Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume11 Chapter2 (section)

===Part 3===

"&mdash;Ohhhhhhhhhh!"

The final sword strike slashed through the air.

The rampaging arm of flame vanished without trace along with the tear in space.

The sea of flame covering the floor disappeared at the same time. Instantly, silence dominated the scene.

Maintaining his dual wielding stance, Kamito landed on the ground.

Then following his momentum, he collapsed on his knees.

"...Kamito!"  "Kamito-kun!"

Claire and Fianna frantically hurried over.

Appearing over at the door, Ellis and Rinslet also rushed over.

"Kamito, are you okay!?" "Kamito-san!"

"...Ouch..."

Groaning while he looked up, Kamito's view was dominated by the four faces that were watching him worriedly.

They seem to be crying out something but he could not hear very clearly. Perhaps his hearing was numbed.

"...Ellis... Rinslet... Thank goodness you're both safe and sound..."

Not even able to stand up, Kamito spoke softly.

Perhaps the nerves in his arms were damaged, he could not even lift a finger.

This was the backlash from using spirit-vanquishing Absolute Blade Arts.

"...Has Sjora Kahn... been defeated?"

Kamito tried to move his lips and asked the two girls.

"No&mdash;"

Hearing him, Ellis shook her head in chagrin.

"The Theocracy's witch escaped... Or rather, she let us go. If Leonora-dono had not hurried over to offer her assistance, we would have lost to that demon spirit."

"...Leonora made it in time huh."

During the fight in the lower levels, Kamito had not taken away Leonora's magic stone. Instead, he asked her to assist Ellis and Rinslet who were fighting Sjora Kahn.

She had fulfilled her promise with Kamito, her opponent.

"...Uh, Leonora?"

Collapsed on the ground, Kamito looked around him.

There were no signs of the demon dragon user.

"...She forfeited the final round."

"Forfeited?"

"Yes. Leonora-dono left a message for you."

Ellis nodded and took out a magic stone from her bosom.

"I have already blade danced with Kamito with my full power and lost. Obsessing over victory and refusing to admit defeat would be a taint to that supreme blade dance&mdash;That was what she said."

"...I see."

Exiting the stage like that really suited her style.

Having blade danced with her with everything he had, Kamito felt pride from the bottom of his heart.

"...Claire is fine too."

"...Yeah. Umm... Thank you, everyone."

"H-Helping a teammate is only natural."

"It somehow feels weird to hear honest thanks from you."

"Does untying your hair change your personality?"

"...S-So annoying. What the heck."

Claire pouted with displeasure.

At her feet, Scarlet wagged her tail happily.

"...Anyway, it's great that everyone is safe and sound&mdash;Cough, ah..."

Suddenly, Kamito's entire body was filled with intense pain.

His heart raced madly and his muscles were convulsing. He felt pain as though his body was burning inside.

"Kamito... W-What's the matter!?"

Claire frantically picked up Kamito's body in her arms.

"...S-So hot...!"

"&mdash;It's the Eternal Blood's side effects."

A calm voice was heard from behind.

Everyone turned to look back.

"Nee-sama, what's going on!?"

"The flames driving Kazehaya Kamito's body have burnt out. Since he used a technique that strained his body this much, the backlash must logically be quite astounding&mdash;"

"How could this...!?"

"Relax. This boy will not die from this. Once the Demon King's power is completely withdrawn, it will be fine for Fianna over there to heal him."

"...By the way, you... And there I was, thinking this healing was so fast..."

Enduring the intense pain, Kamito poked fun at her.

"Healing was never my specialty in the first place."

However, the former Queen shook her head nonchalantly.

"Rubia Elstein..."

In response, Ellis readied her spear and glared at her warily.

"What is your goal?"

"...The Fahrengart family's daughter, huh."

Leaning against a stone pillar, Rubia looked at Ellis indifferently.

"...Stop it, Ellis."

"Kamito? But she&mdash;"

"...She no longer has the power to fight. Swinging your weapon at a person who cannot resist will taint a knight's honor..."

"No power remaining?"

"...That is true too. Indeed, it appears that my remaining power.. has vanished."

In a slightly sardonic tone of voice, Rubia spoke.

Blood had stopped flowing from the Cursed Armament Seals on her arms.

"...To think a spirit contract could be severed&mdash;Is it that sacred sword's power?"

"I already tried it once before."

Supported upright by Claire, Kamito nodded.

Temporarily driving Laevateinn away did not solve the problem at its root. So long as the contract's connection remained, the spirit was surely going to continue making attempts to claim Rubia's life relentlessly.

However, defeating the strongest flame spirit's main body was absolutely impossible. It was not an opponent that a human elementalist could oppose.

Hence, Kamito had severed the contract connecting Laevateinn to Rubia.

He relied on the power of the Demon Slayer&mdash;Terminus Est.

Possessing the strongest anti-magic properties, this "cursed sword," capable of absorbing all curses, was simultaneously a sacred sword that could lift all spells. The contract exchanged between a spirit and an elementalist was also a type of spell.

In the past, Kamito had used Terminus Est to destroy the Cursed Armament Seal transplanted on Velsaria Eva's heart. However, back then, he had only destroyed the Cursed Armament Seal that was driving her spirit mad, rather than the spirit's contract.

(...But it looks like my gamble paid off.)

Kamito called upon the sacred sword in his hand.

(...Est, good job.)

&mdash;Yes. Because I am Kamito's ''beloved sword''.

&mdash;Oh dear, what is Miss Sacred Sword muttering on her own about over there?

&mdash;Kamito is talking to me. The darkness spirit should shut up.

(I beg you, please don't argue in someone else's mind...)

Kamito pressed his temples and groaned.

"The contract was severed..."

Claire reacted and spoke up.

"In other words, the contract's price won't be exacted from Nee-sama, right?"

"...Yes. That should be the case&mdash;"

Kamito turned his gaze towards Rubia.

"I still have things to ask you. How could I let you die so easily here?"

Staring her straight in the eyes, Kamito asked.

"&mdash;Also, tell us already. Four years ago, in the shrine of the Elemental Lords, ''what exactly did you see''?"

"I..."

Rubia's eyes wandered in space for an instant.

Kamito did not fail to catch the emotions appearing on her face for an instant.

It was irrepressible fear.

This girl, the former Queen, had destroyed the Instructional School in the past and was capable of dealings with Murders and the Theocracy's military. What could possibly inspire such fear in her&mdash;

After several seconds of silence&mdash;

She finally spoke.


"&mdash;''Something beyond this world''."


"Something beyond this world?"

"Yes. Very likely, it is the existence causing the current Elemental Lords to go mad. Furthermore, it is the true form of what you people call the Elemental Lords' miracle."

"...Nee-sama... What... What are you saying?"

Claire's voice was doubtful.

"Bear this in mind. The miracle transcending this world's rules and logic, granted to the victor of the Blade Dance, does not actually grant the Wish you hope for."

"...What does that mean?"

While raising this question&mdash;

Kamito recalled what he heard in the past.

&mdash;The elemental lords' blessing is not as omnipotent as rumored.

(...I remember Greyworth saying something like that.)

Similarly, she was also someone who had had an audience with the elemental lords.

(...The Elemental Lords' miracle huh.)

Had these words come from an ordinary person, they could be dismissed as utter nonsense.

But she&mdash;Rubia Elstein&mdash;was formerly a Queen serving the elemental lord.

This was her reason for choosing betrayal at all costs, going as far as to abandon her position and duties, even sacrificing her own life.

The insanity of the Elemental Lords. If it were real&mdash;

"But since the Demon King's awakening failed. Everything is too late now."

Rubia took out something from the sleeve of her military uniform and tossed it over to Kamito.

Kamito caught it reflexively.

"...?"

She had thrown a magic stone, shining with red light.

"You can confirm the truth with your own eyes."

"W-Wait up, Rubia!" "Nee-sama!"

Kamito and Claire noticed her intentions at the same time&mdash;But it was too late.

Due to forsaking the magic stone, the transfer magic activated.

Rubia's body turned into particles of light and vanished from the scene.

"Nee-sama, wait, Nee-sama...!"

Claire's voice echoed in the great hall.

"...Nee-sama."

The scene fell silent.

Finally&mdash;

"...With that, it means that Team Inferno's leader has exited the stage."

Casting his gaze on the magic stone in his hand, Kamito muttered.

Muir Alenstarl had disappeared. Lily Flame had lost to Leonora.

And Leonora had also retired by her own volition.

"The only ace-class enemy left is the Theocracy's witch. Also, Luminaris of the Sacred Spirit Knights, right&mdash;"

There were still ten-odd hours left until the Blade Dance's final round ended.

Outside the crumbling walls, the sun had set.

Just at this moment...

"W-What!?"

"What is going on?"

Ellis and Rinslet screamed.

Beneath their feet, shining magic circles suddenly appeared.

"This is Transfer magic... Kyah!"

"W-What!?"

The same magic circles appeared around Kamito and the rest.

Then&mdash;

"...!?"

His view was overwhelmed by the dazzling light.