Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 3 Chapter 2

Status: Incomplete

2/4 parts completed

   

Chapter 2 – Legend of Sword

Part 1

Feeling a mysterious warmth, Kazuki opened his eyes. It feels like he was being embraced completely by someone…he felt a sweet scent and humidity.

When he opened his eyes, there was the sleeping face of Koyuki in front of his eyes.

This was…that Hiakari-san was hugging me while half asleep!?

Kazuki fell into a light panic. However if he moved unskillfully he would wake up the girl. The outside of the window was still dark. Kazuki’s morning was early because of his habit as a swordsman to practice.

Suddenly it crossed his head about the rabbit plush doll that was placed on top of the bed in Koyuki’s room. The girl might have mistook Kazuki completely as her plush doll.

“…zu, ki…”

In front of him, the girl’s lips moved slightly. Was she calling his name just now?

Koyuki was circling her hands around Kazuki’s neck, even now the distance between their lips were in almost touching range. Both of her legs were tucking Kazuki’s body, she used her whole body in her embrace.

Across the thin pajama, the undulation of Koyuki’s body and the sense of touch, everything was transmitted to him.

Kazuki’s right arm was thrust inside the triangle that was drawn from Koyuki’s thighs and nether region, there was a squishy feeling of ‘punipuni’ in his palm.

He noticed that his hand was in contact with a place that he really should not come in contact with.

He never even imagined that she would do this kind of thing. Just as he thought, she might be really lonely somewhere in her heart living in isolation.

Kazuki felt the incredible loveliness of this girl who fawned on him unconsciously, his left hand that was not being embraced moved and stroked her head.

The silver hair that was cut short felt silky in his hand each time he stroke her hairs apart, it felt very good.

“Nn…” With the small voice she leaked out, a smile floated on Koyuki’s face filled with relief.

Her white cheeks were soft and full with her smile, this time he poked those cheeks with his finger. The sleeping Koyuki was nuzzling her cheek against the poking finger. Somehow she looked so cute.

Next Kazuki pushed her nose. The girl’s noble face was warped slightly along with a strange “funya” voice that she leaked out. This girl was also so cute when she was this defenseless.

A heart mark flew out from her chest. She might have felt something about Kazuki inside her sub-consciousness. Then her sleep talk before, just as he thought, perhaps she was calling his name.

When Kazuki’s finger was drifting around wondering about where he was going to poke next, Koyuki’s face that was supposed to be sleeping was reacting mysteriously, ‘paku’ in a snap the tip of the finger was held inside her lips.

While Kazuki was startled somewhere else, Koyuki sucked out ‘chuu’ Kazuki’s index finger just like a child who was sucking a milk pacifier. Uwaa…Hiakari-san’s lips, so soft…

Feeling fretful because there was nothing coming out from Kazuki’s fingertip, Koyuki started to lick Kazuki’s fingertip.

The tip of her tongue made out watery sounds ‘kuchukuchu’. It was strangely lewd somehow….

There, Koyuki’s eyes opened.

“Kajuki?” She whispered in half asleep voice. Her mouth was gaping open absentmindedly and the finger that was covered in her saliva was dropped from her mouth.

She started to comprehend the situation little by little, then in the blink of eye her expression was colored with shock and shame.

However when she noticed that the ones that embraced Kazuki strongly were her own arms and legs, she couldn’t express neither her complaint nor her disparagement, she was trembling in silence. She turned her back and shrank in embarrassment.

“I saw a strange dream and clung to you like that. ...Forgive me.”

What kind of dream that she saw? In any case, this was not something she needed to apologize for.

“You lie, like this…I only did embarrassing things since yesterday…”

“That’s not true Hiakari-san…rather if I say, you were really cute so it’s fine.”

Kazuki said so with the intention to follow up, but with a tiny voice the girl was,

“…I don’t understand what did you see from me that was fine or cute, Idiot.” She whispered so.

After a while, Lotte also opened her eyes. Kazuki had long-waited for that.

Kazuki spoke his mind frankly to Lotte who was coming back from washing her face in the washroom.

“Lotte, can you teach me Telepathy magic?”

Kazuki recalled Kaguya-senpai’s scent in his mind. His yearning feeling for senpai urged a determination from Kazuki for the whole time since last night. …He had to win against Kaguya-senpai.

Lotte blinked her eyes in surprise toward Kazuki’s words.

“You could reduce the hallucination of agony by using Telepathy magic to enter a Trance right?”

Senpai used a magic that assigned her opponent a hallucination of agony.

When he saw senpai fight for the first time, he couldn’t do a thing. That magic was something he absolutely needed a countermeasure for.

“Yes. I never expected that kind of magic before, so my mind was consumed and thrown out of order into a wreck completely, but―if beforehand I could enter a state of Trance and [resolve] myself, I should be able to endure to a certain degree desu.”

Resolve…if it’s resolve, he has it.

Trance was a state where he controlled every nook and corner of his mind including the subconscious area. A mental magic skill where oneself was completely in control of one’s own emotions and senses.

“Lotte, I ask you to consent for something unreasonable. I want to Trace Lotte’s method of Trance. For that I want you to remove your wall of heart for me.”

Hoshikaze-senpai had once before aligned her mind with Kazuki and Traced the way Kazuki’s flesh body moved, with that she learned the kata of Kazuki’s sword style. That great efficiency was something one should be surprised of.

Lotte learned Japanese language by aligning her mind with the surrounding humans’ minds and Traced their emotion and the interrelation of their vocal chords’ movements. The time that she spent to learn Japanese language was a mere period of three days.

Kazuki thought that he could learn the technique to manipulate his sense of pain with the state of Trance by aligning his mind with Lotte, in the same way Lotte learned language.

But it was difficult to Trace the depth of the mind. Because if his mind trespassed the Mind Hackbottom of the mind of other people, he would be repelled by the defense mechanism called <Wall of the Heart>.

There Kazuki proposed for Lotte to remove the wall of her heart beforehand and let him Traced her completely defenseless mind.

…Normally that was a request that absolutely couldn’t be asked. For the wall of the heart to be removed, it was an action of nothing other than surrendering every nook and cranny of her own heart to other people.

Every secrets of her heart would be exposed, there was even risk of her will being hypnotized by the other party.

Even so for the sake of victory against Kaguya-senpai, that was an absolutely needed step.

If for example he requested this from Mio, she would reject him for sure in embarrassment of getting all her shame exposed to Kazuki. That was not a problem of the high and low of the positivity level, but a problem of personality. However if it was Lotte―

“I don’t mind at all. Because I don’t have any feeling that I want to hide from Onii-san, none at all desu.”

She said so quite indifferently as though that request had nothing to do with her.

“But, if we are going to do it then let’s do it where no one can bother us.”

Lotte smiled in mischief and she pulled Kazuki inside the toilet.

“We are going to do it in this kind of place?”

Kazuki who was the one that asked for it in the first place was bewildered.

“Kazuki-oniisan, please sit down there.”

Lotte brought down the cover of the toilet seat as she was talking and sat down Kazuki there. Then she sat on top of Kazuki’s knees with her legs out to the side, only her head was facing toward Kazuki. Both their eyes drew near each other.

“By all means, go on.” Lotte closed her eyes and readily cleared her wall of the heart.

“Thank you, Lotte.”

Kazuki also closed his eyes, he poured all his concentration to sympathize with Lotte’s heart.

Several blue strings of magic power’s light was lengthening from Kazuki. It enveloped Lotte completely.

Kazuki perceived all the ripples that were produced from Lotte’s heart.

{Well then, how I use the Telepathy, I’ll show Onii-san the way I control my mind, please perceive it.}

Lotte’s heart informed him so. At the same time countless idle thoughts outside of the control method also rose out in her heart.

{I like Kazuki-oniisan} {I believe you so there is no problem} {I’m so happy that Kazuki-oniisan is entering me} {Feel me more} {Only now I can monopolize Kazuki-oniisan} {This is something that Mio-oneesan cannot do} {I love you}

Lotte’s each and every thought poured into Kazuki like fierce surging waves.

Lotte’s positivity level was 106. But all these thoughts were the real contents of that number.

Her good will spontaneously grew, at the same time the heart mark that symbolize the increase of positivity level also flew over.

{Thank you Lotte}

Kazuki accepted everything of those and conveyed his gratitude.

This was a training method that absolutely couldn’t come into existence without a partner like Lotte. He felt Lotte’s heart and Traced all the performance of Lotte’s mind’s movements.

―A little after a hour passed, Kazuki could somehow get the hang of trick.

When the Telepathy was over, Lotte laughed “ehehe” and came flying, hugging Kazuki tightly.

“Let’s try it in practice. Please cancel Onii-san’s defensive magic power desu.”

Kazuki strongly thought of nonresistance, then his defensive magic power was cancelled.

Lotte pulled Kazuki’s cheek strongly. Sense of pain was primarily the work of subconscious mind. But he seized it with the Trance and controlled it.

The pain was softly abating like being enveloped in silk floss.

He still couldn’t shut out the pain completely. However he had to reach the level where he could shut out the brutal agony of Kaguya-senpai’s magic and persevered through it.

“If Onii-san couldn’t deal with unexpected and sudden pain, than all this would be also in vain desu.”

When Lotte said that, she suddenly drew near Kazuki’s face and bit Kazuki’s ear in a snap.

Kazuki could even deal with that kind of sudden movement and quickly the pain was abating. Finally the pain vanished and what was left was only the sensation of Lotte’s mouth caressing his earlobe. Rather her mouth felt pleasant.

“Thank you Lotte.”

Kazuki hugged back Lotte who was biting his earlobe like she was fawning at him.

“Right now I can sense Onii-san’s feelings, this is somehow enjoyable desu.”

“…How dare you pull my cheek and bite my ear huh.”

With a joking tone, Kazuki pinched Lotte’s cheek that felt like touching a smooth silk.

“Plese don’t pull my cheek~. Ehehe, Onii-san is not going to bit my ear desu?”

Lotte was happily coming to pursue a skinship with Kazuki.

Part 2

“Oi Mio, wake up soon. Kohaku is going to come after this you know?”

With her twintail untied slovenly when she slept, the slightly amorous Mio was “Nn…I cannot wake up if there is no kiss from the prince….”, then she stuck out her shapely lips.

Her way of thinking was in the same level with Kanae….

“You, you just want to say that and only pretending to be asleep isn’t it…”

It was not like what she asked was something he disliked, rather he was tempted to just kiss her for real, but he became aware of Koyuki’s chilly gaze so Kazuki shook Mio’s shoulder with more strength.

―It was 7 o’clock in the morning.

Kohaku showed her face in this time when the SHR would be started soon. She came here a few times a day to pass Kazuki and the others foods and the likes.

But this time she was a bit late.

“From today onward, it’s fine to go out from this room limited inside the ground of the Sword Division as long as someone accompany you.”

Suddenly Kohaku informed them of the change of the situation.

“Why is that? Isn’t it bad if Kanae and the others from the Sword Division student council found out our whereabouts?”

“The Sword Division student council that Kazuki know doesn‘t exist anymore.”

“What did you say? Did something happen to Kanae?”

“Kanae-dono judged this one one-sidedly and came to attack and was defeated. The school tradition of the Sword Division is based on real strength doctrine even more compared to the Magic Division, because of that the moment the student council president is defeated by someone, she would lose all credential.”

“Then Kohaku had won against Kanae!?”

Kazuki was struck with admiration from the bottom of his heart.

“Although you have seven pieces of Sacred Treasures, to win properly against that girl…”

“You have said enough. This one heard before that when Kazuki and Kanae done crossed swords, Kazuki was the stronger one.”

Certainly he had more wins than losses with the score of 139 victory and 118 defeat. However those were not real battles.

“Because Kanae’s disposition is to fight using her instinct, she cannot make a serious effort in a contest of strength that was half playing around. If she get really serious, in just sword she is much more stronger than me. …I see, so you really win nicely against her.”

Kazuki displayed his heartfelt admiration, but Kohaku’s expression didn’t brighten at all.

“…Anyway this one is taking over the authority of the student council president, Kanae-dono and the others was suspended from school and underwent their penitence in their own room because of their crime in assaulting another students. At the same time, the Magic Division is forbidden from entering the Sword Division, all the students will enter states of high alert after school. In other words our preparations are in good order. The next time the Magic Division would appear in this ground is the moment when they come to attack right from the front in order to seriously recapture Kazuki and Lotte.”

Kaguya-senpai and the others will come to attack the Sword Division…that was a situation that he wanted to avoid the most.

“Kohaku, I have said this many times, but the Magic Division and the Sword Division shouldn’t antagonize each other. To prepare for bigger threats, the swordsmen and the Magica Stigma have to join their strength. This is not the time to squabble with each other. Even though you won against Kanae with the use of Sacred Treasures, opponents that you wouldn’t be able to defeat without the cooperation of the Magic Division will surely appear in the future.”

This was an argument that he kept repeating each time Kohaku came to the room until now. If she wouldn’t lent her ear too this time then―Kazuki intended to use all his strength to escape from this room.

He couldn’t just sat around and waited anymore.

Despite laughing off Kazuki’s argument with full confidence until now, for some reason this time Kohaku was looking down with doubt residing inside her eyes.

“…This one really don’t understand why Kazuki is always advocating such claim. If we let the Magic Division to do as they please, you realize that you are only going to be judged as an illegal magician right?”

“I never did anything like causing harm to any knight and trying to steal a Sacred Treasure. That are false accusations. Inside the Magic Division, there is someone who attempt to trick me into something. Liz Liza-sensei should already tell you that there is some strange distortion going on. If this distortion is not set right, the Knight Academy’s situation will turn dire.”

“A dire situation?”

For Kazuki to claimed that there was [someone who tricked him into something] by himself was a fairly lame thing to do. But it looks like Kohaku had underwent some change in her mental state, she lent her ear to Kazuki seriously.

“My contracted Diva, Lemegeton, is the Demon King that unify Solomon 72 Pillar. I have to become an appropriate King for her. If the situation keep like this, the whole Solomon 72 Pillar will be disappointed of us. If Solomon 72 Pillar wash their hands from Japan’s government, that would be the end of this country.”

I am a King. It couldn’t be helped even if he made a thoughtless and outrageous remarks, however this was most likely the truth.

If he didn’t resolute himself and took action, the situation would turn dire.

“Unify the Solomon 72 Pillar, Devil King…?”

Mio who watched over the two was dumbfounded. However she knew about Kazuki’s ability. If she included that fact, what Kazuki said was not so out of the realm of possibility.

“What this guy said is the truth.”

Leme materialized besides Kazuki. Now that he thought about it, since they were confined in this room, she never appeared at all, was it because of her discretion of the other girls?

“…You, haven’t you grow a little more since the last time?”

“Are you an uncle that meet his nephew after a long time? This is the fruit of Lotte’s positivity level’s increase.”

Leme showed a sullen face, was she being awkward?

Leme’s figure had turned into a girl around the age of a first year middle school student. Although there was still some innocence left in her look with that squishy cheek of her, inside her well-ordered face and figure was a hint of the budding charm of a woman.

If she kept growing like a human with this rate, she might grow into a beautiful girl that couldn’t be ignored by anyone.

“This girl is not a bad Diva. See, she doesn’t look like a bad guy at all.”

“Shop hith~, dhon’ fhull fhy sheeck~ (Stop~, don’t pull my cheek~)”

While pulling Leme’s cheeks widely, Kazuki appealed that Leme was a harmless existence. Was this a success, Kohaku was looking down and thinking for a while.

“…This matter might be something this one cannot decide. Kazuki, this one had someone this one want you to meet.”

“A person you want me to meet?”

“This one and the other also have a power broker behind us.”

After a long time, Kazuki and the others could finally get outside led by Kohaku. The group traversed the Sword Division’s ground. They could feel the awfully bright sunlight along with the morning air and fresh cold wind.

Different with the magic Division, the Sword Division had a Japanese atmosphere. Gentle undulations at the ground made from the artificial hill, a long stretching road filled with line of stepping stones, stone lanterns and pine trees were attracting their eyes.

“This one fought with Kanae-dono here.”

Kohaku said so with a sigh in the immediate area of the clubroom building. Her face seen from the side looked quite uncertain that was so unlike of how she usually acted, this place gave a true account of what kind of fight had unfolded here.

Even though Kohaku owned several Sacred Treasures, she shouldn’t be able to defeat Kanae so easily.

But no matter what had actually happened in the fight, it wouldn’t be able to shake the fact of the outcome.

Even Kanae wouldn’t act like a child by insisting in protest against her defeat.

“The person you want me to meet is not in the student dormitory but inside this kind of place?”

The time was still before the start of the school class. Despite that, why would that person being here in the clubroom building and not in his room at the student dormitory?

“There is a special circumstance, she is the Sword Division’s student, but she spend a lot of her time secretly outside the dormitory.”

Kohaku ascended the exterior stair of the clubroom building while talking, then she knocked the door of the clubroom with a dirty plate that was hanged on it with the writing of [Pingpong Club]. Looking from its outward appearance, the clubroom looks abandoned already.

“<Mikohime>-sama, this is Kohaku. Coming in.”

“…I told you already, don’t call me Mikohime-sama! Someone that call me something like Mikohime cannot come in, idiot―!”

Boos was returned from the other side of the door.

Kohaku was being stunned fro only a moment, then she opened the door with a key while saying “Entering.”

Peeking at the other side of the door, Kazuki’s eyes suddenly became round.

The inside of the clubroom was not a conventional high school clubroom, but it had been turned into an altar of Shinto ceremony.

The whole surface was colored brightly with vermilion and gold colors, while there was a large altar in the inside. There were not even any shadow or shape of anything ping-pong inside. In the middle of the room, there was a girl clad in the Sword Division’s uniform.

“Kohakuu―, I have said this so many times, but title like miko or hime is not appropriate for me. I’m just one girl that had decided to reach success in life by sword, a swordswoman! So stop elevating me to a weird position!”

A girl with a short-cut hair in shaggy-style that make her look energetic. With an imposing countenance that really suited a swordsman, she was sulking at Kohaku in dissatisfaction childishly.

When that girl noticed Kazuki, she thrust her index finger to him and raised a loud voice.

“A young man in the Magic Division uniform…I heard about it before, this guy is the enemy of women, Hayashizaki Kazuki! Kohaku, what is this about? Why will you take this kind of guy to this altar? Have you been corrupted by him!? En-gacho!”

…Wait a second there, what does she mean by enemy of women?

“Mikohime-sama, first please let me introduce them. …Kazuki, in this side is Tsukahara Kazuha-sama. A senpai in the Sword Division.”

“You said Tsukahara, so she is that teacher’s…?”

“Correct, she is his daughter.”

“Stop calling me Tsukahara, I’m going to be compared with that good-for-nothing glasses father. Then Kohaku too, stop that stiff tone of yours when talking to me already. You’re my important friend after all.”

“Before you are this one’s friend, Kazuha-senpai is the mikohime of the sword.”

“I told you to quit it haven’t I―! I’m angry here, otherwise I’m going to cry!?”

Kazuha-senpai waved her arms about energetically. The long sleeves of the Sword Division’s uniform were flapping around.

“Then Mikohime-sama, these are those who were chased by the aforementioned Magic Division, Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte Liebenfrau, and the additional two names that were dragged into that strife.”

“Wait there, what’s with that mention of ‘additional’ you said! I’m the one with the number one charisma you know!?”

Though the mention about getting dragged into this was true, but Mio was still angry because she was introduced lightly.

“I understand their problem when I see them. But why would you take them to this place?”

“I wish for Mikohime-sama and Sword God-sama to hear their story.”

“I told you…don’t call me Mikohime…”

Kazuha-senpai was being fed up with how Kohaku keep calling her Mikohime.

…Mikohime, Sword God…?

“Kazuki, Kazuha-senpai is being contracted with a Diva outside of Solomon 72 Pillar, she is the same like Kazuki, an illegal magician in the eyes of law. Because of this one and my comrade’s encounter with Senpai here, we started to get really serious about overthrowing the Magic Division.”

Kazuki spontaneously faced Kazuha-senpai with shocked eyes.

“Wait, is it okay for you to reveal me as an illegal magician so lightly? Of course it’s not okay you know!”

Kazuha-senpai glowered at Kohaku. Looking at her abundance of the emotion that she showed, it seems there was no unnaturalness at all in her like a person that was having their heart encroached. She was overflowing with energetic vitality, a very open and bold woman.

“Well, indeed I am an illegal magician. But my Diva is by no means an evil existence. I’ll show you the proof right now, you’ll see.”

Kazuha-senpai chanted a spell, her body was enveloped with vermillion light of magic power.

“Mine bare hand grasp the red hot ore. Ridges on the sky, blade on the earth, merge in a flash namely as the only sword. Thy inscription is <Futsunushi no Kami>! Oh god of iron and fire, show thy forge!”

Kazuha-senpai’s both hands were swallowed in burning flame.

Inside that flame, a hot red iron [sword] was created.

That sword was not a Japanese katana. It was an ancient double edged sword that was used in the era far before even the katana.

A human’s face was carved like a relief in the part of the hilt,

The avatar that was born from the spell was floating away lightly from Kazuha-senpai’s hand.

“…Mine’s name is Futsunushi no Kami! One of the pillar god that had watched over the children of Yamato from the ancient times!”

The rough human face that was carved into the hilt opened its eyes suddenly and widely and proclaimed to Kazuki and the others.

“Mikohime-sama is contracted with Futsunushi no Kami-sama, but she hid this matter and went through the Sword Division. …So to speak, [the Magica Stigma of Sword Division].”

In contrast with Kazuki who was the swordsman of the Magic Division…Kazuha-senpai was the Magica Stigma of the Sword Division!

“Is there no danger? If you are possessed and your mind get hijacked then…”

Kazuha-senpai’s turned indignant toward Kazuki’s apprehension.

“What are you saying, you enemy of women! You’re going to be cursed by all the god-sama that had been in Japan since the ancient times! I had associated with Futsunushi no Kami since when I was born! If he have any intention to hijack my mind than he would have already do it from a long time ago!”

“Guwahhahha!” Futsunushi no Kami laughed off.

“That’s correct, I don’t have any such intention like stealing human’s flesh body. I’m also not interested in human’s faith. So to speak, I am the same with Solomon 72 Pillar. I bind a contract only to grant the strength to this frail young girl!”

“Don’t call me frail, idiot!” “Guwahhahha! Hooww cute!”

The human-faced sword―Futsunushi no Kami was laughing heartily. The expressive features of the carving in the hilt felt like a good natured uncle, Kazuki couldn’t see any lie at all from him.

There was no reason to think that just because he is a Diva, he wanted to steal human’s body from anyone. Lotte’s Prometheus was also like that.

Each Diva’s objective were different. The current law that grouped all the Diva that were not Solomon 72 Pillar as something to be wary of and classified those Diva’s contractor as illegal magician might be too rough and broad. Though thinking of the risk of those Diva with evil intention, probably that kind of law couldn’t be helped, but….

Now that he thought about it, the illegal magicians that were captured by the Knight Order was when their mind were encroached thus losing their sanity and turned violent. Supposing that the Diva was not encroaching their mind, as long as they didn’t use their power and hid their stigmata, they could pass of as normal humans and keep living normally.

By some chances, perhaps there was a lot of [Hidden Illegal Magician] contracted secretly with Diva from various mythology that stay under the radar in this country outside of Kazuha-senpai.

“…Japan Mythology’s Diva!?”

Leme materialized at Kazuki’s side.

“Oooh, little girl! Are you one of Solomon 72 Pillar?”

Futsunushi no Kami asked to Leme.

“Leme is the King of Solomon 72 Pillar, Lemegeton. Right now most of my strength and memory are lost. This guy is the master of Leme’s contract, if he grow to become appropriate King, Leme will also recover my strength and memory.”

Leme spoke rudely while pointing at Kazuki.

“But the government and the adults in this academy doesn’t trust Leme and Kazuki, they gave us designation as illegal and pursued us. On top of all that, they even created some suspicious plot by giving us false accusations and treated us like a criminal…”

“I see. How pitiful even though you are just a little girl. But won’t it be okay if you just explain it through the 72 Pillar?”

Futsunushi no Kami who was floating around in the air buoyantly slanted his body and asked Leme.

Was that gesture something like someone tilting his neck in wonder?

Certainly, if Diva like Asmodeus or Phoenix just explained to the people that [Lemegeton is our King] , all the issues would be resolved neatly.

“That’s no good. Solomon 72 Pillar had decided not to intervene in the action and decision of the people in this country. We granted power freely to this country without the rule of faith so we can see with our own eyes what will they use that power for. Right now is still the stage where they need to be aware of what had awoken in this world, isn’t that right? If they make a move like eliminating the King who are Leme and Kazuki for their own selfish interest then…Solomon 72 Pillar is going to forsake Japan and move to different place.”

Leme answered with some cruelty spreading into her sentiment.

“…Eh, what’s with that! Isn’t that bad!?”

Mio who listened carefully in that place couldn’t help but raising her voice.

“In which case in the current situation, all of you is currently in the process of running out of patience toward the government of Japan then, guhaha.”

“The situation is just like you said. In the meanwhile this guy…our King, what is he going to show to us, Leme is looking forward to it in anticipation. …And then, what is the stance that Japan Mythology is taking? I thought that Japan Mythology didn’t plan to concern themselves with the humans proactively.”

This time Leme was the one that asked Futsunushi no Kami. Distinct color of wariness was floating in Leme’s expression towards Japan Mythology. Suddenly Futsunushi no Kami’s face turned serious and he answered.

“True. Frankly speaking, I don’t have any trust for all of you from Solomon 72 Pillar.”

The Diva of sword with strangely deep character, Futsunushi no Kami started his story with grave expression.

“We, the Diva of <Japan Mythology> is a mythology that doesn’t particularly demand faith from human. We don’t have any intention to aim for a monotheism where the gods are absolute and things like subduing the human and basking ourselves in self-satisfaction. Having an altar built for me and also an interesting person like Kazuha as a partner for playing around with is more than enough. We are the native friends of the children of Yamato, the local friend, think of us as the localee.”

“Localee…is that a vocabulary that is used by god-sama?”

“Guwahhahha, I’m happy that you can insert the tsukkomi there! When I’m the idiot someone is going to tsukkomi, just having someone accompanying me for that is enough to satisfy me! The same goes with my other comrade. But if we are neglected and become sulky, then we will go wild and bring forth calamity!!”

Harming the mood of the god-sama would cause a great disaster, that was the standard pattern for Japan’s folklore. Are they friendly or vicious….

“By the way, usually I put some offering on the altar here, chatting with Futsunushi no Kami about what happened today at school, playing some game, or other things. We are close friends see!”

Kazuha-senpai’s expression broke open slightly and she puffed up with pride.

“Mikohime-sama don’t have any friend in the class after all”

“Kazuha don’t have any friend except me after all, guwahhahha!”

“Do, don’t say that I don’t have any friend! …It can’t be helped that I cannot make any friend…No wait, Kohaku is my friend right? That’s why don’t call me Mikohime-sama…”

“Bu, but senpai is the one that is contracted with Sword God-sama so no matter what it’s too august…”

Kohaku was flustered. When she started to call Kazuki informally before this she was also hesitating very much, it seems she had a quite reserved character against someone established as her senior.

Kazuha-senpai dropped her shoulder in dejection hearing Kohaku’s reply.

“…<Nature’s Worship> isn’t it? Even in Europe, similar mythologies that believed in spirits are not few.”

This time Prometheus’ form also appeared at Lotte’s side.

“However nature’s worship at Europe was distorted at the present era because of the censure in the middle age that demarked them as demon’s belief. Japan Mythology can be said to be a rare case because they are a primitive faith that are still continuing to the present era, don’t you agree.”

Prometheus original form and strength had returned back for a time in the middle of the fight with Beatrix,

But it seems it was nothing more than it was only a temporary recovery using Leme’s power, he immediately returned back to the form of young boy.

Looks like he still had to reside inside Lotte to recover his divinity from now on too.

“Hou, looks like this time a youngster come out. Are you that one, the Diva who is said to be contracted with the heretic magician Charlotte Liebenfrau…?

“Correct, Prometheus of the Greek Mythology, best regards.”

Prometheus presented his hand for a handshake, but when Futsunushi no Kami presented his sword body suddenly he drew back his hand in shock. What are they doing, these Divas?

The situation developed into a gathering of three Diva, each from different Mythology.

Solomon 72 Pillar also had a secrecy doctrine, so this was an exceedingly rare scene.

“We of the Japan Mythology are not particularly concerned when Solomon 72 Pillar started to get along with the people of Japan. Thereupon there is this feeling of us being treated lightly in the recent time that make us irritated!”

Futsunushi no Kami talked with a lively tone. It seems he was irritated.

“The consensus of opinion of the whole body of the Japan Mythology is that whatever other Mythology attempt to do in Japan is inconsequential…but for me personally, recently I was entertaining doubt about whether it is okay or not to leave the people of Japan who is my friend to Solomon 72 Pillar.”

“Mu, so Futsunushi no Kami has something he is unsatisfied with Leme and the others. I’ll accept your challenge then.”

Leme faced Futsunushi no Kami and took a fighting pose.

“To start with number one, the current Japan make light of the swordsman too much. I am the Sword God that was worshipped by the lineage of Tsukahara for generations, this tendency to make light of swordsman is not something pleasant for me as the Sword God.”

“Precisely, exactly like that.” Kohaku raised a voice of approval.

“That, even Leme and the others of Solomon 72 Pillar can say that we are troubled too. Japanese government is the one that give favorable treatment to the Magica Stigma on their own accord. …Well, though it might turn out differently if Solomon 72 Pillar’s magic handling are more focused on reinforcement magic like Thor of the Nose Mythology the other day…”

“And then one more thing, the matter of the ominous ceremony that is performed in the underground of this academy. That ceremony is eerie no matter how you see it, it make Solomon 72 Pillar feel all the more dubious.”

“Ominous ceremony? What are you talking about?”

Leme’s eyes turned perfectly round. It seems somehow she really had no knowledge of the mentioned ceremony.

“The swordsmen are continued to be discriminated unjustly, and then an ominous presence can be felt from the underground of this academy. From these two primary factor, I harbor a considerable distrust toward Solomon 72 Pillar. In that occasion, the humans of the Sword Division elevated Kazuha and I and raised a plan to aim for the restoration of the swordsman’s rights, we too were cooperating with them in this plan. Though even if I say cooperation, but it will become a problem if Kazuha fight in the center stage extensively and get the designation of illegal magician, that’s why there is nothing I can do except to bestow the <Divine Protection> indirectly to those swordsmen.”

“By earning the Divine Protection of Futsunushi no Kami-sama, we become able to draw out <Battou Kaikon> from Sacred Treasures that possessed element of <Sword>.”

“Battou Kaikon?”

After hearing that unfamiliar words from Kohaku, Kazuki interposed a question to her.

“Kazuki is still not accustomed to use Sacred Treasures right? What is called Battou Kaikon is to make a path between the mind and the Sacred Treasure, a skill to draw out the essence of strength that Sacred Treasures possess.”

Now that she mentioned it, the first time he used <Raikiri>, there was the sensation from Raikiri that tried to address him. Coming to a mutual understanding with the Sacred Treasure like that and then it seems they would be able to pull out some kind of special move.

Kohaku’s group of comrades were swordsmen that each possessed special moves of Battou Kaikon. Certainly their group was fairly strong with that kind of ace. He could see how Kohaku could be so full of confidence.

“…It’s dangerous to only rely on just one sword. If these swordsmen could use the Sacred Treasures skillfully, there wouldn’t be any need for Japan’s government to depend solely on Solomon 72 Pillar for all of the military power.”

“…By no means that we are doing this for our own personal grudge against the Magic Division and the Magica Stigma.”

Kohaku whispered with a sigh.

“Leme understand about the general of the matter with Futsunushi no Kami. But…what is that you mean about the ominous ceremony!?”

Leme was in the condition of taking offense. Leme didn’t have any knowledge about the [ominous ceremony] that was the crux of the matter since not long ago, she looked very reluctant to be doubted because of that.

“Hmmm, sometimes there are outbreak of ominous magic power from the underground of this academy. It made my sword bodyradar reacting, like ‘binbinbin’. And also, about this ominous ceremony, there is no doubt that it is related with Diva. This stinks. Absolutely suspicious.”

“Ominous magic power…but I have never felt anything like that since I came to this academy. Maybe we cannot feel it because Leme-sama and my power haven’t returned completely.”

The young boy Prometheus tilted his head in curiosity. His power was still not insufficient after all.

In the other side, Leme was being angry in a huff.

“Wait right there, Leme is in amnesia so I don’t really clear with the situation, but Solomon 72 Pillar is undoubtedly the ally of this country! If there is any ominous presence, then that is a separate case from Leme and the others!”

“But, in fact I really feel it.”

Futsunushi no Kami talked back with stern face petulantly.

Young boy - Young girl – Sword, these three Diva that were glaring at each other made for a little foolish appearance.

Was it because the Diva that gathered here were only human-friendly Diva, but there was really no dignity at all that could be seen from them.

“That is the matter at hand, but Futsunushi no Kami-sama…”

Kohaku interposed herself between the Divas.

“It seems Kazuki is being accused with groundless charge by someone in the academy’s internal. Someone that would trap Kazuki who is the King of Solomon…if that is the origin of the ominous magic power then…the true opponent that we ought to fight might not be the Magica Stigma.”

“…Hmmm, so that is Kohaku’s real intention of bringing these people to my location. After all Kohaku is prudent unlike with Kazuha. I’ll believe you, guwahhahha!”

“Hey wait Futsunushi no Kami, why do you put out my name there for the comparison!?”

…The one that led Kazuki into these predicaments and the ominous magic power from the academy’s underground.

Were these two event not originated from the same root?

Thanks to Kohaku lending her ear to Kazuki’s words, Kazuki could become aware about such significant fact. If they could solve this puzzle, then it might be possible for all of these problem to be resolved.

“Moreover, this one had lost confidence. This one had the conviction to defeat Otonashi Kaguya and slay the owner of the ominous magic power just because this one owned Sacred Treasures. However…”

“…The fight last night made you waver in your path. You too are an expert, but your opponent last night is also a magnificent and praiseworthy swordsman. To bear a sense of defeat against that kind of opponent is not a shameful thing.”

The swordsman that Futsunushi no Kami praised so, there was no doubt that he referred to Kanae.

“This one is still too immature to realized the ideal of Futsunushi no Kami-sama.”

Kohaku dropped her shoulders and hang her head down dejectedly.

“Gahaha, there, there.” Futsunushi no Kami used his sword body and tapped Kohaku’s head lightly.

…He seems to try to comfort here, but it sure didn’t looks like it….

“As I thought, this is not the situation where the Sword Division and the Magic Division can waste their time fighting each other.”

Kazuki asserted so once again toward Futsunushi no Kami.

“Hmm. If Kohaku say so until that much, then it seems there is a need to also take your words into consideration. Then let’s do this. Your group alone will head toward the underground of the academy and make clear about the true identity of the ominous magic power. If in the end you can proof that Solomon 72 Pillar is unrelated with that, I will also believe on you guys.”

“…Do you know where is the exact location of that magic power and also the route?”

“For sure. But the entrance to the underground is locked with barrier and stigmata authentication. The barrier can be tore off by my power, but the lock of stigmata authentication can only be passed by owners of Stigmata, my cute kids from the Sword Division couldn’t even investigated that place.”

I see, if there was unknown magic power produced from a place that couldn’t be passed except for owners of stigmata, then it was not unreasonable to suspect the Magic Division and Solomon 72 Pillar.

But owners of stigmata were not limited to just the contractor of Solomon 72 Pillar.

Stigmata was the proof of the connection that had been tied with a Diva. Stigmata had the role as the code to allow Diva to pass through to the heart of the contractor, even in the case of possession contract there would still be a small stigmata emerged in the body.

Wasn’t the possibility that the perpetrator who was passing through that exit and entrance was an illegal magician quite high?

“Wait a second, wait a second, is it really okay to just trust these guys that easily?”

Kazuha-senpai that had kept quiet for a long time opened her mouth with an astonished expression.

“Mikohime-sama, Kazuki is a person that is worthy of trust.”

“I told you don’t call me Mikohime! …After all isn’t he a joyful guy who make who knows who many women to serve him? I don’t want to side with that kind of shameless guy however much.”

“……That’s…certainly this one too feel deep inside that Kazuki is surrounded by a little too many girl and quite astonished.”

Hey wait, so Kohaku also thought like that!?

“That’s a fair argument. …Kazuki really has no integrity against various girls. To even flatter someone like me cute, cute…also having bizarre obsession for maid…”

Even Koyuki also murmured her approval.

Wait a second you all, we have all came until this point and yet the situation would change because of this kind of matter!?

“It’s hard to understand for Leme why Harem King doesn’t have any more credence from the humans. It’s different case don’t you agree? Harem Banzai. O Our King, more Harem is a must.”

Leme start talking about a topic that provoked even more animosity from the girls. You should just keep your mouth shut.

“Kazuki is not a shameless guy at all! He absolutely doesn’t do anything I that I hate at all!”

“That’s right desu, Kazuki-oniisan is a perfect gentleman desu! Rather I’d welcome it if he do anything like that desu!”

Mio and Lotte came in Kazuki’s defense vehemently.

“Hee…they really put their faith on you huh. I’m reluctant to give in but even if the matter about the harem and so on is not included, we still don’t understand whether these guys’ strength are reliable or not. If they invaded the underground and yet they just collapse and dying in the ditch without even any result to show for it, won’t it just make the situation even worse?”

“Mikohime-sama, Kazuki and the others strength are the real thing. Besides, other than Kazuki and his friends, there is no one else that can enter that place. We don’t have stigmata.”

“That’s why there is me. After all I’m the owner of Futsunushi no Kami’s stigmata. Rather than making this kind of guys going there, I’ll go!”

“It’s dangerous to go alone Mikohime-sama!”

“That’s foolhardy Kazuha. I don’t want to lose my cute contractor, also I don’t want to expose you to danger, that’s why I make a proposal so these guys are the one that go to that place you know?”

Kohaku and Futsunushi no Kami cut in while panicking to stop Kazuha-senpai who was chattering in high spirits.

“You two, don’t make that face like you are my parents! Compared to these guys, I am more…Futsunushi no Kami, give me the Magic Dress!”

“…Haahhh, what a hopeless girl.”

While breathing a long sigh, Futsunushi no Kami suddenly changed into a lump of red flame. That flame enveloped Kazuha-senpai―The uniform of the Sword Division disintegrated into Prima Material and transformed into the Magic Dress.

Her Magic Dress was resembling the white and red miko uniform, he could feel the spirit of Japanese seeing it.

At the same time, Kazuha-senpai’s hair was lengthening with a thud. A majestic appearance suitable for a Magica Stigma of Japan Mythology, then Kazuha-senpai drew a katana from her back smoothly.

“Duel with me, Hayashizaki harem-guy! A weakling with no integrity like you, there is no way you have any character that could be relied on or any real strength!! If I win, then your harem party will be dissolved at once and I’ll be the one to lead those girls over there to search the underground!!”

“Eh, I don’t want to do that kind of thing!” “Main gott!? That’s tyranny desu!”

Mio and Lotte were booing from the side, but Kazuha-senpai didn’t even turn to look.

“…Don’t joke with me.” As expected, Kazuki was fed up with that proposal.

“You are going to hinder us in this kind of place with that kind of trivial reason! You have shot your mouth harshly as you please from a while ago, things like enemy of woman…Mio, and Lotte, I have decided that I’m going to protect them with my own hand! I will absolutely not do anything like entrusting them to any other person!!”

“Then…show to me the suitable strength to protect a woman―!”

Now she said it…Bring it on!

“…The only one suitable to become my knight is no other than Kazuki. Get her Kazu-nii!”

“I am Kazuki-oniisan’s property desu. Onii-san, please do your best!”

For some reason the female camp were roused up in happiness.

“Somehow, you my King and even the girls are starting to get accustomed with the harem situation huh―”

Leme secretly whispered inside Kazuki’s mind using telepathy.

But…I’m not particularly saying that I want to do something shameless together with the girls just like what Kazuha-senpai said.

“That duel challenge, I accept!”

{Yosh, Our King. Made this girl submit too just like in the duel with Amasaki Mio! And then make Futsunushi no Kami to obey Leme together with inserting her as member of the harem for sure―!”

Wahaha―, Leme’s loud laughter was resounding inside Kazuki’s mind.

Translator's Notes and References

Back to Chapter 1

Return to Main Page

Forward to Chapter 3