Chivalry of a Hollow Cryo Dragon Devil Knight

by Gaevontracey24

Ayato Kurozakuro Sparda will enter the world of Devils and learn more about himself as Rias Gremory's Pawn & Stella Vermillion Gremory Phenex's Queen , along with his mysterious family past which allows him to wield a legendary demonic sword... and he's the next Red Dragon Emperor. Harem with Stella,Rias and Mio being the main girls.

27. Chapter 27

Chapter 27

'' - Talking

"" - Thought

{} - Sparda

[] - Ddraig

….

Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival day two.

C-Block second match, Ayato Kurozakuro vs Byakuya Jougasaki. The outcome of the fight between the up-and-coming A-Rank Knight, who had defeated Seven Stars Sword King in the first match, and the runner-up of last year's Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival was decided in a way nobody could have ever predicted.

[Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!]

As Ayato Summoned the Boosted Gear, It started to boost his power a lot before it said

[Transfer]

As He Summons a Massive Cryo Lightning Dragon, a Thousand of Ice lightning blades. Ayato draws natural ice & lightning directly from thunder clouds to supplement the power of his strike & controls it with Ryuuzētsu.

Ayato throws the Massive Cryo Lightning Dragon at Byakuya and defeats him with a Huge Cryo Lightning Blast.

"Kori Kirin"

After the surprise attack by Ayato's Kori Kirin at the beginning of the match, Byakuya Jougasaki sank down in the ring without being able to move a single step from the starting line.

The conclusion was so one-sided that the main referee was astonished, but.

"Referee." He remembered his role as Ayato's voice beckoned him to hurry up with the verdict, and then he walked towards the fallen Byakuya.

After confirming that he had completely lost his consciousness, he announced the end of the match. This result caused an uproar in the venue.

「W-Woow! What just happened!? Contender Cryo Raikiri Sword Emperor, Ayato Kurozakuro! In an instant after the match began! In that instant, he closed in on contender Eye of Heaven, Byakuya Jougasaki, and cut him down with Kori Raikou Kirin at once!」

「O-Oi, what was that just now!?」

「Did you see what happened just now?」

「N-No, not at all. Just when I thought that the match finally started, before I knew it...」

The match ended.

All of the spectators showed confused expressions, not being able to understand what had happened. However, they couldn't be blamed.

The reason was ──

The Noble Art that Ayato had used just then was a strike that completely exceeded the speed limit of Sound.

「Just now, he used the Kori Raikou Kirin that Helped him reach the top of the U-12 World Tournament. He used that, coupled with the sword of Twin Wings, creating the fastest attack at the opening of the match...So that's how it is, this is indeed reasonable.」

The one who explained that to the spectators, who were unable to digest the situation, was a suit wearing, bespectacled woman in her prime, replacing Muroto-pro in the commentator's seat.

She was Yaotome-pro.

Iida, who was still the announcer, asked her. 「Is the combination of those two really so reasonable?」

「It is. You can say that, be it the Noble Art of Sword Emperor of The Cryo Lightning or the sword technique of Twin-Wings, they share the same principle. Swinging with all their strength in an instant. Both of them are techniques derived from instant explosive strength as its foundation. Hence, the combination of them gives a synergistic effect. As for how impressive it is, the duration of the match makes it obvious.」

Hearing that, Iida's eyes popped open after confirming the duration of the match again.

「T-This is...! W-What a shocking number! The match duration is an unbelievable 0.8 seconds! Contender Ayato Kurozakuro! He pulverized the runner-up of the previous Festival while shattering the previous speed record!」

「N-Not even one second!」

「Oi! What was the record in the Festival until now?」

「It should be about twenty seconds.」

「He shortened it to less than one-twentieth of that...!」

「S-So cool...」

「That's so cool, bro! Go and win it with this pace!」

「Do your best! Ayato-kun!」

「Receiving the cheers, contender Kurogane walked towards the waiting room after an overwhelming victory in record speed against the previous Festival's runner-up! He has overcome the disadvantage of magic Control as an A Rank with Monstrous Magic power, magnificently advancing to the third round! Strong! Truly strong, Raikiri Emperor! Will he be able to make his way up to the top of Seven Stars like this!? Don't take your eyes off the third round in the afternoooon!」

Despite being the underdog since the beginning of this Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, Ayato's achievement of beating the first and second place of the previous Festival stirred up the venue. However, amongst that, Yaotome's observant gaze from the depth of her spectacles stared at the back of the winner who was leaving the ring, and thought.

It was indeed an overwhelming result for Ayato, but ── (Now then, can this match really be called 「an overwhelming victory」?)

(2 Hours Later)

After the match, Ayato entered a capsule set up in the venue to cure his wounds.

After curing his wounds, Ayato was transferred to a bed in the Medical Room with the help of medical staff and took a light nap there. That was because he had been given a light dose of full-body anesthetic before entering the capsule. And the monitor installed in the Medical Room where he slept was displaying the current match held at the venue.

The one who was fighting was...his little sister, Lorelai Shizuku Kurogane, and last year's third place, Momiji Asagi.

「D-Block second match, contender Momiji Asagi's movements are very nimble! This is impressive! So impressive! Lightly evading the barrage of Water Prison Orb, she is gradually closing in! Contender Momiji's speed is just too fast for contender Shizuku to lock on!」

「She isn't just fast.」

「What do you mean?」

「The technique contender Momiji has used just now is called trackless step, a unique type of stepping that her master, God of War Torajirou Nangou, is good at. This stepping method lets the user slip out of the opponent's field of vision, and without a certain degree of expertise in martial arts, it's difficult to break through this technique if he cannot concentrate on his own body and freely control it. This will be hard to deal with for contender Shizuku, who is completely specialized in magic.」

Just as Yaotome said, Shizuku in the display image could not capture Momiji's movement and wasn't doing well in terms of offense. In the midst of that, Momiji broke through the long range distance from Shizuku, and circled around her back with a trackless step.

「Look at that! Contender Shizuku's back has been exposed!」

And she swung down her Device, which was a Japanese katana-shaped Device clad in crimson flame. Shizuku could not react to that. She suffered from this technique once before in the fight against Raikiri, but to break through it, she had to control her brain and body to operate against her instinct and reflex. It was a technique that could only be obtained after training her body for a long period of time. It was not something that could be learned quickly.

── However, this girl did not need that.

The instant Momiji's naked blade was about to gouge into Shizuku's back, an ice wall bursted up from around her feet, stopping the blade in its tracks. The sudden and unexpected reaction from Shizuku caused Momiji to be shocked. That moment determined the outcome of the fight. Momiji, whose movement dulled from the shock, was hit by Shizuku's Noble Art Water Prison Orb.

「W-What!? She has intercepted contender Momiji who went behind her back and slashed at her without even turning baaack! Contender Momiji has been caught by Water Prison Orb! The Water Prison Orb that hit contender Momiji immediately climbed up her body and blocked her windpipe! Contender Momiji is desperately trying to peel it off, but her target is a liquid! She cannot even grab onto it! H-However, why was contender Shizuku able to tell the location of contender Momiji!?」

「...I see. That's quite crafty. That girl.」

「Yaotome-pro, what did you understand?」

「Yes. She has used Water Prison Orb as a distraction, and covered the surface of the whole ring with a thin layer of water membrane without anyone noticing. This means, even if she couldn't see with her eyes, she was able to determine contender Momiji's position from the waves caused by the shaking of water.」

In that case, it didn't matter if she could follow her with sight or not. Shizuku would be able to tell Momiji even if she were to close her eyes.

「Ahh! Right now, contender Momiji has fallen on her knees! And the main referee gives the cue for the match to end! D-Block second round second match's victory goes to contender Lorelai Shizuku Kurogane! A big sigh comes from the venue! That's to be expected! The local Bukyoku Academy's top three that are called the Golden Generation have all been defeated! However, on the other hand, the three contenders from Hagun Academy have all advanced to the third round! The new Akatsuki Academy also has three victors left, displaying their presence! Don't take your eyes off in the third round at 18:00!」

"Hmm. As expected, she isn't so pathetic to be done in by the same technique twice."

Snickering slightly happily, Stella, who was sitting on the pipe chair next to the bed where Ayato was sleeping, turned off the monitor.

And she reviewed the Festival's situation up to then again.

The best eight had been determined right after Shizuku's match.

Well, accurately speaking, there were only seven people, with Stella advancing up to semi-finals

. Those seven people were all forces to be reckoned with.

First, Stella herself, her schoolmate Ayato, and Shizuku made up three.

After the new generation of Ayato's group and a new force of Akatsuki made their debut, the powerhouses were eliminated one by one, and Rokuson Academy's Panzer Grizzly Renji Kaga was still hanging in there.

The only A-Rank Knight on par with Stella & Ayato, Gale Sword Emperor Ouma Kurogane.

Using an unknown power to win without fighting in the second round, Bad Luck Amane Shinomiya.

And ── "The last is...this pervert."

As Stella looked down at her feet suspiciously, there was the girl wrapped up in bandages with disheveled hair, using her phantasmagorical Noble Art just like a kaleidoscope, obtaining an overwhelming victory, Sara Bloodlily. Sara, who had been aiming to make Ayato her nude model, anticipated that he would be using the capsule for the recoil of Kori Raikou Kirin and came to the Medical Room, but she was caught red-handed by Stella, who had also anticipated that to happen, the moment Sara was about to lift up his clothes. However, despite conducting such an act, Sara showed an expression of protest and complained to Stella.

"I'm not a pervert. Please call me an artist."

"Calling you an erotist is more than enough! Geez, I can't be careless or show any openings against you!"

"Why?...Even though you cooperated yesterday."

Sara's words caused Stella to show a bitter expression as she let out a groan. "I-It's true that I was unknowingly tempted by the devil's whispers when you promised to draw the two of us in the palace, but I have cooled down after a day. Ayato's portrait drawn by you would certainly be attractive, but after all, if Ayato dislikes the idea, then you can't."

"That's why I'm trying to do this while he's sleeping."

"That's even worse!" Stella's eyebrows rose in anger and stepped onto Sara's back with her sole.

"Ow, ow ow ow...! Breaking, I'm breaking...!"

Although she didn't exert that much strength, Sara leaked out squeals as if she was really in pain. Sara became Akatsuki Academy's member due to her out-of-standard strong ability, but she was not a combatant in the first place. With her unhealthy daily lifestyle and lack of exercise, and in addition to her inborn weak constitution, her body was not strong.

"Screaming from such little force, you're weak."

"I'm an artist, so I'm frail unlike a certain female gorilla who can weld bones."

"You better watch your mouth. I'm still bearing a grudge against you all even before this matter about Ayato. I don't know what I may do if you get too full of yourself?"

"Kyuuu~~~~~~!?"

Stella's veins bulged up as she pulled hard on the bandages that were wrapped around Sara, making her look like a boneless ham.

Being pulled by that extraordinary arm strength, the bandages mercilessly dug into her flesh, and her bones were starting to make sounds of grinding.

The originally weak Bloody Da Vinci could not endure it.

Well, as expected, even Stella did not have the intention of injuring a participant in the Festival outside the ring, regardless of how much she hated the Akatsuki Academy.

She let her go after a while and sighed in resignation.

"Haa. Why are you so fixated on Ayato's nudity in the first place?

If I recall correctly, I believe that Mario Rosso's style was more wide-ranged?"

She painted not only character portraits, but also sceneries and religious paintings.

Her style ranged from abstract to figurative, a free painter not constrained by forms.

That was the Mario Rosso that Stella knew.

Even though she's like that, why would she be so obstinate on drawing a male's portrait, a nude one on top of that?

To that question, Sara went silent for a while, then answered.

"...There is a painting that I must complete, no matter what."

"Painting?"

Sara nodded.

"A certain person has spent his whole life drawing a painting of Messiah's salvation, but in the end, he was unable to complete it. For the sake of completing it...his assistance is necessary. My intuition shouted so."

"Are you saying that you want to use Ayato as the model to complete that incomplete painting?"

"Nn."

"Then you should have just asked Ouma. Their faces are similar, and his physique is superior. If it has to be nude, wouldn't he be better?"

"Ouma is...different. It's true that they look similar outside, but he does not have that gentleness and Two sharpened strengths which deviates from normality . What he has is only one sharpened strength which deviates from normality. That...the blank in that painting...not suitable for the figure of the Messiah in the center...Even if you are aiming to win in this Festival, you should not be content with being the second place."

"...Well, that's true."

"It's the same as that...Completing that painting is extremely important to me. I will not compromise. I don't intend to cut corners. It's the same as you guys risking your lives to fight. Me as well, I am risking my life for the pain...ting."

Sara's words carried on bit by bit.

Her voice was small, her pitch also hardly changed, but her words contained her firm determination. Her unshakable and steel-like core was unimaginable, from looking at that weak body.

Seeing that, Stella...improved her evaluation a little.

Honestly speaking, she did not dislike her. A person who was straightforward for her goal.

"...I understand your incessant passion towards painting. I will retract calling you an erotist. But it's still unacceptable if Ayato himself objects. If you want to draw him no matter what, you need to somehow convince Ayato...?" Stella suddenly noticed while she was talking. Under her foot, Sara was slightly trembling. Her constraints should not be that tight anymore...

"What is it? You are trembling."

"...Release me."

"No. Because you are going to harass Ayato after I release you, right?"

"I understand...then it's fine if you don't release me, so..."

"So?"

"Bring me a plastic water bottle."

"Say that first――――!"

"And take off my panties."

"Don't say that with this as pretext!? You can't cross that line as a girl!"

"This is nothing, it often happens in my Atelier when I pull all-nighters."

"Zip that mouth and stop saying anymore unnecessary things! Wait a bit! I'll release you...!"

In contrast to the uselessly calm Sara, Stella was trying to untie the bandages wrapping around Sara in panic.

However, (Eh, huh...how did I tie this again?)

She tied her up securely in the heat of moment, and did not know how to untie her at all. However, she did not have time to worry about that.

"I-Is it here?" For the time being, she just pulled a bandage. Soon after.

"Kyaau!?" The bondage strongly tightened, digging further into Sara's big breasts.

"...T-Tigh-tt...Kuh."

Her lungs pressured, Sara gasped in agony with a teary face.

"S-Sorry! I made a mistake! Erm, then here!"

After that, Stella pulled the bandages wrapping Sara one by one, but they were all wrong. Every time Stella pulled the wrong place, the bandages dug deeper and deeper into Sara's body, eventually rolling up the apron covering Sara's breasts. It was a risqué scene where her apron was caught at the nipples and was barely covering them.

"I-It somehow became out of hand..."

"...I-If you tighten that much...I will really...leak out."

"NOO! You can't leak! If you seriously can't hold it anymore, then―!" Stella raised a shriek as the situation kept getting worse and worse. That voice echoed in the small Medical Room in the dome──

(...Hmm?)

Ayato Kurogane, who was sleeping next to them, regained consciousness. He rubbed his sleepy eyes

and slowly raised himself from the bed.

"Hmm...Huh, Stella, what are you doing?"

He saw the figure of his lover tightening the bandages wrapped around Sara's voluptuous body as she was gasping in pain.

"Eh? Seriously, what are you doing!?"

"A-Ayato!?"

Seeing the awakened Ayato, Stella's expression further panicked. How should she explain this bizarre situation? However, it was literally a moment she could not waste. That's why Stella omitted the explanation leading up to there and told him only the current situation.

"B-Bad news! Sara is going to leak, yet I can't untie the bandages!"

"I don't know how I should handle this situation, but will it be fine if you untie the bandages? Rather, if you can't untie them, then can't you just cut them?"

"T-That's it!" Ashamed of herself for not being able to think of that due to her panic, Stella slid her Lævateinn between the bandages and Sara's skin, severed them apart and kicked Sara out of the Medical Room.

"L-Look! I released you now, so hurry up and go!"

"Nn..." After seeing off Sara, who was walking a weird gait towards the toilet, she turned around to face Ayato.

"Thank you, Ayato. Thanks to that, we have avoided the worst outcome."

"Is that so...It's fine if that's the case."

"...So, after resolving the problem at hand, I hope that you'll let me explain how it led to that..."

"No, I more or less understood."

"Eh? Really?"

"I was confused a while ago because I just woke up, but seeing this situation made it obvious. And not to mention, it's none other than you, Stella. Though not to the point of telepathy, I can still understand you to a certain extent."

Ayato smiled as he said that. Seeing Ayato's response, Stella patted her chest in relief. Due to the unique situation, she thought that he might have a strange misunderstanding.

"I-I see. Then it's fine."

Stella was thankful for her highly comprehensive lover, as happiness bloomed on her face. She was happy that the two of them could resonate without words.

Ayato gently held the hands of Stella who was showing such a loving expression, and spoke to her with an incredibly honest and caring gaze.

"Yes. That's why, Stella, do that only between lovers. I will never dislike you, regardless of what fetishes you have."

"Didn't you totally misunderstand――――!?"

Her expression changed. Shaking off his hands that held hers with all her might, Stella exclaimed. That misunderstanding was indeed too much for a maiden to endure.

"Ayato, you're wrong! You misunderstood! I don't have the hobby of happily performing bondage on girls! That just happened due to a chain of events, or rather, considering the match in the afternoon, I couldn't shave off her stamina with Illusionary Form, hence I had unwillingly used bandages, it's not that I like...!"

Almost biting her own tongue in panic, Stella desperately explained the situation. Seeing Stella like that, Ayato laughed as if he found it funny.

"I'm kidding. I know. You just protected me from Sara-san, right?"

"Wha! Y-You understood and still made fun of me!? Ayato is so terrible!" Ayato intentionally played a prank on her. After hearing that, Stella's cheeks puffed up as she stared at him in anger. In return Ayato poked her cheeks in a slightly mean gesture.

"It's payback for chasing me out of the room & Tickling my ribs yesterday."

"Uu."

Stella had no words of rebuttal to that. Rather, her anger was instantly replaced by anxiety. Her thoughtless acts might have made Ayato more unhappy than she thought. Hence Stella inquired with her pupils swimming in anxiety.

"...Could it be that you are pretty angry?"

"Nope. Poking Stella's puffed up cheeks is fun, so I'm not bothered by that anymore."

"What's with that? Geez..."

Stella sighed in relief and pushed her cheek towards Ayato's finger on her own. It might've been a gesture which indicated that she had already reflected on herself.

After enjoying the feeling of her soft, blushing cheek, instead of using his finger, Ayato used his palm to stroke Stella's smooth cheek.

Her skin was smooth no matter how many times he touched it, there was nothing to obstruct his fingertips.

The sensation felt like touching a newborn baby.

That's why Ayato always ended up indulging himself in touching Stella's skin.

However, Stella also seemed to like that action, narrowing her eyes from the pleasant feeling, and rubbed her cheek against Ayato's hand for more caressing.

"Stella. You are like a cat."

"Nya～ " Returning a joking response, Stella continued to act spoiled with Ayato. A pair of lovers.

Even a shallow and brief interaction was a time of happiness for them.

However...That time was...

*Clang* The Medical Room door opened, and that time ended as someone entered.

The two of them were startled by the sudden visitor.

On the other hand, the person who opened the door and entered took a glimpse at Ayato, whose hand stiffened on Stella's cheek.

"...Looks like the timing of my entrance is always bad."

A voice lacking intonation, but scratchy and with heavy reverberation muttered.

The two of them could not respond to that voice.

No, they couldn't reply. The shock was too much for them, so much that their thoughts came to a halt for a moment. The reason was that the person before them was…

"N-No way...!"

"F-Father...!"

Ayato Kurogane's step father & Uncle, a Mage-Knight holding the nickname of Iron Blood. It was Itsuki Kurogane.

"Y-You came to the event venue. I didn't know."

"This is a country-wide event. It's only obvious for me, the head of the Japanese branch, to be here. Not to mention, my two children & stepson are participating in it."

"T-That's also true, a-ahaha."

I also have two other people who love to see you two.

"Come In now you Two!"

Two Women walked into the room and Ayato's eyes widened.

One of them was 5' 9" and was a beautiful charming woman with long, waist-length silver hair and blue eyes with a voluptuous figure due to her Fallen Angel blood, but she also has the blood of the famous Sparda clan, the only Omega-class Devil that even surpasses the Super Devil and Ultimate-Class Devil status. She's wearing a violet dress that hugs her figure as she sees her Son from the entrance as she stepped out of the doorway that led to the Medical room.

Her Name is Akari Takizawa Sparda

The Other women are wearing two low pigtails, and wear black horn-rimmed glasses also with a voluptuous figure due to her Fallen Angel blood. She wears boots with casual Clothes in her twenties.

Her Name is Haruka Kurogane Sparda.

His gaze was drawn immediately to his sister, sitting up in the bed— to that beaming smile that he hadn't seen in almost eight years.

"Nice to see you, Ayato." Ayato's mouth opened reflexively at the sound of that dear voices, but no words came out. His lips trembled for a brief moment before he took a deep breath and broke out into a weak smile.

"Long time no see, sis and mom."

"Oh? It doesn't feel like it's been all that long to me, though…?"

Given that she had spent these last seven years asleep (or, more precisely, divorced from the flow of time), it made sense that the past wouldn't feel so distant to her.

"But even so, look how big you've gotten! we're most surprised by that, to be honest."

"But you two still knew it was me, right?"

"What? Of course we did. We're your big sis and Mom, after all!" Haruka and Akari puffed out her cheeks at the very suggestion—and then, all of a sudden, began to sit down on the bed.

"Oh? So you've finally overtaken me, huh?" Haruka said, tilting her head slightly upward as she stood before him.

"Haru…?"

"…I've heard all about it. About what you've done , about how hard you've been fighting all this time. We're very Proud of you for making it this far in the Seven Stars, Ayato." Her words echoed in his ears, carving their way into his heart. At the same time, he came to a sudden realization: No matter how much taller he might grow, no matter what heights he might bring his swordsmanship to, he would never be a match for both of them. To him, Haruka and His Mom were great people.

"So…are you going to introduce your girlfriend to them, or what?"

"Ah!"

Ayato turned around, only to see his girlfriend smiling at them somewhat nervously.

"Stella, right? Ayato's Girlfriend, a princess of Vermillion, and a beautiful, flame-wielding A-rank Blazer, right? You must have such a pure heart. Thank you. I'm sure Ayato owes you a lot, too."

(Oh my gosh...Oh my gosh...!) It still would've been better if it was anyone else, but of all people, it had to be her lover's Family, whom she had not greeted even once so far, to see their intimate scene.

"Ah, I see, I see." Haruka crossed her arms, nodding repeatedly as she gave him a meaningful gaze.

"Way to go, Ayato. Who would have thought my little brother would be so popular? You've made us proud."

"…Come on, Haru, cut it out."

"Oh, is that a blush? But I guess you are right around that age now, huh?"

"Haru!" Ayato cried out, practically on the verge of tears.

"Hee-hee, sorry, sorry." Haruka flashed him an amused smile as she patted him on the hand.

(Father-in-law, Mother-in-law & Sister-in-law greeted me first!)

Mother and I Will Watch the Rest of your Matches to cheer you on.

….

After that, Ayato went with Stella to her room to pick out a dress. Then they returned to the Bay Dome.

Stella went towards the Medical Room where Sara was waiting, while Ayato went to the meeting place after contacting Arisuin along the way.

The waiting place was at the third entrance of the Bay Dome.

Once Ayato arrived, Arisuin, who was at the bench in front of the fountain, waved his hand.

"Ayato. Here, here." Ayato jogged towards them after being guided by the voice. Sitting next to Arisuin was Shizuku, who looked like a high-quality doll.

"Sorry for calling you out all of a sudden, Alice. Oh, Shizuku also came."

"Wherever Onii-sama goes; be it into a fire or a bath, Shizuku will join regardless."

"Stop that."

"Fufufu. It's a joke. As expected, going into a fire would be troubling."

"What I am troubled about is not that...But is it alright? Shizuku has another match today. I think that it's best to preserve your stamina." More importantly, it was about the third round of battle at night.

The one who would be competing for the victory in D-Block against Shizuku was the one who had already won two consecutive matches without fighting, a member of the Akatsuki Academy, Bad Luck Amane Shinomiya.

An eerie contender who possessed Nameless Glory, a bottomless causal inference ability that could bend all causal effects to his wishes.

Since he was her brother, it was natural for him to be worried about her.

However, Shizuku returned that worry with an elegant smile. "It's alright, Onii-sama. Shizuku has a grand secret plan."

"Now that you mention it, you seem to have said that before. I have not heard of the details though."

"Yeah. As it concerns the outcome, the details cannot be revealed to Onii-sama after all. But it's alright to not worry about me...Or rather, doesn't Onii-sama also have a match? Even though your opponent is Akatsuki's exhibitionist, you want us to go to the department store with her.

What exactly happened?"

"Ahh, that's..." Ayato explained the sequence of events to the doubtful Shizuku. About how Stella had torn her apron. And how Sara still intended to wear that apron to the match. And how it was decided that Stella would bring her to the department store after half-threatening her. About Seeing Mother and Haruka Again After Eight Years waking from their comas.

"Certainly...Stella-san can be unexpectedly attentive and Haruka and Mom came to see you." Shizuku commented with an impressed feeling after grasping the situation. Though he felt that some parts were unnecessary, Ayato nodded without touching on that part.

"Honestly speaking, it really helped me. If she had fought in that attire...it would've been hard for me to fight."

He did not intend for that to disrupt his concentration...

No such intention, but...he had no confidence.

Even Ayato was a young man, so it was a physiological phenomenon that could not be helped. "I see. So that's the reason you called me."

"Un. Alice is well versed in that, right? That's why I hope that you can teach Sara-san the joy of dressing up, or at least wearing a minimum amount of clothes."

His skill in makeup and coordinating clothes could clearly be understood from seeing Shizuku. If she saw her own figure after he seriously coordinated her clothes, Sara might also get interested.

[You could say They have 'heavenly' figures.] Ddraig spoke lecherously, groans coming from Sparda at the cliche line from the dragon. Ayato mentally rolls his eyes.

And then once she was interested, she might not show up topless before others anymore. That was what Stella considered. Ayato also agreed on that point. He believed that the fundamental feeling of shame was non-existent in Sara. She wore an apron to avoid the paint, it could count as having a minimal amount of clothing to cover herself with, but she would probably go out without even wearing an apron if she was not drawing. He could not understand the reason as to why she was like that. She was that much of a genius. It would not be strange if one or two wires in her head were connected differently from normal people. Or rather, she did not understand the concept of wearing clothes as it was shameful to be naked in the first place. Then, what they could do was...only to rouse her interest.

They could only make her like the act of dressing herself up. In consideration of Arisuin's feelings, Ayato asked him apologetically. Arisuin, on the other hand, showed a refreshing smile and positively replied.

"Sure. It's true that I was once part of Akatsuki Academy and their comrade, but I have not met with them directly."

The only ones Arisuin had met directly were Puppeteer Reisen Hiraga and One Armed Swordsman Wallenstein who originally came here as a teacher of Akatsuki Academy. Hence, he said that it would not be awkward.

"Also...That girl only became like this due to her negligence of health and tardiness, but she's like a gem in the rough. I also have motivation."

"It really helps if you say that."

"...Even so, I'm astonished. That exhibishionist is still aiming for Onii-sama. I will do another drop kick on her stomach when she arrives."

"I-It's not a good idea to do that to someone who is having a match today...!" While getting cold sweat at his sister's disturbing words, the three of them chartered as they waited for Stella and Sara to arrive.

However, those two had still not arrived even after they had waited for a while. Ayato looked at the time on his student datapad. It was already five minutes past the meeting time.

(Speaking of which, they are really slow...)

He acknowledged that the preparation for girls was slow, but in Sara's case, it was just putting on clothes.

More or less considering that she also had her preferences, they even prepared four sets...

(Could it be that she had already awakened to dress up and took her time to pick out the clothes, or something like that?)

If that was so, then it would help save the talk, but... Meanwhile, as Ikki was thinking about that…

"Ah. Stella-chan and Sara have come." Arisuin stood up after seeing those two coming out of the third entrance of the Dorm.

Ayato and Shizuku also stood up and welcomed them.

However...as they shortened the distance, Ayato felt something was wrong. Somehow, Stella was not energetic.

"K-Kept you waiting..."

Nor was her voice full or spirit. Her back was also hunched, she seemed to be really tired.

"...S-Stella, you seem somewhat worn out? What happened?" As he asked if something happened...

"T-That's..." Stella glanced at Sara who was brought along.

Sara's attire was just a jersey.

Just hearing that did not seem to suggest any sex appeal.

However, the impression of her cleavage peeking out from the zipper opened up at her chest betrayed that.

Although this attire should not have anything to do with sex appeal, wearing it sloppily only added to that sensation.

They could see that the passersby also took glances at Sara's cleavage.

"It's not good for a girl to be wearing such shameful attire. You're not Fuko-chan, so close up the zipper properly."

Arisuin complained about her appearance and zipped up the jersey up to her neck. However, the instant he let go...

*Jijijijiji...*

The zipper returned to its original position after opening up with that noise.

"O-Oh my..."

"The chest area is too tight to be closed up. Other dresses had their buttons pop out, so nothing worked out."

"Ugu!" Stella leaked out a groan as if Sara's words were brass knuckles that punched her stomach. Ayato also understood her reason for feeling down from that appearance.

"I s-somehow understand the reason why Stella is like that..."

"...It-tasted like a humiliation that I have never experienced before..."

That's probably true.

Girls with chests as big as Stella were not common.

Even in Hagun Academy...probably only Kanata Totokubara could match her.

"My condolences."

"Honestly speaking, I may feel depressed for a while..."

Stella, who became groggy from an unprecedented psychological impact, had her waist bent like a granny, trembling all over, and raised her face in agony. And then...she suddenly stopped moving. Stella stared straight at Shizuku, who was in front of her...

"──Now then! Since everyone has gathered, let's hurry up and leave for the department store!"

Her back suddenly straightened up, as she announced with vigor.

"Stella-san, where did you look just now to recover yourself?"

"Now, we don't have much time because the match is at night! Let's make haste!"

"Stella-san, please answer honestly. Since I will kill you."

It took a twenty-minute-long bus trip from the Bay Dome to reach a certain large downtown street. Three large shopping malls whose names everybody knew faced one another; it was a fierce battle zone in the middle of commercial metropolis Osaka. Ayato's group reached the JR station which overlooked those three shopping malls and alighted the bus at the rotary.

"""...""" The expressions on the five of them were all worn out after the ride. Even though they didn't walk here. That reason was...

「Kurozakuro-san! I am definitely going to Hagun next year! Please remember me!」

「Thank you very much for your signature, Stella Onee-sama! I will treasure it for the rest of my life!」

「Shizuku-chan! Please look over here again! With those despising eyesー!」

「Everyone, I will be cheering for you! Please do your best!」

The windows of the bus were all fully open and a group of middle school students stretched out their bodies and waved their hands.

「Dear passengers, please do not lean your faces outside of the windows!」

Ignoring the driver's pitiful warning, those girls continued to wave their hands at Ayato's group with their eyes glittering in admiration.

That's right: the five of them shared a bus with some middle school students that were moving in a group for some club activities or such, and were asked for signatures and handshakes, receiving a one-sided admiration from those students as they were swarmed upon them.

Even their friendly smiles as they saw off the bus were cramping up.

"This is...I have underestimated it." As Ayato murmured with a sigh, Stella nodded as she fixed up her disheveled hair with her fingers acting as a comb.

"U-usually, they're not so persistent...today is really above the norm."

"I'm sick of people...I'm feeling sick..."

"Are you alright?" Sara rubbed Shizuku's back, who had a poor complexion. If it was the usual Shizuku, she would have put up a strong front to people other than Ayato and Arisuin, but...

"Mu, thank you very much...Uu."

Shizuku, who had originally already disliked crowds, was further showered with praise and admiration, causing her to be too fatigued to be able to put up a front.

"Well, they used to hold back for privacy reasons, but now everyone is in a festive mood...Not to mention, there are four out of the best eight in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival gathered here. This development should've been expected."

All of them nodded to Arisuin's words.

However, that regret was a little too late──

*Dodododo.*

A sudden rumbling noise resounded in the five's ears. As they raised their heads to see what was happening…

"""Eh?"""

「Oi over here, over here! They are in front of the bus stop!」

「Kyaー! Ayato-kun in person! Just like the information on Tweeter mentioned!」

「Quick, let's share this with everyone!」

「Stella-samaー! Please shake hands with meー!」

It was literally a 「Human Wave」 that was rushing towards Ayato's group from the shopping mall, where they were heading to, towards the bus stop where they had alighted. Someone, or possibly everyone on the bus that they rode...had probably leaked Ayato's group's location onto the Internet.

"Information society is scaryー"

"Now is not the time to look afar to escape from reality, Alice! If we don't do something, someone will get injured!"

"C-Certainly, with such a number of people, if someone fell down, it would be terrible."

"However, Onii-sama, what should we do to calm them..."

「Breasts! Imperial princess's breasts! With such a number of people, we can do it!」

「Must try to touch them in this commotion!」

「Aim for the s-switch at the center! Center switch!」

(TL note: Yeah, you perverts. It's the nipple of course.)

「Shizuku-sama! Please use your adorable little feet to step on meー!」

""Let's kill them, for the time being.""

"C-Calm down, you two! I understand your feelings, but you will be expelled at once if you do that!" As Ayato was calming down the rising killing intent of the two, he made a suggestion at the same time.

"Anyway, let's escape! If we were caught by that number of people, let alone buying clothes, it wouldn't be strange if we couldn't make it back by the time the match begins!"

However... "That may be a little too late."

When they turned behind after hearing Sara's voice, people sprang out from the station behind them with mobile phones in their hands, wanting to get a closer look at the best eight in the whole country. In other words, they were surrounded on both sides.

"Well, if it's like this, it doesn't seem possible to escape."

"It can't be helped."

"Yeah. At first, I didn't want to resort to violence, but it can't be helped."

"The expression of you two is not 'it can't be helped' though, but rather, it's filled with killing intent!?"

(What to do? At this rate, it will really turn into a bloodbath...)

However, Ayato did not have any alternatives.

As far as he could see, with the tension over there, they would not listen to him properly.

What should he do? Just as he was in a dilemma...

"...In short, it will be fine as long as those people cannot see."

As Sara told him, she took out her device Brush of Demiurge and palette.

"What are..." 'You doing?', before Ayato could ask her, Sara had already finished her business with a god-like hand speed.

As she mixed the paint on her palette to grey color…

"Color of Magic ── Stone Grey on the roadside." She then painted it onto the back of her hand.

In that instant, Ayato's group who were at that place felt that they could no longer focus on Sara.

The Color of Magic Noble Art that controlled the concept associated with colors.

One of those was that stone grey.

Those who were painted that color would make themselves difficult to be noticed, just like a stone at a roadside.

It was to the point of being unable to sense the existence itself by anyone except those like Ayato's group, who were knights that routinely trained their concentration.

...They did not receive an explanation about that technique from Sara, but they all felt it themselves, and understood the effect of her Noble Art. At the same time, they also knew how to handle the current situation.

"I see. It would be fine to use magic and make myself invisible. I never thought of this since I have used it this way."

"...If there is another way, then it can't be helped." As they murmured somewhat happily, Stella and Shizuku closed their eyes…

"Flame Veil."

"Blue Fantasy."

Along with the chants, Stella using heat, while Shizuku using water, they each deployed a membrane to bend the light. They made their figures unseeable only to the crowd. It was an application for those two who both had excellent magic power control.

"Tenryuu Kori Armor"

Along with the chants, As He can also put this armor on, himself employs a membrane to bend the light. He made his figure unseeable only to the crowd.

At that moment, the figure of those five people, who had gained the attention of every person gathered there, disappeared.

「H-Huh!? Not there!? Disappeared!?」

「Hey wait a minute! What do you mean!? Ayato-kun is not there!」

「That's strange. They were there just a moment ago, huh?」

The confused crowd made a commotion as the five people suddenly disappeared like smoke. With their targets lost, the passion that had nowhere to go soon dispersed after stalling in place for a while. There would probably be nobody who would get injured anymore. Seeing that, Ikki's group passed through the crowd of hundreds of people right from the center, and entered the shopping mall.

After the five of them entered the nearest shopping mall, they took the escalator to the sixth floor where female clothes were sold. Coincidentally, it was the 'Summer Lady Fashion Exhibition', so some partitions of the whole floor were temporarily removed.

"Heeh. There's quite a variety of stores."

"They also seem to be displaying limited overseas brands during this Exhibition period."

Shizuku had supplemented Stella's impression after looking at the flyer that was given out at the entrance of the floor. The human traffic during the Seven Star Sword-Art Festival had increased to an amount incomparable to the usual times. When would they make a showdown if not then? In another sense, it was obvious that the shops on the whole floor would give it their all during such an event.

"If there is such a variety of clothes, you are sure to find one you like! Now, let's hurry up and go browse around!"

However, Sara simply showed an unmotivated expression to Stella's instruction. And she randomly grabbed a nearby piece of clothing.

"...Then this will be fine."

"Eh? You have already decided? Huh, this is a negligee! It's what you wear for sleeping!"

"It's fine if I can wear it."

"There is a big problem! This is pretty much see through! The image won't be shown if you wear this with your proportions! Don't just randomly pick, choose properly!"

"...Muu, then this."

"What? Now it's not even clothes anymore! This is a belt! Just a belt!"

"It can cover my breasts if I wrap it around myself."

"Wouldn't that just make you look like someone who has a unique sexual fetish!? Make sure to choose clothes, only clothes!"

"I got it. I will choose properly after looking...I've made my choice."

"In the end, it's an apron!? Are you somehow cursed to only wear aprons naked!?"

"It's quick to wear, quick to take off, and feels cooling too. It's the best choice from a logical perspective."

"...I wonder if that is what it feels like after marrying a husband who has no interest in food..."

Next to Stella, who was holding her head, Arisuin mumbled 'You're right' as he held his chin with his hand.

"This is even more severe than I had expected it to be."

Her reason for wear clothes was at a somewhat obligatory level. It would be a truly difficult challenge to make her interested in fashion. However...

"Are you able to do it somehow?"

"Well, leave it to me."

Arisuin believed that there was no way that there wouldn't be a method. If there was no reason to wear them, he just had to give her one.

"Hey, Lily. Why are you not interested in fashion?"

"...There's no reason for me to decorate myself. Since I don't really have anyone to dress up for."

"However, you want to make Ayato your nude model and draw him, right?"

"So?"

"Then, isn't that a reason?"

"?"

As Sara tilted her head in confusion, Arisuin got closer to her ear and whispered with an evil expression.

"Make yourself pretty and become cute...you just need to make Ayato fall for you."

"Wha, A-Alice!?"

"W-WWW-What are you saying!?"

Hearing bits of Alice's disturbing words,Ayato and Stella changed their expressions.

The friend who knew about their relationship was trying to create a discord between them. That was probably an obvious reaction. However, Sara also knew about their relationship. "...That's impossible. Cryo Gale Sword Emperor, already has Crimson Flaming Princess as his lover. It's not possible for him to fall for me." She showed disapproval of Arisuin's suggestion. However…

"Ufufu. That's not true, you know? Man is a creature that says 'I will only love you for my whole life' but will easily have an affair. Lily is a famous painter, so you should know, right? Even Zeus was like that, so it isn't certain that Ayato, who is just a Dragon/fallen Angel/Devil/Shinigami Hybrid, won't have an affair. Not to mention, this country also has a nonsensical saying that 'Affairs are the proof of a husband's worth'."

"...Really?"

"Yeah. You just need to work hard and make yourself pretty, then snatch Ayato away, see? Won't you be able to draw him all you want if that happens?"

"..."

Arisuin looked like the Serpent that was tempting Eve, gradually guiding her into the taboo. Stella could not keep quiet about that anymore, and interrupted the two.

"A-Alice! Don't teach her strange things! And Sara, don't make that 'maybe I will try working hard a little' face! Ayato is my and Rias's boyfriend, got it!? S-Seduction is immoral, it's absolutely not allowed!"

However, Arisuin only showed a provocative smile towards Stella who had interrupted him.

"Oh my, oh my~? Isn't this opinion really unlike Stella- chan?"

"W-What do you mean?"

"Do you think that you have won after becoming a couple? I thought that Stella-chan would say something like 'I will continue to capture Ayato's heart with my charm, so try snatching him away if you can'."

"Guh...!" Stella slightly wavered after Arisuin's provocation. Shizuku, who was observing her until then, slid in and hugged Ayato's arm like a tangling ivy, and dealt another blow to Stella

. "Well well, there's nothing as unbearable to watch as a woman who has turned prudent. A female should chase after a more charming male. And a male should chase after a more charming female. Even though this is a philosophy similar to the survival of the fittest in the law of nature, saying things like morality, clinging onto concepts that humanity has arbitrarily made on its own, you are a pretty boring woman...Onii-sama, women will fall into depravity like that. It's better that you abandon her now. This woman will become someone who will not do housework, just watch TV drama while lazily lying around when her husband is working hard, and she'll waste all the savings on stocks and investments. Of course, Shizuku will not become someone like that."

"Grr...!"

"G-Geez, Alice and Shizuku, don't bully Stella so much." Ayato also joined in as he couldn't bear to watch it anymore.

In the end, if Ayato had no such intention, there wouldn't be any affair in the first place.

And Ayato was confident that such a thing would be impossible.

That's only a matter of course.

How would he be unsatisfied with such a wonderful girl beside him, a girl that he was unworthy of? Hence, Ayato said those thoughts out loud...

"Stella, you don't need to take them seriously. My feelings will absolutely──"

"Wait, Ayato."

"Mugu!?"

However, those words were physically blocked by Stella's hand. Sealing Ayato's words, Stella spoke.

"...Just like those two said, I was wrong."

"S-Stella?"

"I understand what Ayato was going to say just now, but Ayato saying those words himself and me forcing you are two entirely different matters." Stella cautioned herself in her heart. Did it mean that she had won if she became his lover? It was absolutely like that.

...She felt that she had become too dependent on their relationship after it was revealed recently.

(In the first place, I don't have the qualifications to suppress the girls gathered around Ayato.)

Of course .Ayato Kurozakuro was a man loved by none other than Stella Vermillion Gremory And Rias Gremory and Mio Naruse Gremory. He was that charming of a man.

In a sense, it was only obvious that those who knew about his story and received his gentleness would come to like him. ...In addition, if she kept making a fuss with 'I am her lover, that's why!' to every single person that got close to him, it would not be elegant at all. It was not charming.

(If I relax just because of our promise, I will be finished as a woman...!)

It was the heart, and not the promise, that bound the lovers. To keep on loving him, and keep being loved by him.

Only by working hard like that, could she honestly accept Ayato's words── !

"Fine! Sara Bloodlily! Do as you like if you feel like it! I won't stop you! But I won't let you steal him! Ayato's heart belongs to me, Stella Vermillion & Rias Gremory !"

As she thrusted her finger high in the air to make her declaration of war, Stella immediately left the group and walked towards the exhibition by herself, not wanting to waste a single moment. She was probably thinking about how not to lose to Sara who had Arisuin to coordinate for her.

"Since it's a rare chance for me as well,then, Oniisama, see you later."

After Stella, Shizuku also walked away by herself. Seeing off those two, cheerful giggles spilled out from the mastermind, Arisuin.

"Ufufu. Ayato sure is being loved." Before his gaze as he said that, was Ayato who was fuming in anger.

"...A~li~ce."

"Aww, don't show such a scary expression. You're ruining your cute face."

"How can I not get angry? You purposely provoked Stella since you know that she hates losing."

"It can't be helped. This was the only reason I could think of for Lily. And I mean every single thing that I told them as well. Ayato also doesn't want to chain Stella-chan down with just some promise, right?"

"...Well, that's also true." After hearing his explanation, Ayato couldn't make a rebuttal either. He also didn't want to chain Stella down with a promise.

"Then I will bring Lily around, but do you want to come along as well?"

"...No, Shizuku also seems to have gone before I know it. Since I also have something I want to buy, I will be going there."

"I see. Then in two hours, let's meet up back here. I will also mail everyone."

...

The first to return to the meeting up was Ayato. Since apart from him, the others were all girls(?), he knew it would probably take some time, after all. Hence Ayato wearing burgundy jeans with a silver chain drooping down over them and black leather chaps with three bands encircling his right calf, and black shoes with black buckles sat on a resting bench nearby, and read a literary work he bought from the book shop as he waited for the female group to return. It was around five minutes after the promised time.

"Sorry. Did I make you wait?" He heard Arisuin's voice. Ayato closed his book and looked up.

"No, I didn't wait for that..."

And...

(H-Huh?)

He stiffened from doubt. Standing next to Arisuin was Sara. She probably had been coordinated by Arisuin. That outfit was not a jersey, and of course not a topless apron. She was also wearing a bra properly. Rather, her brassiere was totally exposed. Moreover, she was wearing a pair of denim hotpants remodeled from jeans, and her overall exposure had only increased.

...U-Umm, Alice." He questioned him with a glance that said 'What is the meaning of this?' Arisuin sighed in response to Ayato's confusion.

"I understand what you are trying to say...I worked hard, you know? However..."

He explained. How it became like that. It wasn't anything complicated. There was a plain and simple reason. After finishing her makeup, when they were choosing her outfit, she randomly tried on a pair of jeans designed towards summer female wear. Of all things, Sara suddenly collapsed. Then she said with a pale face...

「H-Heavy...」

"Simply put, it was weight overload. I also heard that because Stella-chan was scary, she was forcing herself to wear that jersey. But she eventually used up all her strength."

"Isn't that way too weak!?"

"I was also surprised..."

"...Because I have never carried things heavier than my brush."

"Sara-san, how have you actually managed to live until now..."

"However, I have put in effort within her weight allowance so that she doesn't look like an exhibitionist. You don't have to worry about that bouncing around when moving if she's wearing a bra." Arisuin went behind Sara as he was speaking, then grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her towards Ayato.

He signaled him to see it for himself.

Well, certainly, he didn't take notice because of the sudden increase in the exposure rate, but Arisuin had put in a lot of effort into Sara's outfit.

Her upper half consisted of a show-off bra and long sleeve summer cardigan. Her lower half consisted of hot pants and boots.

The front of her cardigan was not closed up, showing the appeal of her hourglass body line from her bust to her thin waist.

The choice of her sleeves was a long type that covered up to the second joint of her fingers, her bed hair was left as it was, and the whole style had enhanced Sara's sexiness and downer atmosphere.

It was as expected of Arisuin.

In addition to all that, her makeup was also perfect.

Her white skin gained elasticity with the use of toner and lotion, and her eyelashes were beautifully curled.

The exquisitely used highlight and shadow shaped out Sara's facial features, and her previously dry lips had the freshness of a ripened fruit, radiating vividly.

There was no oversight, no excessiveness, everything was in just the right amount.

Honestly speaking...he thought that she was beautiful.

"...It's strange, after all?"

"Not at all. This is definitely better than before. You're really pretty, Sara-san."

"...I see."

Ayato relayed his impression directly to Sara. Sara replied indifferently and averted her gaze, but...her averted gaze wavered slightly, her cheeks faintly dyed in the color of cherry blossoms. It seemed like she was embarrassed. That was the first time Sara behaved like a girl.

"As expected of Alice. Doesn't she look a lot better?"

The voice directed to Sara was Shizuku, who was just returning a while after their meeting time. Shizuku was walking towards them with *karan koron* steps wearing geta, taking small steps so that her hem would not get messed up.

Then she leaned next to Ayato's side as if saying that it was her spot, and grabbed his sleeve with her small hand.

Shizuku, did you buy these clothes?" When Ayato asked her about the clothes that were different from a while ago, Shizuku nodded in delight.

"Yes. Since I still have not used the reward from the time we defeated those terrorists in the department store before, I bought this. How does it look, Oniisama?"

"An iris pattern, huh? Looks good with the cool colors. It really suits you." As Ayato answered Shizuku, he patted her silver hair with just enough strength so as to not mess up her hairstyle.

"Thank you very much for your compliment." Shizuku gave her gratitude, feeling happy as she narrowed her eyes. However, at the same time Ayato's hand stopped patting her, that expression...changed into an evil smile.

"But Onii-sama must be looking forward to Stella-san the most, right?"

"Eh, n-no...that's..."

"You don't have to make excuses. Wanting to see the cuteness of the person you love is an obvious thing." As Shizuku said that, she turned towards the path she came from and called out.

"Now, Stella-san! It's time for the finale! With your charm and cuteness achieved thanks to that new outfit, beat the new contestant over here to a pulp!"

"Leave it to me!" The reply came from an empty space. No, she just made herself invisible with Flame Veil. Stella immediately released her Noble Art that had bent the light, and jumped out before Ayato. And then…

"I've become a cute bunny-chan and I'll jump into Ayato's heart pyon " With bunny ears attached onto her hairband, and clad in fishnet tights, she hugged Ayato in her bunny girl appearance.

"""────────────"""

In an instant, everyone went dead silent. Nevermind Ayato who had his hands in his pockets, even Arisuin and Sara, as well as the passersby had lost their words and expressions after seeing the rather bizarre look of Stella.

"Fufufu. Shizuku, look, Ayato seems unable to even utter a sound from my cuteness!"

Only she herself had not noticed. Ayato put his hands on the shoulders of that overly positive Stella, and pushed her away. Then...looked far away and spoke.

"For the time being, please change your clothes, Stella-san."

"Huh!? Your way of calling me seems somehow distant!? I didn't jump into your heart!?"

"Pffft."

"!"

Mocking laughter came from next to Stella. As Stella turned around, she saw that one girl mocking her with her eyes dyed in pleasure of sadism. Seeing that figure, Stella's face immediately paled.

"...Shizuku, you, don't tell me...you deceived me!?"

"Saying that I deceived you, pffft, how disreputable. Please think for a bit. In the first place ── I will never become your ally."

"Then, then 'because Ayato likes rabbits, the bunny girl outfit will get lots of points' was also...!"

"That kind of bonus exists only in Dragon Quest."

"～～～～～～～～～!" Realizing that she had been toyed with by that little devil, Stella's face boiled from shame and anger.

"Y-You! Ayato, you're mistaken! I was deceived by Shizuku."

"Un. I know. I know already, so please change your clothes, Vermillion-san."

"Noooo! The distance between our hearts is widening at an accelerating rate! It became somewhat like the time when we first met ーーーー! Guuu! Shizuku! You will get it from me later! Remember this ーーーー!"

Stella cried out in anger, and ran away with her hands hugging her own body.

She probably wanted to change back into her uniform. Behind Stella's back…

"Pffffft. Aah, so funny." Shizuku's shoulders shook as she laughed.

"Hey, Shizuku. Don't bully Stella too much."

"NO." Ayato cautioned Shizuku as he couldn't bear to watch it anymore, while Shizuku rejected him without any hesitation.

Ayato was slightly surprised at her strong rejection, which was rare considering that she fundamentally abided with him all the time.

"A-Are you so unwilling to the extent of a curt rejection?"

"Yes. This is my special authority, I won't stop even if Onii-sama asks me to stop." As Shizuku answered Ayato as such, she looked towards the place Stella ran off to again.

"...Pffft. Really, such a cute person."

The side profile of Shizuku as she muttered such...for some reason, stabbed at Ayato's heart a little.

(...Huh, why is it, this?)

He was confused by that incomprehensible feeling.

What did he feel when he saw her side profile just then?

Love?...Or was it sorrow?

He couldn't understand. And then, while he was still unable to reach an answer...

"──Then Onii-sama, I will retreat before the cute bunny-chan becomes a red demon and returns. It's about time for me to make arrangements for the round three battle tonight."

Shizuku informed Ayato that she would be returning first.

...There was no reason to stop her. Even more so if it was an arrangement for the night.

Currently, there was nothing else more important to them than that event.

Hence, Ayato pushed aside the pain in his heart out of his mind, and nodded.

"Got it. I will appease Stella."

"I leave it to you...Alice, I hope that you can help me, do you want to come together?"

"Yeah, it's alright. My work over here is done as well."

"Thank you. Now then, please excuse us, Onii-sama."

"Goodbye. Please return on time before the match begins, ok?" Shizuku and Arisuin left the group together. As they were leaving, Ayato looked at Shizuku's distant figure...

"I'm looking forward to fighting you in the semifinals." He said so with his cheering included. Shizuku turned back once after hearing that, then after using her loudest voice to reply

"YES!"

She took the elevator with Arisuin and went off.

...And then, after a few minutes, Stella returned after changing back into her uniform.

"Huh? Where's Shizuku and Alice?"

The first person she looked for after returning was of course Shizuku, who was going to receive her vengeance. However, Shizuku was probably no longer in the building. Ayato told her about that…

"She had to do some warm-ups for the round three battle, so she returned...fir...?"

First...he stiffened again. Why? He received another strong impact to his brain, even stronger than the bunny girl costume before.

The source of that impact was in the arms of the angry Stella. What she hugged there was...an infant sleeping with eyes closed.

"I guess she ran away, huh...that brat!"

"S-Stella, that...infant is?"

"Did you give birth to him?"

"No way!"

It happened after Stella took off the bunny girl costume and changed into her uniform.

「Annoying bitch annoying bitch annoying bitch! Today, I will absolutely not forgive that woman! I'm going to use Ar○ Alpha and stick cat ears on her head when I return!」

With a half-crying face, Stella, who was enraged by Shizuku, was checking her attire before the mirror by the sink.

Suddenly, an infant appeared without a sound in a space diagonally above her back that could be seen in the mirror.

「──!?」

She was so shocked that she held her breath.

However, there was no time for her to stiffen up. That's because the infant that appeared from nowhere was falling due to gravity.

「Dangerrrrr!」

"...And that's how it happened." "You did a great thing." After that, the three of them brought the infant to the lost child center in the department store, then sat down at the sofa inside the center and waited for the guardian of the infant to be found. As for the infant...a boy probably not even one year old, was sleeping in Stella's arms at the moment. Stella lowered her sight onto the infant and asked Ayato next to her. "...This child is a Blazer, right? Ayato nodded.

"Probably. I think he probably has a teleport type ability similar to Jougasaki-san."

If not, there was no other way for him to suddenly appear out of thin air. Normally speaking, Blazers' abilities were discovered after they had gained their egos, but amongst the possessors of strong abilities, during their infantile period when their egos were still blurry, there were occasions where a portion of their ability suddenly activated even though they didn't materialize their Device.

The infant who couldn't even stand on his own had no control over his abnormal power. ...That was of course very dangerous. It could endanger his life, depending on where it happened. In the case back then, if Stella hadn't caught the infant and if he had hit his head onto the hard ground as he fell, causing a heavy injury...in the worst case, he could have died.

"It's really great that Stella was there."

"That's true...I wonder if his parents can find him soon."

"I wonder about that. We don't know what was the extent of this child's ability when he awakened it." If they were lucky, his parents might be in this department store. However, depending on the situation, it was also possible that he flew over from a place far away.

Seeing that 「Makoto Nitta」 was written on his nameplate, it wouldn't be wrong to say that the infant was Japanese, then in the worst case, they were probably in Japan.

"However, since we have already contacted the staff of the department store, let's leave him to them and only stay with the infant for as long as our time allows."

"That's true...Ah." It was at that moment. The infant in Stella's arms twisted his body and opened his eyes.

"Aa, bu...?" And then his big and watery eyes saw Stella's face as she was carrying him──

"Bueeeeeeeeeeeeee～～～～～～～～～!"

He cried out loudly. No, it was not only that, he wriggled his small body around, trying to escape from Stella's arms. It was probably because he began to panic after not seeing his mother's figure.

"H-Hey! Don't flail around! It's dangerous!"

"Baaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

"W-WWWWhat should I do!? What should I do, Ikki!?" Despite being kicked in the face, Stella still hugged onto him to prevent him from falling down, and asked Ikki for help. However, Ikki also didn't know how to approach an infant. Although Ikki had Shizuku as his little sister, they were only one year apart. For the time being, he tried out the classic 'peek-a boo'...

"Byaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa～～～～～～～～～～!"

"S-Somehow it got worse!?"

"H-How troubling."

The two of them looked at the infant, who had no intention to stop crying, worriedly. As if breaking through between those two…

"Give him to me." Sara took the infant from Stella's arms.

"Sara!? You have no stamina, so it's dangerous! What are you going to do if you drop him!?"

"Shut up. You are a bit too loud."

"Uu." Stella tried to snatch the infant back in a hurry, but was restrained by Sara's never seen before strong gaze. She sat down on the sofa, and as she stroked the back of the infant's head... "It's alright. Your mama will return soon." She spoke in a calming tone. Soon after... "Au, au?" "He stopped crying..." Surprisingly, the infant that was rampaging a while ago had calmed down. "You're amazing, Sara-san. Are you used to it?"

"Not really...It's just that I have observed various things during my trip around the world, so even without words, I can somehow understand what he wants, how he feels...

This child is feeling insecure because his parents are not here. If at this time even we become unsettled, it will increase his insecurity. Therefore, we have to calm down. Even if he is a child, he is sensitive to an adult's emotions."

""S-Sorry.""

Being reprimanded with a criticizing gaze, Ayato and Stella lowered their heads in apology. Children would also feel insecure and scared if the adults were in a bad mood. Certainly, it was as she said, it would not be good if they were unsettled too.

Although she felt some frustration as a woman, as well as concern about Sara's arm strength, it would seem that leaving the infant to Sara was the best solution.

Stella had decided so and pulled back her arm that was trying to snatch the infant back, then made preparation in case Sara were to drop the infant at some point.

And a while after calming down, the infant started rubbing against Sara's breasts.

"U ー pai! Pai!" (TL note: The incomplete word Issei loves the most) Stella spilled out a smile unconsciously at that lovely gesture.

"Ahaha. I also know what this means." He probably wanted breast milk. "But sorry, we can't produce milk yet."

"I will get some milk from the staff-in-charge here." The considerate Ikki was about to stand up, at that moment. Sara took a shocking action. She pulled aside the show off bra Arisuin had chosen for her, and exposed one of her white breasts. "Buh!?"

"Wai, Sara!? What are you──"

"Quiet." Sara stared at Stella who was making a loud noise from the sudden shock, and scolded her.

"Ah, s-sorry...but...!"

"...Although I can't produce milk, I believe that doing this will give him peace of mind."

Just like Sara said, the infant, who was sucking on Sara's nipple even though no breast milk would come out, showed a satisfied expression. He was definitely not hungry. What the infant was seeking was not food, but warmth.

Sara understood that, as she had the observant eyes of the world's number one artist. And then, as Sara was imitating breast feeding to the infant...

"Ninna nanna ninna oh; questo bimbo a chi lo do～ "

With a beautiful voice, she started singing. Stella, being well versed in languages as an Imperial Princess, immediately understood that it was in Italian. An Italian lullaby.

"Se lo doy al lupo bianco; me lo tiene tanto tanto."

A melody that was weaved with love. The infant wasn't able to understand its meaning. Even so, he definitely felt it. The love, which surpassed borders, words, meanings, that were contained in the lullaby. Most likely, that was what motherhood was all about.

"Ninna nanna nanna fate; il mio bimbo addormentate ～ " In the meantime, the infant once again let out a small sleeping sound from between Sara's breasts. The figure of Sara holding that little life form while singing a lullaby...Be it from Stella's eyes, or from Ayato's naked silts, it was more beautiful than any appearance or expression until then.

….

「The time is now 6pm, brought to you by Nippon Telegraph Public Corporation.」

*Pi. Pi. Pi.*

A special alarm that rang once every three seconds. At the same time that alarm sounded from all the speakers in the dome, the night lights were switched on. After the long daytime of the summer had passed, they lit up the dome which had begun to be covered in a thin veil of darkness. And then...

「Everyone, thank you for waiting! I hereby announce that the third round of the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival is about to begin!」

The live broadcast of the cue for the start of the third round had been given. The audience sitting at their seats raised an earth trembling cheer.

「The best eight of this event will be pitted against each other in the third round's battle. The expectations for the fierce upcoming battles has already made the event venue's excitement reach a boiling point! Continuing with the live broadcast, I am Iida! Yaotomepro will be the commentator! Then without further ado, let's welcome the first pair of the third round's battle!

First, from the blue gate enters Contender Kaga Renji!」

In response to that call, a big shadow appeared from the darkness in the blue gate. The figure that appeared on the dazzling stage, brightly lit by the spotlights, was that of a huge rocklike man whose height surpassed two meters. That was exactly ──

「Oo! I'm Kaga! Kaga has arrived!」

「As always, he's so big! 」

He was the hero of Hokkaido, Kaga Renji.

「Coming from the land in the North, from Rokuson Academy, the Panzer Grizzly! What's more eye-catching than anything is his huge body that doesn't put shame to the name of a Grizzly! 236 centimeters in height! 370 kilograms in weight! He uses his Herculean strength with a body no different than that of a brown bear as a weapon to fight, one of the best super power fighters in Japan. The prominent Contenders have been eliminated one after another in a wave of turbulence, now there is only one left from last year's best eight who has managed to advance into the third round! Will he be able to show the spirit of the seniors before the new Contenders, who are riding on this wave!?」

「Contender Kaga is a balanced player with a very high level of offense and defense. His excellent physique allows him to exert bulldozer-level arm strength. And his Blazer ability, Steel Skin, is an original one. He is simply strong, simply hard. As such, regardless of how he uses it, the situation or the compatibility with his opponent's ability, it will not influence his pure strength. In this event with many unique ability users, such Contenders may be the ones who can display their true value.」

Then, Kaga stepped onto the ring for the third round battle after receiving the cheers from the audience. ──In that instant, he took an action that he had never taken before. He grabbed his own clothes with his huge hand, and then threw them off after tearing them apart.

「Wooo──aah!? Contender Kaga! He threw off his special size uniform after tearing it apart, leaving him with only one piece of loincloth! What kind of performance is this!?」 The announcer and the audience were confused. In regards to that, commentator Yaotome cut in.

「Just like 「Ring」, 「Bracelet」and 「Glasses」, a Blazer's Device does not necessarily need to take on the form of a weapon. And Contender Kaga's Device Raiden is that loincloth ── Mawashi. It's usually worn underneath his clothes so it could not be seen, but...he stood onto the stage that made him throw away his clothes, and fight with only his mawashi. He probably considers the outcome of this match to be very important, so he's displayed his fighting spirit like that.」

Yaotome's explanation was spot on. He challenged that important match with only his Device. That was Kaga's style of gathering his fighting spirit from praying for his victory. Then, after undressing, Kaga bent his knees and dropped his waist on the spot.

After that, he raised his left leg up straight facing towards the sky, and slammed it down onto the ring. Accompanied by a tremor immediately after, the left side of the ring sank into the ground. Every person in the dome opened their eyes wide in shock.

「A-Amaziiiing! The moment Contender Kaga stepped down from shiko , the 100m diameter ring slanted and sank into the ground! And then he raised his right leg on the opposite side straight up ──── dosukooooi!」

The tremor shook the ring again and the right side also sank into the ground just like the left.

「The slanted ring returned to horizontal level after the second step, but it has clearly sunk into the ground as a whole after being stepped by his shiko, for about 10cm into the ground! What power!」

「That's also quite impressive, but take a look at his feet.」

「Feet, is it? Wha, th-this is!」

As Yaotome pointed out, they looked towards Kaga's feet. At there was──

「Footprints! On the ring made with special stone material that can withstand a direct impact from napalm missile for Blazer use, as if he had stepped on a muddy beach, a pair of clear footprints with even his toe shape has been carved into it!」

「Even though the shape of his feet has been carved into the ring, there are no cracks around it...It is the evidence that his power has been concentrated without dispersing. Contender Kaga is not just about power, he also possesses the detailed control on the flow of his power. As expected.」

「Uoooo! As expected, incredible! Not just for being big!」

「Kyaa! Kuma-chan so cool～～～～!」

Cheers rose from the audience seats at Kaga's performance. Kaga used his tough body as a weapon, taking the unique battle technique of the sumo style; along with a personality not losing out to his well-built body, he had gathered a passionate fan base from all over the country. There were also many fans chasing after him to that venue. Kaga would usually return a smile back at them, but he was different at that moment.

"──────"

He did not respond back to them. Instead, Panzer Grizzly looked towards the gate where his opponent would appear from with a serious expression.

「Contender Kaga's performance imbued with his fighting spirit has stirred up the venue!" However, Contender Kaga's eyes are as calm as still water, focusing on a single spot! That's right, they are focused on the red gate where his opponent will show up from! Then, let's not waste time and introduce the other man of valor who will be fighting in this decisive battle in A-Block!」

In accordance with the announcer's words, the spotlights focused onto the red gate.

In the midst of the light, a swordsman clad in a black kimono walked out.

「Prestigious Kurogane household's eldest son, the genius who made an impact in the whole country as the Kirin Child in his childhood. The moment he shone as the world champion in the U-12 (Elementary level) International Tournament before his younger brother Ayato, anybody would have thought so! Great Hero, Ryouma Kurogane's rightful successor has been born right there! However! As the surrounding is still indulged in excitement, the genius has gotten sick of it! He is hopelessly sick of the League's rule of not allowing real blades in battles! He has been seeking! A real battle! A fight with life on the line! Aiming for a higher goal! As such, he disappeared from our sights! Every person grieved over this loss! But! That genius has returned to Japan! In his last year of high school, he steps onto the ring of the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival! Possessing overwhelming strength to the point of blurring that figure of his within our memories! Newcomer Akatsuki Academy third year! Contender Sword Emperor of Wind, Ouma Kurogane!」

With his long hair and hem of the kimono swaying, step by step, Ouma shortened the distance between him and Kaga. The audiences at their seats swallowed their breaths at his appearance.

「...I-Incredible...」

「He hasn't changed...what pressure...!」

Even though he was just walking, they felt like his sword pressure was splitting their skin from just a touch.

That pressure felt just like an unsheathed katana.

The two people faced each other on the ring.

"Ouma. It's been six years since the last time I faced you on the ring. So nostalgic!"

"...I'm not that close to you to feel nostalgic upon meeting again."

"Gahaha. You're still such an unsociable guy. Well, fine. Regardless of what you think, I am glad! I have always been praying! To have a serious fight against you with our lives on the line! I have always been waiting for this day to pay you back for the time when we were little! I have been training my body for that purpose!"

Kaga beat his muscular chest as he said so. When they were still elementary students, Kaga had never once won against that genius of the same age.

However, as Kaga grew up, he had obtained a huge, out of the norm body. He was already different from back then.

Kaga did not know where and what Ouma had been doing in those five years, but he was confident that he had certainly caught up to Ouma. Hence, he was not intimidated by the A-Rank knight before him, and declared.

"I'm different from your opponents in the first and second match. I won't run away from your seriousness! So, face me with your seriousness! Ouma!"

To that, Ouma replied with a cold look. "That depends on you. Renji."

"Gahaha! That's true! Then, I will make you serious immediately!"

「The warriors facing each other on the ring are exchanging their friendship. Contender Panzer Grizzly, Renji Kaga has just declared that he w on't run away from the frontal confrontation against the A-Rank knight, Wind Emperor! That would only be recklessness for ordinary Blazers. But Contender Kaga has the actual power to achieve it! Just like Yaotome pro said, we may be able to witness Contender Ouma's real strength in this match! Now. The referee is about to give signal the start of the match── ──Begin!」

The instant the referee announced the start of the match, Kaga was the first to move.

"OOOOOOOoOoOooOoOoOOoOoooo!"

He roared with a voice that resonated in the whole dome, and boiled up the magic power in his whole body.

At the same time, his body began to change. Losing the organic skin color, it changed into shiny steel. That was the reason for the Panzer Grizzly nickname.

Renji Kaga's Noble Art that changed his whole body into steel ── Steel Skin.

「Contender Kaga made the first move! He literally changed his whole body into steel!」

「It is a process necessary to utilize his ability. That's only obvious.」

Just like Yaotome said, Kaga had to go through that process for his battle or he wouldn't be able to begin. His huge brown bear size body, and the arm strength enhanced by his weight increased several times. And then the hardness that could repel his opponent's attacks with his guard.

With the strength of those two parts, the attack specialized battle style utilizing sumo's rush power and superior handling technique, he would overwhelm his opponent.

That was the battle style of Panzer Grizzly. However──

"Gahaha! That's wrong! Commentator-san!" That's right, that was only up to that moment.

「Eh...?」

"This is different from the Steel Skin until now. This is my secret trump card for fighting against Ouma!"

As he said so, at the same time Kaga completed transforming his whole body into steel, a different magic power from Steel Skin ran across his whole body. Immediately after──

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Along with his roar, Renji Kaga's body began to change in a way never seen before. On the steeled lump that was Kaga's shoulders, two new arms on each side, in total four arms grew out from both sides.

「W-What! T-This is! His arms have multiplieeeed!?」

The announcer and audience raised surprised shouts at the strange transformation. On the other hand, Yaotome, in charge of commentary, analyzed the situation calmly.

「I see. Not just hardening, that's also shape-shifting. With this increase in number of arms, it's obvious that the offensive and defensive power will increase threefold...! He must have thought this through.」

"Gahaha! Just as commentator-san said! My Device Raiden's ability is steelifying of my body! Thus it is reasonable for me to be able to change the form of said steel freely! This is what I was hiding! Its name is ──

Steel Asura Form! Ouma! I have spent five years developing this technique to win against you! Receive it gratefully!" After completing his transformation, Kaga sank his huge body down and took a squatting stance.

Then, using the recoil from knocking his tight fist onto the ground to lift his upper half torso, with the leg power that sank the enormous ring into the earth, he propelled his huge body forward. That figure was just like a cannonball.

「F-Fast! Contender Kaga! He is rushing towards Contender Ouma with a speed one wouldn't imagine possible with his huge body! How will Contender Ouma handle it!?」

However, Ouma's response to Kaga's assault was the same as in the first and second round.

"..."

「──Whaaat!? T-This is!? Contender Ouma! He is neither defending nor dodging! He is walking straight towards Contender Kaga's assault! He doesn't seem to be afraid of that arm strength and huge body!」

「That's some big confidence...However, that's being reckless.」

As Yaotome said, Ouma's response was a foolish decision in anyone's eyes. He was different from the opponent in the first and second match. Kaga's offensive power was at a level that even using Crimson Princess, Stella Vermillion's And Ayato Kurogane's overwhelming magic powers would not be able to stop.

A direct hit would not end well. Even so, he did not take up any defense. ──Kaga felt a strong fury towards Ouma's response. He was belittling him to the point of not even trying to evade.

To that extent. However, that probably could not be helped. He had never once won against Ouma. Being looked down upon was obvious.

In that case──

(With this one strike, I will wake you up!)

"UOOoOoOoOOooOOryaaAAA!"

In an instant, Kaga's opened palm hit Ouma's face with all of his arm strength and body weight.

At the moment of the impact, the atmosphere shook as if a large truck crashed in a frontal collision. It was undoubtedly a direct hit.

Ouma really did not use any defense or evasion against Kaga's attack.

However ── He would obviously not come out unscathed after doing that. Ouma's body was greatly inclined and sank down. And then, Kaga decided he would not let go of the decisive opening created by that overconfidence! In that moment, Kaga saw his chance for victory. Panzer Grizzly executed the prided secret move combining attack and defense in one.

Using hundreds of open palm strikes, while warding off the opponent's attacks, at the same time, showering him with super heavy continuous strikes, That was a new sure-kill technique executed against Ouma with his six arms──── the Hundred Lotus Palm.

"Asura Hundred Lotus Palm ────── ooOoOOOOO!"

「Contender Kaga is dealing a decisive blow to Contender Ouma who has broken his posture! Rush Rush Rush! He is using his steel palm to strike continuously at his opponent with speed that our eyes can't even catch up wiiiith!」

Receiving that earlier strike squarely, Ouma would not be able to evade the rush. He was completely caught in that storm with the steel palms raining on him. Kaga trembled from the response that his sure-kill technique had hit in the best way possible. He could do it. Ouma's body was about to collapse on the ring. He could win if he just continued attacking like that! The premonition of victory that he continued to seek in the past five years let his strength explode beyond his limit. However──

(──...!?)

Kaga's excited expectation was gradually thinning away. Anxiety welled up to replace that. Why? Even though he was attacking so one-sidedly. Even though all of Kaga's steel palm strikes had a clean hit on his target. Why did he feel anxious? The reason was exactly because of what was happening. Kaga's attacks had all hit their target with clear feedback. In spite of that──

(Why won't he fall!?) That question was…

"...A technique developed to defeat me...huh."

Along with the muttering spilled by Ouma, who was taking on his Asura Hundred Lotus Palm, it was resolved. After Ouma's body had sunk at a certain angle, the response coming from Kaga's hand changed. The image projected in his brain was as if his palm strikes were hitting a rock mountain towering above the skies ── a desperate waste of effort. (He's completely, not budging even a tiny bit...!)

Ouma did not budge or tremble at all after receiving those steel palm strikes. That's right, Ouma's posture was not broken by Kaga's palm strikes── He lowered his posture in order to swing his sword!

"Those five years were meaningless. Renji."

"!?"

Together with an air-splitting noise, Kaga lost his feeling on the majority of his right half of the body. Ouma's diagonal slash from below to above had severed the three right arms executing Asura Hundred Lotus Palm. Kaga felt a chill at Wind Emperor's sword arm that treated the hardness of steel as if it was nothing.

However… "OOoOOOOOOOoOOAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Kaga raised a roar to forcefully suppress that chill and continued to attack with his remaining three arms. He did not retreat. He was a fighter at his core. He could only choose to fight. He did not have a choice of pulling away and attacking.

Hence, he attacked furiously with his life on the line.

However, there was no reason for an opponent who would not be shaken by six arms to be affected by three.

A flash.

The blade that swung up was swung back down, Ouma severed Kaga's left arms.

The swung down blade immediately changed its trajectory and did a horizontal sweep, severing two legs.

"────"

The attack and defense of steel that he continued to train up to that day was totally useless. Losing his support, Kaga's body collapsed. His pupils only reflected the despair from their cruel difference in battle strength and a trace of question. ──That much, huh? The difference in battle strength between him and Ouma was probably just that huge. The answer was no. They had faced each other many times before. Kaga understood. Ouma Kurogane was not a knight of that level. He was certainly a talented knight, but that growth was abnormal. Be it offensive or defensive power, he was obviously...out of the norm. It could not be explained with just magic power and magic ability. There had to be something abnormal involved!

"You...just what────!?"

However, Kaga's question could not be formed into words.

"Gafu!?"

In replacement, fresh blood flowed out from his mouth. After he lost his support from his two legs, it was when he was about to collapse.

Ouma's off-hand thrusted out at Kaga and pierced through his steel chest out through his back.

And then, in the hand that Ouma pierced through to the back, he was holding a beating heart──

"Stop──" Before the referee could call for a stop, Ouma crushed it without any hesitation.

The moment it was concluded in a way that couldn't be any worse, sorrowful cries came from the audience seats.

「K-KYAAAAaaa!」

「You're kidding, right...!? Oi!」

「He k-killed him! That bastard!」

「W-What happened!? The moment we thought that the outcome has been decided when both arms and legs were severed! Wind Emperor made follow-up! TThe heart! Contender Kaga's heart was gripped and crusheddd! T-This was a dangerous strike with a great killing intent!」

The referee immediately announced the end of the match due to that situation. The medic team rushed into the ring. Amongst them was the figure of Hagun Academy's director, Kurono Shinguuji.

"Clock Lock!" Kurono leapt over the fence surrounding the audience seats and landed onto the ring just like that. Then her Device Ennoia ── a white silver handgun manifested, and she shot towards the fallen Kaga. The bullet that hit Kaga contained the magic of temporarily stopping the time on his whole body.

That would completely prevent the deterioration of his physical body from oxygen deficiency due to blood loss. After executing the most appropriate first-aid, Kurono ordered the medic team carrying a stretcher.

"Hurry up with the stretcher! Carry him into the capsule before my technique's effect runs out!"

"Y-Yes!" A mortal injury...no, Kaga received an injury that would probably kill him if not for Kurono, was carried out of the ring by others. On the other hand, Ouma did not even see him off, and was about to leave the ring.

「Contender Ouma, he did not even spare a glance at Contender Kaga who is being carried away! There is not a shred of feeling towards his rival of the same era! His casually leaving back profile is saying that 'you are not even reflected in my eyes'!」

「Hii...」

「S-Scary...」

As the victor was leaving, there was no applause for him. The duels between mature knights were literally about crossing swords. Bloodshed was only natural. They might even lose their lives, if they were unlucky. That's why the schools would not force students to participate in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. Those participating were all warriors who had such resolve. Hence, there was no reason to criticize Ouma. Although there wasn't

──...the feeling of whether it was necessary to go that far could not be dispelled. The difference in strength between the two was clearly evident. In that case, would it be going too far to take away life, something like that.

However, in the frozen atmosphere of the venue from that tragedy… *Clap clap clap...* There was one person clapping hands to congratulate him.

「This applause is...ah!」

Who exactly was that person? The announcer followed to the source of the sound and raised a shocked voice.

The person who applauded for Ouma was...a girl with burning red hair...

「Contender Stella! Only Contender Crimson Princess, Stella Vermillion is applauding for the leaving Contender Ouma!」

The venue was confused by that fact. However, Stella did not mind any of that, looked downwards at Ouma, and praised him.

"It was quite a good fight. Ouma."

A one-sided massacre.

To a battle that could only be thought of an overkill, Stella praised it as a good fight.

That was because, different from the audiences, she was able to see much deeper into the match.

That's right.

The audiences misunderstood something from seeing Ouma's overwhelming victory. It was the Panzer Grizzly's strength.

"Kaga has proficiently used his Noble Art to increase the number of his arms. Against such an opponent, just cutting away his limbs may not be enough to decide the outcome. One must end his life in order to achieve victory with certainty."

Of course, with Ouma's strength, he could avoid a fatal injury and use a method to crush Kaga's spirits.

If Kaga was like the opponents in the first and second match who employed trickery, Ouma might have taken such measures.

However, he did not do so. Stella could understand.

That fight, Ouma...although he did not show his true power, he faced it seriously.

Because Kaga would not be afraid of him and run away, challenging him straightforwardly, Ouma saw value in that victory.

That man was a knight that would go that far in order to obtain that valuable victory.

...Putting it negatively, he was a man that would even kill people for victory. However, even though he was such a man──

"...However, you did not kill me that time." That time was obviously referring to the first time Ouma and Stella faced off each other. Ouma could have killed Stella if he had felt like it. The two of them had just that much difference at that time.

"You paid a lot of attention to me & Ayato. Treat me carefully so that I don't break." Towards her, who was above Kaga in rank, the same A-Rank as him and his little brother. Stella did not know what intention he had.

However, there wasn't any 「seriousness」 in that careful treatment. Regardless of what intention he had, being treated carefully, in other words, winning against Stella at that time, held no value to Ouma.

──There was no greater humiliation than that. Therefore, Stella stared at Ouma with her burning pupils and declared.

"I feel sorry for my behavior back then. But...I won't do that anymore. Tomorrow, I will make you get serious. I will draw out all of your strength from your core. And then on top of that...I will kill you."

She let out a definite killing intent, releasing a pressure that could burn the skin with just a touch. Although Ouma received it with his whole body...

"What a coincidence. I was also thinking about the same thing." Showed a smile revealing his fangs.

….

After the declaration to Ouma, the venue returned to its clamors with the announcement of Kaga's life being saved.

fThere were people who were simply relieved. There were people who were excited. There were people who criticized him for going too far. Despite being amongst those hustling and bustling, Stella looked at the ring that was undergoing cleaning and sighed.

(...What are you doing, Alice.) Nagi Arisuin, who should have been back before her, could not be seen in the audience seats. Shizuku had a match so it couldn't be helped, she believed that Arisuin would come and watch the match, but──

(...Well, Shizuku's match is more important.)

He probably wanted to stay next to her until the last minute. As she was thinking about such matter

…"Kukuku! As expected of the woman who's called 「The Queen who subdued a flame dragon

」

! There isn't a second person who could say such caustic words to that man as his opponent."

A young high-pitched voice filled with arrogance came from behind her. Stella remembered the owner of that voice.

"...I don't remember being called by that nickname." As she turned back, it was exactly the person she had expected. A girl wearing a pink dress and an eye patch. A member of the Akatsuki Academy Stella had eliminated in the first round battle. It was the Beast Tamer, Rinna Kazamatsuri. Waiting behind her was, as expected, or rather as usual, the maid with a cold expression, Charlotte Cordé

. "Fuu, I have just arrived! You may rejoice!"

"What do you want? Even if we are acquainted, I don't think we are close enough to be speaking like this though? Kazamatsuri." Stella's response towards Rinna's intimate

The conversation was refused. Well, it was obvious considering their relationship, but──

"Kuku. Hear that, my servant. This woman has beaten us to a pulp, chopped us up, then roasted us whole in the end, and yet she still wants to beat us up more?"

"Yes, I have heard that, my lady. The country with such a violent imperial princess will soon be in ruins."

"Gu..."

Just as those two said, it was a fact that she had beaten them to a pulp, so Stella felt guilty when she mentioned it.

"It's not like I haven't beaten you enough! I'm asking what you want!"

"Of course it's to watch the next match. Since Bloody Da Vinci, the one who has formed a contract of blood and soul with me is in the next match!"

"Contract of soul?"

"What my lady said is that because Sara-sama became an old master...Kouzou Kazamatsuri-sama's adopted child, my lady, who is danna-sama's daughter, became a step-sister to her."

"That's how it is!"

"Your words are meaningless and incomprehensible as always..."

"You don't think about it. You feel it. Do that and you will understand."

"I don't really want to understand it...Well, basically, you came to watch the fight, huh."

"Umu. But watching it alone is boring, and I coincidentally saw the Crimson Princess, so I came to talk with you. You can feel honored."

"You're extremely annoying." ...Something like that, but before that...

"Alone you say, isn't the maid with you?"

"M-Me and Charl are one in heart and body, so it doesn't count."

"Aah...my lady, it's a waste to say such words to a useless bitch like me..."

Charlotte's cheeks were dyed red at Rinna's words. However, on the other hand, Rinna's expression twitched. Rinna got near to Stella's ear and whispered the reason.

"...To tell you the truth. Ever since losing to you, Charl has felt responsible for failing to protect me...

When the two of us are alone, she holds things that can only be seen as torture tools and asks me to punish the useless her, so I'm troubled over it. So please stay with me!"

"Y-You also have it hard..." "

Umu...I said that I don't mind it though. Being too loyal is also troubling..."

(No, I think this is not about being too loyal.)

Stella could only smile bitterly as she had seen a similar case before. Meanwhile, as she was whispering with Rinna like that...

*Gari Gari Gari Gari Gari...*

She heard the sound of teeth-grinding. As she looked towards the source of that sound, she saw Charlotte with bloodshot eyes staring at her while biting her fingernails.

"Getting so close to my lady...at a distance where they can feel each other's breaths...if she doesn't go into a bath later...that woman's smell will stain my lady...!"

(Scary!)

Stella immediately took distance from Rinna. She should not get involved with such people.

However...well, if it was just watching the match together, it would probably be fine.

"It's not like I have a reservation here. My friends are also not here."

"Umu! A festival has to be lively!"

Getting Stella's approval, Rinna's voice bounced with happiness.

Then she took her seat next to her, and received some popcorn and cola from Charlotte.

(...I wonder where she took those out from.)

"But I was surprised during the second round. To think that he would use the Cryo Lightning Dragon trump card on the first opponent ー"

Ignoring Stella's curiosity, Rinna threw popcorn into her mouth and chatted with Stella. The topic was of course about the next match. It was about the opening surprise attack Ayato had used in the second round.

"Ayato probably thought that Byakuya was just that strong of an opponent. That ability is definitely troublesome if they actually faced each other."

"But my 「Sister on paper」 is also the same, right?"

"Isn't that way of saying too much!?" Stella retorted without thinking, but Rinna continued, not minding it.

"It's true that the Eye of Heaven is a troublesome power. However, speaking of troublesome, wouldn't Bloody Da Vinci be more troublesome after all? Since she can use Purple Caricature to recreate Blazers' Noble Arts.

If she wanted, she could possibly use Eye of Heaven's power, and even if can't, she can use Kori Kusanagi like in her second round.

Losing one of his trump cards against that kind of opponent, isn't it advantageous no matter how you think about it?

Sword Emperor of the Cryo Wind's advancement would end here, wouldn't it?"

Rinna spoke about her concerns to Stella in a way that purposely fanned up her anxiety. Paying her back...she did not go that far, but probably a little bit of teasing. However, Stella's expression did not falter at all. Instead...

"If you are talking about advantages and disadvantages, the fact that Ayato is A-Rank is already an advantage against any opponent...But Ayato didn't lose. He didn't give up. That's why he is in this place now. In this quarter final that will decide the best four at the knights' summit nationwide in Japan. Hence, he will win. Even today, for sure."

In Stella's eyes that looked at the ring, there was trust to the point of having surplus to spare. However, that was only obvious. Because Cold One had always overcome that level of pinch.

(Not to mention, it seems that he has settled a major problem of his...Fufu.)

Before arriving there, she saw Ayato's refreshed expression as if he had taken a load off his chest. Stella smiled. And then, she replied to Rinna.

"Akatsuki Academy is the side that should resolve itself. The Ayato now is...definitely impossibly much stronger than his Older Brother and everyone Else in Akatsuki Academy ."

….

At the same time when Stella and Rinna were having such a conversation.

In order to prepare for the upcoming match, Ayato Kurogane was in the waiting room── Not there, he was standing in the hallway connected to the VIP audience seats.

And then, he raised his head when the person he was waiting for arrived, and spoke up.

"Father. I have been waiting for you." Itsuki Kurogane's beast-like sharp gaze responded to the voice and he replied briefly.

"...What are you doing here? Isn't it about time for the match?"

"I was waiting for you. It's about the matter we talked about earlier today. I want to give you my response." The matter of the day was, of course, the suggestion about cutting ties with Itsuki.

Regarding that, Ayato stated his final answer.

"About that, I refuse."

"...!"

Itsuki opened his eyes wide, somewhat surprised by Ayato's answer.

The cutting of ties was tantamount to exiling Ayato, who could not be handled by the Kurogane, so that they could save face.

Although it would've been terrible, there was still merit for Ayato as well.

Cutting their ties would mean that there would be no more interference from both the Kurogane & Kuchiki households.

Hence, Itsuki probably did not think that Ayato would refuse.

However, Ayato's answer was a no.

"I did not live according to Father's will.

Instead, I have just caused trouble for you.

That will not change from now on.

There won't be any changes. Because I can only take this path...

Therefore, cutting our ties would have worked out.

That way it would've been better.

That's right, I also thought that way.

However...even so, I am Ayato Kurogane."

It was not anyone's, but his own wish to do so.

"That's why I won't cut our ties. At least I won't consent to it."

Why couldn't he hate such a father? That reason, honestly speaking,Ayato could not understand it either.

It's just that, even after that, he understood that he would be sad if he were to completely lose the bond he had with his father. In that case, there was no reason for him to suppress himself and follow the opinion of the Kurogane & Kuchiki households.

That was Ayato's final answer. Receiving it, Itsuki... "Is that really fine?"

Showed an obviously confused expression. It was a rare expression for Itsuki, who usually didn't let his face reveal his emotions. However, Ayato's answer did not change. Since he decided to be willful, he would not withdraw himself.

"Well...From Father's perspective, such a rebellious and prodigal son would only be in your way." However──

"It's not about me. Are you really fine with it?"

"...Eh?" Being asked such an unexpected question, Ayato's thoughts froze for a moment.

──'You'... Certainly, his father said that just then. That Itsuki...asked about Ayato's opinion. Why? Ayato lost his words due to the confusion. Itsuki continued to speak.

"I am the head of the Kurogane household. That, in other words, is the discipline of the knights in this country. It was decided from the moment of my birth. I have been educated for this sake, and so I have been walking down this path."

Regardless of who, towards anyone ── strictness. The responsibility passed down by generations of Kurogane & Kuchiki households was carved in his name.

"Therefore I don't know anything beyond this. I'm a man who cannot choose to live in any other way than this. You have disobeyed Kurogane & Kuchiki discipline. Supporting you for pushing yourself forward on a thorny path you chose yourself, congratulating you for climbing up despite spilling blood on that thorny path and reaching the height of being the best eight in the whole country...I can't do any of it. And it won't change from now on either. I am such a man. Are you fine with calling such a man your Stepfather/uncle?"

"..."

In that instant, Ayato imagined the life of his stepfather/uncle, Itsuki Kurogane, as a person. Itsuki, as the youngest son of Ayato's grandfather, Genma Kurogane, was born. Although Genma was the son of the Great Hero, Ryoma Kurogane, he felt contempt towards Ryoma, who held a different opinion and behavior from the traditional ways of the Kurozakuro and Kurogane household, so he had formed an alliance with the elders who held the same opinion as him. He was someone who had half exiled his father, Ryoma, from the Kurozakuro and Kurogane households, and snatched the position of the head of Kurogane household, a person known as the rightmost wing of the moderate faction. Born under such a man...Itsuki had one brother named Kagami Kurozakuro.

His mother, a 3rd-generation in the Sparda bloodline, and a hybrid between a Devil, a Fallen Angel, and a human, had never been a member of the family and she was a very kind woman.

Kagami Kurozakuro Kuchiki was a kind hearted son. He had Black Hair with a kenseikan that covered his right eye with a "Silvery-White Windflower Silk scarf." Based on the sight of his left eye When he was the captain of the 6th Division, Masatsugu wore the typical Shinigami uniform, with a sleeveless captain's haori. He had noticeable sideburns, no facial hair, and slightly shorter hair with a kenseikan that covered his right eye with a "Silvery-White Windflower Silk scarf while having been born and raised in the Kurogane & Kuchiki and Kurozakuro families, was never really like the other members. He was the one oddity in the family. He was a pureblood devil with Soul reapers blazer powers and had his pride, but unlike many other pureblood devils, he was not too prideful or over his head. He was kind to even those who were weaker than him.

Akari Takizawa sparda was a beautiful charming woman with long, waist-length silver hair and red eyes with a voluptuous figure with a kind hearted personality. she was a 3rd-generation in the Sparda bloodline, and a hybrid between a Devil, a Fallen Angel, and a human, had never been a member of the family and she was a very kind woman.

Akari is particularly seductive towards Kagami & Her Son Ayato.

And yet, Ayato's parents were different as they knew that he could do it.

Both of them believed that Ayato would be able to tame his powers.

Hence, Genma and the elders pushed all of their ideals onto the next head of the family, which was Itsuki. Before he could think for himself, and while his ego was just budding, he received such a thorough education.

The soft...mentality of a child that could be hurt even with a gentle touch, was toppled by them, who had even carved their ideals into the name of the child.

The result was born from that ── Iron Blood.

Showing no compromise, no mercy, the 「Discipline」 of living only for the sake of the country.

Ayato's stepfather/uncle, Itsuki Kurogane was such a man.

Hence, he would talk about cutting their ties when he could no longer handle his own son.

...He thought that way.

However... (That's, I was mistaken...)

It was a strange thing, if he thought about it a little. If he wanted to cut their ties for such a reason, then there would not be a need to be bothered with Ayato's opinion. There was only one reason to hear his opinion. Ayato comprehended. That was...the mission and ideal he had imposed on himself. The responsibility towards the country, the obligation towards the Blazers belonging to the country. The man who was burdened with all kinds of responsibilities, the man who did not know anything other than that, reached such a conclusion after trying his best to think about it. More than anything, the eyes that stared straight at Ayato explained it. Seeing those eyes...Ayato smiled bitterly without thinking. He noticed. That's how it was, they were indeed stepfather and stepson.

──Because... (My clumsiness in words was inherited from my stepfather.)

In that case, his answer was obvious.

"It's fine. That kind of stepfather is fine." Ayato looked back at Itsuki, and

"Parents and children do not really need to be intimate. There are fathers who force their sons to take the paths of their own ideals. There are also sons who go against that and take the opposite path. Opposing opinions. Two opposing sides. At the end of the parallel arguments, they will eventually hit each other. ──Isn't it a common story? Something like that."

"..."

Ayato said that everything that had happened was just at such a level. What could the son saying those words be thinking about?

Itsuki...closed his eyes for a moment…

"I see.

This is certainly a quarrel between parent and child that can be seen anywhere...Talking about cutting ties for such matters is indeed over- exaggerating it."

He sighed and said those words. The corners of his mouth curved up slightly into a smile. Just at that moment...

「The clean-up of the ring has been completed. The second match of the third round will begin in five minutes.」

The announcement informing about the start of the next match echoed. Since it would start in five minutes, it was about time for him to go to the waiting room. Hence, Ayato turned on his heels.

"Then, I'm going."

"Ayato."

Itsuki said from the back of Ayato. Everything that happened until then. Towards Ayato, who had treated everything that he had done to him, everything that should not be forgiven, as a quarrel between parent and child…

"You have become a Noble and Powerful person." He praised him frankly. Hearing those words with his back facing him, Ayato...

"Hehe." Smiled embarrassingly, and walked out. And on the way...he finally understood why he could not come to hate Itsuki. He understood the reason.

「You can't do anything, so don't try.」

He probably felt that those words were not Itsuki's real feelings coming from his heart. Because, wouldn't that be so?

(My name is Ayato Kurozakuro...!) 「Colorful winter with a cold and tough future with your Amazing Power'.」

He received the name with such a wish contained within him──

(In that case, I will show you.)

He would show his stepfather. Carrying himself, repelling everything, shining brightly in the world he chose with his own power alone!

(Let's go. ──Only three more to reach the top!)

...

「Ah, it's a relief that Contender Kaga is safe. I was wondering what's going to happen for a moment there.」

「It may look shocking, but it's only at the level of one internal organ being damaged, so it's not a big deal. Entering the capsule for an hour will completely heal it.」

「We can really feel the benefits of modern medical technology right now.」

「On top of that, the entire staff line-up this time is excellent. Especially Shinguuji-san's perfect emergency first-aid. As expected of the world's former number three.」

「You can say that only because of the cooperation between modern medical technology and excellent mage-knights, that we can organize the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival.」

As the announcer Iida and Yaotome were giving their opinions about the earlier match, the buzzer indicating the end of the break rang. In accordance with that, Iida cleared his throat on the side and...

「Now then, since it's time, we will begin the second match of the third round battle!」

Announced towards the audience. That information caused the venue to erupt in cheers. That cheer was even louder than the first match. That just showed how much attention the second match had garnered.

「Then, let's welcome the two Contenders for the second match who are entering the field!」 At the same time as those words were said, the night lights shone onto the stage, showing the figures of the Contenders.

「Appearing from the green gate, Akatsuki Academy first year! Contender Sara Bloodlily! Even with just the power to manipulate the concept of colors, that colorfulness makes her the Kaleidoscope! However, that is just a tip of her true strength! She can replicate various kinds of weapons and troops. Above all, she is even able to replicate Blazers and their Noble Arts, the balance-breaking and versatile Noble Art Purple Caricature! That is her true strength! Murata-pro had evaluated her to be on par with A-Rank, the so-called dark horse! What kind of battle will she show us in the third round!?」

「Oya? Did Contender Bloodlily have a change of heart?」 Yaotome voiced her doubt. And Iida followed up.

「Speaking of which, she is wearing a different outfit from this morning. She is properly wearing clothes. It is a disappointing development for some of the audiences, but it's a great help for the TV station!」

「No, well, there's also that, but...her expression is quite different.」

「Expression, is it?」

「Yes. Until now, whenever Contender Bloodlily stood on the ring, should I say that her attention was dispersed, or that there was no ambition...she wasn't really focused, but...I can feel a strong concentration and motivation from her now.」

As she mentioned it, the audience also felt the same. Certainly, when Sara was facing off against her opponents up until the second round, her eyes were sleepy. However, the current Sara was different. Her eyes were as sharp as those of a predator targeting its prey, staring at the red gate.

「It's exactly as Yaotome-pro said, that's a good expression, Contender Bloodlily! It can be said that after unleashing her true power, there would be no need to act anymore! We are looking forward to her third round battle more and more! And! Now, the knight who will be her opponent in the third round will make his entrance!」

The announcer's voice caused the gazes of the audience to focus on the red gate.

Receiving the gazes from tens of thousands of spectators, the silver-haired knight made his appearance.

「Prestigious Kurozakuro & Kuchiki household's Royal Prince, the genius who made an impact in the whole country as the Dragon Child in his childhood Born with the strongest magic power and the strongest sword technique.

The moment he shone as the world champion in the U-12 (Elementary level) International Tournament two years after his older brother won it, anybody would have thought so!

Great Hero, Ryoma Kurogane's rightful successor has been born right there!

He is hopelessly sick of the League's rule of not allowing real blades in battles like his older brother!

He has been seeking! A real battle!

A fight with life on the line! Aiming for a higher goal!

Possessing overwhelming strength to the point of blurring that figure of his within our memories mowing down many strong opponents from the bottom, finally! This youth has appeared on the stage of the quarter finals for the country's best four! The anomalous A-Rank everyone knows! Hagun Academy first-year A Rank ,The Cryo Gale Sword Emperor, Ayato Kurozakuro!」

「Kyaa! Kurozakuro-kun! Do your best!」

「Don't lose! Go at it with guts!」

With his long spiky silver hair and the school sweater of the uniform swaying, step by step, Ayato shortened the distance between him and Sara.

Even though he was just walking, they felt like his sword pressure was splitting their skin from just a touch.

"However...Because of that, I can't lose. I have made a promise to fight against Stella in the final battle. Not to mention, this is a path I have decided to walk even if I have to beat my stepfather down if he had interfered."

He would not be half-hearted. That would not be allowed. "

That's why I will win. I will defeat you and become the Seven Stars Sword King. That's the perseverance of my willfulness!"

After that declaration, Ayato manifested his Device, Ryuuzetsu.

Then he pointed the tip of his Nodachi, along with his sharp Naked ice blade gaze, even sharper than his weapon, towards Sara.

Sara also returned an intense gaze not losing to his...

"...I also have a promise. I decided selfishly, a selfish promise. But that...the only thread of bond connecting me and my father...I won't back down."

Manifesting her Device, Brush of the Demiurge and palette on her hands, she said. "I will show you your defeat. Definitely──!"

"That's good. Sara-san and me, whose promise...soul is stronger? Let's compete on that!"

Boiling with fighting spirit, the two of them waited for the signal to start.

The air between them carried a tense feeling as if it was going to burn their skins off.

As the tension was reaching critical points second by second...

「The two are ready at the starting line! Then without further ado, Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival third round second match begin! Let's GO AHEAD────!」

The flame of battle was lit.

"Well, if you so insist, then I'll start off with this: Freezing Hell," Ayato chanted as he tapped the blade of his sword against the ground and the stadium froze over.

She was using a speed that even the Speed & Power-focused Ayato could not capture clearly to scoop up the paint on her palette.

And then... "Color of Magic ── Bright Yellow of Flash ー '' She swung her arm and scattered the paint into the air. In an instant, an explosion of light burst out from the scattered yellow paint. It instantly encompassed everything in the dome, burning everyone's field of sight pure white.

"...!"

「Kyaa!」

「Uwa, so bright!」

「The moment the match began, Contender Bloodlily's Color of Magic exploded! A strong flash that doesn't allow people to keep their eyes open has burst out! Just like a flash grenade! She just used a technique that will make the announcers cry!」

The announcer covered his eyes as the flash that seemed to cause stinging pain burned his eyes.

On the other hand, Yaotome at the side had been expecting it.

The instant the flash exploded, she immediately changed to sunglasses to avoid the damage to the retinas.

However, their field of sight was only hindered for a few seconds.

The color of the scene recovered soon after. And Iida was...

「Aah, my eyesight has finally returned...wooooah!? T-This is～～～～!」

At the same time as his eyesight returned, he was shocked by the scene he saw. The audiences probably had the same reaction.

On the ring that finally regained its color, there were hundreds of skeleton soldiers holding assault rifles lined up in formation.

「This is the Necro Battalion of the Purple Caricature that appeared in the second round battle! Contender Bloodlily used it immediately in the third round!」

「It's a technique that has already been seen once before. It probably means that she doesn't have to be reserved anymore.」

"Hou? That's quite a haughty start for someone like her." Rinna, who was watching the battle from the audience seats, exclaimed emotionally at Sara's initiative filled with fighting spirit.

Because they were relatives, Rinna probably thought that it was rare for her to be so serious in a battle.

"That's unlike her personality or motivation, huh. Did she have a quarrel with the Cryo Gale Sword Emperor?"

"It seems that they have made a bet. If she wins this match, Ayato will become her model. If she loses, then she would not ask Ikki to be her model again, something like that."

Stella conveyed what she had heard from Ayato, Rinna was dumbfounded for a moment, then giggled. She had witnessed the scandal caused by Sara at the party. That's why she was able to comprehend the issue.

"I see. Well, it is unbearable for someone like her to keep bothering him...However." Rinna took off her eye patch, narrowed her heterochromic eyes and smiled evilly. "That condition might have been foolish. He lit the flame of motivation in an unmotivated person. The Cryo Gale Sword Emperor has the quite skillful and Powerful Noble arts and Techniques, but it's all martial arts. It's all physical & Mental techniques. That power is just the extension of a single person. And then, how is he going to overcome the organizational power of modern weapons with only his own strength & Power?"

Rinna's words had accurately captured the heart of the situation. Bringing out an organization against a single person. Bringing out guns against swords. Although it was just a simple concept, the disparity between the two was just that difficult to overcome. Especially against Ayato, a knight who did possess any area of effect attacks or long distance options, it was not very effective.

Of course, the army of skeletons would not let such a Poweful prey escape. All of them in the formation pulled the trigger of their assault rifles together.

「Simultaneous fireeee────! The merciless gunshots have rushed towards the defenseless Contender Kurozakuroo!」

The surface of the ring was struck with a storm of lead. The scrapped off stone blew white dust up. The dust that raised up devoured Ayato's figure immediately.

「D-Don't tell me, it is decided so easily like that!?」

The anxiety of the announcer was probably shared by all the audiences. However ── they all knew immediately. That worry was unnecessary!

「W-Whaaat!?」

「Unbelievable!?」

Voices of surprise came from the audience seats. The announcer also witnessed it a moment later. From within the raised white dust, showing up leisurely without a single injury blown up by cold air, the figure of Ayato continued his advance.

「They are not hitting!? Despite being showered in that number of gunshots, Contender Kurozakuro did not lose a single drop of blood! W-What kind of magic is this!?」

「"Tenryuu Kori Armor"」

「A Noble Art,where he covers himself with high pressure cold air,which puts a load on his body,pushing his body to become more durable. By constantly having this technique active,Ayato has increased his muscle & body densities to twenty times of a normal human,making his body comparable to Iron, being able to resist almost any attack.」

「"No Way!"」

「Unbelievable!」

As Yaotome leaked a voice of admiration ── a change occurred right after that.

「A-Aah! T-This is! Hearing the explanation just now, the formation of the Necro army has changed!」

Instead of focusing on one spot, the formation switched to firing horizontally together.

「This will make Contender Kurogane's disorientation meaningless!」

A little desperate situation.

Before Iida could comment, Yaotome muttered.

「It's a really foolish judgement.」

The reason for that mutter was understood in the next moment. In accordance with the Necro Battalion switching from concentrated fire to horizontal fire, Ayato, who was using his cryo wind magic to create a barrier to protect himself with.

"Kori Fujin Kekkai"

Cryo Tornado stirred up in his surroundings, and that blade of Ice wind slice up the bullets into specks of dust.

The Skeletons that were sliced up until they became tiny incandescent drew a spiral as they were rolled into the ice wind that rose up to the sky, and disappeared.

「I-Incredible...!」

With a single blade, even using cryo magic, that figure trampling down the modern weapons caused the audience to tremble.

「A person...can actually that use much power using one mixed magic Manipulation...!」

「C-Cool...」

And it was the same for the mage-knights, feeling touched by Ayato's Incredible Magic power.

The Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Thunder of Judgement, Yuuzou Kaieda, while watching the match, talked to Itsuki, who was sitting at the adjacent sofa. "Goodness gracious, your stepson is really something. With just his technique & Power alone, he has reached up to this point, there probably aren't even five people in Japan at his level."

"...Because he's a guy that doesn't have anything else besides those skills and powers." The voice of Itsuki's reply did not contain any emotion as usual.

However, Kaieda also understood his position. He was not expecting a reply in the first place. He returned his gaze to the venue below soon after.

(But it's really impressive...His movement is just like seeing The Samurai Ryoma in his prime. And he is just a youth in the first year of reaching adulthood,how fearsome.) And at the same time, he felt a bit of pity. ...The 「A-Rank'' of Ayato meant he was evaluated''.

For example, if he had the Control at the level of A-Rank, the Blazer wouldn't get a bruise from receiving gunshots.

That was because the magic power would control the energy level of the Noble Arts. However...Generations could not do that.

And half of Mage-Knights' jobs were close-combat types. In other words, for Generations to become a MageKnight was a very dangerous job.

was the same for the Blazers that were obliged to enroll into the mage-knight academies in countries that joined the League. In other words, the Generation that was the international standard would not be treated as a Blazer in the first place.

It was just that...impossible. It was too dangerous to survive in the world of mage-knights. ...In a sense, Itsuki stubbornly opposing Ayato's path of knighthood was probably an obvious action for a stepfather. At the same time, he was also a supervisor troubling over the appearance of a reckless pursuer. Despite being a Generation, he was a match against an A-Rank.

That kind of a miracle was not something anyone could display. Kaieda understood that.

Because he understood ── he couldn't help but feel pity.

(If only he had the Control of an A-Rank, he could have chased after the summit more easily.) And on the ring, Ayatohad finally cut Sara's body.

「Contender Kurozakuro! He has annihilated the Necro Battalion with Fujjin Kori Kekkai! S-Strong! Despite losing his one of trump cards, Ittou Rasetsu, Contender Bloodlily's Purple Caricature could not do anything to him!」

Cryo Gale Sword Emperor had overcome Sara's first move without a scratch using one Noble Art. Standing alone on the ring, anyone could cheer for his calm yet ferocious figure.

He could not have mistaken it for anyone else. The image of a faintly glowing body like the sun at dawn, and a pair of pure white swords like a pair of wings was..

. "Purple Caricature ── Twin-Wings, Edelweiss." The world's strongest swordsman he had once crossed swords with in the past stood before him.

「「「──────────!」」」

Twin-Wings, Edelweiss. A woman whose name probably everyone knew, even if they were not knights. Her appearance caused so much shock that everyone in the venue fell silent. Amongst the heavy and tangible silence created by tens of thousands of people... Fake Edelweiss leisurely raised her pair of wing-like swords horizontally, putting up a stance.

"A-ha-a──!?" In that instant, Stella, who was watching over the match in the audience seats, hugged her body and squealed. She felt it. Just by getting into a battle mode, Twin-Wings released a demonic sword pressure that made her very soul resistant to looking directly at her.

(S-Scary...!)

That sword pressure was not pointed at her. What Stella felt was just the side effect. Even so, her whole body trembled uncontrollably, cold sweat pouring out non-stop.

(Even though she's so far away, it feels like having a sword pointed at my throat! )

She could clearly feel the icy coldness of a blade. It was that much of a dominating pressure. Just from seeing her figure, she could tell the absolute difference in ability without even thinking!

(This is the world's strongest swordsman...)

「W-What has happeeened! The world's most infamous criminal, standing on the highest summit of the swords' world, Twin-Wings, Edelweiss! Contender Sara Bloodlily, unbelievable, she has just materialized a super powerhouse!」

「I-I'm shocked...she can even bring something like that out...!」

「S-Serious-ly...!」

「This is...foul play...!」

Stella was not the only one shaken by the materialization of the pure white swordsman on the ring. Th

e announcer, commentator, everyone in the audience seats, voices of shock trembled everywhere. It couldn't be helped. The Edelweiss on the ring was a fake born from Sara's ability, but the majestic aura she carried was not any weaker than the real deal. And that was painfully felt by Ayato, who had actually experienced it, more than anyone!

"～～～～～～～～!" That's why Ayato escaped. He retreated with everything he had, as far as possible. He received her sword pressure from close range, causing his heart to be at the verge of bursting, even though he tried to suppress it.

──And then, more than the materialized image of Edelweiss, he was more wary of Sara's strength as an artist to be able to portray the existence of the world's strongest swordsman without a millimeter of an error.

"...I had made a variety of assumptions. Even if Stella or older brother Ouma were to come out, I had resolved myself not to be surprised...But...to draw such a thing, how fearful...! Bloody Da Vinci!"

"This is the only swordsman that you didn't win against. There is no reason not to draw her here...I have spent almost all of my magic power to draw it, the strongest image amongst all the knights I have ever known, to defeat you without a room for doubt!"

Sara declared her victory in a tone mixed with her strong determination. And then ── In that instant, the figure of Twin-Wings swinging down her blade appeared before Ayato's eyes without any sound

. "!"

「Fas────」

A speed that even the broadcast could not follow.

The pure white blade was swung down with a speed similar to a white thunder.

Edelweiss's actions, from stepping in to attacking, all of it was soundless. Her movements that were honed to the limit wasted no energy.

All of it was spent only on movement. Due to that, the atmosphere would not vibrate at all, and sound would not be transmitted.

In addition, with an instant acceleration from 0 to 100%, such exchange between stillness and quickness made the swords of Twin-Wings difficult to be captured using sight.

A high speed and soundless slash that could not be detected by sight and hearing.

If he was a normal person, his life would have ended without even noticing the slash. The fake created from Sara's image also had such a trait.

However… "Zuah!" Ayato had already experienced that fact with his body. Hence, he was able to defend against the white thunder-like first strike from the fake Edelweiss. However, he did not have any room for relief after defending against it.

The instant Twin Wing's left wing was blocked by Ryuuzetsu, her right wing had already reached Ayatp's nose tip!

"────Fuu!" However, Ayato had already seen through the thrust from the right. Although his cheek was grazed, he calmly tilted his head to evade. He even swung his Ryuuzetsu and intercepted fake Edelweiss within his sword range. In response, she also spread her two swords ── and delivered her attack!

"OoOOOO aAAAAA────!"

The sword flash of pure white and darkness intersected. They collided, and sparks immediately scattered as the gales of steel clashed. That's right. Ayato clashed with her

. He had to rely on Ittou Shura in the past, but he could finally keep up with Twin-Wings's swords! ──That was because the performance of the fake was lower after all.

Wrong.

Ayato could tell as he clashed swords with her. At least, fake Edelweiss could not be weaker than the time he fought against her at Akatsuki Academy in the past. The clarity of her swords, power, presence, they were all the same. Even so, to be able to match up without Ittou Shura...

(That's just how much stronger I have become!)

He had obtained Edelweiss's sword technique from Blade Steal. And the brain signals for battle that he switched in order to execute it. He obtained a large amount of experience from that one fight. Thanks to that, Ayato's basic battle strength had increased Tremendously compared to that time.

Even without relying on Ittou Shura, he could already keep up with the battle in that territory!

(With this, I can at least endure through!)

"Haaa!"

And finally, fake Edelweiss stepped back from the clash of swords with Ayato.

「UoOOOO! I-Incredible! Twin-Wings's swords, he has pushed back the world's strongest swords!」

「GOOO! Cryo Gale Sword Emperor!」

「Ayato-kuuun! Wiiiin it!」

Although Ayato did not respond to the cheers, he intended to do just that.

He was not hurt at all against the Fake Edelweiss at all.

"It's Time to Show you all My Full Strength"

The anxiety of the announcer was probably shared by all the audiences.

In an instant, Ayato grasped the upper part of his Shirt...

"Tenryuu Kori Armor ── Release."

And took it off. Immediately after that, an invisible shockwave hit Sara and then the venue itself.

It had blown Sara off to the edge of the ring, bent the fence surrounding the venue, and shattered all the windows facing the ring.

A choir of screams resounded. Stella drew her breath at that scene. Just then, Ayato had definitely said 'release'. In other words, that amount of air was not generated right in that moment──

"Don't tell me, you, with that absurdly large amount of Cold air...have you been suppressing yourself with that until now!?" Ayato wordlessly affirmed her. That's right. The explosion of cold air that knocked Sara and the Fake Edelweiss just then, everything was a high-pressure shackle that had been binding Ayato until a moment ago.

He used his Noble Art, Tenryuu Kori Armor, which repelled enemy attacks by wearing it, against himself, and burdened his body constantly with an out-of-world load.

"For what reason, are you doing that..."

"Of course, for the sake of 「Evolution」."

Evolution was a fundamental ability that living things possessed in order to adapt to the environment. For example, something similar to webbing might appear from a human who had been constantly swimming since he was young. Ayato administered himself to a harsh environment that pushed his body to the limit, forcefully triggering his body's ability.

It was for the sake of obtaining a physical body that could withstand any attack, and a power that could beat any enemy down.

However, even if living things were equipped with the ability to evolve, it was normal for it to take a long time. Naturally, he couldn't do it easily.

A hybrid body under that level of pressure would not remain unscathed.

The pressure suppressed him from all directions, he couldn't even lift a finger.

His flesh was squashed, his bones were smashed.

His organs could not function properly due to external pressure.

Of course, he could not fight in that condition, and continued to lose.

He was beaten, slashed, pierced, burned by enemies that he could effortlessly win against in the past──...

However...even so, he did not cease his recklessness.

Because he knew that he had to do it in order to reach the territory of that demonic being. He continued to force his battered body without mercy. If he was pressed to death by his own power, he could only go that far.

"And then...when countless wounds were carved onto my entire body, this recklessness paid of." His body gradually, in order to adapt to the environment he set on himself, began to evolve.

His bone structure increased its hardness to be like an iron core in order not to lose against the pressure suppressing him, his organs pulsated strongly in order to let blood circulate his entire body.

Each and every muscle fibre of his body became stronger and more tenacious in order to let him move smoothly under high pressure...eventually, when his body could not feel the 「Pressure」 anymore ──

Ayato's body literally transformed into「Diamond」

. "You may not see it from the compacted external appearance, but just like the feedback from your hand, my weight, with muscle and bone density tens of times higher than a normal person, is way heavier than Panzer Grizzly. A lukewarm slash from that fake will never injure me."

And then── "And so right now, I have released those shackles. Do you know what this means?"

Hence, he was able to recover for a bit longer than if he had been released after being locked away so long.

「I-Incredible...!」

What flowed out from Iida's mouth was not the relay of broadcast anymore, it was a voice of admiration. And that admiration was not towards Ayato's powers. It was towards his fighting spirit that did not wither a tiny bit despite being forced into such a situation.

「What a fighting spirit! When everyone believes that the match has been decided by the overwhelming strength of Purple Caricature, Contender Kurozakuro, who should be feeling the greatest despair himself, has not given up at all! Facing the world's number one sword technique, using up little of his abilities, he is somehow keeping up!」

Iida felt respect towards that youth who was at an age that could be his stepson

. However── (But, that's all.)

Next to Iida, who was passionately praising Ayato, Yaotome analyzed the situation calmly.

Regardless of how well he could handle his body, how strong his heart was, what would it matter? If he still had his one of trump cards, Ittou Shura, it would be another matter, but Ayato, who did not have it, and the world's strongest swordsman reproduced by Sara Bloodlily, the gap between the two of them would not be filled by just bringing out his guts or willpower. He would not get closer to victory.

In fact, Ayato had expended his Incredible magic power from just confronting his opponent once, and he was beaten back because of that.

On the other hand, Sara had been hurt once since the start of the match.

No, rather than that, it was Ayato who failed to even deal any damage to the fake Edelweiss that Sara had created.

Speaking frankly, the difference was too great.

It could not even be called a fair game.

(I don't think there is any meaning in continuing this.)

And Yaotome was not the only one who thought so. The main referee overseeing the match also thought the same. Therefore..

. "Contender Kurogane...Are you...continuing?"

Before announcing for the battle to resume after Ayato had returned from outside of the field, he asked. Would he continue, or would he not. Ayato laughed bitterly at those words. He noticed how much they had worried about him because of those words. The hidden meaning in the referee's words was as such. Forfeiting against such an out of norm opponent would not damage his reputation. Nobody would criticize him.

Retreating was also a form of courage. However, even though he felt that, Ayato answered.

"Yeah, of course I will continue." He did not back down. As such. Was it his obstinacy? ──No. In fact, Ayato had no reason to retreat. As for why──

"I have seen through the limit of that fake."

「C-Contender Kurozakuro! With a very strong tone, he has shown his intention to continue! Although the main referee looks troubled, he has allowed it! The match resumes! Contender Kurozakuro, despite saying that he has 'seen through the limit', will we really be able to see him overturn this hopeless situation!?」

「He's probably putting up a front, after all?」 B-But, I don't feel that Ayato-kun is putting up a front like that...」 The venue became rowdy from Ayato's declaration after he had returned to the field.

However, most of them weren't even trying to half believe him. Well, it wasn't unreasonable.

Ayato had not been able to do anything against fake Edelweiss after facing her all that time. And the person who did not believe in Ayato's words the most was his opponent Sara.

"Purple Caricature is indeed not the real thing. But it is able to reproduce the exact same potential as the real thing. Stop with the useless bluffing."

She knew the performance of her Purple Caricature. Therefore, she could assert that there was no opening for Ayato to take advantage of.

The reason was that the sword technique Ayato was using had been stolen from Edelweiss. That would never win against her Purple Caricature which had equivalent performance as the original.

There was a relationship of absolute superiority inferiority between them. That's why Sara had drawn Edelweiss. She should not lose. Sara had absolute confidence in it. However...

"...Sure, at first, I was surprised by the strength of this fake, which can even be said to be stronger than the time I fought with the real Twin-Wings. But I can peel off that kind of facade made only for show after crossing swords several times. No matter how fresh an apple is drawn, it doesn't contain a single drop of juice.

No matter how beautiful the blooming flowers are drawn, they don't have any fragrance. Your image is...just that kind of thing." Ayato did not cower, and declared in a strong tone while he lifted the tip of Ryuuzetsu up.

"Come at me...With me at my Strongest, I will defeat that fake of yours."

"...!?"

Ayato's abnormal confidence confused Sara. However, no matter how much she thought about it, she could only see him as putting up a front. Although he had been keeping up for a while earlier, in the end he was still overwhelmed by Sara's image. Ayatodid not fare well at all and it ended with him being kicked out of the field.

(There's not a single fragment of doubt that my image will win!)

As if responding to her heart's voice, the fake Edelweiss kicked off the ground. And as expected, she reached Ayato without a single sound and launched consecutive strikes with her twin swords.

"Haaa!"Ayato retaliated. Black steel dealt with the falling white flash. However, there was a difference between one sword and two swords. And more than anything, there was a difference between their fundamental specs. As the number of rounds they crossed swords increased, Ayato was being constantly pushed back. And finally, with a high pitch of metal clashing, Ryuuzetsu, along with Ayato's right hand, were repelled back in a big arc. Ayato was defenseless before the fake Edelweiss. Despite being an image, such a fatal opening would not escape Edelweiss! The right sword was about to split Ayato from his head to his bottom.

(It's settled──)

Sara was sure of her victory, but──

It's Blade had certainly hit Ayato's shoulder. Even so...──it's blade could not advance any more than that and Blocked that strike which would've split him into two..

"The danger of the Sword Emperor of Cryo Wind is not just his offense...Even though there isn't much difference in magic power, he was able to receive my Purple Caricature slash attack without any wound like just now."

With tranquility, without any signs of panic. And with his deflected right hand, he slashed back horizontally with a great momentum, forcing Edelweiss, who guarded against it, out of the sword range with his strength.

(Eh...)

Sara was dumbfounded at the unnatural ease with which he had dodged the decisive strike.

「Oi, just now...」

「He overcame it? Really?」

「It's probably on purpose like before, to make him chase after her?」 The audience probably did not believe that Ayato had overcome Edelweiss either. Their reaction was completely skeptical. It couldn't be helped.

He couldn't fight back at all until a while ago. However, that was only until the first retaliation.

Fake Edelweiss released a light speed thrust between Ayato's brows as she closed in again.

In response to that, Ayato leaned back as he lightly dodged it, and in that posture, he returned the stronger slash in retaliation, forcing Edelweiss back again.

「「「～～～～～～～～～～～～～!」」」

Anyone would have noticed up to that point. The one who was superior in the match currently. The confused chattering received confirmation one after another...and changed into a storm of cheers!

「S-Surpassed! We thought that the fake Edelweiss retreated on purpose at first, but there's no mistake on the second time! There's no doubt that, currently, Contender Kurogane has pushed back against fake Edelweiss at close range!」

「Incredibleee! That was not even a millimeter away from his nose tip just now!?」

「He really saw through it...! He wasn't putting up a front!」

The unexpected attacks from Ayato had caused the slightly chilling atmosphere in the venue to rapidly rise in temperature. However, those cheers could not be heard by Sara's ears. Because the confusion in her head had already caused her to be unable to recognize them.

(Why, all of a sudden...!)

Until a while ago, her image's speed and sharpness had suppressed him. Why!? Thinking about that, Sara had suddenly reached a conclusion. She had heard about it. Ayato Kurogane was able to read his opponent's thinking pattern to a scarily accurate degree.

"Don't tell me, this is Perfect Vision...!?"

"There's no need to use that." The person who denied Sara's thoughts was...Ayato himself. That's right, in fact, he did not need to reach such a deep level of thinking at the moment. Rather than that...there was no need to think at all.

"Even if I don't think that deeply about it, I will realize after thinking about it a little. Blazer's ability is unique for each individual. That's absolute. No matter how versatile the power seems to be, Sara-san's power is only the ability to 'materialize your own image' if you trace it back to its origin." Color of Magic was a Noble Art that materialized the image Sara connected the color to.

Purple Caricature was a Noble Art that directly materialized the image she drew as it was. In other words, her ability was not the power to create a fake exactly like the original. It was only the power that materialized the imagination sketched out from her image.

"But how accurate can your image be? The outer appearance is the same. That's probably not a problem. Physical ability as well, from Sara-san, the world's number one artist's observant eyes, you can draw it out without any error.

However...after that?" Be it Ayato's sword or Edelweiss's sword, one strike after another, they were swinging their swords at a super high speed that normal humans could not even recognize with their sights. In addition to that, the instant their swords met in attack and defense, there were feints with their gazes and presence.

They were vying for control with their presences. As they executed their strikes, there was a process of exchanging a battle of wits back and forth, that had been repeated many times. That way of thinking, the sequence of thinking ── could Sara's image achieve all that?

"There's no way you can do it." Ayato declared. It was not a territory that a person, who had never held a sword before, could imagine. It was a world of instinct reserved only for those who actually shed blood and tread along the line between life and death. In other words, that fake Edelweiss did not have it in her body.

Only her specs were reproduced Since she couldn't imagine the inner contents, they couldn't have been reproduced.

"However, there is a question in that case. There is no content inside, then why is she moving? Why is she fighting? I have one hypothesis regarding that. And then I have confirmed my hypothesis in the midst of fighting. When I received the attack from above, I purposely left my body's guard open."

"Purposely...?"

"That's right. And then...thanks to that, I have confirmed it." In response to Ayato's action, fake Edelweiss chose to kick him out of the field. Dealing damage to the opponent, and expecting a countdown for out of field, it was a pretty good move.

──However, in the case when used against an opponent at Ayato's level of body techniques, it was hard to say if it was really a move with certainty.

Even though he would be blown out of the field, he would continue to take hits Because His Diamond like body. In fact, Ayato had done just that.

Based on the result, the loss from that confrontation was on fake Edelweiss's side.

If she was the real deal, she would not have made such a naive mistake. Instead of the victory before her eyes, she would've probably prioritized defeating her opponent with certainty.

However, the fake made her move. She priotized the possible victory from an out of field countdown that she saw before her eyes.

──From that behavior, Ayato confirmed that his hypothesis was correct. "What you have projected is 'Edelweiss who will win against Ayato Kurozakuro'. That's why she seeks victory recklessly. She will bite onto the slimmest opening she sees."

"...!"

"And then...it's been easy once I understood that. I just have to purposefully create the shortest route towards victory. I just have to purposefully attack and create an opening to show her a glimpse of victory." If he did that, she would stupidly rush in straightforwardly just like then. Time and time again. She wasn't a living creature that could think in the first place. She was just an image seeking victory. She couldn't even learn from experience, and couldn't stop herself once she saw a glimpse of victory.

"Such an easy and naive attack, no matter how fast, how sharp, or how many times she performs it, it doesn't matter. ──It's not scary anymore."

"Kuh!" At Ayato's confident smile, Sara could not hide her overflowing agitation. The reason was obviously because Ayato's deduction was right on the mark, seeing through the true colors of fake Edelweiss made from Purple Caricature.

Like he said, Sara did not have the ability to draw the detailed offense, defense and thinking pattern.

What she could draw was the information of the model she had observed, and the concept of 'victory'.

Hence, when the opponent took on defense which was further from victory, the image of Blazers she had created from Purple Caricature would break through that defense for 'victory', taking tactical actions in accordance to the fake's specs, it was still considered as passive.

If the other side showed a glimpse of 'victory' defenselessly like what Ayato had done...she would advance straight towards it.

She wouldn't be able to not advance. Because fake Edelweiss was not a living person, just an image for the sake of winning against him. However──

"So what..." Sara glared at Ayato with a strong gaze and responded. "Even if you understand it, you cannot win against this image! The sword techniques you are using are just an imitation of hers...!

The Sword Emperor of the Cryo Wind and Twin-Wings have a relationship of absolute superiority-inferiority! Then it doesn't matter whether there is inner content or not. Reproducing the specs is more than enough to win...!"

As if she said it to convince herself, Sara spoke with a loud voice unbefitting her.

At the same time, fake Edelweiss moved. She flew straight towards Ayato. She planned to materialize the victory in the next round. Her strengthened steps were just like a reflection of Sara's spirit. A pure white killing intent closed soundlessly In response to that, Ayato…

"...I see, that's reasonable."

Did not show any intention of running away, and just intercepted the closing in fake Edelweiss straight on. It was a stance to settle it in a frontal confrontation. That could be described as a reckless action. The reason was because, just like what he had said, Sara's words were reasonable

. Despite not having the inner content, the specs itself were undoubtedly the world's strongest. Facing such high specs in a straightforward manner itself was very dangerous.

In addition to that, the sword techniques Ayato was currently using were an imitation of hers. The difference of proficiency in the technique and magic power between the two were evident.

Just seeing through the flaw of Purple Caricature would not shake the superior-inferior relationship.

Those were facts.

Sara did not say anything wrong.

That's right. She did not make any mistakes. ──Just that...

"But Sara-san. You have made a serious misunderstanding."

She had made a fundamentally fatal misunderstanding. Ayato had noticed. Sara was mistaken about 'the knowledge about battle itself'.

She considered that the outcome of a battle depended on who was stronger.

However, that was a big misunderstanding. A battle was not simply something that the one with greater power would win. It was not a competition between numbers.

An instant, a round, just seizing the chance of victory in that moment was what a battle meant, seizing that moment was what a victory meant.

(Then...there's no need to win in everything.)

One hit was fine.

Just once, it would be fine to win in one round. In that case, it would be a different story. No matter how big the difference between them was... Even if the gap between them was so ridiculously huge...

(If it's just neutralizing the first strike, when I know where it will be coming from, then it's not impossible!)

"──────!"

It was the instant fake Edelweiss swung down on the crown of Ayato's head in order to seal the victory.

Ayato moved all of his muscles at the same time using the technique stolen from Blade Steal. Using the highest instant speed, the fastest strike Raikou from the secret swords he possessed, he swung horizontally at the pure white killing intent, aiming to cut her into two. ──With both his hands.

That's right, that was Ayato's chance of victory. Certainly, like what Sara had said, they had a superior inferior relationship in their sword techniques. The difference in perfection between the two was unshakable. However...it was wrong to say that they were both using the exact same sword techniques. That's obvious.

Edelweiss's Device was two swords. Ayato's was a single sword. In the first place, their battle styles were different. And then if their styles were different, then of course there was a difference in ease of use.

Edelweiss's twin sword style was a super attack type sword technique that shut out her opponent with an overwhelming number of strikes. Once the opponent was captured by that circle of storm, it would be uncontrollable, but as she could only swing her swords with a single arm, each strike's power and speed would be lesser.

On the other hand, Ayato used a single sword style. He fell short in number of strikes, but each strike's power and speed would be above hers. In other words, before Edelweiss's consecutive strikes started, if he had just limited it to the first strike…

(I have the upper hand────!)

"HAaAAaAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

And then, both sides swung their magic swords at a speed that was impossible for eyes to follow and cut through the night, crossing in a brief instant. The pure white blade tried to split Ayato's scalp, and the moment it was trying to cut through his diamond Body... The pure black powerful blade split a horizontal line across the body of the fake of the world's strongest knight, reducing that image into paper scraps.

「C-C-Cut apaaaaaart! Contender Kurozakuro! Although it's a fake, he has cut that Twin-Wings, Edelweiss into two! He has retaliated against that hopeful difference in battle power with one strike!」

「O-Oi oi, seriously!」

「He really won...!」

「His opponent is already defenseless! Finish it in one go like that!」

"No...way..."

In the midst of the echoing cheers from the excited audiences after seeing a reversal, Sara leaked out words of astonishment.

To an amateur of sword techniques, she could not understand why fake Edelweiss had just lost. Hence she could not comprehend the situation, only felt confused.

However, that result was obvious to Ayato. "Even if she's the world's strongest, she was imagined by an artist who had never held a sword before after all. But my Ryuuzetsu is different. This is my soul. The moment I decided to advance on the path of knighthood, my life shares its fate with this sword instead of my heart. This sword holds my everything."

His sword might not be comparable to the world's strongest Twin-Wings. However, despite this, that sword was the real thing filled with the inner content.

His dream of wanting to be a man like Ryoma Kurogane someday.

Not yielding the path he was advancing, and drawing a line against his stepfather who obstructed him. The responsibility towards the dreams of knights that reached up to the current place. ──And then, the inviolable promise with his important girl. They were all within it.

Therefore, he could not lose. "Heart, technique, Magic power, body, these are the important things that cannot exist without the others, yet that fake was missing two of them...how could I have lost against that!" Saying so, Ayato lowered his stance...

"This match is my win...!"

Ayato injected all his remaining magic power into Ryuuzetsu, wrapping it in a Cryo tornado. The tornado increased in density as it swallowed the surrounding air and ice , becoming a sword of storm from thousands of ice wind blades in due time. The claw of the heavenly ice dragon that would tear everything upon contact.

It was the trump card of the Sword Emperor of Cryo Wind, Ayato Kurozakuro, who had defeated Stella before.

"Kori Kusanagiii"

And The Cryo Tornado dashed towards Sara who had lost her strongest trump card.

She was about to be swallowed whole by the titanic force of that cryo wind blade

Kori Kusanagi slices up the body of Sara, who was still in shock, with his body as if colliding into her and destroying her Device.

"Ka...fu..." Blood flowed out from Sara's mouth as her body was sliced up by the Cryo Tornado, and she fell onto her knees.

At the same time, the incarnation of her passion was also blown away by the cryo wind blast after becoming paper scraps.

The outcome between the two was decided at that moment. "It's my win.

" "...Un."

Sara stayed silent for a while after Ayato's words, then acknowledged the reality in a quiet voice. She had already exhausted all of her techniques and willpower.

Even so...the reality was that she did not win. And then, because he accepted it──

"But...I can't keep that promise." She spoke those selfish words. Ayato's eyes turned round in

surprise.

However, Sara did not care. It was fine even if she was ridiculed as a coward. It was fine even if she was reproached as a liar. It didn't matter even if she was treated as a bitch. Because...

"I am the daughter of a bastard that died falling on his canvas. This passion...I won't give it up."

Ayato was surprised at Sara's selfish declaration, but he sighed as he gave up...and smiled.

"What a hopeless person you are."

He felt troubled. However, he somehow felt glad as well. She saw Ayato's smiling face as he accepted her selfishness when she was losing her consciousness... For the first time, Sara felt jealous of Stella. And she thought. Someday...if she were to fall in love...she wanted to love someone like that.

….

Bloody Da Vinci collapsed onto the ring like a puppet with its strings cut. At the same time, the main referee announced the end of the match. He informed everyone that Ayato was the victor.

「We have reached the conclusion──! Cryo Gale Sword Emperor vs Bloody Da Vinci! A fierce fight with quite a few reversals! Contender Bloodlily has shown her will at the last moment in the end, but the last one standing on the ring is Contender Kurozakurooo!」

「H-He won, he won it!」

「He really won against an opponent with that kind of cheat ability!?」

「Kya! Ayato-kun is the best!」

Applauses showered onto the winner of that fierce fight without any reserve. Amongst the applause, Akatsuki Academy's Rinna Kazamatsuri sighed in disappointment.

"Hmpf. To think that even Sara lost. Even my demon eye could not have foreseen this result...With this, I can't keep my head up in front of Tsukikage oji-sama."

"Please don't feel down, my lady. There are still Ouma-sama and Amane-sama left."

"Well, that's true...But I don't understand. Even though there's the weakness of only being able to take action according to its 「drawn concept'', Sara's Purple Caricature should have undoubtedly reproduced the power of White Summit. As Sara was there during the 「Baltic Crisis」 by White Summit in the Middle East, she definitely witnessed it directly...Even so, why did she lose in the fight?

It's not like ``Cryo Gale Sword Emperor is in the same league as White Summit."

"It might be true in regards to their total specs, but if he knew where his opponent's first strike would come from, it's not impossible for him to win the fight.

Kurozakuro-sama has an advantage in terms of the difference in their battle style."

"Difference in battle style?"

"Yes. The sword technique that Edelweiss and Kurozakuro-sama used was to bring out the highest speed and greatest power in an instant, which was its main concept, by moving all the related muscles at the same time.

However, the main concept may be the same, their Devices are different. Compared to the fake Edelweiss's twin sword style, Kurozakuro-sama is one sword style. In that case──"

"Ah! The Cryo Gale Sword Emperor holding the sword with both his hands will have an advantage in a single Blast with Kori Kusanagi!"

"Exactly. The total amount of muscles mobilized in that instant is doubled through a simple calculation. The kinetic energy generated by utilizing all that will make several times the difference. By breaking through with that advantage and the weakness of Purple Caricature only being able to take action according to its 「drawn concept」, Kurozakuro-sama seized the victory in that moment."

"I see...there's such a principle behind it."

"However, this principle is possible obviously because of Kurogane-sama's high level of sword technique & Magic Power.

Normal people probably won't be able to reach Sarasama's Purple Caricature even if they knew the principle...

As expected of the knight called Sword Emperor of the Cryo Wind despite being a Generation, he lives up to that nickname." Originally, those two were not from the side that should be happy about Ayato's victory, but they honestly felt admiration towards Ayato's strength for defeating Bloody Da Vinci without one of his trump cards Ittou Shura and using his other Trump Card Kori Kusanagi.

However, besides the two of them, Stella, who should have been the most happy for Ayato's victory was... Trembling.

Was it due to Ayato's victory?

No. She was...able to comprehend it because she had that level of power.

The real reason for the victory of that battle.

Certainly, it was a fact that Ayato used the advantage of one sword style.

However ── the reason for his victory was not that. There was also no difference in battle style.

As for the reason why...aiming at the weakness of Purple Caricature, even after using the advantage between their battle style ── in the instant they crossed each other, the side that touched the opponent first with the blade was none other than fake Edelweiss.

That's right. Heart, technique, body Magic, despite missing two out of the four, the world's strongest sword still did not allow the young samurai to take initiative.

Stella definitely witnessed that instant.

Hence, she resolved herself for Ayato's loss.

However...the result was as it was shown.

Ayato's blade severed his opponent's life first.

Why exactly was that the case?

Stella was confused, and after that...shivered. She noticed.

At the instant of that contact, Ayato took a devil-like tactic.

(Ayato has probably realized it too...)

It would be impossible for Ayato Kurozakuro to misjudge the difference in strength between him and his opponent.

He knew it. Even if it was a fake without inner content, even if he used the advantage of the first strike, his opponent's slash would reach him first.

That's why he covered up for that delay...by using the characteristic of Purple Caricature.

He lured the slash towards his abs, taking it with his body, which was the hardest thing is his body!

Of course, no matter how hard it was in terms of human bone, Edelweiss's sword could easily split it in half.

However, its speed would drop regardless compared to cutting flesh.

That was probably a fraction of an instant not even reaching 0.1 second, but── Both of them had a slashing speed that normal people couldn't even see.

Just filling up that...the outcome was reversed.

And he grasped it. From the opponent even Stella could not see any hope of winning, he won in just one round.

(...Geez, what a guy...)

Against the white blade, the world's number one slash, the idea to use his own hardened body as a shield...was not normal.

The moment he thought of it already meant that he was abnormal.

To actually carry it out, he was already at the level of being doubted about his sanity.

However ── being able to do that was exactly the knight that was Ayato Kurozakuro.

A failure with Generation that could not even be treated as a Blazer by the country.

His opponents were always below him.

He had fought his way through with only those kinds of battles.

He was constantly using only his strength and magic power and putting his life on the line.

He would pour in every effort he could think of using his raw magic power and moved in to fight... and continued to obtain victories. ──And from there, he had cultivated his extraordinary strength.

That was already beyond the range that Stella and the others could imagine. And with such dimensionally different tactics and tenacity, in the face of a difference in battle power that did not contain a fragment of a chance of victory through others' eyes, an disadvantage without a chance of reversal ── he completely overturned it.

That was the real horror of the Cold One, Ayato Kurozakuro, who had refined himself through countless disadvantageous battles.

Stella shivered at the horror of that Ayato...

(Seriously, only against you alone, I don't feel that it would be easy to win...Ayato!)

She trembled from the joy that overwhelmed her fear. No matter how overwhelming the difference between their power was, she would not be at an advantage. To the strong ones, there was no opponent more troublesome than him. Because Ayato was like that, she couldn't stop herself from loving him.

If it was him, he could probably take her on at her full strength. Magic Power, technique, heart...he could probably take on everything she had and stop it.

(After that...just one more thing!)

The moment of bliss with her most beloved rival. The time she dreamt of had already come so close to the point where she felt like her hand could almost reach out to it

HAGUN ACADEMY WALL NEWSPAPER Character Topics _ Writer • Kagami Kusakabe

Sara Bloodlily

■ PROFILE

Affiliation: Akatsuki Academy, Year One

Blazer Rank: C → A

Noble Art: Purple Caricature

Nickname: Bloody Da Vinci

Personal Summary: Rumored to be a certain famous painter...?

Attribute chart (starting at far left, going clockwise)

Physical Ability: F

Luck: D

Offensive Power: C

Defensive Power: F

Magic Capacity: A

Magic Control: A

Kagamin Check!

A member of Akatsuki Academy, who revealed her true power in the second round of the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. Using an outrageously all-purpose Noble Art that manifests one's mental images, she's a difficult opponent that tormented Sword Eater and the Cryo Gale Sword Emperor, right? It's just that even this Noble Art isn't totally all-purpose; since it only creates what she imagines, it can't draw things that go beyond her imagination. She tried to cover that weakness in her painted composition, but Senpai noticed the defect in that composition and ended up taking the win using Kori Kusanagi. That's Senpai for you!

After leaving the ring, Ayato went towards the Medical Room to receive first aid before walking towards the audience seats reserved for participants with His Tenryuu Kori Armor on. He was going to meet up with Stella there. By the time A returned, Rinna, who was watching the match together with Stella, had already left first to visit Sara, leaving Stella alone. She congratulated her lover who returned after his narrow victory.

"Congratulations for advancing to the semi-finals. You must be grateful to your parents for giving you that diamond head of yours."

"Haha...As expected, you were observing me very well."

"You have returned pretty fast, but is it fine not to go into a capsule? That body of yours as well."

"I have received first-aid treatment by the staff in the Medical Room using healing techniques, so it's fine for the time being. The arms are hurt pretty bad, but my skull just got a slight crack." The reason why there weren't any additional cracks was because of the sharpness of Edelweiss's sword which utilized all the energy without waste. Well, if the slash didn't contain a sharpness that would not cause additional cracks, he wouldn't have lost in speed in the first place, so it was weird to say that it was the silver lining in the cloud.

"More importantly, it's Shizuku's most important moment now. I can't sleep like a big brother. It won't be too late to go into the capsule after this."

"Shizuku, I wonder if she can win."

"...I don't know. Since I don't know her opponent's true strength." It would soon be the start of the third match in the third round. The opponent Shizuku would fight against was that Amane Shinomiya.

A Blazer that used Nameless Glory, an ominous Noble Arts that belonged to the causal inference system, which simply granted his wishes.

In the first round, using its power, Amane had forced one of the powerhouses, White-Robed Knight Kiriko, to forfeit the match without even fighting. The second round was also won by default.

His opponent got food poisoning and forfeited, such was the story, but since he had such an ability, it would be hard to think of it as a coincidence.

And currently, it would be the third round, but── "She had said that there was some sort of secret plan, but can you think of any?"

"No, I have thought about it, but honestly speaking, I have no idea." In any case, he couldn't imagine what kind of battle style she would take. Just that...there was no doubt that Shizuku was also a powerhouse that it would not be strange for her to become the Seven Stars Sword King. It would probably be rude to worry too much. She was also a knight. Believing in her victory, cheering for her with his friends was the most── Ayato noticed as he thought up to that point.

"...Speaking of which, where's Alice?" In response, Stella shook her head.

"The thing is, I haven't been able to find him all this time." Stella thought that he would be staying next to Shizuku for as long as possible at first, but it was already right before the match. He should be returning by that time, but── "Could he be lost?"

"I believe that it doesn't apply to Alice alone..." Should he let Stella make a call since he couldn't use his arms? And, as he was thinking of that...

「Dear guests. As we don't have much time, let's begin the third match of the third round!」 The announcer informed everyone of the program. ──Well, since it's Alice, he would definitely be cheering for Shizuku. Even if he was not here, he should be cheering for her properly. As Ayato thought so, he abandoned the idea of having Stella make a call, and turned his gaze to the ring.

「Third match, competing for the top of D-Block are Hagun Academy first year, Contender Shizuku Kurogane, and Akatsuki Academy first year, Contender Amane Shinomiya! Now, let's welcome the two Contenders as they enter!」

Spotlights moved to light up the gates on the two sides.

「However, seeing this third round again, every match has the family name

「Kurogane」 entered. As expected of the bloodline of the Great Hero.」

「That's true. If Contender Shizuku wins this match, the semi-final would be like an internal family battle, that would be interesting on its own, is what I think. Anyway, since Contender Amane had won by default in the first and second round, we have no data on what he is like.」

「The first round was because of a medical emergency, and the second round was food poisoning. He is quite a lucky boy, but what exactly will he show us in this fight? I am looking forward to it.」

Listening to the banter of the announcer and commentator, Ayato was certain. The Organizing Committee did not know about Amane's ability. If they knew that Amane had been winning by default since the mock battle of Kyomon Academy, they would not be saying those lines.

Well, the representatives were chosen based on the standards of each academy. The Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival Organizing Committee's job was just organizing the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival in the end.

They probably wouldn't obtain the data for the mock battles within academies. It would be meaningless even if he exposed it. Because he could not provide any evidence that Amane had affected that astronomical chance of coincidence. ──In the end, how would Shizuku fight against such an incomprehensible opponent? Ayato focused...and then, he felt something was wrong. It was the same for everyone in the venue. As for the reason──

「...What happened? Both Contenders are not entering.」

That's right. Even though they were invited to enter, Shizuku and Amane did not appear. To that fact…

"Ah──────" *DOKUN* Severely...

*DOKUN*

An Ominous Premonition.

「The announcement is already made, right?」

「That should be the case, but...let's display the waiting room for now.」

And… 「...Eh?」 Ayato's premonition was ── right on the mark.

「FUFU...AHAHA...」

The big monitor in the venue displayed a blood stained waiting room── Then...a scoffing Amane with blood dripping from all over his body and... Pinned to the wall by countless swords, with arms stretched out like the crucified Christ...was the figure of Shizuku Kurogane

. 「HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA────!」

"Sh-Shizuku!"

An ending with the screen colored in blood. That showed the end of one battle, and the start of another.

That's right.

Most likely...it would become the greatest trial for the Cold One, Ayato Kurozakuro──

The nightmare semi-final, the beginning of that──