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Volume 5 Part 1
Chapter 1 - The First Semifinal Match
“ーI see. No wonder Camilla-sama is that interested to you, Sasamiya Saya.”
Rimsi who slowly stood up within the cloud of dust said so and thuddingly brushed up her hair.
The light bullet shot by Saya should have definitely been a direct hit, but judging from her appearance, she did not feel damage at all.
But, upon close inspection, the huge gun type Lux which Rimsi was holding in her hand was destroyed. Seemingly, she abruptly used it as a shield to defend against the attack.
Which means that Rimsi did not have a function to deploy a defensive barrier like Ardi after all.
Though that was also guessed from her outward appearance, perhaps Rimsi was a long-range attack type specialized in mobility and Ardi was a close range attack type specialized in defense.
“I admire your technique to control that extremely unstable Lux with such precision. What’s more, it was a more than a perfect timing on top of having completely seen through my attack. That was really wonderful.”
Rim said with an unusually calm tone and a cold expression.
“Though it will be repeating what Kirin had said just now to that big junk[1]. Your attacks are based on accurate, perfect predictions. But, that’s why it’s easy to deal with them.”
“…All right. The reason why Master gave us a personality and a heart was so that we could also taste such humiliation. Those words of yours, I have certainly carved them in my heart.”
As Saya curtly answered with Waldenholt’s muzzle still turned towards Rimsi, Rimsi slightly frowned and threw away the remains of the Lux which she held in her hands.
At the same time, the huge unit which she carried on her back activated and emitted a green light while letting a high-pitched tone resound.
“In that case, I shall respond with all my might.”
When Rimsi said so, a gun type Lux appeared again in her right hand and her body lightly floated. And, as a conspicuously big green light swelled up, Rimsi soared up in the air at an intense speed.
『U,Uh-oh, player Rimsi flew!? She flew!』
『S-So that thing on her back was a flight unit. Those with flight ability are not so rare, but it’s a different story when it comes to players able to pile up training of only doing full battles freely in the sky.』
While hearing the voices of the live reporter and the commentator, Saya chased Rimsi’s figure with her gaze.
Certainly among the Strega and Dante, there were those who could fly freely by application of the ability (actually, it was also so for Julis), and even without a size like that of Rimsi’s flight unit, personal flight modules could be put in practical use.
But as the commentator said, it was another issue when it came to the question of whether or not they could become useful in combat. Of course, basically it worked advantageously to take a position higher than the opponent, but if one could not cope with the movements of a Starpulse Generation on the ground, such advantage had no meaning.
ーHowever.
“…!”
Rimsi’s mobility in the sky was without a doubt overwhelming. Even describing it by saying “like a bird” would be halfhearted. Chasing the tire track which the green jet light depicted in the air was the best one could do.
“Well then, let’s go.”
At the same time the green straight line crossed the sky, light bullets poured literally like rain.
Although she somehow tried to apply her aim while dodging them, Rimsi was no longer there.
Grasping the movements of Rimsi ーwho was flying in the sky in a way just short of impossible, and moreover, her sudden braking and acceleration which could not be endured by a humanー was making predictive shooting difficult.
“…This is troublesome.” Although while saying that, Saya was chuckling.
That’s right. There will be no meaning if it’s not like that. If the form of Camilla Pareto’s conviction was the weapons wielded by those puppets, then she would win by defeating all those with the weapons her father had made.
It was for that reason that Saya had won her way up to there.
“ーー”
She muttered in a small voice and poured Mana into the Mana Dite. At the same time; the muzzle of Waldenholt was concentrating a huge amount of energy which formed a restrictive force field. It, which shone, repelled the light bullets shot by Rimsi like a shield.
While maintaining to the very limit until the force field broke down, Saya set her aim.
“…Here.”
As she began to shoot a huge light bullet from the right gun barrel, it easily swallowed Rimsi’s bullets which were already fired towards Saya. There was just too much difference in output between Saya’s Waldenholt and the gun used by Rimsi.
Rimsi evaded it while twisting her body, but Saya shot another light bullet from the left gun barrel at that exact time.
No matter how high Rimsi's mobility was in the air was, if she were made to take an evasive action after the first aim, her movements would be limited to some extent. What was left was to snipe at there.
This also was similar to what Kirin had said earlier. Exactly because Rimsi’s reaction to the opponent’s attack movements was too precise, it was easy to lead her on.
Actually, the light bullet shot by Saya was a direct hit course ーBut.
Just before that, a dull explosion sound echoed and Saya’s light bullet exploded and scattered.
“Hmm…?”
Saya unintentionally frowned at that sight.
It should be nearly impossible to intercept Waldenholt’s attack with the power of the Lux which Rimsi was using.
(How on earth…?)
Saya strained her eyes while being still cautious.
As the blast cleared up before long, there was the figure of Rimsi greatly sticking out her left hand forward there. But, her left arm had changed a part from the elbow to the tip into a huge gun barrel.
On Rimsi’s delicate body, the unbalanced, huge gun seemed to have changed as if only that part was a heteromorphic monster.
“Did you think that I’m just an incompetent puppet which could only fly in the air? Even that superficial and thoughtless blockhead was given the absolute shield of defensive barrier. Don’t you find it strange that I wasn’t granted that much from Master?”
Though Rimsi’s tone was indifferent, it was somewhat boastful.
“…Not that much. Huh.”
While Saya muttered so, Saya quickly checked the data projected onto the aim monitor. Even judging from the energy’s flow, it was not an armament held on hand, but probably Rimsi’s built-in weapons. In other words, that energy should have been supplied by the multiple Mana Dites which was Rimsi’s source of power and which were processed and were standing abreast. If so then, it would not be strange even if it flicked out only the output which surely offset Waldenholt.
“Let’s see… This Ruinsharif is, so to speak, an absolute spear.”
An absolute shield and an absolute spear.
In that case, by all means I would like to crash both of them into each other, butー.
“…As expected, it looks like it would be tough.”
As she sent a sideway glance for an instant, Ardi and Kirin were ruthlessly competing intensively near the center of the stage. But, Rimsi had not so far taken a position in which she was behind them; Saya as well. While both were concentrated on the opponents in front each other, they also kept a close eye on their tag partner. If they were to relax their attention even a little, it would jeopardize not only themselves, but their tag partner as well.
Since both Rimsi and Kirin were in charge of the rear, it might be said that it was a matter of course.
“Well, still there’s no problem. Let’s go with a contest of strength.”
A direct confrontation was exactly what she wanted from the beginning.
Energy concentrated on the muzzles of Saya’s Waldenholt and Rimsi’s Ruinsharif.
“Ruinsharif ー Shoot.”
“…Kaboom”
The next moment, the two light bullets shot by Saya’s both arms and the torrent of light which gushed out from Rimsi’s left arm clashed just at a halfway point of both. An earsplitting roaring sound and a blast as if to blow off one’s body swirled.
“Both attacks vanished, huh. You aren’t bad.”
“…I returned you those words.”
While shaking their hair to the blast, Rimsi’s and Saya’s looks clashed.
Saya and Rimsi somewhere looked alike.
Either of them hardly revealed their emotions as they did not show that much change in their expression. However, sooner or later, strong and unyielding feelings would emit a clear heat.
“…”
Both of them, remaining silent as is, re-set their weapons almost at the same time.
ーOn the other side.
“Haaah!”
“Nuuh!”
Kirin’s Senbakiri described an arc and approached Ardi, and Ardi’s Hammer flipped it up. Kirin sneaked around to his back and once again slashed with an overhead chop, but she was blocked by the defensive barrier and the edge of her sword had not reached even slightly. Even so, Kirin’s sword slashed without stopping, even for an instant, and each connected to the next slash, on and on like a flow.
『Now then, looking towards the center of the stage, player Toudou’s amazing consecutive attacks continue here! Player Ardi seemed to barely defend against them; he just one-sidedly defends without even being able to counterattack!』
『So this is the "Conjoined Cranes" of the Toudou style whose rumor I hear about. Hmm. I see, I see, it really gives no opportunity to counterattack.』
ー"Conjoined Cranes".
It was the hidden technique of the Toudou style which Kirin learned, but it was not just pointing to one skill. An unending sequence of attacks which combined variants of chained skills and never ceased until the opponent had been cut was what "Conjoined Cranes" was.
“Fuhahahaha! What a terrifying sword skill, Toudou Kirin! It’s exactly a divine skill… No, the skill of a demon! To think that I of all people could not find even an opening to counterattack!”
While dodging Kirin’s fierce attacks by a hairbreadth, Ardi laughed very happily.
“But, nice, nice! So this is what humans call exaltation! I can’t bear it! Even you can understand, right? That by dodging that one sword, I’m learning and evolving! Wonderful! You are the best mentor!”
Kirin did not respond to it, and unleashed a stab as to scoop out. The edge of the sword which swerved its trajectory by grazing the defensive barrier shaved Ardi’s shoulder, but ー it was shallow.
Although she then rotated her body and moved down her trunk as to draw a circle while tightening her flank, her blow was blocked by the hammer as if it was completely predicted.
(As expected… A pattern showed once won’t work again, huh.)
Kirin slightly knitted her brows, but of course, Kirin’s sword would not be stopped with that much. After all, being able to link attacks from any stance or any situation was what "Conjoined Cranes" was.
However, she just reconfirmed that Ardi’s words of earlier were certainly true.
ーArdi was evolving at a dreadful speed also while dodging the sword like this.
There was apparently no doubt about it.
(The combination from "Kumanri[2]" to " Reed Warbler" is now useless… Connecting from "Fūran[3]" to "Saotome" is also dangerous…)
The Toudou style has 49 variants of chained skills. When incorporating basic skills in these combinations, the pattern becomes endless. However, while swinging her katana, Kirin realized that it was being shaved little by little.
Originally, it was near to impossible for someone to perfectly deal with a technique he saw just once at the second time. Such a thing was probably impossible even for Ayato. This was because the human was a creature who let his body pile up, little by little, what he learned by repetition.
But, this opponent was different.
He only needed the data of an attack executed just once, and was already able to cope with it.
(I must also take back the words I said earlier…)
Kirin floated a small wry smile while continuing "Conjoined Cranes".
Although she pointed out 'the fact that he’s a machine is his weak point' to Ardi, the high level of this learning ability was obviously 'his strong point precisely because he is a machine'. In addition, Kirin was right now letting him pile up the combat experience which he was lacking.
Even his movements, which were just merely fast and accurate in the beginning when he wielded the hammer, suddenly began to become sharp and each blow became more and more heavy.
However, even so, Kirin did not feel like losing.
Kirin had no confidence in anything other than her sword skill, but conversely speaking, she had absolute confidence only in her sword skill. It was not about talent or ability, but about the confidence which she had piled up every day until today.
No matter how remarkable the rapidity of growth of Ardi was, the ability difference with Kirin in close range combat was still overwhelming, and it was not something which could be covered (filled) that easily.
ーAnd…
“But well! No matter how exceptional data I got, it's not fun at all to be one-sidedly beaten like this…!” As Ardi said so, he forcibly threw his body to push Kirin aside and then greatly swung his Hammer.
Naturally, if one was to make such a blunder when "Conjoined Cranes" was executed, a big opening would arise. It was a suitable chance for Kirin.
She sneaked around the huge hammer which was swung downward to the side while eluding so that her katana did not break. Position-like, it was difficult to aim at the school badge on the chest, but there was no doubt that it was a decisive way to prevail.
“Got you!”
Kirin swung Senbakiri downward with a loud scream.
“Fufu! Way to go, come as much as you want!”
“Whaー!?”
However, Ardi, far from dodging that blow, pushed out (shove) his head himself to block it. The sensation of cutting at a hard metal was transmitted to Kirin through Senbakiri. It was a moderate response, but Ardi, without flinching, shook off Kirin with his arm which was like a big tree.
Kirin could not help taking distance, too, and set up Senbakiri again.
Needless to say that the head was one of the vital points of a human, and a place which one would try to protect even unconsciously. To dare to use that place as a shield wasー
“…You were really careless.”
Though Ayato escaped from "Conjoined Cranes" by also receiving one attack of Kirin before, it was of a means different from that. It was precisely because he was an existence fundamentally different from a human that it could work.
“Fuhahahaha! Certainly if it was a human’s body, the outcome would have been decided by now! But unfortunately, my body is a machine! Even the head is not more than one of the parts! It seem that you forgot that point!”
“…”
Since it was actually true, Kirin could not reprove it.
While she herself pointed out his flaw as a machine, she had moved by a fundamental point in accordance with the usual common sense.
“I still have a long way to go, too…”
As Kirin admonished herself so, she immediately changed her awareness.
The match had just begun.
“Now then, I should also express my gratitude for providing me with good data.”
While saying so, Ardi slowly stroked his head so as to check the scar.
To the part which would correspond to ー his right eye, a straight sword cut was chopped.
“Your gratitude…?”
As Kirin quizzically asked again, Ardi proudly bent his chest and declared this.
“Fufufu…! All right, Rimsi. Now is the time we show that!”
“ーI refuse.”
But, Rimsi who was facing Saya and was in the air flatly declined without even turning towards Ardi who cried loudly.
“…Why?”
Ardi asked in a somewhat downhearted tone.
“I returned you those words, you damn low brain. Why is there a need to do such a thing in this situation now? In the first place, it's up to me to decide such things, not you.”
Although saying so, Rimsi did remove her gaze from Saya.
While fixing her breathing which was disturbed, Saya lightly laughed.
“…Still reluctant this far in the match?”
“It's a strategy to the bitter end. ーI'm already fighting you seriously, but are you still dissatisfied?”
“…No way.”
As Saya said so, energy shrank on Ruinsharif ー Rimsi’s left hand.
“Then, it's good.”
With the launching sound similar to a monster’s roar, a whirlpool of huge light attacked as it seemed to completely swallow Saya. Saya’s Waldenholt was still in the process of forced cooling, so a counterattack was impossible.
As Saya evaded it by rolling over, the ground where she was standing just before exploded and vanished without leaving any trace. Needless to say that even a Starpulse Generation could not get unscathed if hit directly by that.
In addition, to the place where she rolled over, light bullets downpoured from the gun which Rimsi mercilessly set up in her right hand. Saya moved in zigzag and evaded it while using Waldenholt’s barrel as shield.
(…I understand, but if this drags on, the disadvantageous one will be me)
If she was to compare Waldenholt and Ruinsharif in terms of simple ability, she completely lost in the quick firing, but was slightly above regarding the accuracy; however this was probably the difference of correction ability which came purely from combat experience. Actually, Rimsi was gradually correcting (adjusting) it.
They were almost equal about power ー However, Waldenholt had not yet revealed his maximum output. It was probably the same also for Ruinsharif.
“What's wrong? You're just been running away for some time now.”
Energy once again gathered in Rimsi’s left arm.
Ruinsharif’s quick fire efficiency was about three times that of Waldenholt. In other words, while Saya could attack only once, Rimsi could attack three times. Although the diversity of attacks had been improved since Waldenholt also had a right and a left gun barrels, because it was a Lobos transition system, one could not just deny that time for cooling was necessary no matter what. Moreover, since heat piled up the more it was used, the time also became longer, little by little.
But still, Saya did not think that this Lux made by her father was inferior to that of Camilla Pareto. If it was not this, a destructive power of a crushing blow which could not be achieved. That essence was packed here.
“…Therefore, I will demonstrate it.”
As Saya confirmed that Waldenholt returned to a standby state, she fixed its body by injecting multiple anchors (in the ground).
“Why are you trying to do? You can’t take an evasive action like that, you know?”
“There’s no need to dodge.”
“Hou?”
Rimsi’s eyes abruptly tapered at these words.
“I see. The output pattern is different from what you used until now. So, I assume it’s your hidden card.”
“…”
Saya, remaining silent, overlapped the right and left barrels.
The gearing sound of two metals could be heard and the two circuits were connected. This was Waldenholt’s original form.
“Fufu… I think that it’s rather nonsense, but ー all right. I will ride on that. Let’s once again go with a contest of strength.”
When Rimsi said so, she slowly got down on the ground. It was probably in order to also invest the flight unit’s energy to the left arm.
“Ruinsharif ー Maximum output.”
“…”
Tremendous energy was accumulated in both muzzles.
Sparks like small lightning flitted about in Saya’s surroundings, and the air vibrated as if the surrounding space creaked.
If she was to miss the Prana control even a little, Waldenholt would accidentally discharged immediately, and Saya would not come out of it unscathed.
The energy gathered increased to the limit before long, and that moment where it was on the verge of bursting.
“Discharge!”
“Kaboom…!”
The torrent of light which swirled from Rimsi’s left arm and the extremely compressed heavy light bullet from Saya’s Waldenholt were shot. Saya’s expression was distorted at the recoil at the time of discharge.
Both clashed at a halfway point like a while ago and it looked like they rivaled for a moment, butー
“Wha…!?”
The light bullet of Waldenholt easily overpowered the torrent of light and scattered it.
Rimsi promptly tried to dodge it, but it was slightly late.
“ー!”
The next moment, Rimsi’s body was swallowed by a huge dome-shaped light.
After the silence of a moment, a great explosion arose as if blowing off the hall itself, all the protective walls surrounding the stage rattlingly shook to the tremor from the raging blast, as if they were about to break, and screams rose from here and there in the stands.
When the blast settled down before long, Rimsi was on her knees in the center of the explosion greatly scooped out like a crater. Her left arm was completely destroyed and spouted sparks and black smoke. Like that, it was probably no longer possible to use Ruinsharif.
(That said… It’s strange there is no great damage other than that.)
Even if she avoided a direct hit, there was too little damage considering that she was caught up in such a great explosion.
As Saya who thought it to be suspicious looked closely, a wall of thin light was flickering as it protected half of Rimsi’s body.
“That is…”
“Fuhahahaha! It was a hair’s breadth, eh, Rimsi!”
A lively laughter suddenly echoed there.
When looking, Ardi who stood on the edge of the crater was slightly happily looking down at Rimsi.
“As expected, I could completely defend against it, but we do not have the luxury to say.”
“…I understand.”
On the other hand, Rimsi’s voice seemed to be really mortifying.
“…I see. That defensive barrier, you can deploy it anywhere else beside around you, huh.”
It was beyond her expectations, but in that case, it was comprehensible.
The defensive wall which Ardi usually deployed looked thin probably because he was far away from her.
“I-I’m sorry, Saya-san. I couldn’t hold him down.”
Kirin who was running up bowed her head with an apologetic face.
“No. You have really done well against that big opponent. It’s enough.”
As Saya stroked Kirin’s head which was lowered, she gently thanked her.
“Even if I couldn’t defeat her, I was able to make one almost powerless. In other words, it’s now a two-to-one fight. Our superiority is…”
“I wonder about it.”
Rimsi who stood up unsteady on her feet interrupted such words of Saya.
“…Hmm?”
“I will admit that you certainly surpassed me. However, it doesn’t mean that you surpassed “us”.”
As Rimsi said so, she slowly looked up at Ardi.
“Ardi, since it has come to this, there’s not helping it. I don’t want to do it, but we shall do just as you requested.”
“Fufu, it should be like this! I am ready to go whenever you want!”
As Rimsi breathed a small sigh, she greatly extended both her hands. At the same time, the light of Mana Dite began to overflow from her body.
“ACM unit, first external armor, various Luxes purge… Limit control transfer.”
Then, Rimsi’s flight unit and armor plate parted from her body as they floated, and multiple huge guns type Lux manifested and danced in the air.
“Oh yes! It’s there, it’s there, it’s there, it’s there! Connected start!”
And when they went towards Ardi as if being guided, they adjusted his position by shining type beaconー
『O-Oooh! D-D-Don’t tell me t-this is–!?』
While the voice of the live reporter, who got excited resounded, smoke like steam blew up from Ardi’s body and his shoulders greatly opened as they cracked. The flight unit divided into two, the docking ー the Lux and armor plate to those apertures overlapped as they clung (stuck) to both hands and both feet.
His pair of eyes strongly shone and a green light which overflowed from his whole body changed to blue.
This was without a doubtー
“F…Fusion?”
To the dumbfounded Saya and Kirin, Ardi proudly declared.
“Fuhahahaha! This is my (our) true appearance!”
ーThe same time, the private booth seat of Allekant Academy Student Council.
“Oh my! To think that they would be cornered to the point that they have to use that. It’s slightly unexpected.”
“…Will it be really all right?”
At Ernesta sitting cross-legged on the chair, Camilla who was sitting beside her asked with a severe countenance.
In the deserted booth, there were only Camilla and Ernesta.
“There was no problem during the simulation, so it should be all right.”
“I hope so, but… Even now, I regret for not having let you pack that (thing).”
“Fufufu, even if you said that now, it became like that because Camilla’s Ruinsharif lost in a contest of power, right?”
“Th-That is…”
With an embarrassing face, Camilla turned her gaze away.
“Well, I think it can’t be helped; since only the power of a Lux from 'that' Professor Sasamiya was really unexpected.”
“…I will admit that it was certainly an unexpected performance.”
“Then, it can’t also be helped if they use that to win! Right? Right?”
“Well…”
To Ernesta which was letting her pupils glitter extremely joyfully, Camilla greatly sighed.
“I don’t understand… It’s hard to say that the situation is by no means bright. And yet why are you so glad?”
“Ehehehehehe.”
With a face which loosened, Ernesta looked at Camilla.
“After all, those children, they are growing up at an amazing speed. No, they completely exceed my expectations; it’s too amazing.”
And while flapping her feet, she continued happily.
“In addition, if they succeeded in controlling that, I wonder what will really happen.”
The fact that large parts attached to and increased Ardi’s shoulders, made Ardi look much sterner and more dignified than before. Large caliber Luxes in both his hands and also things which looked like gun type Luxes on both his legs added; it was exactly a full armament aspect.
“Now, how is it? This appearance which increase my magnificence and deepened my dignified presence!”
Ardi stuck out his chest really proudly.
“Hmm… It’s really cool!”
“Eh…?”
With a surprised face, Kirin turned towards Saya who muttered so.
“Fuhahahahahaha! Now, come at me wherever you want!”
Ardi lightly brandished the hammer which he held in his hand and thrust its ferrule on the ground. And with just that, the earth was gouged and it caved in.
“It doesn’t just look like merely parts only increased, eh.”
“…”
As Saya lightly nodded at Kirin’s words, she quickly checked Waldenholt’s condition. Because she shot in full burst, it will take more time for cooling. She might change it to a different weapon, but if she was to break that defensive wall, no other weapon than Waldenholt would probably work.
“Hmm… If you don’t come, then allow me the first move.”
They wanted to earn a little more time if possible, but it did not seem that they could do so.
Seeing Ardi setting up his hammer, Saya braced herself. When she turned a fleeting glance at Rimsi, it did not look like she was going to participate in the battle as she was completely unarmed.
(Then, to make the best use of our numerical superiority, first…)
The next moment when Saya thought up to there.
“ーWha–!?”
Suddenly, a black large build appeared in front of her like a wall.
(Fast…!)
“Saya-san!”
The Hammer swung down was hardly in a timing which she could evade, but she was saved by Kirin who jumped in and carried her. As the two girls took distance and rebuilt their stance, they greatly spitted out a breath together.
“…Sorry Kirin, you saved me.”
“It’s nothing. More importantly that movement… it’s completely different from until a while ago.”
While cautiously setting up Senbakiri, Kirin continued quizzically.
“However, from what I saw, it isn’t as if his swordsmanship has changed. Or perhaps should I say simply his speed and his power are now in a completely different league…”
Saya was taken aback by these words and looked at Ardi.
The parts which were added to his shoulders should have been those of the flight unit. If he used them as propulsive power, then it explained the increase in speed; but it did not seem to be just that. Assuming that basic specs were improved more…
“Kirin. It’s just a guess, but I somehow understood the root[4].”
“The root?”
“Those parts are powered by the multiple Mana Dites standing side by side and which are controlled. I think that Rimsi handed out some of her Mana Dites to that big thing.”
“Ah…”
If it was the case, then she also understood that only basic specs such as speed and power were enhanced.
“If so ー then, that big thing should have some defects now.”
“Defects?”
“If that big thing can endure it without trouble, then such a troublesome system won’t be especially necessary. It would have been convenient for them if he had used such equipments and specs from the start. Since he didn’t do so, then it means that it’s somehow incomplete… Is what I think.”
“I see. No wonder.”
She came up with such a guess at the very beginning because it was a case like that of Ayato where there was a time limit. If they had forcibly drawn an output beyond the original durability (stamina), he would not have held to that degree for a long time.
Or by being in this state, there was a possibility that some risk occurred. This could also consider various cases; for example there would be a burden on the processing system due to the high output, or there were also common stories where it would end up downing.
“…In any case, there is too little information as it stands. Kirin, can you gain time even a little?”
“Understood. I will try.”
As Kirin nodded, she took Senbakiri in side posture and fixed her breathing.
“Fufu, it looks like you are over with the strategy meeting. As expected, so you make the first move, Toudou Kirin.”
While glaring at Ardi who casually shortened the distance, Kirin gradually reduced the intervalー
“Haaah!”
The moment when Ardi stepped in her range, she slashed at him with a jump.
Ardi blocked the reverse blow with his hammer, but the cutting edge which jumped up immediately connected to the next slash.
It was "Conjoined Cranes".
Although Ardi’s speed seemed to have certainly increased and he could react to all those attacks, even so he was not able to escape from "Conjoined Cranes".
“Hmm, as expected it is a wonderful skill, Toudou Kirin…! Even for the current me, it is impossible to deal with these sword skills, huh.”
While handling well Kirin’s Senbakiri, Ardi laughed.
“But howeverー!”
At the same time with Ardi’s shout, blue light gushed all over his body and the wind welled up.
Kirin continued her attacks without minding it, but the hammer which blocked her overhead chop sent Kirin’s body flying.
“ー!”
Though unbelievable, he removed "Conjoined Cranes" with brute force.
Even if Kirin was still a 13 years old young girl, she was a Starpulse Generation who accumulated strict training, and she also possessed something which far surpassed physical strength. Her driving was heavy, and in case of average Starpulse Generation, even if he possessed great power, defending against it would be the best he could do.
If it was someone with excellent sword skill like Ayato, he might be able to flip her katana to some extent, but sending her body flying was not common. First of all, it would be impossible for a human.
“Fuhahahaha! Not yet!”
In addition; Ardi began to pursue Kirin, who was sent flying.
Although Kirin tried to ward it off with Senbakiri, her stance was bad as she just landed and she could not parry it.
“Guhー!”
She was once again sent flying by the hammer swung from right beside, and her body was violently thrown at the defense wall[5].
“Kirin!”
When Saya tried to help her as she hurriedly rushed over, Kirin, even though bleeding from the edge of her mouth, stopped it.
“I-I’m all right… More importantly…!”
When she returned her look to Ardi with these words, a black large build pointed the tip of the hammer towards them while setting up the hammer like a gun.
As they confirmed that a huge amount of energy was gathering there, they shivered.
(No way, a shooting weapon!)
“You are powerful enemies who should be respected. I got various teachings from you. Therefore, I shall carry out the first teaching and crush you with all my power.”
“…That’s kind of bad. Kirin, can you move?”
“Y-Yesー!”
However, Kirin who started to stand grimaced.
“Kirin… Your leg…?”
“I-I’m all right…!”
Though Kirin firmly insisted, her right leg was obviously swollen. It did not seem to be broken, but it would be difficult for her to evade that attack under such a condition.
“…”
Saya immediately made up her mind and linked Waldenholt once again.
The cooling was not yet completed, but now was not a situation to grumble about such a trivial thing.
“Kirin, to my back.”
“B-But, like that…”
“It’s fine.”
Since there was not time for dialogue, she broke off the conversation like that, and poured prana into Waldenholt. Immediately, the Mana Dite induced an Over-Excitation Total Response Phenomenon, and energy rose, but ー probably because the cooling was insufficient, the response was slower than usual.
(I won’t make it in time like this…!)
The moment she thought so, Ardi’s hammer spouted fire.
“Walneil Hammer, fire!”
“Kuh… !”
She could not help but pull the trigger in an insufficient condition.
The head of the huge hammer, which was shot by Ardi, approached the two girls while rotating in high speed, but Waldenholt’s light bullet stopped it at the very limit.
“Guh…!”
Since there was no time to set out (hammer out) the anchors, they desperately put up with the recoil with their bodies which were almost overturned. The light bullet and the hammer were jostling as is while intensely scattering something like sparkles, but the light bullet exploded before long as it used up all its energy and the two girls were thoroughly pushed back up against the defense wall by the blast.
Even so, since they were able to defend against that shot just now, it should be said that it was quite satisfactory.
The hammer head which was shot, returned to Ardi’s hand as it was forced back by the blast. It settled back into the part of the handle, which was raised overhead, as before.
“Hmm… I did not think that you would be able to pull through this. I ought to say as one would expect.”
“…”
Saya who, though tottering, stood up, lightly glared at Ardi who said as he was impressed.
“…Kirin, can you move?”
“Of course.”
Kirin who stood up behind Saya set up Senbakiri so as to respond to it.
Though her voice was still filled of enough power, the damages she took were hardly small. Especially for a fencer using speed as a weapon, like Kirin, an injury on the leg should influence her mobility quite greatly.
Saya’s Waldenholt was also short-circuited here and there, and as expected she could no longer use it.
ーEven so.
As Saya strongly bit her lips, she greatly opened her eyes wide after closing them once.
“…I can’t afford to give up.”
She returned Waldenholt to the activation body state, and active another Lux.
Type 39 – Gleaming Form Laser Canon Wolfdora. In terms of power, what came after Waldenholt was this. She did not know how far it would work, but she could do nothing but try.
“I count on you for the support.”
With movements as not to let one feel that she was hurt in the leg, Kirin also stepped before Saya.
“…It’s really mysterious. If it was the me of before this match began, I would have concluded that that action of yours is just a useless struggle. However, the current me feels even respect towards you.”
As Ardi said so in an unusually calm tone, blue light once again spouted from his whole body.
As if it was the signal, Kirin and Saya are parted left and right, and began to run.
ーAnd shortly thereafter, the first semifinal match lowered the curtains.
Chapter 2 – Unscrupulous Winding Thread
“Saya! Kirin-chan!”
When Ayato rushed to the waiting room, the two girls were sitting on the sofa completely exhausted. There were bandages wound all over their bodies and it was really painful to look at, but fortunately it seemed that they were not greatly injured.
“Geez, are you all right? You have put on quite the performance.”
Julis, who also entered from behind Ayato, looked worried contrary to her way of talking.
“…No problem. Rather, if our school badges did not break, we would have still been able to keep fighting.” Turning only her face towards them, Saya said with a sour look.
But, for Ayato who had watched the match, he knew that she was just pretending to be all right. After against Ardi who performed a fusion, one might say that it was almost a one-sided development. Of course, Saya and Kirin might have also won, but in a situation where Kirin got injured and Saya’s Waldenholt was no longer usable, the match might have been as good as decided. Although Saya and Kirin desperately put up a hard fight afterwards, they were held down before Ardi’s overwhelming power.
That said, Saya’s point was true in a sense, too.
No matter how they were beaten up, they stood up for themselves by never giving up, and if their school badges didn't break, they would have definitely kept fighting until their bodies fell apart.
“Haah… I would never have imagined that "Conjoined Cranes" would be stopped in that way…”
Kirin who floated a powerless smile said in a tone blurring frustration.
“I’m also sorry for showing such a cowardly appearance to you, Senpai. Like this, I won’t even be able to face Flora-chan who cheered on us…”
It looked like Flora, who should have been cheering them on from the general stands, hadn't shown up yet.
“I don’t think that you’re cowardly. At least, I don’t think that there is someone who could stop "Conjoined Cranes" in the same way as that.”
Ayato, as someone who had personally experienced Kirin’s "Conjoined Cranes" with his own body, could assert at least that. Added to the fact that Kirin’s slashes were heavy, when executing "Conjoined Cranes", even in posture, the person on the receiving end would be driven off into a situation where enduring it would be the utmost he could do. And if one was to repel Kirin’s body from that posture, Ayato could not even imagine just how much physical power he would need.
“I never realized my own immaturity as this time. In the end, I’m probably relying too much on "Conjoined Cranes". I have to review my basics more…”
As Kirin told so as to persuade herself, she strongly grasped her fist.
Ayato strongly swallowed words of comfort, which almost spilled out unintentionally. Carelessly comforting the loser might end up driving him into a corner later on.
“Anyway, you should properly take care of yourselves now. There was no problem with the medical check, right?”
In the Festa, a medical check was imposed upon the loser (it was optional for the winner). When it came to a serious injury, they might also be hospitalized to a medical house; but since the Starpulse Generation originally had a high recuperative power, most of the emergency measures would be managed on the site.
“Yes, there was no problem in particular. If I must say, my right foot is a little…”
“Oh… does it hurt very much?”
“Ah. No, the medicine is effective now after all… Thank you.” While saying that, Kirin waved her hands a little as to say that she was all right.
It was very admirable of her.
“What about you, Saya?”
“…It aches all over my body. But, more than that… it’s more painful to have made a waste of (to have ruined several of) my Luxes.”
It was indeed an answer typical of Saya.
“Well, since we will take revenge for you in the final, you can rest in peace. Right, Ayato?”
At Julis’ words, Ayato answered; “Oh well, I would really like, but… After being shown that semifinal, I can’t promise.”, with a serious face.
Actually, in terms of sword skills, Kirin was above Ayato. To defeat an opponent who overwhelmed Kirin would not be an easy task. That, even though Ayato possessed an ogre Lux.
“…It’s promising, Riessfeld.”
Then, Saya, who was lying down, raised her body and said slightly amazed. “To think that you can say such words after having watched our match. Either you’re really an idiot or you have some prospects of success…”
“There is no way that there would be such a thing with such a monster as an opponent.” Julis answered flatly.
“…Then, are you inevitably a real idiot?”
“Then, very well. From the beginning, my goal is the grand slam. Who else would speak of such dreamlike story if it’s not an idiot?”
At these words, Saya opened wide her eyes as she was surprised for an instant, and then floated a wry smile.
“… You’re absolutely right. Then, you can’t afford to stumble in the first Festa.”
“Well, then, it’s just like that.” Julis said, and held out her fist.
Saya also bumped (hit) her fist on Julis's. “…I leave it to you.”
“Yeah, count on us.”
Ayato who was looking at the two girls with a side glance chuckled ー and then immediately tightened his face.
In the semifinal, Ardi’s strength after the fusion was certainly exceptional.
But, it was too strong.
He wondered whether he got that strong by only combining some parts.
(That feeling, I have sensed it somewhere…)
While Ayato brooded over his thoughts, he turned his look towards the entrance.
In the press conference room which was ahead, the winner interview of the two from Allekant should be in progress right now.
“Haah, Really, if those guys of mass media are persistent, there will be no end. Even though we must quickly go back and repair Ardi and Rimsi.”
“…”
While walking down the passage returning to the waiting room as if dancing, Ernesta grumbled.
Though she complained, her face was smiling; but Camilla, who was walking beside her, contrasted it.
With a sullen face, she sank into silence and advanced at a quicked pace.
She was like that the whole time since from the Interview in the press conference room. If the winner had acted like this, the mass media would probably have looked puzzled as well.
“Hey, hey, Camilla. You should cheer up already. It can’t be helped. If we didn’t use that, we might have lost after all.”
“…”
Ernesta took one step forward and turned back to look at Camilla’s face.
Even so, Camilla did not loosen her pace and passed Ernesta as she ignored her.
When Ernesta deeply breathed a big sigh, she erased the smile on her face. “ーEven you, Camilla. You knew since the beginning, right?”
Then, Camilla finally stopped walking.
It was a somewhat sly expression, but it could not be helped.
“What you and I are aiming is different. It’s the same until midway, but we will eventually have to part somewhere. You agreed to help me after understanding that, right?”
“That isー!”
Camilla who looked back opened her mouth as she wanted to say something… and then shut it.
Ernesta, who saw it, sighed once again.
She was thankful for the kindness of this friend of hers, but she thought that it was time she should make things clear.
“Camilla’s final goal is ‘ultimate versatility’. In other words… a weapon which can be managed by anybody, right?”
“…Yes, it is.”
At Ernesta’s words, Camilla nodded after a short pause.
“But, such a weapon doesn’t exist wherever you search in this world. It’s obvious, isn’t it? After all, if you thoroughly investigate, you will find that any weapon depends on the human who uses it.”
Then, what to do?
It was simple. One should just make another being, different from a human, use it.
It was the puppets.
If it was the puppets, they would be able to use any kind of complex weapons. The humans only had to merely order them.
“But in that case, ego isn’t needed in puppets. No, rather they shouldn’t have. I mean, if they have, they would become the same as humans.”
However, Ernesta’s goal was different.
Ernesta’s wish was to create an existence equal to humans with her own hands. Autonomous puppets which could cry, laugh, know joy and grow up[6].
That was why she felt deeply moved enough to shiver at the growth which Ardi showed in this semifinal. This was exactly what she had sought.
And one day, they would definitely obtain the same privileges as humans, but that was Ernesta’s final goal.
Then, Camilla floated a wry smile and turned slightly nostalgic eyes towards Ernesta. “…Do you remember about when you and I met for the first time?”
“Of course. After all, at that time, half of Camilla’s body was blown off. There’s no way that I would ever forget since the impact was that strong.” Ernesta said and cacklingly laughed.
Camilla was attacked by a group of the anti-government organization when she visited a conflict area in attendance at her parents work at the time. Although Camilla and her parents had also employed several guards, they were outnumbered. Camilla’s parents lost their lives, and Camilla herself suffered an injury so serious that it was life-threatening. On that occasion, she was accommodated by a laboratory of Frauenlob with which her parents had business.
Ernesta, who was called an extraordinary genius since that time, was by chance performing puppet research in that lab. Although regeneration technology was widespread, it inevitably took time for nurture (culture) and thus not applicable in case of an emergency. There, Ernesta applied her own techniques and saved Camilla’s life.
Though she did not tell her directly, Ernesta thought that, from that time on, Camilla was fixated on the idea of creating a weapon which could be handled by anyone. When Camilla’s parents were attacked by the anti-government organization, they tried to defend themselves with the weapons the guards were in possession of, but they were not able to use them competently.
That said, Camilla’s parents were fairly ordinary civilians, and even if they could use the the weapons effectively they would have probably been no match people from the anti-government organization who had recieved combat training. In the end, a weapon was something which changed depending on the human using it. No matter how much one inquired into a weapon's versatility, that would not change.
That was why Camilla believed the existence called puppets to be one answer.
Camilla did not trust the creature called human more than anyone else in this world.
“Right. Half of my body is a puppet you have created. Therefore, I swore that I would give you half of my life.”
“Yeah, I received it, I received it.”
Ernesta nodded quite indifferently.
“Therefore… I do not mean to complain about your dream. It is certainly different from my goal, but it is another issue again.”
“Then, why are you so angry?”
Camilla raised her eyes at these words.
“It is purely anger as an engineer! I should have said it many times! That it is too dangerous to use it in actual combat! And that fear was well founded! Look, at how abnormally these values are increasing!”
As Camilla said so and tapped her portable terminal, a space window opened and many graphs were displayed.
“Can such output be controlled? Wasn’t it one step short of rampaging?”
“Boo, even if you say that, it can’t be helped. If we had lost here, we would’ve lost everything.”
Ernesta sulked like a child who was scolded.
“If it is just showing results, it is already enough…”
“No, no, I have said it from the beginning. My goal is the championship. And after that, the first thing I will do is arrange for Ardi and Rimsi to officially become students at our Academy.”
Ernesta, not being able to contain her excitement, began to dance round and round.
Right. And it will just be the beginning to make the public recognize the autonomous type puppets.
For that purpose, I can’t yield the championship of this Phoenix.
“But even so…!” Camilla said up to there, she then received a call on the portable terminal in her hand.
“…It’s me. Yes, so… What?”
The tone of her voice changed in the middle of her reply.
As Ernesta thought “what’s up?”, Camilla looked at her quizzically,
“It seems that you have received a communication. ーFrom Dirk Eberwein.”
“He~e… What a surprise. Yes, it’s fine. Let me have it.”
“…Understood.”
Camilla operated her terminal and a new space window unfolded; a plump young man was projected there.
『…Yo, are you my friend Ernesta Kühne?』
“Hahaha. To think you would call and say that to someone you meet for the first time 'you'[7], as expected. Yes, that’s right. I’m the PygmalionSculptor Faction representative, Ernesta Kühne. Nice to meet you, ”
Ernesta light bowed with her tone which was not different than usual.
『Hmm, a playful woman, as the rumors say.』
“Likewise, you’re a more detestable man than the rumors say. So, what business do you have with me? Weren’t you guys doing well with the Magnus OpusGreat Professor?”
At these words, Dirk’s pupils eerily shone for an instant.
『You seem to be more informed than I thought. But, let me correct you. We just came to an agreement of mutual non-interference with that crazy woman. It isn’t as if we’re friends or something.』
“Hmm… I didn’t know that. But well, it’s obvious if you carefully think about it, huh. There’s no way that the Magnus OpusGreat Professor would ever forgive you, who snatched the EreshkigalVenomous Witch from her side~.”
『…Such a thing doesn’t matter. Listen, this is the main issue. ーJoin hands with us.』
“Hmm, I was wondering what you would say; and you spit such nonsense…!”
Though Camilla also glared at Dirk with disgust, the redhead young man said with a serious face.
“Mmm, isn’t it a little impolite for a demand of friendship? In the first place, I almost know nothing about you guys, so don’t you agree that such thing should be started after first knowing each other properly?”
『There is no need to go that far. I said to join hands, but it would be good if you could just cooperate with us, using our methods, when required. I will return you a favor accordingly afterward.』
“A favor?”
To Ernesta who asked back, Dirk snorted with displeasure.
『Just in case, so that negotiations can proceed logically, I prepare a present easy to understand. You can decide after seeing that.』
“Excuse me!”
A graceful voice along with the sound of a knock resounded on the other side of the door, and Claudia entered the waiting room.
“Sasamiya-san, Toudou-san, it was regrettable this last match. But, being in the top four is a result you should be proud of. For Seidokan Academy, the prospect of the season has become quite brighter now. For that reason, I will prepare a reward appropriate for the two of you.”
“N-No, you need not…!”
“…you don’t need to that; we only did that for ourselves.”
To Claudia who politely bowed her head, Saya and Kirin answered somewhat embarrassed.
Players who won a high rank in the Festa, though not as much as the victor, were considerably rewarded. It seemed to be either purely a monetary award or something near to the treatment given to the Top Twelve; but when thinking they had nothing to lose even if they lost in a duel, it might be something amazing.
“By the way, Claudia. Didn’t you see Flora on the way?”
“No… Unfortunately, I did not see her.”
At Julis’ question, Claudia slowly shook her head.
“We have promised to meet in the waiting room of Sasamiya and Kirin after the match…”
Quite a long time had already passed since the match was over. Even though there was still enough time because Ayato’s and Julis’ match was in the evening, as expected it was slightly worrying that she was late like this.
“Can’t you get to contact her through her portable terminal?”
“I’m already been trying, since a little while now, but…”
Ayato stood up and called out to Julis who seemed to be anxious. “Instead, we should go look to our waiting room once again. Flora-chan might have misunderstood and gone to the wrong place.”
“You’re right… I will also ask to the reception whether they have given shelter a lost child.”
At the time Julis said so and was about to leave the room, her portable terminal received a call as if waiting for it.
“It’s from Flora. Geez, what on earth is she doing…?”
Though Julis who confirmed the call, while the others in the room floated a smile, her expression immediately became serious.
“A voice communication…?”
As she opened the space window while suspiciously frowning, what was heard from the pitch black window was a low, dark (gloomy) voice.
『…You are Julis-Alexia Van Riessfeld, right?』
“Who are you, you bastard? Why do you have that portable terminal?”
Though anger and impatience floated on Julis’ face, and she asked in a loud voice, the other party indifferently continued without answering the question.
『I held on to the owner of this portable terminal. Is Amagiri Ayato there?』
“Yeah, I am, but… Is Flora-chan safe?”
Although surprised at the sudden nomination, Ayato first checked the important thing above all.
Then, after a short silenceー
『…Princess! Amagiri-sama! F-Flora is all right!』
A child’s voice which trembled a little called the two people.
No doubt about it. It was Flora’s voice.
『If you accept our demand, I will also guarantee her safety afterwards.』
“…What do you demand?”
『To apply for an urgent freeze processing to Ser-Versta. As soon as the acceptance is confirmed, she will be released.』
“Urgent freeze processing …?”
『When it is judged that the demand was not executed, and when communication to the Hunter Guards or Seidokan Academy’s secret service is confirmed, I will not be able to guarantee her safety. In addition, it will be also so even in the case you are to withdraw from the Festa. This is all.』
“Ah, w-waitー!”
When one-sidedly saying only that, the space window immediately disappeared.
As Ayato hurriedly borrowed the portable terminal from Julis’ hand, he called back again.
But, of course there was no response. Either they turned the power off or they might have destroyed it so as not to be traced.
“Flora, was kidnapped… you said…?”
Julis muttered with a pale face. There was no power in her voice, and it did not seem like Julis’ voice at all.
ーAnd.
“Please, calm down, Julis. The other party’s aim isn’t you, but Ayato. It will do nothing if you lose your cool. That’s exactly what they want.”
“Claudia…”
“We shall first properly grasp the situation and then think about what we should do.”
As Julis took a deep breath at these words, she slapped both her cheeks.
“…Yeah, you’re right. Sorry.”
A strong anger still swelled in her eyes, but it looked like she was no longer upset.
As expected of Claudia, she was really reliable.
“Claudia, what did he mean about urgent freeze processing?”
The offender’s demanded was directed to Ayato.
He intended to do it even right now depending on the situation.
Whatever that was, it would not be more valuable than Flora’s life.
“An urgent freeze processing, is something applied in case that a scholarship ogre Lux user felt danger in his ogre Lux.”
When Claudia turned around towards Ayato, she slightly lowered eyes.
“As you already know, the ogre Lux is an existence which contains some kind of risk. And, the cases where only the user understood its danger are also not few. Hence, the ogre Lux user, by his own judgment, can make a request to forcibly seal that ogre Lux.”
“In other words… The offender’s demand is to prevent me from using Ser-Versta?”
“Probably.”
“T-Then in that case, wouldn’t it be better to only rescind the process after Flora-chan is released? It won’t be like that forever, right?”
As Kirin nervously said so, Claudia shrugged her shoulders with an expression which neither agreed nor disagreed.
“Certainly, if it is just the processing, there will be no problem. In the first place, the urgent freeze processing is literally something done in emergency, and a detailed investigation is to be carried out after the seal. If it is judged there that there was no danger, then the freeze measures of Ser-Versta will probably be canceled as soon as possible. Howeverー”
“In that case, Ayato may never again use Ser-Versta.”
With a bitter face, Julis took over Claudia’s words.
“Eh? But…”
To Kirin who looked puzzled wonderingly, Ayato took out Ser-Versta’s activation body.
“It means that if I do something like that, this guy will never forgive me, huh.”
“Ah…”
As if guessing it, Kirin also cast her eyes down in vexation.
Right. There was no way that this ogre Lux which was moody under normal circumstances would remain silent after something like that being done. They did not know to which extent the circumstances around Ser-Versta’s ego was grasped, but judging from the experiences so far, they could not expect leniency as they consider these circumstances. Let alone drawing out it’s own power, it would probably never again let Ayato touch him/it.
“Claudia, what should be concretely done about that application?”
There was no need to hesitate if Flora would be saved with only that much. Though he felt guilty towards Ser-Versta, since one person’s life was involved, it was natural to give priority to that.
“Is it really all right, Ayato?”
Claudia asked so with a somewhat painful face. Of course, losing Ser-Versta here could be considered fatal for the fight in this Phoenix. It was probably a no-brainer for the person himself, but Claudia also had her position of Seidokan Academy student council president.
“Yes, it’s all right.”
“I’m sorry, Ayato…”
With an expression on which vexation and regret were mixed, Julis looked downward.
“It’s fine, Julis. After all, family is the most important for anyone.”
When Ayato put his hand on the shoulder of such Julis, he kindly said so.
“However ー There is no confirmation that Flora will really be released.”
Then, Saya who kept silent until then muttered in a low voice.
Everybody was probably thinking about the same thing, but it was a thought which they could not voice out.
“But even so, if he doesn’t accept the demand, Flora will be…!”
“I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that there is still another option.”
“Another option…?”
“We can save Flora by ourselves. If so, then there will be no more problem.”
“Wha…!?”
Julis was dumbfounded at Saya’s words.
However, Claudia brooded over these words with a serious face.
“I see… It is one idea.”
“In his demand, the offender mentioned not to tell to the Hunter Guards and the secret service, but he did not say anything other than that. Then, we can also take that as OK if we are to freely look for her and save her.”
“T-There is no way the offender will understand such logic…”
“No, it is not something to take so lightly. Setting aside whether or not it is OK, it is good as long as the offender does not find out.”
As Claudia said so, she looked around at the faces of the people present.
“I came up with one compromise plan. Of course, it is up to you whether or not you will ride on this, Julis…”
The gaze of such Claudia turned and stopped at Julis.
“…Understood. Let’s hear it for now.”
“Then, first let’s pretend that I was not in here. I did not hear anything. Moreover, I will hide for a little while. I will think about an excuse later, but I will not accept a call from anyone.”
“Ha?”
Claudia continued her explanation disregarding all of them which became dumbfounded.
“And Ayato, you will give an application for the urgent freeze processing. Since the acceptance permission of the student council president, that’s me, is needed on that application, I can gain time until I come back, right?”
“I see, since the application itself was applied, it would be assumed that he accepts the demand…”
Since the non-acceptance would become the problem of the student council, the offender would not be able to complain.
“Meanwhile, you will somehow manage to locate the offender’s whereabouts and rescue Flora. That said, since I can’t also afford to be absent to the award ceremony of the Festa, even if I can gain time, until tomorrow’s closing ceremony is the limit. Deliberations are not necessary for the urgent freeze processing, so as soon as the closing ceremony ends, please think that the application is accepted.”
Awards ceremony and closing ceremony were to be held after the final. Since the final was at noon, even if it dragged on too much, the remaining time would beー
“Roughly around 24 hours, huh.”
“As expected, it will be impossible…”
Asterisk was small, yet unexpectedly wide.
If they were to pinpoint the offender’s whereabouts in only 24 hours, unless they borrowed the Hunter Guards’ power, it would be definitely impossible.
“Of course not. I guess that it will be difficult if you search in the whole of Asterisk, but I can narrow down the search area this time. Julis, I think you also know what I am talking about, right?”
“! The redevelopment area, huh!”
With a startled face, Julis looked at Claudia.
“W-What do you mean?”
“There is only one person who can calmly come up with something that foolish. Besides, the aim is Ayato and Ser-Versta. Considering that, there is no doubt at all that the mastermind is Dirk Eberwein. I don’t know the reason, but he seemed to have marked Ayato and Ser-Versta at some point.”
“The Tyrant…”
Kirin also seemed to know that name.
“Of course, he cannot leave evidence that he is directly involved, so going after anything along those lines would be useless. However, if he is doing it, the ones moving (doing the dirty work) are most likely Le Wolfe’s Intelligence work organization ー the GrimalkinBlack Cat Institute. In that case, the redevelopment area, which is their territory, should be the most likely. Above all, even if shenanigans occur, the only place where it is not conspicuous is over there.”
As Claudia said up to there, she concisely summarized the main point.
“In other words ー while feigning to accept the other party’s demand, we have to find out the offender and rescue Flora within 24 hours from now. This is my compromise plan. How is it?”
“…”
After keeping silent for a while, Julis turned reliant eyes to Ayato.
“Ayato, what do you think?”
“I… I think the plan isn’t bad. I don’t mind parting with Ser-Versta, but as Saya said, there is certainly no guarantee that Flora-chan will be released with that. In that case, it would be better to do all that we can do.”
“I see…”
Julis once again fell into silence, closed her eyes in order to settle her heart… and then opened them.
“ーUnderstood. Let's go with that plan.”
To these words, everyone nodded strongly.
“But… for the time being, Ayato and Riessfeld should prepare for the next semifinal.”
“You’re right. Since there was the condition not to withdraw from the Festa in their demand, we should first concentrate on that.”
“Even if you said that we should concentrate, do you think we will be able to do it in this situation?”
A color of dissatisfaction was vividly floating on Julis’ face.
“Actually, I want to abandon the Festa and go looking for Flora as soon as possible.”
“Ara? But, then it will be giving up on your wish, Julis.”
“I don’t mind. It’s meaningless if it sacrifices important things which I should protect.”
Though Julis flatly asserted, she hurriedly turned towards Ayato and cast down her eyes as embarrassed.
“Ah… um, sorry. I spoke just now on my own convenience, but… we are partners. Of course, I will respect your intention.”
“Don’t worry about it, Julis. After all, I feel the same.”
Ayato also had the wish to look for his big sister, but there was still a next Festa. it could not be comparable.
But, looking at Ayato and Julis in such a state, Claudia wryly smiled as if troubled.
“Geez, you now… If you want to realize your wish in this Asterisk, you should become a little greedier. Especially you, Julis; for some reason, you are too much afraid to lose something.”
“…There’s no helping it. I don’t want to feel something like that ever again.” Julis muttered so…
Claudia continued, like a mother who admonished her child. “We will save Flora, and also win the Phoenix. Please have spirit at least for that. It is an advice not as the student council president, but as a friend.”
“Claudia…”
At these words, Julis stared at Claudia with a slightly surprised face.
“Haah… Understood. Certainly, if there’s that option, there’s no reason not to choose it. After all, it will be irritating to do everything the offender wants.” Julis said, and nailed her fist into her palm.
It looked like she got back into her stride.
“However… why would the offender expressly say something like ‘don’t retire from the Festa’?”
Ayato voiced out the question he suddenly thought of.
If Dirk Eberwein’s purpose was so that he did not want him to use Ser-Versta, it should not be necessary to expressly make such a demand.
“It is just a guess, but it is probably in order to confirm whether or not Ayato has accepted the demand. If you don’t use Ser-Versta in the match, it will become the proof that you have complied with the demand. Since there will be a processing procedure in Seidokan whether or not the application for the urgent freeze processing was accepted, even if it is the GrimalkinBlack Cat Institute, they will take too much time to investigate it.”
“I see…”
“However conversely speaking, there will be some falsified parts around there. Normally, the Equipment Department would collect the concerned ogre Lux when the application is accomplished, but… this time I will make the necessary preparations in secret, so you should just carry Ser-Versta’s activation body like that under cover. ーso that you will immediately be able to use when we successfully save Flora-san.”
As Claudia said so, she was operating a portable terminal.
“I sent the electronic documents necessary for the urgent freeze processing application to Ayato’s terminal. And also some useful data.”
When Ayato checked his terminal, he had certainly received various things.
“I’m sorry, but this is as far I can help. Afterwards, please contact me only when you have saved Flora.”
“No, you were a big help. Um… thank you, Claudia.”
When Julis honestly expressed words of gratitude, Claudia kindly returned a smile.
“ーWell then, we will go first. Time is precious.”
“That’s right.”
Saya and Kirin made eye contact and stood up.
At such two girls, Claudia recalled something and said.
“Ah, it would be better if you could put even something like disguise when going the redevelopment area. I have heard that the GrimalkinBlack Cat Institute selects only the elites, so they will probably not deploy surveillance here and there; but you should be extremely cautious. Well, there will no be problem if you are not found out at first glance. I think it should be enough even if you put on a hat.”
“…Roger.”
To the two girls who answered so and were about to leave the waiting room, this time Julis ー called out to them after a moment of hesitation.
“Please wait. Honestly, it’s really a relief that your helping, But you are…”
“ーJulis[8].”
Saya said, interrupting her. “It is a natural thing to lend power to a friend in trouble. So don’t worry about it.”
“Yes, I think the same thing.” Kirin seconded.
Julis opened her eyes wide to these words of the two girls… she immediately floated a wry smile and greatly nodded.
“I see… that’s right. Saya, Kirin[9] ー I leave it to you.”
After a match in which they made so many efforts, their bodies should be tattered.
Nonetheless, Saya responded to it with a refreshed face.
“…Yeah, leave it to us.”
- ψ -
- ψ -
Chapter 3 – The Second Semifinal Match
“Hmm……”
What first came into view was her shadow, cast by the light onto the floor.
As she absentmindedly raised her head, she noticed lamp-like lights put here and there in the dimly lit room. It seemed certain that it was indoors and was quite wide. Although both the floor and wall’s building materials were exposed, it did not seem that the building was too old.
“ーDon’t make noise.”
To that dark, cold voice which resounded from the bottom of the earth, Flora felt a shiver as if a lump of ice had been pushed against her back.
An inhuman, cold voice unlike any she had heard until now.
When she reflexively curled herself up, she noticed, for the first time, her hands and feet were bound. A gag had been forced into her mouth and she was sitting with her back leaned against the wall.
When she helplessly moved only her head raised her gaze, she noticed a tall man standing in the shadow of a pillar a short distance away.
Pitch black clothes covered his whole body as if clinging to it, and his head was also completely covered except the skin around his eyes. At first glance, he was skinny and did not seem to carry anything like a weapon, but his atmosphere was so quiet that it could be called eerie; he showed no openings.
“Behave yourself there.”
After saying that, the man sank back into silence.
Even with just those words, there was a compelling and absolute sense of intimidation.
Flora could do nothing but attempt to understand the situation, even if only a little.
(Errr, if I remember correctly, when I was watching the semifinal match, I was called out to by someone…)
Although she could only recall up to there, she believed that voice was the same as this man's.
If so, did that mean this man had splendidly abducted a girl from the stands that were crammed with people?
She thought it was quite an audacious criminal act, but certainly, after carefully thinking about it, there would not be many people who would pay attention to others in all that excitement.
(Anyhow, it means… that this is a kidnapping, indeed.)
Flora was used to dealing with people who make their living through illegal means to some extent, but as expected, this was the first time she had been kidnapped. Even so, it was because of her composed personality that she could stay calm in this situation.
It was not likely for a ransom to be given for a child from a poor orphanage, so she did not think profit was the goal of the kidnapping.
If Flora herself was the target, it might be another issue. However, judging from the man’s indifferent attitude, it could not be that either.
That said, she would not be chosen accidentally. After all, though still a child, Flora was of the Starpulse Generation. If anyone was alright, there would have been no need to specially choose a high risk target.
(In that case, does this have something to do with the princess after all...?)
If Flora herself was not the goal, then the only remaining possibility was a person related to her.
In other words, he would use Flora to make a demand — was the most likely of all the possibilities.
As Flora came up with that surmise, she quietly stole a glance of the man.
After coming all this way, it was illogical to be a hindrance to Julis, for whom she came to cheer on.
(I have to look for an opening and escape, or if I could somehow contact the princess…)
Immediately after Flora thought that and tried to secretly move her bodyー
“Ugh!?”
Flora’s head was suddenly grabbed from behind and was pushed to the floor with a tremendous force.
At the same time, something cold and sharp was pressed against the nape of her neck.
“I thought that I told to behave yourself…”
The man had not moved even one step from the shadow of the pillar.
Was there any other comrade with him?
No, before that, there should have been a wall immediately behind Flora’s back.
At that moment, Flora finally noticed a rhythm of Mana.
(A Dante……!)
“ーThere won’t be a next time.”
At the moment the man said that, the thing which had held Flora down with disappeared.
Flora, still lying on the floor, breathed a sigh of relief.
Though it was frustrating, it was not an opponent whom she could possibly outwit. It looked like the only thing she could do was stay put.
At least, for now.
『"Well, well, everyone, sorry to have kept you waiting! Finally, there are only two matches remaining in this Phoenix! Only this, the second semifinal match, and tomorrow’s final are remaining! Will it be Seidokan, which has won its way up to here, that will confront Allekant for the championship, or will it be Garrardsworth?"』
While ignoring the announcement of the announcer, Yanase, who was excited, Julis walked to the center of the stage with a gloomy expression.
“…Whew, it’s the match at last, huh.”
“I felt, somewhat, like it was quite a long time…”
Ayato and Julis, who saw off Saya and company, returned to their waiting room and stood by. The time spent there was neared torturous as their impatience grew little by little.
“I intended to get used to the powerlessness of not being able to do anything, but… it’s no use, it won’t be so easy this time, either, I guess.”
After saying that, Julis laughed at herself.
“Anyway, we have to believe in Saya and Kirin-chan and should concentrate on the match.”
“Yeah… I understand.”
As Julis slightly shook her head as if enlivening her mood, she looked towards the two people who came out from the entrance gate in the opposite side.
The two young men dressed in the uniform of St. Garrardsworth Academy ー no, one of them could be said to be still a young boy. He was either the same age as Kirin or slightly older than her. His childlike innocence had not yet faded from his lovely features and fluffy blond hair.
Elliot Forster, the rank #12 of Garrardsworth. He was a young genius with the nickname of Claimh SolaisBright Sword. Since duels were severely limited in Garrardsworth, it was said that it was difficult to climb up the ranks compared to the other academies. It was extremely exceptional that a middle school student became a Top Twelve in such an environment.
And the young man with bald head who firmly stood beside him was Doroteo Remus, also known as the BrightwenArmored Magician. Rank #11. In contrast to Elliot, he was a stalwart veteran and his age was also over 20 years old. This should be his third Festa participation.
She looked over the match data of the two men, but as expected, when in front of them like this, she could understand their abilities quite well. Either of them alone was a fairly formidable.
“I really want to end the match quickly and go looking for Flora, but that won’t be so easy if we have the True Knights of Garrardsworth as opponents. They aren’t people against whom we can win while being preoccupied with another matter.”
Said Julis, as she turned her gaze towards Ayato and shrugged her shoulders.
“To make matters worse, it came at a time when you can’t use Ser-Versta.”
“Well, I will somehow manage.”
Replied Ayato, while he activated a blade type Lux.
“Hou, aren’t you reliable? Then, I will leave Elliot Forster to you. I’ll deal with Doroteo Remus.”
“Roger.”
As Ayato nodded, Julis turned towards him and said.
“ーIf the people who kidnapped Flora are watching, then we will show them, Fair and square, with all of our might.”
“Phoenix, semifinal second match, battle start!”
After the school badges made that declaration Ayato instantly released his seal.
Up to now, it was an image of tearing off chains, but it was different now. He just had to imagine inserting a key in the lock and collect the chains together in his head. It was something like a switch. With that alone, power overflowed.
“Bloom proudly ー AmaryllisSix-Petal Burst Firebloom!”
At that same moment, the Mana around Julis condensed to one point and heat swirled around it.
The huge fireballs rushed from her hand, sizzling as they approached Doroteo ー A direct hit.
As the flames explosively expanded, a scorching flower with six petals opened its bud.
ーHowever.
“Hahaha! A greeting all of a sudden, eh. Petalblaze Witch.”
Responding in a muffled voice, a black silhouette slowly appeared, floating in the center of that flame flower.
The figure of a knight clad in western-style plate armor appeared as if shaking off the flames.
Of course, it was not just ordinary armor. It would be impossible to defend against Julis’ flames otherwise.
“That’s a fairly fast change of clothes. I guess that the nickname of BrightwenArmored Magician isn’t just for show.”
Said Julis, while she activated Aspera Spina and took a stance. It was apparently within her range of expectations that he would successfully defend against her attack.
The BrightwenArmored Magician.
As the name suggested, Doroteo’s ability created an armor which boasted of a high defense power. That armor, which covered his whole body, was solid and could repel any ordinary attacks.
That said, judging only from defense power, it did not seem to be as strong as Ardi’s defensive barrier; and armor getting destroyed by meteor arts was not rare, either.
The only troublesome thing was, the armor is the product of an ability, it would be immediately restored even if broken, and returned to its original form. In addition, since the school badge was attached to the chest of the uniform, there would be no meaning to attack, except if it was an attack which reached even the inside the armor (In the Stella Carta, if the school badge was exposed at a predetermined position at the time that the match start was announced, it was admitted that one could protect it by his ability afterwards).
And, another thingー
“Well then, next is my turn, I guess.”
Doroteo thrust out his left hand. In front of him countless small thin plates appeared and combined one after another.
They built up a layer before one’s eyes; soon a huge warhorse clad in armor ー no, a horse-shaped piece of armor appeared there. The horse trembled as if alive, and Doroteo, whose whole body was covered in armor, mounted it with experienced hands. After that, Doroteo activated his Lux; a very long equestrian spear manifested.
His appearance was that of a knight, out of an old story.
“Hou, you’re going all out from the start.” Julis noted.
“It’s natural since I’m up against the Petalblaze Witch.”
While replying, equestrian spear in hand, Doroteo lightly kicked the horse’s belly. The horse, directed at Julis, and ran off at a fierce speed. Even though its movements were not comparable to that of a living horse, it was much faster than the real thing.
“Let’s go, Petalblaze Witch!” Doroteo, equestrian spear in his right hand, fiercely attacked Julis perfectly as a horse and rider unit.
“Julis…!” Ayato unintentionally raised his voice…
“ーYour opponent is me, right?” Elliot declared.
Ayato, had a sharp sword slash struck out to his side.
“!”
He reflexively moved his body and retreated to a safer distance.
Elliot, who took up a half-body posture in the Garrardsworth style, floated a light smile. The Lux, which was grasped in his hand, was a one-handed claymore[10].
“Amagiri Ayato-san. I have been looking forward to fighting against you. Don’t keep me waiting too long.”
“…Sorry for that.”
Elliot’s tone was calm; but even though the sword slash which was released made Ayato take a stance, it was fraught with enough bloodlust.
“By the way, what happened to Ser-Versta? Don’t tell me you’re stingy to pay[11].”
“Unfortunately, I can’t use it now due to some circumstances. It isn’t as if I underestimate you, so please don’t misunderstand.”
“Hmm… circumstances, eh. Well, it’s fine.”
Though Elliot seemed to be somewhat dissatisfied, a strong light shone in his eyes as he immediately pulled himself together.
“That sword skill which our president praised highly, show me how strong it is…!”
The next moment, a thrust was let out; Ayato followed the approaching strike with his eyes.
“Kuh…!”
It was fast. It came at a speed which was not inferior, even, to Kirin’s.
ーBut, it was slightly light.
As Ayato barely flipped the point of the sword, he brandished his sword as if shifting his bodyー
“ー!?”
Just before he swung downward, he noticed it.
He promptly leaped back as a sword strike grazed his flank.
If Ayato’s reaction was late, even a little, Elliot’s sword would have definitely gouged out his flank.
It was a counter of that much perfect timing.
“Huh? So it was dodged… Now that’s odd.”
Elliot muttered wonderingly.
“That just now, I haven’t showed it yet in this tournament.”
Certainly, within Elliot’s data, there was no such situation where he used a counter like he did now.
Actually, Ayato’s impression of Elliot was that his body was soft; even still, he was a genius fencer of versatile style which incorporates diversified attacks. Attacks not bound by any style while still conforming to basics.
It looked like he had to revise that opinion.
“I see… So you’re good at counterattacking (counter are your forte). I didn’t think that you would launch a counter from that posture.”
In other words, the first blow was probably a decoy.
“Well, it’s certainly so.”
While once again returning to his stance, Elliot pouted; he seemed slightly dissatisfied.
“Counter isn’t my only weapon after all…!”
While saying that, Elliot shortened the distance between them.
A lower stance where the tip of the sword skimmed the ground ー it suddenly jumped up, drawing an arc to evade Ayato’s sword, which now was positioned to defend.
“Oops…!”
Sword slashes which form an arc by turning the wrist, and thrust techniques with extension were peculiarities of the one-handed fencing of the Garrardsworth style. It was the polar opposite of the Amagiri Bright Dragon Style fencing which built up weight and sharpness by conveying the movement of the whole body. Although it was inferior in power to Amagiri Bright Dragon Style by just that much, each blow was quick.
Although he saw an opportunity and tried to counterattack while somehow eluding Elliot’s fierce attacks head-on, a sharper counter attacked him at that moment. There was nothing more troublesome than this.
“As expected, I’m not surprised if I say so myself…!”
When the Luxes violently clashed, peculiar sparks scattered, and the weapons continuously resounded from each strike.
Not only sword techniques, but also combinations of attacks, maintaining distance, instant tactics, however you look at them, there was no room to doubt Elliot’s wisdom. Above all else, his timing to make a counter was an innate disposition.
If it was only talent, he might be equal to Kirin.
“However, as expected, your sword ー is still light.”
Not in power, but in resolution.
As Ayato forcibly shortened the distance and repelled Elliot’s sword, he let out a thrust aiming at the school badge on his chest.
“Fufufu! You’re good!”
Elliot, as if waiting for it, twisted his body, readjusted his stance, and released a thrust timed to Ayato’s thrust. At the same time, he twisted his wrist, circling Ayato’s sword, as if to entrap it.
ーBut.
“Wha…!?”
Before that, Ayato had pulled back the arm which he had stretched out.
In that moment, he raised the point of his sword and knocked up Elliot’s sword.
“Amagiri Bright Dragon Style Sword Intermediate Technique ー "Twin Ghost Bee"”
After weaving his way through the opening which was made, Ayato’s thrust flashed again.
“Elliot Forster, badge broken.”
The school badge on his chest was destroyed; Elliot widened his eyes with an aghast expression.
“N-No way…”
To Elliot, who feebly sank to the ground, Ayato secretly smiled wryly.
This young boy would probably become a terrifying swordsman in several years.
That said, it would depend on how much he could put into his swordsmanship.
“Now, then…”
Ayato took a small breath and turned his gaze towards Julis.
And, the fight over there was also just about to conclude.
“Let’s go, Petalblaze Witch!”
“Kuh…!”
Julis, while rolling over, just barely evaded the blow from Doroteo, who charged in while riding the horse. If she was hit by the point of the equestrian spear, which was sharp enough to tear through the wind, as they passed by each other, it would probably be the end for her.
(It’s much faster than I imagined…! Besides, what power…!)
Julis immediately stood up, and repositioning Aspera Spina as she did.
Doroteo had a good lance charge, and Julis should have also seen some video images of his matches, butー
“When actually confronting it, I didn’t think it would be so terrifying…”
The attack, in itself, was simple.
However, that’s why dealing with it was difficult.
“…As expected, there’s no other way but to hold him down with power. Huh.”
Doroteo, who charged through, made a U-turn. Once again, he turned the horse towards Julis.
Julis unintentionally felt admiration for his fluid movements.
The image serving as the basis controlled everything about the Ability of Strega and Dante.
As for this attack, when thinking logically, there was no need to expressly create a horse. It just took time; he should be able to create plenty of simpler things.
But, depending on how well one can build that image within oneself, the precision greatly fluctuated. For Doroteo, this was probably the most suitable form.
“Ooooooooh!” Doroteo raised a roar and charged again.
“ーBloom proudly, PrimroseDancing nine-spirering-flower!”
As Julis instantly activated her ability, she threw all nine fireballs at Doroteo who was coming from the front.
But, even when hit directly, Doroteo paid it no mind it and his momentum did not decrease at all. Although the parts of the armor that were directly hit were slightly destroyed, they restored instantly.
“Haaah!”
“ー!”
The equestrian spear went through the air beside Julis, who had evaded it.
It was more accurate than a while ago. He had read Julis’ movement and adjusted his tactics accordingly.
(As this rate, I will be done for…)
Julis imagined that, floated a wry smile and shivered.
Of course, she did not intend to wait for it quietly.
“Come out ー LoropetalumRed Wall of Shearing Flame Petals!”
Julis swung Aspera Spina once; she activated one at a time the setting type abilities which had been set.
She used the wall of flames that she had used before when she fought against the pair of Word Dragon. However instead of a continuous wall this time, it blew up as several pieces that stood one in front of each other.
The lance charge, on top of its excellent quality, need a certain run-up distance to display it’s real power. If he was to make a detour to evade such an obstacle, he would inevitably have to sacrifice the speed and power.
However, Doroteo completely crushed Julis’ expectation.
“Oooooooooooooooh!”
“Impossible!?”
Of all things, Doroteo charged head on through the wall of flames.
The horse which jumped high appeared as it broke through the wall of flames, and Doroteo on horseback set up the spear.
“Bloom proudly ー Great Crimson Heart Blazing Shield (Anthurium)!”
Julis manifested a shield of flames, but probably because it was instantaneous, the concentration of prana was incomplete, and she could not gather up Mana. Even then it barely took a shape and Doroteo’s equestrian spear easily smashed it.
“Guh!”
Collected Mana scattered and Julis’ body was blown off in that impact.
Fortunately thanks to that, she avoided being skewered (becoming a human shish-kabob); but while Julis raised her body, Doroteo had already prepared for the fourth charge.
He probably intended to settle the match soon. She could tell it with the atmosphere which became tense.
“…All right, just what I want. Bloom proudly ー LongiflorumWhite Firebloom of the Sharp Spear!”
After Julis stood up, she cancelled the LoropetalumRed Wall of Shearing Flame Petals and manifested the spear of flames.
“Oooooooooooooooooooooooh!”
Raising a conspicuously big roar, Doroteo charged.
Even the spear of flames shot by Julis, which collided with Doroteo’s equestrian spear, still did not stop Doroteo.
While receiving a direct hit on his chest, which he ignored, he let out a thrust using his whole body, butー
“…!”
It just slightly grazed the edge of Julis’ clothes and did not hit her body.
“Hmm… It looked like my spear have reached first apparently.”
As Julis smiled as she was relieved, she slowly turned around.
There Doroteo, who had charged by Julis’ side, fell off of the horse’s back.
『"O-Oooh! What on earth happened? Player Remus fell down! Most of the attacks of the Riessfeld player did not seem to be effective, but…"』
While listening to the voice of live reporter, who sounded slightly perplexed, Julis walked up to Doroteo.
As he could no longer maintain his ability, the armor and horse disintegrated.
“Geez, you’re an unreasonable man.”
As Julis spoke so to him, Doroteo, who looked upward, spat out a rough breath and floated a smile on his face which had become bright red.
“…I wanted to settle the match quickly. After all, I had no chance of winning even if it was drawn out anyway.”
Right. No matter how much Doroteo defended himself from Julis’ flames with his armor, he could not defend against its heat. If he was struck by that much flame, the inside of the armor must have been a high temperature, so high that he could no longer endure.
That was Julis’ aim from the beginning, and Doroteo knew her aim.
It was precisely because he knew it that he wanted to settle the match before that.
“Even if you wanted to end it quickly, plunging into the wall of flames was going too far. If not for that, you would have held on a little longer.”
“…I simply lost the bet. It can’t be helped.”
As Doroteo replied with a somewhat refreshed expression, he pointed at his chest.
“Now, do it quickly.”
Julis nodded and broke his school badge with Aspera Spina.
“Doroteo Remus, badge broken.”
There was dissonance in their abilities and this time, by chance, it was advantageous to Julis. That said, victory was still a victory.
As Julis took a small breath, she turned her gaze towards Ayato.
And, the fight on his side had also just reached the conclusion.
“Winner, Amagiri Ayato & Julis-Alexia van Riessfeld!”
The mechanical voice which resounded in the hall was drowned out by the loud cheers of the spectators.
After exchanging a small smile to each other, Ayato and Julis, however, immediately left the stage with serious expressions.
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