I can't believe there are still people waiting for my story even though I don't write that often, thank you very much for those who stay all this time!
Hope you enjoy your stay!

Chapter 10 Unexpected Guest

"*Yawn*"
"That's a big yawn, are you sure you're having enough sleep?"
"Don't mind me, anyways we're going with your plan last night, right?"
"Mhm."
Claire nodded.

Kamito and Claire were about to go to the training ground like usual, in fact Claire was eager to prove she was the one best suited with the role as Kamito's partner.
Obviously, Ellis and Rinslet were as eager as Claire.

"Let's hurry, they must've been waiting."
"Wait, I need to tie my hair-"
Before Claire even finished talking, Kamito moved behind her and helped her tie her signature twintails.

There he goes again.
Kamito, I thought you're not going to trigger any more flags? Fufufu.

Realizing it was too late to pull back, Kamito sighed.

"K-Kamito?"
"My bad, I did it without thinking. Is it not to your pleasure?"
"N- No, it's fine. You can continue..."
"—Okay..."

Hiding her red face, Claire quietly let Kamito tie her hair.
He couldn't help but be embarrassed for doing something like this without thinking.

I'm definitely not a natural womanizer... Definitely not... Right?

He thought.

By the time he finished, it was already past the appointment time.

.

..

...

"Wait, why must you be the one to pair with Kamito first!?"
Naturally, Rinslet would complain.

"What does it matter? We will take turns and eventually everyone will get their chance, no? Since I'm his first friend it's only natural for me to be the first to pair with him."
Claire spoke with a composed tone. It was so smooth as if she had practiced the line before.

"But still—"
"Rinslet, I don't think we need to waste time arguing, let's use our time to practice instead. It's like what Claire said, we will get our turns eventually."
"Ugh..."

Being held back by the calm Ellis, Rinslet decided to let it go and continue with their plan today.

"You handled it perfectly, it seems like you got a hang of how to handle Rinslet."
"It's nothing much, besides... I'm looking forward to be paired with you."
"Wha—"

Winking at Kamito, Ellis escaped the scene with a blush.
Naturally, Kamito couldn't help but blush as well.

As expected of Kamito, she's extremely into you at this point.
Restia commented.

That's one thing, but what I'm worried about at the moment is Rinslet.
That blonde girl?
Yes, she looks like she's bottling her anxiety. I wish I can help her somehow.
After listening to what Kamito had to say, Restia sighed.

Look, Kamito?
What is it?
Are you going to create a harem or what?
Huh?
Completely baffled, Kamito almost let out an audible voice.
Though it was funny Restia held her laughter.

You have that Ellis girl aiming for your affection already, not to mention the hell cat girl seems to like you as well. Yet you're still trying to gain more affection from other girl?

Kamito couldn't say anything back to Restia because she was right. It was chaotic as things were already, he couldn't afford to make things even more troublesome.
Besides, being too gentle with girls was not always the best choice.

You get what I'm talking about? Just who do you really like among the girls? Do you think the girl you're currently interested at will like having you split your attention to other girls?
Like a big sister scolding her little brother, Restia was talking sense to Kamito who didn't seem to be aware of the gravity of situation he was at.

I understand, Restia. I will exercise self control and limit my actions. Thanks for scolding me.
... It's not like I'm mad, but it would do you better if you don't get too comfortable around girls or it will come to bite you in the end. Hmph.
Restia harrumphed and her voice could no longer be heard.
It didn't take too long until Kamito realized Est had been quiet the whole time, but he couldn't afford to worry about it when practice was about to start.

.

..

...

The practice began smoothly.

Because it was a practice Kamito didn't summon his swords and focused on using daggers he summoned to fight while being supported by Claire.
Having been trained at the facility he used to be at, he was trained in assassination technique. But naturally, he couldn't use it to his comrades nor show it to them casually.

The teamwork Claire and Kamito had was not too bad, Kamito not being able to use his divine power freely was acting as a support by throwing daggers and projectiles he could find to catch Rinslet and Ellis off guard while Claire being on the offensive side.

There were times where Rinslet was surprised by Kamito's lightning speed footwork and ability to throw common things like rocks with a speed barely noticeable by eyes.

Ellis was on guard because she knew Kamito's true identity, in fact she was more surprised on how in sync Claire's attack with Kamito's distraction. She was unsure of how to end the battle if they were kept on bay with this cooperation.

However—

Being observant, Rinslet had finished analyzing Claire and Kamito's battle strategy and found a weak spot.

She then set traps around Kamito's daggers on the field, knowing Kamito would preserve his divine power and use the daggers he already created at the moment. She was not 100% confident she could pull it off without being noticed. If she set the traps too early Kamito would notice something was unnatural, so she set the traps one by one each time Kamito's eyes were focused on Ellis.

She could've just frozen the entire battle field to hinder their movements completely, but it would exhaust her divine power and not suitable for blade dance where they need have several battles in a day. So she decided to have that technique kept for last resort situation.

Then, the time had come.

"!?"

When Kamito was about to pick one of his dagger up, he noticed chilly sensation at the handle.
He was about to pull his hand back but it was too late.

! –You fell for it! Ice Prison!

"Guh!?"

The battle was over by the time he stepped into Rinslet's trap.
Not wasting a moment, Rinslet casted one of her specialty to ensure a certain defeat.

Ice flowers bloomed from the dagger and caught Kamito's body perfectly frozen.

"Kamito!?"
"Well done Rinslet. But I don't think you have the luxury to look elsewhere fighting me, Claire."
"Oh no—"

Ellis didn't know Rinslet's plan, but she felt the chill everytime Kamito was attacking her. So she put her trust on Rinslet that she was planning something and wait for the right moment.

Now that Kamito was caught with no means to escape, she didn't let Claire's short moment of distraction go.

Pierce true— Gae Bolg!

Like the spear of God, Ellis thrust her spear creating a wind spear flying at an unbelievable speed to Claire.

Struck by the attack, Claire's body flew to the sky.

"Kyaaaaah!"
"Claire!"

Before Claire's body hit the ground, Ellis created a wind cushion to protect Claire.

The practice was over.

.

..

...

"I was careless, I didn't expect you to put a trap on the daggers I've thrown."
"Fufu, do you think I wouldn't notice the flaw in your fighting style? Though, I can see you're not being serious yet."
"The same applies to you, if you want to the battle would've ended earlier."
"It's just a practice, neither of us needs to go all out and destroy the environment, right?"
"Yes, but I have to say having you as a teammate is really reassuring."

Kamito and Rinslet were reviewing their battle just now.
Despite knowing none of them went serious in that battle, Kamito couldn't help but relieved Rinslet was not their opponent in the upcoming blade dance.

Rinslet's control of ice was almost a cheat ability, with the ice she could freeze the entire battle field or keep opponents immobile.

But of course, it wasn't like there was no weakness to it.

"Claire, your fire was very strong I was worried you might burn the forest."
"I- I can't help it, fire is fire."

Hearing Claire's answer, Ellis couldn't help but smile.

"However, it was too bad you were caught off guard there. Were you calm enough to analyze the situation you could just melt the ice imprisoning Kamito while you were fighting me."
"—Ah."

Claire was too distracted when Kamito was frozen, that gave Ellis the time to aim and finish the battle. If she was composed and collected, the battle might go longer without any certainty of who would come out as the winner.

"Ellis is right, but there's no use crying over spilled milk. We need to be more cautious in the real blade dance."
"Kamito said it, Claire and Kamito's teamwork is... Great. It is vexing for me to admit, but you two were giving us a run for our money."

Rinslet spoke with a red face.
It was true were things to drag on any longer it would be hard to see who would come victorious.
Rinslet could freeze the ground around them slowly but Claire's fire would neutralize it. She were just lucky her traps were not neutralized because Claire didn't think about Kamito's dagger being harmful to them.

Even though Ellis' offensive power was strong, her wind wasn't giving Claire too much trouble to handle. In fact the wind would empower Claire's fire if she didn't spend more divine power to overpower Claire's fire.

Team compatibility wise, Kamito and Claire's team had more advantage towards Rinslet and Ellis' team.
Their only downfall was simply a second of carelessness.

After a brief silence, Rinslet spoke up.

"So, we will move to the next pairing, right?"
"—Yes. I will team up with Ellis now."

Claire sighed and stood up.

Kamito didn't say it out loud, but he was very unsure if he could win from Claire and Ellis by teaming with Rinslet.
After all, wind and fire supported each other creating a stronger flame to overpower ice.

But before they could start the practice—

"Heh, no wonder I couldn't find you in the city nor academy. So this is where you are."

A dark skinned boy around Kamito's age with almost his entire body tattooed appeared from the bush.

"Who are you? This area should be off limit to outsiders."

Ellis called out to him, but he was disinterested in her and simply stared at Kamito.
At first Kamito didn't recognize him, but then it clicked.

"—You!?"
"Oh, it looks like you finally remember my face."
"... Jio— Inzagi."

It was one of the boy who went to the same institute Kamito came from, and also one of the person he least wish to see again.

"I was told by her that you were here. But I didn't expect you to play house with these maidens, khehahahaha!"
"—What do you need?"
"Judging from your reaction just now, you totally didn't realize me approaching. Your senses have dulled too much, Kamito."
"I'm asking what do you need."

Kamito ignored his taunting and pressed on.
The girls were silent not because they didn't want to barge into the conversation, but because they could feel sinister energy coming from Jio.

Not wanting to be unprepared, the girls kept a battle stance.

"It seems like the girls can feel my power, quite unexpected. But that's not why I'm here..."

Jio sighed.

"Just what did she see in you? She kept on telling me to meet you because you caught her interest and asked me to judge your qualification. TO HELL WITH THAT!"

With his sudden shouting, a huge wind blew towards Kamito and the girls.

"—!?"
"What did she mean by judge your qualifications? I'm more than enough. I'm the one who should be the demon king."
"Wha—"
"You heard me, Kamito. That's why, why don't you die here?"

With a sinister smile, he laughed.

R&R