Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter1

Chapter 1: You are my contracted spirit

Part 1

In a quiet forest where the sun rays were shining through leaves. 

"Paa--"

Suddenly, the rippling sound of water resounded in the air.

Kamito, he--opened his mouth wide and just stood there.

A girl...In front of his eyes was a fully naked girl.

She was cute, extraordinarily cute. Her eyes were big and red like rubies, her cherry-red lips were wet and lustrous, her dazzling white flesh was as silky as milk, and on the surface of the water, her beautiful legs were slender and fine. Also, what caught his eyes more than anything was--

The hair that clings on her gorgeous fine glass work like body, crimson red like burning fire.

Of course, she was naked. Stark naked.

"......"

Kamito felt cold sweat on his back.

Not good.

It's really not good that she is seen naked.

......I should really run away quickly. Even though he gave that rational advice to himself, his body wouldn't move. Actually, he was charmed. The scene was so surreal that Kamito felt a bit detached from reality. 

And at that time, the girl-- 

Her moist and beautiful eyes blinked, having found the unexpected intruder.  Staring blankly, she seemed yet to have fully grasped the situation.  She didn't even try to cover her still developing small breasts. 

Tick.

The water drops fell from the young girl's bangs. Kamito's consciousness came back at the sound of the water. 

"Ah-that......"

Kamito coughed once, and removed his glance from the naked girl　who was standing motionlessly.    "How can I say it......it looks like an accident, right? It is an unfortunate accident for both of us..."   At that time, Kamito made two fatal errors. The first, of course, was that he started to make futile explanations. The best choice was to take advantage of the fact that the girl was dazed, and run away from the trouble immediately.

And the other error was--

"Even though it was an accident, I have seen you in such a situation. Sorry, my apologies."

Until here it was still fine, but the last part......

"Though, don't worry. I'm still a healthy boy, so I don't have that kind of interest. I......"

Looking at the young girl's still developing small chest--

"I have no interest towards a kid's body."   Looks like he stepped on a gigantic landmine.

"......"

A frozen silence fell.

Silently, the girl raises her arm with red hair coiled around. Her shoulders were slightly shaking. However the reason wasn't because of the cold, but Kamito was oblivious to that fact.

"Sixteen--"

"Eh?"

The girl's delicate lips were mumbling something, and Kamito lifted his eyebrows.

"I-I-I AM ALREADY SIXTEEN-YEARS OLD!!!"

At the instant when she screamed that out, the young girl's red hair stood on its end.

"Haa!?"

As Kamito opened his eyes wide in surprise--

"Sixteen!? For real? How can you have such a pitiful chest--"

He quickly covered his mouth. But it was already too late.

"......Unforgivable."

The young girl said that in a low, cold voice.

"D-Definitely unforgivable......you, you, you, you peeping demon, pervert, lewd beast!"

"You know it well, words like lewd beast."

Kamito said that in a low voice with narrowed eyes.

"Hn?"

......At that time, he noted that the forest's trees were making a low whisper-like rustle.

(Is that the wind? No, that's--)

--- Guardian of Crimson’s blaze, Keeper of the Sleepless furnace!

--- Now is the time to abide the contract of blood, hasten to my side as commanded! 

From the young girl's cute lips came a smooth incantation in spirits’ language. At that instant, accompanied by the sound of an air blast, a scourging flame whip appeared in the hand of the girl.

(.....a Spirit Contractor!)

Kamito shouted in his head.

Spirit Contractor --- another dimensional layer of this world, the “Astral Zero”. 

Witches who had signed a contract with a fierce spirit from that place are called “Spirit Contractors”. 

The Spirit Contractor can use different types of spirits, wielding its powers freely. 

It seemed that the girl in front of him had a contract with a flame type spirit. 

The young girl is a Spirit Contractor. It isn't something to be surprised about.

After all, this is the place where the country's excellent Spirit Contractors are gathered together.

(.....However, surprisingly she is even capable of using Elemental Waffe.)

The natures of the spirits summoned into this world from the Astral Zero can be roughly divided into two types. 

The first type is a massless, shapeless type that appears in its original state as a ‘Divine Core’. This is purely the summoning of a spirit's power, and is used as a vault of magical power for the spirit magic. 

There is another type, the pure state of summoning a part of the spirit’s existence as it is. Because of the tremendous amount of power required and the difficulty to control it, it is said that only a tiny portion of the spirit contractors can do it to this extent. 

Even so, the girl before his eyes is not just using a spirit, but could use it to the extent of using the spirit as a highly optimized elemental buff. 

(.... it means that, eh? – Am I now in a life or death situation?)  

As the thought suddenly hits him, Kamito was stunned.

At the place where the flame whip touched the water's surface, a gush of white steam was rising from it.

"You, you have the guts..... "

The girl murmured with a trembling voice. Her face was red. Was it due to her anger, or her embarrassment?

"Rea-really, you have some nerve, to p-peek , while I, Claire Rouge, am taking my bath....."

“W-Wait, that's a misunderstanding! Let me explain it first!"

Kamito shook his head in panic.

"I will not listen to your excuses. Please turn into ashes, PERVERT!"

The flame whip ignited furiously in the wielder’s hand and was moving as if it was licking the water surface.

"Oooooh..!?"

Kamito threw his body, and quickly jumped into the dense brushes at proximity.

Nearly at the same time, the flame whip brushed its way over his head.

The idle red residue remained on the trees, which were cut off like a complete joke. The cut surface of the tree trunks' remains were surprisingly clean, without any trace of burn. The attack was so quick that the flames didn't even have the time to ignite the trees.

The hair on Kamito's forehead was fluttering down on his mouth while cold sweat appeared on his forehead. 

(.....Um, that's a joke, right? I'm not going to die like that, will I?)

Zing, biyutsu – there was like an endless dance of crimson flash cutting horizontally and vertically in the forest. The bush was mowed down in a blink of eye and losing his place of hiding, Kamito hurriedly dashed out.    

“You wild beast, stay still and let me hit you!“

“That's nonsense, I’m not a pervert!“

Kamito screamed out and at the same time, the whip swung downwards on his feet, causing a violent spark to scatter. Rising from the ground, the whip immediately sprang up in the direction of the forest woods, which got ruthlessly severed. But fortunately among all the unluckiness, the girl - Claire's aim wasn't quite accurate. After all, one hand was hiding her pitiful chest from being revealed, and in order to conceal her most important part, she squatted down in the pond. However, considering how she handled her whip in such a position, she should be normally talented at using it.

“How conceited despite being a pervert, please obediently turn into charcoal!“

“As I am saying, I’m not a pervert!“

Kamito stopped and turned around. He pointed out something that he had been mindful for sometime.

“Hey, are you sure that you're hiding it properly? Between the gaps of your finger, you can’t hide it delicately.”

“......eh?”

Instantly, Claire’s facial expression froze. And-

“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!”

Blushing deeply and screaming strangely in a cute voice - she quickly hid her chest with both of her hands.

“Ah, idiot!”

Kamito involuntarily exclaimed. 

Claire let go and lost control of the flame whip, and it severed the trees behind the girl. Slowly, the huge trees came falling down right at her. However, Claire didn’t notice it since her eyes were closed in embarrassment while embracing her naked chest with both hands.

(Damn--)

At this instant, Kamito kicked the ground. Running with his whole strength towards the pond, he then jumped while grabbing Claire’s shoulders.

“Wha-!?”

Claire’s red pupils dilated widely. Kamito ignored it and aggressively pressed her down in the water. The moment Claire’s hand touched the water, a gush of steam rose, and the flame whip disappeared. Immediately after, the trees　nearby fell down, and giant tree trunks collapsed down on them.

Duuuun!

Deafening sound almost broke the ears, and magnificent large water columns rose.

Absorbing the heat of the burning flame, the warm pond water poured down like heavy rain.

.....A few seconds later.

“Um......“

With a seductive rising voice, Claire slowly opened her eyes. She had an expression of shock, and her eyes blinked in wonder. Kamito was lying on top of Claire, and briefly he found himself staring into her eyes. Their faces were so close that if someone was to push his back lightly, their lips would likely touch. The crimson red hair clung closely to her nape. Her moist lips were cherry red. Delicate glass doll like perfect face was in front of Kamito's eyes.  For a short moment it looked like he had involuntarily fallen for her. Kamito quickly shook his head.

“......Um, are you alright? Are you hurt..”

Claire nodded. Somehow, it seemed she had not fully absorbed the situation yet. Kamito sighed, then tried to stand up. 

Funyuu. 

His hand under the water had touched something soft.

“Hwaaah!”

(What is that? Mud?--)

Funyu.  Munyu (touch, touch).

“Hm, ya, hwaaa”

From her moist lips came a shallow sweet voice. Claire's submerged naked body twitched for some reason.

“Um ..this is?”

Having come this far, Kimito finally arrived in a certain conclusion. A certain......awfully frightening conclusion.

(No, wait, calm down, maybe --- could I have mistaken)

It can’t be. There was no such thing. While letting a flow of cold sweat, he desperately tried to deny such a possibility.

"When I looked it earlier, it wasn't so..."

“Wh..wha.. wha..whattt .... are..you...do..ing” 

Claire’s lip trembled, shaking involuntarily. She was blushing with tears in her eyes.

Apparently, it probably wasn't.....a lump of mud that he touched.

“You, PERVERT----!”

“Gwah!”

Because he got hit hard by a knee in the stomach, Kamito collapsed into the pond's water.        

Gugugugugu....!

With rising wobbling heat haze behind her, Claire slowly stood up. Before one knows, the flame whip materialized by the flame spirit was again grasped in her hand. The water in the pond instantaneously started to boil, and bubbles began to show here and there. 

“No..No, it’s a misunderstanding! Wait,  I’m really gonna die.....”

“Sh..Shut up pervert, you will die here!”

Together with an almost ear breaking deafening sound, Kamito’s body whirled highly into the air.

Part 2

“.....Un”

Few minutes later. Kamito starts to recover his consciousness, before his eyes, trees within the forest unfold.

He tried to rise---

Suddenly, he noticed something which was coiled around his neck. 

It was a leather black whip for torturing. (What is this thing…), Kamito tried to remove it, 

“Finally woke up, You Peeping Tom Pervert”

The thing on his neck tightens.

“Gweh!? Release me....”

Kamito coughed then looked upward-

Scarlet haired young girl – Claire, stood with her hands at her waist. Keeping her slim eyebrow arc raised, she gazed sharply down at Kamito.

This time she was not naked. The girl has changed into an adorable uniform. It has the pattern of black line within the pure white, Areishia Spirit Academy’s uniform.

A ribbon tie decorated the front of her chest. Instead of a button, a talisman was sewn on it. Between the gap of knee sock stockings and a pleated skirt, her slender beautiful legs stuck out brilliantly. The tiny ribbons tied her blazing crimson hair on both sides. This was the so called twin tail hair style. Judging from her still wet hair, it seems that he hadn’t lost consciousness for that long. 

Keeping the neck of Kamito bound tightly, Claire puffed up her small chest.

“Well, be grateful. I went easy and didn’t kill you”

“That has to be lying. You definitely intended to kill me. ”

“What are you talking about? If I was serious, you would've been cinders by now. ”

..... She just said something terribly frightening in a calm manner.

By the way, cinders are the soft ash residue left from incinerated firewood. 

“I beg your forgiveness to spare me from becoming cinders.  After all, I helped you.”

“Yeah, I’m a fair noble, I’ll give you credit for that.  You are of a higher grade than an average pervert, so you are a high grade pervert.”

“In the end the pervert designation doesn't change. By the way, isn't a high grade pervert even worse than an average pervert?”

“Wh.. What.....pretending to help, you ...you touched, my breast!”

Recalling what happened earlier, Claire's shy face suddenly turns red.

(Hmm?)

Seeing such a reaction from her, Kamito had an idea.

.....This girl, could it be that she is that kind of person?

“So it seems, that my lady is a pervert that has a hobby of whipping man.” 

Kamito teased her nonchalantly -

“What!? Wr, Wro, Wrong, I’m not!”

The response was immediate as expected. Claire shook her head, and her cheeks instantly became bright red all the way to her ears.

“Then do you enjoy being whipped?”

“.....m! Wha... What.. are...you..sayi..ng?”

Claire's eyes twirled, as a steam puff rose out from her head. She is surprisingly flustered. 

(Oh, as I expected....)

Kamito smiled bitterly in his heart. 

(This girl, is really really innocent.)

Perhaps, this girl is not that special. After all, this is the Areishiya Spirit academy, where witch princesses who have made contracts with spirits are gathered.

Only pure maidens are capable of communicating with the spirits from Astral Zero. Among them, those who retain enough divine power so that they can command a contracted spirit, are noble girls from the family of kings or lords of ancient and honorable lineage, whose spirit contractor blood was strengthened through marriage of many generations.

To maintain the purity of their body and heart, these girls are raised in an environment that's completely separated from the males since childhood: the so called elite education for spirit contractors. Therefore, all the girls attending the academy are super boxed-in princesses who are unaccustomed to men.

Finding the unexpected weak point of the girl, Kamito had the slight desire to play a prank on her.

Keeping a kneeling position, Kamito looked up at the embarrassed bright red face of Claire.

"ah, then, there is something I have meant to say since earlier."

"wh...what, you pervert!"

"I can see your panties from this angle."

"Fuwah!"

Tears begun to float in her crimson eyes, Claire hastily pressed down the fringe of her skirt with both hands.

“you... you saw it?”

“Only a glance, you are unexpectedly quite daring. It has the same color as your hair.”

"You... you lie! It is not red! It’s white, white!"

“So, it’s white.”

“......ha!?”

Realizing that she was tricked, Claire bit her lips-

“U, uuuuuuuuuh~”

..... Somehow she started to cry. 

At this sudden unexpected reaction, Kamito panicked. “What a slutty unladylike person, to confess the color of her own panties,” he had planned to tease her more with such words..... but he felt pity seeing her like this.

Taking the chance while Claire was still in disarray, Kamito removed the the whip coiled around his neck. 

“My bad, I went a bit too far with my prank. Sorry.”

Kamito stood up and placed his hand on Claire's head. Claire stopped crying, and looked puzzled.

“My bad that I have seen your naked body while bathing, and I have .... have touched your breast as well. But they were not intentional. Please believe me.”

“Wha, What.....”

Seeing the truthfulness in Kamito’s eye, Claire can not help but to avert her eyes. 

“....What, What is this? If you are not a pervert, then why are you here?”

A question of matter of course.  This forest is under the jurisdiction of Areishia Spirit Academy, known as the “Spirit Forest”. There is no reason for the presence of a man in the academy where pure witch princesses are gathered.

Even if he is not a pervert, there is little doubt that he is someone suspicious.  

“I was, summoned here by Greyworth.”  

“Greyworth..... the academy director!?”

Claire suspiciously questioned. Indeed, it is only natural to doubt.

“I’m not lying. Look, here’s the evidence.” 

Kamito shrugged his shoulders, and took out a letter from his burned coat’s inside pocket. The letter was signed by the renowned academy director. Also, it was stamped with the emblem seal that symbolizes the five great elemental lords.

“Is....that, the first rank emblem seal of the empire!?”

Claire let out voice of dismay from her lips. The first rank emblem seal is produced by sealing spirits with a special technique. It is rated as the highest among the emblem seals issued by the empire, and is said to be completely impossible to counterfeit. Of course, it is something that is rarely seen, but as a spirit contractor, Claire could certainly tell its authenticity.  

“.....It seems to be the real thing. But, why would the academy director call a man here?”

“Well, for that you have to ask Greyworth, that old hag. It was troublesome for me, too.”

“That... that old hag!?”

Instantly, Claire's face stiffened.

The Dusk Witch, Greyworth is greatly respected by the witch princesses who aim to become spirit knights. It was said that her popularity in the Orudesia Empire is neck and neck with the Strongest Sword Dancer Ren Ashbell. Even after a decade since she retired from the squad of the twelve knight generals, the most elite force of the spirit knights known as the <Numbers>, her legendary name as a witch is still being feared and revered to the highest degree.  

(Well, for me, she is nothing but a nightmare....)

Tucking away the letter in his pocket, Kamito shrugged his shoulders. 

“Greyworth is an old acquaintance of mine. I came all the way here, but the academy ground is very large, so I have lost my way.”

Areishia Spirit Academy ground is incredibly vast. After all, beside the academic town at the foot of the hill, it also includes the entire spirit forest that spreads around it.

“Could it be, that you were misled by the spirits in the forest. That's so lame.”

“.....Yeah, that’s how it is.”

Claire chuckled, while Kamito nodded, feeling a bit dejected. 

Existing in various location of the continent, the spirit forests are connected with Astral Zero through the GATE, and are inhabited by the spirits that have gone astray to this world. Most of the spirits have no interest in humankind so they are harmless. But there are also spirits who enjoy playing pranks, and they deliberately mislead the travelers who stray into the forest. As he was guided by the spirits'　whispers and went deeper and deeper in the forest, he must have lost the way to the academy.

“Anyway, I’m really glad that I met a person. It is not very appealing to become a victim of the forest. From here onward, which direction should I follow to get to the academy?”   

“Which direction.....for your own information, I shall tell you, that it takes two hours to get to the academy from here on foot.”

“What, that far!?”

If he was to walk for such long distance, most likely he would be once again tricked by the spirits. Since a student of the academy was here, he had thought that the academy was much nearer than it was.

(.....hmm? Why was this girl taking a bath at this kind of place?)

A plain question suddenly arises. Today is indeed a bit hot, nonetheless instead of coming all the way here, there should be showering facilities inside of the academy no matter what. Anyhow there are only girls in the school, there is nothing to be embarrassed about.

Being asked, Claire dug her hands into her wet twin tail hair and tried to comb it.  

“I was here for the purification ritual for a spirit contract. Being a spring next to a shrine, the water here has the highest holy quality. Do you at least know that spirits like a woman which has a pure mind and body?”  

“Spirit Contract?”

The moment he hears those words, a throbbing pain came from the back of his left hand covered in leather gloves. Kamito grimaced from the burning sharp pain.  

“A bit further from here, there is an ancient holy sword in a historical shrine. Rumor has it that a powerful “Sealed Spirit” is inhabited there. Since the foundation of the academy, not a single witch princess has successfully formed a contract with it. It surely sounds like a very proud spirit."

Sealed Spirits – are not the spirits that reside in Astral Zero.

Among the spirits, there are those who were sealed into weapons or armors by powerful ancient spirit contractors. Most of them have brought about terrible disasters to the humans, and are dreadful beings called djinn or efreet by ancient societies.  

Of course, they are not meant to be employed by the human spirit contractors. For that purpose, the ancient great spirit contractors sealed them in weapons or armor so that they will never be summoned again.

“You, do you plan to form a contract with a sealed spirit?”

“That's right! Do you have a problem with it?”

“Stop, it’s too dangerous.”

“Hmm, you seem to know it quite well, even though you are not a spirit contractor. I’m quite aware of the danger, but I need a powerful spirit no matter what.”

Claire muttered, biting her tightly close lips.

Seeing her serious facial expression, Kamito involuntarily shuts his mouth. 

“But, don't you already have a contract with the flame spirit from earlier? That is also a quite powerful spirit, won't it be fine if you raise it up?”

For its tribute, a flame spirit is not very rare. But, there are only a handful spirit contractors who can control a spirit of such rank and even capable of <elemental waffe> in the whole empire. Besides, spirit contractors that have formed a contract with multiple spirits are so rare that they almost don't exist. Discordance between the spirits can cause deterioration of the balance of divine power. Without enough talent one can't control them.

“Scarlet is an important partner. But-”

I need more power-- Claire calmly shook her head. 

“I have a goal. To achieve it, I must have a strong spirit.”

Part 3

Chasing the back of Claire on which her fluffily crimson twin tails swung, Kamito followed her inside the forest. Although Claire's leather loafers looked quite difficult to walk in,　Claire was a well trained spirit contractor after all, and her steps were light and frivolous.

“Here.”

Then, suddenly her well proportioned feet stopped walking.

With her hands on her hips, she looked back with a half eye glare towards Kamito.

“Why are you following me? You pervert peeping maniac. ”

“Without you, I don’t know the way towards the academy. As I have said several times, I am not a pervert peeping maniac. It’s Kamito, Kamito Kazehaya.”

“Fufu, what a weird name. Kuina’s origin?”

Kuina is an empire in the eastern region of the continent. It is said that its language, culture and the relationship of people with spirits largely differed from Orudeshia.

“No, It’s not from Kuina. I was born in a far remote island minority group village.”

Kamito intentionally obscures his own statement. Certainly, he was born in an island country in the east, but the larger half of his childhood life wasn't spent there.

“Your name also has quite a rare taste, Claire Rouge.”

“Don’t call my name in a friendly manner. Anyway it’s a strange name.”

“Really? But, I consider it a nice name.”

“Wha, What are you saying, stu, stupid!”

Claire's face blushed, then she suddenly changed back to her former direction, and briskly walked faster than usual.

Claire Rouge ---- obviously a Pseudonym.

Most of the students attending the Areshia spirit academy are surely young ladies of noble families who has been trained as spirit contractors since childhood. But Kamito has never heard of the Rouge residence. For hiding a noble family name, she must have some reason for it, but Kamito had no intention to delve more.

(.....Everyone has some secrete to hide. )

Kamito glanced in the direction of his left hand covered by a leather glove.

Even I have mine, too -

Claire keeps advancing steadily. Kamito hastily chased after her back where the twin tail were swaying. Now, losing sight of Claire inside the forest will bring only trouble for him. Kamito was well aware of the dangers of spending one night inside the “Spirit Forest”.

“Is that dress the academy's uniform?”

“Yah.”

Claire nods in a cold manner while walking.

Areishia Spirit Academy Uniform is pretty sturdy and also served as a protective garment, which has undergone spirit’s blessing, and it had the effect of raising the sacred attributes. It could also function nicely as a high ceremonial dress for contracting with spirits.

“What, are you saying that it doesn't suite me?”

“No, it suite you gorgeously. Honestly speaking, I am charmed.”

Kamito shrugged his shoulder, and then answered it honestly. 　Fine feathers make fine birds, Kamito planed to mock her with some caustic words, but it did fit her so perfectly that Kamito couldn't help but to compliment her.

“Wha, what, what are you saying!? Aren't you an idiot!”

(Kaatsu) Claire blushes in deep red, while (Pyun-Pyun) waving her whip.

“Uwahh, Calm down!”

“Wasn't it because that you said some weird thing?”

“Me saying a weird thing?, I simply speak the truth - *in pain*, I got it, I got it, please stop waving your whip for every little thing.”

(....phew, I need her as a guide, but what a bothersome princess.)

Dodging the whip which was swung downward at a paper thin distance, Kamito sighed in his mind.

The shrine that held the holy blade stood quietly　in a clearing in the forest.

Claire easily removed the entry forbidding ward, then stopped her steps, and turned to Kamito.

“From here onwards, it will be really dangerous, so, as a commoner you should stay away.”

“If you know that it’s dangerous, why not stop?”

“As am I saying, I need to have a strong spirit.”

Claire calmly shook her head, and stepped into the shrine.

Disregarding her warnings, Kamito followed her. As for coming all the way, it was true that he needed a guide, but more importantly he was just worried about Claire.

After all “Sealed Spirits” are strong and at the same time have a wild nature. They prefer destruction and chaos; given the chance they would even murder the spirit contractor that employs them.

They are not something that can be managed by humans --- that's why they have been sealed.

Sixteen years of age, with such an innate talent of wielding a spirit, Claire might as well be called a prodigy. However, if by any chance, she was to release a sealed spirit and fail to control it, what would happen?

Although she was just a girl he met by chance, Kamito couldn't leave her alone.

“Why did you follow me? I can't guarantee what will happen to you.”

“Don't you have the absolute confidence to tame it?”

“Of, of course I do!”

“Then there’s no problem if I come along. ”

Kamito shrugged his shoulder and Claire turned away from him.

“....Suit yourself”

Inside the shrine is a dark gloomy misty atmosphere. Claire frowned slightly at the mold smells mingled inside the air.

“......Flames, let there be light.”

A tiny fire ball immediately starts to glow from Claire's fingertips, a basic spirit spell drawing on the power of Flame Spirit. The flickering light of the fire ball dimly illuminates the walls of the shrine which looked like a stalactites cavern.

The sword was at the innermost of the shrine.

“That..... is the sword that the sealed spirit resides in?”

Kamito muttered, while Claire nodded quietly.

A naked sword was stabbed standing in a huge stone. Although without doubt it was an antique of hundreds years old,　it has no rust in its body or dent of its edge. Delicate ancient runes were engrossed on its belly, radiating a dimly blue light.

“Existing here even before the academy was found, <the holy sword of Severian>.”

“The holy sword of Severian? The one that slayed Demon King Solomon?”

Demon King Solomon --- commanding seventy two powerful spirits, brought chaos and destruction to the continent, and the only male spirit contractor in history.

It was said that the one that slayed the demon king was the sword of Severian.

“Idiot, there’s no way that’s the real thing.”

Claire stated like she was amazed.

“'Holy Swords of Severian' stabbed into a stone can be found everywhere in the empire. Some remote villages even have one for the revitalization the village. Anyhow, even if it is not the real deal, since it is a rune sword, there might be a powerful spirit sealed in itself.”

“.....Indeed. Certainly, the real thing would not be in such a place...”

Claire walked toward the sword determinedly.

“Hey....”

“You stay back.”

Gesturing to Kamito who was coming close, Claire clenched the hilt of the holy blade.

“Don’t strain yourself.”

“....Got it.”

Kamito decided to watch over Claire at the edge where the light barely reached. The sealed spirit might be provoked by the presence of other people. A heavy silence filled the surroundings.

“.....Let's do this, Claire Rouge.”

Breathing deeply, Claire murmured to herself. Her voice trembled a bit: it seemed that she was nervous after all.

--- Oh Noble Spirit Sealed in Ancient Holy Sword!

--- Thou Shall Accept Me As Thy Master, And I Shall Be Thy Sheath!

From her cherry red lips flew a fluent incantation for contract ritual in spirit language. Her crimson hair stands on its ends. A crashing wind started to swirl inside the shrine.

Holding his breath, Kamito watched her intensively. Once the contracts had been exchanged and the spirit recognized Clair as its master, a spirit seal would be engraved somewhere on her body. The contract vows entered its conclusion. In this moment, a dreadful gust of wind swept inside the shrine.

“......eh?”

But, Claire is unfazed. She calmly recites her contract vow.

---And, dazzling light radiated from Severian’s holy blade in her hand.

(I can’t....believe it, She was exchanging a contract with the sealed spirit!?)

Preventing being swept by the wind, astonished Kamito raised his voice.

From the holy blade stabbed in the stone　came overwhelming tremendous divine energy. If it was an average spirit contractor, she would have already passed out.

“---Thrice I Command Thee, Exchange Vows With Me!”

And, Claire’s vow reverberates inside the shrine --- in that instant.

Clink!

“Pulled, pulled out. I pulled it out.”

“.....What, seriously!?”

Brandishing overhead the sword pulled out from the stone, Claire exclaimed with joy. In the next second---

The ancient runes engraved in its belly suddenly shined violently!

“......ha!?”

Claire involuntarily releases the blade from her hand ---

The holy blade thrust into the ground. With a flash it blasted into bits.

“Kyaaaaah!”

A short shriek flew, then Claire collapses into the ground.

“Hey, are you okay!”

Kamito quickly runs towards Claire.

“Wha, What? What exactly has....”

Claire held her temple and got up, then looked around restlessly.

“My, My sealed spirit?”

“No, I....can sense something terrible.”

Sweat is flowing intensely from the back of Kamito's neck. Wearing a terrified facial expression,　he looked up at the shrine’s ceiling. In that place, swinging while floating in the air was the blade.

It's not the shattered holy sword. But, It was a rough steel blade that looked very sharp.

“Is that.....the sealed spirit in the sword!?”

“So it was of the <sword spirit> class. Looks like it is rather irritated.”

“How do you know so much? You are not even a spirit contractor!”

“It is plain to see. No matter how you look at it, that doesn't seem to be someone who pledges his allegiance to his master.”

“.....umm, indeed so.”

Claire meekly nodded uncharacteristically.

The floating sword slants pointing its tip in a downward direction, suddenly it become motionless.

Then ---

“.....Get Down!”

Kamito in that instant, pushes down Claire to the ground. A buzzing sound of an insect grazed the ear, in a flash it went far away.

“Wai, Waa, Wait, where are you touching me, I will turn you into cinders!”

With her face deeply red, Claire beat on Kamito's chest repeatedly.

“Idiot, stop rampaging!”

Kamito quickly moved his body away, and looked in the direct that the sword spirit had flown to.

Fragments of rocks fall down with clattering sounds. The shrine’s ceiling was completely sliced off cleanly.

“It is remarkable to release a spirit of such rank ---”

Kamito glared with half opened eye towards　Claire.

“......but the spirit has completely gone berserk.”

“Shu. shut up. The, the taming of it starts now.”

“YOU....”

Kamito was stupefied, but he was in no situation to quarrel with her.

The spirit sword releases a chattering noise while approaching them. Inside the shrine, they can't move freely, and even the eye sight was restricted.

Kamito grabbed Claire’s hand and stood up. Touching each others soft skin, (Doki) a heart beat, but he showed no vexed expression

“Hwaah.”

“Stopping making a cute reaction at every little thing. Let's flee.”

“Wha.. whaa. whatt.. Cute.. what me, Kyaa!”

“Let’s run outside!”

Pulling Claire’s hand, while running towards the direction of the shrine’s exit that was basking with sunshine.

The spirit sword did not immediately chases after them. Maybe as of now it has not yet completely awakened. With this opportunity they might be able to run away.

The moment they are out of the shrine, the flash of the sword grazed in front of his eyes. Kamito's forelocks fell while dancing in the air. The spirit sword lets out a tremendous roar, decisively knocking domn the surrounding trees in succession.

“Crazy, what a wild Spirit, just like a certain princess.”

“Alwa, always, you’re noisy...”

Feeling slightly awkward, and Claire fake coughed, then stood up.

“What a rebellious child.....I will give you a proper spanking.”

Her pair of crimson eyes were burning with a fierce determination; somehow she said some line of provocative. Rolling up the fringe of her skirt, she then took out the leather whip which was coiled in her thigh, hitting it hard in the ground. Kamito's heart beat for the brief sight of her white underwear, but he said -

“Are you insane!? You’re opponent is a high rank sealed spirit!”

“Easy victory. Amateurs like you please stay back!”

“Where are you getting all of your confidence? Whatever, let's run away!”

Claire shook off Kamito's hand that was grabbing her wrist.

“No, you escape yourself. I will absolutely make this spirit mine.”

“You, for what reason --- do you need a strong spirit that badly?”

“.....You will never understand.”

At the same time Clair averts her eyes.

“I need...power, I need a unbeatable powerful spirit that will not lose to any other spirit!”

--- Guardian of Crimson’s blaze, Keeper of the Sleepless furnace!

--- Now is the time to abide the contract of blood, hasten to my side as commanded!

Claire recited the summoning spell of her “Flame Spirit”. A crimson flame surges and she was engulfed by intense heat.

“The hunting begins, Scarlet!”

Together with scorching flame – a Scarlet Red Hell Cat appeared. Instead of a fur, it was blazing scarlet red colored flame that was wrapped around the beast's body.

(Is that the real form of her flame spirit!?)

Indeed, she was not all talk. To manifested in beast form is a proof that it is a high rank spirit. "Scarlet" might just be as a name of affection, perhaps it was not the true name of the spirit. Without doubt it is a high rank spirit that carries a true name.

Claire wields her whip, and the hell cat growls with a frightful roar, then rushed towards the sword spirit. Dancing sparks scattered. The atmosphere trembled at the roar of the beast. The floating spirit sword went against them, cutting all the trees in its way.

“Scarlet, go get it!”

In response to Claire’s shout, the hell cat leaped.　High above the floating sword it went, and sharp blazing claws swung down at the sword. With a high pitched shrill sound, intense sparks sprinkled down, and the spirit sword dropped to the ground.

Claire ran at the same time. It was not a fatal hit. The spirit sword rose and flew in a split second, rolling over while drawing an arc in the air.

The flame spirit chased after it, trying not to loose it from its hands. Roaring loudly, it made a great leap again.

Violent sparks scattered once again. Clare strikes hard at the ground with her leather whip, slowly pressing forward against the sword spirit. It looked like that the leather whip was not meant for battle, rather for signaling instructions to the spirit.

At the fiercely attacks of Scarlet, the spirit sword's movement stopped --- At this instant,

“Eat this, searing fire ball!”

Clair releases a huge fire ball from her palm.

Fire Ball is a high level spirit magic which use ultra hot flames and can terribly burn up any of its target, leaving it traceless. The spirit magic’s power is determined by the spirit contractor’s own divine spiritual energy and the contracted spirit’s strength as a whole.

The released fire ball drew an arch in the air, then exploded in a blast that even Scarlet was caught in. The shock wave of the explosion knocked down the trees in the surrounding and fallen tree trunks radiate from the explosion center.

(What Terrible power......)

Shielding himself from the flying stones coming at his head, Kamito wrapped his tongue and marveled.

Such power was nothing like what a sixteen years old girl is capable of.

Inside the swirling fire the hell cat's figure shows up. Naturally, the hell cat can’t possibly be harmed by the blazing fire because of its fire nature.

The spirit sword float motionlessly in the air. It seemed that it had not received any damage either. Naturally, Claire didn't think that she would bring down a high rank spirit with spirit magic. But she should be able to get its attention.

“Scarlet!”

Claire exclaimed. The flame spirit's claws attacked at the spirit sword again. Its scourging hot claws could melt the iron steel. If its opponent was an average spirit, it would be instantly eradicated. But, the spirit sword quickly turned around, and the attack was stopped by the steel edge of the blade.

In an instant, the strange sound of metal scratching each other reverberated in the trembling atmosphere.

“Wh...What?....”

Kamito suppressed both his ears with his hands.

Receiving the full impact of the sound, Claire's face distorted from pain and she crouched down there.

The spirit sword released a weird sound - and then, transformed. Its shape changed from an average long sword to that of a huge bastard sword.

In a flash.

“What!?”

Claire’s flame spirit took the unexpected strike and couldn't avoid the big swing. The body was severely into two, and it vanished into the void together with the flames wrapped around its body.

With only one hit, it had lost the strength to manifest in this world.

(....Damn! Isn't it in a completely different league? It seemed that it has completely awakened.)

Kamito cursed, then took a glance at Claire -

Claire had collapsed on the ground, and her stunned blank eyes were fixed upward at the void where the flame spirit has disappeared.

Having finished off the flame spirit in one swing, the spirit sword aimed its next attack at Claire.

The huge bastard sword flew with a bursting sound -

“Claire!”

Kamito shouted, and started to run. Without reason, his own body just moved before he known it.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Diving in front of Clair, he thrust his palm toward the bastard sword. Not his left hand enclosed by the leather glove – it was his right hand.

(……No choice but to do this! )

--- Oh Noble Spirit Sealed in Ancient Holy Sword!

--- Thou Shall Accept Me As Thy Master, And I Shall Be Thy Sheath!

Sweats rushed down from his forehead, he started to recite the incantation for spirit contract that he had sworn to never utter again. The spinning tip of the sword pierced the skin of his palm. Red blood gushed intensely from it.

(.....Gwaah, Gah!)

Crushing amount of divine energy knocked on him, the soil and sands surrounding them are whirling up from the wind pressure. He almost lost his consciousness from the sharp pain. But if Kamito fainted here, Claire protected behind him would surely be cut in half.

--- Thrice I Command Thee!

“.....No way, a Spirit Contract!?”

A surprised sound came from Claire’s throat.

Kamito's heels sunk into the ground. And, the sound of his breaking bones resounds underneath his scalp.

--- Exchange Vows With Me!

Withstanding the terrible sharp pain, Kamito finished his last word of the contract ritual.

Instantly, the body of spirit sword radiated a pale blue light.

(What!?)

Intense flashes and thunderous sounds filled his consciousness.

Part 4

He opened his eyes, and Claire Rouge’s face was there. Hanging lower onto his face was her twin tailed hair tickling his face. 

It seemed that she shouted something, but he can't hear it clearly. Probably the sound blast had messed up his ears. 

(.....Looks like I’m alive)

Weary lying on the ground, Kamito let out a breath of relief. The chance of success against a spirit of such rank was very low, but it looked like his gamble had paid off.

Raising his eyebrow, he grimaced from the torment of pain from all of his body and raised his right hand slowly.  

In his right hand where was stabbed - 

Instead of a wound, an emblem of two swords crossing each other was engraved on it.

It was the proof of the spirit contract - The spirit seal.

(Aah, I did it....)

Staring at the carved seal on the back of his hand, Kamito murmured.

A sharp sense of guilt bit his heart.

He had broken the promise with her ---

But, to save Claire under such a situation, that was the only method. 

Claire noticed that Kamito has woken up, with her hands in his nape and her face approaching him. So close that he could feel her breath. With her clear crimson eyes, she stared at Kamito. Her cherry colored lips weakly trembled.

“......Why?”

"Why, you’re a male, how can you contract a spirit!” 

“......”

Kamito does not answer and slowly rises up. Being ignored, the annoyed Claire raised her eyebrows.

“My, My Sword Spirit!?”

“My bad. Just a moment ago, I contracted it.”

Kamito sighes and at the same time he shows her the back of his right hand where the spirit seal is engraved. 

“Wha, Whaa, Wha, Whaaaat!”

Claire wore a stunned expression with her mouth wide open.

(Well, A natural reaction....)

A long sigh --- Kamito felt a faint ache in his heart. Of course, he could clearly understand such response.  Originally, a privilege that was granted to no one except pure maidens --- the spirit contract. 

The existence of a man which could contract a spirit, throughout the history, belonged solely to one person. And the one who brought chaos and destruction in the world, the so called Demon King spirit contractor.

It is natural to fear him, who carried the same power of spirit contracts as the Demon King.

Kamito stands up and quietly turns around.

He does not regret. To save the girl, this is the only way he could think of.

“Wait, as am I saying Wait!”

Kamito was about to leave, but a voice called him from the back.

Turning around, he saw that Claire with her hands in her hips intensely glared at him.

"You stole...my spirit...take responsibility for it!"

“Huh?”

Kamito frowned. ....It doesn't make any sense to him.

At such reaction of Kamito, Claire impatient　brushed her twin tail. 

“I should have been the one who had obtained that spirit, as am I saying, you have to take responsibility for it.”

“Re..sponsibility?”

Because of that unexpected word, Kamito had become even more confused.

....What was the girl saying.

“Therefore....”

Claire snapped her whip, then she points her index finger toward Kamito. 

"You have to become my contracted spirit!"

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