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Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Names and Terminology Guidelines

2012-04-11T05:06:25Z

140.114.81.204: /* Elemental Waffe */

== Names ==

カゼハヤ・カミト = Kazehaya Kamito

クレア・ルージュ = Claire Rouge

リンスレット・ローレンフロスト = Rinslet Laurenfrost

エリス・ファーレンガルト = Ellis Fahrengart

レン・アッシュベル＝　Ren Ashbell

ルビア・エルステイン　＝　Rubia Elstein

グレイワース.シエルマイス　＝ Greyworth Ciel Mais

フレイヤ.グランドル = Freya Grandol

フィアナ・レイ・オルデシア = Fianna Ray Ordesia

＜スカーレット＞ = Scarlet

＜フェンリル＞ = Fenrir

＜シムルグ＞　＝　Simorgh

== Names/Titles of other stuff==

元素精霊界(アストラル・ゼロ)= Astral Zero (Elemental Spirit World)

風王騎士団(シルフィード) = Sylphid Knights

レイヴン教室 = Raven Class

災厄の精霊姫（カラミティ・クイーン） = Calamity Queen

喪失の精霊姫（ロスト・クイーン） = Lost Queen

黄昏の魔女　（ダスク・ウイツチ）＝ Dusk Witch

== Elemental Waffe ==
魔氷の矢弾（フリージング・アロー） = Freezing Arrow

炎王の息吹(ヘルブレイズ) = Hell Blaze

破岩の鎚(ロック・ブレイカー) = Rock Breaker

風翼の槍(レイ・ホーク) ＝　Ray Hawk

魔王殺しの聖剣（デモン・スレイヤー） = Demon Slayer

＜テルミヌス・エスト＞　=　Terminus Est

== Vocabulary ==

精霊使い＝ Spirit Contractor - literally means "Spirit User"

精霊魔装(エレメンタルヴァツフェ)= Elemental Waffe (waffe is German for weapon or talon) correct plural is "Elemental Waffen" - The weapon form of a spirit

神威(カムイ)= Divine Power

精霊王= Elemental Lord

炎精霊 = Flame Spirit

剣精霊 = Sword Spirit

魔氷精霊 = Magic Ice Spirit

魔風精霊　＝　Magic Wind Spirit

魔精霊 = Magic Spirit

火猫 = Hell Cat

封印精霊 = Sealed Spirit

精霊剣舞祭（プレイダンス） =　Blade Dance - short for spirit blade dance festival

展開式（レリーズ） = Releasing - due to usage as a noun.

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Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Names and Terminology Guidelines

2012-04-11T05:05:52Z

140.114.81.204: /* Elemental Waffe */

== Names ==

カゼハヤ・カミト = Kazehaya Kamito

クレア・ルージュ = Claire Rouge

リンスレット・ローレンフロスト = Rinslet Laurenfrost

エリス・ファーレンガルト = Ellis Fahrengart

レン・アッシュベル＝　Ren Ashbell

ルビア・エルステイン　＝　Rubia Elstein

グレイワース.シエルマイス　＝ Greyworth Ciel Mais

フレイヤ.グランドル = Freya Grandol

フィアナ・レイ・オルデシア = Fianna Ray Ordesia

＜スカーレット＞ = Scarlet

＜フェンリル＞ = Fenrir

＜シムルグ＞　＝　Simorgh

== Names/Titles of other stuff==

元素精霊界(アストラル・ゼロ)= Astral Zero (Elemental Spirit World)

風王騎士団(シルフィード) = Sylphid Knights

レイヴン教室 = Raven Class

災厄の精霊姫（カラミティ・クイーン） = Calamity Queen

喪失の精霊姫（ロスト・クイーン） = Lost Queen

黄昏の魔女　（ダスク・ウイツチ）＝ Dusk Witch

== Elemental Waffe ==
魔氷の矢弾（フリージング・アロー） = Freezing Arrow

炎王の息吹(ヘルブレイズ) = Hell Blaze

破岩の鎚(ロック・ブレイカー) = Rock Breaker

風翼の槍(レイ・ホーク) ＝　Ray Hawk

魔王殺しの聖剣（デモン・スレイヤー） = Demon Slayer

＜テルミヌス　エスト＞　=　Terminus Est

== Vocabulary ==

精霊使い＝ Spirit Contractor - literally means "Spirit User"

精霊魔装(エレメンタルヴァツフェ)= Elemental Waffe (waffe is German for weapon or talon) correct plural is "Elemental Waffen" - The weapon form of a spirit

神威(カムイ)= Divine Power

精霊王= Elemental Lord

炎精霊 = Flame Spirit

剣精霊 = Sword Spirit

魔氷精霊 = Magic Ice Spirit

魔風精霊　＝　Magic Wind Spirit

魔精霊 = Magic Spirit

火猫 = Hell Cat

封印精霊 = Sealed Spirit

精霊剣舞祭（プレイダンス） =　Blade Dance - short for spirit blade dance festival

展開式（レリーズ） = Releasing - due to usage as a noun.

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Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter1

2012-04-09T08:54:22Z

140.114.81.204: /* Part 3 */

==Chapter 1: You are my contracted spirit==

=== Part 1 ===

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

"Paa--"

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

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

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

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

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

Of course, she was naked. Stark naked.

"......"

Kamito felt cold sweat on his back.

Not good.

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

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

And at that time, the girl--

[[Image:STnBD V01 013.jpg|thumb]]

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

Tick.

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

"Ah-that......"

Kamito coughed once, and removed his glance from the naked girl　who was standing motionlessly.

"How can I say it......it looks like an accident, right? It is an unfortunate accident for both of us..."

At that time, Kamito made two fatal errors. The first, of course, was that he started to make futile explanations. The best choice was to take advantage of the fact that the girl was dazed, and run away from the trouble immediately.

And the other error was--

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

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

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

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

"I have no interest towards a kid's body."

Looks like he stepped on a gigantic landmine.

"......"

A frozen silence fell.

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

"Sixteen--"

"Eh?"

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

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

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

"Haa!?"

As Kamito opened his eyes wide in surprise--

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

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

"......Unforgivable."

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

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

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

Kamito said that in a low voice with narrowed eyes.

"Hn?"

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

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

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

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

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

(.....a Spirit Contractor!)

Kamito shouted in his head.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As the thought suddenly hits him, Kamito was stunned.

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

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

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

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

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

Kamito shook his head in panic.

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

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

"Oooooh..!?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“That's nonsense, I’m not a pervert!“

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

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

“As I am saying, I’m not a pervert!“

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

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

“......eh?”

Instantly, Claire’s facial expression froze. And-

“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!”

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

“Ah, idiot!”

Kamito involuntarily exclaimed.

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

(Damn--)

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

“Wha-!?”

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

Duuuun!

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

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

.....A few seconds later.

“Um......“

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

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

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

Funyuu.

His hand under the water had touched something soft.

“Hwaaah!”

(What is that? Mud?--)

Funyu. Munyu (touch, touch).

“Hm, ya, hwaaa”

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

“Um ..this is?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“You, PERVERT----!”

“Gwah!”

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

Gugugugugu....!

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

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

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

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

=== Part 2 ===

“.....Un”

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

He tried to rise---

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

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

“Finally woke up, You Peeping Tom Pervert”

The thing on his neck tightens.

“Gweh!? Release me....”

Kamito coughed then looked upward-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Hmm?)

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

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

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

Kamito teased her nonchalantly -

“What!? Wr, Wro, Wrong, I’m not!”

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

“Then do you enjoy being whipped?”

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

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

(Oh, as I expected....)

Kamito smiled bitterly in his heart.

(This girl, is really really innocent.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

"wh...what, you pervert!"

"I can see your panties from this angle."

"Fuwah!" 

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

“you... you saw it?”

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

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

“So, it’s white.”

“......ha!?”

Realizing that she was tricked, Claire bit her lips-

“U, uuuuuuuuuh~”

..... Somehow she started to cry.

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

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

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

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

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

“Wha, What.....”

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

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

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

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

“I was, summoned here by Greyworth.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“That.. that old hag!?”

Instantly, Claire's face stiffened.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“.....Yeah, that’s how it is”

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

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

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

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

“What, that far!?”

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

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

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

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

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

“Spirit Contract?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Stop, it’s too dangerous.”

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

Claire muttered, biting her tightly close lips.

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

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

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

“'''Scarlett''' is an important partner. But-”

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

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

=== Part 3 ===

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

“Here”

Then, suddenly her well proportioned feet stopped walking.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Claire Rouge ---- obviously a Pseudonym.

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

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

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

Even I have mine, too -

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

“Is that dress the academy's uniform?”

“Yah”

Claire nods in a cold manner while walking.

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

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

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

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

“Wha, Whatt, What are you saying! Aren't you an idiot!”

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

“Uwahh, Calm down!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Of, of course I do!”

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

Kamito shrugged his shoulder and Claire turned away from him.

“....Suit yourself”

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

“......Flames, let there be light.”

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

The sword was at the innermost of the shrine.

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

Kamito muttered, while Claire nodded quietly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Claire stated like she was amazed.

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

“.....Indeed. Certainly, the real thing will not be at such a place...”

Claire walked toward the sword determinedly.

“Hey....”

“You stay back.”

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

“Don’t strain yourself ”

“....Got it”

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

“.....Let's do this, Claire Rouge.”

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

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

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

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

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

“......eh?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Clink!

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

“.....What, seriously!?”

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

The ancient runes engraved in its belly suddenly shined violently!

“......ha!?”

Claire involuntarily releases the blade from her hand ---

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

“Kyaaaaah!”

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

“Hey, are you okay!”

Kamito quickly runs towards Claire.

“Wha, What? What exactly has....”

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

“My, My sealed spirit?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“.....umm, indeed so.”

Claire meekly nodded uncharacteristically.

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

Then ---

“.....Get Down!”

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

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

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

“Idiot, stop rampaging!”

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

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

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

Kamito glared with half opened eye towards　Claire .

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

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

“YOU....”

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

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

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

“Hwaah”

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

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

“Let’s run outside!”

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

The spirit sword did no immediately chases after them. Maybe as of now it has not yet completely awakened. With this opportunity they might be able to run away.

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

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

“Alwa, always, you’re noisy...”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“.....You will never understand”

At the same time Clair averts her eyes.

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

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

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

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

“The hunting begins, Scarlett!”

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

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

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

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

“Scarlett, go get it!”

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

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

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

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

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

“Eat this, searing fire ball!”

Clair releases a huge fire ball from her palm.

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

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

(What Terrible Power......)

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

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

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

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

“Scarlett!”

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

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

“Wh...What?....”

Kamito suppressed both his ears with his hands.

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

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

In a flash.

“What!?”

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

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

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

Kamito cursed, then took a glance at Claire -

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

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

The huge bastard sword flew with a bursting sound -

“Claire!”

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

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

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

(……No choice but to do this! )

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

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

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

(.....Gwaah, Gah!)

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

--- Thrice I Command Thee!

“.....No way, a Spirit Contract!?”

A surprised sound came from Claire’s throat.

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

--- Exchange Vows With Me!

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

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

(What!?)

Intense flashes and thunderous sounds filled his consciousness.

=== Part 4 ===

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

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

(.....Looks like I’m alive)

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

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

In his right hand where was stabbed -

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

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

(Aah, I did it....)

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

A sharp sense of guilt bit his heart.

He has broken the promise with ''her'' ---

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

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

“......Why ”

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

“......”

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

“My, My Sword Spirit!?”

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

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

“Wha, Whaa, Wha, Whaaaat!”

Claire wore a stunned expression with her mouth wide open.

(Well, A natural reaction....)

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

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

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

Kamito stands up and quietly turns around.

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

“Wait, as am I saying Wait!”

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

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

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

“Huh?”

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

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

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

“Re..sponsibility?”

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

....What was the girl saying.

“Therefore....”

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

"You have to become my contracted spirit!"

<noinclude>
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| Forward to [[Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
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Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter1

2012-04-09T08:53:09Z

140.114.81.204: /* Part 3 */

==Chapter 1: You are my contracted spirit==

=== Part 1 ===

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

"Paa--"

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

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

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

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

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

Of course, she was naked. Stark naked.

"......"

Kamito felt cold sweat on his back.

Not good.

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

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

And at that time, the girl--

[[Image:STnBD V01 013.jpg|thumb]]

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

Tick.

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

"Ah-that......"

Kamito coughed once, and removed his glance from the naked girl　who was standing motionlessly.

"How can I say it......it looks like an accident, right? It is an unfortunate accident for both of us..."

At that time, Kamito made two fatal errors. The first, of course, was that he started to make futile explanations. The best choice was to take advantage of the fact that the girl was dazed, and run away from the trouble immediately.

And the other error was--

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

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

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

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

"I have no interest towards a kid's body."

Looks like he stepped on a gigantic landmine.

"......"

A frozen silence fell.

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

"Sixteen--"

"Eh?"

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

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

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

"Haa!?"

As Kamito opened his eyes wide in surprise--

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

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

"......Unforgivable."

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

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

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

Kamito said that in a low voice with narrowed eyes.

"Hn?"

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

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

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

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

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

(.....a Spirit Contractor!)

Kamito shouted in his head.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As the thought suddenly hits him, Kamito was stunned.

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

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

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

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

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

Kamito shook his head in panic.

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

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

"Oooooh..!?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“That's nonsense, I’m not a pervert!“

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

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

“As I am saying, I’m not a pervert!“

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

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

“......eh?”

Instantly, Claire’s facial expression froze. And-

“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!”

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

“Ah, idiot!”

Kamito involuntarily exclaimed.

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

(Damn--)

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

“Wha-!?”

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

Duuuun!

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

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

.....A few seconds later.

“Um......“

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

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

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

Funyuu.

His hand under the water had touched something soft.

“Hwaaah!”

(What is that? Mud?--)

Funyu. Munyu (touch, touch).

“Hm, ya, hwaaa”

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

“Um ..this is?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“You, PERVERT----!”

“Gwah!”

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

Gugugugugu....!

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

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

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

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

=== Part 2 ===

“.....Un”

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

He tried to rise---

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

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

“Finally woke up, You Peeping Tom Pervert”

The thing on his neck tightens.

“Gweh!? Release me....”

Kamito coughed then looked upward-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Hmm?)

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

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

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

Kamito teased her nonchalantly -

“What!? Wr, Wro, Wrong, I’m not!”

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

“Then do you enjoy being whipped?”

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

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

(Oh, as I expected....)

Kamito smiled bitterly in his heart.

(This girl, is really really innocent.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

"wh...what, you pervert!"

"I can see your panties from this angle."

"Fuwah!" 

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

“you... you saw it?”

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

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

“So, it’s white.”

“......ha!?”

Realizing that she was tricked, Claire bit her lips-

“U, uuuuuuuuuh~”

..... Somehow she started to cry.

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

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

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

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

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

“Wha, What.....”

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

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

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

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

“I was, summoned here by Greyworth.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“That.. that old hag!?”

Instantly, Claire's face stiffened.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“.....Yeah, that’s how it is”

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

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

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

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

“What, that far!?”

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

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

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

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

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

“Spirit Contract?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Stop, it’s too dangerous.”

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

Claire muttered, biting her tightly close lips.

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

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

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

“'''Scarlett''' is an important partner. But-”

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

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

=== Part 3 ===

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

“Here”

Then, suddenly her well proportioned feet stopped walking.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Claire Rouge ---- obviously a Pseudonym.

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

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

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

Even I have mine, too -

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

“Is that dress the academy's uniform?”

“Yah”

Claire nods in a cold manner while walking.

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

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

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

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

“Wha, Whatt, What are you saying! Aren't you an idiot!”

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

“Uwahh, Calm down!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Of, of course I do!”

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

Kamito shrugged his shoulder and Claire turned away from him.

“....Suit yourself”

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

“......Flames, let there be light.”

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

The sword was at the innermost of the shrine.

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

Kamito muttered, while Claire nodded quietly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Claire stated like she was amazed.

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

“.....Indeed. Certainly, the real thing will not be at such a place...”

Claire walked toward the sword determinedly.

“Hey....”

“You stay back.”

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

“Don’t strain yourself ”

“....Got it”

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

“.....Let's do this, Claire Rouge.”

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

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

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

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

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

“......eh?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Clink!

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

“.....What, seriously!?”

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

The ancient runes engraved in its belly suddenly shined violently!

“......ha!?”

Claire involuntarily releases the blade from her hand ---

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

“Kyaaaaah!”

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

“Hey, are you okay!”

Kamito quickly runs towards Claire.

“Wha, What? What exactly has....”

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

“My, My sealed spirit?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“.....umm, indeed so.”

Claire meekly nodded uncharacteristically.

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

Then ---

“.....Get Down!”

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

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

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

“Idiot, stop rampaging!”

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

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

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

Kamito glared with half opened eye towards　Claire .

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

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

“YOU....”

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

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

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

“Hwaah”

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

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

“Let’s run outside!”

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

The spirit sword did no immediately chases after them. Maybe as of now it has not yet completely awakened. With this opportunity they might be able to run away.

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

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

“Alwa, always, you’re noisy...”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“.....You will never understand”

At the same time Clair averts her eyes.

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

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

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

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

“The hunting begins, Scarlett!”

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

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

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

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

“Scarlett, go get it!”

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

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

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

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

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

“Eat this, searing fire ball!”

Clair releases a huge fire ball from her palm.

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

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

(What Terrible Power......)

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

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

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

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

“Scarlett!”

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

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

“Wh...What?....”

Kamito suppressed both his ears with his hands.

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

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

In a flash.

“What!?”

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

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

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

Kamito cursed, then took a glance at Claire -

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

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

The huge bastard sword flew with a bursting sound -

“Claire!”

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

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

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

(……No choice but to do this! )

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

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

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

(.....Gwaah, Gah!)

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

--- Thrice I Command Thee!

“.....No way, a Spirit Contract!?”

A surprised sound came from Claire’s throat.

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

--- Exchange Vows With Me!

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

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

(What!?)

Intense flashes and thunderous sounds filled his consciousness.

=== Part 4 ===

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

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

(.....Looks like I’m alive)

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

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

In his right hand where was stabbed -

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

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

(Aah, I did it....)

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

A sharp sense of guilt bit his heart.

He has broken the promise with ''her'' ---

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

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

“......Why ”

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

“......”

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

“My, My Sword Spirit!?”

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

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

“Wha, Whaa, Wha, Whaaaat!”

Claire wore a stunned expression with her mouth wide open.

(Well, A natural reaction....)

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

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

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

Kamito stands up and quietly turns around.

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

“Wait, as am I saying Wait!”

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

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

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

“Huh?”

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

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

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

“Re..sponsibility?”

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

....What was the girl saying.

“Therefore....”

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

"You have to become my contracted spirit!"

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| Forward to [[Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
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Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter1

2012-04-09T08:45:47Z

140.114.81.204: /* Part 4 */

==Chapter 1: You are my contracted spirit==

=== Part 1 ===

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

"Paa--"

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

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

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

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

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

Of course, she was naked. Stark naked.

"......"

Kamito felt cold sweat on his back.

Not good.

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

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

And at that time, the girl--

[[Image:STnBD V01 013.jpg|thumb]]

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

Tick.

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

"Ah-that......"

Kamito coughed once, and removed his glance from the naked girl　who was standing motionlessly.

"How can I say it......it looks like an accident, right? It is an unfortunate accident for both of us..."

At that time, Kamito made two fatal errors. The first, of course, was that he started to make futile explanations. The best choice was to take advantage of the fact that the girl was dazed, and run away from the trouble immediately.

And the other error was--

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

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

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

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

"I have no interest towards a kid's body."

Looks like he stepped on a gigantic landmine.

"......"

A frozen silence fell.

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

"Sixteen--"

"Eh?"

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

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

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

"Haa!?"

As Kamito opened his eyes wide in surprise--

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

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

"......Unforgivable."

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

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

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

Kamito said that in a low voice with narrowed eyes.

"Hn?"

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

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

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

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

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

(.....a Spirit Contractor!)

Kamito shouted in his head.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As the thought suddenly hits him, Kamito was stunned.

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

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

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

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

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

Kamito shook his head in panic.

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

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

"Oooooh..!?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“That's nonsense, I’m not a pervert!“

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

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

“As I am saying, I’m not a pervert!“

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

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

“......eh?”

Instantly, Claire’s facial expression froze. And-

“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!”

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

“Ah, idiot!”

Kamito involuntarily exclaimed.

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

(Damn--)

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

“Wha-!?”

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

Duuuun!

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

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

.....A few seconds later.

“Um......“

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

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

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

Funyuu.

His hand under the water had touched something soft.

“Hwaaah!”

(What is that? Mud?--)

Funyu. Munyu (touch, touch).

“Hm, ya, hwaaa”

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

“Um ..this is?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“You, PERVERT----!”

“Gwah!”

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

Gugugugugu....!

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

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

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

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

=== Part 2 ===

“.....Un”

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

He tried to rise---

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

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

“Finally woke up, You Peeping Tom Pervert”

The thing on his neck tightens.

“Gweh!? Release me....”

Kamito coughed then looked upward-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Hmm?)

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

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

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

Kamito teased her nonchalantly -

“What!? Wr, Wro, Wrong, I’m not!”

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

“Then do you enjoy being whipped?”

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

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

(Oh, as I expected....)

Kamito smiled bitterly in his heart.

(This girl, is really really innocent.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

"wh...what, you pervert!"

"I can see your panties from this angle."

"Fuwah!" 

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

“you... you saw it?”

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

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

“So, it’s white.”

“......ha!?”

Realizing that she was tricked, Claire bit her lips-

“U, uuuuuuuuuh~”

..... Somehow she started to cry.

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

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

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

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

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

“Wha, What.....”

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

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

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

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

“I was, summoned here by Greyworth.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“That.. that old hag!?”

Instantly, Claire's face stiffened.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“.....Yeah, that’s how it is”

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

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

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

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

“What, that far!?”

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

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

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

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

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

“Spirit Contract?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Stop, it’s too dangerous.”

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

Claire muttered, biting her tightly close lips.

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

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

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

“'''Scarlett''' is an important partner. But-”

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

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

=== Part 3 ===

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

“Here”

Then, suddenly her well proportioned feet stopped walking.

With her hands on her hips, she looked back with a half eye glare towards Kamito.

“Why are you following me? You pervert peeping maniac. ”

“Without you, I don’t know the way towards the academy. As I have said several times, I am not a pervert peeping maniac. It’s Kamito, Kamito Kazehaya”

“Fufu, what a weird name. Kuina’s origin?”

Kuina is an empire in the eastern region of the continent. It is said that its language, culture and the relationship of people with spirits largely differed from Orudeshia.

“No, It’s not from Kuina. I was born in a far remote island minority group village.”

Kamito intentionally obscures his own statement. Certainly, he was born in an island country in the east, but the larger half of his childhood life wasn't spent there.

“Your name also has quite a rare taste, Claire Rouge”

“Don’t call my name in a friendly manner. Anyway it’s a strange name.”

“Really? But, I consider it a nice name”

“Wha, What are you saying, stu, stupid!”

Claire's face blushed, then she suddenly changed back to her former direction, and briskly walked faster than usual.

Claire Rouge ---- obviously a Pseudonym.

Most of the students attending the Areshia spirit academy are surely young ladies of noble families who has been trained as spirit contractors since childhood. But Kamito has never heard of the Rouge residence. For hiding a noble family name, she must have some reason for it, but Kamito had no intention to delve more.

(.....Everyone has some secrete to hide. )

Kamito glanced in the direction of his left hand covered by a leather glove.

Even I have mine, too -

Claire keeps advancing steadily. Kamito hastily chased after her back where the twin tail were swaying. Now, losing sight of Claire inside the forest will bring only trouble for him. Kamito was well aware of the dangers of spending one night inside the “Spirit Forest”.

“Is that dress the academy's uniform?”

“Yah”

Claire nods in a cold manner while walking.

Areishia Spirit Academy Uniform is pretty sturdy and also served as a protective garment, which has undergone spirit’s blessing, and it had the effect of raising the sacred attributes. It could also function nicely as a high ceremonial dress for contracting with spirits.

“What, are you saying that it doesn't suite me?”

“No, it suite you gorgeously. Honestly speaking, I am charmed.”

Kamito shrugged his shoulder, and then answered it honestly. 　Fine feathers make fine birds, Kamito planed to mock her with some caustic words, but it did fit her perfectly that Kamito couldn't help but to compliment her.

“Wha, Whatt, What are you saying! Aren't you an idiot!”

(Kaatsu) Claire blushes in deep red, while (Pyun-Pyun) waving her whip.

“Uwahh, Calm down!”

“Wasn't it because that you said some weird thing?”

“''Me saying a weird thing?, I simply speak the truth - *in pain*, I got it, I got it, please stop waving your whip for every little thing.''”

(....phew, I need her as a guide, but what a bothersome princess.)

Dodging the whip which was swung downward at a paper thin distance, Kamito sighed in his mind.

The shrine that held the holy blade stood quietly　in a clearing in the forest.

Claire easily removed the entry forbidding ward, then stopped her steps, and turned to Kamito.

“From here onwards, it will be really dangerous, so, as a commoner you should stay away.”

“If you know that it’s dangerous, why not stop?”

“As am I saying, ''I need to have a strong spirit''.”

Claire calmly shook her head, and stepped into the shrine.

Disregarding her warnings, Kamito followed her. As for coming all the way, it was true that he needed a guide, moreover he was just worried about Claire.

After all “Sealed Spirits” are strong and in the same time have a wild nature. They prefer destruction and chaos, given the chance they would also murder the spirit contractor that employs them.

They are not something that can be managed by humans --- that's why they have been sealed.

Sixteen years of age, with such an innate talent of wielding a spirit, Claire might as well be called a prodigy. However, if by any chance, she was to release a sealed spirit and fail to control it, what would happen?

Although she was just a girl he met by chance, Kamito couldn't let her alone.

“Why did you follow me? I can't guarantee what will happen to you.”

“Don't you have the absolute confidence to tame it?”

“Of, of course I do!”

“Then there’s no problem that I come along. ”

Kamito shrugged his shoulder and Claire turned away from him.

“....Suit yourself”

Inside the shrine is a dark gloomy misty atmosphere. Claire frowned slightly at the mold smells mingled inside the air.

“......Flames, let there be light.”

A tiny fire ball immediately starts to glow from Claire's fingertips, a basic spirit spell drawing on the power of Flame Spirit. The flickering light of the fire ball dimly illuminates the walls of the shrine which looked like a stalactites cavern.

The sword was at the innermost of the shrine.

“That..... is the sword that the sealed spirit resides in?”

Kamito muttered, while Claire nodded quietly.

A naked sword was stabbed standing in a huge stone. Although without doubt it was an antique of hundreds years old,　it has no rust in its body or dent of its edge. Delicate ancient runes were engrossed on its belly, radiating a dimly blue light.

“Existing here even before the academy was found, <the holy sword of Severian>.”

“The holy sword of Severian? The one that slayed Demon King Solomon?”

Demon King Solomon --- commanding seventy two powerful spirits, brought chaos and destruction to the continent, and '''the only male spirit contractor in history'''.

It was said that the one that slayed the demon king was the sword of Severian.

“Idiot, there’s no way that’s the real thing.”

Claire stated like she was amazed.

“Holy sword of Severian stabbed in a stone can be found everywhere in the empire. Some remote villages even has one for the revitalization the village. Anyhow, even if it is not the real deal, since it is a rune sword, there might be a powerful spirit sealed in itself. ”

“.....Indeed. Certainly, the real thing will not be at such a place...”

Claire walked toward the sword determinedly.

“Hey....”

“You stay back.”

Gesturing to Kamito who was coming close, Claire clenched the hilt of the holy blade.

“Don’t strain yourself ”

“....Got it”

Kamito decided to watch over Claire at the edge where the light barely reached. The sealed spirit might be provoked by the presence of other people. A heavy silence filled the surroundings.

“.....Let's do this, Claire Rouge.”

Breathing deeply, Claire murmured to herself. Her voice trembled a bit: it seemed that she was nervous after all.

--- Oh Noble Spirit Sealed in Ancient Holy Sword!

--- Thou Shall Accept Me As Thy Master, And I Shall Be Thy Sheath!

From her cherry red lips flew a fluent incantation for contract ritual in spirit language. Her crimson hair stands on its ends. A crashing wind started to swirl inside the shrine.

Holding his breath, Kamito watched her intensively. Once the contracts had been exchanged and the spirit recognized Clair as its master, a spirit seal would be engraved somewhere on her body. The contract vows entered its conclusion. In this moment, a dreadful gust of wind swept inside the shrine.

“......eh?”

But, Claire is unfazed. She calmly recites her contract vow.

---And, dazzling light radiated from Severian’s holy blade in her hand.

(I can’t....believe it, She was exchanging a contract with the sealed spirit!?)

Preventing being swept by the wind, astonished Kamito raised his voice.

From the holy blade stabbed in the stone　came overwhelming tremendous divine energy. If it was an average spirit contractor, she would have already passed out.

“---Thrice I Command Thee, Exchange Vows With Me!”

And, Claire’s vow reverberates inside the shrine --- in that instant.

Clink!

“Pulled, pulled out. I pulled it out.”

“.....What, seriously!?”

Brandishing overhead the sword pulled out from the stone, Claire exclaimed with joy. In the next second---

The ancient runes engraved in its belly suddenly shined violently!

“......ha!?”

Claire involuntarily releases the blade from her hand ---

The holy blade thrust into the ground. With a flash it blasted into bits.

“Kyaaaaah!”

A short shriek flew, then Claire collapses into the ground.

“Hey, are you okay!”

Kamito quickly runs towards Claire.

“Wha, What? What exactly has....”

Claire held her temple and got up, then looked around restlessly.

“My, My sealed spirit?”

“No, I....can sense something terrible.”

Sweat is flowing intensely from the back of Kamito's neck. Wearing a terrified facial expression,　he looked up at the shrine’s ceiling. In that place, '''swinging while floating in the air was the blade'''.

It's not the shattered holy sword. But, It was a rough steel blade that looked very sharp.

“Is that.....the sealed spirit in the sword!?”

“So it was of the <sword spirit> class. Looks it is rather irritated.”

“How do you know so much? You are not even a spirit contractor!”

“It is plain to see. No matter how you look at it, that doesn't seem to be someone who pledges his allegiance to his matter.”

“.....umm, indeed so.”

Claire meekly nodded uncharacteristically.

The floating sword slants pointing its tip in a downward direction, suddenly it become motionless.

Then ---

“.....Get Down!”

Kamito in that instant, pushes down Claire to the ground. A buzzing sound of an insect grazed the ear, in a flash it went far away.

“Wai, Waa, Wait, where are you touching me, I will turn you into cinders!”

With her face deeply red, Claire beat on Kamito's chest repeatedly.

“Idiot, stop rampaging!”

Kamito quickly moved his body away, and looked in the direct that the sword spirit had flown to.

Fragments of rocks fall down with clattering sounds. The shrine’s ceiling was completely sliced off cleanly.

“It is remarkable to release spirit of such rank ---”

Kamito glared with half opened eye towards　Claire .

“......but the spirit has completely gone berserk.”

“Shu. shut up. The, the taming of it starts now.”

“YOU....”

Kamito was stupefied, but he was in no situation to quarrel with her.

The spirit sword releases a chattering noise while approaching them. Inside the shrine, they can't move freely, and even the eye sight was restricted.

Kamito grabbed Claire’s hand and stood up. Touching each others soft skin, (Doki) a heart beat, but he showed no vexed expression 

“Hwaah”

“Stopping making cute reaction at every little thing. Let's flee.”

“Wha.. whaa. whatt.. Cute.. what me, Kyaa!”

“Let’s run outside!”

Pulling Claire’s hand, while running towards the direction of the shrine’s exit that was basking with sunshine.

The spirit sword did no immediately chases after them. Maybe as of now it has not yet completely awakened. With this opportunity they might be able to run away.

The moment they are out of the shrine, the flash of the sword grazed in front of his eyes. Kamito's forelocks fell while dancing in the air. The spirit sword lets out a tremendous roar, decisively knocking domn the surrounding trees in succession.

“Crazy, What a wild Spirit, just like a certain princess.”

“Alwa, always, you’re noisy...”

Feeling slightly awkward, and Claire fake coughed, then stood up.

“What a rebellious child.....I will give you some proper spanking”

Her pair of crimson eyes which where burning with a fierce determination, somehow she said some line provocative. Rolling up the fringe of her skirt, she then took out the leather whip which was coiled in her thigh, hitting it hard in the ground. Kamito's heart beat for the brief sight of her white underwear, but he said -

“Are you insane!? You’re opponent is a high rank sealed spirit!”

“Easy victory. Amateur like you please stay back!”

“Where are you getting all of your confidence? Whatever, let's run away!”

Claire shook off Kamito's hand that was grabbing her wrist.

“No, you escape yourself. I will absolutely make this spirit mine.”

“You, for what reason --- do you need a strong spirit that badly?”

“.....You will never understand”

At the same time Clair averts her eyes.

“I need...power, I need a unbeatable powerful spirit that will not lose to any other spirit!”

--- Guardian of Crimson’s blaze, Keeper of the Sleepless furnace!

--- Now is the time to abide the contract of blood, hasten to my side as commanded!

Claire recited the summoning spell of her “Flame Spirit”. A crimson flame surges and she was engulfed by intense heat.

“The hunting begins, Scarlett!”

Together with scorching flame – a Scarlet Red Hell Cat appeared. Instead of a fur, it was blazing scarlet red colored flame that was wrapped around the beast's body.

(Is that the real form of her flame spirit!?)

Indeed, she was not all talk. To manifested in beast form is a proof that it is a high rank spirit. "Scarlett" might just be as a name of affection, perhaps it was not the true name of the spirit. Without doubt it is a high rank spirit that carries a true name. 

Claire wields her whip, and the hell cat growls with a frightful roar, then rushed towards the sword spirit. Dancing sparks scattered. The atmosphere trembled at the roar of the beast. The floating spirit sword went against them, cutting all the trees in its way.

“Scarlett, go get it!”

In response to Claire’s shout, the hell cat leaped.　High above the floating sword it went, and sharp blazing claws swung down at the sword. With a high pitched shrill sound, intense sparks sprinkled down, and the spirit sword dropped to the ground.

Claire ran at the same time. It was not a fatal hit. The spirit sword rose and flew in a split second, rolling over while drawing an arc in the air.

The flame spirit chased after it, trying not to loose it from its hands. Roaring loudly, it made a great leap again.

Violent sparks scattered once again. Clare strikes hard at the ground with her leather whip, slowly pressing forward against the sword spirit. It looked like that the leather whip was not meant for battle, rather for signaling instructions to the spirit.

At the fiercely attacks of Scarlett, the spirit sword's movement stopped --- At this instant,

“Eat this, searing fire ball!”

Clair releases a huge fire ball from her palm.

Fire Ball is a high level spirit magic which use ultra hot flames and can terribly burn up any of its target, leaving it traceless. The spirit magic’s power is determined by the spirit contractor’s own divine spiritual energy and the contracted spirit’s strength as a whole.

The released fire ball drew an arch in the air, then exploded in a blast that even Scarlet was caught in. The shock wave of the explosion knocked down the trees in the surrounding and fallen tree trunks radiate from the explosion center.

(What Terrible Power......)

Shielding himself from the flying stones coming at his head, Kamito wrapped his tongue and marveled.

Such power was nothing like a sixteen years old girl was capable of.

Inside the swirling fire the hell cat's figure shows up. Naturally, the hell cat can’t possibly be harmed by the blazing fire because of its fire nature.

The spirit sword float motionlessly in the air. It seemed that it had not received any damage either. Naturally, Claire didn't think that she would bring down a high rank spirit with spirit magic. But she should be able to get its attention.

“Scarlett!”

Claire exclaimed. The flame spirit's claws attacked at the spirit sword again. Its scourging hot claws could melt the iron steel. If its opponent was an average spirit, it would be instantly eradicated. But, the spirit sword quickly turned around, and the attack was stopped by the steel edge of the blade.

In an instant, the strange sound of metal scratching each other reverberated in the trembling atmosphere.

“Wh...What?....”

Kamito suppressed both his ears with his hands.

Receiving the full impact of the sound, Claire's face distorted from pain and she crouched down there.

The spirit sword released a weird sound - and then, transformed. Its shape changed from an average long sword to that of a huge bastard sword.

In a flash.

“What!?”

Claire’s flame spirit took the unexpected strike and couldn't avoid the big swing. The body was severely into two, and it vanished into the void together with the flames wrapped around its body.

With only one hit, it had lost the strength to manifest in this world.

(....Damn! Isn't it in a completely different league? It seemed that it has completely awakened.)

Kamito cursed, then took a glance at Claire -

Claire had collapsed on the ground, and her stunned blank eyes were fixed upward at the void where the flame spirit has disappeared.

Having finished off the flame spirit in one swing, the spirit sword aimed its next attack at Claire. 

The huge bastard sword flew with a bursting sound -

“Claire!”

Kamito shouted, and started to run. Without reason, his own body just moved before he known it.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Diving in front of Clair, he thrust his palm toward the bastard sword. Not his left hand enclosed by the leather glove – it was his right hand.

(……No choice but to do this! )

--- Oh Noble Spirit Sealed in Ancient Holy Sword!

--- Thou Shall Accept Me As Thy Master, And I Shall Be Thy Sheath!

Sweats rushed down from his forehead, he started to recite the incantation for spirit contract ''that he had sworn to never utter again''. The spinning tip of the sword pierced the skin of his palm. Red blood gushed intensely from it.

(.....Gwaah, Gah!)

Crushing amount of divine energy knocked on him, the soil and sands surrounding them are whirling up from the wind pressure. He almost lost his consciousness from the sharp pain. But if Kamito fainted here, Claire protected behind him would surely be cut in half.

--- Thrice I Command Thee!

“.....No way, a Spirit Contract!?”

A surprised sound came from Claire’s throat.

Kamito's heels sunk into the ground. And, the sound of his breaking bones resounds underneath his scalp.

--- Exchange Vows With Me!

Withstanding the terrible sharp pain, Kamito finished his last word of the contract ritual.

Instantly, the body of spirit sword radiated a pale blue light.

(What!?)

Intense flashes and thunderous sounds filled his consciousness.

=== Part 4 ===

He opened his eyes, and Claire Rouge’s face was there. Hanging lower onto his face was her twin tailed hair tickling his face.

It seemed that she shouted something, but he can't hear it clearly. Probably the sound blast had messed up his ears.

(.....Looks like I’m alive)

Weary lying on the ground, Kamito let out a breath of relief. The chance of success against a spirit of such rank was very low, but it looked like his gamble had paid off.

Raising his eyebrow, he grimaced from the torment of pain from all of his body and raised his right hand slowly.

In his right hand where was stabbed -

Instead of a wound, an emblem of two swords crossing each other was engraved on it.

It was the proof of the spirit contract - The spirit seal.

(Aah, I did it....)

Staring at the carved seal on the back of his hand, Kamito murmured.

A sharp sense of guilt bit his heart.

He has broken the promise with ''her'' ---

But, to save Claire under such a situation, that was the only method.

Claire noticed that Kamito has woken up, with her hands in his nape and her face approaching him. So close that he could feel her breath. With her clear crimson eyes, she stared at Kamito. Her cherry colored lips weakly trembled.

“......Why ”

"''Why, you’re a male, how can you contract a spirit!''”

“......”

Kamito does not answer and slowly rises up. Being ignored, the annoyed Claire raised her eyebrows.

“My, My Sword Spirit!?”

“My bad. Just a moment ago, I had contracted it”

Kamito sighes and at the same time he shows her the back of his right hand where the spirit seal is engraved.

“Wha, Whaa, Wha, Whaaaat!”

Claire wore a stunned expression with her mouth wide open.

(Well, A natural reaction....)

A long sigh --- Kamito felt a faint ache in his heart. Of course, he could clearly understand such response. Originally, a privilege that was granted to no one except pure maidens --- the spirit contract.

The existence of a man which could contract a spirit, throughout the history, belonged solely to one person. And the one who brought chaos and destruction in the world, the so called Demon King spirit contractor.

It is natural to fear him, who carried the same power of spirit contracts as the Demon King.

Kamito stands up and quietly turns around.

He does not regret. To save the girl, this is the only way he could think of.

“Wait, as am I saying Wait!”

Kamito was about to leave, but a voice called him from the back.

Turning around, he saw that Claire with her hands in her hips intensely glared at him.

"You stole...my spirit...take responsibility for it!"

“Huh?”

Kamito frowned. ....It doesn't make any sense to him.

At such reaction of Kamito, Claire impatient　brushed her twin tail.

“I should have been the one who had obtained that spirit, as am I saying, you have to take responsibility for it”

“Re..sponsibility?”

Because of that unexpected word, Kamito had become even more confused.

....What was the girl saying.

“Therefore....”

Claire snapped her whip, then she points her index finger toward Kamito.

"You have to become my contracted spirit!"

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| Forward to [[Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
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Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter1

2012-04-09T08:44:22Z

140.114.81.204: /* Part 3 */

==Chapter 1: You are my contracted spirit==

=== Part 1 ===

In a quiet forest where the sun rays were shining through leaves.

"Paa--"

Suddenly, the rippling sound of water resounded in the air.

Kamito, he--opened his mouth wide and just stood there.

A girl...In front of his eyes was a fully naked girl.

She was cute, extraordinarily cute. Her eyes were big and red like rubies, her cherry-red lips were wet and lustrous, her dazzling white flesh was as silky as milk, and on the surface of the water, her beautiful legs were slender and fine. Also, what caught his eyes more than anything was--

The hair that clings on her gorgeous fine glass work like body, crimson red like burning fire.

Of course, she was naked. Stark naked.

"......"

Kamito felt cold sweat on his back.

Not good.

It's really not good that she is seen naked.

......I should really run away quickly. Even though he gave that rational advice to himself, his body wouldn't move. Actually, he was ''charmed''. The scene was so surreal that Kamito felt a bit detached from reality.

And at that time, the girl--

[[Image:STnBD V01 013.jpg|thumb]]

Her moist and beautiful eyes blinked, having found the unexpected intruder.
Staring blankly, she seemed yet to have fully grasped the situation.
She didn't even try to cover her still developing small breasts.

Tick.

The water drops fell from the young girl's bangs. Kamito's consciousness came back at the sound of the water.

"Ah-that......"

Kamito coughed once, and removed his glance from the naked girl　who was standing motionlessly.

"How can I say it......it looks like an accident, right? It is an unfortunate accident for both of us..."

At that time, Kamito made two fatal errors. The first, of course, was that he started to make futile explanations. The best choice was to take advantage of the fact that the girl was dazed, and run away from the trouble immediately.

And the other error was--

"Even though it was an accident, I have seen you in such a situation. Sorry, my apologies."

Until here it was still fine, but the last part......

"Though, don't worry. I'm still a healthy boy, so I don't have ''that kind of interest''. I......"

Looking at the young girl's ''still developing small chest''--

"I have no interest towards a kid's body."

Looks like he stepped on a gigantic landmine.

"......"

A frozen silence fell.

Silently, the girl raises her arm with red hair coiled around. Her shoulders were slightly shaking. However the reason wasn't because of the cold, but Kamito was oblivious to that fact.

"Sixteen--"

"Eh?"

The girl's delicate lips were mumbling something, and Kamito lifted his eyebrows.

"I-I-I AM ALREADY SIXTEEN-YEARS OLD!!!"

At the instant when she screamed that out, the young girl's red hair stood on its end.

"Haa!?"

As Kamito opened his eyes wide in surprise--

"Sixteen!? For real? How can you have such a pitiful chest--"

He quickly covered his mouth. But it was already too late.

"......Unforgivable."

The young girl said that in a low, cold voice.

"D-Definitely unforgivable......you, you, you, you peeping demon, pervert, lewd beast!"

"You know it well, words like lewd beast." 

Kamito said that in a low voice with narrowed eyes.

"Hn?"

......At that time, he noted that the forest's trees were making a low whisper-like rustle.

(Is that the wind? No, that's--)

--- Guardian of Crimson’s blaze, Keeper of the Sleepless furnace!

--- Now is the time to abide the contract of blood, hasten to my side as commanded!

From the young girl's cute lips came a smooth incantation in spirits’ language. At that instant, accompanied by the sound of an air blast, a scourging flame whip appeared in the hand of the girl.

(.....a Spirit Contractor!)

Kamito shouted in his head.

Spirit Contractor --- another dimensional layer of this world, the “Astral Zero”.

Witches who had signed a contract with a fierce spirit from that place are called “Spirit Contractors”.

The Spirit Contractor can use different types of spirits, wielding its powers freely.

It seemed that the girl in front of him had a contract with a flame type spirit.

The young girl is a Spirit Contractor. It isn't something to be surprised about.

After all, this is the place where the country's excellent Spirit Contractors are gathered together.

(.....However, surprisingly she is even capable of using Elemental Waffe.)

The natures of the spirits summoned into this world from the Astral Zero can be roughly divided into two types.

The first type is a massless, shapeless type that appears in its original state as a ‘Divine Core’. This is purely the summoning of a spirit's power, and is used as a vault of magical power for the spirit magic.

There is another type, the pure state of summoning a part of the spirit’s existence as it is. Because of the tremendous amount of power required and the difficulty to control it, it is said that only a tiny portion of the spirit contractors can do it to this extent.

Even so, the girl before his eyes is not just using a spirit, but could use it to the extent of using the spirit as a highly optimized elemental buff.

(.... it means that, eh? – Am I now in a life or death situation?)

As the thought suddenly hits him, Kamito was stunned.

At the place where the flame whip touched the water's surface, a gush of white steam was rising from it.

"You, you have the guts..... "

The girl murmured with a trembling voice. Her face was red. Was it due to her anger, or her embarrassment?

"Rea-really, you have some nerve, to p-peek , while I, Claire Rouge, am taking my bath....."

“W-Wait, that's a misunderstanding! Let me explain it first!"

Kamito shook his head in panic.

"I will not listen to your excuses. Please turn into ashes, PERVERT!"

The flame whip ignited furiously in the wielder’s hand and was moving as if it was licking the water surface.

"Oooooh..!?"

Kamito threw his body, and quickly jumped into the dense brushes at proximity.

Nearly at the same time, the flame whip brushed its way over his head.

The idle red residue remained on the trees, which were cut off like a complete joke. The cut surface of the tree trunks' remains were surprisingly clean, without any trace of burn. The attack was so quick that the flames didn't even have the time to ignite the trees.

The hair on Kamito's forehead was fluttering down on his mouth while cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

(.....Um, that's a joke, right? I'm not going to die like that, will I?)

Zing, biyutsu – there was like an endless dance of crimson flash cutting horizontally and vertically in the forest. The bush was mowed down in a blink of eye and losing his place of hiding, Kamito hurriedly dashed out.

“You wild beast, stay still and let me hit you!“

“That's nonsense, I’m not a pervert!“

Kamito screamed out and at the same time, the whip swung downwards on his feet, causing a violent spark to scatter. Rising from the ground, the whip immediately sprang up in the direction of the forest woods, which got ruthlessly severed. But fortunately among all the unluckiness, the girl - Claire's aim wasn't quite accurate. After all, one hand was hiding her pitiful chest from being revealed, and in order to conceal her most important part, she squatted down in the pond. However, considering how she handled her whip in such a position, she should be normally talented at using it.

“How conceited despite being a pervert, please obediently turn into charcoal!“

“As I am saying, I’m not a pervert!“

Kamito stopped and turned around. He pointed out something that he had been mindful for sometime.

“Hey, are you sure that you're hiding it properly? Between the gaps of your finger, you can’t hide it delicately.”

“......eh?”

Instantly, Claire’s facial expression froze. And-

“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!”

Blushing deeply and screaming strangely in a cute voice - she quickly hid her chest with both of her hands.

“Ah, idiot!”

Kamito involuntarily exclaimed.

Claire let go and lost control of the flame whip, and it severed the trees behind the girl. Slowly, the huge trees came falling down right at her. However, Claire didn’t notice it since her eyes were closed in embarrassment while embracing her naked chest with both hands. 

(Damn--)

At this instant, Kamito kicked the ground. Running with his whole strength towards the pond, he then jumped while grabbing Claire’s shoulders.

“Wha-!?”

Claire’s red pupils dilated widely. Kamito ignored it and aggressively pressed her down in the water. The moment Claire’s hand touched the water, a gush of steam rose, and the flame whip disappeared. Immediately after, the trees　nearby fell down, and giant tree trunks collapsed down on them.

Duuuun!

Deafening sound almost broke the ears, and magnificent large water columns rose.

Absorbing the heat of the burning flame, the warm pond water poured down like heavy rain.

.....A few seconds later.

“Um......“

With a seductive rising voice, Claire slowly opened her eyes. She had an expression of shock, and her eyes blinked in wonder. Kamito was lying on top of Claire, and briefly he found himself staring into her eyes. Their faces were so close that if someone was to push his back lightly, their lips would likely touch. The crimson red hair clung closely to her nape. Her moist lips were cherry red. Delicate glass doll like perfect face was in front of Kamito's eyes. For a short moment it looked like he had involuntarily fallen for her. Kamito quickly shook his head.

“......Um, are you alright? Are you hurt..”

Claire nodded. Somehow, it seemed she had not fully absorbed the situation yet. Kamito sighed, then tried to stand up.

Funyuu.

His hand under the water had touched something soft.

“Hwaaah!”

(What is that? Mud?--)

Funyu. Munyu (touch, touch).

“Hm, ya, hwaaa”

From her moist lips came a shallow sweet voice. Claire's submerged naked body twitched for some reason.

“Um ..this is?”

Having come this far, Kimito finally arrived in a certain conclusion. A certain......awfully frightening conclusion.

(No, wait, calm down, maybe --- could I have mistaken)

It can’t be. There was no such thing. While letting a flow of cold sweat, he desperately tried to deny such a possibility.

"When I looked it earlier, it wasn't so..."

“Wh..wha.. wha..whattt .... are..you...do..ing”

Claire’s lip trembled, shaking involuntarily. She was blushing with tears in her eyes.

Apparently, it probably wasn't.....a lump of mud that he touched.

“You, PERVERT----!”

“Gwah!”

Because he got hit hard by a knee in the stomach, Kamito collapsed into the pond's water.

Gugugugugu....!

With rising wobbling heat haze behind her, Claire slowly stood up. Before one knows, the flame whip materialized by the flame spirit was again grasped in her hand. The water in the pond instantaneously started to boil, and bubbles began to show here and there.

“No..No, it’s a misunderstanding! Wait, I’m really gonna die.....”

“Sh..Shut up pervert, you will die here!”

Together with an almost ear breaking deafening sound, Kamito’s body whirled highly into the air.

=== Part 2 ===

“.....Un”

Few minutes later. Kamito starts to recover his consciousness, before his eyes, trees within the forest unfold.

He tried to rise---

Suddenly, he noticed something which was coiled around his neck.

It was a leather black whip for torturing. (What is this thing…), Kamito tried to remove it,

“Finally woke up, You Peeping Tom Pervert”

The thing on his neck tightens.

“Gweh!? Release me....”

Kamito coughed then looked upward-

Scarlet haired young girl – Claire, stood with her hands at her waist. Keeping her slim eyebrow arc raised, she gazed sharply down at Kamito.

This time she was not naked. The girl has changed into an adorable uniform. It has the pattern of black line within the pure white, Areishia Spirit Academy’s uniform.

A ribbon tie decorated the front of her chest. Instead of a button, a talisman was sewn on it. Between the gap of knee sock stockings and a pleated skirt, her slender beautiful legs stuck out brilliantly. The tiny ribbons tied her blazing crimson hair on both sides. This was the so called twin tail hair style. Judging from her still wet hair, it seems that he hadn’t lost consciousness for that long.

Keeping the neck of Kamito bound tightly, Claire puffed up her small chest.

“Well, be grateful. I went easy and didn’t kill you”

“That has to be lying. You definitely intended to kill me. ”

“What are you talking about? If I was serious, you would've been cinders by now. ”

..... She just said something terribly frightening in a calm manner.

By the way, cinders are the soft ash residue left from incinerated firewood.

“I beg your forgiveness to spare me from becoming cinders. After all, I helped you.”

“Yeah, I’m a fair noble, I’ll give you credit for that. You are of a higher grade than an average pervert, so you are a high grade pervert.”

“In the end the pervert designation doesn't change. By the way, isn't a high grade pervert even worse than an average pervert?”

“Wh.. What.....pretending to help, you ...you touched, my breast!”

Recalling what happened earlier, Claire's shy face suddenly turns red.

(Hmm?)

Seeing such a reaction from her, Kamito had an idea.

.....This girl, could it be that she is that kind of person?

“So it seems, that my lady is a pervert that has a hobby of whipping man.”

Kamito teased her nonchalantly -

“What!? Wr, Wro, Wrong, I’m not!”

The response was immediate as expected. Claire shook her head, and her cheeks instantly became bright red all the way to her ears.

“Then do you enjoy being whipped?”

“.....m! Wha... What.. are...you..sayi..ng?”

Claire's eyes twirled, as a steam puff rose out from her head. She is surprisingly flustered.

(Oh, as I expected....)

Kamito smiled bitterly in his heart.

(This girl, is really really innocent.)

Perhaps, this girl is not that special. After all, this is the Areishiya Spirit academy, where witch princesses who have made contracts with spirits are gathered.

Only pure maidens are capable of communicating with the spirits
from Astral Zero. Among them, those who retain enough divine
power so that they can command a contracted spirit, are noble girls
from the family of kings or lords of ancient and honorable
lineage, whose spirit contractor blood was strengthened through
marriage of many generations.

To maintain the purity of their body and heart, these girls are
raised in an environment that's completely separated from the
males since childhood: the so called elite education for
spirit contractors. Therefore, all the girls attending the
academy are super boxed-in princesses who are unaccustomed to
men.

Finding the unexpected weak point of the girl, Kamito had the
slight desire to play a prank on her.

Keeping a kneeling position, Kamito looked up at the embarrassed
bright red face of Claire.

"ah, then, there is something I have meant to say since earlier."

"wh...what, you pervert!"

"I can see your panties from this angle."

"Fuwah!" 

Tears begun to float in her crimson eyes, Claire hastily pressed down the fringe of her skirt with both hands.

“you... you saw it?”

“Only a glance, you are unexpectedly quite daring. It has the same color as your hair.”

"You... you lie! It is not red! It’s white, white!" 

“So, it’s white.”

“......ha!?”

Realizing that she was tricked, Claire bit her lips-

“U, uuuuuuuuuh~”

..... Somehow she started to cry.

At this sudden unexpected reaction, Kamito panicked. “What a slutty unladylike person, to confess the color of her own panties,” he had planned to tease her more with such words..... but he felt pity seeing her like this. 

Taking the chance while Claire was still in disarray, Kamito removed the the whip coiled around his neck.

“My bad, I went a bit too far with my prank. Sorry.”

Kamito stood up and placed his hand on Claire's head. Claire stopped crying, and looked puzzled.

“My bad that I have seen your naked body while bathing, and I have .... have touched your breast as well. But they were not intentional. Please believe me.”

“Wha, What.....”

Seeing the truthfulness in Kamito’s eye, Claire can not help but to avert her eyes.

“....What, What is this? If you are not a pervert, then '''why are you here?'''”

A question of matter of course. This forest is under the jurisdiction of Areishia Spirit Academy, known as the “Spirit Forest”. There is no reason for the presence of a man in the academy where pure witch princesses are gathered.

Even if he is not a pervert, there is little doubt that he is someone suspicious. 

“I was, summoned here by Greyworth.”

“Greyworth..... the academy director!?”

Claire suspiciously questioned. Indeed, it is only natural to doubt.

“I’m not lying. Look, here’s the evidence.”

Kamito shrugged his shoulders, and took out a letter from his burned coat’s inside pocket. The letter was signed by the renowned academy director. Also, it was stamped with the emblem seal that symbolizes the five great elemental lords.

“Is....that, the first rank emblem seal of the empire!?”

Claire let out voice of dismay from her lips. The first rank emblem seal is produced by sealing spirits with a special technique. It is rated as the highest among the emblem seals issued by the empire, and is said to be completely impossible to counterfeit. Of course, it is something that is rarely seen, but as a spirit contractor, Claire could certainly tell its authenticity. 

“.....It seems to be the real thing. But, why would the academy director call a man here?”

“Well, for that you have to ask Greyworth, that old hag. It was troublesome for me, too.”

“That.. that old hag!?”

Instantly, Claire's face stiffened.

The Dusk Witch, Greyworth is greatly respected by the witch princesses who aim to become spirit knights. It was said that her popularity in the Orudesia Empire is neck and neck with the Strongest Sword Dancer Ren Ashbell. Even after a decade since she retired from the squad of the twelve knight generals, the most elite force of the spirit knights known as the <Numbers>, her legendary name as a witch is still being feared and revered to the highest degree. 

(Well, for me, she is nothing but a nightmare....)

Tucking away the letter in his pocket, Kamito shrugged his shoulders.

“Greyworth is an old acquaintance of mine. I came all the way here, but the academy ground is very large, so I have lost my way”

Areishia Spirit Academy ground is incredibly vast. After all, beside the academic town at the foot of the hill, it also includes the entire spirit forest that spreads around it.

“Could it be, that you were misled by the spirits in the forest. That's so lame.”

“.....Yeah, that’s how it is”

Claire chuckled, while Kamito nodded, feeling a bit dejected.

Existing in various location of the continent, the spirit forests are connected with Astral Zero through the GATE, and are inhabited by the spirits that have gone astray to this world. Most of the spirits have no interest in the humankind so they are harmless. But there are also spirits who enjoy playing pranks, and they deliberately mislead the travelers who stray into the forest. As he was guided by the spirits'　whispers and went deeper and deeper in the forest, he must have lost the way to the academy.

“Anyway, I’m really glad that I met a person. It is not very appealing to become a victim of the forest. From here onward, which direction should I follow to get to the academy?”

“Which direction.....for your own information, I shall tell you, that it takes two hours to get to the academy from here on foot.”

“What, that far!?”

If he was to walk for such long distance, most likely he would be once again tricked by the spirits. Since a student of the academy was here, he had thought that the academy was much nearer than it was. 

(.....hmm? Why was this girl taking a bath at this kind of place?)

A plain question suddenly arises. Today is indeed a bit hot, nonetheless instead of coming all the way here, there should be showering facilities inside of the academy no matter what. Anyhow there are only girls in the school, there is nothing to be embarrassed about.

Being asked, Claire dug her hands into her wet twin tail hair and tried to comb it.

“I was here for the purification ritual for a spirit contract. Being a spring next to a shrine, the water here has the highest holy quality. Do you at least know that spirits like a woman which has a pure mind and body?”

“Spirit Contract?”

The moment he hears those words, a throbbing pain came from the back of his left hand covered in leather gloves. Kamito grimaced from the burning sharp pain.

“A bit further from here, there is an ancient holy sword in a historical shrine. Rumor has it that a powerful “Sealed Spirit” is inhabited there. Since the foundation of the academy, not a single witch princess has successfully formed a contract with it. It surely sounds like a very proud spirit."

Sealed Spirits – are not the spirits that reside in Astral Zero.

Among the spirits, there are those who were sealed into weapons or armors by powerful ancient spirit contractors. Most of them have brought about terrible disasters to the humans, and are dreadful beings called djinn or efreet by ancient societies. 

Of course, they are not meant to be employed by the human spirit contractors. For that purpose, the ancient great spirit contractors sealed them in weapons or armors so that they will never be summoned again.

“You, do you plan to form a contract with a sealed spirit?”

“That's right! Do you have a problem with it?”

“Stop, it’s too dangerous.”

“Hmm, you seem to know it quite well, even though you are not a spirit contractor. I’m quite aware of the danger, but I need a powerful spirit no matter what.”

Claire muttered, biting her tightly close lips.

Seeing her serious facial expression, Kamito involuntarily shuts his mouth.

“But, don't you already have a contract with the flame spirit from earlier? That is also a quite powerful spirit, won't it be fine if you raise it up?”

For its tribute, a flame spirit is not very rare. But, there are only a handful spirit contractors who can control a spirit of such rank and even capable of <elemental waffe> in the whole empire. Besides, spirit contractors that have formed a contract with multiple spirits are so rare that they almost don't exist. Discordance between the spirits can cause deterioration of the balance of divine power. Without enough talent one can't control them.

“'''Scarlett''' is an important partner. But-”

I need more power-- Claire calmly shook her head.

“I have a goal. To achieve it, I must have a strong spirit.”

=== Part 3 ===

Chasing the back of Claire on which her fluffily crimson twin tails swung, Kamito followed her inside the forest. Although Claire's leather loafers looked quite difficult to walk in,　Claire was a well trained spirit contractor after all, and her steps were light and frivolous.

“Here”

Then, suddenly her well proportioned feet stopped walking.

With her hands on her hips, she looked back with a half eye glare towards Kamito.

“Why are you following me? You pervert peeping maniac. ”

“Without you, I don’t know the way towards the academy. As I have said several times, I am not a pervert peeping maniac. It’s Kamito, Kamito Kazehaya”

“Fufu, what a weird name. Kuina’s origin?”

Kuina is an empire in the eastern region of the continent. It is said that its language, culture and the relationship of people with spirits largely differed from Orudeshia.

“No, It’s not from Kuina. I was born in a far remote island minority group village.”

Kamito intentionally obscures his own statement. Certainly, he was born in an island country in the east, but the larger half of his childhood life wasn't spent there.

“Your name also has quite a rare taste, Claire Rouge”

“Don’t call my name in a friendly manner. Anyway it’s a strange name.”

“Really? But, I consider it a nice name”

“Wha, What are you saying, stu, stupid!”

Claire's face blushed, then she suddenly changed back to her former direction, and briskly walked faster than usual.

Claire Rouge ---- obviously a Pseudonym.

Most of the students attending the Areshia spirit academy are surely young ladies of noble families who has been trained as spirit contractors since childhood. But Kamito has never heard of the Rouge residence. For hiding a noble family name, she must have some reason for it, but Kamito had no intention to delve more.

(.....Everyone has some secrete to hide. )

Kamito glanced in the direction of his left hand covered by a leather glove.

Even I have mine, too -

Claire keeps advancing steadily. Kamito hastily chased after her back where the twin tail were swaying. Now, losing sight of Claire inside the forest will bring only trouble for him. Kamito was well aware of the dangers of spending one night inside the “Spirit Forest”.

“Is that dress the academy's uniform?”

“Yah”

Claire nods in a cold manner while walking.

Areishia Spirit Academy Uniform is pretty sturdy and also served as a protective garment, which has undergone spirit’s blessing, and it had the effect of raising the sacred attributes. It could also function nicely as a high ceremonial dress for contracting with spirits.

“What, are you saying that it doesn't suite me?”

“No, it suite you gorgeously. Honestly speaking, I am charmed.”

Kamito shrugged his shoulder, and then answered it honestly. 　Fine feathers make fine birds, Kamito planed to mock her with some caustic words, but it did fit her perfectly that Kamito couldn't help but to compliment her.

“Wha, Whatt, What are you saying! Aren't you an idiot!”

(Kaatsu) Claire blushes in deep red, while (Pyun-Pyun) waving her whip.

“Uwahh, Calm down!”

“Wasn't it because that you said some weird thing?”

“''Me saying a weird thing?, I simply speak the truth - *in pain*, I got it, I got it, please stop waving your whip for every little thing.''”

(....phew, I need her as a guide, but what a bothersome princess.)

Dodging the whip which was swung downward at a paper thin distance, Kamito sighed in his mind.

The shrine that held the holy blade stood quietly　in a clearing in the forest.

Claire easily removed the entry forbidding ward, then stopped her steps, and turned to Kamito.

“From here onwards, it will be really dangerous, so, as a commoner you should stay away.”

“If you know that it’s dangerous, why not stop?”

“As am I saying, ''I need to have a strong spirit''.”

Claire calmly shook her head, and stepped into the shrine.

Disregarding her warnings, Kamito followed her. As for coming all the way, it was true that he needed a guide, moreover he was just worried about Claire.

After all “Sealed Spirits” are strong and in the same time have a wild nature. They prefer destruction and chaos, given the chance they would also murder the spirit contractor that employs them.

They are not something that can be managed by humans --- that's why they have been sealed.

Sixteen years of age, with such an innate talent of wielding a spirit, Claire might as well be called a prodigy. However, if by any chance, she was to release a sealed spirit and fail to control it, what would happen?

Although she was just a girl he met by chance, Kamito couldn't let her alone.

“Why did you follow me? I can't guarantee what will happen to you.”

“Don't you have the absolute confidence to tame it?”

“Of, of course I do!”

“Then there’s no problem that I come along. ”

Kamito shrugged his shoulder and Claire turned away from him.

“....Suit yourself”

Inside the shrine is a dark gloomy misty atmosphere. Claire frowned slightly at the mold smells mingled inside the air.

“......Flames, let there be light.”

A tiny fire ball immediately starts to glow from Claire's fingertips, a basic spirit spell drawing on the power of Flame Spirit. The flickering light of the fire ball dimly illuminates the walls of the shrine which looked like a stalactites cavern.

The sword was at the innermost of the shrine.

“That..... is the sword that the sealed spirit resides in?”

Kamito muttered, while Claire nodded quietly.

A naked sword was stabbed standing in a huge stone. Although without doubt it was an antique of hundreds years old,　it has no rust in its body or dent of its edge. Delicate ancient runes were engrossed on its belly, radiating a dimly blue light.

“Existing here even before the academy was found, <the holy sword of Severian>.”

“The holy sword of Severian? The one that slayed Demon King Solomon?”

Demon King Solomon --- commanding seventy two powerful spirits, brought chaos and destruction to the continent, and '''the only male spirit contractor in history'''.

It was said that the one that slayed the demon king was the sword of Severian.

“Idiot, there’s no way that’s the real thing.”

Claire stated like she was amazed.

“Holy sword of Severian stabbed in a stone can be found everywhere in the empire. Some remote villages even has one for the revitalization the village. Anyhow, even if it is not the real deal, since it is a rune sword, there might be a powerful spirit sealed in itself. ”

“.....Indeed. Certainly, the real thing will not be at such a place...”

Claire walked toward the sword determinedly.

“Hey....”

“You stay back.”

Gesturing to Kamito who was coming close, Claire clenched the hilt of the holy blade.

“Don’t strain yourself ”

“....Got it”

Kamito decided to watch over Claire at the edge where the light barely reached. The sealed spirit might be provoked by the presence of other people. A heavy silence filled the surroundings.

“.....Let's do this, Claire Rouge.”

Breathing deeply, Claire murmured to herself. Her voice trembled a bit: it seemed that she was nervous after all.

--- Oh Noble Spirit Sealed in Ancient Holy Sword!

--- Thou Shall Accept Me As Thy Master, And I Shall Be Thy Sheath!

From her cherry red lips flew a fluent incantation for contract ritual in spirit language. Her crimson hair stands on its ends. A crashing wind started to swirl inside the shrine.

Holding his breath, Kamito watched her intensively. Once the contracts had been exchanged and the spirit recognized Clair as its master, a spirit seal would be engraved somewhere on her body. The contract vows entered its conclusion. In this moment, a dreadful gust of wind swept inside the shrine.

“......eh?”

But, Claire is unfazed. She calmly recites her contract vow.

---And, dazzling light radiated from Severian’s holy blade in her hand.

(I can’t....believe it, She was exchanging a contract with the sealed spirit!?)

Preventing being swept by the wind, astonished Kamito raised his voice.

From the holy blade stabbed in the stone　came overwhelming tremendous divine energy. If it was an average spirit contractor, she would have already passed out.

“---Thrice I Command Thee, Exchange Vows With Me!”

And, Claire’s vow reverberates inside the shrine --- in that instant.

Clink!

“Pulled, pulled out. I pulled it out.”

“.....What, seriously!?”

Brandishing overhead the sword pulled out from the stone, Claire exclaimed with joy. In the next second---

The ancient runes engraved in its belly suddenly shined violently!

“......ha!?”

Claire involuntarily releases the blade from her hand ---

The holy blade thrust into the ground. With a flash it blasted into bits.

“Kyaaaaah!”

A short shriek flew, then Claire collapses into the ground.

“Hey, are you okay!”

Kamito quickly runs towards Claire.

“Wha, What? What exactly has....”

Claire held her temple and got up, then looked around restlessly.

“My, My sealed spirit?”

“No, I....can sense something terrible.”

Sweat is flowing intensely from the back of Kamito's neck. Wearing a terrified facial expression,　he looked up at the shrine’s ceiling. In that place, '''swinging while floating in the air was the blade'''.

It's not the shattered holy sword. But, It was a rough steel blade that looked very sharp.

“Is that.....the sealed spirit in the sword!?”

“So it was of the <sword spirit> class. Looks it is rather irritated.”

“How do you know so much? You are not even a spirit contractor!”

“It is plain to see. No matter how you look at it, that doesn't seem to be someone who pledges his allegiance to his matter.”

“.....umm, indeed so.”

Claire meekly nodded uncharacteristically.

The floating sword slants pointing its tip in a downward direction, suddenly it become motionless.

Then ---

“.....Get Down!”

Kamito in that instant, pushes down Claire to the ground. A buzzing sound of an insect grazed the ear, in a flash it went far away.

“Wai, Waa, Wait, where are you touching me, I will turn you into cinders!”

With her face deeply red, Claire beat on Kamito's chest repeatedly.

“Idiot, stop rampaging!”

Kamito quickly moved his body away, and looked in the direct that the sword spirit had flown to.

Fragments of rocks fall down with clattering sounds. The shrine’s ceiling was completely sliced off cleanly.

“It is remarkable to release spirit of such rank ---”

Kamito glared with half opened eye towards　Claire .

“......but the spirit has completely gone berserk.”

“Shu. shut up. The, the taming of it starts now.”

“YOU....”

Kamito was stupefied, but he was in no situation to quarrel with her.

The spirit sword releases a chattering noise while approaching them. Inside the shrine, they can't move freely, and even the eye sight was restricted.

Kamito grabbed Claire’s hand and stood up. Touching each others soft skin, (Doki) a heart beat, but he showed no vexed expression 

“Hwaah”

“Stopping making cute reaction at every little thing. Let's flee.”

“Wha.. whaa. whatt.. Cute.. what me, Kyaa!”

“Let’s run outside!”

Pulling Claire’s hand, while running towards the direction of the shrine’s exit that was basking with sunshine.

The spirit sword did no immediately chases after them. Maybe as of now it has not yet completely awakened. With this opportunity they might be able to run away.

The moment they are out of the shrine, the flash of the sword grazed in front of his eyes. Kamito's forelocks fell while dancing in the air. The spirit sword lets out a tremendous roar, decisively knocking domn the surrounding trees in succession.

“Crazy, What a wild Spirit, just like a certain princess.”

“Alwa, always, you’re noisy...”

Feeling slightly awkward, and Claire fake coughed, then stood up.

“What a rebellious child.....I will give you some proper spanking”

Her pair of crimson eyes which where burning with a fierce determination, somehow she said some line provocative. Rolling up the fringe of her skirt, she then took out the leather whip which was coiled in her thigh, hitting it hard in the ground. Kamito's heart beat for the brief sight of her white underwear, but he said -

“Are you insane!? You’re opponent is a high rank sealed spirit!”

“Easy victory. Amateur like you please stay back!”

“Where are you getting all of your confidence? Whatever, let's run away!”

Claire shook off Kamito's hand that was grabbing her wrist.

“No, you escape yourself. I will absolutely make this spirit mine.”

“You, for what reason --- do you need a strong spirit that badly?”

“.....You will never understand”

At the same time Clair averts her eyes.

“I need...power, I need a unbeatable powerful spirit that will not lose to any other spirit!”

--- Guardian of Crimson’s blaze, Keeper of the Sleepless furnace!

--- Now is the time to abide the contract of blood, hasten to my side as commanded!

Claire recited the summoning spell of her “Flame Spirit”. A crimson flame surges and she was engulfed by intense heat.

“The hunting begins, Scarlett!”

Together with scorching flame – a Scarlet Red Hell Cat appeared. Instead of a fur, it was blazing scarlet red colored flame that was wrapped around the beast's body.

(Is that the real form of her flame spirit!?)

Indeed, she was not all talk. To manifested in beast form is a proof that it is a high rank spirit. "Scarlett" might just be as a name of affection, perhaps it was not the true name of the spirit. Without doubt it is a high rank spirit that carries a true name. 

Claire wields her whip, and the hell cat growls with a frightful roar, then rushed towards the sword spirit. Dancing sparks scattered. The atmosphere trembled at the roar of the beast. The floating spirit sword went against them, cutting all the trees in its way.

“Scarlett, go get it!”

In response to Claire’s shout, the hell cat leaped.　High above the floating sword it went, and sharp blazing claws swung down at the sword. With a high pitched shrill sound, intense sparks sprinkled down, and the spirit sword dropped to the ground.

Claire ran at the same time. It was not a fatal hit. The spirit sword rose and flew in a split second, rolling over while drawing an arc in the air.

The flame spirit chased after it, trying not to loose it from its hands. Roaring loudly, it made a great leap again.

Violent sparks scattered once again. Clare strikes hard at the ground with her leather whip, slowly pressing forward against the sword spirit. It looked like that the leather whip was not meant for battle, rather for signaling instructions to the spirit.

At the fiercely attacks of Scarlett, the spirit sword's movement stopped --- At this instant,

“Eat this, searing fire ball!”

Clair releases a huge fire ball from her palm.

Fire Ball is a high level spirit magic which use ultra hot flames and can terribly burn up any of its target, leaving it traceless. The spirit magic’s power is determined by the spirit contractor’s own divine spiritual energy and the contracted spirit’s strength as a whole.

The released fire ball drew an arch in the air, then exploded in a blast that even Scarlet was caught in. The shock wave of the explosion knocked down the trees in the surrounding and fallen tree trunks radiate from the explosion center.

(What Terrible Power......)

Shielding himself from the flying stones coming at his head, Kamito wrapped his tongue and marveled.

Such power was nothing like a sixteen years old girl was capable of.

Inside the swirling fire the hell cat's figure shows up. Naturally, the hell cat can’t possibly be harmed by the blazing fire because of its fire nature.

The spirit sword float motionlessly in the air. It seemed that it had not received any damage either. Naturally, Claire didn't think that she would bring down a high rank spirit with spirit magic. But she should be able to get its attention.

“Scarlett!”

Claire exclaimed. The flame spirit's claws attacked at the spirit sword again. Its scourging hot claws could melt the iron steel. If its opponent was an average spirit, it would be instantly eradicated. But, the spirit sword quickly turned around, and the attack was stopped by the steel edge of the blade.

In an instant, the strange sound of metal scratching each other reverberated in the trembling atmosphere.

“Wh...What?....”

Kamito suppressed both his ears with his hands.

Receiving the full impact of the sound, Claire's face distorted from pain and she crouched down there.

The spirit sword released a weird sound - and then, transformed. Its shape changed from an average long sword to that of a huge bastard sword.

In a flash.

“What!?”

Claire’s flame spirit took the unexpected strike and couldn't avoid the big swing. The body was severely into two, and it vanished into the void together with the flames wrapped around its body.

With only one hit, it had lost the strength to manifest in this world.

(....Damn! Isn't it in a completely different league? It seemed that it has completely awakened.)

Kamito cursed, then took a glance at Claire -

Claire had collapsed on the ground, and her stunned blank eyes were fixed upward at the void where the flame spirit has disappeared.

Having finished off the flame spirit in one swing, the spirit sword aimed its next attack at Claire. 

The huge bastard sword flew with a bursting sound -

“Claire!”

Kamito shouted, and started to run. Without reason, his own body just moved before he known it.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Diving in front of Clair, he thrust his palm toward the bastard sword. Not his left hand enclosed by the leather glove – it was his right hand.

(……No choice but to do this! )

--- Oh Noble Spirit Sealed in Ancient Holy Sword!

--- Thou Shall Accept Me As Thy Master, And I Shall Be Thy Sheath!

Sweats rushed down from his forehead, he started to recite the incantation for spirit contract ''that he had sworn to never utter again''. The spinning tip of the sword pierced the skin of his palm. Red blood gushed intensely from it.

(.....Gwaah, Gah!)

Crushing amount of divine energy knocked on him, the soil and sands surrounding them are whirling up from the wind pressure. He almost lost his consciousness from the sharp pain. But if Kamito fainted here, Claire protected behind him would surely be cut in half.

--- Thrice I Command Thee!

“.....No way, a Spirit Contract!?”

A surprised sound came from Claire’s throat.

Kamito's heels sunk into the ground. And, the sound of his breaking bones resounds underneath his scalp.

--- Exchange Vows With Me!

Withstanding the terrible sharp pain, Kamito finished his last word of the contract ritual.

Instantly, the body of spirit sword radiated a pale blue light.

(What!?)

Intense flashes and thunderous sounds filled his consciousness.

=== Part 4 ===

He opened his eyes, and Claire Rouge’s face was there. Hanging lower onto his face was her twin tailed hair tickling his face.

It seemed that she shouted something, but he can't hear it clearly. Probably the sound blast had messed up his ears.

(.....Looks like I’m alive)

Weary lying on the ground, Kamito let out a breath of relief. The chance of success against a spirit of such rank was very low, but it looked like his gamble had paid off.

Raising his eyebrow, he grimaced from the torment of pain from all of his body and raised his right hand slowly.

In his right hand where was stabbed -

Instead of a wound, an emblem of two swords crossing each other was engraved on it.

It was the proof of the spirit contract - The spirit seal.

(Aah, I did it....)

Staring at the carved seal on the back of his hand, Kamito mumured.

A sharp sense of guilt bit his heart.

He has broken the promise with ''her'' ---

But, to save Claire under such a situation, that was the only method.

Claire noticed that Kamito has woken up, with her hands in his nape and her face approaching him. So close that he could feel her breath. With her clear crimson eyes, she stared at Kamito. Her cherry colored lips weakly trembled.

“......Why ”

"''Why, you’re a male, how can you contract a spirit!''”

“......”

Kamito does not answer and slowly rises up. Being ignored, the annoyed Claire raised her eyebrows.

“My, My Sword Spirit!?”

“My bad. Just a moment ago, I had contracted it”

Kamito sighes and at the same time he shows her the back of his right hand where the spirit seal is engraved.

“Wha, Whaa, Wha, Whaaaat!”

Claire wore a stunned expression with her mouth wide open.

(Well, A natural reaction....)

A long sigh --- Kamito felt a faint ache in his heart. Of course, he could clearly understand such response. Originally, a privilege that was granted to no one except pure maidens --- the spirit contract.

The existence of a man which could contract a spirit, throughout the history, belonged solely to one person. And the one who brought chaos and destruction in the world, the so called Demon King spirit contractor.

It is natural to fear him, who carried the same power of spirit contracts as the Demon King.

Kamito stands up and quietly turns around.

He does not regret. To save the girl, this is the only way he could think of.

“Wait, as am I saying Wait!”

Kamito was about to leave, but a voice called him from the back.

Turning around, he saw that Claire with her hands in her hips intensely glared at him.

"You stole...my spirit...take responsibility for it!"

“Huh?”

Kamito frowned. ....It doesn't make any sense to him.

At such reaction of Kamito, Claire impatient　brushed her twin tailed.

“I should have been the one who had obtained that spirit, as am I saying, you have to take responsibility for it”

“Re..sponsibility?”

Because of that unexpected word, Kamito had become even more confused.

....What was the girl saying.

“Therefore....”

Claire snapped her whip, then she points her index finger toward Kamito.

"You have to become my contracted spirit!"

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Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter1

2012-03-28T10:03:08Z

140.114.81.204: /* Part 3 */

==Chapter 1: You are my contracted spirit==

=== Part 1 ===

In a quiet forest where the sun rays were shining through leaves.

"Paa--"

Suddenly, the rippling sound of water resounded in the air.

Kamito, he--opened his mouth wide and just stood there.

A girl...In front of his eyes was a fully naked girl.

She was cute, extraordinarily cute. Her eyes were big and red like rubies, her cherry-red lips were wet and lustrous, her dazzling white flesh was as silky as milk, and on the surface of the water, her beautiful legs were slender and fine. Also, what caught his eyes more than anything was--

The hair that clings on her gorgeous fine glass work like body, crimson red like burning fire.

Of course, she was naked. Stark naked.

"......"

Kamito felt cold sweat on his back.

Not good.

It's really not good that she is seen naked.

......I should really run away quickly. Even though he gave that rational advice to himself, his body wouldn't move. Actually, he was ''charmed''. The scene was so surreal that Kamito felt a bit detached from reality.

And at that time, the girl--

[[Image:STnBD V01 013.jpg|thumb]]

Her moist and beautiful eyes blinked, having found the unexpected intruder.
Staring blankly, she seemed yet to have fully grasped the situation.
She didn't even try to cover her still developing small breasts.

Tick.

The water drops fell from the young girl's bangs. Kamito's consciousness came back at the sound of the water.

"Ah-that......"

Kamito coughed once, and removed his glance from the naked girl　who was standing motionlessly.

"How can I say it......it looks like an accident, right? It is an unfortunate accident for both of us..."

At that time, Kamito made two fatal errors. The first, of course, was that he started to make futile explanations. The best choice was to take advantage of the fact that the girl was dazed, and run away from the trouble immediately.

And the other error was--

"Even though it was an accident, I have seen you in such a situation. Sorry, my apologies."

Until here it was still fine, but the last part......

"Though, don't worry. I'm still a healthy boy, so I don't have ''that kind of interest''. I......"

Looking at the young girl's ''still developing small chest''--

"I have no interest towards a kid's body."

Looks like he stepped on a gigantic landmine.

"......"

A frozen silence fell.

Silently, the girl raises her red hair coiled arm. Her shoulders were slightly shaking. But the reason wasn't because of the cold, but Kamito was oblivious to that fact.

"Sixteen--"

"Eh?"

The girl's delicate lips were mumbling something, and Kamito lifted his eyebrows.

"I-I-I AM ALREADY SIXTEEN-YEARS OLD!!!"

At the instant when she screamed that out, the young girl's red hair standed on its end.

"Haa!?"

As Kamito opened his eyes wide in surprise--

"Sixteen!? For real? How can you have such a pitiful chest--"

He quickly covered his mouth. Though it was already too late.

"......Unforgivable."

The young girl said that in a low, cold voice.

"D-Definitely unforgivable......you, you, you, you peeping demon, pervert, lewd beast!"

"You know it well, words like lewd beast." 

Kamito said that in a low voice with narrowed eyes.

"Hn?"

......At that time, he noted that the forest's trees were making a low whisper-like rustle.

(Is that the wind? No, that's--)

--- Guardian of Crimson’s blaze, Keeper of the Sleepless furnace!

--- Now is the time to abide the contract of blood, hasten to my side as commanded!

From the young girl's cute lips came a smooth incantation in spirits’ language. At that instant, accompanied by the sound of an air blast, a scourging flame whip appeared in the hand of the girl.

(.....a Spirit Contractor!)

Kamito shouted in his head.

Spirit Contractor --- another dimensional layers of this world, the “Astral Zero”.

Witches who have signed a contract with a fierce spirit from that place are called “Spirit Contractors”.

The Spirit Contractor can use different types of spirits, wielding its powers freely.

It seemed that the girl in front of him had a contract with a flame type spirit.

The young girl was a Spirit Contractor. It isn't something to be surprised about.

After all, this is the place where the country's excellent Spirit Contractors are gathered together.

(.....However, surprisingly she is even capable of using Elemental Waffe.)

The natures of the spirit summoned into this world from the Astral Zero can be roughly divided into two types.

The first type is a massless, shapeless type that appears in its original state as a ‘Divine Core’. This is purely the summoning of a spirit's power, and is used as a vault of magical power for the spirit magic.

There is another type, the pure state of summoning a part of the spirit’s existence as it is. Because of the tremendous amount of power required and the difficulty to control it, it is said that only a tiny portion of the spirit contractors can do it to this extent.

Even so, the girl before his eyes is not just using a spirit, but could use it to the extent of using the spirit as a highly optimized elemental buff.

(.... it means that, eh? – Am I now in a life or death situation?)

As the thought suddenly hits him, Kamito was stunned.

At the place where the flame whip touched the water's surface, a gush of white steam was rising from it.

"You, you have the guts..... "

The girl murmured with her trembling voice. Her face was red. Was it due to her anger, or her embarrassment?

"Rea-really, you have some nerve, to p-peek , while I, Claire Rouge, am taking my bath....."

“W-Wait, that's a misunderstanding! Let me explain it first!"

Kamito shook his head in panic.

"I will not listen to your excuses. Please turn into ashes, PERVERT!"

The flame whip ignited furiously in the wielder’s hand and was moving as if it was licking the water surface.

"Oooooh..!?"

Kamito threw his body, and quickly jumped into the dense brushes at proximity.

Nearly at the same time, the flame whip brushed its way over his head.

The idle red residue remained on the trees, which were cut off like a complete joke. The cut surface of the tree trunks' remains were surprisingly clean, without any trace of burn. The attack was so quick that the flames didn't even have the time to ignite the trees.

The hair on Kamito's forehead was fluttering down on his mouth while cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

(.....Um, that's a joke, right? I'm not going to die like that, will I?)

Zing, biyutsu – there was like an endless dance of crimson flash cutting horizontally and vertically in the forest. The bush was mowed down in a blink of eye, losing his place of hiding, Kamito hurriedly dashed out.

“You wild beast, stay still and let me hit you!“

“That's nonsense, I’m not a pervert!“

Kamito screamed out and at the same time, the whip swung downwards on his feet, causing a violent spark to scatter. Raising from the ground, the whip immediately sprang up in the direction of the forest woods, which got ruthlessly severed. But fortunately among all the unluckiness, the girl - Claire's aim wasn't quite accurate. After all, one hand was hiding her pitiful chest from being revealed, and in order to conceal her most important part, she squatted down in the pond. However, considering how she handled her whip in such a position, she should be normally talented at using it.

“How conceited despite being a pervert, please obediently turn into charcoal!“

“As I am saying, I’m not a pervert!“

Kamito stopped and turned around. He pointed out something that he had been mindful for sometime.

“Hey, are you sure that you're hiding it properly? Between the gaps of your finger, you can’t hide it delicately.”

“......eh?”

Instantly, Claire’s facial expression froze. And-

“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!”

Blushing deeply and screaming in a cute voice strangely - she quickly hid her chest with both of her hands.

“Ah, idiot!”

Kamito involuntarily exclaimed.

Claire let go and lost control of the flame whip, and it severed the trees behind the girl. Slowly, the huge trees came falling down right at her. However, Claire didn’t notice it since her eyes were closed in embarrassment, and embracing her naked chest with both hands. 

(Damn--)

At this instant, Kamito kicked the ground. Running with his whole strength towards the pond, he then jumped while grabbing Claire’s shoulders.

“Wha-!?”

Claire’s red pupils dilated widely. Kamito ignored it and aggressively pressed her down in the water. The moment Claire’s hand touched the water, a gush of steam rose, and the flame whip disappeared. Immediately after, the trees　nearby fell down, and giant tree trunks collapsed down on them.

Duuuun!

Deafening sound almost broke the ears, and magnificent large water columns rose.

Absorbing the heat of the burning flame, the warm pond water poured down like heavy rain.

.....A few seconds later.

“Um......“

With a seducing rising voice, Claire slowly opened her eyes. She had an expression of shock, and her eyes blinked in wonder. Kamito was lying on top of Claire, and briefly he found himself staring into her eyes. Their faces were so close that if someone was to push his back lightly, their lips would likely touch. The crimson red hair clung closely to her nape. Her moist lips were cherry red. Delicate glass doll like perfect face was in front of Kamito's eyes. For a short moment it looked like he had involuntarily fallen for her. Kamito quickly shook his head.

“......Um, are you alright? Are you hurt..”

Claire nodded. Somehow, it seemed she had not fully absorbed the situation yet. Kamito sighed, then tried to stand up.

Funyuu.

His hand under the water had touched something soft.

“Hwaaah!”

(What is that? Mud?--)

Funyu. Munyu (touch, touch).

“Hm, ya, hwaaa”

From her moist lips came a shallow sweet voice. Claire's submerged naked body twitched for some reason.

“Um ..this is?”

Having come this far, Kimito finally arrived in a certain conclusion. A certain......awfully frightening conclusion.

(No, wait, calm down, maybe --- could I have mistaken)

It can’t be. There was no such thing. While letting a flow of cold sweat, he desperately tried to deny such a possibility.

"When I looked it earlier, it wasn't so..."

“Wh..wha.. wha..whattt .... are..you...do..ing”

Claire’s lip trembled, shaking involuntarily. She was blushing with tears in her eyes.

Apparently, it probably wasn't.....a lump of mud that he touched.

“You, PERVERT----!”

“Gwah!”

Because he got hit hard by a knee in the stomach, Kamito collapsed into the pond's water.

Gugugugugu....!

With rising wobbling heat haze behind her, Claire slowly stood up. Before one knows, the flame whip materialized by the flame spirit was again grasped in her hand. The water in the pond instantaneously started to boil, and bubbles began to show here and there.

“No..No, it’s a misunderstanding! Wait, I’m really gonna die.....”

“Sh..Shut up pervert, you will die here!”

Together with an almost ear breaking deafening sound, Kamito’s body whirled highly into the air.

=== Part 2 ===

“.....Un”

Few minutes later. Kamito starts to recover his consciousness, before his eyes, trees within the forest unfold.

He tried to rise---

Suddenly, he noticed something which was coiled around his neck.

It was a leather black whip for torturing. (What is this thing…), Kamito tried to remove it,

“Finally woke up, You Peeping Tom Pervert”

The thing on his neck tightens.

“Gweh!? Release me....”

Kamito coughed then looked upward-

Scarlet haired young girl – Claire, stood with her hands at her waist. Keeping her slim eyebrow arc raised, she gazed sharply down at Kamito.

This time she was not naked. The girl has changed into an adorable uniform. It has the pattern of black line within the pure white, Areishia Spirit Academy’s uniform.

A ribbon tie decorated the front of her chest. Instead of a button, a talisman was sewn on it. Between the gap of knee sock stockings and a pleat skirt, her slender beautiful legs stuck out brilliantly. The tiny ribbons tied her blazing crimson hair on both sides. This was the so called twin tail hair style. Judging from her still wet hair, it seems that he hadn’t lost consciousness for that long.

Keeping the neck of Kamito bound tightly, Claire puffed up her small chest.

“Well, be grateful. I went easy and didn’t kill you”

“That has to be lying. You definitely intended to kill me. ”

“What are you talking about? If I was serious, you would've been cinders by now. ”

..... She just said something terribly frightening in a calm manner.

By the way, cinders are the soft ash residue left from incinerated firewood.

“I beg your forgiveness to spare me from becoming cinders. After all, I helped you.”

“Yeah, I’m a fair noble, I’ll give you credit for that. You are of a higher grade than an average pervert, so you are a high grade pervert.”

“In the end the pervert designation doesn't change. By the way, isn't a high grade pervert even worse than an average pervert?”

“Wh.. What.....pretending to help, you ...you touched, my breast!”

Recalling what happened earlier, Claire's shy face suddenly turns red.

(Hmm?)

Seeing such a reaction from her, Kamito had an idea.

.....This girl, could it be that she is that kind of person?

“So it seems, that my lady is a pervert that has a hobby of whipping man.”

Kamito teased her nonchalantly -

“What!? Wr, Wro, Wrong, I’m not!”

The response was immediate as expected. Claire shook her head, and her cheeks instantly became bright red all the way to her ears.

“Then do you enjoy being whipped?”

“.....m! Wha... What.. are...you..sayi..ng?”

Claire's eyes twirled, as a steam puff rose out from her head. She is surprisingly flustered.

(Oh, as I expected....)

Kamito smiled bitterly in his heart.

(This girl, is really really innocent.)

Perhaps, this girl is not that special. After all, this is the Areishiya Spirit academy, where witch princesses who have made contracts with spirits are gathered.

Only pure maidens are capable of communicating with the spirits
from Astral Zero. Among them, those who retain enough divine
power so that they can command a contracted spirit, are noble girls
from the family of kings or lords of ancient and honorable
lineage, whose spirit contractor blood was strengthened through
marriage of many generations.

To maintain the purity of their body and heart, these girls are
raised in an environment that's completely separated from the
males since childhood: the so called elite education for
spirit contractors. Therefore, all the girls attending the
academy are super boxed-in princesses who are unaccustomed to
men.

Finding the unexpected weak point of the girl, Kamito had the
slight desire to play a prank on her.

Keeping a kneeling position, Kamito looked up at the embarrassed
bright red face of Claire.

"ah, then, there is something I have meant to say since earlier."

"wh...what, you pervert!"

"I can see your panties from this angle."

"Fuwah!" 

Tears begun to float in her crimson eyes, Claire hastily pressed down the fringe of her skirt with both hands.

“you... you saw it?”

“Only a glance, you are unexpectedly quite daring. It has the same color as your hair.”

"You... you lie! It is not red! It’s white, white!" 

“So, it’s white.”

“......ha!?”

Realizing that she was tricked, Claire bit her lips-

“U, uuuuuuuuuh~”

..... Somehow she started to cry.

At this sudden unexpected reaction, Kamito panicked. “What a slutty unladylike person, to confess the color of her own panties,” he had planned to tease her more with such words..... but he felt pity seeing her like this. 

Taking the chance while Claire was still in disarray, Kamito removed the the whip coiled around his neck.

“My bad, I went a bit too far with my prank. Sorry.”

Kamito stood up and placed his hand on Claire's head. Claire stopped crying, and looked puzzled.

“My bad that I have seen your naked body while bathing, and I have .... have touched your breast as well. But they were not intentional. Please believe me.”

“Wha, What.....”

Seeing the truthfulness in Kamito’s eye, Claire can not help but to avert her eyes.

“....What, What is this? If you are not a pervert, then '''why are you here?'''”

A question of matter of course. This forest is under the jurisdiction of Areishia Spirit Academy, known as the “Spirit Forest”. There is no reason for the presence of a man in the academy where pure witch princesses are gathered.

Even if he is not a pervert, there is little doubt that he is someone suspicious. 

“I was, summoned here by Greyworth.”

“Greyworth..... the academy director!?”

Claire suspiciously questioned. Indeed, it is only nature to doubt.

“I’m not lying. Look, here’s the evidence.”

Kimito shrugged his shoulders, and took out one letter from his burned coat’s inside pocket. The letter was signed by the renowned academy director. Also, it was stamped with the emblem seal that symbolize the five great elemental lords.

“Is....that, the first rank emblem seal of the empire!?”

Claire let out voice of dismay from her lips. The first rank emblem seal is produced by sealing spirits with a special technique. It is rated as the highest among the emblem seals issued by the empire, and is said to be completely impossible to counterfeit. Of course, it is something that is rarely seen, but as a spirit contractor, Claire could certainly tell its authenticity. 

“.....It seems to be the real thing. But, why would the academy director call a man here?”

“Well, for that you have to ask Greyworth, that old hag. It was troublesome for me, too.”

“That.. that old hag!?”

Instantly, Claire's face stiffened.

The Twilight Witch, Greyworth is greatly respected by the witch princesses who aim to become spirit knights. It was said that her popularity in the Orudesia Empire is neck and neck with the Strongest Sword Dancer Ren Ashbell. Even after a decade since she retired from the squad of the twelve knight generals, the most elite force of the spirit knights known as the <Numbers>, her legendary name as a witch is still being feared and revered to the highest degree. 

(Well, for me, she is nothing but a nightmare....)

Tucking away the letter in his pocket, Kamito shrugged his shoulders.

“Greyworth is an old acquaintance of mine. I have came all the way here, but the academy ground is very large, so I have lost my way”

Areishia Spirit Academy ground is incredibly vast. After all, beside the academic city at the foot of the hill, it also includes the entire spirit forest that spreads around it.

“Could it be, that you were misled by the spirits in the forest. That's so lame.”

“.....Yeah, that’s how it is”

Claire chuckled, while Kamito nodded, feeling a bit dejected.

Existing in various location of the continent, the spirit forests are connected with Astral Zero through the GATE, and are inhabited by the spirits that have gone astray to this world. Most of the spirits have no interest in the humankind so they are harmless. But there are also spirits who enjoy playing pranks, and they deliberately mislead the travelers who stray into the forest. As he was guided by the spirits'　whispers and went deeper and deeper in the forest, he must have lost the way to the academy.

“Anyway, I’m really glad that I met a person. It is not very appealing to become a victim of the forest. From here onward, which direction should I follow to get to the academy?”

“Which direction.....for your own information, I shall tell you, that it takes two hours to get to the academy from here on foot.”

“What, that far!?”

If he was to walk for such long distance, most likely he would be once again tricked by the spirits. Since a student of the academy was here, he had thought that the academy was much nearer than it was. 

(.....hmm? Why was this girl taking a bath at this kind of place?)

A plain question suddenly arises. Today is indeed a bit hot, nonetheless instead of coming all the way here, there should be showering facilities inside of the academy no matter what. Anyhow there are only girls in the school, there is nothing to be embarrassed about.

Being asked, Claire dug her hands into her wet twin tail hair and tried to comb it.

“I was here for the purification ritual for a spirit contract. Being a spring next to a shrine, the water here has the highest holy quality. Do you at least know that spirits like a woman which has a pure mind and body?”

“Spirit Contract?”

The moment he hears those words, a throbbing pain came from the back of his left hand covered in leather gloves. Kamito grimaced from the burning sharp pain.

“A bit further from here, there is an ancient holy sword in a historical shrine. Rumor has it that a powerful “Sealed Spirit” is inhabited there. Since the foundation of the academy, not a single witch princess has successfully formed a contract with it. It surely sounds like a very proud spirit."

Sealed Spirits – are not the spirits that reside in Astral Zero.

Among the spirits, there are those who were sealed into weapons or armors by powerful ancient spirit contractors. Most of them have brought about terrible disasters to the humans, and are dreadful beings called djin or efreet by ancient societies. 

Of course, they are not meant to be empolyed by the human spirit contractors. For that purpose, the ancient great spirit contractors sealed them in weapons or armors so that they will never be summoned again.

“You, do you plan to form a contract with a sealed spirit?”

“That's right! Do you have a problem with it?”

“Stop, it’s too dangerous.”

“Hmm, you seem to know it quite well, even though you are not a spirit contractor. I’m quite aware of the danger, but I need a powerful spirit no matter what.”

Claire muttered, biting her tightly close lips.

Seeing her serious facial expression, Kamito involuntarily shuts his mouth.

“But, don't you already have a contract with the flame spirit from earlier? That is also a quite powerful spirit, won't it be fine if you raise it up?”

For its tribute, a flame spirit is not very rare. But, there are only a handful spirit contractors who can control a spirit of such rank and even capable of <elemental waffe> in the whole empire. Besides, spirit contractors that have formed a contract with multiple spirits are so rare that they almost don't exist. Discordance between the spirits can cause deterioration of the balance of divine power. Without enough talent one can't control them.

“'''Scarlett''' is an important partner. But-”

I need more power-- Claire calmly shook her head.

“I have a goal. To achieve it, I must have a strong spirit.”

=== Part 3 ===

Chasing the back of Claire on which her fluffily crimson twin tails swung, Kamito followed her inside the forest. Although Claire's leather loafers looked quite difficult to walk in,　Claire was a well trained spirit contractor after all, and her steps were light and frivolous.

“Here”

Then, suddenly her well proportioned feet stopped walking.

With her hands on her hips, she looked back with a half eye glare towards Kamito.

“Why are you following me? You pervert peeping maniac ”

“Without you, I don’t know the way towards the academy. As I have said several times, I am not a pervert peeping maniac. It’s Kamito, Kamito Kazehaya”

“Fufu, what a weird name. Kuina’s origin?”

Kuina is an empire in the eastern region of the continent. It is said that its language, culture and the relationship of people with spirits largely differed from Orudeshia.

“No, It’s not from Kuina. I was born in a far remote island minority group village”

Kamito intentionally obscures his own statement. Certainly, he was born in an island country in the east, but the larger half of his childhood life wasn't spent there.

“Your name also has quite a rare taste, Claire Rouge”

“Don’t call my name in a friendly manner. Anyway it’s a strange name.”

“Really? But, I consider it a nice name”

“Wha, What are you saying, stu, stupid!”

Claire's face blushes, then she suddenly changes back to her former direction, and briskly walks faster than usual.

Claire Rouge ---- obviously a Pseudonymn.

Most of the students attending the Areishia Spirit Academy, in their young age learned to use the accumulated secant of their spirit, like today’s noble young girl is doing. But, Rouge residence is an unheard family name. For hiding a noble family name, she must have some reason for it, and finding more explanation about it is detrimental.

(.....Anyone, wants to achieved their own inner hidden desire)

Kamito with his eyes glancing in the direction of his decaying left hand, inside his leather glove.

Even I -

Claire keeps advancing steadily. Kamito hastily chased the twin tail swaying after her back. Now, losing sight of Claire inside the forest will bring only trouble for him. The dangers of spending one night inside the “Spirit Forest”- is the thing Kamito is being aware of.

“Is that dress the academy's uniform?”

“Yah”

Claire nods in a cold manner while walking.

Areishia Spirit Academy Uniform is a robust protective garment that acts as a guard, which has undergone spirit’s protection, and sacred in nature which was improved surely enough to last long. The good thing is that a pear amount of spirits act as a high ceremonial clothing.

“What, are you saying that I don’t harbor value on it?”

“No, it’s not like that. Honestly speaking”

Kamito shrugged his shoulder, and then honestly answer it. Bad mouthing or knocking over someone’s – grandfather’s wardrobe, is the overall situation that anyone should avoid.

“Wha, Whatt, What are you saying! I, I’m not an Idiot!”

(Kaatsu) Claire blushes in deep red, while (Pyun-Pyun) waving her whip.

“Uwahh, Calm down!”

“You, you, are you trying to tell me to do a weird thing!”

“''Me saying a weird thing?, I am just saying that - *in pain*, I know, I know, because, I’m in a disadvantage one on one against your whip!''”

(....phew, it was necessary to tell her a battle strategy, unexpectedly to meet a chaperone princess here)

While dodging the whip which was swung downward in a paper width difference, Kamito sighed in his mind. The holy blade removing any markings on its way inside the forest, creating a gap in the place, then stopped in an arched way. Claire interfere by restraining the extension force with the tip of her fingers, unwinding its circulation in that place in just an ample of time, Kamito expression then calms down.

“From here onwards, it will be really dangerous, so, stay away from me by one meter”

“If you know that it’s dangerous, why not stop?”

“As am I saying, I need to have a strong spirit”

Claire calmly shook her head, when her pair of legs stumbles upon the small shrine.

Disregarding her warnings, Kamito followed her. As for coming about a necessity of battle strategy as his pretext reason, but the truth is, he was just worried about Claire.

After all “Sealed Spirits” are strong and in the same time have a wild nature. They prefer destruction and chaos, the possibility that they would murder that someone who employs them as a spirit was likely to happen.

The frightful hand of humanity can not manage to terminate it --- therefore, they have sealed it.

Sixteen years of age Claire, with such an innate talent of manipulating a spirit, is revered as a deity. However, if by any chance, she would release a sealed spirit; she would fail to control it.

Accidentally, the girl encountered the thing we are talking about, but she overlooked it.

“Why did you follow me? Don't you understand the situation”

“You sure have the confidence that you will completely tame it”

“Of, of course!”

“If there’s any problem tell me”

Kamito shrugged his shoulder and, Claire is facing him while not paying any attention.

“....Suit yourself”

Inside the shrine is a dark gloomy misty atmosphere. Mingling in the air inside are tiny fumes of stinking odor, Claire is somewhat frowning from disgust.

“......Flame, Bring Light”

A fire ball immediately starts to glow from Claire's fingertips. The Fire Spirit’s power when summoned gives some basic fundamental spirit magic. The flickering light of the fire ball dimly illuminates the walls of the shrine.

And, from the innermost of the shrine --- It was severed.

“The.....container of the sealed spirit was severed?”

Kamito muttered, while Claire quietly nods.

Stabbed standing in a huge stone with its omitted severed body. A hundred century old seal grade framework severed disconnected in the broken rusty sashimi knife with its wholeness missing. In its cut off belly, a delicate ancient red inscription dimly radiates palely.

“In this place lies our former beloved, Saint Severian Academy”

“Saint Severian? That was destroyed by Demon King Sulaiman?”

Demon King Sulaiman --- accompanied by his seventy two powerful spirit followers, demolished a major peace agreement which brought chaos in the world, and '''the only man in history that can control a spirit errand'''.

It was said that demon king destroyed the Saint Severian Academy.

“Idiot, there’s no way that’s the real thing”

Claire states being engrossed by it.

“In all the places within the country obi, why is it that it's stabbed in this stone. This place used to be a village, I wonder why in a deserted village. Now, there’s no way it’s genuine from that severed thing as our lead, It’s reasonable enough because it’s not always the case where a sealed spirit is a strong one”

“.....Indeed. Certainly, it’s not like no such place exists..”

Claire determined with her blade walks toward him.

“Hey....”

“You stay back”

Approaching Kamito whose hands are being restrained, Claire clenched the hilt of her holy blade.

“Don’t overwork yourself ”

“....Got it”

Kamito barely lightly reached the bag guarding the thing on it. The other person on his side which is reluctantly not motivated about the sealed spirit. In the first time, a mature serious silent atmosphere is between them.

“.....Move, Claire Rouge”

Claire's breathing deeply murmured informing her own body. A voice meekly trembles from her. A truly complicated scene it was.

--- Thy Sealed Old Holy Blade, Oh Noble Spirit!

--- Wave, I as your master yields your contract, Grind as I wave your scabbard along!

A spell coming from her cherry colored lips, a yang spirit language, contract ritual. The red lotus filaments dancing in the air, inside the shrine a roaring wind vortex begins to accumulate. 　

Kamito gulps his breath, looking at her female appearance. Once a contract has been exchanged and the spirit recongnizes Clair as its master, a spirit seal is engraved within her female body. A contract vow is a final seal agreement. In this moment, a gust of wind swept inside the shrine.

“......eh?”

But, Claire is unfazed. She calmly recites her contract vow.

---And, the female clenched the Severian’s holy blade, a blinding light released from it.

(I can’t....believe it, She was exchanging a contract with the sealed spirit!?)

Preventing being swept by the wind, astonished Kamito raised his voice.

Because the holy blade was stabbed in the stone, she was hitting it while releasing a tremendous divine energy. If it was an average spirit errand, she would have already passed out.

“---Three times, I order to wave, wave, I grant thee to plunge!”

And, Claire’s vow reverberates inside the shrine --- in that instant.

Chaaaarge!

“Co, Come out, Come out!”

“.....What, seriously!?”

The blade came out of the stone then brandishing it overhead, Claire exclaimed with joy. And then followed by a question mark.

The ancient system engraved in its belly; releases a powerful intense brilliant light!

“......ha!?”

Claire involuntarily releases the blade from her hand ---

The holy blade thrusts into the ground, in that time, the light scattered into pieces.

“Kyaaaaah!”

A short shriek flew, then Claire collapses into the ground.

“Hey, are you okay!”

Kamito quickly runs towards Claire.

“Wha, What? Ouch, What is....”

Claire holding her temple trying to get up, quickly stepped back then looked around.

“My, My sealed spirit?”

“No, I....can sense something terrible”

Sweat is flowing intensely from the back of Kamito's neck. Wearing a terrified facial expression, looking up at the shrine’s ceiling. In that place, '''swinging while floating in the air was the blade'''.

It's not the familiar loose broken blade in that place. But, It was a rough sharpned, good quality steel blade.

“Is that.....the sealed spirit’s knife!?”

“Can you really not tell that’s a '''spirit sword''', rather it’s not the time for that”

“The spirit errand is here, but why can’t it understand me”

“As I can see it can understand. Maybe, in its eyes, that thing just can’t comprehend which of us was his faithful master”

“.....umm, It seems like that”

Claire unusual obediently bows her head.

The floating sword slants pointing its tip in a downward direction, exactly motionless.

Then ---

“.....H, Hide!”

Kamito in that instant, pushes down Claire to the ground. A buzzing sound of an insect grazed contaminating the ear which can’t go away that far in one’s neighborhood.

“Wai, Waa, Wait, where are you touching me, I will turn you into charcoal!”

It was clear that Claire’s face is deeply red in her carelessness, while on the other hand, Kamito’s heart is beating faster.

“Idio, Idiot, violent!”

Kamito quickly steps away from her body, the spirit sword flew away, taking their attention, looking at it with both their eyes.

A clattering sound, fragments of rocks fall down. The shrine’s ceiling was completely cut open cleanly.

“As expected, that spirit came loose ---”

Claire scowled half opened eye towards Kamito.

“......umm the spirit is completely running wild”

“You, You’re Noisy. Fro.. From here onwards, You will be obedient to me!”

“YOU....”

Kamito surprised, is now in a situation in which he can’t even talk back.

The spirit sword releases a chattering noise while approaching them. Inside the shrine, it was moving freely swiftly in the air, without any restriction in its area.

Kamito grabbed Claire’s hand, trying to pull her to a stand. Touching each others soft skin, (Doki) a heart beat, then both of them regrettablly turn their faces away from each other.

“Hwaah”

“Always has a cute reaction. Let's flee”

“Wha.. whaa. whatt.. Cute.. what me, Kyaa!”

“Let’s run outside!”

Pulling Claire’s hand with his hand, while running towards the direction of the shrine’s exit that's basking with sunshine.

The spirit sword immediately chases after them. As of now it has not yet completely awakened. But giving it the opportunity, may cause them not being able to run away.

Outside of the shrine, the sword with a wavering tumble came out in a lightning speed to their front. The spirit sword lets out a tremendous roar,decisively knocking domn the surrounding trees in succesion.

“Crazy, What a shrewd Spirit, Let’s go somewhere safe my Princess”

“Alwa, always, you’re noisy...”

During this time, an awkward atmosphere flows in between them, and then suddenly an uncomfortable cough breaks the silence, Claire stands up.

“What a rebellious child.....I will give you some proper training”

Her pair of crimson eyes which where burning with a fierce determination, saying it in a way as if she was planting rice to be harvested later. Tearing off her Skirt, she then took the leather whip which was coiled in her thigh, hitting it hard in the ground. And the other one is looking in a shocked manner over the white underwear, it was Kamito -

“Are you insane!? You’re opponent is a high rank sealed spirit!”

“Easy victory, I’m not lower than an amateur like you”

“Where are you getting all of your confidence?, It’s better to run away”

Being grabbed in the wrist by Kamito’s hand, Claire repulses.

“No, you escape yourself. I will absolutely get this guy”

“You, for what reason --- do you need a strong spirit that badly?”

“.....You will never understand”

At the same time Clair averts her eyes.

“I want...a strong spirit, not just a spirit but an unbeatable, very strong spirit!”

--- Guardian of Crimson’s blaze, Keeper of the Sleepless furnace!

--- In accordance with the blood contract, under my name I grant thee to hasten and join!

Claire summoned her “Flame Spirit” by singing a summoning ritual. A crimson flame surges and she was engulfed by hot air .

“Here, In accordance with your seal descend, Scarlett!”

Simultaneously a typical young flame, appeared – a Scarlet Red Hell Cat. Instead of a fur, it was a blazing scarlet red colored flame, wrapping the beast's body.

(Is that the real form of her flame spirit!?)

Indeed, she really blurted out that thing here. To manifested in beast form, is proof that that thing is a high rank spirit. Stating Scarlett as a name with great affection, perhaps it was not really that spirit's name, but a name with the same quality.

Claire wields her whip, and the hell cat growls with a frightful roar, then rushed towards the sword spirit. Dancing sparks scattered. The atmosphere trembled and the beast roars. The floating spirit sword whistles, and all the trees in their direction were severely cut down.

“Scarlett, in accordance with your seal!”

In response to Claire’s shout, the hell cat jumps.The sharp blazing claws swing down at where the spirit sword is flying above in the sky. A high pitched shrill sound. An intense sparks sprinkle, and the spirit sword droppes to the ground.

Claire runs at the same time. Without even a single scratch on it, the spirit sword rises and flies in a split second, rolling over while drawing an arc in the air.

The flame spirit chased after it, trying not to loose it from its hands. Again a big jump, hindering it from rising any higher.

Two times the rage, a spark scattered. Clare strikes hard at the ground with her leather whip, attaching it into the spirit sword cornering it. Battling it with her leather whip in a tug of war, in that time she gave a signal to her spirit.

Scarlett fiercely attacks, the spirit sword which was held from moving --- back and forth.

“Eat this, burning fire ball!”

Clair releases a huge fire ball from her palm.

Fire Ball – An ultrahigh burning fire which can terribly burn out anything its targeted at in the face of the earth, it was a high level spirit magic. The spirit magic’s power, determined by the spirit contractor’s own divine spiritual energy and the contracted spirit’s strength as a whole.

The released fire ball solitarily flew into the air, blowing up involving Scarlett. The after effect of the explosion causes every tree in the area to be burned down, it's like a scene from the blazing hell.

(What Power......)

At the same time carried by the winds are small stones, Kamito refusing himself to be wind up.

A sixteen years old girl can’t possible have used such powerful spirit magic.

Inside the swirling fire the hell cat's figure shows up. Naturally, the hell cat can’t possibly be harmed by the blazing fire because of its nature.

The spirit sword – in any case seemed to be quiet. It does not seem hurt waiting in that place. Regardless, Claire wants to bring down that thing with her high level spirit magic without any hesitation. But, the spirit sword is being cautious by pulling itself in that place.

“Scarlett!”

Claire exclaimed. The flame spirit's claws attacks the spirit sword in that place. Melting the iron steel with its scourging hot claws. In any case that’s your average spirit ones neighbor, it would be instantly eradicated. But, the spirit sword quickly turned around, and splendidly perceived by its steel sword body.

In an instant, the strange sound of metal rubbing each other reverberated in the trembling atmosphere.

“Wh...Why?....”

Kamito suppressed both his ears with his hands.

The sound properly received by Claire who has a distorted facial expression from pain, crouching in that place.

The spirit sword which released the strange sound - in such a manner, changed. Generally, it was the length of the sword, switching into a huge “long sword”.

In a flash.

“What!?”

Claire’s flame spirit unexpectedly strikes, a huge swing one attack which was immediately countered. The body was severely cut down into two, while flames wrapped around its body vanished in the empty lot, .

In that one mistake, one can realized the strength which was about to released in this world.

(....Damn, what a mistake. It seems that thing was waiting there to completely awaken.)

A curse from the bottom of her heart, Claire took a glance -

In the empty lot where the flame spirit is dying, the girl with her stunned blank eyes looked up at the same time.

The flame spirit which was attacked and decapitated was thrown away by the spirit sword, Claire aimed her determined sight on it.

From the huge long sword, a loud sound flew -

“Claire!”

Kamito shouted while running, without reason, his own body just moved before he known it.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Diving in front of Clair, the long sword stabbed its blade into his palm. It was not his left hand enclosed by the leather glove – it's his right hand.

(……I, I’m helpless ! )

--- Thy Sealed Old Holy Blade, Oh Noble Spirit!

--- Wave, I as your master yields your contract, Grind as I wave your scabbard along!

A huge amount of sweats is floating, it’s the second time the exchanging of spirit contract ritual was recited. Thrusting deeply into his hands, the tip of the sword breaks the leather surrounding his palm. Red blood gushed intensely from it.

(.....Gwaah, Gah!)

A fierce attack of divine energy, the soil and sands surrounding them are whirling up from the wind pressure. In his consciousness a sharp pain resounded. But, Kamito tried not to lose his consciousness, protecting Claire behind his back no matter what happens.

--- Three times, I order to wave!

“.....No way, a Spirit Contract!?”

A surprised sound from Claire’s throat.

A mark from his sinking foot can be seen in the ground. And, the sound of his breaking bones resounds from his knee cap.

--- Wave, I grant thee to plunge!

Withstanding the terrible sharp pain, Kamito finished his last word of the contract ritual.

In that exact moment. The spirit sword’s blade palely radiates.

(What!?)

An intense flash and a roar filled his consciousness.

=== Part 4 ===

As he opened his eyes, Claire Rouge’s face was there. Hanging lower onto his face was her twin tailed hair tickling his face.

It was a shout, but, it can’t be heard. A roar which can break one’s ear.

(.....It appears, I’m alive)

Weary lying on the ground, Kamito is breathing heavily. Lowering his head, it seems that he can’t believe himself that he had won against the spirit.

Raising his eyebrow, he grimaced from the torment of pain from his body, raising his right hand slowly.

In his right hand which was stabbed -

Instead of a wound, an emblem was engraved of two swords crossing each other

It was the proof of the spirit contract vow - The spirit carved seal.

(Aah, this is....?)

Staring closely in the carved seal from the back of his hand, Kamito wondered.

A sharp sense of guilt gauged his heart.

It means that female’s contract has been destroyed ---

But, Claire who has a relieved expression, in such situation she had failed.

Claire noticed Kamito who just woke up, with her hands in his nape and her face approaching him. A relieved sigh. With her clear crimson eyes, looking at Kamito. Her cherry colored lips weakly trembled.

“......Why ”

"Why, you’re a male, how can you contract a spirit!”

“......”

Kamito does not answer and slowly rises up. Being ignored, the annoyed Claire raised her eyebrows.

“My, My Sword Spirit!?”

“My bad. Just a moment ago, I had contracted on it”

Kamito sighes and at the same time he shows her the back of his right hand, where the spirit carved seal is engraved.

“Wha, Whaa, Wha, Whaaaat!”

Claire has a stunned expression with her mouth wide open.

(Well, A natural reaction....)

A long sigh --- Kamito felt a faint ache in his heart. Of course, he could clearly understand such response. In a sense, that only pure maidens are the ones who have the privilege for --- the spirit contract.

The existence of a man which can simultaneously contract a spirit, throughout the history, belongs solely to one person. And the one who brings chaos and destruction in the world, the so called Demon King spirit contractor.

The same spirit contract strength as the Demon King, Kamito was grabbed by the terror of his thought which he can’t embrace.

Kamito stands up and quietly turns back.

He does not regret. He had helped the girl, because this is the only way he could think of.

“Wait, as am I saying Wait!”

While getting away from that place, a voice addressed him from the back.

Turning around, Claire with her hands in her hips intensely glared at him.

"You stole...my spirit...you have to take responsibility for it!"

“Huh?”

Kamito conceals his frown. ....It doesn't make any sense to him.

In such reaction of Kamito, Claire acting impatient with her twin tailed hair in her shoulder.

“I should have been the one who had obtained that spirit, as am I saying, you have to take responsibility for it”

“Re..sponsibility?”

Because of that unexpected word, Kamito has become even more confused.

....What was the girl saying.

“Therefore....”

Claire wields her whip then she points her index finger toward Kamito.

"You have to become my contracted spirit!"

<noinclude>
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Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter5

2012-03-13T16:24:04Z

140.114.81.204:

==Claire's Feelings==

===Part 1===
(…Sigh, I have totally got myself into something troublesome.)

While walking on the stone paving of the academy, Kamito sighed number of times today. In front of his eyes, there was the culprit, the red twin-tail hair swaying about.

As usual he was with an empty stomach, he lost his house and to make matters worse that was the outcome from a duel by fellow spirit contractors.

…No matter what the circumstances, this is beyond misfortune. It has to be none other than the Dusk Witch’s curse.

“Unh, are you grumbling? How unmanly!”

Claire turned around and snapped her fingers.

“My house.”

“U…”

Kamito groaned with his eyes half-opened, Claire averted her eyes to elsewhere far.

“Pyromaniac. Criminal.”

“…I… I get it! I also feel a little bad!”

She blushed and pouted her lips. It seemed she was at least aware of her crime.

As it was the right moment, Kamito blatantly sighed.

“Oh boy, the homeless me will have to sleep out in the 'Spirit Forest'.”

“……”

“Sleeping at the night in the Spirit Forest is seriously a suicidal act. But it can’t be helped, after all, my house has been completely burned down.”

Kamito showed her him dropping his shoulders unnaturally.

Claire gnawed her lips. And then, she tip-toed -

And stared into Kamito’s eyes motionlessly.

Her face was near. Kamito was involuntarily startled as his nostrils was lightly tickled by the scent of a girl.

“…Okay, then. I…I’ll compensate you, properly!”

“Compensate?”

Kamito’s face somehow twitched to a bad premonition.

===Part 2===

— Where Kamito was brought to was to the front of the female dormitory of the Raven class.

Although it was called a dormitory, it was not a normal building. It was an elegant mansion akin to the residences of upper aristocrats.

“…Eh, what’s this?”

“For little while, I’ll allow you freeload in my room. Please be grateful.”

“Huh?”

…what did she suddenly proposed, this milady.

“After all, if I left you outside, Rinslet would come meddling…And because you are my slave spirit, isn’t natural for me, a spirit contractor, to take care of you.”

Claire informed him, bending her empty chest.

“No, that’s not it… You are still a girl of age and I may do something, did you not consider that?”

“D…Do you plan to do something to me?”

Claire glared. Kamito shook his head horizontally.

“Scarlet will stand watch. If you try to do something…cinders.”

“Isn't it a violation of the dormitory rules? A guy, like me, entering the female dormitory.”

“It’s alright, because you will be treated as my contracted spirit. The same as Scarlet.”

“That is completely not alright.”

Kamito retorted with his half-opened eyes, Claire was fidgeting with her hair irritated and snapped her fingers.

“Ahh, come on, do you want to stay? Or do you want to turn into cinders? Which?”

“… Why are there only those two choices?”


Kamito dropped his shoulders and sighed in resignation.

Claire’s room was on the second floor of the aristocrat residence like female dormitory.

“Don’t make too much noise, because the dormitory secretary is super scary.”

“A…Aah…Pardon my intrusion.”

For Claire, who is ideally pictured as arrogant, to be afraid of the dormitory secretary, he had a little interest.

While thinking of that, he timidly stepped into the room.

No matter how rough her personality was, Claire was a girl.

In addition, she was an outstandingly pitiful beautiful girl; even Kamito could not help but admit that.

Entering the room, as expected he was tense.

“—Flame, illuminate.”

Claire recited the spirit magic and the room was lighted.

Claire’s room was –

“……”

In senseless disorder.

There was a collapsed mountain of a large number of books. Clothes were left crumpled, plush toys and small items and so on were scattered here and there till there was no place to stand.

It did not look like a room of a pedigree milady.

“…You should at least do some cleaning.”

“U…Usually, Scarlet does the cleaning. Come on, quickly get in.”

Claire kicked Kamito’s back, sending him to the middle of the room.

“Ouch…good grief, you actually use such a powerful fire spirit to clean the room, if the spirit contractors across the world hear about it, they all cry you know.”

“Hmm, Scarlet is different from you, she is clever you know. She also burns the trash.”

“Ahh, I see. It is good as long as it’s convenient.”

As soon as they were arguing, a hell cat, cladded in flames, manifested and started to put the room’s trash together and tidy up. … Indeed, there seemed to be where the wastepaper was incinerated.

“…Are you just fine with that?”

If that fire spirit of Claire grew, it could match up with even a large dragon type.

…What was sorrowful? Was it being made to do things like cleaning the room?

“Thank you, Scarlet. Good girl.”

Suri suri.  Nade nade. 

Meow. Meow.

“Are you a cat!”

Kamito retorted without thinking to the fire spirit fawning happily.

(…That proud spirit is completely tamed…)

Well, if one was gently stroked like that by Claire, whose outward appearance at least was of a beautiful girl, it was understandable to be completely attached.

For now, as there was no place to stand, Kamito too helped with the cleaning.

A long time ago, because of Greyworth working him hard, the entire housework became his forte.

He started carrying the books that were in a huge pile at his feet to put aside at a corner of the room.

At that time. He caught the sight of the titles written on the books’ front cover.

'The count and the hopeless princess', 'Tease me more, master!', 'The princess abducted by pirates'… Indeed these were what teenage girls like. There were ten-odd such romance novels, which were intended for teenagers.

“Hmm, so, you like this kind of stuff. That was a little unexpected.”

“…Id… Don’t look!”

Bofun.

The pillow, Claire threw, landed a direct hit on Kamito’s face, and he toppled over and was squashed by the books.

“If you don’t want anyone to look, you should have tidied up. It’s no big deal, I feel, even to like such novels.”

“S…Shut up, it…it’s not like I like them! … Err, yea, I borrowed from a friend, so I have no choice but to read them!”

“Hmm, I see. You borrowed fourteen volumes of novels you do not like.”

“S…Shut up!!”

Poka poka poka. 

Claire got partially teary and hit Kamito. It was weak, possibly due to being embarrassed.

Kamito shrugged his shoulders and placed his hand on the floor to stand up.

And, just nice, that hand came in contact with–

(…Hn?)

A cloth that was somewhat nice to touch.

Was it silk? It was soft, silky and very nice to touch.

Unintentionally, he grabbed it, at its edges white flutters were attached to it.

(—…, white flutters!?)

With his face twitching, he stared at his hand.

Kamito’s hand tightly grasped an undergarment attached with fine laces.

…Surprisingly, it was a rather mature silk panty.

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

“Hn, what are you doing?”

“Owaa!?”

Kamito got flustered and stuff that into his pocket.

—…, what was he going to do stuffing it in!

(What am I doing! Doesn’t this make me a real pervert?!)

“What? Why are you so shocked?”

Claire frowned and drew her face near with suspicion.

“N…no, it’s nothing!”

Kamito stood up while shaking his head. Was there a topic he could distract her with? He looked around… then he realized.

“…By…by the way, about this room, don’t you have a roommate?”

Even if this was a dormitory of the academy attended by princesses, the room was a little too big for one person to be living in it.

With the room so messed up, wouldn’t the roommate girl get angry?

Speaking of it, was it good to take in a guy without even getting permission from her roommate?

Thereupon, Claire tightly bit her lips and look downwards.

“I don’t. Nobody wants to be in the same room as someone like me.”

“…? Don’t tell me, you do not have a single spirit contractor partner?”

“W…who needs things like partners. As long as I have a strong spirit, I am more than enough alone.”

Claire folded her hands and declared so; she looked like pretending to be tough with all her might.

(…Why is it so?)

This person sure had a hard personality but, as a spirit contractor, her ability was top class.

He thought with such ability, she could ignore any team, however.

“But without gathering 5 people, you can’t enter into the 'blade dance'.”

“…I… I’ll manage it somehow. If I have to, I’ll somehow gather up just that number of people.”

Claire averted her line of sight awkwardly.

It seemed like she did not want to touch on this topic.

“Ig…ignoring that, you are hungry, right?”

Claire cleared her throat forcefully.

“Hn, Ah… your long-awaited soup, which you blissfully received, was wrecked.”

It was a certain somebody’s fault, Kamito glared scornfully at Claire.

“Hmm, it can’t be helped. Today, I’ll specially feed –treat you.”

“Did you say feed? Did you say that?”

“It was your imagination. Come on, bring out that table.”

While sighing, Kamito took out the table.

Claire started lining up a large amount of canned food, taken from the shelves.

Canned tuna. Yakitori. Salted cod. Vegetables boiled in soy sauce. Beef stew….etc.

Kamito was dumbfounded and looked down on the pyramid of cans. Canned foods are preserved foods that soldiers carry with them on a long campaign. It was at least not dinner of a milady attending the academy.

“…W…why is it nothing but canned food? It is definitely bad for the body, you know.”

“What a foolish question, it’s because I like canned food.”

“No, no matter how much you like, having just canned food is just –“

“What, it’s no problem, after all I like them. If you have complains, then I won’t give them to you.”

Claire embraced the mountain of canned food with a sullen face. That face of hers was subtly red.

With that, he got it.

…Aha. That’s right.

“You can’t cook, right?”

After directly pointing it out, Claire stiffen her back.

“Th…th…th…that’s not it!”

“That reaction revealed it all. Even if the mouth lies, the body is honest.”

“D…don’t speak lewdly, idiot!”

“To misinterpret a very normal speech, I think that you’re the lewd one. You read too much of such novels. Claire is a lewd milady.

“U..uuuu!”

Tears flowed out faintly from her red eyes, Claire bit down on her molars.

…Damn it. He teased her a little too much.

(…What should I say, I unintentionally ridiculed her.)

The result of going overboard was frightening. Kamito honestly apologized.

“S…sorry… It was my bad. I said a little too much.”

“….!”

Claire was groaning. Like a wild animal of the feline family.

“S..such a glare… How about, to make up to you, I’ll make dinner?”

With that, Claire, with her bristled hair, opened her eyes.

“You can cook?”

“Well, it’s pretty much my forte. Do you have seasonings?”

“Such things are at the shared space at the front of the dormitory.”

“Okay, if I arranged even these canned foods a little, it will become something like a cuisine. As for the fire –“

“Scarlet.”

Claire snapped her fingers and Scarlet breathed out a small fire ball.

The fire ball drifted lightly in the air and stayed still on top of Kamito’s hand.

“…This is convenient.”

“I know!”

—And with that, after a few minutes.

In the room, the sound of something being fried resounded.

Spinach, bacon and sliced garlic were fried with butter.

Next to the frying pan, there was pasta just enough for two boiling in a pot.

“If I recall right, she said she likes it al dente.”

He chewed one piece of pasta to check.

“Hn, this is just right. Claire, where are the cutlery –“

He put down the frying pan and turned around… There was no one in the room.

“…Eh? Where is she?”

He looked around the room restlessly.

The hell cat, lying down near his feet, purred and reached out its forelimb.

Once the fire was extinguished, he looked at the front of its forelimb –

From the other side of the door in the room, faint water sound could be heard.

“Oh, she’s showering.”

The shower installed in the room was a type of spirit device, which used the power of the water spirit.

To be clean in both mind and body at any time was – the ironclad rule of spirit contractors.

Kamito, feeling relieved, ignited the fire once again –

(… Shower!?)

He turned around again.

(W…why… is she so thoughtlessly defenseless at such a vital moment!)

“…”

Kamito swallowed his saliva.

Saaaaaaa –

Once he was aware of it, the water sound, which resounded in the room, strangely sounded bewitching.

Even if she has a child-like chest, she is still a sixteen year old girl.

Furthermore, her face, without flattery, was cute. Extremely cute.

Her chest was quite a shame but… nevertheless, it was there.

Suddenly, the memory of meeting her in the forest this morning revived.

Her beautiful nude body, with red hair clinging to it.

That properly elastic sensation his hand touched.

(Waaa, don’t recall it, me!)

He shook his hand, shaking off his worldly desires.

At that moment.

“Kyaaa!”

He heard a shriek from the bathroom.

Kamito was taken aback and came to his senses.

(… A scream?)

Perhaps she lost control of the water spirit, causing cold water to come out.

(No, a spirit contractor of her level should not fail in controlling the spirit device –)

“Nooooooooo!”

Bam! The bathroom door suddenly opened and Claire dashed out.

“Wha..!?”

Her dripping wet hair disheveled –

She ran nude towards him in a straight line.

“… Hey, what’s with your appearance–“

Then, Kamito’s hair froze.

She was – not nude.

She was nude but she was not exactly nude.

Transparent jelly-like water was twining slimily itself around her smooth bare body!

“What’s wrong!? What the heck is –“

“…K…Ka…Kamito, he...lp me…!”

In front of his eyes was Claire, who collapsed on the floor and was gasping in agony.

“…No, don’t look… Idiot, Aaaa!”

Biku, bikun!

Claire turned red and her nude body was jumping about like it was convulsing.

(…Sorry. It is impossible to not get excited!)

Kamito got flustered and averted his line of sight, on the contrary, hearing the heavy breathing, stimulated his imagination.

“Ah… Hyaa… Don’t…do… that…”

It seemed that the water spirit of the spirit device went wild. Claire was frantically trying to control it but there was no way she could do it in that condition.

“Hold on, I’ll help you right now!”

Kamito closed his eyes and concentrated.

“Unruly spirit of water, comply with my command and settle down!”

While he murmured softly sprit words of Chinju, his right hand was charged with divine power –

“Claire, grab my hand!”

“No, Ahh…h!”

While Claire let out a hot long breath, she somehow reached out her hand.

The moment the tip of their fingers touched.

Paan!

The water spirit, which was running wild, had its form collapsed and immediately returned into water.

Claire stayed collapsed on the flooded floor and with her flushed face, she was breathing roughly.

Her untied red hair clinging onto her skin was strangely erotic.

Kamito turned away in a fluster.

“What’s wrong? With a spirit contractor of your level, how did such –“

“U…urm, when I was using the shower, the water spirit suddenly went crazy… such a thing has never even happened once before.”

While Claire moaned, she slowly got up.

“Fo…for the time being, why don’t you wipe your body. You will catch a cold after all.”

Kamito, with his face turned away, took out and handed over a handkerchief from his pocket.

“Th…thank you…”

Claire nodded and accepted it—

….

“Hey, Kamito”

“Hn. What is it?”

“What is the meaning of this?”

Claire’s voice trembled.

Moreover, somehow the room’s temperature had rapidly risen.

“Ah”

Kamito finally realized it.

….That was right. What was in his uniform’s pocket was not a handkerchief.

That was something he hid in a fluster a while ago.

That silky panty.

Gogogogogogogogogogogo….!

In Claire’s hand, an earnest flaming ball of spirit magic was born.

“Wa…wait, clam down. You’re mistaken, this is mistake, if I explain, you’ll –“

“Shut up! T…turn into cinders, you pervert –!”

===Part 3===

“Kamito, get me another serving!”

“...You sure can eat. You’ll get fat, you know”

It was minutes after that. The table was lined with numerous of Kamito’s home cooking.

With the spinach-and-bacon pasta, there were tuna potato salads. Pumpkin potage with gratin from the canned salmon, and for desserts, there was fruit yogurt.

They were made with the canned food, which was of a great amount in the shelf, as ingredients; however, Claire seemed full of praise. The act of her gleaming her eyes and stuffing her cheeks with pasta was somewhat awfully cute.

The fire spirit, in the form of a hell cat, was also devouring the canned tuna beside Claire.

Spirits can maintain their own existence, so they do not need material sustenance. However among the high ranking spirits, there were also some rare ones that like human food. …Although, it was only as a luxury.

“No problem, I have constitution that doesn’t get fat.”

Claire placed pasta on the plate and said that with a nonchalant face. Certainly, using spirit consumed physical strength, so it was true that there were a lot of ladies with a slender figure.

“Hey, don’t eat the dessert early. Despite being a milady, what bad manners.”

“Unh, shut up! That’s up to me, right, you panty thief!”

“Guu…..”

Kamito groaned shortly…. Once she said that, he could not say anything back.

“You are demoted from slave spirit to panty thief spirit.”

“… What kind of spirit is that?”

Somehow, another new variety of spirit was born.

“You are really the worst. O…of all things, you stole my number one favorite panty!”

“I have been saying it wasn’t on purpose!”

“What? Are you being defiant?

Claire glared.

“…No, sorry.”

Kamito bowed his head in embarrassment. Well, no matter he thought about it, it was his own fault this time.

While Claire put the tuna potato salad into her mouth, she caught a glance of him.

“Well, I’ll recognize your cooking skills at least. This is very delicious. If you make meals for me every day, I’ll promote you to cooking spirit.”

“I’m grateful for that. By the way, those are almost like words of proposing.”

Upon pointing that out. Claire’s face turned bright red.

“D…don’t be an idiot! Do you want to turn into cinders? Come on, do you want to turn into cinders?

“I..I get it, so stop pointing the fork at me.”

“Hmm… n...next time you say such idiotic things, I’ll really burn you!”

Claire pouted her lips and turned away.

Kamito sighed in relief while he cut and divide the salmon gratin.

“…If only there was soy, this would be much better, but”

“What’s that? Food?”

“It’s a seasoning circulated in my hometown. Well, you can’t get it here though.”

Kamito shrugged his shoulders and said that –

“Hometown, huh….”

Claire murmured with her eyelashes slightly lowered.

Somehow –she had an awfully lonely expression.

After that, for a short while, there was the sound of cutlery being used.

After eating that satisfying dinner, Claire’s mood also got a little better.

Somehow, there was a calm atmosphere.

Kamito suddenly raised his head and looked at Claire.

– He felt that it could ask now.

He had wanted to ask her, since meeting her this morning in the forest, but did not have a chance to.

“By the way, you –“

“What?”

Claire placed down her cup of black tea.

Why do you want such a powerful spirit?”

It was a simple question.

Despite using a spirit such as Scarlet, she still risked harming her body to reach out to a ‘Sealed Spirit’. He wanted to know the reason for that.

“…”

Claire –

Cast down her slightly perplexed eyes down and murmured.

“There’s someone I want to meet no matter what.”

“Someone you want to meet…?”

Kamito dropped his sight to his left hand, concealed in his black leather glove.

What he lost three years ago, an irreplaceable important bond was there –

(So, she’s the same as me…)

The scare engraved at the back of his hand ached.

Claire sighed and inserted her hand into the neckband of her uniform.

“…Yea, I’ll say it. Something that I can’t help but hide.”

What she took out from her chest was a small pendent with silver chains.

At the very center, a shiny crimson red spirit crystal was inserted in it.

Kamito saw a crest engraved there – and raised his voice in surprised.

“A flame lion… the crest of Elstein duke family!?”


Claire silently nodded.

The Elstein duke family. The grand nobles who had served the royal family for generations ever since the founding of the Ordesia Empire.

One of the five witches, who stood top among all spirit contractors, — was noble among nobles of spirit princesses, who served directly under elemental lords, that were turning out in great numbers. 

No – that should have been so.

— Till four years ago, when that incident occurred.

Rubia Elstein.

The one who brought a great unprecedented calamity to the Ordesia Empire – The Calamity Queen.

She too, same as the girl in front of him, had burning-like crimson red hair.

“Don’t tell me, you’re…”

“Yes, I am her little sister. The Calamity Queen – Rubia Elstein’s”

Claire looked straight into Kamito’s eyes and nodded.

“…”

Claire Rogue. He was thinking that that was an alias.

But, by no means –

(… I see. What she cast away was the Elstein family name.)

In this large continent, there was no one who did not know about that incident.

Four years ago, the spirit princess, serving under the fire elemental lord, – Rubia Elstein suddenly snatched the strongest flame spirit, 'Laevateinn' from the shrine and disappeared.

After learning of the spirit princess’ treachery, the flame elemental lord in anger got fired up and got into frenzy.

It burned everything related to Elstein duke’s territory, including the Ordesia Empire’s land, the empire took enormous damage. And that did not put the elemental lord’s anger to peace, about a year after that, no matter what method on used, not a fire could be lit within the Ordesia Empire.

Nobody knew why the fire spirit princess disappeared.

The Ordesia citizens furiously cursed her and, filled with hatred, called her.

—The Calamity Queen.

“I want to meet my sister. When I meet her, I want to hear the truth.”

For that, she had to get strong.

She had to obtain the strongest spirit.

With the reward given to the winner of the blade dance –

For the sake of obtaining the right of granting just one desired 'wish'.

Claire’s expression was filled with a tragic determination.

“Besides—“

Claire slightly looked down and muttered.

“This round’s blade dance had that Ren Ashbell participating.”

“…!? Kehoo, kehoo—“

Once that name came out from Claire’s mouth, Kamito reflexively coughed.

“…? What’s wrong?”

“Aaah, that’s bad…”

Ren Ashbell was the winner of the last blade dance.

She suddenly appeared three years ago, the strongest blade dancer

That blade dance was splendidly vivid. At the finals, even with Numbers candidates of spirit contractors, she overwhelmed them.

Due to her dedicated blade dance, the flame elemental lord’s rage was finally appeased.

“Three years ago, I saw her blade dance at the assembly hall. I also feel that I want to be like that, a noble, strong spirit contractor.”

Claire blushed and looked down a little embarrassed.

“Ever since that day, I’ve always admired her….”

“…I see”

Kamito looked at Claire with a complicated expression – calmly grasping his fist tightly.

...After that, it was a strange quiet time.

They tried to talk about anything number of times but all of it did not last long.

Claire yawned cutely after eating up the dishes on the table. After filling her stomach, she seemed drowsy. Well, she did use a spirit of Scarlet’s level twice in one day, so it was natural.

“Wake me up when it’s time. If you do something funny, cinders.”

“…Wait. Does that mean I have to stay awake for the whole time?”

Kamito complained, and in front of him, Claire was making sleeping breaths.

She had an astonishingly ease to sleep.

“…Good grief, you’ll catch a cold!”

Kamito carried Claire’s petite body up like a princess.

He carried her to the bed at a corner of the room.

Scarlet walked and jumped onto the bed.

(…Even so, just this fellow’s sleeping face is truly angel-like.)

While looking at the face, making the gentle sleeping breaths, Kamito smiled bitterly.

When he put Claire to the bed, her cherry blossom lips faintly moved.

“Sister….Father…Mother…”

(Sleep-talking… huh)

He seemed to have somewhat heard something he should not.

Certainly, after the incident of the Calamity Queen disappearing, Elstein duke family’s territory should have been seized and the duke and his wife imprisoned in the Balsas prison –

“…Hn, Kamito”

“…!?”

He was shocked when his name was called suddenly.

“Ahh, what are you doing, pervert…idiot.”

“…What kind of dream is she seeing!”

Kamito muttered with sighing mixed in and he stared at his hand.

After that day three years ago, he hid his left hand with a leather glove.

(You and I are the same, Claire)

(These three years, I have stayed alive to get back my important person.)

Due to his error, he lost it, his former contracted spirit –

===Part 4===

At the same instant. In every room of the female dormitory, Claire lived in, occurred a little incident.

The spirits used in the spirit devices in the kitchen, bathroom and etc. suddenly began to go out of control.

After the spirit investigation party investigated the dormitory, it brought it to an end with meager words that the incident was of unknown cause –

In the darkness shined by the blue moon – a black-winged angel gently alighted at the academy tower.

It was a black hair girl, dressed in a jet black dress.

The girl landed gently on the roof of the female dormitory and smiled pitifully.

“—I wanted to meet you, Kamito”

On the girl’s palm, wriggling lumps of darkness were floating.

“But you’re still not the true you.”

She reached her hands to the empty sky and the orbs of darkness color drifted and disappeared in the night sky.

“That’s why; I’ll offer you my memories.”

The girl chuckled.

Like a cruel little girl.

Like a pure demon.

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