Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume8 Chapter5 (section)

===Part 3===
Parting from Mireille's group, they exited the Grand Shrine.

The refreshing night breeze bore the clamor of the large audience.

"---The abandoned capital Megidoa, huh."

Kamito muttered as he walked along the gently sloping hill.

"......It was unexpected. To think that a place I've never heard of would come up. At least, it shouldn't have been a stage for the Blade Dance until now."

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Fianna said with a shrug. Since she who had come from the Divine Ritual Institute had no knowledge of it, it was hardly a place most people would know.

Choosing a sacred ground within Astral Zero was the usual for the Blade Dance.

Even so, having an abandoned city that wasn't anything like a sacred ground chosen was---

(......As I thought, something's strange about this Blade Dance.)

It was as if errors had appeared in a perfect system.

(......If that's so, what's the cause?)

The Blade Dance three years ago had proceeded normally.

What broke that was---

(......!)

A flashback.

Within the encroaching black Wish, the boy reached out a hand for the darkness spirit girl.

"Ah, ku......!"

Assaulted by a sudden dizziness, Kamito held his head.

"Kamito, what's wrong?"

Claire asked in a worried tone.

"......Ahh, I'm fine. I just felt a little dizzy."

Kamito waved his hand to tell her not to worry.

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......Those memories seemed to be locked away and could not be recalled.

"---There's also the field, but we also have to consider the blade dance form."

"That's right."

Claire nodded in response to Ellis' mutterings.

The rule decided upon by the Elemental Lords' oracle was "Cross Fire".

The duration was three days. It was basically the same as the Tempest, survival within the field, but the difference was that each team member would be teleported to a different location.

"To put it bluntly, there is a need to search for one's comrades. If a team gathers quickly, they gain the opportunity to crush every one of the enemy team's elementalists."

It seemed Claire had already begun thinking about tactics suited to the rules.

Bang!

At that time, a rainbow-colored flower bloomed in the night sky.

---It was a firework. Kamito stopped in his tracks and was entranced by the blooming fireworks.

The seven-colored lights danced into various forms and entertained the onlookers.

The lights were really spirits being released.

"It's beautiful......"

Claire murmured as she gazed at the fireworks in a trance.

"They're launching spirit crystals for that, right? It's ridiculously high up."

"Jeez, your thinking is that of a plebeian."

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Claire shrugged her shoulders, sounding a little surprised.

"When you speak of fireworks---"

And Ellis opened her mouth as if she had just remembered something.

"When we return to the academy, we have to prepare for the Grand Spirit Festival."

"Grand Spirit Festival?"

"It's an academy festival that is held at Areishia Spirit Academy every year. The Sylphid Knights also become so busy we'd even accept the help of a cat, so you had best prepare yourself as well."

"So there's an academy festival. It sounds fun."

"Yeah. But the side that keeps public morals can't say that. The spirits in last year's Raven Class production went wild and became a big problem."

"T-That brings back memories......"

"T-There might have been something like that!"

......In order to avoid the issue, the problem children combo from the Raven Class turned towards the future.

"I'm part of the group that was just admitted, so I have Freya-sensei's supplementary lessons after we return."

Fianna sighed a little.

......They were only about ten days ago, but those days at the academy were nostalgic.

Two months ago, Team Scarlet consisted of only Claire and Kamito.

But they had gathered five teammates, won through the ranking battles and made it this far.

---There were three days left in the Blade Dance.

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He wondered if he could regain that which was important to him with his own hands.

(Or possibly lose everything......)

An even grander firework bloomed in the night sky.

"I wonder if we can win and return to the academy safe and sound."

Maybe from being sentimental, Ellis voiced her anxiety.

"We've come this far. We only need to blade dance with all our strength."

"Yeah, that's right."

"If we combine our strength, we can even defeat that fake Ren Ashbell---"

At that moment, Fianna's face seemed to cloud over.

"Fianna, what's wrong?"

"......I-It's nothing."

Kamito inquired and Fianna averted her eyes as she shook her head.

He was a little interested in her attitude but---

(......That's right. I must win against that other Strongest Blade Dancer.)

---In order to discover the truth behind three years ago and save Restia.

Underneath the leather glove on his left hand, the darkness spirit's seal throbbed with a dull pain.

And.

"---That's the spirit. Claire Rouge."

Until she called out, nobody had noticed her presence.

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Turning around, a beautiful woman with ash blonde hair was there.

"......Greyworth?"

Drawing the spirit crystal's light closer and coming over, it was the Dusk Witch.

"Headmistress, what are you doing here!?"

Claire said in a surprised voice.

"---Sorry, but I'll be borrowing the lad for now."

"Kamito?"

"For what? Tomorrow is the finals."

Kamito said as if snarling and,

"The night is still long. Doesn't improving relations suffice as a reason?"

"Wha!?"

All the young ladies were stirred up at Greyworth's words.

"K-Kamito, don't tell me, even up to the headmistress......"

Gogogogogogogo......!

"Haa, the scope of Kamito-kun's defense surprises me sometimes."

"Kamito-san really doesn't have any boundaries!"

"C-Curse you, such shameless......"

"W-Wait, there's really nothing like that!"

Kamito yelled in a panic.

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Seeing the young ladies' reactions, Greyworth smiled like she was enjoying herself.

"It was a joke. I'm not stealing the lad, so rest easy."

""""W-We weren't worried!""""

The red-faced young ladies gave a collective cry.

"If it's a joke, I'm heading back."

Kamito tried to turn to leave and,

"Well, don't be in such a rush. I have something I'd like to impart to you."

"What?"

"I can't give it to you here. It's necessary for your victory."

Greyworth's expression had become serious at some point.

"......"

Kamito thought for a little---

"......Okay. Let's finish this quickly."

"Whether it will be short or not depends on you."

Greyworth shrugged.

Kamito turned to his teammates and,

"Sorry. Please return to the castle ahead of me."

"......Y-Yes, we will."

Claire nodded a little sadly.

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"Ahh, that's right. Bring along that sword spirit."

"Est?"

"Since the night is dangerous. A means to defend oneself is necessary."

"You need protection? What kind of joke is this......is that okay, Est?"

"Yes. I am Kamito's sword. For as long as you wish."

Est nodded and changed form into her elemental waffe, Terminus Est.