Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume7 Chapter8 (section)

===Part 1===

Kamito and Ellis listened to Shao's story at a location not far from the encounter just now.

Despite the urgency of the search for Fianna, news regarding the witch who had defeated the Four Gods was too alarming. Allegedly, the Four Gods's defeat stemmed from the witch disguising herself as one of their teammates, causing Linfa and the rest to fall into her carefully laid trap.

Taking on another's appearance to deceive others.

It was highly probable that this witch is the same person as the elementalist who kidnapped Fianna.

Kamito was just bending down to sit beside Linfa when she swiftly distanced herself as if running away.

She was really quite wary of him, even for someone on opposing teams.

(...But at least, she doesn't seem to be hurt.)

Linfa glared unerringly at Kamito.

"Hmm, Kazehaya Kamito, you intend to commit sexual assault upon me, is that what you are attempting?"

"As if anyone would do that! What on earth am I in your eyes?"

"Hmph, rumors about you have already spread to my country. Demon King Kamito's gaze is enough to seduce pure maidens, while a single touch of his fingertips is sufficient to make virgins pregnant!"

"What the heck are those rumors!? Am I a monster!?"

"K-Kamito, is that really true!? W-What should I do now, if I do not report immediately to my father--"

"Ellis, don't tell me you believe those rumors too!?"

...Somehow, it felt like rumors were not only spreading like crazy but also getting worse and worse.

"...Sigh, whatever. Let's hear the rest of your story."

Kamito sighed deeply and urged Shao to continue.

Shao nodded.

"That witch revealed herself after we retreated from the unfavorable blade dance against Team Scarlet."

Her face full of chagrin, Shao recounted how the Four Gods were wiped out.

During the blade dance against Kamito's team, Rion of the Vermilion Bird had apparently been replaced with the fake already. After revealing herself, the witch ordered several hundred demon spirits hidden in the forest to surround and attack the Four Gods.

Having just engaged Team Scarlet in blade dance, the Four Gods were too exhausted to muster any decent resistance. Seeing that they were about to be hunted down, Rao of the Azure Dragon had voluntarily sacrificed herself to allow princess Linfa and Shao to escape--

"The one who had transformed into Rion was Team Inferno's Sjora Kahn."

Shao uttered the name with agony.

"That girl, huh..."

It was the demon caster who had sent the snake into Team Scarlet's Barrier this morning.

(...Come to think of it, she was also particularly obsessed with Fianna at the time.)

Kamito recalled something mentioned about a Darkness Queen, but what did it actually mean?

"Very likely, the one who took on Kamito's appearance and kidnapped Fianna is also that witch."

With a mysterious expression, Ellis murmured.

Kamito turned to face Linfa and Shao--

"...So, what are your plans from here on?"

"Hmph, the answer is obvious, fool!"

Whack. A thick branch struck Kamito on the head.

"Naturally, we must retrieve the magic stones the witch stole from our comrades. Rao, Hakua and Rion -- even though taking back the magic stones will not bring them back into the game, we must hold a memorial service<!--供養--> for them at least."

"...Hold a memorial service? But they haven't died, right?"

Kamito remarked snidely with his eyes half narrowed.

"I want to retrieve their magic stones too. Although I do wish for vengeance, if this continues, we won't be able to win the Blade Dance festival."

"I-In that case, putting the mighty renown of our great empire out on the line, Team Inferno shall be vanquished!"

"I appreciate your vigor and conviction, but do you have the corresponding combat potential, current Four Gods?"

"Hmm, b-but..."

Linfa stammered at a loss for words.

...Clearly they did not have a plan either.

But in that case, this made negotiations easier. Gazing at the two girls alternately, Kamito spoke up.

"Hey, I've got a suggestion. How about we join forces?"

Regardless, their opponent was an elementalist under Team Inferno after all. The more allies, the better.

"Hmm... Join forces? With you?"

Linfa revealed a tactless expression of revulsion.

"I-In other words, y-you wish for me to satisfy your carnal desires?"

"W-What!?"

"That's completely wrong! Ellis, stop drawing your sword recklessly!"

Kamito clutched his head in exasperation.

"Linfa-sama, I believe agreeing to their suggestion would better serve our interests."

Unexpectedly, the one supporting Kamito at this time was Shao.

"Hmm, w-why!?"

"No matter what, if I had to do it alone, defeating that witch is truly a challenge. Furthermore, this guy here is not the atrocious immoral rogue king as rumored. Having engaged him in battle, I have realized this fact."

"Hmm, if Shao says so."

With great reluctance, Linfa finally nodded.

"Then it's decided. The alliance between Team Scarlet and Four Gods is hereby established."

Kamito and Shao bumped fists together.

"By the way, do you have any idea where Sjora Kahn is located?"

"Linfa-sama can use Clairvoyance so long as there is a shrine or a sacred spring. With that we can acquire the witch's movements."

"I remember Clairvoyance being the highest form of ritual magic... How impressive, despite being so small."

"Hmph, now you finally show some respect... Hmm, I am not small! Like you, I am sixteen years of age as well!"

The imperial princess roared tearfully as she noisily threw little pebbles at Kamito.

(...Hmm, definitely, Milla acts far more mature than her.)

"A shrine or a sacred spring eh -- Well then, let us return to the stronghold first."

Ellis suggested at this time.

"Yeah, I'll go call for Claire and Rinslet to return. Ellis, why don't you take these two back into the stronghold?"

"Yes, acknowledged."

Bidding Ellis and the rest goodbye, Kamito headed towards Claire and Rinslet.