[Chapter - 1: The Festival has ended Part 2]

Around two hours after the start of the victory party.

Every person who surrounded the pictures and had reminiscent talks of the festival were more than satisfied, then divided into small groups of fellows with whom they usually hang out and started having a nice talk.

When they were getting to that step, Ikki, the guest of honor, was finally released from that crowd.

*Phew*

Ikki sat deeply in the chair, deposited his back on the back of the chair and looked up at the ceiling.

He had received the blessings from many people.

His endurance was somewhat drained due to such unfamiliar situation.

But that wasn't all, he also responded to the interview of Kagami, so his throat was dry.

Should he get Koume to bring something? Yeah, he thought so and...

"Thank you very much for this winner's interview. "Seven Stars Sword Art King"-san."

*Cubes of ice hitting each other*, a cold and hard feeling touched his eyebrows.

Stella took care of it and went to get a cold barley tea.

"…thank you. You saved me."

And by thanking her, Ikki gulped down the content of the mug and drank around half of it.

Stella looked at such state of Ikki that was next to her with tender eyes

And then, she opened her eyes as if she had noticed something.

"Ah, Wait a bit, Ikki. Your hair is ruffled. Let me fix it."

The hair of Ikki got ruffled due to the rough blessings from Moroboshi and Renren that in the end produced so.

Ikki didn't pay attention to it because he wasn't really a man concerned about his personal appearance, but it wasn't alright to be that unshapely before her.

So he nodded with an obedient「Okay」and straightened up his back so that Stella could touch his hair easily.

Stella turned to the back of the hair of Ikki and while she combed it with her gentle way of using her hands,

"And so it finished, isn't it? The tournament."

She muttered, feeling a little lonely.

To this, Ikki returned the same opinion.

"Yeah… In the blink of an eye."

"It feels a little lonely. …Because I was aiming for a long time for this."

That feeling was well understood by Ikki.

He was also aiming for this place.

For the graduation. And for the promise he made with Stella.

That's why… Ikki became a little uneasy.

"Have you perhaps burned out?"

However, Stella laughed Ikki's uneasiness down with「You serious?」.

"I'll be training for my revenge next year! And also for that thing last night."

Last night.

With those words, he nodded with「...yeah. That's right」

That's right. …Originally, this celebration was supposed to be held yesterday right after the award ceremony.

The reason why it was delayed by one day was nothing but an urgent business that came to the guest of honor.

Both Ikki and Stella had received a call from Prime Minister Tsukikage Bakuga to the gulf coast dome at night.

◆◇◆◇◆

[I would like you to meet at the ring of the gulf coast dome at 9 PM.]

That call was after the award ceremony. They were brought through Shinguuji Kurono, the board chairman of Hagun Academy. According to what they heard, they were going to have a secret conversation with Tsukikage and four people where"Yaksha Princess"Saikyou Nene was mixed in it, she was one of Japan's most powerful persons who acted as the master of Ikki and Stella.

"What on earth do they want to talk about? And calling at such hour nonetheless!"

"Come now… I don't get it either."

The two entered the dome at the appointed time, walked through the empty passage and cocked their heads in puzzlement while heading towards the ring.

"If this was an invitation of terrorists, then I'll wipe the floor with them."

"I think that's not the case because the board chairman and Saikyou-sensei appeared to be also in this…"

Eventually they came out of the gate that was left open and arrived at the ring of the meeting.

However, and strangely, no one was there.

There was just silence similar to feeling pain in one's ear in the spacious room that stretched out.

"Are you kidding me? Not even the one that called us is here. Ikki. The time is correct, right?"

"Yeah. It's strange…"

The result was the same even when checking the surroundings.

No human shapes were found on the ring nor in the mortar-shaped spectator seats.

It was deserted.

The trash was also swept completely, it was a mere shadow of the wild enthusiasm until this morning.

Ikki felt a touch of loneliness when looking at that desolated state.

They spent so much time in this place.

The few number of days were less than a week, but such enrichment was unmatched.

For that reason, Ikki felt a strong attachment to this place.

But...

'Huh…?'

Why the stage made him feel such attachment?

'What's this? This strange feeling.'

A slightly penetrating sea breeze shook the silence inside the dome.

Every time the atmosphere shook slightly, it caressed his skin.

Ikki felt a strange uncomfortable feeling with that sensation.

Was the atmosphere in this place that was flowing like this?

Why was it caressing his skin like that now?

...That's not it.

'The flow of the air is strange.'

The visual information he got when surveying the environs not long ago and the atmospheric fluctuation that he felt on his skin.

These two pieces of information didn't match.

They were disordered.

The atmospheric fluctuation assumed from his visual information and the one that was real diverged.

Yeah, as if...

It was as if there was an obstacle other than Stella and himself on the ring...

"…!"

Immediately after he recognized it, Ikki caught it with his eyes.

Behind Stella. The existence of a dark armor raised a giant halberd overhead…!

"Stellaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Avoid iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!!"

"…!"

The reaction of Stella at that moment was the fruit of her trust in Ikki.

Stella hadn't noticed the presence behind her yet.

Nevertheless, she threw her body down to the front reflectively.

She wasn't bewildered by the sudden scream, she didn't try to look back.

The complete trust towards the man called Ikki moved her body without thinking it.

Immediately after, the blade of the halberd fell on the place where Stella was standing just now, and with a roaring sound, it crushed the ring and the silence of this place.

"Who are you!?"

"…"

She threw up the body that was thrown down before with her right hand and rotated in the air.

Stella faced the enemy and let loose an angry voice.

There was an unusual alertness in her wide-opened eyes.

That wasn't surprising.

It was easy for him to get even behind them, but his repulsive force easily crushed the ring of reinforced slate.

His physical strength wasn't to the degree of Stella's, but to Ouma Kurogane's class.

He wasn't an ordinary person.

Contrasting with that, the enemy covered with a black armor replied nothing and attacked Stella again.

There was a clear fighting spirit in his actions.

"It's someone we don't know, but now that he did that, he has become my enemy!"

Stella responded.

She immediately made her Device"Laevateinn"manifest in her hands,

"Pierce the azure sky! Flames of purgatory…!"

Flames appeared from the blade.

They swirled, the multitude of overlapping flames increased their temperature and intensity of light in the blink of an eye.

And turned into an incandescent light sword.

Its brightness illuminated with a brilliance the whole interior of the dome as if it was midday,

...It exposed the detailed figure of the black armor that was fusing with darkness.

That figure,

'That armor, no way…!'

Ikki remembered it when he saw it.

But...

""Katharterio Salamandra"!!!!"

At the same time he noticed it, Stella's slashing attack of emitting light swallowed the armor.

It was a direct hit, there was no deny in that.

With that accurate reaction, Stella taunted him,

"Humph! How was t...!?"

However, the facial expression of Stella was instantly dyed with surprise.

That was expected.

Her deadly blow."Katharterio Salamandra".

He pierced through the torrent of light like it was a gentle breeze without losing a bit of momentum. The black armored knight appeared before the eyes of Stella from inside the light.

And then, the black armor brandished the halberd again and knocked it down with all his might, aiming at the top of the head of Stella.

The evasion of Stella who was convinced about the direct hit of "Katharterio Salamandra"wasn't good enough. But,

"Stellaaaa!"

Ikki, who came running, compensated for it.

He strongly thrust Stella away from her side, passed under the falling halberd and dodged the blade.

"Haaaaaa!"

He rolled and twisted his body, then released a horizontal flash at the torso of the armored knight to cut it right in half.

The armored knight who brought down his halberd couldn't respond to this.

"Intetsu"'s black blade hit the trunk of the armor as if it was absorbed by it.

However, the slashing attack of Ikki had unparalleled sharpness for sure, but its power wasn't that high.

The slashing attack was prevented by the armor, literally the blade didn't stand up.

However, Ikki obviously knew that.

There was no need to cut the armor.

...The blade only had to touch him, that much was enough.

"…!"

The instant"Intetsu"touched the flank of the armor, Ikki put to work the muscles of his whole body.

He released his second favorite attack by muscle expansion and contraction.

Sixth Secret Sword"Dokuga no Tachi".

It was a technique that caused ripples in the water inside the body of an armor user by hitting a certain kind of vibration against the weapon and armor of the opponent, ignoring all defenses and destroying the enemy from inside.

Firmness and shock absorption weren't proportional.

The poison called vibration spread in the entire body of the armored knight in a flash...

Fresh blood gushed out from the small openings of the armor.

Regardless of that...

"Guh!"

Right after that, the black armor released a shark kick like a spear against Ikki.

He didn't make him feel any damage even though he was struck by"Dokuga no Tachi".

However—Ikki wasn't surprised by this.

The reason was that the attack just now wasn't aiming at damaging Ikki himself.

He was convinced with that blow.

Who was the person, the armored knight before his eyes? And then...

"Ikki! This guy, is he perhaps that…"

Stella, who ran up to Ikki that was sent flying with that kick, got to realize something similar.

Therefore, they understood.

He was an opponent beyond their powers.

"Stella! Follow me!"

"Leave it to me!"

With Ikki as the vanguard, the two went to attack him at the same time.

With this, the armored knight manipulated skillfully the grip of the giant halberd and rotated the halberd above his head.

As Ikki was closing the hap, the jet-black halberd accelerated by sufficient centrifugal force and became like a black whirlwind, cutting the pulse of Ikki.

He cut it. ...Or so he thought.

However, the halberd that should have intercepted him with a perfect timing, waved a few centimeters before Ikki who was running up to him.

Fourth Secret Sword―"Shinkirou".

It was a body technique that bewitched the eyes of the rival with the tempo of its unique footwork.

Ikki then also created afterimages in front of him that caused the armored knight to misrecognize the distance.

And then, the two aimed at the moment when the armored knight vibrated in a big way and attacked him...!

"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!"

Stella, who was running behind Ikki, returned her sword and swung"Laevateinn".

Simultaneously with Ikki who ran ahead and jumped.

By landing on the middle part of"Laevateinn"that was swung as a foothold, Worst One released the First Secret Sword"Saigeki", a charging technique that had the most destructive power among the Seven Secret Swords he possessed.

The charging strength of"Saigeki"and the physical strength of the swing of the sword of Stella shook the ground.

That made everything concentrate in a single point to pierce the enemy, it was a combined technique that could only be achieved by these two people; it was created by the perfectly coordinated inspiration and combination of them.

Their names were...

""Tsunoou"…!!"

""Harmonic Bullet"…!!"

The inspiration of the name of the techniques weren't linked at all, but that wasn't a problem.

The blow, that was the combination of the strength of the two, was splendid, it hit directly the area between the eyebrows of the enemy who lost his stance due to his attack that missed―that caused sparks and a roaring sound to be produced, and thrust away the armored knight out of the ring.

However…

"Wha…!?"

The instant they thought he was pushed out of the ring, he sunk into the wall below the audience seats just like that.

The armored knight suddenly rotated his body and landed with both feet on the wall surrounding the perimeter of the ring.

He immediately kicked the wall, smashing it, then leapt towards Ikki and Stella with a momentum like a cannonball, and then to bisect the two altogether, he swung the halberd horizontally.

It was a long swing with quite a range.

Even though they dodged it easily, an evident impatience ran on their facial expressions.

Which wasn't surprising.

"Tsunoou", which concentrated the physical strength of Stella and Ikki in one point.

Even though the enemy before their eyes was struck by it directly, no damage went through him, he didn't even flinch from it.

"…if that didn't settle it, then we have no choice but to do that."

"Yes. Let's do it."

The two resolved themselves towards the opponent, the armored knight that fixed his stance calmly as he rotated the halberd.

And by breathing in deeply at the same time,

"Ittōu..."

""Dragon..."

Their ability. They tried to use them to the utmost limits.

...But it was at that time when.

"That's enough."

「「Eh!?」」

A familiar voice cut in between the three on the ring.

When they looked towards the direction of the one who spoke, the one who was there was,

"Board chairman… and..."

"Nene-sensei and Prime Minister Tsukikage…!?"

The three people that they were supposed to meet at this place today came up to the ring.

Kurono, who was in that group, told the armored knight.

"Any more than this and you will kill each other. Can you drop your weapon?"

The armored knight… undid his stance without showing an attitude that opposed so and dropped the tip of the halberd to the ground.

The fighting spirit of not long ago disappeared from that figure.

So, Ikki and Stella also dropped the point of their swords for a moment―and asked.

"Board chairman. What is the meaning of this?"

Towards that question, it was Nene, who was next to Kurono, who returned some words.

"Well, this was some sort of petty entertainment. However, I'm aware both Kurogane and Stella-chan know who this guy is, right?"

"Yes…"

They knew him.

They thought "no way" with that peculiar appearance, but they got convinced while fighting him.

"The notion of"Indomitable"that keeps restoring the body of the user infinitely. By wearing the Device"Orichalcos"on his body to use it, this guy, the"A-Rank Knight"of France, was registered in the KOK Rank League for the first time last year and climbed to the top of the rankings in the twinkling of an eye with a tempestuous and steady advance—He's the current top 4 in the world."Black Knight"Ascarid-san, isn't that right?"

"…"

"Black Knight"didn't respond to Ikki's question.

He kept being silent like he did until now.

However, that strength.

There was no need to take a commitment to that anymore.

What they didn't know was why a first-class knight of a country member of the League attacked them...

Kurono gave an answer to that question.

"Ascarid really wanted to see your strength at any cost. Since that was a sign that he would launch a surprise attack if we had left him alone, we let him do so under our watch."

– "…"we let him do so"… I'm pretty much a state guest. I'm the Second Princess of Vermillion Empire! This perfectly could have been an international issue!"

Stella glanced at Tsukikage who was behind those two due to the blunt words of Kurono.

Tsukikage showed a wry smile.

"I stopped her, but…"

"We approved it!"

"Aren't you our teacher!?"

"You won't have many opportunities to meet knights of this level. Experiencing the strength of League's top-class knights on your skin is affection that you may call it like becoming experience which is good for you. Trust me."

"E-even so, wasn't there another way of doing this…?"

Stella dropped her shoulders, exasperated.

Certainly, Sparta had a limit.

And while Stella was complaining to Nene and the others, the assailant, Ascarid, still didn't say anything then tried to leave the ring to which she had returned to.

He accomplished his goal, so it seemed that it was meaningless for him to be here anymore.

He was really a man that did things as he wanted.

Well, if the other party didn't show intention of fighting Ikki, then there was no reason in particular to chase him.

That's why he took away his eyes from the back of Ascarid who went away,

"I understand the reason why Ascarid-san attacked us. There's no need to discuss this any further. More importantly, Prime Minister Tsukikage. What is the matter you have to talk with us…?"

He presented interest to the man who summoned them to this place.

Tsukikage, who had given a single step till now, showed an expression similar to gratitude on his face for having changed the flow of the conversation,

"There are two matters about why I called you both today. Because there was something I want you to hear and something we ought to talk. …Let's start from the latter first."

He began to talk with a serious tone.

"There's only one thing we ought to talk. Ikki-kun. It's about the incident that happened to your body."

◆◇◆◇◆

"Something… happened to Ikki's body…?"

Stella turned an uneasy face with such disturbing sounds.

But Tsukikage didn't answer the question of Stella,

"Ikku-kun already knows what I'm talking about, isn't that right?"

He asked Ikki.

Ikki nodded to that question.

It was because he remembered so.

"Is it perhaps no other thing but when I used"Ittōu Rasetsu" for a second time in the match against Stella?"

Towards that, Tsukikage affirmed with「Exactly」.

"Magic power is the influence that is related to this world and the thing Blazers have by birth. For this reason, the aggregate amount is determined as fate. But… there are exceptions in this world that disprove that premise. Like those who have severed the chains of fate by their own strong will. There are exceptions that broke the limits of their souls as persons and got out of their destiny. We call those existences"Desperados"."

Tsukikage said.

The moment he received Stella's "Katharterio Salamandra", Ikki was defeated in his original fate.

But he burned with his feelings for Stella and shook free from that fate.

The fate surrounding this world transcended the limits that was allowed for the being called 『Ikki Kurogane』and caused an unbelievable miracle of raising the upper limit of his magic power, and overturned his fate.

"At that time, you leveled up the rank of your soul and became an existence different from the regular Blazers. You, who have reached this awakening, have been removed from the circle of fate surrounding this planet, and now you have become able to raise the upper limit of your magic power depending on the training. My first task is to tell you a fact, that you have become an existence that set foot into the current"Domain of the Desperados"."

"W-wait a minute!"

Then, Stella interrupted the words of Tsukikage.

She was showing a strong irritation on her face,

"Certainly I saw the moment when the magic power of Ikki increased. It was impossible, but I thought that if it was Ikki, then he would do around that much. However, Prime Minister Tsukikage. By your way of speaking, it means that you knew about the existence of this phenomenon since long ago, isn't that right?"

"Yes. Absolutely. And certainly not only me, as it is also known by the League Headquarters. I am conveying this stage's conversation to the"Desperado"that experienced an awakening as the head of the member nations of the "League of Mage-Knight Nations"."

"…"

Stella's irritation changed to anger with those words.

"Vermillion Empire has never heard a story like that. I've never heard such a story from Otou-sama! …Why were you silent in the first place? Turning upside down the common sense of this world from the roots with something like『The upper limit of magic power doesn't change from the time one was born』, isn't that a serious conversation…!? You should have detailed so to all the member nations of the League, don't you think!?"

Stella approached Tsukikage with an unusual threatening attitude.

It was natural.

She was first a student knight and at the same time, the Second Princess of Vermillion Empire.

He was a political person involved in the center of the administrative organs of a whole country.

The League was hiding things towards her country, and those weren't contents that could be transmitted with "yes, is that so?"

The magic power upper limit could be removed.

If only some nations shared that know-how, then that was a malpractice act against the allies of those nations.

In that case, she must consider their withdrawal from the League.

However, in response to the indignation of the Second Princess of Vermillion Kingdom, Tsukikage explained as a representative of the League.

"It's reasonable for Stella-hime to be angry. However… it's a misunderstanding that the League has deceived Vermillion Kingdom and that has monopolized the know-how that leads to"Desperado"among some nations. The League is hiding the existence of "Desperado"…because they are completely dangerous."

"Dangerous?"

"Yes. In order to reach"Desperado", one must carry the potential of oneself to the extremes, additionally, it's necessary for the strong person's will to rise even higher than that. That is an absolute condition of awakening. … But, have you thought that there are people who can hurt you and how much of them are in this world?"

"That's…"

"Stella-hime. You should understand it if you are a knight of that degree. It's not something that can be imitated or attempted to copy it. However, you should be able to imagine it as you are also a lady that is part of the imperial family that is involved in the administration of a country. … The type of tragedies that will happen if a greedy『Leader』knows the existence of this domain."

"…"

Stella opened her eyes wide and caught her breath for a moment.

It was easy for her to imagine the tragedy at the end as her royal family had a strong political power over their people and knew well the mechanisms of the nation.

"A powerful Blazer is a very important being for a nation. The more their numbers, the better. Consequently, if the upper limit of magic power were to have a method to be increased and propagated, then and without fail, someone who will force the Blazers of their own country will appear. To carry to exhaustion the potential of the human beings against their will, that is indeed such a horrible training. … But the awakening it's not something that can be enforced by a third party. What is necessary to overcome fate is one's own will. When they force a severe training, like making one stand in the depths of death, then only tragedy is born while one is pressured. That's why, and to not create a tragedy like that, the League concealed the existence of"Desperados"and revealed their existences only to some people of the nations that discharged"Desperados"among the nations affiliated with the League. It doesn't mean that we were hiding ill will towards Vermillion Kingdom, so I would like you to understand that."

Towards the explanation of Tsukikage,

"…hmm. That being the case, oh well… I understand."

Stella showed understanding and withdrew her threatening attitude.

She imagined so, she was convinced that that tragedy was inevitable.

Dictatorship countries as well as democratic countries were dangerous.

If they were to do the unreasonable like putting lives in danger, then Blazers would become stronger by surpassing the upper limit of magic power. If such public opinion were to be born, the human rights of the small number of Blazers would reach a critical situation.

It was justified that the League, that supervised the Blazers, kept it a secret.

...Like that, Stella recovered her composure and Ikki took a breath of small relief.

"But since only the nations are discharging"Desperados", does that mean… that there are already other individuals like them in Japan?"

He raised a question that was generated in the middle of the conversation.

Tsukikage nodded towards this, he showed affirmation with his neck going up and down.

"There are only two"Mage-Knights"that have Japanese nationality. One is the legendary knight"God of War"Mr. Nangou Torajirou who lived in the same era as"The Great Hero"Kurogane Ryouma. And the other person is the favorite pupil of"God of War"who is here, "Yaksha Princess"Saikyou Nene-kun. When it comes to outside matters, Mr. Ascarid is also a"Desperados"that belongs to the League."

"Nene-sensei is…!"

"Well, it's not like I'm ranked third in the world just for show you know. …I'm different to you who ended up retiring immediately because you lost your nerve when awakening."

"…"

Kurono, looking embarrassed, averted her eyes because Nene turned aggressive eyes towards her.

There was truly a volatile mood that was different from the two people who messed around while using their common abusive language.

Tsukikage, who guessed that, clapped once and returned to the story.

"The conversation went a little back and forth, but to sum up about why the head of the member nations of Knights League made an appointment with a new"Desperado": like I explained to Stella-hime now, I just wanted you to be self-aware of the existences called "Desperados"and how this may compromise the human rights of all Blazers and for you to not make it public. Did you understand that?"

"Yes. I should express that I drew out magic power from the bottom and not that it increased when I'm asked anything that is related to my second"Ittōu Rasetsu", is that correct?"

"Your quick understanding saved us time."

Tsukikage showed a satisfied smile towards the comprehensive faculty of Ikki who guessed without being told the fixed text recommended by the League after one has experienced awakening in an official place. And then,

"Although their existences should be concealed for the benefit of all Blazers, the "Desperados"who have gone beyond their fate through awakening aren't bound by the fate surrounding this world. And depending on the training, their superior fighting power can extend their magic powers. I, as Prime Minister of Japan, will collaborate without sparing anything for you to become stronger. If necessary, I can also introduce you an excellent teacher with my connections."

He made a firm promise to support Ikki, who had climbed to a new domain, as a nation.

Ikki, towards this,

"Thank you very much—it's what I would like to say, but."

He told Tsukikage while having careful sparkles inside his eyes like a blade.

"I still can't trust a person like you. You attacked our Academy. You even asked for cooperation to"Rebellion"and tried to launch"National Akatsuki Academy". Unless a number of reasonable explanations are given for that reason, I don't feel like relying on you by any means."

"You said it well, Kurogane. I agree."

"That also goes for Vermillion Empire, we cannot help but feel distrust towards people like you who were conspiring with terrorists."

"Sensei. Why don't we talk about this slowly? About what do you think and why did you do this?"

The other three also adhered to the distrust of Ikki.

The eyes of everyone were gathered in Tsukikage.

As if Tsukikage was waiting for that.

"Of course…. As that's the second matter that assembled everyone here today."

He pushed out both arms to the front,

"Make all the universe shine. "Getten Houjuu""

Together with a faint light like the glow of the moon, he made his Device manifest.

◆◇◆◇◆

What appeared in front of the two hands that Tsukikage opened was a fist-sized crystal ball decorated with gold metal.

It was flying in the air while shedding a pale golden light.

"This is… sensei's Device…"

"It doesn't feel like a weapon. Is this also your first time seeing it, Kuu-chan?"

"Yes… When I was in the Academy, I heard he was a Blazer of the non-fighting group, but this is my first time seeing it."

"My Device"Getten Houjuu", due to its ability… has always been a secret of the state of Japan since it manifested. Naturally the details were hidden by the League. It's been a long time since I've showed this in public too."

"How does this Device relate to the reason that Prime Minister Tsukikage started to act this time?"

Tsukikage smiled with a look that made him feel a little fatigued due to the question of Ikki.

"Well, let's postpone the conversation for a minute, I want you to see this first."

Saying that, he flicked"Getten Houjuu"that was staying in the air with his fingers.

Then, a wave stood on the mirror surface of"Getten Houjuu"and a drop fell from the bottom of the orb. It fell on the reinforced slate floor.

At that moment.

The drop that fell caused a shining ripple under the feet of Ikki and everyone and projected an image on the floor in the dark.

"T-this is…!"

Everyone caught their breaths and made their facial expressions become stiff with that image.

What showed the Device of Tsukikage was―hell.

A city where the whole surface was engulfed in flames and people burned while being alive.

It was a sight of blood, cries of pain and flames, it could only be described as hell.

"…w-what is, this…! The c-children are…!"

"Stella…!"

Lower half of bodies were crushed by the debris? Stella crouched and covered her mouth, she was unable to bear the scene of boys who were trying to escape from the flames desperately but were swallowed up by the flames without realizing their dreams.

Ikki immediately rushed to Stella and rubbed her back that became rounded, but his face was also pale.

After all.

This wasn't just a video.

In a simple video, Stella would have just knitted her brows in discomfort, no more than that.

However, everyone in this place certainly felt it.

The heat of the flames encircling the surroundings.

The screams that pierced their ears.

The smell of human flesh burning to a crisp.

And clearly with all that.

None other than they themselves were convinced that the feeling they felt was beyond their understanding.

That this scene wasn't fake.

There was no place for doubt, this was reality.

"Sensei…! What on earth is this!?"

Kurono raised a voice of protest towards the action of Tsukikage that she couldn't understand.

However, at that moment.

"Eh…? …!? Kuu-chan, that! Look at that!"

Nene watched intently the video while knitting the part of the eyebrows closest to the nose, then by getting aware of a certain thing, she pointed at one place in the video. After that, Kurono also did the same―she shuddered.

What was indicated by Nene first was the shape of『Tokyo Sky Tree』that leaned diagonally with violence.

"No way, are you telling me that this is Tokyo!?"

Tsukikage told 「That's right」to that awareness.

"Getten Houjuu has the power to look into the『Past』of people and places of a defined range. However, the power to read cause and effect sometimes shows me the『Future』that exists on the present line of cause and effect in the form of『Prophetic Dreams』. …This is the memory of the future that such power showed to me. If the fate of the planet changes as it is now, then that will be the appearance of Tokyo of the day that will come sooner or later. I'm playing this from the past of the human called me."

「「「Wha…!?」」」

All of them opened their eyes wide all together with the words of Tsukikage.

"You're saying this is the future of Tokyo!?"

"No way…! H-how could that happen…!"

The question of Stella escaped with a trembling voice.

Towards that, Tsukikage shook his head.

"I don't know that. My power is only『To see』. However, I can guess the circumstances from the current world situation."

Tsukikage, who said so, snapped his fingers to extinguish『Getten Houjuu』and closed the video of the floor.

He then approached Stella who fell to her knees and presented his hand while apologizing with「I'm sorry for showing you something unpleasant」.

But Stella returned a stern expression to this person, she didn't took his hand and stood up by relying on Ikki.

"You don't need to apologize, so keep going…!"

She wanted so.

The other three also showed the same opinion to Tsukikage with their eyes.

Tsukikage continued speaking after confirming that the four gazes have gathered at him.

"I presume Stella-hime knows about this, but this world maintains a temporary peace in the rivalry that exists between the three potencies. One of them is the"League of Mage-Knight Nations" to which Japan also belongs. Another one is the"Union"where big countries such as America, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia are connected. And the last one is"Rebellion", a tremendously large crime organization that is nested in the darkness of this world. This story is completely ironic, but the presence of a third power called"Rebellion"avoids a major conflict by constraining the extremist movements of both"League"and "Union"somehow by creating a three-way deadlock which is the current situation. But… this struggle for supremacy won't last long."

"What's the reason for that?"

"Life span."

Tsukikage replied briefly the question of Ikki.

"In each of these three potencies, there is an extremely powerful"Desperado". For"League", the knight who serves as the general manager of the League and is ranked 1st in the World Ranking KOK—"Lord Whitebeard" Arthur Bright. For"Union", the man who serves as the head of "Psyon" and whom America is proud of at his young age of 20—"Superman" Abraham Carter. And for"Rebellion", the rascal king who continues reigning in the dark world since before World War II―the Leader"Tyrant". The three potencies struggle for supremacy because there are three"Desperados"with unimaginable strength. However… "Tyrant", whose name has been in history since World War II, is considerably old. It wouldn't be strange if his life were to end soon. At that time, when it comes to how the world affairs will move, the first would be the competition for the enclosure of the remnants of "Rebellion"."

"How can you declare so…?"

"Because it has already started. Stella-hime."

"…!"

"Not only every country of"Union" like United States, Russia and China but also some of the member nations of League have made contact on their own ways with "Rebellion". …As Kazamatsuri-san was able to say, when it's about the members of "Rebellion", there are many persons who have taken a position in their own ways in the public world. And in this competition, League is tremendously falling behind "Union"."

"Because League is also the parent organization of Knights League Headquarters which has clearly taken a hostile stance against"Rebellion" …correct?"

Tsukikage nodded greatly.

"That's right. There are individuals who have small connections like me, but connections as an organization are deeply stronger in the side of"Union". If"Tyrant"dies, the great majority of fighting power will flow to"Union". And then, what will inevitably produce after this enclosure will be… World War III."

Tsukikage said.

"Union"aimed to put this world under divided control by the big countries and"League"attempted to preserve the shape of the current world by cooperating with small fellow nations.

These two organizations that could never coexist in the same planet.

If the third potency called"Rebellion"were to lose, a great war would definitely occur. And…

"That result, I think it's the scene we saw in your dream."

"In other words, does Sensei think that this future couldn't be avoided if he sided with"League"and so he took a series of actions to switch over"Union", is that what he means?"

"…generally speaking, that is the case."Superman"Abraham Carter, the strongest man of "Union"who was born in the United States of America, the largest country in the world, was still young. Given the risk of his low age and the fact that"Union"was strongly connected to"Rebellion", I thought of just one method to save Japan from going to ruin and that was to join"Union"even if we had to accept some disadvantageous conditions, but I executed it. I launched "Akatsuki Academy", and with its strength, it increased the trend of leaving the league and made a strategy to get the majority of votes in a national referendum that had to be cleared in case of withdrawing from the"League"."

More than a decade ago.

Ever since he saw this nightmare. Tsukikage devotedly lived only to accomplish so.

For that reason, and while he had nothing in his favor as he was a mere teacher, he brought in an influential person who put up an"Anti-League"that shifted the public opinion, the conservatives' former ruling party had to step back and they assumed the reins of government.

Because there was no other way for Tsukikage who had no fighting power.

However.

"…that's an impossible dream now. "Akatsuki Academy" lost and the public opinion has increased the tendency to reevaluate the policies of"League". In this state of affairs, it's impossible to win majority of people's will through drastic reforms such as withdrawing from"League". …In other words, it seems that I lost to you."

Tsukikage dropped his shoulders and sighed.

But...

"Compared to what you said, you look very happy."

Ikki judged that his words and his emotions were diverging in a big way.

And Tsukikage didn't deny this.

The wrinkles of his face that were very deeply engraved in this decade, smiled much more stronger.

"…fufu. Is that so? It's been 10 years. I just fought believing that was the only salvation. But the only emotion I have in my heart now is joy."

He answered that he didn't have regrets or anything like that.

Because even when he were to lose control spontaneously, then commit a crime and lament the future.

"Young power is strong enough to break fate because you were raised indomitably…"

Tsukikage saw that at this Seven Stars Sword Art Festival.

The moment when young forces intersected, enhanced each other and finally tore off even their fates.

They won't struggle in an underhanded way when trying to defeat fate, they would do it directly from the front and magnificently.

He understood so when he looked at the figures just before his eyes.

It wasn't his place to say anything anymore.

"My ability is the power that sees the fate surrounding the planet and nothing else. Outside of that fate, I can't see the past of the ones that reached the"Domain of the Desperados"and the future they will create. That's why… I believe that you will lead this country to a completely different future from the future of despair I've seen."

'If so, there's only one thing I should do.'

Realizing so, Tsukikage looked at all of them.

...He smiled like as if he was saved.

"…please take care of this country and the world…"

He entrusted his wish and the future of his beloved country to the young forces.

◆◇◆◇◆

"…at that moment, Prime Minister Tsukikage was crying, right?"

"Yeah."

Ikki, who recalled the event last night, re-thought about the last expression of Tsukikage and nodded.

At that time, there was no doubt that small teardrops were rising in the outer corner of his eyes.

He became miserable with an exhausted look on his face, however, as if he was saved.

Stella also felt that.

So...

"I hated that person. I don't care about the reasons, he's the one who hurt everybody of the Academy. I thought that I would punch him if I had the chance. …However."

Stella said it. She didn't hate him anymore.

Stella was part of the royal family.

Stella was conscious of the dreadfulness of something called political world, so she understood him well.

How difficult was to climb to the top, to go as far as being the head of the administrative organ of the whole country in just ten years?

The marks of those hardships were clearly recorded on the face of Tsukikage.

However, Tsukikage accomplished it.

Solely for the sake of saving his beloved country.

Stella felt even respect towards that dynamism and willpower as a fellow politician.

There was no way she could embrace hatred.

And then, they unexpectedly defeated Akatsuki and crushed that dream.

"When you win, you take responsibility for it… Those were the words of Touka-san when they announced the representative members, but… I think we were burdened with the wish of Prime Minister Tsukikage. A preposterous and incredibly strong wish."

No, that wasn't either, such scene, there was no way they could turn that into a reality.

The premonition of Tsukikage. The Defeat of League in World War III.

If such scene truly reflected the future, then it wasn't going to be a problem just for Vermillion Kingdom that was also a member nation of the League.

Above all, Japan was like a second home for Stella.

There were many important friends in this country.

She wanted to protect them.

...She will absolutely protect them.

Because of that, Stella clenched her fists on top of her knees and said strongly to herself as she looked down.

"I have to get even stronger… And like Ikki, surpass my own limits…!"

To such woman.

"…Stella."

Ikki called out to her by patting her back from the side.

"Hmm? ...Myu!?"

He raised a finger to the place Stella would turn around her face and he poked the face of Stella who turned around.

To such sudden and childish trick, Stella brushed off the hand of Ikki and showed surprise.

"W-what are you doing so sudden!?"

"You're getting too worked up."

Ikki, who faced her, advised with a serious tone of voice.

"It's a good thing to be motivated, but what will corner you will be the source of the injury. Certainly, we were surprised by the story of Prime Minister Tsukikage, but we'll never allow such scene to be a reality. …But, from the beginning, we exist to help those who don't have strength from crisis like that, because we're"Mage-Knights". We knights aren't sportsmen. Even Stella must have walked through chivalry with a strong spirit to protect the people of your country. Am I wrong?"

"Ah…"

"That's why, there's no need for you to get worked up now. After all, Stella isn't a person who could be negligent with herself. If you keep aiming for the greatness of a knight with all your strength like you've been doing so far… then one day, the moment when you'll go beyond your limits will come. And without fail when the need has approached."

Besides...

"Prime Minister Tsukikage was referring to"Desperados"as special beings, but I don't think so."

Ikki said that and transferred his gaze from Stella to everyone in this place.

"I understand that as I fought with everyone here. Not just Stella, but no one here is a knight that could lose against me. For the sake of pride, dreams or someone else—things such as limit should easily be surpassed."

He asserted with a strong tone of voice.

He was convinced from the bottom of his heart.

Ikki had sharpened their souls and swords for this reason.

The nightmare shown by Tsukikage. There should be no one here who would allow the realization of such a thing.

If it was for that reason, then they were going to surpass everyone.

Their own limits.

Just like they themselves did at the finals of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival.

Because everyone absolutely hated to lose with each and every one of them.

"If we join forces with everyone, then anything can be surpassed. I'm sure of it."

Ikki said so and put his hands on the hands of Stella and held them gently but strongly.

"Because I'm next to you."

Like saying that there was no need for a single person to be responsible for the future.

With the words of Ikki.

"You're right… Absolutely right."

Stella also grasped back the hands of Ikki.

"I'll be relying on you. Ikki."

She showed her usual bright smile and leaned on Ikki's shoulder.

She wasn't dangerously stiffened anymore.

Since they were shown the future yesterday, Stella made an intense uneasiness to propagate while pretending to be calm.

Her position as royal family. Her nature's strength of the sense of responsibility.

Those were stealing composure from her, they were pressing her feelings.

However, Stella pointed out to Ikki that she understood that the future was not something that only she or those in the field must deal with.

If it was like this, then the amount of sense of responsibility wouldn't be absurd.

Ikki was relieved of that matter for a moment.

'As for me, the wall in front of my eyes troubles me more than the things of the future that I don't know.'

He sighed with real intention due to the visit to Vermillion Empire that approached closely.

Because that was a wall that he had to break through with his own ability.

He was going to steal Stella from the King of Vermillion.

…What kind of feelings would a father have when his daughter was stolen by an unknown man with doubtful origins?

Ikki didn't have a child so he didn't comprehend well.

He didn't know, but―he at least knew that it wasn't going to be a somewhat friendly meeting.

'If I have to bring up the topic, I wonder in what way it would be better…'

When Ikki was worrying about the contents of the imminent greeting.

"Oh. Really? Thanks a lot!"

Moroboshi was talking to someone on the phone, then stood up from the chair and spoke loudly to everyone.

"Hey guys! The people working at the public bath near here had a break today, but it seems that they made a reservation for us! Our bellies that were full are in good condition now, so let's all go to the public bath!"

Everyone who gathered at this victory celebration raised delighted voices in response to this proposal.

"Eh!? For real? You're not joking!?"

"Oh my, oh my. That's excellent, don't you agree? I remember when I went on a trip with everyone to the bath at『Wakaba's residence』"

"Soukei has become my right-hand man. What is a public bath?"

"Public bathhouses are what commoners use. There, everyone takes off their clothes, Ojou-sama also takes off her clothes, I also take off my clothes, the two of us will be just like when we were born and and and and and and and and and and. *Drip* *Drip**Drip* (Nosebleed)"

"Char...!?"

And Stella, who had been in Japan for several months, also showed a strong interest in this proposal.

"Hey, hey, Ikki! The public baths of Japan! There's a big picture of Mt. Fuji in the bath right?!"

"That's true in Tokyo, but… in Osaka…"

"If it's not there, then I'll get Sara to draw one!"

"Eh?"

"I don't mind since I wanted to go there at least once! So, let's go ASAP!"

Aside from Sara who was bewildered by the request that was thrown at her all of a sudden, Stella stood up and took the hand of Ikki then rushed as fast as she could like a child.

Shizuku pierced a sidelong glance towards such Stella.

"This is a very disappointing news to you who is getting very horny, but public baths aren't mixed baths."

"H-hey! What on earth do you mean with horny!? And I know that much you know!?"

…Thus, the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival came to an end, and the last night in Osaka was going to get lively.

During several months they made utmost efforts but just one went to the top.

Many stories were born like the many bonds that were tied.

The young people, who had placed those bonds in each of their hearts, were going to enjoy a moment of rest.

Thus, they walked out from this place.

Each one of them staring at the future—and to a new stage.