Chapter - 22

"What!?"

A barrier of water abruptly rushing upward―only a Blazer could create such a thing. Bischof considered the possibility that some other knight had been hidden, and shouted―

"If you won't stay quiet then we'll just kill everyone! All of you bastards, fire on the hostages!"

At Bischof's order, the Adherents aimed at the civilians on the other side of the barrier and pulled their triggers in unison. Those hostages, startled by the water and then the volley of gunshots, panicked and screamed as if they'd been thrown into a cauldron of hot oil.

But not a single fired bullet reached the hostages. Despite making noise like a crashing waterfall, the bullets were all stopped by Shizuku's Noble Art, Shouha Suiren.

Water had very strong impact resistance, and falling onto its surface from high up was like hitting concrete. For a high-speed object like a rifle bullet, hitting ordinary water would be enough to break it to fragments, and water infused with Shizuku's magic power had a solidity like iron. Nothing made of lead could penetrate that.

And Shizuku was not fighting alone. At the same time she used Shouha Suiren, Ikki invoked Ittou Shura. He jumped from the third-floor atrium, making a decisive surprise attack from above Bischof's head.

"Tch! They had people above too!?"

But Bischof was a terrorist who had struggled through many extreme situations. Noticing the surprise attack immediately, he quickly made a countermove, reaching out toward Ikki's Intetsu with the same left hand that had caught Stella's Lævateinn before. The Judgment Ring that seized every single attack as sin―his left hand activated the ability that had rendered Stella's earth-shaking blow powerless.

Ikki's sword was only faster than Stella's sword; it was several times less powerful, so it couldn't penetrate that ability. The surprise attack must have been a blunder. Ikki's blow would surely be taken as sin and returned to him as penance―if Bischof's left hand could capture Ikki's flashing blade!

"…Huh?"

In that instant, Bischof saw something unbelievable: his own left arm flying in a spray of blood.

No matter how well Bischof's left hand rendered attacks powerless, it had no way to catch an attack Bischof couldn't see, and what Bischof couldn't catch, he couldn't stop. Ikki swung Intetsu with a speed that far exceeded human motion perception, so quickly that Ikki's own body couldn't track. It was an invisible slash, one of Ikki Kurogane's seven original sword techniques.

"The seventh secret blade―Raikou."

Part 10[]

「I'll deal with the smaller fish, so Ikki, please incapacitate their vulgar monkey of a boss.」

Ikki did exactly as Arisuin said. With the invisible slash Raikou, he cleaved Bischof's sin-stealing left arm and sent it flying, then with a returning stroke he severed the right arm as well.

With both Bischof's arms were gone, it didn't matter how strong his bluster was, though these injuries hardly stopped the man's mouth.

"Gaaaah! M-My arms! You fucking―"

"Such noisy rattling, huh?"

"Hii…!"

But Bischof withdrew his rant the moment he saw Ikki's angry face.

"Even if it looks bad, I went easy on you. After what you did to Stella, I wouldn't mind taking another limb or two. After all, with treatment in an iPS capsule, that kind of trauma isn't permanent."

Ikki spurned Bischof by turning his freezing gaze away, as if from filth. The hostages he now surveyed were uninjured, meaning his move had been a success.

*Thump* Arisuin patted him on the shoulder.

"You did it, huh?"

"Alice. Are you also done over there?"

"Should I say that I'm done? Maybe it's done, instead? That girl's quite amazing, I think."

Ikki frowned at Arisuin's unclear words, and turned―but he soon saw what Arisuin meant. The Rebellion soldiers were collapsed here and there, not a single one still standing. On that battlefield, he could see only one person's back.

"Stella…."

It was the Crimson Princess with her deep red hair swinging, her body clad in a dress of flame, and her hand gripping Lævateinn as it scattered flame. After suffering a critical strike and a disgrace she had never received before, Stella still made the first move and floored every one of the soldiers so quickly that Arisuin couldn't do his part. She had precise judgment with calm composure, and despite being humiliated so, she still controlled her strength. Ikki agreed with Arisuin's view that it was amazing, but―

Arisuin pushed Ikki lightly in Stella's direction.

"Let me report this to the people outside."

"Thanks."

She shouldn't have been forced to do something like that!

"Stella!"

Ikki ran up to Stella, and when she turned toward his voice, hugged her close.

"Ah! Hey, w-what!?"

Stella was confused and alarmed about being suddenly hugged, but Ikki didn't care. Right now, he knew he wanted to do this, so he tightly embraced Stella, concealing her skin with his own body. It seemed to put that gentle, heroic girl at ease.

"Sorry. If only I had come and saved you more quickly… then you wouldn't be embarrassed like this."

"Ikki…!"

Whether his feelings were coming across or not, Stella entrusted her small trembling body to Ikki's embrace. Ikki tried not to look at Stella's expression, but his embrace remained strong.

Not long afterward, Shizuku called out to him.

"Onii-sama."

"Shizuku, thanks. Raising a barrier was a big help. Was anyone injured?"

"Of course not. Do you think I'm that clumsy?"

Looking indignant, Shizuku extended to Stella the clothes Stella had dropped on the floor.

"I gathered them for you. You don't plan to stand around half-naked much longer, I hope."

"T-Thanks…. I'm surprised you'd do that for me."

"How rude. Shouldn't you be thankful that I covered for you after you rushed out so carelessly?"

"Ooh…."

Glowering at Shizuku, Stella self-consciously averted her gaze. But Shizuku―

"Still… I have a bit better opinion of you."

"Eh?"

"I couldn't save that parent and child, yet you put your life on the line for a complete stranger's sake."

"…I-It's not like I was trying to look good. …But well, it would've been dangerous if your barrier hadn't been there. That technique was excellent…."

They had acted thoroughly hostile to each other until now, but whether from honest appraisal or embarrassment, Stella and Shizuku's glances were both unusually warm, and Ikki spied the exchange of some mutual acceptance.

It'd be nice if they could take this opportunity to get along better.

"Ah, that's right. Shizuku, can you cast healing?"

"Of course, but… no, you're not telling me you were hurt?"

"No, not me, him."

He pointed at Bischof. The man's bleeding was severe, so they couldn't leave him the way he was, and healing a wound by manipulating water was a skill limited to high-level water users.

"You don't need to connect the arm, just stop the blood. He'll become violent and troublesome again otherwise."

"I understand, Onii-sama. You wouldn't want this man's life on your conscience."

"I've rendered him powerless, but let's still be careful―"

"Dooon't mooove!!!"

Part 11[]

An angry scream erupted from among the hostages. Ikki and the girls turned toward the voice, and saw a young man in a red T-shirt thrusting a handgun at a middle-aged woman's temple.

"P-Please save me!"

"Freeze, all of you brats! If you twitch, I'll blow this hag's head off!"

Ikki tensed.

"Oh no, one slipped into the hostages?"

"…Hehe, hahahahaha! Hiding among the peasants ain't something only you kids can do!"

"Bischof…."

The criminal gave a distorted sneer with his tattooed face while blood gushed from both armless shoulders.

"Hey, the goth-loli midget over there!"

"M-Midget you say!?"

"Yeah you, midget. You said you do healing, so get over here and fix my arms! You won't tell me you can't, right? Hehehe…."

At Bischof's laugh, the middle-aged woman screamed again. If a gun was pressed to Ikki's temple, he'd probably do the same.

Dammit!

Ikki ground his teeth in anger. Ittou Shura was still active, but the muzzle was firmly pointed at the woman and he couldn't risk a discharge.

"Hurry up!"

"Onii-sama…."

"We don't have a choice. He's taken control of the situation―"

"Not at all."

A boy's voice resounded directly in Ikki's head, then countless rays of light passed beside him. *Swish swish swish* They were magic arrows shining with sky-blue radiance.

"Uaaaah!"

"Gah-ah…."

The magic arrows pierced Bischof and the hostage-taker repeatedly, this time leaving them helpless for sure.

"What!? What was that―"

Stella shook at the sudden turn, but Ikki had seen this before. He knew this voice.

This technique is….

"Hahaha, well well, it's sad having to lend a hand after all. I didn't want to steal someone else's achievement."

The empty space before their eyes began to sparkle, and then the image of empty air crumbled like scales falling. In the midst of that crumbling, a slender young man appeared holding a bow-shaped Device. Even Arisuin, who was able to sense Bischof's group from a distance, hadn't detected him.

But it didn't surprise Ikki, because stealth was this young man's special ability. Ikki knew because they were originally classmates.

"Kirihara-kun. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Shizuya Kirihara. Last year's top new student, and last year's Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival representative. Kirihara calmly smiled at this reunion, and sent a scornful gaze through narrowed eyelids.

"Yeah. It's been a while, Ikki Kurogane-kun. You're still attending school?"

Stella and Shizuku made noticeably unpleasant expressions, but this person had helped them, so they didn't complain.

Suddenly, around seven girls ran out from the middle of the hostages, pushed Ikki's group aside, and rushed up to Kirihara. They were Kirihara's girlfriends who came with him today to visit the mall.

"Kirihara-kuuun! We were so scared~!"

"You had a frightful experience because of my disappointing juniors, didn't you? But it's fine now."

"Yeah, I had faith that you would save me."

"Ah, Kirihara-sama~. You're so cool. After all, you're such a strong knight~"

Shizuku coughed and Stella scowled at the extravagant praise from these dressed-up girls, and at Kirihara for basking in that praise.

"…What an unlikeable fellow."

"This is the first time we've agreed on something, right?"

The police who Arisuin had contacted rushed into the courtyard just after Kirihara cleaned up the situation, and they began restraining Rebellion soldiers and caring for the hostages. Ikki saw that the turmoil on their day off was more or less over, and as the tension left him, his body shook violently and fell over. His fatigue from using Ittou Shura had gushed out.

"Onii-sama!"

"Ikki, are you okay?"

"…A-Ah, yeah, I'm fine. …If I rest a little, I can just about walk."

"Then you should sit down for a while, right?"

As Arisuin put Ikki on a food court bench, the police officer in charge called out and ran up to the four of them.

"Hey! You guys are the student knights who settled the affair, right? Will you come with me to the police station to make a report right now?"

"My my, it's not a good time, you know? We'd like Ikki to get some rest if we can."

Arisuin turned his gaze to Kirihara who was surrounded by girls, but―

"Should you be begging me to deal with a troublesome investigation after I cleaned everything up for you?"

―it seemed Kirihara didn't want to keep helping them quite so long. Giving that unapproachable refusal, he started talking with his female followers about going somewhere to relax.

"No, Alice. It's fine. …If I rest in the patrol car, I think I'll recover a bit."

"Ikki, you're not pushing yourself too much?"

"I'm fine. Nothing was really hurt…."

Ikki stood up, pretending to be tough despite his deeply fatigued expression. After a moment, he turned in Kirihara's direction and bowed lightly.

"Thank you, Kirihara-kun. You really saved us today."

"I don't need thanks. The strong should support the weak."

Stella and Shizuku again took on dangerous faces at Kirihara's malicious words, but having Ikki rest was more important to them right now than snapping at this boy, so Stella took Ikki's shoulder and tried to guide him to the patrol car.

"But Kurogane-kun… are you still trying to become a knight with that pitiful strength?"

Stella couldn't disregard Kirihara's scorn this time.

"You… how dare you!"

"Stella, it's fine."

"It's not fine! I won't stay quiet after such self-indulgent insults!"

Shaking off Ikki's attempt to restrain her anger, Stella lifted his shoulder away and pointed a finger at Kirihara.

"You can say what you want, but Ikki is much stronger than someone like you! I've seen his strength myself! Do you even amount to the dirt under his feet!?"

The biting words Stella threw were only wishful thinking. Stella didn't know Kirihara's power, didn't know the hopeless gap between Ikki and that boy.

"…Haha, ahahahahaha!"

"W-What's so funny!?"

"All of it! How can I help laughing at this? Saying the Failed Knight over there is stronger than me… hahaha! Him, the coward who once ran away because he was too scared to fight me? That's a masterpiece!"

"Eh…?"

Ikki ran away from a match? Stella turned her head in astonishment and disbelief, but… Ikki didn't deny it. He stayed quiet, staring at Kirihara, and she couldn't read his response. But Stella knew such a thing was impossible, so she once again turned to Kirihara.

"You're lying! There's no way it's true!"

"Hahaha, because you're convinced he's stronger."

"Exactly! Ikki won against me, so he's no ordinary knight!"

"Oh? Then Vermillion-kun, how about we make a wager?"

"…Wager, you say?"

Kirihara switched his gaze from Stella to Ikki.

"As a matter of fact, a good way to find out whether you're right or wrong is already prepared. Kurogane-kun, I'm guessing your datapad's off? Turn it on and take a look."

Ikki quickly pulled out his student datapad, and the moment it started up, a mail receipt message began. The sender was… the selection battle executive committee! And the contents―

「The opponent for Ikki Kurogane-sama's first selection battle match has been chosen: Shizuya Kirihara-sama from Year Two Class Three.」

"That's right, your first-match opponent is me, last year's Sword-Art Festival representative. Me, Shizuya Kirihara, who holds the nickname 'Hunter'. Our fight has already been scheduled, so if I lose I'll take back everything I said today, and apologize like Vermillion-kun demands. But if I win… I want her as one of my girlfriends."

Naturally, Ikki raised his voice to protest.

"Kirihara-kun! Don't make such a ridiculous―"

"Fine. I'll accept those terms."

"Wha!?"

Stella easily accepted it, to Ikki's chagrin.

"Stop, Stella, this doesn't mean anything! I don't need Kirihara-kun's apology!"

"Even if you don't need it, I do. I have no position of my own while the knight who beat me is called weak."

Ikki didn't give up trying to persuade her, and Stella didn't give in. Neither were willing to compromise, so unfortunately Kirihara's wager was set.

"That concludes the negotiations, right? Heh, it's a boring match that I'll win of course, but maybe now it's a bit more worth the bother? Let's meet in the arena next time, Kurogane-kun. I don't think I have to say it, but if you stand before me with such shabby power… well, you better be prepared. The selection battles are real combat, not like mock battles. Fight hard if you don't want to be killed. Ha ha ha!"

Laughing loudly, Kirihara left with his girls. Neither Arisuin nor Shizuku nor Stella had positive impressions of Kirihara after that display of arrogance.

"Hmm. His face is good, but having such a crooked personality is terrible."

"…What an unlikeable feeling."

"Ha, no matter what he says, you won against me, so you can easily beat that guy. Don't you think so?"

Stella expected Ikki to strongly agree. But―

"Do I? For me, he's the worst possible opponent."

"Ikki…?"

―the answer she expected didn't come. Unlike Stella, Ikki knew Kirihara's overwhelming Noble Art, so he couldn't make a firm promise. This fight… Ikki had a hunch it would become gravely difficult.

And so the selection battles for the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival began. Stella's, Shizuku's, and Arisuin's first matches were at the beginning of the week, on Monday. Ikki's first match with Kirihara was the next day, on Tuesday, and it would be Ikki's first official competition. It would be different from the mock battles up to now, a fight with real meaning. That debut battle was approaching before his eyes.