Lishia was gazing up at the frosty sky.

With a sigh, the breath she exhaled turned white, and her pale skin, peeking out from her shawl, felt a little cold. The warmth of the bath she had just taken was slowly being stolen by the winter chill.

Lishia continued to stare at the sky, reluctant to look away, when Yun, seeing this, called out to her.

"It will be bad for your health."

However, Lishia continued to gaze up at the sky.

"I'm fine. It's cool and actually feels nice."

"…I see."

Yuno stood beside Lishia.

When she looked at Lishia’s profile, she saw the same delicate and well-defined features as always.

Her expression wasn’t exactly downcast, but the usual dignified air seemed to have faded.

However, there was no sign of worry for Ren on her face.

Yuno placed a hand on her cheek.

"Oh? That’s surprising."

"Something wrong?"

"I just assumed you came outside because you were worried about Lord Ren."

"I'm worried about Ren? Why would I be?"

"Well, the Baldor Mountains are dangerous right now."

"I’d be lying if I said I wasn't worried, but I don’t think about it as much as everyone assumes."

Her tone made it sound like the most natural thing in the world.

When Yuno pressed further, asking, "Why is that?"

Lishia simply smiled.

"Isn't it obvious?"

"No one in the world knows how strong Ren is better than I do."

How much experience must one have to speak with such conviction and composure at her age?

Yuno found herself at a loss for words in front of Lishia’s unwavering confidence.

"I see. That was a foolish question, wasn’t it?"

"Yes, it was."

Lishia spoke with a small smile as snow began to fall gently from the sky.

Realizing that they shouldn’t stay outside much longer, Yuno draped the coat she had brought over Lishia’s shoulders.

"We should head back inside."

However, she still didn’t understand why Lishia seemed less lively than usual.

As Lishia began walking ahead, Yuno crossed her arms and pondered in silence.

If she wasn't overly worried about Ren, then there must be another reason for her lack of energy…

"Oh."

Something occurred to her, but she decided against saying it aloud.

For Lishia’s dignity, of course.

"Did you say something?"

Unfortunately, Lishia had heard her.

Yuno quickly shook her head, but Lishia stopped walking and turned back.

"You don’t have to hide it. What is it?"

"N-No, it’s nothing… I just thought, rather than being worried about Lord Ren, maybe you were feeling lonely without him…"

Lishia's face froze.

She immediately forced a dry chuckle, but it was obvious Yuno had hit the mark.

Her cheeks gradually flushed red as she maintained her forced smile.

Meanwhile, Yuno broke into a nervous smile, cold sweat forming.

"I didn't quite catch that. Could you say it again?"

"…I was just saying that perhaps a cup of tea before bed would be nice."

"Thank you. I’d love some."

And just like that, the conversation was dismissed.

The two maintained their composed facades as they made their way to Lishia’s room.

Once inside, as promised, Yuno began preparing tea.

It was then that she noticed something.

Despite it being winter, there was a pure white dress laid out on Lishia’s bed.

Yuno recognized it.

It was the dress Ren had given her in early summer.

She must have taken it out to ease her loneliness.

If she had been holding it close, seeking comfort… what an adorably endearing thought.

"…!"

Realizing that Yuno had noticed, Lishia’s carefully maintained composure shattered completely.

She could no longer keep up the act—or rather, she understood there was no use in trying.

"…K-Keep this a secret, okay?"

Her face turned bright red as she murmured in embarrassment.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The next morning, as planned, a group set off down the mountain to call for reinforcements.

"Hero! Thanks to you, we're saved!"

As they were departing, Meidas called out to him.

"Please, about my name… and calling me 'Hero'…"

"Oh, my apologies. I don’t know the reason, but since it’s your request, of all people… I should have remembered."

Meidas, carrying his partner Kai on his back, smiled with deep relief as he descended the mountain.

Originally, only a small group was supposed to go for reinforcements.

However, Meidas insisted on bringing his injured partner.

Kai’s condition was especially bad, so it was understandable why he was worried.

Even so, it wasn’t the time for reckless decisions, and carrying Kai would slow them down.

The others tried to dissuade him.

But Meidas refused to back down.

"What a fool."

"…Do whatever you want. If your partner dies, that’s on you."

Even when his fellow adventurers threw cold words at him, Meidas remained unfazed and carried Kai down the mountain.

Ren furrowed his brows at Meidas’s actions.

Still, he earnestly hoped the group would return soon with reinforcements.

When Ren returned to the fortress past noon after an early morning spent hunting, the knights who had remained behind greeted him.

"Oh! This is incredible!"

"With this, we have enough to last a month! We won’t have to worry about food anymore!"

Welcomed by their cheers, Ren lowered the magical beasts he had been carrying just outside the fortress entrance.

"How’s the treatment for the merchant’s envoy going?"

There had been reports that Fiona was using her skill to heal the injured. Among those requiring treatment was the envoy of the aforementioned merchant.

"According to Lady Ignat, it’s going well."

Hearing that, Ren nodded. "That’s good to hear."

"We’ll take care of the butchering," one of the knights volunteered.

Leaving the remaining work to them, Ren entered the fortress and washed off the sweat in the simple bathing area.

As he walked through the fortress, a towel draped around his neck, he happened to pass by the hall where the adventurers were resting.

Just then, the door swung open.

"—!"

A visibly exhausted Fiona stumbled out and collided with Ren.

This time, however, the anti-curse necklace did not react as it had before.

Ren found that strange but had no way to confirm why.

"S-Sorry!"

"N-No, it’s my fault! I should’ve been more careful!"

They apologized to each other, then fell silent, both awkwardly averting their gazes.

After several long seconds, unable to endure the silence any longer, Ren opened his mouth to explain the previous incident—

"Uh—!"

"Umm—!"

Their voices overlapped.

Their eyes met at the same time, locking in an awkward stare.

"P-Please, go ahead…" Ren urged, forcing out his voice.

Fiona hesitated for a moment before taking half a step back and cautiously speaking.

"I heard… that you came from Clausel."

But then, she hastily clamped her mouth shut.

"I-I’m sorry! We agreed not to pry into each other’s affairs!"

"Please don’t worry about it. But why are you asking about where I live?"

Ren’s question made Fiona hesitate again.

However, after a moment’s resolve, she continued.

"There’s someone in Clausel who once saved us. When I heard you and your group came from there, I thought you might have met them."

She did not say "the person who saved my life."

Her father, Ulysses, had hidden the truth about her past condition, and Fiona did not want to expose it.

"I wanted to ask the knights as well, but they all seemed so busy… And you seemed to be around the same age as my benefactor."

With her hands clasped at her chest as if in prayer, Fiona lowered her gaze.

Ren reconsidered whether he should reveal his identity.

However—

"…Never mind. Please forget I said anything."

Fiona suddenly bowed deeply, as if regretting her words.

She must have felt that prying into an adventurer’s past broke their agreement not to interfere in each other’s matters.

"I’m sorry. That was out of line."

"N-No, don’t worry! I was the one who asked you to clarify!"

Ren offered a reassuring smile.

Fiona bowed several more times before retreating down the hallway.

"You should get some rest."

That night, Fiona lay down on the hard bed in her room within the fortress.

Her body, weighed down by exhaustion, quickly succumbed to sleep.

Even on such an uncomfortable bed, she found herself dreaming of something pleasant.

In her dream, she stood in the imperial capital beneath a perfectly clear sky.

Long ago, when Chronoa had visited the Eupeheim estate, she had asked Fiona to imagine her life as a student.

This dream, however, was different.

A young man stood beside her.

And unlike before, his face was not blurred.

"It’s warm today," he said.

"Yes… It makes me want to take a detour," Fiona replied.

His voice was unmistakably familiar.

The morning sun streamed through a small window, stirring Fiona awake.

As she sat up, she found herself reflecting on the dream.

"…Why?"

She forced her still-drowsy mind to recall the details while they remained vivid.

It wasn’t the first time she had dreamed of the person who saved her life.

Back at the Eupeheim estate, she had experienced similar dreams.

But in those, his face had always been indistinct.

She had never heard his voice before, either.

And yet, this time, both had been perfectly clear.

More than that—

"Why… did I see the adventurer’s face?"

The person she met in the dream—the one who had saved her life—had inexplicably taken on the face of "that adventurer."

Was it because her recent conversation with him had left a strong impression?

Had she unknowingly replaced her true savior with someone else?

The thought made her feel as though she had been disrespectful to the person who had saved her.

Unaware that her dream was not simply a misunderstanding, Fiona chastised herself for her foolishness.

Two days after Fiona saw "the adventurer" in her dream, just before midnight—

"Time for the shift change, Ren."

"Got it."

A knight came to relieve Ren from his night watch outside the fortress.

Ren returned inside and headed toward the fireplace near the entrance to warm his cold hands.

(Guess I’ll grab something hot to drink.)

With that thought, he made his way to the kitchen.

Since arriving at the fortress, he had visited the kitchen several times.

Walking down a poorly insulated, freezing corridor, he reached for the wooden door at the end of the hall.

A low, grating creak that sent shivers down the spine echoed through the air as the door opened, and he stepped forward.

“...Ah.”

“...Ah.”

Ren and Fiona locked eyes, both letting out a breathless murmur.

Inside, standing at the sink in the kitchen, Fiona was washing dishes alone.

After exchanging a brief nod with her, Ren picked up a copper saucepan, intending to boil some water.

As he approached the old-fashioned stove, he noticed that a fire was already burning.

“Adventurer...?”

Since their brief exchange two days ago, Ren and Fiona hadn’t spoken again.

It wasn’t that they had been avoiding each other—there simply hadn’t been time for casual conversation given the situation.

Fiona observed Ren carefully, as if trying to gauge something.

“...It really is you, Adventurer.”

“Um... Is something the matter?”

“N-No! It’s nothing! I just... I had something on my mind, that’s all...!”

Her voice trailed off into an incoherent mumble, making it difficult for Ren to catch what she was saying.

Still shaken from the dream she’d had, Fiona lowered her head, clasping her hands together as if in prayer, trying to collect her thoughts.

"Two days ago... yesterday... it’s just like in my dreams... Why does the Adventurer keep appearing in them...?"

Her whispered words didn’t reach Ren’s ears.

Seeing her suddenly fall silent, Ren could only offer a troubled smile.

Just as he was wondering how long this awkward moment would last, Fiona looked up and spoke.

“Sorry for going quiet all of a sudden. Um, do you need to use this as well?”

She approached, holding a saucepan identical to his.

“If you don’t mind, yes. I thought I’d have a warm drink before bed.”

“Me too! I was planning to make some tea after finishing the dishes.”

“So that’s why the fire was already going. Would you mind if we boiled the water together?”

“Not at all.”

Grateful for her offer, Ren scooped up some melted snow from a water jug and placed his saucepan over the stove.

The crackling of burning logs filled the silence.

(...This is awkward.)

Standing side by side in silence made him feel restless.

Yet Fiona, adhering to the agreement of non-interference with the adventurers, did not initiate any further conversation.

Naturally, Ren didn’t push the conversation either—he didn’t have anything to talk about.

Still, they moved almost simultaneously, heading toward the cupboard.

Each picked up a small jar of tea leaves, sniffing them to find a scent they liked.

(...They even brought this along?)

Apparently, supplies, including emergency rations, had been stocked in advance under the Krauzel family’s orders.

Adventurers and knights were sent in to prepare for situations like this, ensuring at least a decent cup of tea could be enjoyed.

Just as Ren reached for a jar of tea leaves—

“Oh, sorry about that.”

“N-No, it’s fine! I reached for it at the same time...!”

Their fingertips brushed against each other.

Both were surprised to have chosen the exact same tea.

“If you’d like, I can make the tea,” Ren offered, unable to endure the lingering awkwardness.

Fiona hesitated, then responded softly, “Are you sure?”

Ren nodded. “I can’t guarantee it’ll be good, but...”

“But it’s cold here. Let’s move to the fireplace.”

Not wanting Fiona to be chilled, Ren suggested moving to a warmer place.

Leaving the kitchen, they settled down in front of the fireplace in the adjacent hall.

Pouring the tea into cups that were anything but luxurious, made from tea leaves of dubious freshness, they watched as the steam curled upward.

A fruity aroma wafted through the air.

“Ah... It’s delicious.”

Fiona exhaled softly, wisps of steam escaping from her lips.

“I’m really surprised... You’re much better at this than I am.”

“I’m still learning, but... Oh? Do you make tea yourself, Lady Ignat?”

“I used to be quite sickly until recently, so one of the maids who kept me company taught me how. But, um... I was terribly clumsy at it...”

She let out a self-deprecating chuckle, lowering her gaze slightly in embarrassment.

“I needed tea for my medicine, so I tried to learn. Moving around was good for me when I could, so I did my best... But, well, the tea I made was hardly drinkable.”

“Tea is surprisingly tricky to get right. But medicine?”

“Yes. The medicine I took was more effective when swallowed with tea instead of water.”

Ren nodded. “Huh... So potions made from monster materials work differently.”

“That’s what they told me. Honestly, I have no idea how it works.”

Ren recalled how his mother, Mireille, had always taught him to take medicine with water.

She had explained that different drinks could alter the effects of medicine.

Not all medicine was like that, of course, but it was a general rule.

“But if you can take it with tea, at least it helps mask the bitterness.”

“Fufu. Exactly. It made it much easier to drink.”

As they chatted, their teacups gradually emptied.

Noticing this, Fiona spoke up.

“I’ll take care of the cleanup.”

“No, no! I can’t possibly let a noble lady do that.”

“But you made the tea, so please don’t worry about it. At least let me do this.”

Her voice was gentle, yet firm.

Seeing that she wouldn’t back down, Ren relented and left.

As Fiona made her way to the kitchen, she reflected on their conversation.

(How strange... Why is he so easy to talk to?)

She washed the cups while mulling over how naturally their conversation had flowed.

Then, suddenly—

“...Huh?”

She noticed something.

(Wait... I never mentioned that my medicine was made from monster materials...)

She turned off the water and tilted her head in thought.

As she left the kitchen, she pondered the oddity of it all.

(And then... there are those dreams I keep having of him...)

A thought—one too absurd to believe—flashed through her mind.

“...No, that’s impossible.”

“Ah, Lady Ignat.”

A knight patrolling the fortress called out to her from a few steps away.

“It would be best if you got some rest soon. We’ll be leaving early tomorrow.”

Realizing that staying up late would only be a burden, Fiona started to return to her room.

But then—

“...Excuse me!”

A determined look crossed her face as she raised her voice.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

A few days later, the examinees had grown accustomed to the presence of the adventurers.

Still, there was little interaction between them, as both groups upheld the agreement of non-interference made on the first day.

But then, the uneasy days of forced cohabitation came to an end.

That evening, the knights and adventurers returned to the fortress.

Though clearly exhausted, they pushed through the fatigue, determined to escort those remaining in the fortress down the mountain.

Reinforcements had arrived at the base, bringing additional equipment and magic tools to aid in the descent.

“Excuse me, do you know where Meidas is?”

Ren asked a knight who had just entered the fortress.

The knight replied that Meidas had left a message on parchment before departing the base.

The reason given was that Kai was still not feeling well.

This happened while the knights and adventurers were resting, and before anyone could stop them, the two had vanished like mist.

“What a pathetic man. He pushed himself too hard just to carry his partner down the mountain, and now he’s nothing but trash.”

“Those guys have no sense of duty. No matter how much they care about themselves, turning their backs on the heroes is just disgraceful.”

“Exactly. We shouldn’t work with them anymore. I don’t even want to see their faces.”

The adventurers who had been listening began condemning Meidas and his group.

“You knights must think the same, right? Given the situation, you’ve been looking after us adventurers as well. And yet, that guy just left without a shred of gratitude.”

“We’re not in a position to say anything. The truth is, we’ve also relied on your help.”

“Well, if we start down that road, it’ll just go in circles.”

“Yeah. We’ve always had a give-and-take relationship, so there’s no point in bringing it up now.”

“──Anyway, Hero.”

One of the adventurers placed a hand on Ren’s shoulder.

With no examinees like Fiona nearby, he freely addressed Ren as Hero.

“We’ll stick with you until the end. You saved our young ones from that Steel-Eating Gargoyle, after all.”

Ren felt reassured by those words.

◇ ◇ ◇

At dawn, right after breakfast, everyone stood outside the fortress, gazing at the morning glow.

“Ren-dono, it’s finally time.”

A knight spoke to Ren, who shared the same sentiment and replied, “It is.”

Since their representative, Meidas, was absent, the knights had taken on the role of leading the adventurers as well.

“Then, let’s move out!”

At the knight’s command, every last person remaining in the fortress stepped onto the snow-covered path.

The examinees were all exceptional talents who had made it to the final test of the prestigious Imperial Officer Academy’s special class.

Even so, the difference in stamina between them and the adults was undeniable.

While the knights and adventurers had already made a round trip down the mountain and back, they led the group through the deep snow without showing any signs of exhaustion.

Observing them, Ren exhaled.

(Finally.)

Due to unexpected events, their stay had been much longer than planned, but he could finally feel the weight lifting from his shoulders.

Still, he reminded himself to stay vigilant until they made it safely down the mountain.

“……?”

A faint sensation brushed against his cheek, making him stop.

It felt cold yet strangely warm—like a wind that carried both frost and embers.

Curious, he traced his fingers across his cheek, searching for its remnants.

(Was it just my imagination?)

Ren furrowed his brows.

It felt as though a gust of wind had carried both snow and sparks.

“Ren-dono?”

With Fiona nowhere nearby, the knight addressed him without hesitation.

“Sorry, I think I let my guard down for a moment.”

“Haha, well, it’s finally time to head down. It’s understandable to relax a little.”

Ren lightly slapped his own cheek, snapping himself out of it.

(Stay sharp.)

Not until every last examinee was safely down the mountain.

He shifted his gaze toward the students walking behind him.

(We’re almost home.)

(Damn it. If only we’d fought monsters alone, this wouldn’t have been such a mess…)

(Are we… going to fail?)

Relief, frustration, unease—just as many emotions as there were people.

And among them, a thought resurfaced in Ren’s mind.

(In the end, the examiners never showed up.)

Under normal circumstances, the final test should have been closely monitored, with examiners prepared for emergencies.

Given that the test had already exceeded its scheduled duration, their absence was highly suspicious.

Regardless, they needed to descend as soon as possible.

The students’ stamina was one concern, but those suffering from symptoms resembling shattering—though not life-threatening—had clearly been weakened.

Some time after leaving the fortress, they spotted a suspension bridge.

The examinees, seeing it for the first time, visibly tensed.

At this altitude in the Baldor Mountains, with strong winds and heavy snowfall, even just looking at the bridge was enough to inspire fear.

“The knights and we adventurers should lead the examinees across.”

“Agreed.”

As several adventurers and knights took the lead, the examinees accepted help from the adults.

“Let’s go. Hold onto the railing or grab onto my coat,” an adventurer said gruffly to a boy examinee, who smirked at the wind.

“No need. Who do you think we are?”

“Oh, my bad. Guess students of the prestigious special class wouldn’t be scared of a little suspension bridge.”

“Obviously! Don’t underestimate us!”

But the moment the adventurer stepped onto the bridge, the boy followed—only to falter as the planks swayed unpredictably beneath him.

The creaking of the wooden boards echoed ominously, and below them, the valley was obscured by the snowstorm.

Even so, he understood well enough that a fall would mean certain death.

As instinct halted his steps, the adventurer grabbed his hand.

“I-I don’t need—!”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. But if you fall, that’s a problem for us too. Anyone free, help the other students across.”

Watching the exchange, Ren couldn’t help but smile at the adventurer’s unexpected kindness.

With some adventurers still unable to walk on their own, most of the adults—including the knights—were assisting the examinees.

Ren decided to follow suit.

The only ones left were Fiona and the girl who had previously consulted her about the final exam results.

Everyone else already had someone helping them.

Ren hesitated over which of them to assist.

Given Fiona’s status, it would be more appropriate for a knight to help her.

Or so he thought—

“Could you help me?”

The girl who had spoken with Fiona before approached a knight and made her request.

That left only Ren and Fiona.

Their eyes met.

“Adventurer, may I ask for your help?”

“Are you sure? Didn’t Ignat’s daughter also want a knight’s assistance?”

“No. From the start, I intended to ask you.”

“…If you’d prefer an adventurer, I can go find another adult for you…”

It was a suggestion made with Fiona’s safety in mind—having an adult’s help would surely put her at ease.

However, when Fiona heard it, she blinked in surprise before breaking into a gentle, endearing smile.

“That’s not what I meant. I want your help.”

A faint blush colored her cheeks as she reached out with her gloved hand, lightly grasping the hem of Ren’s coat.

As he took a step forward, the fabric stretched taut, silently telling him that she was right behind him.

Ren placed one foot on the wooden planks of the suspension bridge.

Then both feet.

When he took another step, Fiona followed.

Creak. Creak.

The bridge groaned incessantly beneath them.

(Is this thing really safe…?)

Behind them, adventurers, knights, and the remaining examinees also began to cross.

From ahead and behind, the faint voices of uneasy boys and girls could be heard.

But right behind Ren, Fiona, who was holding onto his coat, showed no such signs of fear.

Until recently, she had been frail and sickly. Surely, she had never experienced something like this before.

“…? Is something the matter?”

Noticing his glance, Fiona turned to him, her expression unchanged from before she had stepped onto the bridge.

“Forgive me. You don’t seem frightened at all, Lady Ignat.”

“I’m perfectly fine. I have an adventurer protecting me right now, after all. And besides—”

Fiona spoke with a quiet strength in her voice.

“I once lived not knowing if I would still be alive when I woke up the next day. Compared to those days, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

As she walked forward, she recalled the painful memories of her past.

At some point, the hem of Ren’s coat, which had been stretched taut, loosened.

A sign that the distance between them had shrunk ever so slightly.

By now, some of the examinees had already reached the other side.

And in the middle of the bridge—

Ren and Fiona suddenly stopped in their tracks.

“…What was that just now?”

“That wind…”

A gust of wind, freezing enough to chill to the bone, yet carrying with it the heat of lingering embers from a battlefield.

Both of them instinctively touched their cheeks, as if looking into a mirror.

The strange wind that had brushed against them left behind a lingering sensation, compelling them to rub their cheeks over and over again.

And then—

Ren noticed something.

A crimson light flickered at the bottom of the canyon.

A lump formed in his throat.

“Take my hand.”

There was no hesitation in Fiona’s response to his tense, urgent voice.

She nodded without asking why.

The moment she placed her hand in his, he grasped it firmly.

There was no longer any sign of the violet lightning from before.

“Run! Hurry!”

Without missing a beat, Ren took off at a sprint.

His sudden cry of alarm sent knights and adventurers into a panic.

Both those ahead and behind furrowed their brows at his frantic state.

But it was precisely because it was Ren—because he was the one panicking—that they did not question it.

And so, they all broke into a run.

The anomaly struck just as they did.

A heatwave.

It surged up from the canyon below, colliding with the falling snow before reaching their cheeks.

A brilliant crimson glow illuminated the suspension bridge from below.

“What the hell’s going on!? You adventurers should know, right!?”

“How the hell would we know!? If you don’t wanna die, then shut up and run!”

The heatwave clashed against the blizzard, enshrouding everything in an instant.

The bridge trembled.

Not from the wind—something else was causing it.

“This… This is part of the final test, right!? Tell me it is!”

“Whatever you do, do not stop! Absolutely do not stop!”

The desperate cries of examinees and knights echoed.

There was no one left to fear the swaying bridge or the depths below.

They feared only the heat licking at their skin, the crimson light burning their vision, the erratic shaking beneath their feet—

And the desperate need to reach the other side.

A tornado of flames erupted from the canyon below, writhing through the air like a serpent.

Scattering embers as it closed in—

And then another.

And another.

If one looked closely, every single one of them was aimed directly at Fiona.

(What is this…? It’s like the flames are targeting her.)

More appeared, all zeroing in on Fiona, not Ren.

Buffeted by the violent winds of mingling snow and flame, the two of them ran for their lives.

They were almost there.

But Ren—

Ren was forced to stop.

“…What?”

Fiona’s voice trembled with confusion.

A force—something strange and invisible—shook the space between them.

No, it shook the very world itself.

Ren, who had been gripping her hand with all his strength, unwilling to let go for even a second, had not let his guard down.

And yet, their hands were wrenched apart.

A crimson wind, as if carrying the will of a sentient beast, tore through the space between them.

And Fiona—

Fiona was taken.

Lifted into the air as if an unseen force had snatched her away, she soared past the bridge’s railing.

A deafening explosion rang out in the distance.

Molten rock burst into the air.

(No—!)

Ren felt it.

Something—something far more terrifying than the Mana Eater that Yelquq had summoned at the end.

“Lady Ignat!”

“Ah—Adventurer…!”

Ren reached out.

But he only managed to graze her fingertips.

“What the hell is going on…!?”

Without hesitation, he hurled himself after her.

At first, he considered using his wooden magic sword’s natural magic to save her.

But the tornadoes of fire closing in on her made him abandon the thought.

They surrounded her from all sides—

Any spell he used would be incinerated before it could reach her.

Instead, he summoned his shield sword.

Because without it—he would not be able to protect her.

“This is reckless, but forgive me—!”

Ren wrapped his arms around Fiona midair.

A magic shield enveloped them both, shielding them from the searing flames.

“Please… freeze!”

Fiona cast her spell.

Just like before, an icy chill burst forth, weakening the flames threatening to consume them.

But—

They were still falling.

Plummeting straight toward the canyon’s depths.

“Ren—dono—!”

A knight’s voice rang out.

But there was nothing they could do.

From the corner of Ren’s vision, he saw the adventurers guiding the examinees away, leaving only the knights clinging to the remnants of the broken bridge.

Ren had no time to concern himself with them.

Not when his shield was already on the verge of collapse.

(This heat… just from being near it…!)

It had withstood the Steel-Eating Gargoyle’s full-on thrusts time and time again—

Yet now, it was barely holding together.

“Adventurer…!”

Another tornado of fire struck the bridge, reducing what remained to cinders.

The knights clung desperately to what little remained.

(The vines would burn…!)

Then—

What about the other bridge?

(If I can just reach it—!)

It was untouched by the flames.

If he could reach it, he could use his magic to save them.

“Lady Ignat! I swear I’ll get you to safety! Please, trust me!”

His desperate plea—

“…Yes!”

Fiona’s immediate answer.

“I entrust everything to you—ah—!”

Before she could finish, molten rock and tornadoes of fire erupted around them.

Ren’s spell triggered at the very same moment.

“Please—!”

As he swung his wooden magic sword, he spared a glance at the girl in his arms.

She wasn’t trembling.

Even now, she simply pressed herself against him, her lips tightly pursed.

---

ToC

Chapter 12