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A lot had shifted in the western region over the past four months. The reconstruction of Veledot was nearing completion, illegal mana weapon sales had dropped, and—of course—everyone was now four months older. Renn, for instance, had changed her hairstyle, sporting a short ponytail now that her hair had grown out.
With the help of regional monster hunters, most of the wandering monsters had been cleared from the wilderness, though Renn had taken down many of the tougher ones herself. She, Quin, and Yufi had started hunting further out, beyond the towns, mainly to help Renn sharpen her use of Garland’s powers.
Today, they were perched on a small cliff overlooking a plain, where one of Renn’s summoned creatures—a ghostly blue wolf—was prowling below as bait.
“Are you sure this is gonna work?” Yufi asked, squinting at the faintly shimmering wolf below.
“Looks real enough from a distance,” Quin replied, kneeling to get a better view. “Should catch the eye of any wandering beast out there.”
“Hope it’s colorblind, then,” muttered Renn, eyeing her summon.
“Maybe make it look… less ghostly?” Yufi suggested.
Renn nodded, focusing on her beast. The wolf perked up, circled a few times, then suddenly flopped onto the ground, rolling around with its belly in the air and wagging its tail in what could only be described as the happiest, most absurd display.
Quin and Yufi watched in silence, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
“Uh, what was that?” Yufi asked, deadpan.
“I don’t know—aren’t baits supposed to, you know, look inviting?” Renn shrugged.
“Maybe a little less, um… happy?”
Just then, Quin held up a hand, his gaze hardening. “Shh. Hear that?”
A rumbling noise grew steadily louder, like something huge barreling across the plain. Dust kicked up from the horizon, surging toward the wolf at an alarming speed.
“There it is,” Quin said, eyes fixed on the approaching cloud. “Renn—”
Before he could finish, Renn whipped Esperanza around, conjuring a massive ball of water and hurtling it toward the dust cloud. The water blasted forward, causing a gust that blew back Quin and Yufi a bit.
Her attack collided with the ground, but the dust kept coming. Clicking her tongue, Renn jumped from the cliff, cushioning her landing with another water blast, just as the blue wolf dissolved into shimmering Mana particles, drawn back into her.
As she touched down, the dust cloud veered toward her, revealing a hulking, gray creature with shield-like armor on its head. Its eyes glinted from beneath, and it stomped forward, locking onto her.
Renn didn’t hesitate, activating the lightning core of Esperanza as she dashed to the side and struck the beast’s thick hide. But the shock didn’t seem to faze it. It didn’t even flinch.
The monster halted abruptly, tearing up the ground beneath its feet as it turned to face her again.
This time, Renn summoned a pack of translucent blue beasts. They positioned themselves between her and the shield-headed monster, and in an instant, they charged forward, slamming into it.
Though Renn controlled the beasts, she still hadn’t fully mastered how some of them were supposed to attack. Their movements were awkward—some attacked in strange, almost unnatural ways—but they managed to slow the monster down, which was their goal.
Over the past four months, Renn had come to better understand Garland’s powers. The first ability allowed her to drain a target’s Mana and “consume” it, copying the target’s Mana signature. The Mana wasn’t permanently lost; the target would eventually recover it over time.
A recent discovery about this ability was that it wasn’t limited to her alone—her summoned beasts could also drain Mana if they stayed close enough to the target, giving Renn an advantage at long range.
While her summoned beasts couldn’t inflict serious damage on the shield-headed monster, they steadily drained its Mana until the beast collapsed, exhausted.
Seeing the fight nearing its end, Renn called her beasts back and approached the panting creature. Quin and Yufi descended from the cliff just in time.
“Another one down, huh?” Yufi said, hands behind her neck as she strolled over with Quin.
“Yeah, I still can’t believe the lightning core didn’t do anything,” Renn muttered, crouching to place a hand on the creature’s shield-like armor. She began draining the last bit of its Mana, preparing to add it to her summons.
“Monsters have tougher bodies than regular animals,” Quin said. “That’s why Neona and the legendary heroes couldn’t defeat the ancient beasts in the past, right?”
“I guess,” Renn murmured in reply.
After finishing with the beast, they let it go at Renn’s request. The alchemist workshops hadn’t placed a bounty on it yet, and they were far from any towns, so it probably wasn’t causing trouble.
Using Renn’s summoned beasts as transportation, they began the long ride back to the nearest city. Even with the beasts’ speed, it took several hours to reach their destination. Once they arrived, they decided to grab lunch at a nearby restaurant.
After a few moments, the waitress returned with their order and placed the dishes on the table. The food looked delicious, with a balanced mix of meats, vegetables, and some local fruits as the main ingredients—something Renn hadn’t tried before.
As they took their first bites, both Renn and Yufi made muffled noises of delight at how tasty the food was. Quin, as usual, remained calm and composed, enjoying his meal and drink in silence.
“This one’s amazing! Try it!” Yufi exclaimed, scooping a bit from her dish onto Renn’s plate. Renn took a bite, and her face lit up with pure happiness as she chewed.
“It’s sweet, but not too sweet. And there’s something else too…” Renn murmured, savoring the flavor.
“It’s probably the local seasoning,” Quin said, taking a sip from his glass. “We’re farther southwest than usual. These dishes must be specialties of the area.”
“Come to think of it,” Renn said, glancing at Quin, “you and your father didn’t come from this region, right?”
“Yes. Well, I’m not from here,” Quin began. “I was born in the northern region, but after a few years, my father left for the western region. He’d make trips back every now and then to visit, and that’s when I asked him to train me in swordsmanship.”
Yufi jumped in, adding, “Then Quin followed in his father’s footsteps as a monster hunter, left his hometown, and met me. That’s how our team formed.”
Renn nodded thoughtfully. “I see… but have you visited your mom? What about you, Yufi?”
“We visited his hometown before meeting you,” Yufi replied. “As for me, I don’t really care about my family.”
“Huh? Why?” Renn asked, clearly confused.
“They forced me into becoming a hunter to earn money for them, so they wouldn’t have to work,” Yufi said with a shrug. “So I left, telling them I was going to earn money anyway. I wasn’t even lying.” She casually resumed eating.
Renn hadn’t expected Yufi to have family issues, but learning more about their pasts made her feel closer to them. She was glad to know them better.
After lunch, they decided to head back to Veledot, as it had been almost a month since they’d last visited the capital. It took them a few days to get there by mana train, and by the time they arrived, it was already evening.
Since Renn’s status as the rightful queen of Veledot had been revealed across the western region, it was only natural that she would reside at the palace. Along with this, she invited Willo, Quin, and Yufi to stay in the guest rooms prepared for them. Though they were hesitant at first, they eventually agreed after Renn’s persistent convincing.
After catching up with Edward and Willo, who had been appointed as regent by Renn, the group retired to their own rooms. Renn and Yufi ended up sharing a bedroom together.
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In the luxurious royal chamber that had been set up by the palace staff, Yufi was lounging at the foot of the king-sized bed, fresh from a shower. Renn, on the other hand, sat at the desk, reading a letter from Aisha, her close friend back in Wendale, a small town in the northern region.
“Is that another letter from your friend?” Yufi asked, toweling off her still-damp hair.
“Huh? Oh, yeah.” Renn responded, slightly startled by the sudden question that broke the silence.
“That’s the third one already, right?” Yufi leaned back on her hands, her posture relaxed. “She really misses you, huh?”
Renn let out a small laugh. “Seems like it. There aren’t many people our age left there anymore. Most have moved away since the town is so small.”
“And her family runs a bakery there, right?”
Renn nodded, her expression thoughtful. “Yeah, most of their customers are just locals, but sometimes they get orders from further out, thanks to some word-of-mouth help from friends.”
“Hmm…” Yufi studied Renn for a moment before speaking again. “You know, they’d do really well here in Veledot.”
Renn perked up at that. “Here?”
“Yeah,” Yufi said, flopping onto her back, still looking at Renn upside down. “I mean, you’re the queen now. Setting up a shop for them in the capital would be easy.”
“Well, sure, but…” Renn hesitated. “Aisha said she doesn’t want to leave the town because of the monsters.”
“What? You’ve got monsters under your control now! You’re really strong, Renn.”
“Y-you think so…?” Renn blushed slightly.
“Of course,” Yufi rolled onto her stomach. “Anyway, why don’t you go visit her? It’s been two months since you last saw her. Willo and Edward said they could handle things here for a while, didn’t they?”
Renn stared at Yufi for a moment, then her gaze drifted downwards, deep in thought. She had been wanting to visit Aisha, so Yufi’s suggestion felt more like encouragement than a new idea.
The real issue, however, lay in Aisha’s latest letter.
According to it, Aisha’s family had been offered a permanent place to open their bakery in Kaska, the northern capital, by Queen Victoria herself. Apparently, Eric’s last delivery had made quite an impression, and the people of Kaska were eager to have the bakery in their city.
The letter had arrived in Veledot over a week ago, meaning the offer had likely been made two or three weeks ago. By now, Aisha’s family may have already made their decision… even before Renn could visit them.
Renn initially wanted to keep quiet about the situation with Aisha’s family, thinking she could handle it on her own. But after Yufi had opened up about her past, it didn’t feel right to hide something like this from a friend.
In the end, she shared everything with Yufi, explaining the offer Aisha’s family received from Queen Victoria. Yufi immediately suggested Renn should go visit them and see how things were going, and after some thought, she agreed.
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The next morning, Renn informed the others about her plan to visit the northern region, mentioning that she’d probably be gone for two weeks. They all understood and wished her a safe trip.
A few days later, Renn arrived in Pilwot, and memories of her last visit flooded back—the mayor’s assassination, the border nearly closing on them as they sought to stop the underground hunters and illegal mana weapon deals in Veledot. That chaotic time had almost derailed everything.
Back then, she had confronted Coby, who was now locked away in the palace dungeon after being dethroned. When she’d asked if he knew anything about the assassination, Coby had confirmed that Theodore was responsible for trying to keep her away, likely even behind the assassination itself. That only strengthened her resolve to capture him. But despite everything, killing Coby wouldn’t change the past.
After paying her respects at the mayor’s grave, Renn took the mana train to Demwell, then continued to Alma. Almost immediately, she sensed Velle’s Mana through the alchemist workshop building, thanks to her ability to detect Mana.
Inside the workshop, Renn ascended to the second floor, where she found Mint and Velle busy as usual.
“Rennnn!” Mint squealed, rushing to give her a tight hug. “How have you been? And hey, new hairstyle!”
“Y-yeah. I’ve been good. How about you?”
“I’m great! Velle’s got a mountain of work, but she’s handling it.” Mint pointed toward Velle, who was hard at work at her desk.
Renn’s gaze shifted to Velle and noticed something on her head. “What’s that on your head?”
Velle turned around, revealing a pair of goggles with a unique design. “My new glasses. These are better for handling a lot of movement.”
“Oh, cool! Does that mean your ancestor’s Mana gave you a new fighting style too?” Renn asked, eyeing Velle’s updated look.
“I shouldn’t be fighting on the front lines anyway, but I can if I need to.” Velle responded before returning to her work. “Here to visit your hometown again? Good luck.”
“Thanks. But hey, anything new about the rest of the team? The other descendants?”
“Not much, honestly. The last two haven’t surfaced yet, and the only thing we know is that their ancestors’ burial sites are somewhere in the eastern region.”
Renn frowned. “That’s frustrating.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Velle shrugged. “Focus on training and finding the cults. If Theodore wants us to awaken our ancestors’ powers, it might actually be better that the final two descendants are still hidden.”
“Speaking of the cults, have you found anything?”
“I’ve been so busy with the alchemist work here that I haven’t had a chance to leave Alma for long. I’ve asked other workshops and hunters to help investigate, but so far, no leads.”
Renn sighed in disappointment. “I see. And Howl? Heard anything from him?”
“Nope. Haven’t spoken to him in four months.” Velle replied casually. “And without new leads, there’s no point in reaching out.”
Renn recalled their last conversation with Howl, which took place four months ago via the telecommunication device. Howl’s expression had been tense, even angry—it was the first time she had seen him so upset. His defeat and capture must have hit him harder than she’d realized.
After chatting a bit more with Mint and Velle, Renn continued her journey to Wendale to visit Tou and Aisha’s family. Despite his age, Tou remained sharp and healthy, keeping a watchful eye over the town in his role as mayor.
Wendale had been relatively quiet in recent months, with the only significant event being Queen Victoria’s offer to Aisha’s family. After catching up with Tou and confirming that Aisha’s family hadn’t moved yet, Renn excused herself and made her way to the bakery.
The bakery, despite being over ten years old, was as clean and inviting as ever. As she stepped inside, the familiar scent of freshly baked pastries filled the air.
“Welcome— Oh, if it isn’t Renn?” Aisha’s father, Eric, greeted her as he turned to the door.
“Hello, Mr. Eric,” Renn replied, giving a small bow.
“Hey there. Visiting again, huh? You really don’t have to. I bet things are pretty busy out west.”
“N-not really! I wanted to stop by at least once in a while. Where are Aisha and Ms. Oliver?”
“They went out shopping. You’ll have to wait if you want to see Aisha.”
“Oh, I see…” Renn hesitated before speaking again. “I wanted to talk about the letter Aisha sent me, about Queen Victoria’s offer.”
Eric’s face shifted as he realized why she was there. “Ah, yeah. The folks in Kaska really like our pastries, haha.” He scratched the back of his head.
Renn’s expression softened. “I see…”
Moving to Kaska seemed like it would benefit Aisha’s family—more customers, better protection. But the thought of them moving so far away made Renn uneasy. It would be harder for her to visit them.
Eric’s next words brought her back to reality. “It’s not as easy as just moving and setting up shop there, though.”
“Huh?”
“We were thinking about opening a branch in Kaska, but the problem is that Oliver handles most of the recipes. Aisha and I just help out,” he explained with a shrug. “And the cold… it makes it harder to keep the ingredients fresh. We’re not sure if we can meet Kaska’s expectations.”
Renn listened intently, realizing she didn’t know much about running a bakery. What stuck with her most was that they weren’t moving. “I-is that so? That’s too bad.”
Eric smiled. “Take a seat, and I’ll get you some apple pie. On the house, of course.” He winked as he headed behind the glass counter.
Renn sat down as Eric returned with a warm plate of apple pie. The smell brought back memories, and as she took a bite, the taste hit her with a wave of nostalgia. It had been months since she last had one of their pastries, and it reminded her of the simpler times from her childhood.
For a moment, Renn’s mind drifted away from her worries about the three ancient beasts, colossal threats capable of destroying the world, and the cults that sought to awaken them.
A while later, Aisha and Oliver returned from their shopping trip. Renn decided to spend more time catching up with them. They gathered around the table, and the familiar comfort of home settled in.
“I’m glad you could visit us again, Renn,” Oliver said with a smile, taking a seat across from her. Aisha sat beside Renn, her soft eyes glancing over.
Renn smiled back, feeling the warmth of the moment. “S-so, I was just wondering, if the cold in Kaska was the issue, would moving to Veledot be easier?”
Her suggestion caught the family by surprise. Eric’s eyes widened. “All the way to Veledot?” he asked, as if the idea was hard to even imagine.
“That would take days—no, weeks—to move everything there,” Oliver added, her brow furrowing as she glanced out the window at the small town they called home. “Not to mention, we rely on ingredients from local farms and vendors. Moving somewhere bigger for more customers and profit doesn’t feel right.”
Renn’s heart sank. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it would be that difficult.”
“Oh, no need to apologize!” Oliver quickly reassured her. “You’re not the first person to suggest moving to a bigger city.”
Eric joined in, his hand gently resting on Aisha’s shoulder. “Besides, our girl here likes the quiet. Wendale is the perfect place for us. And we’ve got the best mayor in Tou, no doubt about that.”
Renn was silent for a moment, realizing how much the bakery and town meant to them. They could have moved years ago if they’d wanted, but they stayed. The roots they’d put down were deeper than she’d ever considered.
Then, Aisha spoke up softly. “Wanna hang out in my room again?” Her small smile was timid yet kind, a mirror of her gentle spirit.
Renn’s smile returned. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
They spent the rest of the evening in Aisha’s cozy room, talking about everything and nothing. For a few hours, they slipped back into the ease of friendship, chatting about the simple joys of life, sharing memories, and laughing at old jokes.
Renn purposely kept the more dangerous details of her journey and the looming threats to herself. Aisha didn’t need to worry about the Mainland’s troubles or the cults seeking to awaken the ancient beasts. She couldn’t do anything about those things, and Renn didn’t want to burden her friend.
As the sky outside darkened, Renn realized it was time to return to Tou’s house. She bid farewell to Aisha’s family, the warmth of their home still lingering with her as she stepped back out into the evening air. The nostalgia tugged at her, but the weight of her responsibilities was already beginning to settle back onto her shoulders.
She made her way back to Tou’s house to spend the night, her mind quietly turning over the challenges ahead.
Lying in bed that night, Renn reflected on what to do next. Her top priority was still capturing Theodore, but there were other pressing matters as well—the cults and the ancient beasts’ locations had to be uncovered.
Having already been to most of the western cities, Renn considered venturing to other regions, perhaps even the east, to search for the last two descendants and recruit them for their team.
For now, though, she decided to enjoy her time in Wendale a little longer before discussing her next steps with Velle and Mint.
But her plans took a sudden turn the next morning. Howl Cladun had contacted Velle, informing her that he had found a cult hideout—a group worshipping one of the ancient beasts, Vulferos, the ruler of the land.
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