Chapter - 3

Then she began to scrutinize him.

Wh-Wh-What!?

"Umm, what do you want with me?"

Her sudden approach confused him. Undoubtedly, she had looked solely at him and thus clearly had business with him. But having had no interaction with her, he could not imagine what that business was. On the other hand, Sara, who was staring at Ikki's face as he wavered―

"…Very good."

―muttered in a detached manner, while proceeding to run her hands over Ikki's shoulders and chest as though conducting a body-search.

"Uwa, B-Bloodlily-san!?"

"Hey, you! What are you trying to do!?"

"Be quiet. I'm concentrating right now."

Ignoring Ikki and Shizuku's panicked voices, Sara continued to trace the contours of Ikki's body through his clothes. She was a terrorist, and a foe whom they had clashed with once before. Defenselessly allowing her to touch his body should be dangerous. Ikki understood this, and yet―

I can feel that she is really focused….

Despite his attempts, he could not feel any negative emotions from her, whether it be enmity or the intent to harm. Rather, she exuded an seriousness that made him hesitate to stop her. Hence, he did not forcefully push her off of him, but was attempting to ask her the purpose for which she had been so intently inspecting him when―she forcefully ripped through his suit and the shirt he was wearing under it.

"Eeeeehhhh!?"

"O-Onii-samaaa!?"

At this, Ikki put some distance between them, shouting while shielding his exposed chest.

"What are you doing so suddenly―!?"

In response, Sara replied―

The Bloody Da Vinci, Sara Bloodlily

"...Okay, you pass."

"Wh-What do you mean by pass!?"

"...Okay, you pass."

Her cheeks heated up mildly as she spoke these incomprehensible words.

"Wh-What do you mean by pass!? I can't make heads or tails out of what you said!"

"On that day when we first met, I fell for you. There was beauty and kindness in your face, yet one could also clearly see strength within that straight-backed, clean-cut figure… and to add on to that, a robust musculature, honed and trained to unblemished perfection, it's just wonderful. You are, without a doubt, my ideal man."

"E-Eeeeehhh!?"

Her sudden outpouring of praise only confused Ikki more. What sort of situation was this? Did he really just receive a love confession?

This―what should I do!?

He wavered all the more under her heated gaze. It was too sudden; he didn't know how to reply.

No, he did know. He should answer with "I already have Stella". But though he had decided so, her face was almost terrifyingly serious. Even though she was a terrorist, a person of Ikki's character would hesitate to express his confusion in a straightforward manner.

"That's why, you pass. You are the only man fit to be my nude model. So with that understanding, I'd like you to come over to my room and undress."

"What 'understanding'!? No! I refuse! I don't remember auditioning for this!"

"No. I refuse your refusal."

"Now you're just trying to get your way!"

"Well, if you don't want to disrobe no matter what, I'll have to strip you."

With those words, magic power surged all about her as she materialized her twin Devices―a palette and a brush―into her hands.

This person… is serious.

Serious to the point where she was willing to use her Device in order to strip him down. Yet, they were at a party. They could not start a fight here, and so Ikki was dismayed and at a loss as to what to do when―

"Get away from Onii-sama, you pervert!!"

"Buh―!"

―Shizuku sent Sara flying with a drop kick.

"Onii-sama, are you alright?"

Having kicked the deviant who seemed about to attack her brother, she now moved to defend him. Amazingly, she hadn't just lashed out with her leg, but rather a full-bodied flying drop kick. What a reliable ally, Ikki thought as he replied to her worried query with a nod.

"Yes, I'm fine. She only broke the buttons on my shirt…?"

"…Tch!"

At his reply, all of Shizuku's hairs seemed to stand on end.

"…Unforgivable."

"Shi―Shizuku?"

"Even I haven't even done this kind of rip-Onii-sama's-shirt-and-push-him-down play yet…!"

She was his reliable sister. But she was not his ally. Even as he pondered these complicated thoughts, Shizuku's anger had already boiled over to the point where she had materialized her own Device while facing Sara.

"Die!"

"Whoa! Shizuku, please stop! Things will get ugly if you use your Device in this place!"

At this point, there was no place for hesitation. Rounding quickly on his sister, he pinned her arms to her sides. Being lighter and physically weaker than himself, she could not break out of his squeeze, so for now there was no chance of a tragedy occurring.

Urgh―these glances from around us are so painful….

It was only natural of course, since they had made such a scene. In any case, he needed a change of clothes, so a tactical retreat to his hotel room was the better option. But even as he thought this―

"Hahaha. I was wondering what this hullabaloo was all about. I do suppose that it is just you, hmm, Bloody Da Vinci?"

―a high voice rang out from their side, all theatrical intonation and affected dignity.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're Kazamatsuri-san, formerly of Rentei Academy. Am I right?"

The eyepatch-wearing girl nodded in reply.

"Hahaha. Indeed, you may call me that. But this name and this visage are but a ruse to deceive the Dimension Administration Bureau. My true name eludes even all the tongues of man."

"My lady says, 'Yes, that's right. Pleased to meet you too.' Also, I ought to have mentioned this first, but I am Charlotte Cordé, my lady's personal maid. I am glad to be favored with your acquaintance."

"Ah, you don't have to be so formal."

Continuing after her master, Charlotte curtsied elegantly to Ikki and Shizuku. From this greeting, Ikki understood why he did not recognize this girl from the attack on Hagun Academy. The rest had all gained the right to compete as representatives from other schools, and he had been shown their pictures courtesy of Kagami. Charlotte however was a servant, neither a representative nor even a Blazer.

"Please excuse the discourtesy my comrade showed you, Worst One. That one did not bear you any ill-will, but she is haunted by the Muses, and thus unable to stop herself once inspiration comes upon her. Sheathe your blade as well, Lorelei. Your victory has long been decided."

"What?"

At Kazamatsuri's words, Ikki and Shizuku's gazes shifted in Sara's direction. There she was, laid out spread-eagle on the carpet floor.

"Did she… faint?"

"Char. Move the Bloody Da Vinci to an iPS Capsule."

"Please leave it to me. …Sara-sama, are you alright? I shall bring you to a Capsule."

"Kyuuu~"

Sara's eyes spun as she was Charlotte picked her up. It seemed like she had really lost consciousness. An elite of the underworld, taken out in one drop kick by Shizuku―physically disinclined as she was and possibly the lightest participant in this year's Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. The two siblings were unable to hide their surprise at Sara's unexpected frailty, and Kazamatsuri addressed this.

"An artist she is, but no warrior. It was unavoidable that she would be weak. Why, on her way here, she was accosted by clawing dead from the abyss, and had to be ferried here by angels in white."

"My lady says, 'After having arrived in Osaka, Sara-san broke a bone by tripping over a bump in a footpath and had to be taken here by an ambulance.'"

"Is she the protagonist of Sp●lunker?!"

"That is why she is known as the 'Bloody Da Vinci'."

"You mean the blood's her own?! For such a cool nickname to hide such a horrible truth…."

"…Is Rebellion by any chance short on manpower?"

Shizuku muttered while still being held by Ikki, who expressed the same sentiments.

"Hahaha, if you think that way, you would have sorely missed the mark."

'Beastmaster' Rinna Kazamatsuri let out a mocking laugh.

"Of course, she is terrifyingly frail. But that does not mean she is in fact weak. For the truth is that she possesses power enough to mitigate these shortcomings, should she choose to fight. Pedestrian 'art', no matter how lifelike or intricate, is a mere counterfeit of 'reality', that spawn of an accursed god. But the art of the Bloody Da Vinci overturns reality. Before it, the works of gods and their ilk cannot even be considered third-rate. You would do well to heed this for your own sake."

At her words, Ikki and Shizuku remembered Sara's hand in the attack on Hagun. Those puppets of the Akatsuki members had seemed indistinguishable from humans, though it was also precisely because they were too lifelike that Ikki had been able to see through them.

Indeed, she is a formidable foe.

The way in which her ability would manifest itself on the battlefield was an unknown factor, which made it all the more ominous. They could not neglect to be wary of her.

Especially since I am in the same block as Bloodlily-san.

If the schedule was followed, he could meet her in the third round.

"Still, as expected of her, she has fine taste. You do look rather fetching up close, Worst One."

With a light leap, Kazamatsuri landed before him and like a small animal began to examine him from her lower vantage point.

"Uhh…."

"A mask that exudes not undue pressure, yet betrays not an immeasurable strength. That pleases me. Will you not become the butler of our house after you graduate? You will be treated well."

"Kuh! Are you also trying to target Onii-sama? I won't allow it!"

"Well, even if my sister were to allow it, I don't have any intention of allying myself to terrorists…."

"This does not mean that you will have to join Rebellion―you need only see to my daily needs. That in itself shall be fine."

"Don't be fooled by her, Onii-sama! It is just a pretext under which she will use the master-servant relationship to do lewd things to you! If it was me, I would do the same!"

What should I do? I'm starting to think that my sister might be more dangerous than these terrorists… well, nevermind. Leaving that aside for now―

"Thank you for the kind offer, but allow me to demur. I'm terrible with suits."

Ikki declined Kazamatsuri's invitation. Of course, that she was a member of a terrorist group was one of his considerations, but over and above that―

"Hmm… but judging by your results, your prospects do not seem bright. In my camp you shall want for nothing, you know?"

"My lady, it is poor form to be so forceful. You are putting Ikki-sama on the spot."

Somehow, while it seemed as though Charlotte was imparting common-sense advice to Kazamatsuri, her hitherto stoic, quiet expression seemed to transform utterly whenever she looked―no, glared―glared at him enviously, as though he were her enemy.

If I had accepted, I would certainly be killed at some point.

No matter how comfortable the conditions, he did not desire a job environment in which assassination was an occupational hazard.

Kazamatsuri herself seemed unwilling to give the matter up, pursing her lips in a reluctant manner.

"Mmm… I understand. Nevertheless, you are welcome to contact me should you change your mind. Talented people like you will always be welcome, Worst One."

So saying, she held her name-card out to Ikki. While he had no desire at all to become someone's butler, it would be far too impolite to suddenly return the card. So he thanked her, and took it instead.

With that final exchange ended, Kazamatsuri, Charlotte, and the unconscious Sara took their leave of the party together. After seeing them off, Ikki looked at the card he had been given, a wry smile creeping across his face as he did so. It had her name, mobile number, email address―even her address had been written there.

"I didn't think I would be getting a name card from a terrorist."

"Indeed, they're an eccentric lot. Coming to a party like it's normal, stripping people, handing out job offers… I wonder if everyone in Rebellion is weird like that."

"Come to think of it, Alice is somewhat odd too…."

The Akatsuki representatives were rather different from the normal image of underworld assassins. Even though Ikki and Shizuku understood that a person's strength could not be fully judged at a glance, as those who had come to harm at Akatsuki's hands they had imagined them to be more frightening, more violent. At this point, they could not deny that some of their rancor had all but dissipated.

But even as they thought thus―

"Don't lump me together with those idiots. It makes me sick."

―a retort came from behind them. As they turned to face the source of that angry voice, they were met by a girl with a head of long black hair, her face hidden behind a creepy mask.