Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en]

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter8

2013-01-06T06:03:19Z

180.191.165.43: /* Part 3 */

==Chapter 8: The Strongest Blade Dancer==
===Part 1===

Academy Town was a small-scale town within the premises of the Areishia Spirit Academy.

The townscape, lined with stone buildings, was filled with the tumult of people.

While bumping many times over into the coming-and-going crowds of people, Kamito was running towards the arena.

—If that was him thinking about it too much, it was alright. However, he was feeling strangely uneasy.

''...Absurd. With the loss of her contracted spirit, a Blade Dance is just...''

While he was out of breath, he ran at full speed, pulling Est's hand.

He did not understand why he was so frantic for her sake.

Claire Rouge was a— tyrant, who was prideful, willful and quick to lash her whip.

However, he somehow could not leave her alone.

''After all, her true self is—''

Kamito stopped at that moment.

"—Here, right?"

Before the arena built at the center of the town, there was a crowd of spectators gathered.

The blade dance was originally a holy ritual to let spirits enjoy themselves— a kind of Kagura.


However, there was no change to the fact that it was also the highest form of entertainment to humans.

Also, the same as other festivals, the spirits preferred a great number of enthusiastic people.

He showed his academy student badge to the guard and entered inside, and pushed aside clamoring spectators to get to the front.

There were ear-splitting cheers. The sound of shrills of weapons. The intense blade dance had already started at the arena.

There were about 20 participants. Various types of spirits were jumbled together and fighting.

It was a battle royal system where the last one remaining would earn the right to contract with a powerful military-use spirit.

Kamito searched for Claire—

"...!?"

For that unbelievable sight, he doubted his eyes.

That Claire Rouge was—

Covered all over with wounds and crawling.

Against the contracted spirits boasting tremendous power, Claire was fighting with just a whip and Spirit Magic.

While her whole body was hit and slammed into a wall, she stood up and fought again and again.

"Claire—"

He could not go help her. If Kamito got in and helped her, she would be naturally disqualified.

If he did that, she would probably never forgive him.

Kamito bit his teeth and in front of him, Claire was blown away.


===Part 2===

''—Weak. Why am I so weak?''

While being thrown to the ground, Claire strongly bit her lips. The taste of blood spread across her tongue. It seemed that she was cut somewhere inside her mouth. She planned to stand up but her hands went numb and did not move. It seemed to have caused a cerebral concussion. Even several bones of her ribs might be suffering damage.

"Guu...!"

Even so, she still did not raise the surrender card.

She slowly stood up on shaky legs.

She sternly looked up. At the center of the altar was a worshiped stone pillar. Within that, there was a rank-A battle-class military-use spirit— «Glasya-Labolas» sealed inside, brought in from the imperial capital.

Having brought down many spirit knights in the past wars, it was a famous giant-man spirit.

''...If I obtain that, I can be strong.''

—Nee-sama surely can be saved!

"Flame— dance in my hand, dance!"

She turned the divine power dwelling within herself into flames and produced a fireball of spirit magic in her palm.


In her situation where there was no supply of divine power from Scarlet (her contracted spirit), even for Claire, who was superior, to produce such a small flame took all her might. Naturally, such a thing could not bring down spirits.

However, if she aimed for the spirit contractors, possibly— there might be a tiny chance of winning.

"Huh? Do you still plan on doing this? You don't learn, do you"

—She heard a scorning voice from her front.

"...!"

She bit her teeth and lifted her head. The two spirit contractors were standing with ridiculing expressions.

They were the Academy's upper classmen. They were respectively using «Adamantine Spirit» and «Magic Mirror Spirit».

"Hey, are you truly an idiot? You don't even have a contracted spirit."

"That very part of you is irritating, you know."

"...You!"

Aiming at the two upper classmen ridiculing her, Claire released the fireball.

However, the fireball was stopped by the bore-looking Adamantine Spirit and easily repelled.

"Ahahaa, what's that, spirit magic? —Do it, «Adamantine»!"

The girl on the other side cruelly curved her lips and gave an order to her contracted spirit.

The Adamantine Spirit emitted a blue radiance and rushed and struck Claire's abdomen.

"Agg...!"


A mumbling scream escaped from Claire's mouth.

She did not dare aim for her vital points. She was slowly tormenting her and enjoying herself.

This was not a splendorous blade dance for spirits to enjoy. It was merely unsightly violence.

"...How cheeky, you. Despite being that Calamity Queen's younger sister."

The upper classman's face was really distorted in hatred. While being hit many times over her whole body— finally, Claire recalled. These two were colleagues, who were one-sidedly knocked down by Claire at a practice match a month ago. They were still resentful about that time.

"What's with that look? If you don't give up quickly, you'll really die!"

"It's alright if you quickly kneel down and lick our shoes. Truly, that foolishness is the same as your sister."

"...Shut...up, be silent."

Claire tightly grasped the sand scattered on the ground.

"Hn, did you say something?"

"I said... be silent."

It was no good. She could not restrain it.

''Only abuses at Nee-sama, no matter what, my boiling point for that is low!''

She put divine power into her left hand, which was grasping sand. A black spirit seal that was re-engraved ominously glowed.

And then the moment the path was connected, a horrifying sensation ran all over her body.


She would not be defeated at such a place. There was no value in her weak self.

''To grasp a more powerful power in my hand—!''

"What... a contracted spirit!?"

The upperclassmen's eyes opened in surprise.

"If you wish for it, I'll show you. This is— my true power!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gou!*

The black flame, released from Claire's hand, gulped down the Adamantine Spirit in an instant.

Appearing from within the blazing flame was—

A flickering jet black magic beast.

It was not a noble flame like Scarlet. It was a flame of darkness, showing signs of madness.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Guo...ruuuuuu...*

The beast's hair-raising roar shook the entire atmosphere in the arena.

===Part 3===
[[File:STnBD V01 004.jpg|400px|thumbnail|right]]
"...What's that!?"

Kamito got up from the audience seatings and shouted.


The black flame spirit, Claire brought forth, engulfed the Adamantine Spirit in front of it in an instant.

—It was not Scarlet.

Its appearance was similar to that hell cat but the presence of that divine power was overly ominous.

The jet-black flame spirit bit and crushed the magic mirror spirit at the other side and was devouring those remains like a starving beast. That was not all. The spirits around the black spirit suddenly writhed as if going mad and began eating each-others existence.

"The frenzy is spreading...!"

Kamito recalled the Magic Spirit that appeared in Astral Zero last night.

And about the water spirit that went out of control in the bathroom.

The spirits, in a frenzy, lost their reasoning and were unable to restrain their powers. Until their own existence were extinguished, they would conduct themselves with their impulses for destruction.

However, that black Magic Beast—

''It's forcefully snatching away Clare's divine power!?''

Claire stood rock still at the center of the arena with an exhausted expression.

From the black spirit seal engraved on her left hand, blood was trickling down.

Her face was pale and her whole body was quivering bit by bit. It looked like she was also barely standing.

If the situation was left as it was, she might lose her life.


The spectators, who realized that something was strange with the appearance of the spirits, suddenly began a commotion.

The spirit contractor girls, in the arena, were also perplexed at their contracted spirits that suddenly did not listen to their commands.

"Damn, what are the guys in Knights doing?"

Kamito looked around the inside of the arena. Despite being an obvious strange situation, the Spirit Knights that should have been prepared for unexpected situations were not moving. What was going on?

However, the Spirit Knights standing at the arena gate were all rooted at the same spot, staring into empty space. Their eyes were not focused. It was as if they had been entranced—

"...What? What the heck is happening?"

"That's a frenzy spirit, Kamito."

Est, who was beside him, muttered expressionlessly.

"A frenzy spirit?"

"It is a possession-type spirit that causes spirits to go berserk. It isn't such a high status spirit but the spirit possessed loses its reasoning and, until its own existence vanishes, it will continue to fight."

"Possess—? Don't tell me, that black Magic Beast is 'Scarlet'!?"


"Affirmative. That hell cat is a very powerful spirit, it should not vanish from the extent of being beaten by the magic spirit. It seems that it temporary lost the ability to manifest but—"


"Is that so..."

The fire remains of the flame spirit remained. However, Claire continuously thought that Scarlet vanished, so she was not able to connect the path.

"—But, in that frenzied condition, vanishing completely is also just a matter of time."

"Ah, I understand."

Kamito nodded.

'Scarlet'— a flame spirit with the appearance of a hell cat cladded in noble flames.

That was the very flame of a girl named Claire.

That flame turned into a crazy disgusting Magic Beast and was indulging and eating the spirits.

Something like that could not be her— Claire's desired flame.

"—Est. I ask of you, lend me your strength."

"I am Kamito's sword. I'll do as you desire."

Est gently grasped Kamito's hand. There was a feeling of a hand, cold but surprisingly soft.

'''"The cool-headed steel queen, the sacred sword that destroys evil— here and now, become my sword!"'''

Kamito spun the releasing of the elemental waffe; at the same time, Est's body turned into particles of light and vanished.

In the next moment, a silver glowing single edged sword appeared in Kamito's hand.

The spirit language inscription, carved on the edge, was— «Terminus Est».


Just by lightly holding it, he understood that it was a tremendously famous sword.

"I'm sorry. The path to my true form is closed, so this is the limit for me currently."

Est, who turned into the form of a sword, said apologetically.

"No, this is plenty. —Let's go, Est!"

Kamito prepared Terminus Est and jumped into the arena where the raging black flame was.

The moment he landed onto the ground, the magic beast of darkness bared its fangs and pounced to attack him.

He brandished the sword with a flourish, knocked away the black flame, and rushed over to Claire's side.

"Claire!"

"...Kamito"

Claire opened her ruby-colored eyes.

Her knees were on the ground and she was breathing heavily. Her delicate body was going to collapse at any time.

The blood, trickling from the spirit seal on her left hand, was dyeing the sand scattered on the ground red.

At that moment, the black Flame Magic Beast mowed onto the ground with its claws, like it was making fun of it.

There was the scent of burning in the air. The hot wind with pebbles mixed in gently brushed Kamito's cheeks.

"...!?"

In a hair's breadth, Kamito dodged the black flame's claws. He drove in a slash at the black flame spirit that was just knocked down.

The silver sword flash drew an arc. The elemental waffe of the sword spirit cut up even the intangible flames—


The black Flame Magic Beast let out an ear-splitting scream and broke up in the air. It didn't mean that it vanished. The flames that were scattered were burning at their respective positions and formed a flaming wall surrounding Kamito in it. Kamito clicked his tongue and stopped at that spot.

"Claire, get yourself together, come to your senses!"

"Wh...What... Why are you here—"

A confused expression surfaced on Claire's face—

"...!?"

Then, as if she just began to realize it, she opened her eyes in terror.

The scene that flew into her eyes was a cruel disastrous scene.

There was a blazing disgusting black flame.

A group of spirits was in a frenzy and devouring each other.

The students of the academy were losing their consciousness from having their divine power eaten and were falling down to the ground one by one—

"Claire, is this the power you wanted? Something like this? These are your flames!"

Kamito shouted as if he was throwing up.

While he cleared away the attacking flame with the sword, he reached out his hand towards Claire.

"I...I...—"

Claire moved her lips with her pale facial expression—


She instantly shook her head as if she had changed her mind.

"Sh...Shut up! I... I need the power!"

The red twin-tail hair violently sprung up.

The black flame blazed even more as if responding to Claire's fury.

"...You don't understand. My feelings of being always alone—"

Claire lay face down and said that while gasping.

That day, four years ago, was when the still childish Claire Elstein's life ended.

The girl, who was betrayed by her most loved sister, had both her parents imprisoned and lost everything, was—

To live taking persecutions as Calamity Queen's sister.

If she didn't become strong alone, she would not be able to live on.

"...You're not alone, idiot."

"Eh?"

At Kamito's words—

Claire raised her head with a blank expression.

"I am here. I'll be by your side. After all, I'm—"

Kamito approached Claire with a step.

The flame wall in their surroundings burned with intimidation.


"D...Don't come here..."

"Claire—"

"Do not come here!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pashin!*— She closed her eyes and strongly struck her leather whip at Kamito's cheek.

Red blood flowed from his cheek. Kamito did not even wipe that and took another step—

"...!? Why didn't you avoid it?"

Claire's cherry blossom-colored lips were quivering.

"I didn't plan on hitting... and yet."

Kamito stood before Claire and slowly raised his hand over his head.

"...!"

Claire thought it was a strike, and reflexively closed her eyes tightly.

Then—

....*Poff*.

"Eh?"

Claire widely opened her ruby-colored eyes.

She looked up at Kamito with a blank expression.

"—Claire, I like your flames."


Kamito stirred up and crumpled Claire's red hair.

"...Wh!? Ah, ...Li...Like...? Eh?"

Claire's cheeks were dyed bright red inside.

"They burn prettily, dazzlingly and nobly. I like your flames."

"Ah, sh...sh..."

—That was why he wanted to protect those flames.

"If you want power—"

Kamito looked straight into Claire's eyes and said.


"I'll be your contracted spirit."

"Kamito..."

In Claire's red eyes, a drop of tear surfaced—

Confused, she wiped it with her uniform sleeve.

"Wh...What are you saying? You are originally my Slave Spirit!"

"Ah, that is right..."

Kamito bitterly smiled and gently removed his hand from Claire's head.


At that moment, he sliced and drove away the black Flame Magic Beast that roared, and advanced while attacking with the sword.

With his back facing Claire, he blocked its way like a knight protecting a princess.

"—Hey, Scarlet. Did you forget your precious master?"

With Kamito's words thrown at it, the black flame that clad the Magic Beast trembled for a moment.

Scarlet— it seemed to respond to that name.

"...Scarlet?"

Claire asked.

"Ah, it wasn't that your partner vanished. It just temporarily lost its power. Although, it's now possessed by a frenzy spirit and has turned into such an appearance."

"...Scarlet is alive!?"

Claire was taken aback and raised her head. Kamito nodded.

"Ah, this sword— Est informed me."

"...That's, by no means, that Sword Spirit?"

"That's right. But she probably can't even use a tenth of her original power."

Taking a stance with Terminus Est in both his hands, Kamito turned towards the black flame magic beast.

"..."

Claire stared at the thunderously raging black flame.


She saw something within that flame and swiftly raised her head—

"...Yes that is Scarlet."

She wiped her tears to shake it off.

"If that's the case—"

"Claire, stand back. A frenzied spirit will attack even its contractor."

Kamito restrained Claire, who planned to go to the front, with his hand—

Claire stopped that hand and shook her head.

"Scarlet is in a frenzy because of me. Therefore, only I can take her back."

—Flames, dance in my hand, dance!

Spun from her cherry blossom-colored lips was the spirit language aria.

At that moment, a small fireball was born at the palm of her hand.

"Spirit Magic? What can such a small fireball—"

"—Like this."

At that instant, Claire pushed the burning fireball into her left hand.

There was the sound of flesh burning.

"O...Oi, Claire!?"

"...A...gu...uuuu—!"


While barely clenching her teeth, Claire moaned in anguish.

On her pale face, perspiration like waterfalls flowed along her chin.

"You...!"

Kamito finally understood.

The black spirit seal, re-engraved on Claire's left hand— that was the symbol of contract with that frenzy spirit.

The spirit seal was an exclusive «gate» to connect the path between Astral Zero and this world.

If that was destroyed, naturally, the contract with the spirit would be annulled.

Claire was physically burning the spirit seal and was breaking the contract with the frenzy spirit!

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Guorooooouuu...*

The Magic Beast, clad in black flames, raged like a thunderous wind.

With the path being burned off, it shared the same pain as Claire, its contractor.

"Sorry, Scarlet, I too... will endure—"

Claire was putting up with the pain and that moment when Claire's knees hit the ground—

The frenzied magic beast roared and sprung at Claire.

"—!"

Kamito quickly stepped in and got into the magic beast's bosom in one bound.

The claws, clad in flames, burned the ends of his hair and at that instant— he slashed down with the sword when they passed each other.


There was a flashing sword swing. At the same time, the red hot flames that could melt even iron attacked Kamito's whole body—

"Kamito!"

Claire's scream resounded.

However, Kamito's body had already disappeared.

The moment the sword and the claws crossed, he dodged like a shadow and had turned to the flame spirit's back.

''—A frenzied spirit certainly has its power greatly increased.''

The black flame spirit turned around— but it was too late.

''However, no matter what, its movements became dull. In that case, it can't win against me—''

Kamito kicked the ground and sharply turned, and swung the silver shining Terminus Est—

With that stroke of the sword, the black flame, possessing the flame spirit, was severed and killed.

"—Claire, are you alright?!"

Kamito rushed over, Claire was lying on the floor with a pale face.

From her red forelock clinging onto her forehead, drops of perspiration were dripping down.

"A...guu...!"

A gasping, like it was hoarse from her inner throat, leaked out. Her left hand sustained a severe burn.

Just the texture of her thin pretty skin was hideously burned, that scar was too painfully to look at.

However, the black spirit seal that was engraved disappeared without leaving any trace.


With this, the path with that frenzy spirit should be completely severed.

"That was so reckless. Look, I'll treat it for you, so show it to me."

"I...I'm fine, it's just this much..."

Claire's cheeks slightly turned red and she quickly turned away.

At that moment, intense pain was running all over, she softly screamed "Hyauu" and her eyes turned teary.

"What, you're not being honest."

"Sh...Shut up, I'll turn you into cinders!"

Kamito bitterly smiled at Claire's usual behavior.

—However, this is the usual Claire Rouge.

She was not suited to have just a sorrowful face.

"By the way, where—"

Suddenly, Kamito turned serious and asked.

"What..."

"Where did you contract something like a frenzy spirit?"

"That's—"

Claire stammered with her words and at that time.

"Ah, did you receive my present with pleasure?"


From behind, they heard such an inappropriate voice.

It was a gentle voice, like downy hair tickling one's earlobe.

"...!?"

It sounded familiar— but that was out of the question.

For three years, he always— yearned to hear it, that voice.

Kamito slowly turned around.

And there—

A beautiful girl, wearing a dark black dress, was giggling.

===Part 4===

Kamito stood still at that place with a frozen expression.

"Don't tell me, tha..t's..."

What was there was—

A girl, who was the very light to Kamito.

She gave the boy, who had closed his heart into a cold cage, a warm light—

"...Res...tia?"


Kamito muttered in a blurry voice.

"—It has been quite a long time, Kamito."

The girl, wearing a darkness-color dress, impishly smiled.

...It was unbelievable.

However, that appearance was as it was from that time, three years ago.

That beautiful face, without doubt, belonged to the girl, who Kamito knew.

The darkness spirit, Restia.

The contracted spirit of the strongest blade dancer — Ren Ashbell.

"Restia, I—"

Kamito reached out his hand and planned to approach the girl.

However, his legs, as if they were sewed on to that place, could not move.

Despite that the girl, who he was continuously searching for the last three years, was in front of him—

—Something was strange. His spirit contractor intuition was telling him that.

She was smiling like that.

Moveover, in the girl's hand, what was that ominous black lump?

"I wanted to meet you, Kamito. However—"

The girl faced that black lump at the altar in the center and threw it there.


"...?"

"Let's leave the hug to the next opportunity. Look, as that child wakes up."

When the black lump turned into a fog in midair, it surrounded the holy stone pillar at the altar.

The stone pillar that was brought in from the imperial capital and sealed the military-use spirit.

"Restia... What in the world are—?"

Kamito muttered and at that time.

Suddenly, the ground violently shook.

"What...!?"

"Ah, looks like it has already woken up."

"Restia...?"

"Kamito, be careful! She is the one, who gave me that frenzy spirit!"

Claire shouted to Kamito, who was being absentminded.

"Wh...at...!?"

At that moment, a ground-shaking roar resounded.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishii*— the stone pillar enveloped in the black fog became greatly cracked.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Zu...zuzu...zuzuzuzu...!*

From the tear of the cracked stone pillar, a giant human hand appeared.


That was—

''Glasya-Labolas is— going into a frenzy!?''

Taken aback, he turned around. Restia was giggling.

That somewhat devilish smile was something Kamito had never seen.

"—Good bye, Kamito. Let's meet again."

"Restia... What is going on!? What are you—"

"Because that is your wish."

"...!?"

Kamito's face froze.

"Wait— Please wait, Restia!"

"I had waited, it has already been three years."

"Resti..."

Restia smiled once again and disappeared into the empty space that became a black fog.

Kamito dropped both his hands like he was exhausted and stood still there dumbfounded.

—He did not understand what happened.

''Restia gave Claire that frenzy spirit...?''

He could not believe it. No, he did not want to believe it.


However, the girl's appearance belonged to the darkness spirit that he had been certainly continuously searching for.

His former contracted spirit.

The girl showed Kamito, who lost his human heart, his first warm light.

If that girl changed, that—

''It's my fault... I had changed her into something different.''

The Blade Dance three years ago.

Kamito, who was victorious as Ren Ashbell,—

Attempted to have a «wish» that humans can never wish for to be granted.

For that reason, he decided to lose her.

He believed that she would be alive somewhere.

The aching of spirit seal engraved on his left hand whispered.

—She would be alive again. He could still make up for his crimes.

By no means, it became that they met up again in such a manner— it was something he never thought of.

"Restia... Is this my punishment?"

If that was the case, it was too— cruel.

Like his whole body's strength was drawn out and he was going to collapse, his knees hit the ground.

He was plunged into darkness. 


"Kamito!? Hey, are you listening, Kamito!"

Even Claire's voice calling for Kamito was only absentmindedly heard.

Once again, the ground violently shook.

Passing through the 'gate' opened in the empty space, Glasya-Labolas was attempting to emerge here.

The wall of the arena collapsed due to the tremor and a large amount of rubble poured down over Kamito's head.

Just before his body was going to be crushed— that moment.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pashii*— Kamito's head was twined around by a whip.

"...Guoo!"

Kamito was violently dragged along the ground and he made an anguishing voice.

Immediately after, large amount of rubble fell at the place where Kamito had been at.

There was a thunderous sound. Clouds of dust fluttered up in the air.

...If he was crushed, he would have, without a doubt, died.

"Idiot! Wh...What are you doing!"

Over his head, Claire took up a daunting pose and shouted.

"Hey, do you want to die? Or do you want to turn to cinders?"

"No, not those two choices— Guoo!"

"Hmm, to retort, you are alright, aren't you!"


Claire constricted Kamito's head with her whip and with a jerk, drew her face closer.

"..."

It was at a point-blank distance as if the tips of their noses were touching.

Her ruby-colored pupils, filled with a strong will, were before his eyes.

Nevertheless in such a moment, Kamito was reflexively startled.

"...Come on, what? What is it?"

Seemingly noticing that her face was too close, Claire's cheeks turned red and she slightly loosened her whip.

"It...It's not like I'm particularly interested but... for once, listen up."

"Wh...What..."

"That girl just now, h...how is she related to you?"

"She—"

Kamito averted his eyes from Claire's clear eyes

"Was my contracted spirit."

"Spirit?"

Kamito silently nodded and clenched his left hand.

"...It's my fault. It's my fault that she—"

The thoughts of Kamito, who sank into the dark abyss once again,—


"So what!"

Claire's voice, which was cold, drew him back.

"Eh?"

"I am saying so what!"

Claire was standing straight up, with both hands at her waist and her twin-tail hair over her shoulder.

Until a while ago, her depressed state was not even minute.

There was above all else her noble, beautiful crimson flame.

"No, it is because I..."

Kamito was taken aback dumbfounded—

"Didn't you promise me just now that 'I'll be your contracted spirit'?! Please hold on the responsibility of your own words!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishipashi!* Claire placed a strike with her whip onto Kamito's back.

"Ouch! Wh...What are you doing! Whipping a dead person!"

Without thought, Kamito stood up and shouted.

Claire suddenly smiled.

"A dead person? Then how about dying once? Look, look at that."

"Aah?"


Kamito turned his face—

From the «gate» in the empty space, bluish-white light was emitted and Glasya-Labolas came crawling out.

The battle-class military-use spirit, whose seal was undone; its over-all length was more than ten-odd meters.

Glasya-Labolas roared. Merely with that, half of the audience seats were blown away.

It seemed that the audience had already escaped but there should still be many citizens outside the arena.

From the giant empty hole in the wall, the state of the plaza was in sight.

Everyone was screaming and jostling, while running away. In response to the sudden appearance of Glasya-Labolas, the plaza and the main street underwent a chaos of agonizing cries.

Placing its hand on the crumbled arena wall, Glasya-Labolas slowly walked out.

With just that, the ground shook like an earth tremor occurred.

How would things turn out, if such a thing got out into the town— there was no need to think so.

"Waiting for help from the academy would be too late. Just the two of us will have to do this."

"...Ah, that's right."

However— Kamito still had not recovered from the shock.

Even «Terminus Est», which he was tightly grasping, was losing that cool and clear radiance.

An elemental waffe would demonstrate its true value according to the spirit contractor's divine power.

With Kamito's current condition, he was unable to even maintain the sword's strength.


For example, even if he fought, it was certain that it would instantly be broken.

"..."

Claire stared at Kamito in such a state with a rigid expression.

"It seems like you're still half asleep. If that's the case, I'll wake you up."

After that, for some reason, her face turned red and she quickly looked away.

And, in the next moment.

"...!?"

[[Image:STnBD V01 250.jpg|thumb]]
Suddenly, his lips were closed.

It was hot. It was a tender sensation that was gently getting wet.

The tip of his nose was tickled by a faint scent of her hair.

"Hn..."

Several seconds later, their lips slowly separated.

"Are you awake?"

"...A...Ah."

Kamito nodded like he was befuddled.

"Th...This is something... only once."

Biting her lips, Claire turned bright red and looked downwards.




The numbing-like kiss had blown away all the anguish from Kamito's mind.

"...Shock therapy? However, this is a little too effective."

"Hm,,,hmm, that's fine! —Well then, let's go, Kamito!"

While her face was bright red, Claire spun the spirit language summoning.

'''—Protector of red flames, watchman of the unsleeping hearth!'''

'''—Now is the time, by the blood contract, hurry and come to my side!'''

Immediately, a blazing flame whip was born in Claire's hand.

It was not the black flame, invaded by the frenzy spirit.

That was the flame of the noble Claire Rouge— Scarlet's elemental waffe.

"Thank you, Scarlet. Lend me your power for just a bit longer."

Responding to Claire's feelings, the flame whip thunderously growled.

"I won't make Scarlet, who is weakened, do something unreasonable. I'll go around it to support, so you strike that giant human spirit."

"Ah, I got it!"

Kamito firmly nodded and tightly grasped Terminus Est.

''—That's right.'' It is alright to not think about Restia now.

''Now, just—''


''To protect this tomboy princess, because that's what I promised!''

Taking a stance with the sword, Kamito kicked the ground and jumped.

"I'll show you, Claire Rouge"

The Strongest Blade Dancer — Ren Ashbell's Blade Dance!

Glasya-Labolas smashed the stone wall and stepped his foot out to the plaza outside the arena.

Kamito took a roundabout path to its behind and with a one-step jump, he pierced its ankle with the sword.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Vuoooooon!*

Glasya-Labolas made a destructive roar— While the shock seemed to be blowing him away, Kamito clung onto the sword that pierced it.

''...What destructive power! As expected of a Military-use Spirit!''

The eyes of the giant, that were burning in anger, caught sight of Kamito's figure at its feet.

It made a frenzy roar and swung down that blouder-like fist of its.

Kamito pulled out the sword and jumped back and using the giant's arm as a stepping stone, he jumped again.

In order to crush Kamito, who appeared on top of his head, Glasya-Labolas reached out its hand—

At that moment when it seemed like it caught his ankle.

"Kamito!"

Claire swung her flame whip and bound that arm. As Scarlet was exhausted, cutting up the spirit could not be done. However, roughly sealing its movement was possible.

There was the thunderous sound of the wind blowing violently. Glasya-Labolas shifted its anger to Kamito on its head. In the state of passing by, Kamito brandished the sword. He cut the black crystal-like eyeball.

At that moment, from the eyeball that cracked, something like a black fog was blown out.

''That's the frenzy spirit...!?''

The black fog coiled about the sword. Just at that moment, the tip of its edge was corroding to black.

Kamito was taken aback. —The frenzy spirit was a spirit that granted crazy attribute to spirits.

''Est is being encroached—!''

Kamito twisted his body and swung and cleared away the black fog.

He broke his stance in the air and was about to strike the ground as he was.

Then, Glasya-Labolas' fist swung downwards.

Kamito took a stance with the sword in front of him— but he did not make it!

"...!"

Glasya-Labolas' fist was— precisely stopped above his head.

Its arm, which was about to swing down at any time, was twined with a burning flame whip.

"Kamito! Now's the chance, quickly do it!"

"Ah—"


Kamito laughed fearlessly and stood up, and concentrated his consciousness to the sword.

The elemental waffe of the sword spirit, Est, increased in radiance as it responded to Kamito's feelings

He kicked the ground and jumped. Kamito's sword once again danced in the midair.

And then—

"Oooooooooooo!"

The shining flashing sword cut Glasya-Labolas' body right in half.

===Part 5===

That moment when Kamito cut and turned over Glasya-Labolas, Claire was motionlessly staring at it.[[Image:STnBD V01 255.jpg|thumb]]

With the shining sword in his hand, Kazehaya Kamito danced a splendorous blade dance—

That was almost—

Like the blade dance of Ren Ashbell, who she saw at the stage of the blade dance three years ago.

''...Don't tell me.''

The moment Glasya-Labolas turned into particles of light, the flame whip returned to the form of a small hell cat. Claire preciously embraced the flame spirit, which became small like a kitten.

"—Thank you, Scarlet."



<noinclude>{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter7|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Epilogue}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter5

2013-01-06T05:59:53Z

180.191.165.43: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 5: Claire's Feelings==

===Part 1===
''...Sigh, I have totally gotten myself into something troublesome.''

While walking on the stone pavement of the academy, Kamito sighed a number of times today. In front of his eyes was the culprit with her red twin-tailed hair swaying about.

As before he had an empty stomach, he had 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 look far away.

"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 night in the Spirit Forest is seriously a suicidal act. But it can't be helped, after all, my house has been completely burnt down."

Kamito dropped his shoulders unnaturally for Claire to see.

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 were 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===

— Kamito was brought 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 a while, I'll allow you freeload in my room. Please be grateful."

"Huh?"

...What did she suddenly propose, this ojou-sama<ref>Ojou-sama is the Japanese term for a high born lady, one who is well refined and often lives a sheltered life.</ref>.

"After all, if I left you outside, Rinslet would come meddling. And because you are my slave spirit, it is natural for me, the 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 thrust her finger.

"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, his interest piqued a little.

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, pitifully, beautiful girl; even Kamito could not help but admit that.

As expected, when he entered the room, he grew tense.

"—Flame, illuminate."

Claire recited the spirit magic and the room was lit up.

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 ojou-sama.

"...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'll 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 a place where the wastepaper was incinerated.

"...Are you fine with just that?"

If that fire spirit of Claire grew, it could match up with even a large dragon type.

...What a sorrowful sight? Was it being made to do things like cleaning the room?

"Thank you, Scarlet. Good girl."

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Suri suri*.<ref>The sound/feeling of a cat skimming over your cloth</ref> *Nade nade*.<ref>Petting and fondling sound</ref>

Meow. Meow.

"Are you a cat!?"

Kamito retorted, without thinking, to the fire spirit fawning happily.

''...That proud spirit has been completely tamed...''

Well, if one was gently stroked like that by Claire, whose outward appearance at least was that of a beautiful girl, it was understandable to be completely attached.

For now, since there was no place to stand, Kamito too helped with the cleaning.

A long time ago, because of Greyworth working him hard, 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.

Then, he caught sight of the titles written on the books' front cover.

'The Count And The Naughty Princess', 'Tease Me More, Master!', 'The Princess Abducted By Pirates'... Indeed these are 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!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>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. I feel that it's no big deal to like such novels."

"S...Shut up, it...it's not like I like them! ... Err, yea, I borrowed them 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!!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Poka poka poka*.<ref>Sound of being hit</ref>

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 then, 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 stuffed it 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, alone, am more than enough."

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 for an ojou-sama 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 it, having just canned food is just—"

"What, it's no problem, after all I like them. If you have any complaints, 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 stiffened 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 those novels. Claire is a lewd ojou-sama."

"U..uuuu!"

Tears flowed out faintly from her red eyes, Claire bit down on her molars.

''...Damn it.'' He had 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 bit 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 things a little, even these canned foods 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.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Saaaaaaa*—

Once he was aware of it, the sound of running water, which resounded in the room, sounded strangely 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 beautifully 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!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>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 itself slimily around her smooth, bare body!

"What's wrong!? What the heck is—"

"...K...Ka...Kamito, he...lp me...!"
[[File:STnBD V01 002-003.jpg|400px|thumbnail|right]]

In front of his eyes was Claire, who collapsed on the floor and was gasping in agony.

"...No, don't look... idiot....Aaaa!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>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 other hand, 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 spirit 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.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Paan!*

The water spirit, which was running wild, had its form dissolved and immediately returned into water.

Claire stayed collapsed on the flooded floor and with her face flushed; 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... Erm, when I was using the shower, the water spirit suddenly went crazy... such a thing has never happened 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.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogogogogogogo....!*

In Claire's hand, an earnest flaming ball of spirit magic was born.

"Wa...Wait, calm down. You're mistaken, this is a 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 event. The table was lined up with numerous of Kamito's home cooking.

There was tuna potato salad to go with the spinach-and-bacon pasta. Pumpkin potage with gratin from the canned salmon, and for dessert, there was fruit yogurt.

They were made with the canned food, of which a great amount was found on 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 a constitution that doesn't get fat."

Claire placed pasta on the plate and said that with a nonchalant face. Certainly, using spirits 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 an ojou-sama, you have bad manners."

"Unh, shut up! That's up to me, right, you panty thief!"

"Guu....."

Kamito groaned. 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 really are 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 how much 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 be turned into cinders? Come on, do you want to be turned 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 divided the salmon gratin.

"...If only there was some soy sauce, 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 only 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 be asked 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 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 which was there—

''So, she's the same as me...''

The scar engraved at the back of his hand ached.

Claire sighed and inserted her hand into the neckband of her uniform.

"...Yeah, I'll say it. Something that I can't help but hide."

What she took out from her chest was a small pendant 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 surprise.

"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 princess maidens, who stood at the top among all spirit contractors, — the noblest among the numerous noble spirit princesses, who served directly under the five great elemental lords. 

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 the Calamity Queen —Rubia Elstein's— little sister."

Claire looked straight into Kamito's eyes and nodded.

"..."

Claire Rouge. He had thought that it 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 outraged flame Elemental Lord got fired up and went into a 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 was used, not a single 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 elder 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 has 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 strangely quiet time.

They tried to talk about anything a 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 astonishing ease of falling asleep.

"...Good grief, you'll catch a cold!"

Kamito carried Claire's petite body up like a princess.

He carried her to the bed in the corner of the room.

Scarlet walked and jumped onto the bed.

''...Even so, this girl's sleeping face is truly angel-like.''

While looking at the face, making the gentle sleeping noise, Kamito smiled bitterly.

When he put Claire to the bed, her cherry blossom lips faintly moved.

"Elder 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 having!?"

Kamito muttered while sighing, as 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 had lost her, his former contracted spirit—

===Part 4===

At the same instant, in every room of the female dormitory Claire lived in, a little incident occurred.

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 an unknown cause—

In the darkness illuminated by the blue moon— a black-winged angel gently alighted at the academy tower.

It was a black haired 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 darkness colored orbs drifted and disappeared in the night sky.

"That's why, I'll offer up my memories."

The girl chuckled.

Like a cruel little girl.

Like a pure demon.

<noinclude>
==References and Translation Notes==
<references />

{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter4|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter6}}</noinclude>