Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume15 Chapter1 (section)

===Part 1===

The falling rain was like mist at the imperial capital. At this location, buried under a great deal of debris from the destruction wrought by the gravity spirit belonging to Leschkir Hirschkilt of the Numbers&mdash;

She stood there like a shadow.

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

Fianna's voice sounded like it was coming from far away.

Ouch, what happened? For a moment, Kamito's thoughts could not keep up.

No, it would be better to say that he already understood, yet his brain refused to admit the truth before his eyes.

While his hand was pressed against the laceration on his abdomen, blood seeped out between his fingers and dripped. Ren Ashdoll's power that previously filled his entire body had vanished completely. His body temperature was also falling.

(I totally failed to see it...)

Let alone the flash of the sword, he had not even been able to see the motion at all.

However, Kamito knew that sword technique, a sword strike as swift as lightning.

Absolute Blade Arts, First Form&mdash;Purple Lightning.

...Inconceivable.

Apart from Kamito, there should be no one else who had inherited ''her'' sword skills.

However, that flash, that accuracy, everything was superior to Kamito's.

While pondering the question of her identity, he had already noticed this fact.

Precisely because he noticed it, he refused to admit it.

But&mdash;

"Well well, even though I held back, dodging this skill is still beyond you&mdash;"

"...!"

Amid the mist-like rain, that calm voice pulled Kamito's thoughts back to reality definitively.

The ''young maiden'' shook off the blood on the blade and mercilessly looked down at Kamito who was kneeling on the ground.

"Greyworth..."

Kamito groaned and forced that name out from his lips.

Greyworth Ciel Mais&mdash;The Dusk Witch.

"Why... Why ''are you here''!?"

Kamito cried out hoarsely.

According to intel from the special operative knight, Virrey, who had served as a guide for Kamito and the others, Greyworth was imprisoned at the notorious torture tower of Guas Gibai after falling into Arneus' hands.

If that were true, she could not possibly be here.

No, before considering that, ''this appearance'' of hers was&mdash;

"Why... Gah...!"

"Kamito-kun!"

Fianna frantically caught Kamito's unsteady body.

"What is going on?  About ''that girl'' being the Academy's headmistress..."

Fianna must have recalled the whisper she had overheard earlier.

Her question was not illogical, because the girl currently standing before their eyes&mdash;

Her appearance was that of a lovely maiden, the same age as Fianna.

The moniker of the Dusk Witch was widely known across the continent. No matter what, the time when she had been active on the battlefield was already decades ago.

Fianna could not possibly have known what she looked like back then.

On the other hand, Kamito had previously witnessed the witch in her prime on two occasions.

The first time was in the beginning when she took him into her house. The second time was out in the wilderness of the imperial capital's outskirts when learning Purple Lightning, the first move of the Absolute Blade Arts.

Greyworth had mentioned before that divine power would increase to extreme heights when the power of the Elemental Lords influenced the human realm.

During such occasions, her body would regain its youth, allowing her to recover her peak power for a short duration&mdash;

The lovely maiden's gorgeous body was getting wet from the drizzle.

That young face could easily be mistaken for a little girl's.

However, held in her hand was a bloodstained demon sword. One could also sense chilling beauty from her figure, standing there quietly.

"&mdash;That's right, she's Greyworth."

Kamito told Fianna.

Of course, it was possible to alter one's appearance by using a mimicry spirit's power. However, given her flash of the sword earlier with godlike speed, it was undoubtedly Absolute Blade Arts. Compared to a fake like Sjora Kahn, it was on a completely different level.

"Greyworth..."

Feeling despair, Kamito called out that name again.

The blood flowing out of his flank went all over his fingers.

Something must have happened at the tower of Guas Gibai where she had been imprisoned, Kamito surmised. Mind control through magic, brainwashing by using drugs, or perhaps something even more creepy&mdash;What should he do? It did not seem like he could make her normal again just by calling her name.

However, even so&mdash;

Given she was that ''witch'', Kamito called out, clinging to a shred of hope.

"Have you forgotten about me, your student? Don't tell me that the a woman of your level, the fearsome Dusk Witch, has been brainwashed?"

Kamito shouted. However, the young girl's gray eyes simply looked down on him emotionlessly.

"Ku..."

Kamito stabbed the Demon Slayer into the ground and slowly stood up. The blood spilling from his wound formed a puddle at his feet.

"Kamito-kun, your wound is still&mdash;!"

"Don't worry... about it."

If words could not reach her, then there was only one language to communicate.

Readying the Demon Slayer, Kamito stared intently at the witch before him.

"Oh? You're standing up just like that&mdash;"

The witch who looked like a young girl whispered as though impressed, then raised her crimson demon sword.

Compared to the pitch-black demon sword that was her personal weapon of choice, it was different in both shape and color. However, the terrifying and ominous feeling left no doubt that it belonged to a demon spirit.

&mdash;Compared to that time...

"Fufu, you are heavily injured, Onii-chan."

A young girl's voice, as adorable as the sound of bells, resounded in the imperial capital's dimming sky.

"...!?"

Kamito looked up.

Amid the hazy curtain of rain&mdash;

A girl was hovering midair, smiling innocently.

Her appearance was that of a young girl age twelve or thirteen.

Beneath her glittering blonde hair was an eye of mysterious violet. Dressed in sacred vestments of pure white, she was holding a silver crosier that served as proof of a high-ranked cardinal of the Holy Kingdom.

Also, her left eye was covered by a crude eyepatch.

"It's you...!"

Millennia Sanctus&mdash;The girl with Otherworldly Darkness residing in her left eye.

She was the mastermind who had caused spirits to rampage and brought Areishia Spirit Academy to the brink of destruction.

The young girl chuckled and silently descended onto the rubble.

"...Tsk, I see now. You must the ones abetting Arneus."

Fianna glared at the girl and said.

"Oh my, don't make it sound so bad. It would be better to say it is what your dear brother wished for. We simply provided a bit of help."

The girl shrugged lightly in an adorable manner.

"Be that as it may, he is an incompetent man to begin with, not even able to lock a captured bird inside a cage. In that case, it might be more reliable to have you as a puppet, given how capable you are. Hey, Fianna-chan, it is not too late. Why don't you become our friend?"

"Sorry, I decline. Is there any point in becoming friends?"

"I see, what a shame&mdash;"

Millennia turned her head to look at Kamito who was standing in a pool of blood.

"Fufu, the strongest blade dancer, Ren Ashbell&mdash;Even for one such as you, in front of the Witch, you are no different from an infant."

"Are you the one who brainwashed Greyworth?"

Kamito growled with incisive killing intent.

However, Millennia snickered without any fear at all.

"We don't do anything as useless as the likes of brainwashing. We simply liberated the Witch that existed within her from the start. Ah, however, I see... Onii-chan, you may not know this. ''Twenty-four years ago, what kind of wish she had sought from the Elemental Lords''&mdash;"

"What?"

&mdash;The wish Greyworth had sought.

Kamito did not know what exactly she meant by that.

Was she simply going for obfuscation to confuse them? Or perhaps&mdash;

(...No. What I should be thinking about now is how to get out of here.)

Kamito glanced at Fianna beside him.

The effects of Save the Queen had vanished already and Fianna looked very exhausted.

This was only natural&mdash;Having been locked away in a prison-like environment, her physical condition was surely very weak. Rather, it was already a miracle that she was able to escape here on her own feet.

(...It's definitely not possible to fight while defending Fianna.)

Kamito calmly pondered strategies for breaking out of the predicament. He was currently facing a monumental challenge that he did not know if he could overcome even by pitting his full strength&mdash;

"Fianna, do you know the imperial capital's escape route?"

Kamito spoke up.

Fianna was supposed to know about escape routes exclusive to royals&mdash;Rubia had said so as the one who had devised the rescue operation.

Without Virrey's assistance, it was not possible to escape through the underground ruins that they had used to get here. Breaking out by force would be even more impossible with the Imperial Knights as the enemy.

"Yes, I do indeed know about the passage exclusive for royal use."

Since she had considered that route back during the prison escape stage, she could immediately answer.

"What are the chances that it's sealed off?"

Kamito asked. Since Arneus was a member of the royal family like Fianna, it was only natural for him to know of the escape route's existence. It would not be unusual for him to have already sent people there.

However, Fianna shook her head lightly.

"No, I believe it will be fine. That passage is absolutely not available for him. Hence, its existence would likely not occur to him."

"...Not available?"

Kamito felt puzzled but there was no time to ask.

"Fianna, go back to the earlier place to meet up with Claire and Ellis."

"What about you, Kamito-kun?"

"I will hold them off here."

"What&mdash;"

"Hurry and do me the favor of going. I can't protect you while I'm fighting."

Kamito forcibly pushed her away.

"..."

Hearing his words, Fianna&mdash;

She bit her lip hard and stood up unsteadily.

Hesitating here would make her Kamito's burden instead, concluded Fianna.

"Then I am going first. I will be waiting for you."

"Yeah, thanks."

Fianna drew up to Kamito's ear and whispered.

"Underneath the biggest bell tower in the ''nobles district'', the small temple of Michaela."

"Got it. I'll head over soon."

Kamito nodded. Fianna went towards the streets while dragging one leg.

"Fufu, are you done talking?"

Millennia spoke up.

"Sorry, did I make you wait?"

"Yes. You are her one and only opponent who has learned the same sword skills as this woman. Perfect for testing purposes. With that burden gone, you'll be able to fight all-out, right?"

"...Then how about waiting until my wounds are healed?"

Kamito said while pressing on the wound in his flank.

"Nice try, but hasn't it healed already?"

"...So you have been paying attention."

Kamito forced a smile. Leaking out, miasma of darkness had sped up the healing of the puncture wound. No, rather than speeding up the healing&mdash;It was more like regeneration.

(...Looks like my body is already a complete monster's...)

He mentally poked fun at himself.

However, now was the time when he must rely on this monstrous power.

Kamito instantly looked behind him and moved.

Fianna had disappeared from view far off into the other end of the road.

Right now, he must buy time for Fianna to escape, even if just a short duration&mdash;

While Kamito was thinking that, Millennia chuckled.

"Oh dear, who said the little bird is allowed to escape?"

"...What!?"


"If she were to run off, that foolish king would make a big a fuss."

Millennia looked down at the rubble underfoot. Discovering Leschkir Hirschkilt who had been struck down by Kamito, she grinned.

"Ah yes, let me send out this useless piece of trash."

"What the&mdash;"

"Awaken, my puppet."

Saying that, Millennia stepped on the collapsed Numbers knight's head&mdash;

Slowly, she took off the eyepatch over her left eye.

This left eye was inhabited by the Otherworldly Darkness that was capable of corrupting even the Elemental Lords.

(...What?)

From her left eye, the viscous darkness melted and dripped to cover up the Numbers knight's face.

Suddenly, Leschkir Hirschkilt's body twitched violently while strange moans slipped out of her mouth.

"...Ah... Gaga... Ga-ah, gagagaga..."

Bathed in Otherworldly Darkness, Leschkir slowly rose up like a ghost and moved mechanically like a broken puppet.

(...What the hell!?)

Seeing the terrifying phenomenon before his eyes, Kamito held his breath involuntarily.

"Go chase down the Second Princess for me, puppet. It's fine even if you kill her."

Millennia pointed in the direction Fianna had escaped.

In that very instant...

"...Ah... The Second... Princess... Fiannaaaaaaaaa!"

Two black spheres appeared over Leschkir's head.

The gravity spirit that Kamito had bifurcated earlier still had yet to be fully destroyed.

(Crap&mdash;!)

Sword in hand, Kamito rushed over, but it was too late. Reversing the gravity field in its surroundings, the gravity spirit allowed Leschkir to float up into the air while laughing madly. Then her body flew along a ridiculous route in the direction of Fianna's escape.

As much as Kamito wanted to chase her&mdash;

"Your opponent is me&mdash;"

Standing before him with a crimson demon sword gripped in her hand was Greyworth.