Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume11 Chapter6 (section)

===Part 4===

As soon as he walked outside the cabin, it felt cold as expected.

While shivering, Kamito looked for signs of Claire.

She was sitting on the deck, hugging Scarlet.

"Claire&mdash;"

Walking up the stairs, he called out.

"Uwah... K-Kamito!?"

Startled, she turned her head back.

"Go back down and sleep. You must be tired."

"I can't fall asleep. Here, I've brought you some of Rinslet's soup."

Kamito placed the steaming soup on the floor.

"Th-Thank you..."

"Can I sit beside you?"

"...Eh? Ah, y-yeah..."

Kamito bent over and sat down by Claire's side.

...An awkward silence descended.

After all, too many things had happened during the final round.

Both of them were searching for a suitable topic of conversation&mdash;

"It's great that you were able to get back your darkness spirit."

Claire ended up the first to speak.

While gazing at the bright light in the distant clouds ahead, she murmured.

Despite being out of view, mixed into the darkness, Restia was there, acting as the flying ship's guide.

"...Yeah. That's why I've journeyed nonstop for the past three years."

"I see..."

Claire began to pout and sulk a bit.

"Umm, what a shame... You finally saw her again."

"...Yes. It's wonderful to see Nee-sama again, but hearing that kind of thing&mdash;"

"You mean the Elemental Lords' madness?"

"Yeah. It's hard to believe, but..."

Worrying, Claire embraced Scarlet tighter.

"The reason why Nee-sama rebelled was because the elemental lord wanted me as a sacrifice..."

"...Indeed, that's very disturbing."

The Fire Elemental Lord had demanded the user of Elstein's flame, Claire, as a sacrifice.

The Flame-Burning Flames that transcended the rules and logic of this world.

Why did the Elemental Lord demand that sort of thing&mdash;

"Next, what should we do? Continue searching for Rubia?"

"...Right."

Claire murmured with a pained expression.

She still had not organized her thoughts.

The Blade Dance's winners' blood relatives would receive a special pardon. This was customary since antiquity. However, even if Claire begged, it was unlikely that the Empire would let Rubia Elstein off.

Betraying the Elemental Lord was an unforgivable crime.

(&mdash;Besides, Rubia's grievances cannot be disclosed to the public.)

Although few would believe it, if news spread of the Elemental Lords being corrupted by something unidentified and even going mad, surely a great commotion would result.

"Oh yeah, this thing&mdash;"

Kamito took out the pendant from his pocket.

"...The lion's crest! Kamito, why do you&mdash;"

"Rubia entrusted it to me. To give to you."

He handed the pendant over. Claire held it tightly.

"...So warm. This chain is infused with the power of flames."

She stared at the pendant with gentle eyes.

The side view of her face was causing Kamito's heart to race.

"...However, why did Nee-sama give this to me?"

"At the time, she probably intended for you to inherit it upon her death."

"How..."

"...Don't worry. Your sister is very tenacious. Just like you."

Kamito placed his hand on her head.

"Y-Yes... Nee-sama has great mental strength."

Claire nodded lightly.

"That thing, just return it the next time you see her."

"Yeah..."

After putting the pendant away safely...

Claire looked up&mdash;

"B-By the way..."

Coughing once, she leaned closer to Kamito.

"Hmm?"

"&mdash;Kamito, you're the real Ren Ashbell, right?"

"Guh..."

...He was totally caught off guard.

"U-Umm... Uh..."

"Save it. You're wasting your breath if you want to keep hiding it. You've already admitted it yourself."

"I-I wasn't trying to hide it... okay..."

Kamito turned his gaze away and scratched his head.

"...So, what do you have to say for yourself?"

Claire glared at him.

"...Uh, sorry for deceiving you."

Kamito apologized honestly.

"Hmph, you've been deceiving me all this time?"

"Ugh..."

"&mdash;Before, I had always admired ''her''."

"...S-Sorry."

Putting his hands to the ground, Kamito bowed his head and apologized.

Seeing that&mdash;

"...Sigh, fine. Okay, look up now."

Claire sighed and then&mdash;

"...Umm, thanks."

"Huh?"

Hearing unexpected words from Claire, Kamito frowned.

Claire relaxed the corners of her mouth slightly and said:

"Uh, I already mentioned it before... Three years ago, what saved me after I had given up on everything was ''her'' blade dance I saw back then. If it weren't for Ren Ashbell, I surely would not have made the Blade Dance my goal... So, thank you."

"Claire..."

"I-It feels a bit embarrassing, like this..."

"O-Oh..."

Blushing, both of them averted their gaze.

"...B-By the way, are you going to tell Ellis and the others?"

"...No, let's wait first..."

"I see..."

Claire chuckled and smiled, pressing her index finger lightly to her cherry lips.

"Very well, I will keep your secret. &mdash;A secret between two people."

Her smiling face was so charming that Kamito could not help but stare, mesmerized.

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