Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume20 Chapter1 (section)

===Part 7===

"&mdash;to... Kamito!"

He opened his eyes&mdash;

A beautiful young maiden in underwear was on top of Kamito's body.

Her long crimson hair was wet and her ruby-like eyes were moist with tears.

Having absorbed water, her lacy underwear clung tightly to her skin, translucent.

"...Clai... re."

"Huah, Kamito!?"

As soon as Kamito spoke, Claire widened her eyes in surprise.

"...I'm so glad, you turned back to the original Kamito."

She embraced Kamito's head tightly all at once.

"...!?"

Although small, the sensation of her breasts made Kamito's heart race.

Claire's thumping heartbeat was transmitting to him through her thoroughly wet underwear.

Traces of tears remained on her face, she was probably worried the whole time for Kamito who had been devoured by the power of darkness.

The rain had stopped.

From gaps in the clouds, the blue sky was visible.

"...Sorry for making you worry."

Slowly sitting up, Kamito then stroked Claire's head.
[[image:STnBD V20 BW01.jpg|thumb]]

"What happened? What on earth was that black miasma..."

"It was the divine power of the Darkness Elemental Lord sleeping inside me."

Kamito looked the back of his left hand.

The spirit seal of darkness, consisting of an intersecting moon and sword, was silently glowing.

"However, she's vanished. That power has been inherited by me and Restia&mdash;"

"What happened?"

"I'll save the details for later."

"...You're right, we have to meet up with Rinslet and the others first."

Kamito stood up.

"B-By the way, Claire..."

Blushing, Kamito turned his gaze to the sky.

"...?"

"Umm, anyway, I think it's better if you put some clothes on."

"...H-Huahh!"

Claire frantically summoned Scarlet to cover up her wet chest.

"Y-You got the wrong idea! I-I was using the ritual Nee-sama taught me&mdash;"

Claire's twintails jumped.

"Ritual?"

"She said when the power of darkness devours you, this ritual can suppress it."

Hugging Scarlet, Claire spoke quietly in embarrassment.

(...I see, so that flame really was Claire's fire.)

Kamito figured it out in his thoughts. Her flame element had manifested in Kamito's consciousness after mixing his divine power of darkness together with her own divine power of fire.

"Meow!"

All covered in fire, Scarlet instantly dried their uniforms.

Claire stood up and rapidly fastened her skirt.

Kamito turned his gaze away from Claire while she was getting dressed. At the same time, he said:

"...By the way, where are we?"

"Somewhere in the vast forest below Ragna Ys."

Claire looked up at the clear sky.

In the distant sky, fragments of Ragna Ys were floating.

"What on earth happened?"

"I don't know. The Holy Capital suddenly released a beam of light, then that light sliced apart the land of Ragna Ys. We fell into the forest and got separated from the others."

"The Holy Lord's power, huh?"

Previously, the revived Holy Lord had used that power to slice the Demon King City into two.

However, to think that the sturdy ground of Ragna Ys, which even archdemon-class spirits were unable to damage, could be destroyed so thoroughly&mdash;

"That is my power, Kamito."

Lying on the ground, the Demon Slayer suddenly spoke.

"Est, what do you mean?"

Kamito frowned. Just then...

"Kamito, look!"

Claire pointed at the sky and shouted.

Her gaze was directed at a large demon bird flying in the air.

"Isn't that Simorgh!?"

"Ellis has found us."

Pointing at the sky, Claire quickly recited an incantation.

"Explode&mdash;Flare Burst!"

Numerous small fireballs flew from her fingertips and exploded like fireworks.

Looking quite spectacular but lacking firepower, it was spirit magic for causing diversions.

Ellis apparently noticed it.

Simorgh circled quickly in the air then landed in the forest.