Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 5 Chapter 1

Chapter 1 – Knuckle TimeStrength, the Time It Should be Shown

Part 1

Lemegeton had one fact that she didn’t tell to the contractorKazuki.

That was the story that she heard from Futsunushi no Kami in their private talk at Distorted WorldAstrum.

{I became unable to make contact with the other Divas of Japan's Mythology.} Futsunushi no Kami informed her.

All of the humans' minds were connected. The depth of that mental world―this Astrum that should even be called [fomenting empty space] was constantly twisting muddily from the waves of all of human races’ unconsciousness.

Inside that trembling darkness, Lemegeton and Futsunushi no Kami’s figures were floating.

{The <Territory> that should be connecting me with everyone is interrupted before I realized it and I have not heard from them since then.}

Astrum was divided into each of the Mythology’s Territory. Only mutual companions with strong connections could come and go freely through the boundary. Lemegeton tied a friendship with Futsunushi no Kami. From that, she became allowed to step foot into Futsunushi no Kami’s territory. Naturally outside of Lemegeton, Futsunushi no Kami was also connected with many of the Divas of Japanese Mythology. It was supposed to be so.

{You, are you perhaps being ostracized because everyone came to hate you while you didn’t know it?}

Just like in the world of humans where a bullied child was blocked from everyone’s cell phone contacts.

―When Lemegeton pointed it out with a mean tone, Futsunushi no Kami {GUWAHHAHHA!} heartily laughing out. {That’s impossible. No, for me to be hated is possible enough, but in Japan's Mythology there is also <Takemikadzuchi> that can be called my other half though. Mine and his Territory should be impossible to be severed from each other. …With only one exception.}

{Then, that impossible thing is happening right? What is that exception that you said?}

Futsunushi no Kami’s hearty laugh was blown out, he suddenly made a dispirited troubled face.

{He might be…going through the <Wild God's Transformation>.}

Lemegeton was lost whether she should give this information to Kazuki or not.

Her feelings that yearned for Kazuki were making a disturbance in her heart that she should immediately tell this matter to him as soon as possible.

However, on the other hand, the calm consideration as <the one that supervises Solomon's 72 Pillars> was telling her to shelve the telling of this matter. [Humans wouldn’t be told of any more information than what they needed] …Lemegeton had lost the majority of her memories, but that was the principle that she recalled at the foremost.

After all, Solomon's 72 Pillars were still merely in the stage of testing the people of Japan.

If they were on the verge of danger―if that was a situation that they invited themselves, then even more so―how would they surmount it was something that humans had to display.

In the first place, if she notified Kazuki about this matter, that Headmaster Amasaki would also be told, but they wouldn’t be able to do anything about this anyway. With just the information that communications with the Divas of Japanese Mythology had gone dark, it was impossible to predict what would happen next. Even Lemegeton didn’t understand what would happen.

Rather, if she caused an excessive uproar and the Battle Election became suspended, it would be a problem for this side. Because Kazuki had to use this chance to become the king of this academy and reign over it.

This situation was the trial that he had to overcome next. Probably.

First, he had to concentrate on the fight in front of his eyes. If it was Kazuki who had finished conquering the Witch’s Manor, surely he wouldn’t suffer defeat, but…well, let’s just see what he's got.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

When Kazuki was flirting with Hikaru-senpai and continued to raise her positivity level, that time when she got chased out of the room was when Lemegeton was thinking about such things.

Part 2

And then finally, May 22nd―the appointed day of the final match came.

But there was a circumstance that delayed the final match from beginning immediately.

Even before that, first was the assembly for the opening performance matches.

“…This cheering, isn’t it the loudest among the matches until now? Even though it's an unrelated match for the overall victory.”

While being wrapped with the loud cheering in the front row of the stands, Mio was feeling overpowered.

However, it wasn't unreasonable. Kazuki, who sat beside her, thought so.

…Because when the holding of this tournament became known, the match that everyone pictured in their head. It was in a different form from the ideal, but it was realized right here.

Currently, on the grounds, Kaguya-senpai and Hikaru-senpai led their own respective teams and confronted each other.

[Team Otonashi Kaguya―Otonashi Kaguya, Hiakari Koyuki, Hayashizaki Kanae, Yamada Torazou.]

[Team Hoshikaze Hikaru―Hoshikaze Hikaru, Lotte, Kamiizumi Iori, Kimura Tomomi.]

The tournament’s big favorites and distinguished teams were these two, but Kaguya-senpai was eliminated by Kazuki and Hikaru-senpai by Mibu Akira. Their figures vanished too early in the second round from this championship tournament.

However, separately from the front tournament where the winners aimed for the championship…The [Third Place Deciding Tournament] was also performed by the eliminated teams at the same time.

Because the seat of the Chief Student Council President would be decided by the voting after the tournament, this tournament was nothing more than an appeal time. With a tournament where victory and defeat was decided by a single round, the candidates who were defeated became unable to make their appeal anymore from that point. It was slightly unfair.

For that reason, to grant all the candidates a place for their highlight, a back tournament for the sake of the defeated was also organized side by side with the final tournament. First the fellow losers of the first round fought each other, the winner fought the loser of the second round of the front tournament, the winner next fought the loser of the semifinals―this tournament was divided into two blocks, the two teams that managed to win through would perform the third place deciding battle.

These third place battles were performed throughout the morning, the final battle would begin after the afternoon recess.

“But as expected from them to win through until this place without fail. There was no powerful opponent in Hoshikaze-senpai’s block, but in Kaguya-senpai’s block there was also that clash with the Ryuutaki sisters, wasn’t there?”

At Kazuki’s right side, Mio was looking back at the battles until now while murmuring.

All present in the front row of the stands starting from the right were Mio, Kazuki, Kohaku, and Kazuha-senpai, they were all sitting in a row.

Takasugi Shūsui’s team where the Ryuutaki sisters were members were also the opponents who clashed with Kazuki’s team in the semifinals.

They were formidable enemies with the elder of the Ryuutaki sisters, Miyabi-senpai, stopping the movement of the enemy with <Gremory>’s mental attacks, then the younger sister, Shinobu-senpai, performed bombings with <Marchosias>’ [Burning Icicle] that were hard to defend against.

But their compatibility with Kaguya-senpai’s team was bad.

Kaguya-senpai was once exposed to <Nyarlatoteph>’s mental attacks for a long period of time and from that experience, she had the experience of overcoming it. A normal mental attack was not effective against Kaguya-senpai anymore.

The difference in strength between the swordsmen was also pretty big. The Takasugi brothers, who stood as the vanguard of the Ryuutaki sisters, were, as expected, unable to compete against the prominent duo of the Sword Division, Kanae and Torazou-san.

Even so, Shinobu-senpai harassed Koyuki with furiously vigorous efforts. Shinobu-senpai’s special contradicting characteristic where she could manipulate both heat and cold at the same time was a bad match-up for Koyuki who could only manipulate the ice element.

However, when the Takasugi brothers were forced to leave the stage and it became four versus two, Shinobu-senpai was exposed to fierce attacks and she fell into a state where she couldn’t chant her spell satisfactorily. The victory or defeat was slowly decided.

Be that as it may, [I heard the rumor, but those Ryuutaki Sisters were really strong to that extent huh?] ―they left a strong impression on many of the students. So this battle should be a good contest.

“Fufufu, during this strict schedule even Otonashi Kaguya won’t leave unscathed after fighting against us. Even for the eternally number 2 Hoshikaze Hikaru who reached this stage following her desires, this time will she have a chance, I wonder?”

Hearing that voice right from her side, Mio took a glancing look and glared.

“…Miyabi-senpai, why are you right next to us?”

Beside Kazuki’s team, who was watching the battle, right next to Mio, the Ryuutaki sisters in question were sitting.

“Isn’t it fine, let’s get along well. Fufufu.”

Her wavy hair with the silver color characteristic to an elf shook softly, Miyabi-senpai laughed in chuckles.

“…Onee-sama. I’m also unable to tolerate this. Why are we sitting beside this bunch?”

Shinobu-senpai wrinkled her eyebrows and murmured. She was the spitting image of Miyabi-senpai. But in contrast with Miyabi-senpai, who was always full of composure, her hair was black and she always made a scary expression.

“Isn’t it fine, let’s get along well. Fufufu.”

Even against the complaint of the little sister, Miyabi-senpai deflected it with a friendly grin on her smiling face. She has a lot of guts.

Mio too, she gave up on sending Miyabi-senpai away, who was too ‘my pace’, she faced Kazuki again.

“By the way, which one is Kazuki rooting for? Which one are you going to cheer for?”

“…Errr.” While Kazuki was troubled with how to reply, he sent his sights to the match.

On the ground, Kaguya-senpai and Hikaru-senpai were staring at here…no, at Kazuki they were staring ‘jii’ fixedly.

He was seen…both of them were “The cheering is still not here yet? Come on, cheer” looking at him with those kind of eyes….

Hikaru-senpai’s eyes shined and sparkled with expectation, Kaguya-senpai had a smile on her lips but her eyes were not smiling. Before long they became aware of each other and started to get competitive, the gazes they sent at Kazuki were gradually….

“Are you going to cheer for me (me ) or her?” Their atmosphere changed to such feelings.

Kazuki made a decision and inhaled a long breath.

“…Do your best Kanae! Prove the strength of the Hayashizaki-style!”

“You came to that conclusion!?” Mio, who was observing him while holding her breath, raised her voice from the side.

“Nii-sama!” Kanae who was on the ground turned to this side, she pranced up and down repeatedly *pyonpyon*.

“Nii-sama’s gaze is focused on me! It came…, it came…Nii-sama’s gaze energy is!! FUNUOOOOO! Full charge nyan!!”

Watching the happy Kanae going ‘nyaa nyaa’…Kaguya-senpai and Hikaru-senpai smiled wryly like it couldn’t be helped.

“Brother and sister love + sword school love…he attacked at the place where nobody could find any fault huh, as expected of Kazuki.”

Beside him, Kohaku was grinning broadly. Kohaku too had a deep love that didn’t lose or was inferior to Kazuki in regards to her sword school.

“Well, it’s in bad taste to fix an order of importance to companions that you get along well with, isn’t it fine this way?”

Unexpectedly Kazuha-senpai too gave a tolerant reaction. Even though if it was before, she would be the first to say things like “You indecisive harem guy!”…after giving her recognition to Kazuki inside the [world of mirrors], her attitude and expression had evidently changed.

Amasaki Mio―150 Lotte―122 Hiakari Koyuki―120 Otonashi Kaguya―103

Hoshikaze Hikaru―94 Tsukahara Kazuha―56 Ryuutaki Miyabi―41 Ryuutaki Shinobu―2

It was not like he wanted to rank them or anything but…Kazuki understood the positivity level from everyone.

“Well, the one who likes Kazuki the most in the world is me though. Ehehe.”

Mio was ‘goronyaaa’ and came hugging Kazuki’s arm.

“E, even this one is not losing in that!” Kohaku pinched Kazuki’s sleeve with a hurried expression.

“How stupid.” Kazuha-senpai crossed her arms while averting her face.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

“Kana-shishou , prepare yourself!”

At the same time with the start of the match, Kamiizumi-senpai challenged Kanae.

“Against me, who has been charged with strength from Nii-sama, the likes of you won’t stop me!”

Kanae too stood against her right from the front. The white blades clashed, fragments of blue magic power scattered everywhere.

“I'm also going to show my cool side this time for sure! Now the sure kill…TORAZOU SMASH!!”

“I won’t let an oily brute like you get near the prince!”

Torazou-san and Kimura-senpai also clashed against each other. The difference in strength between the swordsmen…Kanae & Torazou-san of Team Kaguya-senpai were overwhelmingly superior. However―,

“Howl! Civilization grants destruction to humans! The roar of wisdom scorches thy body, break apart, that dignity is buried beneath the rubble!! Mitrailleuse!”

From the rear, with fast chanting special to Possession SummoningDrive , Lotte created a magic gatling gun. Its body rotated with groans of motor sounds, rapidly scattering dozens of bullets everywhere.

Those bullets accurately obstructed the attack of Kanae and Torazou-san who were leaping close and gave a good timing “Right now's your chance!” for Kamiizumi-senpai and Kimura-senpai. It was exquisite firing support.

Lotte was able to read the situation on the battlefield with her extraordinary <Telepathy>.

“O will of the God of the whirling heavens! Gather in my hand, grant me the authority of judgment! O light of royalty's divine gift, become the brilliantly dazzling drawn bow! Lightning Line!”

Slightly behind, Hikaru-senpai produced a lightning bow and directed it at Koyuki. Similar with when Kazuki was fighting Kaguya-senpai’s team, it seemed they planned to start from Koyuki first.

“O rejection of absolute zero, protect my body and become the armor of isolation! Freeze Barrier!”

Without delay Koyuki pulled out a barrier of icy cold air.

“That Koyuki, she had anticipated that she would be targeted!”

Mio raised a passionate voice to her rival.

“But against a lightning arrow, a cold air barrier wouldn't be sufficiently effective.”

Precisely because Kazuki was able to use both [Lightning Line] and [Freeze Barrier], he understood the superiority of elements. The lightning arrow would surely slice apart the cold atmosphere sharply and pour electricity into Koyuki.

“…But that child, too, would surely understand that fact all too well I imagine. ―Look, that child is controlling the cold delicately. As expected from an elf like me.”

Miyabi-senpai pointed out with sympathy filled tones.

That observing comment was by no means an overestimation.

A streak of lightning was released from Hikaru-senpai's hands. Facing that attack, Koyuki concentrated the water particles and cold in the air in front of herself for two meters using Psychokinesis, creating a membrane of water.

The moment the arrow of lightning penetrated the insulation of the air while advancing came into contact with the membrane of water, the arrow was unable to pierce it. All of its energy went through the highly conductive water and flowed into the earth.

Hikaru-senpai’s expression was colored with disbelief. Just like that, she kept firing the arrows of lightning repeatedly, but Koyuki kept making thin films of water one after another using the cold and water particles that were fixed with Psychokinesis and held out against the barrage.

Koyuki’s delicate magic technique, knowledge and quick-wittedness were surpassing Hikaru-senpai.

It was a deadlock of offense and defense that went against Kazuki’s predictions― and left Kaguya-senpai alone.

“O shapeless and mute shadow, become the fish that swims in the darkness filled with obstructive thoughts! The origin of nightmares, vicissitudes of materialism, answer to the terror and hope and bite…! Deep Specter!”

Kaguya-senpai, who was outside of the net, indifferently invoked her level 5 magic.

“Everyone, Formation Dark!”

Asmodeus’ laughing voice reverberated in the empty sky―from the shadow under Kimura-senpai, a pure black monster rose up. Kamiizumi-senpai came to help; she blocked its big mouth that was lined up with black fangs with her katana.

Using the gap when Kamiizumi-senpai and Kimura-senpai were busy battling the monster, Kanae and Torazou-senpai broke away from that spot and went to slash at Lotte and Hikaru-senpai.

One of the options of Kaguya-senpai’s team, <Formation Dark> was a plan that created numerical superiority with the shadow monster and directing Kanae and Torazou-senpai to the enemies at the rear.

When Magica Stigma are attacked in the middle of chanting spells, their concentration would fall into disarray and their magic invocation would fail completely.

But…Lotte and Hikaru-senpai were peculiar Magica Stigma that excelled in close-range combat.

“I reach my hand to the height of Babel and become the oppressor! In accordance with my life, O lightning, let us praise the foolhardiness of the human race! Blitzkrieg!!”

An electromagnetic lance was created on Lotte’s left hand, she stabbed the spearhead at Torazou-senpai. Torazou-senpai had pride in his strength, but if he clashed with that lance he would surely get electrocuted without even any time for a contest of strength.

“O stream of atmosphere, extend to my hand, become the lance that repelled the resented person! What reaches my hand is the tip of the storm!! Ayamur!!”

A pike with the power of wind residing in it was created inside the hand of Hikaru-senpai too, it was directed at Kanae and swung.

Pike―it was a weapon that could both slash or stab with a double edged blade propped on the end of a long shaft.

On the other half of its possession of long reaches, its attack became completely large swings that made it easy to open a gap in the defense. It was born in ancient times and was one of the foremost weapons in history. But with the advancing of time the [spear] made its entrance as a weapon that specialized in thrusting and was easy to wield even in the close formation of soldier corps, making the pike’s figure disappear from history. So to speak a relic of the past, it could be called a defective weapon.

But this pike of mythology, [Ayamur] had the special characteristic of producing raging wind with each attack.

The moment it was swung, a tailwind blew that accelerated the swing. The moment it made contact, a storm was created from the tip of the pike and amplified the destructive power. Even in the case it was evaded, the storm would throw the posture of the enemy out of order and seal their counterattack. Therefore it wouldn’t create any gap even if it hit nothing but empty air and it could harass the enemy one-sidedly with its long reach. …Even defective goods if traced back in the mythology would become a fearsome weapon for decisive battles.

Things like Hikaru-senpai’s swung pike, Kanae could evade it even with her eyes closed. However, even if she evaded it, her small statured body would be blown away from the arising wind and her beginning counterattack would be arrested and taken away.

“…O divine protection of mermaid, stop the steps of the resented enemy, hasten the steps of the chosen person…. O ice blade, run! Moves in the Field!”

Unable to just watch the hard fight of the swordsmen, Koyuki froze the surface of the ground. Hikaru-senpai and Lotte slipped down with a slide. Immediately Koyuki equipped both her feet with ice blades and skated and added herself in the close-quarters fight.

“Lightning Line!”

Hikaru-senpai shot lighting arrows at her comrades underfoot without delay. It had a small range but the frozen areas the arrows pierced were melted by the heat of electricity, making it possible for the ground to be stepped on and make their counterattack.

“Five stars that shine in the interstice of life and death, turn, turn, pillaged by the whim of the God of Death, become the miserable and mute mud doll! Near Death Roulette!!”

Even Kaguya-senpai chanted a magic exclusive for close-range and gripped the scythe of the god of death tightly with both hands and launched her attack at Kamiizumi-senpai and Kimura-senpai. There was no Heaven and Earth Formation or anything like that, unexpectedly all eight people were thrown into a melee!

Witnessing the development of a never before seen before match, loud cheers were raised from the stands.

“With this development could Lotte and Hoshikaze-senpai add more reinforcement magic until Kaguya-senpai finished bringing down her two opponents, it's become a match like that huh…”

Mio murmured. Kazuki also had the same opinion. The scythe Kaguya-senpai possessed would steal one of the five senses with each of its attacks and the sixth attack would sever all of the magic power of the opponent. If the swordsmen were attacked from the side with that scythe while they were in the middle of fighting Deep Specter, Kamiizumi-senpai and Kimura-senpai wouldn’t last long.

Lotte chanted a spell with a mad rush in her quickness.

“Soaring wings, lording eyes, invading world-destroying conflagaration―manifest the authority of god right here, as the agent of civilization deeper and deeper I advance! Deep Striker!!”

The greatest magic Lotte could use, level 5. Huge thruster units were created on Lotte’s small back, the spouting heat of fire pushed her to the sky and she soared.

Lotte who prepared her electromagnetic lance in the sky and fixed her aim looked completely like an eagle that was directing its beak to the prey on the ground. And then she took a nose dive in one beat with recklessly fast speed.

Her aim was Torazou-san. Torazou-san was blown away by Lotte’s lance charge unable to do anything, his remaining magic power was lost to dangerous levels.

“Yamada Torazou, that’s the end!” The referee gave his verdict of Torazou-san’s exit from the stage.

Lotte immediately danced back to the sky again; this time, she aimed at Koyuki and took another nose dive.

Koyuki didn’t run. Against Lotte’s charge, she thrust out both her hands right from the front.

“Sinking hundred of ships, O threat of the sea lurking in ocean depths! Rise to the surface guided by my singing voice…show that whole story! …Stab your fangs! Ice Buster!!”

That offensive magic was invoked with great timing for a counter.

Lotte’s lance stabbed at Koyuki―at the same time, gigantic icebergs that grew from the ground pierced Lotte. Both of them simultaneously struck each other grandly and were blown away by the recoil.

However the damage was far heavier on Lotte, who was countered right from the front.

Moreover, what Koyuki used was level 6, an offensive magic that had high one-shot power.

All of the armaments on Lotte’s body were damaged and scattered sparks everywhere *bachi bachi*. Even so, Lotte operated her thruster unit and took off again to the sky, for a decisive charge against Koyuki who even now was standing up unsteadily.

It was like an attack made by a fool that only knew how to do just one thing, but Koyuki was unable to immediately chant the same magic.

This time for sure a promised sure-kill lance charge was approaching…!

―But just an instant before they crashed, a small shadow sprung out in front of Koyuki.

“Hayashizaki style two swords art, Wind God Instant Positioning!!”

That shadow crossed her two swords and caught the tip of the lance, the long ponytail drew an arc and rotated beautifully. That one attack was parried diagonally below.

The speed of Lotte’s nose dive had surpassed even Beatrix’s step-in. To splendidly parry it without even taking a simultaneous hit, it was Kanae’s divine work that even made the watching Kazuki, who was from the same sword school, have his breath taken away.

Lotte’s charging lance pierced the ground *ZUDON!*. The lance that was fixed in her left arm completely stabbed the ground, making Lotte flap her feet *batabata* on the earth uselessly. Cute. But only her appearance.

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

Koyuki raised a voice filled with fighting spirit that he couldn’t even imagine compared to how she usually was. With reaction speed that showed her trust that Kanae would come to help her without fail, she shifted into counterattack.

With the ice blade that was equipped on her right foot, Koyuki treaded through the thruster unit on Lotte’s back, it was destroyed in one hit.

With the right foot that was treading on Lotte’s back as the axis, Koyuki rotated in a circle. Using the left blade on her left foot she launched an accurate Savateback spinning kick into the chink between Lotte’s armor and tore it apart. Keeping the momentum she rotated once, twice, thrice, while spinning like a figure skater she hacked *zutazuta* Lotte to pieces.

When her rotation ended Koyuki lightly leaped to the air and moved to the finishing of the programme.

“O singing voice of mermaid, manifest the freezing thought. Sadness into ice flower, loneliness into light snowfall, cover the world within a freezing vacuum…White Album!”

Like an ice fairy, a silver world was spreading on the surroundings of the dancing Koyuki. Koyuki and Lotte’s silhouettes stood out inside that pure white screen, the next moment, it was dyed with the blue flash of Lotte’s defensive magic power that was receiving large damage from the cold.

“Charlotte Liebenfrau, that’s the end!”

However―because Kanae came to help Koyuki, that person became free to move.

“Lightning fall into my body and I gain lightning thoughts and godspeed…wake up the sleeping lion! Ride Lightning!”

Lightning ran behind Kanae. Hikaru-senpai who scattered sparks from her whole body and having her physical ability elevated electrically, she drew near Kanae’s back unnoticed with Ayamur in her hand.

“…Damn it! No, I’m aware of this already, but damn it!!”

If she confronted her from the front, Kanae could still deal with Hikaru-senpai even with her current speed. But having her short opening taken, *DOSU DOSU DOSU!* Kanae was stabbed full of holes with lightning speed. Hikaru-senpai kicked Kanae, then she stabbed Koyuki down with a single blow. Both of them were defeated simultaneously at that spot.

“Hayashizaki Kanae, Hiakari Koyuki, that’s the end!”

But, with that Hikaru-senpai’s team stood in advantage…was not what happened.

While such events happened―Kaguya-senpai too made both Kamiizumi-senpai and Kimura-senpai leave the stage with [Near Death Roulette]. What remained was a one-on-one fight between the fellow team leaders.

Hikaru-senpai, who had become superhuman, confronted Kaguya-senpai who was accompanied by Deep Spectera shadow monster while holding the god of death’s scythe.

“I’m going to win for sure this time against Kaguya, you’ll see!” While releasing golden light, Hikaru-senpai proclaimed with fierce dignity.

“…Some nerve you have. I’ll make you sing out a pleasant voice again!” Kaguya-senpai laughed sadistically.

In the middle of the cheers from the stands that was heating up to its peak―Hikaru-senpai thrust her spear at Kaguya-senpai.

“Without hesitating that cursing thee also wounded oneself…shared agony is my delight! Cry and shout in the mirror's reflection! Suicide Black!”

Without evading, Kaguya-senpai deployed illusion defensive magic that reflected [the agony that should be produced by the opponent’s attack] in full. Kaguya-senpai’s body was enveloped by a sinister black haze.

Hikaru-senpai took a deep breath as if hardening her resolve―she thrust her pike at the black haze.

While gritting her teeth and enduring the pain, she kept thrusting her pike no matter how many times powerfully.

“O god of death’s whisper waiting impatiently for visitors, resound widely and deeply, let us paint the dream completely with agony! Reverberate the evil sounds of sadism! Ultra Violence!!”

Kaguya-senpai reverberated an evil voice that doubled the sense of pain.

At that time an unimaginable illusionary pain should be generated inside Hikaru-senpai. But even while Hikaru-senpai’s expression distorted in anguish, while raising a scream filled with fighting spirit she recklessly continued swinging her pike. Looking at that figure, even Hikaru-senpai’s fans in the guest stands were screaming.

Kaguya-senpai also swung down the scythe of the god of death. The scythe that caused fatal destruction of human senses with each of its strikes was evaded by Hikaru-senpai who was desperately keeping her consciousness in the middle of the violent agony, then she was counterattacking once more.

“Otonashi Kaguya is also having an extremely hard time, you know? Because that defensive magic only returned illusionary pain.”

Miyabi-senpai cheerfully pointed out. [Suicide Black] didn’t reduce the damage from the attack at all.

Right now, Kaguya-senpai was using <Resist>―without borrowing the power of her Diva but using her own general magic, she was only creating energy of the opposite vector of the thrusts to defend.

She couldn’t block the attacks with just that, Kaguya-senpai’s magic power too was shaved off in the blink of an eye. In short, this was an intense battle of attrition between Hikaru-senpai’s mental strength against Kaguya-senpai’s magic power.

The Deep Specter that was still being summoned was also attacking Hikaru-senpai from the side. Hikaru-senpai, who'd been superhumanly strengthened, flicked it away with her pike just as an annoyance in her one-on-one fight.

That one instant where Hikaru-senpai’s mind was directed to the shadow monster, was the aim of Kaguya-senpai.

“O desire lurking in the sea of the heart, passing through the sinful flesh reaching out that hand! O embodiment of violation, twine yourself as you desired! Desire Tentacle!”

Countless tentacles were growing out from the ground, twining themselves on Hikaru-senpai’s limbs. Hikaru-senpai raised a loud voice while shaking herself free with all her strength, she stabbed. Stabbed. Stabbing with reckless abandon at Kaguya-senpai with her pike.

However Kaguya-senpai too counterattacked using her scythe with first class simultaneous strikes. First hit. Second hit. Third hit.

Already losing her sight and hearing, Hikaru-senpai continued swinging her pike like an automatic doll. But her arms, her legs, were bound firmly by the tentacles. Finally, senpai’s movements were completely sealed, Kaguya-senpai’s scythe was inflicting the fourth hit, fifth hit―

And then, the sixth hit. Every sense and all of Hikaru-senpai's magic power was stolen, she fell down on that spot.

The golden light was swallowed by the black haze, Kaguya-senpai received the declaration as winner of the match.

Part 3

“Kazuki~, Kaguya’s way of fighting is still as brutal as ever see~! I don’t want anymore~! Comfort me~!”

When Kazuki and the others spread out a leisure sheet and prepared lunch boxes, Hikaru-senpai was running to him with crocodile tears and fake crying.

“Eh? Wasn’t Hikaru-senpai feeling good from the pain?”

“What on earth are you saying?! Oi!”

When he mentioned the reference from the previous talk, Hikaru-senpai poked ‘kotsun’ Kazuki’s head.

“Kazuki-oniisan~! Koyuki-oneesan is a bully desu~!”

Lotte too came straight at Kazuki and hugged him. While saying ‘there there’, he stroked her head repeatedly.

“Hikaru-senpai too, you were valiant till the end, that was really cool.”

“Ahaha…rather than looking valiant or cool, I want to be said to be cute see.”

While laughing awkwardly, a ‘kyun kyun’ heart mark came flying.

“Kazuki, I was working hard on the cheering too!” “This one had been working hard on cheering too you know!”

Mio and Kohaku said something incomprehensible, they came clinging onto Kazuki as if opposing Hikaru-senpai and Lotte. “You girls are different, right?” Kazuki pushed them aside. What would they need to be thanked for?

Kaguya-senpai’s team, who was doing some greeting in the stands, finally came after a bit.

“Nii-sama-! Receiving Nii-sama’s heated gaze, Kanae was working 30 percent harder-!!”

Kanae hugged Kazuki at full speed.

“I watched you clearly. Aren’t you the hidden MVP today?”

Kanae was beaten up in the middle, but the one that broke up this match was the divine work of Kanae.

Lotte could reduce her sense of pain with her advanced Telepathy skill. If that Lotte survived until the last struggle together with Hikaru-senpai, the result would have turned out differently, without a doubt.

With an understanding of that fact, Kanae went to help Koyuki even if she had to expose a fatal opening.

“Nii-sama, don’t just watch this match…tonight please watch Kanae’s everything, up to the maiden’s secret placebeeep too without sparing anything left. On top of the bed, an adult observation diary to the depths of every corner…”

“Don’t get carried away with that incomprehensible mood. Don’t make a beeep sound with your mouth.”

“Well then Nii-sama, please do the Hayashizaki-style secret technique <tossing someone into the airRising Sun>!”

“There is no such secret technique. …But, like this?”

Kazuki lifted Kanae’s small body, then exercising Enchant Aura, he flung her as high as he could directly above.

“I don’t really get it but it looks fun! Banza―i! Kana-chan banza―i!”

Kaguya-senpai too joined in the Rising Sun with bright eyes, “banza―i” Koyuki who was saved by Kanae just before this also joined, Kanae's body leaped like a beanbag to the blue cloudless sky.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The finals would be after the afternoon recess.

“The lunch box today was made by everyone except Kazuki! Come on, the fried chickenkaraage was made by me. It’s fried beautifully right? Aa―n!”

“No, I can eat by myself. Give the chopsticks to me too.”

“We didn’t come bringing Kazuki’s share of chopsticks though.”

While feeling like his human rights had been stolen, Kazuki opened his mouth like the chick of a small bird and got spoon-fed by Mio. …Though it was already too late to feel embarrassed over a mere ‘aa―n’ after all they had done together.

For the sake of Kazuki, who was going to challenge the finals, everyone of the Witch’s Manor prepared the boxed lunch. Everyone of the Sword Division, who were guessing that special atmosphere, surrounded them slightly from a distance.

“Yeah, delicious. Also there is a hidden flavor inserted that is different from usual. Is it garlic?”

“Ah, you know it. I changed the shoyu for dipping sauce into garlic soy sauce so that you will become more energetic!”

From the side, Kaguya-senpai pushed out a dish.

“Here Otouto-kun, eat the one that I made too! Charred newt!”

“Senpai, why are you making a dish that looks like something a witch would cook?”

“It will make you energetic you know! Probably!”

He had the feeling that charred newt was not vitality medicine but more like a love potion though….

While Kaguya-senpai kept making a smiling face that was pressuring him, she smoothly *zuii* presented the newt that was skewered on a stick to Kazuki.

Eh, he really had to eat this? From the head? Uwaaa….

Ah, but unexpectedly he could eat it. It had crisp texture and savory surface, leanly refined meat. It was also grotesque but when he crunched the head, a taste really preferred by food experts from the innards’ body was slowly spreading in his mouth.

“Kazuki! I grilled meat! Now! Eat! For men, it's beef for sure!”

With a meaninglessly gallant tone, Hikaru-senpai presented a galbi mixed with dipping sauce. It was certainly a flavor that was impossible to not make the blood of a man boil up. It was simple, but there was no miss in it.

“Kazuki-oniiisan, mine is tako-san wiener desu! It’s that one that you often see in anime desu!!”

Was Lotte intending for it to mimic an octopus, the wiener pursed out *nyuu* its lips and made a weird face.

“Pwease stoopp~♪” She said delightfully. She was really a happy child no matter what she was doing…

The tako-san wiener added Lotte-like charm to the big boxed lunch.

…However the whole meal was so meat heavy that it was covered with the light brown color of meat. It really gave him a lot of stamina, but these people were unexpectedly carnivorous; so if he left them alone, he had the feeling that they would just eat meat everyday. Just as I thought, if I don’t control the kitchen….

“Kazuki, what I made is onigiri. I thought if it’s this even I won’t fail…”

“Oh, right when my mouth started to become oily. Is Koyuki going to feed me too?”

“…My finger will indirectly get included into your mouth like this, but if you don’t think it’s dirty like that…”

“You're overthinking it you know.”

Far from dirty, Koyuki’s small hand was surely cute like an ice fish.

The presented onigiri was beautifully formed in a triangular shape, it was a workmanship that was really like the methodical Koyuki.

“The side dishes’ tastes are deep, I felt anxious adding my cooking poorly so it’s just a mere salted onigiri though.”

“But the surrounding foods had deep flavors, so food like this is fine. …Yes, it’s delicious.”

While chewing the onigiri, Kazuki tasted a faint sweetness inside his mouth. It was not the sweetness of the rice itself. Koyuki was also not the type to mistake between salt and sugar. Thereupon this was….

The reason why Koyuki was poor at cooking…might be because of this.

“Perhaps Koyuki unconsciously cooked food using <Alchemy Cooking>?”

Hearing Kazuki’s sudden observation, Koyuki was going “Eh…?” and opened her eyes widely.

What was called Alchemy Cooking was a technique to operate magic power on cooking and dragging out taste that normally couldn’t be let out from normal cooking. Perceiving the Prima Material of the ingredients with Extra Sense, then with delicate Psychokinesis and Pyrokinesis the ingredients were rearranged and altered.

However, common magic was the product of imagination. Just from having unneeded thoughts flash for a moment or making an error in magic power control, an impossible dish would be created from the original ingredients by the Alchemy Cooking. Because sometimes poison could be also created, there was a warning to never use this method of cooking in a household where there was someone with weak defensive magic power like children or the elderly. Even in the case of each store where they offered Alchemy Cooking, they need a license just like the license system of a Fugu chef.

“Perhaps because Koyuki’s magic power is stronger than other people's from the start, even inside your subconscious your magic power leaked out to the cooking and it completely became Alchemic Cooking. That’s why the onigiri became slightly sweet.”

Koyuki also tasted the onigiri and ascertained the taste.

“Certainly…. But for me to be unable to control my own magic power…”

“I wonder if that’s not the result of your thoughts of wanting the one who eats it to be happy. I’m really happy from the transmitted feelings that Koyuki’s heart put into shaping this.”

A strong feeling would naturally become common magic, affecting reality itself.

“Uu…” While leaking such a sound, Koyuki became completely red.

Because it was a simple cooking like onigiri, it ended with just the taste becoming sweet.

However in the past, he heard Koyuki had a criminal record when she attempted to make homemade food for the senpais, it became a great disaster where the inside of the mouths of the senpais were shining with defensive magic power (in short it was poison).

Because of that, Koyuki was totally convinced that [she is an elf that has no worth other than fighting] or that [she is a failure who can't do anything like making people happy]. However, those thoughts were a big mistake.

“If you get used to using your magic power skillfully to make Alchemy Cooking, I think Koyuki could become good at cooking too.”

“…Is that really true? Even I, can make someone else happy?”

Koyuki opened her eyes and it shined as if discovering a hope that she never even thought possible.

“Then practice together with me. I’m going to raise Koyuki as a full-fledged maid! Koyuki is a girl who can make people happy properly!”

Hearing Kazuki’s words, Koyuki’s cheeks blushed with a puff. And then,

“Kazuki…!” Overcome with emotion, without even paying any mind to the eyes of the surrounding people, she leaped into Kazuki’s chest.

Kazuki hugged Koyuki back tightly. After that they toppled over on top of the leisure sheet altogether and *goron goron* rolled around. …From that reaction, Koyuki made a bewildered face.

“Ka, Kazuki…it’s too intense…why do you need to roll around…”

“Well, when I hugged you, you looked really cute like a plushie, so unconsciously...”

In regards to Koyuki, against his better judgment he overdid his expression of affection.

“Kazuki-oniisan! Without a doubt, that’s surely an emotion called [moe rolling] desu!!”

Lotte taught him a strange thing.

“Fufu-“ Koyuki who was settled inside Kazuki’s arms compactly spilled out a laugh.

“…Then because Kazuki is teaching me the way to make people happy, you are my master now.”

And then from the angle where other people couldn’t see, she secretly kissed Kazuki’s cheek. The proof of the increase of her positivity level, a big heart mark also came flying. Once more, Kazuki did the moe rolling.

“That looks nice-. I’m not the type that can get treatment like that, am I? Cute types like Koyuki are so enviable…”

Hikaru-senpai dropped her shoulders and murmured. Kazuki abruptly stood up and denied that statement.

“That’s not true at all. Hikaru-senpai too, saying this kind of thing to senpai is a little..., but I think you are cute.”

“Really? Then can you give me a hug and roll around?”

“Of course. Though it’s a little embarrassing, come here.”

When Kazuki spread out his hands, “Waa―ii” Hikaru-senpai leaped into there. Kazuki hugged Hikaru-senpai who had a little more sensual feeling in her body than Koyuki tightly, making them glued to each other, then they *goron goron* rolled around.

“Not fair. Kazu-nii, do that to me too!” “Kazuki-oniisan, that looked fun desu-!” “Otouto-kun, me too ‘’me too―’’!”

Mio, Lotte, and Kaguya-senpai were starting to create a line in succession in front of Kazuki.

Kazuki received them in turn; they hugged, fell down, and *goron goron* rolled around.

Am I an amusement park attraction or what?

Part 4

And then finally, the appointed time of the finals drew close.

“Before the finals, there is something that I want to let everyone know.”

He couldn’t keep on doing moe rolling. Inside the portable tent that was turned into a waiting room before the match, Kazuki spoke frankly about the black shadow that was hovering over this battle election.

The new Board Chairman that suddenly proposed the idea of deciding the Chief Student Council President with this battle election, Takasugi Takayoshi.

In concert with that, the delinquent students who, until now, were never cooperating with school events like quests or the like introduced themselves as candidates. Their announcement to become a candidate was also really unnatural.

So that Board Chairman Takasugi could raise a puppet Chief Student Council President that would move according to his own will, he might have bribed those delinquent students and proposed to carry out this battle election.

The ones backing the new Board Chairman Takasugi were an extreme political organization named <Kenshitou> that was advocating [the suppression of Magica Stigma]; both sides had a close relationship with each other.

At the same time, Kazuki was assaulted by an assassin. That assassin was skilled in dangerous Chinese kenpo that ignored magic power and destroyed the opponent’s flesh. Kazuki had determined the assassin’s true identity, but that assassin was participating in this battle election as a student of the Knight Academy. She was a character that had already won through until this final match.

In addition, that girl not only used Chinese kenpo, she also used the Summoning Magic of <Chinese Mythology’s Divas>. That Diva possessed the power to brainwash other people, a few of the students that were participating in this battle election had traces of being brainwashed by someone. Adding to the unnatural participants, the brainwashed participants…

The inauguration of the new board chairman, the suspicious candidates, the assassin from China…if all of that were connected with one line. Kenshitou’s advocacy of [Magica Stigma’s oppression] would be the decline of Japan’s magic military power; it might bring an advantage for other Magic Advanced Countries―namely China. The new board chairman and Kenshitou were most likely spies from China that were aiming for this academy and Kazuki’s life.

The opponent they were going to fight after this might be the vanguard from this bottomless darkness….

“””Chinese Mythology’s Divas!?””” Everyone expressed great shock.

“You're saying that those two from the Sword Division, Katsura Karin and Hayashi Shizuka are contracted with Chinese Mythology’s Divas?”

Towards Mio, who was looking half believing half doubting, Kazuki gave a nod filled with conviction.

“Certainly, those two aren't using kenjutsu but kenpo. So that’s Chinese kenpo. Now that you mention it, it was different from karate.”

Kohaku nodded with deep interest. As long as they were not a successor of a special old-style kenjutsu like Kazuki’s Hayashizaki-style or Kohaku’s Shinkage-style, it's recommended that the average swordsman practice <The Knight Order’s formal kenjutsu>. Because of that, meeting a user of Chinese kenpo or the like seldom happened.

“Then that time when Mibu Akira and Asamiya Anna kept getting back up even though they were done in several times by Hoshikaze-senpai, that was the <Divine Protection> of the Chinese Mythology’s Diva that is contracted with those guys?”

Kazuha-senpai inquired. Divine Protection is a type of effect that is granted to the contractor where it is always continuously active.

“Correct, it was the power of Hayashi Shizuka’s contracted Diva, <Joka>.”

“Joka!? One of the pillars of Chinese Mythology’s <Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors >!?”

Mio raised a loud voice. That name was an important one that was impossible to not be known if one was learning mythology. Besides Mio, Kohaku and Kazuha-senpai also gasped.

“From what the Einherjar were saying, that girl named Hayashi Shizuka seems to be a dangerous character that was notorious for rampaging in the strife between China and its surrounding countries. …Whether she is really is a high school student on the inside or not is doubtful.”

China was a religious country that had faith in <Taoism> that completely believed in <Sinocentrism>. They were known to be the most warlike Magic Advanced Country in the world, their quarrels with neighboring countries in Asia never ceased.

It seemed other Advanced Magic Countries dispatched their intelligence operatives to investigate those armed conflicts. Eleonora of the Einherjar knew about Hayashi Shizuka as if it was par for the course.

“From what Eleonora said, the Divine Protections that Joka has are brainwashing people to add as their comrades, strengthening their comrades and reviving their comrades’ magic power up to 70 times, those three.”

“…It’s unbeatable.” Kohaku leaked out a groaning voice.

The reviving power of immortality was not granted to Shizuka herself. Because of that, she was no threat at the level of a one on one fight, but for increasing sleeper agents in foreign countries and then leading them for battle, it could be said to be the most optimum ability.

…Exactly a power to [incite conflict].

“Of course we have no chance of victory even if we fight them directly. I think we could only use purge magic to destroy the effect of the Divine Protection, or defeat the practitioner, Hayashi Shizuka first.”

Magic that could destroy the opponent’s magic effect and possibly disregard it, from the sphere of people whom Kazuki knew were Damian’s [Mistletein II]. Hikaru-senpai’s [Beelzebub], and then―

“Is it [Futsu no Mitama]?”

Kazuha-senpai whispered. [Futsu no Mitama] was a sword of cutting evil that severed the very magic power itself.

Along with [Ride Lightning], Kazuki secretly thought if he could become able to use it…though it was also a magic that could unintentionally become unneeded.

“But according to the rules, I can’t summon Futsunushi no Kami you know?”

“Yes. That’s why I will aim for Hayashi Shizuka directly. Kazuha-senpai and the others please stop Mibu Akira and Asamiya Anna with the three of you. I will defeat both Katsura Karin and Hayashi Shizuka.”

“Are you going to be fine by yourself? Certainly you are strong but you know…”

Kazuha-senpai’s face became clouded from worry, so Kazuki finally let his expression relax.

“Is senpai worried for me?”

“E, even I can worry a little, although the other side is someone like you!”

“As long as those guys don’t use Summoning Magic I’m going to be fine. Rather I think the side of Mibu Akira and Asamiya Anna would be the one that is going to be hard. On top of their high skill in magic, they are strengthened by Joka’s Divine Protection. They could also use poison magic that'll be troublesome in protracted battles…”

“Is, is that so…it’s not a situation where we need to worry about you huh. I’m the weakest here…”

This time senpai became completely anxious about herself. She looked down in dejection.

Kazuki stood from his chair and approached her, he grasped her hand tightly.

“There's no such thing. Senpai has become incredibly strong. I, as your master, guarantee it. Moreover, senpai is a magic swordsman. If Mio and I properly support you with magic, senpai’s real strength will also become several times stronger. Please believe that.”

“Master huh…. That’s right, isn’t it? You haven’t taught me anything wrong at all.”

“Yes. That’s why please, I’ll leave Mibu Akira and Asamiya Anna to you!”

…Moreover, Hayashi Shizuka and Katsura Karin used a technique that gave damage directly to human flesh.

He didn’t want to make such dangerous guys be everyone else's opponent, he also had such feelings.

Was Mio the only one that saw through Kazuki’s innermost thoughts, she came directing a glance full of meaning.

“I’m going to cover for Kazuki too, okay? Don’t keep trying to burden yourself with everything.”

“…Naturally. Even I’m going to look at the situation and chant covering magic to your side too. We have won and come this far from our team work.”

Kazuki turned back to Kazuha-senpai once more and put his strength into both his hands that were holding hers.

“Just in case, if Hayashi Shizuka and Katsura Karin use their Summoning Magic because they're cornered, at that time Kazuha-senpai, please don’t hesitate and use [Futsu no Mitama]. If possible, I want to get a complete victory without violating the rules, but if the opponents violate the rules first, we won’t have any room to spare.”

If they resolved to lose from foul play and used Summoning Magic―that means they are going to try to kill Kazuki forcibly. If circumstances permit, Board Chairman Takasugi is going to aim to make the Chief Student Council President his own pawn. But if the situation develops where he can only obtain one thing, then without a doubt Kazuki’s life is the highest priority. The death of the King would cause the doom of this country far quicker and easier.

The vigilance toward Shizuka and Karin is going to be even stronger after this. So for these two, this finals match is the last chance to kill Kazuki by taking advantage of it.

But with Kazuki as bait, if he could make Shizuka and Karin use illegal summoning, he could rip off the sheep's clothing of these two who had never left any evidence behind before. …That was the aim of Headmaster Amasaki.

“Got it. Breaking the rules is going to be after the other side breaks the rules first.”

Kazuha-senpai nodded decisively while keeping hold of Kazuki's hands.

“If [Futsu no Mitama] is used, it should be possible to release Mibu-senpai and Asamiya-senpai from Joka’s brainwashing. If by any chance Katsura Karin is also brainwashed, it might be possible to free her too.”

That was this fight’s biggest objective.

{Though if My King could conquer Tsukahara Kazuha too, the story would finish far quicker.}

Idly, Leme transmitted her voice using telepathy to Kazuki’s mind.

That was certainly true but…, even so, he didn’t want to behave like trying to get close to Kazuha-senpai solely aiming for power. Kazuha-senpai is not someone that he can make into his partner just from a cheap act like that. She is one of his important comrades.

“…Oi, how long are you planning to hold my hand…”

“Ah, I’m sorry. Has senpai recovered her confidence?”

Kazuha-senpai returned a grin. A small heart mark came flying.

“Thanks, for various things, Hayashizaki. …I’m really glad to come all the way to the finals with you.

The appointed time arrived. While being greeted with thunderous cheering voices, Kazuki and the others exited the portable tent.

“Hayashizaki-kuu―n, do your bestt―!” “Kazuki-kuu―n!”

All of a sudden, shrill voices could be heard, Kazuki was taken aback and looked around the stands.

Not only Kaguya-senpai and the others, all of it was from female students who he didn’t know. Moreover, it was not just one or two people.

{Fufufu, so it is even probable to reach positivity levels around 40 even from unknown companies!}

Leme leaked out a chuckle inside Kazuki’s head.

…But somehow it was quite frightening, for the positivity levels of the other parties who he never even heard of speaking to him….

He had watched some of his classmates who were members of sports clubs receive some cheering from the girls in meetings or club activity tournaments when he was attending middle school. However, he had never even imagined for himself to be treated like this.

{…Don’t get fidgety. You are such a petty bourgeois guy in strange places huh―}

Of course Kaguya-senpai and the others too were sending him their support by forming a cheerleader line from the front row of the stands.

The venue for the final match was changed from the grounds to the fountain plaza. The fountain plaza that originally didn’t have guest stands were set up with guest stands in its surroundings so it was a little narrow, but the atmosphere was absolutely showy

From the tent on the other side, Mibu Akira and her team also entered the stage.

Immediately, the spectator stands became quiet.

“Exactly like an away game huh! I’m gonna enjoy each of these guys' crying faces ze―!!”

“Things like an away game are no biggie, no biggie, everyday we’re in away games right, Aneki―!”

“Ou! We always keep on living defying something ze!!”

Mibu-senpai and Asamiya-senpai were making idle talk with their usual tone. But in contrast with those girls' frivolous figures, everyone already knew that they were not merely plain magicians.

Behind them, Hayashi Shizuka and Karin silently followed them.

With all their members who were proficient in close-quarters combat, the four girls formed a single line.

On the other side, Kazuki and his teammates were taking a strange Heaven and Earth Formation with only Mio in the rear column while the other three became the front column.

The spectators became noisy. The normal Heaven and Earth Formation had already become uncommon practice.

“Shem ha MeforashI know thy name…Thy name is [Phoenix]…become a poet that is a magician! O singing bird that toyed with reason, show that strength in accordance with my life!”

Mio performed Access, her body was wrapped in a Magic Dress.

That form of hers was like a single flower of red amaryllis blooming in the fountain plaza.

“I know thy name…thy name is [Astaroth]! O Diablosslanderer that is well versed in humans' history of sin, show the dark power of the empress of terror!”

“I know thy name…thy name is [Gamygin]! O depraved fallen angel that follows the LuciferMorning Star of Dawn, show the loyalty of hell!”

Both Mibu-senpai and Asamiya-senpai too had their body transformed into Magic Dresses with black undertones.

“All members, have you finished your preparations?”

The referee is Liz Liza-sensei. However a great number of teachers are also observing the match in the staff member exclusive tent that was set up temporarily in front of the stands. There was no reason he could hope for a judging that was plainly favoring his team.

“Well then, the finals, begin!”

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

“Hyahha―! There's no need to make Karin-chan and Shizuka get troubled zee!”

“Right right―, we’re gonna show the hidden strength of our heinous delinquent combi yeah―!”

The combination of Mibu-senpai and Asamiya-senpai pushed out from the column line at the same time as the start of the match. It looks like the formation of one column line was only a bluff and they planned to have the two Magika Stigmas be the vanguard as usual.

They went through all their matches by overusing Mibu-senpai and Asamiya-senpai. That must be because they were on guard to the worst possibility of Shizuka getting done in the middle of the match and having the Divine Protection of Joka and the brainwashing get undone.

“We are going to hold these guys back!” “Leave it to us, Hayashizaki-!”

Kohaku and Kazuha-senpai clashed against Mibu-senpai and Asamiya-senpai.

Kazuki slipped through from their side and headed to the enemy’s center where Shizuka was standing.

“Wha-!? Oi handsome guy that has Akamaru sudden rise and the current center of attention there! Don’t you dare ignore us―!”

“Fun, that’s why, don’t you dare ignore this one!”

Kohaku went and slashed at Mibu. But―

“That kind of greenhorn sword, do you think it will hit us who have been granted super strength and clairvoyance huh?!”

When Kazuki took a glance at his back, Mibu-senpai skillfully evaded Kohaku’s sword.

“Does it hit, ii―diot ii―diot!! Just run crying to your moo―ther you crybaby-!!”

While Mibu-senpai made her provocation, she started her magic’s chant. Immediately aside from her―

“I know, I know already―, you're the number one small fry on this team right―!!”

Kazuha-senpai who was being toyed with by Asamiya-senpai’s skillful movements made her sword only strike at empty space, she leaked out “kuh” in a mortified voice.

Sensing his comrades' disadvantage made Kazuki stop his feet for a moment. However―

“Don’t you dare look down too much on this one…Shinkage style secret sword, Meteor Disturbance!”

As if removing Kazuki’s worry, Kohaku yelled out.

Mibu-senpai anticipated Kohaku’s sword, she had already entered evasive maneuvers before the sword had even been slashed. However, the <Meteor Disturbance> that Kohaku swung while yelling, when it was thought that the point of the katana had been evaded it suddenly looked like that the katana leaped and the slash trajectory made a sudden change.

“Wha, whattt!? It, it entered the strike zone! Nowaa―!?”

The phantasmagoric secret sword chased Mibu-senpai, who thought she had already escaped and slashed her apart.

“Burn all that is touched into ash…scorching heat of rejection without any place to go! Self Burning!”

On the other side, Mio’s support magic flew to Kazuha-senpai.

“…If I have everyone’s support, I can become strong several times over! I’m the same like that guy…a magic swordsman!!”

Kazuha-senpai, who received Mio’s backing, recovered her spirit; she collected the oxygen in her surroundings toward herself and doubled the fierceness of the flames that were armored her body.

Using Pyrokinesis she concentrated those flames onto the blade of her katana, heightening its attack power. The flames that enveloped the blade easily grew to a height that surpassed Kazuha-senpai herself. It easily became thoroughly established as Kazuha-senpai’s signature move, her magic sword.

“Wha, what the hell is with thaatt―! Scaa―ry but, it's useless if it can’t hit―!!”

Asamiya-senpai evaded the flame slash with light movements. But, “Barrett!” when Asamiya-senpai’s attention was concentrated on Kazuha-senpai, Mio’s flame bullet came flying.

“Ouch-!” Asamiya-senpai was thrown back.

“Thank you, Mio-san! YAAAAAAAAAA!”

Not missing the chance, Kazuha-senpai gave pursuit with her flame sword. “Wagyaaaaaaa!” Asamiya-senpai was blown away.

…It’s fine. If it was them then there's no need to worry.

Kazuki felt relieved, he headed to Hayashi Shizuka and Katsura Karin.

“Fuh, what are you planning coming here as a magic swordsman that doesn’t even have his sword huhh!?”

With the characteristic step of Chinese kenpo <Jouchouho>, Karin assaulted Kazuki with a momentum like a rocket. Riding that momentum, she attacked with her palm heel. When he evaded that, Shizuka came from the side and launched a kick. Kazuki parried it with the back of his hand, but his arm rattled and became numb. In spite of being barehanded, its power should be feared. Both of them were strengthened powerfully.

And then without pause, Karin and Shizuka attacked him alternately with the turning speed distinctive of unarmed attacks. Moreover, their cooperation was on the level of flawless. Before long, Kazuki was cornered into a one-sided defensive battle.

If he didn’t chant some kind of reinforcement magic, he wouldn’t be able to catch the chance to counterattack.

―But Kazuki felt a concerning magic power wave from the other side of the battlefield.

“…Don’t you dare think that such clever attacks are going to stop my chanting! …O goddess that accepts the abuse of people from the past until reaching the future…Change that darkness into deadly poison and spit it all around! Slander all these fools!! Poison Argument!!”

―Mibu-senpai invoked poisonous Summoning Magic that they needed to be cautious against.

The giant monitor lizard that accompanied the Empress Astaroth spat out foaming poisonous bubbles with pitch black color. The poisonous bubbles immediately spread out with force that made people think it would cover the whole venue of the match.

“Hyahha―, get contaminated! Serves you right, this is a protracted battle ze~. From now on you all are going to suffer from poison for a long time while fighting!!”

―Foresighting the invoked magic, Kazuki thought that he had to at least disturb this.

“O water’s surface that quivers from my singing voice, manipulate and gather the ripples and become a giant tsunami! Coming from the beyond and washed away to the far off…Tidal Wave!”

What he invoked was the magic that he became able to use from his bond with Koyuki.

A large amount of sea water welled up in the match venue, it became a undulating giant tsunami and surged forward.

The scattering tsunami in this spacious venue didn’t have the momentum to the degree of inflicting damage to people.

However the bubbles of poison that were going to fly around in the surrounding surface were all swallowed by the tsunami.

When the magic tsunami vanished―the poisonous bubbles were all washed away, after that there was nothing left.

“Tha, that’s too muchh―! That bastard, the spilt water is going back into its tray―!”

“…You, since a while ago you keep using dirty Japanese language!”

Kohaku mercilessly slashed at Mibu-senpai, who was raising a scream.

Kazuki released a sigh of relief after looking at the battle progress on the other side.

“…Fuh, you're pretty relaxed, aren’t you?! With the two of us as your opponents, you aren't chanting magic for your own sake!”

While Karin was sneering at Kazuki’s action, together with Shizuka, she poured surging consecutive attacks on him.

It was exactly like a tidal wave of fists and kicks.

Certainly devoting a long time of chanting not for reinforcing himself, but spending it for [Tidal Wave] cost him a heavy price. Karin’s palm heel caught his torso, making Kazuki’s body bend forward from the waist.

Not missing that opening, Shizuka suddenly entered from the side.

A super close distance. Shizuka’s palm softly pushed against Kazuki’s chest.

Kazuki had known already that it was an extremely ominous sign.

His face lost color and goosebumps ran through his whole body.

With a ‘SON!’ Shizuka used <Shinmyaku> on the earth. The recoil energy from kicking the earth was magnified by the spiral movement of the whole body and converged in the palm. Using Shinmyaku and the spiral twisting, it became a severe zero-distance strike!

At the same time, that palm perceived the wavelength of Kazuki’s defensive magic power and released magic power of its exact opposite wavelength. Like the yin and yang, the contrary magic powers opposed each other and expanded Kazuki’s defensive magic power!

Through that crevice in the defensive magic power, a zero-distance strike was screwed inside like cannon―Secret Technique <Shintoukei>.

His heart was going to get destroyed directly!

He must not get hit by this. Kazuki shook off Shizuka’s arm in panic, then he forcibly rolled behind and escaped from his predicament. However, Karin mercilessly came in pursuit of Kazuki, who was unsightly rolling.

“What a great sight you are, I’m going to make you correct the insulting remarks from before, you’ll see!”

Karin kicked away Kazuki as if she was kicking a soccer ball.

“Don’t get carried away, Karin. This guy is chanting a spell again.”

Shizuka spoke with a calmness that was really odious.

“We have allowed him to invoke magic before. Even if we win in exchanging blows it’s going to be bad if we couldn’t stop his spell.”

“…But your chanting ability is average right, Hayashizaki Kazuki!”

Both of their beastly fists trampled Kazuki down even now. When he showed even the slightest opening, the both of them would come aiming with the technique of instant death. Kazuki made a full rotation with both his hands and parried the two’s fists and kicks. The part that he couldn’t parry he endured. Endured it out till the end. …Because he didn’t want his chanting ability to be made a fool of forever.

Endure, endure and not letting go of the connection between the Diva and the magic power…invoke the magic!

The low level magic he could chant even in this situation yet it was a magic that would display the maximum effect!

“Suicide Black!”

“…That magic is from back then!”

When Kazuki’s whole body was covered with black haze, Karin became hesitant in her attacks toward Kazuki.

“Magic that reflects pain huh...hnn!”

But Shizuka unhesitatingly launched a kick with power outside human reaso ing. Kazuki didn't evade and intentionally received her kick. The pain that kick would bring should be reflected back to Shizuka.

However, Shizuka didn’t show even the tiniest bit of turmoil except for a slight tremble on her lips. And then immediately she hammered in a second strike, a third strike. …This girl, is she a cyborg or something!?

“Karin, don’t hesitate! Suppress your mind! If you let a BasilleusKing freely chant magic it won’t finish with just this much!”

“U, UwaAAAAA!”

While screaming in abandonment, Karin came attacking. But that attack became dull.

Kazuki easily parried that. Just from the room that dull attack gave him, it created room for chanting.

Before long the effect of Suicide Black was cut off, but now he was able to invoke an even higher level of magic.

“…Thunder descend on my body, granting me lightning mind and god speed…Wake up the sleeping lion! Ride Lightning!”

“That’s my magic!” Hikaru-senpai let out an excited voice from the stands.

The electric impulses that flowed inside the neurons of his whole body whirled like a whirlpool.

Muscle strength, nerve transmission speed―all of Kazuki's specs were sped up in a flash.

Kazuki saw everything of Karin’s thrust in slow motion, he struck her with his fist in a counter. While Karin was blown away, he parried away Shizuka’s kick with room to spare and hit her back!

Kazuki’s fist grazed Shizuka’s cheek. Fury and irritation clearly floated in her expression.

He wanted to immediately pound her with consecutive attacks, but Karin immediately got back up and headed his way again. He mustn’t force himself, give undivided attention in controlling the offense and defense.

If he could do that, he could chant even more magic.

“Kazuki, do your best!” He could hear Hikaru-senpai’s delighted voice.

…I want power, but that’s not the only reason that I gained a great relationship with Hikaru-senpai.

Senpai gave her trust on that feeling, so…I borrowed senpai’s power!

“Ayamur!!”

Storm was condensing inside Kazuki’s hand, the pike of the wind god was created.

He swept the pike sideways with speed that couldn’t be caught by the human eye and blew away Karin and Shizuka altogether.

Without a moment’s delay, he narrowed his target to Shizuka and drew closer. He launched a barrage of thrusts like a meteor shower.

Shzuka attempted to parry with both her hands but she was unable to do it. Her posture was disordered thanks to the wind, just like that she got hit with multiple strikes. She was enduring with Resist but the magic power she used for that was shaved off greedily.

Karin attempted to help her from the side, but Kazuki had anticipated it earlier and swung his pike. Karin was blown away by the storm from the tip of the pike. Kazuki’s speed overwhelmingly surpassed both of them.

Just by swinging the pike alternately to Karin and Shizuka, the accelerated Kazuki was able to overpower them.

In short he was able to gain even more room to chant his spells.

“Self Burning!”

Kazuki covered himself with armor of flame, he concentrated that flame with Psychokinesis into the tip of his pike.

The spearhead of Ayamur was blazing up, he swung with all his strength.

The synergy of wind and flame―the wind incessantly supplied oxygen that strengthened the fierceness of the flame. Each time the pike was swung, a whirlwind of raging flame burst out. That pike wielded by the accelerated Kazuki was exactly like a living tornado.

“Is, is this a joke!? This is already too absurd!!”

Karin raised a scream. The girl was sadly repelled away when she tried to help Shizuka. Shizuka too was blown away like trash by the blazing wind pike.

The audience was making a stir. Manipulating multiple Summoning Magic at will, exhibiting a synergy that had never been seen before―the people were looking at the manifestation of a King at that time.

Shizuka who was blown away and fell on her backside was…for the first time, a look of terror floated on that shrewd face.

“Karin! Become my shield!!”

Karin who was trying to save Shizuka, who had been targeted constantly until now, had never tried to get in his way but she was commencing an attack from the side. Toward that girl, Shizuka was handing down an order [not to help her but become her shield]. …Without hesitation, Karin forced her way through between Kazuki and Shizuka with her body.

And then she was burned and pierced as the sacrifice to Kazuki’s pike.

That blown away body was caught from the back, Shizuka whispered into Karin’s ear.

“It’s fine, you too are able to resurrect 70 times. As long as I’m safe everything is fine…”

“Hayashi Shizuka! …You!”

Kazuki felt nausea and discomfort in his stomach. He tried to avoid Karin and aimed at Shizuka. But―

“Like that Karin! Right, left!! Block it!”

In response to Shizuka’s instructions, just like an unsightly puppet show Karin was moving right, left, throwing out her body in front of the spearhead, desperately stretching her arms and legs.

Even with the difference in speed, if there was the intuition to predict the movement, it was enough for something like just throwing out her body.

For the attack that Karin couldn’t cover, Shizuka parried it with a lot of room to spare.

Before long the effect of Kazuki’s [Ride Lightning] was used up.

“Ride Lightning!”

Without a moment’s delay the same magic was invoked. If the preparation was done while swinging the spear, he could continue to strengthen himself like this without pause. But the problem was the consumption of magic power.

Kazuki’s pike that persistently kept trying to aim for Shizuka was continuously blocked earnestly by Karin. …If the thing called defensive magic power didn’t exist, then surely there wouldn’t be any spot left in Karin’s body now that was not opened into holes or scorched away. And then, Karin’s magic power was exhausted.

“UAAAAAAAAAAA! Ku, ugu, AAAAA-!!”

Karin grasped her head and leaked out a voice of anguish. From that body, magic power was overflowing into its original amount―Joka’s Divine Protection of resurrection. But this resurrection was accompanied with agony. Surely the magic power was restored, but Karin breathed roughly with face that looked white like paper. Even so, the girl kept standing and blocking Kazuki’s way.

“Ahhahahaha! This Karin too, those guys that became the opponents of your comrades too, they are immortal! Your magic power too won’t hold out forever. What are you planning to do if this becomes a protracted battle?”

While hiding in the shadow of Karin, Shizuka ridiculed Kazuki.

In place of his reply, Kazuki swung his pike, but Karin threw out her body like a manipulated puppet and continued to cover Shizuka. While leaking out a moaning voice, even so, she continued to receive the attacks showing a ghastly figure―Kazuki unintentionally stopped his pike. With Kazuki’s will, the whirlwind of flame ceased from the spearhead too.

Suddenly a strange silence flowed between the three people.

“That’s it, it’s a chance Karin! Become useful!!” With a ‘DON!’ Shizuka pushed Karin’s back.

“A…UAAAAAA_! I am! I amm!!”

While raising a loud voice, Karin slipped through the pike and leaped into Kazuki’s chest. She made contact with Kazuki’s chest using her palm, stepping onto the earth with Shinmyaku, and scattered apart the defensive magic power using peculiar magic power. Shintoukei…!

“Kuh!” There was no reason he could ignore it. Kazuki immediately used the butt end of the pike―he swung the tip of the opposite side of the spearhead and bashed her. Karin was blown away, that magic power of hers hit rock bottom once more.

“UAA…hurts…my head, it hurts like it’s splitting apart…”

The collapsed Karin leaked out a complaint, but her magic power was restored while she writhed in pain, then she stood up once more.

The used up magic power, in what way was it restored? It made him think, as if the mental power that by all rights wasn’t supposed to be spent for magic power―the heart and the humanity itself were being whittled off in return.

“Hahaha, when she thought that she would get sympathy, she got done in again. How pitiful.”

“….kh! You, what do you think a comrade is!!?”

“They are just disposable dolls to be thrown away in the land I’m hiding of course, ribenren . What? Do you currently see these guys as anything other than puppets? I’m going to teach you the contrary.”

In rage, the color left from Kazuki’s head.

When he heard the personal history of Katsura Karin from Headmaster Amasaki about how she was a former orphan that was adopted into the Hayashi household, inside his head, Kazuki imagined that Karin and Shizuka were raised as sisters and they were taught Chinese kenpo shoulder to shoulder. Just like him and Kanae, like Headmaster Amasaki and Mio, ―he pictured a family.

Kanae’s smiling face and, Karin’s expression of anguish in front of him, overlapped in front of Kazuki’s eyes.

…Hayashi Shizuka. She is someone he couldn’t accept.

This girl…is an existence that was denied all the warmth that I received throughout my life until now.

“I am, not a puppet…I’ll show that I can be recognized…”

“Hahaha, go for it, go for it! Quickly stop the root of that guy’s breath with Shintoukei! After all, you have no worth other than your Stigma and the Chinese kenpo I taught you!!”

With Shizuka’s indifferent words at her back, Karin glared at Kazuki with a messed up face stained with tears.

“You, insulted my fist…! You denied my everything!!”

At the time when she attempted her second assassination, certainly Kazuki said something like that to provoke her. Right now, the figure of Karin with her heart whittled away and her body writhing in pain, yet still showing tenacity in that matter was bizarrely, courageously, not a figure to be pitied. This girl’s everything in her life, what in the world could it possibly be?

Kazuki stopped his pike once more. In his heart, he had decided that he wouldn’t hurt anything of Karin anymore.

“UaAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

Toward Kazuki who was not moving, Karin kicked the ground and approached while yelling.

“…Soaring wings, glaring eyes, invading world-destroying conflagration―manifest the authority of god right here, as the agent of civilization I advance deeper and deeper…Deep Striker!!”

Kazuki equipped a gigantic thruster unit on his back, flame spouted out from that back and leaped to the sky. Karin’s sorrowful rush was tragically hitting at nothing.

“What!?” Shizuka was taken aback and looked up to the sky.

After Kazuki drew an arc in the sky, he gripped Ayamur in one hand, and took a nose dive toward Shizuka like a falling star. The world blurred from the terrific acceleration, he became unable to see anything other than Shizuka.

The thruster system of [Deep Striker] was using Kazuki’s magic power, his force of will as fuel.

Kazuki’s force of will was amplified by the acceleration of his nervous system due to [Ride Lightning].

Even the performance of the instrument that was created from magic, was affected by the effect of [Ride Lightning].

The thruster system of Kazuki, at this time, spouted out flame explosions nearly double the intensity compared to when Lotte was manipulating hers. In addition the wind produced from the spearhead of Ayamur redirected the stream of air, decreasing the air resistance, realizing even further acceleration.

“He is still overlapping magic and enhancing it even further!?”

Shizuka raised a shrieking voice. It was already a speed in a dimension where Karin could not return to cover for her.

“―I, won’t accept someone like you!! UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-!”

From the air resistance that couldn’t be counterbalanced, Kazuki’s own defensive magic power was also breaking while giving off luminescence. Kazuki that turned into the very ray of blue light itself pierced Shizuka fiercely. The earth erupted from the impact of the nose dive.

Karin was also blown away. With the buried Shizuka as ground zero, a giant crater was gouged in the fountain plaza.

Kazuki shifted the propulsive power from vertical to horizontal. Shizuka who was buried in the earth was dragged along still pierced on the pike. Kazuki reaccelerated again with her right beside.

“U…UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

With her body protected by the defensive magic power, there wasn’t supposed to be any pain in her, but Shizuka raised a scream of terror. Dragging along the earth’s surface with explosive acceleration, stormy clouds of dust and the blue light of defensive magic power danced down.

While leaving behind a straight line of track from one side of the fountain plaza to the other, Kazuki dragged Shizuka along and rotated. Just before crashing with the stands he directed the propulsive power to the sky and sprang up the spearhead. Shizuka’s body was launched to the sky with great momentum. After a passage of several tens of seconds remaining in the air, she fell to the earth.

It was a strike with power such that it wouldn’t be strange if it caused the receiver to fall into severe magic intoxication, but―was it the boon of an excellent Resist skill, or thanks to the reinforcement of Joka, Shizuka stood up even with a pallid face.

“Im, impossible! Even with Joka’s Divine Protection, if it keeps like this…! Karin, we are going to use Summoning Magic!!”

Are they finally going to use Summoning Magic? It was the proof that these guys were also challenging this match with the preparedness of their determination. With this, the match had become something other than a contention for victory!

Responding to Shizuka’s order, Karin performed Access.

“O sinfully beautiful woman decorated with peach petals, thy name is…<Dakki>! I know thy true form…O fair complexioned, golden furred nine tailed fox passing time of a thousand years, lavish despair in the party of the last days!”

Beside Karin, an avatar of a bewitching beautiful woman was floating.

{Yareyare , so in the end you are risking your life, for such a trifling matter.}

Dakki. ―Famous in [Houshin Engi] , the great apparition of a thousand year old fox spirit that brought ruin to a country with her beauty.

The incarnation of [history’s undulation] that induced revolution in ancient China in accordance with Joka’s order.

Karin, who obtained that power put on a Magic Dress tinged with the color of the great mainland , red and gold shined brightly. From her lower back, a golden fox tail grew out luxuriously.

“…The symbol of infinity, half of the yin and yang, O personification of earth. In this universe that would be deified in China, there is no one that does not know thy name…Thy name is <Joka>. Wearing the light of five colors O snake body, human headed goddess, alter the universe of Pangu's creation! …We are going! Kill this guy!!”

What floated beside Hayashi Shizuka was one of the pillars of Chinese Mythology’s Three Sovereigns, Joka.

Holding a compass in her right hand, she was a gigantic goddess with a woman’s upper body fixed on a dragon’s lower body. Both divine and ominous, filled to the brim with dignity that couldn’t be lumped together with the scale of a human, she was in waiting behind her contractor. Shizuka’s Sword Division uniform also shifted into an opal Magic Dress that was near endlessly colorless and transparent.

“…Kazuha-senpai! Access!!”

At this moment that finally came, Kazuki shouted at Kazuha-senpai and called out to her.

Part 5

“It’s foul play! Stop the match…”

“Please wait!” Towards Liz Liza, who was going to stop the match with her authority as the referee, a man leaped out from the staff member’s tent― it was Board Chariman Takasugi.

“For what kind of reason do you stop me? We have to stop them immediately, it’s dangerous.”

Liz Liza glared at Board Chairman Takasugi from inside the grounds. From the start, Liz Liza and Headmaster Amasaki planned to use Kazuki as bait and bait these guys into using illegal summoning in public, proving the suspicions about them. In addition, it was not stopping at just Kazuki surviving, if he could defeat these guys and drive them into magic intoxication then they could catch them with more certainty.

But right now, to aim for those complete victories…was too dangerous with how much Hayashizaki Kazuki and his team’s magic power had been reduced to. Kazuki’s life was at risk. Liz Liza judged that it was enough to preserve their victory for the moment.

“Certainly there are rule violations, but…” Board Chairman Takasugi talked with a calm tone.

“It’s not to the degree that you need to stop the match, is it?”

…What on earth is this guy saying!?

“Although the swordsmen are totally using Summoning Magic, there is no danger for the opposing team. If their magic power fall into a dangerous level, all you have to do is make them leave the stage as the referee to protect them, right?”

Board Chairman Takasugi shrugged his shoulders. With an expression as if what he was saying was something really obvious.

But that was a story that left behind the fact that those two, Katsura Karin and Hayashi Shizuka possessed a mysterious technique that ignored defensive magic power and stopped the heart.

Those girls intermingled Summoning Magic together too and were going to aim for Kazuki’s life in the middle of the battle.

“This match is already Hayashizaki Kazuki’s team victory on the record, but isn’t it fine to continue the match? The objective of this battle election is to witness what the candidates are going to show in the middle of battle…to ascertain that with one’s own eyes. Katsura Karin and Hayashi Shizuka, the both of them, when they were at their wit’s end and were going to lose, continued to fight even if they perpetrated a violation of the rules. They chose to show something by means of the fight. The students' last tenacity while resolving themselves for defeat, we as educators should watch it with our own eyes, right!?”

What last tenacity…what those guys were aiming for was an assassination in the middle of the chaos!

“…Using Divas outside Solomon's 72 Pillars whose safety hasn’t been confirmed yet in this battle election, that’s the first problem before the matter of their tenacity.”

“Let’s stop regarding forming a contract with Divas that are, until now, treated as illegal as [absolute evil]…didn’t our school just change such policies recently? If those girls are treated indiscriminately, then Hayashizaki Kazuki, Charlotte Liebenfrau and Tsukahara Kazuha, won’t those three people also have to be seen as illegal magicians too?”

So that kind of logic is coming? So that the match wouldn’t be stopped by rule violations even if Katsura Karin and Hayashi Shizuka used Summoning Magic, they really had prepared a rebuttal beforehand.

Liz Liza looked up to Headmaster Amasaki as if to surmise his opinion.

“Let the match continue.” Headmaster Amasaki informed with a grave voice.

It won’t do if the power of the King isn’t demonstrated to this guy. Headmaster Amasaki whispered inside his mouth.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Kazuha, who guessed the situation performed Access even before she heard Kazuki’s voice.

“My bare hand grasps the red hot ore. Ridge in the sky, blade in the earth, merging in a flash become namely a single sword. Thy inscription is <Futsunushi no Kami>! O god of steel and fire, show that forging!”

Her hair lengthened with a flap, transforming into the figure of a divine red and white miko. Mibu Akira opened her eyes wide.

“Yo, you bastaa―rd! You ‘re going to break the rules even though you all are honor students!! Ain’t that the privilege of delinquents!?”

“I’m thought as one of the student council and its pleasant company but…I’m the dunce of the whole school! Don’t lump me together with them!”

Receiving an unjustified disparagement, Kazuha-senpai retorted back. Kohaku who was fighting in the side tilted her head deep inside thinking whether that was the real problem, but she circled back in order to earn the time for Kazuha’s chanting.

“Anekii―! Shit, what cowardice for a swordsman to suddenly use Summoning Magic! …O soul gathering by the calling voice of the god of death, armor my body, make this body into hell’s tormenting devil…the trump card against the heavens right here! Black Titan!!”

Asamiya Anna put a black mist on her body, transforming her own form into a jet black giant.

And then she assaulted Kazuha that began her spell chant!

“…In the middle of fighting with me, it’s unacceptable to avert your eyes!”

Mio, who spread out wings of flame and flew in the sky, was overlooking that situation and shouted.

“O bird of paradise where the light of heaven resides in that body, burn away the sin on earth following my accusation! Israel Judgment!!”

Phoenix’s avatar floated up on Mio’s back as if a halo was shining behind her. Brightness as if all the light in the world was condensing became an ultra heat laser, pouring on the defenseless back of the giant. The black mist melted in the blink of an eye inside the light, it thoroughly burned even up to Asamiya Anna.

“Flaming bird is not flame, but light!? Ain’t that the element that darkness element is poor against oii―!?”

With that one attack Asamiya Anna’s magic power was mostly used up.

“Ugu…” Leaking a voice, the girl fell to one knee with a violent shaking.

But―even so, new magic power was welling up from the depths of the girl’s mind!

“Sti…still not yETTTTTTT! Are we going to lose against the brightness of honor students huh, Anekii―!!”

“Son of a bitch―! I ain’t gonna get deceived by that handsome bastard’s bluff again―! That guy already had zero mood to chant things like that tsunami magic ain’t― it―!!”

Mibu Akira finally shouted in a burst of anger. From the trauma of having her poison magic nullified by Kazuki in the opening of the match, she had been hesitating in chanting poison magic for quite a while.

“We make sure of human nature. Thy bowels are hell’s crucible, the spouted slanders become indictment toward the sons of heaven and man. Fill the surface of earth with the anguish of the end! Apocalypse Venom!”

Astaroth that straddled a poisonous monitor lizard materialized her figure in the sky. From the mouth of that monitor lizard pitch black vomit was spewed out, pouring down on all of the match venue.

Kazuki was protected by the wind that arose from Ayamur, but Kazuha, Kohaku, and Mio were helplessly afflicted by poison. At the same time, Mibu Akira’s magic power dried up and she staggered.

“No, nooo, still not yet, it’s starting from now…! They‘re ravaged by poison, as long as we don’ get beaten, from now on we gonna beat ‘em up slowly in a long battle for surEEEEEEEEEE!”

Mibu Akira’s magic power, too, was restored by the Divine Protection of resurrection from Joka. There would be no end to this if it keeps like this.

Kazuha, while being afflicted by poison finally finished chanting the spell they had long-awaited for.

“I become the miko of sword. Rock cleaved, root torn, sin severed, that virtuous sword of crushing evil right now in this hand! Draw sword, Futsu no Mitama!!”

A light shined inside Kazuha’s hand, inside it an ancient sword that looked as if Futsunushi no Kami itself materialized was created. What Kazuha first did was slash herself as if purifying her body that was ravaged by poison.

[Futsu no Mitama] that possessed the power to sever magic effects destroyed the poison with a single stroke.

“”Kazuha-senpai!”” Kohaku and Mio who saw that state of affairs were scrambling to reach Kazuha first.

Kazuha slashed the two in turn, extinguishing that poison immediately.

“Do, don’t screw with meeeeeeeeeee! You bastaa―rds from the start ‘till the end keep screwing around making a mess outta my poison eehhhhhhh!!”

“That evil clinging on all of you too…will be severed by this sword!”

After deciding with the strict decision of a miko, Kazuha-senpai first slashed at Asamiya Anna. When the shining blade tore apart her defensive magic power, white light overflowed from the opening of the cut.

“Tha, that sword…are you seriously saying it can destroy our Divine Protection!?”

Asamiya Anna, guessing the change that happened in her own body, screamed out.

“…Joka’s Divine Protection can't be severed with just one strike!? Then, one more strike!”

Asamiya Anna turned her back while raising a scream. She was trying to escape from Kazuha-senpai.

“Stop, if you do that I’m going to go back to just a mere delinquent, stop! C’mon stop, save me AnekiiIIIIIIIIII!!”

“Barrett!”

That back was shot out by Mio’s bullet, Asamiya Anna’s movement was stopped. Right there Kazuha dealt the final blow with one more stroke of her sword. This time for sure she felt the reaction that all the magic power's effects had died out at her hand.

“If, if the Divine Protection disappears so suddenly, the recoil will…nn giiIIIIIIIII!!”

The girl having obtained empowerment surpassing her original true strength forcibly abused her physical body.

Furthermore, having already resurrected multiple times repeatedly, the girl’s soul was distorted. That distortion was corrected by [Futsu no Mitama] in one stretch. What resulted from that was…recoil.

Who knows how much pain was surging inside her all at once. Asamiya Anna raised a scream so loud it was as if her throat would be torn apart. She writhed around on that spot and then lost consciousness.

Looking at that appearance, Kazuha shuddered once more at [the absurdity perpetrated by Joka].

“So, sorry! But even though that looks like it really hurt, you are sure to get back to normal!”

Believing in Kazuki’s tactic, this time Kazuha slashed at Mibu Akira.

“Sto, stop! Don’ steal this power from mee―!!”

Kazuha’s [Futsu no Mitama] severed Mibu Akira’s strengthening halfway. Just one more slash…!

“Sto, stooOOP! Crawl out from the crack of the earth that’s besmeared by sunshine, ugly beast with lips smeared by gore! Liberate the pig of earthly worry with that big mouth! Dragon Bite!!”

Mibu Akira counterattacked with offensive magic. A giant dragon's head was summoned in the presence of Kazuha who let her guard down. That big mouth lined with vicious fangs was opened. …She was going to be bitten!

“It's dangerous, Kazuha-senpai!!”

Kohaku who predicted the danger forced her way through right there, pushing Kazuha away.

‘GUSHA!’ The dragon’s large jaw crunched Kohaku, the blue light of defensive magic power scattered.

“Hikita Kohaku, that’s the end! Get back already!!” a voice ordering to leave came from Liz Liza-sensei.

“Ko, Kohaku!” Kazuha rushed to Kohaku who was kneeling on the ground even though she was still in the middle of the match.

“This one is fine so…slash her and remove her from this match!”

“…Got it! With this it’s the end!!”

Liz Liza lent her shoulder to Kohaku and brought her off the grounds. Taking a glance back, Kazuha drew closer to Mibu Akira and swung down the second slash of [Futsu no Mitama].

White light flashed in the path of the slash. From the body of Mibu Akira, all the Divine Protection was extinguished.

“The, the power of resurrection is…! Stop, don’ steal that from us! We’re gonna keep standin’ no matter how many times and keep fighting! Whatever pain that hit us we will keep standing to show our guts, if you steal that from us…! …uugYAAAAAAAAAA!”

Similar with Asamiya Anna, Mibu Akira too was attacked by the recoil and raising a scream while writhing around.

While feeling pity toward that figure, Kazuha looked up at the direction of Kazuki who was flying in the sky.

“Hayashizaki, this side is finished!”

―Kazuki run through the sky using the thruster system of Deep striker.

“Kazuha-senpai, please lend Futsu no Mitama to me! Katsura Karin too…I’m going to release her from Hayashi Shizuka’s curse!”

Not merely winning, he was going to save Katsura Karin too. Toward Kazuki, who was saying such a thing, Kazuha felt a faith that couldn’t be expressed by words. This guy is seriously kind, that was what she completely felt once again.

“Right! I’ll entrust this to you!!” Kazuha presented Futsu no Mitama to Kazuki.

Hayashi Shizuka immediately inferred the aim of Kazuki, who was heading to Kazuha.

“…O pitiful pit viper sipping the muddy water. Disturb the flow of Yin and Yang, bring about the three thousand years of spirit essence to thee…Now, thy name is Yinglong ! Show that power of thee that had become the king of dragons running in the sky!! Yinglong Invitation!!”

Making the avatar of Joka waiting upon her side, Shizuka invoked Demon Beast summoning magic.

The sky was covered with deep black dark clouds. With a flash of light as if the rift between the clouds was torn apart, from there a gigantic dragon clad with lightning came flying. Yinlong―the dragon king that matured after the passing of three thousand years.

Looking at the flying Kazuki who was going to get [Futsu no Mitama], Shizuka directed the dragon king.

“I won’t let you!”

But to prevent the obstruction of the exchange, Mio stood in the way of the dragon king. The dragon swung down its three claws at Mio. It was Mio who was poor at close-quarters combat, but she blocked with the wings of flame.

An even defense and offense―it was not. The claws of Yinlong were not blocked but as if to say it [wouldn’t let her get away] the claws grappled Mio. Its mouth opened widely in a flash and radiating electricity was shot out.

“Self Burning!!” Mio instantly summoned an armor of flame.

However―even though the flame armor absorbed the electric heat, it didn’t defend the electric shock that flowed through her whole body. Along with all the damage that tormented Mio throughout this protracted battle, her consciousness felt far away.

It’s no good…I'm also going to protect Kazu-nii! I won’t allow this guy to become a hindrance to Kazu-nii!

“Kazu-nii, take [Futsu no Mitama]…”

Mio looked down at the ground from the air. If that sword was handed over to Kazuki, this fight would…!

“Dragon Biteee!” ―From behind Kazuha, a voice that should not be possible came.

Without even time to turn back, a gigantic large jaw of a dragon was created at her back, the perfectly off-guard Kazuha was crunched with a ‘GUSHA!”. Her defensive magic power was scraped off to the utmost limit.

“Tsukahara Kazuha, that's the end, leave the battle!!” Liz Liza ordered her to leave the stage.

Kazuha turned back with unbelieving eyes.

“Li, lies…why, even though you are supposed to have been freed already from the brainwashing…”

Even while in agony Mibu Akira was just barely getting up on her knees, with fire lighting in her eyes and a bloodcurdling expression, she carried out her spell chant.

“No way we’re fightin’ in this under brainwashing zeee―…. We’re fightin’ to prove that even useless trash has their own spirit! …We're fightin’ to make Karin-chan win!”

The girl raised her head, she shouted facing at Katsura Karin.

“Karin-chan, don’ lose! If you win against that Hayashizaki Kazuki, you're gonna get recognized by that always cold Nee-chan right!? Don’ lose okay, Karin-chan you’re not somethin’ like a pup…pet…!”

After shouting only that at the end, she crumbled down and fainted.

“So, sorry Hayashizaki…my magic power won't last much longer…”

[Futsu no Mitama] vanished from Kazuha’s hand. Kazuki and Mio looked on with astonishment.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

“Yosh, Karin. Use Dakki’s magic.”

“But if I use this magic now, even those three people that can't fight already will..."

Karin hesitated to carry out the spell that she had already chanted halfway, but Shizuka commanded coldly.

“It doesn’t matter. Do it, puppet. Kill that guy!”

{Again with the command for cruel things…how pitiful.}

Beside Karin who was nodding powerlessly, Dakki’s avatar sneered at this transient world’s affair.

“…O goblin flower, bloom with glossy pride! What unfolds tonight is the banquet of brutes, tilt the cup, sake of dosa . The five hundred years of heaven’s torture right here…Great Toad Lantern Thought HellDaitai Bonsou Jigoku!!”

Pitch black shadow spread from under the feet of Dakki and Karin, covering the whole surface of the fountain plaza. Even up to the bottom of the crater that Kazuki gouged out in the ground was swallowed by the magic shadow. From the depth of that shadow, innumerable poisonous serpents and scorpions were creeping up disgustingly.

It was as if the match venue had been transformed into a pit that was blanketed all over with vicious creatures.

“…!? You're using large scale offensive magic even though the defeated still haven’t left the area!”

The referee Liz Liza-sensei shouted while escaping to the staff tent outside the grounds with Kohaku borrowing her shoulder.

“Your teammates are fainting too you know!!”

“I’ll save them!”

Mio ran from Yinlong, she fluttered her wings heading under the fainting Mibu-senpai and Asamiya-senpai.

“Bas, bastard―…No way I’ll get saved by the enemy…you bastards are still enemy right now…”

Mibu-senpai, who was caught in one of Mio’s arms, let out abusive language. The other arm also held Asamiya-senpai. Although Mio was using Enchant Aura, was strained to the limit by the weight of two people got irritated.

“You’re annoying, I’ve seen with my own eyes your spirit or perhaps I should say I’m tired of looking at it. Just rest already!” Mio carelessly threw the both of them into the staff tent. And then one more person, Kazuha-senpai was―

“Kazuha-senpai, watch out!” Kazuki, who was rushing with a plan of taking [Futsu no Mitama] just barely rescued Kazuha-senpai from a dangerous spot. With the girl in his arms, he made the thruster system of [Deep striker] spout fire and flew to the sky, away from the hell of serpents and scorpions.

He saved Kazuha-senpai but…he still couldn’t say that all’s well that ends well. Kazuki felt impatience and distorted his expression. [Futsu no Mitama] had vanished completely.

Despite his intention to also liberate Katsura Karin from Joka’s power.

If by some chance Karin was not brainwashed, perhaps nothing would change even if she was slashed by [Futsu no Mitama]. Was the current Karin fighting by her own will, it couldn’t be judged at all looking from the outside.

But…Kazuki didn’t want to think that the distortion in Karin’s mind was all the effect of undergoing abnormal education. He wanted to believe that her mind was overwritten by brainwashing magic and that was why she was made to obey so abnormally like a puppet. He wanted to believe that if the brainwashing magic was negated in this place and she was pulled away from Hayashi Shizuka, the girl would also be able to turn back into a normal girl for sure. And yet…!!

“Sorry, I weighed you down again…. Because I’m too half-baked and weak…”

Surmising Kazuki’s color of impatience, inside Kazuki’s arms Kazuha-senpai’s eyes slowly became blurred with tears.

“That’s not it, senpai has no need to apologize for anything.”

“But…to save that girl Karin, the power of [Futsu no Mitama] is absolutely needed right? Even while I’m fighting I too had heard the cries of that child many times over. …That’s just too pitiful. Even though you are trying to save her…I, I can't do anything to help…”

Kazuha-senpai, who could sympathize with a complete stranger that much, was truly a really kind person.

“Hey, don’t you have any other way!? You can use magic of so many types, right!?”

Finally, with a single line of tears going through her face, senpai raised a pleading voice to Kazuki.

However, among the magic that Kazuki could use, there was no purge magic. …I’m still inadequate as a King. If only I had made my bond with Kazuha-senpai too as something definite….

Severing all the magic power of the technique user Hayashi Shizuka was also one way to extinguish the power of brainwashing.

But Kazuki realized inside his heart that it was a difficult undertaking because at the time when he was attacked on top of the hill in the public park, he had seen Shizuka escape with Joka’s [space transfer magic].

Space transfer―if some kind of countermeasure was not arranged for that magic, he wouldn’t be able to defeat Hayashi Shizuka. Precisely because her way to escape was ensured, Shizuka could display the use of her trump card so readily like this.

Other than hitting her with purge magic before she made her escape, there was no other way to save Karin.

Things like another method…. No…. Kazuha-senpai was removed from the stage but, right now she was still inside Kazuki’s arms. If that was the case then there was still one thing left that he could still do. Right, just one….

“Oi, that face of yours, that’s a face that just thought up some kind of method huh!”

Kazuha-senpai guessed from the change in Kazuki’s expression, she rocked Kazuki’s shoulder strongly.

“If there is some kind of way, then let’s save that girl! You are…not a brutish harem guy but a kind person right!? Please!!”

However, if I do that kind of thing, I….

“Hayashizaki Kazuki! It’s dangerous for your companion that doesn’t have magic power left, so drag her here to the staff tent!”

As if cornering the hesitating Kazuki, Liz Liza-sensei’s warning from the ground came.

“Yinlong, knock him down!”

Receiving Shizuka’s command, Yinlong too headed to Kazuki and flew.

“Coming from Ken’en tomb cave, one of Chūou Teishin’s three apparition princesses, O Dakki’s truly cruel next younger sister! Nine headed pheasant spirit <Kokibi>!!”

Karin too invoked even more Summoning Magic―from the far off sky, an unknown strange bird was flying.

A gigantic beast possessing many heads; a nine headed bird spirit. Possessing mystic power from living a long time, an apparition of a pheasant.

Its speed even surpassed Yinlong, this strange giant bird too was heading at Kazuki.

“I told you already…I won’t let anything near Kazuki!!”

In front of Yinlong and the nine headed bird, flapping her wings of flame Mio cut between them and Kazuki. Mio struck the strange bird as if pushing with her wings of flame, the scream of the eerie bird rang out in the sky of the battlefield.

But from the side, Yinlong hurled a breath of lightning attack. Mio tried to block it with the wings of flame but, she failed. The shock of the lightning attack pierced through and inflicted damage.

Mio’s remaining magic power lessened, the wings of flame were shriveling down in the blink of an eye.

“The energy of the wings is exhausted…if it's exhausted, I’m going to be dropped into hell! If I fall into that kind of place in a condition of magic intoxication…I’m going to get bitten continuously by snakes and scorpions unable to escape…he, help me Kazu-niiii!!”

He could hear Mio’s scream. The situation was…rapidly becoming urgent!

…As expected there is no other way than this! Without a doubt this would hurt Kazuha-senpai but…if it keeps like this then he would regret it in the end no matter what his choice!

Kazuki while still carrying Kazuha-senpai flew to the height where they couldn’t be seen by other students in one go.

“Senpai, forgive me!!”

“What are you apologizing…nmuchu!?”

While accelerating and crossing the cloud, he pulled the bewildered Kazuha-senpai’s face closer―and piled up their lips.

He kissed her. Inside Kazuki’s chest, Kazuha-senpai was struggling with her hands and legs violently. But Kazuki kept hugging her strongly, he didn’t separate their lips immediately. Reinforcing the link of bonds between their magic power, after he felt a strong circuit was tied together―Kazuki finally separated their lips.

“Wh, wh wh wh wh wh why!”

After separating their faces with a ‘chuu’ sound echoing, Kazuha-senpai raised a panicking voice.

“Why are you suddenly kissing! My, my first kisss, why now!?”

Kazuki too, what kind of face should he make and what should he say that is good, didn’t immediately come to mind. But Kazuha-senpai immediately took notice of something unusual starting to happen inside herself, she pressed her own chest *gyuu* tightly.

“…Wha, what is, this sensation!? Something hot is linking with you, something is…”

“Senpai, I’m sorry. But there is no other way except this!”

Kazuki one-sidedly apologized like that and swooped down, he entrusted Kazuha-senpai to the staff tent.

“Wa, wait, Hayashizaki Kazuki! You, why…just explain thiss―!”

Kazuha-senpai, who was dropped on the ground, was crying with a blaming voice in a fluster. While receiving that question with his back, Kazuki silently flew up to the sky once more.

[Deep Striker]’s energy too only had a little left remaining. If he didn’t decide the match immediately…! At the same time inside his head, a spell was coming to the surface.

“O god of sword from time immemorial that is extolled together with Takemikazuchi…”

Through the link with Kazuha-senpai, he called out to the true body of Futsunushi no Kami in Astrum.

“DON’T MAKE MY CUTE KAZUHA CRY”

Futsunushi no Kami floated beside Kazuki. That vision was changing from an avatar into a real entity.

“Well, there is no other way. I understand what you are doing. Anyone will judge that what you are doing is the right thing without a doubt. Kazuha too is angry, but she doesn’t hate you. But I’m worried you know? …You, something inside you that you were intending to never let twisted, is it twisted now?”

“…!” The words of Futsunushi no Kami pierced Kazuki’s chest deeply.

I was…for the sake of power I kissed Kazuha-senpai!!

“It’s only a worry of mine that something of you had completely wavered though. Well, your decision is not something mistaken! Right now raise your face, look at the enemy in front of your eyes! If it’s my power then, in accordance to your will, you could sever every evil!! Come, chant the spell until the very end!!”

“Born from the whirl of steel and flame O god of blade that becomes pure! I’ll take hold of thee with this hand receiving glory…draw sword! Futsunushi no Kami!!”

Together with the completion of Kazuki’s spell chant, the presence of Futsunushi no Kami that was floating beside him was deepening thickly―accomplishing materialization in this transient world. Materializing a Diva…the ultimate Summoning Magic!

Futsunushi no Kami, who was floating in the air was moving airily to Kazuki’s hand.

“…Come, wield me!!” Eyes opening with a flash, Futsunushi no Kami declared.

…no wait, that’s it!? I’m just wielding you like this without anything else!!?

Kazuki made a tsukkomi inside his heart, but from the hilt that Kazuki held…a power that was without question was transmitted into both his hands. …It was extremely impertinent for him to tsukkomi or the like wasn’t it? Right now, the very thing in Kazuki’s hand…from time immemorial the people of Japan regarded katana as something sacred. This sword in his hand was that very divinity itself.

Its appearance was an ancient sword with the face of a middle-aged man fixed on it, it was just Futsunushi no Kami that was materialized as it was, without any change. [Futsu no Mitama] too was an ancient sword that looked just like a smaller Futsunushi no Kami, compared to that, this was just the same with a bigger size without any change in its appearance.

But the power hiding in its blade was like something completely different. If this real thing of [Futsunushi no Kami] was compared, that thing [Futsu no Mitama] was a shadow that was created by Futsunushi no Kami. He comprehended that it was nothing more than a cast-off shell.

Its appearance was, just a mere sword―but that blade hid a terribly frightening something.

“Kazu-nii! Save me quickly!!” Mio who was cornered by the dragon and pheasant raised a scream.

Kazuki opened the energy of [Deep Striker] on his back at full throttle.

While cutting apart through the clouds―he slashed at the Yinlong that he crossed paths with.

When the sword Kazuki wielded drew a line, Yinlong, which was touched by it, along with the three clawed fingers it used trying to block―’zuu―’ its body became two equal parts. In Kazuki’s hand, he felt the same as if he was slashing at something with no sensation of touch at all. It was not a dimension of sharpness anymore.

The root of the magic life-form which was its magic power was erased, the entity of Yinlong became countless lights and scattered apart.

Kazuki, who was dashing in the sky drew an arc and circling. This time he was heading to the nine headed pheasant spirit.

The apparition of the pheasant was not allowed any response―a flash. The nine headed pheasant spirit too became a light shower and vanished.

…What clean feedback his hand felt.

At that time the wings of flame exhausted its strength and vanished, Mio completely exhausted, freefell down into that hell. Kazuki swooped down and caught up with her just barely, taking her in his arms.

Kazuki’s [Deep Striker]’s energy too was exhausted with his consecutive maneuvers. Kazuki, while holding Mio inevitably fell naturally. At their falling destination, innumerable poisonous serpents and scorpions were waiting for them in swarms. Kazuki embraced Mio with one hand, he took a reverse grip of [Futsunushi no Kami] with his other hand―he pointed the blade toward the hell simultaneously while falling. With a flash, the match venue that was covered with darkness was ran through by light. Every vicious creature disappeared, the fountain plaza returned to its original form.

“Mio, retreat to the staff tent. Those guys’ ways of fighting are not straightforward.”

“…It’s okay to rely on the teachers and stop the match you know?”

Mio said so worriedly. She seemed to want to say what would happen if Kazuki’s heart was stopped when she was not there.

“It’s okay, you don’t need to worry. Also…if this is stopped now then there is no meaning.”

The wish of Kazuha-senpai, he would show that he was going to free Karin too here!

Sensing the obstinacy of Kazuki’s determination, Mio ran to the staff tent.

“Coming from Ken’en tomb cave, one of Chūou Teishin’s three apparition princesses, voice of Shinin, dance of Hokuhi, playing the comfort of Bibi, O Dakki’s youngest sister! Gem and stones biwa spirit <Oukijin>!!" Even during this interval, the opponent chanted their spell. At Karin’s side, a gigantic stone biwa appeared. It moved by itself and began to play music.

What kind of ominous power did that tune possess―Kazuki had no idea.

Just by thrusting [Futsunushi no Kami] right in front of himself, all of the mystical sound waves were cut apart and dispersed.

“Tha, that…how could sound get cut!?” Against that unreasonableness, Karin’s expression was taken aback.

Kazuki was naturally reminded of Prometheus’ [Olympia Forger].

As the result of the mutual hailing with Kazuki’s soul, Prometheus’ power was embodied in the shape of a sword. But to the last its essence was a [weapon]. Its blade hid energy that would explode externally, it was a weapon that released a wave motion that would defeat countless military forces altogether with one slash.

[Futsunushi no Kami] in contrast with that, hid energy that was concentrated internally. It couldn’t do something like releasing sword waves and defeating an army altogether. However the thing that was touched by that blade―whether it was a material thing or an effect of magic power― would get cut down and bisected with one stroke.

“Ride Lightning!” ―A fitting spell to wield this blade, Kazuki had already finished the chanting for it.

Kazuki accelerated his body and filled the distance with one breath, he parted the gem and stone biwa spirit into two.

And then with the returning slash, he cut Karin.

The power to cut all things―that was not all there was to it. This sword was able to cut only the thing the wielder wished to cut. At that time Kazuki was able to choose what he wanted to cut.

What was cut from the girl named Karin? …Joka’s Divine Protection. …Everything that remained of her magic power.

And then her sense of pain and consciousness. So that there would not be anything painful for the girl from the recoil of the Divine Protection’s severing.

Slowly swaying, Karin fell asleep at that spot like her battery was pulled out. Seeing that Kazuki caught her in his arms.

Kazuki softly laid the girl whose expression was only now just softened down on the ground.

“The water god of raging scarlet hair is the broken heavenly pillar, mending the chasm of destruction Joka’s greatness shines! …Distribute that light of world compilation in this hand! Five Color StoneGoshoku Seki!!”

Shizuka too invoked her magic. The tremendous magic power wave conveyed the power of the invoked magic. On the palm that Shizuka raised to the sky, a shining [sphere] was created, it emitted light of every color…!

“GUWAHHAHHA! Hey Kazuki, what that stone released is waves that overwrite and transform all existence – the world! Superficial magic power would just get rewritten magic power and all, it’s a power of instant death you see! But if your skill and me are joined then there is nothing we cannot cut!! Believe in me and just slash―!!”

Kazuki with his honed swordsmanship faced the light and swung [Futsunushi no Kami]. The light was bisected right in two, as if the impact was transmitted through the light, the [Goshoku Seki] inside Shizuka’s hand was smashed apart.

“Kuh…impossible, does anything go for that sword!?”

“GUWAHHAHHA! Strictly speaking it’s not everything. The thing that I can cut is in proportion to the skill of the user, just so you know. That’s why…putting aside Kazuha if it’s Kazuki then it’s possible everything really can be cut! Wielded by the supreme swordmaster, as a sword too it’s supreme enjoyment! GUWAHHAHHA!!”

Kazuki’s might was roused up. As a swordsman, those were words of a sword god that were really more than he deserved…!

“Che” Shizuka was clicking her tongue. The girl had noticed that [the battle was impossible to be kept on]. Even while holding up the five colored stone, she had already begun to spin an emergency spell.

“O five colors that are the shine of Joka, repaint the world! The sky I wish for is not here! To the end that compass pointed at…Kujinhen’i!”

The compass held by Joka’s avatar that was floating beside Shizuka rotated fiercely. Space transfer magic!

It was that compass! With this sword of cutting evil, if he could destroy that compass…!

Kazuki accelerated with [Ride Lightning] and approached Shizuka. But in the nick of time the compass shone. …Not enough, only with [Ride Lightning], the acceleration was not enough…!

Right in front of Kazuki’s eyes, the space distorted like jelly. And then the figure of Hayashi Shizuka thinned out and was disappearing!

Right after, feeling a slight presence at his back Kazuki looked back.

At the back, a half transparent Shizuka was standing. That form of hers was already not a material substance but an avatar.

After the girl looked down on the unconscious Karin, she glared at Kazuki provokingly.

[I’ll give that puppet to you. You, I should have met you while you were still weak…. However, I’ll soon come again to kill you just so you know. I too, cannot go back to the motherland empty handed…]

―Leaving behind words of ill omen, Shizuka’s figure disappeared.

She wouldn’t be able to show her figure anymore as a Sword Division second year of the Knight Academy.

At the conclusion of the strange final battle, the stands erupted in commotion. This match had obviously become something odd from the midway. Students who were supposed to be swordsmen were recklessly firing magic using unknown Divas, defenseless students that were in the middle of evacuating the arena were dragged into it. On top of all that, a single student’s figure was vanishing to who knows where.

Liz Liza-sensei, who grasped the situation called out a blessing with a megaphone in order to gloss over the incident.

“The match is over! The Knight Academy’s Chief Student Council President Tournament battle election, the champion team is…the candidate Hayashizaki Kazuki and his supporters! Give a big applause for them!!”

The students of the whole school in the stands, even with the many things they didn’t understand, all at once gave applause and raised loud cheers with a great mood.

Translator's Notes and References

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