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Volume 5 Part 2
Chapter 4 – Efforts
The redevelopment area was the place which historically became the stage of the . A big incident unparalleled in all of Asterisk history. At that time, the whole area was completely blockaded; the Star Hunter Guards Captain, Helga Lindvall, who was active during the incident, was the one who lowered the curtain. Regretfully, the damage was serious and the formation of the restoration budget progressed slowly after the incident was resolved and liabilities investigated. In the meantime, the delinquent students who centered on Le Wolfe Black Institute occupied the area as their headquarters. When it came to repeat skirmishes with the Hunter Guards, the dropout students of each academy and criminals outside the city also began to gather. Before long, it became the fine underworld that it is today.
However, it was not as if the whole area of the redevelopment area was a hotbed of criminals; The RotlichtEntertainment district, which was located on the outer edge of the district, was relatively calm and safe, and as long if one was not to enter into a slum, they would not be in too much danger.
In addition, some buildings were at risk of collapse so nobody approached them; such abandoned buildings were scattered all over the place.
Claudia believed that the criminal was probably using one such abandoned building as a hideout.
“It looks like it isn’t here, either…”
Kirin muttered with a grim face, while looking at a map displayed in the space window.
Red dots were blinking here and there on the map, and all those dots seemed to represent the ramshackle abandoned buildings. It was the data which had been sent by Claudia; it seemed there were times when she had to find this kind of abandoned building before and the ones who misappropriated them.
Of course, there was no doubt that the map helped, but there were still too many for just the two of them to search. Moreover, Le Wolfe possessed the only detailed data of the redevelopment area and that did not seem to be all; Saya had no sense of direction, therefore they could not search separately.
That said, if the criminal who kidnapped Flora was really a secret agent of Le Wolfe, facing him alone would be dangerous, so this might be for the better.
“…Anyway, we can do nothing but eliminate them one by one.”
Although Saya, who walked beside Kirin, had her usual expression, impatience could be faintly felt in her words.
“You’re right. Well then the next is… Uwah!”
While starting to walk after nodding to Saya’s words, an acute pain ran through Kirin’s right leg.
It was the part she injured during the battle against Ardi.
“…Overdoing is strictly prohibited.”
“N, No…! This much is nothing after all!”
Though she had unintentionally crouched down, Kirin made a forced smile and stood up at once.
Part of it was her injury, but as expected, after going through such a fierce battle, her body did not move as she wanted. She did not have enough Prana, and if anything, she wanted to avoid fighting as much as possible. Although Saya did not show it on her face, it was probably the same for her as well.
That said, if two women walked in the redevelopment area, there were guys who would pick a fight with them. Because there were not too many persistent fellows up until now, they somehow managed but the present time was still 6:00 p.m. and they did not know what would happen after the night fell.
If they knew that their opponents were Sasamiya Saya and Toudou Kirin of Seidokan, they would probably not do something like picking a fight with them so readily ー after all, they were in the top four of this Phoenix ー but as Claudia suggested, both girls put on hats to hide their eyes and changed into plain clothes to avoid standing out as much as possible. Unless one were to take a closer look, they would not be able to tell who they were.
“Hmm… It’s Ayato.”
There, Saya received a call on her portable terminal.
『"Saya, Kirin-chan, how is your situation?"』
“…Sorry. There are still no leads.”
『"I see… Yes, understood. But, don’t overdo it, okay? Kirin-chan’s leg is in a pretty bad state, too"』
“I-It isn’t true…! I’m all right!”
To Ayato’s comment that made it seem as if he was watching the present situation, Kirin hurriedly shook her head.
Even though she believed he was wrong about the situation, she was happy that Ayato was worried about her.
“By the way, if you are contacting us like this… it means that your match is already over?”
『"Yeah, because of your help, we are going to the final. Thank you."』
At those words, Saya and Kirin looked at each other and smiled.
『"We will also prepare to depart immediately , so can you send us the data?"』
“Understood.”
She sent the map data with marks on the parts where they had checked.
“Senpais, you have the final match tomorrow, so please don’t overdo it too much.”
『"Hahaha, it’s all right. Well then, later again."』
Immediately after replying, he cut the communication.
With Ayato and Julis joining in, it would become a lot easier. However, finding Flora within the time would still be quite difficult. There were still many places they had yet to search.
“…Let’s go, Kirin.”
“Yes.”
Catching to Saya, who started to walk, Kirin greatly nodded.
Anyway, it would be no use to over think it. As Saya said just now, they could do nothing but steadily eliminate the likely places.
“But, I’m glad that the Senpais safely won and advanced to the final.”
“It’s only natural if it’s Ayato.”
In Saya’s response, a slight proudness could be detected.
“Next is the final at last, huh…”
“However, I think that even for Ayato, it will be tough to win against those guys without Ser-Versta.”
“…You’re right.”
Kirin and Saya knew more than anyone else the strength of the opponents Ayato and Julis would fight in the finals. What’s more, with their rapid learning speed, Ardi and Rimsi, who would show up in the final, would probably become much tougher than at the semifinal.
“…”
Then, Saya’s feet suddenly stopped.
“Saya-san…?”
When she turned around, Saya looked down as she stood still.
“Kirin.”
And in a small, trembling voice, called Kirin’s nameー
“ーIt’s frustrating, eh.”
Said Saya, finishing her statement.
Just then, the frustration which Kirin was also confining in her chest burned up.
“…Yes.”
While clenching her fists, her voice was shaking just like Saya’s, and she managed only that short answer.
Just like that, the two girls were standing motionless and silent.
Before too much time had passed Saya rubbed her eyes, raised her head and said,
“Let's go. Right now, there are still things we can do.”
As Kirin nodded while chewing her lips, she followed after Saya who began to run.
“ーIt looks like there is still no progress.”
“Yes, I have heard it.”
To Ayato’s comment, Julis, who was leaned against the wall of the waiting room, curtly answered.
After the semifinal, Ayato returned to the waiting room and contacted Saya first, but as he expected, it looked like they haven't yet found anything that could be a clue.
By the way, they had skipped the winner interview as usual. They had no time for that; they were bound to ask questions about Ser-Versta anyway. They could not imprudently answer or respond to that, since they couldn't think of a good excuse, either.
“Well, in that case, it can’t be helped. We should head out as well.”
Said Julis who could no longer contain herself (sit still).
“You’re right…”
Ayato checked the time.
Since tomorrow’s final was around noon, Ayato and Julis only had a little less than 18 hours remaining. Because they were not allowed to withdraw, at least Ayato and Julis must, by any means possible, come back by that time.
No, after considering the various examinations before the match, if they did not come back to the hall at least a few hours before, they would not have enough time. For that reason, they had a little bit less time remaining.
A sound of a light knock suddenly resounded.
“Hi. Congratulations on your qualification to the final… eh?”
Eishiro who entered through an alternate entrance looked at Ayato’s and Julis’ faces with surprise.
“What? Isn’t that quite a somber mood for the people who were able to advance to the finals safely?
“E-Errr… There are some circumstances, you see.”
Although Ayato spoke ambiguously, Eishiro seemed to have guessed the situation to some extent with that alone.
“Hmm… Well, I won’t really force you to tell me, but if I can be a help to you, I will cooperate.”
At these words, Ayato and Julis looked at each other.
They did not want to involve more people who weren’t involved, but it was true that they wanted help.
Though Julis seemed to hesitate a little, she gave a small nod before long.
“Yabuki, before that, I would like to confirm, but…”
“I know. I won’t make an article without permission.”
Eishiro replied while and slowly waved his hands.
“So, what happened?”
“Actuallyー”
As Ayato concisely explained the situation, Eishiro contemplated with a serious expression.
It was the first time that he saw Eishiro with an expression like that.
“I see… As the president guessed, there’s no doubt that Dirk Eberwein is the mastermind.”
“Do you know a lot about the GrimalkinBlack Cat Institute?”
At that question, Eishiro slowly shook his head.
“No. About that, even among the Espionage Organizations of each academy, their confidentiality is the highest. For example, speaking of the most extreme, the Nine Offspring of the Dragon of World Dragon is first, and it is said that Benetnash of Queen Veil has gathered the experts of information control. However conversely speaking, it means that such a reputation is actually known well enough for it to be ranked at least, right? There is no such information about the GrimalkinBlack Cat Institute.”
Since the well-informed Eishiro went as far as to say that about it, it was probably quite something.
“That being the case, if possible, they are people whom I don’t want to get involved with… But, Circumstances are circumstances; well, it can’t be helped. I’m well-informed about the redevelopment area; if it’s just searching for the place where that child is, then I will help you.”
“Of course, that’ll be enough.”
“Yes, if you find even the place, you should just leave the fighting to us. I would rather have you uninvolved in the fight.”
Added Julis with a dark smile.
In that smile was the force which could truly turn a criminal into charcoal.
“I’m thankful for that… is what I would like to say, but for a frail ordinary student like me, I just want a little more insurance.”
As Eishiro muttered so, he took out his portable terminal and began to search something.
“Um, that person’s number is… Eh? I remember having registered it…”
“I don’t understand somehow, but time is precious now. If it is likely to take time, we will go ahead.”
Even with Julis urging him like that, Eishiro shrugged his shoulders as he smiled wryly.
“All right. Well, I’ll see what I can do on my side, but don’t expect too much.”
Ayato who was watching that exchange suddenly came up with an idea.
“ーI see. Julis, I also want to contact another line just a little.”
“Another line, you say?”
Julis suspiciously frowned.
After immediately understanding his intentions, she put a hand on her waist and displayed a complicated expression.
“I don’t mind, but… I think that asking will be useless.”
“I think that it will be tough, but we may get information which could end up being a hint. For the time being, I will ask to see what they would say.”
After replying, Ayato took out his portable terminal like Eishiro did.
The appointed meeting place was a gloomy coffee shop in the outskirts of the commercial area.
As he sat on a back seat alongside a wall as they were told, a voice low of a woman calmly sounded from behind.
“ーSo, you came. Ah, don’t turn around.”
In compliance to the owner of the voice ー Irene Urzaiz, he expressed his thanks while continuing to face forward.
“Understood… But it would have been fine even if you didn’t come all the way here.”
“Are you a fool? We can’t possibly talk about such a thing via electronic communications. Think about my position, as well, geez.”
She said with an astonished voice.
“S-Sorry.”
“Well, it’s fine. So, I will say from the start. You won’t hear anything from me.”
“…I see.”
Though regrettable, it was the answer Ayato expected to some extent.
He thought that if it was Irene, who was well informed about Le Wolfe’s circumstances, she might know something about this matter, but the fact that Irene was under Dirk’s control even now had not changed. He was aware that she was not in position to cooperate at a moment’s notice.
“Don’t misunderstand. It isn’t as if I was forbidden to speak by that bastard Dirk. It’s rather the opposite.”
“The opposite…?”
“First of all, this matter is certainly Dirk’s doing. It’s probably right to also assume that the GrimalkinBlack Cat Institute is involved. But such a thing, even you realized immediately, right? Then, after following that train of thought, it’s likely to think that you will contact me, who am your only go-between at Le Wolfe. Leaving aside the fact of whether or not I will cooperate, that is.”
Since that was true, Ayato gave a small nod.
“Did you really think that, that didn’t already come to that conclusion?”
“Ah…”
Now that she mentioned it, it was certainly so.
There was no way that that young man who excelled at schemes and strategy would not be able to realize such a simple thing.
“Nevertheless, I didn’t receive any notification. In other words, that guy knows that the amount of information I hold would be of no use.”
Irene continued with a somewhat frustrated tone.
“In the first place, as I said before, we, Dirk’s protégés, and the GrimalkinBlack Cat Institute are completely different organizations. For my part, I also possess information about the ‘cats’ at least to some extent, but even that isn’t something reliable.”
“…”
There was a strong persuasive power in Irene’s words.
Because Irene was in close contact with Dirk, she probably knew his ability well.
In the end, it meant there was no other method except for searching on foot.
Just to have understood it, it could be considered as better than nothing.
“Understood. Thank you, you really helped us.”
“…Wait, Amagiri.”
Irene stopped Ayato who was about to leave his seat.
“It’s true that I have no information. But, if you’re all right with a guess, I can tell it.”
“A guess?”
“It’s to the bitter end just a guess. There is no evidence. Still, is it all right?”
“Of course.”
Right now, they wanted a clue even if it was not a big one.
“You have narrowed down to the abandoned buildings of the redevelopment area and were searching there, right?”
“Ah, yes. We are searching around the places which Claudia picked up… What about it?”
“If you think normally about it, it’s probably correct. We also use those places for missions, and actually, I’ve also heard that the ‘cats’ use it for hideout. But ー I thought that it was a delicate place when it comes to kidnapping.”
“What do you mean?”
As Irene breathed a big sigh, she continued her words.
“Even when they use a building there as their base, they normally move out in a short time. It isn’t a place they can use for a long time.”
“Ah, because there is danger of collapse or something like that?”
Certainly, it would not feel good to be all the time in an abandoned building which could collapse at any time.
“If it was only for that, I think they would just have to reinforce it. The first reason is the Hunter Guards.”
Irene snorted in a low sound with her back.
“Those guys aren’t idiots. Since they know that place has become the hangout of criminals, they periodically patrol. Of course, it isn’t as if they tightly tour the whole area, but there are a lot of people among them with detection ability. That place isn’t fit for a crime like kidnapping where one has to hide himself in the same place for a certain period of time.”
Come to think of it, he had heard that since Dante and Strega with detection ability were required when forming a team in police organization and military, and that they were treated quite well.
“It isn’t as if there is no method to deceive detection abilities, but it will require time and effort. Since it’s basic for ‘cat’ to execute their missions in solo, whether or not they will be careful up to there, I don’t know…”
“In other words, you think that it isn’t an abandoned building that the criminal lies hidden in.”
“ーI just say that there is also that possibility.”
Irene had carefully chosen her words.
“Then, in case you’re right… Where on earth would they hide?”
“I don’t know. However, for you the most troublesome area is probably the RotlichtEntertainment district.”
The RotlichtEntertainment district.
That place which was located in outer edge part of the redevelopment area seemed to be a place which had some interesting activities[12]. Though that said, he had only heard it from others and had not yet set foot there.
“If it's the abandoned buildings, you would be able to go around searching as you please, but in the RotlichtEntertainment district, the shops crowd together regardless of legal or illegal. You guys can’t willfully break in there, can you?”
“That’s right… but in that case, that means there is another conspirator who is sheltering them, right? But didn’t you say a while ago, the ‘cats’ basically move alone…?”
“Of course, for those guys, the one thing they mustn’t do is let the connection to the academy be revealed. They definitely wouldn’t use Le Wolfe’s name or Dirk’s intermediary. However, as long as money is paid, they would be quite willing to do so. Otherwise ー there’s also the option of brute force.”
“I see…”
“But… even so if you ask me which it is, it’s correct that using a suitable abandoned building is rather safe. However it is, in the end, a guess after all.”
Even so, what Irene said makes sense.
Though they didn't have enough help, the RotlichtEntertainment district should also be put in the search range.
“Thank you. I will take what you say into consideration.”
As Ayato said so, this time for sure he left his seat.
“Do your best. And one more thingー”
At the moment she went past Ayato, Irene suddenly placed something on the table.
“That’s a present from Priscilla.”
After receiving the small packet, Ayato left the shop.
When he checked the contents after walking for a while, he found a light meal in which sandwiched cheese, dry-cured ham, vegetables and the like was contained.
“This is helpful…”
Since he would probably not have time to leisurely take a meal from now on, he was frankly thankful for this present.
He would have to thank Priscilla for it later.
“Well for the time being, I should discuss this with Julis…”
If they also had to take the possibility of RotlichtEntertainment district in consideration, it might be necessary to reconsider the distribution of people.
Ayato took out his portable terminal and called Julis’ number.
“By the way, Master, although I’m really grateful; I would, by all means, like to ask something ー is that all right?”
Allekant Academy, Ernesta’s laboratory; in the basement of the academy's research building.
While a machine of automatic control moved around restlessly, Ardi who was laid in the center talked with a somewhat serious tone.
“Hmm? It’s really rare for you to ask something, Ardi.”
Ernesta who was tapping away on multiple optical keyboards in the control room, which was separated by reinforced hard glass, responded while continuing to type.
“Though I say that, I have my hands full with Rimsi now, so wait just a little.”
Rimsi was lying down next to Ardi, and Ernesta was fully focused on her repair for the moment. After all compared to Ardi, Rimsi’s damage was much more considerable. Especially since her left arm was almost in a totally destroyed state, and it had to be completely replaced.
Since Ruinsharif itself was Camilla’s charge, she was left with its repair; but Camilla should also be busy with the adjustment of spare parts, sometime around now, in her laboratory.
As for Ardi, the damage was by no means negligible. At first glance, one thought that there was only the scratch on the outer layer armor, but upon closer inspection, one understood that the scratch was much deeper than they had thought.
The two’s armor was a special steel that was one of the new high-tech materials, which the SonnetDark Lady Faction collected. It was the essence of the Meteoric Engineering. Originally, one should not even be able to scratch it with just a Nihontou, but that showed how truly frightening Toudou Kirin’s ability was.
“I must finish your repairs by tomorrow’s finals. As expected even I will have to pull an all-nighter tonight.”
“No, no, I do not mean to cause Master trouble. I was wondering whether it would be possible for you to leave this sword cut carved on my face.”
At these words, Ernesta’s hands stopped.
“Provided that the internal repairs are completed, I don’t really mind…”
The sword cut on the head had damaged some sensors, but since it would be finished with component replacements only, the repair was relatively easy.
“But, I will have you let me put reinforcement inside.”
“Very well then.”
Ardi nodded in satisfaction.
“So, why did you expressly think of wanting to leave the scratch?”
“ーIt is as proof of this fight, of course.”
“Hou, meaning it’s a decoration of victory?”
“Hmm, no, it is not such an outrageous thing…”
After pondering a little, Ardi slowly continued.
“I learned various things through this battle. What I saw in that match exposed my imperfection, this was not simple learning of data, but what humans calls ー right, growth! I take pride in the fact that I obtained a definite growth! I want to leave a proof of that!”
“…Wonderful.”
Ernesta reflexively muttered.
One sought perfection because of his imperfection. But there is no perfect existence in this world. Therefore, one could never stop evolving.
Ardi and Rimsi were, in the end, only experimental types, but it might be said that Ernesta had already approached the complete form of the autonomous type puppets which was, ultimately, her ideal.
“Then Master, I also have one request.”
Rimsi who was lying down silently until then said in a calm voice.
“Oh, even Rimsi! Fine, fine, you can say anything. Mother[13] is in a good mood now, so I will listen to you as much as possible.”
“Then, though presumptuous, I shall speak. On the occasion of the limit control transfer to Ardi, I have no problem with the separation of equipment, but…”
“Yes. And then, and then?”
“You can reduce the amount the amount of external armor separation a little more, but it would help even if you could only partially adjust it. ーSince it’s embarrassing.”
Rimsi indifferently said with her usual cold expression which did not changed at all.
But, when looking closely, a color of shyness was slightly noticeable on her face.
Certainly, Rimsi’s appearance after she transferred all her external armor to Ardi, from a human’s perspective, was almost near stark nakedness.
However, since there was a technical problem with that, she could not fulfill Rimsi’s request immediately.
“Errr… I will take proper measures.”
“…Yes.”
It looked like the nuance was transmitted; Rimsi nodded as she resigned herself.
Unlike Ardi, Rimsi was a puppet made with a consciousness nearer to that of a human’s. Originally, it should have been the case even in terms of emotional expression, but as the experiment had turned out, that was richer in case of Ardi.
(As expected this is because of that thing…)
Still, asking for such a request should be regarded as good growth.
“…This also is thanks to Sasamiya Saya-chan and Toudou Kirin-chan.”
As expected, it seemed that fighting with formidable enemy is something which can make people grow.
Preferably, she also wanted it to be like that during the final, butー
“I wonder how it will be.”
Ernesta remembered the ill-humored face of the and deeply sighed.
Chapter 5 – A Chance Meeting
Compared to the entire redevelopment area, the RotlichtEntertainment district was not that big. It would be no more than around one-fifth of the its size.
However, the main street overflowed with people, and even if subtracting the fact that the Festa was currently being held, the activity there was by no means inferior to that of a first-class site in the commercial area.
Even so, the atmosphere and scenery were completely different.
A passage ran through the spaces between the rows of shops, and skywalks covered the sky. The pillars supporting them were scattered here and there, and order could not be found there at all. Of course, it was only here in Asterisk City that such disorder was permitted.
The shops; ranged from restaurants mainly involving the offering of alcoholic beverages, such as clubs and bars, to illegal stores, such as underground casinos and brothels, and the age-group of people coming and going seemed to be somewhat diverse. Adolescents, who appeared to be around the age of students were also hardly rare, but there was no one wearing a school badge. Since students were normally not allowed to take off their school badges when going outside the academy, assuming those same adolescents were students, it was a violation of the Stella Carta, even if only a small one.
Although the Hunter Guards also patrolled in the RotlichtEntertainment district, students did not seem to be targeted in the cases occuring small violations. It was said that the Hunter Guards were always understaffed, so there would be no end to it if they began to do so. Interactions with illegal stores were also the same, and unless it was exceptionally malignant, there was said to be the form of tacit approval. There was also an assumed connection between the RotlichtEntertainment district and the City Parliament around here, and it was referred to as one of the dark sides of Asterisk.
While muttering to himself, Ayato thought back to the information about the RotlichtEntertainment district which he had gotten from Eishiro.
After consulting Julis and company, and looking at it generally, he came to the conclusion of whether an abandoned building was the most likely as the criminal’s lair. That said, Irene’s guess was also persuasive and he was reluctant to discard it.
So, Ayato had to take charge of the search in the RotlichtEntertainment district for the time being, but ー it was more difficult than he thought.
After all, he did not even know how many shops there were, and he could not willfully break in like Irene said. If he stopped walking, a customer-puller[14] would immediately come, and he could not stop being forcibly brought to a shop more than once or twice. And it was pointless to sneak in secretly when it was overflowing with so many people; in the first place, there were too many shops.
He had tried indirectly asked a customer-puller about Flora, as well, but naturally, he did not get a useful answer.
Meanwhile, time mercilessly ticked away, and it was already late at night. Even so, the main street glowed with a dazzling shine and the hustle and bustle also seemed to be increasing more and more.
According to Eishiro, since the RotlichtEntertainment district during the daytime completely changed as there were very few people, normally, he should wait until that time to continue searching, but Ayato and company, unfortunately, had no time to do so.
“However ー it will take a little time.”
Certainly, in this town, as long as you piled up money, it was probably not too difficult to find people who could provide you a room without even asking the reason.
As Ayato put his thoughts in order, he went ahead to the back alley which entered from the main street.
Still, the abandoned buildings of the redevelopment area whose back alley, where the hustle and bustle of the main street could not be heard, was dead silent; the shops were not standing in a line, and lights which seemed to be from shops gradually stretched out beyond the faint streetlight.
Though unlike the main street, customer-pullers did not come out and there were no signboards either, when seeing the place where some people who seemed to be customers entered, they were probably doing business. Since the people from earlier seemed to be rich judging from their attire, there might possibly be a high class store membership system.
While slowly walking through that back alley, Ayato thought about something.
“If the criminal was really hiding himself in this RotlichtEntertainment district, it would beー”
“…Hey, you there.”
A voice from behind was suddenly was heard by Ayato.
When he looked back, three men with very sharp eyes were glaring at Ayato as if assessing him.
“Errr… what is it?”
The men gave off a dangerous aura, so it was hard to say it was a calm (friendly) atmosphere.
“It’s you, isn’t it? The bastard who for some reason is snooping around this area.”
“You don’t seem to be a dog of the Hunter Guards, but… Bring your mug here a little? We would like you to tell us in detail what you are doing here.”
The men seemed to be underlings of the Mafia managing this RotlichtEntertainment district. He intended to be careful as to not attract suspicion as much as possible, but as expected, he was probably more cautious than usual. Their reaction came much earlier than he expected.
However, Ayato had also covered his face, as Saya and Kirin had, so he would not be as easily found out ー though saying that, he just pulled up the hood of a parka and wore glasses with no degree ー his identity was apparently not exposed yet.
“No, I was just looking for someone…”
While saying that, Ayato quickly gauges the men’s abilities.
Judging from the kneading and movement of Prana, they did not seem to be that strong. Since the Ayato could now freely remove his seal to some extent, he could probably drive them away without too much trouble.
That said, it was not wise to make matters worse here. He could not talk about the reason, either; in the first place, it did not seem that he could make them understand.
In that caseー
“! Hey, wait!”
Ayato immediately changed his course of action, and ran away at full speed.
Though the men’s angry voices resounded from behind, he, naturally, had no intention of waiting.
The problem was whether he should escape to the bright but crowded main street or deeper into the dark back alley.
He did not want to stand out very much, but there was a time when he had been cornered due to his lack of familiarity with the area when he had helped Priscilla near the redevelopment area. So, he would rather slip into the crowd of people.
Thinking allong thoes lines, it was good that Ayato came back to the main street, but he immediately noticed it was a mistake.
This was because people, clad in the same atmosphere as the men of earlier, were keeping a watchful eye, here and there, on the main street.
“It’s bad” he thought; there was sign of men approaching from behind. He could not backtrack.
However, if he went in the main street as is, it would be just a matter of time for him to be found.
(What do I do…?)
After a moment’s hesitation, the moment Ayato was going to step forward.
“ーHey, you. Are you perhaps pursued?”
A small voice suddenly struck Ayato’s ears.
Within the traffic jam and the hustle and bustle, a voice so quiet that it would not be strange if he failed to hear it.
However, that voice seized Ayato’s consciousness just like magic and led his eyes to the owner of the voice.
“Since you are in trouble, shall I help you?”
A little bit in front of Ayato, a girl, who was leaned back on a pillar that was supporting a corridor, said that, smiling with only her mouth.
Ayato could not see her face because she was wearing a large hat that hid her eyes, but she seemed to be approximately the same age as him. Her chestnut hair was casually tied up in a bundle and she wore a somewhat loose blouse with jeans. She had an overall plain impression; if she did not call out to him, Ayato would have passed by without noticing her presence and it would probably not remain in his memory, either.
“Um… Have we met somewhere before?”
He felt like he had heard that voice somewhere and gave a question in response.
“Eh–? I think it’s probably our first meeting though… More importantly, if you are too carefree, those behind you will catch up.”
As he looked back startled by the girl’s words, the men from earlier were already a short distance away from him.
He did not know who this girl was. It was also likely to be some kind of trap.
But, Ayato strangely felt that there was no lie in these words of the girl.
It was not by reason, but by intuition.
“ーUnderstood. Can you help me?”
“OK. Then, come on, this way, this way!”
Then, the girl took Ayato’s hand and ran off the back alley in the opposite side.
The men who noticed it raised their voices and chased them, but the girl, gave it no mind, and advanced while turning to the left, and then towards the thin alley at his right. She seemed to be quite familiar with this neighborhood.
“…”
While the girl ran in the alley, she was humming something in a low voice.
He did not understand what she was saying as it was in too quiet of a voice, but it seemed to be a song.
At that moment, Ayato noticed that Mana was rustling around the girl.
(Don’t tell me this girl, is she a Strega…?)
The men’s presence became more distant, and their voices steadily got lower, too.
At the same time, the townscape suddenly changed, and before he noticed, their surroundings had become, for the most part, abandoned buildings which were about to collapse.
The girl was running fast and her hand which held Ayato’s was surprisingly soft. Since her Prana was too quiet, he did notice at first, but this girl being a Strega meant, she was a Starpulse Generation, as well. Judging from her age, she was probably a student of some academy.
Because she was not even showing signs of being out of breath even after running for a while now, one could understand that she was well-trained.
However, he could not predict her ability because she concealed it well.
“Phew… Now that we come so far, it will be all right for the time being, I guess.”
After they had finally arrived at a little open space surrounded by abandoned buildings, the girl turned back and floated a small smile.
“Thank you. You really helped me out.”
Ayato would probably have been unable to get through this by himself.
“Fufufu… So, why were you chased by those guys? Did you rip off someone or some shop?”
“No, it isn’t something like that, but… it’s nothing.”
At least, the girl did not seem to be an enemy, but he could not also afford to carelessly speak about his circumstances.
As he spoke ambiguously, the girl nodded as she guessed it.
“Hmm, I see. Then, it’s all right even if you don’t want to talk about it.”
She said, as she sat on a suitable piece of scrap wood.
“However, if you intend to go back, it would be better to wait for a while. Since this place is quite distant from the RotlichtEntertainment district, those guys probably won’t chase us up to here, but it’s kind of edgy now and I think that those guys also haven’t given up yet.”
“It’s kind of edgy?”
“We’re right in the middle of the Festa now, so the Hunter Guard crackdown is much more severe than usual. Also, the Mafia guys who control the RotlichtEntertainment district seemed to have increased their number of patrols and are more cautious than usual.”
“I see…”
During the time the Festa was being held, people thronged to Asterisk from all over the world. It was probably inevitable that the number of people showing up in this RotlichtEntertainment district would also increase. In that case, no matter how common the state of connivance was in the RotlichtEntertainment district, it was also necessary for the Hunter Guards to increase their manpower and control to some extent.
However, the unsuitable circumstances would make it more difficult for the criminal to hide himself. Though it was also so for the reinforcement of control, people who wanted to take on something troublesome during such a time would probably be few.
(It isn’t the RotlichtEntertainment district after all…?)
If so, then he should give up and look for other places as soon as possible. He could not afford to waste time here.
It was also not as if there was no more room of hesitation, butー
“Thank you for everything. If possible, I would like to do something to show my gratitude, but I’m somewhat running out of time now.”
“It’s all right, it’s all right, I don’t really mind ー Amagiri Ayato-kun.”
“!”
“Oh, what an amazing reaction speed. As expected of a finalist of the current tournament.”
As Ayato promptly took a distance, the girl clapped her hands in admiration.
“But, it kind of a shock when you brace yourself so much.”
“…Why do you know my name?”
As Ayato cautiously asked, the girl exaggeratedly shrugged her shoulders.
“You intended to disguise yourself, right? But, like that, you will be found out at first glance. If you intend to hide it, then you have to change your atmosphere more. You’re also already a celebrity, so shouldn’t you try a little harder?”
“Eh…?”
Certainly, he had not cared about it that much, but was it so obvious?
“Just to make things clear, but it isn’t really because you’re the rank #1 of the Seidoukan Academy that I helped you.”
“But, then why…?”
“It’s natural to help people in trouble, right?”
At Ayato’s question, the girl answered as if it was a matter of course.
“Well, when you can afford it, that’s. Besides you didn’t look like a bad person.”
The girl’s words were frank, and it did not seem like she was telling lies.
“…Sorry. Even though you help me.”
Thus, Ayato honestly apologized for his impoliteness.
“Hahaha, you’re a good person, eh. Yes, I don’t reallyー”
But, the girl suddenly stopped speaking and turned her head to the direction where they had come from.
Ayato also noticed a moment later.
Someone was coming their way.
“Good grief, to think that you would escape to here… I’m also used to running after people.”
Languidly said a man who appeared, the moonlight illuminating half of his body.
With an unshaven face and dark skin, his age was probably around 30. At least, he was probably not a student. He had a rough attire of cargo pants and T-shirt, but the activation body of Lux on his belt was tied in bunches.
“So, is it you? The bastard who was sneakily searching. They say that you seem to be looking for someone, but since our men are concerned about it. I will have you come with me.”
Ambition could not be felt at all in his dark, sluggish eyes, but his carriage had something particular only to someone who had piled up training. He was quite the master.
“Crap… I didn’t think that you would chase us so far.”
The girl looked up at the sky and held down her face from the top of the hat.
“I’ve my expenses, you see. So I’ve to work a little hard to earn money. Well, in saying that, I’ve to thank you for having made work for me… Hmm?”
As the man stopped, he opened his somewhat droopy eyes wide. During the hesition, a slimy, cold and fiendish shine wriggled.
“What… I heard that the opponent was a man, but I see there’s also a woman. This is a pleasant miscalculation, eh. I suddenly feel motivated.”
While floating a vulgar smile, the man activated his Lux. Poised in both hands, a knife with oversized serrated blade seemed to lick its chops.
“Well then, I was asked to catch you and bring you in… But you may resist to your heart’s content. After all, it will be boring otherwise.”
“Wait a minute. She has nothing to do with it.”
The man’s eyes were obviously directed at the girl. Since it turned out like this, Ayato had no choice but directly speak with the Mafia member and clear the misunderstanding.
“Hmm, I think it’s useless. He’s the type of person who seems to give priority to his hobby over his work, so I don’t think he will quietly overlook us. Isn’t that so? ーFormer World Dragon Seventh Institute rank #7, DoiranTwin SnakesNguyen-san.”
“He~e… young lady, do you know about me? That makes me happy.”
“I didn’t know that a semifinalist of the Lindvolus would be reduced to running errands for the Mafia though.”
As the girl sighed, she slowly stood up.
“What, it’s an old story.”
As the man, Nguyen, said that, the atmosphere of the place became very tense.
It’s bad. Even if he were to fight Nguyen, he could not afford to involve the girl.
The moment he was about to step forward ーin order to get between the two of themー the knife approached Ayato’s chest.
“Kuh!”
Nguyen threw the knife so as to put him in check (restrain him).
Although he dodged it by promptly turning around, the timing, in which the knife was thrown, was terrifying. It might be said that his outset was spoiled.
“Don’t get in the way, boy.”
By the time Ayato fixed his stance, Nguyen had already entered the girl’s range.
“Watch out!”
Nguyen’s knife shone and attacked the girl.
ーBut.
“Hmm, is it only that?”
The girl easily dealt with Nguyen’s onslaught of one-handed blows coming from both sides.
“Whaー!?”
Nguyen’s face was distorted in surprise.
It was also the same for Ayato. Nguyen’s attack was sharp and fast. It was the type of person who focused more in the number of attacks and speed than the power of each blow. Dealing with all of them ーand moreover, completely in the opponent’s rangeー would probably be difficult even for Ayato.
“Ha, Hahahaha! You aren’t bad, young lady! In that case, I’ll also fight seriously…!”
“ーNo, it’s already enough.”
The girl sneaked around to Nguyen’s back as she slipped past his arm.
Her movement looked like it was casual, but it was something which struck the momentary opening as if threading the eye of a needle.
“Tch!”
The girl’s kick was driven in to the solar plexus of Nguyen who hurriedly turned around.
“ー!”
Nguyen, who fainted in agony without even having time to release a sound, was sent flying and crashed into the wall of an abandoned building.
A shock, to such an overpowering extent, ran through it, and innumerable new cracks were carved in that wall… One wondered whether the building would collapse, or not.
“…If you were in your prime, it probably wouldn't have gone so easily.” The girl said somewhat disappointedly while turning towards Nguyen, who couldn't move anymore.
Then she turned immediately towards Ayato.
“Now then… By the way you, are you looking for someone?”
“Eh…?”
“Come on, he said something like that earlier.”
The girl who said so glanced at Nguyen.
“Ah… Well yes.”
“Maybe I can help you, but what do you say?”
“Help me? You?”
As Ayato asked that in response, the girl smiled teasingly and turned her flexible finger upward.
“Yes. But before that… Can we change the place just for a moment?”
The girl lightly climbed the emergency staircase of the abandoned building, which somewhat kept its form.
While following her, Ayato remembered her fight from earlier.
Nguyen was strong. No matter how weak he was in power, if he advanced to the semifinal in the Lindvolus, his strength was the real deal. People powerful enough to defeat him so easily were few in number.
“Okay, we’ve arrived.” As they arrived at the roof, the girl said so and turned around.
It looked like it was the highest building in this area, and the redevelopment area could be overlooked from here.
Overhead, the sky was full of stars. However, the eastern sky was already changing color to deep dark blue. The dawn was near.
“Sorry, even though you’re in a hurry, I’m taking your time.”
“Don’t be. More importantly, I’m really thankful for your help, but I can’t afford to involve you. Not to mention that I’ve already caused you trouble.”
“Hmm…”
At Ayato’s words, the girl nodded in admiration.
“I see. I think that I’m beginning to understand you little by little.”
“Understand me?”
“Yes. Well, for example… You’re a kind person who will think of another person even if you find yourself dragged into a difficult situation. But, at the same time, you will bear the burden yourself, and thus won’t rely too much on others.”
“…”
Since it was almost similar to Julis’ criticism towards Ayato, he was at a loss for words.
“But, the quarterfinal’s match was good. Seeing the combination with Riessfeld-san, I feel like you’ve become a proper tag team.”
“…You observe well.”
That quarterfinal was actually one turning point for Ayato and Julis. But, from an outsider’s perspective, it should not be something which could be understood easily.
“Naturally. Therefore today’s… Ah, no that’s already yesterday, huh. Anyway, I’ve also watched the semifinal’s match properly. That match where you didn’t use Ser-Versta ー No, perhaps couldn’t you use it?”
“…”
In addition, she was also very good at guessing.
“Hahaha, sorry. It was an unnecessary inquiry. Um, well then… Will you tell what kind of person you are looking for?”
“No, butー”
“Rest at ease. It isn’t really as if I will follow you. In short, it’s all right as long as you know where the person you’re looking for is, right?”
As soon as the girl said so, Mana around her rustled.
It slowly gathered as if swirling around her.
“No way… Are you a detection-type Strega?”
He was wondering whether she was a person with ability, but if she really was a Strega with detection type ability, then finding out Flora’s whereabouts would not be impossible.
“It isn’t a detection type, but… Well, I can do something similar. And information is necessary to make an image.”
“Understood. I’m looking for a 10-year-old girl. Her name is Flora.”
“I want to confirm, just in case, but it isn’t as if she is lost, right?”
“…Yes. She has been kidnapped. The criminal ー I can guess who it is, but I’m still not sure.”
“Hmm, is it good there? So, what about that child’s appearance or personality? Also, it would be good if you have a photo.”
Ayato told to the girl all the information he knew of Flora.
Though, Ayato had just met Flora for about a couple of days. It was not that much, but it could not be said that he knew a lot.
“If you want, I can ask a person who knows her better.”
“No, it’s all right. I think it will do with only this much. Wait for a bit.”
As the girl said that she looked downward, and began to mutter something in a small voice.
Ayato did not fully understand, but since each person had his own method of activating their ability, that was probably her method.
“ーAll right, something like this.”
Before long, the girl clapped her hands, and raised her face.
“But, before that, I want you to promise me only one thing… Is it fine?”
“Promise?”
“To keep it secret, and not talk to anyone about what will happen here, from now on.”
“…Understood. I promise.”
That much was easy to accomplish.
“Thank God. Then, to start, prepare a map. If at all possible, a big one would be best.”
As he was said so, Ayato started his portable terminal.
He changed the space window’s size to the maximum, and displayed the map of the whole redevelopment area.
“Okay, and thenー” Ayato said and raised his gaze, and then unintentionally became speechless.
The girl took off her hat and untied her hair which was brought together.
When she touched a headphone type hair ornament, the color of her hair slowly changed.
From chestnut to vivid purple ー it was exact color of the current dawn sky.
The current subdued and quiet air (atmosphere) was instantly repainted by her gorgeous, overwhelming presence.
Her breathtaking, well-featured looks however soon reminded Ayato of someone.
There were probably no people in this Asterisk… no, perhaps in this world who did not know this girl.
The Supreme Songstress.
The world’s best idol.
Student Council President and rank #1 of Queen Veil Girl’s Academy.
She bared the nickname of SigrdrífaMelodious Witch and was the runner-up of the previous Lindvolus.
“…Sylvia Ryuneheim…” Dumbfounded as he is, Ayato muttered the girl’s name.
As Sylvia smiled at the dumbfounded Ayato, she widely opened both her hands as if spreading wings.
The morning sun which was rising, cast a dazzling light from behind her.
“ーThe two pairs of wings (feathers) of the thought and memory, turn, turn quickly run about, carry the voice of the captive beloved child.”
Completely different from what she did so far, her dignified, powerful voice sang a somewhat sad, folkloric melody.
It was natural that that voice sounded familiar to Ayato.
Even Ayato who did not hold much interest to the trends of the society knew her name, her figure and her singing voice.
“Beyond the sea of clouds of dawn, ride upon the winds of dusk, open the guidance from the end of twilightー”
Sylvia’s singing voice manipulated Mana which was raged like a storm and calmed it.
Sylvia was the most famous songstress and the most famous Strega at the same time in the current modern world. Even the Venomous Witch who had won the Lindvolus twice consecutively could do naught but concede to Sylvia in terms of popularity.
Her Ability ーー omnipotent (versatile).
Strega and Dante originally manifested their ability with a particular image as core. Hence, even those who possessed diversified techniques like Julis could not deviate from the range of the particular image such as “flame” and “flower”.
But, it was said that Sylvia Ryuneheim could change her image to any form by using the “song” as medium. For this reason, it was also possible for her to use the detection type ability like this.
It was similar to the Star Senjutsu, which was the style created in pursuit of versatility, but it might be said that its essence was the exact opposite. It did not become a fixed form (it was not stereotyped), but it had a versatility which was accomplished by fluidizing the image. Sylvia manipulated Mana by singing a song which contained the image ーthere seemed to be a problem pertaining to the strong and weak points of Prana consumption thoughー and could recall all phenomenon.
However, it seemed that the only ability she could not handle was the healing ability, but since that was an ability which could not being standardized even with Star Senjutsu, it might be a fundamentally separate ability.
“Black messenger of thought and memory, fly down before me and quickly show (it) ー”
Before long, as Sylvia finished singing, two black feathers were drifting as they turned on an axis around the map. The two pieces of feathers continued rotating for a while, but the circle they were forming gradually narrowed.
“Hmm, hmm… It’s on the outskirts of the RotlichtEntertainment district, the corner of the north side.”
Sylvia casually spoke.
Though Ayato could not even now believe his own eyes, he immediately pulled himself together. Before his eyes, was an International superstar to whom there were none who did not know her name; and if her ability was the real deal, then it was no time to be surprised.
“Is Flora-chan here?”
“Yes, unless the opponent does take very powerful anti-detection ability measures, there’s no doubt about it. If I have a little more time to knead, I will be able to narrow down the range more, but…”
“No, even just this much is already enough. ーReally, thank you very much.”
Ayato said that as he bowed his head.
Since they were blindly searching until now, it was great progress even just by having been able to narrow down the position. There was little time remaining, but with this, there might still be a little hope.
“Fufufu, I’m glad I could be of help to you. Well then, I will excuse myself. Actually, if I don’t go back already, I will be scolded by my manager.”
Sylvia floated a relieved expression and once again put the hat on her head.
“Ah, wait a moment, Ryuneheim-san!”
There were many things that he wanted to ask her and he also wanted to properly thank her, but anyway, there was no enough time now.
“If it’s fine with you, can you tell me your contact address?”
“Eh…?”
At Ayato’s words, Sylvia looked at Ayato with a blank face (in puzzlement).
Ayato could not understand why Sylvia made such a face, but he soon realized.
“…Ah.”
Though he asked without thinking, the other party was a world renowned singer. There was no way she could tell her contact address at a moment’s notice.
However, after fixedly staring at Ayato’s face, Sylvia burst into laughter as she could no longer endure it.
“…Puff! Hahahahaha! It’s been a while since I was hit-on, straight like that.”
“N-No, it isn’t something like hitting on you…!”
“You can call me Sylvie. All my friends call me that.”
As Sylvia said so, she took out her portable terminal and turned it towards Ayato’s.
Immediately after, her address was sent with a ring-tone.
“It’s my private address, so you can contact it any time. Well, I’m a little busy currently, so I don’t know whether I will be able to go out right away though.”
“Y-Yes…”
Said Sylvia happily to Ayato, who was dumbfounded since it was way too easy.
“To tell you the truth, I been a little interested in you for some time now. By talking directly to you like today, it looks like that interest has gradually become stronger.”
Wearing the hat over her eyes again, she lightly tapped her chest as she passed by Ayato’s side.
“Then do your best, Ayato-kun. Though it doesn’t amount to much, I will also pray for Flora-chan’s safety.”
After parting with Sylvia, Ayato immediately sent the positional data to Julis and the others.
There was a reaction right away, and Julis, Saya, Eishiro and multiple space windows opened.
『"It’s good that you figured it out, but… how did you narrow it down here?"』
“Errr, that’s… sorry, I can’t say.”
Though Julis’ question was natural, I could not break his promise with Sylvia.
『"…Hmm, well it’s fine. I’m interested, but now isn’t time for that."』
『"…Anyway, it’s quite a relief that you were able to narrow down to here."』 Saya chipped in.
『"Right. If it’s around here, I know quite a lot, so I think that I can help."』 Eishiro replied.
Julis nodded, following up with, 『"Okay, if we decided so, then it saves the long talk. Without delay, let’sー"』 and was interrupted…
『"…But, it would be better if Ayato and Julis don’t come."』 Saya said pointedly.
“Eeh?”
『"What did you say?"』
At Saya’s words, Ayato and Julis opened their eyes wide, simultaneously.
『"What on earth do you mean by that? Why is it only us who must be excluded?"』
『"…You have to prepare for the final. You won’t make it in time if you come with us."』
“That’s right, but…”
Certainly, because of the criminal’s demand, they were not allowed to withdraw from the Phoenix.
Though they figured out his position, since it was not as if it was settled that they could surely save Flora, they also understood they had to at least abide there.
Howeverー
『"The final is at noon. There is still time!"』
Unexpectedly, Eishiro supported Saya. 『"No, about this, Sasamiya’s point is correct. If the criminal is really here, we should move with a minimum number of persons. In the first place, if it turns for the worst that you were found by the criminal, an excuse wouldn’t work, right?"』
『"…Besides, no matter how one puts it, it’s reckless to challenge the final as you are. You should rest your body, even a little."』
『"Ugh…!"』 Julis uttered helplessly.
“But…!”
Even they understood the reasoning, it was really frustrating of not being able to do anything after coming so far.
『"Ayato-senpai, Julis-san, it’s all right! We will definitely save Flora-chan!"』 This time was Kirin’s voice.
『"…"』
As expected, if they insisted, Julis can do naught but be silent, as well. After a long silence, she sighed deeply as she gave up. 『"Haah… Understood. Then, we will concentrate on the final."』
“…You’re right.”
Since Saya and company were obviously right, Ayato and Julis could not be selfish any longer than this. They could no persist in their stubbornness.
『"…It’s fine like that. We will save Flora and you will take revenge for us. Like this, everybody will be satisfied."』 As Saya said that, she contentedly nodded.
『"…Ah, Now that you mention it. We were entrusted with that."』
“Honestly, it’s kind of burdensome.” Ayato jokingly gave a wry smile.
Actually, it would be quite tough to win against Ardi and Rimsi without Ser-Versta.
If they did not work out a solid strategy, they were opponents against whom it might be difficult even to put up a good fight.
『"No problem. If we save Flora, you will become able to use Ser-Versta."』
『"Well, if we make it in time, that is."』
『"…Uh-huh."』
Saya stared at Eishiro who bantered.
Seeing all this, Ayato felt like he was losing strength even though he was in good condition.
Each of them went, with all their power, to what they should do.
If so, then what Ayato should do now wasー
Chapter 6 - Each Decisive Battle
『"ーNo. 7, report on the situation."』 The voice, which contained irritation, got straight to the business.
The man, ーGold Eye, the No. 7 of the Black Cat Instituteー briefly responded. “There is no problem.”
『"Then, it’s fine."』
“What about your side?”
『"They appear to be obedient. It doesn’t look like they’ve contacted the Hunter Guards and there seems to be no movement of the Shadow Star, either. But, aside from those youngsters, there is that vixen at Seidoukan. I don’t think that she will stay quiet like this."』
A space window did not open from the portable terminal, which was for the exclusive use of the Black Cat Institute. It was possible to send an image, but this was basically voice only communication. And above all, the other party to whom this portable terminal was connected to was only one person ー Le Wolfe Black Institutes's student council president.
『"Actually, I’ve also heard that around the area, there was a guy who was snooping around, looking for the kid. Well, as you know, the Rotlichtentertainment district isn’t under my direct control, so I don’t know the authenticity of the rumor."』
“…”
Generally, it was thought that everything in the redevelopment area was under management of Le Wolfe Black Institute, but the internal conditions were a little different. This was because there are a substantially large number of various Mafia groups who managed the Rotlichtentertainment district and their upper echelon (top brass) consisted of dropout students from each academy and other criminals from outside of Asterisk.
Of course, since even among them, the percentage (ratio) that Le Wolfe graduates occupied was quite high, and many active students also had their names entered as constituent members, its relation with Le Wolfe was strong. Even looking historically, it was also a fact that Le Wolfe’s influence was strong.
However, they, and the current student council president, ーDirk Eberweinー were on very bad terms. Therefore the relations, between the Rotlichtentertainment district and Le Wolfe, were completely broken now. Since the students of the anti-Dirk faction within the academy were the most active, it might be said that a parts of the Mafia were close to antagonistic towards Dirk.
And; Dirk had tolerated it.
The man did not know the reason and he did not intend to know it, either. That was because it was not his duty.
The man had only to perfectly complete the mission, just as he was ordered.
He could ask for information necessary to carry out his duty, but it was ultimately the master who made judgment.
That’s why also, this time, the man asked to his master. “And in case that someone was to get in the way?”
『"We’ve a hostage on our side. Use that advantage. Even so, if they don’t withdraw… I don’t mind if you use her and then throw her away."』
The man looked towards the young girl sitting on a corner of the room.
As she was asleep, there was no motion except for an occasional subtle stirring.
『"If I leave that boy as is, he will definitely become an obstacle in the future. I must have him understand, even if just a little, that I’m serious."』
“Understood.” The man answered indifferently.
The man’s heart was not shaken no matter how cruel the order was.
In the first place, such a thing did not exist.
“…”
『"What’s wrong?"』 As if guessing that the atmosphere changed, the voice quizzically asked.
“It looks like someone apparently has come to get in the way.”
As the man said that, he cut the communication and looked up at the ceiling.
“…Is it really here?”
Saya looked up at the building in front of her and doubtfully inquired.
“Well, after checking it, the most suspicious place is here. As such, I think it’s very likely to be this place.” Though Eishiro shrugged his shoulders as if playing dumb, his eyes were serious.
“B-But, Yabuki-senpai really knows a lot of people. I was surprised.”
“Gee, it's not that many.”
However when he was praised by Kirin, he floated an embarrassed grin as he did not seem to be dissatisfied.
“…In other words, it means that Yabuki usually plays around in this area.”
“Ugh…! That’s, um, how should I say it…” Eishiro awkwardly averted his gaze.
That said, certainly his popularity[15] was the real deal.
No matter how much Ayato had narrowed the location down, it still was not as if they already knew the exact location of Flora. It was the first time that both Saya and Kirin has come to the Rotlichtentertainment district, but many shops were closed in daytime. There were only small casinos, that were open for 24 hours, which crowded with people. Due to that, there was also not that much pedestrian traffic so Saya and Kirin had hard time collecting information, but Eishiro heard interesting stories about this and that from familiar shops easily.
“So, specifically, what kind of suspicious place is this?”
“Uh huh, the building here was a fairly well-known casino, but it seems that it was remodeled just a little while ago.”
After hearing his reply, she once again returned her gaze to the building. It was a sizeable five-storey building. Although it faced the main street, it was built in a somewhat secluded place, so it was in the shadow of the neighboring buildings and its surroundings were somber.
Although there was no light now, the outer walls, which were decorated with lights that usually shone brightly in the town during the dazzling night, were comparatively new even to the point where one would not think that a remodeling was necessary.
“They say that, recently, guests seemed to go on rampages, and exterior aside, the interior was awfully messy.”
“He~e… It’s scary, eh.”
“Here, the replacement of tenants is incessant and renovations aren’t something unusual. There are also some specialists[16]. But, it seems that the construction has been halted for these several days.”
“…It was halted?”
As Saya frowned, Eishiro chuckled.
“There was apparently some trouble on the side of the specialist which was in charge of it. The particular Mafia group, which was the owner of this, also seemed to be pushing for the renovations, in various ways, so I think that the next specialist will be decided before long.”
“…But, till then, it’ll be a building in a state of vacancy.”
“Well, something like that.”
Saya and Kirin simultaneously looked at each other, and silently nodded.
“All right, well then, won’t you check inside?”
“B-But, how…?”
What Saya and company had searched, up until now, were mostly abandoned buildings. They did not go as far as to enter on their own ー to be exact, the abandoned buildings were targeted by the Hunter Guards, as they wanted them under their control ー but this place was not. Regardless of whether it was under renovation, it was a casino so it probably had some sort of security system.
“Hey, hey, it was decided that I’d leave this to you. I’ll go check out the surroundings.”
Contrary to their expectations Eishiro took out his portable terminal, he connected it to the terminal of the front gate side.
And after he operated the optics keyboard with experienced hands, the door opened with a tepid sound.
“Hey, it’s opened.” Eishiro spoke casually
“…”
With blank expressions, both Saya and Kirin glared at him.
“It looks like when the insides were damaged, the conventional security system was damaged at that same time. The one which operates now is an un-challenging, simple version. Since it’s a makeshift system and the building is under renovation, they probably thought that it was enough with that; so we're lucky.”
“No, even if that’s the case…”
“…No matter how you put it, your skill is too good.”
In response to the suspicious gazes, Eishiro hurriedly looked for excuses.
“N-No, something like this isn’t really a big deal, I say! The tool is something I found on the net, and it’s something I’ve also tried several times…”
“…”
Though there was doubt remaining, there was no time to investigate it now. After all, it was nearing noon, if they did not do it quickly, the finals would begin.
“C-Come on, come on, more importantly, we should hurry!”
While saying that to escape questioning, Eishiro entered to the building, and Saya and Kirin had no choice but go along with it.
“Uwah…”
The inside was in a much worse state than they had thought.
As the casino’s equipment had already been moved, the spacious hall, with a stairwell connecting to the second floor was empty and lonely, the walls and pillars, now without their luxurious adornings, became naked and were once again only supporting the floor above. For some reason, only the luxurious lighting was deliberately left intact, the shadows of pillars, which stretched on the bare floor, looked eerily creepy.
There were many big holes in the ceiling, but since one would not think that construction was necessary, it was probably something left by the guests who 'went on rampage'. In that case, they could also agree that renovation was necessary.
“For the time being, it looked like there’s no one here.”
Kirin, while being cautious, looked around at the surroundings.
“Hmm, from the feeling I get, when I take a look at this building, it appears to be a six-layer structure of one floor basement and five floors above ground.”
Certainly there was a large set of stairs in the inner part of the hall, and they led to the second floor. The back looked like the downhill stairs. There was also an elevator on the side, but as expected they could not use it in this situation.
“…Above or below?”
“Hmm… either way, if the criminal is here, it’ll be dangerous to split; it’d be better to act together.”
“If possible, I would also like to do so. I’m bad at fighting after all.”
At Kirin’s words, Eishiro strongly agreed by saying “yes, yes”.
“…If you’re a man, you should say that we leave it to you instead.” Saya said with scornful eyes.
Eishiro answered without being timid. “It’s said the right person in the right place. Besides, I’m also doing my best for once, you know?”
“Doing your best?”
“I can’t help you, but then I should just call someone useful. Well, I don’t know if he’ll come, since I can only requestー wait… What’s that!?”
Shifting their attention to Eishiro’s voice, something was wriggling as if gushing forth in the shadow of a pillar.
“Is that… a person?”
While unsheathing the carp mouth[17] of Senbakiri, Kirin quizzically muttered.
“…Mana is gathering around there. It’s probably a setting type ability.”
In other words, it would be a trap or defense device.
As Kirin said, it seemed to have a human shape, but the “shape” was only just close (in shape). The whole body was pitch-black, as if a shadow was cut out and had no ruggedness whatsoever, and the distinction of which was the front and the back could not be grasped. Both hands were pointed out like a sharp horn, and even if it was unpleasant, one could guess what kind of purpose it had. If compelled to say, was it certain it was a “person’s shadow”?
“At the very least, there’s no doubt that we're right on the mark. Isn’t it all right?”
Eishiro who said that had already withdrawn to a position near the wall. It looked like he really intended to leave it all to Saya and Kirin.
The shadow, which had been doing nothing but standing stock still, suddenly attacked Kirin.
But, Kirin, without panicking, slew it with one stroke of her sword. The shadow which received Senbakiri’s blow vanished like mist just as if it were sand blown by the wind.
Although its movements were not that fast, the attack was simple, easy to read and above all it was too much fragile (brittle). Frankly, it was not at the level of being Saya’s or Kirin’s opponent.
“What, it isn’t that big a deal. Even I can manage just this much…”
The expression of Eishiro who was comfortably saying such things stiffened in middle of sentence.
This was because shadows arose once again from the shadows of the pillars. And this time, it was not just one or two.
“This… I wonder how many there are?”
“…Who knows?”
The shadows which gushed forth from here and there in the shadows were about 50 in number when only assessed roughly. Moreover, they were still increasing.
“Kuh…!”
The shadows attacked Saya and company one after another.
As Saya activated her hand gun type Lux in an instant, she defeated five shadows almost simultaneously by using quick shots.
“T-This is an ability of autonomy type! No matter how you put it, it’s impossible to control all of these simultaneously!”
From the words of Eishiro, who shouted while running around the hall while trying to escape, Saya recalled a story she heard from Ayato.
A person with ability called Cyrus who once fought against Ayato seemed to have the power to control more than one hundred puppets, but in actuality it was about ten puppets that he could control simultaneously.
However, such uniformity could not be observed at all in those shadows’ movements.
“Autonomous type ability means that the most they can do, is to only execute a simple order! The criminal probably commanded them with something like ‘eliminate the intruder’!”
“…I see. In that case, there is no real need to keep fighting them.”
Both Saya and Kirin still had damage from the semifinal. Especially Kirin, who had not yet recovered from the injury of her right leg, as for Saya, she had yet to fully recover her Prana. Even though their opponents were small fries, their stamina would not last if they were to take on all those shadows.
“…Kirin. I’m sorry, but I will rely on you for a little while.”
“Roger!”
They were physically and mentally harmonized. Kirin who immediately understood Saya’s intention took one step forward and changed her stance in order to protect Saya.
After Saya put away the hand guns, she activated a huge Lux with a large gun barrel.
Most of the armaments on hand had received so much damage during the semifinal that maintenance was required, but as for this, the damage was still relatively shallow (light).
“Lux Type 39 Laser Canon Wolfdora ー sweep”
When Saya squeezed the trigger, a torrent of light gushed out. A large amount of Prana was consumed and everything before her eyes turned dark for an instant, but she shook her head slightly and endured.
The pillar of light mowed down the shadows with a roaring sound, when silence returned once again to the hall, nobody aside from Saya was remaining standing.
“Phew…”
“Saya-san, are you all right…?”
“…No problem.”
Although she pretended to be all right as she muttered that to the anxious Kirin, she had not recovered as much Prana she'd thought. After the semifinal, since she had run about since yesterday to until now, with almost no rest, one could say that it was natural; This might be kind of bad.
Aside from the small armaments like hand guns, Saya’s heavy armaments were all of the Lobos transition system, as such one shot from one of her heavy armaments consumed as much Prana as meteor arts.
(At this rate, I can only shoot about two or three times. Huh…)
Although, in truth, she wanted to beat the criminal who kidnapped Flora into a pulp, it might be better to avoid battle as much as possible in this state. If the criminal obediently handed over Flora, it would be good. Of course, depending on the situation, it could not be helped if they had to fight, butー
“Hey, hey, you two! It looks like it’s still early to relax!”
Eishiro suddenly raised his face with a sharp voice.
“Eh, again…!?”
Shadows in likeness of people began to arise again from the pillars’ shadows.
The number was the same as earlierー no maybe even more than that.
“Th-There is no end to this…!”
Slight impatience could also be felt in Kirin’s voice.
Now that it came to this, they could only force their way through, but there were a swarm of shadows on the other side of the stairs. Though they would have no problem if they were in perfect condition, for the current Saya and Kirin, there was a slight uneasiness remaining towards the breakthrough.
Even so, it was much better than continuing a war of attrition.
“…Kirin, it’s a little unreasonable, but we will break through.”
“Yes… we have no choice.”
It looked like Kirin was thinking the same thing. They nodded at each other.
Just before the shadows surged like an avalanche and were about to attack the two girls.
“Tch! Geez, what are you guys doing!”
A violent shock ran from the side and blew up the shadows altogether.
“Oooh, you finally arrive, huh! I was waiting for you!”
In contrast with the dumbfounded two girls, only Eishiro went out to meet that person while clapping his hands.
“…Lester MacPhail … Why are you here?”
Right. It was indeed Seidoukan Academy rank #9, Lester MacPhail who appeared with a sullen face.
“I was forcibly called by that bastard Yabuki! Otherwise, why would I expressly come to such a place?”
He shouted with the huge Halberd[18] type Lux in his hand.
“Oh dear! "Forcibly" is saying too much. I just intended to ask a request though.”
“Negotiating while grasping hold of someone’s weakness is what a bastard like you calls a request? Shouldn’t you rather say blackmail?”
I see. It was like Eishiro to do such a thing.
That said, it did not change the fact that they were saved. The shadows charged forth anew, and most of them had turned towards the new intruder. They did not let this chance slip.
“…MacPhail, we leave the rest to you.” Saya said quickly, and took off shamelessly.
“S-Sorry! Please!” Kirin, who was honestly sorry, politely bowed.
After that, they cut into the swarm of shadows.
“Huh!? H-Hey, wait a minute!”
Though Lester’s perplexed voice flew from behind, there was no time to wait.
As Saya once again activated the two hand gun type Lux, she asked so to Kirin beside her while opening a path. “And, Kirin… above or below, which is it?”
“Which do you think it is, Saya-san?” Similarly, while swinging Senbakiri right and left, Kirin returned the question.
“…Below.”
There was no reason. It was intuition.
“Me, too.” While chuckling, Kirin answered with that.
Back on the other side.
“Well then, MacPhail. Do your best.” Eishiro, while leaving those words, ran off somewhere.
Also, Saya and Kirin disappeared on the other side of the shadows…
Remaining in the hall were only Lester and the countless shadows.
The beginning of how it came to this was last night. When he wondered why he was suddenly contacted by Eishiro, he was allowed to help out with no chance to refuse[19].
It no longer mattered where Eishiro had learned his secret.
Though briefly, he was also told about the situation; even Lester could not stand a coward who tried to achieve their goals by kidnapping a small child.
The pent-up anger, from being eliminated in the third round of the Phoenix, had also piled up.
“…Even so…”
The shadows attacked Lester, who was looking downwards, and muttered to himself.
As Lester sent them flying with one swing of his halberd, he shouted in a loud voice to display his foul mood.
“Why am I the only one made to play such a role?”
As Ayato checked the time, he called out to Julis who was sitting on the sofa of the waiting room with her eyes closed. “It’s already time, Julis.”
“…I see” As Julis briefly answered, she stood up, stretching herself out greatly.
“Good grief, in the end, there was no call from Saya and the others.”
“…”
Since they did not know the situation over there, they could not contact them.
And the fact that they themselves were not yet contacted, it meant that it was probably that sort of situation.
“Fufufu, don’t make such a face, Ayato. Come on, let’s go.”
However with a calm look, Julis floated a wry smile and opened the door of the waiting room.
How many times had he already walked down the passage heading to the stage like this with her? At very least, he felt like it had been a very long time that had passed here since the first time when they had to fight in the first round. Even though it was only two weeks ago.
Julis suddenly muttered,
“ーHey, Ayato. It’s a good thing to have reliable comrades.”
“Eh?”
Ayato stopped walking at the unexpected words.
Julis likewise stopped and continued as if speaking to herself.
“You know, Ayato. Flora and everyone in my country are important to me more than anything. That’s why I swore that I will do anything for them, and I thought it was fine as long as everyone is alright. But, when I think about it now, I was just shutting myself off from the world. ーAyato, I understood it well. Um… After having you as p-partner.”
“Julis…”
“I can still make more important comrades like everyone in my country. Like Saya and Kirin.”
While looking straight at Ayato’s eyes, Julis smiled as she felt embarrassed.
“Now, I can honestly believe in them. So, don’t worry. I’m all right.”
“I see… Yes. Then well…”
Ayato and Julis who began to walk again stood side-by-side in front of the stage.
Julis who took a small breath while strongly clenching her fists, and went through the gate.
『"Now, player Amagiri Ayato and player Julis-Alexia van Riessfeld of Seidoukan Academy also make their entrance from the east gate! It’s finally the last match in this Phoenix where various fights have been unfolding for a period of two weeks! It’s the final!"』
『"Gee, I can’t wait."』
A boisterous dance of dazzling lights.
While advancing within it, Julis muttered;
“It’s really strange. Even though we’re in a situation such as this, ーnowー I want to win this match so much that it’s unbearable (I’m dying to win this match).”
“Yes, me too.”
After he replied with that, Julis joyfully nodded.
“Ok, then, both you and I shall try to be as greedy as possible. Let’s obtain everything we desire.”
“Without losing anything.”
Ayato and Julis stared at the two autonomous type puppets before them.
One of the other duo, the owner of a large build that was as if it was piercing the heavens, heartily laughed.
“Fuhahahahahaha! We can finally face each other, Amagiri Ayato! I have been eagerly waiting for this time!”
“Haa…”
“Master has been always talking about you, I am expecting so very much of you! By all means, give me the excitement which exceeds what Sasamiya Saya and Toudou Kirin gave me!”
While straightly tracing the sword cut carved from his forehead to his cheeks, Ardi shook his large build.
“Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee it…”
Although slightly nervous at that high tension, Ayato answered with a serious expression.
“But, this match ー I will win it. Absolutely.”
“Fufufu! Those words are enough!”
As Ardi stared at Ayato’s eyes, he happily nodded for some reason.
“And we only hope that, like those girls, you are humans suitable for giving you our respect. And…”
“ーIt’s before the match, and yet you already talk too much, you blockhead! Listen, in the first place, since you have a body with bad Mana consumption (fuel-inefficient body), at least respect yourself. If possible, if you could never again open your mouth, it will help me very much.”
Rimsi who was standing beside Ardi put a damper on him in a cold tone.
“Mmm… But you have been obviously talking more than me, though.”
“Do you not understand when I say to stop your impudent talk?”
Seeing a huge gun type Lux appearing in Rimsi’s hand, Ardi finally shut his mouth.
“…I already knew it, but they are really unusual puppets. Eh.” While observing their exchanges, Julis muttered, somewhat amazed.
“Hahaha… But, only a little, I think that I’m glad that our opponents in the finals are them.”
“Hou, Why?”
“Because we can confront them without hesitation.”
For example, judging from their strength, Irene or the twins of World Dragon might also have reached the finals, but it would not probably have been like this with them.
“Well, you’re right on the point wherein they are worthy opponents”
Julis activated Aspera Spina while saying so.
As Ayato also activated a blade type Lux, the live reporter and the commentator greatly rustled.
『"Oooh, as expected it looks like player Amagiri won’t use Ser-Versta in this final, either!"』
『"If you normally think about it, rather than not using it, may it not be that he can’t use it? the Ogre Luxes… especially that Ser-Versta is an item known to be hard to please, so there might be some trouble."』
『"According to some rumors, there are talks that an urgent freezing process was applied (requested), but… oops, while we were speaking, the start time approached! Come on, everyone, whether you like it or not, now this is the last match of the Phoenix! Which pair will stand at the top?"』
While ignoring the voice of the excited live reporter, they focused.
The match start was exactly at noon.
Still three, two, oneー
“Phoenix Final, Battle start!” The school badges on their chest's announced the last signal.
At the same time, Ayato released his power and headed straight towards Ardi.
ーWith Julis.
“Hohou~u!”
『"Mmm! Is this a strategy of Amagiri-Riessfeld pair where they will beat player Ardi first with the two of them?"』
『"It’s standard strategy to aim at either one of the opponents, but for player Riessfeld, who should be in the back, going forward is a little unusual."』
Right. When fighting against those two, the most troublesome thing was that fusion state which overwhelmed Saya and Kirin.
In that case, they should simply defeat either one of them before that.
Considering only from the aspect of defensive power, it was probably better to aim at Rimsi first, but that said, Rimsi had that flight unit. If she were to escape into the air, there would be no way to have a two-on-one fight.
“Let’s go, Julis!”
“Yes!”
Ayato immediately adjusted his breathing and set up his sword.
Without grudge.
“Amagiri Bright Dragon Style Sword Intermediate Technique ー ”
Nine consecutive attacks which combined five thrusts and four kinds of slashes.
It was a technique of the highest difficulty even among the Intermediate Techniques, but all of that was prevented before the defensive barrier which Ardi instantly deployed.
“Fuhahahaha! Unfortunately, I already have the data of that technique!”
Ardi proudly declared so.
“…Looks like it.”
“Hmm?”
Even so, to Ayato who showed a composed smile, Ardi leaked a voice as he was puzzled for an instant.
Certainly, he had also happened to use this technique once when he fought against Cyrus’ puppets. Since they were puppets which Ernesta made, it would not be strange for her to have gotten the data at that time.
They took that into account.
“Bloom proudly ー PrimroseDancing nine-spirering-flower!”
Immediately after, an intense heat rose behind Ayato.
Ardi’s defensive barrier was, so to speak, something like a shield, and the range in which it was able to defend was limited.
Even so, the speed with which it could be instantly deployed and the area of the deployment range covering 360° established it as an absolute defense.
But, when it came to simultaneous attacks from many directions, it would be difficult to defend with just the defensive barrier.
“Nuuuuuuuuuuuuh!”
Ardi shook off the flame flowers which came attacking from all directions with his huge hammer. Though they were activated in a much shorter distance than usual, there was not even a slight disturbance in Julis’ control.
“Amagiri Bright Dragon Style First Sword Fighting Skill ー
At that chance, Ayato stepped forward further and let out the next technique.
The aim was of course the school badge on the chest.
ーHowever.
“To ignore me like that, you are quite cheeky.”
Just before that, a swelling torrent of light attacked Ayato and Julis from the side.
It was the built-in weapon which Rimsi’s left arm changed into ー Ruinsharif.
“…No way, there is no way we would ignore you.”
However, before it hit directly, Ayato led Julis by the hand and dodged it, barely.
“We’re properly cautious.”
“Wha…!”
Rimsi opened her eyes wide, atypically, in surprise.
She was probably thinking it was a perfect timing.
Actually, if it was the usual Ayato, he would have not been able to dodge it.
But, the current Ayato’s perception expanded to the utmost limit, so he could grasp the information of the Battle-Stage with a bird’s eye view.
It was a technique called Field (state) of “Cognition” in Amagiri Bright Dragon Style.
This technique originally displayed it's maximum (greatest) effect when in a situation of one-on-many fight, so it was not very useful in a situation of one-on-one fight. It was only tiring.
However, Julis applied this and devised a bold strategy.
Create a two-on-one situation in a tag battle and quickly defeat one opponent was, as the commentator said, standard strategy among standard strategies, but there was a suitable risk that came along with it. It was natural since the other opponent would become completely free. You might say that he could aim from the side as much as he liked.
Ayato, being able to grasp overall the movements, in the state of “cognition” meant that he knew not only Ardi’s and Rimsi’s movements, but also Julis’ as well. If so, then to take Rimsi by surprise, like now; if she was close to Ayato it was possible for him to evade by interfering with her movements.
Of course, it was in the end a theory; so even with Ayato’s reaction speed, it would be fairly limited. Originally there was nothing they could do against the attacks which Ayato could not deal with (for example, the state of “cognition” was inefficient against Kirin’s "Conjoined Cranes"). Above all, if Julis did not trust Ayato from the bottom of her heart, they would not have been able to do it at all.
(However, certainly we can considerably reduce the risk of the two-on-one fight like this…!)
Thinking about Ardi’s and Rimsi’s learning speed, they could not keep this up for much longer; in short, they should settle the match before that.
“Ayato, we will press him!”
“Roger!”
Julis was completely concentrated on Ardi as the opponent.
While fighting side by side at a distance in which their bodies could collide, it was precisely because Ayato had the state of “cognition” that they did not collide.
“Bloom proudly ー Livingstone DaisyFlaming Crimson Decapitator!”
Countless flames blew up from the ground and chakrams of flame appeared as if swirling.
That they were slightly smaller than usual was probably because Julis gave priority to the number of them over their individual power. The crimson chakrams, which numbered were more than twenty, attacked Ardi.
“Kuh!”
It seemed that Rimsi’s supporting fire was not aimed at Ayato and Julis, but at the chakrams. As expected, her correction was quick[20].
Although the chakrams were shot down one after another by the light bullets which Rimsi fired, there was also no way that she could shoot all of them.
“Amagiri Bright Dragon Style, Intermediate Technique ー .”
From that place, Ayato rotated and put the force of his whole body into two consecutive strikes.
“Gunuuuuuuuuuuuuh!”
The tip of his sword was repelled by the defensive barrier close to the school badge, but while that happened, several chakrams shallowly cut Ardi’s armor.
After that, as Ayato set up his stance again ー he promptly turned around and shortened the distance to Rimsi in one movement.
“ー!?”
Rimsi, who was currently devoting herself to Ardi’s support, managed to immediately change her aim over to Ayato; unfortunately Ayato was a step quicker.
“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
Dodging the barrage scattered to restrain him ( by diverting his attention), Ayato delivered a flash from a low position.
He bisected the gun which Rimsi had on her right hand, and when he was about to release another strike, a wall of light suddenly appeared and stood in his way. It was Ardi’s defensive barrier.
Though Ayato dodged it as he stepped to the side, at that time, Rimsi released the flight unit and flew to the sky.
But again, this was expected.
“Fufufu, I was waiting for this moment…!”
They noticed it when watching their match against Saya and Kirin, but if Ardi’s defensive barrier was close to him, the deployment speed was faster. If he used it to protect another person who was in a distant place like now, a time lag would occur before he would be able to re-deploy the next barrier no matter what.
“Come out ー GloriosaGlorious Rending Flame Claw Flower!”
At the same time as Julis swung Aspera Spina downward, a magic circle materialized on the ground. A huge flame claw blew up and crushed the now defenseless Ardi.
“Gunuuuuuuuuuuuuh! This much is nothing!”
But, surprisingly (As surprising as it may seem) Ardi swung his hammer and blew off the flames, thereby breaking out of Julis’ trap with brute force.
“Bufuuh…!”
Although there were burn marks on his armor, here and there, it did not seem to be serious damage.
“Kuh, what armor…!”
After clicking her tongue in vexation, Julis retreated to Ayato again.
“We have to go back to square one, huh.”
“That said, they aren’t opponents who will fall for the same trick twice.”
While moving his eyes as he adjusting his breathing, Ardi and Rimsi took their distance as well. It looked like they were thinking the same thing.
“Honestly, it’s really painful that our attack just now was not enough to decide this match. Though I think that we can still keep this coordination up for a while…”
Now that he could not use Ser-Versta, Ayato and Julis had almost no way to pierce that defensive barrier. They might somehow manage with Julis’s strongest firepower, but Ardi and Rimsi would not be so easygoing as to let her prepare it.
“Even the sword skills which Kirin used were not useful? That’s, leading the defensive barrier…”
“That’s a skill which could be done precisely because Kirin-chan… or should I say, the Toudou Style is the school which excels in it. That said, even I can do something like that, but it will be difficult to reproduce it at that level; besides I don’t think it will work on Ardi who has already experienced it once.”
After all, in the second half of the semifinal, he was already able to deal with Kirin’s attacks.
“In that case, the only choice we have now is to overwhelm him with the number of attacks. Huh…”
Julis muttered that with her face expressing “it can’t be helped”.
ーAnd.
“Fuhahahahahaha! Splendid! It’s really splendid! It was a combination which surpassed my expectations, Amagiri Ayato! And Julis-Alexia van Riessfeld!”
Ardi’s noisy laughter resounded throughout the stage.
“Yesterday more than the day before yesterday, today more than yesterday, the self-confidence that we have certainly developed. Though, it seems like you are ahead of us. In that case, we have no choice but to quickly play our trump card.”
At those words, the entire audience got excited.
『"Oooh, it came, it came, that declaration from player Ardi! Does that mean that we will finally see that fusion again?"』
Though the live reporter was also really excited, it was not the same for Ayato and Julis.
“No, well, originally, I intended to do so from the beginning, but as usual, Rimsi did not allow it.”
“…Naturally. We have repetitively been told by Master not to use it carelessly, after all.”
Rimsi who turned a cold gaze towards Ardi openly breathed a great sigh.
“However, to be certain we will win against you, it looks like I can’t do anything but agree to do so. It’s extremely unpleasant though.”
“…We don’t intend to let you do so easily.” Ayato, while saying that, adjusted his stance again.
Though Ardi and Rimsi said that, in a matter of fact fashion, their current power, and that of Ayato and Julis, could be said to be on par, even if looking at it in a favorable light. It looked like they were overwhelmed precisely because they got caught up in Julis’ strategy, but it was obvious that they would recover if the battle was dragged on.
“I’m sure that even you know, but there is a big opening in the moment of preparation for the union. It isn’t like us to overlook it.”
At Julis’ words, Ayato greatly nodded inwardly.
It was understandable that Saya and Kirin were wary since it was the first time that it was done before their eyes, but Ayato and Julis already knew what it looked like. They would not hesitate.
“You are right. Certainly that requires a little time, and if it is you, you will probably not have any trouble in defeating us with that chance. However ー do you think our Master did not prepare some sort of measures to deal with that?”
As Rimsi said that, she stretched (held out) her left hand; Ruinsharif held right above.
“Ruinsharif, mode "Wolkenwurf" ー Maximum output.”
Then, Ruinsharif’s shape further changed. It was now just like huge cannon.
“I won’t let you do…!”
Though Ayato promptly jumped out, a huge light bullet was shot from Ruinsharif earlier than he could reach them. The bullet's speed was surprisingly slow and at the moment one thought that it completely unmoving in the airー
“Julis, step back!”
It suddenly exploded and scattered countless small light bullets.
He tried to somehow reach Rimsi while dodging the light bullets which poured down as if they were rain, but it was not easy even with the state of “cognition”.
“ACM unit, first external armor, various Luxes purge… Limit control transfer”
Meanwhile, Rimsi and Ardi were steadily advancing the progression of their union.
“Eeih, now that it came to thisー!”
Ayato plunged into the rain of light bullets prepared to sustain some damage. No matter how high the bullet's original power was, if they were finely separated to this extent, he should be able to pull through by investing as much Prana in defense as possible.
“Guh…!”
A shock much stronger than he expected struck Ayato’s body, but he endured it and charged through in one movement.
“With thisー!”
“…It’s too bad, Amagiri Ayato.”
Passing by Rimsi, Ayato swung his sword with all his might.
It accurately cut off the school badge on Rimsi’s chest ー but.
“Fuhahahaha! It looks like you were a step too slow!”
It was after the unit which separated from Rimsi had already united with Ardi.
“Camilla Pareto, badge broken”
At the same time, the school badge announced Rimsi’s defeat. It was Camilla’s name, because Rimsi participated in this Phoenix as her substitute ー in other words, it was because she was using Camilla’s school badge.
“Union completed!”
As Ardi who further expanded his large build said that and swung his hammer once, by just by doing that, a wind strong enough to blow a person away, was created.
“Good grief… Well then, I leave the rest to you.”
“Yea! Good work!”
Rimsi stepped back with slow steps and Ardi stepped forward in her stead.
“Well, let’s begin the second round!”
As Kirin and Saya descended underground, they immediately ran into a huge door. It did not have an electronic lock, but was a normal door which could be opened by hand.
Since Saya and Kirin had fought so many shadows upstairs, if the criminal was here, they should have already surmised that Kirin and Saya had invaded. So now, they did not intend to move stealthily, but the other party had a hostage. As such, It was probably wise for both or them to prepared for if something happens.
“Saya-san, I’m going first.”
Even though she had an injured leg, it was Kirin’s role to be the vanguard.
Saya should stand back and watch the situation until she could grasp it and then move only necessary.
“…Understood.”
Seeing that Saya nodded, Kirin slowly opened the door.
In there, a hall was spread out like on the above floor. However, unlike the first floor which had an open ceiling, the ceiling was not too high and there were also a lot more pillars.
Lighting in the form of lanterns was hung all over the place, but since the lights, which could be considered as the main lighting, was not switched on, overall it gave a gloomy impression. However there were still a few lights, some that were much brighter than others in places, and a small girl was illuminated by one of them. The girl’s feet and hands were bound, and she wearily hung her head in as she leaned on the pillar.
“Flora-chan.”
When Kirin called out to her, the girl startled raised her face.
“Nnnnnh!”
Though one could not know what she was saying, as a gag had been forced in her mouth, she repeatedly shook her head greatly.
At that moment, Kirin suddenly felt bloodlust and leapt back a large distance.
A huge black thorn flew out from the shadow of the pillar a moment later, but it pierced the empty space where Kirin had been standing just a second ago. In appearance, it looked most like a thorn from a sea urchin.
Moments later, similar thorns flew out from other shadows, aimed at Kirin as well.
“Tch…!”
Kirin dodged those attacks while bearing the pain running through her leg, but all of them were dangerous. After all, she could not grasp at all from where they would fly out from.
(Be it these thorns or the shadows on the first floor, as expected, it’s someone with the ability to use “shadows” as weapons…!)
Since there were countless lights placed in the hall, any one object produced multiple shadows. She had to look out for not only the floor, but also the walls, the ceiling and all four directions. In other words, the adversary was able to display his ability to its full potential in this place.
However, it’s as if he actually controlled the shadows; he probably collected Mana on the shadow image's core.
“ーI see, Toudou Kirin, huh. A very big shot came over.”
Before long, exactly when the attacks stopped, one man came out from the pillar against which Flora was leaned. It looked as if he oozed out from the darkness, and he had cold, inhuman air which would make one shiver. His voice also seemed cold, just like something without emotion.
“…Are you the kidnapper?”
The man, without answering Kirin’s question slightly shook his finger. As if responding to it, a thorn which extended from Flora’s shadow thrust towards her throat.
“If you get in my way, I can’t guarantee this girl’s life.”
“N-No way…! Please stop it already! Even if you do such a thing, you’ll just put yourself at a disadvantage!”
For example ー Kirin was also frightening just to imagine it, but if by chance he was to do such a thing, she would lose all self-restraint. The man’s desire would not be achieved, but his crime would just become more severe.
However, the man looked at Kirin with his eyes like stones without warmth.
“I will just tell you one thing. It doesn’t matter what will happen to me.”
Kirin shuddered at those words.
It was because she understood that he was serious.
If Kirin did not obey, this man would pull it off without hesitation.
“First of all, throw away your weapon.”
“…Kuh.”
Since she understood it, Kirin had no other choice but thrust it aside.
Helplessly, she slowly put Senbakiri on the floor.
ーHowever.
At that moment, “Kirin! Flora!” Saya’s voice sharply resounded in the hall.
At the same time the thorn, which was thrust at Flora’s throat, was shot out, and became dust that disappeared.
In addition, with a single dull gunshot sound, before long, the hall was filled with dazzling light.
(A flare bombー!)
That strong light temporarily wiped out any other current shadows, and created a new shadows instead. But, that meant that it changed from where the opponent’s attack could come.
After Kirin picked up Senbakiri, she ran to Flora with all her power.
The pain on her leg no longer mattered. She did not even mind that it tore and the wound got worse.
The man slightly knitted his eyebrows and shook his finger. Mana wriggled, and a new thorn was created from Flora’s shadow.
“I won’t let you do that!”
Kirin’s sword slash cut off that thorn with little room to spare, and she held Flora while rolling over.
As support, light bullets were continuously shot towards the man from the direction of the entrance of the hall.
“This shooting… Sasamiya Saya, huh.”
The man easily dodged them, but it was enough to give time for Kirin.
Still holding Flora, immediately, she was returning to the entrance ー On the way, her right leg reached its limit.
“Kuah…!”
Desperately enduring so she did not to fall down, she relieved herself of guarding Flora while gritting her teeth in pain.
“Kirin!”
“I-I’m all right! More importantly, take Flora!”
As Kirin removed the gag at last, Flora said with a face ready to cry at any moment.
“T-Toudou-sama! Thank you!”
“No, more importantly, head quickly to that door…!”
She made a smile so she did not worry Flora and strongly pushed her back.
Meanwhile, thorns attacked from the shadows in the surroundings, but they were all repelled by Saya’s light bullets.
“Yes!”
Wiping her tears while muttering, Flora began to run. Even though a child, she was a Starpulse Generation. She soon reached the entrance.
After watching her back, Kirin turned to face the man.
“Now, then… what will you do?”
“As if you need to ask. I will eliminate you guys and take the girl back.”
It looked like he did not feel like backing down.
A black-lacquered blade slipped out from the man’s arm. It was not a Lux, but a real sword. Though it was about the size of a dagger, it seemed to have been equipped directly in the arm. It probably hated that his hands were closed.
“In that case, even if it costs me my life, I can’t let you pass here.”
Kirin who said that also got in a stance with Senbakiri.
Guessing from his attack patterns so far, there were several restrictions to the man’s ability.
First, his shadows could not be subject to quite complicated movements. If this was possible, Kirin would have already been skewered long ago.
And at the same time it let one guess another restriction. Perhaps, the man’s ability could not activate if it was not a situation which he had a visual of the targets shadows. Since the shadows on the upper floor were setting-type ability, it would be all right as long as he could see them when setting them up.
(In other words, this ability specialized in surprise attacks and assassination…)
When used in that manner, it was an extremely frightening ability, but when faced with a direct confrontation, it was another issue. Surprise attacks from a blind spot would be troublesome, but fortunately, now Kirin had Saya’s support. As long as there was Saya’s shooting skill, there was no need to be any more afraid.
ーHowever, Kirin immediately realized that it was a naive (optimistic) thought.
“Kuh…!”
Kirin’s Senbakiri blocked the man’s slash. It was nevertheless a heavy blow which precisely aimed at the vitals.
Though Kirin parried it, the man immediately rebuilt his stance and returned a sharp thrust.
Although Kirin who thought that she had handled it well as she dodged it by jumping aside, her right leg could not follow. The black-lacquered blade grazed her left arm, and the man’s knee hammered into her abdomen in a place that caused her movements to became dull.
“ー!”
Though she almost collapsed on the floor unintentionally, she could not do it.
Kirin mustered her power and leapt back greatly taking a distance.
A thorn from a shadow attacked her as it aimed at where she was to land, but it was eliminated by Saya.
(…Strong)
She could by no means afford to underestimate him. There was also the handicap of her injured foot.
However, even if Kirin was in perfect condition, would she really be able to defeat this man…?
In terms of sword skills, Kirin was above him, but she was completely losing in Taijutsu. Moreover, there was no hesitation at all in his attacks. An art of combat with sole purpose of killing the opponent.
Since Saya must protect Flora, she probably had her hands full by just dealing with the man’s ability.
If Kirin used "Conjoined Cranes", she might be able to defeat him; but it would be difficult considering the condition of her foot.
(It’s all or nothing… No, but if I fail…)
But, the man did not give her room to think.
As he shortened the distance with a surprisingly quiet run, he let out sharp, consecutive attacks.
Throat, chest, temple, abdomen.
If any of his attacks which contained blade, fists and kicks were to hit her, the fight would be settled as these attacks aimed only at her vitals.
“ーIt’s the end”
“Eh?”
The man suddenly muttered and his figure disappeared from Kirin’s eyes.
At that moment, Kirin noticed that she had been maneuvered into a trap.
Before her eyes, a wall. It was the light behind her that caused Kirin’s shadow to be projected there.
(Like this, my body will get in the way and Saya-san won’t be able to shoot…!)
“Kirin, dodge!”
Though she turned her body as she heard Saya’s voice, she was slightly late.
A thorn which extended from the shadow pierced Kirin’s flank.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
To the pain which felt like a lump of burning iron was pushed (in), a scream was unconsciously leaked.
Her clothes were quickly dyed in red and she was rapidly losing strength.
Though she almost dropped Senbakiri, she bit her lips and endured it somehow, and cut off the thorn with her trembling hand.
But, it was the best she could do, and she forcibly stopped her body which almost fell down by using Senbakiri as support.
“It’s a vital point. You are no longer able to fight with that bleeding. She will lose her life if you don’t treat it quickly.”
The man indifferently declared and calmly advanced.
“ーNot, yet.”
But, Kirin stood so as to block his way with unsteady steps.
“What can you do with your body in that state?”
There was neither scorn nor self-conceit in the man’s voice. He was just telling the fact.
Right, it was a fact.
Kirin was probably not able to wield her sword anymore.
“Do you want to try, and see…?”
Then, it must be after the next strike she would give up.
As Kirin forcibly fixed her breathing, she sheathed Senbakiri and took a stance.
“A quick draw[21], huh…?”
The man also narrowed his eyes as he was cautious.
He must not be careless for even an instant here.
“Toudou Style, art of sword drawing ー "Folding Feather"”
Muttering so, Kirin unsheathed Senbakiri.
ーAt least, the man probably thought it would be like that.
“What…?”
To the man’s pupils which were like stones, surprised surfaced for the first time.
It was because Kirin had not even drawn out Senbakiri yet after all.
However, the man’s body had reflexively moved so as to deal with her illusionary slash.
From Kirin’s perspective now, it was similar to a figure full of openings.
This time for real, Senbakiri ran through its scabbard and drew a sword slash.
The point of the sword splendidly cut off the tendons of both arms of the man.
“Impossible…”
The Toudou Style’s secret technique is "Conjoined Cranes" ー in other words, an unending chain of continuous attacks.
However, its essence is to trick the opponent by use of gaze, breathing, and preliminary movements or gestures.
Making use of that was the Toudou Style, Art of Sword Drawing ー it was a sword of illusion which made it seem like it was drawn out even though it was not. This was the first time that Kirin had succeeded in doing it in actual combat though.
“…!”
But, Kirin who reached her limit staggered and fell to her knees, drained.
On the other hand, the man was still standing in front her, languidly hanging both of his arms.
“It’s a great technique, but you’ve reached your limit. I can still…”
“ーNo, it’s enough.”
Before the man finished speaking, a whirlpool of light swallowed his body.
“ー!”
Wolfdora’s shot, which Saya fired, sent the man flying into the wall, and the wall which received it could not take it and raggedly crumbled down. Just like that, the man’s body had been swallowed in the collapsed debris.
Of course, there was no way that Saya would have overlooked such an opening. If the line of fire was cleared because Kirin squatted down, the only thing she had to do was to leave the rest up to her. Right, she trusted her.
“Kirin, pull yourself together!”
“Toudou-sama! Toudou-sama!”
While hearing the voices Saya and Flora who rushed over, Kirin thought of Ayato and Julis as her consciousness faded.
(That’s right… the Senpais’ match, I wonder how it’s going…)
ーOverwhelming.
It was a strength that could not be expressed as anything other than that.
“Fuhahahahahaha! What’s the matter, Amagiri Ayato?”
While dodging Ardi’s hammer by a hair's breadth, Ayato had sneaked around to his blind spot and swung his sword.
Only to have it stopped by the defensive barrier as if it was natural that it did not reach.
In addition, another barrier forcibly sent Ayato flying, and Ardi’s hammer attacked him with a strike on his side as his body floated in the air. As Ayato extended his arm and thrust his sword into the ground, he changed his trajectory by using it as a pivot point and somehow dodged the blow.
“Bloom proudly ー PrimroseDancing nine-spirering-flower!”
At the same time, Julis’ fireballs attacked Ardi, but they were also stopped by multiple defensive barriers.
“Eeih, what on earth is happening? No matter how you put it, he (it) has become too strong!”
“Really, I agree…!”
As Ayato created some distance and congregated with Julis, he nodded while smiling wryly.
Though they had thought that since the time they watched the semifinal’s match, Ardi’s strength after the union was abnormal.
From basic specs such as power and speed up to the power of the weapons armaments, roughly all of the abilities which could be considered had improved. Even if Rimsi gave all her power to Ardi, it should be impossible to be strengthened like this.
Moreover, what was frightening was that that strength was completely different even in comparison to what he showed in the semifinal.
“Even when he fought against Saya and Kirin, he did not deploy multiple defensive barriers!”
This was no longer an issue at the level of whether his learning ability was high.
It was fortunate for Ayato and Julis that Ardi was not assertively attacking. It looked like Ardi wanted to enjoy this battle for as long time as much as possible.
“Fuhahahaha! Splendid! So, this is what it means when power boils! And the current me is able to use this power much more efficiently than before! What delight! What excitement! This is what was given by Master, my true power!”
“True power…?”
At these words, Ayato suddenly thought of one possibility.
“Hey, Julis… If the current Ardi thinks that those are his original specs, how is it (what do you think)?”
If the purpose of the union was not to strengthen, but to display his original power.
“Like your seal? It isn’t something impossible, but for what reason would they do such aー Ayato!”
When he returned his gaze, after being startled by Julis’ voice, Ardi was heading towards them as he positioned a large gun.
That wasー
“Now, take this! This is my Walneil Hammeeeeerrrrrrrrrrr!”
The head of the hammer was launched with a shock strong enough shake the air.
“Julis, hold on!”
As Ayato drew Julis close to him, he greatly jumped to the side.
While being stirred up by the blast and rolling on the ground, Ayato and Julis immediately stood up and fixed their stances. When looking at it, the area where the hammer hit directly was gouged out.
“The power of that also seems to have increased…”
In addition to the fact that it was a really destructive power, like this, even if they avoided a direct hit, it looked like they would receive considerable damage by just being caught in the blast.
“Fuhahahaha! Come on, I can still keep going!”
After Ardi caught the hammer head, which had come back to the handle, he prepared to shoot again without a moment's pause.
“What’s more, a rapid-fire (successive discharges)…!?”
“Run, Julis!”
Ayato and Julis began to run around the outer circumference of the stage. As if chasing them, explosions occurred behind them many times.
“Though it’s late to ask, isn’t there any strategy?”
“Don’t be absurd! If I could at least do something about that defensive barrier, it’s not as if there isn't something we can do, but….”
Although searching for their next move while running, it was, as expected, difficult with this much of a difference in power.
“Hmm… As expected unlike Rimsi, I am not very good at shooting. It will not easily hit. ーNo, wait.”
Then Ardi, who just thought of a good idea, laughed loudly.
“Fuhahahahahaha! That’s right! In that case, how about this?”
At the same time as Ardi loudly said that, the hammer was launched.
“W-What!?”
Even though they hurriedly changed the direction, multiple defensive barriers were already deployed to surround them.
“Like this, you cannot easily dodge!”
At the same time as Ardi loudly said so, the hammer was launched.
“Kuh…!”
“Eeih…! Bloom proudly, AnthuriumGreat Crimson Heart Blazing Shield!”
Although Julis promptly manifested a shield of flames, it was easily broken, and Ayato concentrated Prana to protect Julis. A shock, which tore at their limbs, assaulted them and their visions became dark for an instant. Thrown against the Battle-Stage defense wall, his bones creaked, and it was as if all his internal organs had been crushed.
“Guh…”
(This is how it is when one invests all the Prana to the defense, huh…)
While wiping blood on his lips, Ayato totteringly (unsteadily) stood up.
“Julis… are you all right?”
“Yes, somehow since you protected me… Sorry, you saved me.”
It looked like Julis also sustained considerable damage, but she somehow stood up and smiled wryly.
That said, it would be probably impossible to endure once again that attack just now.
“Hohou~u, you receive that direct hit, and you still stand, huh… as expected!”
Though Ardi praised so, he retrieved the Hammer head which came back, and set it up once again. One could understand that power gathered there.
(Now it came to this, I must at least be prepared for mutual defeat...!)
Even if Ayato was defeated, they would win as long as Julis remained. He did not think that he could break that defensive barrier even if he went towards it with the risk of being defeated, but it was much better than being defeated like this without doing anything.
Just when Ayato resolved himself for it and positioned his swordー
『"How overwhelming, Player Ardi’s power! Now, finally this final will come to its… wait, eeeeh!? Hey!?"』
『"Uwaaaaaaaah! What is it, what is it?"』
Confused voices suddenly resounded from the live reporter seat.
And just after that, in a familiar voice different from both the live reporter’s and the commentator’s;
『"ーErrr, ahem. Ayato, Julis, do you hear?"』
That calm, yet gentle voice was without doubt Claudia’s.
『"Flora is safe. So rest assured. And ー fight to your heart’s content."』
One could see that Ayato, Julis, Ardi and even the whole hall were dumbfounded for an instant.
『"Fufufu, well then, please excuse me."』
『"Come again!? Just n-now, that was Seidoukan Academy student council president, right!?"』
『"Ah, yes, it was… It was Ms. Claudia Enfield, I think."』
Both the live reporter and the commentator were still confused about the sudden intruder. And all the more so since they did not understand at all the meaning of her speech.
However, Ayato and Julis looked at each other’s faces and burst into laughter.
“Puh, Hahahahaha! Geez, that girl, no matter how you put it, she is too reckless!”
“To think that she would barge in the live reporter seat expressly just to communicate with us…”
That said, it was also a fact that there was no other way than that to communicate with the players during a match. If one were follow the rules of the Festa, there might be some sort of censure, but Claudia, surely aware of that, had done it for Ayato and Julis.
“Now then, we can’t afford to lose after she went as far as to do it.”
“Also for Saya’s and Kirin-chan’s sake.”
Ayato said that and took an activation body from the holder on his waist.
Since those two girls did it, next was their turn.
“Hmm, I don’t know what it was just now… but, I will just merely fully use my power!”
Ardi fixed the aim of his hammer to Ayato and Julis and the Hammer head begun to rotate with an intense force.
“Walneil Hammer, fire!”
The hammer head which was released with a heavy low-pitched sound approached them at high speed.
But, Ayato calmed down and activated his Ogre Lux which lit up it's deep crimson Ulm Mana Dite.
“…Ok, lets go, Ser-Versta.”
He said to the pure white blade, with a jet black pattern that surrounded it.
As the large blade of its huge single edge bisected the Hammer head with one swing, it also cut all the defensive barriers which surrounded Ayato and Julis.
“ーIt’s the beginning of the counterattack.”
“Can’t you do anything, Ernesta?”
Meanwhile in Allekant’s watching booth, Camilla was pressing Ernesta (for an answer).
“Well, even if you say that.”
“Even you understand, don’t you? The increasing rate of these numbers isn’t normal! We should stop him as soon as possible!”
Compared to Camilla’s serious expression, Ernesta’s expression on the other hand was really loose.
“Even you understand, don’t you Camilla? Since the limit control has been already transferred by Rimsi, we can no longer do anything at this point.”
“There is still the forced outage, right?”
In all puppets, for emergency one was obligated to put a function so as to shut down all the functions from the outside. Ardi was not an exception.
“Hey stop it! Do you ask me to forcibly shut out my own child?”
However, it will give damage to the nucleus part (nerve center) of puppets, and irreparable damages were more likely to occur in the software than in the hardware.
“You should do so if necessary. You have that responsibility.”
“Responsibility. Huh.”
As Ernesta said that monotonously, she turned to face Camilla with a slightly serious face.
“You know, I may not look like this, but I earnestly believe.”
“Believe, you say? In what? In the you that created them?”
Ernesta just shrugged her shoulders without replying.
Camilla glared at such Ernesta for a while, but she greatly sighed before long and sat on the chair.
“…I think that it’s a reckless gamble though.”
“Fufufu, I said it before, right? That the life is a series of gambles.”
“But, there is no existing human being who keeps winning.”
To Camilla who admonished as she gave up, Ernesta chuckled and answered.
“Well, that’s true. But, isn’t it precisely why it’s interesting?”
As Ayato set up Ser-Versta, he shortened the distance to Ardi in one movement.
Ardi faced his enemy and deployed another defensive barrier again to block Ayato, but he easily bisected it.
“I see, as expected an output of this level is nothing for you, huh… In that case!”
“Haaaaaaaa!”
As Ayato jumped towards Ardi’s bosom with godlike speed, he slashed with Ser-Versta from below. No matter how thick Ardi’s armor was, it might as well be paper before Ser-Versta which had easily burned away that defensive barrier.
With the timing being so perfect, the current Ardi did not have any technique to defend against this blow.
ー Or that should have been the case.
“Nuuuuuuuh!”
But, Ardi repelled Ayato’s Ser-Versta’s attack with his hammer.
“Wha…!?”
Ayato opened his eyes wide in surprise and looked closer.
Ardi’s hammer head should have definitely been destroyed a little while ago.
“Fuhahahahahaha! I will be troubled if you underestimate my defensive barrier! Even if I can't defend with a single barrier, if I bundle and compress them like this, even Ser-Versta will not be able to break it easily!”
“…I see.”
Certainly, in the hammer which Ardi wielded, there was something which was made up of multiple compressed layers of light barriers instead of the normal head.
“But, in that case…!”
If he refocused the barrier, which he had used for defense up until now, into a weapon then, in the end, it was no difference in having diverted the defensive barrier.
Only one stroke of sword.
It would be all right as long as it reached Ardi’s school badge.
“Ooooooooooooooooooooooooh!”
“Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh!”
Ayato’s Ser-Versta and Ardi’s hammer violently clashed and scattered sparks.
When Ayato slashed his sword diagonally from the shoulder, Ardi parried; when Ardi mowed down the hammer, Ayato dodged it. Even after exchanging dozens of blows, both of them did not yield, not even a little.
“Fuhahahaha! It’s fun! It’s really fun! But, not yet! My power is not still something like this!”
ーThere.
“I’ll be troubled if you forgot about me!”
After the dragon of flame spread its wings, it lightly soared and attacked Ardi from the sky.
“Bloom proudly ー Antirrhinum MajusSnapping Firebloom of the Engulfing Dragon!”
As the dragon of flame spread its wings, it lightly soared and attacked Ardi from the sky.
For Ardi, who was exchanging blows with Ayato currently, there were no means to defend against it.
“Gunuh!?”
After Ardi strongly repelled Ayato’s blow, he leapt back taking a distance and repositioned his hammer in order to confront the flame dragon and destroy it.
However, Ayato was not so naive as to allow it.
“Amagiri Bright Dragon Style Sword Intermediate Technique ー ”
Six consecutive thrusts after taking a stance in the haze.
With this timing and this time for sure, either Ayato’s Technique or Julis’ dragon, Ardi should only be able to deal with one of them.
“Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh! Not yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!”
However as Ardi conspicuously roared loudly, blue light gushed out from all of his body.
At the same time Ayato was sent flying with a tremendous power and the dragon of flame disappeared.
(Blue light…!? I see, so that’s what it is…!)
Julis rushed over to Ayato who somehow straightened his posture and managed to land.
“Are you all right, Ayato?”
“Yes, I’m all right… But, this is a little unexpected.”
Ayato said that and looked at Ardi.
Ardi’s roar resounded without a pause and the blue light increased its shine more and more.
An invisible power seemed to be swirling in its surroundings and one could not readily approach.
“However, what on earth is that…?”
“Julis, didn’t you notice? We should have had fought against a similar opponent.”
“What did you say?”
“I should have noticed it earlier. In the first place, no matter how much strong the barrier was, it shouldn’t be able to exchange blows head-on against Ser-Versta. In the past, what was able to do it was…”
As if also realizing it, Julis muttered with an amazed expression.
“…Gravi-Sheath, huh.”
“Exactly. If it isn’t another Ogre Lux, it shouldn’t be able to defend against Ser-Versta’s attacks.”
Ayato calmly nodded and continued.
Ser-Versta was a non-defensive demon sword which burned all creation. The Ogre Lux Gravi-Sheath owned by Irene, whom they fought in the fourth round, was the only weapon which was able to exchange blows with Ser-Versta.
“ーIn other words, Ardi is probably using its Ulm Mana Dite as a power source.”
Originally, the light given by Mana Dite's were always green. It was only Ulm Mana Dites which possessed peculiar colors. It’s not as if a color could not be somehow applied by processing, but that blue light was clearly different.
“But… then, don’t tell me, it means that Ardi himself is an Ogre Lux…?”
“Who knows? I don’t know whether it’s correct to call him that, but… A least, we could presume that that is its ability defensive barrier.”
In any case, that would explain everything.
It was because the fusion turned (invested) the Ulm Mana Dite’s power into output ー rather, it was probably intended to restrain (hold down) the overly powerful output of the Ulm Mana Dite by the use of multiple Mana Dites. If thats the case, the parts received from Rimsi were probably the control unit.
“Wait! Then, the current Ardi, could rampageー!?”
As she recalled the scene with Irene's battle, Julis turned pale. Certainly, the current situation was quite close to the time when Gravi-Sheath rampaged.
But, Ayato thought differently.
“No, it is certainly sure that that power isn’t easily managed, but Ardi is probably…”
Just as Ayato said that, Ardi’s roar suddenly stopped.
The force field, which had been rampaging so much, disappeared as well and a sudden silence fell on the stage.
However, only the blue light which overflowed from Ardi’s body did not disappear and it even seemed to increase in strength.
“…Fu, fuhahahahaha! I see! So, this is my power! It is no wonder that Master warned us!”
“Perhaps, did he control it…?”
Julis opened her eyes wide in surprise, but Ayato, though vaguely, had expected that it was probably like that..
The Ogre Lux, by the affinity between its user and itself ー in other words by the compatibility rating ー depended on how much power could be drawn out. If so, then Ernesta should have taken this into consideration.
Though only a guess, even this personality of Ardi was probably something adjusted in accordance with the personality of the Ulm Mana Dite.
Howeverー
“Now, though regrettable, we shall soon put an end to this.” Ardi said.
On the armor of Ardi, upon closer inspection, there were countless cracks. The blue light also began to leak from there.
The body of Ardi could not endure the output of the Ulm Mana Dite.
“Here I come!”
But, as Ardi once again built the hammer with defensive barriers, he rushed without taking a stance.
Ayato put Ser-Versta in a horizontal position to meet it.
“Nuuuuuuuuh!”
“Guh!”
That blow was clearly faster and heavier than when they exchanged blows a little while ago.
Although managing the huge hammer in his hands should be difficult, the overwhelming output and his learning ability surpassed it.
Probably for that reason, after exchanging dozens of blows, Ayato was beginning to gradually get pushed back.
Tough not to the extent of Ardi’s hammer, since Ayato’s Ser-Versta was also quite big, it was not easy to handle it effectively. Following the speed of the current Ardi was the most he could do.
(At this rate, I will be overwhelmed soon…!)
“Ayato, step back!”
Julis’ sharp voice struck his ears.
Ayato, who immediately guessed her intention, blocked the hammer which was deflected downwards with the flat part of Ser-Versta’s blade and leapt back with that momentum.
“Fufufu! Did you set a trap or something again? All right, I will show you that any kind of techniques will no longer work on the current me!”
“Hou, you said it right? Then, fully taste this!”
As Julis swung downward Aspera Spina, a huge magic circle emerged at Ardi’s feet.
“Come out ー RafflesiaGreat Sparkling Bomb Ring Flower!”
At that moment, a flame flower of a tremendous size manifested before Ardi’s eyes and swelled up.
Howeverー
“Fuhahahahahaha! Look! With the current me, even something like this is possible!”
Defensive barriers locked it up from every direction so as to crush its petals.
Ardent flames and blast raged within that box, but the defensive barriers did not waver at all.
“Impossible…”
Julis muttered with an astonished face.
It was no wonder, since this large Great Sparkling Bomb Ring Flower was the technique with the highest heat even among Julis’ setting-type abilities. It had also been outdone by Gravi-Sheath before, but even then it was only prevented locally. If it was completely blocked, the shock would be probably big, as well.
“Then, I shall return the favor!”
As Ardi held up his palms, this time he overlapped the defensive barriers and deployed them into a huge sphere. And enormous energy was gathered within. He would probably pour all of the output of the Ulm Mana Dite into it.
Ardi tightly grasped his hands, and before long the sphere was quickly compressed and settled it into his fist.
“Don’t tell me…!”
Ayato’s intuition informed him of a danger of high level ー but, he could do nothing about it.
“Now, burst open!”
As Ardi opened his fist, the compressed energy was released all at once.
It was a huge explosion big enough to drag the whole stage into it. Of course, there was no way out of it.
“ー”
Everything went white by a flash of light, and Julis’ scream was drowned out by a thunderous sound.
Ayato who was blown away like a piece of trash was about to lose consciousness for an instant due to the force impact, but fortunately, the acute pain which ran throughout his body forced him to stay awake.
“Guh…”
Ayato, who was knocked down, somehow managed to raise his body and checked out the situation. Although his uniform, made of composite fibers, was torn all over, his school badge was safe with only a couple scratches as if he partly protect it unconsciously.
He was relieved but as he raised his gaze, his expression unconsciously hardened.
The stage, which spread before his eyes, was completely destroyed.
The ground had been gouged into a crater, and the artificial soil used for shock absorption was completely blown away.
Even on the Battle-Stage’s defense walls, which were protecting the audience, sparks were scattering here and there.
Just one point, a little section at the center of explosion, remained intact.
Multiple defensive barriers layered in a dome around Ardi, who stood there.
(Even if it was in the center of that explosion, is he unscathed…?)
If so, then the solidity of the defensive barrier might be able to endure Ser-Versta’s offensive ability. It might have been different if Ayato could draw all the power of Ser-Versta, but it may not be equal to that of the current Ardi who was able draw out all the power of his Ulm Mana Dite.
“Fuhahahaha! Now, now, let’s continue! I have not yet…”
However, after only saying that much, he suddenly fell to his knees.
“Hmm…?”
Was it disintegration due to the high output of the Ulm Mana Dite? From both his legs, blue sparks scattered.
It did not seem to be that big a deal, but thanks to that, it gave enough time, even if only a little, for Ayato to fix his stance.
As expected, if he was chased in this situation, he would not get away.
“Ayato, are you safe…?”
When turning her face with weak voice, Julis just raised her body behind Ayato.
However, an anguished expression surface on Julis' face and she immediately fell down again.
“Julis!”
“I-I’m all right… is what I would like to say, but as expected it’s been a little tough…”
Even though she was helped up by Ayato, Julis, completely exhausted, just floated a wry smile.
“To be honest… do you think that we still have a chance of winning?”
“…It isn’t like there’s none, but...”
For example, if they gained time as is, the possibility that Ardi would self-destruct was high.
But it was not likely that Ayato and Julis would be able to hold on until then. After all, they already had wounds all over their bodies. They still have enough Prana, but most of the damages accumulated were draining Ayato’s physical strength and he was reaching his limit.
It would probably be enough to be able to exchange at most dozens of blows at full power.
“That plan isn’t too realistic… Anything else?”
“If I could at least surpass him in speed, I would go for a bout…”
Under the present condition where he too fell behind in sword speed, even desperate (suicidal) tactics could not be used.
Just as a side-note, there was also meteor arts, but even with the power increased, because the sword blade would become larger, the sword speed would drop further. In that case, it would not even be able to hit the current Ardi.
“Speed, huh…”
As Julis thought of something, she suddenly lifted her head.
“I recall having heard from Claudia before that Ser-Versta originally takes the most suitable form for its user. But, I don’t think that this form is like that. If you can somehow do something about it, wouldn’t it improve a little?”
“Even if you say that…”
“Didn’t you make it grow bigger when you used the meteor arts? The point (idea) is probably the same.”
She said it plainly, but at that time, he had just merely poured Prana into it.
“I’m extremely bad at small adjustments of Prana.”
“Hmm…”
After a little thought, Julis resolved herself and told Ayato;
“ーUnderstood. Then, I will handle it.”
“Eh?”
“Allow me to touch Ser-Versta for a little while.”
With a sidelong glance to the surprised Ayato, Julis stretched her hand to Ser-Versta which Ayato was holding.
“W-Waitー!”
“Kuh…!”
Julis who touched Ser-Versta however removed her hand immediately. Even though she had touched for only a short time, her palm had been thoroughly burnt.
“Fufufu… as expected, It’s hard to deal with. It doesn’t even let those whom it does not approve of touch it, huh… Well either way, I, being a Strega, am not able to handle this guy anyways.”
Most of the people with ability such as Dante and Strega could not use an Ogre Lux. It was something which Julis herself said before.
“Well, it’s fine. That now was enough. ーAyato, try to use the meteor arts.”
“Meteor arts? In this state?”
Urged by Julis who nodded, Ayato poured Prana into Ser-Versta which he held into his right hand.
As if responding to it, Ser-Versta’s edge extended and the sword blade lengthened.
Julis softly put her right hand on Ayato’s right hand.
“Julis…?”
“Bloom proudly ー AlexandriteOrnament King Flower of Blazing Bindweeds!”
Soon after, Julis’ Prana ran through Ayato’s right arm, and flame was lit as it coiling around Ser-Versta blade
“This is…?”
“It was originally a technique for allowing a weapon be clad in flames, but this time I will assist your Prana adjustment through this. Anyways, you should just pour Prana into this guy.”
“U-Understood…!”
Anyways, he believed in Julis and did as she said; Ser-Versta, which was expanding until now, suddenly stopped.
“Ayato, visualize it ー The form, the size and the appearance, the ideal Ser-Versta which you are the most comfortable with.”
“…”
Ayato silently visualized (imagined) it.
Then, Julis’ flame, which surrounded the sword blade in spiral-shaped pattern, thinly stretched as if tightening it, and began to follow the black pattern on Ser-Versta.
The Ulm Mana Dite, which was the core, increased its shine, raised a groan and shuddered.
Before long, Ser-Versta changed to a thin, flexible form ー it was fixed to a form slightly bigger than Kirin’s Senbakiri. On its sword blade, the black pattern and the flames were alternately intertwined, making it amazingly beautiful.
“Phew… we’ve done it. This is your ーAmagiri Ayato’sー Ser-Versta.”
Julis took a deep, heavy breath and weakly laughed.
“This is…”
“This is as much as I can help you for this match. I leave the rest to you, Ayato.”
“…Roger that, Julis.”
As Ayato gently lay down Julis, he turned Ser-Versta to Ardi with one swing.
“Sorry, did I keep you waiting?”
“No, I was also in a somewhat bad condition, you see. I was performing emergency measures.”
Ayato slowly advanced to the center of the Battle-Stage ー though still calling it the stage, it was already only the leftovers after the soil and the fragments of the stage had been blown off and scattered.
From the opposite side, Ardi likewise advanced calmly, and the moment that they stepped into each other’s rangeー
Both of them shortened the distance all at once and clashed in the center of the stage.
“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
With a war cry, Ayato swung down Ser-Versta in a straight line.
(Amazing…! It’s incredibly light and it fits perfectly in my hand!)
In terms of bodily sensation (sensorily), the sword speed seemed to have doubled.
Ardi barely blocked it with the hammer, but that moment, the hammer head constructed of defensive barriers flew off. It had not burnt, but melted by the heat and popped.
“What…!?”
As expected, even Ardi raised a voice of surprise, but he immediately reconstructed the hammer head and swung it downward from an overhead position.
Even if Ayato recovered his speed and was now above in terms of weapon power, if he was to receive even one hit, it would be over. In addition, Ayato did not possess enough physical strength to keep exchanging blows.
(I will decide the match here…!)
As Ayato dodged it with the smallest margin, he aimed at the school badge on Ardi’s chest and let out a thrust with all his might butー
Before that, Ardi’s blow swung downward had crushed the floor of stage.
“Kuhー!”
As he jumped back in order to escape from the large hole opened at his feet, Ardi who sprouted the flight unit on both his shoulders moved at high speed in the sky and attempted to grab Ayato.
“I got you!”
However, Ayato used the hammer as a stepping stone, at the same time the Battle-Stage was further blown away with force to squash even the wind, and flew even higher.
Even he thought that he made movements which exceeded the limits, he had enough conviction to make it possible for the current him.
He jumped off a large fragment which was blown into the air by using the state of “cognition”, and sneaked around to Ardi’s back in the sky.
“Nuuuuuuuuh! I will not let you do that!”
The blue light emitted from Ardi’s body further increased its shine, and the flight unit rotated his body with a force as powerful as a rocket. At the same time, Ardi swung his hammer for a strike from the side.
Howeverー
“Amagiri Bright Dragon Style’ Hidden Technique ー !”
However, Ayato had reach Ardi’s bosom a moment earlier.
At the same time that Ardi’s hammer smashed the fragment which he used as scaffold (footing), Ser-Versta traced a sword slash that resembled a half-moon.
Both of them who passed by each other in the air and fell to the ground, their landings sent up smoke flashily.
“Haa… Haa…”
The physical strength of Ayato, who fell on his back and had been exceeding his limits long ago… could no longer even stand up let alone swing his sword.
What came into view was only a dazzling light which shone on him from the far away ceiling.
He did not know if his sword even reached Ardi.
Without even the physical strength to check, what reached Ayato’s ears was the mechanical voice that told him the conclusion.
“Ernesta Kühne, badge broken.”
“End of the battle! Winner, Amagiri Ayato & Julis-Alexia Van Riessfeld!”
As the whole hall fell silent, the laughter of a very human machine resounded.
“Fuhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! ーIt is my complete defeat!”
He soon heard the applause like wavelets from here and there which changed into explosively loud cheering all at once.
『"F-Finally! Finally the conclusion! After an intense, fierce battle, it is the contestants Amagiri and Riessfeld of Seidoukan Academy who have reined in this Phoenix!"』
『"Haah, I watched it. It was a splendid match suitable for a final!"』
Cheers, applause, ovations, whistles and the voices of live reporter and commentator.
As various sounds and voices poured down to him, Ayato slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Chapter 7 - Post-night Festival
Because the Battle-Stage of the Sirius Dome became unavailable for use, the awards ceremony and closing ceremony were hurriedly transferred to the Procyon Dome. Since unlike the opening ceremony, the attending students were limited, it was said that there would be no problem even if the location became somewhat small.
Actually, since it was only the winner and runner-ups who attended the awards ceremony, the comfort of Ayato who had to stand in the stage was very bad. After all, Julis had been carried to the Medical Center immediately after the final, and Ardi who was the runner-up had also been taken to the laboratory by Ernesta. In other words, standing now in the stage of this awards ceremony were only Ayato, Camilla and Rimsi.
On the other hand, the audience seating was overflowing with people to the extent that it was tightly packed. There was also the fact that the awards ceremony and closing ceremony were entrance-free (there were admission restrictions though), but customarily, it seemed that if the final was lively, the more lively it was, the more that number would increase. In such an interpretation, it would be said that the match of Ayato and company satisfied the audience.
“ーEven judging from the above-mentioned things, I think that one can understand just how wonderful this Phoenix was. Especially, although the exceptional measures regarding the two of Allekant Academy were strictly provisional, it will be important regarding the future rules enactment…”
On the platform, the Steering Committee Chairman Madiath Mesa was speaking general comments about this tournament. Whereas the greetings of the opening ceremony were mainly turned towards the students, the speech now was turned to the audience and televiewers. Probably for that reason, his tone was also somewhat formal.
As Ayato was somehow looking at the Student Council Presidents of each academy lined up on the platform, his eyes met those of one among them ー the student council president of Queen Veil Girl’s Academy for an instant.
Then, Sylvia slightly smiled and sent a wink teasingly. Though Ayato was shocked (surprised), Sylvia soon removed her gaze.
The feeling that that girl was the real Sylvia Ryuneheim sprung out now, but there were also several persons beside her who were looking at Ayato. It was the student council presidents of St. Garrardsworth Academy and World Dragon Seventh Institute. Especially, the student council president of World Dragon looked at Ayato with strangely glittering eyes, and it was a little scary.
Contrastively, the student council president of Le Wolfe Black Institute Dirk Eberwein didn't even try to look Ayato’s way. There was no evidence that the matter of this time was Dirk’s doing, but they could only wait for the investigation of the Hunter Guards about this.
It was said that at the time when Claudia received the information that Flora was rescued, she contacted the Hunter Guards. In the winner interview after the final, Claudia accompanied Ayato instead of Julis, but the matter of Flora was suddenly disclosed there. Naturally, there was a great uproar in the press conference room as if someone had stirred up a beehive, and due to that, the time of interview was greatly extended. This awards ceremony was originally scheduled to be held from the evening, but it had completely grown dark already outside.
By the way, Claudia said that the Hunter Guards were very angry that she had not contacted them when the kidnapping was confirmed.
“Well then, I will call the winner and runner-up of the 24th Phoenix. ーYou three, please come here.”
When they were called by Madiath and went up to the platform, huge applause arose from the audience seat.
“First of all, I praise here the superior technology and strong will of both Camilla Pareto and Ernesta Kühne ー as well as the good fight of both players Ardi and Rimsi. Congratulations for the second place.”
As Madiath said so and shook hands with Camilla, he handed her a big trophy.
“It is an honor, Chairman.”
“Thanks to you guys, it would be no exaggeration to say that a new history was engraved in the Festa again. We must always continue evolving. For that purpose, talents like you guys are indispensable. Do your best in the future as well.”
Madiath faced Rimsi next and similarly exchanged handshakes with her.
“I don’t know how the treatment of puppets in the future Festas will turn out, but your activity will definitely have a great meaning.”
“…I appreciate your words.” Rimsi answered with her usual unchanged calm expression.
“And, I praise here the bright glory, indomitable fighting spirit and brilliant victory of Amagiri Ayato and Julis-Alexia van Riessfeld. ーCongratulations for the championship.”
“Thank you.”
Madiath’s strong hand suddenly grasped Ayato’s hand.
“Though it seems that there was an unexpected disturbance in the final, you guys who pulled through the fight without losing to it are surely suitable to receive this trophy. We of the Steering Committee also intend to fully cooperate with the Hunter Guards and strive to investigate the truth. We will never tolerate something like that again, so I would like you to feel at ease.”
“…Thank you for your consideration.”
The crest of hexagon which was Asterisk’s symbol was carved on the trophy. It was even bigger than the trophy which Camilla had received, and very heavy.
“Personally, I found your match really interesting. I’m looking forward to seeing your activity again in the next Festa.”
“Y-Yes…”
As Madiath nodded with a smile, he put his hand on Ayato’s shoulder and urged him to turn around.
When turning around in response to it, the reporters of media gathered as they surrounded the platform.
“Now! A Grand applause for them who gave us the best excitement and impression!”
Receiving Madiath’s voice, thunderous cheers and applause arose from all over the hall.
It was the most grand and enthusiastic ovation since the beginning of the Phoenix until now. It was a storm of applause which poured from all the 360°.
Although Ayato was perplexed at how he should respond to it, he felt a sense of accomplishment which exceeded some mountains.
After finishing the awards ceremony, Ayato returned to the waiting room with Claudia.
“So what would you do after this? Just so you know, there’s a reception, but you are not particularly required to participate.”
“In that case, I want to go the Medical Center. I want to see Julis’ and Kirin-chan’s conditions.”
Though Julis also received considerable damages, Kirin seems to be more seriously injured. It was not life-threatening, but even with the technology of the Medical Center and the resilience (recovery power) of a Starpulse Generation, hospitalization was necessary for several days.
That only showed how desperate she was in order to save Flora.
ーAnd.
“…Ayato.”
Saya who was standing in front of the waiting room saw Ayato and ran up to him.
“Congratulations for the championship. As one would expect of my Ayato.”
“It’s thanks to Saya and Kirin-chan. Thank you.”
As Ayato said so, Saya, unusually embarrassed, shook her head.
“…No, It wasn’t my power alone. Kirin, Yabuki and MacPhail have also helped.”
“Lester?”
“Uh huh.”
When Saya pointed behind her, a conspicuously large back peeped out from the shadow of a pillar.
“Thank you, Lester. You really helped us.”
“There’s really no reason to thank me! I was just threatened by that bastard Yabuki, and I had no choice but to help!”
He returned a curt reply without even looking Ayato’s way.
“Hahaha… wait, eh? Speaking of Yabuki, where is he?”
Ayato looked around, but he could not see Eishiro’s figure.
“That bastard ran away in the middle of fight…! Geez, he calls someone and he himself flees… the next time I meet him, he won’t get away with that.”
Lester’s voice was trembling with an anger he could not hide.
It looked like he quite seriously angry. It was no wonder though.
“…But sorry, Ayato. The criminal was not caught.”
Saya looked downward with a despondent face.
“It’s nothing to apologize for. Anyway, the most important is that everyone was safe.”
He had already heard from Claudia, although the criminal who kidnaped Flora was repelled by Saya and Kirin, it seemed that he disappeared before they knew about it.
It meant that he had escaped at the opening when they were in a hurry about Kirin’s injury and the hurried contact to Claudia, but Ayato did not mind that much at that point.
Of course, if the criminal was caught, they might have been able to pursue Le Wolfe which was probably pulling the strings behind the scenes, but more than that, the fact that Saya, Flora and company were safe was much happier.
“Ah, by the way, we are on our way to the Medical Center now, but Saya, Lester, what will you do?”
“…I’m going, too. Kirin was stout-hearted, but her wound was not superficial. I’m worried about whether she’s all right.”
Saying so, Saya knitted her eyebrows as she was anxious.
“I’m going back. I tag along with you till there after all.”
Lester, still with his back turned on Ayato and company, lightly raised his hand and left, but he suddenly stopped on the way.
“That’s right ー well, um, I’ll just say congratulations.”
As he said so, this time for sure ーsomehow, at a quick paceー he left.
“Fufufu, even MacPhail-kun is not honest, eh… Well then, let’s find a means of transport until we reach the Medical Center. Please wait a little.”
Claudia took out her portable terminal and began to contact somewhere.
When making mindless exchanges with Saya about the finals while waiting for it (transportation)ー
“…Hmm?”
Saya suddenly turned her gaze to the back of the passage.
“Ah…”
When Ayato also looked that way, Camilla and Rimsi were coming over to this place.
“…What do you want?”
“ーI take back the words of the other day.”
At Camilla’s words, Saya stared in wonder.
“…I don’t understand. It was Ayato and Julis who defeated you. We lost.”
“I am not talking about the final, but yesterday’s match. You and Professor Sasamiya’s lux had surpassed this Rimsi. That’s clear for anyone who saw the match.”
“…But, I wasn’t able to win against Ardi.”
Camilla said with the same expression as Saya who muttered in frustration.
“I think that you guys have already realized, but Ardi’s defensive barrier is something which emulated the ability of an Ulm Mana Dite. That’s a defense system which I can say with confidence to be my greatest masterpiece, but… Ardi at the time of the fusion is different. Ardi in that state gets energy directly from the Ulm Mana Dite and uses its ability. In other words, it is not very different than using an ogre lux. And, the ideal of us, the FerroviusLion Faction is incompatible to something unstable like an ogre lux.”
As Camilla sighed there, she slowly shook her head.
“Thus, I personally don’t recognize that as a victory.”
“But…”
“It looked like it is not only me who think so.” Camilla said and stepped aside as if turning over.
Coming to the front, in her stead, was Rimsi. “Sasamiya Saya. I wish for a rematch with you.”
“A rematch…?”
“Well, since in the current situation, the autonomous type puppets can’t afford to duel at their own convenience, I don’t know when it would be though…”
Saya who had heard it with a blank face suddenly (with a puff) loosen her lips before long.
“Understood. If it’s the case, the revocation of those words of yours will have to be put on hold until then.”
“…What do you mean?”
This time, Camilla asked back as she was surprised.
“I also have my pride. I also don’t think that as a victory.”
“But…”
“Don’t worry. Next time, I will crushingly defeat you completely and clinch the decision.”
As Saya said and chuckled, Camilla also floated a light smile.
“…I see. Then, we shall do so.”
“ーYes.”
Only Rimsi had a calm expression, but for some reason Ayato felt like he saw a strong fighting spirit there.
The underground block of Asterisk was the jurisdiction of the Institution Maintenance Department, and a periodic inspection was performed at a considerable frequency. Hence, it was unsuitable for a criminal to hide himself, but it is not as if there weren't exceptions.
For example, in case when one perfectly knew the route and the period of that periodic inspection.
Even so, it was impossible to hide, but if it was at least to be used as an escape route, then there was no problem.
That man, who languidly hung down both his arms, while being soaked in water up to his knees, was quietly advancing through the drainage channel which frequently branched off, like a maze. Although a small light was mounted to the surface of a wall, at a space considerably away, one could hardly see well enough ahead with that light.
Even so, the man’s pace had not let up, but he suddenly stopped.
“He~e, I’m amazed that you were able to run to such a far off place with that body.”
“…”
The voice which echoed was improperly bright and light.
“GrimalkinBlack Cat Institute, gold eye No 7. If I’m not mistaken, your name is… Oh, I remember, was it Werner?”
As the man ーWernerー turned around, a youth floating a friendly smile was standing within the very dim light.
“That scar on your cheek… I know you. You’re the Ninja of the Shadow Star.”
“Oh dear, it makes me happy that you know about me.” The youth casually approached Werner without even showing signs of being cautious.
“Of course, I would know you. An oddball fellow in the same trade, it would immediately become a rumor.” There was no emotion in Werner's voice, and only an inhuman coldness could be felt. “It looks like you’re doing whatever you please. Seidokan will certainly have a headache, too.”
“Hahaha, coming from a pro like you, there are no words to return.” As the youth expressed a wry smile, he continued with a quite indifferent tone. “But ー it’d be boring to move just as I’m told, right?”
“You… by whose orders are you moving?”
“Well, I wonder.” In the youth’s expression ,just a little, a slightly dangerous color blurred.
At that moment, a thorn which jumped out from the youth’s shadow pierced his chest ー or so it looked like it.
However, there was only the youth’s uniform skewered there and the youth’s figure was nowhere to be found.
“ーIt’s called substitution’s technique.”
“!”
That voice was immediately heard from behind, but Werner could not turn around. A hot shock ran throughout his abdomen and a tepid fluid ran up the throat.
Werner who collapsed just like that into the drainage channel raising a loud splash.
If there was enough light, one would probably see that a red color which dyed the water was spreading.
As the youth lightly swung the kunai in his hand and swept off the blood, he turned towards the man.
“That’s why I rejected the invitation of the GrimalkinBlack Cat Institute.”
As the youth picked up his pierced uniform, he plainly frowned.
“Damn… that was a brand-new one…”
ーAllekant Academy Research Center Block.
“Hohoho, this is awful. It won’t be good if I don’t perform an overhaul, from the basic frame up.” Ernesta, who was working on Ardi’s repair in her laboratory, said with a really happy tone contrary to her drastic words.
“Fuhahahahaha! Well, it might be so!”
With all his limbs removed in a work room, behind a strengthened and hard glass wall, Ardi appeared to only have his head and chest… he heartily laughed.
“But, when it comes to only the materials which can withstand the output of the Ulm Mana Dite, I have no choice but to rebuild them from scratch. Even if I ask for their development from the guys of the SonnetBlack Woman Faction, it will take considerable time… Ardi, I’ll have you bear with a temporary assembled body for a while.” (Honestly “black woman” faction sounds weird but if that’s what it is then it can’t be helped lol)
“Umu! There is no helping it!”
“Then, first of allー what, what?”
Just at a point when she was about to start a full-scale assembly work, Ernesta’s portable terminable informed her of a call.
“Oh my, oh my…”
Ernesta satisfactorily laughed and opened a space window, after cutting off the background sound of the work room.
“Hey there, Your Excellency, the Tyrant, good day. What business do you have with me at this time?”
『"…Tch, what a disagreeable (sarcastic) woman."』
The plump young man projected on the space window responded to Ernesta’s greetings by clicking his tongue.
“Noー, but, but, the gift you took the trouble to give me, when I opened the lid, it was emptyー”
『"Shut up, damned woman. Isn’t it the responsibility of your junks who weren’t able to take advantage of this rare chance?"』
To Ernesta who loosely bent back and forth her body, Dirk spat so out.
“It isn’t really like I ask you anythingー.”
『"Hmph! ...Well, it’s fine, let’s go to the main subject. Can I hear your reply for what I ask you the other day?"』
“Reply?” Ernesta asked back with a blank face.
『"About whether or not you cooperate with us."』
“Ah! That, huh. Of course, the answer is NO.” She crossed her arms before her hands and greatly formed an X-mark. “As expected, you guys really have bad hobbies.”
『"I can say the same for you."』 Dirk glared at Ernesta with an extremely unpleasant face.
『"But… I wonder if you’ll be able to complete your third puppet like that."』
“ー”
Soon after, the atmosphere which Ernesta wore became tense.
Her expression remained a smiling face without change, but only just a little, her eyes became sharp.
“Hmm ー I see, you’re really something. Even though I haven’t yet told even Camilla about her… Should I say as expected of Le Wolfe?”
『"You didn’t find any compatible Ulm Mana Dite, right? Well, it’s no wonder; after all, Frauenlob is the stingiest (the most stringent) when it comes to the commercial offering of Ulm Mana Dite. It’s certainly very tough to drag it out from the Research Center, right?"』
“…”
『"Well, if you’d have won in this Phoenix, it might have been different, though."』
“…So? Regarding the situation of Ulm Mana Dite, it’s the same for Le Wolfe, isn’t it? Seizing another empty box would be unbearable, after all.”
『"Nobody said that we had to reveal it, however."』
Though Ernesta knitted her brows at that reply, she lightly laughed as she immediately realized something.
“Ah. Is this, by any chance, your wire puller?”
『"There isn’t such a guy. It’s a relationship in which we will lend you our strength only when we’re needed. There isn’t any common point between us other than having the same goal."』
“Hmm…”
As Ernesta threw in a vague response, she pondered for a while.
『"What’s wrong? Give me an answer, quickly."』
“…Understood. If it’s only hearing what you’ve to say, I’ll hear it.”
Even at that answer of Ernesta, Dirk, still with an irritated face, did not even grin.
『"All right. I’ll contact you again."』
Before the space window which disappeared, Ernesta took a great breath.
“Well then, you never know what might happen…”
Ernesta’s lips, which muttered that, were unwittingly loosening.
“Ah, Ayato-senpai… Ouch!”
Kirin, who recognized Ayato as he entered her hospital room, sprang up from the bed ー though assumed that way, and floated an anguished expression, while holding the side of her abdomen, and stiffened.
“W-Wait Kirin-chan, don’t overdo it!”
“N-No, I’m all right… this much will heal immediately.” Kirin said as Ayato hurriedly ran up to her, she smiled warmly while floating a few tears at the edge's of her eyes.
“…There’s no doubt that it’s a serious wound. Just behave yourself.” Saya said in her own earnest way.
“That’s right. First of all, please rest your body slowly.” Claudia mentored.
Saya and Claudia, who entered following Ayato, were also anxious about Kirin’s body.
“Wah! Even Saya-san and president… Thank you for coming all the way here to visit me.”
“Come on, everything is fine now, so you should lie down.”
“Y-Yes…”
At Ayato’s prompting, Kirin reluctantly relaxed her body and leaned back into the bed.
Though, typical of hospitals, there was another bed in the room, it was empty.
“Huh? I heard that Julis was in the same room though…”
“Ah, it seems like Julis-senpai is presently being interviewed about the details of the recent incident by the Hunter Guards, together with Flora-chan, in a separate room…”
“I see. Speaking of which, I was also asked to talk about it later.”
In other words, it was an investigation.
It might be better for Ayato to also go out when he finished his business here.
At that moment, “Ah, um, Ayato-senpai.”, Kirin said while looking straight into Ayato’s eyes.
“Hmm?”
“Though it's a little too late, congratulations for the championship, though it was a recording, I saw the match. It was really wonderful!”
“Hahaha. Thank you. But, we were able to win because Kirin-chan and company did their best… you’ve really done well, Kirin-chan.”
Ayato gently stroked the head of Kirin.
“N-No, I didn’t reallyー”
At this inflection, Kirin’s cheeks suddenly dyed red, and she tried to hid her face into the thin hospital futon, as she was so endearably embarrassed.
“…It was thanks to Kirin that we were able to defeat that Dante, so you should be proud of yourself. Especially, the last art of sword drawing was amazing.”
“Art of sword drawing? He~e… I didn’t know that there was an art of sword drawing in the Toudou Style.”
As Ayato expressed his own admiration, Kirin sank more and more deeply into bed. Already, only her eyes could be seen above the covers.
“T-That was, um… it’s a technique thought out by the branch family, and it isn’t taught in the Toudou dojo descending from the main family… It’s also the first time I succeed using it in actual combat…”
“I see… there is also a branch family by us, but there wasn’t such a thing.”
As expected, when it came to the structure of the Toudou Style, there were probably also a lot of troublesome things.
“Oh! M-More importantly, Ayato-senpai! In the final, what was that last technique which decided the match?”
Now that they begun to talk about sword arts, Kirin lifted her head out from the sheets and now her face shown and eyes glittered.
As expected, when it came to this topic, Kirin seemed to become a slightly different person.
“Ah, are you talking about "Moon of Bloodshed"? Just for note, that was a hidden technique, so I can’t reveal its secret that much, but… it’s a technique to cut the opponent when running past him without stopping on a battlefield, something like that.”
Since it was a technique which could not be done unless one was flexible, it would probably be difficult with his usual Ser-Versta.
“I see… It’s a technique of an old school, huh.”
“Originally, most of the Amagiri Bright Dragon Style Hidden Techniques assumed a one-vs-many battle scenario, but this one is somehow an exception.”
“ーBy the way.”
As they had such a heated discussion about sword fighting, Claudia suddenly said so.
“There is something about which I would also like to ask Ayato, but is it all right?”
“Eh? Uh huh, it’s all right, but… what is it?”
“I noticed it at the time of the awards ceremony, but when did you become friends with the student council president of Queen Veil?”
“Wha!?”
The surprised Ayato and Saya and Kirin looking at Ayato with a more surprised face.
“By student council president of Queen Veil, you mean… eh? Eeeeeeeeeeh!?”
“….The SigrdrífaMelodious Witch, friends with Ayato?”
“N-No. Rather than being friends with her, I only got to know her recently…”
To Ayato who became flustered, Claudia expressed her usual smile.
“ーAra, so you know each other after all.”
“Ah…”
Shit. I was tricked.
“You tricked me, Claudia…”
As she said so reproachfully, Claudia teasingly shook her shoulders.
“Fufufu, sorry. But, it’s something which I wanted to know no matter what.”
“C-Certainly, it’s worrisome! Why is that Sylvia-san is friends with Ayato-senpai?”
“…Geez, when it comes to Ayato… Geez!”
“E-Errr, that’s, you see…”
Since he had he made a promise with Sylvia, the truth could not be talked about.
(Having said that, how should I deceive them…?) As Ayato was desperately thinking about something while the three girls’ gazes gathered on himー
“What on earth are you doing, you guys…?”
The entrance door to the room opened and Julis and Flora entered.
“Ah, Julis. Is the interview with the Hunter Guards over?”
Like a brief godsend, Ayato waved to Julis, if only because of the change of topic.
“Yea. No matter how fiendish a man Dirk Eberwein is, I had replied back fluently.”
Julis said so with a refreshed face.
“That’s fine, but… Julis, hospitalization is also necessary for you, right? Is it really all right for you to move about this much?”
“Unlike Kirin, in my case, this was a symptom of my Prana being completely out, after all. Although it was hospitalization was needed, it was for only a day, I’ve already recovered considerably. Of course, there are still bruises and bone fractures, but this much isn’t really… hmm? What’s the matter, Flora?”
Flora, who was still standing at the entrance of the room with her head hung down, did not try to enter.
Even so, when Julis called out to her, she raised her head as if making up her mind.
“U-Um, everyone! This time because of Flora, you had big trouble…!”
“Hardly. It isn’t as if Flora-chan really did something bad, so you shouldn’t mind it.” Ayato hurriedly comforted her.
Looking at Flora, tightly grasping her skirt and with a face which seemed to burst into tears at any time, who said. “B-But, Amagiri-sama and Princess had a really important match… Moreover, Toudou-sama was also seriously injured…”
“I-I don’t particularly mind it, so…” Although Kirin also followed up so...
Large drops of tears was piling up Flora’s eyes very fast.
“Good grief…”
However to Flora, Julis said with a comforting, soft voice.
“Stop stressing yourself for nothing, Flora. You’re a good child, but even so, you’re still 10 years old. At time when you want to cry, you should cry honestly.”
She said and lightly hit her head.
“But, but…”
“ーIt’s all right.”
“U… P, Princeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssss…”
At last tears begun to overflow from Flora’s eyes and her face was distorted.
“Waaaaaaaahhhhh! Princeeessss, Princeeeessssssssss! I was scaaaaarrrrred!”
Flora clung to Julis and began to cry loudly.
“Yes… you really did your best, Flora. It’s already all right.”
“Waaaaaaaahhhhh!”
Flora, who cried while making a crumpled face with tears and dripping nose, was only visible as a girl suitable for her age.
Until Flora calmed down, Julis continued patting her back kindly.
“Well then ー Ayato. Can I have a moment?”
Julis who took down Flora, who cried, got tired and ended up sleeping, on her bed pointed at the door and said.
“Yes, I don’t really mind, but… where are we going?”
“What, It’s immediately there.”
As he followed Julis who led the way, they certainly stopped in a place just away from the room.
It was a corner for a little rest where a vending machine and a sofa were located in a line. The medical center had such places here and there, but probably because of time, it looked like there was no other user now.
“It’s my treat. Choose whatever you like.”
“…Then, iced coffee.”
“Then, I’ll take tea.”
As he received the canned coffee which Julis threw, its coldness felt good on his hand.
“ーSo?”
“Uh huh…”
He thought that there was something she wanted to talk about and it aroused his interest, but Julis only played with the can in her hand with a troubled face.
After a while, as he thought that she finally opened her mouth.
“No… it’s certainly true that I have something to say and took you here. But, now that it has come to this, I don’t know about what I should say…”
Saying so, Julis kept silent again.
With both of them, not sitting on the sofa and standing side-by-side as they leaned their back on the wall, a time of silence passed.
“ーIf it was not for you, I would probably not have come this far.”
Before long, Julis said abruptly.
Without even looking Ayato’s way, she was facing straight ahead.
“…Me, too. If not for Julis, I wouldn’t have thought to come so far.”
Ayato, who was similarly facing straight ahead, answered so.
“But, still this is still only one passage point. There’s still a long way to go.”
“I’ll tag along with you. For both your and my sake.”
He found what he should accomplish.
Now, he just had to advance to the next stage.
“ーI see.”
“…Yes.”
Once again, silence fell.
However this time, it was immediately broken.
“Then for the time being, let's go with a toast.”
Julis turned towards Ayato and softly laughed.
“To celebrate today’s victory.”
Julis said and raised her can.
“And in hope for the next victory.”
Ayato said and hit his can on hers.
A low sound echoed through the silent corridor.
Epilogue
Asterisk Central District Administration Area ー at its center, there was the management headquarters of the Festa.
Even in Asterisk, amongst the skyscrapers opposing one another, the Steering Committee Chairman Madiath Mesa’s office was located on the highest floor.
The structure of the room was slightly similar to that of the Seidoukan student council room. One side was glassed-sided and one could overlook the whole view of Asterisk. The things which were put, whether it be sofa or office desk were probably all topnotch items, but it gave a calm impression on the whole.
In that office, Ayato and Julis were opposite to Madiath in order to receive the report regarding the incident.
“Hi, I am glad you came. Many things had happened in this Phoenix, so it took much time to settle the affairs ー Ah, please sit down.”
Urged by Madiath, they sat on the sofa across the table.
It was one month after the Phoenix ended. The long summer vacation was also already over and the season had moved to autumn.
“I will get to the main point without delay. Regarding the kidnapping of Miss Flora Klemm ー I think that you have already heard about it, but among the Mafia groups regarded as culprit of that incident, the executive party (top brass guys) which had fled, were arrested the other day.”
Madiath took a small breath there.
Ayato and Julis, with grim faces as it is, waited for the continuation of the story.
“It is the Mafia which was managing the casino where Miss Klemm was confined. Besides that, they performed illegal acts on an extensive scale, and it seems that there was also a book keeper of Phoenix-related gambling. However, with a little magnification it was revealed to be overly biased and it seemed that it would be a considerably bad situation if you guys were to actually win. That said, when one abstained from winning it will be paid back. So, what they came up with was the handicap to prevent you from using Ser-Versta. At present, most of those guys are denying it, but some decisive evidence has been seized from the hideout.”
As he spoke up to there, Madiath smiled wryly and shrugged his shoulders.
“You look like you don’t agree with it at all.”
“Of course. That was obviouslyー”
“Well, wait. Of course, even the Hunter Guards attached great importance to your testimony and they also continue the investigation along that line. However ー the Dante whom Sasamiya-kun and Toudou-kun fought against has not been found at present… From my position, I want you to forgive me since I was hesitant about raising my name, but any evidence which showed the involvement of a specific academy ー or of its espionage organization hasn’t been found, either.”
At Madiath’s words, one could see that Julis chewed her molar.
“Of course, since there are also many active students of Le Wolfe among the constituents of the Mafia, judging from such a viewpoint, the responsibility of the affiliated academy can’t be acquitted. Naturally punishment will be considered, and depending on the situation, a severe disposal such as point deprivation of the Festa may fall, too.”
The point deprivation of the Festa would certainly be a severe punishment, but when examining it, Le Wolfe had received it many times in the past. Even if it were to happen, it would not by that much a surprise.
“Besides, I also heard that the Hunter Guards Captain is strongly interested in this matter. It seems that investigation will also be carried out sequentially, so view it as long term investigation.”
“…Understood.”
Julis reluctantly nodded.
Regarding this matter, Julis was already tired of getting angry.
As for Ayato, he understood Julis’ feelings, above all ーas it was Ayato who was aimed this timeー it might rather be said that Julis and Flora were the ones dragged into it. If what Dirk did was overlooked as is, Ayato, as a person concerned, could not also forgive it.
“Even we, the Steering Committee, think that this matter is very regrettable. Currently, it is under examination, with the aim of strengthening the support for the participating players and their relatives”
Madiath said so and stood up.
“You can contact me again anytime if there is anything. If I can be of help, I will not spare any efforts to cooperate.”
As Ayato took the hand which Madiath held out, Madiath’s expression suddenly softened.
“By the way Amagiri, it seemed that you ask the search of your big sister as the wish for having won the Phoenix.”
“Eh…? Ah, yes.”
Although confused since the topic suddenly changed, Ayato nodded.
ーThe winner of the Festa will have any wish granted.
Though it was the Festa’s sale phrase, of course in reality, there was a limit.
For example, a dead person could not be revived, and as expected there were many cases where wishes such as remarkably violating others’ rights were not approved in many cases even in this era (That said, it seemed that there are any number of bypaths (loopholes) here).
Julis had demanded money, as she was saying since the beginning, but it seemed that the amount of money presented by the Integrated Enterprise Foundation was enormous.
Julis used it and repaid all the debts of the multiple orphanages in Rizeltania, and moreover, she became their right holder and the amount left over was allotted to future investment funds.
On the other hand, Ayato requested his big sister’s search. Unlike Julis’ wish, there was no guarantee that she would definitely be found out, but if the Integrated Enterprise Foundation searched and did not find her, then there was no longer any other means.
“If she disappeared in this Asterisk, there is surely some clue left somewhere. I pray that she is found safe.”
“Thank you.”
There was somewhat kindness in Madiath’s words.
Though he wondered about it, Ayato bowed and left the room.
“Phew…”
Madiath who saw off Ayato and Julis sat once again on the chair.
At the same time, one of the multiple portable terminals which were there informed of a call and Madiath opened the space window.
“…Geez, thanks to you, I’m very busy here.”
“Hmph! I did it in consideration for you.”
The redhead young man reflected in the space window snorted as if it was boring.
“Oh dear, why do you mean by that?”
“You should know more than anyone else how frightening Ser-Versta is. What’s more, that guy is that woman’s younger brother. There is no doubt he will become a hindrance to the plan sooner or later.”
“Even so, your move this time was too violent. I want you to have a little restraint. You might aim at killing two birds with one stone by cleaning out the dissidents of the Rot Lichtentertainment district…”
As he softly dealt the warning, the young man deepened the wrinkles of his brows.
“There are lots I left out on purpose for times like this. There is no meaning if they aren’t eventually useful. Still, on the other hand the parts add up evenly to one lost ‘cat’.”
“Hmm… well, it’s fine. I will overlook this. By the way, what happened with her?”
“She felt inclined to hear the story, but… Did you seriously intended to draw her in? She is better than the crazy woman of the TenorioUbermensch Faction, however, with her you wouldn’t know how many screws will fly.”
“You saw her puppets’ performance, didn’t you? Above all, we don’t have enough manpower. Besides, she doesn’t plan to divulge about the plan.”
“…It’s wise, eh.”
“Anyway, do your best and continue the negotiations. I can’t move directly after all. Well then, againー”
As Madiath said so and was about to finish the communication, the young man said as if preceding it.
“By the way, don’t you still feel inclined to tell me about the relation between that woman and you?”
“Geez, that again?”
Madiath unnaturally sighed and laughed as he was troubled.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t intend to tell it. It’s private.”
Saying so, Madiath finished the communication this time for sure.
“Geez, he is unexpectedly persistent, too…”
While muttering as he complained, Madiath operated another portable terminal.
The space window which got blackout projected once again an image. However, it was not a communication with someone. It was the image of the camera set up for monitoring.
Reflected there was the figure of one girl sleeping on a large bed.
“Well at any rate, I wonder what’s to be doneー”
While looking at the image of the girl who was sleeping ー Amagiri Haruka, Madiath sighed once more.
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