Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume13 Chapter2 (section)

===Part 2===

Leaving the Academy's front gates, Kamito stepped onto the main road that went through the entire Academy Town.

"...It's already four days huh."

Looking at the wide streets at the foot of the mountain, Kamito muttered quietly.

Using the Great Festival of the Spirits as an opening, seven militarized spirits had attacked the Academy Town. Even the Imperial Knights' tactical-class militarized spirit Glasya-Labolas was corrupted by darkness and had gone on a rampage, wrecking the town.

The wrecked town's reconstruction was being carried out under the leadership of the Imperial Knights. However, the most heavily damaged Undine Area was still a wasteland.

Walking on the rubble-buried road, Kamito saw the figure of a familiar rock spirit. Its giant rock-covered body was currently clearing away scattered soil and stones.

"I see, this should be moved over to... Hmm?"

Riding on the rock giant's shoulder, the short-haired girl looked back. It was Rakka from the Sylphid Knights.

"...My, isn't this Kamito? What are you doing here?"

"Just looking for Greyworth for something."

Rakka jumped down lightly from the rock giant's shoulder.

"She's helping with the town's revival work. How amazing."

"This Cabracan is really suited to this kind of work, you know?"

Hmph, Rakka puffed out her chest with pride.

"I have to work hard enough to do the Captain's share as well while she's recuperating."

"Ellis did say she had to get back to the Knights' duties as quickly as possible."

Injured in the attack incident earlier, Ellis was currently receiving treatment at the Academy Town's medical facility. Although she had insisted she was fine, Ellis definitely suffered corrosion from Lurie Lizaldia's demon sword. Having inherited the Demon King's power, Kamito was a totally separate matter.

"The Seraelle Hospital has the most advanced medical facilities, so she should be discharged soon."

"You should go visit her, Kamito. I think the Captain will definitely be happy to see you."

"Yeah, I'll pay her a visit later."

Bidding Rakka goodbye, Kamito continued on his way.

Finally, he reached his destination&mdash;a military installation under the Imperial Knights' jurisdiction.

"Is Greyworth here?"

"Oh it's you. She should be present every day during this time&mdash;"

After showing his authorized pass to the guard, Kamito entered the facility successfully. Due to a top-level alert, the only people allowed into the underground installation were Greyworth and Kamito.

Guided by the light from spirit crystals on the walls, Kamito followed the underground passage.

The atmosphere underground was exceptionally oppressive. No matter what, this was a facility used for military research during the Ranbal War.

(...Such a creepy place, I can't believe she's still coming here every day.)

After walking for a while, he saw Greyworth's figure in the distance, holding a lantern.

Probably hearing Kamito's footsteps, Greyworth looked back.

"So it's you, lad."

"Yeah~ Don't you get tired of visiting this kind of place every day?"

This was a wide open space in the underground passage. The surrounding walls were crumbling and the ground surface was also sunken.

The center of the destruction was where Kamito had battled Lurie last time.

Stepping on debris underfoot, Kamito walked over to Greyworth.

"You should bring a bodyguard at least. Clearly you're no longer the continent's strongest witch."

"Oh? The lad is worrying about me?"

"You're overthinking it."

Kamito averted his gaze.

"Hoo~, in the end, you're more adorable when you lost your memory."

Greyworth shrugged and looked up at the ceiling of the devastated underground space.

"I wouldn't want anyone aside from myself to come here."

Kamito followed her gaze.

For no particular reason, simply due to the endless darkness spreading from there...

However, he could feel a vague sense of dissonance.

There seemed to be something there.

Greyworth probably felt it too.

"The Demon King's Burial Chamber huh..."

The Burial Chamber&mdash;a treasure vault bestowed to eligible Demon Kings.

That was what Lurie Lizaldia had mentioned.

Sealing away the possessions of the Demon King from a thousand years ago, it was a special dimension with magical properties. At the same time, it was the place where Est had been sealed when Kamito had lost his memories at the sanctuary of the Elemental Lords.

The place where Est had been sealed.

It automatically manifested at the Demon King's base of operations. Only those possessing true eligibility to become the Demon King were able to unseal it.

"Truly quite an unbelievable dimension. No matter what system of magic, it cannot be analyzed."

Greyworth nodded, slightly impressed, then looked back at Kamito.

"Lad, try using your power to activate the Burial Chamber."

"It's not like it's that easy to do."

Kamito shrugged helplessly.

There was no way for Kamito to open the Burial Chamber by his own will&mdash;Lurie had said so. Hence, she only barely managed to activate the Burial Chamber by resorting to the method of putting Kamito in a desperate crisis on the verge of death.

"...Indeed, it's still no good the way you are currently."

"There's no use provoking me. Besides, I don't need that kind of thing."

"Are you sure? Sleeping inside there are absurdly powerful spirits, you know?"

The Burial Chamber&mdash;The Demon King's treasure vault. If that were really the case, it was highly likely that the seventy-two spirits commanded by the legendary Demon King Solomon were sealed inside.

Although the majority of the Demon King's spirits had gone missing, rumor had it that some were sealed while others were modified into militarized spirits, there should be some left inside the Burial Chamber.

However&mdash;

"...Don't need them."

Worn at his waist, the Demon Slayer spoke.

"...Est?"

"Kamito already has me as the Demon King's weapon of choice and does not need any rubbish spirits."

A tone of absolute certainty. Calling the Demon King's spirits rubbish, this was Est who had slain the Demon King as the Sacred Maiden's personal sword.

"...So that's the way it is. I don't need whatever Demon King's spirits."

Kamito patted the sword at his waist lightly while he spoke.

"Is that so? Oh well, if that's the case, never mind. Then let's seal off this area first."

Speaking with slight disappointment, Greyworth&mdash;

"Say, why exactly did you come to find me?"

Only then did Kamito remember&mdash;

"Oh yeah..."

That was close. He had almost forgot his initial reason for coming here.

Kamito hastily took out the request form from his shirt pocket.

"I'd like long-term permission for leaving school grounds. Sign here please."

Reading the request form, Greyworth made a surprised look.

"Laurenfrost?"

"Yeah, there's something urgent."

Kamito repeated what Iseria had said this morning about the girl resembling Restia who was sighted in Laurenfrost.

Things regarding the Elemental Lords were an absolute taboo from Iseria's perspective, so Kamito skillfully avoided this subject.

After listening to Kamito, Greyworth said:

"Lad, is this information reliable?"

"...Probably, I guess."

Kamito nodded vaguely.

"I have heard that heavy snow is currently falling in the Kyria Mountain Range leading to Laurenfrost. Will I permit my precious students to go somewhere so dangerous for the sake of such uncertain information?"

"...One time in the past, a certain person was apparently thrown into a snow-covered mountain for many days as so-called training. I wonder if you still remember?"

"That's long long ago. Forget it."

Seeing Greyworth still making that look, Kamito sighed helplessly.

"...I also know that this news is very low in certainty. However, as long as there's a shred of hope, I&mdash;"

Kamito clenched his fist hard.

"Sigh&mdash;"

Greyworth gazed at Kamito with gentle eyes.

"You're always so concerned about that darkness spirit... It makes me feel a little envious."

Snickering.

"...Then so be it. But when little miss hell cat returns, won't she be mad at you?"

"If it's Claire, I'm counting on you to explain to her when the time comes."

"I'm sorry but I probably won't be able to help. I will be leaving the Academy soon."

"Leaving the Academy at a time like this?"

Kamito frowned.

The school was being rebuilt currently. During a time like this, Greyworth should be needed even more as the Academy's headmistress.

"Precisely because it's a time like this. You should have heard from Fianna too about the All Nations Conference to be held at the imperial capital. The continent is currently in an unprecedented state of emergency."

"The coup d'etat at the Theocracy huh..."

Several days earlier, Sjora Kahn had murdered the hierarch in the neighboring Alphas Theocracy. Furthermore, she had taken command of the demon scorpion palace, Scorpia. Very clearly, the upheaval was not going to subside with that. The hierarch faction in the Theocracy was rioting all over the place, starting wars everywhere, plunging the nation into chaos.

"There are also reasons on that front, but my true worries lie over with the Holy Kingdom instead."

"...The Holy Kingdom of Lugia?"

Hearing unexpected words from the witch's lips, Kamito tilted his head in puzzlement.

Speaking of the Holy Kingdom of Lugia, it was a very stable country like Ordesia. Ever since the Principality of Rossvale declared independence, nothing concerning had been heard from there in recent years&mdash;

"&mdash;A witch's intuition."

Greyworth narrowed her gray eyes.

"It's the same feeling I experienced just before that war. At this All Nations Conference, I am going to personally verify the Holy Kingdom's inclinations. Kamito&mdash;"