Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 1

Status: Incomplete

37/56 pages completed

   

Chapter 1 - Before the Storm

Part 1

Above the swamp, earth, sand and dry leaves were piling up, Kazuki stepped onto the wet ground and ran towards the approaching enemy. From between the poisonous trees with violet trunk and leaves, Demon Beasts that looks like jelly-beans with brightly colored slimy mucus——<Slime> were approaching one after another to attack.

[Suppression of Demon Beasts that nested in the Haunted Ground]——That was the <Quest> that Kazuki and the others accepted.

A silver flash surged from the mouth of his scabbard, Kazuki drew his Iai to the approaching blue slime in front of his eyes.

The slime that released chilly air became two equal parts but——the blue slime immediately stuck to each other and returned to how it was previously.

Kazuki's eyes were opened wide because of the unknown enemy's mode of life. ······Sword was not effective toward these things!

All at once the multi-colored slimes on Kazuki's way leaped toward him.

"The calling voice of the ruler of flame, liberate the rage deep inside the earth! Create the rampart of mine here······soaring on heaven and earth, isolate the impurity! Fire Wall!!"

However Kazuki invoked Phoenix's Summoning Magic to assault the enemies. From the start Kazuki chanted the spell while breaking into the center of the enemies and waiting for the right timing.

Along with flashes of light, fissures ran on the ground under Kazuki and from there, walls of flame burst out.

The slimes who attacked Kazuki carelessly were swallowed by the walls of flame and evaporated all at once.

The few numbers of slimes that managed to slip out of the flame walls attacked Kazuki but he brushed them off with his katana. Thereupon, the dignified voice of the partner that support Kazuki from the back echoed.

"Scattered sparks of dancing wings! Lingering spiral wind, become life piercing bullet! Flap your wing and shoot! Barrett!!"

Red lights lingered like wings from the stigma on her back, Mio invoked Barrett.

The slime was attacked by the flame bullet, its body fused with the heat of the bullet.

While Kazuki stepped back, he chanted Barrett matching with Mio and hit the slime.

"Kazukii! Hooray, we beat them with the same magic♪"

Mio raised her voice excitedly and clung to Kazuki's arm after scattering the enemy's group.

Although until a little while ago, she was still saying "How impertinent for someone like Kazuki to use the same magic······", was it because of the exaltation in the battlefield?, Mio was unusually honest and became bold.

No, before when Mio died, she seemed to not remember that time, however since Kazuki kissed and saved her, he had a feeling that her attitude instantly softened.

······Was it because the positivity level with high number of 120?

"Co, come on, don't let your mind wander in the middle of a quest!"

Because of the embarrassing sensation of being pressed by the chest's high exposure rate of the Magic DressDécolleté Oblique, Kazuki spontaneously uttered words of resistance. Mio slightly made a pouting face.

"What, I properly watch the surroundings, and after that I took action you know. Bee~"

While clinging to his arm, Mio brought her face near to Kazuki and stucked her tongue towards him. Even though she was doing an expression of cheekiness, Kazuki soon became strangely conscious of Mio's lips near his cheek.

Right there, a voice rang out from the thicket in front of them and a new group of slimes came to attack them both. Mio who said that she already observed the surrounding properly, reacted quickly and sprung up just like she said and turned to Kazuki's rear——the swordsman protected the Summoning MagicianMagica Stigma, Heaven and Earth Formation.

"Barrett!" "Fire Wall!"

The flame wall of the vanguard, Kazuki and the fire bullet from the rear guard, Mio, reduced the interweaving bunch of slimes to ashes. ——No, wait a second, what was that!?

A crimson slime flew out from inside the flame. ······Did it have resistance to heat!?

Somehow this Demon Beast Slime seems to have its own attribute based on the color.

Immediately Kazuki leaped and cut the slime that gradually released heat. Because of the slash, the slime scattered in pieces, however it slipped past Kazuki while still in the scattered state.

"Damn it!"

"Kyaaa! What is this!?"

The scattered slime became a spray of red mucus and rained incessantly on Mio.

Mio tried to clear the mucus that fell onto her body and her magic dress in a fluster. However immediately, the magic dress that already has high exposure rate under normal circumstances melted in the area where it was touched by the slimy mucus.

"No way! The, the clothes are melting!!"

——If the <Magic Dress> that supplemented the spell chanting was not there, the war potential of the Magica Stigma would be reduced by half.

Because magic dress was created by magic power, it could be regenerated if the user Request the Diva to fix it but······for Mio it was just not possible, she crouched down to try to hide her skin.

From the swamp behind Mio who currently crouched down——cylindrical things <Tentacle> leaped out.

A Demon Beast different from the slime! Just like he was completely waiting for that opportunity until now!?

They were just Demon Beasts and yet they matched their breath superbly and did combination attack.

The slimy tentacles entangled Mio who was almost naked.

Just like wrenching open flower petals, the tentacles twined around Mio's limbs pulled Mio's white skin and exposed what should be hidden. The girl's face flushed bright red because of the unbelievable shame.

"No way no way, don't look Kazuki! I will do something by myself so don't come here!!"

Mio shouted with tearful, panicky voice toward Kazuki who approached to help. However a shadow floated up in the muddy water surface, the owner of the tentacle's real body was now in the verge of surfacing.

"Is this the time to say that kind of thing!? You are going to be eaten!!"

Kazuki drew his Iai and severed the tentacles in one go. What kind of aquatic creature was it that lurked inside the swamp? It was unknown, but the tentacle could be cut, different from the slime.

Mio who fell from the tentacles was caught in princess-carry by Kazuki.

But the problem was that currently they didn't have any means to defeat the red slime.

The mission was to defeat the Demon Beasts, but if they didn't escape from here somehow······!

"······Nihility of ancient times, the nothingness residing inside this heart, become the freezing breath. The streaming silence of rejection, freeze and be silent······Glacier Wind!!"

A chilly wind blew from next to Kazuki. That was the breath of a mermaid. The red slime that assaulted Kazuki was frozen in the blink of an eye because of the wind. ——Ice attribute summoning magic!

"Hiakari-san!? ······Thank you! So you came to save us!"

Turning around, over there was the mystical classmate clad in magic dress that resembled a white leotard. Hiakari Koyuki, who is standing there with no expression.

Her attitude toward Kazuki was sharply aloof, identical with her sharp ears that was the characteristic of elf.

"When I thought that we received the same quest by chance······this is a totally shameful sight, isn't it? You are only a hindrance if you can't fight already, how about you just go back home."

After moving her sight toward the naked Mio briefly, Koyuki briskly turned her back to Kazuki.

"······Hiakari-san, be careful of the blue slime okay!"

Identical with the red slime that radiated heat, the blue slime also radiated chilly air.

That was why there was no doubt that the blue slime had strong resistance against cold.

Koyuki's ear twitched hearing Kazuki's warning, but without even glancing back, her figure disappeared between the strange trees that grows wildly inside this Haunted Ground.

"······No choice then, let's return to the academy for the moment Mio."

Kazuki talked to Mio who was in his arm. All of this was the swordsman's responsibility because he couldn't protect the rearguard.

"······Kazu-niii" Mio who was carried in the arms, naked, released a drowsy sweet voice.

"Mio? Now that I think about it, are you fine being attacked by a slime like that?"

"Kazu-nii······my chest is hot, my body, my chest and stomach are itching······"

Mio hugged Kazuki tightly. Somehow her condition was strange.

While being bothered where to look, Kazuki peeked at Mio's face. Her face flushed red like she got cold, her eyes were intoxicated like they saw a hallucination, released rough panting breath from her half-opened lips.

······Perhaps it was because of the hot liquid from before!

That liquid melted the magic dress. Magic dress was created from magic power, namely the force of will. If that was melted then——that liquid was a poison that influenced the mind!

No wait, rather then poison, this liquid was······a type of sake and aphrodisiac······.

"Kazu-nii······I love you! I love you I love you, I love you so much!! Hug me more!!"

Heart marks scattered around, Mio pushed her bare-naked breast and her legs coiled around. A sweet scent resembling milk drifted in the air. Her sighs hitting the neck were hot and amorous.

This is bad. This situation is very bad! ······If we don't escape to place where there were no Demon Beasts and people then···!

Her sanity should return if time passed for a short while , and then she could reform her magic dress.

······If I don't preserve my reasoning power until that time, then in this strange situation, towards Mio I will···!

"I am the swordsman of Hayashizaki style! No way I'll lose to this kind of temptation!!"

While shouting 'UOOOOOO!' Kazuki was running throughout the forest carrying the soft body of Mio.

Part 2

Going back in time three hours before——

"Traveling in a train like this, somehow it feels like a trip, isn't it~"

Kazuki and Mio, both of them wearing uniform sat side by side inside the magic light train.

"Don't get relaxed too much okay. The quest is an actual combat you know."

Kazuki made a bitter face toward the partner who wasn't nervous at all in their first quest.

Though having said that, it's not like Kazuki didn't understand what Mio said. Today hit the Golden Week, it had been one month since the enrollment. The pleasantly warm breeze of the late spring season poured from the window, repeatedly blowing the nape of their neck.

"Kazuki also feel this mood right? Waking up early in the morning and making onigiri. What is the ingredient?"

"This is for the preparation if the quest turned out to take a long time you know!? Canned tuna and salted salmon roe."

"My favorite dish from a long time ago. So you remember!"

Mio's face was bursting with smile along with a heart mark that came flying toward Kazuki.

That heart mark was sucked into Kazuki's magic dress, the <Solomon Ring>.

This ring received the change of positivity levels of other people and had the power to measure them.

In the span of one month since meeting with the former childhood friend, her positivity level had thoroughly gone up.

Mio looked around the surrounding restlessly to confirm if there was no other passenger.

"Kazu-nii, wake me up when we arrive~"

Mio approached and leaned her head to Kazuki's shoulder.

"Are you intending to sleep before fighting!?" As expected Kazuki was surprised.

"It's okay, I'm not really sleeping. I just want to do this······"

While saying that Mio clutched Kazuki's hand like she was entwining their finger together. 'gatangoton' Within the vibration of the train's movement, Kazuki stayed silent while feeling Mio's body temperature.

Humankind obtained the power of magic and met with the residents of a parallel dimension who are called Diva.

——Thereupon an outbreak of phenomenon called <CancerExtraordinary Malignant Spot> happened.

Tearing off the world, from there the magic power of a parallel world, Distorted WorldAstrum, spilled over. The spilled magic power transformed into the form of Demon Beasts and spirit. Demon Beasts attacked humans, the surrounding space where the Demon Beasts gathered was polluted by magic power and became Demon Beasts' soil where humans couldn't live——the Haunted Ground.

The defense organization that protected Japan's public order, the Knight Order had three main duty, [Defense against the invasion of other country], [Suppression of illegal magician], and [Subjugation of Demon Beast · liberation of Haunted Ground].

Because of the frequent terror attacks against the Knight Order performed by a group of illegal magician [Loki's Einherjar] led by Loki of Norse Mythology, the Knight Order didn't have enough hand to perform their original duty.

To compensate for that, the knight training academy that Hayashizaki Kazuki attended——The National Knight Academy <Caryatid>, gave the work that the Knight Order couldn't finish to the students in the form of a quest.

The students formed parties and challenged the quest in place of the Knight Order.

The Haunted Ground's location was a few minutes walk from the station.

The Haunted Ground's surrounding was covered by a fence, the civilians were prohibited from entering.

Demon Beast attacked humans instinctively, however Demon Beasts couldn't come out of the surrounding space that hadn't been transformed into Haunted Ground. They mostly took defensive stances and only attacked humans that invaded the Haunted Ground.

Haunted Ground became the production base of Demon Beasts. It further encroached the surrounding area because of the Demon Beasts' propagation and kept expanding.

Inevitably, the people that originally lived in the soil that became Haunted Ground were evacuated.

Like this, the longer the Haunted Ground was left alone, it would become an out of control situation.

The dispatching of the Knight Order prioritized the urban area at any cost while forest and mountain Haunted Grounds were postponed easily and tend to be distributed as quest for Knight Academy's students.

Kazuki and Mio headed for the only entrance of Haunted Ground, the gate. Old personEx-knight was standing guard at the gate to check the people that entered the Haunted Ground.

"We were dispatched from the Knight Academy and came here, please give us the entry authorization."

"······Cheh, the academy brats huh. Moreover, only two came."

The guard spat out in a whisper and started the processing of Kazuki and Mio's entry.

"Why doesn't the Knight Order come here themselves, they are making light of the refugees here. ······Then I'll do the scan, so flow your magic power into your Stigma until it shines. Hm? What is this stigma?"

The guard put his hand and scanned the magic light of the stigma at the back of Kazuki's hand with <Scanner Device>. Next, Mio's stigma was also scanned by peeking into her neck from the back.

Thereupon, the device did the comparison with the data that had arrived from the quest counter of the academy, and confirmed that Kazuki and Mio were the appointed person of an official quest.

"You're not a mere swordsman, it became a hot topic some times ago, someone who received Enigma despite being a man. Although as expected, your magic power seems to be low compared to the woman huh. Don't overdo yourself until it becomes a situation where we need to call reinforcements, okay?"

After seeing off Kazuki and Mio, the guard entered the gate's post, Mio pulled her eyelid down and sticked out her tongue.

"What is that, saying things like just a student or just a man, making fool of us! If I and Kazuki unite, we are unrivaled! Starting from now is the beginning of the legend of me and Kazuki !!"

"······Mio saying things like unrivaled or legend, however you heard it, it only sounds like failure flags."

"Why are you saying things like that~!!"

While advancing forward with Mio hitting Kazuki repeatedly, the scenery gradually changed into strange crooked things. It was a country road that could exists anywhere, but it changed into wetlands filled with moisture, and the surrounding trees' color changed into poisonous color. The Demon Beasts' presence were starting to drift around in the surrounding.

······And then three hours later, Mio's flag splendidly turned into reality.

Part 3

Mio cast her eyes down in shame and blushing bright red while going home in the magic light train sitting side by side.

"······hey, how much did you see······?"

How much, was it? It was about the matter with the mucus and tentacle some times ago wasn't it?

"I swear I didn't see most of it, the tentacles were in the way."

"Af, after that too I was naked for quite long right!? Though I don't remember it well······"

"After that I didn't watch your body too. It was obvious that time I was in the middle of fighting you know."

"······Then Kazuki, you really don't have any interest at me after all?"

Mio glared at Kazuki with sulking eyes. Why did it became like that······.

"Talking about that, what kind of condition happened to you at that time?"

Was it something like aphrodisiac that manipulated the mind, or was it like drinking alcohol and then losing all restraint and made merry like drunk——which one was it? Mio's face became increasingly bright red because of Kazuki's inquiry.

"Don't remember, I don't remember! I don't remember anything at all!"

"As expected, a two men party might be too difficult."

Kazuki changed the topic and Mio, taken aback, raised her head.

"I don't wanna. I don't want a strange guy added to my party and Kazuki!!"

"But······with only us at the moment, the breadth of our tactics are too narrow."

The current Kazuki and Mio——cannot use attack magic other than flame element. Like today, if they encountered enemy that had resistance toward flame and heat then a hard fight was inevitable.

But with strong expression Mio shaked her head.

"It's fine! I······will become even stronger for sure!! To the extent that we won't ever need any other people!!"

Kazuki had a feeling it was not a problem that could be solved simply by growing strong. But toward Mio that grasped his hand and stared hard to him with upturned eyes, Kazuki lost his words and couldn't say anything.

······However if I could use a lot more magic, than this problem would be settled.

Kazuki's contracted Diva——Solomon's small keyLemegeton was a unique Diva who had the [Power of King] to control Solomon 72 Pillar.

That ability was the ability to be able to use all 10 of the characteristic magics owned by the other Solomon 72 Pillar. In contrast with normal Diva that could only used 10 variety of magic, Lemegeton could use at maximum 720 variety of magic. The problem of [the width of tactics were narrow] would became irrelevant, an extraordinary existence.

But that ability had conditions. If Kazuki couldn't make other Magica Stigma became lovestruck with him, then he wouldn't be able to use that ability. Currently Kazuki could use the same summoning magic of [Phoenix] like Mio because he was able to make the contractor of Phoenix, Mio to fall for him.

He could also use only two of Kaguya-senpai's summoning magic, but ······they were not magic really suitable for quest.

I wanted to become strong and protected Mio. But for that purpose than with other girl I'd need to······.

Unconciously Kazuki poured magic power into Solomon's ring, magic light vision floated in front of Kazuki's eyes. A graph of the girls positivity level that only Kazuki could see was projected there.

The graphs extending horizontally like they were competing before one's eyes were also provided with number.

Amasaki Mio——124 Otonashi Kaguya——75 Hiakari Koyuki——46 Hoshikaze Hikaru——39

Mio was staying quiet motionlessly, before long the magic light train stopped in the station in front of the knight academy.

——Like that the two person's first quest that they challenged in the golden week was over without leaving behind any result.

Part 4

"Amasaki Mio will fall into rank B for sure is she keep this up."

After school end at the first day of class after golden week——Kazuki was called to the staff room. There the homeroom teacher, Liz Liza Westwood spouted a shocking word out of the blue.

"Eh?" Liz Liza-sensei who had a figure that completely looked like a child, continued her strict words toward Kazuki, who leaked an idiotic voice.

"Losing to rank E like you was already fatal. And then after that she failed a quest, her evaluation has dropped drastically. If she keeps this up she will be demoted to rank B."

"Ple, please wait a second! Certainly she hasn't brought any result yet, but it's obvious her true power is one of the best compared to her surrounding, right!?"

"There are also other students who grew remarkably. Chances must be given equally."

First year students who were evaluated as [rank A] from the academy could stay in dedicated dormitory for the student council, [Witch's Mansion] as a privilege. There, they could receive introduction to magic from the senpais in the student council.

Demotion from rank A to rank B means eviction from the Witch's Mansion.

Kazuki was rank E, but because of the special circumstance of being contracted with a mysterious Diva, he could live in the Witch's Mansion so the student council president could safeguard (and monitoring) him.

Mio wouldn't be in Witch's Mansion anymore. Even though they were finally getting along again like the old time.

"Right now with Loki acting violently, the situation is that the student have to receive quests rapidly. Real ability that cannot produce any result cannot be valued. Even if she is a rank A, but if she is slacking off, being demoted might fire her up though."

Loki attacked the branches of the Knight Order in the whole country every few days, but before real interception even began, they only fought a little and escaped immediately. As though they were just ridiculing the opponent.

It seems there was still nothing that resulted in death but it became that the Knight Order needed to be constantly vigilant against attack. At the same time, the investigation for Loki's hiding location must also be done.

Like that the duties that became neglected were distributed to the students as quest.

Originally the quest system was intended for the students' personal learning experience, however in the current emergency situation, they were completely regarded as precious war potential.

Because there were strong bashing from society regarding the coercion of students into actual battle, the quest even now was formally a [practical class that student accepted voluntarily], but——rank A student like Mio was constantly under untold heavy pressure and expectation to produce results.

"······But Mio is not slacking off at all!"

Since forming a party with Kazuki, every morning Mio always stealthily performed magic training as if to hide it from him——though Kazuki who was very sharp toward any magic power outbreak noticed it immediately.

"It's because rank E like me dragged her feet."

"Fuhn, my eyes is not so blind that I still thought your real ability is still the same with your current rank."

"······Why does this matter not told to the person herself, but instead told to me?"

"Both of you are in a two-man party, aren't you? If you think that girl's evaluation is undeserved then you have to support your teammate."

If I could support her than I wanted to do so. I really wanted to do that, but for that to happen······.

"The quickest and easiest way for me is to add Hiakari Koyuki to your party, I also thought that if you can use that chance to become closer with her than it will be two birds with one stone."

A glint of light appeared in Liz Liza-sensei's eyes. Liz Liza-sensei also knew about Leme's special characteristics.

Maybe from the start she called me here to say that matter.

"······Neither Mio nor Hiakari-san will agree to form a party together though."

"Fuhn, it's evident that your sense of danger is not enough that you're being so particular about this. ······By the way, this is a completely different topic, but in the case that you became friendly with a magician that has a contract with a Diva other than Solomon 72 Pillar, what would happen? Can you also draw the ability from that Diva?"

Liz Liza-sensei asked about a topic that really had no relation at all with the topic until now.

Lemegeton materialized besides Kazuki.

She was a completely nude little girl the first time she appeared in front of Kazuki, but with her power returned little by little, her stature already grew reaching about an elementary student's size and a one-piece tunic covered her body.

With Leme regaining her power due to Kazuki's friendlier relations with various girls, her original form was also slowly returning. It was a wonder what kind of form her original appearance was as Diva.

"With Diva other than Solomon 72 Pillar, as long the other party has the will to cooperate with Leme, then Leme can draw that Diva's characteristic magic you know-. However it's considerably a rare case for such Diva of other mythology to cooperate with Leme though-. Fundamentally the relation between mythology are running counter with each other."

"Hmm, is that so?"

While looking down, Liz Liza-sensei whispered 'Is there any worth in testing this······'.

Testing? ······In Japan contracting with Diva other than Solomon 2 Pillar was illegal. There should be no chance of getting along with illegal magician, but······

"Understood. It's okay for you to go back now." Liz Liza-sensei waved her hand like she was chasing Kazuki out.

An unexpected character was waiting for Kazuki when he came out of the staff room.

"Kazuki. Were you messing up something that you were getting called by sensei? ······mugu."

Because of her small build, she didn't enter into Kazuki's sight and that character ran her face into Kazuki's chest and leaked that 'mugu' voice. Even though that kind of voice was still said coolly······

"Hiakari-san!? ······Are you okay?"

Kazuki supported the girl's shoulder in panic, though the girl said "I'm fine" and shook off that hand.

"Rather than that, please don't ignore my question. Why were you called?"

"Aaa, that was······Because of the failed quest yesterday, Liz Liza-sensei came to give a warning that if our evaluation keep declining like this, it will become serious trouble. It's because I'm a rank E you see."

Kazuki immediately explained while shading off about Mio's matter. Koyuki's expression 'mu' became stiff hearing that.

"······It's unreasonable isn't it? Kazuki had won in a duel against rank A, so failing a quest just once shouldn't make your evaluation drop."

"Does Hiakari-san worry about my problem?"

When Kazuki started walking to the Witch's Mansion, the girl also came alongside him.

"It's not that. It's not worry or anything, I don't care whatever happened to you. It's just, I thought I want to say my thanks where there is nobody······. If it's not now, whether Amasaki-san, or the president, or little sister-san, somebody will be around you."

The girl said thank you and bowed her head.

"······By any chance, is it about the slime's attribute at yesterday's quest?"

"Yes. Thanks to that I could finish the quest successfully. If not for Kazuki's advice, I'd lost my composure when I found out about the blue slime's resistance to cold and might have fallen into a predicament."

Yesterday's quest was about holding back the encroachment of the Haunting Ground in western Tokyo's forest.

Koyuki annihilating all the Demon Beast that lived in that Haunted Ground——did not happen, it seems exterminating one area of the Demon Beast and liberating the area part by part was already considered as success.

If there was no Demon Beast in the Haunted Ground, then the plot of land would return to how it was originally. Poisonous plants grew densely and that Haunted Ground became marshland, but if the Demon Beast were all gone then it should return back to the original forest.

"But how did Hiakari-san defeat the slime that had strong resistance against ice Summoning Magic?"

"My contracted Diva, Vepar, rules over cold and water. I suffocated it to death by water magic."

"······Eh? Does slime need to breath? Was it foaming inside the water?"

"I tested it half in doubt······yet it died. I don't think it had an organ for breathing like mouth or lung, so perhaps it breath's by using the surface of the cell. And then it was a living thing that had its activity on the land so I thought that it didn't have any structure to take oxygen from the water. Just like earthworm that can breath through its skin inside the earth, but it dies by suffocation above the asphalt."

If you think about it, as long as it was a living thing, excepting some small exception, then it should need oxygen for its activity. Even though the Demon Beast was the resident of a fantasy world, there were many things that had similar motif with the real world, like dragon that closely resembled a lizard.

Demon Beast's ecology and traits were still not understood.

But when we challenged quests from now on, there was no doubt that we would need to observe unknown Demon Beast calmly and do trial and error with various elements magic and fighting style.

I and Mio couldn't do that——the girl in front of me could do that.

"······As I thought Hiakari-san, won't you enter our party?"

Koyuki knitted her eyebrow sullenly toward Kazuki's proposal.

"Because you failed the quest and fell into a pinch, you want me to lend you some help?"

"Sorry, frankly I'm weak. Besides compared to us, this time Hiakari-san was mostly okay, but even so going solo is dangerous. I think it's better to team up with someone even if not with us."

"Weak? You are not weak, rather isn't it Amasaki-san who lost in duel against you that is weak? For example······as it is that girl will be demoted in rank B, won't she?"

Koyuki took a deep breath toward Kazuki who was startled, like she had seen through everything.

"I think if I enter the party because Kazuki is the one that is in danger then Amasaki-san will be able to accept it, but if it's because she herself that is in danger then······I think she will reject it resolutely you know. Her pride is high, and she also hates me."

"Certainly that girl's pride is high but······she doesn't hate Hiakari-san you know."

"She really hate me though. She came to oppose me in every single thing."

"That's not it, Mio said 'I don't want a strange guy added to the party!'. In short that means, if it's not a strange person then it's okay to add them to the party. And then Hiakari-san is not a strange person! So it's all okay!"

"······What the heck is that? That logic you said was really pushing it. I am a plenty strange girl."

"Hiakari-san is not someone strange at all. You are an extremely kind person, aren't you? When I was made fun in the class introduction because I said that my special skill was sword skill, Hiakari-san said that sword is not worthless and gave me some encouragement. How much those few words saved me. Even the time when I became friendless in the class, only Hiakari-san was impartial regarding me. Hiakari-san is a girl that is fair and hate discrimination and bullying. I feel respect toward that kindness and strength."

"Wai, what are you saying······"

Koyuki's expressionless face became stiff toward Kazuki, who started to talk passionately while tightly gripping his fist.

"Beside that, you also have calm judgement, there were already many times when Hiakari-san saved me from tight spots. Kind, strong, and cool, there is no way a girl this reliable exist."

"That is······my only worth is magic battle, that's why······"

"Hiakari-san is too humble saying that kind of thing so quickly. But everytime I was doing some housework, Hiakari-san always watched me patiently and saying 'Thank you' honestly. Even though Hiakari-san disliked it when I invited you to do the housework together. For me, everytime I did some housework, I was thinking that I want to receive Hiakari-san's delight. Hiakari-san is showing a cold attitude, but in truth you are a warm person."

"Tha, that was because of my incompetence, that I gave you some trouble so······"

Hiakari-san look downward while blushing red. A heart mark flew from her chest.

"······Certainly Hiakari-san is unsociable, so maybe there are some misunderstanding from the surrounding people. However I'm absolutely not overlooking Hiakari-san's charms! If Mio doesn't notice Hiakari-san's charm, then I will keep talking to her to make her understand how good a person Hiakari-san is!! Yosh, I'll immediately do the campaign to show Hiakari-san's charm from now on!!"

"······Ple, please stop, to campaign like that!"

Koyuki gripped and pulled back Kazuki's sleeve and raised a loud voice which was unusual from her. A small skull mark that look like a speck floated from her chest. That was a proof that her positivity level dropped a little.

Koyuki released 'haa' a long breath, and said "What a person, that can't be helped huh."

"Are you an idiot? That talk just now, if you do that to Amasaki-san it will have opposite effect you know."

"Why? I thought that Mio will properly understand Hiakari-san's charm though."

"She wouldn't want to hear that kind of thing from your mouth······you are really a person that don't understand a girl's heart. Somehow it makes me angry······"

In the mean time they had arrived at the Witch's mansion and stopped in the garden.

The door opened and Mio came flying from the living room.

"Kazuki! Welcome home, where did you go just now······eh, Hiakari······!"

When she noticed Koyuki besides Kazuki, Mio quickly stopped and glared at Koyuki.

Toward that look, with disinterested voice Koyuki——announced.

"Amasaki Mio, I challenged you to a duel."

Kazuki and Mio froze because of those unexpected words. They didn't understand what that meant.

"You who lost a duel against rank E and exposed unsightly, disgraceful behavior in a quest will be demoted to rank B if you keep this up. If that happen then you won't be able to stay here."

"I, I will be rank B!? And then······from this place······"

"Hiakari-san! Why are you saying that!?"

Kazuki whose complexion changed pressed the question but Koyuki abruptly glared back to Kazuki.

"I refused your invitation, it was troublesome. Annoying. Besides······Besides if the person herself doesn't have any real ability and she got dropped into a suitable rank, isn't that for her own good? A person without any real strength that keep insisting she is rank A is, unsightly. I will hand the requiem for such person."

Koyuki announced to Mio who was still frozen in shock with an absolute zero gaze.

"······Amasaki Mio. If you lost to me then you will be demoted to rank B immediately. So, will you accept my duel challenge? ······I don't mind even if you turned tail and run though."

Mio's expression who had high pride was turned red in rage in a blink.

"There······There is no way that I'll run, right!? Before it was the rank E Kazuki who challenged me to duel, and now it is you who challenge me to a duel······Bring it on!"

Far from turning tail, Mio pointed her finger to Koyuki with her twintails shaking.

"I'll finish you quick and easy and prove that I am an appropriate rank A for sure!!"

Certainly if Mio fought equally or more against Koyuki whose rank was A, Mio might be able to prove that demotion to rank B is not appropriate for her. However······

"Please wait, calm down! If you lose you won't be able to stay here you know!?"

"Shut up Kazuki!"

"······Then please wait outside. I'll call senpai and sensei so they can become the witnesses needed for the duel."

Koyuki slipped from the side of Mio whose blood had risen to her head and climbed the stairs.

"······Kaguya-senpai, why did you acknowledged this kind of duel?"

The students of knight academy could perform <Duel> under the presence of the student council.

Duel was a mock battle performed under a safe rule where if each other's magic power were shaved until zero then the attack stopped. Acknowledgement was needed from the student council president for its execution.

The student council president of MagicaMagic Division——Kaguya-senpai, if it was her I thought she would stop this quarrel.

"Nnn······because when I heard the circumstance, I thought this was for the best?"

"So you think that using the principle of strength to decide right and wrong is the best······is it?"

Fundamentally senpai was kind, but she also had an aspect where she was a person with strict principle of strength.

"That's not it······maa, let's just see what will happen, ok? Come on, it's starting."

Kaguya-senpai pointed at the center of the ground. Over there were——Mio and Koyuki facing each other with distance of 50 meters between them according to the custom. The referee standing between them was Hoshikaze-senpai.

Kazuki, Liz Liza-sensei, and others were attending in the guest seat that surrounded the ground.

"······Amasaki Mio had made up her mind huh. But to show whether she has the strength as rank A or not, certainly this is the easiest set up to understand."

That was what sensei said. Because this duel was performed so suddenly, there were no other curious students that were watching.

"Shem ha-MephorashI know thy name······Thy name are [Phoenix] ······Namely a poet, transform to magician! Poetic bird toying logic with its sweet tongue, show thy strength in accordance with my life!"

"Shem ha-MephorashI know thy name······Thy name are [Vepar] ······Mermaid singer imparting icy thoughts, shed drops of tear of sadness in this world."

Both of them performed AccessAstrum Connection at the same time. Mio was wrapped with orange magic power's light while the wing stigmata floated up on her back, her figure transformed into a red magic dress.

Koyuki was emitting blue light while scale shaped stigmata floated up on both her thighs, her body was wrapped in a white magic dress. Kazuki's breath was taken away, he was pressured instinctively by the figure of the two confronting each other.

——Duel of fellow Magica Stigma. If he thought about it, this was the first time Kazuki watched this kind of thing.

Their specialty respectively were, flame magic used by Mio, and ice magic used by Koyuki.

"Well then······Begin!" With that cry, Hoshikaze-senpai pushed the trigger of the duel.

Both Mio and Koyuki emitted magic power's light at the same time and began the chanting of the spell.

The one who finished her chant first was——Koyuki. An avatar of a mermaid floated on her back.

"Glacier Wind!"

Chilly winds blew across the fifty meter distance. Mio who was concentrating on her spell's chant couldn't defend against that, defensive magic power protected her body from the chill.

Defensive magic power——the body couldn't be inflicted with injury, but in exchange large amount of magic power was exhausted.

However Mio's concentration on her spell was not interrupted, she retaliated and invoked her magic one move late.

"······Barrett!!"

This time Koyuki was hit by the familiar flame of bullet. Blue light of defensive magic power scattered around Koyuki too.

"First was confirming each other's chanting speed using the level 1 offense summoning magic. If it were swordsmen, then it's like confirming each other's range. ······The fight will start from here."

Kaguya-senpai whispered from Kazuki's side.

Koyuki's side was faster in spell chanting speed. In other words——the receiver side was turned to Mio.

"Kuh. ······Burn out all that were touched······No person to depend on, scorching heat of denial! Repelling Flame ArmorSelf Burning!"

Mio first solidified her defense and chanted defense magic. Her whole body was covered with flame armor.

To activate spell, first the magician need to request for magic phenomenon to Diva in Astrum using Programmingimperative statement.

Because the target of defense magic like Self Burning was their own body, the time needed to transmit the Targetingcoordinate designation to the Diva could be omitted, the spell could be invoked quickly.

"······Divine protection of mermaid, halt the advance of the hateful enemy, expedite the advance of the chosen person······. Run oh ice blade! Skating Rink Grand DancingMoves in the Field!"

Koyuki also finished chanting her spell——cold air was starting to spread from the girl's underfoot and in the blink of eye the ground had been frozen. Mio carelessly tried to move and her foot slipped.

On the other hand, by using cold air Koyuki created ice shoes with edge attached in both her feet similar to skating shoes, she sped up and slid across the fifty meter distance in one go.

"Does Hiakari-san plan to enter close combat!?"

As might be expected from someone who fight solo, it seems her Vepar was an all-purpose Diva.

Koyuki approached Mio who couldn't move her body and did a dance-like jump. ——Her visible white leotard coupled with her magic dress, it was as though the performance of a figure skater had began.

And then while Koyuki spun in the air, a sharp kick using the edge of the ice shoes visited Mio. The slash of the sharp ice managed to pierced the flame armor.

However the instant Koyuki's kick landed, Mio concentrated the fire of her whole body in one spot using psychokinesis. Koyuki's kick was swallowed inside the fierce growing fire unexpectedly.

The ice shoes evaporated inside the over-concentrated flame, making Koyuki's kick powerless.

"——!?" Koyuki opened her eyes in surprise because of the practical skill Mio showed using common magic.

And then the moment Koyuki did icing on her foot again——Mio read that timing and shifted to attack.

"Flame Emperor FoundingFire Wall!"

Fissures ran in the ground that Koyuki froze under her feet, from there flames blew up.

"Singing voice of mermaid, manifest the frozen thought! Sorrow turn into ice flower, solitude turn into light snow······cover the world in cold nothingness!! Silent Pure WhiteWhite Album!!"

However Koyuki too was already chanting a different large-scale spell since she was sliding on the ice surface.

The surrounding of Koyuki and Mio were repainted with different space. It became a world of winter blizzard.

In the space covered with cold——the flame wall blew up from Koyuki's underfoot, the flame armor covering Mio's whole body, everything were vanished by the cold.

The alternate space that Koyuki produced also had used up its energy and the surrounding returned to normal space.

But an ice shoes was still left behind in one of Koyuki's feet.

"Fuh!" Using an unexpectedly beautiful form, Koyuki released a high kick hunting the neck. Drawing a silver line resembling an Iai's slash, the ice edge ripped apart Mio's magic power.

A splendorous arching kick pursued Mio who staggered powerlessly from the impact of smashed magic power.

"Mioo!!"

"Otouto-kun, so you lost your cool if it was about Mio-chan huh······I might be a little jealous."

Kaguya-senpai smiled bitterly beside Kazuki.

"Even while Mio-chan was receiving damage, she still continued to chant a different spell, you see."

Kazuki sharpened his senses and finally saw, Mio who looked like she was at her wit's end from the kick······certainly waves of magic power could be felt. And then that was——an explosion happened all of sudden.

"Maybe Otouto-kun values Mio-chan so much that you underestimate her. You consider her as someone who you have to protect at all cost······certainly Koyuki-chan is superior at the amount of her innate magic power, but even with that, both of them are——equal."

"Immortal bird soaring from dusk to dawn, grant that wing of hope on my back! Destruction for the sake of rebirth, here! Ash Ember Ending in Crimson WingBlazing Wings!"

Mio chanted the spell in dignified voice. ······Phoenix's level 5 summoning magic!

An enormous flame sprouted from Mio's back, transformed into wings of flame with the width of ten-odd meters.

Mio slammed the wings of flame toward Koyuki, this time it was her turn to attack.

However while receiving the enormous fire to her body, Koyuki also carried out the spell of high level magic.

"······Sinking hundred of ships, the menace of sea lurking inside the depths of the sea! Rising to the surface guided by my singing voice······show that whole tale! ······Pierce through, oh fangs! Iceberg Grand WavesIce Buster!!"

Koyuki slapped her palm onto the ground——from there a great number of iceberg flew out.

The emerging icebergs soared fiercely to the sky toward the flying Mio to skewer her. Mio slammed her flame wing to oppose one of the iceberg assaulting her.

Large scale destruction magics crashed into each other, flame and ice offset each other mutually.

"Mio-chan is really skilled at manipulating magic power from Astrum you know. If she falls into a pinch she is able to draw out a large amount of magic from Astrum."

The alternate world connected from the depth of the mental world——Astrum, enormous magic power of the root of human's mind rolled in whirlpool inside that world.

When human's magic power reached the bottom, human's mind could access Astrum and drew magic power from there. However if someone carelessly drew magic power from Astrum, that human's mind would be the one that was pulled into Astrum and there would be risk of falling into fainting states, that state was called <Magic Intoxication>.

"Mio-chan in a pinch can unconsciously pull and use large amount of magic power that will make normal people faint into magic intoxication. When she was cornered to the brink she became strong, using abnormal utter gutsiness. This is one kind of talent that won't even lose to Koyuki-chan, see."

"Now that senpai mentioned it······I've never seen her faint because of magic intoxication."

"Koyuki-chan's Ice Buster is a level 6 magic. Mio-chan should lose if she clashed from the front. However even now······Mio-chan is still chanting her spell further!"

Mio's flame wings kept weakening because it's losing to the glaciers that kept coming one after another.

"Blazing······Wings!"

However with a strained voice, Mio chanted the spell even more. Two consecutive level 5 magic!

The regenerated wing of flame was tiding over against the glaciers, on the contrary it even pushed back the glaciers.

Even against an elf like Koyuki that should have extraordinary magic power, gradually the bottom was starting to become visible, finally——

"It's over!" The referee, Hoshikaze-senpai, stopped the battle.

For the safety in the duel, the duel would be stopped when the magic power was shaved until the point where it reached critical section.

Both of them used up all of their energy and willpower at the same time, Koyuki sat on the ground, Mio too fell down and squatted from the momentum. Both of their magic dresses released light and returned back to their uniforms.

"It won't have any persuasion power if she is demoted after showing high level battle until this point, huh."

Liz Liza-sensei who was spectating silently until now whispered with a sigh.

"In the case of a draw, the evaluation of the side with lower rank will be upped slightly. Hiakari Koyuki is the top of her grade, so in this case Amasaki Mio's evaluation will be upped. ······Hiakari, you didn't go easy on your opponent deliberately right?"

"······With Amasaki-san as the opponent······there wouldn't be any room for that······"

Koyuki who sat down said that looking completely exhausted.

"······Everyone······overestimated me too much because I'm an elf······"

"Fun. With this Amasaki will keep her rank for a while. But as long she can't clear a quest then this is no more than a stopgap measure."

Leaving those words behind Liz Liza-sensei went back to the direction of the school building.

"Mio!" Kazuki who heard Liz Liza-sensei's word rushed over to Mio who was crouching down and breathing roughly, looking liked she had just finished a marathon.

Even while totally exhausted, Mio fought to the bitter end to float a smiling face and showed a V-sign to Kazuki.

Part 5

After the dinner Kazuki knocked Koyuki's door.

"Please come in." With that permission, Kazuki opened the door with a little nervousness.

What entered the eyes was——bookshelf.

"······This room look completely like library huh."

Smell of books pierced the nose. There was no element of girl's atmosphere at all, what were inside were only bookshelves made from steel that could be stowed with book both in the front and in the back, aside from a bed and a desk there were only bookshelves lined orderly in this room.

"There are always times remained to read books anyways."

Between the gap of the bookshelves, Koyuki could be seen sitting on her bed wearing her usual underwear along with white shirt. An old rabbit stuffed toy was propped up besides the bed. That was the only color scheme in this room.

"······That appearance again as expected, it's troubling where to put my eyes though······"

Kazuki's eyes keep getting attracted to the gap between the shirts hem and shirttail. Glimpses of white clothes and a girl's legs keep appearing and disappearing. But he raised his line of sight with strong willpower and stared at the girl's face.

"I don't want to change my lifestyle just for the sake of your eyes' convenience."

"——If that's the case, I'll watch Hiakari-san as much as I want then."

Kazuki said that to try to bully her even though he actually didn't has the intention of watching for real. Koyuki was startled because of that.

"Why······why would you do that? There is nothing worth seeing anyway in the body of someone like me."

"Hasn't I said it many times before that Hiakari-san is beautiful. I'm going to push you down soon you know."

"You don't have that kind of courage right? Even though you have Amasaki-san."

······Why did she mentioned Mio there?

Koyuki closed her thighs while fidgeting, and then "What kind of business do you have?" glared at Kazuki scornfully.

"Hiakari-san was······regarding today's duel, did you know from the beginning that it would turn out like this?"

"You too are saying that I was going easy in that fight, is that so?"

"Even if Hiakari-san were not going easy on that duel, but if two people with equal ability dueled each other then it would become a draw. If that happened then Mio would keep her rank. Because Hiakari-san thought that, that's why Hiakari-san challenged Mio to duel, am I right?"

"I didn't think anything like that at all. I just wanted to hand Amasaki-san her requiem because your invitation was annoying, that's all."

"When Hiakari-san requested the duel, I was panicked because I didn't know what were you thinking, but······certainly rather than challenging the quest once more, the possibility that Mio could keep her rank is higher if both Hiakari-san and Mio battled each other, I realized it after the duel finished."

"I didn't think anything like that at all. I just wanted to hand that girl's requiem because it was annoying how much you and her flirted in this mansion, that's all."

"Thank you Hiakari-san. As I thought, Hiakari-san is a cool, kind, and reliable person."

"······Please listen when people talk. I'm getting angry you know."

"But on top of that I also have a request······in any event Hiakari-san has to enter our party."

If the girl really acted for Mio's sake then——as expected I want to fight together with her and become comrade, that was what Kazuki thought.

"I don't want. ······I don't want to have any illicit relation in the place of battle. I hate party like yours and Amasaki-san where you two keep flirting."

"Be, before too Hiakari-san mentioned about flirting, but I never flirted with her before!"

"I know that. If I'm going to party with someone, then I expect to have a mercenary relationship."

"I think I can understand that kind of sentiment. But isn't it lonely to fight like that without any rapport with your comrade? You can't even encouraged each other in difficult time with that kind of relationship."

"Searching for something like contact of feeling in battle is strange. If you have that kind of wish, then get someone other than me······"

"I want to party together with Hiakari-san, and then get along better with Hiakari-san."

Toward Kazuki's proclamation——Koyuki averted her face like she was running away from that straight forward gaze.

"······I hate it, speaking thing like that frankly!"

Despite saying how she dislike that kind of thing, a heart mark floated from Koyuki's chest and absorbed into the ring. The girl's positivity level was raised up to 48.

As expected, the girl's heart and words were always contrary.

"······Even though she was doing nothing but flirting with you, today's Amasaki-san was strong. Where does that kind of will power come from. I'm looking at her in new light, just a little."

"It's not flirting, precisely because we are together with each other that we also become stronger."

Toward that, Koyuki didn't give any reply and ignoring Kazuki altogether, she crawled into her futon.

"In any case I refuse to party with you. Please get out already from the room."

While turning her back to Kazuki, Koyuki hugged her rabbit stuffed toy inside the futon.

"······If you get more friendly with various girls, then the problem with your lack of battle tactics will also get resolved. Be more serious about the harem plan, oh my king."

When it became night, Leme said that while entering Kazuki's bed to sleep together at his side.

Because Leme materialized using Kazuki's magic power, it was better if she was near Kazuki as much as possible.

It was more economical and practical if she withdrew to Astrum, however as a girl it seemed having a real body and existing in present world as much as possible was much more comfortable.

"But, I don't want getting intimate with any girl without caring who she is just for the sake of getting stronger."

"But you are thinking that you want to get along better with Hiakari Koyuki right?"

"Aah······that's so but"

But this feeling was totally different with emotion of love, it should be only a matter of friendship and affinity with each other.

Even though her positivity level increased a little, but Hiakari-san hadn't opened her heart at all.

"——Kazuki, do you have time?"

While Kazuki closed his eyes and waiting for the arrival of sleepiness, Mio's voice came from the other side of the door.

"It's okay but······what kind of business is it that you come this night?"

"······My king, don't do a blunder that decreased positivity level. If you do that then the usable magic will also decrease."

After only whispering that, Leme withdrew to Astrum and her physical body disappeared.

Mio who wore a light crimson pajama entered the dark room inside timidly.

"Tonight······is it okay to sleep together?"

"Haa!?"

Kazuki raised his voice spontaneously, but without even waiting for reply Mio quickly crawled inside the futon.

"I'll say this first, there is no weird meaning about this! ······I'll get angry if you do strange thing okay!!"

While saying that Mio willfully pulled one of Kazuki's arms to the place where her head was located and using it as pillow.

Aroma of citrus fruit drifted from the honey colored hair with its twintail unfastened. The body was covered with pajama, but the cloths was thin, a girl's softness could be felt from the location where their body touched each other. Sweet heat that tickled a man's instinct filled the night.

"Wha, what is your intention, is this a test for my will power as a swordsman, is that it?"

"What are you talking about. ······Tonight just a little, I don't want to sleep alone. It's okay right? In our past, it looks like I was also took a nap together with Kazu-nii······"

Once Kazuki was living together with Mio in orphanage——at Nanohana institute there was time for nap after lunch. The one that was always in Kazuki's side at that time was Mio.

Around that time Mio was thought to be younger than Kazuki because her body was small, her existence was completely like a little sister. Remembering that——mysteriously Kazuki's heart calmed down.

"That's right isn't it, somehow it's a nostalgic feeling. But······was something happened?"

"······Yes. You see, for a long time since I was taken into Amasaki household, I've lived without relying to anyone. ······After all, I was an orphan. I couldn't show any weakness to my new family."

——Hearing that words, it was impossible for Kazuki to not be sympathetic.

"I'm saying this myself, but······I was training in desperation, struggling to the death. Because I was recognized from my talent of magic. On the way an enigma appeared on me and I was skipping grade, but even so I didn't lose to my surrounding, and then I entered the magic division as rank A······"

Kazuki was also the same. For a long time he thought that his only worth was his talent in sword, there was time when he couldn't believe his step-father and Kanae's [love as family].

That was surely the trauma that himself and Mio shared in common.

That's why he could understood somehow——when the tension was so high he almost snapped, surely there were moments when he wanted to be spoiled. However the time when he couldn't show his weakness to anyone, that was a bitterness like being suffocated n the bottom of darkness.

"The truth is that today is bitter too. Being told that I will be demoted to rank B, I have feeling that I will keep holding Kazuki back forever······"

Mio's voice was shaking inside the darkness of the room, her voice became tearful.

"But hadn't you prove your true strength? Both of you was strong. Sensei was surprised too."

"Yes, when I thought that I still can stay as rank A, that I still can stay in the Witch's Mansion, that I still can stay together with Kazuki······suddenly I wanted to feel Kazu-nii just like those old days."

While using Kazuki's arm as pillow, Mio nuzzled her face against his chest.

"That's why just like this is okay. If you do strange thing now then I'll get angry."

"I won't. For me, being just like this is okay too."

Mio was "hehehe" giggling like a child toward Kazuki's reply.

"······Hey, from now on it's okay to add someone to the party if Kazuki thought it is essential. I don't like if it is someone strange, but I won't say anything selfish anymore. ······As I thought, until now rather than prioritizing about battle, I was only worrying about different things. But in exchange, lend me your arms like this once in a while. I can feel that I will be together with Kazu-nii for a long time."

{Everyday is no good you know! If Leme's place is going to be gone then it's not allowed at all!}

Leme send her words from Astrum with telepathy in great panic.

While Mio moved her body closer to Kazuki, her breath started to 'suyasuya' and she slept soundly. Mio always had her face in displeasure immediately following their reunion, but her defenseless sleeping face was excessively lovely, and cute.

Suddenly——'Hiakari-san, is she sleeping while holding that stuffed toy right now?', a lonely imagination crossed Kazuki's head.

Translator's Notes and References

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