-1362- Completely occupy the podium

With less than a month until the "Seven Stars Sword Art Festival," the seven national knight academies have all decided and announced their representatives.

Hagun Academy, located in South Kanto.

Donrou Academy, located in North Kanto.

Kyomon Academy, located in the Tohoku region.

Rokuson Academy, located in Hokkaido.

Bunkyoku Academy, located in the Kyushu and Okinawa regions.

Rentei Academy, located in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions.

And Bukyoku Academy, located in the Kinki and Chubu regions.

These seven academies have now published their lists of representatives on their official websites and even promoted them through the media, making their names known nationwide.

Naturally, the names and basic information of Stella and others have also been made public by Hagun Academy, known to the world.

This is to attract the attention of the public.

After all, the "Seven Stars Sword Art Festival" is a national competition.

Since it's a competition, audience support is essential, and ample promotion before it starts is necessary.

Therefore, others can see the list of representatives and their basic information from Hagun Academy online, and vice versa.

Rozen began collecting this information several days ago and only today confirmed the complete list and details of the representatives from all seven academies.

Among them are several top contenders who achieved outstanding results in last year's "Seven Stars Sword Art Festival."

For example...

"Kyomon Academy's representative who made it to the top eight last year—'The Icy Laughter' Tsuruya Mikoto."

"Rokuson Academy's representative who made it to the top eight last year—'The Panzer Grizzly' Kaga Renji."

"Donrou Academy's representative who made it to the top eight last year—'The Sword Eater' Kurashiki Kuraudo."

"Aside from those who were in their third year last year and have since graduated, these three are the top contenders who achieved good rankings in last year's 'Seven Stars Sword Art Festival' and are your competitors this year."

Rozen read out these familiar names, making the expressions of the others become very serious.

Among them, Todo Touka, who participated in last year's "Seven Stars Sword Art Festival," felt it the most and looked at Rozen immediately, solemnly asking.

"And Bukyoku Academy?"

Todo Touka specifically mentioned this academy.

It was only natural.

"I heard Bukyoku Academy has advanced to the finals for twenty consecutive years and has monopolized the podium of the 'Seven Stars Sword Art Festival' for five consecutive years. It's currently Japan's strongest knight academy, right?"

Stella, who had just arrived in this country, said.

Rozen nodded in response.

"Bukyoku is indeed strong. Unlike Hagun, which is on a downward slope, Bukyoku has always been at the top of the Seven Knight Academies. In the past twenty years, their worst result was being the runner-up, and in the past five years, they have monopolized the podium, making them the strongest academy."

Rozen said this.

In other words, Bukyoku Academy has monopolized the top three positions in the "Seven Stars Sword Art Festival" for five consecutive years.

"Last year's top three in the 'Seven Stars Sword Art Festival' were also from Bukyoku Academy."

Rozen said with ease.

"The third-place winner, a third-year student from Bukyoku—'Onibi' Momiji Asagi."

"The second-place winner, a third-year student from Bukyoku—'Clairvoyant' Jougasaki Byakuya."

"And Bukyoku Academy's strongest knight, currently Japan's strongest student, the third-year champion—'Seven Stars Sword King' Moroboshi Yuudai."

"These three were only second-year students last year and have advanced to the third year this year, so they have undoubtedly qualified as representatives and will be the obstacles in the way of the representatives from all prestigious academies in this year's 'Seven Stars Sword Art Festival.'"

Rozen's words made everyone feel heavy-hearted yet ignited their fighting spirit.

After all, even Todo Touka only made it to the top four, while these three were all ranked higher than her, proving they are indeed formidable.

In the past, everyone might have been more cautious, but after being baptized by Edelweiss' sword aura during this training and being trained by Rozen in almost torturous ways, they have not only felt themselves growing stronger but also started to crave battles with strong opponents to prove their strength.

Of course, this doesn't mean that everyone from Bukyoku Academy is stronger than Todo Touka.

Putting aside Moroboshi Yuudai, who had actually defeated Todo Touka, the second and third place winners from last year had some water in their rankings.

"I remember that even if one enters the finals of the 'Seven Stars Sword Art Festival,' the remaining two contestants from the top four will also compete to decide who is third and who is fourth, right?"

Shizuku asked Todo Touka.

"Setting aside the loss to the 'Seven Stars Sword King,' I don't think the third-place 'Onibi' Momiji Asagi could defeat Todo Touka. How could Touka-senpai only be in the top four?"

Shizuku asked this question.

This made Todo Touka smile wryly and say.

"In the semi-finals, I had to forfeit because a family member suddenly fell ill."

With this short explanation from Todo Touka, the mystery in everyone's heart was solved.

In other words...

"Touka-senpai faced the champion in the semi-finals and forfeited the match for third place, which is why she ended up in fourth place and couldn't get on the podium, right?"

Stella was both surprised and enlightened.

If it weren't for that, with Todo Touka's strength, defeating Momiji Asagi in the semi-finals and securing third place would have been easy.

Furthermore, even the runner-up, Jougasaki Byakuya, wasn't as strong as Todo Touka in terms of ability.

Therefore, Todo Touka's strength is definitely at the champion and runner-up level, making her fourth place last year really unfair to her.

However...

"Setting aside others, Moroboshi is indeed very strong. Although the match-up was unfavorable, I was indeed pinned down by him outside the intersection distance, losing to him without being able to use 'Raikiri.' So everyone, please don't be careless."

Todo Touka advised with a serious expression.

"In my opinion, apart from myself, the only ones here who can fight Moroboshi are Kurogane-kun and Stella-san. The rest will have very low chances of winning against Moroboshi."

That's how it was.

A person who could defeat Todo Touka head-on couldn't be weak.

In Rozen's view, among the people present, apart from Ikki, Stella, and Todo Touka, the others would indeed have very low chances of winning against Moroboshi Yuudai.

But conversely...

"There are three people here who can beat the 'Seven Stars Sword King.'"

Rozen smiled and said.

"So, at the very least, this year, we should steal Bukyoku Academy's spotlight."

What spotlight?

"Completely occupy the podium."

Rozen looked around and said with a smile.

"My requirement for you is that this year's top three should be from Hagun Academy."

This statement made everyone initially shocked, then their fighting spirit and determination burned even stronger in their eyes.

However, at this moment, Rozen's tone changed.

"Of course, it would be great if it were that easy."

As soon as he said this, everyone was stunned.