Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume8 Chapter1 (section)

===Part 2===
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"......So there is some!"

Est's eyes that had lost their light suddenly regained their brilliance.

"Tofu, tofu ♪"

While humming to herself in a song-like manner, she brought the spoon to her mouth.

That ever expressionless face became slightly lax around the edges of her mouth.

"That's great, Est."

While gazing at that happy-looking expression of Est's---

Kamito remembered.

(Now that I think of it, Est wasn't with us the last time we came here......)

At that time, Est, having saved Kamito, was temporarily annihilated from this world.

Having come into contact with the memories of her previous contractor, Areishia Idriss, she had closed off her heart.

(......But just like this, Est has returned.)

Having accepted her destiny as a demon sword, she had opened her heart.

Now, Est was beside Kamito, and they were sitting with their friends around the table.

---That reality, it could truly be thought of as a miracle.

Kamito placed his hand upon the head of Est who was eating ice cream and,

"Fuaa, Kamito......"

Est breathed out as she narrowed her eyes as though to indicate it felt good.

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The young ladies glared at Kamito with dissatisfaction.

Ellis cleared her throat.

"However, we shouldn't be glad just yet. There's still the final battle."

"Yes. Moreover, each of the opposing teams' rankings were overwhelmingly above us."

"......That's true."

A heavy atmosphere hung over the table.

The other three teams that had advanced to the finals were mostly the ones that they had expected.

In third place, the Knights of the Dragon Emperor led by Leonora Lancaster.

In second place, the Sacred Spirit Knights led by Luminaris Saint Leisched.

And of course, in first place, Team Inferno led by Ren Ashbell. It was said that they had annihilated nine other teams and amassed a grand total of over fifty magic stones.

"......Can we win, I wonder. Against that 'Ren Ashbell'."

Fianna dropped her empty cup with a clatter.

"Fianna, are you okay?"

"Y-Yes, my hand just slipped."

Fianna nodded as if to smooth it over.

(......What?)

Because of her attitude that was not like her usual self, Kamito had a bad feeling but---

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Just then, as if to dispel the heavy atmosphere in the air, the door's chime rang.

"Congratulations on your advancement to the finals, onee-sama!"

"Oh my, Mireille!"

Rinslet got up from her seat.

The one who opened the door and entered was---

Platinum blonde hair that shone as though it was basked with sunlight. Glassy emerald eyes.

With a blue ribbon, that suited her well, a lovely girl.

Rinslet's youngest sister, Mireille Laurenfrost.

Mireille dashed towards Rinslet and buried her face in her bosom.

"Onee-sama, it was really great!"

"J-Jeez, Mireille......with everyone looking, this is immodest!"

Rinslet scolded Mireille with a red face.

......It seemed even a level-headed noble lady went easy only on her little sisters.

"Ohh, I'd heard about it, but she's really a cute kid."

Claire murmured that and Mireille separated her face from Rinslet and turned in her direction.

"Ahh, onee-sama's friend from the academy, Claire-sama?"

"Yes, that's me."

Mireille gave a polite bow and,

"Nice to meet you! I had heard that Claire-sama was onee-sama's very close frie---mogogogo......"

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In an instant, Rinslet had hurriedly covered her little sister's mouth.

"Wh-whwhwh-what is this girl saying, I wonder!"

"Mogogogogo~!"

"She's as attached to you as ever, Rinslet."

The wryly smiling Kamito.

Mireille escaped from Rinslet's hand and,

"Onii-sama!"

This time a sun-like smile turned towards Kamito.

"Onii-sama's blade dance was really cool!"

"......Yeah, thank you."

Kamito scratched his cheek in slight embarrassment.

Even if the one doing it was a nine-year old girl, being complimented so openly was embarrassing.

"......Hey, Kamito, what does she mean by 'onii-sama'?"

Claire glared at him with an irritated face.

"Kamito, you've once again deceived a young girl......"

"Even if thirteen years old is forgivable, I expect that nine years old is a crime......"

Ellis and Fianna also turned ice-like glares towards him.

"Wai-wait a second, onii-sama doesn't necessarily have that meaning---"

"Kamito is my onii-chan."

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While still expressionless, Est clung onto Kamito's waist from behind.

"That's also wrong! Rinslet, please clear up this misunderstanding!"

"Th-That's right! That Kamito-san is Mireille's onii-sama means, basically, th-thth-that I am, Kamito-san's......"

With a red face, Rinslet mumbled incoherently.

"Fufuu, onee-sama's being cute."

Mireille put her hand to her mouth and laughed innocently.

---And at that moment.

"Mireille, don't trouble your sister."

From the direction of the front door, a quiet voice came.

"......?"

Everyone turned to face that direction and a small girl wearing a white uniform with a red line was standing there.

Dark brown hair resembling a loose web. Noble, doll-like features.

And the most eye-catching of all, her azure right eye and amber left eye.

The mismatched odd eyes.

"......Milla!?"

Kamito let out a surprised voice.

The one standing silently by the door was Rossvale's representative, the Rupture Division's captain, Milla Bassett.

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"Kamito, congratulations on your advancement to the finals."

Milla muttered that in her usual robotic manner and,

Briskly walked to them and grabbed Mireille by the nape of her neck.

"Wh-What are you doing!"

Mireille struggled.

"......Ummm, what's going on?"

"I have become Mireille-sama's personal maid."

"Hah?"

"I suggested it. Milla-san is, from hereon, a maid of the Laurenfrost house serving Mireille."

At Rinslet's words, Milla nodded wordlessly.

"I am truly thankful to Rinslet......I already cannot return to the motherland."

With her head slightly downcast, she gently touched her left eye that had lost its light.

Demon Sealing Eye --- carrying a powerful sealed spirit from birth, it was an extremely rare trait.

It was an existence which could be said to have been the Rupture Division's trump card, but in order to protect Kamito and the others, she had released the spirit within her Demon Sealing Eye and lost the power as a result.

Her actions which were an abandonment of victory were, in the eyes of the motherland, a clear betrayal. The Principality of Rossvale might be targeting her.

Considering that, accepting the protection of the Laurenfrost house which was one of the foremost nobilities in the major power Ordesia was truly something that could be called a good decision.

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"Kamito---"

Milla looked straight at Kamito with her heterochromatic eyes.

"I do not regret my decision back then. Because I chose it myself."

"......I see. You're strong, Milla."

"---No. It's because Kamito taught me how to live other than as a tool."

Milla shook her head sideways and had a faint joyful smile on her.

"Milla, come eat cake with us."

Claire invited Milla over.

Despite appearances, she was unexpectedly someone who had good points like watching over others.

"But, I---"

"It's fine, it's fine. We're allies with the Rupture Division, after all."

"Sharing a cup of tea with one's mistress is an important task for a maid!"

Whilst picking up cake, Carol said so with a smile.

(......That's just because Carol wants to eats sweets, isn't it.)

Kamito retorted that in his heart but,

"If it's like that, then---"

Obediently trusting in her senior maid's word, Milla sat down next to Mireille.

"Come to think of it, Milla, you're still wearing her uniform from the Rupture Division."

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Comparing it with Carol's attire, Kamito voiced that question and,

"We are currently in the process of tailoring a cute maid uniform."

"Yes......"

In response to Rinslet's reply, Milla nodded while fidgeting like she couldn't calm down.

......It might unexpectedly be something to look forward to.

"......Milla in a maid outfit, huh. It feels like it would suit you well."

"Wh-What are you saying......!"

When Milla's face flushed red, that moment.

The front door's chimes rang again.

"Who is it this time?"

Kamito turned his gaze in that direction and,

"Hmm, I've come, Kazehaya Kamito!"

"Geh!"

The one at the entrance was a small statured girl with her hair bound into a dango shape.

The Four Gods' imperial princess, Linfa Sin Quina.

"What's with that 'geh'! That's extremely rude when facing me!"

With her traditional Quina Empire garments waving, she rapidly approached him.

"Ah, no, sor......rather, what's the princess of the Four Gods doing here?"

"A delivery. I came to congratulate you on your advancement into the finals."

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"Shao!"

The one who poked their face out from behind Linfa was the Four Gods' ace, Shao Fu of the White Tiger.

And then continuing on---

"Offering gestures of humanity to the enemy is a Quina Empire tradition."

"We've brought a lot with us!"

"You're holding a party in a fairly cramped place......"

Rao of the Azure Dragon, Hakua of the Black Tortoise and Rion of the Vermilion Bird also appeared.

Each of them was carrying many bags of food.

"There's deep fried pork buns and skewered bird. They're famed products of the Quina Empire."

The many foods being heaped upon the table. All of a sudden, the interior of ''La Parfait'' was permeated with the fragrant smell of grilled meat.

"Y-You people, this is a noble's tea party!"

Rinslet raised an objection but,

"It's the middle of a party, so don't say such uptight stuff."

Linfa's group started sitting down without reservation.

"......~!"

"......Well, fine. Since we received their help in rescuing Fianna."

Claire shrugged her shoulders like she was astonished.

"Kamito---"

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With that, Shao came over and sat next to Kamito.

The Four Gods' ace thrust a grilled chicken skewer into the table and smiled wryly.
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"To be honest, it's a pity that we can't fight Kamito in the finals."

"If I remember, you and Linfa fought against Leonora's team by yourselves on the last day."

"Yeah. It was a fight that wouldn't shame the Four Gods' name. But they really were strong, those girls."

Shao sighed.

But that expression had no regret in it; rather, something joyful could be felt.

If they had chosen a lower ranked team, they could have possibly obtained magic stones, but they had selected those Knights of the Dragon Emperor as their final opponent.

He wondered if that was due to the disposition of the Four Gods' ace.

"We'll be cheering on Team Scarlet in the finals."

"Yeah, thanks."

In order to face their respective battles, the two exchanged a solid handshake.