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Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Chapter1

2013-05-27T08:59:17Z

95.65.31.83: /* Part 3 */

==Chapter 1: Team Battle==
===Part 1===

"U...h..."

Areishia Spirit Academy, Raven Class dormitory.

In a room, which was showered in the morning sun's light, Kazehaya Kamito woke up.

(Hn, if I recall, there should be a team battle in the morning.)

Usually, he would enjoy a bit more time dozing off, however, today he could not do so.

He had enough of being late and receiving sermons by the teacher, Freya.

Planning to fold the sheets and get up, he reached out both hands, when—

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Funyuu*.

...His hands touched something that felt soft.

(What is this? It's small, soft, a little cold... feels good.)

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Funyuu*. *Funyuu*.

While half awake, he was playing with the mysterious soft thing with his palms, then...

"You finally woke up, Kamito."

"..."

At that moment, Kamito froze.


[[Image:STnBD V02 023.jpg|thumb]]
A beautiful, nude girl was sitting on his chest.

Her silver hair was glittering while basking in the morning sun. Her soft bare skin was white like milk.

Her body was small, but had all the proper forms a girl's body should.

Her mysterious violet pupils were looking down at Kamito expressionlessly.

"What's the matter? You're not going to play with my breasts anymore?"

"... Owaaaaa!"

Kamito got up in a fluster and said, while pointing at the beautiful girl before him,

"Wh...Wh...What are you doing!? Or rather why are you nude?!"

"I'm not nude, I'm properly wearing knee socks."

While straddling over Kamito's abdomen, the girl raised her knees to show him.

Startled by that, mysteriously erotic, action Kamito looked away in a fluster.

"No, that's worse! Because compared to nude, knee socks nude is even, err, ...that!"

"Do you want me to take off my knee socks? Kamito... pervert."

While the beautiful silver haired girl stayed expressionless, she bashfully rubbed her knees.

He did not understand why she was embarrassed about that but, somehow, to this spirit, showing her bare feet seemed more embarrassing.

Yes. This snow fairy like beautiful girl was not human.

She was the Sword Spirit Est.



She was a 'Sealed Spirit' that possessed extremely powerful strength and had made a spirit contract with Kamito a few days ago.

But in her current condition, she could not exhibit even around a tenth of her original strength.

Within his subconsciousness, Kamito was rejecting the spirit contract with her and as a result, she became unable to return to Astral Zero where her real form was.

"A...Anyway, move aside Est!"

"Roger, Kamito."

Although Est seemed a little dissatisfied, she obediently moved.

She was squirming on the sheet. ...The sensation of her soft thighs was bad for his heart.

While scratching his bed hair in relief, Kamito finally got up and at that moment.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Chuu*.

"...!?"

It was a complete surprise attack.

Despite that he noticed that he was kissed, it spanned about several seconds.

Then, her soft lips gently separated. His cheeks felt hot.

"You... Wh...What are you doing all of a sudden?!"

"A wake up kiss, Kamito."

Est answered expressionlessly.

"Why do such—"


"Because it's unfair. Is it only Claire? Is it that you don't want to do it with me?"

Towards Est's blaming tone, Kamito firmly softened his voice.

"You s...saw, didn't you? ...That."

"Yes. Because, at that moment, I was also there."

"...Ah, come to think of it, that is right."

Kamito immediately recalled and sighed heavily.

One week ago from now, that time when he fought the frenzied militarized spirit in Academy Town.

Est was certainly there— in the form of a sword, as his elemental waffe.

It seemed that the scene at that moment was being observed.

The moment when Claire kissed Kamito, who had lost his energy, to wake him up.

It was certain that it awakened him in one shot, however... now that he thought about it, it was extremely embarrassing.

"I heard that a kiss is an official ritual of a spirit contract. In that case, Est too."

Est gently brushed her silver hair hanging by her cheeks.

She closed her eyes, slightly pouted her beautiful cherry-blossom color lips and slowly brought her face near him.

"So, why did it turn out like this!"

"It's my natural right. It's because I'm Kamito's contracted spirit."

"...!"

Although she was a Sealed Spirit, who concealed powerful strength, Est's current appearance was that of an ordinary cute girl.


Being approached like this, it could not be helped that his chest was beating fast... so he thought.

"He...Hey, Est..."

"Please shut your eyes, master."

Est brought her face near in one motion. A distance at which the tip of his nose encountered her sweet breath.

Just before her rose bud like lips were about to touch...

"Kamito, because there's a team battle this morning, make breakfast more luxurious than—"

"...!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Bam!* The bathroom door was slammed opened.

There—

"Wh...Wh...Wh...Wh..."

A beautiful red-haired girl was standing there with her ruby-colored eyes wide open.

Her body was wrapped in a bath towel and depicted her gentle curves.

From her skin, which had slightly turned to cherry blossom color, white steam was rising up.

Her chest was definitely of a child's size, but that slight bulge was also plenty charming.

From the tip of her soaking wet red hair, drops of water were dripping onto the floor.

On the bed, before her was nude E— no... knee sock nude Est.

And then, time froze.


"Claire... Y...You're mistaken, this is...!"

At that moment when Kamito stood up in a fluster to explain.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogo...!*

"Wh...What are you doing, you perverted sex maniac——!"

"Guoo!"

A leather whip, used for animal training, came flying all of a sudden and landed a clean hit on his chin.

Kamito wrapped the bed sheet around his body and fell to the floor.

"I...I've misjudged you, you licentious brute, beast!"

While holding onto the bath towel with one hand, the girl came walking briskly and, while the boy was squirming on the floor, forcefully trampled on Kamito's head with the heel of her bare foot.

Claire Rouge.

A classmate of his; to whom, by some twist of fate, Kamito became tied to in a master-servant contract.

At least she was a ridiculously cute and beautiful girl. However, her personality was like this, brutal to the extreme.

"Wh...What-What were you doing? Hey, just now, what were you doing with that Sword Spirit?"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishii, pishii, pishiii!*

"Hey, wait, stop ... guoo!"

It was a tempest of whips that relentlessly swung downwards. Her bristled red hair was just like blazing flames.

—Then, during the tempest of the devastating whips.


Kamito noticed. He noticed it— completely.

"Wa...Wait...Claire, isn't that bad?"

And then, as he completely noticed it, he had to say it. For her sake.

By the way, for things like this, Kamito had a strangely honest personality.

"...? What?"

Her clear ruby pupils sternly looked down on Kamito.

"Erm, that angle ... err, can be seen."

"Eh?"

Claire blinked while placing her foot on Kamito's head.

And then, she finally realized.

On top of Kamito's head, from the opening of her bath towel, her thigh, which became exposed, was being peeked at.

"...!"

Claire's whole body felt hot.

She fixed her bath towel in a fluster and her shoulders slightly trembled.

"Y...Y...You, you!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogogogogo...!*

"Wa...Wait, this is a misunderstanding, relax! Err, '''I did not see as far as the inside'''!"

Kamito's frantic excuse—


"..."

Seemed to have backfired.

"...Oh, I understand."

Claire informed him with a trembling voice.

"After this, I'll give you two choices. Answer honestly."

Kamito gulped down his saliva and nodded moment by moment.

Here, he should choose his answer carefully. Depending on his reply, it was not unlikely that he would become cinders.

"About your cooking preferences, would you prefer medium? Or well-done?"

...Things like choices did not exist from the beginning.

"I...If possible, rare is good but..."

At the same moment Kamito answered,

"Scarlet!"

From an empty space, a hell cat, clad in crimson flames, appeared.

"Roast huh, it's decided."

Wearing such a refreshing death sentence smile, as though she was fascinated, spontaneously—

A flashy explosion resounded in Raven Class dormitory today as well.



===Part 2===

Areishia Spirit Academy.

A school where princess maidens gathered from all over the empire and trained before becoming proper elementalists.

Its vast territory contained the «Spirit Forest» and the Academy Town, the academy possessed residential teachers who had strength equal to that of the imperial capital's spirit knights, just like an independent small country.

It was the time when the morning mist cleared up, and the bell of lectures commencing sounded. At the same time, there was one particular carriage visiting the academy.

An old butler in a suit was working as the coachman of the one-horse carriage.

The coachman got down from the horse in front of the gate and opened the door of the carriage in a respectful manner.

"We have arrived, Fianna-sama."

"Thank you for your efforts, old man."

Coming out of the carriage was a beautiful girl about fifteen, sixteen years old.

Her glossy black hair was fluttering in the gentle breeze. Her cold looking eyes were emitting a strong will. Her clear white skin could be associated to the virgin snow of the area of Laurenfrost and her uniform of a black dress like design was shining.

The girl, called Fianna, alighted from the carriage and looked up at the school building of the Academy and was immediately dazzled.

"This is Areishia Spirit Academy. The place where elementalists from all over the empire gather."

"Please be fully careful, Fianna-sama. It is not possible to deceive the eyes of that Dusk Witch with poor tricks."

"I understand."


With a nod, Fianna gently grasped a spirit crystal, which was concealed by the sleeve of her uniform.

In the empire's currency, it was a good-for-nothing article of 20 million rood.

"Rubia Elstein's sister seems to be in this academy."

"Princess, that name is a taboo. You had better not say it here."

"That is right."

Calamity Queen, who once brought about an unprecedented great calamity to the empire.

That person's true name was even prohibited to be spoken of as a taboo.

Just by muttering that name, it was said that a pure girl's sacred nature would be polluted.

She thought that it was a ridiculous superstition. Nevertheless for the people, who saw her up close in the past, they felt that there was a slice of truth in such a jinx.

(...That's right. The truth is I have yet to be terrified by her.)

The girl cleared her throat and then she lowered her voice and whispered.

"Besides, I am also concerned about the elementalist, called Kazehaya Kamito."

"Hmm, is it that male elementalist? A few days ago, it was said that he defeated a frenzied militarized spirit in Academy Town."

"Yes, based on all the eye-witnesses' words, it seemed to be a splendid blade dance of close resemblance to that of the strongest blade dancer — Ren Ashbell."

Fianna's voice got lively as she got a little excited.

The old butler glared at her in such a state.


"Princess, don't tell me, you fell in love with that boy."

"Fe...fell in love...!?"

Fianna squeaked embarrassed. Her cheeks turned red.

"Th...that can't be it, right? After all, I have never met him before... it's just that I have an interest in what kind of person this male elementalist is."

It was a lie.

The male elementalist, who defeated the frenzied militarized spirit in Academy Town.

The moment Fianna heard that boy's name, she immediately realized.

It was him.

Three years ago, that boy, who had saved her in the forest of Astral Zero.

Despite promising to meet again, he disappeared for some reason after the Blade Dance.

(—However, I finally found him.)

When she heard the report on that day, Fianna decided to enter into the Areishia Spirit Academy.

If that boy announced his candidacy to the Blade Dance again—

That was a once in a lifetime chance to her.

"Kamito, I'll forgive you for breaking our promise."

Fianna glared at the school building of the academy and an impish smile surfaced.

"However, I'm not letting you escape again♪"



===Part 3===

About eight minutes had passed since the start of the match.

In a deep forest, which was enshrouded in a light purple mist, two shadows were moving fast.

"Claire, watch the thicket on the left. There's an ambush."

"How do you know?"

"Intuition, if it was me, I would ambush from over there—"

At that moment, bluish-white lightning bullets were fired from the left thicket, just as Kamito suspected.

"Tch—"

Kamito kicked the ground and accelerated. He jumped in front of Claire and repelled the lightning bullets shot at the speed of sound with the sword.

It was not a feat that could be done with an ordinary sword. Endowed with spirit magic resistance ability, the elemental waffe of sword spirit Est— «Terminus Est», made all the magic attacks ineffective.

"Claire!"

Before Kamito shouted, Claire was already capturing the target. Her red hair was fluttering in the wind. Below her skirt, a leather whip holder could be seen.

While she placed her foot on a tree branch and dodged the rain of fired lightning bullets, she released her elemental waffe— «Flame Tongue».

There was a sharp swinging, cutting sound. The Flame Tongue, which cut up everything, easily sliced through rows of standing trees.


From the middle of the grove of trees that became almost bare in a moment, a thunder elementalist girl appeared.

It was a girl, who had her eyes hidden by her forelocks and felt a little gloomy.

There was a cluster of bluish-white lightning bullets floating beside her.

It was not a high ranking spirit like Est or Scarlet. It was a low ranking spirit that could only keep an indeterminate form, however, it was plenty helpful as a battery to use spirit magic.

It seemed that that girl's role was a disturbance by means of support fire.

"Humph, a sniper who shows herself is the same as a turtle coming up on land."

Claire thrust her whip in a declaration of victory. While being accompanied by the thunder spirit around her, the girl sniper ran towards the middle of the forest in a flustered manner—

"You're not getting away! Scarlet, chase her!"

At the same time Claire shouted, the elemental waffe Flame Tongue transformed into the form of a hellcat, clad in flames.

Because of being possessed by the frenzy spirit, Scarlet was once the size of a kitten, however, now it had recovered plentifully. Its form was of a lovely cat, but its strength was certainly of a roaring fierce lion.

The surging crimson flames attacked the thunder elementalist girl.

However, that scorching heat, which by right could melt even rocks, did not burn even a single place of the girl's body.

That was because this place was a battle field in Astral Zero, which the academy controlled for practice match usage.

Therefore, it was another world where spirits live in.


In the real world, spirits had to change into an embodiment of physical strength, but here spirits could be used as an embodiment of pure divine power.

In other words, it could make physical damage to the body almost zero.

Nonetheless, it did not mean that shocks, pain and so forth disappeared, a consequence was that an equal damage would be received to the mind instead; for example, if one was torn up by Scarlet's claws, it was certain that one would faint and become unable to battle.

While carbonizing many trees of the forest, Scarlet was closely chasing the girl. However, the girl seemed considerably battle accustomed and while deceiving it with spirit magic, she was quickly escaping deep into the forest.

"Erghh, stay still!"

Losing her temper, Claire jumped down to the ground from the gap of the trees.

"Since it came to this, I'll blow everything together with my strongest spirit magic."

"Wait, Claire, the ground looks weird—"

Kamito shouted, and at that moment, a large quantity of earth and sand blew up from where Claire's feet were.

"Wh...!?"

Appearing from underground were gigantic crustacean pincers.

"Negligence is one's greatest enemy, Claire Rouge of Raven Class!"

From inside the sand that was fluttering up and the large hole that opened in the ground, the carapace armor of countless protuberances flew out.

It was an elemental waffe of the type that covered the whole body in armor.


Claire was blown off by that shock and was falling to the ground. The spirit's direct attack was, in any case, of impacts, earth, sand and so forth that gave the body substantial damage.

"Claire!"

Before Kamito came running to her, the carapace elementalist was already in pursuit. This was not a coincidental attack. They were scrupulously aiming for the moment when Claire went down onto the ground.

"Eat this, the elemental waffe of the carapace spirit «Kuraste»— «Breaker Arm»."

"—Guu! Flames, dance in my hand, dance!"

Claire, who fell, released countless fireballs from her hand.

However, the armor type elemental waffe was plunging in the face of this level of flames.

"Ha, the flame attribute isn't effective against the carapace spirit. Didn't you learn that in the lecture?"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gaa*— A shoulder-tackle of the carapace armor blew Claire away.

Kamito kicked the ground and quickly turned around. Holding Est in a backhand grip, he tightly embraced and stopped Claire's body that came flying.

"U...gh..."

Claire leaked out a languishing voice in his arms.

It seemed that she had greatly drained her divine power from the attack just now; however, it seemed that she was still conscious.

(Just before the crash, she released the fireballs at the ground and destroyed her opponent's stance. As expected of her.)

"Hey, are you alright?"


"Y...yea... Eh... y...you, what are you doing!"

Suddenly, Claire's face turned red.

Claire's petite body was being held in such a manner that her back and knees were held by both his hands.

It was what was called being carried like a princess.

"Fua... Id...idiot... qu...quickly put me down!"

"He..hey, don't struggle! You'll fall!"

"Shut up! Shut up! Quickly put me down——!"

Boka. Boka. Boka. Boka.

Claire, who was striking Kamito's chest while being carried like a princess, was somehow cute like a small animal.

"If you're worrying about me, you don't have to care about it, because you're pretty light."

"Is th...that... because my chest is flat?"

"No, I did not say such a thing. I just thought that you're cute like a small animal."

"...! Cu...cute..."

While her face was red, Claire looked downwards.

While sighing in relief, Kamito let Claire down.

The carapace elementalist had already disappeared. Because Claire was defeated in the attack just now, it seemed that she was waiting for another chance for a surprise attack. ...Compared to her outward appearance, she was a cautious type.

From deep in the forest, Scarlet, who should have been chasing the thunder elementalist, returned.


They did not seem to have suffered any injuries, but they seemed to have also let their prey escape.

"That thunder elementalist purposely showed herself to us."

"Yea, when I got down onto the ground while chasing her, that carapace armor stopped me with a surprise attack. We have suffered thoroughly from their good teamwork."

Claire, annoyed, hit the ground hard with her whip.

"As expected of a team of the cunning Wolverine Class."

"It's not particularly that they're cunning or anything, considering their fellow spirits' compatibility, it was a natural strategy."

Kamito said while shrugging his shoulders and Claire sullenly shut her mouth.

"However, it's strange that they aren't coming to chase us. I know that they're being cautious but— even so."

"That's right. Since just now, that thunder elementalist's movement could only be seen as stalling for time."

Astral Zero's forest was returning to be silent.

He couldn't feel their presence at all, not from the surrounding thickets, not from underground.

(With such time stalling, do they have some sort of aim?)

"I want to send out a scout to search for the enemy, however."

"If that was possible, I'd have already done it."

At any rate, there were three people remaining in the opposing team. Compared to theirs', they had two people. Depending on the situation, it could be that one person had to fight two people or three people. In a one-on-one battle, both Kamito and Claire would not be defeated. However, if they were caught and taken on by more than two coordinated people, winning would be substantially more difficult. 


Also, even in the case of a one-on-one battle, the fellow spirits' compatibility had to be considered. There was the matter that the compatibility of the attributes was more effective than an elementalist's ability in an actual battle.

"—Seems like you're having a tough battle, Kazehaya Kamito."

Suddenly from behind, a voice sounded.

Kamito turned around and, from the inside of the shadow made on the ground, a black figure quickly appeared.

The black figure very quickly changed into the form of an adult woman.

She had glossy long black hair. She had a glasses-wearing intellectual appearance.

She had on a cuff-long white robe on top of her suit, that beautiful lady was—

"Teacher Freya?"

Raven Class's homeroom teacher and this match's inspector, Freya Grandol.

The matter about her coming out from inside the shadow was her contracted spirit's ability—

"Is that alright? To appear in the middle of the match."

"What, there's no problem with giving poor-scoring students advice."

Freya suddenly smiled and pushed up her glasses.

"Although, the one you're facing off currently is a superior ranking team. It can't be helped if it's a tough battle. Based on individual strength, you two are nigh on unreachable, but your team strength is lacking. ...By the way, why were you injured before the match?"

"This morning, I was roasted."


He glared at Claire beside him with scornful eyes and Claire quickly averted her eyes.

"In the first place, I think it is strange to have a five-to-two match though."

Despite having two people, the opponent team, they were facing, had five people. They had already defeated two, but the sniper thunder elementalist, the hand-to-hand-fighting type carapace elementalist and then the last person, who has yet to show herself, were remaining.

"Do you know? The fact that your team only has two people is bad. You can't qualify for entry in this round's «Blade Dance» without a five-member team. What do you plan to do?"

"We'll find people before the deadline. We don't really need to have all five members to be high level elementalists. After all, my plan is for I, alone, and— this slave spirit to win through this."

Claire muttered unintelligibly and Freya glared at her with a serious face.

"You had better not take team battles lightly, Claire Rouge. You are certainly a superior elementalist, but even so you absolutely can't beat a coordinated team."

After that, she turned towards Kamito,

"Do you know chess?"

"Greyworth had harshly made me her opponent. Although, I had never won."

"The queen is certainly a strong piece. In a one-on-one battle, there were hardly times when it will lose. However, depending on the situation, there are also times when it could be taken by a pawn, which certainly possesses no ability."

"I know such a thing."

"But you do not understand it. Your fighting methods feels...awfully isolated."


Without answering back anything, Kamito shut his mouth.

The boy, who was once called— the strongest blade dancer. He, who was raised as an assassin at that mad institution, «Instructional School», had never experienced fighting in coordination with his comrades.

Creeping to the target's back and cutting his throat— that was his original fighting method.

On a whim of the Elemental Lords, the Blade Dance's regulation was changed every time it was held.

The Blade Dance, fifteen years ago, was a battle royale.

The Blade Dance, three years ago, was an individual elimination match.

And then, this time it was a team battle.

Honestly, he didn't think that his teamwork with Claire was turning out well.

As an elementalist, he had a fatal three-year blank.

He had a contracted spirit, who could not exhibit even a tenth of her strength yet.

There were many factors that had to be overcome.

"Claire Rouge, you too. You do not understand what it means to fight in a team."

"I'm always alone. T...this guy is just a slave spirit..."

"Oh dear, you two have many difficulties in store for you."

Teacher Freya sighed and disappeared into the shadow again.

"...Hmm, because of that just now, two minutes have been used up. The time remaining is about five minutes."

As it was, if they did not reach a conclusion, both team's inter-school rank would drop.


For the two, who were still of low rank, that was a great blow.

—Then, the hell cat, snuggling at the side of Claire's feet, let out a roar.

"Hey, Scarlet is saying something."

"Yeah, the forest looks strange. The wild animals are stirred up?

Claire was frowning with a serious face for some reason—

"There—"

She suddenly faced the forest and fired a fire attribute spirit magic.

It was a fireball— a high ranking spirit magic that would reduce a target to ashes with ultra-hot flames.

The red hot flames completely licked the ground and the forest near it was reduced to ashes.

With the rising black smoke, a boorish figure appeared in a relaxed manner.

"Well, what a frightening ojou-sama."

The girl wore the carapace armor of her elemental waffe over her body.

Despite receiving a direct hit of the fireball, she did not have a single burn mark.

"This is unexpected... you came out fairly. Have you already given up on a surprise attack?"

"Our roles have ended. The leader's preparations have been readied."

"Preparations?"

Claire and Kamito frown simultaneously.

In the direction where the black smoke cleared up—


"Huh....?" "What... is that!?"

A gigantic timber-scaffolding was put together.

While it was of a simple structure, it was unreservedly a splendid shrine.

On top of that, a small girl, who was wearing the academy uniform, was dancing the dance of a ritual for some reason.

It was a platinum blonde haired beautiful girl, who held a wooden cane.

"Our brethren, now is the time, hand down the iron hammer to the forest devastators!"

From the top of the gigantic scaffolding, she faced this side and thrust the cane with a snap.

"Wh...what's going on, that girl ... when did she make that large-scale shrine!?"

"We were preparing it last night to have it ready for today's match."

The carapace elementalist girl proudly held up her pincers.

...Indeed, if it was with that spirit's power, it should be possible to make the shrine in a night.

"I...it's unfair, that thing! A ritual Kagura!"

"Uh-huh, it isn't unfair! Without a large-scale ritual, I can't call out my contracted spirit!"

The girl, who was on top of the scaffolding and holding a cane, shouted.

"Shut up, a child should stay silent!"

"Unh, what do you mean by a child, isn't your chest also of a child?"

"What... did you say!"

Pakii! The sound of a twig being stepped on and broken resounded. Claire's red hair was bristled up like a blazing flame.


"The family of Druid ..."

While wiping the perspiration on his forehead, Kamito muttered.

The family of Druid was a noble of the Ordesia Empire. It was a family of ancient honorable elementalists, which had lived in the spirit forest since before the origin of the empire and succeeded the blood relationship of the princess maidens with their original methods.

"That girl's spirit is a little special, summoning takes time."

"I see, that was the reason you were stalling for time..."

The ground was violently shaking. The flames of the torches, lighted at the surroundings of the shrine, were thunderously burning up.

...He felt a tremendous sense of oppression. What that girl was trying to use was an outrageous spirit. It was likely that it roughly matched the military giant spirit that they fought the other day.

"—I won't let you. Scarlet!"

Claire released Scarlet as its elemental waffe, Flame Tongue, and hit the ground very hard.

"Kamito, I'll hold her back. You go destroy that shrine."

"I got it!"

Kamito nodded and ran with the silver-glittering «Terminus Est» in his hand.

As an elementalist, Claire was a genius.

Although her compatibility with the carapace spirit was bad, in a one-on-one battle, she would not lose.

There was a considerable distance till the shrine, but with Kamito's legs, he should make it in time.

"...!?"


Suddenly the ground in front of him burst open.

From within the thicket, spirit magic lightning bullets were fired.

It was the thunder spirit girl. Naturally, Kamito had also predicted that an ambush was hidden in the forest.

However—

"Toryaaaaaa!"

"Wha...!?"

This was unexpected. —The elementalist herself came interfering.

It was impossible to ignore. Kamito stopped and turned around.

(I'll stun her in one strike—)

He nimbly turned around and aimed the handle of the sword at her stomach—

At that moment, an intense flash baked his eyes.

The thunder spirit, the girl was using, blew itself up in front of him.

The rain of the intense lightning attack assailed Kamito. Sharp pain till the point of numbness ran throughout his whole body.

It was not to the extent that he could not move. However, he was certainly stopped.

Before his eyes, the girl, who was caught in the explosion had fainted, and therefore had been defeated.

(That girl had resolved for a tie from the start...)

It was a tactic that could not be used in an individual battle, but in the case of thinking only of the team's victory, it was not a bad choice.

Her duty was to stop him to the bitter end. And then, that had succeeded.


"We're done in..."

"Come, tyrant governor! Thou, beast king of the destruction army that grinds and smashes everything!"

On top of the shrine, the forest girl put up the cane to the sky and recited the majestic summoning.

The summoning ritual had been completed.

"...Its name is beast swarm spirit «Cernunnos»!"

From here and there in the forest, the roar of countless beasts could be heard.

That Druid girl was calling the beasts that were living in Astral Zero.

"The beast swarm spirit... a spirit of vast possession range type!"

It was the same as the frenzy spirit that drove Claire's Scarlet, the militarized spirit and so on mad, a type of spirit that would possess the target— the vast range edition.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Dodododododododododoo!*

The group of beasts, which were possessed by the beast swarm spirit, made the earth tremor and came charging.

"Be...Because they aren't spirits, if they were trampled, they'll die. Normally."

"I...If it's the handling of animals, I too will not lose!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishi!* *Pishi!* Claire, who defeated the carapace elementalist, beat her whip.

"Give it up, Claire, it's our loss."

"—The match is over."

Teacher Freya, who appeared quickly like a shadow, blew the whistle that marked the end of the match.

<noinclude>{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Prologue|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Chapter2}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Chapter1

2013-05-27T08:00:59Z

95.65.31.83: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 1: Team Battle==
===Part 1===

"U...h..."

Areishia Spirit Academy, Raven Class dormitory.

In a room, which was showered in the morning sun's light, Kazehaya Kamito woke up.

(Hn, if I recall, there should be a team battle in the morning.)

Usually, he would enjoy a bit more time dozing off, however, today he could not do so.

He had enough of being late and receiving sermons by the teacher, Freya.

Planning to fold the sheets and get up, he reached out both hands, when—

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Funyuu*.

...His hands touched something that felt soft.

(What is this? It's small, soft, a little cold... feels good.)

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Funyuu*. *Funyuu*.

While half awake, he was playing with the mysterious soft thing with his palms, then...

"You finally woke up, Kamito."

"..."

At that moment, Kamito froze.


[[Image:STnBD V02 023.jpg|thumb]]
A beautiful, nude girl was sitting on his chest.

Her silver hair was glittering while basking in the morning sun. Her soft bare skin was white like milk.

Her body was small, but had all the proper forms a girl's body should.

Her mysterious violet pupils were looking down at Kamito expressionlessly.

"What's the matter? You're not going to play with my breasts anymore?"

"... Owaaaaa!"

Kamito got up in a fluster and said, while pointing at the beautiful girl before him,

"Wh...Wh...What are you doing!? Or rather why are you nude?!"

"I'm not nude, I'm properly wearing knee socks."

While straddling over Kamito's abdomen, the girl raised her knees to show him.

Startled by that, mysteriously erotic, action Kamito looked away in a fluster.

"No, that's worse! Because compared to nude, knee socks nude is even, err, ...that!"

"Do you want me to take off my knee socks? Kamito... pervert."

While the beautiful silver haired girl stayed expressionless, she bashfully rubbed her knees.

He did not understand why she was embarrassed about that but, somehow, to this spirit, showing her bare feet seemed more embarrassing.

Yes. This snow fairy like beautiful girl was not human.

She was the Sword Spirit Est.



She was a 'Sealed Spirit' that possessed extremely powerful strength and had made a spirit contract with Kamito a few days ago.

But in her current condition, she could not exhibit even around a tenth of her original strength.

Within his subconsciousness, Kamito was rejecting the spirit contract with her and as a result, she became unable to return to Astral Zero where her real form was.

"A...Anyway, move aside Est!"

"Roger, Kamito."

Although Est seemed a little dissatisfied, she obediently moved.

She was squirming on the sheet. ...The sensation of her soft thighs was bad for his heart.

While scratching his bed hair in relief, Kamito finally got up and at that moment.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Chuu*.

"...!?"

It was a complete surprise attack.

Despite that he noticed that he was kissed, it spanned about several seconds.

Then, her soft lips gently separated. His cheeks felt hot.

"You... Wh...What are you doing all of a sudden?!"

"A wake up kiss, Kamito."

Est answered expressionlessly.

"Why do such—"


"Because it's unfair. Is it only Claire? Is it that you don't want to do it with me?"

Towards Est's blaming tone, Kamito firmly softened his voice.

"You s...saw, didn't you? ...That."

"Yes. Because, at that moment, I was also there."

"...Ah, come to think of it, that is right."

Kamito immediately recalled and sighed heavily.

One week ago from now, that time when he fought the frenzied militarized spirit in Academy Town.

Est was certainly there— in the form of a sword, as his elemental waffe.

It seemed that the scene at that moment was being observed.

The moment when Claire kissed Kamito, who had lost his energy, to wake him up.

It was certain that it awakened him in one shot, however... now that he thought about it, it was extremely embarrassing.

"I heard that a kiss is an official ritual of a spirit contract. In that case, Est too."

Est gently brushed her silver hair hanging by her cheeks.

She closed her eyes, slightly pouted her beautiful cherry-blossom color lips and slowly brought her face near him.

"So, why did it turn out like this!"

"It's my natural right. It's because I'm Kamito's contracted spirit."

"...!"

Although she was a Sealed Spirit, who concealed powerful strength, Est's current appearance was that of an ordinary cute girl.


Being approached like this, it could not be helped that his chest was beating fast... so he thought.

"He...Hey, Est..."

"Please shut your eyes, master."

Est brought her face near in one motion. A distance at which the tip of his nose encountered her sweet breath.

Just before her rose bud like lips were about to touch...

"Kamito, because there's a team battle this morning, make breakfast more luxurious than—"

"...!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Bam!* The bathroom door was slammed opened.

There—

"Wh...Wh...Wh...Wh..."

A beautiful red-haired girl was standing there with her ruby-colored eyes wide open.

Her body was wrapped in a bath towel and depicted her gentle curves.

From her skin, which had slightly turned to cherry blossom color, white steam was rising up.

Her chest was definitely of a child's size, but that slight bulge was also plenty charming.

From the tip of her soaking wet red hair, drops of water were dripping onto the floor.

On the bed, before her was nude E— no... knee sock nude Est.

And then, time froze.


"Claire... Y...You're mistaken, this is...!"

At that moment when Kamito stood up in a fluster to explain.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogo...!*

"Wh...What are you doing, you perverted sex maniac——!"

"Guoo!"

A leather whip, used for animal training, came flying all of a sudden and landed a clean hit on his chin.

Kamito wrapped the bed sheet around his body and fell to the floor.

"I...I've misjudged you, you licentious brute, beast!"

While holding onto the bath towel with one hand, the girl came walking briskly and, while the boy was squirming on the floor, forcefully trampled on Kamito's head with the heel of her bare foot.

Claire Rouge.

A classmate of his; to whom, by some twist of fate, Kamito became tied to in a master-servant contract.

At least she was a ridiculously cute and beautiful girl. However, her personality was like this, brutal to the extreme.

"Wh...What-What were you doing? Hey, just now, what were you doing with that Sword Spirit?"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishii, pishii, pishiii!*

"Hey, wait, stop ... guoo!"

It was a tempest of whips that relentlessly swung downwards. Her bristled red hair was just like blazing flames.

—Then, during the tempest of the devastating whips.


Kamito noticed. He noticed it— completely.

"Wa...Wait...Claire, isn't that bad?"

And then, as he completely noticed it, he had to say it. For her sake.

By the way, for things like this, Kamito had a strangely honest personality.

"...? What?"

Her clear ruby pupils sternly looked down on Kamito.

"Erm, that angle ... err, can be seen."

"Eh?"

Claire blinked while placing her foot on Kamito's head.

And then, she finally realized.

On top of Kamito's head, from the opening of her bath towel, her thigh, which became exposed, was being peeked at.

"...!"

Claire's whole body felt hot.

She fixed her bath towel in a fluster and her shoulders slightly trembled.

"Y...Y...You, you!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogogogogo...!*

"Wa...Wait, this is a misunderstanding, relax! Err, '''I did not see as far as the inside'''!"

Kamito's frantic excuse—


"..."

Seemed to have backfired.

"...Oh, I understand."

Claire informed him with a trembling voice.

"After this, I'll give you two choices. Answer honestly."

Kamito gulped down his saliva and nodded moment by moment.

Here, he should choose his answer carefully. Depending on his reply, it was not unlikely that he would become cinders.

"About your cooking preferences, would you prefer medium? Or well-done?"

...Things like choices did not exist from the beginning.

"I...If possible, rare is good but..."

At the same moment Kamito answered,

"Scarlet!"

From an empty space, a hell cat, clad in crimson flames, appeared.

"Roast huh, it's decided."

Wearing such a refreshing death sentence smile, as though she was fascinated, spontaneously—

A flashy explosion resounded in Raven Class dormitory today as well.



===Part 2===

Areishia Spirit Academy.

A school where princess maidens gathered from all over the empire and trained before becoming proper elementalists.

Its vast territory contained the «Spirit Forest» and the Academy Town, the academy possessed residential teachers who had strength equal to that of the imperial capital's spirit knights, just like an independent small country.

It was the time when the morning mist cleared up, and the bell of lectures commencing sounded. At the same time, there was one particular carriage visiting the academy.

An old butler in a suit was working as the coachman of the one-horse carriage.

The coachman got down from the horse in front of the gate and opened the door of the carriage in a respectful manner.

"We have arrived, Fianna-sama."

"Thank you for your efforts, old man."

Coming out of the carriage was a beautiful girl about fifteen, sixteen years old.

Her glossy black hair was fluttering in the gentle breeze. Her cold looking eyes were emitting a strong will. Her clear white skin could be associated to the virgin snow of the area of Laurenfrost and her uniform of a black dress like design was shining.

The girl, called Fianna, alighted from the carriage and looked up at the school building of the Academy and was immediately dazzled.

"This is Areishia Spirit Academy. The place where elementalists from all over the empire gather."

"Please be fully careful, Fianna-sama. It is not possible to deceive the eyes of that Dusk Witch with poor tricks."

"I understand."


With a nod, Fianna gently grasped a spirit crystal, which was concealed by the sleeve of her uniform.

In the empire's currency, it was a good-for-nothing article of 20 million rood.

"Rubia Elstein's sister seems to be in this academy."

"Princess, that name is a taboo. You had better not say it here."

"That is right."

Calamity Queen, who once brought about an unprecedented great calamity to the empire.

That person's true name was even prohibited to be spoken of as a taboo.

Just by muttering that name, it was said that a pure girl's sacred nature would be polluted.

She thought that it was a ridiculous superstition. Nevertheless for the people, who saw her up close in the past, they felt that there was a slice of truth in such a jinx.

(...That's right. The truth is I have yet to be terrified by her.)

The girl cleared her throat and then she lowered her voice and whispered.

"Besides, I am also concerned about the elementalist, called Kazehaya Kamito."

"Hmm, is it that male elementalist? A few days ago, it was said that he defeated a frenzied militarized spirit in Academy Town."

"Yes, based on all the eye-witnesses' words, it seemed to be a splendid blade dance of close resemblance to that of the strongest blade dancer — Ren Ashbell."

Fianna's voice got lively as she got a little excited.

The old butler glared at her in such a state.


"Princess, don't tell me, you fell in love with that boy."

"Fe...fell in love...!?"

Fianna squeaked embarrassed. Her cheeks turned red.

"Th...that can't be it, right? After all, I have never met him before... it's just that I have an interest in what kind of person this male elementalist is."

It was a lie.

The male elementalist, who defeated the frenzied militarized spirit in Academy Town.

The moment Fianna heard that boy's name, she immediately realized.

It was him.

Three years ago, that boy, who had saved her in the forest of Astral Zero.

Despite promising to meet again, he disappeared for some reason after the Blade Dance.

(—However, I finally found him.)

When she heard the report on that day, Fianna decided to enter into the Areishia Spirit Academy.

If that boy announced his candidacy to the Blade Dance again—

That was a once in a lifetime chance to her.

"Kamito, I'll forgive you for breaking our promise."

Fianna glared at the school building of the academy and an impish smile surfaced.

"However, I'm not letting you escape again♪"



===Part 3===

About eight minutes had passed since the start of the match.

In a deep forest, which was enshrouded in a light purple mist, two shadows were moving fast.

"Claire, watch the thicket on the left. There's an ambush."

"How do you know?"

"Intuition, if it was me, I would ambush from over there—"

At that moment, bluish-white lightning bullets were fired from the left thicket, just as Kamito suspected.

"Tch—"

Kamito kicked the ground and accelerated. He jumped in front of Claire and repelled the lightning bullets shot at the speed of sound with the sword.

It was not a feat that could be done with an ordinary sword. Endowed with spirit magic resistance ability, the elemental waffe of sword spirit Est— «Terminus Est», made all the magic attacks ineffective.

"Claire!"

Before Kamito shouted, Claire was already capturing the target. Her red hair was fluttering in the wind. Below her fluttering skirt, a leather whip holder could be glimpsed.

While she placed her foot on a tree branch and dodged the rain of fired lightning bullets, she released her elemental waffe— «Flame Tongue».

There was a sharp swinging, cutting sound. The Flame Tongue, which cut up everything, very easily cut down the rows of standing trees.


From the middle of the grove of trees that became almost bare in a moment, a thunder elementalist girl appeared.

It was a girl, who had her eyes hidden by her forelocks and felt a little gloomy.

There was a cluster of bluish-white lightning bullets floating beside her.

It was not a high ranking spirit like Est or Scarlet. It was a low ranking spirit that could only keep an indeterminate form, however, it was plenty helpful as a battery to use spirit magic.

It seemed that that girl's role was a disturbance by means of support fire.

"Humph, a sniper who shows herself is the same as a turtle coming up on land."

Claire thrust her whip in a declaration of victory. While being accompanied by the thunder spirit around her, the girl sniper ran towards the middle of the forest in a flustered manner—

"You're not getting away! Scarlet, chase her!"

At the same time Claire shouted, the elemental waffe Flame Tongue transformed into the form of a hellcat, clad in flames.

Because of being possessed by the frenzy spirit, Scarlet was once the size of a kitten, however, now it had recovered plentifully. Its form was of a lovely cat, but its strength was certainly of a roaring fierce lion.

The surging crimson flames attacked the thunder elementalist girl.

However, that scorching heat, which by right could melt even rocks, did not even burn a single place of the girl's body.

That was because this place was a battle field in Astral Zero, which the academy controlled for practice match usage.

Therefore, it was another world where spirits live in.


In the real world, spirits had to change into an embodiment of physical strength, but here spirits could be used as an embodiment of pure divine power.

In other words, it could make physical damage to the body almost zero.

Nonetheless, it did not mean that shocks, pain and so forth disappeared, a consequence was that an equal damage would be received to the mind instead; for example, if one was torn up by Scarlet's claws, it was certain that one would faint and become unable to battle.

While carbonizing many trees of the forest, Scarlet was closely chasing the girl. However, the girl seemed considerably battle accustomed and while deceiving it with spirit magic, she was quickly escaping deep into the forest.

"Erghh, stay still!"

Losing her temper, Claire jumped down to the ground from the gap of the trees.

"Since it came to this, I'll blow everything together with my strongest spirit magic."

"Wait, Claire, the ground looks weird—"

Kamito shouted, and at that moment, a large quantity of earth and sand blew up from where Claire's feet were.

"Wh...!?"

Appearing from underground were gigantic crustacean pincers.

"Negligence is one's greatest enemy, Claire Rouge of Raven Class!"

From inside the sand that was fluttering up and the large hole that opened in the ground, the carapace armor of countless protuberances flew out.

It was an elemental waffe of the type that covered the whole body in armor.


Claire was blown off by that shock and was falling to the ground. The spirit's direct attack was, in any case, of impacts, earth, sand and so forth that gave the body substantial damage.

"Claire!"

Before Kamito came running to her, the carapace elementalist was already in pursuit. This was not a coincidental attack. They were scrupulously aiming for the moment when Claire went down onto the ground.

"Eat this, the elemental waffe of the carapace spirit «Kuraste»— «Breaker Arm»."

"—Guu! Flames, dance in my hand, dance!"

Claire, who fell, released countless fireballs from her hand.

However, the armor type elemental waffe was plunging in the face of this level of flames.

"Ha, the flame attribute isn't effective against the carapace spirit. Didn't you learn that in the lecture?"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gaa*— A shoulder-tackle of the carapace armor blew Claire away.

Kamito kicked the ground and quickly turned around. Holding Est in a backhand grip, he tightly embraced and stopped Claire's body that came flying.

"U...gh..."

Claire leaked out a languishing voice in his arms.

It seemed that she had greatly drained her divine power from the attack just now; however, it seemed that she was still conscious.

(Just before the crash, she released the fireballs at the ground and destroyed her opponent's stance. As expected of her.)

"Hey, are you alright?"


"Y...yea... Eh... y...you, what are you doing!"

Suddenly, Claire's face turned red.

Claire's petite body was being held in such a manner that her back and knees were held by both his hands.

It was what was called being carried like a princess.

"Fua... Id...idiot... qu...quickly put me down!"

"He..hey, don't struggle! You'll fall!"

"Shut up! Shut up! Quickly put me down——!"

Boka. Boka. Boka. Boka.

Claire, who was striking Kamito's chest while being carried like a princess, was somehow cute like a small animal.

"If you're worrying about me, you don't have to care about it, because you're pretty light."

"Is th...that... because my chest is flat?"

"No, I did not say such a thing. I just thought that you're cute like a small animal."

"...! Cu...cute..."

While her face was red, Claire looked downwards.

While sighing in relief, Kamito let Claire down.

The carapace elementalist had already disappeared. Because Claire was defeated in the attack just now, it seemed that she was waiting for another chance for a surprise attack. ...Compared to her outward appearance, she was a cautious type.

From deep in the forest, Scarlet, who should have been chasing the thunder elementalist, returned.


They did not seem to have suffered any injuries, but they seemed to have also let their prey escape.

"That thunder elementalist purposely showed herself to us."

"Yea, when I got down onto the ground while chasing her, that carapace armor stopped me with a surprise attack. We have suffered thoroughly from their good teamwork."

Claire, annoyed, hit the ground hard with her whip.

"As expected of a team of the cunning Wolverine Class."

"It's not particularly that they're cunning or anything, considering their fellow spirits' compatibility, it was a natural strategy."

Kamito said while shrugging his shoulders and Claire sullenly shut her mouth.

"However, it's strange that they aren't coming to chase us. I know that they're being cautious but— even so."

"That's right. Since just now, that thunder elementalist's movement could only be seen as stalling for time."

Astral Zero's forest was returning to be silent.

He couldn't feel their presence at all, not from the surrounding thickets, not from underground.

(With such time stalling, do they have some sort of aim?)

"I want to send out a scout to search for the enemy, however."

"If that was possible, I'd have already done it."

At any rate, there were three people remaining in the opposing team. Compared to theirs', they had two people. Depending on the situation, it could be that one person had to fight two people or three people. In a one-on-one battle, both Kamito and Claire would not be defeated. However, if they were caught and taken on by more than two coordinated people, winning would be substantially more difficult. 


Also, even in the case of a one-on-one battle, the fellow spirits' compatibility had to be considered. There was the matter that the compatibility of the attributes was more effective than an elementalist's ability in an actual battle.

"—Seems like you're having a tough battle, Kazehaya Kamito."

Suddenly from behind, a voice sounded.

Kamito turned around and, from the inside of the shadow made on the ground, a black figure quickly appeared.

The black figure very quickly changed into the form of an adult woman.

She had glossy long black hair. She had a glasses-wearing intellectual appearance.

She had on a cuff-long white robe on top of her suit, that beautiful lady was—

"Teacher Freya?"

Raven Class's homeroom teacher and this match's inspector, Freya Grandol.

The matter about her coming out from inside the shadow was her contracted spirit's ability—

"Is that alright? To appear in the middle of the match."

"What, there's no problem with giving poor-scoring students advice."

Freya suddenly smiled and pushed up her glasses.

"Although, the one you're facing off currently is a superior ranking team. It can't be helped if it's a tough battle. Based on individual strength, you two are nigh on unreachable, but your team strength is lacking. ...By the way, why were you injured before the match?"

"This morning, I was roasted."


He glared at Claire beside him with scornful eyes and Claire quickly averted her eyes.

"In the first place, I think it is strange to have a five-to-two match though."

Despite having two people, the opponent team, they were facing, had five people. They had already defeated two, but the sniper thunder elementalist, the hand-to-hand-fighting type carapace elementalist and then the last person, who has yet to show herself, were remaining.

"Do you know? The fact that your team only has two people is bad. You can't qualify for entry in this round's «Blade Dance» without a five-member team. What do you plan to do?"

"We'll find people before the deadline. We don't really need to have all five members to be high level elementalists. After all, my plan is for I, alone, and— this slave spirit to win through this."

Claire muttered unintelligibly and Freya glared at her with a serious face.

"You had better not take team battles lightly, Claire Rouge. You are certainly a superior elementalist, but even so you absolutely can't beat a coordinated team."

After that, she turned towards Kamito,

"Do you know chess?"

"Greyworth had harshly made me her opponent. Although, I had never won."

"The queen is certainly a strong piece. In a one-on-one battle, there were hardly times when it will lose. However, depending on the situation, there are also times when it could be taken by a pawn, which certainly possesses no ability."

"I know such a thing."

"But you do not understand it. Your fighting methods feels...awfully isolated."


Without answering back anything, Kamito shut his mouth.

The boy, who was once called— the strongest blade dancer. He, who was raised as an assassin at that mad institution, «Instructional School», had never experienced fighting in coordination with his comrades.

Creeping to the target's back and cutting his throat— that was his original fighting method.

On a whim of the Elemental Lords, the Blade Dance's regulation was changed every time it was held.

The Blade Dance, fifteen years ago, was a battle royale.

The Blade Dance, three years ago, was an individual elimination match.

And then, this time it was a team battle.

Honestly, he didn't think that his teamwork with Claire was turning out well.

As an elementalist, he had a fatal three-year blank.

He had a contracted spirit, who could not exhibit even a tenth of her strength yet.

There were many factors that had to be overcome.

"Claire Rouge, you too. You do not understand what it means to fight in a team."

"I'm always alone. T...this guy is just a slave spirit..."

"Oh dear, you two have many difficulties in store for you."

Teacher Freya sighed and disappeared into the shadow again.

"...Hmm, because of that just now, two minutes have been used up. The time remaining is about five minutes."

As it was, if they did not reach a conclusion, both team's inter-school rank would drop.


For the two, who were still of low rank, that was a great blow.

—Then, the hell cat, snuggling at the side of Claire's feet, let out a roar.

"Hey, Scarlet is saying something."

"Yeah, the forest looks strange. The wild animals are stirred up?

Claire was frowning with a serious face for some reason—

"There—"

She suddenly faced the forest and fired a fire attribute spirit magic.

It was a fireball— a high ranking spirit magic that would reduce a target to ashes with ultra-hot flames.

The red hot flames completely licked the ground and the forest near it was reduced to ashes.

With the rising black smoke, a boorish figure appeared in a relaxed manner.

"Well, what a frightening ojou-sama."

The girl wore the carapace armor of her elemental waffe over her body.

Despite receiving a direct hit of the fireball, she did not have a single burn mark.

"This is unexpected... you came out fairly. Have you already given up on a surprise attack?"

"Our roles have ended. The leader's preparations have been readied."

"Preparations?"

Claire and Kamito frown simultaneously.

In the direction where the black smoke cleared up—


"Huh....?" "What... is that!?"

A gigantic timber-scaffolding was put together.

While it was of a simple structure, it was unreservedly a splendid shrine.

On top of that, a small girl, who was wearing the academy uniform, was dancing the dance of a ritual for some reason.

It was a platinum blonde haired beautiful girl, who held a wooden cane.

"Our brethren, now is the time, hand down the iron hammer to the forest devastators!"

From the top of the gigantic scaffolding, she faced this side and thrust the cane with a snap.

"Wh...what's going on, that girl ... when did she make that large-scale shrine!?"

"We were preparing it last night to have it ready for today's match."

The carapace elementalist girl proudly held up her pincers.

...Indeed, if it was with that spirit's power, it should be possible to make the shrine in a night.

"I...it's unfair, that thing! A ritual Kagura!"

"Uh-huh, it isn't unfair! Without a large-scale ritual, I can't call out my contracted spirit!"

The girl, who was on top of the scaffolding and holding a cane, shouted.

"Shut up, a child should stay silent!"

"Unh, what do you mean by a child, isn't your chest also of a child?"

"What... did you say!"

Pakii! The sound of a twig being stepped on and broken resounded. Claire's red hair was bristled up like a blazing flame.


"The family of Druid ..."

While wiping the perspiration on his forehead, Kamito muttered.

The family of Druid was a noble of the Ordesia Empire. It was a family of ancient honorable elementalists, which had lived in the spirit forest since before the origin of the empire and succeeded the blood relationship of the princess maidens with their original methods.

"That girl's spirit is a little special, summoning takes time."

"I see, that was the reason you were stalling for time..."

The ground was violently shaking. The flames of the torches, lighted at the surroundings of the shrine, were thunderously burning up.

...He felt a tremendous sense of oppression. What that girl was trying to use was an outrageous spirit. It was likely that it roughly matched the military giant spirit that they fought the other day.

"—I won't let you. Scarlet!"

Claire released Scarlet as its elemental waffe, Flame Tongue, and hit the ground very hard.

"Kamito, I'll hold her back. You go destroy that shrine."

"I got it!"

Kamito nodded and ran with the silver-glittering «Terminus Est» in his hand.

As an elementalist, Claire was a genius.

Although her compatibility with the carapace spirit was bad, in a one-on-one battle, she would not lose.

There was a considerable distance till the shrine, but with Kamito's legs, he should make it in time.

"...!?"


Suddenly the ground in front of him burst open.

From within the thicket, spirit magic lightning bullets were fired.

It was the thunder spirit girl. Naturally, Kamito had also predicted that an ambush was hidden in the forest.

However—

"Toryaaaaaa!"

"Wha...!?"

This was unexpected. —The elementalist herself came interfering.

It was impossible to ignore. Kamito stopped and turned around.

(I'll stun her in one strike—)

He nimbly turned around and aimed the handle of the sword at her stomach—

At that moment, an intense flash baked his eyes.

The thunder spirit, the girl was using, blew itself up in front of him.

The rain of the intense lightning attack assailed Kamito. Sharp pain till the point of numbness ran throughout his whole body.

It was not to the extent that he could not move. However, he was certainly stopped.

Before his eyes, the girl, who was caught in the explosion had fainted, and therefore had been defeated.

(That girl had resolved for a tie from the start...)

It was a tactic that could not be used in an individual battle, but in the case of thinking only of the team's victory, it was not a bad choice.

Her duty was to stop him to the bitter end. And then, that had succeeded.


"We're done in..."

"Come, tyrant governor! Thou, beast king of the destruction army that grinds and smashes everything!"

On top of the shrine, the forest girl put up the cane to the sky and recited the majestic summoning.

The summoning ritual had been completed.

"...Its name is beast swarm spirit «Cernunnos»!"

From here and there in the forest, the roar of countless beasts could be heard.

That Druid girl was calling the beasts that were living in Astral Zero.

"The beast swarm spirit... a spirit of vast possession range type!"

It was the same as the frenzy spirit that drove Claire's Scarlet, the militarized spirit and so on mad, a type of spirit that would possess the target— the vast range edition.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Dodododododododododoo!*

The group of beasts, which were possessed by the beast swarm spirit, made the earth tremor and came charging.

"Be...Because they aren't spirits, if they were trampled, they'll die. Normally."

"I...If it's the handling of animals, I too will not lose!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishi!* *Pishi!* Claire, who defeated the carapace elementalist, beat her whip.

"Give it up, Claire, it's our loss."

"—The match is over."

Teacher Freya, who appeared quickly like a shadow, blew the whistle that marked the end of the match.

<noinclude>{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Prologue|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Chapter2}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Chapter1

2013-05-27T07:32:36Z

95.65.31.83: /* Part 1 */

==Chapter 1: Team Battle==
===Part 1===

"U...h..."

Areishia Spirit Academy, Raven Class dormitory.

In a room, which was showered in the morning sun's light, Kazehaya Kamito woke up.

(Hn, if I recall, there should be a team battle in the morning.)

Usually, he would enjoy a bit more time dozing off, however, today he could not do so.

He had enough of being late and receiving sermons by the teacher, Freya.

Planning to fold the sheets and get up, he reached out both hands, when—

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Funyuu*.

...His hands touched something that felt soft.

(What is this? It's small, soft, a little cold... feels good.)

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Funyuu*. *Funyuu*.

While half awake, he was playing with the mysterious soft thing with his palms, then...

"You finally woke up, Kamito."

"..."

At that moment, Kamito froze.


[[Image:STnBD V02 023.jpg|thumb]]
A beautiful, nude girl was sitting on his chest.

Her silver hair was glittering while basking in the morning sun. Her soft bare skin was white like milk.

Her body was small, but had all the proper forms a girl's body should.

Her mysterious violet pupils were looking down at Kamito expressionlessly.

"What's the matter? You're not going to play with my breasts anymore?"

"... Owaaaaa!"

Kamito got up in a fluster and said, while pointing at the beautiful girl before him,

"Wh...Wh...What are you doing!? Or rather why are you nude?!"

"I'm not nude, I'm properly wearing knee socks."

While straddling over Kamito's abdomen, the girl raised her knees to show him.

Startled by that, mysteriously erotic, action Kamito looked away in a fluster.

"No, that's worse! Because compared to nude, knee socks nude is even, err, ...that!"

"Do you want me to take off my knee socks? Kamito... pervert."

While the beautiful silver haired girl stayed expressionless, she bashfully rubbed her knees.

He did not understand why she was embarrassed about that but, somehow, to this spirit, showing her bare feet seemed more embarrassing.

Yes. This snow fairy like beautiful girl was not human.

She was the Sword Spirit Est.



She was a 'Sealed Spirit' that possessed extremely powerful strength and had made a spirit contract with Kamito a few days ago.

But in her current condition, she could not exhibit even around a tenth of her original strength.

Within his subconsciousness, Kamito was rejecting the spirit contract with her and as a result, she became unable to return to Astral Zero where her real form was.

"A...Anyway, move aside Est!"

"Roger, Kamito."

Although Est seemed a little dissatisfied, she obediently moved.

She was squirming on the sheet. ...The sensation of her soft thighs was bad for his heart.

While scratching his bed hair in relief, Kamito finally got up and at that moment.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Chuu*.

"...!?"

It was a complete surprise attack.

Despite that he noticed that he was kissed, it spanned about several seconds.

Then, her soft lips gently separated. His cheeks felt hot.

"You... Wh...What are you doing all of a sudden?!"

"A wake up kiss, Kamito."

Est answered expressionlessly.

"Why do such—"


"Because it's unfair. Is it only Claire? Is it that you don't want to do it with me?"

Towards Est's blaming tone, Kamito firmly softened his voice.

"You s...saw, didn't you? ...That."

"Yes. Because, at that moment, I was also there."

"...Ah, come to think of it, that is right."

Kamito immediately recalled and sighed heavily.

One week ago from now, that time when he fought the frenzied militarized spirit in Academy Town.

Est was certainly there— in the form of a sword, as his elemental waffe.

It seemed that the scene at that moment was being observed.

The moment when Claire kissed Kamito, who had lost his energy, to wake him up.

It was certain that it awakened him in one shot, however... now that he thought about it, it was extremely embarrassing.

"I heard that a kiss is an official ritual of a spirit contract. In that case, Est too."

Est gently brushed her silver hair hanging by her cheeks.

She closed her eyes, slightly pouted her beautiful cherry-blossom color lips and slowly brought her face near him.

"So, why did it turn out like this!"

"It's my natural right. It's because I'm Kamito's contracted spirit."

"...!"

Although she was a Sealed Spirit, who concealed powerful strength, Est's current appearance was that of an ordinary cute girl.


Being approached like this, it could not be helped that his chest was beating fast... so he thought.

"He...Hey, Est..."

"Please shut your eyes, master."

Est brought her face near in one motion. A distance at which the tip of his nose encountered her sweet breath.

Just before her rose bud like lips were about to touch...

"Kamito, because there's a team battle this morning, make breakfast more luxurious than—"

"...!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Bam!* The bathroom door was slammed opened.

There—

"Wh...Wh...Wh...Wh..."

A beautiful red-haired girl was standing there with her ruby-colored eyes wide open.

Her body was wrapped in a bath towel and depicted her gentle curves.

From her skin, which had slightly turned to cherry blossom color, white steam was rising up.

Her chest was definitely of a child's size, but that slight bulge was also plenty charming.

From the tip of her soaking wet red hair, drops of water were dripping onto the floor.

On the bed, before her was nude E— no... knee sock nude Est.

And then, time froze.


"Claire... Y...You're mistaken, this is...!"

At that moment when Kamito stood up in a fluster to explain.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogo...!*

"Wh...What are you doing, you perverted sex maniac——!"

"Guoo!"

A leather whip, used for animal training, came flying all of a sudden and landed a clean hit on his chin.

Kamito wrapped the bed sheet around his body and fell to the floor.

"I...I've misjudged you, you licentious brute, beast!"

While holding onto the bath towel with one hand, the girl came walking briskly and, while the boy was squirming on the floor, forcefully trampled on Kamito's head with the heel of her bare foot.

Claire Rouge.

A classmate of his; to whom, by some twist of fate, Kamito became tied to in a master-servant contract.

At least she was a ridiculously cute and beautiful girl. However, her personality was like this, brutal to the extreme.

"Wh...What-What were you doing? Hey, just now, what were you doing with that Sword Spirit?"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishii, pishii, pishiii!*

"Hey, wait, stop ... guoo!"

It was a tempest of whips that relentlessly swung downwards. Her bristled red hair was just like blazing flames.

—Then, during the tempest of the devastating whips.


Kamito noticed. He noticed it— completely.

"Wa...Wait...Claire, isn't that bad?"

And then, as he completely noticed it, he had to say it. For her sake.

By the way, for things like this, Kamito had a strangely honest personality.

"...? What?"

Her clear ruby pupils sternly looked down on Kamito.

"Erm, that angle ... err, can be seen."

"Eh?"

Claire blinked while placing her foot on Kamito's head.

And then, she finally realized.

On top of Kamito's head, from the opening of her bath towel, her thigh, which became exposed, was being peeked at.

"...!"

Claire's whole body felt hot.

She fixed her bath towel in a fluster and her shoulders slightly trembled.

"Y...Y...You, you!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogogogogo...!*

"Wa...Wait, this is a misunderstanding, relax! Err, '''I did not see as far as the inside'''!"

Kamito's frantic excuse—


"..."

Seemed to have backfired.

"...Oh, I understand."

Claire informed him with a trembling voice.

"After this, I'll give you two choices. Answer honestly."

Kamito gulped down his saliva and nodded moment by moment.

Here, he should choose his answer carefully. Depending on his reply, it was not unlikely that he would become cinders.

"About your cooking preferences, would you prefer medium? Or well-done?"

...Things like choices did not exist from the beginning.

"I...If possible, rare is good but..."

At the same moment Kamito answered,

"Scarlet!"

From an empty space, a hell cat, clad in crimson flames, appeared.

"Roast huh, it's decided."

Wearing such a refreshing death sentence smile, as though she was fascinated, spontaneously—

A flashy explosion resounded in Raven Class dormitory today as well.



===Part 2===

Areishia Spirit Academy.

A training school where princess maidens gathered from all over the empire trained before becoming proper elementalists.

In its vast territory, the academy possessed the «Spirit Forest», Academy Town, and residential teachers who possessed strength equal to that of the imperial capital's spirit knights, just like an independent small country.

It was the time when the morning mist cleared up, and the bell of lectures commencing sounded. At the same time, there was one particular carriage visiting the academy.

An old butler in a suit was working as the coachman of the one-horse carriage.

The coachman got down from the horse in front of the gate and opened the door of the carriage in a respectful manner.

"We have arrived, Fianna-sama."

"Thank you for your efforts, old man."

Coming out of the carriage was a beautiful girl about fifteen, sixteen years old.

Her glossy black hair was fluttering in the gentle breeze. Her cold looking eyes were emitting a strong will. Her clear white skin could be associated to the virgin snow of the area of Laurenfrost and her uniform of a black dress like design was shining.

The girl, called Fianna, alighted from the carriage and looked up at the school building of the Academy and was dazzled.

"This is Areishia Spirit Academy. The place where elementalists from all over the empire gather."

"Please be fully careful, Fianna-sama. It is not possible to deceive the eyes of that Dusk Witch with poor tricks."

"I understand."


With a nod, Fianna gently grasped a spirit crystal, which was concealed by the sleeve of her uniform.

In the empire's currency, it was a good-for-nothing article of 20 million rood.

"Rubia Elstein's sister seems to be in this academy."

"Princess, that name is a taboo. You had better not say it here."

"That is right."

Calamity Queen, who once brought about an unprecedented great calamity to the empire.

That person's true name was even prohibited to be spoken of as a taboo.

Just by muttering that name, it was said that a pure girl's sacred nature would be polluted.

She thought that it was a ridiculous superstition. Nevertheless for the people, who saw her up close in the past, they felt that there was a slice of truth in such a jinx.

(...That's right. The truth is I have yet to be bound by her terror.)

The girl cleared her throat and then she lowered her voice and whispered.

"Besides, I am also concerned about the elementalist, called Kazehaya Kamito."

"Hmm, is it that male elementalist? A few days ago, it was said that he defeated a frenzied militarized spirit in Academy Town."

"Yes, based on all the eye-witnesses' words, it seemed to be a splendid blade dance of close resemblance to that of the strongest blade dancer — Ren Ashbell."

Fianna's voice got lively as she got a little excited.

The old butler glared at her in such a state.


"Princess, don't tell me, you fell in love with that boy, didn't you?"

"Fe...fell in love...!?"

Fianna's voice was turned inside out. Her cheeks turned red.

"Th...that can't be it, right? After all, I have never met him before... it's just that I have an interest in what kind of person this male elementalist is."

It was a lie.

The male elementalist, who defeated the frenzied militarized spirit in Academy Town.

The moment Fianna heard that boy's name, she immediately realized.

It was him.

Three years ago, that boy, who had saved her in the forest of Astral Zero.

Despite promising to meet again, he disappeared for some reason after the Blade Dance.

(—However, I finally found him.)

When she heard the report on that day, Fianna decided to enter into the Areishia Spirit Academy.

If that boy announced his candidacy to the Blade Dance again—

That was a never again chance to her.

"Kamito, I'll forgive you for breaking our promise."

Fianna glared at the school building of the academy and an impish smile surfaced.

"However, I'm not letting you escape again♪"



===Part 3===

About eight minutes had passed since the start of the match.

In a deep forest, which was enshrouded in a light purple mist, two shadows were moving fast.

"Claire, watch the thicket on the left. There's an ambush."

"How do you know?"

"Intuition, if it was me, I would ambush from over there—"

At that moment, bluish-white lightning bullets were fired from the left thicket, just as Kamito suspected.

"Tch—"

Kamito kicked the ground and accelerated. He jumped in front of Claire and repelled the lightning bullets shot at the speed of sound with the sword.

It was not a feat that could be done with an ordinary sword. Endowed with spirit magic resistance ability, the elemental waffe of sword spirit Est— «Terminus Est», made all the magic attacks ineffective.

"Claire!"

Before Kamito shouted, Claire was already capturing the target. Her red hair was fluttering in the wind. Below her fluttering skirt, a leather whip holder could be glimpsed.

While she placed her foot on a tree branch and dodged the rain of fired lightning bullets, she released her elemental waffe— «Flame Tongue».

There was a sharp swinging, cutting sound. The Flame Tongue, which cut up everything, very easily cut down the rows of standing trees.


From the middle of the grove of trees that became almost bare in a moment, a thunder elementalist girl appeared.

It was a girl, who had her eyes hidden by her forelocks and felt a little gloomy.

There was a cluster of bluish-white lightning bullets floating beside her.

It was not a high ranking spirit like Est or Scarlet. It was a low ranking spirit that could only keep an indeterminate form, however, it was plenty helpful as a battery to use spirit magic.

It seemed that that girl's role was a disturbance by means of support fire.

"Humph, a sniper who shows herself is the same as a turtle coming up on land."

Claire thrust her whip in a declaration of victory. While being accompanied by the thunder spirit around her, the girl sniper ran towards the middle of the forest in a flustered manner—

"You're not getting away! Scarlet, chase her!"

At the same time Claire shouted, the elemental waffe Flame Tongue transformed into the form of a hellcat, clad in flames.

Because of being possessed by the frenzy spirit, Scarlet was once the size of a kitten, however, now it had recovered plentifully. Its form was of a lovely cat, but its strength was certainly of a roaring fierce lion.

The surging crimson flames attacked the thunder elementalist girl.

However, that scorching heat, which by right could melt even rocks, did not even burn a single place of the girl's body.

That was because this place was a battle field in Astral Zero, which the academy controlled for practice match usage.

Therefore, it was another world where spirits live in.


In the real world, spirits had to change into an embodiment of physical strength, but here spirits could be used as an embodiment of pure divine power.

In other words, it could make physical damage to the body almost zero.

Nonetheless, it did not mean that shocks, pain and so forth disappeared, a consequence was that an equal damage would be received to the mind instead; for example, if one was torn up by Scarlet's claws, it was certain that one would faint and become unable to battle.

While carbonizing many trees of the forest, Scarlet was closely chasing the girl. However, the girl seemed considerably battle accustomed and while deceiving it with spirit magic, she was quickly escaping deep into the forest.

"Erghh, stay still!"

Losing her temper, Claire jumped down to the ground from the gap of the trees.

"Since it came to this, I'll blow everything together with my strongest spirit magic."

"Wait, Claire, the ground looks weird—"

Kamito shouted, and at that moment, a large quantity of earth and sand blew up from where Claire's feet were.

"Wh...!?"

Appearing from underground were gigantic crustacean pincers.

"Negligence is one's greatest enemy, Claire Rouge of Raven Class!"

From inside the sand that was fluttering up and the large hole that opened in the ground, the carapace armor of countless protuberances flew out.

It was an elemental waffe of the type that covered the whole body in armor.


Claire was blown off by that shock and was falling to the ground. The spirit's direct attack was, in any case, of impacts, earth, sand and so forth that gave the body substantial damage.

"Claire!"

Before Kamito came running to her, the carapace elementalist was already in pursuit. This was not a coincidental attack. They were scrupulously aiming for the moment when Claire went down onto the ground.

"Eat this, the elemental waffe of the carapace spirit «Kuraste»— «Breaker Arm»."

"—Guu! Flames, dance in my hand, dance!"

Claire, who fell, released countless fireballs from her hand.

However, the armor type elemental waffe was plunging in the face of this level of flames.

"Ha, the flame attribute isn't effective against the carapace spirit. Didn't you learn that in the lecture?"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gaa*— A shoulder-tackle of the carapace armor blew Claire away.

Kamito kicked the ground and quickly turned around. Holding Est in a backhand grip, he tightly embraced and stopped Claire's body that came flying.

"U...gh..."

Claire leaked out a languishing voice in his arms.

It seemed that she had greatly drained her divine power from the attack just now; however, it seemed that she was still conscious.

(Just before the crash, she released the fireballs at the ground and destroyed her opponent's stance. As expected of her.)

"Hey, are you alright?"


"Y...yea... Eh... y...you, what are you doing!"

Suddenly, Claire's face turned red.

Claire's petite body was being held in such a manner that her back and knees were held by both his hands.

It was what was called being carried like a princess.

"Fua... Id...idiot... qu...quickly put me down!"

"He..hey, don't struggle! You'll fall!"

"Shut up! Shut up! Quickly put me down——!"

Boka. Boka. Boka. Boka.

Claire, who was striking Kamito's chest while being carried like a princess, was somehow cute like a small animal.

"If you're worrying about me, you don't have to care about it, because you're pretty light."

"Is th...that... because my chest is flat?"

"No, I did not say such a thing. I just thought that you're cute like a small animal."

"...! Cu...cute..."

While her face was red, Claire looked downwards.

While sighing in relief, Kamito let Claire down.

The carapace elementalist had already disappeared. Because Claire was defeated in the attack just now, it seemed that she was waiting for another chance for a surprise attack. ...Compared to her outward appearance, she was a cautious type.

From deep in the forest, Scarlet, who should have been chasing the thunder elementalist, returned.


They did not seem to have suffered any injuries, but they seemed to have also let their prey escape.

"That thunder elementalist purposely showed herself to us."

"Yea, when I got down onto the ground while chasing her, that carapace armor stopped me with a surprise attack. We have suffered thoroughly from their good teamwork."

Claire, annoyed, hit the ground hard with her whip.

"As expected of a team of the cunning Wolverine Class."

"It's not particularly that they're cunning or anything, considering their fellow spirits' compatibility, it was a natural strategy."

Kamito said while shrugging his shoulders and Claire sullenly shut her mouth.

"However, it's strange that they aren't coming to chase us. I know that they're being cautious but— even so."

"That's right. Since just now, that thunder elementalist's movement could only be seen as stalling for time."

Astral Zero's forest was returning to be silent.

He couldn't feel their presence at all, not from the surrounding thickets, not from underground.

(With such time stalling, do they have some sort of aim?)

"I want to send out a scout to search for the enemy, however."

"If that was possible, I'd have already done it."

At any rate, there were three people remaining in the opposing team. Compared to theirs', they had two people. Depending on the situation, it could be that one person had to fight two people or three people. In a one-on-one battle, both Kamito and Claire would not be defeated. However, if they were caught and taken on by more than two coordinated people, winning would be substantially more difficult. 


Also, even in the case of a one-on-one battle, the fellow spirits' compatibility had to be considered. There was the matter that the compatibility of the attributes was more effective than an elementalist's ability in an actual battle.

"—Seems like you're having a tough battle, Kazehaya Kamito."

Suddenly from behind, a voice sounded.

Kamito turned around and, from the inside of the shadow made on the ground, a black figure quickly appeared.

The black figure very quickly changed into the form of an adult woman.

She had glossy long black hair. She had a glasses-wearing intellectual appearance.

She had on a cuff-long white robe on top of her suit, that beautiful lady was—

"Teacher Freya?"

Raven Class's homeroom teacher and this match's inspector, Freya Grandol.

The matter about her coming out from inside the shadow was her contracted spirit's ability—

"Is that alright? To appear in the middle of the match."

"What, there's no problem with giving poor-scoring students advice."

Freya suddenly smiled and pushed up her glasses.

"Although, the one you're facing off currently is a superior ranking team. It can't be helped if it's a tough battle. Based on individual strength, you two are nigh on unreachable, but your team strength is lacking. ...By the way, why were you injured before the match?"

"This morning, I was roasted."


He glared at Claire beside him with scornful eyes and Claire quickly averted her eyes.

"In the first place, I think it is strange to have a five-to-two match though."

Despite having two people, the opponent team, they were facing, had five people. They had already defeated two, but the sniper thunder elementalist, the hand-to-hand-fighting type carapace elementalist and then the last person, who has yet to show herself, were remaining.

"Do you know? The fact that your team only has two people is bad. You can't qualify for entry in this round's «Blade Dance» without a five-member team. What do you plan to do?"

"We'll find people before the deadline. We don't really need to have all five members to be high level elementalists. After all, my plan is for I, alone, and— this slave spirit to win through this."

Claire muttered unintelligibly and Freya glared at her with a serious face.

"You had better not take team battles lightly, Claire Rouge. You are certainly a superior elementalist, but even so you absolutely can't beat a coordinated team."

After that, she turned towards Kamito,

"Do you know chess?"

"Greyworth had harshly made me her opponent. Although, I had never won."

"The queen is certainly a strong piece. In a one-on-one battle, there were hardly times when it will lose. However, depending on the situation, there are also times when it could be taken by a pawn, which certainly possesses no ability."

"I know such a thing."

"But you do not understand it. Your fighting methods feels...awfully isolated."


Without answering back anything, Kamito shut his mouth.

The boy, who was once called— the strongest blade dancer. He, who was raised as an assassin at that mad institution, «Instructional School», had never experienced fighting in coordination with his comrades.

Creeping to the target's back and cutting his throat— that was his original fighting method.

On a whim of the Elemental Lords, the Blade Dance's regulation was changed every time it was held.

The Blade Dance, fifteen years ago, was a battle royale.

The Blade Dance, three years ago, was an individual elimination match.

And then, this time it was a team battle.

Honestly, he didn't think that his teamwork with Claire was turning out well.

As an elementalist, he had a fatal three-year blank.

He had a contracted spirit, who could not exhibit even a tenth of her strength yet.

There were many factors that had to be overcome.

"Claire Rouge, you too. You do not understand what it means to fight in a team."

"I'm always alone. T...this guy is just a slave spirit..."

"Oh dear, you two have many difficulties in store for you."

Teacher Freya sighed and disappeared into the shadow again.

"...Hmm, because of that just now, two minutes have been used up. The time remaining is about five minutes."

As it was, if they did not reach a conclusion, both team's inter-school rank would drop.


For the two, who were still of low rank, that was a great blow.

—Then, the hell cat, snuggling at the side of Claire's feet, let out a roar.

"Hey, Scarlet is saying something."

"Yeah, the forest looks strange. The wild animals are stirred up?

Claire was frowning with a serious face for some reason—

"There—"

She suddenly faced the forest and fired a fire attribute spirit magic.

It was a fireball— a high ranking spirit magic that would reduce a target to ashes with ultra-hot flames.

The red hot flames completely licked the ground and the forest near it was reduced to ashes.

With the rising black smoke, a boorish figure appeared in a relaxed manner.

"Well, what a frightening ojou-sama."

The girl wore the carapace armor of her elemental waffe over her body.

Despite receiving a direct hit of the fireball, she did not have a single burn mark.

"This is unexpected... you came out fairly. Have you already given up on a surprise attack?"

"Our roles have ended. The leader's preparations have been readied."

"Preparations?"

Claire and Kamito frown simultaneously.

In the direction where the black smoke cleared up—


"Huh....?" "What... is that!?"

A gigantic timber-scaffolding was put together.

While it was of a simple structure, it was unreservedly a splendid shrine.

On top of that, a small girl, who was wearing the academy uniform, was dancing the dance of a ritual for some reason.

It was a platinum blonde haired beautiful girl, who held a wooden cane.

"Our brethren, now is the time, hand down the iron hammer to the forest devastators!"

From the top of the gigantic scaffolding, she faced this side and thrust the cane with a snap.

"Wh...what's going on, that girl ... when did she make that large-scale shrine!?"

"We were preparing it last night to have it ready for today's match."

The carapace elementalist girl proudly held up her pincers.

...Indeed, if it was with that spirit's power, it should be possible to make the shrine in a night.

"I...it's unfair, that thing! A ritual Kagura!"

"Uh-huh, it isn't unfair! Without a large-scale ritual, I can't call out my contracted spirit!"

The girl, who was on top of the scaffolding and holding a cane, shouted.

"Shut up, a child should stay silent!"

"Unh, what do you mean by a child, isn't your chest also of a child?"

"What... did you say!"

Pakii! The sound of a twig being stepped on and broken resounded. Claire's red hair was bristled up like a blazing flame.


"The family of Druid ..."

While wiping the perspiration on his forehead, Kamito muttered.

The family of Druid was a noble of the Ordesia Empire. It was a family of ancient honorable elementalists, which had lived in the spirit forest since before the origin of the empire and succeeded the blood relationship of the princess maidens with their original methods.

"That girl's spirit is a little special, summoning takes time."

"I see, that was the reason you were stalling for time..."

The ground was violently shaking. The flames of the torches, lighted at the surroundings of the shrine, were thunderously burning up.

...He felt a tremendous sense of oppression. What that girl was trying to use was an outrageous spirit. It was likely that it roughly matched the military giant spirit that they fought the other day.

"—I won't let you. Scarlet!"

Claire released Scarlet as its elemental waffe, Flame Tongue, and hit the ground very hard.

"Kamito, I'll hold her back. You go destroy that shrine."

"I got it!"

Kamito nodded and ran with the silver-glittering «Terminus Est» in his hand.

As an elementalist, Claire was a genius.

Although her compatibility with the carapace spirit was bad, in a one-on-one battle, she would not lose.

There was a considerable distance till the shrine, but with Kamito's legs, he should make it in time.

"...!?"


Suddenly the ground in front of him burst open.

From within the thicket, spirit magic lightning bullets were fired.

It was the thunder spirit girl. Naturally, Kamito had also predicted that an ambush was hidden in the forest.

However—

"Toryaaaaaa!"

"Wha...!?"

This was unexpected. —The elementalist herself came interfering.

It was impossible to ignore. Kamito stopped and turned around.

(I'll stun her in one strike—)

He nimbly turned around and aimed the handle of the sword at her stomach—

At that moment, an intense flash baked his eyes.

The thunder spirit, the girl was using, blew itself up in front of him.

The rain of the intense lightning attack assailed Kamito. Sharp pain till the point of numbness ran throughout his whole body.

It was not to the extent that he could not move. However, he was certainly stopped.

Before his eyes, the girl, who was caught in the explosion had fainted, and therefore had been defeated.

(That girl had resolved for a tie from the start...)

It was a tactic that could not be used in an individual battle, but in the case of thinking only of the team's victory, it was not a bad choice.

Her duty was to stop him to the bitter end. And then, that had succeeded.


"We're done in..."

"Come, tyrant governor! Thou, beast king of the destruction army that grinds and smashes everything!"

On top of the shrine, the forest girl put up the cane to the sky and recited the majestic summoning.

The summoning ritual had been completed.

"...Its name is beast swarm spirit «Cernunnos»!"

From here and there in the forest, the roar of countless beasts could be heard.

That Druid girl was calling the beasts that were living in Astral Zero.

"The beast swarm spirit... a spirit of vast possession range type!"

It was the same as the frenzy spirit that drove Claire's Scarlet, the militarized spirit and so on mad, a type of spirit that would possess the target— the vast range edition.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Dodododododododododoo!*

The group of beasts, which were possessed by the beast swarm spirit, made the earth tremor and came charging.

"Be...Because they aren't spirits, if they were trampled, they'll die. Normally."

"I...If it's the handling of animals, I too will not lose!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishi!* *Pishi!* Claire, who defeated the carapace elementalist, beat her whip.

"Give it up, Claire, it's our loss."

"—The match is over."

Teacher Freya, who appeared quickly like a shadow, blew the whistle that marked the end of the match.

<noinclude>{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Prologue|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Chapter2}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Prologue

2013-05-27T06:46:18Z

95.65.31.83: /* Prologue */

==Prologue==

—Three years ago.

"Haa, haa, haa—"

A girl was running through a forest in Astral Zero, where many twisted trees were lined up in rows.

Her shoes had long since slipped off, and the soles of her bare feet were covered with injuries.

Due to her long black hair being done up at both sides and her long-sleeved, extravagant, courteous attire, she did not run smoothly.

From behind, violent sounds of many trees being mowed down were approaching.

Being caught up to was just a matter of time.

(Why did such a thing—)

The girl was invited to view the Blade Dance as the guest of honor of the Ordesia Empire.

Although called the guest of honor, she was only an extra invited as an excuse.

Fallen out of the candidacy of «Divine Ritual Institute»— the Queen training organization, she was the imperial family's excess baggage.

She had nothing other than the title of former second princess and was just a mere thirteen year-old girl.

Her noble colleagues, who should have pledged allegiance to the imperial family by right, were sending her looks of contempt.

Even the retainer court ladies were ridiculing her behind her back.


A worthless lost queen—

It was painful for her to be at the match venue where she would be exposed to many people's gazes.

The match with Ren Ashbell, which she wanted to see, was later on in the afternoon and, even if she was gone, there was no one who would be particularly worried.

Therefore, she came to the middle of a forest like this alone.

Without knowing how dreadful of a place the forest of Astral Zero was.

Approaching her from behind, {{Furigana|a tree spirit|Dryad|margin=13}}<ref>Furigana 101: {{Furigana|Meaning|Reading|margin=13}}</ref> let out a dreadful roar.

Naturally, Dryad had the temperament of a docile spirit. Perhaps, it might be angry about her stepping and breaking the twigs in the forest.

(It's no good, if this keeps up—)

She could not get away— realizing that she prepared herself.

She stopped at that place, turned around and firmly glared at Dryad.

"Y...You, if you are my knight, then simply go and beat it—"

Shouting with a shaky voice, she began to recite the summoning to summon her contracted spirit.

——Thou servant of the king of the child of man, knight and master swordsman!

——By the contract of the old blood, become the sword that protects me, come forth and do my bidding!

The spirit seal, engraved on the girl's chest, emitted a faint radiance—

However, that was all it did.


Suddenly, the path with her contracted spirit was severed and the seal's radiance vanished.

(...! I thought so, it's already hopeless, I—)

Despair surfaced on the girl's face.

Dryad let out a roar and swung its log-like arm—

At that moment, a blinding light flashed.

"Eh?"

The girl opened her eyes reflexively.

Dryad's arm had cleanly vanished before her eyes.

It was as if time had stopped.

From the cross-section of the severed tree, something like a black fog was emitted out.

And then *Don* there was the sound of someone landing on the ground.

Before the girl's eyes, a single boy was standing.

He had black hair and wore a black vest with a pair of navy blue trousers.

The boy was grasping a jet-black demon sword that emitted black fog.

"Stay still there, it's dangerous."

He told her bluntly and turned towards the spirit before him.

Dryad, who had its arm cut off, let out an angry roar and attacked the boy.

It swung down its other arm. The girl reflexively covered her eyes.


However...

"It isn't going to work on me though, I'm sorry."

The boy was stopping the blow that came from Dryad with all its might, single-handedly, with one sword. 

And then— he exhaled and kicked the ground together.

With all his strength, he cut off its arm and hit its torso very hard with the center of the sword.

It was a single blow. With merely a single blow, the spirit, which prided itself on its strength, was brought down and became motionless.

"Maybe I overdid it a little. Although, it was my intention to not injure it as much as possible."

"..."

The girl was dumbfounded and the boy turned around.

If she were to describe him, she would call him slender and handsome.

His eyes were so clear that, he could be easily mistaken for a girl of about the same age.

At that very moment, she did not think of him as a person who brought down a spirit in the blink of an eye before her.

Then, the girl suddenly realized.

(Eh? This person, it's like I have seen him somewhere—)

The girl tilted her head to the side.

"Err, are you alright? Do you have any injuries?"

The boy asked in a calm voice.

"Ye...Yeah, I'm fine. You have my gratitude for saving me."


"Is that so... that's good."

The boy took a breath in relief, put down the jet-black demon sword and came walking towards her.

At that moment—

"Ah...!"

The jet-black demon sword emitted black fog— the girl realized its significance and her face turned pale.

That was it. A sword that cut up spirits could not be an ordinary sword.

(That's an elemental waffe!? But, why—)

Then, the girl finally realized.

She surely had a recollection of the boy's face.

"N...No way...why..."

She should have seen him before. After all, this boy—

"...?"

Seeing the girl's expression stiffen, the boy pauzed in his steps, puzzled.

And then, as if he realized something, his eyes widened.

"Gua... Damn it! Ahhh!"

He covered his face with both hands and shouted.

Facing a boy like that, the girl pointed her index finger out.

"'''Why is Ren Ashbell-sama a boy'''?"


"Gu..."

The girl stared at the boy, who was trying to catch his breath, with a stern look.

She understood that she was saying something unthinkable.

After all, the boy in front of her had short hair and even his chest was completely flat.

No matter how anyone looked at him, he was a boy.

(But I am not mistaken—)

The boy's face was similar to the Blade Dancer's, who was currently winning through the tournament because of her overwhelming strength.

Without a doubt, it was the face of that person— Ren Ashbell!

(Besides, that sword—)

The jet-black demon sword that was grasped in the boy's hand. That darkness-attribute elemental waffe— «{{Furigana|the sword that pierces truth|Vorpal Sword|margin=13}}» and her companion, which brought down many of her opponents before.

And then, above all else, there was that sword skill, which was displayed when he, with merely one blow, brought down the raging spirit.

"Ah, this is, err, how do I put it ..."

The boy was attempting to deceive her frantically and hastily.

"Wh...What to do, Restia!"

"I don't care. Even if you're not in the middle of a match, I had always been warning you to be in female clothing."

"But I didn't think that there would be people in the middle of such a forest!"

"Nevertheless, since it was a cute girl, you went to save her without thinking."


"I...It's not like that!"

The boy was, for some reason, sneakily talking with the jet-black demon sword that was held in his hand.

The girl's head was in complete chaos. She was also surprised that the true identity of Ren Ashbell was a boy because, to begin with, it was hard for her to believe in the existence of male elementalist.

Those who could contract a spirit were pure maidens only— that was the common sense taught to her from the «Divine Ritual Institute» from when she was young. Speaking of a male elementalist, there was nothing that came to mind, but that legendary Demon King, Solomon.

(This tournament's favorite, the famous Ren Ashbell-sama, is actually a boy—)

If that became known, the scandal would be so big, that it would affect the Blade Dance greatly.

Scratching his, hair as if gaving up, the boy gazed at the girl in resignation.

"Er...err, erm, there are circumstances to this. So, I am a boy but, without asking anything, could you keep this a secret from everyone?"

Receiving his troubled and pleading look, the girl felt her chest throb spontaneously.

(Eerr, what do I do...)

Honestly, the girl was bewildered. The blade dancer, whom she admired, was a boy— even if she suddenly said such a thing, there was no way that anyone could comprehend it immediately.

Besides, though, her throne inheritance rights had been erased, she was the second princess of the Ordesia Empire and a pure princess maiden of the «Divine Ritual Institute». Was it alright for her to overlook this fact that would desecrate the «Blade Dance»?

"..."

However, when she saw that boy's troubled face—

"...I understand."

Unintentionally, she nodded.

"I won't tell anyone, I won't ask anything. You are the one who saved my life."

Even if her true identity was a boy, Ren Ashbell was still her admired blade dancer.

Her Blade Dance gave the girl, who was always depressed since '''that day''' courage, That would not change. Besides, there was also the fact, that he had saved her life.

To give a reward to a Knight's meritorious service was the imperial family's precept.

"T...Thank you! You saved me some trouble!"

The boy took a breath of relief.

"You're quite a simple person. It's just a verbal promise."

"Yeah, but you don't look like a girl who would break a promise."

"..."

Facing such straightforward words, the girl's cheeks were slightly dyed red.

(Wh...Why is my chest beating so fast...)

"I'll escort you to the forest's exit, as Astral Zero's forests are dangerous."


"Th...Thank you..."

"Your shoes... they seemed to have slipped off. Come on, hold on to my back."

The boy noticed that the girl's feet were covered in injuries and helped her climb on his back.

"Er...Erm, my breasts are touching your back."

Embarrassed, the girl whispered at the side of his ear.

"Yeah?"

"N...Nothing..."

With her cheeks dyed red, the girl quickly turned her face away.

In the middle of a dim forest, while listening to the sounds of stepping on the fallen leaves, the girl inquired.

"Hey, why did you go so far as to fake being a girl and participate in the «Blade Dance»?"

"..."

After a moment of silence—

"Because, I have a «Wish» I want to be granted."

The boy answered that with a serious expression.

A «Wish»— A miracle of the Elemental Lords that was bestowed upon the victor of the blade dance.

At that moment, those words that the boy spoke of brought about an insight in the girl's mind.

(I see, if it's for the Blade Dance «Wish», even my power...)

After coming to a place near the match area, the girl was gently let off from his back.


"After this, you'll have to return by yourself. Because I have my next match."

"Yeah, Thank you. Err..."

"Uh huh?"

"Tell me your name."

"My name?"

"Ren Ashbell is an alias, right? That's not it, your real name."

"..."

After he hesitated for a while—

"It's Kamito. Kazehaya Kamito."

"Kazehaya Kamito."

It had a strange and mysterious sound. The girl muttered that name as her tongue rolled.

"Well, err... could we meet again? Kamito."

"Eh? Ye...Yeah, once the Blade Dance finishes—"

"—Is that so. It's a promise, Kamito."

—After that, in seven days, Ren Ashbell held the title of the Strongest Blade Dancer.

However, the girl never met him again.

Because he, who should have been granted his «Wish», suddenly disappeared.

<noinclude>

==Notes==
<references/>
{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Illustrations|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Chapter1}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Prologue

2013-05-27T04:50:31Z

95.65.31.83: /* Prologue */

==Prologue==

—Three years ago.

"Haa, haa, haa—"

A girl was running through a forest in Astral Zero, where many twisted trees were lined up in rows.

Her shoes had long since slipped off, and the soles of her bare feet were covered with injuries.

Due to her long black hair being done up at both sides and her long-sleeved, extravagant, courteous attire, she did not run smoothly.

From behind, violent sounds of many trees being mowed down were approaching.

Being caught up to was just a matter of time.

(Why did such a thing—)

The girl was invited to view the Blade Dance as the guest of honor of the Ordesia Empire.

Although called the guest of honor, she was only an extra invited as an excuse.

Fallen out of the candidacy of «Divine Ritual Institute»— the Queen training organization, she was the imperial family's excess baggage.

She had nothing other than the title of former second princess and was just a mere thirteen year-old girl.

Her noble colleagues, who should have pledged allegiance to the imperial family by right, were sending her looks of contempt.

Even the retainer court ladies were ridiculing her behind her back.


A worthless lost queen—

It was painful for her to be at the match venue where she would be exposed to many people's gazes.

The match with Ren Ashbell, which she wanted to see, was later on in the afternoon and, even if she was gone, there was no one who would be particularly worried.

Therefore, she came to the middle of a forest like this alone.

Without knowing how dreadful of a place the forest of Astral Zero was.

Approaching her from behind, {{Furigana|a tree spirit|Dryad|margin=13}}<ref>Furigana 101: {{Furigana|Meaning|Reading|margin=13}}</ref> let out a dreadful roar.

Naturally, Dryad had the temperament of a docile spirit. Perhaps, it might be angry about her stepping and breaking the twigs in the forest.

(It's no good, if this keeps up—)

She could not get away— realizing that she prepared herself.

She stopped at that place, turned around and firmly glared at Dryad.

"Y...You, if you are my knight, then simply go and beat it—"

Shouting with a shaky voice, she began to recite the summoning to summon her contracted spirit.

——Thou servant of the king of the child of man, knight and master swordsman!

——By the contract of the old blood, become the sword that protects me, come forth and do my bidding!

The spirit seal, engraved on the girl's chest, emitted a faint radiance—

However, that was all it did.


Suddenly, the path with her contracted spirit was severed and the seal's radiance vanished.

(...! I thought so, it's already hopeless, I—)

Despair surfaced on the girl's face.

Dryad let out a roar and swung its log-like arm—

At that moment, a blinding light flashed.

"Eh?"

The girl opened her eyes reflexively.

Dryad's arm had cleanly vanished before her eyes.

It was as if time had stopped.

From the cross-section of the severed tree, something like a black fog was emitted out.

And then *Don* there was the sound of someone landing on the ground.

Before the girl's eyes, a single boy was standing.

He had black hair and wore a black vest with a pair of navy blue trousers.

The boy was grasping a jet-black demon sword that emitted black fog.

"Stay still there, it's dangerous."

He told her bluntly and turned towards the spirit before him.

Dryad, who had its arm cut off, let out an angry roar and attacked the boy.

It swung down its other arm. The girl reflexively covered her eyes.


However...

"It isn't going to work on me though, I'm sorry."

The boy was stopping the blow that came from Dryad with all its might, single-handedly, with one sword. 

And then— he exhaled and kicked the ground together.

With all his strength, he cut off its arm and hit its torso very hard with the center of the sword.

It was a single blow. With merely a single blow, the spirit, which prided itself on its strength, was brought down and became motionless.

"Maybe I overdid it a little. Although, it was my intention to not injure it as much as possible."

"..."

The girl was dumbfounded and the boy turned around.

If she were to describe him, she would call him slender and handsome.

His eyes were so clear that, depending on how one looked at him, a girl of about the same age could also be seen.

At that very moment, she did not think of him as a person who brought down a spirit in the blink of an eye before her.

Then, the girl suddenly realized.

(Eh? This person, it's like I have seen him somewhere—)

The girl tilted her head to the side.

"Err, are you alright? Do you have any injuries?"

The boy asked in a calm voice.

"Ye...Yeah, I'm fine. You have my gratitude for saving me."


"Is that so... that's good."

The boy took a breath in relief, put down the jet-black demon sword and came walking towards her.

At that moment—

"Ah...!"

The jet-black demon sword emitted black fog— the girl realized its significance and her face turned pale.

That was it. A sword that cut up spirits could not be an ordinary sword.

(That's an elemental waffe!? But, why—)

Then, the girl finally realized.

She surely had a recollection of the boy's face.

"N...No way...why..."

She should have seen him before. After all, this boy—

"...?"

Seeing the girl's expression stiffen, the boy was puzzled as if a miracle happened—

And then, as he was taken aback, his eyes widened.

"Gua... Damn it! Ahhh!"

He covered his face with both hands and shouted.

Facing a boy like that, the girl pointed her index finger out.

"'''Why is Ren Ashbell-sama a boy'''?"


"Gu..."

The girl stared at the boy, who was trying to catch his breath, with a stern look.

She understood that she was saying something unthinkable.

After all, the boy in front of her had short hair and even his chest was completely flat.

No matter how anyone looked at him, he was a boy.

(But I am not mistaken—)

The boy's face was similar to the Blade Dancer's, who was currently winning through the tournament with overwhelming strength.

Without a doubt, it was the face of that person— Ren Ashbell!

(Besides, that sword—)

The jet-black demon sword that was grasped in the boy's hand. That darkness-attribute elemental waffe— «{{Furigana|the sword that pierces truth|Vorpal Sword|margin=13}}» is her synonym, who brought down many opponents before.

And then, above all else, there was that sword skill, which was displayed when he brought down the spirit that was in a rage with merely one blow.

"Ah, this is, err, how do I put it ..."

The boy was attempting to deceive her frantically and hastily.

"Wh...What to do, Restia!"

"I don't care. Even if you're not in the middle of a match, I had always been warning you to be in female clothing."

"But I didn't think that there would be people in the middle of such a forest!"

"Nevertheless, since it was a cute girl, you went to save her without thinking."


"I...It's not like that!"

The boy was, for some reason, sneakily talking with the jet-black demon sword that was held in his hand.

The girl's head was in complete chaos. She was also surprised that the true identity of Ren Ashbell was a boy because, to begin with, it was hard for her to believe in the existence of male elementalist.

Those who could contract a spirit were pure maidens only— that was the common sense taught to her from the «Divine Ritual Institute» from when she was young. Speaking of a male elementalist, there was nothing that came to mind, but that legendary Demon King, Solomon.

(This tournament's favorite, the famous Ren Ashbell-sama, is actually a boy—)

If that became known, it would be a big scandal that would shake the Blade Dance.

Scratching his hair in a manner like he gave up, the boy gazed at the girl in resignation.

"Er...err, erm, there are circumstances to this. So, I am a boy but, without asking anything, could you keep this a secret from everyone?"

With his troubled-looking black pupils gazing, the girl's chest throbbed spontaneously.

(Eerr, what do I do...)

Honestly, the girl was bewildered. The blade dancer, whom she admired, was a boy— even if she suddenly said such a thing, there was no way that anyone could comprehend it immediately.

Besides, though, her throne inheritance rights had been erased, she was the second princess of the Ordesia Empire and a pure princess maiden of the «Divine Ritual Institute». Was it alright for her to overlook this fact that would desecrate the «Blade Dance»?

"..."

However, when she saw that boy's troubled face—

"...I understand."

Unintentionally, she nodded.

"I won't tell anyone, I won't ask anything. You are the one who saved my life."

Even if her true identity was a boy, Ren Ashbell was still her admired blade dancer.

Her Blade Dance gave the girl's heart courage, who was always depressed since '''that day'''. That would not change. Besides, the fact that he had saved her life would not change.

To give a reward to a Knight's meritorious service was the imperial family's precept.

"T...Thank you! You saved me some trouble!"

The boy took a breath of relief.

"You're quite a simple person. It's just a verbal promise."

"Yeah, but you don't look like a girl who would break a promise."

"..."

Facing such straightforward words, the girl's cheeks were slightly dyed red.

(Wh...Why is my chest beating so fast...)

"I'll escort you to the forest's exit, as Astral Zero's forests are dangerous."


"Th...Thank you..."

"Your shoes... they seemed to have slipped off. Come on, hold on to my back."

The boy noticed that the girl's feet were covered in injuries and gave her a lift on his back.

"Er...Erm, my breasts are touching your back, however."

Embarrassed, the girl whispered at the side of his ear.

"Yeah?"

"N...Nothing..."

With her cheeks dyed red, the girl quickly turned her face away.

In the middle of a dim forest, while listening to the sounds of stepping on the fallen leaves, the girl inquired.

"Hey, why did you go so far as to fake being a girl and participate in the «Blade Dance»?"

"..."

After a moment of silence—

"Because, I have a «Wish» I want to be granted."

The boy answered that with a serious expression.

A «Wish»— A miracle of the Elemental Lords that was bestowed to the victor of the blade dance.

At that moment, those words that the boy spoke of brought about an insight in the girl's mind.

(I see, if it's for the Blade Dance «Wish», even my power...)

After coming to a place near the match area, the girl was gently let off from his back.


"After this, you'll have to return by yourself. Because I have my next match."

"Yeah, Thank you. Err..."

"Uh huh?"

"Tell me your name."

"My name?"

"Ren Ashbell is an alias, right? That's not it, your real name."

"..."

After he hesitated for a while—

"It's Kamito. Kazehaya Kamito."

"Kazehaya Kamito."

It had a strange and mysterious sound. The girl muttered that name as her tongue rolled.

"Well, err... could we meet again? Kamito."

"Eh? Ye...Yeah, once the Blade Dance finishes—"

"—Is that so. It's a promise, Kamito."

—After that, in seven days, Ren Ashbell held the title of the Strongest Blade Dancer.

However, the girl never met him again.

Because he, who should have been granted his «Wish», suddenly disappeared.

<noinclude>

==Notes==
<references/>
{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Illustrations|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Chapter1}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Epilogue

2013-05-27T04:00:28Z

95.65.31.83: /* Epilogue */

==Epilogue==

Opening his eyes, Kamito found himself lying in bed again.

It was not Rinslet's room this time.

There were large bookcases and shelves of medicine; this should be the health center of the academy.

It looked like he couldn't shoulder the burden of elemental waffe and passed out, again.

After all, he was still in a physical condition where he had to lie down and rest, so it was no wonder that he collapsed when performing a Blade Dance in such a state.

(Oh... I really can't do it the same as old times.)

Kamito smiled bitterly at the wrist wrapped in bandages.

To have a blank period of three-years is too much for an elementalist.

Kamito was about to slowly get up from bed—

"Kamito, you woke up?"

A voice could be heard from somewhere.

Looking around, he couldn't see anyone.

Then something wiggled inside the bed sheets.

"—What!"

Kamito quickly pulled up the sheets.

Inside, there is the naked sword spirit.

"...Est, what are you doing here!"

"Sleeping with you." Est replied with a deadpan look.

"Not that, I am asking why are you in my bed!"

"Because I am your contracted spirit."

"......"

There's no use. She is not the type you could communicate with easily.

Kamito held his head that started aching little by little.

Just at that time. *Tramp*- suddenly the door opened.

"Kamito, have you woken up—"

Claire stiffened as she came inside the room.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogo...!*

"This is not how it looks..."

But with a naked girl only in knee-socks on top of him, whatever explanations given were futile.

"You... You! What the hell are you doing?"

A burning flame whip appeared in Claire's hand.

"You are in the way, Sword Spirit. I am going to turn this guy into charcoal cinders. Please move aside!"

"No, I am Kamito's contract spirit. To protect him is my duty."

"Sword ... sword spirit, listen! Kamito... Kamito is my Slave Spirit, so you as his contract spirit, are in my possession as well."

"Kamito, is it true?"

"Well ... No... See..."

As Kamito struggled for words, other sounds could be heard from the corridor.

"Milady if you don't hurry, Miss Claire will be the first!"

"Being the first or not, for me, doesn't mean—"

"...Eh? Rinslet and Carol, what are you doing here?"

"Knight, Knight commander, you too, why are you here...!?"

[[Image:STnBD V01 260.jpg|thumb]]
"I ... I'm just here to express our gratitude to Kamito on behalf of the Sylpid Knights. There is absolutely no other meaning!"

The three princesses opened the door as they had their conversation.

Then- all witnessed Est on the bed at the same time.

"What!" "Oops!" "What on earth..."

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Googogogog...*

Ellis conjured up «Ray Hawk»; Rinslet called out «Ice Longbow».

Last, an inexplicable frying pan was in Carol's hand out of nowhere.

"Kamito, what last words do you have to say?"

Claire waved her flame whip and smiled.

"Wait... This is a mistake- oh wa ah ah ah ah ah ah!"

The flame whip mercilessly lashed down.

The grand feast for elementalists— «Blade Dance» would be held in two months.

FIN

<noinclude>{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter8|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Afterword}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter8

2013-05-26T18:45:49Z

95.65.31.83: /* Part 5 */

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

However, he somehow could not leave her alone.

(After all, her true self is—)

Kamito stopped at that moment.

"—Here, right?"

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

It was a battle royale system where the last one remaining would earn the right to contract with a powerful militarized spirit.

Kamito searched for Claire—

"...!?"

For that unbelievable sight, he doubted his eyes.

That Claire Rouge was—

Covered all over with wounds and crawling.

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

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

"Claire—"

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

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

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


===Part 2===

(—Weak. Why am I so weak?)

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

"Guu...!"

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

She slowly stood up on shaky legs.

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

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

(...If I obtain that, I can be strong.)

—Nee-sama surely can be saved!

"Flame— dance in my hand, dance!"

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


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

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

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

—She heard a scorning voice from her front.

"...!"

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

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

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

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

"...You!"

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

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

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

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

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

"Agg...!"


A mumbling scream escaped from Claire's mouth.

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

This was not a splendorous Blade Dance for spirits to enjoy. It was merely unsightly violence.

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

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

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

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

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

Claire tightly grasped the sand scattered on the ground.

"Hn, did you say something?"

"I said... be silent."

It was no good. She could not restrain it.

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

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

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


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

(To grasp a more powerful power in my hand—!)

"What... a contracted spirit!?"

The upperclassmen's eyes opened in surprise.

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

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gou!*

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

Appearing from within the blazing flame was—

A flickering jet black magic beast.

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

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

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

===Part 3===
"...What's that!?"

Kamito got up from the audience seatings and shouted.


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

—It was not Scarlet.

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

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

"The frenzy is spreading...!"

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

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

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

However, that black Magic Beast—

(It's forcefully snatching away Claire's divine power!?)

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

"That's a frenzy spirit, Kamito."

Est, who was beside him, muttered expressionlessly.

"A frenzy spirit?"

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

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


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


"Is that so..."

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

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

"Ah, I understand."

Kamito nodded.

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

That was the very flame of a girl named Claire.

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

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

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

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

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

"Dispassionate Queen of Steel, the sacred sword that destroys evil— now form my sword!"

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

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

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


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

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

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

"No, this is plenty. —Let's go, Est!"

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

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

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

"Claire!"

"...Kamito"

Claire opened her ruby-colored eyes.

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

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

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

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

"...!?"

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

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


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

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

"Wh...What... Why are you here—"

A confused expression surfaced on Claire's face—

"...!?"

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

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

There was a blazing, disgusting black flame.

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

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

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

Kamito shouted as if he was throwing up.

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

"I...I...—"

Claire moved her lips with her pale facial expression—


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

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

The red twin-tail hair violently sprung up.

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

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

Claire lay face down and said that while gasping.

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

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

To live taking persecutions as Calamity Queen's sister.

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

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

"Eh?"

At Kamito's words—

Claire raised her head with a blank expression.

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

Kamito approached Claire with a step.

The flame wall in their surroundings burned with intimidation.


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

"Claire—"

"Do not come here!"

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

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

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

Claire's cherry blossom-colored lips were quivering.

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

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

"...!"

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

Then—

....*Poff*.

"Eh?"

Claire widely opened her ruby-colored eyes.

She looked up at Kamito with a blank expression.

"—Claire, I like your flames."


Kamito stirred up and crumpled Claire's red hair.

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

Claire's cheeks were dyed bright red inside.

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

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

—That was why he wanted to protect those flames.

"If you want power—"

Kamito looked straight into Claire's eyes and said.


"I'll be your contracted spirit."

"Kamito..."

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

Confused, she wiped it with her uniform sleeve.

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

"Ah, that is right..."

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


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

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

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

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

Scarlet— it seemed to respond to that name.

"...Scarlet?"

Claire asked.

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

"...Scarlet is alive!?"

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

"Ah, this sword— Est informed me."

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

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

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

"..."

Claire stared at the thunderously raging black flame.


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

"...Yes, that is Scarlet."

She wiped her tears to shake it off.

"If that's the case—"

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

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

Claire stopped that hand and shook her head.

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

—Flames, dance in my hand, dance!

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

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

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

"—Like this."

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

There was the sound of flesh burning.

"O...Oi, Claire!?"

"...A...gu...uuuu—!"


While barely clenching her teeth, Claire moaned in anguish.

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

"You...!"

Kamito finally understood.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The frenzied magic beast roared and sprung at Claire.

"—!"

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

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


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

"Kamito!"

Claire's scream resounded.

However, Kamito's body had already disappeared.

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

(—A frenzied spirit certainly has its power greatly increased.)

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

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

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

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

"—Claire, are you alright?!"

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

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

"A...guu...!"

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

At that moment, intense pain was suddenly running all over, causing her to softly scream "Hyauu" and making her eyes turn teary.

"What, you're not being honest."

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

Kamito bitterly smiled at Claire's usual behavior.

—However, this is the usual Claire Rouge.

She was not suited to have just a sorrowful face.

"By the way, where—"

Suddenly, Kamito turned serious and asked.

"What..."

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

"That's—"

Claire stammered with her words and at that time.

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


From behind, they heard such an inappropriate voice.

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

"...!?"

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

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

Kamito slowly turned around.

And there—

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

===Part 4===

Kamito stood still at that place with a frozen expression.

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

What was there was—

A girl, who was the very light to Kamito.

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

"...Res...tia?"


Kamito muttered in a blurry voice.

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

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

...It was unbelievable.

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

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

The darkness spirit, Restia.

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

"Restia, I—"

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

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

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

—Something was strange. His elementalist intuition was telling him that.

She was smiling like that.

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

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

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


"...?"

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

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

The stone pillar that was brought in from the imperial capital and in which was the sealed militarized spirit.

"Restia... What in the world are—?"

Kamito muttered and at that time.

Suddenly, the ground violently shook.

"What...!?"

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

"Restia...?"

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

Claire shouted to the absentminded boy.

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

At that moment, a ground-shaking roar resounded.

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

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

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


That was—

(Glasya-Labolas is— going into a frenzy!?)

Taken aback, he turned around. Restia was giggling.

That somewhat devilish smile was something Kamito had never seen.

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

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

"Because that is your wish."

"...!?"

Kamito's face froze.

"Wait— Please wait, Restia!"

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

"Resti..."

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

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

—He did not understand what had happened.

(Restia gave Claire that frenzy spirit...?)

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


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

His former contracted spirit.

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

If that girl changed, that—

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

The Blade Dance three years ago.

Kamito, who came out victorious as Ren Ashbell,—

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

For that reason, he decided to lose her.

He believed that she would be alive somewhere.

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

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

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

"Restia... Is this my punishment?"

If that was the case, it was too cruel.

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

He was plunged into darkness. 


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

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

Once again, the ground violently shook.

Passing through the «Gate» opened in the empty space, Glasya-Labolas was attempting to emerge.

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

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

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

"...Guoo!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"No, not those two choices— Guoo!"

"Hmm, if you can retort, you are alright, aren't you!"


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

"..."

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

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

Nevertheless in such a moment, Kamito was reflexively startled.

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

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

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

"Wh...What..."

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

"She—"

Kamito averted his eyes from Claire's clear eyes

"Was my contracted spirit."

"Spirit?"

Kamito silently nodded and clenched his left hand.

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

Thoughts of her made Kamito sink into the dark abyss once again,—


"So what!"

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

"Eh?"

"I am saying so what!"

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

Until a while ago, she was extremely depressed. 

Now, there was above all else her noble, beautiful crimson flame.

"No, it is because I..."

Kamito was taken aback and became dumbfounded—

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

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishipashi!* Claire striked Kamito's back with her whip.

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

Without thought, Kamito stood up and shouted.

Claire suddenly smiled.

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

"Aah?"


Kamito turned his face—

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

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

Glasya-Labolas roared. With just that roar, half of the audience seats were blown away.

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

From the giant empty hole in the wall, the state of the plaza could be observed.

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

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

With his every step, the ground shook as if an earthquake occurred.

How things would turn out, if such a thing got into the town was quite obvious.

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

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

However— Kamito still had not recovered from the shock.

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

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

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


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

"..."

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

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

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

And, in the next moment.

"...!?"

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

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

His nose was tickled by the faint scent of her hair.

"Hn..."

Several seconds later, their lips slowly separated.

"Are you awake?"

"...A...Ah."

Kamito nodded like he was befuddled.

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

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




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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Ah, I got it!"

Kamito firmly nodded and tightly grasped Terminus Est.

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

(Now, just—)


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

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

"I'll show you, Claire Rouge"

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

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

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

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Vuoooooon!*

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

(...What power! As expected of a Militarized Spirit!)

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

It roared again and swung down its boulder-like fist.

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

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

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

"Kamito!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Est is being encroached—!)

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

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

Then, Glasya-Labolas' fist swung downwards.

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

"...!"

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

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

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

"Ah—"


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

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

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

And then—

"Oooooooooooo!"

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

===Part 5===

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

With the shining sword in his hand, Kazehaya Kamito danced a splendorous Blade Dance—

That was almost—

Like the Blade Dance of Ren Ashbell, who she saw at the stage of the Blade Dance three years ago.

(...Don't tell me.)

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

"—Thank you, Scarlet."



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

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter8

2013-05-26T18:43:44Z

95.65.31.83: /* Part 4 */

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

However, he somehow could not leave her alone.

(After all, her true self is—)

Kamito stopped at that moment.

"—Here, right?"

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

It was a battle royale system where the last one remaining would earn the right to contract with a powerful militarized spirit.

Kamito searched for Claire—

"...!?"

For that unbelievable sight, he doubted his eyes.

That Claire Rouge was—

Covered all over with wounds and crawling.

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

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

"Claire—"

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

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

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


===Part 2===

(—Weak. Why am I so weak?)

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

"Guu...!"

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

She slowly stood up on shaky legs.

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

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

(...If I obtain that, I can be strong.)

—Nee-sama surely can be saved!

"Flame— dance in my hand, dance!"

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


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

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

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

—She heard a scorning voice from her front.

"...!"

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

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

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

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

"...You!"

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

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

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

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

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

"Agg...!"


A mumbling scream escaped from Claire's mouth.

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

This was not a splendorous Blade Dance for spirits to enjoy. It was merely unsightly violence.

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

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

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

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

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

Claire tightly grasped the sand scattered on the ground.

"Hn, did you say something?"

"I said... be silent."

It was no good. She could not restrain it.

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

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

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


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

(To grasp a more powerful power in my hand—!)

"What... a contracted spirit!?"

The upperclassmen's eyes opened in surprise.

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

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gou!*

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

Appearing from within the blazing flame was—

A flickering jet black magic beast.

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

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

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

===Part 3===
"...What's that!?"

Kamito got up from the audience seatings and shouted.


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

—It was not Scarlet.

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

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

"The frenzy is spreading...!"

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

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

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

However, that black Magic Beast—

(It's forcefully snatching away Claire's divine power!?)

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

"That's a frenzy spirit, Kamito."

Est, who was beside him, muttered expressionlessly.

"A frenzy spirit?"

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

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


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


"Is that so..."

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

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

"Ah, I understand."

Kamito nodded.

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

That was the very flame of a girl named Claire.

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

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

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

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

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

"Dispassionate Queen of Steel, the sacred sword that destroys evil— now form my sword!"

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

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

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


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

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

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

"No, this is plenty. —Let's go, Est!"

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

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

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

"Claire!"

"...Kamito"

Claire opened her ruby-colored eyes.

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

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

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

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

"...!?"

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

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


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

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

"Wh...What... Why are you here—"

A confused expression surfaced on Claire's face—

"...!?"

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

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

There was a blazing, disgusting black flame.

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

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

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

Kamito shouted as if he was throwing up.

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

"I...I...—"

Claire moved her lips with her pale facial expression—


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

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

The red twin-tail hair violently sprung up.

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

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

Claire lay face down and said that while gasping.

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

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

To live taking persecutions as Calamity Queen's sister.

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

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

"Eh?"

At Kamito's words—

Claire raised her head with a blank expression.

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

Kamito approached Claire with a step.

The flame wall in their surroundings burned with intimidation.


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

"Claire—"

"Do not come here!"

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

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

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

Claire's cherry blossom-colored lips were quivering.

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

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

"...!"

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

Then—

....*Poff*.

"Eh?"

Claire widely opened her ruby-colored eyes.

She looked up at Kamito with a blank expression.

"—Claire, I like your flames."


Kamito stirred up and crumpled Claire's red hair.

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

Claire's cheeks were dyed bright red inside.

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

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

—That was why he wanted to protect those flames.

"If you want power—"

Kamito looked straight into Claire's eyes and said.


"I'll be your contracted spirit."

"Kamito..."

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

Confused, she wiped it with her uniform sleeve.

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

"Ah, that is right..."

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


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

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

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

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

Scarlet— it seemed to respond to that name.

"...Scarlet?"

Claire asked.

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

"...Scarlet is alive!?"

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

"Ah, this sword— Est informed me."

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

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

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

"..."

Claire stared at the thunderously raging black flame.


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

"...Yes, that is Scarlet."

She wiped her tears to shake it off.

"If that's the case—"

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

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

Claire stopped that hand and shook her head.

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

—Flames, dance in my hand, dance!

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

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

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

"—Like this."

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

There was the sound of flesh burning.

"O...Oi, Claire!?"

"...A...gu...uuuu—!"


While barely clenching her teeth, Claire moaned in anguish.

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

"You...!"

Kamito finally understood.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The frenzied magic beast roared and sprung at Claire.

"—!"

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

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


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

"Kamito!"

Claire's scream resounded.

However, Kamito's body had already disappeared.

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

(—A frenzied spirit certainly has its power greatly increased.)

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

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

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

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

"—Claire, are you alright?!"

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

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

"A...guu...!"

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

At that moment, intense pain was suddenly running all over, causing her to softly scream "Hyauu" and making her eyes turn teary.

"What, you're not being honest."

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

Kamito bitterly smiled at Claire's usual behavior.

—However, this is the usual Claire Rouge.

She was not suited to have just a sorrowful face.

"By the way, where—"

Suddenly, Kamito turned serious and asked.

"What..."

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

"That's—"

Claire stammered with her words and at that time.

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


From behind, they heard such an inappropriate voice.

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

"...!?"

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

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

Kamito slowly turned around.

And there—

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

===Part 4===

Kamito stood still at that place with a frozen expression.

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

What was there was—

A girl, who was the very light to Kamito.

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

"...Res...tia?"


Kamito muttered in a blurry voice.

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

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

...It was unbelievable.

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

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

The darkness spirit, Restia.

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

"Restia, I—"

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

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

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

—Something was strange. His elementalist intuition was telling him that.

She was smiling like that.

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

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

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


"...?"

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

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

The stone pillar that was brought in from the imperial capital and in which was the sealed militarized spirit.

"Restia... What in the world are—?"

Kamito muttered and at that time.

Suddenly, the ground violently shook.

"What...!?"

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

"Restia...?"

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

Claire shouted to the absentminded boy.

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

At that moment, a ground-shaking roar resounded.

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

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

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


That was—

(Glasya-Labolas is— going into a frenzy!?)

Taken aback, he turned around. Restia was giggling.

That somewhat devilish smile was something Kamito had never seen.

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

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

"Because that is your wish."

"...!?"

Kamito's face froze.

"Wait— Please wait, Restia!"

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

"Resti..."

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

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

—He did not understand what had happened.

(Restia gave Claire that frenzy spirit...?)

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


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

His former contracted spirit.

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

If that girl changed, that—

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

The Blade Dance three years ago.

Kamito, who came out victorious as Ren Ashbell,—

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

For that reason, he decided to lose her.

He believed that she would be alive somewhere.

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

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

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

"Restia... Is this my punishment?"

If that was the case, it was too cruel.

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

He was plunged into darkness. 


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

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

Once again, the ground violently shook.

Passing through the «Gate» opened in the empty space, Glasya-Labolas was attempting to emerge.

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

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

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

"...Guoo!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"No, not those two choices— Guoo!"

"Hmm, if you can retort, you are alright, aren't you!"


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

"..."

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

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

Nevertheless in such a moment, Kamito was reflexively startled.

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

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

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

"Wh...What..."

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

"She—"

Kamito averted his eyes from Claire's clear eyes

"Was my contracted spirit."

"Spirit?"

Kamito silently nodded and clenched his left hand.

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

Thoughts of her made Kamito sink into the dark abyss once again,—


"So what!"

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

"Eh?"

"I am saying so what!"

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

Until a while ago, she was extremely depressed. 

Now, there was above all else her noble, beautiful crimson flame.

"No, it is because I..."

Kamito was taken aback and became dumbfounded—

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

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishipashi!* Claire striked Kamito's back with her whip.

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

Without thought, Kamito stood up and shouted.

Claire suddenly smiled.

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

"Aah?"


Kamito turned his face—

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

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

Glasya-Labolas roared. With just that roar, half of the audience seats were blown away.

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

From the giant empty hole in the wall, the state of the plaza could be observed.

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

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

With his every step, the ground shook as if an earthquake occurred.

How things would turn out, if such a thing got into the town was quite obvious.

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

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

However— Kamito still had not recovered from the shock.

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

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

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


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

"..."

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

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

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

And, in the next moment.

"...!?"

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

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

His nose was tickled by the faint scent of her hair.

"Hn..."

Several seconds later, their lips slowly separated.

"Are you awake?"

"...A...Ah."

Kamito nodded like he was befuddled.

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

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




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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Ah, I got it!"

Kamito firmly nodded and tightly grasped Terminus Est.

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

(Now, just—)


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

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

"I'll show you, Claire Rouge"

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

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

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

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Vuoooooon!*

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

(...What power! As expected of a Militarized Spirit!)

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

It roared again and swung down its boulder-like fist.

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

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

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

"Kamito!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Est is being encroached—!)

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

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

Then, Glasya-Labolas' fist swung downwards.

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

"...!"

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

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

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

"Ah—"


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

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

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

And then—

"Oooooooooooo!"

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

===Part 5===

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

With the shining sword in his hand, Kazehaya Kamito danced a splendorous Blade Dance—

That was almost—

Like the Blade Dance of Ren Ashbell, who she saw at the stage of the Blade Dance three years ago.

(...Don't tell me.)

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

"—Thank you, Scarlet."



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

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter8

2013-05-26T03:47:32Z

95.65.31.83: /* Part 4 */

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

However, he somehow could not leave her alone.

(After all, her true self is—)

Kamito stopped at that moment.

"—Here, right?"

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

It was a battle royale system where the last one remaining would earn the right to contract with a powerful militarized spirit.

Kamito searched for Claire—

"...!?"

For that unbelievable sight, he doubted his eyes.

That Claire Rouge was—

Covered all over with wounds and crawling.

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

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

"Claire—"

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

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

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


===Part 2===

(—Weak. Why am I so weak?)

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

"Guu...!"

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

She slowly stood up on shaky legs.

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

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

(...If I obtain that, I can be strong.)

—Nee-sama surely can be saved!

"Flame— dance in my hand, dance!"

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


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

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

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

—She heard a scorning voice from her front.

"...!"

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

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

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

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

"...You!"

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

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

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

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

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

"Agg...!"


A mumbling scream escaped from Claire's mouth.

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

This was not a splendorous Blade Dance for spirits to enjoy. It was merely unsightly violence.

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

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

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

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

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

Claire tightly grasped the sand scattered on the ground.

"Hn, did you say something?"

"I said... be silent."

It was no good. She could not restrain it.

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

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

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


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

(To grasp a more powerful power in my hand—!)

"What... a contracted spirit!?"

The upperclassmen's eyes opened in surprise.

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

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gou!*

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

Appearing from within the blazing flame was—

A flickering jet black magic beast.

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

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

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

===Part 3===
"...What's that!?"

Kamito got up from the audience seatings and shouted.


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

—It was not Scarlet.

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

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

"The frenzy is spreading...!"

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

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

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

However, that black Magic Beast—

(It's forcefully snatching away Claire's divine power!?)

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

"That's a frenzy spirit, Kamito."

Est, who was beside him, muttered expressionlessly.

"A frenzy spirit?"

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

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


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


"Is that so..."

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

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

"Ah, I understand."

Kamito nodded.

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

That was the very flame of a girl named Claire.

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

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

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

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

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

"Dispassionate Queen of Steel, the sacred sword that destroys evil— now form my sword!"

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

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

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


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

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

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

"No, this is plenty. —Let's go, Est!"

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

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

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

"Claire!"

"...Kamito"

Claire opened her ruby-colored eyes.

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

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

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

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

"...!?"

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

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


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

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

"Wh...What... Why are you here—"

A confused expression surfaced on Claire's face—

"...!?"

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

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

There was a blazing, disgusting black flame.

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

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

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

Kamito shouted as if he was throwing up.

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

"I...I...—"

Claire moved her lips with her pale facial expression—


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

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

The red twin-tail hair violently sprung up.

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

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

Claire lay face down and said that while gasping.

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

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

To live taking persecutions as Calamity Queen's sister.

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

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

"Eh?"

At Kamito's words—

Claire raised her head with a blank expression.

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

Kamito approached Claire with a step.

The flame wall in their surroundings burned with intimidation.


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

"Claire—"

"Do not come here!"

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

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

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

Claire's cherry blossom-colored lips were quivering.

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

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

"...!"

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

Then—

....*Poff*.

"Eh?"

Claire widely opened her ruby-colored eyes.

She looked up at Kamito with a blank expression.

"—Claire, I like your flames."


Kamito stirred up and crumpled Claire's red hair.

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

Claire's cheeks were dyed bright red inside.

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

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

—That was why he wanted to protect those flames.

"If you want power—"

Kamito looked straight into Claire's eyes and said.


"I'll be your contracted spirit."

"Kamito..."

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

Confused, she wiped it with her uniform sleeve.

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

"Ah, that is right..."

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


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

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

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

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

Scarlet— it seemed to respond to that name.

"...Scarlet?"

Claire asked.

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

"...Scarlet is alive!?"

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

"Ah, this sword— Est informed me."

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

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

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

"..."

Claire stared at the thunderously raging black flame.


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

"...Yes, that is Scarlet."

She wiped her tears to shake it off.

"If that's the case—"

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

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

Claire stopped that hand and shook her head.

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

—Flames, dance in my hand, dance!

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

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

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

"—Like this."

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

There was the sound of flesh burning.

"O...Oi, Claire!?"

"...A...gu...uuuu—!"


While barely clenching her teeth, Claire moaned in anguish.

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

"You...!"

Kamito finally understood.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The frenzied magic beast roared and sprung at Claire.

"—!"

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

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


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

"Kamito!"

Claire's scream resounded.

However, Kamito's body had already disappeared.

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

(—A frenzied spirit certainly has its power greatly increased.)

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

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

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

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

"—Claire, are you alright?!"

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

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

"A...guu...!"

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

At that moment, intense pain was suddenly running all over, causing her to softly scream "Hyauu" and making her eyes turn teary.

"What, you're not being honest."

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

Kamito bitterly smiled at Claire's usual behavior.

—However, this is the usual Claire Rouge.

She was not suited to have just a sorrowful face.

"By the way, where—"

Suddenly, Kamito turned serious and asked.

"What..."

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

"That's—"

Claire stammered with her words and at that time.

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


From behind, they heard such an inappropriate voice.

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

"...!?"

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

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

Kamito slowly turned around.

And there—

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

===Part 4===

Kamito stood still at that place with a frozen expression.

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

What was there was—

A girl, who was the very familiar to Kamito.

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

"...Res...tia?"


Kamito muttered in a blurry voice.

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

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

...It was unbelievable.

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

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

The darkness spirit, Restia.

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

"Restia, I—"

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

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

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

—Something was strange. His elementalist intuition was telling him that.

She was smiling like that.

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

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

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


"...?"

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

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

The stone pillar that was brought in from the imperial capital and in which was the sealed militarized spirit.

"Restia... What in the world are—?"

Kamito muttered and at that time.

Suddenly, the ground violently shook.

"What...!?"

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

"Restia...?"

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

Claire shouted to Kamito, who was being absentminded.

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

At that moment, a ground-shaking roar resounded.

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

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

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


That was—

(Glasya-Labolas is— going into a frenzy!?)

Taken aback, he turned around. Restia was giggling.

That somewhat devilish smile was something Kamito had never seen.

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

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

"Because that is your wish."

"...!?"

Kamito's face froze.

"Wait— Please wait, Restia!"

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

"Resti..."

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

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

—He did not understand what had happened.

(Restia gave Claire that frenzy spirit...?)

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


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

His former contracted spirit.

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

If that girl changed, that—

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

The Blade Dance three years ago.

Kamito, who was victorious as Ren Ashbell,—

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

For that reason, he decided to lose her.

He believed that she would be alive somewhere.

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

—She would be alive again. He could still make up for his crimes.

By no means, it became that they met up again in such a manner— it was something he never thought of.

"Restia... Is this my punishment?"

If that was the case, it was too— cruel.

Like his whole body's strength was drawn out and he was going to collapse, his knees hit the ground.

He was plunged into darkness. 


"Kamito!? Hey, are you listening, Kamito!"

Even Claire's voice calling for Kamito was only absentmindedly heard.

Once again, the ground violently shook.

Passing through the «Gate» opened in the empty space, Glasya-Labolas was attempting to emerge here.

The wall of the arena collapsed due to the tremor and a large amount of rubble poured down over Kamito's head.

Just before his body was going to be crushed— that moment.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pashii*— Kamito's head was twined around by a whip.

"...Guoo!"

Kamito was violently dragged along the ground and he made an anguished voice.

Immediately after, a large amount of rubble fell at the place where Kamito had been at.

There was a thunderous sound. Clouds of dust fluttered up in the air.

...If he was crushed, he would have, without a doubt, died.

"Idiot! Wh...What are you doing!"

Over his head, Claire took up a daunting pose and shouted.

"Hey, do you want to die? Or do you want to turn to cinders?"

"No, not those two choices— Guoo!"

"Hmm, to retort, you are alright, aren't you!"


Claire constricted Kamito's head with her whip and with a jerk, drew her face closer.

"..."

It was at a point-blank distance as if the tips of their noses were touching.

Her ruby-colored pupils, filled with a strong will, were before his eyes.

Nevertheless in such a moment, Kamito was reflexively startled.

"...Come on, what? What is it?"

Seemingly noticing that her face was too close, Claire's cheeks turned red and she slightly loosened her whip.

"It...It's not like I'm particularly interested but... for once, listen up."

"Wh...What..."

"That girl just now, h...how is she related to you?"

"She—"

Kamito averted his eyes from Claire's clear eyes

"Was my contracted spirit."

"Spirit?"

Kamito silently nodded and clenched his left hand.

"...It's my fault. It's my fault that she—"

The thoughts of Kamito, who sank into the dark abyss once again,—


"So what!"

Claire's voice, which was cold, drew him back.

"Eh?"

"I am saying so what!"

Claire was standing straight up, with both hands at her waist and her twin-tail hair over her shoulder.

Until a while ago, her depressed state was quite extreme. 

There was above all else her noble, beautiful crimson flame.

"No, it is because I..."

Kamito was taken aback and became dumbfounded—

"Didn't you promise me just now that 'I'll be your contracted spirit'?! Please hold on to the responsibility of your own words!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishipashi!* Claire placed a strike with her whip onto Kamito's back.

"Ouch! Wh...What are you doing! Whipping a dead person!"

Without thought, Kamito stood up and shouted.

Claire suddenly smiled.

"A dead person? Then how about dying once? Look, look at that."

"Aah?"


Kamito turned his face—

From the «Gate» in the empty space, bluish-white light was emitted and Glasya-Labolas came crawling out.

The battle-class militarized spirit, whose seal was undone; its over-all length was more than ten-odd meters.

Glasya-Labolas roared. Merely with that, half of the audience seats were blown away.

It seemed that the audience had already escaped, but there should still be many citizens outside the arena.

From the giant empty hole in the wall, the state of the plaza was in sight.

Everyone was screaming and jostling, while running away. In response to the sudden appearance of Glasya-Labolas, the plaza and the main street underwent a chaos of agonizing cries.

Placing its hand on the crumbled arena wall, Glasya-Labolas slowly walked out.

With just that, the ground shook like an earth tremor occurred.

How would things turn out, if such a thing got out into the town— there was no need to think so.

"Waiting for help from the academy would be too late. Just the two of us will have to do this."

"...Ah, that's right."

However— Kamito still had not recovered from the shock.

Even «Terminus Est», which he was tightly grasping, was losing that cool and clear radiance.

An elemental waffe would demonstrate its true value according to the elementalist's divine power.

With Kamito's current condition, he was unable to even maintain the sword's strength.


For example, even if he fought, it was certain that it would instantly be broken.

"..."

Claire stared at Kamito in such a state with a rigid expression.

"It seems like you're still half asleep. If that's the case, I'll wake you up."

After that, for some reason, her face turned red and she quickly looked away.

And, in the next moment.

"...!?"

[[Image:STnBD V01 250.jpg|thumb]]
Suddenly, his lips were closed.

It was hot. It was a tender sensation that was gently getting wet.

The tip of his nose was tickled by the faint scent of her hair.

"Hn..."

Several seconds later, their lips slowly separated.

"Are you awake?"

"...A...Ah."

Kamito nodded like he was befuddled.

"Th...This is something... only once."

Biting her lips, Claire turned bright red and looked downwards.




The numbing kiss had blown away all the anguish from Kamito's mind.

"...Shock therapy? However, this is a little too effective."

"Hm...hmm, that's fine! —Well then, let's go, Kamito!"

While her face was bright red, Claire spun the spirit language summoning.

'''—Protector of red flames, watchman of the unsleeping hearth!'''

'''—Now is the time, by the blood contract, hurry and come to my side!'''

Immediately, a blazing flame whip was born in Claire's hand.

It was not the black flame, invaded by the frenzy spirit.

That was the flame of the noble Claire Rouge— Scarlet's elemental waffe.

"Thank you, Scarlet. Lend me your power for just a bit longer."

Responding to Claire's feelings, the flame whip thunderously growled.

"I won't make Scarlet, who is weakened, do something unreasonable. I'll go around it to support, so you strike that giant human spirit."

"Ah, I got it!"

Kamito firmly nodded and tightly grasped Terminus Est.

(—That's right.) It is alright to not think about Restia now.

(Now, just—)


(To protect this tomboy princess because that's what I promised!)

Taking a stance with the sword, Kamito kicked the ground and jumped.

"I'll show you, Claire Rouge"

The Strongest Blade Dancer — Ren Ashbell's Blade Dance!

Glasya-Labolas smashed the stone wall and stepped his foot out to the plaza outside the arena.

Kamito took a roundabout path to its behind and with a one-step jump, he pierced its ankle with the sword.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Vuoooooon!*

Glasya-Labolas made a destructive roar— While the shock seemed to be blowing him away, Kamito clung onto the sword that pierced it.

(...What destructive power! As expected of a Militarized Spirit!)

The eyes of the giant, that were burning in anger, caught sight of Kamito's figure at its feet.

It made a frenzy roar and swung down its boulder-like fist.

Kamito pulled out the sword and jumped back, then using the giant's arm as a stepping stone, he jumped again.

In order to crush Kamito, who appeared on top of his head, Glasya-Labolas reached out its hand—

At that moment, when it seemed like it caught his ankle.

"Kamito!"

Claire swung her flame whip and bound that arm. As Scarlet was exhausted, cutting up the spirit could not be done. However, roughly sealing its movement was possible.

There was the thunderous sound of the wind blowing violently. Glasya-Labolas shifted its anger to Kamito on its head. In the state of passing by, Kamito brandished the sword. He cut the black crystal-like eyeball.

At that moment, from the eyeball that cracked, something like a black fog was blown out.

(That's the frenzy spirit...!?)

The black fog coiled about the sword. Just at that moment, the tip of its edge was corroding to black.

Kamito was taken aback. —The frenzy spirit was a spirit that granted crazy attribute to spirits.

(Est is being encroached—!)

Kamito twisted his body and swung and cleared away the black fog.

He broke his stance in the air and was about to strike the ground as he was.

Then, Glasya-Labolas' fist swung downwards.

Kamito took a stance with the sword in front of him— but he did not make it!

"...!"

Glasya-Labolas' fist was— precisely stopped above his head.

Its arm, which was about to swing down at any time, was twined with a burning flame whip.

"Kamito! Now's the chance, quickly do it!"

"Ah—"


Kamito laughed fearlessly and stood up and concentrated his consciousness to the sword.

The elemental waffe of the sword spirit, Est, increased in radiance as it responded to Kamito's feelings

He kicked the ground and jumped. Kamito's sword once again danced in the midair.

And then—

"Oooooooooooo!"

The shining flashing sword cut Glasya-Labola's body right in half.

===Part 5===

That moment when Kamito cut and turned over Glasya-Labolas, Claire was motionlessly staring at it.[[Image:STnBD V01 255.jpg|thumb]]

With the shining sword in his hand, Kazehaya Kamito danced a splendorous Blade Dance—

That was almost—

Like the Blade Dance of Ren Ashbell, who she saw at the stage of the Blade Dance three years ago.

(...Don't tell me.)

The moment Glasya-Labolas turned into particles of light, the flame whip returned to the form of a small hell cat. Claire preciously embraced the flame spirit, which became small like a kitten.

"—Thank you, Scarlet."



<noinclude>{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter7|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Epilogue}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter6

2013-05-24T19:05:14Z

95.65.31.83: /* Part 4 */

==Chapter 6: The Blade Dance at Midnight==

===Part 1===

—It was 2 am. The time when the academy students slept and forest spirits began stirring.

On the stone paved path illuminated by the moonlight, Kamito was walking alongside Claire.

"The academy at night has an atmosphere that is very different, "

"Of course, night is the time for spirits."

Claire kept facing front and bluntly replied. Solid sounds of walking resounded loudly.

Since some time ago, Claire had not said much. She might be tense about the duel with the Knights.

"Where are you planning to do it?"

Private battles should be prohibited within the academy according to academy regulations. Is there a place for a duel outside?"

"Over there—"

Claire abruptly stopped.

In front of what she was pointing, there was a gigantic stone circle.

Its ground was dimly shining in bluish-white.

"That's the— «Astral Gate»!"

"Yea, the gate that connects this world with the Astral Zero. The reason why the academy was built in such a remote place."


"...I see."

He was surprised that there was a 'gate' within the academy premises. That stone circle was perhaps a prehistoric ruin, which was used with an unknown art. It probably had a function to stabilize the unstable «gate».

"Isn't it dangerous? There are spirits that cannot be controlled by humans roaming about in the Astral Zero."

"You see, that «gate» connects to a safe area where there are only low-level spirits. If not, the academy wouldn't leave it alone, right?"

Claire murmured '''stupid''', and stepped into the middle of the stone circle.

She recited the words of opening the gate in the spirit language and the blue light on the ground further increased its brightness.

"Come on, you, faster! Get on too."

Led by Claire, Kamito hurriedly jumped on top of the formation of lights.

At that moment, his field of vision was filled with a white flash.

He had a feeling that his whole body was attacked with dizziness. And then—

...

—After opening his eyes, a scenery of another world spread out.

There was a deep dark forest with twisted trees standing tall.

Shining brilliantly in the night sky was a blood-like red moon.

There was a pale purple smoke-like fog shrouding nearby.

Astral Zero— another world, which spirits live in.

"If it's here, nobody can disturb us. Even if we were injured, it would not be serious, so this place is often used by the academy students for duels."

A situation in which such a thing occurred, the physical body of humans possessing divine powers would be treated the same as spirits, this meant that there's almost no physical damage received.

Naturally, this was not absolutely safe. Pain was felt normally; in exchange of the physical body not receiving damage, the mind would suffer an equal damage.

To fall into a lethargic state was still a good thing, but in the case of receiving a serious injury, one would receive severe memory impairment and the destruction of the mind, there was also the possibility of not regaining consciousness.

"—Flame, illuminate."

Claire recited the spirit magic and a small fire ball was born on her palm, dimly lighting up a narrow open path in the middle of the forest.

"Let's go, Kamito."

Claire gently brushed her twin-tails and calmly walked.

"Do we have a chance of winning?"

"That depends on your ability. ...Honestly, it might be a little hard."

"Is that so?"

Kamito was surprised. For an elementalist of Claire's level, it was unexpected of her to say such a thing.

"Putting aside the other two, Ellis is strong. She isn't the Knights leader just for show. Besides, Scarlet exhausted some strength from this morning's fight with the «sealed spirit». Rinslet's ability is— well, at least I recognize it, but her teamwork is the worst."

"...That was a surprisingly calm battle strength analysis. I thought you were the more impulsive type."

"You, what do you see me as?"

"A dangerous fellow, who instantly swings a whip— Ouch!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pashii*— A whip was promptly swung down onto Kamito's back.

...After walking a while, there was a historic ruin of a gigantic theater in the forest.

It was something from when Astral Zero and the human world were one— a long gone mythical era.

The crumbling looking stone gate greeted the two. It seemed that here was the stage for the duel.

"First of all, you, the sword elementalist, are the attacker. Rinslet and I will provide cover."

"I've got the most dangerous role! Isn't it your duel?"

"What! Do you have a complaint? Alright, if that's the case, I'll let you choose a position. Attacker or cinders, which do you like?"

"I get it. I'll be the attacker."


"A wise decision."

Claire nodded seemingly satisfied.

"By the way, you can properly handle that contracted «sword spirit», right?"

"Hn, ahh...probably."

"...Probably? What do you mean?"

Claire's eyes lifted up with danger. Kamito backed off in a panic.

"Well, you see, isn't it bad if it was summoned poorly and went out of control? That's why, I have not summoned it even once since I contracted it this morning."

That was somewhat of an explanation— he thought. Actually, it was half of the explanation.

The truth was that, by contracting with another spirit, he felt guilty in regards to her.

He felt a sense of betrayal about using a new contracted spirit.

"You succeeded in contracting in just one try, therefore there should be little chance of losing control but— well, it is a sealed spirit with a history and it certainly won't be funny if anything happened."

However, Claire seemed to have agreed for once.

"For the time being, try releasing your elemental waffe. You are able to do that, right?"

"A...aahh... Yeah."

The releasing of an elemental waffe was not something anyone could do but—

(Can't seem to get into the mood, it can't be helped—)

Kamito closed his eyes and concentrated his consciousness to the «spirit seal» engraved on his right hand.

'''"Dispassionate Queen of Steel, the sacred sword that destroys evil—"'''

He recited the summoning in the spirit language and the crest of two swords crossing faintly shined.

The path with a contracted spirit would be normally connected— however,

(What?)

...It was strange. He could not feel the presence of such a powerful sealed spirit.

No— he could pick up its presence, but it was as if something wasn't right, like gears not fitting together.

'''"—Now form a sword of steel and be the power in my hand!"'''

At that moment, small particles of light gathered at Kamito's palm.

And then, what appeared was—

"..."

One short sword.

To be more precise, it was a small sword almost like a knife.

...*Shin*. An awkward silence arrived.

"...Is that the sword spirit's elemental waffe?"

Claire said with her face twitching.


For an incarnation of the powerful sealed spirit that cut down Scarlet in one blow—

...Honestly, it was too shabby.

"D...Don't judge it by its appearance, it might actually have an amazing ability."

"Y...eah, that certainly may be true!"

Claire nodded for a moment while having a stiff expression.

Kamito tried cutting a buckwheat tree as a test.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Bekii*. The short sword very easily broke and vanished.

"..."

"...Ahh, how should I say it, it's probably that."

Kamito beared the frozen Claire's gaze and calmly opened his mouth.

"To tell you the truth, this is the first time I've used a contracted spirit in three years. I have yet to regain that feeling."

"...Huh?"

Claire blankly opened her mouth to that shocking confession.

"You're lying... after all, didn't you easily tame that sealed spirit!?"

"That time was because I was frantically trying to save you. To be honest, I don't really understand myself how I succeeded in contracting it."

No matter how powerful a spirit one contracted with, there was no point if one could not fully draw out that power. When an inexperienced elementalist contracted a spirit beyond his means, it was often the case that its power would be too much to handle.

(...However, for my case, it's a little different.)

Kamito stared at his left hand, inserted in a leather glove.

(Probably, within my sub-consciousness, I thought about her.)

—Therefore, he could not connect the path with the new spirit.

"Wh..Wha..What's with that..."

He heard a dead groan. After lifting her head, Claire was tightly grasping a leather whip, used for training animals, with her shoulders trembling.

"No, I mean, um, my battle strength is lacking..." 

"What do you mean! I am counting on your battle strength!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishii!* *Pishii!* *Pishii!*

"Ouch! Wait..stop!"

A tempest of unforgiving whips descended onto the escaping Kamito.

Then, there—

"What in the world are you doing? Claire Rouge."

From the other side of the dark tree grove, that voice was heard.

Claire stopped her whipping and sullenly turned around.


The ones who appeared were Rinslet and the maid Carol.

"You're late, Rinslet."

"Aah, a lady getting dressed takes time."

Rinslet proudly brushed her extravagant platinum blonde hair.

"...? What, is Carol here too?"

"Of course, as milady's supporter."

After Kamito heard that, Carol brought out a flag, seemingly from nowhere and began swinging it.

"By the way, why were you whipping Kazehaya Kamito?"

Rinslet placed her index finger at her chin and frowned dubiously.

That was— before Claire answered, Carol interrupted.

"Milady, that's something unrefined to listen to."

"What do you mean?"

"That was a form of a slightly unusual love. In a unique way, that was a perverted play."

"Ehh! Is that right, you two!?"

"T...Th..T..That's not it! W...What are you saying, you stupid maid!"

Claire's face became bright red as she denied it.

...Indifferently, he wanted the fuse-blowing whipping to stop, as it hurt.


(...Why am I already worn out before the duel.)

Kamito began to seriously think about the absurdity of his life. At that moment.

"—Your side seems to be all present, Raven class."

A frigid voice descended from right above.

"...!?"

The four of them looked upwards together.

There, above the crumbling theater wall was—

A figure of a gallant female knight with her blue hair fluttering in the gentle breeze.

Beside her, two knights, also wearing the same silver armor, were standing.

He heard their names from Claire. The one with the short hair was Rakka. The one with the braiding was Reishia.

"—Ellis Fahrengart, for how long were you here!"

"By the way, you wouldn't by any chance be waiting for a chance to appear at a cool moment, right?"

"Wha... T...There's no such thing! I just only got here!"

After Kamito pointed it out with his half-opened eyes, Ellis was frankly disturbed and ended up almost falling.

...Somehow, that was a rather deplorable look for a Knights' leader.

Ellis sharply glared at Kamito and the rest, and drew her sword from her waist.


"Let's go, Raven class. Let's finish this duel by day break—"

At that moment. The illumination of a large flame lit the stage of the theater.

The one shined on by that illumination—

"That's—!?"

A large eagle was spreading its enormous wings and making an appearance in the red night.

"Let me introduce to you, Kazehaya Kamito. This is my contracted spirit— demon wind spirit, «Simorgh»!"

With a howl like the wind— The large eagle, clad in wind, swooped down.

===Part 2===

At a point of an attack in-place of a greeting, —

The demon wind spirit glided closer and dived with its aim at the ground, where the four were.

An ear-splitting thunderous roar. Stone paving came unstuck and large amounts of earth and sand were whirled up.

A strong wind, brought forth from the force of the explosion, hit Kamito and his body was easily blown away.

"...Gahaa!"

He was thrown into a wall. With that bone shattering impact, he stopped breathing for a moment.

Even if one received an attack of a spirit of a purified form, the physical body cannot be hurt, however, the physical damage from a crashing impact and fragments of rubble were different. Small rocks fluttering up in the squall were cutting at Kamito's whole body. While covering his forehead with both his hands, Kamito clicked his tongue.

(...What destructive power! If I took a blow directly, I'll faint.)

That demon wind spirit... Simorgh.

Comparing just destructive power, it might surpass even Claire's Scarlet.

(That's right, where's Claire?)

He stood up and surveyed his surroundings, his two allies were at their respective positions.

Claire was providing direct cover from a mid-distance. Rinslet was providing rear support with a long distance attack.

Carol was...waving a flag at the outside of the theater where she had escaped to.

The thunderous wind that was blowing violently stopped. At that interval, Kamito began to run—

"Not yet, Kamito!"

"...!?"

At the same time Claire shouted, the roar of the demon wind spirit resounded.

From an empty large hole in the ground, a large demon bird flapped its wings—

"What are you doing, quickly release your elemental waffe!"

"Hn, even if you say that—"

At that moment, a cluster of wind that held an enormous mass gouged the earth while rushing over.


The stone paving came ripping off in a straight line. Kamito quickly jumped sideways.

While tumbling on the ground, he quickly recited the summoning of the spirit language in his mouth.

The spirit seal faintly glowed, but as before, the path with the contracted spirit was not connected.

(... It's no good, huh!?)

Just as he was about to give up, a glowing short sword was constructed in his palm.

It was the same unreliable elemental waffe, but it was better than nothing.

"Are you just escaping? Kazehaya Kamito, I have misjudged you!"

Ellis, with a pony-tail hair swaying, alighted onto the ground.

"Ahh! I just have to fight, right—"

Kamito prepared the short sword and charged towards Ellis. The first to strike wins. If he defeated the elementalist first, then the summoned contracted spirit would vanished—

"Kamito, behind you!"

Claire's voice came from behind him— Kamito jumped straight to the side.

The wing of the demon wind spirit mowed down at the place Kamito was at just now.

"... What speed!"

Among the five grand spirits, the ones boasting of being the fastest were the wind-attribute spirits. And Ellis was completely controlling one of them.

The demon wind spirit, dancing in the night sky, turned in an arc— and swooped down.


Kamito jumped again. The demon wind spirit that crashed into the ground blew up a large quantity of earth and sand— and then it immediately transformed into countless blades of the wind and cut into Kamito's arms.

"...Kuu!"

Tremendous pain was running in his right arm. Actually, it did not mean that his arm was cut off— but that pain was violently jolting his consciousness.

(—Well, I never thought it'd turn into the blades of wind with that timing.)

Kamito was astonished in his mind. Ellis's competency as an elementalist was something substantial.

"Kamito, I'll cover you!"

At the same time as her voice, a blazing flame illuminated the night sky red.

Claire wielded Scarlet's elemental waffe — «Flame Blaze».

The flame slash mowed down all the attacking blades of the wind in an arc—

"I won't let you interfere with the leader!"

The braided hair knight, Reishia, attacked Claire.

The elemental waffe held in her hand was a transparent ice sword— it seemed she also an ice elementalist like Rinslet.

Nonetheless, her spirit's rank was completely no match for Rinslet's Fenrir. It seemed she had the competency to release her contracted spirit into its elemental waffe, but she had not made it hers yet.

She was not good enough to be a worthy adversary for Claire— Kamito concluded so and adjusted his direction to Ellis, who was in front of him.


In that moment, simultaneous with a violent blasting sound, the ground in front of him was being completely gouged.

"...!?"

"Huh, try taking on my elemental waffe— Rock Breaker!"

The short-haired knight, Rakka, shouted in a spirited tone.

Her specialized weapon was a large hammer with a long handle, which was easily being swung about by the thin arm of a girl.

Kamito jumped and backed away, getting some distance between them. She seemed more hot-blooded than Reishia.

While keeping his distance, he was chasing Ellis, who was within his sight—

Ellis had linked with Rakka's attack and was already moving.

As expected of the Knights' leader, Ellis' commanding ability was high.

First, she was to use her demon wind spirit to launch a preemptive attack to cause chaos on the battlefield. Next was to strike Claire on mid-guard with Reishia and Kamito on advance-guard with Rakka. While the two were pinned down, Ellis with the most battle strength would attack Rinslet on rear-guard. That was the so-called strategy.

(... Before attacking Ellis, firstly, I have to do something about this fellow.)

Kamito nimbly stepped in and let loose a slash. The flash of the silver sword shallowly cut Rakka's arm.

As it was an attack from an elemental waffe, blood did not flow out— but pain should be felt in the same way.

"This guy...!"

Rakka's face was dyed in anger. She aimed at the top of Kamito's head and swung her Rock Breaker down.


There was a thunderous roar. The ground was gouged and rubbles were whirled up. It was probably a spirit of the earth attribute. As expected, its destructive power is great, but its movement was a large swing, making it easy to avoid.

"Chii, how restless!"

She too seemed to have yet to master her elemental waffe. Or perhaps, her contracted spirit's rank in contrast to her competency was too great— The spirit she was supposed to be using was manipulating her.

"Don't run, fight properly, male elementalist!"

"This doesn't mean that I'm just running away. In a group battle, you should pay more attention to your surroundings."

"What?"

"A capable hunter is taking aim."

At that moment, an ice arrow came flying and pierced the girl's chest.

Rakka was flashily blown away and bounced on the ground.

The elemental waffe, 'Rock Breaker', turned into particles of light and vanished.

"Fuu, nice shot!"

Kamito turned behind where the voice came from.

On the outer wall of the theater, there was the appearance of Rinslet brushing her hair.

"... Why are you, the support position, standing at such a conspicuous place?!"

"Ah, it's natural for me to be at a more conspicuous place than Claire!"


"Th...That stupid dog...! You were moving around and sniping, right!"

Claire shouted like she was gnawing.

"Fuu, as a worthy lady of the noble Laurenfrost family, I won't be satisfied if I'm not at the most conspicuous place at a dance party."

"That's milady!"

Carol was delightfully swinging a flag from above ground.

"Hmm, you're pretty composed, Raven Class!"

—At that moment, at the back a strong squall was winding up.

Spreading its wings, the demon wind spirit roared and flew with its aim at Rinslet.

"A good target! Freezing ice fang, pierce— «Freezing Arrow»!"

Rinslet quickly released the Freezing Arrow—

The demon wind spirit immediately transformed to the countless blades of wind and rushed at Rinslet.

"Kyaa!"

"Rinslet!?"

In front of Claire, who planned to rush over, the braided hair knight blocked her way.

She quickly entered into the range of the whip in the gap that Claire lost her focus and slashed with her ice sword. The moment she got into the range, a sword was overwhelmingly advantageous. Claire was gradually pressured.


"Why you! How dare you do this to Rakka!"

"Kuu— Kamito, chase Ellis!"

"Ahh!"

Claire was in a predicament, but Ellis ought to be stopped now.

Ellis was running on the stairs of the theater. Her intention was to completely take out Rinslet.

Kamito aimed at Ellis's legs and threw the short sword. He concluded that it was dangerous to ignore her— Ellis jumped to the side and got into the audience seating.

In the vicinity, a high-pitched sound reverberated. The elemental waffe short sword hit the wall and got smashed up.

"Hmm, that's a pretty fragile elemental waffe."

While Ellis said that, she called the demon wind spirit to her hand.

And then—

"—Evil winds, pierce through my sworn enemy's heart, become a demonic spear and lodge within my hand!"

The moment she recited the releasing in the spirit language— winds blew violently and in her hand a very long spear appeared.

It was a ceremonial long spear and delicate patterns were engraved on its handle.

Its tip, illuminated by the red moonlight, was clad in sharp winds and was faintly making wind sounds.

Her pony-tail hair, which reached her waist, was agitatedly swaying and flowing in the wind.

Ellis completely spun the spear in one hand and stared at Kamito with a cold expression.


"This is my elemental waffe— «Ray Hawk»."

Kamito—

"...Beautiful."

Without a thought, let out such a voice.

"Hah, you too understand— the beauty of this «Ray Hawk»."

Displaying her truly prided spear, Ellis loosened her cheeks, slightly delighted.

"Idiot, I mean you! Don't make me say that, it's embarrassing."

"Wha..? Me..!?"

Ellis turned bright red and became flustered.

"Hey, y...you're mocking me, right? Kazehaya Kamito!"

"No, I'm just normally entranced."

"E...Entranced... Ah....."

Ellis's face increasingly redden... as if purging evil thoughts, she shook her head.

"Ehh...Such a practical joke... As I thought, you are mocking me!"

"No, you really are beautiful— Owaa!"

Being enraged, Ellis thrust her spear with her face bright red.

As a result of losing her composure, it was easy to dodge.


However, when the demonic spear tip grazed the side of his abdomen, at that moment—

The blades of winds were released and cut his whole body.

(Guu...!?)

In response to the sharp pain, Kamito clicked his tongue in his mind.

(—That elemental waffe can create the blades of wind, huh!)

While bearing the pain attacking his whole body, Kamito jumped away to the back in one go.

That demonic spear could create the blades of wind, so there also was no point in evading with a paper-thin difference.

However, Ellis jumped again and released a stream of attacks like a tempest.

"Are you trying to escape... you insolent guy! I'll turn you into tiramisu<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiramisu Tiramisu] is an italian cake and desert</ref>!"

"What? Is candy-making also your forte? You cute sullen young lady."

"I...I am currently practicing making candies. For the sake of the gentleman that I'll marry in the future— Eh... What did you make me say! And who's the sullen young lady!"

Ellis pierced the theater wall with all her might in one blow and fragments of rubble flew around.

(...This person, she's seriously strong!)

As expected of someone who served as the Knights leader in this academy that gathered elementalists.

It was a beautiful Blade Dance like modeling after Kagura, which spirits enjoyed themselves in.

The wound in his left hand ached.


He understood that his senses were gradually getting sharper.

The serious Blade Dance was causing his blood to boil.

His body was recalling the sensations from three years ago.

(However, it wasn't something like this.)

It was irritating that his legs did not move as he wanted. His instinctive ability to read his opponent's movements was also falling.

(I—)

"You, don't run!"

Releasing a sharp thirst for blood and being clad in gales, Ellis came attacking.

It was not a clever thrust. It was a blow with all her might to decide the match.

However, there was a fatal chance born—

"Freezing Ice Fang, pierce— «Freezing Arrow»!"

Rinslet, who had recovered and was awaiting for a chance to snipe, released her Freezing Arrow without delay.

Simultaneously—

"Dance, crimson flame that invites ruins— «Hell Blaze»!"

After Claire settled Reishia, she released her flame attribute elemental waffe.

"...!?"

Ellis opened both her eyes in surprise.


The timing was perfect. The released ice fang and infernal flame went straight at their target—

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pariiiin!*

They collided with each other in the air.

"...Wha!?"

Kamito's face twitched.

Ellis, in front of him, was also standing still, dumbfounded.

"Hey, Rinslet! Why did you get in my way!"

"W...What? You're the one who should not get in my way."

At that moment, the two of them began to quarrel.

"T...Those two..."

Kamito forgot that he was in the midst of the duel and deeply sighed.

(...They have the ability, yet their teamwork is really all over the place.)

"—How foolish, to fall out among yourselves!"

Ellis Fahrengart raised her elemental waffe spear once again.

Thunderously, a strong wind, unseen before, was winding up.

"T..To make a mockery of me by saying that I'm beautiful, I'll make you regret—"

There was already nowhere to run to. Kamito resigned his fate, at that time—


"Wait, Ellis! Something is strange..."

"What? Now then you're begging for your life."

Stopping mid-way— Ellis shut her mouth.

It seemed she noticed it too.

"What, this presence is ...?"

The atmosphere of the vicinity was heavy. That sensation, like one's back turning chilly, was—

"What?"

"What is this?"

Claire and the others seemed to have noticed it too. They looked up at the hazy night sky and tilted their heads in confusion.

Suddenly, a thunder-like sound roared.

And then— from a tear in the sky, that appeared.

===Part 3===

That was— a giant jaw, floating in the sky.

It had neither head nor body nor a tail. It was an eerie jaw with just rows of teeth lined up making a chattering sound.


"That's, ...don't tell me, ... a demon spirit!?"

The sudden appearance of that spirit made Kamito groan and terrified him.

A demon spirit— that was something with a spirit make-up that greatly differed from humans, and thus, that was a grotesque spirit that can never be tamed by elementalists.

"A demon spirit, why is it at such a place...?"

At that moment.

"Vo...Ruoooooooon—"

The demon spirit's rising ear-splitting roar caused the girls to cower.

There was a tremendous sense of intimidation. That divine power felt on his skin was comparable to a {{Furigana|devil-class|rank A|margin=13}} spirit.

Moreover—

(It's... going berserk?)

Kamito dropped his voice and carefully observed the demon spirit in sky.

A demon spirit was certainly a grotesque being, but it's unlikely that it would be going berserk without a reason.

(...What's going on?)

Groaning within his mind— Kamito recalled.

That reminded him, before the duel— the water spirit of the spirit device in Claire's room had went out of control.

It was a phenomenon that was normally unimaginable, but if the water spirit was in a frenzy at that time, it was natural that Claire also could not control it. ...Was that phenomenon something related?

Besides—

(Claire said that powerful spirits don't appear frequently in this area.)

For the appearance of that demon spirit to be by chance, it was too unnatural.

(What the heck—?)

The jaw floating in the sky mowed down many trees of the forest, and bit and crushed the ancient historic ruins to tiny pieces. The smashed-up rock fragments rained down from high in the sky.

"Claire Rouge, for now, we'll stop the duel. Is that alright?"

"...I understand."

Claire obediently nodded at Ellis's words.

Everyone in this place understood the danger from that demon spirit.

It did not mean that that was summoned in a purified form like contracted spirits.

If bitten by those teeth, the human body and so forth will be like mere scraps of paper.

"We're taking refuge. I'll take the rear, you all carry the fainted two."

Ellis prepared the Ray Hawk and gallantly got down to the center of the historic ruins.

"No, I'll take the rear. That is not something an ordinary elementalist can do one way or another."

The way of fighting spirits and fighting human elementalists were completely different. Of course, this didn't mean that the girls didn't learn how to fight spirits but— it was an opponent too dangerous for Ellis to fight alone.

"Stop the jokes. What can you, who can't even fully use his contracted spirit, do?"

"That's..."

Kamito firmly groaned. Certainly, it was not an opponent he could fight with that unreliable elemental waffe.

"There's no time to talk. Leave this to Ellis, let's hurry!"

Rinslet whistled and Fenrir, in a white wolf appearance, came giving both fainted Reishia and Rakka a lift. Carol also came running.

"Claire, what are you doing daydreaming!"

Rinslet pulled Claire's sleeves.

—Claire was looking downwards like she was thinking about something and she suddenly raised her head.

"Ellis, I'll take the rear."

"What?"

Ellis opened her eyes. Claire whipped her leather whip and called out her contracted spirit, the hell cat.

"..."

Claire's red pupils became nailed onto the figure of the demon spirit, raging like a storm.

...It was like she was completely entranced.


In response to Claire's appearance— Kamito realized and was taken aback.

(This fellow, don't tell me—)

Claire was obsessed with obtaining a powerful spirit.

For the sake of knowing the truth concerning her sister, Rubia Elstein, she needed power.

Therefore, she still reached out to the dangerous sealed spirit.

"You, don't tell me— You plan to make '''that''' your contracted spirit!?"

"..."

Claire did not answer. She just motionlessly gazed at the demon spirit in the sky—

"That's crazy! That's a demon spirit, furthermore it's in a frenzy!"

Kamito shouted, Claire swung her twin-tails and finally turned around.

"...It's a once in a lifetime chance."

She bit her lips and muttered with an expression like she had thought hard over it.

"Firstly, there's no such thing as encountering a spirit of that level in the «Spirit Forest». Besides, it's not like there weren't any elementalists who contracted demon spirits."

"You mean Greyworth? She's a witch."

"I too may have the qualities of a witch."

"Stop doing something stupid, you'll die."


Kamito grabbed Claire's arm, who was planning to dash anytime.

Claire sternly glared at Kamito.

"Don't get in my way. My reasons to want a strong spirit, I've told them to you, right?"

"Ahh, I understand. But that's no good. Your skills can't manage it."

"...Shut up, let go! You weakling, be silent!"

Claire shook Kamito's arm and shouted.

Within her ruby pupils, glaring at Kamito, genuine hatred surfaced.

"Despite snatching my sealed spirit! You can only use a weak elemental waffe, what qualifications do you have to say something?"

"That's—"

Kamito looked downwards. It was natural for Claire to be irritated. While he had indeed contracted with such a powerful spirit, he couldn't pull out its power completely.

"What? ... I was expecting a little something."

Claire awkwardly averted her eyes.

"I'll handle that alone. You all please escape."

"Claire Rouge, you—"

"Ellis, try to protect everyone. I don't want to think about it, but if I—"


Claire did not speak after that.

And then—

"—Scarlet!"

She called her partner, flame spirit's name and ran towards the demon spirit, devouring the forest.

"Claire!"

Kamito held out his hand in a fluster.

At that moment, the demon spirit roared.

A lump of shock struck. The trees in its vicinity were thoroughly blown off.

"Winds, grant us the hand of divine protection— «Wind Wall»!"

Right away, Ellis recited the spirit magic and protected everyone at the back.

(Damn, Claire—)

While defending against the pebbles that were blown off, Kamito followed Claire with his eyes.

Claire was— dancing in the air.

She got on the winds like sparks dancing in the air.

In her hand was her flame spirit released into its elemental waffe— «Flame Tongue», which she was grasping.

The blazing crimson killing flash cut off the evening darkness.

Claire landed onto the ground and while running through the gaps of the tree grove, she drew closer to the demon spirit.


The demon spirit opened its giant jaws and made chattering sounds with its lined-up rows of teeth.

(...It's no good, this is too reckless!)

The girl, Claire Rouge, that Kamito knew was an excellent elementalist, possessing calm judgment and an insight for tactics at least in a battle.

However, she had lost sight of herself now.

Her feelings for her sister, Rubia Elstein, caused her to lose her calm judgment.

Her anger towards her sister, who betrayed her. Yet, her overwhelming love— caused a great number of conflicts to be mixed and that changed into a craving for great power.

"How tenacious! Become mine!"
[[File:STnBD V01 183.jpg|thumb]]

The flame whip dance splendidly. Her red twin-tails danced in the dark night.

That was— elementalist, Claire Rouge's Blade Dance.

"..."

Beautiful— he thought.

Despite being at such a time, Kamito, for a moment, was fascinated by that appearance and forgot everything.

...It was the same as that time.

That time when she was fighting that rampaging sword spirit alone.

Kamito calmly clenched his fist and turned behind. And then—



"Ellis, Rinslet, I'll entrust the rest to you."

"Wha... are you an idiot!?" "Are you an idiot!?"

Both of them shouted at the same time. His ears shrilled.

"...Ah, I'm an idiot. Truly an idiot."

If Greyworth was here, she would have had relentlessly poured abusive words.

To take back the precious thing he lost, he had lived with lifeless eyes for these past three years.

Yet, he was recklessly giving his life away for such a thing.

However—

"I am her contracted spirit."

Therefore—

"That's, hm, I have to help her, that returning hell cat girl."

"Wait, Kazehaya Kamito!"

Kamito shook off Ellis's hand that planned to stop him and began running.

The crimson flame was dancing with the demon spirit in a Blade Dance.

It was no good for that noble flame to be extinguished. —He did not want her to die.

After all, she was— a normal girl.

Full of conceit, hot-tempered.


Putting on a strong front, easily lonely.... truly kind.

Liking canned foods and romance stories—

Merely a princess found anywhere.

"Oooooo...oon—"

The demon spirit roared.

It released a shock wave blowing away the forest and Claire was thrown onto the ground.

"—Claire!"

===Part 4===

"...Ah...Aah, Ah..."

Claire was thrown onto the ground and cowered.

The grotesque demon spirit made a creaky sound with its giant jaw.

It seemed— like it was laughing.

She planned to escape, but her legs were shivering and did not move.

It was frightening. While she was fighting, her senses became paralyzed. However, presently—

"Y...You are not scary, therefore, become my manservant!"


The demon spirit, floating in the air, had no reason to even respond to that jeer but— it loudly laughed.

Claire's body trembled and spontaneously, she closed her eyes. The roots of the teeth did not bite at the same time. Towards an unfamiliar thing, instinctive fear bound her body.

—At that moment. The Flame Tongue in Claire's hand suddenly vanished.

It was not that she canceled the release of her elemental waffe. Scarlet opposed Claire's will and voluntary returned to the form of a hell cat.

"Scarlet!? Why...?"

Claire muttered in a blurry voice.

Was she finally being abandoned by even her contracted spirit—

However, the hell cat, clad in flames softly growl and kicked the ground and flew up.

"...!"

At that moment, Claire finally understood. Scarlet—

"Noo— Scarlet!"

Claire's scream resounded.

Scarlet did not stop. It bared its ferocious fangs and rushed at the demon spirit.

It was a red hot flame that even melted steel. However, it was not effective against the demon spirit.

In an instant, the demon spirit's teeth mercilessly bit and crushed Scarlet's body.


It screamed with agony. The flame spirit, which was bitten and crushed, vanished in the sky like a whirlpool winding.

"...Ah...Scar...let..."

Claire, as if all her body strength left her, sank down to the floor there.

Following reason, she knew that she should be escaping.

It was a last chance Scarlet made for her.

Despite that, her legs were trembling bit by bit. She could not even stand.

The extreme deep despair paralyzed Claire's whole body.

(Because of me, Scarlet—)

In the blank eyes, where the flame vanished, tears overflowed.

(...I'm an idiot. Kamito stopped me and yet—)

(—despite being unable to win, I plunged in alone.)

She was unsightly defeated.

Her contracted spirit, which was precious to her like family, was also lost.

While the demon spirit was making the chattering sound, it slowly descended.

Those sinister teeth that just ate and tore up Scarlet—

"No..."

Tears flowed along her cheeks. A stiff voice came out from deep in her throat.


"Save me... Save me— Nee-sama<ref>Nee-sama is an honorable way of referring to an elder sister in the japanese language. The term is difficult to properly translate to Englsih and so has been left as is</ref>!"

She closed her eyes in despair and at that time.

"Claire!"

She heard his voice.

===Part 5===

"Oooooooooooo!"

While making his war cry, Kamito rushed towards the demon spirit.

The spirit seal, engraved on his right hand, emitted a bluish-white glow.

'''—Dispassionate Queen of Steel, the sacred sword that destroys evil!'''

'''—Now form a sword of steel and be the power in my hand!'''

While running with mud splashing, he recited the summoning.

At his palm, particles of light were born and transformed into the form of a sword—

However, it was not good like this. Against the demon spirit that brought down Scarlet's level of spirit in one blow, that short sword cannot be effective.

(—I beg you, lend me your power, you stubborn spirit!)


(—I know it, your power is just like that!)

The wound on his left hand sharply ached.

Again, the opened path with the contracted spirit was closed—

However, without minding it, Kamito continued to pour divine power into the spirit seal on his right hand.

It was an intense overload. Pain like burning was running throughout his arm's nerves.

(—Sorry, Restia. What I need now isn't you.)

Yes— what he needed was not the past.

It was the power to protect her here and now.

From the spirit seal on his left hand, violent flashes of lightning surged.

That sensation from three years ago was resurrected.

Everytime he kicked the ground to speed up, his whole body's sensation sharpened.

Just that demon spirit's movement was seen as slow motion.

(Recall it, that feeling—)

The sensation of the Blade Dance— where he danced together with his partner, the dark spirit.

(I am—)

Kamito kicked the ground and jumped high up.

(I am the Strongest Blade Dancer — Ren Ashbell!)


At that moment, a conspicuous dazzling flash was born in his palm.

From the spirit seal on his right hand, a huge amount of divine power came surging out.

The path to that sealed sword spirit was connected!

At the next moment, in Kamito's hand; he was grasping a sword that people wielded.

It was too gigantic for people to wield— the Demon Slayer.

And then—

"—Begone, jaw rascal."

The swing of the lump of the steel pulverized the demon spirit jaw into many pieces.

===Part 6===

The rain that began falling soaked Claire's back.

Her red twin-tails withered and closely clung onto her bare skin.

"Claire..."

Kamito called out to her back, which was cowering on the ground.

"Hmm... it's good that you're safe."

"It's...not good..."


Claire muttered in a shivering voice.

"My... My Scarlet..."

She turned around and from her red pupils, a drop of tear came out.

"You—"

"You're late... Idiot! Despite being my contracted spirit."

"Ahh. My bad..."

Kamito awkwardly looked away.

"Why?"

"Eh?"

"You have such great power and yet, at the beginning, why—?"

Claire firmly grabbed Kamito's uniform collar—

"..."

She weakly removed her hand.

"...No. It's because I'm weak."

She let out such a defeated voice.

"It's because I'm weak, that I couldn't protect Scarlet. It's because I'm weak—"

—She could not stop her sister.


"If I had more, more power, such..."

While being struck by rain, Claire repeated that with a blank expression.

"Oi, get yourself together!"

Kamito grabbed Claire's shoulder—

(...Eh?)

His body slanted.

His field of vision was growing dark. ...His consciousness suddenly went far away.

It seemed that the strike of the previous elemental waffe had thoroughly exhausted his divine power.

(Damn, what a bad fuel consuming... spirit...)

While cursing in his mind, Kamito lost consciousness.

<noinclude>

==Translator's notes and references==
<references/>

{{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter5|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter7}}</noinclude>

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter6

2013-05-24T19:03:51Z

95.65.31.83: /* Part 4 */

==Chapter 6: The Blade Dance at Midnight==

===Part 1===

—It was 2 am. The time when the academy students slept and forest spirits began stirring.

On the stone paved path illuminated by the moonlight, Kamito was walking alongside Claire.

"The academy at night has an atmosphere that is very different, "

"Of course, night is the time for spirits."

Claire kept facing front and bluntly replied. Solid sounds of walking resounded loudly.

Since some time ago, Claire had not said much. She might be tense about the duel with the Knights.

"Where are you planning to do it?"

Private battles should be prohibited within the academy according to academy regulations. Is there a place for a duel outside?"

"Over there—"

Claire abruptly stopped.

In front of what she was pointing, there was a gigantic stone circle.

Its ground was dimly shining in bluish-white.

"That's the— «Astral Gate»!"

"Yea, the gate that connects this world with the Astral Zero. The reason why the academy was built in such a remote place."


"...I see."

He was surprised that there was a 'gate' within the academy premises. That stone circle was perhaps a prehistoric ruin, which was used with an unknown art. It probably had a function to stabilize the unstable «gate».

"Isn't it dangerous? There are spirits that cannot be controlled by humans roaming about in the Astral Zero."

"You see, that «gate» connects to a safe area where there are only low-level spirits. If not, the academy wouldn't leave it alone, right?"

Claire murmured '''stupid''', and stepped into the middle of the stone circle.

She recited the words of opening the gate in the spirit language and the blue light on the ground further increased its brightness.

"Come on, you, faster! Get on too."

Led by Claire, Kamito hurriedly jumped on top of the formation of lights.

At that moment, his field of vision was filled with a white flash.

He had a feeling that his whole body was attacked with dizziness. And then—

...

—After opening his eyes, a scenery of another world spread out.

There was a deep dark forest with twisted trees standing tall.

Shining brilliantly in the night sky was a blood-like red moon.

There was a pale purple smoke-like fog shrouding nearby.

Astral Zero— another world, which spirits live in.

"If it's here, nobody can disturb us. Even if we were injured, it would not be serious, so this place is often used by the academy students for duels."

A situation in which such a thing occurred, the physical body of humans possessing divine powers would be treated the same as spirits, this meant that there's almost no physical damage received.

Naturally, this was not absolutely safe. Pain was felt normally; in exchange of the physical body not receiving damage, the mind would suffer an equal damage.

To fall into a lethargic state was still a good thing, but in the case of receiving a serious injury, one would receive severe memory impairment and the destruction of the mind, there was also the possibility of not regaining consciousness.

"—Flame, illuminate."

Claire recited the spirit magic and a small fire ball was born on her palm, dimly lighting up a narrow open path in the middle of the forest.

"Let's go, Kamito."

Claire gently brushed her twin-tails and calmly walked.

"Do we have a chance of winning?"

"That depends on your ability. ...Honestly, it might be a little hard."

"Is that so?"

Kamito was surprised. For an elementalist of Claire's level, it was unexpected of her to say such a thing.

"Putting aside the other two, Ellis is strong. She isn't the Knights leader just for show. Besides, Scarlet exhausted some strength from this morning's fight with the «sealed spirit». Rinslet's ability is— well, at least I recognize it, but her teamwork is the worst."

"...That was a surprisingly calm battle strength analysis. I thought you were the more impulsive type."

"You, what do you see me as?"

"A dangerous fellow, who instantly swings a whip— Ouch!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pashii*— A whip was promptly swung down onto Kamito's back.

...After walking a while, there was a historic ruin of a gigantic theater in the forest.

It was something from when Astral Zero and the human world were one— a long gone mythical era.

The crumbling looking stone gate greeted the two. It seemed that here was the stage for the duel.

"First of all, you, the sword elementalist, are the attacker. Rinslet and I will provide cover."

"I've got the most dangerous role! Isn't it your duel?"

"What! Do you have a complaint? Alright, if that's the case, I'll let you choose a position. Attacker or cinders, which do you like?"

"I get it. I'll be the attacker."


"A wise decision."

Claire nodded seemingly satisfied.

"By the way, you can properly handle that contracted «sword spirit», right?"

"Hn, ahh...probably."

"...Probably? What do you mean?"

Claire's eyes lifted up with danger. Kamito backed off in a panic.

"Well, you see, isn't it bad if it was summoned poorly and went out of control? That's why, I have not summoned it even once since I contracted it this morning."

That was somewhat of an explanation— he thought. Actually, it was half of the explanation.

The truth was that, by contracting with another spirit, he felt guilty in regards to her.

He felt a sense of betrayal about using a new contracted spirit.

"You succeeded in contracting in just one try, therefore there should be little chance of losing control but— well, it is a sealed spirit with a history and it certainly won't be funny if anything happened."

However, Claire seemed to have agreed for once.

"For the time being, try releasing your elemental waffe. You are able to do that, right?"

"A...aahh... Yeah."

The releasing of an elemental waffe was not something anyone could do but—

(Can't seem to get into the mood, it can't be helped—)

Kamito closed his eyes and concentrated his consciousness to the «spirit seal» engraved on his right hand.

'''"Dispassionate Queen of Steel, the sacred sword that destroys evil—"'''

He recited the summoning in the spirit language and the crest of two swords crossing faintly shined.

The path with a contracted spirit would be normally connected— however,

(What?)

...It was strange. He could not feel the presence of such a powerful sealed spirit.

No— he could pick up its presence, but it was as if something wasn't right, like gears not fitting together.

'''"—Now form a sword of steel and be the power in my hand!"'''

At that moment, small particles of light gathered at Kamito's palm.

And then, what appeared was—

"..."

One short sword.

To be more precise, it was a small sword almost like a knife.

...*Shin*. An awkward silence arrived.

"...Is that the sword spirit's elemental waffe?"

Claire said with her face twitching.


For an incarnation of the powerful sealed spirit that cut down Scarlet in one blow—

...Honestly, it was too shabby.

"D...Don't judge it by its appearance, it might actually have an amazing ability."

"Y...eah, that certainly may be true!"

Claire nodded for a moment while having a stiff expression.

Kamito tried cutting a buckwheat tree as a test.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Bekii*. The short sword very easily broke and vanished.

"..."

"...Ahh, how should I say it, it's probably that."

Kamito beared the frozen Claire's gaze and calmly opened his mouth.

"To tell you the truth, this is the first time I've used a contracted spirit in three years. I have yet to regain that feeling."

"...Huh?"

Claire blankly opened her mouth to that shocking confession.

"You're lying... after all, didn't you easily tame that sealed spirit!?"

"That time was because I was frantically trying to save you. To be honest, I don't really understand myself how I succeeded in contracting it."

No matter how powerful a spirit one contracted with, there was no point if one could not fully draw out that power. When an inexperienced elementalist contracted a spirit beyond his means, it was often the case that its power would be too much to handle.

(...However, for my case, it's a little different.)

Kamito stared at his left hand, inserted in a leather glove.

(Probably, within my sub-consciousness, I thought about her.)

—Therefore, he could not connect the path with the new spirit.

"Wh..Wha..What's with that..."

He heard a dead groan. After lifting her head, Claire was tightly grasping a leather whip, used for training animals, with her shoulders trembling.

"No, I mean, um, my battle strength is lacking..." 

"What do you mean! I am counting on your battle strength!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pishii!* *Pishii!* *Pishii!*

"Ouch! Wait..stop!"

A tempest of unforgiving whips descended onto the escaping Kamito.

Then, there—

"What in the world are you doing? Claire Rouge."

From the other side of the dark tree grove, that voice was heard.

Claire stopped her whipping and sullenly turned around.


The ones who appeared were Rinslet and the maid Carol.

"You're late, Rinslet."

"Aah, a lady getting dressed takes time."

Rinslet proudly brushed her extravagant platinum blonde hair.

"...? What, is Carol here too?"

"Of course, as milady's supporter."

After Kamito heard that, Carol brought out a flag, seemingly from nowhere and began swinging it.

"By the way, why were you whipping Kazehaya Kamito?"

Rinslet placed her index finger at her chin and frowned dubiously.

That was— before Claire answered, Carol interrupted.

"Milady, that's something unrefined to listen to."

"What do you mean?"

"That was a form of a slightly unusual love. In a unique way, that was a perverted play."

"Ehh! Is that right, you two!?"

"T...Th..T..That's not it! W...What are you saying, you stupid maid!"

Claire's face became bright red as she denied it.

...Indifferently, he wanted the fuse-blowing whipping to stop, as it hurt.


(...Why am I already worn out before the duel.)

Kamito began to seriously think about the absurdity of his life. At that moment.

"—Your side seems to be all present, Raven class."

A frigid voice descended from right above.

"...!?"

The four of them looked upwards together.

There, above the crumbling theater wall was—

A figure of a gallant female knight with her blue hair fluttering in the gentle breeze.

Beside her, two knights, also wearing the same silver armor, were standing.

He heard their names from Claire. The one with the short hair was Rakka. The one with the braiding was Reishia.

"—Ellis Fahrengart, for how long were you here!"

"By the way, you wouldn't by any chance be waiting for a chance to appear at a cool moment, right?"

"Wha... T...There's no such thing! I just only got here!"

After Kamito pointed it out with his half-opened eyes, Ellis was frankly disturbed and ended up almost falling.

...Somehow, that was a rather deplorable look for a Knights' leader.

Ellis sharply glared at Kamito and the rest, and drew her sword from her waist.


"Let's go, Raven class. Let's finish this duel by day break—"

At that moment. The illumination of a large flame lit the stage of the theater.

The one shined on by that illumination—

"That's—!?"

A large eagle was spreading its enormous wings and making an appearance in the red night.

"Let me introduce to you, Kazehaya Kamito. This is my contracted spirit— demon wind spirit, «Simorgh»!"

With a howl like the wind— The large eagle, clad in wind, swooped down.

===Part 2===

At a point of an attack in-place of a greeting, —

The demon wind spirit glided closer and dived with its aim at the ground, where the four were.

An ear-splitting thunderous roar. Stone paving came unstuck and large amounts of earth and sand were whirled up.

A strong wind, brought forth from the force of the explosion, hit Kamito and his body was easily blown away.

"...Gahaa!"

He was thrown into a wall. With that bone shattering impact, he stopped breathing for a moment.

Even if one received an attack of a spirit of a purified form, the physical body cannot be hurt, however, the physical damage from a crashing impact and fragments of rubble were different. Small rocks fluttering up in the squall were cutting at Kamito's whole body. While covering his forehead with both his hands, Kamito clicked his tongue.

(...What destructive power! If I took a blow directly, I'll faint.)

That demon wind spirit... Simorgh.

Comparing just destructive power, it might surpass even Claire's Scarlet.

(That's right, where's Claire?)

He stood up and surveyed his surroundings, his two allies were at their respective positions.

Claire was providing direct cover from a mid-distance. Rinslet was providing rear support with a long distance attack.

Carol was...waving a flag at the outside of the theater where she had escaped to.

The thunderous wind that was blowing violently stopped. At that interval, Kamito began to run—

"Not yet, Kamito!"

"...!?"

At the same time Claire shouted, the roar of the demon wind spirit resounded.

From an empty large hole in the ground, a large demon bird flapped its wings—

"What are you doing, quickly release your elemental waffe!"

"Hn, even if you say that—"

At that moment, a cluster of wind that held an enormous mass gouged the earth while rushing over.


The stone paving came ripping off in a straight line. Kamito quickly jumped sideways.

While tumbling on the ground, he quickly recited the summoning of the spirit language in his mouth.

The spirit seal faintly glowed, but as before, the path with the contracted spirit was not connected.

(... It's no good, huh!?)

Just as he was about to give up, a glowing short sword was constructed in his palm.

It was the same unreliable elemental waffe, but it was better than nothing.

"Are you just escaping? Kazehaya Kamito, I have misjudged you!"

Ellis, with a pony-tail hair swaying, alighted onto the ground.

"Ahh! I just have to fight, right—"

Kamito prepared the short sword and charged towards Ellis. The first to strike wins. If he defeated the elementalist first, then the summoned contracted spirit would vanished—

"Kamito, behind you!"

Claire's voice came from behind him— Kamito jumped straight to the side.

The wing of the demon wind spirit mowed down at the place Kamito was at just now.

"... What speed!"

Among the five grand spirits, the ones boasting of being the fastest were the wind-attribute spirits. And Ellis was completely controlling one of them.

The demon wind spirit, dancing in the night sky, turned in an arc— and swooped down.


Kamito jumped again. The demon wind spirit that crashed into the ground blew up a large quantity of earth and sand— and then it immediately transformed into countless blades of the wind and cut into Kamito's arms.

"...Kuu!"

Tremendous pain was running in his right arm. Actually, it did not mean that his arm was cut off— but that pain was violently jolting his consciousness.

(—Well, I never thought it'd turn into the blades of wind with that timing.)

Kamito was astonished in his mind. Ellis's competency as an elementalist was something substantial.

"Kamito, I'll cover you!"

At the same time as her voice, a blazing flame illuminated the night sky red.

Claire wielded Scarlet's elemental waffe — «Flame Blaze».

The flame slash mowed down all the attacking blades of the wind in an arc—

"I won't let you interfere with the leader!"

The braided hair knight, Reishia, attacked Claire.

The elemental waffe held in her hand was a transparent ice sword— it seemed she also an ice elementalist like Rinslet.

Nonetheless, her spirit's rank was completely no match for Rinslet's Fenrir. It seemed she had the competency to release her contracted spirit into its elemental waffe, but she had not made it hers yet.

She was not good enough to be a worthy adversary for Claire— Kamito concluded so and adjusted his direction to Ellis, who was in front of him.


In that moment, simultaneous with a violent blasting sound, the ground in front of him was being completely gouged.

"...!?"

"Huh, try taking on my elemental waffe— Rock Breaker!"

The short-haired knight, Rakka, shouted in a spirited tone.

Her specialized weapon was a large hammer with a long handle, which was easily being swung about by the thin arm of a girl.

Kamito jumped and backed away, getting some distance between them. She seemed more hot-blooded than Reishia.

While keeping his distance, he was chasing Ellis, who was within his sight—

Ellis had linked with Rakka's attack and was already moving.

As expected of the Knights' leader, Ellis' commanding ability was high.

First, she was to use her demon wind spirit to launch a preemptive attack to cause chaos on the battlefield. Next was to strike Claire on mid-guard with Reishia and Kamito on advance-guard with Rakka. While the two were pinned down, Ellis with the most battle strength would attack Rinslet on rear-guard. That was the so-called strategy.

(... Before attacking Ellis, firstly, I have to do something about this fellow.)

Kamito nimbly stepped in and let loose a slash. The flash of the silver sword shallowly cut Rakka's arm.

As it was an attack from an elemental waffe, blood did not flow out— but pain should be felt in the same way.

"This guy...!"

Rakka's face was dyed in anger. She aimed at the top of Kamito's head and swung her Rock Breaker down.


There was a thunderous roar. The ground was gouged and rubbles were whirled up. It was probably a spirit of the earth attribute. As expected, its destructive power is great, but its movement was a large swing, making it easy to avoid.

"Chii, how restless!"

She too seemed to have yet to master her elemental waffe. Or perhaps, her contracted spirit's rank in contrast to her competency was too great— The spirit she was supposed to be using was manipulating her.

"Don't run, fight properly, male elementalist!"

"This doesn't mean that I'm just running away. In a group battle, you should pay more attention to your surroundings."

"What?"

"A capable hunter is taking aim."

At that moment, an ice arrow came flying and pierced the girl's chest.

Rakka was flashily blown away and bounced on the ground.

The elemental waffe, 'Rock Breaker', turned into particles of light and vanished.

"Fuu, nice shot!"

Kamito turned behind where the voice came from.

On the outer wall of the theater, there was the appearance of Rinslet brushing her hair.

"... Why are you, the support position, standing at such a conspicuous place?!"

"Ah, it's natural for me to be at a more conspicuous place than Claire!"


"Th...That stupid dog...! You were moving around and sniping, right!"

Claire shouted like she was gnawing.

"Fuu, as a worthy lady of the noble Laurenfrost family, I won't be satisfied if I'm not at the most conspicuous place at a dance party."

"That's milady!"

Carol was delightfully swinging a flag from above ground.

"Hmm, you're pretty composed, Raven Class!"

—At that moment, at the back a strong squall was winding up.

Spreading its wings, the demon wind spirit roared and flew with its aim at Rinslet.

"A good target! Freezing ice fang, pierce— «Freezing Arrow»!"

Rinslet quickly released the Freezing Arrow—

The demon wind spirit immediately transformed to the countless blades of wind and rushed at Rinslet.

"Kyaa!"

"Rinslet!?"

In front of Claire, who planned to rush over, the braided hair knight blocked her way.

She quickly entered into the range of the whip in the gap that Claire lost her focus and slashed with her ice sword. The moment she got into the range, a sword was overwhelmingly advantageous. Claire was gradually pressured.


"Why you! How dare you do this to Rakka!"

"Kuu— Kamito, chase Ellis!"

"Ahh!"

Claire was in a predicament, but Ellis ought to be stopped now.

Ellis was running on the stairs of the theater. Her intention was to completely take out Rinslet.

Kamito aimed at Ellis's legs and threw the short sword. He concluded that it was dangerous to ignore her— Ellis jumped to the side and got into the audience seating.

In the vicinity, a high-pitched sound reverberated. The elemental waffe short sword hit the wall and got smashed up.

"Hmm, that's a pretty fragile elemental waffe."

While Ellis said that, she called the demon wind spirit to her hand.

And then—

"—Evil winds, pierce through my sworn enemy's heart, become a demonic spear and lodge within my hand!"

The moment she recited the releasing in the spirit language— winds blew violently and in her hand a very long spear appeared.

It was a ceremonial long spear and delicate patterns were engraved on its handle.

Its tip, illuminated by the red moonlight, was clad in sharp winds and was faintly making wind sounds.

Her pony-tail hair, which reached her waist, was agitatedly swaying and flowing in the wind.

Ellis completely spun the spear in one hand and stared at Kamito with a cold expression.


"This is my elemental waffe— «Ray Hawk»."

Kamito—

"...Beautiful."

Without a thought, let out such a voice.

"Hah, you too understand— the beauty of this «Ray Hawk»."

Displaying her truly prided spear, Ellis loosened her cheeks, slightly delighted.

"Idiot, I mean you! Don't make me say that, it's embarrassing."

"Wha..? Me..!?"

Ellis turned bright red and became flustered.

"Hey, y...you're mocking me, right? Kazehaya Kamito!"

"No, I'm just normally entranced."

"E...Entranced... Ah....."

Ellis's face increasingly redden... as if purging evil thoughts, she shook her head.

"Ehh...Such a practical joke... As I thought, you are mocking me!"

"No, you really are beautiful— Owaa!"

Being enraged, Ellis thrust her spear with her face bright red.

As a result of losing her composure, it was easy to dodge.


However, when the demonic spear tip grazed the side of his abdomen, at that moment—

The blades of winds were released and cut his whole body.

(Guu...!?)

In response to the sharp pain, Kamito clicked his tongue in his mind.

(—That elemental waffe can create the blades of wind, huh!)

While bearing the pain attacking his whole body, Kamito jumped away to the back in one go.

That demonic spear could create the blades of wind, so there also was no point in evading with a paper-thin difference.

However, Ellis jumped again and released a stream of attacks like a tempest.

"Are you trying to escape... you insolent guy! I'll turn you into tiramisu<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiramisu Tiramisu] is an italian cake and desert</ref>!"

"What? Is candy-making also your forte? You cute sullen young lady."

"I...I am currently practicing making candies. For the sake of the gentleman that I'll marry in the future— Eh... What did you make me say! And who's the sullen young lady!"

Ellis pierced the theater wall with all her might in one blow and fragments of rubble flew around.

(...This person, she's seriously strong!)

As expected of someone who served as the Knights leader in this academy that gathered elementalists.

It was a beautiful Blade Dance like modeling after Kagura, which spirits enjoyed themselves in.

The wound in his left hand ached.


He understood that his senses were gradually getting sharper.

The serious Blade Dance was causing his blood to boil.

His body was recalling the sensations from three years ago.

(However, it wasn't something like this.)

It was irritating that his legs did not move as he wanted. His instinctive ability to read his opponent's movements was also falling.

(I—)

"You, don't run!"

Releasing a sharp thirst for blood and being clad in gales, Ellis came attacking.

It was not a clever thrust. It was a blow with all her might to decide the match.

However, there was a fatal chance born—

"Freezing Ice Fang, pierce— «Freezing Arrow»!"

Rinslet, who had recovered and was awaiting for a chance to snipe, released her Freezing Arrow without delay.

Simultaneously—

"Dance, crimson flame that invites ruins— «Hell Blaze»!"

After Claire settled Reishia, she released her flame attribute elemental waffe.

"...!?"

Ellis opened both her eyes in surprise.


The timing was perfect. The released ice fang and infernal flame went straight at their target—

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pariiiin!*

They collided with each other in the air.

"...Wha!?"

Kamito's face twitched.

Ellis, in front of him, was also standing still, dumbfounded.

"Hey, Rinslet! Why did you get in my way!"

"W...What? You're the one who should not get in my way."

At that moment, the two of them began to quarrel.

"T...Those two..."

Kamito forgot that he was in the midst of the duel and deeply sighed.

(...They have the ability, yet their teamwork is really all over the place.)

"—How foolish, to fall out among yourselves!"

Ellis Fahrengart raised her elemental waffe spear once again.

Thunderously, a strong wind, unseen before, was winding up.

"T..To make a mockery of me by saying that I'm beautiful, I'll make you regret—"

There was already nowhere to run to. Kamito resigned his fate, at that time—


"Wait, Ellis! Something is strange..."

"What? Now then you're begging for your life."

Stopping mid-way— Ellis shut her mouth.

It seemed she noticed it too.

"What, this presence is ...?"

The atmosphere of the vicinity was heavy. That sensation, like one's back turning chilly, was—

"What?"

"What is this?"

Claire and the others seemed to have noticed it too. They looked up at the hazy night sky and tilted their heads in confusion.

Suddenly, a thunder-like sound roared.

And then— from a tear in the sky, that appeared.

===Part 3===

That was— a giant jaw, floating in the sky.

It had neither head nor body nor a tail. It was an eerie jaw with just rows of teeth lined up making a chattering sound.


"That's, ...don't tell me, ... a demon spirit!?"

The sudden appearance of that spirit made Kamito groan and terrified him.

A demon spirit— that was something with a spirit make-up that greatly differed from humans, and thus, that was a grotesque spirit that can never be tamed by elementalists.

"A demon spirit, why is it at such a place...?"

At that moment.

"Vo...Ruoooooooon—"

The demon spirit's rising ear-splitting roar caused the girls to cower.

There was a tremendous sense of intimidation. That divine power felt on his skin was comparable to a {{Furigana|devil-class|rank A|margin=13}} spirit.

Moreover—

(It's... going berserk?)

Kamito dropped his voice and carefully observed the demon spirit in sky.

A demon spirit was certainly a grotesque being, but it's unlikely that it would be going berserk without a reason.

(...What's going on?)

Groaning within his mind— Kamito recalled.

That reminded him, before the duel— the water spirit of the spirit device in Claire's room had went out of control.

It was a phenomenon that was normally unimaginable, but if the water spirit was in a frenzy at that time, it was natural that Claire also could not control it. ...Was that phenomenon something related?

Besides—

(Claire said that powerful spirits don't appear frequently in this area.)

For the appearance of that demon spirit to be by chance, it was too unnatural.

(What the heck—?)

The jaw floating in the sky mowed down many trees of the forest, and bit and crushed the ancient historic ruins to tiny pieces. The smashed-up rock fragments rained down from high in the sky.

"Claire Rouge, for now, we'll stop the duel. Is that alright?"

"...I understand."

Claire obediently nodded at Ellis's words.

Everyone in this place understood the danger from that demon spirit.

It did not mean that that was summoned in a purified form like contracted spirits.

If bitten by those teeth, the human body and so forth will be like mere scraps of paper.

"We're taking refuge. I'll take the rear, you all carry the fainted two."

Ellis prepared the Ray Hawk and gallantly got down to the center of the historic ruins.

"No, I'll take the rear. That is not something an ordinary elementalist can do one way or another."

The way of fighting spirits and fighting human elementalists were completely different. Of course, this didn't mean that the girls didn't learn how to fight spirits but— it was an opponent too dangerous for Ellis to fight alone.

"Stop the jokes. What can you, who can't even fully use his contracted spirit, do?"

"That's..."

Kamito firmly groaned. Certainly, it was not an opponent he could fight with that unreliable elemental waffe.

"There's no time to talk. Leave this to Ellis, let's hurry!"

Rinslet whistled and Fenrir, in a white wolf appearance, came giving both fainted Reishia and Rakka a lift. Carol also came running.

"Claire, what are you doing daydreaming!"

Rinslet pulled Claire's sleeves.

—Claire was looking downwards like she was thinking about something and she suddenly raised her head.

"Ellis, I'll take the rear."

"What?"

Ellis opened her eyes. Claire whipped her leather whip and called out her contracted spirit, the hell cat.

"..."

Claire's red pupils became nailed onto the figure of the demon spirit, raging like a storm.

...It was like she was completely entranced.


In response to Claire's appearance— Kamito realized and was taken aback.

(This fellow, don't tell me—)

Claire was obsessed with obtaining a powerful spirit.

For the sake of knowing the truth concerning her sister, Rubia Elstein, she needed power.

Therefore, she still reached out to the dangerous sealed spirit.

"You, don't tell me— You plan to make '''that''' your contracted spirit!?"

"..."

Claire did not answer. She just motionlessly gazed at the demon spirit in the sky—

"That's crazy! That's a demon spirit, furthermore it's in a frenzy!"

Kamito shouted, Claire swung her twin-tails and finally turned around.

"...It's a once in a lifetime chance."

She bit her lips and muttered with an expression like she had thought hard over it.

"Firstly, there's no such thing as encountering a spirit of that level in the «Spirit Forest». Besides, it's not like there weren't any elementalists who contracted demon spirits."

"You mean Greyworth? She's a witch."

"I too may have the qualities of a witch."

"Stop doing something stupid, you'll die."


Kamito grabbed Claire's arm, who was planning to dash anytime.

Claire sternly glared at Kamito.

"Don't get in my way. My reasons to want a strong spirit, I've told them to you, right?"

"Ahh, I understand. But that's no good. Your skills can't manage it."

"...Shut up, let go! You weakling, be silent!"

Claire shook Kamito's arm and shouted.

Within her ruby pupils, glaring at Kamito, genuine hatred surfaced.

"Despite snatching my sealed spirit! You can only use a weak elemental waffe, what qualifications do you have to say something?"

"That's—"

Kamito looked downwards. It was natural for Claire to be irritated. While he had indeed contracted with such a powerful spirit, he couldn't pull out its power completely.

"What? ... I was expecting a little something."

Claire awkwardly averted her eyes.

"I'll handle that alone. You all please escape."

"Claire Rouge, you—"

"Ellis, try to protect everyone. I don't want to think about it, but if I—"


Claire did not speak after that.

And then—

"—Scarlet!"

She called her partner, flame spirit's name and ran towards the demon spirit, devouring the forest.

"Claire!"

Kamito held out his hand in a fluster.

At that moment, the demon spirit roared.

A lump of shock struck. The trees in its vicinity were thoroughly blown off.

"Winds, grant us the hand of divine protection— «Wind Wall»!"

Right away, Ellis recited the spirit magic and protected everyone at the back.

(Damn, Claire—)

While defending against the pebbles that were blown off, Kamito followed Claire with his eyes.

Claire was— dancing in the air.

She got on the winds like sparks dancing in the air.

In her hand was her flame spirit released into its elemental waffe— «Flame Tongue», which she was grasping.

The blazing crimson killing flash cut off the evening darkness.

Claire landed onto the ground and while running through the gaps of the tree grove, she drew closer to the demon spirit.


The demon spirit opened its giant jaws and made chattering sounds with its lined-up rows of teeth.

(...It's no good, this is too reckless!)

The girl, Claire Rouge, that Kamito knew was an excellent elementalist, possessing calm judgment and an insight for tactics at least in a battle.

However, she had lost sight of herself now.

Her feelings for her sister, Rubia Elstein, caused her to lose her calm judgment.

Her anger towards her sister, who betrayed her. Yet, her overwhelming love— caused a great number of conflicts to be mixed and that changed into a craving for great power.

"How tenacious! Become mine!"
[[File:STnBD V01 183.jpg|thumb]]

The flame whip dance splendidly. Her red twin-tails danced in the dark night.

That was— elementalist, Claire Rouge's Blade Dance.

"..."

Beautiful— he thought.

Despite being at such a time, Kamito, for a moment, was fascinated by that appearance and forgot everything.

...It was the same as that time.

That time when she was fighting that rampaging sword spirit alone.

Kamito calmly clenched his fist and turned behind. And then—



"Ellis, Rinslet, I'll entrust the rest to you."

"Wha... are you an idiot!?" "Are you an idiot!?"

Both of them shouted at the same time. His ears shrilled.

"...Ah, I'm an idiot. Truly an idiot."

If Greyworth was here, she would have had relentlessly poured abusive words.

To take back the precious thing he lost, he had lived with lifeless eyes for these past three years.

Yet, he was recklessly giving his life away for such a thing.

However—

"I am her contracted spirit."

Therefore—

"That's, hm, I have to help her, that returning hell cat girl."

"Wait, Kazehaya Kamito!"

Kamito shook off Ellis's hand that planned to stop him and began running.

The crimson flame was dancing with the demon spirit in a Blade Dance.

It was no good for that noble flame to be extinguished. —He did not want her to die.

After all, she was— a normal girl.

Full of conceit, hot-tempered.


Putting on a strong front, easily lonely.... truly kind.

Liking canned foods and romance stories—

Merely a princess found anywhere.

"Oooooo...oon—"

The demon spirit roared.

It released a shock wave blowing away the forest and Claire was thrown onto the ground.

"—Claire!"

===Part 4===

"...Ah...Aah, Ah..."

Claire, was thrown onto the ground, cowered.

The grotesque demon spirit made a creaky sound with its giant jaw.

It seemed— like it was laughing.

She planned to escape, but her legs were shivering and did not move.

It was frightening. While she was fighting, her senses became paralyzed. However, presently—

"Y...You are not scary, therefore, become my manservant!"


The demon spirit, floating in the air, had no reason to even respond to that jeer but— it loudly laughed.

Claire's body trembled and spontaneously, she closed her eyes. The roots of the teeth did not bite at the same time. Towards an unfamiliar thing, instinctive fear bound her body.

—At that moment. The Flame Tongue in Claire's hand suddenly vanished.

It was not that she canceled the release of her elemental waffe. Scarlet opposed Claire's will and voluntary returned to the form of a hell cat.

"Scarlet!? Why...?"

Claire muttered in a blurry voice.

Was she finally being abandoned by even her contracted spirit—

However, the hell cat, clad in flames softly growl and kicked the ground and flew up.

"...!"

At that moment, Claire finally understood. Scarlet—

"Noo— Scarlet!"

Claire's scream resounded.

Scarlet did not stop. It bared its ferocious fangs and rushed at the demon spirit.

It was a red hot flame that even melted steel. However, it was not effective against the demon spirit.

In an instant, the demon spirit's teeth mercilessly bit and crushed Scarlet's body.


It screamed with agony. The flame spirit, which was bitten and crushed, vanished in the sky like a whirlpool winding.

"...Ah...Scar...let..."

Claire, as if all her body strength left her, sank down to the floor there.

Following reason, she knew that she should be escaping.

It was a last chance Scarlet made for her.

Despite that, her legs were trembling bit by bit. She could not even stand.

The extreme deep despair paralyzed Claire's whole body.

(Because of me, Scarlet—)

In the blank eyes, where the flame vanished, tears overflowed.

(...I'm an idiot. Kamito stopped me and yet—)

(—despite being unable to win, I plunged in alone.)

She was unsightly defeated.

Her contracted spirit, which was precious to her like family, was also lost.

While the demon spirit was making the chattering sound, it slowly descended.

Those sinister teeth that just ate and tore up Scarlet—

"No..."

Tears flowed along her cheeks. A stiff voice came out from deep in her throat.


"Save me... Save me— Nee-sama<ref>Nee-sama is an honorable way of referring to an elder sister in the japanese language. The term is difficult to properly translate to Englsih and so has been left as is</ref>!"

She closed her eyes in despair and at that time.

"Claire!"

She heard his voice.

===Part 5===

"Oooooooooooo!"

While making his war cry, Kamito rushed towards the demon spirit.

The spirit seal, engraved on his right hand, emitted a bluish-white glow.

'''—Dispassionate Queen of Steel, the sacred sword that destroys evil!'''

'''—Now form a sword of steel and be the power in my hand!'''

While running with mud splashing, he recited the summoning.

At his palm, particles of light were born and transformed into the form of a sword—

However, it was not good like this. Against the demon spirit that brought down Scarlet's level of spirit in one blow, that short sword cannot be effective.

(—I beg you, lend me your power, you stubborn spirit!)


(—I know it, your power is just like that!)

The wound on his left hand sharply ached.

Again, the opened path with the contracted spirit was closed—

However, without minding it, Kamito continued to pour divine power into the spirit seal on his right hand.

It was an intense overload. Pain like burning was running throughout his arm's nerves.

(—Sorry, Restia. What I need now isn't you.)

Yes— what he needed was not the past.

It was the power to protect her here and now.

From the spirit seal on his left hand, violent flashes of lightning surged.

That sensation from three years ago was resurrected.

Everytime he kicked the ground to speed up, his whole body's sensation sharpened.

Just that demon spirit's movement was seen as slow motion.

(Recall it, that feeling—)

The sensation of the Blade Dance— where he danced together with his partner, the dark spirit.

(I am—)

Kamito kicked the ground and jumped high up.

(I am the Strongest Blade Dancer — Ren Ashbell!)


At that moment, a conspicuous dazzling flash was born in his palm.

From the spirit seal on his right hand, a huge amount of divine power came surging out.

The path to that sealed sword spirit was connected!

At the next moment, in Kamito's hand; he was grasping a sword that people wielded.

It was too gigantic for people to wield— the Demon Slayer.

And then—

"—Begone, jaw rascal."

The swing of the lump of the steel pulverized the demon spirit jaw into many pieces.

===Part 6===

The rain that began falling soaked Claire's back.

Her red twin-tails withered and closely clung onto her bare skin.

"Claire..."

Kamito called out to her back, which was cowering on the ground.

"Hmm... it's good that you're safe."

"It's...not good..."


Claire muttered in a shivering voice.

"My... My Scarlet..."

She turned around and from her red pupils, a drop of tear came out.

"You—"

"You're late... Idiot! Despite being my contracted spirit."

"Ahh. My bad..."

Kamito awkwardly looked away.

"Why?"

"Eh?"

"You have such great power and yet, at the beginning, why—?"

Claire firmly grabbed Kamito's uniform collar—

"..."

She weakly removed her hand.

"...No. It's because I'm weak."

She let out such a defeated voice.

"It's because I'm weak, that I couldn't protect Scarlet. It's because I'm weak—"

—She could not stop her sister.


"If I had more, more power, such..."

While being struck by rain, Claire repeated that with a blank expression.

"Oi, get yourself together!"

Kamito grabbed Claire's shoulder—

(...Eh?)

His body slanted.

His field of vision was growing dark. ...His consciousness suddenly went far away.

It seemed that the strike of the previous elemental waffe had thoroughly exhausted his divine power.

(Damn, what a bad fuel consuming... spirit...)

While cursing in his mind, Kamito lost consciousness.

<noinclude>

==Translator's notes and references==
<references/>

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