Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en]

Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi

2015-04-13T22:32:23Z

07n156:

{{Status|Stalled}}

[[Image:Seikoku cover.jpg|280px|thumb|Volume 1 cover]]

'''''Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi''''' (星刻の竜騎士, lit. ''The Star-Marked {{furigana|Dragon Knight|Dragner}}''), also very well known as '''''Seikoku no Dragner''''', is a Japanese light novel series written by Shiki Mizuchi and illustrated by Kohada Shimesaba. The series has currently 18 volumes and is published by [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/MF%E6%96%87%E5%BA%ABJ MF Bunko J]. In April 2014 an anime adaptation began which covered the events of volumes 1-4 of the light novel which ended in June 2014.

== Story Synopsis ==
Ansarivan Dragon Riding Academy is for boys and girls who had made contracts with dragons. Ash Blake had a Seikoku on his hand, a proof of being a contractor, but he didn't have any dragons for his partner. One day, a dragon within him wakes up from a certain incident. However, the dragon that appeared was different from other dragons. It wasn't in a form of a dragon but had a form of a girl!?

"''You'' are not my master; ''I'm'' the one who is your master," she says.

Courtesy of FairGame

=== Story Arcs ===
Story Arc 1: '''The Knight of Eco'''
* Volumes 1–5
Story Arc 2: '''The Avalon Knight Dragner'''
* Volumes 6–10
Story Arc 3: '''The Ancient Bloodline'''
* Volumes 11–15

== Translation ==

=== [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi:Registration Page|Registration]] ===

'''Translators are asked to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi:Registration Page|register]] for chapters they want to work on'''

===Format Standards===

'''Every Chapter (after editing) must conform to the general format guidelines.'''
*[[Format_guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]
*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Names and Terminology Guidelines]]
'''All edited translations are to be in British English.'''

===Appreciation===

'''If you appreciate the efforts of the translators/editors of the Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi Baka-tsuki Project, why don't you thank them in this [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5457 forum]'''

===Feedback===

'''If you enjoy the series, why don't you tell us in the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=5484 Feedback thread]'''

== Updates ==
:*23 July, 2014 - Volume 6 Chapter 1 completed
:*6 July, 2014 - Volume 6 prologue completed
:*5 July, 2014 - Volume 5 '''Completed'''
:*5 July, 2014 - Volume 5 Epilogue completed
:*4 July, 2014 - Volume 5 Chapter 4 completed
:*30 May, 2014 - Volume 5 Chapter 3 completed
:*6 May, 2014 - Volume 5 Chapter 2 completed

== The ''Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi'' series by Shiki Mizuchi ==
{| class="collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:left; margin: 5px 20px clear:both; font-size:100%; background:transparent; width:100%;"
! style="background:#cee0f2;" align="center"| <h3>'''Story Arc 1: The Knight of Eco'''</h3>
{|
|-
| width="20%"style="background:#cee0f2; padding:0.3em; text-align:center;"|[[Image:Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi 001.jpg|thumb|x200px|link=Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 1|Volume 1]]
| style="background:#cee0f2; padding:0.3em; text-align:center;"|[[Image:Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi v2 p001.jpg|thumb|x200px|link=Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 2|Volume 2]]
| style="background:#cee0f2; padding:0.3em; text-align:center;"|[[Image:SnRK V03 001.jpg|thumb|x200px|link=Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 3|Volume 3]]
| style="background:#cee0f2; padding:0.3em; text-align:center;"|[[Image:SnRK V04 001.jpg|thumb|x200px|link=Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4|Volume 4]]
| style="background:#cee0f2; padding:0.3em; text-align:center;"|[[Image:SnRK v05 004.jpg|thumb|x200px|link=Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5|Volume 5]]
|-
|}
|-
|
==== Volume 1 ([[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 1|Full Text]]) ====
[[Image:Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi 001.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 1 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 1 Prologue|Prologue]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 1 Chapter 1|Chapter 1 - Eco the Dragon Girl]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 1 Chapter 2|Chapter 2 - The Streets of Ansarivan]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 1 Chapter 3|Chapter 3 - Necromancia's Attack]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 1 Epilogue|Epilogue]]

<br style="clear:both"/>

==== Volume 2 ([[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 2|Full Text]]) ====
[[Image:Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi v2 p001.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 2 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 2 Prologue|Prologue]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 2 Chapter 1|Chapter 1 - Silver Knight]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 2 Chapter 2|Chapter 2 - Ironblood Valkyrie]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 2 Chapter 3|Chapter 3 - Veronica and Silvia]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 2 Chapter 4|Chapter 4 - Avdocha the Convicted]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 2 Epilogue|Epilogue]]

<br style="clear:both"/>

==== Volume 3 ([[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 3|Full Text]]) ====
[[Image:SnRK V03 001.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 3 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 3 Prologue|Prologue]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 3 Chapter 1|Chapter 1 - The Month of Gemini's Selective Training Camp]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 3 Chapter 2|Chapter 2 - Rebecca's Dangerous Command]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 3 Chapter 3|Chapter 3 - The Lakeside Vacation]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 3 Chapter 4|Chapter 4 - The Battle at Willingham Mausoleum]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 3 Epilogue|Epilogue]]

<br style="clear:both"/>

==== Volume 4 ([[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4|Full Text]]) ====
[[Image:SnRK V04 001.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Novel Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Prologue|Prologue]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Chapter 1|Chapter 1 - Knight Princess's proposal]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Chapter 2|Chapter 2 - Fontaine City, the capital of the Knights]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Chapter 3|Chapter 3 - Paladin Oswald]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Chapter 4|Chapter 4 - Beowolf's conspiracy]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Chapter 5|Chapter 5 - Mordred's tombstone]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Chapter 6|Chapter 6 - Ancient palace's abandoned garden]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Chapter 7|Chapter 7 - Masquerade]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Chapter 8|Chapter 8 - Avalon's Imperial Princess]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Epilogue|Epilogue]]

<br style="clear:both"/>

==== Volume 5 ([[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5|Full Text]]) ====
[[Image:SnRK v05 004.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Novel Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Prologue|Prologue]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 1|Chapter 1 - Tragedy of Apolo house and Mirabel's decision]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 2|Chapter 2 - Ash's and Silvia's study group]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 3|Chapter 3 - Navi's visit and practical skill test]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 4|Chapter 4 - Lost memories, Albion Forest]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Epilogue|Epilogue]]

<br style="clear:both"/>
|}
<br style="clear:both"/>

{| class="collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:left; margin: 5px 20px clear:both; font-size:100%; background:transparent; width:100%;"
! style="background:#cee0f2;" align="center"| <h3>'''Story Arc 2: The Avalon Knight Dragner'''</h3>
{|
|-
| width="20%"style="background:#cee0f2; padding:0.3em; text-align:center;"|[[Image:SnRK V06 004.jpg|thumb|x200px|link=Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 6|Volume 6]]
| style="background:#cee0f2; padding:0.3em; text-align:center;"|[[Image:SnRK V07 004.jpg|thumb|x200px|link=Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 7|Volume 7]]
| style="background:#cee0f2; padding:0.3em; text-align:center;"|[[Image:SnRK V08 000b.jpg|thumb|x200px|link=Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 8|Volume 8]]
| style="background:#cee0f2; padding:0.3em; text-align:center;"|[[Image:SnRK V09 003.jpg|thumb|x200px|link=Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 9|Volume 9]]
| style="background:#cee0f2; padding:0.3em; text-align:center;"|[[Image:SnRK V10 003.jpg|thumb|x200px|link=Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 10|Volume 10]]
|-
|}
|-
|

==== Volume 6 ====
[[Image:SnRK V06 004.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi:Volume 6 Novel Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 6 Prologue|Prologue]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 6 Chapter 1|Chapter 1 - The return of Rebecca Randall]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 6 Chapter 2|Chapter 2 - The baron of sonic]]--(0%)
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 6 Chapter 3|Chapter 3 - The return of Anya]]--(0%)
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 6 Chapter 4|Chapter 4 - Chevron Royal Family's 'Iron rule']]--(0%)
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 6 Chapter 5|Chapter 5 - Oscar's deeply laid plan]]--(0%)
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 6 Chapter 6|Chapter 6 - Ansarivan's five hundred years festival]]--(0%)
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 6 Epilogue|Epilogue]]--(0%)

<br style="clear:both"/>

==== Volume 7 ====

[[Image:SnRK V07 004.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi:Volume 7 Novel Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 7 Prologue|Prologue]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 7 Chapter 1|Chapter 1 - Eco's bright dragon crystal]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 7 Chapter 2|Chapter 2 - Ice Blue Princess Vs Elfen Dancer]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 7 Chapter 3|Chapter 3 - The Night Before the Finale, The calm before the storm]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 7 Chapter 4|Chapter 4 - Ashley trapped]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 7 Chapter 5|Chapter 5 - The fight of the sacred knights]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 7 Chapter 6|Chapter 6 - The birth of a demon]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 7 Chapter 7|Chapter 7 - Uranus and Pluto]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 7 Epilogue|Epilogue]]

<br style="clear:both"/>

==== Volume 8 ====
[[Image:SnRK V08 000b.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi:Volume 8 Novel Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 8 Prologue|Prologue]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 8 Chapter 1|Chapter 1 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 8 Chapter 2|Chapter 2 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 8 Chapter 3|Chapter 3 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 8 Chapter 4|Chapter 4 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 8 Chapter 5|Chapter 5 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 8 Chapter 6|Chapter 6 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 8 Chapter 7|Chapter 7 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 8 Chapter 8|Chapter 8 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 8 Epilogue|Epilogue]]

<br style="clear:both"/>

==== Volume 9 ====
[[Image:SnRK V09 003.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi:Volume 9 Novel Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 9 Prologue|Prologue]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 9 Chapter 1|Chapter 1 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 9 Chapter 2|Chapter 2 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 9 Chapter 3|Chapter 3 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 9 Chapter 4|Chapter 4 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 9 Chapter 5|Chapter 5 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 9 Chapter 6|Chapter 6 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 9 Chapter 7|Chapter 7 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 9 Chapter 8|Chapter 8 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 9 Chapter 9|Chapter 9 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 9 Chapter 10|Chapter 10 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 9 Epilogue|Epilogue]]

<br style="clear:both"/>

==== Volume 10 ====
[[Image:SnRK V10 003.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi:Volume 10 Novel Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 10 Prologue|Prologue]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 10 Chapter 1|Chapter 1 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 10 Chapter 2|Chapter 2 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 10 Chapter 3|Chapter 3 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 10 Chapter 4|Chapter 4 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 10 Chapter 5|Chapter 5 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 10 Chapter 6|Chapter 6 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 10 Chapter 7|Chapter 7 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 10 Chapter 8|Chapter 8 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 10 Epilogue|Epilogue]]

<br style="clear:both"/>
|}
<br style="clear:both"/>

{| class="collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:left; margin: 5px 20px clear:both; font-size:100%; background:transparent; width:100%;"
! style="background:#cee0f2;" align="center"| <h3>'''Story Arc 3: The Ancient Bloodline'''</h3>
{|
|-
| width="20%"style="background:#cee0f2; padding:0.3em; text-align:center;"|[[Image:Seikoku_No_Dragner_11_001.jpg|thumb|x200px|link=Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 11|Volume 11]]
| style="background:#cee0f2; padding:0.3em; text-align:center;"|[[Image:SnRK V12 001.jpg|thumb|x200px|link=Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 12|Volume 12]]
| style="background:#cee0f2; padding:0.3em; text-align:center;"|[[Image:SnRK V13 002.jpg|thumb|x200px|link=Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 13|Volume 13]]
| style="background:#cee0f2; padding:0.3em; text-align:center;"|[[Image:SnRK V14 001.jpg|thumb|x200px|link=Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 14|Volume 14]]
| style="background:#cee0f2; padding:0.3em; text-align:center;"|[[Image:SnRK V15 001.jpg|thumb|x200px|link=Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 15|Volume 15]]
|-
|}
|-
|

==== Volume 11 ====
[[Image:Seikoku_No_Dragner_11_001.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 11 Novel Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 11 Prologue|Prologue]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 11 Chapter 1|Chapter 1 - Ash's decision and new Student Council system]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 11 Chapter 2|Chapter 2 - Rebecca's graduation ceremony]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 11 Chapter 3|Chapter 3 - Ash's little sister]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 11 Chapter 3.5|Chapter 3.5 - Linda's "Star Mark"]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 11 Chapter 4|Chapter 4 - Aries's party aboard a warship]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 11 Chapter 4.5|Chapter 4.5 - Linda's miscalculation]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 11 Chapter 5|Chapter 5 - Darkness Princess and mechanical dragon]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 11 Epilogue|Epilogue]]

<br style="clear:both"/>

==== Volume 12 ====
[[Image:SnRK V12 001.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi:Volume 12 Novel Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 12 Prologue|Prologue]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 12 Chapter 1|Chapter 1 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 12 Chapter 2|Chapter 2 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 12 Chapter 3|Chapter 3 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 12 Chapter 4|Chapter 4 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 12 Chapter 5|Chapter 5 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 12 Chapter 6|Chapter 6 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 12 Chapter 7|Chapter 7 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 12 Chapter 8|Chapter 8 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 12 Epilogue|Epilogue]]

<br style="clear:both"/>

==== Volume 13 ====
[[Image:SnRK V13 002.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi:Volume 13 Novel Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 13 Prologue|Prologue]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 13 Chapter 1|Chapter 1 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 13 Chapter 2|Chapter 2 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 13 Chapter 3|Chapter 3 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 13 Chapter 4|Chapter 4 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 13 Chapter 5|Chapter 5 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 13 Chapter 6|Chapter 6 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 13 Chapter 6.5|Chapter 6.5 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 13 Chapter 7|Chapter 7 ]]

<br style="clear:both"/>

==== Volume 14 ====
[[Image:SnRK V14 001.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi:Volume 14 Novel Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 14 Chapter 8|Chapter 8 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 14 Chapter 9|Chapter 9 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 14 Chapter 10|Chapter 10 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 14 Chapter 11|Chapter 11 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 14 Chapter 11.5|Chapter 11.5 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 14 Chapter 12|Chapter 12 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 14 Chapter 13|Chapter 13 ]]

<br style="clear:both"/>

==== Volume 15 ====
[[Image:SnRK V15 001.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi:Volume 15 Novel Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 15 Chapter 13.5|Chapter 13.5 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 15 Chapter 14|Chapter 14 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 15 Chapter 15|Chapter 15 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 15 Chapter 16|Chapter 16 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 15 Chapter 17|Chapter 17 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 15 Chapter 18|Chapter 18 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 15 Chapter 19|Chapter 19 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 15 Chapter 20|Chapter 20 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 15 Chapter 21|Chapter 21 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 15 Chapter 22|Chapter 22 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 15 Chapter 23|Chapter 23 ]]
:*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 15 Epilogue|Epilogue]]

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|}
<br style="clear:both"/>

==Project Staff==

*Supervisor:
*Project Manager:

===Translators===

'''ACTIVE'''

*[[User:TJYYEO|TJYYEO]]<br />
*[[User:Kenji|Kenji]]<br />

===Editors===

'''ACTIVE'''
*[[User:ClavelSangrante|ClavelSangrante]] ([[User talk:ClavelSangrante|talk]])
*[[User:Alviam099|Alviam099]]
*[[User:Tjobbear|Tjobbear]]
*[[User:JesseAlexander|JesseAlexander]]
*[[User:Yoyoyo5678|<span style="color:blue">Yoyoyo5678</span>]] ([[User talk:Yoyoyo5678|<span style="color:blue">talk</span>]])
*[[User:Winlex|Winlex]] ([[User talk:Winlex|talk]])
*[[User:KuroReaper|KuroReaper]] ([[User talk:KuroReaper|talk]])

== Series Overview ==

:*星刻の竜騎士（ドラグナー） (June 25, 2010) ISBN 978-4-8401-3420-0
:*星刻の竜騎士 II (September 24, 2010) ISBN 978-4-8401-3508-5
:*星刻の竜騎士 III (January 25, 2011) ISBN 978-4-8401-3696-9
:*星刻の竜騎士 IV (April 25, 2011) ISBN 978-4-8401-3895-6
:*星刻の竜騎士 V (July 25, 2011) ISBN 978-4-8401-3975-5
:*星刻の竜騎士 VI (October 25, 2011) ISBN 978-4-8401-4271-7
:*星刻の竜騎士 VII (January 25, 2012) ISBN 978-4-8401-4374-5
:*星刻の竜騎士 VIII (April 25, 2012) ISBN 978-4-8401-4548-0
:*星刻の竜騎士 IX (July 25, 2012) ISBN 978-4-8401-4645-6
:*星刻の竜騎士 X (October 25, 2012) ISBN 978-4-8401-4847-4
:*星刻の竜騎士 XI (January 25, 2013) ISBN 978-4-8401-4960-0
:*星刻の竜騎士 XII (April 25, 2013) ISBN 978-4-8401-5157-3
:*星刻の竜騎士 XIII (July 25, 2013) ISBN 978-4-8401-5246-4
:*星刻の竜騎士 XIV (November 25, 2013) ISBN 978-4-0406-6072-1
:*星刻の竜騎士 XV (April 25, 2014) ISBN 978-4-0406-6377-7
:*星刻の竜騎士 XVI (June 25, 2014) ISBN 978-4-04-066778-2
:*星刻の竜騎士 XVII (November 25, 2014) ISBN 978-4-04-067167-3
:*星刻の竜騎士 XVIII (Release Date: March 25, 2015) ISBN 978-4-04-067469-8

[[Category:MF Bunko J]]
[[Category:Genre - Action]]
[[Category:Light novel (English)]]
[[Category:Shiki Mizuchi]]

User:07n156

2014-08-01T23:24:11Z

07n156: Created page with "==Series Favoritas== *Date A Live *No Game No Life *Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi *Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance"

==Series Favoritas==
*[[Date A Live]]
*[[No Game No Life]]
*[[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi]]
*[[Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance]]

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume4 Chapter7

2014-07-17T14:53:48Z

07n156:

==Chapter 7: Darkness Spirit Girl==
===Part 1===

"---What was that, stupid, stupid, stupid Kamito!"

With her hair standing on end, Claire ran through the castle's hallway.

She wiped the large tears forming in her eyes with her sleeve.

---Has nothing to do with Claire.

Those words replayed in Kamito's cold tone over and over in her head.

''I'm not trusted by Kamito......''

She became very sad when she thought that.

---Onee-chan, what do you even know about nii-sama?

That assassin girl had said that to Claire.

''That's right, I don't know anything about Kamito......''

Her heart hurt. The inside of her throat was painful.

What is this feeling, she wondered.

''......Why won't you tell me anything?''

She stopped running, wiped her tears and then trudged along.


The girls in dresses turned to look at her with puzzled expressions.

''......That's right, the dance is tonight.''

The truth is that she had been anticipating it since yesterday.

Along with the new swimsuit, she had also prepared a new dress.

''It, it's not like I'm wearing it for him or anything......''

Claire quickly removed the image of Kamito's face from her mind.

''But I wonder what kind of face he'd make if he saw me in my dress......''

While zoning out and thinking about that kind of thing, her face grew red.

''Wh, what am I thinking. I already don't care about that Ka, Kamito!''

While she was biting her lip.

Suddenly a heat wave came from below her as a hellcat clad in flames appeared.

"......What's wrong, Scarlet?"

Claire asked while leaning over.

"Do you want a snack? I have canned tuna at the room."

Scarlet shook its head.

And then she noticed the silver chain shaking in Scarlet's mouth.

"That's......"


A silver cat pendant.

The present that Kamito had bought for her birthday two weeks ago.

It looked like it had been taken out of the jewelry box where she had placed it.

"Wh, what is it, jeez......"

Claire took the pendant into her hand.

The first birthday present she had ever received from a boy.

She had been truly happy at that time.

"......"

She held the pendant to her chest like a treasure.

"......That's right. That back there was also partially my fault."

She sighed as she patted Scarlet's head.

''......I can only become honest when I'm not in front of him.''

===Part 2===

"......Where did that Claire go?"

Kamito was traversing the maze-like castle in search of Claire.


......Rather, he was completely lost.

Whatever the case, the original structure was a completely strange design from the mythical age. With the repeated alterations over the course of several hundred years, the hallways stretched out in every other way to form a maze. All of the rooms looked the same, so it threw off one's sense of direction.

''......With this kind of thing, not getting lost would be strange.''

With the sun setting, the ceremony drew closer.

''I should return to my room. We might just miss each other, after all.''

And Kamito came to a halt.

In the middle of the hallway was a garden complete with a water fountain.

"Ohh, that's amazing......"

His gaze was drawn in by that beautiful sight.

Countless flowers were growing and small light spirits gathered there.

The water gushing from the fountain was filled with purity.

''This might be where princess maidens purify themselves.''

While thinking that, Kamito drew closer to the garden.

The light spirits floating in the air ran away like newborn spiders.


Near the water fountain were five stone sculptures.

The images of five Elemental Lords that controlled Astral Zero.

A warrior wielding a blazing sword --- Fire Elemental Lord «Volcanicus».

A boy with kind eyes --- Wind Elemental Lord «Belphal».

An iron mallet-wielding giant --- Earth Elemental Lord «Lode Gear».

A woman hugging a water jug to her chest --- Water Elemental Lord «Iseria Seaward».

An aged man with a scale and bishop's staff --- Holy Elemental Lord «Alexandros».

Those that bring prosperity or hardship to all of humanity, the kings of all spirits.

Of course, the spirits did not actually look like their sculptures.

The images here were simply representations of what people imagined their qualities to be when put in human form.

"These are also relics from the mythical age......"

They were magnificent sculptures. At the very least, they were not not products of the last several hundred years. Kamito didn't possess much knowledge about historic ruins but he knew that much.

The stones used were not just normal stones either. Valuable spirit crystals had been used.

Getting close and looking,

"Hm?"

Kamito saw something out of place.


The five sculptures which copied the likeness of the Elemental Lords. Beside them was---

With nothing remaining above the knees, another sculpture was there.

That was something that was completely foreign to the garden.

''......Why is this thing here?''

The tragic appearance of the sculpture with only what was below its knees remaining. It hadn't been removed afterward, so it was obviously an important ancient legacy.

"......!?"

Just then. Something floated into Kamito's mind.

''The true shrine from the ancient age's true shrine......''

Along with the five Elemental Lords, there was one spot that was unnaturally missing something.

''Est whispered something back then......''

They had been in a hurry so he had missed it but......

"If I remember......"

"---The one erased in the following age, Darkness Elemental Lord «Ren Ashdoll»."

Suddenly from behind came a voice---


Kamito immediately spun around.

A beautiful girl with black hair clad in a dress the color of darkness stood beside the water fountain.

She had a teasing smile. Gentle twilight pupils.

The one he'd been searching for --- the girl he always wanted to meet was right there.

"Restia......"

"For someone searching for a cat, you look like you've seen a ghost."

She smiled and walked towards him with light steps.

"......"

Kamito was frozen still. He simply stood with his eyes wide open.

The girl of darkness came before Kamito and stood on her tiptoes.

"You've really grown. Even though you were only about as tall as me back then."

"Restia, you......"

Kamito returned from the shock.

"Don't make such a scary face, Kamito."

"......!"

A gentle and sweet voice that lured one into sleep.

It hadn't changed. Not a single thing, not even that harshness from three years ago had changed.


The seal on his left hand heated up like it was burning.

''......Why are you making that kind of face!''

---Who are you?

---Why are you throwing my heart into chaos using Restia's form!

The truth is he really wanted to shout those things to the girl before him.

But---

Those accusations stuck in his throat.

......I know. She's the real Restia.

No matter what form she took, there was no way he could ever mistake her.

The girl who had been the first light for Kamito who had closed his heart.

She had stayed by his side and granted him warmth and peace.

But now---

"......"

Kamito strongly chewed his lip.

Three years ago, he thought that would never change.

He had no idea why she had changed like this.

Possibly, something had broken when she made her «wish».


''Three years ago, I---''

Just what was the wish requested of the Elemental Lord.

He had many things he wanted to ask.

And many things he needed to ask.

Kamito opened his mouth while still slightly lost.

"Restia......"

"Hm?"

The darkness spirit tilted her head in a lovely manner.

"That military spirit that attacked the flying ship, was it your doing?"

"Those were «her» orders. It wasn't me."

Restia replied with that and sat down on the broken sculpture.

With her feet together and resting her chin in her hands, she possessed the beauty of a fallen goddess.

"Is that referring to the fake Ren Ashbell?"

"She's not a replacement for you, Kamito."

Restia smiled gently.

Just like one would use when warning a young child.

"She is also a true Ren Ashbell."


"What do you mean?"

"I'm sorry, but I cannot reveal that to the current you."

Restia silently declined her head.

"......Why did you appear before me now?"

"To warn you."

"Warn me?"

"Your past is trying to destroy what you hold dear."

"My past......"

Kamito muttered---

"---The «Instructional School»'s orphans, huh."

"Yes. Muir Alenstarl is ignoring «her» orders and rampaging on her own. Well, it seems like «she» is closing her eyes on the matter though."

"Why is Muir targeting us?"

"Isn't that obvious. Because her beloved onii-chan was taken from her."

"......"


Yes, Muir Alenstarl had not shown any signs that Kamito was her target.

If he was, there would be no way she would have overlooked him when he couldn't use his Elemental Waffe.

Claire was a superior elementalist. Rinslet and Ellis as well, and Fianna was contracted to a powerful knight spirit.

But even though they were elementalists, they were still normal girls.

They were ojou-samas that were gentle, not honest, and liked black tea and sweet candies.

''But the orphans from the «Instructional School» are different---''

Like Kamito had been---

They were existences that had only been brought up with knowledge on how to wreak havoc and slaughter.

That was not blade dance for the sake of enjoyment --- it was only for war.

The world the noble ojou-samas from the academy lived in was completely different.

Even if they were Blade Dance representatives, there was not a chance they could win in a battle.

"---I won't allow that to happen."

Kamito gave a small groan.

Claire, Ellis, Fianna, Rinslet and Est---

"I will definitely protect my companions."

"I wonder if you can?"


Restia put her fingertip to her lips---

"The orphans from the «Instructional School» are like the past you. I don't think you can stop them when you had a hard battle against the likes of Jio Inzagi."

"It doesn't matter. I will protect them at the cost of my life."

"Hmm, I'm a little jealous."

"---That's why, I will protect you as well, Restia."

"......!?"

Restia's eyes widened.

Those twilight pupils finally showed unrest.

"---That part of you hasn't changed a bit."

She shrugged her shoulders and slowly stood.

She stepped in front of him and---

"I'm happy, Kamito."
[[File:STnBD V04 004-005.jpg|thumbnail]]
Tiptoed and kissed Kamito.

"......!?"

Kamito froze for a few seconds.

The inside of his head had numbed and become pure white.


"......Mm."

Restia slowly parted lips with Kamito.

And she once again whispered into the ear of the dumbfounded Kamito.

"I'll be waiting, Kamito. For your awakening as the successor of the maou."

"Res......tia......?"

Kamito reached out but grabbed nothing but thin air.

The darkness spirit girl had turned into a black mist and disappeared from in front of Kamito.

===Part 3===

"......"

Claire stood in the shadow of the hall leading to the garden.

She had discovered Kamito talking with the darkness spirit girl while searching for Kamito.

That darkness spirit girl was dangerous --- she had immediately summoned Scarlet but desisted from attacking when she saw him talking with her.

They were like two lovers that had been parted for a long time.

Like that, Claire had missed the timing to come out.


She couldn't hear the contents of their conversation well from the hallway.

If she wanted to, she might have been able to hear it, but learning about the past Kamito didn't want to discuss in this way felt like she was doing something underhanded.

Thinking like that, she ended up just watching.

She saw the two kiss.

"Ah---"

Splash.

Tears fell to the ground.

''No way, why are tears......''

She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her uniform.

''Why, why am I......''

Why was this --- her chest hurt.

''......Kamito didn't hate it. He didn't resist at all.''

The overflowing tears wouldn't stop.

Claire ran from that spot and dashed down the hallway.

===Part 4===


The floating island «Ragna Ys»' underground cave within the holy grounds.

A place that no one but the «Divine Ritual Institute»'s princess maidens was permitted to enter --- currently, there were two sets of footsteps resounding there.

One belonged to an orphan of the «Instructional School», Lily Flame.

She read the reports to her master in front of her.

"Muir Alenstarl lost Death Gaze in the battle. The country's military executives are going to be angry."

"Let them. They're just a bunch of geezers that only think about how to protect themselves."

The listening party said so with a merciless tone.

The girl with long black hair that fell to her waist.

Donning a black overcoat with a crimson mask that looked like a fierce god covering her face.

Lily was not surprised in the least by her master's response. Their supposed allies, the Alphas Theocracy, were only another tool for her to accomplish her goal.

"But Cardinal, the supply of military spirits from now on---"

"Lily, I've taught you not to use that name here, haven't I?"

"I apologize. ---Ren Ashbell."


Lily shivered at her master's cold voice.

Footsteps resounded throughout the silent underground cave. The radiance of the spirit stone they were carrying reflected off the strange carvings in the wall. It was a mystery why this passage in the underground cave that even the «Divine Ritual Institute»'s princess maidens were prohibited from was known to these two.

Possibly high-ranking princess maidens --- also those close to «spirit maidens» could enter without it being strange.

"It seems that Restia has contacted him."

The crimson mask-wearing girl --- Ren Ashbell said.

"Yes. She ignored your order and---"

"That darkness spirit is not a subordinate but an equal in the organization. She has no obligation to listen to me."

"......Yes."

Lily chewed her lip, unsatisfied. It frustrated her that the pieces gathered to help her master were moving on their own.

The ones who had sworn an oath to Cardinal --- to Ren Ashbell, consisted of Lily alone. Her fellow orphan from the «Instructional School» thought of nothing other than Kazehaya Kamito and she had no idea what that darkness spirit girl was thinking.

"I will be meeting with him as well this evening."


"Will you be attending the dance?"

Lily asked in a slightly incredulous voice.

"Ren Ashbell was the winner of the previous Blade Dance. There is no way she could not attend."

"But the preparations for what to wear---"

"I have at least one dress. Though I left the majority to my little sister."

"You have a little sister?"

"......"

There was no response to that question.

Thinking she had upset her master, Lily quickly changed topics.

"Muir reported that he doesn't appear to have awakened yet."

"We already have no time to wait for it. If he can't withstand it, then that was his worth as a successor to the maou --- we'd just have to alter the plan."

"---That won't do. It's Muir's duty to awaken nii-sama."

Said a voice from within the darkness behind them.

The one who appeared was the girl with ash grey hair --- Muir Alenstarl.

"Muir, what did you do!?"


Lily raised a sharp voice.

"I just played around a little. With those onee-chans that are corrupting nii-sama."

"......Acting on your own! You used another military spirit without permission."

"Not anything important. Just the special-use military spirit «Scylla». Though it was too weak and died. I wonder if I could use a better spirit next time."

"......!"

To the Muir who was puffing her cheeks, Lily responded by holding her head in her hands.

Even if it was «Scylla» which wasn't a pure war class spirit, it was still a part of the empire's military strength. Those military executives wouldn't be happy if they heard about this.

"Listen here. That group at the empire won't be supplying us with military spirits until the Blade Dance really begins."

"Hmph, we've been acting docile well enough."

"It's because you ignored orders and lost Death Gaze."

"I just wanted to play with nii-sama."

Muir pouted her lips.

"Anyway, behave yourself until the real Blade Dance begins. Don't lay a hand on him until you receive orders---"


"Orders?"

Muir tilted her head in wonder.

And the light in her eyes disappeared.

"Hey, Lily, just who will order Muir?"

"---!?"

Shivers ran down Lily's spine.

Her entire body ran cold with fear. It was like someone was holding her heart in their hands.

"Hey, tell me---"

The spirit seal on Muir's right hand let out an ominous light---

"Muir Alenstarl."

Ren Ashbell called out to her.

"Yes?"

"You are an equal to me in the organization. Nobody will order you."

Muir laughed with a smile.

"It's fine if you understand. The only one that can order Muir is nii-sama."

With Muir's mood restored, Lily breathed a sigh of relief.

"But this is troubling. I can't play with the onee-chans without a military spirit."


"Then why not try using this --- «Monster»."

Ren Ashbell removed her ring and tossed it to Muir.

"This is?"

Muir looked at the ring curiously.

It was a plain silver ring. Thin characters from the spirit language were engraved onto its outer edge.

"The annihilation spirit «Tiamat» --- a spirit weapon that was created to fight the army of the ex-shadow Elemental Lord. It was customized by those of the «Divine Ritual Institute». It can withstand your «Jester's Vise» well."

"......You're giving this to Muir?"

"Use it as you wish."

"I don't really understand why. Well, that's fine, I'll take it."

"Muir, military spirits aren't toys!"

"They are toys. At least to Muir."

She shrugged her shoulders at Lily---

And licked the ring that now adorned her middle finger.


"---Just a little longer, nii-sama. Muir will remove those meddlesome onee-chans."

While walking through the dark underground cave, Muir smiled to herself.

When she had been taken to the «Instructional School», she was only four years old.

Born in a cold village on the borderline of the Empire, she was not of noble blood and yet possessed the ability to contract spirits.

The villagers rejoiced at having borne an elementalist and raised her dearly.

And then they brought her before the village's guardian spirit on her fourth birthday.

They wanted Muir to contract with the guardian spirit so the village would prosper.

But when she made the contract, the guardian spirit ran wild.

The flames that had protected the village now burned it down and the spirit also destroyed itself.

Muir's power --- she had the uncanny ability to drive a spirit mad.

After being cast away by her village, she was picked up by the instructional school---

There, she became a «Monster».

Her heart was lost, a «Cursed Armament Seal» was engraved on her young body and she was taught nothing but slaughter techniques.

Because of her in-born ability, Muir could never connect with a contracted spirit.


Those days filled with only isolation and massacres slowly carved away her heart.

In the middle of those days --- she met with a boy that had been taken to the facility.

"You're always alone, huh."

"That's right. Muir is always alone. The only ones Muir talks with are those she kills."

"Then I'll become your friend."

"Hmph, how stupid. Talking about friends in this place."

"Then a brother. Muir is the younger sister."

"......What are you deciding on your own, idiot."

The first conversation she had with him. It was something he definitely didn't remember.

"---Nii-sama is Muir's only."

When she emerged from the underground cave, the sun had mostly set.

It was about the time the Blade Dance's ceremony to begin at the castle.

"That's why I won't forgive them. I will definitely get them, those attaching themselves to nii-sama."

<noinclude>{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume4 Chapter6|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume4 Chapter8}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume4 Chapter1

2014-07-17T03:23:05Z

07n156: /* Part 1 */

== Chapter 1: Travel Preparation ==
===Part 1===

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Chirp, chirp...*

The twittering of birds from inside the «Spirit Forest» that surrounded the academy could be heard within the dorms.

"Mm..."

Opening his eyes and rising up from his bed, he found his own half-asleep face reflected in the window glass.

His black hair was ruffled from sleeping. He also had an insecure look in his eyes.

Compared to the innocent looks in his dream, his impression had changed greatly.

''Four years ago... huh?''

It had been a long time since he last had a dream about that period of time.

It was probably the first time he had one since coming to this academy.

To be frank, it was a memory he did not even want to recall...

Kamito unintentionally cast his sight down to his left hand, where a spirit seal was engraved.

The seal of the darkness spirit— the left hand which grasped victory at the Blade Dance three years ago.

''Now I am trying to return to that arena once more.''

With the Blade Dance drawing near, he was probably feeling emotionally overwrought without realizing it.

That must also have been why he had a dream about that period of time.

As he was about to get off his bed―

"......"

Kamito noticed something.

His body felt strangely heavy.

Something soft and pleasant was mounted on top of his waist.

"......?!"

Startled, Kamito flipped his blanket vigorously.

And then.

"Fua... Good morning, Kamito."

"E-Est?!"

A lovely voice rang, just like a bell.

The one straddling Kamito's waist— was a silver-haired beauty.

She had mysterious violet eyes. Her skin was white like freshly extracted milk.

The figure in question, who was rubbing her drowsy-looking eyelids, was just as lovely as a snow fairy.

The sword spirit Est. She was Kamito's contracted spirit, and was also entitled «Demon Slayer».

Apparently, she had snuck into Kamito's bed without him knowing.

On top of that, her attire was—

"What's wrong, Kamito?"

Still straddling his waist, Est looked down at him expressionlessly.

"H-Hey, your attire..."

Est was fully naked― No, she was not.

She was dressed up properly.

However—

"Kamito?"

Est tilted her head blankly. Kamito averted his eyes in a fluster.

Est was wearing Kamito's uniform shirt over her naked body.

She was probably not wearing underwear. Her attire was what called a naked-shirt<ref>Similar to Naked-apron, a naked shirt is where the subject wears nothing but a shirt.</ref>.

From the exposed bosom, her slightly exposed white skin was strangely captivating.

The cuffs were big and excessive, but they gave him an unnecessary maniacal feeling nonetheless.

"Wha—? Est, why are you wearing my uniform?"

"Kamito told me that I can't sleep naked together with you."

Est replied expressionlessly.

Kamito was startled as soon as she tightly grabbed the chest area of the shirt.

"Yeah, I did tell you so."

Being at his wits' end, Kamito groaned.

"But please, at least put on some panties."

"...Pan...ties?"

"Why are you making that wondering face?!"

It might be the case if spirits have the habit of wearing knee-socks, but do not have the habit of wearing panties.

''...Nah, Restia did wear underwear properly.''

Just when he was thinking about that―

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Kamito felt something out of place about Est's appearance.

It was not just about her wearing a naked-shirt― There seemed to be something very different about Est this morning.

Kamito intently examined Est's whole body.

"Kamito... Um, if you stare at me that much, I'll get embarrassed."

The expressionless Est blushed in an unusual manner, squirmed on top of his waist and rubbed her knees together.

At that moment, Kamito finally realized it.

From the shirt-tail, her white thighs slightly came into sight.

And then came her slender and smooth ankles like sculptures made of marble.

What Est was wearing— wasn't her usual knee-high socks.

She was wearing short socks, of which the length was just about up to her ankles.

"Est, what's with those socks?"

"Well, I thought Kamito would be pleased with these kind of socks."

With her face still red, Est firmly pinned down the shirt-tail.

This was his first time seeing Est making such an expression.

It appeared that to her, exposing her bare feet was really embarrassing.

"Kamito, are you turned on by my short socks?"

"Nah, because I don't have such a maniacal fetish, you know?"

"...I see. That means this is still not enough to make you satisfied."

Est dropped her shoulders, seemingly disappointed.

"Still, it is quite impossible for me to show you my bare feet."

"I'm telling you, I don't have such a fetish."

Kamito groaned and shook his head. He really could not understand the spirits' sense of shame.

''Even so―''

It was the truth that his heart pounded at Est's expression of blushing and being bashful in an unusual manner.

The sword spirit was always calm and expressionless.

That was exactly why he wanted to try seeing more of her bashful expression.

''What will happen if I touch them, I wonder?''

Suddenly, Kamito's mind was tempted.

Anyhow, it was because Est, not any other girl, was bashful to this extent.

What would happen if he touched her bare feet? —He wanted to try seeing it.

"......"

Kamito quietly reached out his hand—

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Coochy*.

He tickled Est's small foot.

"...Hyan!"

A sweet voice leaked out from her lips.

Est's body bent with a start.

"...Kamito, what are you doing?!"

"Hm? I'm massaging you."

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Coochy coochy*.

"Hya...a-n..."
[[File:STnBD V04 002-003.jpg|thumbnail]]
Twisting her body, Est was in agony, seemingly tickled.

Such a reaction was so cute that it drove Kamito to―

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Coochy*. *Coochy coochy coochy*.

"...A-n, please... Stop it..."

"No. This is your punishment."

"...Punishment?"

"Because Est is a bad girl for sneaking in my bed as she pleases."

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Coochy coochy*.

"Ann, Kami...to... Forgive... Me."

Tears were shed from Est's limpid eyes as she pleaded while gasping.

...As expected, she now looked a little pitiful.

"Have you reflected on your behavior?"

"Y...es..."

Kamito ceased tickling, and Est fell lying face-down in exhaustion.

Kamito gently held Est back as she flopped onto him.

"...Kamito is so mean."

Est pouted her lips in an unusual manner.

"My bad. Est is just so cute... So I did it without thinking."

He gently stroked Est's silver hair while making a bitter smile.

Just at that moment.

The room temperature rose instantly.

"...?!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogogo...!*

From behind him, a horrifying killing aura... No, heat was emitted.

When he turned around at the unpleasant premonition―

"Y-Y-You guys... Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-What are you doing?"

With her red pigtails standing on end, the beautiful girl was trembling all over.

Her ruby eyes were imposing. Her lips had the color of cherry blossoms in early blooming. The bulge on her chest was just about the same as that of a kid, but that well-balanced proportion of hers was very charming.

Claire Rouge.

If it was appearance alone, she was exceptionally cute, an ultra beautiful girl without any exaggeration.

However, as she was now, she was more terrifying than any ferocious spirit.

"I-I've misjudged you. I-I didn't know you're such a pervert...!"

"Y-You got it wrong, Claire. This is, well, you see..."

Kamito was attempting to give an excuse while in a fluster, but―

For this particular instance, it was absolutely not a misunderstanding. There was no way to make an excuse.

"Kamito-kun, I think your foot-tickling play is indeed too maniacal."

Appearing from behind Claire, Fianna quietly cast her eyes down, seemingly sad.

It seemed like she had seen everything. ...He would rather die now.

"Kamito, how hot would you order me to grill you?"

Claire smiled pleasantly while holding her blazing {{Furigana|Flame Tongue|whip of flame}}.

A smile of an angel that would make one unexpectedly fascinated.

"Medium rare... or so."

"Too bad. I only know roasting to cinders."

Claire raised her whip of flame overhead――

"――Turn into cinders already!"

Kamito was blown off towards the outside of the window.

===Part 2===

And so, Kamito greeted another morning just like usual, but――

After eating breakfast, the situation was a little different.

The bell sounding the start of classes had already rung long ago, yet everyone still remained in their rooms in the dorm.

"This one and this one. This one should be necessary too... Geez, Scarlet. Don't play with the luggage."

"Nyaa?"

The flame spirit in the form of a hell cat was playing by rolling Claire's outfits as if they were a yarn ball.

Seeing a glimpse of white underwear among that lump, Kamito averted his eyes in a hurry.

Claire and Fianna were sitting on each of their beds, packing stuff into their own bags.

They were preparing to head towards Astral Zero, the stage of the Blade Dance.

It had been two weeks since «Team Scarlet» defeated the Silent Fortress ― Velsaria Eva, who was ranked number one within the academy, and obtained the right to participate in the Blade Dance. Together with the two teams that got into the determined representative trio, they were going to fight to the bitter end several days from now on as a representative of the Ordesia Empire.

"Claire, did you get enough sleep yesterday?"

"Of course. Keeping your physical condition in control is the basics for an elementalist after all."

Claire nodded while holding back from yawning, which she had already been doing often.

Perhaps because of her sense of responsibility as the team leader, Claire had recently been reading a large number of tactical books and documents related to spirits, which she had borrowed from the library, until the dead of the night.

"Don't push yourself too hard. We won't know the {{Furigana|regulation|battle system}} until an oracle of the Elemental Lords is issued."

"Yes, I know. Still, it's necessary to prepare countermeasures in advance. Those who participate in the Blade Dance are the most elite elementalists representing each country―― It won't be so easy that you can win without countermeasures. Besides, that the strongest blade dancer is also taking part in this tournament after all."

"...Yeah, you're right."

Kamito nodded with a bitter face.

The strongest blade dancer ― Ren Ashbell.

The winner at the Blade Dance three years ago.

''...Not me, but another Ren Ashbell.''

Who exactly was she? And what was her goal...?

He had to figure that out.

Kamito tightly clenched his left hand, which was covered in a leather glove.

Regardless of what her objectives might be, there was no doubt that the transformed Restia was acting together with her.

"And you, are you done with packing already?"

Holding on to the nape of Scarlet, who was struggling and mewing――

This time it was Claire who asked.

In contrast with Claire's traveling bag, which was filled up till the point where it was about to burst, Kamito's bag was small.

"Yeah, I don't have much stuff to carry after all."

Kamito, who was wandering aimlessly until just two months ago, carried with him almost no personal belongings.

A few daggers used for throwing and, it wasn't baggage but―― he had the elemental waffe, the sword «Terminus Est», in the sword-belt on his hips. Est was offended by what happened this morning and went to sleep in her sword form. ...It was not likely for her to wake up anytime soon.

But then again, if one was to offend a high-ranking spirit of Est's level, normally one must be ready for the kind of damage like a town being destroyed.

"......"

For those two, it seemed that they still needed more time to pack.

''...Well, they are girls of noble status after all.''

They probably needed various things that a guy like Kamito would have no idea about.

Claire had been randomly stuffing in a bunch of canned peaches for a while, but that made him feel a little uneasy.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Kamito cast his eyes down the floor, where stuff was strewn all over the place.

There were some books that looked like novels mixed among tactical books and documents related to spirits.

Having too much time to spare, Kamito casually picked up one of them.

'The wandering prince and the imprisoned princess'―― A romance novel aimed at teens, with many illustrations in it.

(Seriously, it's surprising that Claire likes this kind of stuff.)

When he tried skimming lightly through its first part out of curiosity――

"Wha-?!"

Kamito's face turned red in a flash.

The contents of the book were about a beautiful princess who got abducted by a cruel prince and had all sorts of things done to her that could hardly be expressed in words――It was that kind of hardcore stuff.

"Y-You... H-Have you been reading this kind of stuff?!"

"Eh?"

Claire turned around.

And then, when she recognized what Kamito was holding in his hands,

"Fuaaaa, g-g-g-give it back! What the hell are you reading without permission?!"

Thump. Thud.

She hit him with the peach cans in her hands.

"Whoa... Are you planning to kill me?!"

"It's your punishment for peeping into a m-maiden's secret! You deserve to die ten thousand times!"

"Then don't leave your maiden secret on the floor."

"S-Shut up~! Idiot! Pervert!"

Bursting into tears, Claire hit him repeatedly and violently.

...At this rate, he might lose his life before participating in the Blade Dance.

"Hey, you are being annoying."

"B-But Kamito――"

Taking the chance when Claire turned towards Fianna――

Kamito opened a page of the book and showed it in front of Claire.

It was a page containing an illustration in which the princess, the heroine of the story, was being tied up with a rope and getting whipped.

"...?!"

"Isn't Claire more of a pervert?"

"...Eh?"

Claire's shoulders turned stiff with a start.

"A noble young lady reading such a vulgar book, don't you feel any shame?"

"W-Well, um..."

The ojou-sama blushed and mumbled in hesitation.

Upon seeing Claire in such a state――

Kamito got a feeling of wanting to play around with her a little.

[[File:STnBD V04 031.jpg|thumbnail|right]]

(...Well, there I go wanting to tease her again.)

It was probably because her act of blushing in embarrassment looked strangely cute.

Moving his face close to Claire's ear, he whispered softly.

"I wonder how everyone will think if they learn that the ojou-sama, whose test results are also top-class, enjoys reading this kind of obscene books."

"Fuaa, wh-wh-wh-what are you saying?!"

"Could it be that you want to get things like stuff in this book done to you?"

"Th-That's not true! How could I want to be tied up like this?!"

"You know, this page has a fold on it."

"...~Fuaaan!"

A tiny cloud of steam erupting from her head, Claire crawled into her bed.

"...Seriously, she's the same green ojou-sama as ever."

Having escaped from his life crisis, Kamito took a sigh of relief, and――

This time he turned towards Fianna.

"Is your preparation going well?"

"...Hmm, it seems that my ritual equipment is going to be bulky no matter what."

Said Fianna while stuffing a large round mirror and a candlestick into her bag.

Fianna Ray Ordesia.

She was the second princess of the Ordesia Empire, and also the princess maiden ranked second at 〈Divine Ritual School〉, a training institution for Queens who served the Five Great Elemental Lords.

A genuine princess, who was once even chosen as a candidate for the Queen of the Elemental Lord of Flame.

However, she was by no means haughty, and was very easy to talk to.

Strictly speaking though, she was at a social status where Kamito and the like were not even allowed to look at her face.

"If you don't mind, I'll lend you a hand. Can I pack the stuff around here however I want?"

"Yes, that will be of help."

Kamito sat down on the bed, where stuff was all over the place, and started stuffing a bag with all kinds of equipment that appeared to be used in rituals.

Rosaries, royal goblets, folding fans, whips, candles, and even things that looked like beast ears and tails――

(Are these things really equipment for rituals?)

Such a question suddenly flitted through his mind, however--

(Well, I'm also just a beginner when it comes to princess maidens' rituals after all.)

――That was when his hand, which reached out casually, grabbed something.

A smooth and nice touch of cloth.

(...What's this?)

Knitting his eyebrows, he tried holding it up before his eyes, and then――

"...?!"

Kamito turned stiff in that posture.

It was a glossy black piece of cloth.

A thin lace embroidery with a rose pattern on it.

The material was probably silk. There were thin strings attached at both ends of the cloth piece.

"Err..."

Cold sweat gradually emerged on Kamito's forehead.

A high class-looking black pair of underwear.

On top of that――

(Wh-Why is there a hole here?!)

It wasn't torn off. For some reason, there was an unnatural cut at the center.

(This seems to have no meaning as underwear――)

"Ka-Kamito-kun?!"

"Ah――"

Suddenly, his eyes met Fianna's, who raised her face at him.

Kamito was still unfolding the black pair of underwear in front of him.

"......"

"......"

"Um..."

Fianna's face turned bright red――

"D-Do you... hate a princess who would wear this kind of shameful underwear?"

She asked him with upturned eyes.

"N-No, I mean, my bad...!"

With his heart pounding, Kamito hurriedly put the underwear back inside the bag.

"Wh-Why do you have such underwear?"

"I went and bought it on an impulse... b-but it is indeed embarrassing."

She muttered with her face still bright red.

...It seemed that she really was embarrassed.

This princess always said shocking things and teased Kamito, but she was actually a green girl, just like Claire.

"...I wonder... if that was a little too daring."

"Y-You're right. A little... yeah."

Ahem, or so Kamito coughed.

What blew away that awkward atmosphere for them was a voice which could be heard coming from outside the room.

"Geez, you're still preparing, Claire Rouge?"

A somewhat high-pitched and elegant voice.

The one who appeared in front of the room was――

Claire's rival and classmate in her Raven classroom.

It was Rinslet Laurenfrost, the demon ice elementalist.

She had dazzlingly beautiful platinum blond hair. Her emerald green eyes were topped by lovely eyebrows.

At a glance, she appeared to be a proud ojou-sama, but Kamito knew that she was a very kind and caring girl.

"Ojou-sama, I'm sleepy~"

"Geez, Carol is always such a sleepyhead."

The one being dragged by her was Carol the maid.

"Ojou-sama, you know that unlike you, my blood pressure is low... Hwa."

Apparently she had been woken up by Rinslet this morning.

...She was the same useless maid as ever.

"Rinslet, what is that thing?"

Claire, having finally revived, asked thus.

Rinslet was carrying a largish wooden box in her hands.

"Hmph, it's a tea set of highest grade. A lady of the Laurenfrost family must stay elegant at all times."

Rinslet proudly combed her platinum blond hair upward.

"You know what, we aren't going out to play."

Claire shrugged her shoulders in amazement.

And then, this time they could hear Ellis' voice coming from outside the window.

"What are you lot doing?! It's already ''one hour'' until the gathering time, you know!"

"You're just too early!"

Claire turned at the overly serious knight captain and yelled.

(...Unifying this team seems to be quite a long-term difficult task.)

Kamito shrugged his shoulders with a sense of irony while putting the baggage in order.

===Part 3===

One hour later.

Members of Team Scarlet gathered in front of the〈Stone Circle〉, which was their rally point.

It was a〈gate〉to Astral Zero located within the premises of Areisia Spirit Academy.

This historic ruin itself was something that had been in existence long before the academy was built, but it was by no means part of the Empire's technology. The status quo was that the technology which preserved the〈gates〉which opened to this world, had been lost completely, excluding such ruins, which remained at various places around the continent.

From now on, representative fighters would be moving to Astral Zero and then boarding a ship prepared by the 〈Divine Ritual School〉, which administered the Blade Dance.

In front of the 〈gate〉, the other two teams that had been selected from the academy had also gathered already.

〈Team Wyvern〉, ranked first, was a team composed of only upperclassmen.

They gave each member of Team Scarlet a sharp glance, and then suddenly looked away. They had no intention of getting along――That was probably what they were declaring. Their reaction was natural. After all, although both teams were selected from the same academy, when the Blade Dance actually began, they would become each other's rival.

(Besides――)

With that in mind, Kamito looked at Claire with a side glance.

There was another reason for the glance of the upperclassmen being prickly.

The younger sister of Calamity Queen, who had brought about the unprecedented disaster to the empire four years ago.

There were still many students in the academy with unpleasant thoughts about her existence.

Claire did not seem to particularly care about that, but she was probably suffering in her heart.

"Mu, you guys again――"<ref>Exclamation for expressing an astonishment or showing unexpectedness�</ref>

Thus a blond girl holding a wooden staff started talking to Kamito.

"'Sup, savage girl. It's been a while."

"Muu, I'm not a savage girl!"

The lovely petite girl puffed out her cheeks in anger.

This person was a member of the third ranked 〈Team Cernunnos〉, whom they had fought against before.

She was from the Druid clan, who grew up in the Spirit Forest and used a powerful 〈Beast Swarm Spirit〉.

As an opponent whom they may fight in the future, she was quite a strong rival.

"I will be sure to crush the likes of you guys underfoot with my 〈Beast Swarm Spirit〉!"

The druid girl held up her wooden staff as she snickered.

And then, heading over there――

"Hmph, so you three teams have finally gathered?"

Teacher Freya Grandol, the manager of the 〈gate〉, came walking briskly.

As she cast a glance up at the clock tower of the academy,

"I'm going to transport all of you to Astral Zero after ten minutes. Now finish saying goodbye to your friends in the meantime."

Saying thus, she started drawing a magical formation inside the 〈Stone Circle〉.

Claire, Rinslet, and Fianna restlessly looked away from each other.

"Th-There's no need to say goodbye or something."

"Th-That's right. We're just leaving the academy for a mere few days after all."

"Y-Yes, that sounds exaggerating."

The three of them simultaneously nodded to one another.

(Come to think of it, all of them had no friends.)

...This ojou-sama group sure had it tough.

(Well, I'm also in no place to say so about people, though――)

Meanwhile, Ellis was surrounded and overwhelmed by a crowd of junior knights.

Her reddish brown eyes were imposing. Her blue ponytail was swaying in the gentle breeze.

Apparently, Ellis would be going to the Blade Dance wearing her knight armor as well.

That was probably her expression of determination of being a representative of the academy and also the {{Furigana|Sylphid|Knight Order of the Wind King}} at the same time.

"Captain, please fight for us as well!"

"We're rooting for you!"

"Yeah, I will definitely claim victory!"

Ellis nodded at the words of Rakka and Reicia, her two former teammates.�

They had entrusted Ellis with their dream for the Blade Dance championship.�

And then, one more person――

Kamito knew that there was a girl who had entrusted her with a dream.

Kamito whispered to Ellis, who had returned after saying goodbye to her juniors.

"Ellis, that ribbon looks good on you."

"Y-You think so...?"

Ellis blushed and fidgeted with her fingers.

Binding her ponytail was a white ribbon.

It was something which Ellis' elder foster-sister entrusted to her before leaving the academy.

"Now that I'm wearing this, I feel like Aneue is watching over me."

Ellis suddenly smiled.

Seeing her defenseless face from the side, Kamito spontaneously felt his heart pound again.

"The time has come. Everyone, get inside the 〈Stone Circle〉."

Teacher Freya traced a stone pillar with her fingertips, and blue rays of light gushed forth from the earth's surface.

A 〈Gate〉connecting this world and Astral Zero emerged.

Kamito and his group nodded to each other and stepped inside the shining 〈Stone Circle〉.

===Part 4===

A dazzling flash of light. And then a fleeting intoxicating sensation as though heaven and earth were turned upside-down.

"H-m..."

Opening their eyes, what first sprang into their field of vision was――�

All kinds of trees in a dense forest, and a grand lake occupying a large area within it.

A lake that looked like the polished surface of a mirror, which existed only in Astral Zero. At the lake shore where water plants grew thickly, countless faint, flickering light orbs were floating and creating a wondrous scene.

"I have come to this lake before, during the academy's training camp."

Claire firmly descended on the muddy ground.

Members of other teams were also sent to the site one after another.

"By the way, where's the ship?"

Kamito looked around the surface of the lake.

A ship-like object was nowhere to be found.

"Where are you looking? Look, over there――"

Claire shrugged her shoulders and pointed at the sky peeking through the gaps of trees.

"Hm?"

When he raised his head――

An outline of a ship was floating in the sky casting its huge shadow on the lake.

"That's... the Bellfahle-class flying ship of the 〈Divine Ritual School〉..."�

Kamito opened his eyes and groaned.

A state-of-the-art flying ship named after the Elemental Lord of Wind.

He had heard about it in the rumors but this was his first time seeing the real thing.

It had the form like that of a streamlined whale. Apparently its power source was a spirit engine made in the Kingdom of Balstan, and they used an over-6000-year-old sacred tree as material for the exterior.

It was the ship which would lead elementalists, who would dedicate their blade dances to the Elemental Lords, to the stage of the 〈Blade Dance〉.

"Kamito, we are definitely going to win the grand prize."

"Yeah."

Kamito nodded, and tightly clenched his left hand.

(...We have crawled all the way up for the sake of gaining the qualification to board that ship.)

Claire, for the sake of learning the truth related to the incident that her elder sister caused.

Kamito, for the sake of regaining the contracted spirit that he had lost.�

Then Ellis, Fianna, and Rinslet――

Everyone at this place was joining in the 〈Blade Dance〉 with their respective wish harbored in mind.

The flying ship caused flashy splashes as it landed on the lake.

===Part 5===

"――Looks like the boy has already headed over there."

Areisia Spirit Academy, office room.

Greyworth Ciel Mais faced the wall of the room and spoke.

There was no response――However, immediately from inside the wall, a person's shadow emerged as if it was seeping out.

"Yes ma'am. Just a while ago."

It was teacher Freya Grandol, the shadow elementalist.

She approached Greyworth's office desk, and then spoke without hesitation.

"Still, I cannot understand the reason why you, the academy director, would go that far to support that boy."

"What do you mean?"

"His fighting skills are certainly overwhelming, but the 〈Blade Dance〉 isn't something as lenient as to allow someone to win with just that. You should be the one who knows that best."

"Yeah, it's just as you said. The boy still can't win against the strongest blade dancer as he is now. At the very least, I would like to have him awaken before the real war starts, but――"

"What do you mean?"

"Nah, just random silly talk."

Greyworth shook her head as if to evade the question.

"More importantly, has the investigation on that matter been completed?"

"Yes. I would like you to be moderate and stop using me to spy on the army, though."

"I've been feeling sorry about that, you know."

Greyworth shrugged her shoulders, and then Freya rudely threw down the report.

"That's the data about the incident four years ago. After the collapse of the institution in question―― 〈Instructional School〉, there were 14 orphans taken into protection by the order of imperial knights. Rumors say that five of them had been admitted into the special forces of the knight order. The remaining nine died several years later under the effect of the Cursed Armament Seals given to them by the institution, or so they say."

"Still, that means the number doesn't match. It conflicts with the data found at the institution."

"Apparently it was not the case that all orphans were taken into protection by the knight order. Jio Inzagi, who broke into our academy the other day, was also one of the institution's orphans whom the knight order has little information about. It probably won't be strange even if there are still unconfirmed orphans besides him out there."

"I see..."

What came to Greyworth's mind was the eyes of the boy whom she met four years ago.

In the eyes of that boy, who declared indifferently on that day――that he had come to kill the Dusk Witch, there was no hatred, nor was there anger, only an unfathomable nothingness.

(The same kid as the boy back then, huh...)

Young children who got their heart plundered and were raised as battle weapons.

Though they were also elementalists, they were basically different from noble girls who grew up at the academy.

"Academy director?"

"It's nothing. You did a good job. Please continue your investigation as is."

"Seriously, my main job isn't a spy but a teacher, you know."

Teacher Freya once again disappeared into the wall while complaining.

Greyworth gazed outside the window, and then suddenly took a heavy breath.

"A military spirit and an orphan from 〈Instructional School〉―― Is ''she'' actually planning to incite war or something?"

The Dusk Witch was succumbing to impatience.

The strongest blade dancer had yet to awaken.

He was certainly strong.

Even in an academy where first-rate elementalists gather, his power was overwhelming.

However, that was, at its best, just a story in the miniature garden called academy.

As he was now, he absolutely could not win against her.

Neither could Ren Ashbell of three years ago do that――

"Please, successor of the demon king―― Because even I don't have much time left now."

Greyworth suppressed her pounding heart as she curled her lips ironically.
<noinclude>

== Translator's notes and References ==

<references/>

{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume4 Prologue|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume4 Chapter2}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter4

2014-07-16T22:47:02Z

07n156:

==Chapter 4: A Knight's Sincerity==

===Part 1===

By the time all of them finished conquering the gigantic parfait, it was already evening.

Kamito, who had returned from Academy Town, turned up at the central auditorium as he had promised Ellis.

Upon waiting a little while, Ellis came running from afar and was out of breath.

"...S-Sorry, I kept you waiting."

"No, I didn't wait that long."

Kamito made a bitter smile at Ellis, who was gasping out of breath.

"Hey, Ellis, you were at the Academy Town just now, weren't you?"

"Y-You saw me!?"

Ellis' ponytail sprung up.

"Ahh, I just happened to see you from the restaurant's window. Was it the Knights' security?"

"No, err... I-I was shopping for various things."

Ahem, Ellis coughed and her face reddened for some reason.

A question mark came to Kamito's mind but... well, that was fine.

"For the time being, if we're going to study, are we going to the library or something?"

"Ah, no... not the library."


Ellis shook her head in a fluster.

"Hn, not the library? Then, are we going to an empty classroom somewh—"

"...I-It's a room."

"Huh?"

Kamito reflexively did not believe his ears.

"A room..."

"I-I mean, err... I-I want you to teach me in my room!"

Ellis shouted with her face turning bright red.

"..."

"I-Is that a no?"

"No, hey wait, for a boy like me to enter a girl's room..."

"A-A girl..."

In an instant, Ellis made a face like she lost her head over something—

"Ho-However, aren't you staying with Claire Rouge and the others in a room together?"

"No, well... that was the way things turned out."

Kamito scratched the back of his head as he answered.

"O-Or, you don't want to come to the room of a straight-laced girl like me—"

"N-No, there's no such thing!"


Kamito shook his head in a fluster because Ellis looked a little hurt.

"W-Well then—"

"...Ahh, I got it. I got it. Allow me to enter."

Even as Kamito still did not comprehend anything, he nodded with a bit of desperation.

===Part 2===

Just like that— Kamito was brought along to the Weasel Class' dormitory.

Being the exact opposite of the Raven Class that gathered superior problem children, Weasel Class was a class of diligent honor students.

Ellis' room was, up the stairs, on the second floor of the building.

Ellis coughed in front of the door.

"This is my room. O-Of course, this is the first time a boy is entering it."

"...If you say it like that, I'm getting somewhat tense."

Ellis opened the room's door and muttered an incantation in the spirit language.

In that moment, the ceiling's spirit crystal glowed and the inside of the dim room was brightly illuminated.

The interior design was not so different from Claire's room. However, Ellis' room had been neatly arranged.

"You have tidied up nicely. That's just like the capable Ellis."

"Ahh, that's because if I don't tidy up, my overly-serious roommate will get angry."


"A roommate more overly-serious than Ellis?..."

It was discourteous to Ellis, but he couldn't imagine it a bit.

"Where is this roommate now?"

"She is away for a few weeks because of a quest from the Academy. If that person was now at this place— you probably wouldn't be able to leave here alive."

While saying something dangerous, Ellis laid out a cushion on the floor for him.

"Make yourself at home. I'll prepare the tea and snacks now."

"Ahh, sorry."

Ellis immediately boiled hot water, and took out hot black tea and snacks.

Despite being an ojou-sama of a great noble family, she was very capable in such areas. Since the Fahrengart family was of a military parentage, she might have received strict training from when she was young.

"This is delicious. Ellis, did you make it?"

"Y-You can say that. It's somewhat my hobby."

Ellis was acting bashfully, like she was a bit embarrassed.

It was a sponge cake sprinkled with black tea powder on the surface. It had a simple taste since its sweetness was mild.

He had known that cooking was her strong point, but it was surprising that she could make such a delicate thing.

"Relax for a while. I'll go make preparations now."

"Hn, what preparations?"


When Kamito inquired— Ellis drew out her sword at her waist.

With a weird voice filled with intensity,

"It's preparations."

"I-I got it..."

With the sword kept thrust out at the back of his neck, Kamito nodded.

When Ellis disappeared into the next room and Kamito became alone, he sighed a little.

(...What on earth was that?)

As he sipped the black tea that Ellis made, he looked around the interior of the room.

There were neatly folded uniforms and pajamas on top of the bed.

There were lovely teddy-bear and rabbit plushies lined up beside them.

(Surprisingly, she has girlish preferences...)

While thinking about such things, he moved his line of sight, then—

Incidentally, his eyes stopped on top of the writing desk.

A spirit crystal objet d'art, which emitted a faint glow, had been placed near the desk.

(That's—)

Kamito got close, and took it into his hand.

Inside the transparent spirit crystal, various phantoms surfaced and disappeared—

"A spirit crystal that seals memories, huh?..."


It was an article that could confine the scene in one's memory by putting divine power into it.

The appearance of the same girl had been repeatedly surfacing many times within the spirit crystal.

Her glamorous hair was fluttering and she was holding a jet-black demon sword— the appearance of a very young girl.

"...Eh, isn't that me from three years ago?!"

Kamito reflexively shouted.

Yes, the one who was being reflected in there was without a doubt—

The appearance of the strongest Blade Dancer Ren Ashbell.

(That reminds me, she had said that she admired Ren Ashbell...)

As he made a heavy sigh, he put back the memory-sealing spirit ore onto the desk.

If Kamito did not make sure that at least his true identity was absolutely not exposed to her—

He would end up destroying a pure girl's dream, which he couldn't bring himself to do.

(...Hn?)

Suddenly, Kamito noticed that the appearance of a girl other than Ren Ashbell was being projected inside the spirit crystal.

She had radiant shiny blonde hair. She was a beautiful girl, who had an ice-like cold look.

The one who was standing bashfully beside the girl was probably Ellis when she was young—

(I have a recollection of this girl somewhere...)

Kamito had his doubts— at that moment.


"...I-I kept you waiting."

He heard Ellis' voice that seemed like it'll vanish anytime from behind.

"Ellis?"

Kamito turned around—

"..."

His mouth dropped opened.

There was a maid.

"...?"

After Kamito rubbed his eyes, he opened his eyes once more.

...Yes, there was certainly a maid.
[[File:STnBD V03 006-007.jpg|thumbnail]]
She had a tidy dark blue maid uniform matched with a white apron, and a lovely long skirt with frills.

And then, she had a headdress, which was slightly placed on her head.

It was Ellis in complete maid attire.

"Y-You, what on earth..."

Kamito gulped down his saliva, and—

"I-I'm now your exclusive-use maid from now. ...I-Is that alright?"

Ellis, whose face turned bright red, held the hem of her long skirt and bowed.

Beneath her turned-over skirt, he slightly got a quick look at a black garter belt.


"Wh—"

Kamito was startled and covered his eyes with both hands in a fluster.

"D-Don't look so much... It's embarrassing."

Ellis' face increasingly reddened, and she rubbed her knees together bashfully.

As she wasn't wearing her armor, her quivering large breasts were being highlighted more than usual.

Kamito was at a lost for words—

Ellis whispered with a seemingly uneasy expression.

"A-As I thought, these kind of clothes... don't suit me?"

"No...err, that's not it."

Kamito said as he averted his eyes.

...Or rather, she was cute. Staggeringly cute.

No, even the usual Ellis was certainly cute but—

He didn't think that Ellis putting on a maid uniform would be so charming.

However, beyond that, Kamito was more bewildered.

"...W-Why a maid uniform?"

"Th-This is an act of sincerity from me..."

"Sincerity?"

Kamito asked in return to Ellis, who had muttered seemingly embarrassed.


The maid uniform was an act of sincerity... He didn't understand the meaning.

Ellis folded her arms and glared directly at Kamito with her reddish brown pupils.

"I-It's about the quest the other day. As the representative of the Syphid Knights, I had been thinking that I had to thank you for helping that time. ...Th-This is only as the representative of the Syphid Knights!"

"No, I had said that I don't need things like thanks. It's natural to help my comrades."

Kamito said that—

"In that case, I won't be able to settle down. Wh-What should I do to be able to offer my thanks... I had been troubled this entire week."

"...Why is it that the outcome is a maid uniform?"

"Umm, upon consulting my team-mates Rakka and Reishia, they told me that it's best that I put on this attire to show my sincerity to you. After all, you're a maniac, who would be excited by such an appearance. I-In the beginning, I also had a problem with it, but devoting my whole body and soul to offer my thanks to the person I'm indebted to is the household precept of my Fahrengart family."

"Why those two, teaching you worthless things..."

Kamito's face twitched. ...In short, Ellis had been tricked by those two.

"Ellis, don't misunderstand. I'm not a maniac who's attracted to maid uniforms."

Kamito tried to resolve the strange misunderstanding, but—

"...Wh-What? That means—"


It seemed like Ellis interpreted that in a different meaning.

"...To do it, do you mean that?"

"Huh?"

"Y-'''You mean for me to put on an even sexier attire, right'''?!"

"What are you saying!"

"Kuu, you damn licentious king...!"

"The usage-rights for licentious king is already acquired by the townspeople!?"

"I'll absolutely not give in to such an insolent request!"

Ellis drew out her sword from her waist and quickly thrust it before the back of Kamito's neck.

It seemed like she didn't lose her skills as a knight even though she became a maid. ...That was obvious.

"I-I got it, it really suits you, maid uniforms are the best, maid uniforms hurray!"

"...Hmm, That's enough."

As Ellis thrust the tip of her sword before the back of Kamito's neck—

"Come on, Kamito, you can instruct me to do anything you want!"

"You're a pretty proud maid... Well then, Ellis, what can you do?"

"My specialty is thrusting a spear."

"What kind of maid are you...?"

"I can also use a sword, but my expertise is using a spear."


Ellis proudly puffed her chest out.

"Don't you have anything other than dangerous skills?"

"Cooking is in its own way a specialty."

"Ahh, I see. Well, can I make a request?"

"Of course. What would you like?"

"Let's see... I also have dinner later, so I would like something light and hold-able."

"I got it. Honestly, I was thinking of what to do if you said body sushi<ref>Nyotaimori (Japanese: 女体盛り, "female body presentation"), often referred to as "body sushi", is the practice of serving sashimi or sushi from the body of a woman</ref> but—"

"...Why you."

Kamito groaned with a deadpan look—

Suddenly, he tried asking a thought that came to his mind.

"By the way, does this mean you'll do it if I request it?"

"Y-You insolent person!"

At that moment, the hidden sword, which Ellis let loose, pruned off Kamito's forelocks.

 

"...H-How's the taste? '''Master'''."

Just like that—

It ended up with Ellis preparing food for Kamito.

As expected of having been trained for the sake of the gentleman she will be married to in the future, from the cooking to the arrangement of food, her skills were very good. ...She was the kind of person whose example he wanted a certain hellcat ojou-sama to follow.

Nevertheless—

"...I beg you. Spare me that way of calling me."

Kamito groaned with a deadpan look.

"Um, even so, those two had said that this is the official way of calling you."

"No, because you have been fooled, you know?"

Kamito grumbled as he chewed on a cheese cutlet of one mouth-size.

It had a crunchy batter that used the first-class wheat flour. The highest grade cheese, which was placed between the meat, was delicious as it melted on top of his tongue.

"...Delicious. Normally delicious."

"Mm, it's normal?..."

Ellis pouted her lips, seemingly frustrated.

"I'm praising you. It's difficult to make normal things normally delicious."

"I-Is that so...!"

Ellis blushed with her chest tightening.

"Ellis would become a good bride."

"...! Wh-What are you saying!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Bishuu!*


She thrust out a fork stuck with a cheese cutlet before Kamito.

"Wh-What are you doing all of a sudden!"

"Hmm, it's because you said something strange!"

Ellis sternly glared at Kamito.

And then—

"...O-Open your mouth."

"Huh?"

Kamito asked back—

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Bishuu, bishuu!*

The godspeed thrusting was unleashed once again.

"Owa!?"

"Don't avoid it! I'm trying to feed you—"

"Trying to feed me... What's with that!?"

"I heard that that's the duty of a maid. Come on, quickly... say 'Ahh'!"

Ellis thrust out the godspeed fork before him.

She had said that thrusting was her specialty, as expected, even for Kamito, it took all his might to dodge.

...Eh, what kind of training was this?!

"It's dangerous, you almost poked my eyes!"


"Hmm, it's because you're escaping. Don't escape!"

—*Hamuu*.

Finally, the fork was pushed into his mouth.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Mogumogumogu*.

"H-How is it?"

"...Delicious."

Kamito said his honest thoughts—

"Al-Alright, one more mouthful..."

This time she gently moved the fork into his mouth.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Hamuu*.

"Ho-How is it this time?"

"...Ahh, delicious."

Upon nodding once again, Ellis lightly giggled, seemingly delighted.

(...Hmm. This is, as expected, a little embarrassing.)

===Part 3===

By the time that he finished eating Ellis' cooking, it had already turned completely dark outside.


It was about time he had to make dinner for Claire and the others, who were waiting at the dormitory.

When he informed Ellis about that matter...she made a slightly disappointed face.

After helping Ellis tidy up the tableware, he and Ellis, who changed into her uniform, went outside the dormitory.

The moment Ellis took off her maid uniform, she suddenly seemed to be embarrassed by her recent actions, so as she walked on the path shone by the moonlight, she hung her head down the whole time.

...Naturally, just like her, Kamito was also embarrassed.

"I apologize for overstaying. Your cooking was delicious."

"Yes, I'm glad that I could properly express my gratitude to you. Because today is probably the last chance I can invite you to my room."

"What do you mean?"

"It's about the roommate I talked about just now. She'll be finishing her quest and returning very soon."

"Is your roommate that scary?"

Upon saying that, Ellis' expression slightly darkened.

"Velsaria Eva Fahrengart— She's my older stepsister, by two-years. She's also the former captain of the Sylphid Knights."

"Velsaria..."

Kamito was startled. That name was, if he wasn't mistaken, what Claire was talking—

"The academy's strongest elementalist... is actually your sister, Ellis!?"


"Yes, it's not like we're blood related. She was once also expected to become a future {{Furigana|Twelve Knight Commander|Numbers|margin=12}} candidate, but— after she was defeated by that Ren Ashbell in the first match at the Blade Dance three years ago, that story had also disappeared."

"...!?"

"What's the matter? Do you know about my sister?"

"...N-No, it's nothing."

Kamito shook his head in a fluster.

(...I see, no wonder I had recalled hearing that name before.)

—He remembered. She was the opponent of the first match of the Blade Dance three years ago.

She was a girl with a beautiful face of ice and beautiful blonde hair.

"...My sister is like the person who embodied the image of the knight that I try to idealize."

Ellis exhaled a white breath as she muttered.

"However, now that person—"

Muttering like in a monologue— Ellis stopped her steps there.

They had arrived before the gate of the Raven Class dormitory.

Kamito looked up, and the window of Claire's room had light.

"Ellis, thank you for today. Well then, see you tomorrow."

"Ah-Ahh, wait—"


Kamito waved his hand and walked off towards the dormitory.

At that moment, when he walked for a little while on the path leading to the building of the dormitory.

"...Ka-Kamito!"

Ellis called Kamito to a halt from behind.

It wasn't her usual frigid voice. It was the voice like an urgent scream.

"...Ellis?"

Kamito turned around—

"Ah..."

Ellis widened her eyes and was surprised.

Why did she show that expression— even she didn't understand why she called out to him.

"What's the matter?"

"No, err..."

"Um?"

Kamito became concerned and approached—

"...!"

Ellis —as though she had made a resolution of something important— took in a deep breath.

"Th-The truth is I have a favor to ask you, but..."

"A favor?"


Kamito frowned and asked back.

What came to his mind was— the incident before he received the quest on the Mine Town two weeks ago.

Ellis was trying to scout Kamito into her team.

Kamito, who had already assembled a team with Claire, plainly rejected her, but now that her two comrades became unable to participate in the opposition battles, she might try to scout him once again.

While Kamito scratched his head as he was troubled, he shook his head.

"Ellis, sorry, but I can't join your..."

"Th-That's not it!"

Ellis' face reddened as she shouted. ..It seemed that he had jumped to a wrong conclusion.

"Then..."

"Kamito, err... do you feel like joining the Sylphid Knights?"

"The Knights?"

Kamito spontaneously asked back at those unexpected words.

The Sylphid Knights— An elite student organization that guarded the public order and morals of the academy.

(For me to join it... What on earth does this mean?)

Ellis gazed at Kamito awkwardly.

"Err...it's just until my comrades come back, I would want you to assist the Knights."

Kamito recalled the things he talked with Ellis during this morning's supplementary lecture.


As a result of the attack incident the other day, including Ellis' two teammates, seven knights were forced to withdraw from the Sylphid Knights. The Sylphid Knights, which had lost a third of its members, was now in a state that it was not functioning normally.

Indeed, as an acquaintance and besides as someone whose ability as an elementalist she also understood, Kamito could understand the reason she wanted to scout him.

"Of course, I won't say it's for free. As a member of the Knights, you'll be paid a proper salary."

"...Why me? If you set up recruitment, won't there be girls applying?"

"We are having a recruitment, but there are practically no applicants. We had gathered people during the period the freshmen came in, but— even so, more than half had resigned immediately."

"Is that so..."

It seemed that the work of the Sylphid Knights was something greater than they had imagined. On top of the dangers, and on top of the so-called work of guarding the academy's public morals, there might also be cases where they were being looked at with hostility from the other academy students.

"Furthermore, due to the attack incident the other day, the trust in the Knights has been greatly falling. Although we got all the casualties out, in the end, we couldn't capture the assailant."

Ellis bit her lips seemingly vexed.

"I applied for the quest of arresting Jio Inzagi with the plan of overturning such assessment towards the Knights but— the result was that sorry plight. If you all didn't help at that time, we would have certainly been annihilated."

Her reddish brown pupils became wet and were slightly quivering.


Without a doubt, Ellis was enduring the voices of criticism aimed at the Knights all this time.

Surely, she was enduring it just by herself without anyone she could ask for advice.

As that was the duty of the captain, and she was condemning herself.

(...I see. She's insecure. She surely can't help but be frightened as she's insecure.)

It was the responsibility and heavy pressure that came with the position as the captain.

There should be voices of doubts being raised at her, an elementary student, serving as the captain.

She conducted herself strictly for the sake of guarding the order of the academy and might have even made enemies.

She had also been holding back those voices by displaying her ability so far.

However, that trust was swaying now.

Besides, her teammates and comrades who had always kept supporting her.

Rakka and Reishia were also not present now.

(...She is also a girl, who's yet to be sixteen.)

Being covered by her knights shoulder plate was the girl's slender shoulders.

How much of a heavy pressure was she carrying on those shoulders of hers—

"...The truth is I'm afraid."

Ellis looked downwards as she said that.

"Have I been able to do the right thing as a knight? Am I misusing the authority of the Knights and merely repressing the ones whom I should protect, with power?"


Her blue ponytail hair was swaying in the gentle breeze.

It was almost like it was revealing Ellis' heart.

"I want help" —She didn't say that.

That was surely her last strand of pride.

Kamito—

"...I got it. It's just be until those two come back, right?"

"I-Is that alright? ...Really?"

Ellis opened her reddish brown eyes.

"Ahh."

Kamito firmly nodded once again.

Honestly, he didn't think that he'd be cut out for things like the Knights that guarded the public morals. Besides, if he considered about the Blade Dance coming in a few weeks, he shouldn't have the room to be using his time for such things.

However, upon seeing Ellis reduced to a state where she was going to be crushed at any time—

He wanted to assist this sincere but clumsy girl knight even a little.

"...Y-You have my thanks. Kazehaya Kamito."

Ellis bowed down with an expression like she's going to cry at any moment.

Kamito made a bitter smile at Ellis, who was conscientious even at such a time.

"Ahh, that's right. I have a favor to ask of you."


"What is it?"

"Err, about the remuneration you mention just now, is it possible for something like an advance?"

===Part 4===

Parting with Ellis, Kamito returned to the room—

Claire was wearing a cute apron and was standing in the kitchen just like in the morning.

There was a sweet yet slightly burned smell. He heard the sound of something simmering.

Quietly concealing his footsteps, Kamito approached Claire's back.

"Hn, are you making chocolate again?"

"Fuaa, Ka-Kamito!?"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pyon*, her red twin-tailed hair sprung up.

"Id-Idiot, don't startle me! I'll turn you into cinders!"

Claire's face turned bright red, and *pishi* *pishi* she swung her whip. Kamito avoided it in a fluster.

"...Good grief, where did you go? Your supplementary lecture should have been long over, right?"

"What? Are you already hungry?"

"Th-That's not the problem, you are my slave spirit, so without your master's permission, you can't totter around as you please!"


"...Am I a dog?"

Kamito breathed a sigh of disappointment.

"I went over to Ellis' place, and it resulted in me being treated to a little meal."

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishi*— Claire was petrified.

"...What...was that?"

"Ahh, it seems to be an expression of gratitude for helping her the other day. What a conscientious person."

As expected, he hid the matter about the maid uniform for the sake of Ellis' honor—

"I-I see, you were treated...really?"

Claire's face twitched.

"I also helped and yet... she only invited Kamito."

"Didn't you receive a box of cakes from the Knights? An assorted box of macaroons. If I'm not mistaken, you ate all of it by yourself."

"Th-That was certainly delicious... Eh, that's not the problem, what do you mean by you went over to Ellis' place? D-Don't tell me, you went up to her room?"

"Yeah, Ellis' room is properly tidied up. You should also follow her example—"

"I-I can't believe you...!"

Claire's slender shoulders trembled.

She tightly bit her cherry-blossom color lips, tears were slightly appearing on her ruby pupils.


"...Claire?"

"Y-You've been successfully seduced by things like Ellis' breasts and were degraded to being the Knights' dog, right?"

"No, what breasts....? Well, although, I was invited to join the Knights."

"—Huh?"

This time— Claire completely became stiff.

"Wh-What's that...? What do you mean?"

"Hn, currently, the Knights seem to be shorthanded of people. I was asked to assist them."

"O-Of course, you rejected her, right? You rejected her...right?"

Claire tightly grabbed Kamito's arm, and was gazing at him with a serious expression.

As Kamito scratched his head—

"No, I decided to assist them. I also have various obligations to Ellis."

"...!?"

While Claire kept hold of Kamito's arm, she was taken aback and widened her eyes.

The truth was that he had another reason to accept it but—

It was embarrassing to tell Claire that now.

"I apologize for deciding without your permission, but it's not particularly a problem, right?"

"There's no way it isn't, you know that I'm on bad terms with the Knights, right!"

"That's because you cause problems—"


Then, Kamito noticed.

Claire's fingertips that were grabbing his arm were trembling bit by bit.

"...I see, you're on Ellis' side again."

Claire calmly muttered.

"No, it's not whether I'm on her side or not—"

"...You said so, and yet."

"Eh?"

"Despite that you said— '''<nowiki>'</nowiki>I'll be your contracted spirit<nowiki>'</nowiki>'''."

Claire raised her face, and drops of tears overflowed from her pupils.

"Y-You..."

"That's enough, get out—"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Don*— Claire thrust Kamito away.

"Hey, Claire..."

"Quickly get out! I-I hate people like you, I really hate you!"

A red hot fireball was released from Claire's palm.

"Owa!"

A showy explosion resounded, and a gaping wide hole was opened in the wall behind Kamito.

"He-Hey, wait, why are you that angry?"


"Shut up, idiot, get out——!"

This time she began reciting a spirit magic of the strongest class, so Kamito got out in a fluster.

If Claire made a serious effort, she'd be quite capable of blowing this very dormitory away.

After running to the outside of the dormitory and taking refuge, Kamito sighed.

"Wh-What on earth was that..."

Why was Claire that angry?...It was incomprehensible.

(...Is she that displeased with me joining the Knights?)

He looked up at the window of the room on the second floor, but— he didn't see Claire there.

Before long, the window's curtains were closed.

(...Ahh, if she's become like this, she won't listen.)

Claire Rouge. She was a girl almost like a blazing flame.

(Well, however, that's the part that suits her best...)

Kamito took a deep sigh once again—

He left behind the Raven Class dormitory with heavy footsteps.

===Part 5===


After chasing Kamito out—

"I hate that guy, I hate that guy... I hate him so much!"

Claire fell onto the bed.

Pressing her soft pillow onto her cheeks, she tightly grabbed her sheets.

Scarlet turned up seemingly worried, but Claire drove her away without a word. She didn't want even her contracted spirit, who had been with her all this time from when she was young, to see her crying face now.

"What... I look like a fool."

For several days, she had been practicing how to make chocolate all this time.

(I-It's of course out of obligation. The chocolate that I'll give him out of obligation.)

The practicing had effect, as she had been gradually been able to make them well.

Although she had stopped making a large amount of cinders, it should be good enough for her to be praised.

On the actual day, tomorrow morning, she planned to give Kamito the chocolate that she made the most well-done.

"You did well." ...She wanted to be praised.

(And yet, he...)

Claire groaned, and struck her pillow. *Posu posu*.

(...The meal that Ellis made is certainly better than things like my chocolate.)

It was vexing. Her mind was jumbled up, and although she didn't understand what was vexing, it was vexing.

"...I'm such a detestable person."


She understood. She definitely had no ill feelings towards Kamito. Really, there was no doubt that he merely thought of being helpful to Ellis and decided to join the Knights.

He was that kind of person.

Even Claire did not particularly hate Ellis. Of course, they weren't on good terms, but she recognized that she was a proud elementalist.

However, it made her very angry for some reason.

(...Why?)

She understood the reason.

She had been thinking that she was the more special being to Kamito.

(After all, he had said that he would be my contracted spirit.)

Pressing softly on her lips with her fingertip, her cheeks quickly became hot.

(Besides, w-we even... kissed.)

It became a painful feeling like her chest was tightly constricted.

(...But, that's wrong.)

It did not mean that only Claire was particularly special.

As long as there were girls being troubled, he would extend his hand to anyone, no matter who.

(It's because I'm that Calamity Queen's sister—)

He might just think that her circumstances were pitiful, and was just sympathizing with her.


Upon thinking that, Claire became excessively lonely.

Kamito surely didn't understand why Claire was that angry.

Claire also didn't clearly understand why she got such feelings.

Her current feelings were almost like the smoldering fire of a hearth.

...These weren't Claire Rouge's flames.

At that time, there was the sound of the room's door opening.

"Kamito!?"

Claire energetically lifted her face from her pillow, but—

The one, who was there, was Fianna with a puzzled expression.

It seemed like she had returned from her shopping duty for dinner.

Claire covered her face with her pillow in a fluster. She didn't want her to see her tear-stained face.

Fianna took a look at Claire's current state— and seemed to have guessed the situation somehow.

"Ehh, you quarreled with Kamito?"

"...Go away."

Keeping her face covered in the pillow, Claire said.

Fianna sighed, sat on the bed and placed her hand on Claire's head.

"I said leave me alone, didn't I"

"You're really a kid. Vastly different from Rubia-sama."


"Either way, I'm different from nee-sama."

Claire retorted peevishly.

"Hey, Claire, why don't you be a little more honest?"

"I-I apologize that I'm not honest... After all, even my breasts are small."

"Huh? Nobody said anything about breast, you know?"

As Fianna softly brushed Claire's head like a kitten, she sighed.

"What do we do about dinner?"

===Part 6===

At that very moment— Ellis was rolling on her bed in agony.

"..., I-I was wearing such an embarrassing attire."

She spread the maid uniform she wore just now, and bashfully blushed. Even if it was for the sake of rewarding him for her debt of gratitude, this was, as expected, overkill, wasn't it?

"B-But..."

Ellis tightly grasped the maid uniform—

"Kamito said that it suited me... "

Recalling it, her cheeks reflexively relaxed.


Ellis opened her eyes as she was taken aback, and slapped her cheeks with both hands.

"I-I'm the Captain! If I'm not firm, I can't be an example to everyone!"

A knight of the Fahrengart family must never show her weaknesses.

Ellis Fahrengart had always done so.

However—

(I've shown it to him...)

She had never even shown that side of hers, which was frightened by insecurity, in front of the comrades she trusted.

Truthfully, she had no intention of inviting Kamito to the Knights— until that moment.

However, when she saw his back as he was about to leave, she subconsciously called out to him.

(...I wonder why? I also don't understand it well myself.)

In the beginning, she had been thinking that things like male elementalists were an enemy, who would disrupt the public morals of the academy.

Since when did she, so strangely, start caring about him?

When she thought about Kazehaya Kamito, her chest constricted and hurt for some reason.

Such a feeling was a first for Ellis, who was raised up as a knight.

Incidentally, she glanced at the top of the table.

A nicely wrapped-up chocolate was lying there.

Tomorrow was the «Valentia Holy Festival».


The day to give chocolate to the opposite sex that held a place in one's mind—

(...I-It's a gift for enrolling into the Knights. Naturally, there's no other meaning than that.)

Ellis groaned spontaneously.

If that was the case, she shouldn't be that tensed, but the throbbing in her chest wouldn't stop for some reason.

(...Wh-When would it be good to hand it over?)

After all, it was the first time she was doing such a thing, so she didn't know what she should do.

"...H-He wouldn't think that I'm a strange girl, right?"

"—What's strange, Ellis?"

Suddenly, a voice like frozen cold air was heard.

"...!?"

Before she knew it, the room's door was opened—

And, over there— she was standing.

She had shiny blonde hair and cool-headed ice-blue pupils.

"Ah, Aneue<ref>A highly honorable term for one's older sister. This term of referring to one's older sister carries an extreme amount of respect that cannot be properly converted to English. Thus it has been left as is.</ref>...!"

"What kind of cowardly face are you making? And yet you call yourself a knight of the Fahrengart family?"

She was the academy's strongest elementalist— Velsaria Eva Fahrengart.

<noinclude>
==References and Translation Notes==
<references/>

{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter3|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter5}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter2

2014-07-16T20:23:51Z

07n156: /* Chapter 2: Team Scarlet's Dash */

==Chapter 2: Team Scarlet's Dash==

===Part 1===

"Kamito, they're coming. Let's break through the middle in one go!"

"Ah, I got it!"

Simultaneously with the match-commencement bell—

Kamito and Claire began running through the forest of Astral Zero.

It was a simulation practice targeting the Blade Dance, and their third battle after Fianna had joined.

They were taking a battle formation where the vanguard were Kamito and Claire, and the rear guard and commander was Fianna.

This time there was no need to incapacitate all five members of the opposing team, they had to defeat one person that was chosen to be the commander. It was Claire's judgment that it would make best use of the team's offensive ability if Fianna was posted as the rear guard and defending as the commander, instead of Claire, who would be fighting as a vanguard.

"Haa, haa... Hey, wait a bit, you two!"

Fianna ran as she gasped. For her, who had not received battle training, running also seemed tough.

"The rate of your breathing is increasing, princess."

"I can't help it, after all, my breasts aren't light like Claire's—"

"Wh-What was that...!"

Seeing Fianna's breasts shake whenever she ran, Claire tightly bit her lips.


"Hey, don't quarrel. —They're coming!"

Upon coming out from the deep forest and into an open area— Kamito shouted.

There were shadows of three elementalists in the front. It seemed like they were going to clash head on.

Claire returned to her serious face, kicked the ground, and further accelerated.

Their opponent, «Team Aquans», was ranked seventh in the interschool ranking.

It was a team that mainly constituted of powerful people gathered from the upperclassmen. They couldn't let their guard down.

Looking at the approaching opponents— Claire gasped in surprise.

Out of the approaching three people, she recognized the faces of two.

"Those two, if I recall—"

Kamito also noticed it.

They were the demon mirror elementalist and the adamantine elementalist.

A few weeks ago, they were the same upperclassmen, who had participated in the contract ritual of the militarized spirit in Academy Town.

They were the ones, who had relentlessly tormented Claire, who could not use her contracted spirit.

After that, they had the tables turned on them by Scarlet, who was possessed by the frenzy spirit, but—

Before he knew, they seemed to have joined a champion team.

"...Three from the front, huh? The remaining two should be hiding in the forest."

"I'll gather and take them on. You get the ones in the forest."

"Will you be alright?"


"Don't look down on me."

Kamito returned a wry smile to Claire, who expressed a composed smile.

"I'm going to settle it in 30 seconds."

"I'm counting on you— Scarlet!"

At the same time as Claire shouted, the incandescence hellcat running beside her changed its appearance into Flame Tongue.

It was—the incarnation of a contracted spirit that transformed into an armament—an elemental waffe. There was no one, who could release this as an elementary student.

Claire swung the Flame Tongue to the side.

The red hot whip was running as it licked the ground, and a blazing wall of flames appeared.

As the three attackers from the opposite team flinched, Kamito took the chance to quickly dash into the forest.

He cut down many trees with his shiny-silver elemental waffe sword as he ran through.

His field of vision was bad due to the drifting mist. He sharpened his whole body's senses, and sensed the presence of divine power, which was the source of the power of an elementalist— a battle ability driven into him when he was young at the «Instructional School».

(—One is coming this way.)

He felt the presence behind him. One of the three seemed to be chasing after Kamito.

He tried to stop and turn around, and at that moment.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Vun*— A sound like the flapping of a bug's wings skimmed past his earlobes.

The attack he had just barely dodged pulverized the tree behind him.

(What? I didn't see the trajectory of that attack—)


He turned towards the direction of the sound— There was the figure of the furious attacker.

It was a small built girl with chestnut-color hair. She was holding a small harp in her hand.

It was a musical-instrument-type elemental waffe.

The girl strummed the harp— and a slash attack was released again.

The invisible sound blade cut Kamito's leg and the many tree leaves fluttered and scattered in a flash.

It was a rather troublesome elemental waffe. It differed from a normal shooting attack, since he could not observe the shooter's hand movement and gaze to predict the trajectory.

(—In that case, I'll close in and bring her down in one attack!)

He ignored the elementalist chasing him behind. Holding the sword horizontally, Kamito rushed straight in.

The chestnut-colored hair girl violently strummed her harp. Perhaps she was flustered by Kamito's approaching speed, the invisible blades were released towards an almost random direction.

(No, this is—)

Kamito noticed his opponent's aim.

In the following moment, the sound blades that should have been out of range simultaneously rained incessantly on him from behind.

"...!"

The academy's uniform that had stab-proof features was cut and ripped, and intense pain attacked Kamito's whole body.

Even if he received an attack from a spirit in Astral Zero, his physical flesh would never receive damage, but that didn't mean that the sensation of pain completely vanished.


"You've let your guard down, male elementalist!"

There was a scorning-like voice from behind. It was the elementalist that came chasing after Kamito.

Upon turning around, there was the upperclassman smirking with a sphere-shaped spirit floating on her palm.

"I see, you amplified the sound blades and reflected them, huh? ..."

The reflection of attribute attacks was the demon mirror spirit's special trait.

It was a combination attack utilizing their spirits' compatibility—as expected, they were accustomed to battle.

"Vit, that guy's elemental waffe is a sword. It's no big deal as long as we keep our distance."

The harp girl silently nodded. They seemed to be planning to pincer attack him and bring him down for sure.

(...They have analyzed my battle strengths, huh?)

Terminus Est was an elemental waffe of the strongest class, but since she was a sword, she could only do close-range attacks.

Also, Kamito couldn't use powerful spirit magic like Claire.

The handling of spirit magic was something necessary for the systematic research relating to the spirit subject, but Kamito was of «Instructional School» origin and thus he didn't receive practically any training in that area.

However, if they were under the impression that Kamito's long distance attack measures were nonexistent, they were mistaken.

"Est!"

As she heard Kamito's shouting voice, the elemental waffe metamorphosed.

From a single-edged long sword, into a beautiful short sword attached with an ornament.

At that moment, there were the countless sound blades, released from both sides.


The moment he dodged them, Kamito threw the short sword.

Perhaps because she didn't think he would throw his elemental waffe, the sound elementalist had a surprised facial expression.

The short sword hit and was sucked into her chest.

In Astral Zero, a contracted spirit could be used as the incarnation of pure divine power.

There were no injuries on her pierced chest, yet she lost consciousness in an instant and shouldn't even have the time to feel the pain.

At the same time, Kamito was running.

He extracted the short sword from the fainted girl, and at the same time he turned around, he repelled the sound blades that came attacking from behind. He poured divine power into the short sword, and restored Est to the previous long sword— Realizing the failure of that attack, the demon mirror elementalist tried to plot her escape, but that was too late of a reaction.

"Sorry, the short sword is more of my specialty."

The glowing silver sword pierced through the demon mirror spirit all together with the upperclassman.

Upon confirming that the two had fainted, and quickly returning to the location where Claire was fighting—

"You're late, seven seconds late."

"You were counting? You're such a stingy fellow."

Within the whirling crimson flames, Claire was dancing a splendid blade dance.

There were the remains of the melted crag spirit rolling on the ground— She seemed to have already defeated one person.

The one remaining was the adamantine elementalist. As she parried the spirit, which had taken on its gigantic ore form, away with her whip, Claire was making walls of flame to seal her opponent's movement. The blazing flames totally did not weaken. On the contrary, fanned by the thunderous violent-blowing wind, they seemed to be increasingly growing hotter.

It was the assistive effect of the ritual dance performance that Fianna danced. The power of the wind Elemental Lord was fiercely stirring up the flames.

However, the opponent was an adamantine spirit, which possessed resistance against the fire attribute. It was acting as if the walls of flame were nothing.

"Your flame spirit won't work on my «Adamantine»!"

The adamantine spirit came assaulting straight on. Claire kicked the ground and jumped.

That appearance of her red twin tails flying and fluttering seemed almost as if they were scattering sparks.

The crimson killing flash freely tore through the sky. The surrounding trees were cut from their roots.

No. The ones cut weren't just the trees of the forest.

Perhaps it was unable to withstand the accumulation of damage any longer; he thought that he heard a metal-scraping-like sound as the adamantine spirit in its ore form was cleanly split into four and fell to the ground.

"No way, my adamantine spirit!?"

"Certainly, the adamantine spirit has a resistance against the fire attribute. However, it seemed to be brittle against a cutting attack."

Claire landed on the ground, and brushed her red twintails.

Jumping and scattering sparks landed into a puddle and made a sizzling sound.

"...'''A puddle?'''"

Kamito, who had been fascinated by Claire's blade dance, suddenly frowned.

It was just behind Fianna, who was performing the ritual dance.

(Just now, there wasn't a puddle at such a—)


At that moment.

"—Kyaa!?"

Fianna screamed.

Suddenly, her body was caught by a giant shadow that appeared from the inside of the puddle.

It had a big slimy transparent frame and ominously shiny red eyes.

And then, it had a large spread out chin.

That was a water spirit in a giant serpent form.
[[File:STnBD V03 004-005.jpg|thumbnail]]
"Fianna!"

"Ah, hn... What are you doing?!"

Its wet shiny semi-transparent body turned over Fianna's skirt, and was tightly twining around her slender body. Her tender breasts were squeezed out and a gasping-like breath leaked out from her throat.

Fianna was suspended in midair as she writhed, but she was helpless against the spirit opponent.

"No, no, don't touch anywhere, eh... n-noooooo!"

"Why you, release Fianna!"

Aiming at the slimy coiling serpent's body, Claire launched her Flame Tongue.

However, the Flame Tongue made a sizzling noise and slipped though the semi-transparent body.

It was a water spirit, which had the worst compatibility with Scarlet, which was a flame spirit. Even within the five grand elemental spirits, it was the spirit that Claire wanted to not deal with the most. Furthermore, a spirit that took on a beast form was a high ranking spirit. That was probably the commander's contracted spirit— but there were no signs of the elementalist using it around.

"Damn—"

Kamito was about to run to her side, and at that moment.

The water spirit raised its head, aimed at Claire and released a strong Aqua Breath.

Claire knocked down the water bullets with her Flame Tongue, but she simply couldn't defend against all of them—

"Claire!"

Kamito quickly changed his direction, grabbed Claire's body, and jumped.

Immediately after that, countless water bullets had made their impact. Large explosions, as if turning the ground inside out, occurred in succession.

"..., An attack-type water spirit? What power."

"Fuaa, Ka-Kamito, what are you doing?!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Don*, they landed on the ground, and Claire turned bright red and shouted.

It seems that being carried in his arms made her embarrassed.

"I-I got it! I got it, so don't scratch my face!"

The moment Claire was softly let off onto the ground, the water spirit turned around.

Raising its head, it tried to release its strong Aqua Breath again.

At that moment, a dazzling flash surged out from the serpent's body.

——Thou, servant of the king of the child of man, knight and master swordsman!

——By the contract of the old blood, become the sword that protects me, please hurry and come to my side!


In the instant when the tightening jolted, Fianna took the chance to recite the spirit summoning incantation.

Immediately, the gigantic water spirit's body swelled up and exploded in one go from the inside.

The one appearing from within the flash was—

An armored knight, carrying Fianna in one hand.

It had a rigid silver heavy-armor. Its red eyes were glaringly shining in its helmet.

It was the knight spirit «Georgios»— The contracted spirit that served the Ordesia royal family for generations.

It was power that Fianna, who was once called the Lost Queen, had regained.

Fianna was gently let down and collapsed on the ground since she had exhausted all her strength.

"Checkmate"

Kamito calmly informed, and pointed the tip of the sword at the middle of the puddle.

"...It seems this is it."

The commander water elementalist, who was hiding, admitted defeat, seemingly vexed.

===Part 2===

Kamito and the others, who returned from the forest of Astral Zero, were walking in a line in the academy's corridor.

Fianna, who had been caught and twined up by the water spirit, had a dead-tired expression.

Est, who turned back into her human form, was slightly pinching on the cuffs of Kamito's uniform.


"This makes it our third consecutive victory in our battles, this is all thanks to my wonderful commands."

Brushing her red twin-tails, Claire muttered in a good mood.

"I won't deny it, but... today's match was a little too much of a close call."

Kamito shrugged his shoulders and pointed out.

Although, winning against the seventh ranking team was great. With this, they should have come within reach of the top three, who were able to get the participating qualification of the Blade Dance.

"That's right, we can't feel relieved yet. As far as the top ranking team we have not yet fought with is concerned, the possibility that we'll get Ellis' third ranking team next is high."

"Ellis?... I'll want to seriously cross swords with her once."

Ellis' blade dance was, completely without things like tricks, a fair and square knight's blade dance.

If it was her, he was sure that he could surely fight feeling good.

Claire somehow pouted her lips, seemingly displeased, at Kamito muttering such things.

"Wh-What, you want to see Ellis' breasts shaking so much?"

"What... Well, certainly, Ellis' breasts are big, but— Ah, no."

As Claire was sternly glaring, Kamito averted the topic in a fluster.

"Although, if I recall Ellis' team had two comrades who're still injuried, right?"

They were the Sylphid Knights' Rakka and Reishia. They, who were also Ellis' teammate, fought Jio Inzagi in the quest the other day and were injured.


It was certain to take fair amount of time for the two of them to return to the academy.

"Yeah, in the case that Ellis defaults— we may have to fight against the second ranking team, or the first ranking's Velsaria. Honestly, it's not very appealing."

"Velsaria?"

"A knight of the Fahrengart duke family. Taking on the nickname of Silent Fortress, she's the academy's strongest elementalist."

The instant Claire spoke of that nickname, her voice slightly trembled.

"The academy's strongest..."

She was first in the inter-school rankings. She was the academy's strongest elementalist that even Claire feared.

What kind of opponent was she?—

(Hn? However, the Fahrengart duke family was certainly...)

Suddenly, Kamito seemed to have recalled something, but—

"Well, in any case—"

To shake off the heavy atmosphere, Claire tightly thrust out her index finger.

"Let's have lunch or something. A victory celebration party to celebrate our consecutive victories."

"It's still before noon. You'll grow fat if you overeat."

"An elementalist, who exhausted her divine power in battle, would not grow fat."

Placing her hands at her waist, Claire swelled out her cheeks sullenly.

"So, the nutrition that should go to your breasts were all taken by your contracted spirit. How pitiful."


"Eh?"

Hearing Fianna's murmuring—

Claire was taken aback, and looked down at the hellcat spirit near her feet.

"...Hey, Scarlet."

"Nya?"

"By any chance, are you burning my breasts' fat?"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogogo...!*

"Nya,nya,nyaa, nyaaa!"

"Ah, hey, wait up!"

Scarlet shook its head, and escaped at full speed through the corridor.

(...Umm, I somewhat feel a sense of affinity to Scarlet.)

Kamito was thinking of such things, when—

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Kuikui*. The sleeve of his uniform was pulled from behind.

Turning around, Est was gazing at Kamito with her clear violet pupils.

"Kamito, Est is hungry."

"Ahh, Est, as you have really done your best, you can eat the things you like."

"Okay, Kamito. Please praise Est more."

"...It can't be helped."


<nowiki>*</nowiki>Surisuri*. *Nadenade*.

He made a wry smile as he gave her head a pat, and Est partly closed her eyes, seemingly feeling good.

"... Y-You, why are you soft on Est?"

"What, Claire, do you also want to be patted?"

"Wh... There's no... Fuan"

Kamito placed his other hand on Claire's head, and she made a somewhat cute voice.

Upon patting her head, she became docile almost like a cat, which was fondled at its throat.

(Th-This is a little cute...)

Kamito was also unconsciously startled at the hellcat girl's unexpected weak point.

"Mmm, Kamito-kun, are you not going to pat me?"

Holding her index finger at her mouth, Fianna muttered seemingly lonely.

Then.

"—Hmm, you seem to be having fun. Sister of the Calamity Queen."

A cold voice was heard from behind.

"...?"

Upon turning around—

"Even though, the truth is you don't have things like the qualifications to be in this academy."


"Do you get what your sister did to the empire?"

It was the upperclassman from the match a while ago— those two, the adamantine elementalist and the demon mirror elementalist.

"What did you—"

Kamito grabbed and stopped Claire's arm, who was enraged.

"Claire, calm down. Don't easily fall for their provocations."

"..., But Nee-sama was insulted.!"

"If you cause a dueling uproar here, our participation in the Blade Dance will also be in jeopardy."

Kamito whispered, and Claire thoroughly bit her lips, seemingly frustrated.

If they receive a punishment for a dueling uproar, the ranking that they raised with great trouble would end up being drastically reduced.

The two of them in front of him also knew that and were provoking Claire on purpose.

(Those two...)

Although, even Kamito also couldn't stay composed.

It was for only an instant, but Kamito didn't miss Claire's hurt expression. The matter about her sister, Rubia Elstien, had been a great emotional scar to her.

"This is really sickening. For the sister of a felon, who did that much, to be boldly attending the academy, what on earth are your nerves made of—"

"Hey, you better—"

Kamito tried to complain, and at that moment.


<nowiki>*</nowiki>Katsun*— Elegant footsteps were heard in the corridor.

"Hmm, how disgraceful, seniors. We, the academy students, are empire nobles with pride. If you have a pretext, it is manners to settle it with an official duel."

Her extravagant platinum-blonde hair fluttered up.

She had the conduct of a noble that was perfectly in order up to her fingertips.

"...Rinslet?"

Yes—

The one, who was slowly walking from the other side of the corridor, was a blond haired beautiful girl overflowing with elegance.

She was the eldest daughter with the lineage of the honorable Laurenfrost family, and also the self-declared rival of Claire.

She was Miss Rinslet Laurenfrost.

Her emerald green pupils, which hid faint brilliance, were fearlessly glaring at the two upperclassman.

"Or perhaps, rural nobles, like you seniors, do not even happen to have that extent of pride?"

"..., What was that!?"

Being provoked, one of the enraged upperclassmen summoned her adamantine spirit.

(Danger—)

Kamito rushed out in front to try to protect Rinslet, but—

"—You're slow."

"Wh!?"


The upperclassman distorted her face in shock.

Rinslet's nocked demon bow of ice was certainly aimed at the place between her eyebrows.

It was the high ranking demon ice spirit «Fenrir's» elemental waffe— Freezing Arrow.

"The one, who moved first, was you seniors. Therefore, this is a proper self-defense. Although, it seemed that I, who moved later, was somehow faster."

"..., Ridiculous, you released your elemental waffe in an instant!?"

The upperclassman stiffened as the aim was kept affixed between her eyebrows.

Honestly, the releasing speed just now astonished even Kamito.

"It is wiser for you to give up. It is faster for me to release my arrow— Or perhaps, you planned on competing with this ice demon Rinslet here?"

"...Y-You'll remember this."

Seemingly frustrated, the two upperclassmen said disdainfully and glared at Claire before running in the end.

"Hmm, a wise judgment."

Rinslet proudly brushed her hair, and kept her elemental waffe bow.

"Rinslet, you..."

"Oh, this is not something you have to feel indebted for, Claire Rouge. I really hate those sort of prideless nobles."

"I-It's not like I feel indebted or something!"


"Claire, don't be bothered by those kind of people."

"I-I'm not... That sort of thing is normal."

Claire rubbed her eyes, and quickly turned away.

"B-By the way, everyone—"

"Ahem", Rinslet coughed.

"Um?"

"E-Err... Just now, I heard something about a victory celebration party."

Her face was slightly red. Her appearance, where she was frigid, suddenly changed, and she entwined her fingers bashfully, as her line of sight was wandering about in a really un-composed manner.

"What, you were listening to our conversation?"

"I-It was by chance, it was just that it entered my ears by chance!"

Rinslet shook her head and denied.

"Although you're having a victory celebration party, since it's you guys, you would be having it in the academy's dining hall, right?"

"...Hn, yeah."

Kamito articulated poorly and nodded.

Kamito wasn't even a noble, and Claire also had her territory and property seized. Fianna was the former princess, but at the point of time she decided to admit into the academy, she was practically disinherited.

It didn't mean that they were short on money, but they didn't have the surplus to squander it.


"How about having lunch at a high-class restaurant in Academy Town once in a while?"

"Err, we don't have..."

Kamito staggered in his words—

"Hmm, to settle that, I will be treating. This is a small expense for my Laurenfrost family. Claire Rouge, your Highness, and the spirit over there, there is no need to hold back."

The ojou-sama brushed her platinum-blonde hair.

"No." "I decline."

However, Claire and Fianna mercilessly rejected her.

"Wh-Why?!"

"Because I don't want to be indebted to you."

"Speaking of which, why is Rinslet coming to Team Scarlet's victory celebration party?"

"Th-That's... err... u..."

Rinslet became teary at the merciless retorts by the two ojou-sama.

There was no longer any fragment of her braveness from just now.

At that point.

"In other words, Milady wants to have a meal with everyone ♪ "

Maid Carol suddenly appeared from somewhere.


"Carol!? Wh-What are you saying? This girl is just...!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pokapokapokapoka*.

Turning bright red, Rinslet hits Carol's shoulder.

It was a splendid interpretation as usual.

"...What, if that was the case, all you had to do was say so at the beginning."

Claire shrugged her shoulders as she was astounded.

"Eh? I-It's alright... for me to also come together?"

"I don't do such spiteful things. It's just the right time, because Kamito was hospitalized due to his injuries, we didn't celebrate the completion of the quest the other day. You come too."

Rinslet's face shone in a flash.

"Kamito, I want to eat parfait."

"Ahh, now that you mentioned it, I promised you that a while ago."

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Tug-tug*. His sleeves were pulled by Est, and Kamito nodded.

"Well, putting aside the high class restaurant, it might also be nice to eat in Academy Town."

They always settled lunch at the salon café with all-you-can-eat bread, as it was troublesome to specially get permission to go out, there was hardly any time they went outside the academy.

To try to go out to Academy Town once in a while was because it might be a good change of mood.

"Well then, it's decided. I'll go get the permission to go out of the academy right now."


"Ah, wait."

Kamito called Claire, who walked off, to stop.

"What?"

"I have a supplementary class for the fundamental subject after this."

"...Huh? Don't tell me you failed the fundamental subject?"

"...Sorry."

Kamito nodded, being discouraged.

"I can't believe it. Why did you fail such an easy lecture?"

"Gu..."

...He couldn't answer back. To begin with, Kamito, who was from the «Instructional School», had not received education on the systematic spirit subjects so far, so if he couldn't help it, he couldn't help it.

On the other hand, the results of Claire's lecture subjects were unexpectedly top-class even in the Academy.

If it was just by her results, she was a super honor student. The superior problem child was something often said about her.

"...It can't be helped. Well then, we'll wait till Kamito's supplementary class ends. It'll be a slightly late lunch, but is it alright if we meet in front of the main gate at two?"

<noinclude>{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter1|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter3}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter1

2014-07-16T19:47:23Z

07n156: /* Chapter 1: The Ojou-sama Who Woke Up Early */

==Chapter 1: The Ojou-sama Who Woke Up Early==

===Part 1===
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Chirp chirp...*

There was the chirping of singing birds. The fresh sunshine was shining in diagonally from the window.

"...U...n"

It was 6 o'clock, early in the morning. Kamito rubbed his sleepy eyes even though he had woken up.

He combed out his unkempt hair by hand, and then first he checked under the sheets as usual.

"Alright, today's safe."

Kamito took a breath of relief.

Recently, there were times when a fully naked sword spirit was sleeping with him, so he couldn't let his guard down.

Feeling relieved, he nimbly folded the sheets and got up.

"...I have to make breakfast."

The breakfast of Claire and the others, who were roommates, was expected to be made by Kamito every morning.

Well to begin with, he didn't hate cooking, and he was a freeloader, so he had no complaints.

"Toast with salad with bacon and eggs... Shall I specially throw in some boiled eggs today?"

After all, there was a team battle that they absolutely could not lose this morning. He wanted his two teammates and his partner sword spirit to eat something good whenever possible to restore their energy.


It has been one week since the quest at that Mine Town.

A new member was added into Team Scarlet.

She was the former second princess of the Ordesia Empire, as well as the «Divine Ritual Institute's» second ranking princess maiden.

Fianna Ray Ordesia.

Having been once called the Lost Queen, she was trying to ensnare Kamito and participate in the Blade Dance to regain the power of her spirit contract.

Eventually, she was able to regain the power of her spirit contract by her own strength, however, she continued to remain in the academy for some reason despite attaining her goal, and ended up joining Team Scarlet.

Claire had seemed displeased, but there were already only several weeks left till the Blade Dance, so she reluctantly ushered her into the team.

It was different from the individual matches three years ago, this time's Blade Dance was a team battle. Unless they gathered five teammates, they could not even get the qualifications to participate. Besides, the true strength of Fianna, who regained the power of her spirit contract, was something that even Claire could not help but recognize.

She, who was from the Queen training organization—«Divine Ritual Institute», had definitely not received any battle training, but she could provide various combat support by dancing ritual Kagura.

Also, her contracted spirit «Georgios» was a knight spirit of «defense» specialty, something Kamito and the others were weak at. Because she joined, the resulting balance in the team greatly increased in its sense of stability.

There was also the achievement of the S rank quest at Mine Town. And then, there were the successive victories of the inter-school battles.


Team Scarlet's inter-school ranking was now increasing with great momentum.

If they kept up this pace, it would no longer be just be a dream to overtake Ellis' Team, which was currently in third place.

"All that's left is for those two to be on a little better terms with each other."

He shrugged his shoulders in disappointment as he faced the kitchen—

"Hn?"

The clattering sound of tableware came from the kitchen.

And then, there was a rich sweet smell that came wafting over. It had a slightly burnt, bitter scent.

(Is this smell... by any chance, chocolate?)

Kamito frowned, and softly approached with stealthy steps.

Through the gap of the door, he carefully peered into the kitchen—

"Hey, what are you putting in!?"

"Fufuu, something that is made of mashed-up baked newt♪"

He heard Claire and Fianna's voices.

"Wh-What are you thinking?! Don't put in such a disgusting thing!"

"Ahh, I was usually using it at the Divine Ritual Institute. It seemed to have the same effect as an aphrodisiac."

"Ap-Aphrodisiac!?"

"Yes, if Kamito-kun ate this, even his true nature as the demon king of the night would appear, and he may come attacking in the middle of the night."


"At-Attack... wh-what on earth would he do?"

"Well... that is already something indecent to the extent that he could be said to have been bewitched."

"Be-Bewitched... y-you're lying, even for him, such a thing—"

"Furthermore, the two of us together."

"The two of us together!?"

"It isn't surprising for Kamito-kun to do at least that."

"Wh-Wh-What a guy... Un-Unforgivable, that pervert, cinders, cinders!"

As her voice trembled, there was the *pashin* *pashin* sound of something being hit by a whip.

(Those two...)

Kamito's temple twitched.

...Somehow, he felt that they were defaming his honor with staggering vigor.

(...Speaking of that, when did I become the demon king of the night?)

Even while Kamito was bearing this outrageous treatment, the two ojou-sama had continued their conversation.

"Fufuu, however, isn't it nice to also have Kamito-kun in an overbearing demon king mode once in a while?"

"Th-That's... Err, a-at any rate, that's a no. Putting in such a dubious thing. What are you going to do if his stomach is destroyed before the battle?"

"Oh, Claire you're no different. Do you plan on making him eat those burnt, black cinders?"

"Sh-Shut up..."


(...Cinders?)

Kamito peered into the kitchen, and a lump of something black had turned into a pile on top of the plate.

Coals for stove-use...they didn't seem like them.

"Really, the nickname of hellcat girl is not for show. After all, you turned everything into cinders."

"...I don't want to be told that by the fake breast princess."

"Oh, even without my pads mine are much bigger than yours, Claire, you know?"

"I-I want to try burning every surplus fat of those, princess."

Sparks scattered between the two of them. ...How energetic early in the morning.

It somehow had become a critical situation, so—

"Hey, what are the two of you doing?"

Kamito, finally, made an appearance in the kitchen.

"Fua, Kamito!?" "Kamito-kun!?"

The two of them turned around in a shocked manner, and hid something behind them in a fluster.

"Y-You've already awoken!?"

"Yeah, because we've a battle today. I planned on making breakfast earlier than usual—"

Then, Kamito unintentionally stopped his words.

His eyes were being rooted at Claire's appearance, whom he was facing.

"Y-You, that appearance..."


"Wh-What...? If it doesn't match me, then, how about saying that honestly?"

Claire's cheeks reddened, as she quickly turned away.

Her red twin-tail hair slightly swayed.

Her clear ruby pupils. Her lovely flower-bud-like cherry blossom lips on her smooth white skin.

Her breasts' bulge was definitely gently-sloping, but that proportion was more than charming.

If it was just her physical appearance, she was a top-class beautiful girl among all the beautiful girls within Areishia Spirit Academy.

Furthermore, Claire was currently not in her usual uniform, which he had become used to seeing.

She was very lovely, putting on an apron attached with frills.

Towards this vexing thing... He really ended up feeling dizzy for a moment.

Her small cap suited her small build, this was also unfairly lovely.

Kamito raised up both his hands like he gave up.

"No, It suits you very well. ...You're cute."

"...Wh-Wha-What are you saying, idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gaaa...!*

Claire's face increasingly turned red, and she was hitting Kamito's chest.

"Eh, Kamito-kun... What about me?"

Fianna slightly held her index finger to her mouth, and said, seemingly displeased.
[[Image:STnBD V03 023.jpg|thumb]]


She was wearing an apron, that was a matching set with Claire's, over her black dress-style uniform.

Her glamorous hair reached out to her waist. Her cleavage was deep, which he looked down into the chest area of her uniform.

Her dim colored pupils, which were fringed with lovely eyelashes, were extolling a mysterious light somewhere.

The former princess, Fianna, was also an evenly balanced beautiful girl as Claire.

"...Do I have to say it?"

"It's something girls would be happy when you earnestly put it into words."

Fianna giggled mischievously.

Kamito sighed in resignation.

"You're pretty, Fianna... Eh, what are you making me say in the morning?!"

"Fufu, Kamito-kun, you're surprisingly ''that'', aren't you?"

"Aren't you the one who made me say it..."

With a deadpan look, Kamito glared at Fianna, who was giggling mischievously—

"By the way, what are you two doing? What are you hiding behind you?"

"Th-That's..."

Claire's and Fianna's faces swiftly turned red, and they bashfully entwined their fingers.

"Uh?"

Kamito frowned and pressed on—

"...Cho-Chocolate!"



Claire shouted like she turned defiant.

"Chocolate? Did you wake up to make candy or something?"

"W-Well, something like that. You know, isn't it «Valentia Holy Festival» very soon. Therefore, err, we're practicing... D-Don't misunderstand, I'll let you at least sample it, but that's all!"

—Valentia Holy Festival.

It was a popular ritual to commemorate the Queen Valentia Sadelca, who served the fire Elemental Lord several hundred years ago.

It was originally a ritual to dedicate baked sweets, which were baked by flames of purification, to spirits but— it had become "the day to give chocolate to the opposite sex, who one had a liking for" among the common masses.

"Hn? The opposite sex... But, there should only be girls in this academy—"

Kamito pointed out—

"Th-That's obvious, this is a friendship chocolate to be given to friends! Your role is just to sample it. Geez, what are you expecting? It's like you're a gluttonous pig!"

Claire talked on and on with her face bright red.

"...How mean. Wait a minute, don't you have no friends at all?"

"I-I do, things like friends! For example, Scarlet, and ...errr, the stray cat staying in the academy's garden, Kitty."


"...I'm sorry, I was in the wrong."

...It seemed like he ended up stepping on a land mine.

"A-Anyway, hey, since I made them with great trouble, be grateful and eat them!"

Claire said in anger, and thrust that cinder lump before Kamito.

"Uh... Do I have to eat... this?"

"Wh-What... I woke up early to make it, you know!"

"No, I'm certainly thankful for that, but ..."

"Kamito-kun, forget those cinders, you can eat my chocolate."

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Fuyon.*

"Fianna!?"

Suddenly, the former princess, who expressed an impish smile, was pressing her soft breasts against him.

Even without things like pads, her breasts were big enough, and a heart shaped chocolate was squeezed into her cleavage.

It was different from Claire's cinders, this one had an edible appearance, but he couldn't let himself be fooled. This impish princess had, in a certain sense, the cooking ability of a greater killing-level than Claire.

(...Just now, they said something about an aphrodisiac.)

"Kamito, quickly eat my chocolate!"

"Hey, don't hinder my Kamito-kun madly in love plan!"


As they jostled together, the two of them held out their chocolates.

"No, err, having such sweet things in the morning is..."

Kamito retreated, overwhelmed.

At that moment.

Suddenly, the living room's door opened—
"Kamito, I also tried making chocolate."

"E-Est!?"

The one who appeared was a lovely beautiful girl like a snow fairy.

Her brilliantly shining silver hair. Her tight milk-like white smooth skin.

And then, her clear violet pupils that confined a faint brilliance.

She was the sword spirit Est.

She was a sealed spirit, who made a contract with Kamito several weeks ago, and possessed exceedingly mighty power.

"..."

Kamito widened his eyes, and became stiff like he was frozen.

Claire and Fianna were also at a loss for words.

She was naked. Stark naked.

Est, who was in an appearance almost akin to that of a new-born, was simply standing there.

(Almost) referred to the fact that she was wearing black knee socks on her legs, but—


That appearance, which was called naked knee-socks<ref>In japan, there exists a high level seductive technique called the naked apron, which is basically wearing nothing but a simple apron. Naked knee-socks is the knee-socks variant of that, in which one doesn't wear anything but knee-socks.</ref> in slang, was in a certain way even more lascivious than being naked.

"Est, that's a crime."

"Is Est a crime?"

Est tilted her head to the side in wonder.

"...Yes, Est is a naughty criminal."

Kamito was in chaos and had blurted out something he didn't really understand.

"That's disappointing. I thought that Kamito would be delighted with this sort of appearance."

"What kind of eyes are you looking at your contractor with..."

Kamito deeply sighed with a deadpan look.

"And, what do you mean that Est also made chocolate?"

He could not see anything like chocolate in Est's hands.

Instead, she was holding a small tube made of cloth.

It was something that was often used for decorating things like cakes.

"Okay, over here."

Est nodded expressionlessly—

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Nyururun*

"Wh—"

What, she began drawing words with chocolate on her smooth white skin!


"..."

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Nyuru nyurun.* *Nyururururun.*

There was liquid chocolate freely surging out.

Drawn on her pure white virgin-snow-like soft skin were words written in the sacred language of the spirits.
[[File:STnBD V03 002-003.jpg|thumbnail]]
When deciphered— they read "'''Eat me'''".

"E-Est!?"

The moment Kamito understood the meaning of the spirit language, his face turned bright red.

"Fuaa, y-you, what are you teaching your contracted spirit, pe-pervert !"

"Err... Kamito-kun, y-you like this sort of thing?"

Claire's face turned bright red, and she flew into a rage, and Fianna had a-little-drawn-back look on her face.

"Wait, you're misunderstanding! Hey, Est—"

"Kamito, please lick my chocolate."

The naked Est was walking with a chocolate smeared appearance.

That appearance of hers, which he peeked at through the gaps of his fingers covering his eyes, was so alluring that his heart spontaneously jumped up.

"...If you don't hurry, it'll melt."

"No, hey, wait—"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Dotadotadotadotaa!*

Suddenly, he heard intense footsteps from the corridor.


<nowiki>*</nowiki>Bam.* The room's door was cleanly opened with force—

"Kazehaya Kamito, what on earth are you doing... Wh!?"

The one, who showed up, was—

A female knight, wearing azure light armor over her body.

She had frigid reddish brown pupils. Her rose-colored lips were tightly closed.

Her stunning blue hair was tied up in a ponytail with a ribbon.

She was the captain of the Sylphid Knights that managed the academy's public morals.

Ellis Fahrengart.

The moment she came bursting into the room, she opened her reddish brown eyes widely.

"Y-You... H-H-How shameless..."

"Wa-Wait, Ellis, you're mistaken, there's no way this is my hobby—"

"How unsightly, are you thinking that such an excuse would work?!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogogo...!*

Thunderous fierce gales blew violently around Ellis, whose eyebrows were raised.

She was a top-class wind spirit user even within the academy.

"I received a report that your room was noisy and came to see, but... I never thought that you were making your contracted spirit do such a perverted thing!"

The whirling gales mowed down the room's furniture and soon transformed into the form of a giant demon bird.


It was the high ranking demon wind spirit— «Simorgh» that served the Fahrengart family.

"Des-Despite that I had gotten a better opinion of you!"

It was certain that tears were slightly oozing around Kamito's eyes.

"E-Ellis, you're mis—"

"It's no use, be turned into paella<ref>Paella is a Valencia dish consisting of rice with the addition of meat, vegetables or seafood.</ref> right here and now!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Kouu!*

She aimed and released a lump of fierce gale winds at Kamito.

Kamito's body was blown off in a straight line, and it smashed into the room's window and danced in midair.

===Part 2===

Areishia Spirit Academy.

It was a development school that trained noble girls, who were gathered from all over the empire, into fully fledged elementalists.

The school building was like a fortress, furnished with solid ramparts. This academy, which included the continent's largest «Spirit Forest» and Mine Town within its vast territory, was just like a small independent country.

"...Sigh, he doesn't change, that boy."

As she looked down at the boy's appearance of fluttering in midair from the second floor of the dormitory—

The academy director, Greyworth Ciel Mais, made a small sigh.


Her ash-blonde hair was gently waving. Her grey pupils extolled sharp discernment.

She definitely could only be seen as a bewitchingly beautiful lady from her outward appearance, but she was once the head knight of the {{Furigana|twelve-knight-commanders|Numbers|margin=12}} that were boasted as the empire's strongest.

During the Ranbal war, she was the legendary elementalist, the Dusk Witch that both friends and foes feared.

"Even though there's only a few weeks till the opening of the Blade Dance, how carefree."

They seemed to have added the former second princess, Fianna, into their team and were gradually raising their ranking, but— they still had not gathered five teammates.

"Nevertheless—"

The figure of a person appeared from Greyworth's shadow.

"Calamity Queen's sister with former second princess who lost her Queen qualification. Even within my superior problem child gathering class, they are a very peculiar group."

It was a woman with black hair and a white robe put over her suit.

Spirit Contractor—Freya Grandol. Raven Class' teacher-in-charge.

"Academy director, you seem to be pretty attached to him."

"That's right, after all, he's the one and only male elementalist in the continent."

Freya turned a strict gaze towards Greyworth, who shrugged her shoulders to dodge the question.

"Kazehaya Kamito... Who on earth is he?"

"Oh, did you also fall in love with that boy?"

"Sorry, but I do not have an interest in younger ones."


Freya shook her head, and Greyworth smiled, seemingly happy.

"Hmm... So, what information do you have for me?"

"We caught hold of information that the traders of {{Furigana|Corpse Federation|Murders|margin=12}} sneaked into Academy Town. They're probably trying to sell curse-binding seals to students just before the Blade Dance."

"What an annoying bunch. Order Ellis' Sylphid Knights to reinforce the security."

"Yes, there's another thing—"

"Uh?"

"Velsaria Eva has returned to the academy."

Greyworth slightly raised up her eyebrows.

"Haa, she completed the subjugation quest of a devil-class spirit in just a few weeks. As expected."

"Yea, she is without a doubt the '''academy's strongest elementalist''' at this point in time— So far, she had been doing the quests completely without assembling a team, but she would also have to recruit members to participate in the Blade Dance. She seems to be someone who would be at the top amongst the three participating."

"Well, I wonder about that?"

Greyworth smiled, seemingly amused, as she glanced towards the outside of the window.

Kamito was over there, being chased by Ellis' demon wind spirit and was frantically running from place to place.

<noinclude>

==References and Translation Notes==
<references/>

{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Prologue|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter2}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter1

2014-07-16T17:26:32Z

07n156: /* Part 1 */

==Chapter 1: The Ojou-sama Who Woke Up Early==

===Part 1===
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Chirp chirp...*

There was the chirping of singing birds. The fresh sunshine was shining in diagonally from the window.

"...U...n"

It was 6 o'clock, early in the morning. Kamito rubbed his sleepy eyes even though he had woken up.

He combed out his unkempt hair by hand, and then first he checked under the sheets as usual.

"Alright, today's safe."

Kamito took a breath of relief.

Recently, there were times when a fully naked sword spirit was sleeping with him, so he couldn't let his guard down.

Feeling relieved, he nimbly folded the sheets and got up.

"...I have to make breakfast."

The breakfast of Claire and the others, who were roommates, was expected to be made by Kamito every morning.

Well to begin with, he didn't hate cooking, and he was a freeloader, so he had no complaints.

"Toast with salad with bacon and eggs... Shall I specially throw in some boiled eggs today?"

After all, there was a team battle that they absolutely could not lose this morning. He wanted his two teammates and his partner sword spirit to eat something good whenever possible to restore their energy.


It has been one week since the quest at that Mine Town.

A new member was added into Team Scarlet.

She was the former second princess of the Ordesia Empire, as well as the «Divine Ritual Institute's» second ranking princess maiden.

Fianna Ray Ordesia.

Having been once called the Lost Queen, she was trying to ensnare Kamito and participate in the Blade Dance to regain the power of her spirit contract.

Eventually, she was able to regain the power of her spirit contract by her own strength, however, she continued to remain in the academy for some reason despite attaining her goal, and ended up joining Team Scarlet.

Claire had seemed displeased, but there were already only several weeks left till the Blade Dance, so she reluctantly ushered her into the team.

It was different from the individual matches three years ago, this time's Blade Dance was a team battle. Unless they gathered five teammates, they could not even get the qualifications to participate. Besides, the true strength of Fianna, who regained the power of her spirit contract, was something that even Claire could not help but recognize.

She, who was from the Queen training organization—«Divine Ritual Institute», had definitely not received any battle training, but she could provide various combat support by dancing ritual Kagura.

Also, her contracted spirit «Georgios» was a knight spirit of «defense» specialty, something Kamito and the others were weak at. Because she joined, the resulting balance in the team greatly increased in its sense of stability.

There was also the achievement of the S rank quest at Mine Town. And then, there were the successive victories of the inter-school battles.


Team Scarlet's inter-school ranking was now increasing with great momentum.

If they kept up this pace, it would no longer be just be a dream to overtake Ellis' Team, which was currently in third place.

"All that's left is for those two to be on a little better terms with each other."

He shrugged his shoulders in disappointment as he faced the kitchen—

"Hn?"

The clattering sound of tableware came from the kitchen.

And then, there was a rich sweet smell that came wafting over. It had a slightly burnt, bitter scent.

(Is this smell... by any chance, chocolate?)

Kamito frowned, and softly approached with stealthy steps.

Through the gap of the door, he carefully peered into the kitchen—

"Hey, what are you putting in!?"

"Fufuu, something that is made of mashed-up baked newt♪"

He heard Claire and Fianna's voices.

"Wh-What are you thinking?! Don't put in such a disgusting thing!"

"Ahh, I was usually using it at the Divine Ritual Institute. It seemed to have the same effect as an aphrodisiac."

"Ap-Aphrodisiac!?"

"Yes, if Kamito-kun ate this, even his true nature as the demon king of the night would appear, and he may come attacking in the middle of the night."


"At-Attack... wh-what on earth would he do?"

"Well... that is already something indecent to the extent that he could be said to have been bewitched."

"Be-Bewitched... y-you're lying, even for him, such a thing—"

"Furthermore, the two of us together."

"The two of us together!?"

"It isn't surprising for Kamito-kun to do at least that."

"Wh-Wh-What a guy... Un-Unforgivable, that pervert, cinders, cinders!"

As her voice trembled, there was the *pashin* *pashin* sound of something being hit by a whip.

(Those two...)

Kamito's temple twitched.

...Somehow, he felt that they were defaming his honor with staggering vigor.

(...Speaking of that, when did I become the demon king of the night?)

Even while Kamito was bearing this outrageous treatment, the two ojou-sama had continued their conversation.

"Fufuu, however, isn't it nice to also have Kamito-kun in an overbearing demon king mode once in a while?"

"Th-That's... Err, a-at any rate, that's a no. Putting in such a dubious thing. What are you going to do if his stomach is destroyed before the battle?"

"Oh, Claire you're no different. Do you plan on making him eat those burnt, black cinders?"

"Sh-Shut up..."


(...Cinders?)

Kamito peered into the kitchen, and a lump of something black had turned into a pile on top of the plate.

Coals for stove-use...they didn't seem like them.

"Really, the nickname of hellcat girl is not for show. After all, you turned everything into cinders."

"...I don't want to be told that by the fake breast princess."

"Oh, even without my pads mine are much bigger than yours, Claire, you know?"

"I-I want to try burning every surplus fat of those, princess."

Sparks scattered between the two of them. ...How energetic early in the morning.

It somehow had become a critical situation, so—

"Hey, what are the two of you doing?"

Kamito, finally, made an appearance in the kitchen.

"Fua, Kamito!?" "Kamito-kun!?"

The two of them turned around in a shocked manner, and hid something behind them in a fluster.

"Y-You've already awoken!?"

"Yeah, because we've a battle today. I planned on making breakfast earlier than usual—"

Then, Kamito unintentionally stopped his words.

His eyes were being rooted at Claire's appearance, whom he was facing.

"Y-You, that appearance..."


"Wh-What...? If it doesn't match me, then, how about saying that honestly?"

Claire's cheeks reddened, as she quickly turned away.

Her red twin-tail hair slightly swayed.

Her clear ruby pupils. Her lovely flower-bud-like cherry blossom lips on her smooth white skin.

Her breasts' bulge was definitely gently-sloping, but that proportion was more than charming.

If it was just her physical appearance, she was a top-class beautiful girl among all the beautiful girls within Areishia Spirit Academy.

Furthermore, Claire was currently not in her usual uniform, which he had become used to seeing.

She was very lovely, putting on an apron attached with frills.

Towards this vexing thing... He really ended up feeling dizzy for a moment.

Her small cap suited her small build, this was also unfairly lovely.

Kamito raised up both his hands like he gave up.

"No, It suits you very well. ...You're cute."

"...Wh-Wha-What are you saying, idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gaaa...!*

Claire's face increasingly turned red, and she was hitting Kamito's chest.

"Eh, Kamito-kun... What about me?"

Fianna slightly held her index finger to her mouth, and said, seemingly displeased.
[[Image:STnBD V03 023.jpg|thumb]]


She was wearing an apron, that was a matching set with Claire's, over her black dress-style uniform.

Her glamorous hair reached out to her waist. Her cleavage was deep, which he looked down into the chest area of her uniform.

Her dim colored pupils, which were fringed with lovely eyelashes, were extolling a mysterious light somewhere.

The former princess, Fianna, was also an evenly balanced beautiful girl as Claire.

"...Do I have to say it?"

"It's something girls would be happy when you earnestly put it into words."

Fianna giggled mischievously.

Kamito sighed in resignation.

"You're pretty, Fianna... Eh, what are you making me say in the morning?!"

"Fufu, Kamito-kun, you're surprisingly ''that'', aren't you?"

"Aren't you the one who made me say it..."

With a deadpan look, Kamito glared at Fianna, who was giggling mischievously—

"By the way, what are you two doing? What are you hiding behind you?"

"Th-That's..."

Claire's and Fianna's faces swiftly turned red, and they bashfully entwined their fingers.

"Uh?"

Kamito frowned and pressed on—

"...Cho-Chocolate!"



Claire shouted like she turned defiant.

"Chocolate? Did you wake up to make candy or something?"

"W-Well, something like that. You know, isn't it «Valentia Holy Festival» very soon. Therefore, err, we're practicing... D-Don't misunderstand, I'll let you at least sample it, but that's all!"

—Valentia Holy Festival.

It was a popular ritual to commemorate the Queen Valentia Sadelca, who served the fire Elemental Lord several hundred years ago.

It was originally a ritual to dedicate baked sweets, which were baked by flames of purification, to spirits but— it had become "the day to give chocolate to the opposite sex, who one had a liking for" among the common masses.

"Hn? The opposite sex... But, there should only be girls in this academy—"

Kamito pointed out—

"Th-That's obvious, this is a friendship chocolate to be given to friends! Your role is just to sample it. Geez, what are you expecting? It's like you're a gluttonous pig!"

Claire talked on and on with her face bright red.

"...How mean. Wait a minute, don't you have no friends at all?"

"I-I do, things like friends! For example, Scarlet, and ...errr, the stray cat staying in the academy's garden, Kitty."


"...I'm sorry, I was in the wrong."

...It seemed like he ended up stepping on a land mine.

"A-Anyway, hey, since I made them with great trouble, be grateful and eat them!"

Claire said in anger, and thrust that cinder lump before Kamito.

"Uh... Do I have to eat... this?"

"Wh-What... I woke up early to make it, you know!"

"No, I'm certainly thankful for that, but ..."

"Kamito-kun, forget those cinders, you can eat my chocolate."

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Fuyon.*

"Fianna!?"

Suddenly, the former princess, who expressed an impish smile, was pressing her soft breasts against him.

Even without things like pads, her breasts were big enough, and a heart shaped chocolate was squeezed into her cleavage.

It was different from Claire's cinders, this one had an edible appearance, but he couldn't let himself be fooled. This impish princess had, in a certain sense, the cooking ability of a greater killing-level than Claire.

(...Just now, they said something about an aphrodisiac.)

"Kamito, quickly eat my chocolate!"

"Hey, don't hinder my Kamito-kun madly in love plan!"


As they jostled together, the two of them held out their chocolates.

"No, err, having such sweet things in the morning is..."

Kamito retreated, overwhelmed.

At that moment.

Suddenly, the living room's door opened—
"Kamito, I also tried making chocolate."
[[File:STnBD V03 002-003.jpg|thumbnail]]
"E-Est!?"

The one who appeared was a lovely beautiful girl like a snow fairy.

Her brilliantly shining silver hair. Her tight milk-like white smooth skin.

And then, her clear violet pupils that confined a faint brilliance.

She was the sword spirit Est.

She was a sealed spirit, who made a contract with Kamito several weeks ago, and possessed exceedingly mighty power.

"..."

Kamito widened his eyes, and became stiff like he was frozen.

Claire and Fianna were also at a loss for words.

She was naked. Stark naked.

Est, who was in an appearance almost akin to that of a new-born, was simply standing there.

(Almost) referred to the fact that she was wearing black knee socks on her legs, but—


That appearance, which was called naked knee-socks<ref>In japan, there exists a high level seductive technique called the naked apron, which is basically wearing nothing but a simple apron. Naked knee-socks is the knee-socks variant of that, in which one doesn't wear anything but knee-socks.</ref> in slang, was in a certain way even more lascivious than being naked.

"Est, that's a crime."

"Is Est a crime?"

Est tilted her head to the side in wonder.

"...Yes, Est is a naughty criminal."

Kamito was in chaos and had blurted out something he didn't really understand.

"That's disappointing. I thought that Kamito would be delighted with this sort of appearance."

"What kind of eyes are you looking at your contractor with..."

Kamito deeply sighed with a deadpan look.

"And, what do you mean that Est also made chocolate?"

He could not see anything like chocolate in Est's hands.

Instead, she was holding a small tube made of cloth.

It was something that was often used for decorating things like cakes.

"Okay, over here."

Est nodded expressionlessly—

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Nyururun*

"Wh—"

What, she began drawing words with chocolate on her smooth white skin!


"..."

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Nyuru nyurun.* *Nyururururun.*

There was liquid chocolate freely surging out.

Drawn on her pure white virgin-snow-like soft skin were words written in the sacred language of the spirits.

When deciphered— they read "'''Eat me'''".

"E-Est!?"

The moment Kamito understood the meaning of the spirit language, his face turned bright red.

"Fuaa, y-you, what are you teaching your contracted spirit, pe-pervert !"

"Err... Kamito-kun, y-you like this sort of thing?"

Claire's face turned bright red, and she flew into a rage, and Fianna had a-little-drawn-back look on her face.

"Wait, you're misunderstanding! Hey, Est—"

"Kamito, please lick my chocolate."

The naked Est was walking with a chocolate smeared appearance.

That appearance of hers, which he peeked at through the gaps of his fingers covering his eyes, was so alluring that his heart spontaneously jumped up.

"...If you don't hurry, it'll melt."

"No, hey, wait—"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Dotadotadotadotaa!*

Suddenly, he heard intense footsteps from the corridor.


<nowiki>*</nowiki>Bam.* The room's door was cleanly opened with force—

"Kazehaya Kamito, what on earth are you doing... Wh!?"

The one, who showed up, was—

A female knight, wearing azure light armor over her body.

She had frigid reddish brown pupils. Her rose-colored lips were tightly closed.

Her stunning blue hair was tied up in a ponytail with a ribbon.

She was the captain of the Sylphid Knights that managed the academy's public morals.

Ellis Fahrengart.

The moment she came bursting into the room, she opened her reddish brown eyes widely.

"Y-You... H-H-How shameless..."

"Wa-Wait, Ellis, you're mistaken, there's no way this is my hobby—"

"How unsightly, are you thinking that such an excuse would work?!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogogo...!*

Thunderous fierce gales blew violently around Ellis, whose eyebrows were raised.

She was a top-class wind spirit user even within the academy.

"I received a report that your room was noisy and came to see, but... I never thought that you were making your contracted spirit do such a perverted thing!"

The whirling gales mowed down the room's furniture and soon transformed into the form of a giant demon bird.


It was the high ranking demon wind spirit— «Simorgh» that served the Fahrengart family.

"Des-Despite that I had gotten a better opinion of you!"

It was certain that tears were slightly oozing around Kamito's eyes.

"E-Ellis, you're mis—"

"It's no use, be turned into paella<ref>Paella is a Valencia dish consisting of rice with the addition of meat, vegetables or seafood.</ref> right here and now!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Kouu!*

She aimed and released a lump of fierce gale winds at Kamito.

Kamito's body was blown off in a straight line, and it smashed into the room's window and danced in midair.

===Part 2===

Areishia Spirit Academy.

It was a development school that trained noble girls, who were gathered from all over the empire, into fully fledged elementalists.

The school building was like a fortress, furnished with solid ramparts. This academy, which included the continent's largest «Spirit Forest» and Mine Town within its vast territory, was just like a small independent country.

"...Sigh, he doesn't change, that boy."

As she looked down at the boy's appearance of fluttering in midair from the second floor of the dormitory—

The academy director, Greyworth Ciel Mais, made a small sigh.


Her ash-blonde hair was gently waving. Her grey pupils extolled sharp discernment.

She definitely could only be seen as a bewitchingly beautiful lady from her outward appearance, but she was once the head knight of the {{Furigana|twelve-knight-commanders|Numbers|margin=12}} that were boasted as the empire's strongest.

During the Ranbal war, she was the legendary elementalist, the Dusk Witch that both friends and foes feared.

"Even though there's only a few weeks till the opening of the Blade Dance, how carefree."

They seemed to have added the former second princess, Fianna, into their team and were gradually raising their ranking, but— they still had not gathered five teammates.

"Nevertheless—"

The figure of a person appeared from Greyworth's shadow.

"Calamity Queen's sister with former second princess who lost her Queen qualification. Even within my superior problem child gathering class, they are a very peculiar group."

It was a woman with black hair and a white robe put over her suit.

Spirit Contractor—Freya Grandol. Raven Class' teacher-in-charge.

"Academy director, you seem to be pretty attached to him."

"That's right, after all, he's the one and only male elementalist in the continent."

Freya turned a strict gaze towards Greyworth, who shrugged her shoulders to dodge the question.

"Kazehaya Kamito... Who on earth is he?"

"Oh, did you also fall in love with that boy?"

"Sorry, but I do not have an interest in younger ones."


Freya shook her head, and Greyworth smiled, seemingly happy.

"Hmm... So, what information do you have for me?"

"We caught hold of information that the traders of {{Furigana|Corpse Federation|Murders|margin=12}} sneaked into Academy Town. They're probably trying to sell curse-binding seals to students just before the Blade Dance."

"What an annoying bunch. Order Ellis' Sylphid Knights to reinforce the security."

"Yes, there's another thing—"

"Uh?"

"Velsaria Eva has returned to the academy."

Greyworth slightly raised up her eyebrows.

"Haa, she completed the subjugation quest of a devil-class spirit in just a few weeks. As expected."

"Yea, she is without a doubt the '''academy's strongest elementalist''' at this point in time— So far, she had been doing the quests completely without assembling a team, but she would also have to recruit members to participate in the Blade Dance. She seems to be someone who would be at the top amongst the three participating."

"Well, I wonder about that?"

Greyworth smiled, seemingly amused, as she glanced towards the outside of the window.

Kamito was over there, being chased by Ellis' demon wind spirit and was frantically running from place to place.

<noinclude>

==References and Translation Notes==
<references/>

{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Prologue|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter2}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter1

2014-07-16T17:24:41Z

07n156: /* Chapter 1: The Ojou-sama Who Woke Up Early */

==Chapter 1: The Ojou-sama Who Woke Up Early==

===Part 1===
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Chirp chirp...*

There was the chirping of singing birds. The fresh sunshine was shining in diagonally from the window.

"...U...n"

It was 6 o'clock, early in the morning. Kamito rubbed his sleepy eyes even though he had woken up.

He combed out his unkempt hair by hand, and then first he checked under the sheets as usual.

"Alright, today's safe."

Kamito took a breath of relief.

Recently, there were times when a fully naked sword spirit was sleeping with him, so he couldn't let his guard down.

Feeling relieved, he nimbly folded the sheets and got up.

"...I have to make breakfast."

The breakfast of Claire and the others, who were roommates, was expected to be made by Kamito every morning.

Well to begin with, he didn't hate cooking, and he was a freeloader, so he had no complaints.

"Toast with salad with bacon and eggs... Shall I specially throw in some boiled eggs today?"

After all, there was a team battle that they absolutely could not lose this morning. He wanted his two teammates and his partner sword spirit to eat something good whenever possible to restore their energy.


It has been one week since the quest at that Mine Town.

A new member was added into Team Scarlet.

She was the former second princess of the Ordesia Empire, as well as the «Divine Ritual Institute's» second ranking princess maiden.

Fianna Ray Ordesia.

Having been once called the Lost Queen, she was trying to ensnare Kamito and participate in the Blade Dance to regain the power of her spirit contract.

Eventually, she was able to regain the power of her spirit contract by her own strength, however, she continued to remain in the academy for some reason despite attaining her goal, and ended up joining Team Scarlet.

Claire had seemed displeased, but there were already only several weeks left till the Blade Dance, so she reluctantly ushered her into the team.

It was different from the individual matches three years ago, this time's Blade Dance was a team battle. Unless they gathered five teammates, they could not even get the qualifications to participate. Besides, the true strength of Fianna, who regained the power of her spirit contract, was something that even Claire could not help but recognize.

She, who was from the Queen training organization—«Divine Ritual Institute», had definitely not received any battle training, but she could provide various combat support by dancing ritual Kagura.

Also, her contracted spirit «Georgios» was a knight spirit of «defense» specialty, something Kamito and the others were weak at. Because she joined, the resulting balance in the team greatly increased in its sense of stability.

There was also the achievement of the S rank quest at Mine Town. And then, there were the successive victories of the inter-school battles.


Team Scarlet's inter-school ranking was now increasing with great momentum.

If they kept up this pace, it would no longer be just be a dream to overtake Ellis' Team, which was currently in third place.

"All that's left is for those two to be on a little better terms with each other."

He shrugged his shoulders in disappointment as he faced the kitchen—

"Hn?"

The clattering sound of tableware came from the kitchen.

And then, there was a rich sweet smell that came wafting over. It had a slightly burnt, bitter scent.

(Is this smell... by any chance, chocolate?)

Kamito frowned, and softly approached with stealthy steps.

Through the gap of the door, he carefully peered into the kitchen—

"Hey, what are you putting in!?"

"Fufuu, something that is made of mashed-up baked newt♪"

He heard Claire and Fianna's voices.

"Wh-What are you thinking?! Don't put in such a disgusting thing!"

"Ahh, I was usually using it at the Divine Ritual Institute. It seemed to have the same effect as an aphrodisiac."

"Ap-Aphrodisiac!?"

"Yes, if Kamito-kun ate this, even his true nature as the demon king of the night would appear, and he may come attacking in the middle of the night."


"At-Attack... wh-what on earth would he do?"

"Well... that is already something indecent to the extent that he could be said to have been bewitched."

"Be-Bewitched... y-you're lying, even for him, such a thing—"

"Furthermore, the two of us together."

"The two of us together!?"

"It isn't surprising for Kamito-kun to do at least that."

"Wh-Wh-What a guy... Un-Unforgivable, that pervert, cinders, cinders!"

As her voice trembled, there was the *pashin* *pashin* sound of something being hit by a whip.

(Those two...)

Kamito's temple twitched.

...Somehow, he felt that they were defaming his honor with staggering vigor.

(...Speaking of that, when did I become the demon king of the night?)

Even while Kamito was bearing this outrageous treatment, the two ojou-sama had continued their conversation.

"Fufuu, however, isn't it nice to also have Kamito-kun in an overbearing demon king mode once in a while?"

"Th-That's... Err, a-at any rate, that's a no. Putting in such a dubious thing. What are you going to do if his stomach is destroyed before the battle?"

"Oh, Claire you're no different. Do you plan on making him eat those burnt, black cinders?"

"Sh-Shut up..."


(...Cinders?)

Kamito peered into the kitchen, and a lump of something black had turned into a pile on top of the plate.

Coals for stove-use...they didn't seem like them.

"Really, the nickname of hellcat girl is not for show. After all, you turned everything into cinders."

"...I don't want to be told that by the fake breast princess."

"Oh, even without my pads mine are much bigger than yours, Claire, you know?"

"I-I want to try burning every surplus fat of those, princess."

Sparks scattered between the two of them. ...How energetic early in the morning.

It somehow had become a critical situation, so—

"Hey, what are the two of you doing?"

Kamito, finally, made an appearance in the kitchen.

"Fua, Kamito!?" "Kamito-kun!?"

The two of them turned around in a shocked manner, and hid something behind them in a fluster.

"Y-You've already awoken!?"

"Yeah, because we've a battle today. I planned on making breakfast earlier than usual—"

Then, Kamito unintentionally stopped his words.

His eyes were being rooted at Claire's appearance, whom he was facing.

"Y-You, that appearance..."


"Wh-What...? If it doesn't match me, then, how about saying that honestly?"

Claire's cheeks reddened, as she quickly turned away.

Her red twin-tail hair slightly swayed.

Her clear ruby pupils. Her lovely flower-bud-like cherry blossom lips on her smooth white skin.

Her breasts' bulge was definitely gently-sloping, but that proportion was more than charming.

If it was just her physical appearance, she was a top-class beautiful girl among all the beautiful girls within Areishia Spirit Academy.

Furthermore, Claire was currently not in her usual uniform, which he had become used to seeing.

She was very lovely, putting on an apron attached with frills.

Towards this vexing thing... He really ended up feeling dizzy for a moment.

Her small cap suited her small build, this was also unfairly lovely.

Kamito raised up both his hands like he gave up.

"No, It suits you very well. ...You're cute."

"...Wh-Wha-What are you saying, idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gaaa...!*

Claire's face increasingly turned red, and she was hitting Kamito's chest.

"Eh, Kamito-kun... What about me?"

Fianna slightly held her index finger to her mouth, and said, seemingly displeased.
[[Image:STnBD V03 023.jpg|thumb]]


She was wearing an apron, that was a matching set with Claire's, over her black dress-style uniform.

Her glamorous hair reached out to her waist. Her cleavage was deep, which he looked down into the chest area of her uniform.

Her dim colored pupils, which were fringed with lovely eyelashes, were extolling a mysterious light somewhere.

The former princess, Fianna, was also an evenly balanced beautiful girl as Claire.

"...Do I have to say it?"

"It's something girls would be happy when you earnestly put it into words."

Fianna giggled mischievously.

Kamito sighed in resignation.

"You're pretty, Fianna... Eh, what are you making me say in the morning?!"

"Fufu, Kamito-kun, you're surprisingly ''that'', aren't you?"

"Aren't you the one who made me say it..."

With a deadpan look, Kamito glared at Fianna, who was giggling mischievously—

"By the way, what are you two doing? What are you hiding behind you?"

"Th-That's..."

Claire's and Fianna's faces swiftly turned red, and they bashfully entwined their fingers.

"Uh?"

Kamito frowned and pressed on—

"...Cho-Chocolate!"



Claire shouted like she turned defiant.

"Chocolate? Did you wake up to make candy or something?"

"W-Well, something like that. You know, isn't it «Valentia Holy Festival» very soon. Therefore, err, we're practicing... D-Don't misunderstand, I'll let you at least sample it, but that's all!"

—Valentia Holy Festival.

It was a popular ritual to commemorate the Queen Valentia Sadelca, who served the fire Elemental Lord several hundred years ago.

It was originally a ritual to dedicate baked sweets, which were baked by flames of purification, to spirits but— it had become "the day to give chocolate to the opposite sex, who one had a liking for" among the common masses.

"Hn? The opposite sex... But, there should only be girls in this academy—"

Kamito pointed out—

"Th-That's obvious, this is a friendship chocolate to be given to friends! Your role is just to sample it. Geez, what are you expecting? It's like you're a gluttonous pig!"

Claire talked on and on with her face bright red.

"...How mean. Wait a minute, don't you have no friends at all?"

"I-I do, things like friends! For example, Scarlet, and ...errr, the stray cat staying in the academy's garden, Kitty."


"...I'm sorry, I was in the wrong."

...It seemed like he ended up stepping on a land mine.

"A-Anyway, hey, since I made them with great trouble, be grateful and eat them!"

Claire said in anger, and thrust that cinder lump before Kamito.

"Uh... Do I have to eat... this?"

"Wh-What... I woke up early to make it, you know!"

"No, I'm certainly thankful for that, but ..."

"Kamito-kun, forget those cinders, you can eat my chocolate."

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Fuyon.*

"Fianna!?"

Suddenly, the former princess, who expressed an impish smile, was pressing her soft breasts against him.

Even without things like pads, her breasts were big enough, and a heart shaped chocolate was squeezed into her cleavage.

It was different from Claire's cinders, this one had an edible appearance, but he couldn't let himself be fooled. This impish princess had, in a certain sense, the cooking ability of a greater killing-level than Claire.

(...Just now, they said something about an aphrodisiac.)

"Kamito, quickly eat my chocolate!"

"Hey, don't hinder my Kamito-kun madly in love plan!"


As they jostled together, the two of them held out their chocolates.

"No, err, having such sweet things in the morning is..."

Kamito retreated, overwhelmed.

At that moment.

Suddenly, the living room's door opened—
[[File:STnBD V03 002-003.jpg|thumbnail]]
"Kamito, I also tried making chocolate."
[[File:STnBD V03 002-003.jpg|thumbnail]]
"E-Est!?"

The one who appeared was a lovely beautiful girl like a snow fairy.

Her brilliantly shining silver hair. Her tight milk-like white smooth skin.

And then, her clear violet pupils that confined a faint brilliance.

She was the sword spirit Est.

She was a sealed spirit, who made a contract with Kamito several weeks ago, and possessed exceedingly mighty power.

"..."

Kamito widened his eyes, and became stiff like he was frozen.

Claire and Fianna were also at a loss for words.

She was naked. Stark naked.

Est, who was in an appearance almost akin to that of a new-born, was simply standing there.

(Almost) referred to the fact that she was wearing black knee socks on her legs, but—


That appearance, which was called naked knee-socks<ref>In japan, there exists a high level seductive technique called the naked apron, which is basically wearing nothing but a simple apron. Naked knee-socks is the knee-socks variant of that, in which one doesn't wear anything but knee-socks.</ref> in slang, was in a certain way even more lascivious than being naked.

"Est, that's a crime."

"Is Est a crime?"

Est tilted her head to the side in wonder.

"...Yes, Est is a naughty criminal."

Kamito was in chaos and had blurted out something he didn't really understand.

"That's disappointing. I thought that Kamito would be delighted with this sort of appearance."

"What kind of eyes are you looking at your contractor with..."

Kamito deeply sighed with a deadpan look.

"And, what do you mean that Est also made chocolate?"

He could not see anything like chocolate in Est's hands.

Instead, she was holding a small tube made of cloth.

It was something that was often used for decorating things like cakes.

"Okay, over here."

Est nodded expressionlessly—

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Nyururun*

"Wh—"

What, she began drawing words with chocolate on her smooth white skin!


"..."

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Nyuru nyurun.* *Nyururururun.*

There was liquid chocolate freely surging out.

Drawn on her pure white virgin-snow-like soft skin were words written in the sacred language of the spirits.

When deciphered— they read "'''Eat me'''".

"E-Est!?"

The moment Kamito understood the meaning of the spirit language, his face turned bright red.

"Fuaa, y-you, what are you teaching your contracted spirit, pe-pervert !"

"Err... Kamito-kun, y-you like this sort of thing?"

Claire's face turned bright red, and she flew into a rage, and Fianna had a-little-drawn-back look on her face.

"Wait, you're misunderstanding! Hey, Est—"

"Kamito, please lick my chocolate."

The naked Est was walking with a chocolate smeared appearance.

That appearance of hers, which he peeked at through the gaps of his fingers covering his eyes, was so alluring that his heart spontaneously jumped up.

"...If you don't hurry, it'll melt."

"No, hey, wait—"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Dotadotadotadotaa!*

Suddenly, he heard intense footsteps from the corridor.


<nowiki>*</nowiki>Bam.* The room's door was cleanly opened with force—

"Kazehaya Kamito, what on earth are you doing... Wh!?"

The one, who showed up, was—

A female knight, wearing azure light armor over her body.

She had frigid reddish brown pupils. Her rose-colored lips were tightly closed.

Her stunning blue hair was tied up in a ponytail with a ribbon.

She was the captain of the Sylphid Knights that managed the academy's public morals.

Ellis Fahrengart.

The moment she came bursting into the room, she opened her reddish brown eyes widely.

"Y-You... H-H-How shameless..."

"Wa-Wait, Ellis, you're mistaken, there's no way this is my hobby—"

"How unsightly, are you thinking that such an excuse would work?!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogogo...!*

Thunderous fierce gales blew violently around Ellis, whose eyebrows were raised.

She was a top-class wind spirit user even within the academy.

"I received a report that your room was noisy and came to see, but... I never thought that you were making your contracted spirit do such a perverted thing!"

The whirling gales mowed down the room's furniture and soon transformed into the form of a giant demon bird.


It was the high ranking demon wind spirit— «Simorgh» that served the Fahrengart family.

"Des-Despite that I had gotten a better opinion of you!"

It was certain that tears were slightly oozing around Kamito's eyes.

"E-Ellis, you're mis—"

"It's no use, be turned into paella<ref>Paella is a Valencia dish consisting of rice with the addition of meat, vegetables or seafood.</ref> right here and now!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Kouu!*

She aimed and released a lump of fierce gale winds at Kamito.

Kamito's body was blown off in a straight line, and it smashed into the room's window and danced in midair.

===Part 2===

Areishia Spirit Academy.

It was a development school that trained noble girls, who were gathered from all over the empire, into fully fledged elementalists.

The school building was like a fortress, furnished with solid ramparts. This academy, which included the continent's largest «Spirit Forest» and Mine Town within its vast territory, was just like a small independent country.

"...Sigh, he doesn't change, that boy."

As she looked down at the boy's appearance of fluttering in midair from the second floor of the dormitory—

The academy director, Greyworth Ciel Mais, made a small sigh.


Her ash-blonde hair was gently waving. Her grey pupils extolled sharp discernment.

She definitely could only be seen as a bewitchingly beautiful lady from her outward appearance, but she was once the head knight of the {{Furigana|twelve-knight-commanders|Numbers|margin=12}} that were boasted as the empire's strongest.

During the Ranbal war, she was the legendary elementalist, the Dusk Witch that both friends and foes feared.

"Even though there's only a few weeks till the opening of the Blade Dance, how carefree."

They seemed to have added the former second princess, Fianna, into their team and were gradually raising their ranking, but— they still had not gathered five teammates.

"Nevertheless—"

The figure of a person appeared from Greyworth's shadow.

"Calamity Queen's sister with former second princess who lost her Queen qualification. Even within my superior problem child gathering class, they are a very peculiar group."

It was a woman with black hair and a white robe put over her suit.

Spirit Contractor—Freya Grandol. Raven Class' teacher-in-charge.

"Academy director, you seem to be pretty attached to him."

"That's right, after all, he's the one and only male elementalist in the continent."

Freya turned a strict gaze towards Greyworth, who shrugged her shoulders to dodge the question.

"Kazehaya Kamito... Who on earth is he?"

"Oh, did you also fall in love with that boy?"

"Sorry, but I do not have an interest in younger ones."


Freya shook her head, and Greyworth smiled, seemingly happy.

"Hmm... So, what information do you have for me?"

"We caught hold of information that the traders of {{Furigana|Corpse Federation|Murders|margin=12}} sneaked into Academy Town. They're probably trying to sell curse-binding seals to students just before the Blade Dance."

"What an annoying bunch. Order Ellis' Sylphid Knights to reinforce the security."

"Yes, there's another thing—"

"Uh?"

"Velsaria Eva has returned to the academy."

Greyworth slightly raised up her eyebrows.

"Haa, she completed the subjugation quest of a devil-class spirit in just a few weeks. As expected."

"Yea, she is without a doubt the '''academy's strongest elementalist''' at this point in time— So far, she had been doing the quests completely without assembling a team, but she would also have to recruit members to participate in the Blade Dance. She seems to be someone who would be at the top amongst the three participating."

"Well, I wonder about that?"

Greyworth smiled, seemingly amused, as she glanced towards the outside of the window.

Kamito was over there, being chased by Ellis' demon wind spirit and was frantically running from place to place.

<noinclude>

==References and Translation Notes==
<references/>

{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Prologue|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter2}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter1

2014-07-16T17:24:19Z

07n156: /* Chapter 1: The Ojou-sama Who Woke Up Early */

==Chapter 1: The Ojou-sama Who Woke Up Early==

===Part 1===
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Chirp chirp...*

There was the chirping of singing birds. The fresh sunshine was shining in diagonally from the window.

"...U...n"

It was 6 o'clock, early in the morning. Kamito rubbed his sleepy eyes even though he had woken up.

He combed out his unkempt hair by hand, and then first he checked under the sheets as usual.

"Alright, today's safe."

Kamito took a breath of relief.

Recently, there were times when a fully naked sword spirit was sleeping with him, so he couldn't let his guard down.

Feeling relieved, he nimbly folded the sheets and got up.

"...I have to make breakfast."

The breakfast of Claire and the others, who were roommates, was expected to be made by Kamito every morning.

Well to begin with, he didn't hate cooking, and he was a freeloader, so he had no complaints.

"Toast with salad with bacon and eggs... Shall I specially throw in some boiled eggs today?"

After all, there was a team battle that they absolutely could not lose this morning. He wanted his two teammates and his partner sword spirit to eat something good whenever possible to restore their energy.


It has been one week since the quest at that Mine Town.

A new member was added into Team Scarlet.

She was the former second princess of the Ordesia Empire, as well as the «Divine Ritual Institute's» second ranking princess maiden.

Fianna Ray Ordesia.

Having been once called the Lost Queen, she was trying to ensnare Kamito and participate in the Blade Dance to regain the power of her spirit contract.

Eventually, she was able to regain the power of her spirit contract by her own strength, however, she continued to remain in the academy for some reason despite attaining her goal, and ended up joining Team Scarlet.

Claire had seemed displeased, but there were already only several weeks left till the Blade Dance, so she reluctantly ushered her into the team.

It was different from the individual matches three years ago, this time's Blade Dance was a team battle. Unless they gathered five teammates, they could not even get the qualifications to participate. Besides, the true strength of Fianna, who regained the power of her spirit contract, was something that even Claire could not help but recognize.

She, who was from the Queen training organization—«Divine Ritual Institute», had definitely not received any battle training, but she could provide various combat support by dancing ritual Kagura.

Also, her contracted spirit «Georgios» was a knight spirit of «defense» specialty, something Kamito and the others were weak at. Because she joined, the resulting balance in the team greatly increased in its sense of stability.

There was also the achievement of the S rank quest at Mine Town. And then, there were the successive victories of the inter-school battles.


Team Scarlet's inter-school ranking was now increasing with great momentum.

If they kept up this pace, it would no longer be just be a dream to overtake Ellis' Team, which was currently in third place.

"All that's left is for those two to be on a little better terms with each other."

He shrugged his shoulders in disappointment as he faced the kitchen—

"Hn?"

The clattering sound of tableware came from the kitchen.

And then, there was a rich sweet smell that came wafting over. It had a slightly burnt, bitter scent.

(Is this smell... by any chance, chocolate?)

Kamito frowned, and softly approached with stealthy steps.

Through the gap of the door, he carefully peered into the kitchen—

"Hey, what are you putting in!?"

"Fufuu, something that is made of mashed-up baked newt♪"

He heard Claire and Fianna's voices.

"Wh-What are you thinking?! Don't put in such a disgusting thing!"

"Ahh, I was usually using it at the Divine Ritual Institute. It seemed to have the same effect as an aphrodisiac."

"Ap-Aphrodisiac!?"

"Yes, if Kamito-kun ate this, even his true nature as the demon king of the night would appear, and he may come attacking in the middle of the night."


"At-Attack... wh-what on earth would he do?"

"Well... that is already something indecent to the extent that he could be said to have been bewitched."

"Be-Bewitched... y-you're lying, even for him, such a thing—"

"Furthermore, the two of us together."

"The two of us together!?"

"It isn't surprising for Kamito-kun to do at least that."

"Wh-Wh-What a guy... Un-Unforgivable, that pervert, cinders, cinders!"

As her voice trembled, there was the *pashin* *pashin* sound of something being hit by a whip.

(Those two...)

Kamito's temple twitched.

...Somehow, he felt that they were defaming his honor with staggering vigor.

(...Speaking of that, when did I become the demon king of the night?)

Even while Kamito was bearing this outrageous treatment, the two ojou-sama had continued their conversation.

"Fufuu, however, isn't it nice to also have Kamito-kun in an overbearing demon king mode once in a while?"

"Th-That's... Err, a-at any rate, that's a no. Putting in such a dubious thing. What are you going to do if his stomach is destroyed before the battle?"

"Oh, Claire you're no different. Do you plan on making him eat those burnt, black cinders?"

"Sh-Shut up..."


(...Cinders?)

Kamito peered into the kitchen, and a lump of something black had turned into a pile on top of the plate.

Coals for stove-use...they didn't seem like them.

"Really, the nickname of hellcat girl is not for show. After all, you turned everything into cinders."

"...I don't want to be told that by the fake breast princess."

"Oh, even without my pads mine are much bigger than yours, Claire, you know?"

"I-I want to try burning every surplus fat of those, princess."

Sparks scattered between the two of them. ...How energetic early in the morning.

It somehow had become a critical situation, so—

"Hey, what are the two of you doing?"

Kamito, finally, made an appearance in the kitchen.

"Fua, Kamito!?" "Kamito-kun!?"

The two of them turned around in a shocked manner, and hid something behind them in a fluster.

"Y-You've already awoken!?"

"Yeah, because we've a battle today. I planned on making breakfast earlier than usual—"

Then, Kamito unintentionally stopped his words.

His eyes were being rooted at Claire's appearance, whom he was facing.

"Y-You, that appearance..."


"Wh-What...? If it doesn't match me, then, how about saying that honestly?"

Claire's cheeks reddened, as she quickly turned away.

Her red twin-tail hair slightly swayed.

Her clear ruby pupils. Her lovely flower-bud-like cherry blossom lips on her smooth white skin.

Her breasts' bulge was definitely gently-sloping, but that proportion was more than charming.

If it was just her physical appearance, she was a top-class beautiful girl among all the beautiful girls within Areishia Spirit Academy.

Furthermore, Claire was currently not in her usual uniform, which he had become used to seeing.

She was very lovely, putting on an apron attached with frills.

Towards this vexing thing... He really ended up feeling dizzy for a moment.

Her small cap suited her small build, this was also unfairly lovely.

Kamito raised up both his hands like he gave up.

"No, It suits you very well. ...You're cute."

"...Wh-Wha-What are you saying, idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gaaa...!*

Claire's face increasingly turned red, and she was hitting Kamito's chest.

"Eh, Kamito-kun... What about me?"

Fianna slightly held her index finger to her mouth, and said, seemingly displeased.
[[Image:STnBD V03 023.jpg|thumb]]


She was wearing an apron, that was a matching set with Claire's, over her black dress-style uniform.

Her glamorous hair reached out to her waist. Her cleavage was deep, which he looked down into the chest area of her uniform.

Her dim colored pupils, which were fringed with lovely eyelashes, were extolling a mysterious light somewhere.

The former princess, Fianna, was also an evenly balanced beautiful girl as Claire.

"...Do I have to say it?"

"It's something girls would be happy when you earnestly put it into words."

Fianna giggled mischievously.

Kamito sighed in resignation.

"You're pretty, Fianna... Eh, what are you making me say in the morning?!"

"Fufu, Kamito-kun, you're surprisingly ''that'', aren't you?"

"Aren't you the one who made me say it..."

With a deadpan look, Kamito glared at Fianna, who was giggling mischievously—

"By the way, what are you two doing? What are you hiding behind you?"

"Th-That's..."

Claire's and Fianna's faces swiftly turned red, and they bashfully entwined their fingers.

"Uh?"

Kamito frowned and pressed on—

"...Cho-Chocolate!"



Claire shouted like she turned defiant.

"Chocolate? Did you wake up to make candy or something?"

"W-Well, something like that. You know, isn't it «Valentia Holy Festival» very soon. Therefore, err, we're practicing... D-Don't misunderstand, I'll let you at least sample it, but that's all!"

—Valentia Holy Festival.

It was a popular ritual to commemorate the Queen Valentia Sadelca, who served the fire Elemental Lord several hundred years ago.

It was originally a ritual to dedicate baked sweets, which were baked by flames of purification, to spirits but— it had become "the day to give chocolate to the opposite sex, who one had a liking for" among the common masses.

"Hn? The opposite sex... But, there should only be girls in this academy—"

Kamito pointed out—

"Th-That's obvious, this is a friendship chocolate to be given to friends! Your role is just to sample it. Geez, what are you expecting? It's like you're a gluttonous pig!"

Claire talked on and on with her face bright red.

"...How mean. Wait a minute, don't you have no friends at all?"

"I-I do, things like friends! For example, Scarlet, and ...errr, the stray cat staying in the academy's garden, Kitty."


"...I'm sorry, I was in the wrong."

...It seemed like he ended up stepping on a land mine.

"A-Anyway, hey, since I made them with great trouble, be grateful and eat them!"

Claire said in anger, and thrust that cinder lump before Kamito.

"Uh... Do I have to eat... this?"

"Wh-What... I woke up early to make it, you know!"

"No, I'm certainly thankful for that, but ..."

"Kamito-kun, forget those cinders, you can eat my chocolate."

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Fuyon.*

"Fianna!?"

Suddenly, the former princess, who expressed an impish smile, was pressing her soft breasts against him.

Even without things like pads, her breasts were big enough, and a heart shaped chocolate was squeezed into her cleavage.

It was different from Claire's cinders, this one had an edible appearance, but he couldn't let himself be fooled. This impish princess had, in a certain sense, the cooking ability of a greater killing-level than Claire.

(...Just now, they said something about an aphrodisiac.)

"Kamito, quickly eat my chocolate!"

"Hey, don't hinder my Kamito-kun madly in love plan!"


As they jostled together, the two of them held out their chocolates.

"No, err, having such sweet things in the morning is..."

Kamito retreated, overwhelmed.

At that moment.

Suddenly, the living room's door opened—
[[File:STnBD V03 002-003.jpg|thumbnail]]
"Kamito, I also tried making chocolate."

"E-Est!?"

The one who appeared was a lovely beautiful girl like a snow fairy.

Her brilliantly shining silver hair. Her tight milk-like white smooth skin.

And then, her clear violet pupils that confined a faint brilliance.

She was the sword spirit Est.

She was a sealed spirit, who made a contract with Kamito several weeks ago, and possessed exceedingly mighty power.

"..."

Kamito widened his eyes, and became stiff like he was frozen.

Claire and Fianna were also at a loss for words.

She was naked. Stark naked.

Est, who was in an appearance almost akin to that of a new-born, was simply standing there.

(Almost) referred to the fact that she was wearing black knee socks on her legs, but—


That appearance, which was called naked knee-socks<ref>In japan, there exists a high level seductive technique called the naked apron, which is basically wearing nothing but a simple apron. Naked knee-socks is the knee-socks variant of that, in which one doesn't wear anything but knee-socks.</ref> in slang, was in a certain way even more lascivious than being naked.

"Est, that's a crime."

"Is Est a crime?"

Est tilted her head to the side in wonder.

"...Yes, Est is a naughty criminal."

Kamito was in chaos and had blurted out something he didn't really understand.

"That's disappointing. I thought that Kamito would be delighted with this sort of appearance."

"What kind of eyes are you looking at your contractor with..."

Kamito deeply sighed with a deadpan look.

"And, what do you mean that Est also made chocolate?"

He could not see anything like chocolate in Est's hands.

Instead, she was holding a small tube made of cloth.

It was something that was often used for decorating things like cakes.

"Okay, over here."

Est nodded expressionlessly—

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Nyururun*

"Wh—"

What, she began drawing words with chocolate on her smooth white skin!


"..."

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Nyuru nyurun.* *Nyururururun.*

There was liquid chocolate freely surging out.

Drawn on her pure white virgin-snow-like soft skin were words written in the sacred language of the spirits.

When deciphered— they read "'''Eat me'''".

"E-Est!?"

The moment Kamito understood the meaning of the spirit language, his face turned bright red.

"Fuaa, y-you, what are you teaching your contracted spirit, pe-pervert !"

"Err... Kamito-kun, y-you like this sort of thing?"

Claire's face turned bright red, and she flew into a rage, and Fianna had a-little-drawn-back look on her face.

"Wait, you're misunderstanding! Hey, Est—"

"Kamito, please lick my chocolate."

The naked Est was walking with a chocolate smeared appearance.

That appearance of hers, which he peeked at through the gaps of his fingers covering his eyes, was so alluring that his heart spontaneously jumped up.

"...If you don't hurry, it'll melt."

"No, hey, wait—"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Dotadotadotadotaa!*

Suddenly, he heard intense footsteps from the corridor.


<nowiki>*</nowiki>Bam.* The room's door was cleanly opened with force—

"Kazehaya Kamito, what on earth are you doing... Wh!?"

The one, who showed up, was—

A female knight, wearing azure light armor over her body.

She had frigid reddish brown pupils. Her rose-colored lips were tightly closed.

Her stunning blue hair was tied up in a ponytail with a ribbon.

She was the captain of the Sylphid Knights that managed the academy's public morals.

Ellis Fahrengart.

The moment she came bursting into the room, she opened her reddish brown eyes widely.

"Y-You... H-H-How shameless..."

"Wa-Wait, Ellis, you're mistaken, there's no way this is my hobby—"

"How unsightly, are you thinking that such an excuse would work?!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogogo...!*

Thunderous fierce gales blew violently around Ellis, whose eyebrows were raised.

She was a top-class wind spirit user even within the academy.

"I received a report that your room was noisy and came to see, but... I never thought that you were making your contracted spirit do such a perverted thing!"

The whirling gales mowed down the room's furniture and soon transformed into the form of a giant demon bird.


It was the high ranking demon wind spirit— «Simorgh» that served the Fahrengart family.

"Des-Despite that I had gotten a better opinion of you!"

It was certain that tears were slightly oozing around Kamito's eyes.

"E-Ellis, you're mis—"

"It's no use, be turned into paella<ref>Paella is a Valencia dish consisting of rice with the addition of meat, vegetables or seafood.</ref> right here and now!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Kouu!*

She aimed and released a lump of fierce gale winds at Kamito.

Kamito's body was blown off in a straight line, and it smashed into the room's window and danced in midair.

===Part 2===

Areishia Spirit Academy.

It was a development school that trained noble girls, who were gathered from all over the empire, into fully fledged elementalists.

The school building was like a fortress, furnished with solid ramparts. This academy, which included the continent's largest «Spirit Forest» and Mine Town within its vast territory, was just like a small independent country.

"...Sigh, he doesn't change, that boy."

As she looked down at the boy's appearance of fluttering in midair from the second floor of the dormitory—

The academy director, Greyworth Ciel Mais, made a small sigh.


Her ash-blonde hair was gently waving. Her grey pupils extolled sharp discernment.

She definitely could only be seen as a bewitchingly beautiful lady from her outward appearance, but she was once the head knight of the {{Furigana|twelve-knight-commanders|Numbers|margin=12}} that were boasted as the empire's strongest.

During the Ranbal war, she was the legendary elementalist, the Dusk Witch that both friends and foes feared.

"Even though there's only a few weeks till the opening of the Blade Dance, how carefree."

They seemed to have added the former second princess, Fianna, into their team and were gradually raising their ranking, but— they still had not gathered five teammates.

"Nevertheless—"

The figure of a person appeared from Greyworth's shadow.

"Calamity Queen's sister with former second princess who lost her Queen qualification. Even within my superior problem child gathering class, they are a very peculiar group."

It was a woman with black hair and a white robe put over her suit.

Spirit Contractor—Freya Grandol. Raven Class' teacher-in-charge.

"Academy director, you seem to be pretty attached to him."

"That's right, after all, he's the one and only male elementalist in the continent."

Freya turned a strict gaze towards Greyworth, who shrugged her shoulders to dodge the question.

"Kazehaya Kamito... Who on earth is he?"

"Oh, did you also fall in love with that boy?"

"Sorry, but I do not have an interest in younger ones."


Freya shook her head, and Greyworth smiled, seemingly happy.

"Hmm... So, what information do you have for me?"

"We caught hold of information that the traders of {{Furigana|Corpse Federation|Murders|margin=12}} sneaked into Academy Town. They're probably trying to sell curse-binding seals to students just before the Blade Dance."

"What an annoying bunch. Order Ellis' Sylphid Knights to reinforce the security."

"Yes, there's another thing—"

"Uh?"

"Velsaria Eva has returned to the academy."

Greyworth slightly raised up her eyebrows.

"Haa, she completed the subjugation quest of a devil-class spirit in just a few weeks. As expected."

"Yea, she is without a doubt the '''academy's strongest elementalist''' at this point in time— So far, she had been doing the quests completely without assembling a team, but she would also have to recruit members to participate in the Blade Dance. She seems to be someone who would be at the top amongst the three participating."

"Well, I wonder about that?"

Greyworth smiled, seemingly amused, as she glanced towards the outside of the window.

Kamito was over there, being chased by Ellis' demon wind spirit and was frantically running from place to place.

<noinclude>

==References and Translation Notes==
<references/>

{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Prologue|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter2}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Chapter1

2014-07-15T23:53:51Z

07n156: /* Chapter 1: Team Battle */

==Chapter 1: Team Battle==
===Part 1===

"U...h..."

Areishia Spirit Academy, Raven Class dormitory.

In a room, illuminated by the morning sun, Kazehaya Kamito woke up.

(Hn, If I remember correctly, there will be a team battle in the morning.)

Usually, he would enjoy a bit more time dozing off, however, today he could not do so.

He had enough of being late and getting lectured by the teacher, Freya.

Planning to fold the sheets and get up, he reached out both hands, only to—

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Funyuu*.

Feel them touch something soft.

(What is this? It's small, tender... a little cold, but feels good.)

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Funyuu*. *Funyuu*.

Half awake, he played with the mysterious soft thing within the palms of his hands, when-

"You finally woke up, Kamito."

"..."

A voice made him freeze.


[[Image:STnBD V02 023.jpg|thumb]]
A beautiful, nude girl was sitting on his chest.

Her silver hair glittered in the morning sun. Her tight bare skin was white like milk.

She was small, but had all the necessary curves. The girl's figure was ideal.

She looked at Kamito with her mysterious violet eyes, her face expressionless.

"What's the matter? You're not going to play with my breasts anymore?"

"... Owaaaaa!"

Kamito straightened flustered and pointed at the beautiful girl before him,

"Wh...Wh...What are you doing!? Or rather why are you nude?!"

"I'm not nude, I'm properly wearing knee socks."

Straddling Kamito's abdomen she raised her knees to show him.

Startled by that, mysteriously erotic, action, Kamito looked away flustered.

"No, that's worse! Because compared to nude, knee socks nude is even, err, ...that!"

"Do you want me to take off my knee socks? Kamito... pervert."

While staying expressionless the beautiful silver haired girl bashfully rubbed her knees.

He did not understand why she reacted like that but, somehow, for this spirit, showing her bare feet seemed more embarrassing.

Yes. This snow fairy like beautiful girl was not human.

She was the Sword Spirit Est.



'She was an extremely powerful 'Sealed Spirit' that made a spirit contract with Kamito a few days ago.

But in her current condition, she could not exhibit even around a tenth of her original strength.

Within his sub consciousness, Kamito was rejecting the spirit contract with her and as a result, she became unable to return to Astral Zero where her real form was.

"A...Anyway, move aside Est!"

"Roger, Kamito."

Although Est seemed a little dissatisfied, she obediently moved.

She was squirming on the sheet. ...The sensation of her soft thighs was bad for his heart.

While scratching his bed hair in relief, Kamito finally got up and at that moment...

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Chuu*.

"...!?"

It was a perfect surprise attack.

Despite that noticing that he was kissed, it lasted several seconds.

The sensation of her soft lips gently separating turned his cheeks red hot.

"You... Wh...What are you doing all of a sudden?!"

"A wake up kiss, Kamito."

Est answered expressionlessly.

"Why do such—"



"Because it's unfair you only kissed Claire. Is it that you don't want to do it with me?"

Hearing Est's blaming tone, Kamito softened his voice.

"You s...saw, didn't you? ...That."

"Yes. Because, at that moment, I was also there."

"...Ah, come to think of it, that is right."

Kamito immediately recalled that moment and sighed heavily.

A week ago, that time when he fought the frenzied militarized spirit in Academy Town.

Est was certainly there— in the form of a sword of his elemental waffe.

It seemed that the moment, when Claire kissed the exhausted, due to the loss of energy, boy to wake him up, was being observed.

It was certain that it awakened him in one shot, however... now that he thought about it, it was also extremely embarrassing.

"I heard that a kiss is an official ritual of a spirit contract. In that case, Est too."

Est gently brushed her silver hair hanging by her cheeks.

She closed her eyes, pouted slightly pitifully her cherry-blossom colored lips and slowly brought her face near him.

"So, why did it turn out like this?"

"It's only natural and it’s within my rights. After all, I'm Kamito's contracted spirit."

"...!"

Although she was an extremely strong Sealed Spirit, whose power, was at the moment concealed, Est's current appearance was that of an ordinary cute girl.


After being approached like this, Kamito thought that it couldn't be helped that his heart was beating faster.

"He...Hey, Est..."

"Please close your eyes, master."

Est brought her face closer in one motion. Their noses were almost touching now and he could smell her sweat scent and feel the tickle of her breath.

Just before her rose bud like lips were about to touch his...

"Kamito, there's a team battle this morning, so be sure to make breakfast more luxurious than—"

"...!"
[[File:STnBD V02 002-003.jpg|thumbnail]]
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Bam!* The bathroom door was slammed opened and there—

"Wh...Wh...Wh...Wh..."

A beautiful red-haired girl stood. Her ruby-colored eyes were wide open as she took in the scene before her.

The girl’s body was wrapped in a bath towel which hugged her gentle curves tightly.

There was white steam rising from her, slightly cherry blossom colored after being washed, skin.

Her breasts were definitely of a child's size, but these small mounds were also plenty charming.

From the tips of her soaking wet red hair, drops of water were falling onto the floor.

On the bed, before her was nude… no, knee sock nude Est.

That is when time froze.


"Claire... Y...You're mistaken, this is...!"

It was that moment when the flustered boy stood up and tried to explain.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogo...!*

"Wh...What are you doing, you perverted sex maniac——!"

"Guoo!"

A leather whip, used for training animals, came flying all of a sudden and landed a clean hit on his chin.

Kamito wrapped the bed sheets around his body as he fell to the floor.

"I...I've misjudged you, you licentious brute, beast!"

While holding onto the bath towel with one hand, the girl approached briskly the boy, squirming on the floor, and forcefully trampled on his head with the heel of her bare foot.

Claire Rouge.

She was his classmate and, by some twist of fate, Kamito was tied to her by a master-servant contract.

At least she had a ridiculously cute face and was a beautiful girl. She had however… an extremely brutal personality.

"Wh...What-What were you doing? Hey, just now, what were you doing with that Sword Spirit?"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishii, pishii, pishiii!*

"Hey, wait, stop ... guoo!"

It was a tempest of whips that relentlessly swung downwards. Her bristled red hair was just like blazing flames.

And during this constant onslaught of devastating whip blows…


Kamito noticed something. He had wound up noticing something.

"Wa...Wait...Claire, isn't that bad?"

And then, as he had wound up noticing it, he had to voice it out. For her own sake.

By the way, when it was about things like this, Kamito turned into a strangely honest and blunt person.

"...? What?"

Her clear ruby colored pupils sternly looked down on Kamito.

"Erm, this angle ... is err, very revealing."

"Eh?"

Claire blinked as she had her foot on Kamito's head.

That is when she finally realized it.

Kamito lay on the floor, with her foot on his head, and through the opening of her towel he could see her exposed tight.

"...!"

Claire's whole body felt hot from embarrassment.

She fixed her bath towel in a fluster and her shoulders slightly trembled.

"Y...Y...You, you!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogogogogo...!*

"Wa...Wait, this is a misunderstanding, relax! Err…'''I didn’t see all the way inside'''!"

It seemed like Kamito's frantic excuse—


"..."

Backfired.

"...Oh, I understand."

Claire informed him with a shuddering voice.

"After this, I'll give you two choices. You better answer honestly."

Kamito swallowed nervously and nodded continuously.

Here, he should choose his answer carefully. Depending on his reply, it was not unlikely that he would become cinders.

"About your cooking preferences, would you prefer medium? Or well-done?"

...Things like choices did not exist from the beginning.

"I...If possible, rare is good but..."

Just as Kamito gave his answer.

"Scarlet!"

From an empty space, a hell cat, clad in crimson flames, appeared.

"Roast huh, it's decided then."

It was after those words, said with a smile that promised nothing but painful death and a fascinated expression on her face that—

Spontaneously, a flashy explosion resounded in Raven Class dormitory.



===Part 2===

Areishia Spirit Academy.

Princess maidens from all over the empire gathered at this training school and learned how to become proper elementalists.

Its vast territory included the «Spirit Forest» and the Academy Town. The academy also had residential teachers who possessed strength equal to that of the imperial capital's spirit knights. It was just like an independent small country.

At the same time the morning mist cleared up and the bell of lectures commencing sounded, there was a particular one-horse carriage visiting the academy.

Its coachman, an old butler in a suit, got down from the horse in front of the gate and opened the door of the carriage in a respectful manner.

"We have arrived, Fianna-sama."

"Thank you for your efforts, old man."

Coming out of the carriage was a beautiful girl about fifteen, sixteen years old.

Her glossy black hair fluttered in the gentle breeze. Her cold looking eyes emitted a strong will. Her clear white skin could be compared to the virgin snow of the area of Laurenfrost and her uniform designed as a black dress was gorgeous.

The girl, called Fianna, alighted from the carriage and looked up at the building of the Academy. The sight of the school dazzled her.

"This is Areishia Spirit Academy. The place where elementalists from all over the empire gather."

"Please be very careful, Fianna-sama. It’s impossible to fool the eyes of that Dusk Witch with poor tricks."

"I understand."


With a nod, the girl gently grasped a spirit crystal, concealed by the sleeve of her uniform.

In the empire's currency, it was a good-for-nothing article of 20 million rood.

"Rubia Elstein's sister seems to be in this academy."

"Princess, that name is a taboo. You better not say it here."

"That’s right."

The Calamity Queen, who once brought about an unprecedented great disaster to the empire.

As a taboo, that person's true name was even prohibited from being spoken.

It was said that just by muttering that name a pure girl's sacred nature would be tainted.

She considered it to be a ridiculous superstition. Nevertheless, the people, who saw her up close in the past, felt that there was a slice of accuracy in those words. They believed in the jinx.

(...That's right. The truth is, the fear of her has yet to affect me.)

The girl cleared her throat, then she lowered her voice and whispered.

"Besides, I am also concerned about the elementalist called Kazehaya Kamito."

"Hmm, is it that male elementalist? There was a talk, that a few days ago he defeated a frenzied militarized spirit in Academy Town."

"Yes, based on all the eye-witnesses' words, it seemed to be a splendid blade dance of close resemblance to that of the strongest blade dancer — Ren Ashbell."

Fianna's voice became lively as she got a little excited.

The old butler gave her a stern look for that.


"Princess, don't tell me, you fell in love with that boy"

"Fe...fell in love...!?"

Fianna's voice trembled from embarrassment. Her cheeks turned red.

"Th...that can't be it, right? After all, I have never met him before... it's just that I have an interest in what kind of person this male elementalist is."

It was a lie.

The male elementalist, who defeated the frenzied militarized spirit in Academy Town.

The moment Fianna heard that boy's name, she immediately realized.

It was him.

Three years ago, that boy, who had saved her in the forest of Astral Zero.

Despite promising to meet again, it was unknown why he disappeared after the Blade Dance.

(—However, I finally found him.)

When she heard the report on that day, Fianna decided to enter the Areishia Spirit Academy.

If that boy announced his candidacy to the Blade Dance again—

For her that was a once in lifetime opportunity.

"Kamito, I'll forgive you for breaking our promise."

Fianna glared at the school building of the academy and an impish smile surfaced.

"However, I'm not letting you escape again♪"


===Part 3===

About eight minutes have passed since the start of the match.

In a deep forest, which was enshrouded in a light purple mist, two shadows were moving fast.

"Claire, watch the thicket on the left. There's an ambush."

"How do you know?"

"Intuition, if it was me, I would ambush from over there—"

At that moment, just as Kamito suspected, bluish-white lightning bullets were fired from the left thicket.

"Tch—"

Kamito kicked the ground and accelerated. He jumped in front of Claire and deflected the lightning bullets shot at the speed of sound with his sword.

It was not a feat that could be achieved with just an ordinary blade. Endowed with spirit magic resistance ability, the elemental waffe of sword spirit Est— «Terminus Est», made all the magic attacks ineffective.

"Claire!"

Before Kamito shouted, Claire was already on her target. The wind played with her red hair and below her fluttering skirt, a leather whip holder could be seen.

While she placed her foot on a tree branch and dodged the rain of fired lightning bullets, she released her elemental waffe— «Flame Tongue».

There was a sharp swinging, cutting sound. The Flame Tongue, which could cut up everything, easily sliced through rows of standing trees.


From the middle of the grove of trees that became almost bare in a moment, a thunder elementalist girl appeared.

She had her eyes hidden under her forelocks which made her look a little gloomy.

There was a cluster of bluish-white lightning bullets floating beside her.

It was not a high ranking spirit like Est or Scarlet. It was a low ranking spirit that could only keep an indeterminate form, however, it was plenty helpful as a battery to use spirit magic.

It seemed that that girl's role was a disturbance by means of support fire.

"Humph, a sniper who shows herself is the same as a turtle coming up on land."

Claire thrust her whip in a declaration of victory. With the thunder spirit right behind her, the girl sniper ran towards the middle of the forest in a worried manner—

"You're not getting away! Scarlet, chase her!"

At the same time Claire shouted, the elemental waffe Flame Tongue transformed into the form of a hellcat, clad in flames.

Because of being possessed by the frenzy spirit, Scarlet was once the size of a kitten, however, now it had recovered fully. Its form was of a lovely cat, but its strength was certainly of a roaring fierce lion.

The surging crimson flames attacked the thunder elementalist girl.

However, that scorching heat, which by right should melt even rocks, did not even burn a single place of the girl's body.

That was because the battle field was situated in Astral Zero, which the academy used for practice matches.

It was another world and spirits lived there.


In the real world, spirits had to change into an embodiment of physical strength, but here they could be used as an embodiment of pure divine power.

In other words, it almost completely reduced the physical damage to the body.

Nonetheless, it did not mean that shocks, pain and so forth disappeared, a consequence was that an equal damage would be delivered to the mind instead; for example, if one was torn up by Scarlet's claws, he would certainly faint and become unable to battle.

While carbonizing many trees of the forest, Scarlet was chasing closely behind the girl. However, the elementalist seemed to be considerably more accustomed to the terrain and prepared for battle and while distracting it with spirit magic, she was quickly making her escape deep into the forest.

"Erghh, stay still!"

Losing her temper, Claire jumped down to the ground from the gap between the trees.

"Since it came to this, I'll blow everything together with my strongest spirit magic."

"Wait, Claire, the ground looks weird—"

Kamito shouted, and at that moment, a large quantity of earth and sand exploded from under Claire's feet.

"Wh...!?"

Appearing from underground were gigantic crustacean pincers.

"Negligence is one's greatest enemy, Claire Rouge of Raven Class!"

From inside the sand that was raising up and the large hole that opened in the ground, the carapace armor of countless protuberances flew out.

It was a type of elemental waffe that covered the whole body in armor.


Claire was blown off by that blast and has fallen to the ground. The spirit attacked using earth and sand and the impact left the body substantially damaged.

"Claire!"

Before Kamito came running to her, the carapace elementalist was already in pursuit. This was not a coincidental attack. They were scrupulously aiming for the moment when Claire went down onto the ground.

"Eat this, the elemental waffe of the carapace spirit «Kuraste»— «Breaker Arm»."

"—Guu! Flames, dance in my hand, dance!"

The fallen Claire released countless fireballs from her hand.

However, the armor type elemental waffe plunged right trough the barrage of flames.

"Ha, the flame attribute isn't effective against the carapace spirit. Didn't you learn that during the lecture?"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gaa*— A shoulder-tackle by the carapace armor blew Claire away.

Kamito kicked the ground and quickly turned around. Holding Est in a reverse grip, he stopped Claire's body that came flying at him, embracing the girl tightly.

"U...gh..."

Claire let out in a languid voice from his arms.

It seemed that the recent attack had greatly drained her divine power; however, she still looked to be conscious.

(Just before the crash, she released the fireballs at the ground and destroyed her opponent's stance. As expected of her.)

"Hey, are you alright?"


"Y...yea... Eh... y...you, what are you doing!"

Suddenly, Claire's face turned red.

Claire's petite body was being held in such a manner that her back and knees were supported by both his hands.

It was what was called being carried like a princess.

"Fua... Id...idiot... qu...quickly put me down!"

"He..hey, don't struggle! You'll fall!"

"Shut up! Shut up! Quickly put me down——!"

Boka. Boka. Boka. Boka.

Claire started striking Kamito's chest while being carried like a princess. This somehow made her look like a small, cute animal.

"Are you worried about me? You don't have to, you know. You're pretty light."

"Is th...that... because my chest is flat?"

"No, I didn’t say such a thing. I just thought that you're cute like a small animal."

"...! Cu...cute..."

She looked downwards with a red face and Kamito let her down with a relieved sigh.

The carapace elementalist had already disappeared. It seemed that, because Claire was defeated in the recent attack, she was waiting for another chance for a surprise assault. As opossed to her outward appearance, she was the cautious type.

From deep within the forest, Scarlet, who was supposed to be chasing the thunder elementalist, returned.


They did not seem to have suffered any injuries, but it looked like they let their prey escape.

"That thunder elementalist purposely showed herself to us."

"Yea, when I got down onto the ground while chasing her, that carapace armor stopped me with a surprise attack. We have suffered thoroughly from their good teamwork."

Annoyed, Claire lashed at the ground with her whip.

"As expected of a team of the cunning Wolverine Class."

"It's not that they're particularly cunning or anything, considering their fellow spirits' compatibility, it was an obvious strategy."

Kamito said with a shrug and Claire sullenly shut her mouth.

"However, it's strange that they aren't coming to chase us. I know that they're being cautious but— still."

"That's right. From the begining, that thunder elementalist's movement could only be seen as stalling for time."

Astral Zero's forest was quieting down.

He couldn't feel their presence at all, not from the surrounding thickets, nor from the underground.

(With this time stalling, do they have some sort of plan?)

"I want to send out a scout to search for the enemy, but..."

"If that was possible, I'd have already done it."

At any rate, there were three people remaining in the opposing team. They on the other hand had just two. Depending on the situation, it could be that one person had to fight either two or three people. In a one-on-one battle, both Kamito and Claire would not be defeated. However, if they were caught and taken on by more than two coordinated fighters, winning would be substantially more difficult.


Also, even in the case of a one-on-one battle, the fellow spirits' strength and weakness had to be considered. In an actual battle one should also remember the matter of compatibility when the attributes of a spirit were more effective than an elementalist's ability.

"—Seems like you're having a tough battle, Kazehaya Kamito."

Suddenly, from behind, a voice sounded.

Kamito turned around and saw how a black figure quickly appeared from inside of the shadow on the ground.

The black figure very quickly took on the form of an adult woman.

She had glossy long black hair and the glasses she was wearing gave her a very intellectual appearance.

She had on cuff-long white robe on top of her suit, that beautiful lady was—

"Teacher Freya?"

Raven Class's homeroom teacher and this match's inspector, Freya Grandol.

Thanks to her contracted spirit's ability, she was able to travel trough shadows—

"Is that alright? To appear in the middle of the match."

"What, there's no problem with giving poor-scoring students advice."

Freya suddenly smiled and pushed up her glasses.

"Although, the team you're currently facing is of a superior ranking, so you’ll obviously have a tough battle. Based on individual strength, you two are nigh on unreachable, but your team strength is lacking. ...By the way, why were you injured before the match?"

"This morning, I was roasted."


He glared at Claire beside him with scorn; in response she quickly averted her eyes.

"In the first place, though, I think it is strange to have a five-to-two match ."

Despite the fact they only had two people; the team they were facing had five people. They had already defeated two, but the sniper thunder elementalist, the hand-to-hand-fighting type carapace elementalist and then the last person, who had yet to show herself, were remaining.

"Did you know? The fact that your team only has two people is bad. You can't qualify for entry in this round's «Blade Dance» without a five-member team. What do you plan to do?"

"We'll find people before the deadline. We don't really need to have all five members to be high level elementalists. After all, my plan is for I, alone, and— this slave spirit to win through this."

Claire muttered unintelligibly and Freya glared at her with a serious face.

"You had better not take group battles lightly, Claire Rouge. You are certainly a strong elementalist, but even so you absolutely can't beat a coordinated team."

After that, she turned towards Kamito,

"Do you know chess?"

"Greyworth forcefully made me her playing partner. However, I had never won."

"The queen is certainly a strong piece. In a one-on-one battle, there are hardly times when it will lose. However, depending on the situation, it is also possible for it to be taken down by a pawn, which is the weakest piece on the desk."

"I know about that."

"But you do not understand it. Your fighting method feels...awfully isolated."


Without responding, Kamito shut his mouth.

The boy, who was once called— the strongest blade dancer. He, who was raised as an assassin at that mad «Instructional School» had never experienced fighting alongside his comrades.

Creeping to the target's back and cutting its throat— that was his original fighting method.

On a whim of the Elemental Lords, the Blade Dance's regulation was changed every time it was held.

The Blade Dance, fifteen years ago, was a battle royale.

The one three years ago, was an individual elimination match.

This time however it was a team competition.

Honestly, he didn't think that his teamwork with Claire was turning out well.

And the three-year long blank period was for him, as an elementalist, a fatal flaw.

He also had a contracted spirit, who could not exhibit even a tenth of her strength yet.

There were many factors that had to be overcome.

"Claire Rouge, you too. You do not understand what it means to fight in a team."

"I'm always alone. T...this guy is just a slave spirit..."

"Oh dear, you two have many difficulties in store for you."

Teacher Freya sighed and disappeared into the shadow again.

"...Hmm, because of that just now, two minutes have been used up. There are about five minutes remaining."

As it was, if they did not reach a conclusion soon, both team's inter-school rank would drop.


It will affect this two, who were still of low rank, greatly.

—Then, the hell cat, snuggling at the side of Claire's feet, let out a roar.

"Hey, Scarlet is saying something."

"Yeah, the forest looks strange. The wild animals are stirring up.

Claire was frowning with a serious face for some reason—

"There—"

She suddenly faced the forest and fired a fire attribute spirit magic.

It was a fireball— a high ranking spirit magic that would reduce a target to ashes with ultra-hot flames.

The red hot flames licked the ground and the forest near it was reduced to ashes.

With the rising black smoke, a boorish figure appeared standing in a relaxed manner.

"Well, what a frightening ojou-sama."

The girl wore the carapace armor of her elemental waffe over her body.

Despite receiving a direct hit of the fireball, she did not have a single burn mark.

"This is unexpected... you came out for a fairly fight. Have you already given up on a surprise attack?"

"Our roles have ended. The leader's preparations have been completed."

"Preparations?"

Claire and Kamito frowned simultaneously.

From the direction the black smoke was rising up—


"Huh....?" "What... is that!?"

A gigantic timber-scaffolding was put together.

While its structure was simple, it was without a doubt a splendid shrine.

And top of it a small girl, wearing the academy uniform, was dancing. It looked like she was carrying some kind of a ritual.

The girl had beautiful platinum-blonde hair held by a wooden cane.

"Our brethren, now is the time, hand down the iron hammer to the forest devastators!"

From the top of the gigantic scaffolding, she faced their side and thrust the cane with a snap.

"Wh...what's going on, that girl ... when did she managed to make a shrine that big!?"

"We were preparing it from the last night to have it ready for today's match."

The carapace elementalist girl proudly held up her pincers.

...Indeed, if it was with that spirit's power, it should be possible to make the shrine in a night.

"I...it's unfair, that thing! A ritual Kagura!"

"Uh-huh, it isn't unfair! Without a large-scale ritual, I can't call out my contracted spirit!"

The girl, who was on top of the scaffolding and holding a cane, shouted.

"Shut up, children should stay silent!"

"Unh, what do you mean by children, isn't your chest small too?"

"What... did you say?"

Pakii! The sound of a twig being stepped on and broken resounded. Claire's red hair was bristling up like a blazing flame.


"The family of Druid ..."

Kamito muttered wiping the sweat from his forehead.

They were nobles from the Ordesia Empire. It was a family of ancient honorable elementalists, which had lived in the spirit forest since before the foundation of the empire and succeeded the blood relationship of the princess maidens with their original methods.

"That girl's spirit is a little special, summoning takes time."

"I see, so that was the reason you were stalling..."

The ground was violently shaking. The flames of the torches, lighting the area surrounding the shrine, were thunderously burning up.

...He felt tremendous pressure. What that girl was trying to use was an outrageously powerful spirit. It was likely that it roughly matched the giant military spirit they fought the other day.

"—I won't let you. Scarlet!"

Claire released Scarlet as its elemental waffe, Flame Tongue, and hit the ground very hard.

"Kamito, I'll hold her back. You go destroy that shrine."

"Got it!"

Kamito nodded and ran with the silver-glittering «Terminus Est» in his hand.

As an elementalist, Claire was a genius.

Although the compatibility of hers and carapace spirit worked against her, in a one-on-one battle, she would not lose.

There was a considerable distance till the shrine, but with Kamito's speed, he should make it in time.

"...!?"


Suddenly the ground in front of him burst open.

From within the thicket, spirit magic lightning bullets were fired.

It was the thunder spirit girl. Naturally, Kamito had also predicted that an ambush was hidden in the forest.

However—

"Toryaaaaaa!"

"Wha...!?"

This was unexpected. —The elementalist herself came interfering.

It was impossible to ignore. Kamito stopped and turned around.

(I'll stun her in one strike—)

He nimbly evadedher attack and aimed the handle of the sword at her stomach—

At that moment, an intense flash blinded him.

The thunder spirit, the girl was using, blew itself up in front of him.

The rain of the intense lightning attack assaulted Kamito. Sharp pain and then numbness ran throughout his whole body.

It wasn’t strong enough to incapacitate him. However, he was, for a while, stunned.

Before his eyes recovered, the girl, also caught in the explosion, fainted and had therefore been defeated.

(That girl aimed for a tie from the start...)

It was a strategy unsuited for individual battles, but when working in a team, it was a good way to achieve victory.

Her duty was to stop him for a while. And in that she had succeeded.


"We're done for..."

"Come, tyrant governor! Thou, beast king of the destruction army that grinds and smashes everything!"

On top of the shrine, the forest girl aimed the cane to the sky and recited the majestic summoning.

The ritual has been completed.

"...Its name is beast swarm spirit «Cernunnos»!"

From everywhere in the forest, a countless number of roars could be heard.

That Druid girl was calling the beasts that were living in Astral Zero.

"The beast swarm spirit... a spirit of vast possession range type!"

It was the same as the frenzy spirit that drove Claire's Scarlet, the militarized spirit and many others mad, a type that could possess targets from a longer distance.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Dodododododododododoo!*

The group of beasts, which were controlled by the swarm spirit, made the earth tremble when they came charging.

"Be...Because they aren't spirits, if they were trampled, they would die. Normally."

"I...If it's the handling of animals, I too will not lose!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishi!* *Pishi!* Claire, who defeated the carapace elementalist, swang her whip.

"Give it up, Claire, it's our loss."

"—The match is over."

Teacher Freya, who appeared quickly like a shadow, blew into the whistle announcing the end of the match.

<noinclude>{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Prologue|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Chapter2}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter8

2014-07-15T22:25:16Z

07n156: /* Part 3 */

==Chapter 8: The Strongest Blade Dancer==
===Part 1===

Academy Town was a small-scale town within the premises of the Areishia Spirit Academy.

The townscape, lined with stone buildings, was filled with the tumult of people.

While bumping many times over into the coming-and-going crowds of people, Kamito was running towards the arena.

—If that was him thinking about it too much, it was alright. However, he was feeling strangely uneasy.

(...Absurd. With the loss of her contracted spirit, a Blade Dance is just...)

While he was out of breath, he ran at full speed, pulling Est's hand.

He did not understand why he was so frantic for her sake.

Claire Rouge was a— tyrant, who was prideful, willful and quick to lash her whip.

However, he somehow could not leave her alone.

(After all, her true self is—)

Kamito stopped at that moment.

"—Here, right?"

Before the arena built at the center of the town, there was a crowd of spectators gathered.

The Blade Dance was originally a holy ritual to let spirits enjoy themselves— a kind of Kagura.


However, there was no change to the fact that it was also the highest form of entertainment to humans.

Also, the same as other festivals, the spirits preferred a great number of enthusiastic people.

He showed his academy student badge to the guard and entered inside, and pushed aside clamoring spectators to get to the front.

There were ear-splitting cheers. The sound of shrills of weapons. The intense Blade Dance had already started at the arena.

There were about 20 participants. Various types of spirits were jumbled together and fighting.

It was a battle royale system where the last one remaining would earn the right to contract with a powerful militarized spirit.

Kamito searched for Claire—

"...!?"

For that unbelievable sight, he doubted his eyes.

That Claire Rouge was—

Covered all over with wounds and crawling.

Against the contracted spirits boasting tremendous power, Claire was fighting with just a whip and Spirit Magic.

While her whole body was hit and slammed into a wall, she stood up and fought again and again.

"Claire—"

He could not go help her. If Kamito got in and helped her, she would be naturally disqualified.

If he did that, she would probably never forgive him.

Kamito bit his teeth and in front of him, Claire was blown away.


===Part 2===

(—Weak. Why am I so weak?)

While being thrown to the ground, Claire strongly bit her lips. The taste of blood spread across her tongue. It seemed that she was cut somewhere inside her mouth. She planned to stand up, but her hands went numb and did not move. It seemed to have caused a cerebral concussion. Even several bones of her ribs might be suffering damage.

"Guu...!"

Even so, she still did not raise the surrender card.

She slowly stood up on shaky legs.

She sternly looked up. At the center of the altar was a worshiped stone pillar. Within that, there was a rank-A battle-class militarized spirit— «Glasya-Labolas» sealed inside, brought in from the imperial capital.

Having brought down many spirit knights in the past wars, it was a famous giant-man spirit.

(...If I obtain that, I can be strong.)

—Nee-sama surely can be saved!

"Flame— dance in my hand, dance!"

She turned the divine power dwelling within herself into flames and produced a fireball of spirit magic in her palm.


In her situation where there was no supply of divine power from Scarlet (her contracted spirit), even for Claire, who was superior, to produce such a small flame took all her might. Naturally, such a thing could not bring down spirits.

However, if she aimed for the elementalists, possibly— there might be a tiny chance of winning.

"Huh? Do you still plan on doing this? You don't learn, do you"

—She heard a scorning voice from her front.

"...!"

She bit her teeth and lifted her head. The two elementalists were standing with ridiculing expressions.

They were the Academy's upper classmen. They were respectively using «Adamantine Spirit» and «Magic Mirror Spirit».

"Hey, are you truly an idiot? You don't even have a contracted spirit."

"That very part of you is irritating, you know."

"...You!"

Aiming at the two upper classmen ridiculing her, Claire released the fireball.

However, the fireball was stopped by the bore-looking Adamantine Spirit and easily repelled.

"Ahahaa, what's that, spirit magic? —Do it, «Adamantine»!"

The girl on the other side cruelly curved her lips and gave an order to her contracted spirit.

The Adamantine Spirit emitted a blue radiance and rushed and struck Claire's abdomen.

"Agg...!"


A mumbling scream escaped from Claire's mouth.

She did not dare aim for her vital points. She was slowly tormenting her and enjoying herself.

This was not a splendorous Blade Dance for spirits to enjoy. It was merely unsightly violence.

"...How cheeky, you. Despite being that Calamity Queen's younger sister."

The upper classman's face was really distorted in hatred. While being hit many times over her whole body— finally, Claire recalled. These two were colleagues, who were one-sidedly knocked down by Claire at a practice match a month ago. They were still resentful about that time.

"What's with that look? If you don't give up quickly, you'll really die!"

"It's alright if you quickly kneel down and lick our shoes. Truly, that foolishness is the same as your sister."

"...Shut...up, be silent."

Claire tightly grasped the sand scattered on the ground.

"Hn, did you say something?"

"I said... be silent."

It was no good. She could not restrain it.

(Only abuses at Nee-sama, no matter what, my boiling point for that is low!)

She put divine power into her left hand, which was grasping sand. A black spirit seal that was re-engraved ominously glowed.

And then the moment the path was connected, a horrifying sensation ran all over her body.


She would not be defeated at such a place. There was no value in her weak self.

(To grasp a more powerful power in my hand—!)

"What... a contracted spirit!?"

The upperclassmen's eyes opened in surprise.

"If you wish for it, I'll show you. This is— my true power!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gou!*

The black flame, released from Claire's hand, gulped down the Adamantine Spirit in an instant.

Appearing from within the blazing flame was—

A flickering jet black magic beast.

It was not a noble flame like Scarlet. It was a flame of darkness, showing signs of madness.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Guo...ruuuuuu...*

The beast's hair-raising roar shook the entire atmosphere in the arena.

===Part 3===
"...What's that!?"

Kamito got up from the audience seatings and shouted.


The black flame spirit that Claire brought forth engulfed the Adamantine Spirit in front of it in an instant.

—It was not Scarlet.

Its appearance was similar to that hell cat, but the presence of that divine power was overly ominous.

The jet-black flame spirit bit and crushed the magic mirror spirit at the other side and was devouring those remains like a starving beast. That was not all. The spirits around the black spirit suddenly writhed as if going mad and began eating each-others existence.

"The frenzy is spreading...!"

Kamito recalled the Magic Spirit that appeared in Astral Zero last night.

And about the water spirit that went out of control in the bathroom.

The spirits, in a frenzy, lost their reasoning and were unable to restrain their powers. Until their own existence were extinguished, they would conduct themselves with their impulses for destruction.

However, that black Magic Beast—

(It's forcefully snatching away Claire's divine power!?)

Claire stood rock still at the center of the arena with an exhausted expression.

From the black spirit seal engraved on her left hand, blood was trickling down.

Her face was pale and her whole body was quivering bit by bit. It looked like she was also barely standing.

If the situation was left as it was, she might lose her life.


The spectators, who realized that something was strange with the appearance of the spirits, suddenly began making a commotion.

The elementalist girls, in the arena, were also perplexed at their contracted spirits that suddenly did not listen to their commands.

"Damn, what are the guys in Knights doing?"

Kamito looked around the inside of the arena. Despite being an obviously strange situation, the Spirit Knights that should have been prepared for unexpected situations were not moving. What was going on?

However, the Spirit Knights standing at the arena gate were all rooted at the same spot, staring into empty space. Their eyes were not focused. It was as if they had been entranced—
[[File:STnBD V01 004.jpg|thumbnail]]

"...What? What the heck is happening?"

"That's a frenzy spirit, Kamito."

Est, who was beside him, muttered expressionlessly.

"A frenzy spirit?"

"It is a possession-type spirit that causes spirits to go berserk. It isn't such a high status spirit, but the spirit possessed loses its reasoning and, until its own existence vanishes, it will continue to fight."

"Possess—? Don't tell me, that black Magic Beast is 'Scarlet'!?"


"Affirmative. That hell cat is a very powerful spirit, it should not vanish from the extent of being beaten by the magic spirit. It seems that it temporary lost the ability to manifest but—"


"Is that so..."

The fire of the flame spirit remained. However, Claire continuously thought that Scarlet vanished, so she was not able to connect the path.

"—But, in that frenzied condition, vanishing completely is also just a matter of time."

"Ah, I understand."

Kamito nodded.

'Scarlet'— a flame spirit with the appearance of a hell cat cladded in noble flames.

That was the very flame of a girl named Claire.

That flame turned into a crazy disgusting Magic Beast that was indulging and eating the spirits.

Something like that could not be her— Claire's desired flame.

"—Est. I ask of you, lend me your strength."

"I am Kamito's sword. I'll do as you desire."

Est gently grasped Kamito's hand. There was a feeling of a hand, cold but surprisingly soft.

"Dispassionate Queen of Steel, the sacred sword that destroys evil— now form my sword!"

Kamito spun the releasing of the elemental waffe; at the same time, Est's body turned into particles of light and vanished.

In the next moment, a silver glowing single edged sword appeared in Kamito's hand.

The spirit language inscription, carved on the edge, was— «Terminus Est».


Just by lightly holding it, he understood that it was a tremendously famous sword.

"I'm sorry. The path to my true form is closed, so this is the limit for me currently."

Est, who turned into the form of a sword, said apologetically.

"No, this is plenty. —Let's go, Est!"

Kamito prepared Terminus Est and jumped into the arena where the raging black flame was.

The moment he landed onto the ground, the magic beast of darkness bared its fangs and pounced to attack him.

He brandished the sword with a flourish, knocked away the black flame, and rushed over to Claire's side.

"Claire!"

"...Kamito"

Claire opened her ruby-colored eyes.

Her knees were on the ground and she was breathing heavily. Her delicate body was going to collapse at any time.

The blood, trickling from the spirit seal on her left hand, was dyeing the sand scattered on the ground red.

At that moment, the black Flame Magic Beast mowed onto the ground with its claws, like it was making fun of it.

There was the scent of burning in the air. The hot wind with pebbles mixed in gently brushed Kamito's cheeks.

"...!?"

In a hair's breadth, Kamito dodged the black flame's claws. He drove in a slash at the black flame spirit that was just knocked down.

The silver sword flash drew an arc. The elemental waffe of the sword spirit cut up even the intangible flames—


The black Flame Magic Beast let out an ear-splitting scream and broke up in the air. It didn't mean that it vanished. The flames that were scattered were burning at their respective positions and formed a flaming wall surrounding Kamito in it. Kamito clicked his tongue and stopped at that spot.

"Claire, get yourself together, come to your senses!"

"Wh...What... Why are you here—"

A confused expression surfaced on Claire's face—

"...!?"

Then, as if she just began to realize it, she opened her eyes in terror.

The scene that flew into her eyes was a cruel disastrous scene.

There was a blazing, disgusting black flame.

A group of spirits was in a frenzy and were devouring each other.

The students of the academy were losing their consciousness from having their divine power eaten and were falling down to the ground one by one—

"Claire, is this the power you wanted? Something like this? These are your flames!"

Kamito shouted as if he was throwing up.

While he cleared away the attacking flame with the sword, he reached out his hand towards Claire.

"I...I...—"

Claire moved her lips with her pale facial expression—


She instantly shook her head as if she had changed her mind.

"Sh...Shut up! I... I need the power!"

The red twin-tail hair violently sprung up.

The black flame blazed even more as if responding to Claire's fury.

"...You don't understand. My feelings of being always alone—"

Claire lay face down and said that while gasping.

That day, four years ago, was when the still childish Claire Elstein's life ended.

The girl, who was betrayed by her most loved sister, had both her parents imprisoned and lost everything, was—

To live taking persecutions as Calamity Queen's sister.

If she didn't become strong alone, she would not be able to live on.

"...You're not alone, idiot."

"Eh?"

At Kamito's words—

Claire raised her head with a blank expression.

"I am here. I'll be by your side. After all, I'm—"

Kamito approached Claire with a step.

The flame wall in their surroundings burned with intimidation.


"D...Don't come here..."

"Claire—"

"Do not come here!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pashin!*— She closed her eyes and strongly struck her leather whip at Kamito's cheek.

Red blood flowed from his cheek. Kamito did not even wipe that and took another step—

"...!? Why didn't you avoid it?"

Claire's cherry blossom-colored lips were quivering.

"I didn't plan on hitting... and yet."

Kamito stood before Claire and slowly raised his hand over his head.

"...!"

Claire thought it was a strike, and reflexively closed her eyes tightly.

Then—

....*Poff*.

"Eh?"

Claire widely opened her ruby-colored eyes.

She looked up at Kamito with a blank expression.

"—Claire, I like your flames."


Kamito stirred up and crumpled Claire's red hair.

"...Wh!? Ah, ...Li...Like...? Eh?"

Claire's cheeks were dyed bright red inside.

"They burn prettily, dazzlingly and nobly. I like your flames."

"Ah, sh...sh..."

—That was why he wanted to protect those flames.

"If you want power—"

Kamito looked straight into Claire's eyes and said.


"I'll be your contracted spirit."

"Kamito..."

In Claire's red eyes, a drop of tear surfaced—

Confused, she wiped it with her uniform sleeve.

"Wh...What are you saying? You are originally my Slave Spirit!"

"Ah, that is right..."

Kamito bitterly smiled and gently removed his hand from Claire's head.


At that moment, he sliced and drove away the black Flame Magic Beast that roared and advanced while attacking with the sword.

With his back facing Claire, he blocked its way like a knight protecting a princess.

"—Hey, Scarlet. Did you forget your precious master?"

With Kamito's words thrown at it, the black flame that clad the Magic Beast trembled for a moment.

Scarlet— it seemed to respond to that name.

"...Scarlet?"

Claire asked.

"Ah, it wasn't that your partner vanished. It just temporarily lost its power. Although, it's now possessed by a frenzy spirit and it has changed into such an appearance."

"...Scarlet is alive!?"

Claire was taken aback and raised her head. Kamito nodded.

"Ah, this sword— Est informed me."

"...That's, by no means, that Sword Spirit?"

"That's right. But she probably can't even use a tenth of her original power."

Taking a stance with Terminus Est in both his hands, Kamito turned towards the black flame magic beast.

"..."

Claire stared at the thunderously raging black flame.


She saw something within that flame and swiftly raised her head—

"...Yes, that is Scarlet."

She wiped her tears to shake it off.

"If that's the case—"

"Claire, stand back. A frenzied spirit will attack even its contractor."

Kamito restrained Claire, who planned to go to the front, with his hand—

Claire stopped that hand and shook her head.

"Scarlet is in a frenzy because of me. Therefore, only I can take her back."

—Flames, dance in my hand, dance!

Spun from her cherry blossom-colored lips was the spirit language aria.

At that moment, a small fireball was born at the palm of her hand.

"Spirit Magic? What can such a small fireball—"

"—Like this."

At that instant, Claire pushed the burning fireball into her left hand.

There was the sound of flesh burning.

"O...Oi, Claire!?"

"...A...gu...uuuu—!"


While barely clenching her teeth, Claire moaned in anguish.

On her pale face, perspiration like waterfalls flowed along her chin.

"You...!"

Kamito finally understood.

The black spirit seal, re-engraved on Claire's left hand— that was the symbol of contract with that frenzy spirit.

The spirit seal was an exclusive «Gate» to connect the path between Astral Zero and this world.

If that was destroyed, naturally, the contract with the spirit would be annulled.

Claire was physically burning the spirit seal and was breaking the contract with the frenzy spirit!

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Guorooooouuu...*

The Magic Beast, clad in black flames, raged like a thunderous wind.

With the path being burned off, it shared the same pain as Claire, its contractor.

"Sorry, Scarlet, I too... will endure—"

Claire was putting up with the pain and that moment when Claire's knees hit the ground—

The frenzied magic beast roared and sprung at Claire.

"—!"

Kamito quickly stepped in and got into the magic beast's bosom in one bound.

The claws, clad in flames, burned the ends of his hair and at that instant— he slashed down with the sword when they passed each other.


There was a flashing sword swing. At the same time, the red hot flames that could melt even iron attacked Kamito's whole body—

"Kamito!"

Claire's scream resounded.

However, Kamito's body had already disappeared.

The moment the sword and the claws crossed, he dodged like a shadow and had turned to the flame spirit's back.

(—A frenzied spirit certainly has its power greatly increased.)

The black flame spirit turned around— but it was too late.

(However, no matter what, its movements became dull. In that case, it can't win against me—)

Kamito kicked the ground and sharply turned, and swung the silver shining Terminus Est—

With that stroke of the sword, the black flame, possessing the flame spirit, was severed and killed.

"—Claire, are you alright?!"

Kamito rushed over, Claire was lying on the floor with a pale face.

From her red forelock clinging onto her forehead, drops of perspiration were dripping down.

"A...guu...!"

A gasping, like it was hoarse from her inner throat, leaked out. Her left hand sustained a severe burn.

Just the texture of her thin pretty skin was hideously burned, that scar was too painful to look at.

However, the black spirit seal that was engraved disappeared without leaving any trace.


With this, the path with that frenzy spirit should be completely severed.

"That was so reckless. Look, I'll treat it for you, so show it to me."

"I...I'm fine, it's just this much..."

Claire's cheeks turned slightly red and she quickly turned away.

At that moment, intense pain was suddenly running all over, causing her to softly scream "Hyauu" and making her eyes turn teary.

"What, you're not being honest."

"Sh...Shut up, I'll turn you into cinders!"

Kamito bitterly smiled at Claire's usual behavior.

—However, this is the usual Claire Rouge.

She was not suited to have just a sorrowful face.

"By the way, where—"

Suddenly, Kamito turned serious and asked.

"What..."

"Where did you contract something like a frenzy spirit?"

"That's—"

Claire stammered with her words and at that time.

"Ah, did you receive my present with pleasure?"


From behind, they heard such an inappropriate voice.

It was a gentle voice, like downy hair tickling one's earlobe.

"...!?"

It sounded familiar— but that was out of the question.

For three years, he always— yearned to hear it, that voice.

Kamito slowly turned around.

And there—

A beautiful girl, wearing a dark black dress, was giggling.

===Part 4===

Kamito stood still at that place with a frozen expression.

"Don't tell me, tha..t's..."

What was there was—

A girl, who was the very light to Kamito.

She gave the boy, who had closed his heart into a cold cage, a warm light—

"...Res...tia?"


Kamito muttered in a blurry voice.

"—It has been quite a long time, Kamito."

The girl, wearing a darkness-color dress, impishly smiled.

...It was unbelievable.

However, that appearance was the same as it was from that time, three years ago.

That beautiful face, without doubt, belonged to the girl, who Kamito knew.

The darkness spirit, Restia.

The contracted spirit of the strongest blade dancer — Ren Ashbell.

"Restia, I—"

Kamito reached out his hand and he planned to approach the girl.

However, his legs, as if they were sewed on to that place, could not move.

Despite that, the girl who he was continuously searching for the last three years, was right in front of him—

—Something was strange. His elementalist intuition was telling him that.

She was smiling like that.

Moveover, in the girl's hand, what was that ominous black lump?

"I wanted to meet you, Kamito. However—"

The girl faced that black lump at the altar in the center and threw it there.


"...?"

"Let's leave the hug to the next opportunity. Look, as that child wakes up."

When the black lump turned into a fog in midair, it surrounded the holy stone pillar at the altar.

The stone pillar that was brought in from the imperial capital and in which was the sealed militarized spirit.

"Restia... What in the world are—?"

Kamito muttered and at that time.

Suddenly, the ground violently shook.

"What...!?"

"Ah, looks like it has already woken up."

"Restia...?"

"Kamito, be careful! She is the one who gave me that frenzy spirit!"

Claire shouted to the absentminded boy.

"Wh...at...!?"

At that moment, a ground-shaking roar resounded.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishii*— the stone pillar enveloped in the black fog cracked.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Zu...zuzu...zuzuzuzu...!*

From the tear in the stone pillar, a giant human hand appeared.


That was—

(Glasya-Labolas is— going into a frenzy!?)

Taken aback, he turned around. Restia was giggling.

That somewhat devilish smile was something Kamito had never seen.

"—Good bye, Kamito. Let's meet again."

"Restia... What is going on!? What are you—"

"Because that is your wish."

"...!?"

Kamito's face froze.

"Wait— Please wait, Restia!"

"I had waited, it has already been three years."

"Resti..."

Restia smiled once again and disappeared into the empty space that became a black fog.

Kamito dropped both his hands like he was exhausted and stood still and dumbfounded.

—He did not understand what had happened.

(Restia gave Claire that frenzy spirit...?)

He could not believe it. No, he did not want to believe it.


However, the girl's appearance belonged to the darkness spirit that he had certainly been continuously searching for.

His former contracted spirit.

The girl showed Kamito, who lost his human heart, his first warm light.

If that girl changed, that—

(It's my fault... I had changed her into something different.)

The Blade Dance three years ago.

Kamito, who came out victorious as Ren Ashbell,—

Attempted to have a «wish» that humans can never wish for to be granted.

For that reason, he decided to lose her.

He believed that she would be alive somewhere.

The aching of the spirit seal engraved on his left hand whispered.

—She would be alive again. He could still make up for his crimes.

By no means, it became that they met up again in such a manner— it was something he never thought of.

"Restia... Is this my punishment?"

If that was the case, it was too cruel.

Like his whole body's strength was drawn out and he was going to collapse, his knees hit the ground.

He was plunged into darkness. 


"Kamito!? Hey, are you listening, Kamito!"

Even Claire's voice calling for Kamito was only absentmindedly heard.

Once again, the ground violently shook.

Passing through the «Gate» opened in the empty space, Glasya-Labolas was attempting to emerge.

The wall of the arena collapsed due to the tremor and a large amount of rubble poured down over Kamito's head.

Just before his body was going to be crushed— that moment.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pashii*— Kamito's head was twined around by a whip.

"...Guoo!"

Kamito was violently dragged along the ground and he made an anguished voice.

Immediately after, a large amount of rubble fell at the place where Kamito had been at.

There was a thunderous sound. Clouds of dust fluttered up in the air.

...If he was crushed, he would have, without a doubt, died.

"Idiot! Wh...What are you doing!"

Over his head, Claire took up a daunting pose and shouted.

"Hey, do you want to die? Or do you want to turn to cinders?"

"No, not those two choices— Guoo!"

"Hmm, if you can retort, you are alright, aren't you!"


Claire constricted Kamito's head with her whip and with a jerk, drew her face closer.

"..."

It was at a point-blank distance as if the tips of their noses were touching.

Her ruby-colored pupils, filled with a strong will, were before his eyes.

Nevertheless in such a moment, Kamito was reflexively startled.

"...Come on, what? What is it?"

Seemingly noticing that her face was too close, Claire's cheeks turned red and she slightly loosened her whip.

"It...It's not like I'm particularly interested but... for once, listen up."

"Wh...What..."

"That girl just now, h...how is she related to you?"

"She—"

Kamito averted his eyes from Claire's clear eyes

"Was my contracted spirit."

"Spirit?"

Kamito silently nodded and clenched his left hand.

"...It's my fault. It's my fault that she—"

Thoughts of her made Kamito sink into the dark abyss once again,—


"So what!"

Claire's voice, which was cold, drew him back.

"Eh?"

"I am saying so what!"

Claire was standing straight up, with both hands on her waist and her twin-tail hair over her shoulder.

Until a while ago, she was extremely depressed. 

Now, there was above all else her noble, beautiful crimson flame.

"No, it is because I..."

Kamito was taken aback and became dumbfounded—

"Didn't you promise me just now that 'I'll be your contracted spirit'?! Please hold on to the responsibility of your own words!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishipashi!* Claire struck Kamito's back with her whip.

"Ouch! Wh...What are you doing! Whipping a dead person!"

Without thought, Kamito stood up and shouted.

Claire suddenly smiled.

"A dead person? Then how about dying once? Look, look at that."

"Aah?"


Kamito turned his face—

From the «Gate» in the empty space, bluish-white light emitted and Glasya-Labolas came crawling out.

The battle-class militarized spirit, whose seal was undone; its over-all length was more than ten-odd meters.

Glasya-Labolas roared. With just that roar, half of the audience seats were blown away.

It seemed that the audience had already escaped, but there should still be many citizens outside the arena.

From the giant empty hole in the wall, the state of the plaza could be observed.

Everyone was screaming and jostling, while running away. In response to the sudden appearance of Glasya-Labolas, the plaza and the main street were filled with chaos and agonizing cries.

Placing its hand on the crumbled arena wall, Glasya-Labolas slowly walked out.

With his every step, the ground shook as if an earthquake occurred.

How things would turn out, if such a thing got into the town was quite obvious.

"Waiting for help from the academy would be pointless. They will arive too late. Just the two of us will have to do this."

"...Ah, that's right."

However— Kamito still had not recovered from the shock.

Even «Terminus Est», which he was tightly grasping, was losing that cool and clear radiance.

An elemental waffe would demonstrate its true value according to the elementalist's divine power.

With Kamito's current condition, he was unable to even maintain the sword's strength.


For example, even if he fought, it was certain that it would be instantly broken.

"..."

Claire stared at Kamito in such a state with a rigid expression.

"It seems like you're still half asleep. If that's the case, I'll wake you up."

After that, for some reason, her face turned red and she quickly looked away.

And, in the next moment.

"...!?"

[[Image:STnBD V01 250.jpg|thumb]]
Suddenly, his lips were closed.

It was hot. It was a tender sensation that was gently getting wet.

His nose was tickled by the faint scent of her hair.

"Hn..."

Several seconds later, their lips slowly separated.

"Are you awake?"

"...A...Ah."

Kamito nodded like he was befuddled.

"Th...This is something... only once."

Biting her lips, Claire turned bright red and looked downwards.




The numbing kiss had blown away all the anguish from Kamito's mind.

"...Shock therapy? However, this is a little too effective."

"Hm...hmm, that's fine! —Well then, let's go, Kamito!"

While her face was bright red, Claire spun the spirit language summoning.

'''—Protector of red flames, watchman of the unsleeping hearth!'''

'''—Now is the time, by the blood contract, hurry and come to my side!'''

Immediately, a blazing flame whip was born in Claire's hand.

It was not the black flame, invaded by the frenzy spirit.

That was the flame of the noble Claire Rouge— Scarlet's elemental waffe.

"Thank you, Scarlet. Lend me your power for just a bit longer."

Responding to Claire's feelings, the flame whip thunderously growled.

"I won't make Scarlet, who is weakened, do something unreasonable. I'll go around it to support, so you strike that giant human spirit."

"Ah, I got it!"

Kamito firmly nodded and tightly grasped Terminus Est.

(—That's right.) It is alright to not think about Restia now.

(Now, just—)


(To protect this tomboy princess because that's what I promised!)

Taking a stance with the sword, Kamito kicked the ground and jumped.

"I'll show you, Claire Rouge"

The Strongest Blade Dancer — Ren Ashbell's Blade Dance!

Glasya-Labolas smashed the stone wall and stepped his foot out to the plaza outside the arena.

Kamito took a roundabout path to its behind and with a one-step jump, he pierced its ankle with the sword.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Vuoooooon!*

Glasya-Labolas let out a destructive roar. While the shock seemed to be blowing him away, Kamito clung onto the sword that pierced it.

(...What power! As expected of a Militarized Spirit!)

The eyes of the giant, that were burning in anger, caught sight of Kamito's figure at its feet.

It roared again and swung down its boulder-like fist.

Kamito pulled out the sword and jumped back, then using the giant's arm as a stepping stone, he jumped again.

In order to crush Kamito, who appeared on top of his head, Glasya-Labolas reached out with its hand—

At that moment, when it seemed like it caught his ankle.

"Kamito!"

Claire swung her flame whip and bound that arm. As Scarlet was exhausted, cutting up the spirit could not be done. However, roughly sealing its movement was possible.

There was the thunderous sound of the wind blowing violently. Glasya-Labolas shifted its anger to Kamito on its head. In the state of passing by, Kamito brandished the sword. He cut the black crystal-like eyeball.

At that moment, from the eyeball that cracked, something like a black fog was blown out.

(That's the frenzy spirit...!?)

The black fog coiled about the sword. Just at that moment, the tip of its edge was corroding to black.

Kamito was taken aback. —The frenzy spirit was a spirit that granted crazy attribute to spirits.

(Est is being encroached—!)

Kamito twisted his body and swung and cleared away the black fog.

He broke his stance in the air and was about to strike the ground as he was.

Then, Glasya-Labolas' fist swung downwards.

Kamito took a stance with the sword in front of him— but he did not make it!

"...!"

Glasya-Labolas' fist was— precisely stopped above his head.

Its arm, which was about to swing down at any time, was twisted with a burning flame whip.

"Kamito! Now's the chance, quickly do it!"

"Ah—"


Kamito laughed fearlessly, stood up and concentrated his consciousness on the sword.

The elemental waffe of the sword spirit, Est, increased in radiance as it responded to Kamito's feelings

He kicked the ground and jumped. Kamito's sword once again danced in the midair.

And then—

"Oooooooooooo!"

The shining flashing sword cut Glasya-Labola's body right in half.

===Part 5===

That moment when Kamito cut and turned over Glasya-Labolas, Claire was motionlessly staring at it.[[Image:STnBD V01 255.jpg|thumb]]

With the shining sword in his hand, Kazehaya Kamito danced a splendorous Blade Dance—

That was almost—

Like the Blade Dance of Ren Ashbell, who she saw at the stage of the Blade Dance three years ago.

(...Don't tell me.)

The moment Glasya-Labolas turned into particles of light, the flame whip returned to the form of a small hell cat. Claire tenderly embraced the flame spirit, which became small like a kitten.

"—Thank you, Scarlet."



<noinclude>{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter7|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Epilogue}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter8

2014-07-15T22:22:00Z

07n156: /* Part 3 */

==Chapter 8: The Strongest Blade Dancer==
===Part 1===

Academy Town was a small-scale town within the premises of the Areishia Spirit Academy.

The townscape, lined with stone buildings, was filled with the tumult of people.

While bumping many times over into the coming-and-going crowds of people, Kamito was running towards the arena.

—If that was him thinking about it too much, it was alright. However, he was feeling strangely uneasy.

(...Absurd. With the loss of her contracted spirit, a Blade Dance is just...)

While he was out of breath, he ran at full speed, pulling Est's hand.

He did not understand why he was so frantic for her sake.

Claire Rouge was a— tyrant, who was prideful, willful and quick to lash her whip.

However, he somehow could not leave her alone.

(After all, her true self is—)

Kamito stopped at that moment.

"—Here, right?"

Before the arena built at the center of the town, there was a crowd of spectators gathered.

The Blade Dance was originally a holy ritual to let spirits enjoy themselves— a kind of Kagura.


However, there was no change to the fact that it was also the highest form of entertainment to humans.

Also, the same as other festivals, the spirits preferred a great number of enthusiastic people.

He showed his academy student badge to the guard and entered inside, and pushed aside clamoring spectators to get to the front.

There were ear-splitting cheers. The sound of shrills of weapons. The intense Blade Dance had already started at the arena.

There were about 20 participants. Various types of spirits were jumbled together and fighting.

It was a battle royale system where the last one remaining would earn the right to contract with a powerful militarized spirit.

Kamito searched for Claire—

"...!?"

For that unbelievable sight, he doubted his eyes.

That Claire Rouge was—

Covered all over with wounds and crawling.

Against the contracted spirits boasting tremendous power, Claire was fighting with just a whip and Spirit Magic.

While her whole body was hit and slammed into a wall, she stood up and fought again and again.

"Claire—"

He could not go help her. If Kamito got in and helped her, she would be naturally disqualified.

If he did that, she would probably never forgive him.

Kamito bit his teeth and in front of him, Claire was blown away.


===Part 2===

(—Weak. Why am I so weak?)

While being thrown to the ground, Claire strongly bit her lips. The taste of blood spread across her tongue. It seemed that she was cut somewhere inside her mouth. She planned to stand up, but her hands went numb and did not move. It seemed to have caused a cerebral concussion. Even several bones of her ribs might be suffering damage.

"Guu...!"

Even so, she still did not raise the surrender card.

She slowly stood up on shaky legs.

She sternly looked up. At the center of the altar was a worshiped stone pillar. Within that, there was a rank-A battle-class militarized spirit— «Glasya-Labolas» sealed inside, brought in from the imperial capital.

Having brought down many spirit knights in the past wars, it was a famous giant-man spirit.

(...If I obtain that, I can be strong.)

—Nee-sama surely can be saved!

"Flame— dance in my hand, dance!"

She turned the divine power dwelling within herself into flames and produced a fireball of spirit magic in her palm.


In her situation where there was no supply of divine power from Scarlet (her contracted spirit), even for Claire, who was superior, to produce such a small flame took all her might. Naturally, such a thing could not bring down spirits.

However, if she aimed for the elementalists, possibly— there might be a tiny chance of winning.

"Huh? Do you still plan on doing this? You don't learn, do you"

—She heard a scorning voice from her front.

"...!"

She bit her teeth and lifted her head. The two elementalists were standing with ridiculing expressions.

They were the Academy's upper classmen. They were respectively using «Adamantine Spirit» and «Magic Mirror Spirit».

"Hey, are you truly an idiot? You don't even have a contracted spirit."

"That very part of you is irritating, you know."

"...You!"

Aiming at the two upper classmen ridiculing her, Claire released the fireball.

However, the fireball was stopped by the bore-looking Adamantine Spirit and easily repelled.

"Ahahaa, what's that, spirit magic? —Do it, «Adamantine»!"

The girl on the other side cruelly curved her lips and gave an order to her contracted spirit.

The Adamantine Spirit emitted a blue radiance and rushed and struck Claire's abdomen.

"Agg...!"


A mumbling scream escaped from Claire's mouth.

She did not dare aim for her vital points. She was slowly tormenting her and enjoying herself.

This was not a splendorous Blade Dance for spirits to enjoy. It was merely unsightly violence.

"...How cheeky, you. Despite being that Calamity Queen's younger sister."

The upper classman's face was really distorted in hatred. While being hit many times over her whole body— finally, Claire recalled. These two were colleagues, who were one-sidedly knocked down by Claire at a practice match a month ago. They were still resentful about that time.

"What's with that look? If you don't give up quickly, you'll really die!"

"It's alright if you quickly kneel down and lick our shoes. Truly, that foolishness is the same as your sister."

"...Shut...up, be silent."

Claire tightly grasped the sand scattered on the ground.

"Hn, did you say something?"

"I said... be silent."

It was no good. She could not restrain it.

(Only abuses at Nee-sama, no matter what, my boiling point for that is low!)

She put divine power into her left hand, which was grasping sand. A black spirit seal that was re-engraved ominously glowed.

And then the moment the path was connected, a horrifying sensation ran all over her body.


She would not be defeated at such a place. There was no value in her weak self.

(To grasp a more powerful power in my hand—!)

"What... a contracted spirit!?"

The upperclassmen's eyes opened in surprise.

"If you wish for it, I'll show you. This is— my true power!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gou!*

The black flame, released from Claire's hand, gulped down the Adamantine Spirit in an instant.

Appearing from within the blazing flame was—

A flickering jet black magic beast.

It was not a noble flame like Scarlet. It was a flame of darkness, showing signs of madness.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Guo...ruuuuuu...*

The beast's hair-raising roar shook the entire atmosphere in the arena.

===Part 3===
[[File:STnBD V01 004.jpg|thumbnail]]
"...What's that!?"

Kamito got up from the audience seatings and shouted.


The black flame spirit that Claire brought forth engulfed the Adamantine Spirit in front of it in an instant.

—It was not Scarlet.

Its appearance was similar to that hell cat, but the presence of that divine power was overly ominous.

The jet-black flame spirit bit and crushed the magic mirror spirit at the other side and was devouring those remains like a starving beast. That was not all. The spirits around the black spirit suddenly writhed as if going mad and began eating each-others existence.

"The frenzy is spreading...!"

Kamito recalled the Magic Spirit that appeared in Astral Zero last night.

And about the water spirit that went out of control in the bathroom.

The spirits, in a frenzy, lost their reasoning and were unable to restrain their powers. Until their own existence were extinguished, they would conduct themselves with their impulses for destruction.

However, that black Magic Beast—

(It's forcefully snatching away Claire's divine power!?)

Claire stood rock still at the center of the arena with an exhausted expression.

From the black spirit seal engraved on her left hand, blood was trickling down.

Her face was pale and her whole body was quivering bit by bit. It looked like she was also barely standing.

If the situation was left as it was, she might lose her life.


The spectators, who realized that something was strange with the appearance of the spirits, suddenly began making a commotion.

The elementalist girls, in the arena, were also perplexed at their contracted spirits that suddenly did not listen to their commands.

"Damn, what are the guys in Knights doing?"

Kamito looked around the inside of the arena. Despite being an obviously strange situation, the Spirit Knights that should have been prepared for unexpected situations were not moving. What was going on?

However, the Spirit Knights standing at the arena gate were all rooted at the same spot, staring into empty space. Their eyes were not focused. It was as if they had been entranced—

"...What? What the heck is happening?"

"That's a frenzy spirit, Kamito."

Est, who was beside him, muttered expressionlessly.

"A frenzy spirit?"

"It is a possession-type spirit that causes spirits to go berserk. It isn't such a high status spirit, but the spirit possessed loses its reasoning and, until its own existence vanishes, it will continue to fight."

"Possess—? Don't tell me, that black Magic Beast is 'Scarlet'!?"


"Affirmative. That hell cat is a very powerful spirit, it should not vanish from the extent of being beaten by the magic spirit. It seems that it temporary lost the ability to manifest but—"


"Is that so..."

The fire of the flame spirit remained. However, Claire continuously thought that Scarlet vanished, so she was not able to connect the path.

"—But, in that frenzied condition, vanishing completely is also just a matter of time."

"Ah, I understand."

Kamito nodded.

'Scarlet'— a flame spirit with the appearance of a hell cat cladded in noble flames.

That was the very flame of a girl named Claire.

That flame turned into a crazy disgusting Magic Beast that was indulging and eating the spirits.

Something like that could not be her— Claire's desired flame.

"—Est. I ask of you, lend me your strength."

"I am Kamito's sword. I'll do as you desire."

Est gently grasped Kamito's hand. There was a feeling of a hand, cold but surprisingly soft.

"Dispassionate Queen of Steel, the sacred sword that destroys evil— now form my sword!"

Kamito spun the releasing of the elemental waffe; at the same time, Est's body turned into particles of light and vanished.

In the next moment, a silver glowing single edged sword appeared in Kamito's hand.

The spirit language inscription, carved on the edge, was— «Terminus Est».


Just by lightly holding it, he understood that it was a tremendously famous sword.

"I'm sorry. The path to my true form is closed, so this is the limit for me currently."

Est, who turned into the form of a sword, said apologetically.

"No, this is plenty. —Let's go, Est!"

Kamito prepared Terminus Est and jumped into the arena where the raging black flame was.

The moment he landed onto the ground, the magic beast of darkness bared its fangs and pounced to attack him.

He brandished the sword with a flourish, knocked away the black flame, and rushed over to Claire's side.

"Claire!"

"...Kamito"

Claire opened her ruby-colored eyes.

Her knees were on the ground and she was breathing heavily. Her delicate body was going to collapse at any time.

The blood, trickling from the spirit seal on her left hand, was dyeing the sand scattered on the ground red.

At that moment, the black Flame Magic Beast mowed onto the ground with its claws, like it was making fun of it.

There was the scent of burning in the air. The hot wind with pebbles mixed in gently brushed Kamito's cheeks.

"...!?"

In a hair's breadth, Kamito dodged the black flame's claws. He drove in a slash at the black flame spirit that was just knocked down.

The silver sword flash drew an arc. The elemental waffe of the sword spirit cut up even the intangible flames—


The black Flame Magic Beast let out an ear-splitting scream and broke up in the air. It didn't mean that it vanished. The flames that were scattered were burning at their respective positions and formed a flaming wall surrounding Kamito in it. Kamito clicked his tongue and stopped at that spot.

"Claire, get yourself together, come to your senses!"

"Wh...What... Why are you here—"

A confused expression surfaced on Claire's face—

"...!?"

Then, as if she just began to realize it, she opened her eyes in terror.

The scene that flew into her eyes was a cruel disastrous scene.

There was a blazing, disgusting black flame.

A group of spirits was in a frenzy and were devouring each other.

The students of the academy were losing their consciousness from having their divine power eaten and were falling down to the ground one by one—

"Claire, is this the power you wanted? Something like this? These are your flames!"

Kamito shouted as if he was throwing up.

While he cleared away the attacking flame with the sword, he reached out his hand towards Claire.

"I...I...—"

Claire moved her lips with her pale facial expression—


She instantly shook her head as if she had changed her mind.

"Sh...Shut up! I... I need the power!"

The red twin-tail hair violently sprung up.

The black flame blazed even more as if responding to Claire's fury.

"...You don't understand. My feelings of being always alone—"

Claire lay face down and said that while gasping.

That day, four years ago, was when the still childish Claire Elstein's life ended.

The girl, who was betrayed by her most loved sister, had both her parents imprisoned and lost everything, was—

To live taking persecutions as Calamity Queen's sister.

If she didn't become strong alone, she would not be able to live on.

"...You're not alone, idiot."

"Eh?"

At Kamito's words—

Claire raised her head with a blank expression.

"I am here. I'll be by your side. After all, I'm—"

Kamito approached Claire with a step.

The flame wall in their surroundings burned with intimidation.


"D...Don't come here..."

"Claire—"

"Do not come here!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pashin!*— She closed her eyes and strongly struck her leather whip at Kamito's cheek.

Red blood flowed from his cheek. Kamito did not even wipe that and took another step—

"...!? Why didn't you avoid it?"

Claire's cherry blossom-colored lips were quivering.

"I didn't plan on hitting... and yet."

Kamito stood before Claire and slowly raised his hand over his head.

"...!"

Claire thought it was a strike, and reflexively closed her eyes tightly.

Then—

....*Poff*.

"Eh?"

Claire widely opened her ruby-colored eyes.

She looked up at Kamito with a blank expression.

"—Claire, I like your flames."


Kamito stirred up and crumpled Claire's red hair.

"...Wh!? Ah, ...Li...Like...? Eh?"

Claire's cheeks were dyed bright red inside.

"They burn prettily, dazzlingly and nobly. I like your flames."

"Ah, sh...sh..."

—That was why he wanted to protect those flames.

"If you want power—"

Kamito looked straight into Claire's eyes and said.


"I'll be your contracted spirit."

"Kamito..."

In Claire's red eyes, a drop of tear surfaced—

Confused, she wiped it with her uniform sleeve.

"Wh...What are you saying? You are originally my Slave Spirit!"

"Ah, that is right..."

Kamito bitterly smiled and gently removed his hand from Claire's head.


At that moment, he sliced and drove away the black Flame Magic Beast that roared and advanced while attacking with the sword.

With his back facing Claire, he blocked its way like a knight protecting a princess.

"—Hey, Scarlet. Did you forget your precious master?"

With Kamito's words thrown at it, the black flame that clad the Magic Beast trembled for a moment.

Scarlet— it seemed to respond to that name.

"...Scarlet?"

Claire asked.

"Ah, it wasn't that your partner vanished. It just temporarily lost its power. Although, it's now possessed by a frenzy spirit and it has changed into such an appearance."

"...Scarlet is alive!?"

Claire was taken aback and raised her head. Kamito nodded.

"Ah, this sword— Est informed me."

"...That's, by no means, that Sword Spirit?"

"That's right. But she probably can't even use a tenth of her original power."

Taking a stance with Terminus Est in both his hands, Kamito turned towards the black flame magic beast.

"..."

Claire stared at the thunderously raging black flame.


She saw something within that flame and swiftly raised her head—

"...Yes, that is Scarlet."

She wiped her tears to shake it off.

"If that's the case—"

"Claire, stand back. A frenzied spirit will attack even its contractor."

Kamito restrained Claire, who planned to go to the front, with his hand—

Claire stopped that hand and shook her head.

"Scarlet is in a frenzy because of me. Therefore, only I can take her back."

—Flames, dance in my hand, dance!

Spun from her cherry blossom-colored lips was the spirit language aria.

At that moment, a small fireball was born at the palm of her hand.

"Spirit Magic? What can such a small fireball—"

"—Like this."

At that instant, Claire pushed the burning fireball into her left hand.

There was the sound of flesh burning.

"O...Oi, Claire!?"

"...A...gu...uuuu—!"


While barely clenching her teeth, Claire moaned in anguish.

On her pale face, perspiration like waterfalls flowed along her chin.

"You...!"

Kamito finally understood.

The black spirit seal, re-engraved on Claire's left hand— that was the symbol of contract with that frenzy spirit.

The spirit seal was an exclusive «Gate» to connect the path between Astral Zero and this world.

If that was destroyed, naturally, the contract with the spirit would be annulled.

Claire was physically burning the spirit seal and was breaking the contract with the frenzy spirit!

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Guorooooouuu...*

The Magic Beast, clad in black flames, raged like a thunderous wind.

With the path being burned off, it shared the same pain as Claire, its contractor.

"Sorry, Scarlet, I too... will endure—"

Claire was putting up with the pain and that moment when Claire's knees hit the ground—

The frenzied magic beast roared and sprung at Claire.

"—!"

Kamito quickly stepped in and got into the magic beast's bosom in one bound.

The claws, clad in flames, burned the ends of his hair and at that instant— he slashed down with the sword when they passed each other.


There was a flashing sword swing. At the same time, the red hot flames that could melt even iron attacked Kamito's whole body—

"Kamito!"

Claire's scream resounded.

However, Kamito's body had already disappeared.

The moment the sword and the claws crossed, he dodged like a shadow and had turned to the flame spirit's back.

(—A frenzied spirit certainly has its power greatly increased.)

The black flame spirit turned around— but it was too late.

(However, no matter what, its movements became dull. In that case, it can't win against me—)

Kamito kicked the ground and sharply turned, and swung the silver shining Terminus Est—

With that stroke of the sword, the black flame, possessing the flame spirit, was severed and killed.

"—Claire, are you alright?!"

Kamito rushed over, Claire was lying on the floor with a pale face.

From her red forelock clinging onto her forehead, drops of perspiration were dripping down.

"A...guu...!"

A gasping, like it was hoarse from her inner throat, leaked out. Her left hand sustained a severe burn.

Just the texture of her thin pretty skin was hideously burned, that scar was too painful to look at.

However, the black spirit seal that was engraved disappeared without leaving any trace.


With this, the path with that frenzy spirit should be completely severed.

"That was so reckless. Look, I'll treat it for you, so show it to me."

"I...I'm fine, it's just this much..."

Claire's cheeks turned slightly red and she quickly turned away.

At that moment, intense pain was suddenly running all over, causing her to softly scream "Hyauu" and making her eyes turn teary.

"What, you're not being honest."

"Sh...Shut up, I'll turn you into cinders!"

Kamito bitterly smiled at Claire's usual behavior.

—However, this is the usual Claire Rouge.

She was not suited to have just a sorrowful face.

"By the way, where—"

Suddenly, Kamito turned serious and asked.

"What..."

"Where did you contract something like a frenzy spirit?"

"That's—"

Claire stammered with her words and at that time.

"Ah, did you receive my present with pleasure?"


From behind, they heard such an inappropriate voice.

It was a gentle voice, like downy hair tickling one's earlobe.

"...!?"

It sounded familiar— but that was out of the question.

For three years, he always— yearned to hear it, that voice.

Kamito slowly turned around.

And there—

A beautiful girl, wearing a dark black dress, was giggling.

===Part 4===

Kamito stood still at that place with a frozen expression.

"Don't tell me, tha..t's..."

What was there was—

A girl, who was the very light to Kamito.

She gave the boy, who had closed his heart into a cold cage, a warm light—

"...Res...tia?"


Kamito muttered in a blurry voice.

"—It has been quite a long time, Kamito."

The girl, wearing a darkness-color dress, impishly smiled.

...It was unbelievable.

However, that appearance was the same as it was from that time, three years ago.

That beautiful face, without doubt, belonged to the girl, who Kamito knew.

The darkness spirit, Restia.

The contracted spirit of the strongest blade dancer — Ren Ashbell.

"Restia, I—"

Kamito reached out his hand and he planned to approach the girl.

However, his legs, as if they were sewed on to that place, could not move.

Despite that, the girl who he was continuously searching for the last three years, was right in front of him—

—Something was strange. His elementalist intuition was telling him that.

She was smiling like that.

Moveover, in the girl's hand, what was that ominous black lump?

"I wanted to meet you, Kamito. However—"

The girl faced that black lump at the altar in the center and threw it there.


"...?"

"Let's leave the hug to the next opportunity. Look, as that child wakes up."

When the black lump turned into a fog in midair, it surrounded the holy stone pillar at the altar.

The stone pillar that was brought in from the imperial capital and in which was the sealed militarized spirit.

"Restia... What in the world are—?"

Kamito muttered and at that time.

Suddenly, the ground violently shook.

"What...!?"

"Ah, looks like it has already woken up."

"Restia...?"

"Kamito, be careful! She is the one who gave me that frenzy spirit!"

Claire shouted to the absentminded boy.

"Wh...at...!?"

At that moment, a ground-shaking roar resounded.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishii*— the stone pillar enveloped in the black fog cracked.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Zu...zuzu...zuzuzuzu...!*

From the tear in the stone pillar, a giant human hand appeared.


That was—

(Glasya-Labolas is— going into a frenzy!?)

Taken aback, he turned around. Restia was giggling.

That somewhat devilish smile was something Kamito had never seen.

"—Good bye, Kamito. Let's meet again."

"Restia... What is going on!? What are you—"

"Because that is your wish."

"...!?"

Kamito's face froze.

"Wait— Please wait, Restia!"

"I had waited, it has already been three years."

"Resti..."

Restia smiled once again and disappeared into the empty space that became a black fog.

Kamito dropped both his hands like he was exhausted and stood still and dumbfounded.

—He did not understand what had happened.

(Restia gave Claire that frenzy spirit...?)

He could not believe it. No, he did not want to believe it.


However, the girl's appearance belonged to the darkness spirit that he had certainly been continuously searching for.

His former contracted spirit.

The girl showed Kamito, who lost his human heart, his first warm light.

If that girl changed, that—

(It's my fault... I had changed her into something different.)

The Blade Dance three years ago.

Kamito, who came out victorious as Ren Ashbell,—

Attempted to have a «wish» that humans can never wish for to be granted.

For that reason, he decided to lose her.

He believed that she would be alive somewhere.

The aching of the spirit seal engraved on his left hand whispered.

—She would be alive again. He could still make up for his crimes.

By no means, it became that they met up again in such a manner— it was something he never thought of.

"Restia... Is this my punishment?"

If that was the case, it was too cruel.

Like his whole body's strength was drawn out and he was going to collapse, his knees hit the ground.

He was plunged into darkness. 


"Kamito!? Hey, are you listening, Kamito!"

Even Claire's voice calling for Kamito was only absentmindedly heard.

Once again, the ground violently shook.

Passing through the «Gate» opened in the empty space, Glasya-Labolas was attempting to emerge.

The wall of the arena collapsed due to the tremor and a large amount of rubble poured down over Kamito's head.

Just before his body was going to be crushed— that moment.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pashii*— Kamito's head was twined around by a whip.

"...Guoo!"

Kamito was violently dragged along the ground and he made an anguished voice.

Immediately after, a large amount of rubble fell at the place where Kamito had been at.

There was a thunderous sound. Clouds of dust fluttered up in the air.

...If he was crushed, he would have, without a doubt, died.

"Idiot! Wh...What are you doing!"

Over his head, Claire took up a daunting pose and shouted.

"Hey, do you want to die? Or do you want to turn to cinders?"

"No, not those two choices— Guoo!"

"Hmm, if you can retort, you are alright, aren't you!"


Claire constricted Kamito's head with her whip and with a jerk, drew her face closer.

"..."

It was at a point-blank distance as if the tips of their noses were touching.

Her ruby-colored pupils, filled with a strong will, were before his eyes.

Nevertheless in such a moment, Kamito was reflexively startled.

"...Come on, what? What is it?"

Seemingly noticing that her face was too close, Claire's cheeks turned red and she slightly loosened her whip.

"It...It's not like I'm particularly interested but... for once, listen up."

"Wh...What..."

"That girl just now, h...how is she related to you?"

"She—"

Kamito averted his eyes from Claire's clear eyes

"Was my contracted spirit."

"Spirit?"

Kamito silently nodded and clenched his left hand.

"...It's my fault. It's my fault that she—"

Thoughts of her made Kamito sink into the dark abyss once again,—


"So what!"

Claire's voice, which was cold, drew him back.

"Eh?"

"I am saying so what!"

Claire was standing straight up, with both hands on her waist and her twin-tail hair over her shoulder.

Until a while ago, she was extremely depressed. 

Now, there was above all else her noble, beautiful crimson flame.

"No, it is because I..."

Kamito was taken aback and became dumbfounded—

"Didn't you promise me just now that 'I'll be your contracted spirit'?! Please hold on to the responsibility of your own words!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishipashi!* Claire struck Kamito's back with her whip.

"Ouch! Wh...What are you doing! Whipping a dead person!"

Without thought, Kamito stood up and shouted.

Claire suddenly smiled.

"A dead person? Then how about dying once? Look, look at that."

"Aah?"


Kamito turned his face—

From the «Gate» in the empty space, bluish-white light emitted and Glasya-Labolas came crawling out.

The battle-class militarized spirit, whose seal was undone; its over-all length was more than ten-odd meters.

Glasya-Labolas roared. With just that roar, half of the audience seats were blown away.

It seemed that the audience had already escaped, but there should still be many citizens outside the arena.

From the giant empty hole in the wall, the state of the plaza could be observed.

Everyone was screaming and jostling, while running away. In response to the sudden appearance of Glasya-Labolas, the plaza and the main street were filled with chaos and agonizing cries.

Placing its hand on the crumbled arena wall, Glasya-Labolas slowly walked out.

With his every step, the ground shook as if an earthquake occurred.

How things would turn out, if such a thing got into the town was quite obvious.

"Waiting for help from the academy would be pointless. They will arive too late. Just the two of us will have to do this."

"...Ah, that's right."

However— Kamito still had not recovered from the shock.

Even «Terminus Est», which he was tightly grasping, was losing that cool and clear radiance.

An elemental waffe would demonstrate its true value according to the elementalist's divine power.

With Kamito's current condition, he was unable to even maintain the sword's strength.


For example, even if he fought, it was certain that it would be instantly broken.

"..."

Claire stared at Kamito in such a state with a rigid expression.

"It seems like you're still half asleep. If that's the case, I'll wake you up."

After that, for some reason, her face turned red and she quickly looked away.

And, in the next moment.

"...!?"

[[Image:STnBD V01 250.jpg|thumb]]
Suddenly, his lips were closed.

It was hot. It was a tender sensation that was gently getting wet.

His nose was tickled by the faint scent of her hair.

"Hn..."

Several seconds later, their lips slowly separated.

"Are you awake?"

"...A...Ah."

Kamito nodded like he was befuddled.

"Th...This is something... only once."

Biting her lips, Claire turned bright red and looked downwards.




The numbing kiss had blown away all the anguish from Kamito's mind.

"...Shock therapy? However, this is a little too effective."

"Hm...hmm, that's fine! —Well then, let's go, Kamito!"

While her face was bright red, Claire spun the spirit language summoning.

'''—Protector of red flames, watchman of the unsleeping hearth!'''

'''—Now is the time, by the blood contract, hurry and come to my side!'''

Immediately, a blazing flame whip was born in Claire's hand.

It was not the black flame, invaded by the frenzy spirit.

That was the flame of the noble Claire Rouge— Scarlet's elemental waffe.

"Thank you, Scarlet. Lend me your power for just a bit longer."

Responding to Claire's feelings, the flame whip thunderously growled.

"I won't make Scarlet, who is weakened, do something unreasonable. I'll go around it to support, so you strike that giant human spirit."

"Ah, I got it!"

Kamito firmly nodded and tightly grasped Terminus Est.

(—That's right.) It is alright to not think about Restia now.

(Now, just—)


(To protect this tomboy princess because that's what I promised!)

Taking a stance with the sword, Kamito kicked the ground and jumped.

"I'll show you, Claire Rouge"

The Strongest Blade Dancer — Ren Ashbell's Blade Dance!

Glasya-Labolas smashed the stone wall and stepped his foot out to the plaza outside the arena.

Kamito took a roundabout path to its behind and with a one-step jump, he pierced its ankle with the sword.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Vuoooooon!*

Glasya-Labolas let out a destructive roar. While the shock seemed to be blowing him away, Kamito clung onto the sword that pierced it.

(...What power! As expected of a Militarized Spirit!)

The eyes of the giant, that were burning in anger, caught sight of Kamito's figure at its feet.

It roared again and swung down its boulder-like fist.

Kamito pulled out the sword and jumped back, then using the giant's arm as a stepping stone, he jumped again.

In order to crush Kamito, who appeared on top of his head, Glasya-Labolas reached out with its hand—

At that moment, when it seemed like it caught his ankle.

"Kamito!"

Claire swung her flame whip and bound that arm. As Scarlet was exhausted, cutting up the spirit could not be done. However, roughly sealing its movement was possible.

There was the thunderous sound of the wind blowing violently. Glasya-Labolas shifted its anger to Kamito on its head. In the state of passing by, Kamito brandished the sword. He cut the black crystal-like eyeball.

At that moment, from the eyeball that cracked, something like a black fog was blown out.

(That's the frenzy spirit...!?)

The black fog coiled about the sword. Just at that moment, the tip of its edge was corroding to black.

Kamito was taken aback. —The frenzy spirit was a spirit that granted crazy attribute to spirits.

(Est is being encroached—!)

Kamito twisted his body and swung and cleared away the black fog.

He broke his stance in the air and was about to strike the ground as he was.

Then, Glasya-Labolas' fist swung downwards.

Kamito took a stance with the sword in front of him— but he did not make it!

"...!"

Glasya-Labolas' fist was— precisely stopped above his head.

Its arm, which was about to swing down at any time, was twisted with a burning flame whip.

"Kamito! Now's the chance, quickly do it!"

"Ah—"


Kamito laughed fearlessly, stood up and concentrated his consciousness on the sword.

The elemental waffe of the sword spirit, Est, increased in radiance as it responded to Kamito's feelings

He kicked the ground and jumped. Kamito's sword once again danced in the midair.

And then—

"Oooooooooooo!"

The shining flashing sword cut Glasya-Labola's body right in half.

===Part 5===

That moment when Kamito cut and turned over Glasya-Labolas, Claire was motionlessly staring at it.[[Image:STnBD V01 255.jpg|thumb]]

With the shining sword in his hand, Kazehaya Kamito danced a splendorous Blade Dance—

That was almost—

Like the Blade Dance of Ren Ashbell, who she saw at the stage of the Blade Dance three years ago.

(...Don't tell me.)

The moment Glasya-Labolas turned into particles of light, the flame whip returned to the form of a small hell cat. Claire tenderly embraced the flame spirit, which became small like a kitten.

"—Thank you, Scarlet."



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