Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume4 Chapter9 (section)

===Part 2===
In the dark forest surrounding the castle, Claire ran.

Various tree branches grabbed at the crimson dress, tearing it apart.

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Mud stuck to her red high heels. Countless wounds appeared on her smooth skin.

Without minding any of that, she ran.

(Why......)

No matter how long passed, that scene would not leave her head.

When that darkness spirit girl kissed Kamito, that moment.

(......I-It's not like I think anything of him!)

As if to shake off that irritating feeling, Claire shook her head.

It was just that ignoring his master and doing that kind of thing with another girl was unforgivable.

(......That's right, that's all it is.)

But—

Why then, did her heart hurt this much?

Just before, holding that man's hand, she had hated it.

If it was Kamito, he wouldn't do anything that violent.

He teased Claire a lot, always treating her like a kid, occasionally saying mean things, but still.

—But still, he would never do something like that.

Before she realized it, she had arrived at the lake from the afternoon's purification.

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Inside the silent forest. Numerous spirits floated upon the lake.

Claire hugged her knees and sat at the lake's edge.

The dress she had prepared was filthy and either way she couldn't return to the dance.

Her hair was disheveled and her dress was ruined beyond repair.

"What's with him, that idiot......"

With a terribly miserable mood, Claire sighed.

With a light plop, tears started falling to the ground.

"......That's wrong. The stupid one is me."

She couldn't be honest once again.

If she had, she could be dancing with Kamito right now—

At that time. From with the forest, footsteps could be heard.

"......Kamito?"

She hurriedly wiped away her tears.

But the one that appeared from within the forest wasn't Kamito.

"Jeez, just how far are you going to run!"

"Rinslet......"

Claire opened her eyes.

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Catching her breath, Rinslet sunk down beside Claire.

"Whew, that's a fairly unsightly appearance."

"You too."

"Th-That's because you ran so far!"

Rinslet's dress was torn to shreds and leaves and branches clung to her hair.

"Even though I had just put on a new dress......"

She drooped her shoulders.

Claire averted her eyes.

"......What did you come for?"

"I came to laugh at your pitiful chest. Your dress is too showy."

"......Wh-What did you say!"

Her red twintails stood on end like fire.

Rinslet moved her hair up and—

"You've finally returned to normal."

Smiled brilliantly.

"......"

"Did you fight with Kamito-san again?"

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"Gu......"

Claire chewed on her lip.

"......It, it's his fault. He won't tell me anything."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, that is......aren't you interested in Kamito's past?"

"Kamito-san's past?"

Rinslet tilted her head slighty to the side—

"Well, it would be a lie to say I wasn't."

"I wonder if he doesn't trust me."

Claire's twintails drooped.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because he won't tell me anything......"

"He can't bring himself to tell you because you're important to him — that is also a possibility."

"That's......"

Claire pouted and pondered.

"......I, I wonder if that's true."

Truly, there was also that way of interpreting it.

[[Image:STnBD V04 211.jpg|200px|thumb]]

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But—

"You are such a child, really."

"Sh-Shut up......"

Claire groaned.

"Even I understand that much......"

But she was uneasy, so it couldn't be helped.

If it was about someone she didn't care about, she wouldn't have these feelings.

Because it was Kamito — not talking about his past,

Realizing it just now, her heart beat.

(Wh-What kind of stupid things are you thinking, me!)

Her cheeks flushed red.

"Claire, what's wrong?"

"It, it's nothing!"

Claire shook her head from side to side.

And then.

"—Hmm, so you two are here."

From within the forest, a young girl's voice.

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"That voice......!"

Claire and Rinslet immediately became guarded.

The sound of trees falling one by one, and then—

"Just perfect, I'll play with you to the end."

In front of the two, a giant black monster appeared.

Riding upon its back was a girl with ash grey hair — Muir Alenstarl was laughing lightly.

"With this annihilation spirit — Tiamat."