Chapter - 16

After winning easily against the Hagun Academy student council, one of Akatsuki, Amane Shinomiya, took a sigh. The sun had already set, and the sky was darkened to indigo blue.

"Phew. The hour is later than I thought it'd be, huh?"

While the chainsaw she held in her hand was scraping loudly upon the earth, Yui Tatara gave her honest opinion to those words in a gravely voice.

"Hehehe. It's because you people were so sluggish, dumbass. I got it done and over with in a flash, ya know."

"Hahaha. Someone surrounded by allies shouldn't be so quick to brag, 'Unturning'."

"My lady says, 'You just happened to get matched against an enemy you're strong at fighting, so don't get a big head!'"

"Huh? How about you and me see who's the one matched with an enemy we're strong against?"

"Sounds fun."

Kazamatsuri's lips twisted in a feline smile at Tatara's provocation, and she lifted the patch covering her right eye with a finger.

"I'll show you the power of my Twilight Magic Eye! Don't pretend to regret it later! Seal release!"

"…Even though your left eye is equally red."

"My lady, you've forgotten your contact lens."

"…W-Wahaha! I've run out of MP for today. You have good luck!"

"What game are you two playing?"

Amane, who couldn't watch such half-baked things, sighed with a troubled face.

I see. When Hiraga-san isn't here, I have to be the manager for this comedy duo, huh?

"We still have something to finish. We have to chase after Stella-san who got away, and Ikki-kun too. …For the time being, should we split up?"

Amane who recognized his own role proposed this to the others. However, Ouma shook his head at that proposal.

"There is no need for that."

"Eh? What do you mean, Ouma-san?"

"My brother and sister are heading toward certain death. If it was only the One-Armed Swordsman they might make it, but right now she is there."

She―with those words, Amane also agreed.

Their alma mater, Akatsuki Academy, an inconspicuous place in a corner of the Tokyo metropolitan area. On this day, a certain person was a guest staying there by happenstance.

"Now that you mention it, that's true. It's today. That person is lodging at Akatsuki Academy."

"Indeed. Therefore those two have not the slightest chance. It would be best for all of us to pursue the Crimson Princess."

Certainly, Amane agreed. Although she wasn't the kind of person who'd take part in their plan, she was a sentimental person. Owing them a favor, she would probably recompense them with her sword. And if she took the field, going to Akatsuki Academy right now could be called a fool's errand.

"Still, you sure are indifferent about it. Aren't you worried? He's your brother, right?"

At Amane's inquiry, Ouma spat out his response.

"Don't be ridiculous. He's someone I abandoned ages ago. I'm long past feeling sorry for him."

"Ahaha. Ikki-kun really has no luck with his family, huh?"

"Cease your prattle. Even with your infatuation and sympathy for that boy, Amane, aren't you not showing any worry either?"

"Me, worried? Ahaha, no way."

Amane laughed loudly at Ouma's reply that had missed the mark.

"I'm not anxious about it. Instead, I'm rather delighted. …Ikki-kun, you know, he should suffer more and more. He should hurt more and more. His body should break from agonizing, outrageous crisis. Because when he overcomes that sort of hopelessness, it will make the tale of the Worst One shine."

Right. That was why the hopelessness should deepen intensely. The sight of him exhausting all his willpower and while coughing blood, but still denying his fate―

"I just looooove seeing Ikki-kun like that! That's why I want him in more and more extreme trouble!"

"Hehehe, your usual disgusting attitude is coming about again."

"Hmph. Don't say such cruel things. Isn't it natural for a fan to want to see the one he likes being cool?"

And the moment Amane puffed up his cheeks in indignation. He noticed that his student datapad had received a mail. Checking it, it was from the one who was their manager, the 'Pierrot' Reisen Hiraga. The gist was that he had delivered Arisuin to Wallenstein, their teacher and supervisor, and was now heading back to join up with them. He had sent over this mail, so….

As I thought, I only had to take this role temporarily, huh?

Recognizing that, Amane communicated using the mail that they would all be chasing after Stella, who Touka had sent away.

"Well, shall we go catch the princess?"

Leading the rest of Akatsuki, he began the pursuit of Stella and the Hagure sisters.

Part 3[]

At around that time, it wasn't only the students of Hagun and Akatsuki who were moving.

"Goddamn it! What bad luck for the airplane to have trouble today!"

The one cursing was a woman dressed in a beautiful kimono, the Hagun Academy special lecturer Nene Saikyou, known as the Yaksha Princess.

"Indeed."

The one agreeing with her was running alongside, the board chairman of Hagun Academy Kurono Shinguuji, known as World Clock.

The two of them had spent the last week in Osaka, where the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival would be held, but they had just received news of the attack on Hagun Academy from the teachers remaining there, and now they were trying to return to Tokyo in a hurry.

However, the fastest mode of transportation between Osaka and Tokyo, by airline, was being suspended due to a problem with the runways.

Having no way to deal with it, the two were running along the Tokaido Shinkansen train track toward Tokyo. Because, if the two used their abilities, they could reach their destination faster by running than by taking a bullet train.

"…Maybe it happened because it was today."

"Don't say that. I don't want to think of such troubling things."

Saikyou made a bitter face at Kurono's words.

At the present time, Kurono and Saikyo did not have adequate information. What they understood was only that representatives from each school had banded together and attacked Hagun. They didn't know the real motive behind that. However, both of them felt it. It was an attack that wasn't communicated in the news broadcasts at all. And then the airplane services were suspended suddenly.

This sudden attack was heavily planned. That was the suspicion they felt.

"Well, at any rate, once we get there everything will become clear. So for that reason―"

As quickly as possible. At those words, they put even more strength into their legs. …At that moment. Faster than a second, a sudden gust struck their bodies and brought them to a half.

―In fact, no wind was blowing on them. The sea was also calm.

However, on the expressions on the two world-class knights, trembles of obvious dismay were spreading. Their legs were shaking, and their brows were sweating unnaturally.

Yes... what stopped their legs wasn't the wind. It was an aberrant sword spirit that could be felt from a long distance away. To the point where the ground in front of them was going blurry in their eyes, as if a drawn sword was pressed to their throats. The two were both superior knights, but they could feel it and it paralyzed them.

―Going toward that was dangerous. At that instinctive warning, the two had stopped running.

"Th-The sword spirit… just now… it can't be…."

"H-Hey hey hey. Are you kidding? Our attackers have someone outrageous mixed among them…!"

The two knew. This unusual sword spirit. Only one person in the world could exert this kind of pressure.

"The sword spirit lasted only a moment. Was it to intimidate? …Let's hurry, Nene!"

"Y-Yeah!"

With their faces pale, and ignoring the effort of starting up their bodies again, they raced toward Tokyo at the utmost speed.

This sword spirit, if she has becoming interested in something―probably Kurogane!?

Kurono guessed what was happening at the place far away, and prayed.

Don't be rash, Kurogane! It's still too soon for you to enter this domain!"