Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:VolumeEF Chapter7 (section)

===Part 8===

Starting from that day, for the sake of the Elemental Festa a week later, Kamito's special training began.

This included an early morning lesson before morning classes and a lesson after nightfall. Apart from that, Kamito would devise individualized lessons for the girls when they did not have class. Naturally, they did not relax their training for the upcoming Blade Dance either. Hence, this was extremely harsh training even for his teammates who were confident in their basic fitness.

Meals too. Everyone's portions were under Kamito's management. Kamito's special menu not only addressed nutrition but also covered the replenishment of divine power.

"Uwah, this is disgusting. What is it!?"

Drinking dark blue juice, Claire complained with a suffering look.

"...~, with my sense of taste, I ultimately cannot accept it!"

"This is a special elemental drink. It's for replenishing divine power."

Through an unusual method, this special drink was prepared from herbs growing in the Spirit Forest.

Able to make an elementalist draw out their maximum power, this was a secret recipe from the Instructional School.

"Oh my, this tastes lovely."

"Kamito, another cup."

"See, you girls need to learn from Fianna and Est."

"Ugh~ ...But isn't Est a spirit?"

"Y-Your Highness, is there something strange going on with your sense of taste?"

Despite the suffering looks on their faces, the girls drank their special drinks in one breath.

They had commissioned a tailor shop, which Ellis frequented, to make Team Scarlet's stage outfits with express service. In order to distinguish themselves from the numerous rivals, memorable costumes were important in addition to putting hard work into the performance. In particular, the enemy they wanted to defeat&mdash;the members of Dark Evangel&mdash;was quite flawless in both their choice of music and the design concept behind their costumes.

The design concept behind Team Scarlet's costumes was based on dancing blades.

Pure white dresses embroidered all over with silver thread, evocative of dancing blades. An personalized ribbon was tied on each girl's shoulder with a different color.

"...S-So embarrassing. Do I really have to dance like this?"

Clutching the hem of her skirt, Claire groaned.

"Endure it. Besides, these clothes look good on all of you."

"Eh? I-It looks good...?"

The young ladies blushed because of Kamito's comment.

This was not flattery. Indeed, the girls definitely looked great in their costumes. Although he had recently gotten used to the fact they were outstanding beauties, the pride of the Academy, seeing them dressed in something apart from their usual uniforms made Kamito realize this fact once more.

Spirits, which liked pure and beautiful maidens, would be satisfied by their lovely appearances, right?

Just as Kamito was thinking that&mdash;

"What is the matter, Kamito?"

Replicating the girls' costumes in an instant, Est was spinning round and round.

Clad in a silver-white dress, Est looked completely like a snow fairy.
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"Hmm, it looks great on you too, Est."

"So happy, Kamito."

Spin spin spin. Est began to spin even faster.

...Sword spirits apparently loved to spin.

&mdash;Thinking that, Kamito was struck by a thought and asked.

"Hey Est, why don't you try performing in the Festa too?"

In fact, the Elemental Festa did not have any rule "forbidding spirits to perform."

A dance featuring Est, who was so cute, would definitely bring joy to many spirits.

"Yes, Kamito&mdash;Your wish is my command."

Est finished one more revolution then entered a "ping" pose expressionlessly.

A group lesson for all of Team Scarlet was held that night. Since interruptions were common on school premises, they went to Astral Zero via a gate in some ruins.

"So, what do we do about the music?"

Kamito handed a small spirit crystal to Fianna when she asked.

"I think this song will work. Girls, listen to it whenever you have time."

Kamito poured divine power into the crystal through his fingertips, causing it to glow faintly and start playing music.

What came out of the crystal was a sound composed of percussion and woodwind instruments, a tune with a quick rhythm. Due to the rich variation in the melody, one could listen to it again and again without getting tired of it.

"This song, don't tell me it's..."

Fianna exclaimed in surprise.

"&mdash;Himeragi E. Arsage's dance!?"

"...You know it?"

"Yes, appearing out of nowhere four years ago, the legendary idol. She made her appearance at the Elemental Festa held at the imperial capital, isn't it a famous story how she quelled the flood at Dorna River?"

Hearing this, Kamito involuntarily looked away.

"...W-Whatever. Then hurry up if you know it."

Saying that, Kamito took out another spirit crystal this time and placed it on the floor.

"What's this one for?" Claire asked.

"There are lingering images from the past. I want to show you girls this first."

As before, Kamito poured divine power into the spirit crystal. It glowed and projected a clear image on the walls of the collapsed ruins.

"Kamito-kun, this, no way...!"

Fianna exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, I borrowed it from the Academy's library. A video of Himeragi E. Arsage four years ago."

"...!"

Projected there was&mdash;

A beautiful girl, her blonde hair fluttering while she danced.

The glittering fan in her hand was waving like an endlessly flowing river. Due to blurriness in the video, the face was unclear, but the beauty of her kagura was fully conveyed.

"...Th-This is my first time watching this. So beautiful."

"Yes, I feel like my heart and soul has been cleansed simply by watching this."

"Such a young girl, how amazing&mdash;"

The kagura performed by the legendary idol four years ago fill Claire and the girls with awe.

Everyone watched the video intently without another word.

Finally, the image vanished and the music stopped.

Kamito coughed dryly and spoke.

"Girls, do you get why I showed you this?"

"...Umm, you want us to learn the dance of the legendary idol, right?"

Claire nodded and replied.

"Yeah. If you learn this kagura, winning won't be a dream."

"But it is not possible to master kagura of this level in such short&mdash;"

"Don't worry. I'll instruct you."

Kamito asserted to the worried Ellis.

"Kamito, could it be possible that you have kagura experience?"

"...Well, in the past, a little."

Kamito glossed over it vaguely.

"Hmm..."

Fianna looked at him suspiciously in response to his attitude.

"...Very well. Anyway, let's try it out."

Claire spoke as the leader. Everyone nodded.

During the week after that, Kamito started his special spartan training.

"Claire, your movements are messed up! Ellis, show more vibrancy!"

Blowing a whistle, Kamito roared at the same time. For some reason, he was wearing a tracksuit with sunglasses.

"Hey, doesn't it feel like he changed as a person?"

"Why is he wearing sunglasses at night?"

"No chitchat over there! The idol's path is not that easy!"

Another whistle.

"Kamito, I am hungry."

"...Fine. Take a break, Est."

"You favor Est too much!"

"Milady, do your best~"

Facing the young ladies running their hardest at the Academy's track, Carol waved flags.