Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume8 Chapter4 (section)

===Part 13===

"......To put it shortly, it's like an underwater cavalry battle."

Kamito, who had Leonora piggybacking him, once again mentally went over the rules of the Water Spirit Festival that Milla Bassett had taught him.

First, the team of two princess maidens consisted of a "horse" and a "knight". The princess maiden that became the horse was responsible for movement and the knight riding them would carry a special gem at their chest --- it was a scramble for magic stones. The team that gathered a large number of magic stones would be the winner.

It was obvious, but wounding a princess maiden or defiling the lake were strictly forbidden.

On a side note, the princess maidens that served as the horse were emitting divine power from their entire body to float. If it was a princess maiden with a certain amount of training, it was not a difficult technique at all.

So the ritual itself wasn't very dangerous but---

(It's dangerous in a different kind of way for me......)

Squish.

The feeling of soft thighs upon his neck.

......For an adolescent boy, having his heart rush was uncontrollable.

"Ka-Kamito, please don't move around so much......ahnn!"

"S-Sorry......!"

Kamito's face turned red at the seductive voice that Leonora let out above him.

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Soon, the other princess maiden knight-horse pairs entered the lake one after the other.

It seemed a lot of unexpected people were participating. They were undoubtedly aiming for the first-class prize of pair tickets to the ''Royal Palace''.

......Rather, other than Kamito's team, there were probably no other teams aiming for the second-place dragon plushie.

"Leonora, can you do it?"

"Yes. I will definitely obtain that dragon!"

Leonora nodded with a voice full of conviction.

Participants of the Blade Dance taking part in a regular ritual like this felt a little immature, but well, they were aiming for second place, so it shouldn't draw any malice.

"I won't let you do that, onii-sama!"

"......Eh?"

The one who came before them was Mireille who was piggybacking Milla Bassett.

As if being pressed by her swimsuit, a magic stone was forced between her small chest.

"Don't tell me, you two are also participating?"

"That's right. For the sake of my passive onee-sama, I'll get those hotel tickets!"

Puffing her minute chest, Mireille made a declaration.

In response---

"---Sorry, but those tickets are ours."

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A soft-spoken yet icy voice resounded across the lake.

"......!?"

Kamito's expression froze.

It was an extremely familiar voice. But this was her voice when she was angry.

"......Ellis!?"

He turned around and there was---

A ponytailed, beautiful girl wearing a bold swimsuit and,

"......Hmm, Kamito-kun's also good at taming dragons."

Her Highness glared at Kamito coldly while making bubbles on the water surface.

"Y-You two, why are you here?"

"Hmph, you should try thinking about that yourself, you insolent person!"

Ellis' reddish brown eyes were teary.

"W-We won't let Kamito-kun dance that blade dance of the night!"

"Wh-What the heck, a blade dance of the night......!"

......Being pushed by the young ladies that were angry for some reason, Kamito was being overwhelmed.

This time, Ellis focused her gaze on Leonora who was atop his shoulders.

"Leonora-dono, I respect you as a fellow knight. However, this Ellis Fahrengart will not allow such an insolent deed!"

"Wh-What kind of insolent deed are you talking about! I was just, with Kamito---"

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"Talking is useless; if you're a knight, settle this with your blade!"

"Kamito-kun, prepare yourself."

"Wait a second, what do you mean!?"

The two left while ignoring the perplexed Kamito.

"They'll be strong enemies, those two."

"Y-Yeah......"

And so, a whistle signaled the start of the Water Spirit Festival.