Chapter - 17

The pressure that was like the sky falling came suddenly.

The bike had been advancing in accordance with Shizuku's navigation for some time.　Exiting the urban areas with many people, and even exiting the mountain road.　In a deserted place, Hagun Academy's main school was located.　In that deserted, desolate place, the bike entered, and it was in that moment.

A sudden feeling of oppression. To a heaviness as if one's gut was being crushed, Ikki brought the bike to a sudden stop, its tires sliding.

"O-Oniisama!? Wh-What's wrong!?"

At the sudden stop, Shizuku cried out in surprise. She didn't understand. As a fighter, Shizuku was inexperienced.

But Ikki comprehended it. That right now, he—had stepped foot into the domain of someone wicked. Therefore to Shizuku's question, he had no room to answer. Ikki just suppressed the dread that was freezing his body, and he calmed his breath. With his right hand, he summoned Intetsu, and looked up at the sky.

On the rooftop of Akatsuki Academy's main building. At that remarkably high place, there was something shining white.

Was it the moon? No. It was white, but the thing shining weakly had the shape of a person.

It was the shape of a woman who appeared like a Valkyrie from European legends, holding swords in both hands and pointing down.

"An enemy!?"

Following Ikki's gaze, Shizuku also noticed the presence. She immediately jumped from the bike to the ground, and manifested Yoishigure. But—the figure in white showed no interest in Shizuku. Those beautiful eyes were staring entirely at Ikki, and no one else.

Ikki also realized that immediately… and he decided.

"Shizuku. Alice is inside the school, right?"

"Eh… ah, yes. That's right."

"In that case, go ahead on your own. I'll be fine here by myself."

"No, they've declared war on us. There's no need to fuss about one-on-one duels—"

"I'm begging you, Shizuku. Go."

Ikki's tone as he bluntly refusing her didn't allow any argument.

"Onii…-sama?"

At her brother's suddenly grim tone, Shizuku glanced at his expression… and gasped. Because Ikki's expression had become stiffer than she had ever seen before.

"Is it… that strong an enemy…?"

"…Yeah, probably."

"Then that's even more reason for both of us—"

"No."

To Shizuku was trying to persuade him a second time, Ikki shook his head.

"I told you, didn't I? I want to follow your wishes, Shizuku. Because I was resolved, I came along. If we don't accomplish that, there'd be no point in coming this far. If you don't hurry to Alice, you might not make it. So leave this place to me."

Ikki was stubborn to the end. If she combined everything they said up to now, even Shizuku understood. Namely, Ikki was saying this.

—If Shizuku stayed here, Ikki wouldn't be able to protect her.

That woman in white was that strong an enemy.

"…I get it."

Making that guess, Shizuku nodded. And—

"Onii-sama, please handle this."

Entrusting this situation to her brother, she entered Akatsuki Academy alone.

The woman in white didn't obstruct her. Like the rest of this entire time, she had only gazed on Ikki who still remained.

"Shizuku was transparent as far as you're concerned, huh?"

"Yes. Because Lord Wallenstein is also inside. Besides, whether I destroy both of you here, or I destroy you here and follow her afterward, it would make little difference in terms of time."

A voice that echoed gracefully like song shook the night. In reply, Ikki—

"I guess that's so for you."

—with a moaning voice, he muttered those words.

…This is bad. Though since they called themselves a school, it only makes sense for them to have teachers.

The students were already that level. A-rank would not be out of the question. He was already resigned to that.

—But as I thought, this was unexpected.

Yes. Ikki knew who this white-clad Valkyrie was.

"For those who aspire to swordsmanship, all of them know your nickname. Wearing a dress of holy white, and carrying a pair of wing-like swords. The world's greatest criminal who's too strong to arrest. And at the same time… possessing the most extreme swordsmanship. Standing at the summit as the world's greatest swordsman. –'Twin-Wings' Edelweiss. Without a doubt, that's you, right?"

"Certainly. There's no mistake that I am called Twin-Wings."

At Ikki's question, the woman responded with a nod of affirmation, and showed Ikki a somewhat puzzled expression.

"But I don't understand. Even though you know my identity, why have you drawn your sword? You are not a swordsman who doesn't know the difference between yourself and the enemy if you should cross blades, I think. But despite that, to remain unafraid to this degree."

"…Even though I wanted to bluff so you didn't see through that."

Having his own fear pointed out, Ikki let out a dry laugh that spoke to his inner thoughts.

Honestly speaking, Ikki also understood.

Ahh, it's just like said. …Just now, I was foolhardy.

He knew that. Because he was an excellent swordsman, he could grasp how great the difference in strength was between them. He couldn't win here. And more than that, it was true, the one before his eyes was genuinely—the world's strongest. It couldn't be compared to something like the summit of the Seven Stars. Likely, this was an enemy Ikki should face after following his path as a swordsman for years, even decades, of constant tireless training…. No doubt, in the battlefield right here, he could not qualify as an opponent in the same dimension as he was now.

This meeting was too premature. It would not even be a contest to begin with. Twin Wings was—saying this deliberately, in order to give him a chance to withdraw. Ikki guessed that, and thought.

How gentle, this person.

She would probably let Ikki get away if he turned around and left right now. A truly gentle person.

But, I'm sorry too. I can't possibly leave.

He was certainly scared. Just from her gaze, he could feel his entire body shaking, and cold sweat sliding down his back. His teeth were shivering, and his legs were about to give way. It was the first time Ikki felt like this. To have fear fighting him like this.

But, that he had a reason to fight that terror. He had a reason to stay here! Therefore—

"…This is surprising, isn't it?"

Ikki, putting on the strongest face he could, smiled.

"The world's strongest swordsman is questioning the fighting spirit of an enemy who's already drawn his sword?"

He thrust the point of his crow-black sword at the woman in white, with clear enmity.

In response, the woman in white nodded calmly.

"—Certainly. These words are unneeded."

And it became the trigger.

"If I was not a member of this plot, I would have no grudge against you people. However, because you've come to find your enemy to whom I hold a debt, I won't turn a blind eye."

From the towering school building, the woman in white leaped to the ground silently. With a grace like she had used fluttering wings to swoop down. At the moment she landed on the ground, Ikki felt fear as if his own heart was exploding. His entire body, his instinct, his soul. All of them shrieked.

Run away.

Run away.

I'm begging you, run away.

If you don't            you will            die here—

But he clenched his teeth, and faced that pressure directly. And then—



"I am the demise who comes from the distant summit, the one who splits earth and sky with two blades. My name is Twin-Wings Edelweiss.

Childish lad. You will learn how wide this world is."

And then—the Worst One, Ikki Kurogane, clashed with the world's strongest swordsman, Twin-Wings Edelweiss.