Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume4 Chapter7

Girl of the Dark Spirit

“——What, idiot idiot, Kamito is such an idiot.”

With plaited red hair, Claire was running across the castle corridors.

She used her uniform’s sleeve to wipe away large drops of tears from her eyes.

——Claire has nothing to do with it.

Such cold thoughts about Kamito were continuously reverberating through her head.

(I, Kamito have no faith in me…..)

Thinking about that was too painful.

——You certainly know about brother, right Onee-chan?

(That’s right; I really don’t know anything about Kamito……)

Her chest was aching. Such an ordeal was tormenting her from inside.

What is this, this feeling?

(……Why, why do you not speak with me also?)

Claire walked trudgingly in order to wipe away her tears when her feet came to a sudden stop.

Seeing all the young ladies walking through the corridor in dresses Claire turned away with what could be called as a dubious face.

(……Oh yes, there is something like a ball dance this evening)

As a matter of fact, yesterday when thinking about this night, her chest was secretly pounding.

She had also bought a new dress along with the swimsuit in preparation for this.

(No-Nothing, it’s not like I am wearing this for his sake……)

With Kamito’s face emerging while recalling that memory Claire began to contradict in serious denial.

(But, I was really looking forward to what kind of face would he make when seeing me in a dress……)

Considering such a thing made her face go red.

(No, what am I thinking? Kami—Kamito wouldn’t even care for such a thing.)

She bit her lips strongly with teeth.

Quite suddenly, and surprisingly with a shimmer of hot air around her feet, a flame erupted with a cat-like appearance following her.

“……Scarlet, what is it?”

Claire asked mildly as she leaned over.

“You hungry? Canned Tuna is still in the room.”

Scarlet was pointedly waving its neck.

Right under Scarlet’s neck, she noticed a silver chain dangling.

“That’s……”

The silver pendant was adorned with a cat shaped figurine.

Two weeks ago, Kamito had given her this as a birthday present.

Keeping it as important inside a jewel box, she had held on to it expressly.

Claire took the pendant in her hands.

This was her first birthday present from a boy.

At that time, she was truly happy.

Claire brought her very important pendant to her chest.

“……Ah right. Even I feel that I was a little bad a while ago.”

Gently patting Scarlet on her head a little, she sighed.

(……That guy was so obedient some time ago.)

◊

“……That Claire, where did she go?”

Inside the mysterious labyrinth like castle Kamito was walking in search of Claire.

.…Or perhaps, in order to completely get lost.

At any rate, this structural monument truly bore the fruits of some strangeness leaving remnant traces of a legend from the era behind. To make matter worse, the structure underwent repeated alterations over the centuries, and with corridors here and there, the strangeness of the mysterious labyrinth could be felt.

Similar reconstruction of all the rooms laid up in different directions defying any sense made one to lose to insanity.

(……With this, it won’t be ridiculous to get lost.)

The outcome was that it was already near time for the opening ceremony.

(Hmmm, she might have returned to rooms. Perhaps we might pass each other and find ourselves——)

And, Kamito brought his feet to a stop.

Coming out in the open from the corridor, a garden with a water fountain at some spot came into sight.

“Heee, how wonderful this is……”

Such a beautiful view in front of the eyes reflexively broke away all thoughts.

Countless flowers were in full bloom in the garden with number of tiny firefly-spirits swarming around them.

Pure clean water was gushing from inside the water fountain in abundance making it full.

(Perhaps, this became the place for the purification ceremony of the shrine maidens.)

Thinking in such a way, Kamito stepped into the garden gently.

All the spirits dancing in the air cleared away and dispersed in all directions.

Surrounding the water fountain were huge statues of gems lined up with full body torso carved into them.

The statues were of the 5 Elemental Lords who were the supreme throughout the corners of the world.

A Warrior welding a blazing sword—— Fire Elemental Lord <Volcanicus>

A serene Boy with a gentle gaze—— Wind Elemental Lord <Belphal>

A Giant brandishing an iron sledgehammer—— Earth Elemental Lord <Lode Gear>

A Woman carrying a water jug on her chest—— Water Elemental Lord <Iseria Shivod>

An Old Man with a balance and bishop’s staff—— Holy Elemental Lord <Alexandros>

Capability to bring forth fortune and calamity to people, Creators of all the spirits.

Of course, it doesn’t mean that the figurines were all in real resemblance to the Spirit Kings.

All the carved statues were simply depicting every Elemental Lord.

“These too must be the historic remains from the myth era……”

Those were magnificent sculptures. At the very least, they would have been so centuries earlier. Though could not be discerned from the ruins, Kamito had aninkling of their profound meaning.

The raw material for the stone too was not just any gemstone. Valuable spirit ores were smashed in making.

When he approached nearer,

“You?”

Kamito suddenly started remembering something unpleasant.

The full body statue depicting a Spirit King. To its side——

Besides it was the remains of another sculpture that was already shattered to the knees.

That is, unsuitable in this exquisite garden, it seemed terribly out-of-place.

(……Why, such a thing?)

Portraying the act in cold-blood the knees-reach sculpture stood there in arrogance. Even the remains of that statue were not moved, clearly giving the message of it being of an important legacy.

“……Huh?”

At that time. Various thoughts crossed through Kamito’s mind.

Yes, it does seem so.

(Just like that ancient shrine in the abandoned mine of the town city……)

This composition was very similar to the sculptors that have been engraved into the main gate.

Similar to the statues of the five Elemental Lords, only this one had been stripped off unnaturally from its origin.

(At that time, Est was certainly murmuring something……)

Because situation had become more imminent at that time, he had not heard it properly……

“Certainly……”

“——This was to erase any existence from the era, of the Spirit King of Darkness.”

All at once, a voice was heard from the rear——

Kamito turned around in surprise.

Wearing a black dress on her, a beautiful girl with dark black hair came to a stop beside the water fountain.

She had a delicate smile on her face as if playing a prank.

The girl he was always searching for——always, was there.

“Restia……”

“Looking for that kitten of yours, your face is as if seeing a ghost.”

Thereupon bearing a smile, she treaded on with light steps.

Kamito couldn’t move. His eyes were bulged and totally petrified.

Standing before the very eyes of Kamito’s was the girl of darkness, who was stretching herself on tiptoes.

“Restia, you……”

Kamito desperately brought down his nerves.

“Why are you having a scared face, Kamito?”

“……Aa.”

This gentle voice was so sweet that it was as if it invited one to slumber.

Unchanged.There was just no change to that harshness from three years ago.

The seal carved into his left hand was hot enough to burn.

(……Agh, why are you showing such a face?)

——Who are you?

——Why, why is my heart getting so shaken from seeing Restia!

Truthfully, I really wanted to cry out and go to this girl in front of my eyes.

However——

I stopped my voice inside which were spouting with all words of condemnation.

……I knew. I knew her out to be a genuine contracted spirit.

So no matter what transformation she went, this one fact couldn’t change.

To Kamito’s closed off heart, that girl was his beacon of light.

Being near her absolutely gave warmth to feel at ease.

But now——

“……”

Kamito strongly bit his lips with teeth.

Since three years ago he had always anticipated for such an encounter.

So what made her to change to this level?

Or, something did broke apart when she said her <wish>, damn it!

(I, at that time three years ago——)

Spirit Kings, the heck with a wish.

I want to ask about a number of things.

That’s why, even I too cannot help but just listen.

Still perplexed Kamito slightly opened his mouth.

“Reshtia……”

“Hmm?”

That Spirit of Darkness slightly tilted neck.

“Say, the military spirit who attacked the flying boat, was that you?”

“Those were <her> instructions. It wasn’t me.

Restia replied and sat above the smashed up sculptor.

Sitting cross legged, and wistfully resting her chin on the hand, her appearance was like a beautiful Goddess that descended.

“So to say, who is that other person who is deceiving by my name of Ren Ashbell?”

“Taking your name does not mean that she is deceiving, Kamito.”

Restia smiled with tenderness.

It was like admonishing a kid who doesn’t know about things.

“She too, wants to meet the real Ren Ashbell.”

“That’s what you say?”

“Regrettably however, you are not yet ready to hear of the reasons at present.”

Restia quietly tilts her neck.

“……Why, did you appear before me after such a long time?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then what is it?”

“A very important person from your past has come to destroy you.”

“From my past……”

Kamito murmured——

—— An orphan from <Instructional School>.

“Yes. Muir Alenstarl disregarded <her> command and went on a rampage. Oh well, <that girl> wouldn’t dare to overlook those again.”

“Muir, why is she aiming at us?”

“You are not the spoils she is aiming at. It is but all your very precious girls.”

“Why? She wouldn’t do such a thing……”

“I am not the one to decide that. It’s because her favourite older brother was taken away.”

“……”

Certainly, Muir Alenstral wouldn’t aim for Kamito’s life.

If so, at that time, Kamito couldn’t have overlooked the inefficient usage of the demon spirit.

Claire was highly excelled in spirit power.

Also were Ellis, Rinslet, and even Fianna who was supported by a contract with a powerful knight spirit even when not receiving any battle training.

However, even with all the young ladies using spirit power simultaneously, could not stand against that young girl.

They were all nosy, gentle and proud Ojou-sama who enjoyed delicious black tea, sweets.

(But the orphans from the <Instructional School> are different……)

As Kamito reached to that conclusion——

From an early age, they were instructed in the art of slaughter and destruction. They existed just to do that.

It wasn’t meant to be a blade dance for enjoyment—— pure combat skills.

These aristocratic ladies from the academy lived in an entirely different world.

They had no chance of winning against such a representative in Blade Dance.

“—— I won’t let that happen.”

Kamito said in a lowered voice.

Claire too, Ellis too, Fianna too, Rinslet too, Est too.

“I will absolutely protect my comrades.”

“Will you be able to, I wonder?”

Bringing her fingertips to lips, Restia——

"Your past is as an orphan from <Instructional School>. Even then you had a close battle against someone of Jio Inzagi’s caliber. And it didn’t seem that your ladies were able to stop him.”

“It doesn’t matter. I will give my life in exchange to protect them.”

“Unfortunately, I am jealous a little.”

“—— That is why Restia, see how I protect you also.”

“ ……Huh!?”

Restia looked surprised.

For the first time, a slight disturbance could be seen through the dusk colored pupils.

“You haven’t changed a bit, same old self from the inside.”

Abruptly shrugging her shoulders, she slowly stood up.

And then, before anything she set her foot forward and——

“I am so happy, Kamito.”

Standing on tiptoes, she slipped a kiss on Kamito’s lips.

“……Huh!?”

Remaining in that stance for several seconds without moving, Kamito was frozen.

His head became numb and completely blanked out.

“……Eh”

Restia finally made her lips to part.

And then, what she whispered under his ears stunned Kamito.

“Just wait, Kamito. You will soon wake up as a successor of the Devil King.”

“Res……tia……?”

Kamito stretched his fingertips, but all it could catch was the empty space.

The girl of the dark spirit, who was just a moment ago standing in front of Kamito, disappeared in a cloud of black mist.

◊

“……”

From the shadows of the corridor that extended to the garden, Claire was stunned and stood stock still.

On the way to search for Kamito, she saw that girl of the dark spirit entering the garden to join with Kamito for a conversation.

That girl of the dark spirit is dangerous——and immediately tried to summon Scarlet, but felt discouraged when she saw Kamito talking with that little girl.

Those two were behaving as lovers meeting after a long long time.

As it was, Claire’s timing to leave was too unfortunate.

The contents of those two’s conversation was almost inaudible from the corridor.