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Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter6

2012-10-03T01:55:54Z

67.142.183.24: /* Part 1 */

==Chapter 6: Security of Academy Town==

===Part 1===

Members of The Knights formed units of two-men-cells or three-men-cells depending on their abilities.

For the time being, Kamito, a newcomer, had formed a unit with Ellis, the Captain.

Although, rather than Kamito being a newcomer, this was because not a single girl wanted to form a unit with Kamito.

The Knights' work covered a lot of areas, more than Kamito had anticipated.

There was the mediation of duels of academy students, the exposing of traders smuggling sealed spirits, the safeguarding of spirits gone astray, the negotiations between student organizations, the rescuing of stranded people— The most frequent quest was the subjugation of beasts and rampaging spirits that passed through naturally occurring «Gates» in the spirit forest and came intruding from Astral Zero. Receiving a report that a large beast seemed to be rampaging outside the town this time as well, the two of them moved quickly to the scene.

Mowing down the trees of the forest, a large beast, wearing a gigantic shell, roared.

It was a beast like a spider cross-bred with a gigantic tortoise.

"What a pretty large prey, how big was the «Gate» that opened?"

"According to the Spirit Investigation Association's announcement, the size of the «Gates» appearing in the spirit forest seem to be getting bigger yearly. The reasons seem to be unknown."

Ellis nodded with a serious expression, and armed her elemental waffe «Ray Hawk».


It was his first time fighting side by side with Ellis like this but he knew her real ability.

Claire was more skilled in terms of her sense in flexible tactics, but in contrast with her, who would be moody and erratic, Ellis could fight in a steady way. With just the basics and without playing with shortcuts or tricks, she would force one to yield directly from the front. It was indeed an Ellis-like battle style.

"Now, Kamito!"

Matching up with Ellis attacking from the sky, Kamito plunged close towards the beast.

The shell creature's vital point was its soft abdomen. That's the same even for a beast.

Kamito kicked the ground with the elemental waffe sword in his hand.

At that moment, the beast's abdomen split vertically.

Appearing from its stomach was the head of a giant snake. Widely opening its mouth with sharp fangs, it swooped down at Kamito. The snake wriggling on the ground rolled up a large amount of sand and dirt.

"...What an absurd living thing, this beast is."

As Kamito dodged the beast's violent attack, he clicked his tongue.

Clad in the divine protection of her wind spirit and flying up in midair, Ellis released the blades of wind.

However, like some magic effect was running— the blades were repelled by its hard shell.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Don*. Ellis landed next to Kamito.

"What a nuisance, that shell seems to be strengthened by spirit magic of the resistance attribute."

"Spirit magic? Who on earth—"


"There is the possibility that this beast didn't come from a naturally occurring «Gate» and was summoned by somebody. In addition to the chaotic Valentia Holy Festival, they caused a disturbance outside of Academy Town and were probably trying to distract the Knights' attention."

Hearing this, Kamito got it.

"It's the Curse Armament Seal smugglers who had infiltrated into Academy Town, right?"

"There's the possibility."

Ellis nodded with a stern expression.

The beast mowed down the trees of the forest and roared like it went mad.

With Ray Hawk in her hand, Ellis took a stance for an attack.

"Kamito, we'll do a coordinated attack. Let's bring it down in the next attack."

"Ah, I got it."

The striking-like attack of the beast came.

Ellis recited the flying spirit magic at high speed, grabbed Kamito's arm and flew up.

Upon flying up right above the beast, she quickly released her hand holding Kamito.

"Let's go Est!"

Responding to Kamito's shout, the elemental waffe —Terminus Est— shone dazzlingly.

It was a nose dive attack from the sky. A technique that was Ellis' specialty.

Along with the force of falling, the silver sword pierced into the shell.


<nowiki>*</nowiki>Crack*— A dry sound was heard, and a crack had opened, traversing across the beast's hard shell.

Immediately after.

"Haaaaa!"

Ellis, who continued on and nosed dived, aimed at the crack that had appeared on its shell and thrust in her Ray Hawk!

"—Go and rampage, evil winds!"

At the moment she shouted the words of releasing.

The large frame of the beast greatly sprung up in a jolt, and it let out a roar of agony upon its imminent death and became silent.

The violent winds raging inside its body had sliced and ripped its internal organs into pieces.

"For our first time, it was a coordination of precise timing."

Kamito pulled out Est pierced in the shell as he said that.

"Ahh, I may have a good compatibility with you... th-this is only as far as battles are concerned!"

Ellis swiftly turned red and turned away abruptly.

===Part 2===

Even after the extermination of the beast at the spirit forest, the two of them were led around by incidents unexpectedly happening one by one.

Since there were many students out in town, due to the academy lectures being cancelled, trouble wouldn't seem to cease more than usual.

The part, where the number of Knights members decreased due to the headhunting this morning, also spurred on the business.


Time flew by while they were settling the unexpected incidents, and soon it was afternoon.

The Valentia Holy Festival began from the afternoon onwards.

As the mayor's speech seemed to be on the plaza's side, the townspeople's feet had been naturally going towards that direction.

"How dreadful, the Knights' work is."

As Kamito surveyed the state of the street springing with excitement in the preparation of the festival, he muttered.

"Still, it was special this morning. Besides, the part where the upperclassmen knights were headhunted, hurt. I've caused trouble for you right from your first day, I'm sorry."

Ellis dropped her shoulders, feeling dejected, and sighed.

She seemed to be depressed because of this morning's incident.

"Ellis, it's not that that was your fault, you know?"

"No, the fact that I couldn't restrain them is my responsibility."

Ellis slowly shook her head.

"Those four upperclassmen were Knights members from the time when Aneue was the captain. Most of the upperclassmen had resigned the moment I was selected to be the captain. Only they had remained so far, but— they ran out of patience with me, who lacks the ability as the captain."

"Ellis..."

"That reminds me, it was just a few weeks ago when you came here."

Ellis gave a talk about the Sylphid Knights from a year ago to Kamito.


The Sylphid Knights, when Velsaria was the captain, operated with iron rules and seemed to be an even-stronger organization as compared to now. They had the perfect efficient doctrine. The people, who violated even the group's rules, were punished right on the spot, and the academy students, who caused problems, were mercilessly beaten up with the armed power of the Knights.

Naturally, the academy rules seemed to have been kept well.

However, Velsaria's severe methods invited opposition from the academy students, who were highly-prideful noble girls, and before long, she had to step down from her position as captain.

Although she was the eldest daughter of the prestigious Fahrengart Duke Family, it might, after all, be the fact that she was no more than an adopted child of a lower class noble, or probably the cause of stirring animosity with the nobles, who honored their pedigree.

The one, who was elected to be that girl's successor, was Ellis of the same Fahrengart Family.

"In the past, Aneue was a splendid knight, whom I admired."

Ellis strongly bit her lips.

"She was a strict cold person, but she wasn't a person who would crush everything with power that way. Her current self is no longer the knight I aim to be."

Kamito remembered about the spirit ore he saw in Ellis' room yesterday.

The Velsaria in Ellis' memory had a completely different atmosphere as hers from this morning.

He felt it when he confronted her, that intimidating air that's even ominous.

''What on earth changed her like that?—''

Then, at that moment.


<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gyururu*.

There was the rumbling sound of a stomach..

"Ellis?"

"I-It isn't me!?"

Ellis turned bright red and denied.

Kamito made a wry smile.

"It's because we've been working since morning. The truth is that I'm also starving. Since, it's almost time to change shifts, shall we have lunch or something?"

"Gu... E-Even though I'm saying that's not it."

Ignoring Ellis, who puffed out her cheeks, Kamito looked around his surroundings.

As there was the Valentia Holy Festival, there were many confection stores, but there were also plenty of street stalls selling other food. There was fried bread covered with sugar, a certain cuisine —wrapped in pie dough with vegetables and minced meat and baked— and grilled meat on skewers. ...Even if Ellis' hadn't, his stomach would have probably rumbled.

"Are you going to buy something at the stall? Or, are you going into a restaurant somewhere?"

"Mm, no, err..."

Thereupon, Ellis suddenly began to fidget for some reason.

"T-The truth is... I've made something though."

"Uh?"


Then, out of nowhere, a demon wind spirit in the form of an eagle came flying over.

It was Ellis' {{Furigana|demon wind spirit|Simorgh|margin=12}}. It was holding onto a large basket in its claws.

"As expected."

Kamito was impressed.

To even make a bento herself, she was truly a capable ojou-sama.

"Well then, I'm going to buy something at the stall."

"W-Wa-Wa-Wait!."

Ellis caught hold of Kamito's neck as he was about to walk off.

"Wh-What?"

"Th-There's also your share..."

"Eh?"

"S-So, I'm saying that I also made your share!"

"My share?"

"Y-Yeah, because whether I make one or two, the time taken doesn't change that much. D-Don't misunderstand, I only made it because it would be wasteful to have ingredients left over!"

"I thank you for that. Ellis' bento is something I could look forward to."

"Mu<ref>A sound made when someone is slightly annoyed.</ref>, if you look forward to it that much, I'll feel troubled."

"Ahem", Ellis' cheeks reddened as she coughed.


"Well then, shall we find some place we can settle down somewhere—"

Ellis looked around the vicinity, and—

"Ah, Captain, there you are, shall we have lunch together?"

"Wh—!?"

While waving their hands on the opposite side of the road, a group of three girls came running over with the sound of their light footsteps.

All of them were Sylphid Knight members, who put on lightweight armor on top of their uniforms.

"Y-You girls, what about your patrol of the town?!"

"It's currently the time for the Ryuska-unit to be responsible for the patrol. After that, I had thought of having lunch with everyone. Captain, how about having it together with us?"

"Err, I have a prior commitment with Kamito—"

"Ah, how sly. Captain, you're planning to take hold of Kamito all by yourself!"

"Abuse of authority—"

"Captain, you perv!"

The three girls criticized Ellis simultaneously.

"I'm not taking hold of Kamito all by myself or something!"

Ellis turned bright red and flared up.

"Isn't that fine? You know, I couldn't do a self-introduction properly this morning, after all."

"Th-That was so, but, however..."


Ellis sighed, and—

"...I understand. Well then, let's have lunch with everyone."

"Mu", she glared at Kamito with a reproachful-like look and nodded.

===Part 3===

Just like that, they ended up having lunch at a nearby park.

It was a lushly-green natural park near the plaza.

Within the busy town it was only quiet here, because of the Valentia Holy Festival preparations.

The Knights girls sat on top of the lawn, and opened their lunch boxes.

The three of theirs were sandwiches, but only Ellis' was different.

"Oh? That's amazingly extravagant."

"...I-Is that so? B-But it's nothing special, it's the same as usual."

Kamito raised his voice in admiration, and Ellis looked downwards as she was a little embarrassed.

There were potato-salad sandwiches, sausages, fried eggs, fruits that were cut into perfectly shaped sizes and more placed inside the slightly large lunch box.

"Lies, you usually only have peanut butter sandwiches, and yet."

"The apples are also cut nicely into the shape of Mr. Rabbits!"


"The sausages are also made into Mr. Octopuses!"

Being glared at motionlessly with scornful eyes by the three girls, Ellis ended up being overwhelmed.

"Y-You girls too—"

Dodging the question, she faced the three and thrust her index finger out sternly.

"Despite being afraid of Kamito this morning, what on earth is with this turn of events?"

"..."

As a matter of fact, that was also bothering Kamito.

The reputation Kamito had from being a male spirit contractor in an academy of boxed-in ojou-sama was extremely bad. There were things like pervert, licentious beast, demon king of the night... Cruel misunderstandings were being made.

Furthermore, although there were circumstances, he had even seen the girls changing clothes this morning.

His first impression was supposed to be the worst.

The three of them mutually looked at each other's faces, and made a bewildered-like face.

"U-Um... Honestly, I'm still a little afraid."

"When I saw Captain talking normally to him, I thought he isn't such a bad person or something."

"Besides, he opposed that Velsaria head-on, how amazing."

The three of them placed both hands on their cheeks, and their faces slightly reddened for some reason.

Ellis slightly and sullenly pulled her lips back and pouted at such an appearance of the three of them.

"It's nothing, I just didn't like her."


Kamito agilely picked up the sandwiches made by Ellis.

It was a ham-and-egg sandwich. The pepper was working, and it had a simple yet very pleasant seasoning.

"Delicious. To be able to make such a simple thing delicious is proof of your excellent skills."

"R-Really? ...That's great."

Ellis took a breath of relief.

"D-Don't hold back, eat up!"

"Ah, well then, I shan't hold back—"

Kamito was about to toss the sandwich into his mouth, and at that moment.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Nom*.

The sandwich in his hand suddenly disappeared.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Nom nom*.

"...Est, what are you doing?"

Est had returned to her human form from the sword and was beside him.

"Kamito, I'm also hungry. Feed me please."

"...It can't be helped, come on."

Kamito made a wry smile as he reached out to the sandwich.

He tore it into small pieces so that it'd be easy to eat, and threw it into Est's mouth.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Nom nom*.


Chewing the bread expressionlessly, Est was almost like a small animal.

"Uh, Kamito, Th-That's the sandwiches I made for you, you know."

Ellis puffed her cheeks out with a "hmph".

"Ah, Est-chan is cute～"

"I also want to feed her!"

"Eat my sandwich, eat my sandwich too!"

The three Knights girls presented Est with food one after another.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Nom*. *Nom nom*.

"As I thought she's a great one revered by humans."

"...No, she's completely being fed like an animal, you know?"

"Fua..."

Soon, Est made a lovely yawn, and threw herself onto Kamito's lap.

When he thought that she would instantly be making sweet sleeping-breaths—

Her body turned into particles of light, vanished into an empty space and returned back into her original sword form.

"Ah, she turned back into a sword..."

One of the girls muttered, seemingly disappointed.

"She ate all she could eat and went to sleep."

As Kamito placed Est back into the sword belt on his waist, he shrugged his shoulders in exasperation.


[[Image:STnBD V03 143.jpg|thumb|x200px]]
Est, who was detached from her Astral Zero body, was different from other contracted spirits, normally she would be spending almost the whole day in a sleeping state. Once she fell into this state, she pretty much wouldn't wake up.

After that, he ate the sandwiches as the time passed quietly.

The topics, which were brought up, were about the endless lectures and the books they read recently.

The Knights girls seemed tense about talking to Kamito but, a short while later, they had gradually opened their hearts. ...However, Ellis was making a face like she was not amused for some reason.

''Nevertheless—''

There was something Kamito suddenly noticed while the girls were talking.

"Even though you're in the Knights, all of you are normal girls?"

"Fue~?"

The three of them had their faces slightly reddened at the same time.

"Erm... N-Normal girls? Wh-What...do...you...mean?"

"Err, I certainly thought that you all would be like Ellis."

"Kamito, what do you mean by that?"

Ellis was sullenly glaring at him.

"Err, more strict, or rather, capable or something—"

"It was like that before. People like us would be discharged after all."

One of the three girls muttered.



"Yeah, it was the time when Velsaria was captain."

"She suppressed everything with power, honestly, the atmosphere in the academy wasn't good."

The other two also nodded their heads together. As they were members that joined after Ellis was inaugurated as captain, they seemed to be dissatisfied with former captain Velsaria's way of doing things.

"Was there no one, who would oppose Velsaria?"

The ones attending the academy were mostly highly-prideful daughters of nobles.

If they were suppressed by power like that, there should also be many people opposing her.

"—Of course, there were. Several people too."

Ellis cut into the conversation.

"However, even the most superior class upperclassman wasn't a threat to Aneue. In the end, the reason that Aneue stepped down from the duty of captain was because of the pressure from influential nobles."

"The ones, who rebelled against Velsaria to the very end were roughly those from the Raven Class. Especially hellcat Claire Rouge, even the Knights at that time seemed to have gotten their hands burnt."

"Well, but Claire Rouge is still a problem child now."

"...I see."

The confrontation between Claire and the Knights seemed to be something from the time before Ellis was inaugurated as captain.

Suddenly, Claire's face from yesterday came into Kamito's mind.

''...Is she still angry?''


Listening to the current conversation, Kamito also reconsidered that his explanation wasn't sufficient.

Since there was such a discord, it was also natural that she got angry after hearing that Kamito joined the Knights.

The truth was that he thought of looking into her room in the morning, but he was so extremely busy with the Knights work that he couldn't meet her.

—Just at that moment.

"Hn?"

Something passed by near his field of vision.

Kamito blinked and squinted.

It was the main street of town that could be seen from the park.

A small red tail was in sight among the teeming hustle and bustle.

''...Is that Scarlet?''

Scarlet was skillfully making its way through the congestion, as it seemed to be walking to somewhere.

Claire wasn't seen beside it.

''What is it doing?''

Then, like it noticed Kamito's gaze—

Scarlet instantly stopped and turned around towards him.

After that, it immediately disappeared into the congestion.

''...Is it telling me to follow it?''


"What's the matter, Kamito?"

"Sorry, I remembered that I've got a slight errand to do. I'll come back quickly."

Chasing after Scarlet's tail, which disappeared among the hustle and bustle, Kamito ran off.

===Part 4===

"Come on, Scarlet, where the heck did you go?!"

Claire ruffled up her red twin tails, and was furiously angry.

The moment they walked into town, she ended up separating from Scarlet, and before she knew it, she got lost in some back alley.

Claire, who usually didn't go out to Academy Town, was virtually unfamiliar with the area. Also, Scarlet didn't seem to have returned to Astral Zero, so she couldn't even summon it.

There were no signs of people in the back alley. The Valentia Holy Festival seemed to be beginning over at the plaza, everyone had been gathering over there.

"...What's with this, aaah."

Claire restlessly looked around her surroundings, seemingly in anxiety.

Of course, hoodlums and the like were no match for Claire, a spirit contractor. Nevertheless, she somehow ended up feeling uneasy.


"...That guy too, he completely didn't return!"

Claire irritably made a *snap* sound with her whip.

To begin with, the reason Claire had gone out to town was for the sake of finding Kamito.

She had waited throughout the whole night yesterday, but Kamito didn't return in the end.

"What...? Despite the fact that I'd have forgiven you if you'd have honestly apologized."

Claire had also reflected a little about the part where she chased Kamito out without hearing his story out fully.

She absolutely couldn't forgive him for being in Ellis' room, but still, without saying cinders, she had planned on letting it end with him about half-burnt at most.

''...Only for once, only once, I'll forgive him for swinging his tail at Ellis, despite his slave spirit social standing. I'm really tolerant, almost like a saint.''

Brushing her twin-tailed red hair quickly, Claire took out a small pouch from her uniform's pocket. It was a lovely pouch coiled with a yellow ribbon.

Inside were handmade chocolates.

Due to practicing over several times, she finally could make something that wasn't cinders.

"I-If he obediently apologized, I'd give him this as a reward. This is at most a reward. It has nothing to do with stuff like the Valentia Holy Festival."

Claire was muttering alone, when—

"Nyaa?"


"Hiwaa!"

Claire sprung up with shock.

When she turned around in a fluster, Scarlet had tilted its head to the side near her feet.

"A-Ahh, don't scare me! ...Good grief, you got lost as soon as we got here."

The one, who had been lost, was Claire, but she didn't admit that.

At that time, running footsteps were drawing closer from the other side of the alley.

"Claire!"

"...?"

Claire turned around, and the one that appeared from the corner of the alley was Kamito.

Like he has been running for some time, he was very out of breath.

"Ka-Kamito! Why—"

"I caught sight of Scarlet's silhouette, and chased it here."

"Eh?"

''D-Does that mean he came looking for me?''

Claire made an angry-like, troubled-like, happy-like ambiguous face.

For the time being, as they were still in the middle of a quarrel, she didn't know what kind of expression she should be making.

''Th-That's right, I can't be making a sweet face here!''

The highly-prideful Claire had absolutely no intention of forgiving him until an apology came from Kamito. For the master to be apologizing to the slave was something that could absolutely not happen.

"Hmm, w-what did you come for at this point in time?!"

"You too, what are you doing at a place like this?"

Kamito asked, seemingly puzzled.

"...I-It's nothing, it isn't like I was searching for you."

"Ahh, I definitely understand that, but—"

"Doesn't that mean you don't understand?!"

Claire agitatedly raised her whip up— Then, she suddenly desisted from doing so.

If she swung her whip here, it'd end up the same as yesterday.

"...W-Well, that's fine."

Claire lowered the whip she raised, and roughly brushed her hair.

Kamito was carrying a blank look.

"Hey, Kamito? Just by chance, I'm casually free today afternoon."

"...? Is that so?"

"That's right. S-So, err, treat me to cake or something at a coffee lounge or somewhere! Th-Then, I'll have... no... choice but to forgive you, you know?"

Her cheeks slightly reddened, and she glanced at Kamito with one eye.

Those words just now were the greatest compromise for this highly-prideful Claire.


It wasn't like she wanted to be treated to cake. For Claire, it was her plan to make him an easy pretext to apologize.

Kamito would say "What, it can't be helped" as he treated her to cake, and Claire would go "Hmm, I'll forgive you in consideration of this cake" while shrugging her shoulders— Just like that, she thought she could patch up their relationship with a bit-by-bit-like atmosphere.

''It's probably too late, but tentatively, he did come to apologize. I'm also not a kid, so I'll leniently forgive him.''

"Sorry, I have to police Academy Town with Ellis today."

"Oh, I understand. With Ellis...?"

Claire's face froze in a snap.

"H-Hey, Kamito... I didn't hear it well, but... what was that just now?"

"I said, I had the Knights work. I am going around and policing the town with Ellis."

Kamito plainly said it once more.

"..."

"Hey, Claire?"

"O-Oh? With Ellis...it's a date, I-Isn't it."

Claire's voice was trembling all over.

"No, it isn't a date, it's the Knights—"


"Oh, you've already become the Knights' dog, haven't you? That badge suits you, doesn't it?"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogogogo...!*

"...!?"

Claire was angry.

Her red twin-tailed hair bristled up, and she was with an impulse like she was going to release a fireball anytime soon.

"You, just hear me out a little. You don't have to look at the Knights with that much hostility, do you?"

"W-What, don't say it like you understand!"

Claire flared up, and raised her whip.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gyruruu*.

"..."

A somewhat lovely sound was heard.

While Claire held her whip overhead, she awkwardly averted her eyes.

"You, could it be that you haven't had lunch yet?"

"What, isn't that because you didn't make it for me—?"

"The one, who chased me out, was you."

"That's... true, but..."

Claire glared at Kamito, and groaned.


"Claire, if it's alright with you, would you eat with me?"

"Eh?"

Claire widened her ruby eyes.

"...Th-That's... well..."

Her face reddened, and abruptly turned away.

"I-If you insisted no matter what, I'm fine with that."

"Well then, come. I am eating together with Ellis and the others at the park over there."

"...!?"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pikuu*. Claire's temple twitched.

"Wh-What are you saying, you... Are you an idiot?!"

"I understand that you're on poor relations with the Knights, but they're all normal girls. If you had a meal together with them, wouldn't you become on good terms with them?"

"I have no intentions of being friends with them. I've hated the people from the Knights since a long time ago. I don't care if they're elite or not, but they utterly insulted Nee-sama!"

"Isn't that about the former Knights, Ellis isn't someone like that—"

"...What, Ellis this, Ellis that!"

Claire finally exploded. She was already at the limit of her tolerance.

Releasing her elemental waffe, she tightly grasped her blazing Flame Tongue.


...She didn't understand why.

However, it was unbearably vexing that Kamito was friendly with the Knights and Ellis.

"You are my slave spirit, so you're only mine!"

Her Flame Tongue was swung down as her emotions told.

However.

"—Leave it at that, Claire Rouge."

"...!?"

Her blazing Flame Tongue was held entangled by a lance clad in violent winds.

"It's a school violation for a normal student to be using an elemental waffe in town."

"Ellis!?"

Ellis, who stood like she was protecting Kamito, was glaring at Claire with a relentless look.

"...!"

Claire gnawed down on her molars, seemingly vexed.

Large droplets of tears surfaced on her clear ruby pupils.

"...Enough."

"Eh?"

"That's enough, idiot, do as you please!"

"H-Hey, Claire... Guaa!"


Claire threw the bag of chocolates with all her strength at Kamito's face.

"I despise people like you! Wh-Why don't you just get along with Ellis—"

Claire shouted with a voice mangled with tears and ran away immediately.

===Part 5===

"—Hey, wasn't that Claire Rouge just now?"

The upperclassmen witnessed Claire's appearance of dashing out from the alley.

They were the adamantine spirit contractor and the demon mirror spirit contractor, who fought Claire's team yesterday.

The two of them glared annoyingly at Claire, who was running away.

"...She's alone now. We're also outside of the academy, where it's beyond the eyes of the teachers."

The adamantine spirit contractor girl exchanged looks, and

"It's useless. Look! That male spirit contractor and Captain-dono are around."

It was just the moment where Kamito and Ellis emerged, chasing Claire.

"Tch, that male spirit contractor joined the Knights, didn't he?"

"Isn't it that they're shorthanded because of the assault the other day? Compared to Velsaria's time, the quality of the Sylphid Knights had also fallen greatly."

The two of them were former members of the Knights.


It was also from those days that they had been confronting that audacious Claire Rogue.

To begin with, as bad behaviors, such as wielding the authority of the Knights and persistently tormenting students of poor standing, was conspicuous, Ellis had exiled the Knights after she became captain.

"However, if it's just three elementary students, we could—"

"You better give it a rest. Even you two would be no match even if you join forces."

"...!?"

The two of them quickly poised themselves at the voice from behind.

The one, who was standing there without even her presence felt by the two spirit contractors, was—

A jade-green haired, bewitchingly beautiful girl.

"Hey, you two, don't you desire for more splendid power?"

"Wh...at...?"

"Mighty power, to the extent that that hellcat ojou-sama wouldn't be a problem."

{{Furigana|Corpse Federation|Murders|margin=12}} merchant, Vivian Melosa's red pupils ominously shone.

<noinclude>

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

{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter5|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume3 Chapter7}}</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume1 Chapter2

2012-09-30T22:57:54Z

67.142.183.24: /* 1 */

== Chapter Two - The Sudden Disaster ==

=== 1 ===
“Still not ready? How much longer do we have to wait, Hyoue?”

“Please, just a little longer,” Hyoue replied to the seemingly impatient person.

The person waiting for Hyoue closed his eyes pensively and walked away. Hyoue felt the wind blowing against him. The air was filled with the ''ki'' of the youma and passed beneath Hyoue’s palm like a wind that would swallow anyone. It was already dawn by the time the shredded remains of the three people were discovered. This unbelievably serious situation completely shocked the entire Kannagi clan. The Kannagi clan was undeniably astonished. Before their reflexes could respond, the three defensively-prepared people were killed, without anyone else even being alerted. The Fuuga clan had been summoned in order to better understand the situation. Hyoue had gathered the youma ''ki'' to understand who the enemy was.

"Hmm"

"T—this is...."

Quiet concentration. Hyoue gathered the youma ''ki'' in his palms without letting any of it flow out. It was a very cold air. Even for powerful practitioners, the ''ki'' provided sufficient reasons to fear it.

“This was caused by Fuujutsu, and was created by a practitioner who is on a completely different level from my Fuuga clan. This practitioner trapped the three victims in a wind ''kekkai'' and then killed them.”

Hyoue’s report was not in the least beneficial. Any practitioner could have easily deduced that from the sight of the incident.

“I understand that much. But, who did it?!”

“If you require a detailed report, I would like you to allow me more time,” Hyoue replied indistinctly.

“Then do it quickly! You and your clan can act...”

“Everyone be quiet!”

At Juugo's angry voice, everyone present became silent. Juugo then spoke in a consoling voice.

“So it's like that? Good job, you may retire... Right, how’s the health of Ryuuya?"

Hyoue appeared surprised at that moment due to the Suzerain’s concern over his son’s health.

“Yes… If he quietly recuperates, there shouldn’t be any problems. However, he can no longer recover to the level of working for the Kannagi clan anymore. This unworthy son really is an embarrassment.”

"It can't be helped if he is ill. Don't blame Ryuuya, just focus on his recovery."

Hyoue bowed to Juugo’s words of gratitude.

“Yes… Thank you very much. I will give instructions to my subordinates as I will now retire….”

“Then please, I await your reply, Hyoue.”

The head of the Fuuga clan bowed silently and left.

The enemy was a Fuujutsu practitioner who loathed the Kannagi clan. Naturally, everyone thought of a certain person who had—coincidentally—just returned to Japan.

“It’s Kazuma! He obtained strength for revenge and returned to Japan! My fellow clan members, let us destroy the traitor Kazuma. Find him without delay and kill him!”

The person who made such an aggressive comment was the previous Suzerain, Yorimichi. Even though he was retired, he still had the air of a Suzerain. The entire clan loathed him, though he was unaware of this.

“[[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Translator%27s_Notes#Chichiue|Chichiue]], please. We don’t have enough evidence to prove that Kazuma did this.” Juugo said in an attempt to stop Yorimichi's tirade.

“You—! Who but Kazuma could have done this...?”

“Yorimichi, please hold your tongue. When you talk like that, it becomes impossible for us to discuss the issue.”

Genma coolly interrupted Yorimichi's ear-shattering ranting, with a cold look that clearly expressed scorn. The truth is, Genma looked down on Yorimichi from the depths of his heart. To him, Yorimichi was a person who had no strength apart from scheming, yet was chosen as the Suzerain. In Yorimichi’s thirty years as Suzerain, the strength of the Kannagi clan hit rock bottom. Yorimichi's inability to control the representative sword of the Kannagi clan and his inability to pass the sword onto someone else resulted in it being buried deep in the warehouse before Juugo’s succession to the Suzerain position.

However, Genma was not thinking about such a foolish item. He believed that the one to succeed the position of Suzerain should be the strongest practitioner of Kannagi. Because of this, he did not hate the current Suzerain, Juugo. Genma understood that his own strength couldn't compare. Previously, he wanted to prepare his son to be the next Suzerain. This was not really a scheme; he just wanted to train and prepare Kazuma to give him the strength to become the next Suzerain.

Yorimichi didn’t have such beliefs, as he was the type of person who only had ambition for power. Or, at least that was what Genma thought of him. No matter how Genma tried to hide his thoughts, they were clearly revealed as he further enraged Yorimichi. Despite their close blood relationship of uncle and nephew, the hatred between the two deepened again.

“Y-You want to shield Kazuma? No... should I say that this is your scheme? Allowing Kazuma to go outside the country, having him learn jutsu to kill Juugo and Ayano, and finally letting Ren succeed the position of Suzerain?"

Yorimichi turned his accusing finger towards Genma. This kind of bad will was materializing like “sticky things connecting items together,” agitating the rest of the crowd.

“That kind of idea would only come from someone with low scruples.”

For Yorimichi to say such things was an almost insulting provocation. Genma did not try to contradict him out of the fear of making an extremely disrespectful reply if he did.

“Chichiue, that’s enough!”

Juugo cut in, interrupting the insulting diatribe. He decided to settle it by ordering Yorimichi to be taken away.

“Yorimichi, you must be tired. Please return to your room to rest.”

“Wait, Juugo! Genma cannot be trusted! If you don’t listen to me now, you will end up regretting it sooner or later!”

Yorimichi was hauled away like luggage. His harsh voice slowly decreased in volume until nothing could be heard.

“I really am sorry for the insulting diatribes of my father. Please forgive him on my behalf.”

Juugo placed both of his hands on the tatami in a slight bow. Genma replied indifferently, “I didn’t pay attention. The reason for such words is that the previous Suzerain cares deeply for the Kannagi clan.”

With an exchange of glances that instantly understood each other, they smiled at the same time. The time for chatting was over, and it was now time to discuss more serious matters.

“As the previous Suzerain said, the timing is too much of a coincidence. It is better for us to meet again and talk.”

Genma maintained his silence from the start, perhaps because he did not want to discuss his own son.

“Would Kazuma submit to our instructions willingly?”

“If he won’t submit, we will have to use force to bring him here. Even though he has gained strength, he is still Kazuma. Two or three people will be more than enough to capture him.”

“...That’s good, then. The selection of persons in charge of this assignment will be your responsibility, Genma. No matter what, it is necessary to bring back Kazuma quickly.”

“Understood.” Even though Genma had just received an order to capture his own son, Genma was tranquil compared to others.

“Ayano-sama has returned!”

The serious expression on Juugo’s face began to relax. Genma put on a highly energetic and fierce look as well.

“Oh, I'm back!”

She appeared without even waiting a second. Bah! She pulled the sliding door open and caught everyone’s attention.

“I’m home, [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Translator%27s_Notes#Otou-sama|Otou-sama]]! Ehh...? What’s going on?”

An assertive young teenage girl appeared before the crowd, noticing the mood a moment later. Her long, pink hair that almost reached her back flowed along with the movements of her head, representing the blooming of a [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Translator%27s_Notes#Bishoujo|bishoujo]]. At that moment, the 'dark and cold' atmosphere completely vanished. Her spiritual energy completely cleansed the room's atmosphere in one breath. The appearance of an unclear enemy who killed family members became muted. The people who had been discussing this situation nonstop now faced a blinding light. Their feelings of discomfort and distress completely vanished.

As if facing the rays of the sun, all movements in the dark ceased to exist. The girl in the doorway, a girl who had the ability to vanquish darkness with spiritual powers not unlike the power of light, was heir of the Suzerain, owner of Enraiha and Juugo’s daughter: Kannagi Ayano.

“How’s the report, Ayano?”

Juugo tested his daughter with the same serious expression that he used when asking other people. To him, that was the best way for a father to guide his daughter.

“Excuse me.” Ayano at that moment finished bowing. “The youma that was released was completely vanquished.”

“Hmm, good job.”

Finishing her report to the Suzerain as a practitioner, Ayano innocently continued her questioning. “So, what actually happened, Otou-sama?”

“Hmm—— earlier, three people had been killed without notice. This is a serious situation!"

Although they were distant relatives, Ayano quieted after hearing how three people from the family had been killed. The “serious situation” wasn’t the fact that “three people had been killed.” Rather, it was because it was “without notice.”

This was not some callous sentiment, but it was an understanding of what was of primary importance. For a girl of only sixteen years of age, who had such a strong will and discipline, it was surprising.

“Nobody saw who it was? A Fuujutsu practitioner?”

“Of course there's a suspect.” Faced with Ayano’s questions, Juugo replied heavily, “...It’s Kazuma.”

“Who’s that?”

Faced with this kind of close and revealing speech, Juugo’s "sun vein" furrowed.

“Think carefully about your older cousin’s name... the one who you fought against in the 'Succession Ceremony' for Enraiha, the representative sword of the Kannagi clan."

“'Older cousin...' Could it be the Kazuma who left the family four years ago? Could that even be called a fight?”

Juugo secretly spied on Genma’s expression to see if there were any changes from hearing Ayano's blunt words. Genma's inner feelings were not apparent, as his outer unreadable appearance didn’t change at all.

“Right, I heard he left the country... and trained elsewhere. Later, he became a Fuujutsu practitioner?”

“That’s how it is. Supposedly, he returned to Japan recently and changed his name to Yagami Kazuma. Yesterday, he met with the late Shinji during a job, where he beautifully completed it. It seems like he has trained very hard in those four years.”

“Kazuma... Looks like he hates us…” Finally remembering, Ayano looked distant.

“It could be like that,” Genma replied without any facial expression.

“But, even though it is like that, we cannot just kill him. If it was done by him, we need to use his life to pay for the crimes.”

“If...?”

Ayano turned to look at Genma, searching for a clue as to what Genma was thinking. Genma accepted Ayano’s look without any change. The one who disinherited Kazuma and the one who provided the reason for his disinheritance crossed gazes. The first to look away was Ayano. Strength as practitioners aside, her life’s experience was immensely surpassed. In reality, even with careful searching, she still lacked the confidence in her ability to win. Ayano stopped her meaningless gaze, and turned to look towards Juugo.

“So what do we do next? Eliminate him?"

After seeing his daughter say such words so easily, Juugo immediately replied.

“We still cannot be certain whether Kazuma was the one who did it, but no matter. We should find him and talk with him first.”

“...Yes…”

Perhaps due to the mighty power that Enraiha bears, whenever Ayano was faced with a problem, she was inclined to use power to resolve it. Juugo had always hoped that she understood her position as the next clan chief and therefore had to be more flexible in her thinking.

“You have just finished a mission, you must be tired, today get some good rest.”

“… I understand.”

Even though she did not seem pleased, Ayano still obeyed her father’s words and quickly left the scene after bowing. The attitude she portrayed by not even looking at Juugo showed just how unhappy she was.

“……This stubborn child.”

Juugo sighed as he muttered this. But despite his tone being so bitter, he was still unable to hide the overflowing love he had for her.

=== 2 ===
It was easy for the information network of the Kannagi clan to find out where Kazuma was.

Finding him the next morning did not really require any special methods because he used his own name to register into a hotel.

Consequently, at Genma’s command, two practitioners were sent out.

Yuuki Shingo and Oogami Takeya were the strongest practitioners of the branch families. Even though they had opposing personalities, they were great friends. This combination, outside the main family, could be said to be without equal.

From Genma’s point of view, he had thrown in the two strongest cards at hand. However, the selection of the oldest son of the Yuuki family might have been a deadly mistake. Why? That was because this man had absolutely no desire to convince Kazuma.

“Kazuma, you bastard, I will cut you into [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Translator%27s_Notes#Ten Thousand Pieces|ten thousand pieces]].”

“If he dies, it will be problematic. At least leave him with the ability to talk when we take him back.”

As they waited for the upcoming report, they headed directly towards Kazuma. Of course, they had absolutely no desire to persuade him; however, they never expected that they would be assaulted.

“Is the report ready yet?”

“It’s going to be ready soon.”

This kind of discussion couldn't satisfy them at all. They didn't know how many times they had asked. Given that the two of them were still waiting to receive the same report, it didn't matter how much they asked…

“What the hell are they doing, that useless Fuuga clan! It’s that one person, Kazuma; can’t they easily bring him over!?”

Shingo reprimanded angrily as they began turning the arrowhead towards the Fuuga clan.

“This is worrying. The Fuuga clan might even be connected to this situation.”

Takeya forcefully said some pretty words to sway Shingo. A situation in which the Fuuga clan was shielding him wasn't impossible, after all. Takeya's plan to insult them and redirect Shingo's anger was certainly welcomed.

Thinking shortly, Shingo gritted his teeth angrily and said,

“Damn it, they only have slightly sharper senses, what's there to be complacent about?”

“Don’t say it like that. They're just a bunch of sad people with non-discussable... Nil fighting power. Failing to do something this simple, aren't they very pathetic?”

“That’s right, hahaahahahahahaaaaa…”

Just as Takeya had wished, Shingo had completely forgotten about the issue of the reprimand. Hearing this sudden liberated laughter, Takeya had a thought not unlike one from 10 seconds ago. “Still not ready yet?” Similarly, he felt it to be very slow and lengthy.

“Incoming, in the area right ahead, about 500 meters. Looks like he hasn’t noticed.”

Suddenly, amidst the conversation between the two, a voice appeared. It was from a jutsu used by the Fuuga clan called “Method of Summoning/Calling Spirits”. It allowed the wind to carry voices over large distances.

“He’s coming! I won’t leave him any limbs, arms or legs. Burn it all! Let’s attack!”

This was not voiced for anyone to hear, only Shingo’s mumblings to himself. It could be seen from his hatred-filled eyes that his passion certainly could be really problematic.

[[image:Kaze no Stigma vol 01 051.jpg|thumb]]

Shingo rattled on about how he would execute Kazuma. He hoped Kazuma would at least put up some resistance before dying so that he and Takeya could slowly torture him to the brink of death. Shingo was determined to make Kazuma suffer as painfully as possible.

Takeya pulled a small distance away from Shingo from this, thinking “So this guy is this dangerous.” And so, the distance between their hearts grew larger.

Just when a rift between their friendship was about to form, Kazuma appeared.

They faced the apparently defenseless and casual Kazuma. Takeya arrogantly greeted him.

“Long time no see, Kazuma!”

“…Oh, you're the successor of the Oogami family?”

Kazuma paused for a moment to recollect his memories. However, Takeya took it as a display of shock as if Kazuma had just realized he was being ambushed. This uprising arrogant mentality weakened Takeya’s concentration.

“Do you know why we are here?”

Takeya questioned using a tone filled with superiority. At the same moment, he calmed Shingo, whose eyes were blood-shot and whose heart was filled with the desire to release his flames.

“No idea.”

Kazuma’s reply could not be any more honest, yet it was not entirely without a sense of taunting. He used a joking action to exaggeratedly shrug his shoulders and shake his head. As expected, he managed to piss Takeya off enough for his veins to show.

However, Takeya succeeded in controlling his anger, and after recovering his cool, began to explain.

“Yesterday night, three practitioners of the Kannagi clan were killed."

“Uhmm... and?"

Kazuma asked, with the same tone of supreme authority.

“The person who killed them was a Fuujutsu practitioner."

“……………………..”

“……………………..”

Their surroundings were covered in silence. A warm wind blew in through the dusk on “Tree-Shadow” Road. The red leaves began to dance lightly, shined upon by a crimson sun that dyed them an even darker shade of red. This was the beauty that appears before the darkness that controls the world.

“……………..”

The first to open his mouth was Kazuma. It seemed like he detested the still silence even more than being stared at by two men.

“So what's the matter?”

“The Suzerain has things to ask you! Follow us!”

“It wasn’t me! Are you finished?”

Kazuma said, clearly showing his desire to leave. He suddenly bounced to the side. An instant later, the space that Kazuma had just jumped away from became engulfed in a fireball.

Kazuma looked towards the perpetrator. Shingo, using a tone like a natural-born deep-voiced singer, shouted.

“Hmhmhm, what’s the matter, you finally admit it? Then, there is no other way besides force to subdue you!”

At the same time, “tongues of crimson” surrounded Shingo and began to burn and dance.

Even though these flames were attached to Shingo’s body, his clothes were not burned. He was exhibiting an unexpected level of precision.

As the flames continued to move on his body, Shingo became so happy that his lips slanted. He proclaimed,

“If you refuse to talk about it, then you are very suspicious. I’ll burn off your arms and legs! Lessening the weight will make you easier to transport! I won’t kill you, but could you continue to live in such a humiliating condition? After the Suzerain finishes his questioning, I’ll be merciful, and kill you within one week! You can use that time to fully regret your life. I want you to know that after killing Shinji, I absolutely cannot allow you to continue living untroubled!”

Kazuma  watched the crazed, laughing Shingo as if he was observing some kind of rare animal. He turned to Takeya and asked very seriously,

“So the Kannagi clan still feeds this kind of thing?”

“—No, Ahh….hu….”

Takeya really had no reply. Takeya, who considered himself to be normal, did not want to be associated with the thing next to him as though they were of the same kind.

“Shingo always adored Shinji. Now he hates you for killing him, he is quite within reason.”

“That’s why I said it wasn’t me.”

“Then please go and clarify everything with the Suzerain.”

“I am no longer part of the Kannagi clan. If the Suzerain has business with me, tell him to come and look for me himself. Please pass it along to him like that.”

“It seems … The negotiations have broken down then.”

In order to make good on his words, Takeya raised his "ki". He then directed the surrounding fire spirits to dance with his conscience.

The surrounding temperature rose enough to be felt with the skin. Even though the fire spirits had yet to materialize, the surrounding area had clearly changed in physics.

Seemingly frightened by the emergence of such elevated fighting spirit, scores of red leaves continued to flutter down, instantly changing into ash and floating away before touching Takeya’s body.

Remaining subdued, Kazuma stood with his hands in his leather jacket, watching the two of them. It seemed like he had no desire to confront the Kannagi clan, though it was hard to tell from that kind of pose.

“This is your last opportunity. Yield humbly to us, Kazuma.”

Faced with Takeya's final ultimatum, Kazuma raised his middle finger and said.

“Take a good look at yourselves before coming.”

Shingo and Takeya moved in complete coordination, releasing their fireball attacks at the same time.

“Die!!!”

“You idiot!”

The instant they started their jutsu, the two believed that victory would be definite. Two of the clan's strongest practitioners were attacking at the same time. No matter what kind of strategy Kazuma had, facing those two massive powers would be hopeless.

But...

Boom! 

The fireball in Takeya’s hand suddenly exploded. He was incredulous that the fireball had such a big categorical runaway explosion.

The fireball, leaving Takeya’s control, was like a wild animal with its tooth pulled out. Even with the protection of the fire spirit, it was impossible to shield against the crash of the explosion’s force.

The shock struck his entire body and Takeya was simply knocked out.

''(W, What? What just happened…? Shit, Shingo, leave….)''

Unfortunately, Shingo had similarly lost consciousness, with black and blue continuously pulsing on his face.

As Kazuma returned his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket, he lowered his head to the two people before him. After flashing a condescending grin, he walked right by the two unconscious persons' sides.

Contradicting his wish to leave immediately, Kazuma stopped. As if feeling something, he looked towards the trees where there was no one.

“If you want to pick a fight with me, I won’t be merciful.”

At the same time, one of the trees split in half. There was no noise from the chopped tree. A guarding Fuujutsu practitioner slowly slid down from it.

Already forgetting to hide himself, this person stood while dumbly staring at Kazuma. As Kazuma turned to leave, he became fearful. “The one we lured was him? The prey we were hunting is this frightening thing——?"

=== 3 ===
“Seriously, Father worries too much. I alone am enough. I don’t know how many times I have repeated this. When will he acknowledge me? Am I that untrustworthy?”

“The Suzerain acknowledges the young mistress' abilities, but as a father he is simply worrying about his daughter.”

Confronted with the disgruntled Ayano, the man in his forties cajoled her.

Ayano had been ordered to a certain temple in the city of Yokohama Yamate to strengthen the weakening seal inside. Coincidentally, this place was very close to where Kazuma had extorted every cent from his employer. Basically, this was where he had exorcised only a few days ago. However, Ayano knew nothing of this.

Upon arriving at the location and discovering that the seal had deteriorated to a point beyond the previously assumed limits, Ayano immediately discarded the idea of resealing it, instead deciding to eliminate the seal. Without any attempt to test it, she immediately ripped off the seal.

One of her favorite sayings was, “This method is faster.” 

People without significant confidence in their own abilities would not say something like that. However, the two men that accompanied her knew that she had the prerequisite abilities needed to complement such self-confidence.

Certainly, Juugo also knew that she had this kind of ability, but such worries of a father were within reason. Even if Ayano described Juugo as stupid or foolish, most of time he still sent two or more people to protect her.

“He always lectures me. 'Don't mix work with your private life.' 'Don't follow your own desires to do things.' Isn't that right, Uncle Masato?” 

Still discharging her irritation, Ayano faced said man, the younger brother of the head of the Yuuki family, Masato.

“Because he is the Suzerain, he cannot mull over such minor issues.”

A smile and a laugh appeared on Masato’s thin face. As a member of one of the branch families, he certainly was not thinking about the consequence, but it seemed like Ayano hadn’t really noticed or cared.

This man, Oogami Masato, although possessing strength greater than his older brother, disliked scheming for the position of family head. And so, he went off to Tibet to train like an eccentric person.

When he returned to Japan, he was ordered to protect Ayano. Juugo held him in high regard, as from the first time Ayano went on a mission, he was continually responsible for her protection.

Ayano also had good feelings about this easygoing relative. Contrasting the princess-like treatment that most people gave her, Masato’s causal attitude was quite refreshing for her and felt very good.

Consequently, they referred to each other (Uncle Masato and Ojo-sama) as if they were a real family.

“Maybe if it's to allow the younger practitioner here to learn, this kind of reasoning is possible. Isn’t that so, Takeshi…Takeshi?”

“Ahh, Yes!?”

The younger practitioner was staring at Ayano with eyes of admiration. Oogami Takeshi’s uncle had to holler many times before he finally paid attention.

“Did you not hear… Stop staring stupidly at Ojo-sama, be prepared. We don't know when the seal will be released.”

“Yes, I understand! Just as Uncle has said! It is really a great honor to be allowed to watch Ayano-sama's striking fighting method!”

In an attempt to look good in front of Ayano, Takeshi pointlessly shouted in a loud voice. He stared at Ayano with admiration and reverence. After all, to Takeshi’s generation of practitioners, Ayano had the status of a goddess. Being able to watch her striking manner from close by while guarding her was a task anyone would accept.

“Yes——It’s——like——this?”

“Yes, it’s like that!”

The exhilaration of being able to talk to Ayano flowed from Takeshi’s entire body. Though, Ayano did not like being looked up to like that. It gave her the feeling that she was separate from normal people, instead becoming an entity that she didn't want to be.

Unfortunately, no matter how often she explained that, it was useless. It was Takeshi’s only, yet simple, means of showing deference to a much stronger and more beautiful existence.

“Ah, forget it. … It’s about time.”

Ayano, sensing the expanding ki of the youma, relaxed and turned herself towards the main hall. Her miniskirt started to flutter and dance.

Now, why would Ayano be wearing her high school uniform?

This was not only to allow her to normally attend high school. Because, if you thought about it, the best outfit for a high school student was their uniform. So Juugo focused upon this point and added, within the range of his abilities, the best class of defensive spells to it.

The uniform, in order to allow better transpiration, was woven from the best type of silk there was. That is, during the process of fabrication, air was mixed into it. Furthermore, everything was sewn from expensive materials.

As a result, a high school uniform was made from extravagant amounts of money and time. It would not be wrong to call it a work of art, since the high cost certainly made it worthy. The money placed into this uniform was enough to buy a car, or even a luxury house.

Of course, Ayano paid attention to wear this outfit, not because of its capabilities, but because it was a gift given to her by her father. As a result, she frequently wore this outfit in combat.

In this uniform, the world’s most expensive combat outfit, Ayano watched as the seal began breaking. She took a deep breath and started moving and warming up her own inner strength.

Pah!

A clapping sound started to vibrate within the room. Ayano opened her two closed palms. A flaming line appeared between them. She grasped it with her right hand, swinging it horizontally.

The meter-long, burning line instantly materialized into a crimson sword.

There was no blunt side to this bright crimson sword, as it had two edges. The blade of the sword was surrounded by a golden flame, releasing vivid beautiful light. It was as beautiful as one could imagine. 

The sword was the Kannagi clan’s supreme treasure, Enraiha. It was awarded to the Kannagi clan’s founder by the King of the Flame Spirits. It has been passed down and used to defeat evil ever since. '''!'''

Ayano lifted Enraiha upwards, grasping the sword with her other hand as well and making a downward stroke. Golden pieces of the flame trailed behind it, spreading in all directions. In an instant, she beautifully stopped the sword before her eyes. Whether it was done ten thousand times or a hundred thousand times, this was a beautiful motion that could always be appreciated.

The vase of the shrine approached its limits and, with a “pong” sound, burst open. Even before the pieces could finish falling, a white light shot towards Ayano.

Ayano made a downward stroke with Enraiha, attacking the light head on. Upon contact, the white substance gave off a sound like sprinkling water on a burning hot pot and vaporized.

“Ugh, it’s sticky.”

Ayano mumbled after seeing it disperse in all directions. The material was connected by thin threads.

She redirected her vision to the inside of the main hall, seeing a few dots of light. The thing slowly moved forward and revealed itself.

“Wah…”

Ayano, inadvertently surprised, let out a gasp. The thing that had appeared was ——

Possessing a great number of eyes and beyond eight feet, covered with dirty yet rigid fur, the segmented animal produced sounds like “kulah, kulah” as its legs brought it into the open. Anyone would shiver upon seeing its full appearance, a monstrous spider freak.

“Earth Spider huh... Need help?”

“Not necessary.”

Ayano immediately replied. Though it produced a very disgusting feeling, there was no time for complaints. It seemed like she was more afraid of disappointing her otou-san, and fighting against spiders or cockroaches was nothing in comparison.

''(Come...)''

Summoning fire spirits does not require chants and such. As if following Ayano’s thinking, fire spirits assembled themselves and flew into Enraiha. The light of the flame became even brighter, shining along the sword's blade.

Within the range of her awareness, Ayano continuously summoned more spirits. Juugo had instructed her many times, "Don’t be like other practitioners. The spirits are not commanded; you can’t be too arrogant."

“The spirits have the same level of existence as we do.” 

Juugo frequently repeated this saying, that spirits were the means to safeguard the existence of the world’s order. The Kannagi clan had a contract with the spirit king, and the spirits were only helpers.

Of course, Ayano also understood that her own strength was borrowed. The power was gifted for a short period of time, and only to seal or vanquish the inconsistencies in the world’s order.

Therefore, she was not ordering them, because such matters were unnecessary. If the correct way of thinking was clear, the fire spirits would certainly answer.

Having respect for the world, not obtaining huge power or being arrogant. Ayano, no matter what, always called out to them like this: “Please, lend me your strength…”

“V… Very formidable…”

Takeshi watched, dumbfounded as the enormous number of spirits gathered into Ayano’s body. The amount of spirits he could manage was only one small portion of hers. For him, it was the first time seeing the main family’s power, as different from him as sky and ground.

“Ah, formidable, right!?”

Masato said, smiling to show off his own condition.

“Even though we said it recently, no matter how hard we work, we won’t be able to reach such levels.”

His uncle’s reply already forgotten, Takeshi once again looked at Ayano.

Ayano, holding the Enraiha, continued to confront the earth spider.

''(What should I do… looks like I can’t get close…)''

Even though the summoned spirits were already enough to destroy the earth spider, she really didn’t have the confidence given her distance from it. Even though Enraiha was an ancient sword used for summoning, it was necessary to employ it to its fullest potential.

In other words, she had to close in and puncture or split the earth spider, then, from the inside, burn its body completely.

''(Of course, if that was done, more sticky stuff will probably fly out from the cut… after the explosion, the body's pieces would fly everywhere… and if it's female, after opening its skin, hundreds of spiders might come out… No———!)''

Just thinking about it made her hair stand on end. Inside, Ayano started complaining bitterly. If Takeshi could have read Ayano’s inner thoughts then, his own thoughts of reverence would probably have disappeared. 

The earth spider seemed to seize the opening that Ayano's mulling gave. “Palapala” Using its long legs, it turned its body and started moving.

“You want to escape!?”

Suddenly, white silk spat out from the tail towards the pursuing Ayano. At the same time, she pulled up Enraiha to face it.

Golden flames emerged from Enraiha, burning the spider’s web. Unfortunately, because of the blockage by the silk, Ayano still could not get close to the earth spider.

Ayano could only stop and focus her mind. She took a deep breath, tuning her ki, and calmed down.

''(This kind of thing can’t do any real kind of obstruction. I'll just kill it in a few seconds.)''

Lifting up Enraiha, she performed a downward swing with her full strength. The golden flame, the highest level of fire purification, not only completely burned down the earth spider’s web, but also closed in directly on the earth spider itself.

Kaboom!!

With the sounds of the explosion, the earth spider was surrounded by flames.

“Got…Gotcha…?”

But as Ayano dubiously mumbled while looking into the flames, what emerged was only a white cocoon-like object. What really surprised her was the “pishpiish” sound of it splitting open.

Pang!

Like a thin layer of glass shattering, the middle of the cocoon split open and the earth spider reappeared, completely unharmed.

The webbing apparently contained some special component that could block spiritual energies. The spider had used that covering to hide its body and avoid the purifying powers of the flames.

“...It’s~ it’s quite formidable, hu~”

Ayano sang. At first glance she seemed very calm, but a careful study would reveal that her sun vein had already risen.

Ayano did not attack with full strength, but her confidence ebbed when she saw it being completely deflected.

“Only a little bug, don’t be so haughty ——!!”

Resonating with Ayano’s anger, an even greater amount of fire spirits gathered. There was no materialization, but in the vicinity, enough spirits gathered to equal a volcano opening.

“Then… regretting it now?”

Accompanying her anger, Ayano entered a selfless state. Her composure was completely engulfed by anger, and transformed into strength.

She continuously summoned stronger and even stronger spirits. This time, it wasn't directly released into a single area but, using her immovable strength of mind, was released into one direction. 

This time, Ayano held Enraiha perpendicular to her body. Focused on running after the earth spider, she took a deep breath and released it with a sharp “kiai.”

“Haa!!”

In an instant, the flame flew into the earth spider’s body. Its abdomen expanded and exploded, transforming it into a miniature torch.

Within this seemingly small torch gathered the entire area’s fire spirits. The explosion of the fireball continued to expand. This time the earth spider was definitely transformed into ashes.

Nothing was left. The pieces of the spider’s body and the youma spirit around it had been completed purified. Now, the temple where the youma was vanquished finally filled with the tranquil air that temples should have.

If an attack from the outside could be defended against, simply attack from the inside. Even though describing it was easy, actually doing it was close to impossible.

This was like the world’s own close relationship with the spirits. Like the life force of living beings.

The body of living beings that have water cannot remain unaffected by water spirits, and living beings that have heat house fire spirits within their bodies.

Though youma materialize, they can’t escape this rule.

However, in ordinary circumstances, controlling the spirits residing within the body was impossible.

These kinds of spirits, infinitely close to a living beings’ survival instinct, hold enormous willpower. The origin of life does not allow control to anyone.

Even a genius can’t control it easily as he would like. But in this world, no matter what, there are always people who spend their entire day saying “logical boundaries” are for foolish and sad humans.

“Heh. It was this kind of thing.”

Ayano released a pleasing smile and turned around to go back.

“Then, let’s go!...”

She couldn’t continue her dialogue. Ayano stupidly stared at the two’s body language. Probably, the bigger body was Masato, and on its left was Takeshi's body. Everything seemed to be just fine.

But——

''(How come there’s no head…?)''

The two were standing naturally. The taller one still had both hands in his pockets, and the other seemed unable to control his exhilaration, holding a fist in front of his chest.

It didn’t seem odd that they had no heads, for whatever reason.

Ayano looked toward the ground, where two round objects entered her eyes. Ayano stumbled, nearly falling over, but steadied herself. She knelt down and lifted one of them onto her knees. Even though it was quite heavy, Ayano smiled as she smelled the odor of the person that she really liked. Ayano hugged the head of the one who, from a very young age, fought together with her and taught her the ways of survival. Quietly, she mumbled.

“Uncle… head… fell down… uh…"

Ayano sadly smiled as she tried to put Masato’s head back on. Hoping that by doing this he would return to life, she stubbornly forced the head back on.

As if mocking Ayano, an unseen blade lightly carved into Masato’s body. In a second, the big body split apart into hundreds or even thousands of slices of meat.

His heart had stopped pumping a while ago, so fresh blood did not fly out from the sharp cuts.

Although there were no sounds of flowing blood or breaking flesh, strangely enough, it still gave people a feeling of reality.

[[image:Kaze no Stigma vol 01 071.jpg|thumb]]

Under the blowing of the wind, Masato’s body came apart without a sound. As if it had gone through a paper shredder, the pieces of meat danced in the sky like flower petals.

Ayano watched the frozen picture.

Drip.

Accompanying the sound of a water droplet, something fell on her face. Ayano unconsciously tried to remove it.

It was a bright red piece of meat, which still had some remaining warmth. Ayano’s consciousness seemed to pass through a filter as she realized what was on her fingers. She only recovered a small amount.

“No...”

It had once been a part of Masato’s body, but now could no longer be described even as a corpse.

“I don’t want this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

At that moment, Ayano screams could be heard far and wide.

"Kukukukuku—————"

This sound that vibrated through the air, the snickering sound, wasn’t directly sent to the brain. To better describe it, accompanying this “snigger” were some strong feelings. This derision towards the opponent’s “awareness” seemed to provoke and annoy Ayano.

Faced with the appearance of the enemy, due to frequent training of the body and spirit, Ayano instantly entered fighting mode.

She buried deep within her the feeling of anguish, substituting it with the feelings of animation and anticipation.

Directing her anger towards her opponent, she challenged

"Come out!"

Ayano had already surpassed the limits of anger that could be expressed on a human's face, though she seemed determined that she could. She looked up.

It was ''that thing''. In front of a branch on a huge tree stood a human shadow, completely without fear of danger and with its right hand resting in its pocket.

Because it was a place without much light, she was unable to clearly see her opponents face. It didn’t really matter, though, since the overflowing of evil ki already told her “This is an enemy.”

Ayano silently swung Enraiha upwards.

There was no need to know who it was, nor was there the need to accumulate strength. All that was required was to calmly mix in the killing intent and kill it in one strike. The sharpened killing intent transformed the burning sword blade, whose flames flowed upwards.

Moving lightly, clearly defying its weight, ''that thing'' avoided the slash, leaping high onto the roof as if flying. ''That thing'' looked down towards Ayano, slowly moving its body as if to say "chase away."

This was clearly a trap, but Ayano bravely accepted this kind of provocation.

''(Even if it is a trap, it doesn't matter, I will definitely annihilate you.)''

Deep within herself, she was submitting to such a type of anger. Ayano had already begun a rampage for revenge.

=== 4 ===
In the sky, the ki of a youma suddenly appeared.

“Hmm…”

Kazuma suddenly looked toward the sky. To conceal itself, it had gathered bit by bit in the sky. Suddenly, a wind blade flashed out. Kazuma had absolutely no time to defend, and even flying backwards to avoid it took his full effort.

The wind blade passed right by Kazuma, who was still rolling away, and then, slightly changing its angle, sliced the Fuuga practitioner, Shingo, and Takeya in half with one stroke.

“Wait, wait a second!!”

Kazuma yelled mindlessly as the situation changed into something that he had not predicted.

''(I, I was actually ambushed!?)''

Actually, it was the first time he had been ambushed. Furthermore, it was an ambush with wind spirits? No matter who had summoned them, it was impossible for Kazuma not to feel the gathering of such a degree of wind spirits. No matter how great the Fuujutsu practitioner, the use of Fuujutsu could not deceive Kazuma. This was not a question of the difference between abilities, but that the rules were thus.

But what had just occurred was that impossible situation. Kazuma immediately broke off his thoughts, focusing towards the thing in the sky.

“What’s… that thing...?”

A really small object, perhaps smaller than 20 mm, was floating in the sky about 20-30 meters above. Near it, five things rose and flew out.

“Someone’s hand…? Doesn’t seem so... red leaves…?

No matter how he looked, it didn’t seem like it was flying in the sky. It wasn't controlling the wind. With a questioning look, Kazuma suddenly discovered what that thing really was.

It was a human hand. A strange human hand was flying in the sky. But even recognizing it didn’t solve anything, since it still couldn’t change the fact that three people had been killed.

''(Anyways, first let’s defeat it!)''

Kazuma mumbled in a voice that only he himself could hear. The thing that looked like a hand flew higher into the sky... and disappeared.

“Wait! What are you actually thinking!?”

Kazuma protested to the wind spirit, as this was clearly against the agreement. But the spirit only made an uncertain sound, and it certainly couldn’t tell Kazuma the location of the disappeared hand.

“What is going on…”

The miserable condition in front of his eyes, the corpses of Shingo, Takeya and the Fuuga practitioner, seemed just as if it was done by Kazuma.

The spirit disobeyed the contract? —— Impossible.

If Kazuma were to hear this kind of situation from someone else, he would have highly doubted the mental state of that person. This was why what just happened was a very irregular situation.

The spirits did have cognizant qualities. Initial Principle —— it was when the world was first created. Immutable laws were created alongside this existing world, and the spirits obeyed them, allowing this world to remain intact in this kind of shape and reality. Bees have to live in a beehive, and one part of himself recognizes his own existence. The portion, even if it had intelligence, couldn't possibly think. And of course, it was impossible for a spirit to have the type of free will to break a covenant.

If the spirits had the free will to move about, then the laws of science would be broken. The world would be destroyed within three days.

All of the wind spirits should obey Kazuma's command. Even the spirits contracted with ''that thing'' had to follow that rule. But it didn't...

“An exception...”

Kazuma thought of the worst case scenario, and sighed weakly.

''(There’s someone like me? No way…)''

It made him lose his enthusiasm just by thinking about it. Perhaps he could be considered lucky... Of course, Kazuma did not want to think this way at all. He now had no spare time to indulge in thought.

Because he sensed a massive amount of fire spirits coming towards him.

''(So even [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume1_Translator%27s_Notes#Ifrit|Ifrit]] has come here? Crap, when did Japan become a world of youma!?)''

Even before he finished composing his thoughts, a situation appeared that he could not have predicted.

What emerged was not Ifrit, but a young girl. She had red flames and eyes of burning hatred, holding accumulated power in her right hand.

“Kazuma—— !!”

The strength of the fire spirits that gathered in her right hand had already crystallized. Ayano seemed to have made up her mind that moment.

Chop!!

Ayano quickly entered the rapidly retreating Kazuma’s vision, swinging the red sword that was, for the Kannagi clan, more important than anything else. It was the sword that had made his life very chaotic.

Faced with the godly sword that he would have preferred never to meet again, Kazuma yelled,

“Enraiha!? Are you Ayano!?”

The only answer was a sword flash from Enraiha. Kazuma tried his best to explain to Ayano, who was filled with killing intent and not listening to anything.

“Hey, hey, wait a moment, this is a misunderstanding! They weren’t killed by me… hey, you should listen to what other people are saying!”

Flaming white fireballs continuously approached. Kazuma kept dodging and speaking, but Ayano seemed like she couldn't hear at all.

Ayano was already too angry and had already forgotten herself due to the esteemed Masato's death. She had no time to listen to people talking. Furthermore, given what her otou-san had told her, Kazuma was quite suspicious.

Dang!!

“Hey!!!”

The fireball that Kazuma thought he had evaded suddenly exploded, blocking his means of retreat. Noticing this, Ayano took advantage of the explosion to appear in front of his eyes while swinging the Enraiha.

“Uncle’s revenge!!”

“!!”

With that, she did a two part strike with the intent of splitting Kazuma like bamboo. Kazuma escaped by shifting his body sideways, using his palms to catch the sword handle near its top. Facing Ayano’s fiery anger and blood-covered face, he yelled,

“'Otou-san'... Genma died?”

However, even before he finished saying it, he realized that it was a mistake. Even though Ayano and Genma’s relationship wasn’t so bad at first glance, if Genma were to die, Ayano would not try to avenge him.

Another person appeared in his head. The “uncle” from the Oogami family that Ayano had been very close to.

The name was probably...!!

—— Bam! 

"Ugh..."

Suddenly Ayano threw her head upwards and struck Kazuma’s chin. Because of his pondering, his reflexes were somewhat slower. Though he quickly evaded, the blow still caused dizziness and pain in his head.

Despite that, he calmly asked,

"Oogami Masato died?"

Ayano's face became even more somber. She forced so much strength into Enraiha that its flames could be clearly seen even from a distance.

''(Seems like that had the opposite effect...)''

Kazuma shrugged his shoulders, sighing. He had no more questions to ask this person filled with such emotion. Faced with this confused, angry little girl, anything he did would be useless.

But, he couldn't kill her. If he was to hurt Ayano, the fool’s father, Juugo, would completely recognize him as an enemy. This had to be avoided.

This was not because he feared Juugo, who was the Kannagi clan’s strongest practitioner, but because, as “Kannagi Kazuma”, Juugo was his only ally. In order not to sadden him, he could only do one thing.

“Ah—— Ayano-chan? I’m —— leaving then, the issue with cleaning up the corpses will be left to you. Then, see ya.”

Skillfully avoiding the tenacious, approaching flames, Kazuma escaped.

“——Wait, wait a second!”

Kazuma, turning his back to Ayano, leaped up, surrounding himself with wind, and flew upwards about 10 meters, disappearing.

“Wha... Where did he...”

Kazuma floated directly above her as she continued to look around.

Manipulating the air and changing the reflection rate of light, Kazuma made himself transparent, just as if he was wearing an invisibility cloak. If Ayano had looked closely, she could have see the parts where waves emerged from high heat, but as she was being controlled by anger and had forgotten herself, she did not.

Kazuma took no pleasure in watching the troubled Ayano, but thought about what he had to do later on.

''From the looks of things now, the one who killed Shingo and Takeya has made me his scapegoat. If even Oogami Masato's murder is blamed on me... If they think that I am the one who killed Oogami Masato as well...''

''(Will this become an all out war with the Kannagi? Hmmmm... interesting, but this feeling of being toyed with by someone else really sucks... So then, what should I do now...?)''

Hehe, hehe.

Kazuma burst out laughing. The Kannagi clan and the mysterious Fuujutsu practitioner. Two of the strongest things in the world were already assaulting his life. Of course, he could not ignore this.

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