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Baka to Tesuto to Syokanju:Volume10.5 Me and Usagi and My Ambiguous First Love

2013-01-19T12:20:03Z

220.255.1.58: /* Me (Watashi) and Usagi and My Ambiguous First Love */

==Me (Watashi) and Usagi and My Ambiguous First Love==

[[Image:BTS vol 10.5 213.jpg|thumb|Me and Rabbits and My Ambiguous First Love]]

Even till now, I have been having a recurring dream.

It was about what I saw after school during primary school.

What that girl wrote on the blackboard silently, in the classroom where the sunset was shining into.

It was neither her punishment nor her duty. At first glance, it seemed to be something done for an unknown purpose.

She would write and erase, and, after erasing, write again.

That kid kept repeating this seriously — this girl left an exceptional impression within my heart.<ref>This part is written from Akihisa's perspective. The pronoun 僕 is used in the 'within my heart' line.</ref>

<ref>Space intended. There was a blank page.</ref>

''“Yes. I think it’s great to have Himeji Mizuki-san as a Rearing Committee member.”''<ref>Now, the story starts from Mizuki's perspective. I (私) is used here.</ref>

I was nominated during the first class meeting in 4th grade, and couldn’t help but freeze.

''“Choosing Himeji Mizuki-san is a great idea!”''

''“Isn’t it perfect? It’s a plain and boring job anyway.”''<ref>As noted in volume 5 question 4, if we take out the ‘Hime (姫)’ from Himeji Mizuki, we get 路瑞希 (ji-mizuki), which sounds like 地味好き (jimisuki), or plain lover.</ref>

''“It sure suits our ‘Plain Lover’-san!”''

I could hear whispers from all around. The only ones who would call me that were those classmates who were in the same class as mine in 3rd grade.

“What is it, Himeji-san?”

The facilitating teacher said that, and everyone looked over.

“W-Well, about that…”

I must refuse it. Even though I had that thought, I was so nervous that I couldn’t speak up properly.

At this moment, the stares that were shot at me got sharper.

My mind went blank, and I could only lower my head.

I must refuse it.

It wasn’t that I hated the job, but that my body’s frail. If I get hospitalized, I’ll have to be excused from school for a long time, and that’ll cause a lot of trouble to many people. I don’t want that…

“I, I…”

I tried to squeeze the words in, but everyone’s stares intensified, and I couldn’t say anything.

“—You’re not willing to?”

I heard a concerned and friendly voice.

I looked up, and saw that the boy sitting at the table next to me is talking to me.

“…Yes.”

I nodded my head.

“I see. If you don’t like it, you can say it out loud.”

I looked at the boy and saw him put on a bright smile as he said:

“Erm, can I call you Mizuki-chan?”

I nodded my head silently.

Then, that boy stood up and said to the teacher for me,

“Sensei, Mizuki-chan is very obscene!”<ref>What the boy wanted to say was, いや, らしい, which would mean ‘no, it seems’ (literal) or 'it seems that she doesn’t want to do so'. Without the comma, いやらしい means ‘very obscene’</ref>

……………Eh?

The boy had stares raining all over him as his voice rang through the classroom.

Ah, well…wait a moment…that sounds like it means another thing altogether.

That boy ignored my doubts as he repeated it again, clearly:

“Mizuki-chan is really obscene!”

It, it really means something completely different when you say it like that!

“Wa, wait wait.”

I hurriedly pulled the boy who still wanted to go on. Don-Don’t repeat such a line so many times!

“Hm? What is it?”

The boy gave me an incredulous look, apparently not understanding why I was trying to stop him. Uu…how, how am I going to explain this…

“I-I-I’m not obscene…”

“Eh? Aren’t you unwilling?”

“I, I’m unwilling.”

“Then it’s the same, right?”

“I’m unwilling, but I’m not obscene.”

“???”

The boy looked cute as he blinked. Ah, what should I do…he didn’t understand at all…

''“Aki-kun, the way you say it makes it sound like ‘that kid’s very H’, you know!”''

''“How pitiful~ Aki-kun’s bullying a girl here!”''

''“Onee-chan will get angry too!”''

The boy’s friends seemed to be teasing him and having fun with this as they spoke up.

On hearing that, that boy finally seemed to understand what I was trying to tell him.

“Ah, no, it’s not like that! It’s a misunderstanding! Mizuki-chan’s obscene but isn’t obscene at all!”

''“Which one is it??”''

“A-Anyway, it’s obscene to be a Rearing Committee member!”

''“Aki-kun, you can’t say that either!”''

This situation went on in class as everyone was looking at us.

Auuu…I, I really couldn’t take it…

“W-Well…I’m willing to be a rearing member…”

I was not used to the stares everyone shot at me, and couldn’t help it as I decided to become a rearing member. Uu…I’ll have to talk to the teacher about what’ll happen when I get admitted into hospital…

My name’s written on the blackboard, under the ‘Rearing member. Girl’ column.

“Well then, how about the male rearing member? Is anyone willing to nominate himself?”

The teacher looked around and asked everyone. The male Rearing Committee member column was the only empty slot left.

Who will it be…?

I wanted to know whose name will be written on it. If that person’s going to work with me, I would end up bothering him a lot. No, maybe no one will raise names because nobody wanted to work with me. If that person gets nominated and didn’t like this job, it would cause trouble to me too…

Thinking of it really made me depressed.

Then, right beside me…

“E-Erm! I’d like to be a rearing member too!”

The boy from before raised his hand energetically.

''“You want to be a rearing member!? Aki-kun!? Really!?”''

''“Aki-kun. Do you know how to take care of animals here!?”''

“Alright, I’ll do it too!”

And, after saying that…

“Mizuki-chan, please take care of me.”

The boy turned to me and smiled.

“Y-Yes. Please take care of me too…”

And this was my very first encounter with Yoshii-kun.

<span style="font-size: 200%; border: "><center>☆</center></span>

“Heh~ so that’s how a rabbit house looks like on the inside.”

On the first day of rearing duty, Yoshii-kun and I arrived at the rabbit house located beside the school building as rearing members.

“Ah, there’s a new rabbit this year.”

Yoshii-kun carried the smallest of the three rabbits.

The rabbit was shocked, and at first, it started flailing its legs.

“Good boy good boy.”

The rabbit quickly calmed down after it was patted, and quickly quiet down within Yoshii-kun’s clutches.

“Do you want to carry it too, Mizuki-chan?”

“Eh?”

Yoshii-kun carried the young rabbit in his hands over to me.

“Ah, are you not good at dealing with animals?”

“Er, erm, that…”

I was at a loss of words.

Actually, I really could not handle animals. When I went to a pet exhibition, I wanted to pet a dog on the head when I got the permission, only for the dog to timidly let out a growl “Uuu…!”

''“It’s because you’re scared of the dog that the dog is frightened of you, Mizuki. That’s why it started barking.”''

Otou-san said after he saw this, and continued, ''“If you want to be liked, you have to like others first.”''

“—Mizuki-chan!”

“Ah, it, it’s nothing.”

“Really?”

“Right, we should start cleaning.”

I remembered what happened when I tried to touch the dog, and turned my eyes away from the rabbit.

“You’re right. Then, everyone, be good kids and stay here.”

Yoshii-kun put the rabbits at a place where they won’t interfere with the cleaning and takes out the grass from their nest. During this time, I used the broom to sweep the floor.

“I’ll go change the water then. Mizuki-chan, please do the feeding.”

“Eh? Ah, okay.”

Yoshii-kun took the rabbit water pail and walked out of the house. I wanted to change the water because I was scared of them biting my hand when I feed them…

However, it could not be helped. I would still have to continue my job as a rearing committee member, so I should get used to it earlier.

I put the grass and vegetables on the large plate, and got ready to put it in front of the rabbits.

“He, here…”

I timidly pushed the plate, and once the rabbits smelled it, they came scampering over to me

“Nu, nu♪”

They seemed to be humming as they ate.

Ahh…they look, so cute…

Its small mouth continued to nimble. I guess it was tasty as their ears and tails were twitching. The smallest one seemed to be having a hard time eating it though, as its food continued to slip outside, and its tilted face was rather dazed. It really looked adorable.

"Erm…there’s quite a lot that overflowed…”

I said these words as I was overly concerned that too much food overflowed.

However, the rabbit continued to look into the tray energetically.

“The, then, please excuse me…”

I said softly, and put the vegetables the rabbit tossed out onto the floor back onto the tray.

And then, that rabbit looked like it really wanted to eat a lot as it ate the vegetables in my hand.

“Wa…wa…”

Its unexpected action caused my body to stiffen up.

However, the rabbit continued to nibble without caring about me, and even started licking my hand, maybe because of the smell of vegetables on it.

“Hya.”

It was warm, and a little itchy.

I let out a cry, and the rabbit tilted its head at me in a mystified manner before turning to eat the food on the tray again.

The young rabbit happily twitched its ears and tail, and did not look scary at all, but cute. I started to have a feeling beside fear at this point.

Should I touch it a little…?

It is feeding now, so it should be alright to touch the back. I thought as I reached my hand to the rabbit’s back.

The child that was focused on eating did not show any signs of irritation after I touched it.

I felt a soft and fluffy feeling on my hand, together with a slight throbbing.

“Waa…”

This first touch on a rabbit felt a lot better than I expected, and I was engrossed as I continued stroking its back.

“It’s cute, isn’t it?”

“KYAH!?”

A voice suddenly came from behind, and I jumped up in shock.

“Ah, sorry, did I scare you?”

Yoshii-kun, who returned, looked at me in an apologetic manner.

It seemed I was not the only one shocked here—the rabbits seemed to be protesting or were simply panicking as they hopped around Yoshii-kun.

“Wa, WAH WAH!”

Yoshii-kun lost his balance trying to dodge them, and the water he was holding was poured down his head.

“Auu…looks like I have to go back again…”

Yoshii-kun took the water container and went out of the house again.

It was really funny to see the rabbits give the “How about that!” look as they watched him leave, and I could not help but laugh.

<span style="font-size: 200%; border: "><center>☆</center></span>

<noinclude>

==Notes==
<references/>

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</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter2

2012-09-22T11:08:55Z

220.255.1.58: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 2: Areishia Spirit Academy==

===Part 1===

Areishia Spirit Academy.

In this institution, all the princess maidens from across the empire are gathered and trained into fully fledged spirit contractors.

Holding a beautiful garden behind its castle walls, the school building lined with elegant spires, seemed very much like a palace of a princess. —In fact, this was nearly entirely correct. Out of the students attending this academy, almost all of them are genuine proper noble ladies.

"However, to unexpectedly have such a terrible encounter..."

Kamito muttered to himself as he walked along the red carpet covered hallway on the second floor of the school building.

"Lost inside the forest, I winded up contracted to a sealed spirit, and furthermore..."

Since Kamito snatched the sealed spirit from her, that crimson haired young girl apparently had her eyes on him.

After that— Claire Rouge guided Kamito to the academy school building.

That was good, but apparently her claim that Kamito was to become her personal contracted spirit was serious. Round and round the whip coiled around Kamito. Rather than being guided, it might be more appropriate to say that he was being dragged, and they walked through the forest in that fashion.

Regardless, Kamito had no obligation to play along with the princess. Taking the opportunity when Claire went to the restroom, he unwound the whip and escaped.

"Ah, escaped, you traitor!"

Such a voice can be heard inside the restroom—

''What? What made you think I wouldn't run away...''

That young girl was an outstanding spirit contractor but, her common knowledge of society was that of a naive lady.

"Anyways, before I am found by that girl again, I need to hurry up and meet Greyworth."

Proceeding down the hallway, Kamito let out a small sigh.

... Depressed.

After all, so far nothing good had ever resulted from getting involved with that witch.

''... But, I can't ignore this.''

Kamito took out one sheet of paper from his breast pocket.

Forty days ago, he had received a letter from Academy Director Greyworth.

If, what was written on it is true—

He might finally get some clue about that girl.

Nevertheless, Kamito could not deny the possibility that it was just some bait to lure him here.

''... It is useless to ponder on it. After all the other party is that Witch.''

And, here Kamito stopped in his tracks.

In front of him was the thick wooden front door: the Academy Director's Office.

As Kamito was about to knock on the door—

"Academy Director, I can't agree with this!"

Suddenly, a voice could be heard from inside the room.

A high pitched, young girl's alto voice.

It seemed that they were occupied currently.

''... It can't be helped, I'll kill some time for a while outside.''

While Kamito was moving away from the door—

"Why should we welcome the likes of a man to this sacred academy of princess maidens?!"

He stopped his foot steps...

''...Mm, man?''

That perked up his ears.

"Because I said that we need him here. Isn't that reason enough for you?"

It was a constrained voice. But, it carried so much power that Kamito trembled even hearing it through the door. What a fearful voice from the witch no matter how many times one hears it.

"Ar-Are you suggesting that we lack the strength?"

"Nonsense. I'm not belittling the power of your chivalric orders, but, '''He is special'''"

"... You mean the fact that he can communicate with a spirit despite being male?"

"Yes, but that is not all of it."

"What do you mean—"

And, the girl suddenly closed her mouth.

Silence fell for a brief moment. Then—

"Who is there?!"

''Darn it.'' Apparently they'd noticed that someone was eavesdropping.

Kamito quickly attempted to leave—

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Bang* – suddenly, the office door was violently opened.

From the door which was kicked opened, there appeared—

A beautiful slender leg which was highly swung upward, a pony tailed beautiful young girl.

A pair of sharp, long eyes. A dignified handsome feature.

She wore a silver breastplate on top of her uniform, and it looked like the outfit of a valiant knight.

Inside the leaf pleated skirt, a lace underwear flew into his sight.

"Black!?"

"Wha... Y-You, Insolent Person!"

The young girl kicked Kamito with her whole strength in the stomach which caused him to involuntary blurted out.

"Guoh!"

The sudden attack caught him off guard, blowing Kamito away.

In an instant, the young girl shortened the distance between them and pressed Kamito down on the floor, she unsheathed the blade at her hips.

Then she thrusted it violently, pointing the edge of her blade onto his cheek.

"..."

Shooting a cold piercing look.

Then, those clear reddish brown colored pair of eyes widened. 

"You... are you... actually a man!?"

The stern face of the girl blushed and became bright red.

That time—

"Fnn, aren't you quite behind schedule, Kazehaya Kamito?"

A displeased voice came from the back of the office.

Kamito who was still being held down by the young girl, slowly raised his eyes.

Over there— there was the figure of a witch completely unchanged from three years ago.

Her ash-blonde hair was gently waving.

Her beauty extolled the seductiveness of an alluring adult.

Beneath her small pair of glasses, her eyes, the same gray as the color of her hair, were staring in his direction.

''... So you came out, witch!''

Kamito spat out bitterly in his head.

Dusk Witch — Greyworth Ciel Mais.

With the appearance of a bewitching, carnivorous, beautiful woman, she was an experienced Spirit Knight that boasted the title of being one of the twelve Knight Generals of the Empire.

The rumor that the highest ranked spirit contractor may transcend her age might have been real.

"—It has been three years, Kamito. Looking at your face, it seems you have changed."

"... You just don't change, Dusk Witch."

A sarcastic response while he was still pressed down on his back, the witch let out a smile.

"Kazehaya Kamito!? Then, this guy..."

The ponytail young girl raised her eyebrow.

"Hey, isn't it about time that you let go of me?"

Kamito squinted his eyes and murmured towards the young girl riding on his chest.

"What is that? You shameless, rude person!"

"After all, I said it for your own sake."

"... What do you mean?"

"Well, how to say it... since some time ago, your thigh has been touching my body."

Her moderately tight thigh felt soft. It was a pity that he had to point that out, but it wasn't rubbing so much that he would enjoy the side benefits under such a situation either.

"......~wa!?"

The stern young girl's face blushed burning hot red.

Standing up quickly while holding down her skirt, without mercy she swung down her blade.

[[Image:STnBD_V01_059.jpg|thumb]]
Within a hair's breadth, Kamito dodged it by twisting his body.

"Wha-What are you doing!?"

"You-You indecent... in this instant, I will make you into a marinated salmon!"

"Wait, Calm down! I'm not a salmon!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Zing*— a sharp slash, Kamito's forelock was cut.

Serious. Not even a shred of doubt in her eyes.

''... Um, in this one day, how many times have I almost been killed?''

An unlucky day. Or is it because of the curse of the Dusk Witch.

''Are all the girls of the academy like this?''

Being driven to the wall. Kamito felt the seriousness of the threat to his life— at that time.

"Sheath your blade, Ellis. Any personal struggle in this academy is prohibited."

"... Uh!"

Greyworth's voice called out, the girl named Ellis stopped instantly.

"Ac-Academy Director... I'm just—"

"Do I need to say the same thing twice? Ellis Fahrengart."

"... No, um, I apologize."

Ellis while glaring intensely at Kamito, reluctantly sheathed her blade.

Grayworth pushed up her glasses and then smiled.

"So, you are already at that age. Well, to be pushed down by Ellis' delicate body hidden under the armor, most boys would not be able to control themselves."

"A-Academy Director!?"

"Wait, please don't say anything that will cause a misunderstanding! I'm—"

Kamito quickly objected. But, his eyes unintentionally went in the direction of Ellis' breasts—

... Indeed. She was wearing her armor so it was hard to tell, but certainly, Claire Rouge's pitiful breasts were incomparable to hers.

"Yo-You, whe-where are you looking at!"

"My bad..."

Kamito quickly averted his eyes.

"Guh, if you weren't the guest of Academy Director, I'd have made you into a Pot-au-feu already!"

"... Why a Pot-au-feu!"

Although he didn't understand her metaphor, it sounded scary.

"Ellis, you can go now. It's unpleasant to have people flirt in front of my eyes."

Greyworth's cold voice informed.

"I-I can't leave you alone in the same room with... this man. If he impudently lusts towards the Academy Director..."

"There is no such thing!"

Kamito interrupted strongly. ... What was this girl saying?

"Well, it does not matter if that's the case. I'm always wearing my lucky underwear."

"What..."

"Mm, Your face became red, boy, quite cute. By the way the color is—"

"I don't want to hear it!"

"Just kidding. Why are you blushing?"

"Guah!"

The Dusk Witch giggled with pleasure, Kamito directed looks filled with killing intent towards her.

"Bu-But, the Academy Director should not to be alone together with such a guy without guard—"

"Ellis Fahrengart."

Due to that calm tone of voice , Ellis' shoulders trembled.

"Do I need to repeat what I am saying twice?"

"Um, I apologize!"

What a frightening Greyworth, with her voice trembling, Ellis nodded, and left towards the hallway swiftly.

===Part 2===

Finally released, Kamito stood up letting out a sigh of relief.

Hitting the dirt out of his coat, he set foot inside the office.

After Kamito closed the door behind him, Greyworth shrugged her shoulder.

"She was the daughter of the ducal House of Fahrengart. An excellent knight, but somewhat stubborn."

"Is that girl a student here, too? She was wearing armor on top of her uniform."

"She is the leader of the Sylphid Knights, a party which manages any disturbance of the order of the academy."

"Like a public morals committee. In that case, they should manage it more strictly."

Kamito remembered, what happened inside the forest when he met the crimson haired young girl.

... To leave her at large was bad, in all sorts of ways.

"Fu, I'll take that into consideration. By the way Kamito, why are you so flaky. As if you were attacked in the Spirit Forest?"

".....No, I was scratched by a cat. A tomboyish hellish cat girl." 

Kamito answered impatiently with a bitter face, Greyworth shrugged her shoulder.

"You'd better be careful, rumors say that within the inner depths of the «Spirit Forest» that even the Spirit Investigation Committee would not enter, are S-rank spirits still slumbering. Once you encounter one, your life is forfeited— in your case, can you manage to tame it?"

"Please stop. I don't want to associate myself with an S-rank spirit again."

"Yeah. '''As You are now''', you would probably be mincemeat in five seconds."

"Not even one second. Actually, with a contract spirit I might last for seven seconds."

"Fu— '''with a contract spirit'''?"

Greyworth directed her grayish eye towards Kamito's right hand.

"That wound? Is ''that'' also a scratch by the cat?"

"This is—"

The wound— on the right hand, that was where the spirit seal was engraved a while ago.

Kamito clicked his tongue secretly— No, after all he couldn't possibly hide it from the Dusk Witch.

"Well, how to say it. It is just happenstance. I made a contract with a particular sealed spirit. It was ultra-violent, had I failed the contract, I would not be standing here right now."

"Ha, what a change of heart, that you have contracted with spirits other than ''her''."

The grayish eye, inside the glasses, glistened sharply.

"Finally you decided to say farewell to that ghost, is that it?"

"... Guh!"

At that mocking tone, Kamito couldn't help but get agitated.

"She is not a ghost! She is..."

Kamito took out the paper in his coat's pocket, then slapped it onto the front desk.

The beautiful witch did not waver in the slightest. A detestable calmness.

Kamito bit his lips, then asked Greyworth.

"This, you sent this to me. Is it true?"

"Ah, it's true. Witches don't tell lies."

"It was... Indeed, you haven't told a lie. But, you've never spoken the truth either."

Kamito spat out what he wanted to say.

"... Well whatever. Tell me what you know."

"Oh boy, Is that the attitude of someone asking a witch? You were cuter three years ago."

"The cat changed into a tiger in three years. Do not think it will stay as your pet for ever."

"A cat does not change into a tiger and never will."

Greyworth intentionally shrugged her shoulder and fixedly looked in Kamito's eyes.

Kamito was involuntarily overcome by the pressure of that overbearing stare.

"The thing written there is true. '''Your contracted spirit is alive'''."

"... Guh!"

Kamito swallowed his breath.

A Witch does not speak the truth. But, she never tells a lie either.

"Her... Restia, where is she now?"

Kamito raised his voice, leaning his body onto the office desk.

The witch without moving her eyebrow, thrusted a bundle of documents to the tip of Kamito's nose.

"... What are these?"

"Agreement Terms. Sign here."

"This doesn't make any sense. What do you mean?"

"There is nothing you shouldn't understand. For what purpose do you think I summoned you here? Did you take it that I, the Dusk Witch, will simply let you have the information out of goodwill?" 

"I understand fully that you have nothing but malice."

Kamito snatched the bundle of documents, then slapped it onto the desk.

Bundled with a clip, Areishia Spirit Academy's Admission Notification.

It was written there. No doubt— Kamito's ''public'' Background Profile. 

"What kind of joke is this?"

"Today you will be admitted into the academy. Don't worry I've already taken care of all the necessary procedures."

"How can I be calm! What do you mean by this, explain!"

"I need you. That's all."

"What?"

The witch's words are always unexpected. Like a midsummer breeze.

"What are you talking about? I mean, this academy is, a garden of pure maidens."

"No problem. Such a thing is no big deal with my authority."

"That would be a problem in itself! '''Now is Different from Three Years Ago.'''"

Provoked by Kamito—

"Don't get the wrong idea, Boy. You don't have any right to choose."

Greyworth told it in a shockingly cold voice.

"... Gu!"

"Till now I have allowed you to roam freely. Originally, the spirit contractor must be managed by the organization. You know that, right?"

"That is——"

In the Ordesia Empire, spirit contractors are given various privileges, but in exchange they must be registered with the organization. If there exist stray spirit contractors that harbor ideologies that are against the empire, it will be extremely dangerous to the nation.

"They will sniff out your existence sooner or later. Don't underestimate the country's Spirit Knights, we don't know how it would have been three years ago, but with your current slump you will lose for sure; besides—"

Then, a demonic grin floated from Greyworth.

"There's a slight chance that I might carelessly blab out the secret."

"... What carelessly? In short this is blackmail."

"It helps a lot that you understand so quickly."

"So shameless."

Kamito threw a loathsome sentence, Greyworth as if in regret shrugged her shoulder.

"Fu, why are you dissatisfied. One man in an institution of maidens where real princesses are gathered. Isn't it like a marvelous luxury harem?"

"Oh, please, I'm—"

"If you like, you may take one student from the academy and do whatever you like to her. For example, Ellis Fahrengart from earlier— who is seriously stubborn, but she is of the type to become ultra obedient once well trained. I am sure she will respond to whatever perverted radical play you have in mind."

"Am I a sex deviant?!"

"A joke. There is no way that I have such authority."

"I can never understand your jokes..."

Kamito moaned holding his temple.

"Why did you summon me now. What do you plan to do with me?"

"Glad that we can get to the point directly."

"Since it is useless to oppose the Witch."

A casual reply, Greyworth let out a smile—

"In two months, the Blade Dance will be held in Astral Zero. I have put you up as an entrant there."

"What did you say?"

—Blade Dance.

Once every several years, it is the largest Kagura<ref>Kagura (神楽, かぐら, "god-entertainment")refers to a specific type of Shinto theatrical dance.</ref> ritual carried out in Astral Zero.

Spirit contractors gather from the continent, and perform blade dance as an offering for the Five Great Elemental Lords.

So to speak, it's a grand martial battle festival of fellow spirit contractors.

The country of the victorious team will be given a few years of divine protection by the Elemental Lords, a guaranteed prosperity for the country. Together with a general assembly for the champion—

A single «wish» will be granted.

"Win the cup, Kamito. Nevertheless, '''as now''' it might be impossible for you."

"I—"

Kamito bit his lips, strongly clenching his fist.

Not his right hand where the spirit seal was engraved— It was his left hand covered by the black leather glove.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Zukiri*, A sharp pain runs in his chest.

"I-I have decided that I will never participate in the Blade Dance Festival again."

"No, You will compete. Otherwise there will be trouble."

Greyworth placed her both hands onto the office desk, calmly shaking her head.

"Because, nobody but you, can win against that Strongest Blade Dancer."

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

The moment that he heard that name, Kamito's face froze.

The Strongest— the spirit contractors that are given this title, currently, there is only one in the whole continent.

Three years ago, a mere fourteen year old young girl dominated the Blade Dance's individual matches.

"—That is right. '''She''' has returned."

Greyworth's grayish pair of eyes, peered into those of Kamito's.

"The Strongest Blade Dancer— Ren Ashbell."

<noinclude>

==Translator's notes and references==
<references/>

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