Kenshin no Keishousha:Volume 1 Chapter4
The curtains were raised for the second day of the elimination matches.
What was shocking was things went about as usual as if yesterday’s disturbance within the warehouse never happened. The elimination matches stayed on track and resumed as usual.
Because of the agreement between Kurou and the sun cultists, they did not pursue them. In consideration of Lima’s honor, the matter of her being wounded by a human was never disclosed. However, it was quite unimaginable that the incident’s follow up was conducted in a way as if nothing ever occurred.
Lars’s cover up of the incident was quite horrifying. You wouldn’t want this guy as your enemy.
“......However, this is such a pain. The waiting time is so long.”
Kurou heaved a heavy sigh.
At the assembly place where the elimination matches were held, there was a lounge accessible to the many participants waiting on their matches. Kurou and Hinako were just staring on as they sat on a couch within a corner of the lounge.
“Kuro is really quite laid-back.”
“I don’t need to hear it from you.”
“However, everyone else seems to be in a nervous wreck.”
The students who were about to take the stage stayed close to the side of the lounge that was towards the arena. As a result, an air of tension clouding over that place was probably to be expected.
“It’s now round three, the competition has become more fierce. Everyone has probably forgotten about the assault incident already.”
“Even those words sound quite carefree. Eh? That said, I haven’t seen Sefi or Lars.”
“I already told you, don’t directly call them by their names. Also, since when did you start directly addressing Sefi-sama by her name as well?”
Hinako was too unsophisticated in these matters. It didn’t matter much for a guy like Lars, but if she were to call Sefi, who was the princess of the four generals and possessed outstanding swordsmanship, by her name directly, then it would cause a huge commotion. Although that was the case, no matter how many times he warned Hinako it was probably a fruitless endeavor.
“Jeez......since Lars always wanders off as he pleases, even I have no clue where that guy is. However, there’s a special lounge for distinguished students so perhaps Sefi-sama should be in there.”
If your grade was good, it would result in better treatment. Since this school was organized by competing for ranks, it wasn’t a bad thing to bestow special treatment to those with superior grades.
“Ah, it’s Sefi’s turn.”
Hinako was watching the large display screen installed in the lounge as she spoke.
The large display screen broadcasted multiple sections of the arena, allowing it to capture many matches occurring at once.
“Can Sefi win?”
“Last time during the tournament she attained third place. As long as she doesn’t fool around she won’t lose.”
As he was saying this, Sefi’s wooden sword heavily struck her opponent’s shoulder and the wooden sword fell out of her opponent’s hands. Just as he was considering whether or not the girl looked a bit shaken up————she toppled over. She hadn’t lost her fighting spirit from the beginning, but her body was unable to withstand Sefi’s attack.
Sefi comforted her opponent and then departed from the tournament stage. She was very gentle towards her own gender. If only she was that gentle towards me as well, Kurou thought along these lines.
“It still isn’t Kuro’s turn yet?”
“No, there’s still around ten minutes left.”
Kurou responded while being fixated on the display screen. It was just as he said, once at round three, those that were present were all the students with excellent swordsmanship. They weren’t fully developed yet but after two or three years, who knows to what extent they would mature to.
Although there were Swordies who blossomed early on, there were also many who developed slowly. Among those kinds of people, they could perhaps become one of the Seven Swords of the future as well.
Kurou suddenly recalled, if the number one ranked student from year one, Migune, was still alive————
“Ahhh————!”
Suddenly, the cry of a girl’s voice sounded from somewhere.
Kurou did not spare a moment of hesitation. He grabbed the hand of Hinako, who blankly stared on, and ran out.
Everyone within the lounge had heard the cry, however Kurou was the fastest one to respond.
Kurou held Hinako’s hand and raced towards the sound of the cry.
Although it was quite a foolish thing for a bodyguard to specifically lead the person he was guarding to peril, Kurou would rather confront the danger than run away.
Based on the circumstances, in many cases he had to actively eliminate the danger factors to create a safer environment as opposed to running away. Kurou judged based on his own intuition, hence having fallen under this state.
Afterwards, they ran through the intricate paths leading around the arena.
As Kurou and Hinako arrived at the entrance of a room, there were many female students gathered around and chattering away indistinctly.
Kurou instantly noticed the red colored liquid flowing out from the room to where he was standing.
As he made his way through the crowd of female students and caught a gander of what was in the room, he noticed that what was lying there was just as he expected.
It was a girl covered in blood.
Although her face laid downwards, there wasn’t even a need to confirm who it was.
The number two ranked swordswoman, Freya, was dead.