https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Kilpykucoo&feedformat=atom Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en] 2024-03-19T14:03:01Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.35.2 https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Seirei_Tsukai_no_Blade_Dance:Volume19_Chapter2&diff=561348 Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume19 Chapter2 2020-03-10T15:52:46Z <p>Kilpykucoo: /* Part 2 */</p> <hr /> <div>==Chapter 2 - The Truth Twenty-years Prior==<br /> <br /> ===Part 1===<br /> <br /> After the demon spirit Vlad Dracul showed up, Kamito and his friends went over to the headmistress' office.<br /> <br /> With her gray&lt;!--her hair was described as silver in the previous chapter--&gt; hair was bobbing about, Vlad Dracul was quite cute.<br /> <br /> Kamito had crossed blades with her in her elemental waffe form at Dracunia&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't believe there's a demon spirit with human form...&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito spoke quietly, out of earshot of the girl walking in front.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's the highest-ranked spirit out of all the demon spirits, crowned with the title of 'Duke.' Truly impressive as ever, the Dusk Witch, to be able to tame such a powerful spirit.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't tell me you're acquainted with her?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Only by reputation. After all, she went on a wild rampage during the Spirit War&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, Miss Sword Spirit over there, I've fought you before, you know~&quot;<br /> <br /> The girl looked back and giggled, baring her sharp teeth.<br /> <br /> &quot;Pretty much every Elemental Lord's direct subordinate was strong, but this wild child Est was super dangerous. To be honest, I really don't want to go against her again.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Est, do you recall any of this?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, Kamito.&quot;<br /> <br /> Upon hearing Kamito's question, the sacred sword at his waist flashed several times. Separated from her principal body, Est currently retained only fragments of her memories from the Spirit War.<br /> <br /> &quot;What~, you don't remember~? Tsk.&quot;<br /> <br /> The demon spirit girl grumbled quite disappointedly then half-skipped half-ran up the stairs.<br /> <br /> &quot;According to the Spirit Research Society's understanding, it is theoretically impossible for humans and demon spirits to communicate with each other. I never expected a spirit like her to exist.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire murmured with curiosity.<br /> <br /> &quot;You elementalists might think you know everything about spirits, but there are still many more mysteries in Astral Zero.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Can't deny that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire admitted it honestly with a shrug.<br /> <br /> Arriving before the headmistress' office, the demon spirit girl pushed the door open without knocking.<br /> <br /> &quot;I brought 'em here~, shitty witch hag~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Who do you think you are calling hag? I'll annihilate you, demon spirit.&quot;<br /> <br /> Sitting at the office desk inside, Greyworth invoked void spirit magic without delay.<br /> <br /> &quot;Woah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito hastily dodged.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ehehe, so scary&amp;mdash;Woo♪&quot;<br /> <br /> Somersaulting in the air with a flutter of her skirt, the demon spirit Vlad dodged the magic projectile spectacularly.<br /> <br /> The floor was dug up with a huge hole in the office wall.<br /> <br /> &quot;H-Hey, Greyworth!?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You're in the way, lad. I need to teach a disobedient bad spirit a lesson.&quot;<br /> <br /> Still with her finger pointed at the demon spirit girl, Greyworth spoke with a serious demeanor.<br /> <br /> &quot;What's wrong with calling a shitty hag out for being a shitty hag?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How dare you&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Vlad stuck out her tongue.<br /> <br /> &quot;Shitty hag so scary, Vlad's gonna play outside now~&quot;<br /> <br /> With a turn of her jet-black overcoat, she immediately escaped out of sight.<br /> <br /> &quot;...My goodness. My previous contracted spirit was so much better, even though they're both demon spirits.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Where did you contract this spirit from?&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito asked while walking into the office.<br /> <br /> &quot;A sealed spirit kept in secret by the Ordesian military. Unearthed from ancient ruins, but no one was able to tame her. Okay, please take a seat&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Greyworth stood up and invited Kamito and company to sit down on the sofa for guests.<br /> <br /> Leaning Est against the side, Kamito sat down on the sofa.<br /> <br /> Occupying his left and right were Claire and Restia respectively. Faced with Greyworth, who looked like she was the same age as them, Claire seemed a bit nervous.<br /> <br /> ''Well, who could blame her?'' After all, the legendary witch recorded in the Academy's textbooks was appearing before her, looking identical to during the olden days.<br /> <br /> &quot;Have you recovered?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, pretty much. At least I can walk.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nodding, Kamito shrugged a bit.<br /> <br /> &quot;I see. Sorry for pushing you too hard, lad.&quot;<br /> <br /> Greyworth spoke quietly with a solemn look.<br /> <br /> &quot;What's going on, this is totally unlike you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I became the Holy Kingdom's pawn and hurt you. I must apologize for this first.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saying that, Greyworth slowly bowed her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;...!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing that, Claire widened her eyes in surprise. Kamito gasped too.<br /> <br /> To think the witch would bow her head. Was history being made?<br /> <br /> &quot;What happened to you in the imperial capital? It's not like I don't care about what happened twenty-four years ago, but I want to clear this up first. An elementalist of your level, manipulated by others, that's unthinkable&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...You are right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Lifting her monocle, Greyworth stared intently into Kamito's eyes.<br /> <br /> &quot;Did you hear from the princess about the attempted assassination of the emperor?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah...&quot;<br /> <br /> She was referring to how the Bloodstone in Fianna's possession had run amok and released a powerful demon spirit during the Imperial Council's discussion of how to handle the Theocracy's coup d'etat.<br /> <br /> &quot;I was labeled a traitor to the country and imprisoned in the infamous tower of Guas Gibai. Everything was planned by the Holy Kingdom backing Arneus.&quot;<br /> <br /> Guas Gibai. Commonly known as the &quot;torture tower,&quot; it was a military research facility used during the Ranbal War for a series of cruel human experiments involving cursed armament seals and others.<br /> <br /> While Kamito and his companions were infiltrating the imperial capital, the Numbers special operative knight Virrey Branford had disappeared there during her mission to rescue Greyworth.<br /> <br /> &quot;I heard that the Holy Kingdom's warrior priestesses are implanted with faith towards the Holy Lord using mind magic&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Resting her chin on her hand, Claire murmured.<br /> <br /> &quot;It was not mind magic.&quot;<br /> <br /> Greyworth shook her head in response.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'd have trouble believing that an elementalist like you could get brainwashed by mind magic, even having lost your peak power.&quot;<br /> <br /> Restia commented while preening her jet-black feathers.<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh? I never expected to receive such high praise from you, darkness spirit.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh my, I have no choice but to acknowledge how scary you are. After all, you are the witch who took away my Kamito before.&quot;<br /> <br /> Faced with Restia's combative gaze, Greyworth smiled wryly in return.<br /> <br /> (...Oh well, I can't imagine this witch getting brainwashed either.)<br /> <br /> Also, it would not explain why she had regained her youthful appearance either.<br /> <br /> Like resurrection of the dead, regaining one's youth was not something any spirit's power could achieve.<br /> <br /> If there was an exception, it would only be&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Holy Kingdom made me remember my ''covenant from the past''.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Covenant?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Indeed. Twenty-four years ago, I entered into a covenant with the Holy Lord.&quot;<br /> <br /> Greyworth began to narrate in a calm tone of voice.<br /> <br /> ===Part 2===<br /> <br /> Twenty-four years ago, the month of the white lion...<br /> <br /> It was the day when Greyworth Ciel Mais had emerged victorious in the Blade Dance as the Empire's representative.<br /> <br /> She had gone to the Elemental Lords' altar to present her longtime ''wish''.<br /> <br /> Back then, the wish she had made was a young girl's naive fantasy.<br /> <br /> &quot;...What did you wish for?&quot;<br /> <br /> Hearing Kamito's question, Greyworth smiled wryly in self-mockery.<br /> <br /> &quot;&amp;mdash;A world without war.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That foolish little girl wished for such a dream to come true.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito could not help but stay silent.<br /> <br /> A foolish wish&amp;mdash;The witch's words were excessively heavy.<br /> <br /> The Ranbal War. Before Kamito and his companions were born, two great wars had broken out on the continent.<br /> <br /> It was said that war had started due to squabbling over mining rights of spirit crystals, but there was no definitive narrative of the true reason.<br /> <br /> With the entire continent gripped in war, the ultimate witch had applied herself to the battlefield, earning the title of hero in her homeland.<br /> <br /> However, what the girl known as the witch sought was not fame or praise.<br /> <br /> On the battlefield where numerous comrade-in-arms and contracted spirits perished constantly&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> With a singlehearted wish to put an end to armed conflict, she plunged into the midst of war.<br /> <br /> Hence, ''that'' was the first wish the girl made.<br /> <br /> It was precisely for the sake of achieving that wish, the girl had won every fight throughout her Blade Dance tournament.<br /> <br /> However, that ''wish''&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> That pure ''wish'' was absolutely impossible to achieve exactly because it was too pure.<br /> <br /> Kamito knew this already.<br /> <br /> (...Fifteen years ago, there was another girl who made the same wish.)<br /> <br /> Lurie Lizaldia&amp;mdash;That girl's wish did not come true.<br /> <br /> &quot;The Elemental Lords said that it was a wish beyond the power of miracles. At that moment, I realized for the first time that the Elemental Lords were not omnipotent.&quot;<br /> <br /> In front of the Elemental Lords' altar, the girl fell into the abyss of disappointment.<br /> <br /> From the beginning, she was uninterested in any other wish.<br /> <br /> ''I might as well leave without making any wish'', she thought.<br /> <br /> It would serve as a tiny &quot;take that&quot; directed at the powerless Elemental Lords&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> But just then...<br /> <br /> &quot;&amp;mdash;A voice appeared in my mind and spoke to me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Was it Holy Lord Alexandros...?&quot;<br /> <br /> Greyworth quietly nodded when Kamito spoke that name.<br /> <br /> Three years ago, the Holy Lord was absent when Kamito was granted an audience with the Elemental Lords.<br /> <br /> What had the Holy Lord said to Greyworth twenty-four years ago?<br /> <br /> &quot;The Holy Lord proposed a certain deal to me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...A deal?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Holy Lord told me this. I can make your wish come true. I can create a world without war, a world where conflict between people will no longer exist&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> &amp;mdash;Become my right arm to achieve that world.<br /> <br /> &quot;Was that the ''covenant''? Between you and the Holy Lord&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...Indeed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Greyworth's gray eyes darkened.<br /> <br /> &quot;Having witnessed too much death, the little lass was dealt a serious blow by despair. She believed those words that were filled with hope. Or rather, she entrusted everything to that sliver of hope&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Hence, the Holy Lord and the Witch established a covenant.<br /> <br /> The Holy Lord granted a portion of the power of miracles to the maiden. Completely unaware that true identity of the miracle was the darkness corrupting the Elemental Lords, the maiden accepted the power.<br /> <br /> &quot;It was thanks to the power of miracles shared by the Holy Lord that my appearance remained unchanged over so many years. And also because of that, my divine power did not wane until now&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see, so that's what happened...&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire held her breath, unable to hide the surprise on her face.<br /> <br /> (...Speaking of which, Lurie Lizaldia also kept her youthful appearance.)<br /> <br /> Just then, Kamito recalled that.<br /> <br /> However, Lurie apparently had the ability to alter her appearance using spirit magic as well..<br /> <br /> &quot;On that day, I became the Holy Lord's right arm. While serving my homeland Ordesia as the first of the Empire's Numbers, I waited for the right time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The right time?&quot;<br /> <br /> Greyworth's sharp gaze shot straight at Kamito's face.<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. I was waiting for one who had inherited the Demon King's power to show up.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...What!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito widened his eyes in surprise.<br /> <br /> The one who had inherited the Demon King's power. In other words...<br /> <br /> &quot;You, Kazehaya Kamito.&quot;<br /> <br /> Greyworth exhaled gravely.<br /> <br /> &quot;All this time, I have been waiting for you to appear, lad.&quot;<br /> <br /> ===Part 3===<br /> <br /> &quot;...Waiting to meet me? You?&quot;<br /> <br /> This was the most shocking statement she had made so far.<br /> <br /> Feeling intense thirst in his throat, Kamito gulped.<br /> <br /> In Kamito and Greyworth's first encounter, they were respectively the assassin and assassination target.<br /> <br /> That was actually all part of the plan?<br /> <br /> &quot;The Holy Lord predicted that the Darkness Elemental Lord's reincarnation would be born in this era, and therefore looked forward to his awakening.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Holy Lord wanted me to awaken? Why...?&quot;<br /> <br /> The Darkness Elemental Lord was supposed to be the Holy Lord's enemy.<br /> <br /> Then why on earth did he want her to resurrect...?<br /> <br /> &quot;In response to the Darkness Elemental Lord's awakening, that which had sealed the Holy Lord's soul would be liberated&amp;mdash;That was what the Holy Lord told me. Back then, I did not fully understand, but now I finally do. You must have realized too, lad.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...! So that's what's going on?&quot;<br /> <br /> That which had sealed the Holy Lord's soul.<br /> <br /> It was referred to the one who had turned into a spirit crystal due to Est's power, and was thus sealed underground in the Demon King's Tomb for a thousand years&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> (&amp;mdash;Areishia Idriss.)<br /> <br /> ...He had suspected this before.<br /> <br /> Why had the Holy Lord not released the Sacred Maiden's seal for so long, the past thousand year?<br /> <br /> The spirit Iris' barrier was not the sole reason.<br /> <br /> Until the Demon King's successor awakened, the Sacred Maiden likewise could not wake up.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then in that case, you raised me as Ren Ashbell because&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, indeed&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Confronted with the question asked by Kamito's trembling voice, Greyworth answered.<br /> <br /> &quot;My mission was to hasten your awakening as the Demon King.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...!&quot;<br /> <br /> He felt as though his vision turned pitch black.<br /> <br /> In that case, those memories back then with her raising him&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> Instruction at the witch's mansion, training in the Spirit Forest, inheriting Absolute Blade Arts, etc&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> (All that was to complete her mission as the Holy Lord's right arm...?)<br /> <br /> Presumably realizing Kamito's thoughts&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> Greyworth showed sorrow on her face.<br /> <br /> Seeing her expression, Kamito clenched his fist hard.<br /> <br /> ...The thought of condemning Greyworth did not cross his mind.<br /> <br /> No matter what her motive, she had personally raised Kamito.<br /> <br /> However, it was a feeling akin to loss and desolation that tightly gripped Kamito's heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;In the beginning, I took you in because of the mission. That is the truth.&quot;<br /> <br /> Greyworth confessed everything.<br /> <br /> &quot;...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But while I was raising you, confusion appeared in my heart for the first time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Confusion...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps I developed feelings over time. If you were to awaken as the Demon King, you would become the enemy of the world, destined to walk a path of no return, bearing the brunt of hatred and resentment from numerous peoples. When I realized that, I&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Suspicious of the Holy Lord's words for the first time, Greyoworth explained.<br /> <br /> &quot;It was then that I figured it out. The Holy Lord's true objective.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;True&amp;mdash;&quot; &quot;Objective...?&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito and Claire's voices overlapped.<br /> <br /> &quot;Soon after adopting the lad, I had a strange dream.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...A dream?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. What you saw at the Elemental Lords' altar, I saw in my dream.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...The angels of another world?&quot;<br /> <br /> Greyworth nodded.<br /> <br /> Repeating the same dream every night, she soon realized it was no ordinary dream.<br /> <br /> It was a dream shared between a spirit and the princess maiden contracted to the spirit.<br /> <br /> Just as how Kamito was able to catch glimpses of the Darkness Elemental Lord's memories&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> Perhaps through the Otherworldly Darkness inside her, Greyworth had witnessed the Holy Lord's dream.<br /> <br /> Or maybe, it was a sign that the Holy Lord was gradually recovering his original strength just as Kamito was starting to awaken as the Demon King.<br /> <br /> &quot;In the dream, an army of an astounding number of angels occupied the entire sky. A gigantic gate was open in the air. Countless angels descended from there.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What...?&quot;<br /> <br /> An army of angels had come to this world through a gate?<br /> <br /> It was what Kamito feared most after seeing what lay across the Otherworldly Darkness at the Elemental Lords' altar.<br /> <br /> &quot;But that was not the most shocking scene.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Next, a giant of light swallowed the angels.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saying that, even Greyworth had sweat on her forehead.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh, a giant of light...?&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire asked in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;...The Holy Lord. As a contractor, I instinctively understood.&quot;<br /> <br /> In front of the shocked Greyworth&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> Having swallowed the angels, the giant of light began to employ that power.<br /> <br /> Literally, the giant changed the world by hand.<br /> <br /> All Greyworth could do inside the dream was watch in shock as the world she knew gradually disappeared.<br /> <br /> &quot;I could not tell whether the scene I witnessed in my dream was something that had actually happened in the past or a possible future in the Holy Lord's mind.&quot;<br /> <br /> However, it was then that Greyworth finally understood the true meaning of the Holy Lord's words.<br /> <br /> So-called creating a world without war meant opening a gate to the Otherworld to obtain the power of angels, then using that power to ''remake the world from zero''&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's...&quot;<br /> <br /> Mid-sentence, Kamito stopped.<br /> <br /> He recalled what Lurie and Millennia had said.<br /> <br /> Rebuild the world&amp;mdash;That was what they had said.<br /> <br /> Although it had limitations, the summoned angel definitely possessed the power to interfere with physical laws.<br /> <br /> If the Holy Lord, leader of the Elemental Lords, obtained that power, then&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> &quot;As for the world the Holy Lord will create, I have no idea what it will be like.&quot;<br /> <br /> Greyworth shook her head calmly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps it is the world without war that I once wished for. However, it is definitely not the world that my comrades-in-arms sacrificed themselves to protect.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...I see. That's why you&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> For Lurie Lizaldia, the world was already filled with despair.<br /> <br /> That was why she was willing to sacrifice herself for the ideal world the Holy Lord described.<br /> <br /> However, Greyworth was different.<br /> <br /> What she wanted to protect was the current world.<br /> <br /> &quot;Resolving to betray the Holy Lord, I ordered Vivian Melosa, who was my disciple back then, to transplant an illegal cursed armament seal onto my heart, sealing the covenant.&quot;<br /> <br /> However, that was a miscalculation. When the cursed armament seal was transplanted to her heart, simultaneously, all memories about the Holy Lord were erased.<br /> <br /> This was a trap laid by the Holy Lord when he granted power.<br /> <br /> Forgetting she had entered into a covenant with the Holy Lord&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> She unconsciously guided Kamito to awaken as the Demon King.<br /> <br /> &amp;mdash;Hence, the Strongest Blade Dancer, Ren Ashbell, was born.<br /> <br /> &quot;...That was what happened twenty-four years ago.&quot;<br /> <br /> Greyworth said.<br /> <br /> &quot;While I was imprisoned at Guas Gibai, Millennia Sanctus destroyed the cursed armament seal and awakened the darkness lying dormant inside me. Lad, do you still remember the time when you inherited the ultimate technique during the Blade Dance?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah...&quot;<br /> <br /> Last Strike.<br /> <br /> Passing on the ultimate technique of the Absolute Blade Arts, Greyworth had lost her power as an elementalist.<br /> <br /> &quot;That time, it was Lurie Lizaldia who saved me at Ragna Ys. My guess is she analyzed the cursed armament seal on my heart while treating me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I am the stupid witch, leashed by the Holy Lord.&quot;<br /> <br /> Greyworth laughed in self-mockery.<br /> <br /> &quot;...No.&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito said slowly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hmm?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You put your heart into raising me. That's the unalterable truth.&quot;<br /> <br /> Although he felt a bit shy saying this in front of the witch, these were Kamito's true feelings.<br /> <br /> She was the one who had taught Kamito how to survive in this world.<br /> <br /> She was the one who had created the opportunity for him to meet Claire and the rest of Team Scarlet at the Academy.<br /> <br /> She had given Kamito back his human side after his assassin upbringing.<br /> <br /> It was almost like&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> &quot;You're... my&amp;mdash;mother.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...&quot;<br /> <br /> Hearing these words of Kamito&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> Greyworth showed a shocked expression for an instant, stunned.<br /> <br /> Then&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> &quot;Fufu, I almost fell for you there, lad&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing the witch's innocent smile for the first time, Kamito felt his heart race.<br /> <br /> ===Part 4===<br /> <br /> After listening&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> &quot;Excuse me, headmistress, how were you able to recover your memory?&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire asked.<br /> <br /> &quot;It was the Demon Slayer that severed the covenant together with the Otherworldly Darkness inside me. When I woke up at the bottom of Dragon's Canyon, I had regained all my memories.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see, the gamble paid off&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito looked down at Est at his waist.<br /> <br /> The Demon Slayer had destroyed the cursed seal armament transplanted to Velsaria's heart in the past and erased the darkness corrupting Elemental Lords.<br /> <br /> Naturally, erasing the Holy Lord's contract was possible too.<br /> <br /> &quot;Praise me, Kamito.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You're amazing, Est.&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito chuckled wryly and gently stroked the sacred sword's hilt.<br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, how does the Holy Lord intend to open the gate to the Otherworld?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...Yeah. And to obtain the angels' power&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Though the Elemental Lords were powerful, would something like this actually be possible...?<br /> <br /> &quot;&amp;mdash;Perhaps ''this thing'' might know.&quot;<br /> <br /> Greyworth glanced at the sword leaning against the wall.<br /> <br /> Securely bound by by a chain for restraining spirits, this was the sword of Millennia Sanctus.<br /> <br /> Turning herself into a gate, she had summoned an angel.<br /> <br /> Surely, she must know the inner details of the Holy Lord's plan.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come to think of it, I think she called Est her sister.&quot;<br /> <br /> ...Upon closer examination, the sword's decorations were quite similar to the Demon Slayer's.<br /> <br /> Even her iris was colored the same as Est's, a clear violet.<br /> <br /> &quot;I have no sisters.&quot;<br /> <br /> Est denied simply.<br /> <br /> &quot;Allow me to investigate that sword.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, thanks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &amp;mdash;Just then, there was knocking at the door of the headmistress' office.<br /> <br /> &quot;Headmistress, an emergency report&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice belonged to Kamito's homeroom teacher, Ms. Freya.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is the matter?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;&amp;mdash;The palace at the imperial capital has fallen.&quot;<br /> <br /> ===Part 5===<br /> <br /> Boom, boom, boom&amp;mdash;!<br /> <br /> Violent explosions rocked Nefescal Palace.<br /> <br /> Militarized spirits for subduing strongholds were deployed in the air over the imperial capital, one after another.<br /> <br /> At the back of the throne room inside the vast palace&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> &quot;...! W-Why... Why!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Pale in the face, Emperor Arneus cried out convulsively in terror.<br /> <br /> With every vibration, the luxurious chandelier encrusted with spirit crystals swayed widely.<br /> <br /> It was like a countdown to death.<br /> <br /> &quot;I-I am the legitimate Emperor of Ordesia! Why did this&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> There was no one else in the throne room. Only a few personal guards protected him.<br /> <br /> The battle over the plains of Sadelka soon reached a conclusion.<br /> <br /> Encouraged by Fianna's Glory of the Queen, the rebel's knights overwhelmed the Imperial Knights with their burgeoning morale.<br /> <br /> Even taking into account Dracunia's reinforcements, the Empire's forces still enjoyed a six to four ratio advantage in numbers, but the Imperial Knights were extremely low in morale.<br /> <br /> On top of it being common knowledge that Emperor Arneus was the Holy Kingdom's puppet, news of the rebel forces conquering Areishia Spirit Academy had dealt a decisive blow.<br /> <br /> Transmitted by the wind, the news spread all at once, greatly shaking the Imperial Knights.<br /> <br /> The Holy Kingdom's large-scale summoning of demon spirits, forbidden by international treaty, combined with the fact that the hero Greyworth supported the students, also contributed to the decrease in morale in the Empire's knights.<br /> <br /> As the battle situation deteriorated, nobles in the emperor faction switched sides and surrendered.<br /> <br /> The imperial capital's walls were raising white flags. Military ships and Dracunia's dragon riders occupied the whole sky.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Damn it, why didn't the Holy Kingdom send reinforcements!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Arneus emotionally smashed his fist against the throne's armrest.<br /> <br /> The Holy Lord's Knights were garrisoned on the Holy Kingdom's border. Under a secret agreement, they were supposed to send reinforcements to help in defense as soon as the imperial capital was under attack.<br /> <br /> However, there were no signs of reinforcements at all.<br /> <br /> The cardinals stationed in the palace had also vanished without a trace.<br /> <br /> The Holy Kingdom, which had backed his ascension, had abandoned him.<br /> <br /> Explosions were heard repeatedly. The palace shook violently.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uwaaaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Arneus fell off the throne in an unsightly manner, clutching his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why, why...!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just then...<br /> <br /> &quot;How unseemly, Your Majesty.&quot;<br /> <br /> Inside this throne room where there was not supposed to be anyone else. Someone's mocking voice was heard.<br /> <br /> &quot;I cannot fathom why you would cling so obsessively to a throne you never acquired through your own ability.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...!&quot;<br /> <br /> He looked up, only to see a young girl standing before him.<br /> <br /> The Holy Kingdom's cardinal&amp;mdash;Millennia Sanctus.<br /> <br /> She was not merely a ordinary young beauty.<br /> <br /> Arneus knew that she was an exceptionally rare and terrifying being.<br /> <br /> &quot;D-Dame Millenia, why didn't the Holy Kingdom send reinforcements!? At this rate, I'll&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Your reign will be overthrown.&quot;<br /> <br /> Finding it funny, Millennia laughed.<br /> <br /> Arneus scramed.<br /> <br /> Then why on earth did you people allow me to ascend to the throne!?<br /> <br /> Arneus knew he was merely a puppet a long time ago.<br /> <br /> &quot;I-I still have value! Right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, your mission is over. Your Majesty.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...! What did you say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Enough sacrifices have been offered.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...Sacrifices?&quot;<br /> <br /> Arneus frowned in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Our goal is to cause war and chaos on the continent. The two Ranbal Wars, the Theocracy's civil conflict, this Ordesia war and the Demon King War a thousand years ago, all of them were sacrifices for disrupting order in the human realm&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What on earth are you talking about...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The collapse of order in the human realm is enough to destabilize the Elemental Lords. This is key to opening the gate to the Otherworld&amp;mdash; =&quot;<br /> <br /> With the sound of intense explosions, the palace gates were destroyed.<br /> <br /> &quot;&amp;mdash;Now then, I must excuse myself. Take care, Your Majesty.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;W-Wait, I said wait!&quot;<br /> <br /> Ignoring Arneus' yelling&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> With a turn of her pure white vestments, Millennia Sanctus disappeared.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ha, haha, hahahaha...&quot;<br /> <br /> Sitting on the throne, he laughed drily.<br /> <br /> Just then, people entered with the sound of footsteps.<br /> <br /> It was Fianna in full imperial attire and bodyguard knights.<br /> <br /> ...Evidently, even the knights in the king's royal guard had abandoned him.<br /> <br /> &quot;&amp;mdash;Arneus, you have no right to sit on that throne.&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna pointed her elemental waffe rapier straight at him.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Is this the end?&quot;<br /> <br /> Hanging his head, Arneus raised his arms to surrender.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume19 Chapter1|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume19 Chapter3}}&lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Kilpykucoo https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Seirei_Tsukai_no_Blade_Dance:Volume18_Chapter9&diff=561333 Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume18 Chapter9 2020-03-09T15:01:29Z <p>Kilpykucoo: /* Part 3 */</p> <hr /> <div>==Chapter 9 - Offense and Defense at the Academy ==<br /> <br /> ===Part 1===<br /> <br /> Ominous clouds were hanging low in the sky.<br /> <br /> Kamito and company were running in the Academy town where thick miasma was swirling.<br /> <br /> Going through the Sylph district, a dense residential area, they rushed straight to the main entrance to the Academy's school building&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> This distance was quite short for a well-trained elementalist, but the worry was that more and more demon spirits would surge out from the dimensional gap as time went by.<br /> <br /> (...We are in a race against time.)<br /> <br /> Looking up at the giant gate in the sky, Kamito muttered to himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;The Academy's school building is in sight.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Charge it in one breath!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes!&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire swung Flametongue in her hand.<br /> <br /> With a crimson slash sweeping through the air, demon spirits appearing out of nothing were instantly destroyed.<br /> <br /> Noticing the unusual situation, the guards in front of the gate manifested elemental waffen in their hands.<br /> <br /> There were five of them. They looked like elite spirit knights.<br /> <br /> (...As expected of the Empire's knights. They are well-trained.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Charging at us with merely four people... Are they mad!?&quot;<br /> <br /> The apparent leader shouted, swinging a mighty hammer.<br /> <br /> The shockwave was released radially, tearing up stone tiles on the street.<br /> <br /> &quot;O eternal magic ice, turn into a solid castle wall&amp;mdash;Ice Wall!&quot;<br /> <br /> Rinslet instantly recited defensive spirit magic.<br /> <br /> Rising from the ground, the wall of ice blocked the shockwave and debris completely.<br /> <br /> Stepping hard on the ice wall in front of her, Ellis jumped into the air.<br /> <br /> Raising Ray Hawk, she launched it at the main entrance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Fahrengart style of the spear, secret technique&amp;mdash;Storm Strike!&quot;<br /> <br /> BOOM&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> A whirlwind began to swirl, contracting at the spear tip.<br /> <br /> The thrown Ray Hawk tore through the air as a flash of light, producing a spiral shockwave.<br /> <br /> The Academy entrance was immediately contorted, then blown away in an instant.<br /> <br /> The spear turned back into the shape of a demon bird spirit. Circling in the air, Simorgh returned to Ellis' arm.<br /> <br /> Standing on the wall of ice, Ellis looked down at the Empire's knights with her blue hair fluttering in the wind.<br /> <br /> Seeing her like that&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> &quot;...! Don't tell me it's Lady Ellis!?&quot;<br /> <br /> The apparent leader of these knights exclaimed in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;You are the Fahrengart's flagbearer, Inase-dono of the van Browa family, are you not?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Indeed. I am Inase van Browa, Captain of the Imperial Knights!&quot;<br /> <br /> Answering Ellis, the captain introduced herself openly. As the Fahrengart's flagbearer, she was supposed to be a knight swearing allegiance to Ellis.<br /> <br /> However, Inase continued to keep her elemental waffe raised.<br /> <br /> Presumably, she intended to remain loyal to her military position.<br /> <br /> &quot;Inase-dono, why would an honorable knight like you oppress students!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Ellis hated beating around the bush and true to her usual style, went straight to the point.<br /> <br /> &quot;I am a knight serving His Majesty the Emperor. I must complete the assigned mission.&quot;<br /> <br /> The captain's answer left no room for mercy.<br /> <br /> &quot;So the Imperial Knights' methods include the use of demon spirits now?&quot;<br /> <br /> This time, it was Claire who shouted.<br /> <br /> &quot;...! It was the work of the Holy Kingdom. We have nothing to do with it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Did you say the Holy Kingdom!?&quot;<br /> <br /> (...As expected, the Holy Kingdom is involved, huh?)<br /> <br /> Kamito commented in his thoughts. Naturally, he had thought that possibility highly likely to begin with. However, to summon demon spirits in great numbers was an act that would lead to disaster once the surrounding nations found out. Since such an act received military authorization, it meant that Ordesia's higher-ups currently had no power to resist the Holy Kingdom.<br /> <br /> &quot;You have admitted your guilt. If you stand by and allow it, you are complicit!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...!&quot;<br /> <br /> Hearing Rinslet's harsh and valid criticism, the captain became speechless.<br /> <br /> &quot;Inase-dono, you will only bring shame to the van Browa family name if you continue to let the Holy Kingdom do as it wishes.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even so, I shall never turn back from my oath of loyalty!&quot;<br /> <br /> Inase van Browa replied with determination.<br /> <br /> &quot;...! Even though I am in no place to say this, I must call you out on your stubbornness!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ellis, looks like you're actually quite flexible for a knight...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, I have revised my opinion of you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Sh-Shut up...&quot;<br /> <br /> Ellis coughed and readied Ray Hawk.<br /> <br /> &quot;It is pointless to continue the discussion. Allow me to break through by force!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Break through by force? Do you intend to make enemies out of every spirit knight garrisoned here!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Alarms kept sounding all around. The militarized surveillance spirits flying in the sky aimed searchlights at Kamito's group.<br /> <br /> Reinforcements were apparently arriving.<br /> <br /> (...Fine, it's time to take a gamble.)<br /> <br /> Kamito wiped away cold sweat while he reached into his chest pocket.<br /> <br /> What he took out was a silver ring carved with High Ancient.<br /> <br /> This was the Demon King's Ring for commanding the seventy-two spirits.<br /> <br /> Although Kamito could only use this ring to control one spirit at a time&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> If he eschewed control and simply used it to liberate sealed spirits, there was no limit.<br /> <br /> Kamito raised the ring and poured divine power into it.<br /> <br /> &quot;As the Demon King's successor, I hereby command. Awaken from your thousand-year-long slumber and flaunt your power to your hearts' content!&quot;<br /> <br /> The Ring glowed with intense light.<br /> <br /> That blinding brightness frightened the Empire's knights.<br /> <br /> Rumble, rumble rumble, rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble...!<br /> <br /> In the next second, earthquake sounds kept appearing&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> A great explosion happened in the Academy.<br /> <br /> &quot;W-What on earth is going on...!?&quot;<br /> <br /> The captain of the Imperial Knights sounded confused.<br /> <br /> They turned their head to look back&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> Only to see an unbelievable scene before their eyes.<br /> <br /> A gigantic dragon spirit with as many as eight heads. A two-headed giant wielding a humongous wooden club. A great serpent shrouded in lightning. An enormous turtle with a weird mountain of rock on its back. A warrior clad in armor of steel&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> Every spirit was powerful enough to rival archdemon-class.<br /> <br /> &quot;&amp;mdash;Five, no, six of them. More than I expected.&quot;<br /> <br /> Restia's voice sounded in Kamito's mind.<br /> <br /> What Kamito had liberated were the Demon King's minion spirits that the army had taken from the Demon King's Burial Chamber to safekeep. Although earlier Restia was uncertain whether primordial powerful spirits would heed Kamito's voice, now it was evidently a winning gamble.<br /> <br /> Confronted with the sudden appearance of multiple archdemon-class spirits, the Imperial Knights panicked.<br /> <br /> &quot;Go wild all you like, servants of the Demon King!&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito continued to pour divine power into the ring and shouted. The Demon King's Ring instantly shattered into fragments.<br /> <br /> &quot;Kamito, that was pretty good Demon King style. I award you six Demon King points.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What kind of stupid points are those...&quot;<br /> <br /> Hearing Restia sounding a bit happy, Kamito could not help but retort.<br /> <br /> &quot;Anyway, now is the time to charge!&quot;<br /> <br /> With dual swords of white and black in his hands, Kamito charged into the knights.<br /> <br /> ===Part 2===<br /> <br /> &quot;...! What happened!?&quot;<br /> <br /> The current master of the headmistress' office stood up from her chair and shouted anxiously.<br /> <br /> Taken over by the Imperial Knights, the headmistress' office of Areishia Spirit Academy had become the room of Alendora Eva Abyne, commander of the garrisoned force.<br /> <br /> Among the aristocracy, the family of Duke Abyne was only second to House Fahrengart in prestige. In addition to her family background, Alendora's power as a spirit knight was also top-notch. Graduating from the Academy as the valedictorian, she currently held the position of Seventh of the Numbers. She was widely known as the user of a void spirit.<br /> <br /> As someone of such stature, Alendora was stunned speechless after seeing the scene outside the window.<br /> <br /> Large xenomorphic spirits had demolished the Academy's Sealed Library and came out of it.<br /> <br /> They were on a rampage and currently attacking the Academy's school building.<br /> <br /> No one had any grasp of the current situation.<br /> <br /> Why would these spirits, supposed to have been sealed, suddenly awaken?<br /> <br /> &quot;...Damn it&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> With a contorted expression, Alendora smashed the headmistress' office's window.<br /> <br /> &quot;Fufu, why are you so agitated? Seeing as your are Seventh of the Numbers.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...! You!&quot;<br /> <br /> She shouted angrily and turned her head back, only to see the Holy Kingdom's Cardinal standing in front of the door.<br /> <br /> &quot;I did not permit you to enter, Dame Millennia.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I do not need your permission.&quot;<br /> <br /> The young girl with an eye patch and dressed in holy vestments smiled nonchalantly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do know that I was sent by his Majesty Emperor Arneus and granted full authority.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...!<br /> <br /> Alendora gritted her teeth. She had always viewed with disdain this cardinal who did whatever she wanted, taking full advantage of the Emperor's decree, despite being among the Imperial Knights.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is the matter with this utter mess? Don't tell me this is another of your experiments?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, incorrect. The Demon King is the one responsible&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Kazehaya Kamito has apparently arrived with his companions to recapture the Academy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Kazehaya Kamito&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> There was probably no one in Ordesia who did not know this name by now.<br /> <br /> He was the one and only male elementalist in the world.<br /> <br /> He was also the ace of Team Scarlet who had obtained victory in the Blade Dance.<br /> <br /> At the same time, he was also the wanted criminal who had infiltrated the imperial capital to assist Second Princess Fianna's escape from prison.<br /> <br /> &quot;What a joke! How could a handful of people hope to take this military stronghold&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;He did stop the strategic-class militarized spirit Leviathan in the Theocracy.&quot;<br /> <br /> The cardinal girl laughed, somewhat amused.<br /> <br /> &quot;...!&quot;<br /> <br /> Indeed, he was not an opponent to be trifled with.<br /> <br /> Currently, the Imperial Knights were in huge disarray&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> &quot;I shall personally take to the front line. I suppose even higher-ranking knights might not be able to handle a Blade Dance victor.&quot;<br /> <br /> With a flutter of her pure white cape, Alendora gallantly turned around and exited the office.<br /> <br /> After taking a few glances at her as she left&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> Millennia Sanctus murmured softly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Unfortunately, you are no match for him either.&quot;<br /> <br /> She spun around and looked up at the reddened sky outside the cracked window.<br /> <br /> &quot;Time to begin. Astral Shift.&quot;<br /> <br /> In the next instant, countless cracks appeared in the air.<br /> <br /> ===Part 3===<br /> <br /> &quot;Guooooooooooooooo!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Kishaaaaaaaaaaaaa!&quot;<br /> <br /> Six spirits, minions of the Demon King, liberated from their thousand-year-long slumber, were running amok, looking as though they were showing off their strength. It looked like a battle between giant monsters.<br /> <br /> Everything was unfolding as Kamito had hoped. The Imperial Knights were in utter confusion.<br /> <br /> &quot;On the other hand, I'm worrying whether the Academy might turn into rubble!&quot;<br /> <br /> While defeating the Imperial Knights standing in his way, Kamito commented.<br /> <br /> &quot;Since they have so many knights, I'm sure they'll find a way.&quot;<br /> <br /> Running beside him, Claire replied.<br /> <br /> &quot;I-I guess...&quot;<br /> <br /> A total of six spirits, rivaling or even surpassing archdemon-class...<br /> <br /> However, if they mobilized spirit knight battalions equipped with militarized spirits, they should manage to vanquish them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Send out the anti-spirit Kerberos! Deploy every Glasya-Labolas too!&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito could hear what sounded like the voice of a commander knight. Although the knights deployed militarized spirits in a scattered manner, they soon lost against the Demon King's spirits because they could not muster an organized formation.<br /> <br /> &quot;The latest militarized spirits are getting taken out one after another!&quot;<br /> <br /> Saying that, Ellis turned pale.<br /> <br /> &quot;W-Will they demand compensation later on?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Sheesh, there's no use worrying about so much!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The princess will think of something!&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito swung the Demon Slayer, chopping a large Glasya-Labolas in two.<br /> <br /> In the center of the vast training ground, the pillar of light extended all the way to sky, forming a giant gate in midair. Three smaller pillars of light were sustaining that gate.<br /> <br /> Under them were probably the ruins transported from the Spirit Forest.<br /> <br /> The Imperial Knights did not seem aware that Kamito's team was targeting the ruins.<br /> <br /> To destroy the ruins at three locations in one go, before they could bolster their defenses&amp;mdash;That was the plan concocted by Claire.<br /> <br /> &quot;We're gonna split up three ways here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito was in charge of the ruins deepest in the Academy, located in the direction of the large training ground. Ellis and Rinslet were responsible for the ruins towards the old cathedral in the northwest. As for the dormitory buildings in the northeast side&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> At this moment, Kamito released the Vorpal Sword.<br /> <br /> The jet-black demon sword transformed into endless darkness that turned into the black-winged darkness spirit.<br /> <br /> &quot;&amp;mdash;I look forward to working with you, Claire Rouge.&quot;<br /> <br /> Restia landed next to Claire.<br /> <br /> Indeed, Claire and Restia were the ones heading to the third set of ruins.<br /> <br /> So long as he had Est in hand, Kamito was enough to fight by himself.<br /> <br /> This was the conclusion reached after considering the balance between the three teams.<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay, hurry!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah!<br /> <br /> Just as they were about to break into a run...<br /> <br /> Crk, crk crk&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> Suddenly, cracks appeared in the space around them.<br /> <br /> &quot;...W-What!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire jumped in surprise and looked around in a circle.<br /> <br /> Next&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> Out from the cracks in the air, demon spirits with strange appearances appeared one after another.<br /> <br /> &quot;...! Why are there demon spirits here!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Summoning great numbers of uncontrollable demon spirits within the Academy's premises.<br /> <br /> Doing this would clearly add to the chaos.<br /> <br /> Also, the quantity of demon spirits far surpassed what they had fought at the street barricade.<br /> <br /> Even the spirits' ranks would be classified as mid-level or above.<br /> <br /> Countless cracks swept by, occupying the entire Academy in one go.<br /> <br /> &quot;Could they be trying to release demon spirits all over the entire Academy town!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Ellis cried out in shock.<br /> <br /> &quot;...! We must hurry. Stop the ruins!&quot;<br /> <br /> ===Part 4===<br /> <br /> Crk, crk crk crk&amp;mdash;!<br /> <br /> With the sound of spatial distortion, many cracks appeared in the air.<br /> <br /> &quot;It is coming. Upperclassmen, ready your elemental waffen!&quot;<br /> <br /> Standing on the erected barricade, Freya shouted.<br /> <br /> The Sylphid Knights' best students and the highest-achieving upperclassmen all deployed their respective elemental waffen. Rakka and Reishia also held their weapons, preparing to intercept the enemy.<br /> <br /> &quot;Surround each one with a squad of three or more! The injured should retreat to the back, don't overdo it!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Y-Yes!&quot;<br /> <br /> Roughly half of Areishia Spirit Academy's students were contracted with spirits above mid-level, but only about 30% were capable of deploying elemental waffen.<br /> <br /> And only a handful had actually seen demon spirits before in actual combat.<br /> <br /> Facing a large group of demon spirits, baring their teeth as they approached, the students' legs began to shake.<br /> <br /> In front of these students, a knight dressed in a white overcoat stood in the front.<br /> <br /> &quot;&amp;mdash;Fear not. I am the fortress that shall protect you all.&quot;<br /> <br /> Velsaria Eva Fahrengart.<br /> <br /> The Sylphid Knights' original captain, the one bearing the title of the strongest.<br /> <br /> Facing the great number of demon spirits, standing there gallantly in the front line, her figure brought courage to the students.<br /> <br /> &quot;Deploy elemental waffe&amp;mdash;Juggernaut!&quot;<br /> <br /> With a flash of light, countless hovering cannons and castle wall shields appeared around her.<br /> <br /> Looking back at the students exclaiming in surprise, Velsaria spoke.<br /> <br /> &quot;Take a few steps back. My elemental waffe might be a bit destructive&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Boom! Boom boom boom boom boom!<br /> <br /> Countless cannons fired all at once.<br /> <br /> The air shook. The astounding supreme firepower swept the demon spirits away.<br /> <br /> The round of suppressive fire brought fervent cheering from the students.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hmph, pretty good eh&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Just then, looking down from a building rooftop, Muir smiled with amusement.<br /> <br /> She jumped down nimbly from the roof and walked over to a barricade in the opposite direction.<br /> <br /> &quot;Muir will show off too.&quot;<br /> <br /> Taking off a bracelet artifact, she recited the incantation to release the seal.<br /> <br /> The cursed armament seal on the back of her hand glowed with ominous light.<br /> <br /> Instantly, space was distorted and a gigantic beetle-like militarized spirit appeared.<br /> <br /> This was Gargantua, a spirit specializing in building battlefield entrenchment.<br /> <br /> Although not a combat-type spirit, its power far surpassed ordinary militarized spirits.<br /> <br /> Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh!<br /> <br /> With the Jester's Vise removing its limiter, Gargantua swung its two massive arms to crush the demon spirits that were flitting about.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahaha, crush them&amp;mdash;Gargantua.&quot;<br /> <br /> The horrific scene was making the Academy's teachers gasp.<br /> <br /> &quot;Muir will earn Onii-sama's praise.&quot;<br /> <br /> ===Part 5===<br /> <br /> &quot;Demon spirits? Accursed Holy Kingdom, what on earth are they thinking!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing the atrocity before her eyes, Alendora Eva cried out with irritation.<br /> <br /> Many demon spirits had appeared out from a dimensional gap to attack the Empire's knights indiscriminately.<br /> <br /> The command system was in complete disarray. Even with her arriving the front line as the supreme commander, reorganizing the chaotic troops would be no easy task.<br /> <br /> (At the very least, I need to get a grasp on what is happening&amp;mdash;)<br /> <br /> In addition to the demon spirits, the spirits liberated from the Sealed Library were also on a rampage.<br /> <br /> With her elemental waffe&amp;mdash;Nether Void&amp;mdash;in her hand, she stepped towards the training ground.<br /> <br /> Even though the berserk spirits were quite powerful, as one of the Empire's prided Numbers, she was capable of defeating archdemon-class spirits singlehandedly.<br /> <br /> &amp;mdash;Ahead of her direction of advance...<br /> <br /> Suddenly, a petite figure silently appeared.<br /> <br /> &quot;...?&quot;<br /> <br /> The new arrival was dressed in a gray overcoat with a hood.<br /> <br /> On her face was a silver mask.<br /> <br /> (A warrior priestess of the Holy Kingdom? No, not right...)<br /> <br /> Alendora stopped and carefully examined the opponent before her eyes.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it you? Are you the one who liberated the spirits in the Sealed Library&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...&quot;<br /> <br /> The masked figure did not answer. She silently drew her sword from her chest.<br /> <br /> It was a long sword with the color of blood, completely lacking in ornament.<br /> <br /> &quot;I see. You prefer military torture and interrogation. You get your wish.&quot;<br /> <br /> Alendora whispered icily and poured divine power into the Nether Void.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is your unlucky day. To challenge the Empire's strongest, one of the Numbers&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> The surrounding air shook. A chunk of earth by her foot was carved away.<br /> <br /> &quot;&amp;mdash;Empire's strongest, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Heh, the opponent seemed to laugh beneath her mask.<br /> <br /> She sounded like a young girl. Presumably a student of the Academy&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> Suddenly, in the next instant, the opponent disappeared from Alendora's sight.<br /> <br /> &quot;...!?&quot;<br /> <br /> She did not even get a chance to cry out.<br /> <br /> The sword moved like purple lightning. Alendora Eva collapsed on the ground.<br /> <br /> In defense of her honor, it is necessary to note&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> Without the ability on the Numbers' level, she probably would not have even seen the flash of the sword.<br /> <br /> Looking up into the reddened night sky, the masked girl whispered.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do they intend to bring about an Astral Shift here?&quot;<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {{SeireiDance Nav|prev=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume18 Chapter8|next=Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume18 Chapter10}}&lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Kilpykucoo https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Seirei_Tsukai_no_Blade_Dance:BR_SS_Extra.3&diff=560917 Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:BR SS Extra.3 2020-02-14T16:25:59Z <p>Kilpykucoo: /* Part 7 */</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> ==The Princess' Confidential Part-time Job==<br /> [[image:STnBD_BR_Extra.3.jpg|thumb]]<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ===Part 1===<br /> <br /> This happened on a certain day a couple weeks prior to the Blade Dance festival.<br /> <br /> After attending a free elective lecture before noon, Claire and Kamito were strolling down a corridor in the Academy when they noticed a girl standing in front of a noticeboard and stopped.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Hmm? Isn't that Fianna?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, what is she doing there, I wonder?&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito and Claire exchanged glances and quietly approached her from behind.<br /> <br /> &quot;...This one is no good. Not this one either, hmm...&quot;<br /> <br /> The imperial princess was contemplating something while staring at the noticeboard with a serious look on her face.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you doing, Fianna?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Kyah!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito patted her on the shoulder, causing her to look back frantically, staring with her dusk-colored eyes widened.<br /> <br /> &quot;Kamito-kun... Oh, and Claire too.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean, 'and'...&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire pouted angrily and looked at the noticeboard.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you staring at so seriously?&quot;<br /> <br /> On the noticeboard hanging on the wall in the corridor, there were various &quot;quests&quot; organized according to difficulty level. Since most of these were low-ranked and safe quests commissioned by residents of the Academy town and nearby villages, there were almost no risky high-ranked quests.<br /> <br /> Although there were some top-ranked quests about defeating superior archdemon-class spirits posted at the top of the noticeboard, these quests looked like they were reserved for senior students such as Velsaria Eva in advance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you telling me you're here to apply for a quest?&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire's eyebrow twitched.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let me make this clear first. Unless we win in the tournament, quests of this difficulty level won't be of much help in qualifying our team to compete in the Blade Dance.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, I'm looking at that side...&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna turned her head to the side and pointed to another corner of the noticeboard.<br /> <br /> Posted there were recruitment notices for students.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Part-time jobs?&quot;<br /> <br /> This time, it was Kamito's turn to feel puzzled.<br /> <br /> &quot;Fianna, why do you need to...&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna was a true member of the imperial family. Based on status, she should not need to work.<br /> <br /> Besides, in the Academy where the students were all young ladies of noble birth, it was unlikely for students to need to work part-time, but in reality, the number of part-time job offers were not few at all. This was because there were exceptions such as lower-ranked nobles who did not own vast territories or students with special circumstances like Claire.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh, this is...&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna looked hesitant.<br /> <br /> &quot;F-For money...&quot;<br /> <br /> She whispered, quite embarrassed.<br /> <br /> &quot;For money... But you still count as royalty.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's just an empty title. The stipend from the imperial house is no longer and I've already used up all the spirit crystals I brought.&quot;<br /> <br /> In response to Fianna's self-deprecation, Claire and Kamito could not help but fall silent.<br /> <br /> She was exiled by imperial family due to being the Lost Queen who had lost her power of the spirit contract. Without any wealth, her stipend cut off, she had truly abandoned everything to come to this Academy.<br /> <br /> &amp;mdash;All for the sake of meeting Kamito.<br /> <br /> &quot;But almost none of these offers seem any good...&quot;<br /> <br /> Turning her gaze back to the noticeboard, Fianna sighed lightly.<br /> <br /> &quot;...? You used to be a Queen candidate at the Divine Ritual Institute, right? Shouldn't it be easy to find a job if you use your princess maiden qualifications?&quot;<br /> <br /> This was obvious. Almost all the recruitment notices here sought the powers wielded by Academy students as elementalists. Examples included ritual dancing jobs to make offerings to spirits of the earth in prayer of bountiful harvests, or jobs asking powerful spirits to chop down forests. Indeed, as someone trained at the Divine Ritual Institute, these types of jobs should be very easy for her to get the hang of.<br /> <br /> &quot;Look, there's a dam construction job that's hiring. If that knight spirit&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;U-Unacceptable! Using the imperial family's spirit for construction work.&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna shook her head. Then she looked down slightly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Moreover, this time, I don't quite want to use my powers as a princess maiden.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...? Why&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You should be able to understand the feeling of not wanting to attract unnecessary attention, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Showing slight sadness in her dusk-colored eyes, Fianna sighed.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Yes, that's right... Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire looked away apologetically.<br /> <br /> Persecuted as the Calamity Queen's younger sister, Claire could empathize with the feelings of Fianna, who had been mocked by the imperial palace and called the Lost Queen. Perhaps Fianna still felt resistant against being exposed to the eyes of such snobbish people again after recovering her power as a princess maiden.<br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, haven't you worked part-time before, Claire.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire nodded. Although she had stopped working in order to prepare for the upcoming Blade Dance, before Kamito transferred into the Academy, she had been working jobs. The vast amount of canned peaches hidden in her closet were apparently bought using her part-time wages.<br /> <br /> &quot;What kind of work did you do?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Private tutoring for children in upper-class families.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;P-Private tutoring!?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...Jeez, what's with your reaction?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, nothing, rather than unexpected, it's more like...&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito scratched his head hesitantly.<br /> <br /> &quot;I was thinking you'd surely be working as a charcoal making craftsman...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I was thinking charcoal craftsman too...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What the heck!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire's red hair stood up like flames.<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, oh I see... It's because your grades are so outstanding, Claire.&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as stated, Claire's grades were surprising top-class in the Academy. Since she was born quite talented already, combined with her own serious studying.<br /> <br /> &quot;Fufu, private tutor huh... That's not bad too.&quot;<br /> <br /> At this moment, Fianna murmured to herself as though in contemplation. Then...<br /> <br /> &quot;Fufu, Kamito-kun?&quot;<br /> <br /> Boing. Suddenly, Kamito felt an elastic sensation pressing on his left arm.<br /> <br /> &quot;...!? W-What are you doing, Fianna!?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since you're in remedial studies, Kamito-kun, let me tutor you privately♪&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...Huh, wait, w-w-w-what are you doing, you pervert princess!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I am not the pervert princess but the pervert teacher♪&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Stop changing the subject!&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire grumbled and entered a pose to pull Fianna away.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you doing, may I ask?&quot;<br /> <br /> At this time, a voice called out from the other end of the corridor.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Rinslet?&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito turned his head to see Rinslet holding a book in her hand, walking over with Carol.<br /> <br /> &quot;Fianna's looking for a part-time job.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Her Highness?&quot;<br /> <br /> While Rinslet listened with a slight tilt of her head, Kamito explained the whole story.<br /> <br /> &quot;...I see now. Seeking a part-time job to not depend on a stipend, how admirably touching.&quot;<br /> <br /> Rinslet clasped her hands before her chest and nodded.<br /> <br /> &quot;Rinslet, I don't suppose you've really worked, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;My, I'll have you know that I am quite an expert at folding advertising flyers.&quot;<br /> <br /> Hmph, Rinslet puffed her chest out.<br /> <br /> &quot;Milady has received commendations at an advertising flyer folding convention.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Why would a daughter of the Laurenfrost family be folding flyers...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I discovered it was fun while I was helping Carol out in her part-time job.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Why is a maid taking on part-time jobs...&quot;<br /> <br /> Without paying attention to Kamito who was questioning with narrowed eyes, Rinslet turned to Fianna.<br /> <br /> &quot;Your Highness, if it pleases you, would you like me to introduce to you a shop I am acquainted with?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...Really? That would be a great help.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, after all, that shop is always complaining about a lack of manpower. I shall try contacting them after school.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm so glad for you, Fianna.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, thank you. Rin... slot-san?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;My name is Rinslet Laurenfrost!&quot;<br /> <br /> Rinslet went red in the face, offended.<br /> <br /> &quot;Seems like a lot of fun. I'll go have a look too.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Me too, it's worrying so I'm coming too.&quot;<br /> <br /> ===Part 2===<br /> <br /> With this decided, the next day arrived. Kamito and company arrived at a certain stylish shop recommended by Rinslet, located in the busiest street in the Academy town.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hold on, don't tell me this place...&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna whispered nervously after looking at the shop sign.<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, this is the famous confectionery shop, the Royal Palace, whose main branch is located in the imperial capital.&quot;<br /> <br /> Rinslet tossed her hair elegantly and spoke.<br /> <br /> &quot;...W-W-Why did it happen to be a cake shop, of all things?&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito was so frightened that he was kneeling on the ground, clutching his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Kamito-san, what is the matter with you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;A-Arghhhhh...&quot;<br /> <br /> (...Speaking of which, I guess Rinslet still doesn't know how terrible Fianna's cooking is.)<br /> <br /> Kamito stood up unsteadily.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hey Rinslet...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Kyah, w-what are you doing so suddenly!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Kamito tried to whisper in Rinslet's ear, she shuddered slightly.<br /> <br /> &quot;...I'm sorry, but this place won't work. Fianna can't cook at all.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Worry not. The cake chefs here will teach you hand-over-hand even if you have no experience in making confectionery.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, that's not the problem here...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hold on, what are you two whispering about?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Y-Your faces are too close!&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire and Fianna angrily glared at Kamito.<br /> <br /> Then the bell rang and the shop's door opened.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Come, come, welcome to the shop, ladies.&quot;<br /> <br /> Out from the shop walked a mature and reliable looking woman, dressed in a white chef's uniform.<br /> <br /> She seemed to be the owner of this shop.<br /> <br /> &quot;I have already heard the details from Rinslet-sama. Yes, you will certainly be a great help.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Thank you for looking after us today.&quot;<br /> <br /> Rinslet bowed politely and introduced the woman to Kamito and the girls.<br /> <br /> &quot;She used to be the Grand Pâtissier at the imperial palace. She is also my teacher in confectionery making.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Rinslet's teacher huh...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Calling me teacher would be too kind. Milady, you immediately surpassed me not long after you started learning&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;My, such flattery is not needed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Rinslet shook her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Pleased to make your acquaintance, Grand Pâtissier.&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna stepped forward and curtsied politely.<br /> <br /> Then Claire took a step forward too.<br /> <br /> &quot;U-Umm, is it okay... if I join in to learn?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You too, Claire?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Umm, I'd like to... learn to make sweets...&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire fidgeted with her fingers while speaking awkwardly:<br /> <br /> &quot;Also, t-the Valentia Holy Festival is coming up.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...Ah, there is that, yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna smiled lightly.<br /> <br /> &quot;S-Such a thing, what it is...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hmm? Is this something to talk about it in front of Kamito-kun?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...~H-Haah, d-don't&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Small sparks jumped out from the tips of Claire's hair while her face turned bright red.<br /> <br /> The shop owner nodded generously.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why certainly. I won't reject you... You are the one contracted to a hell cat spirit, aren't you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Y-Yes...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case, please head over to the oven to bake some cookie dough.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Be careful and don't char the cookies.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;D-Don't worry, I know how to operate an oven at least!&quot;<br /> <br /> ===Part 3===<br /> <br /> &quot;So, Fianna-sama, please whip this cream next&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Inside the kitchen of the classy confectionery shop, the Royal Palace, the two girls were now dressed in aprons and being instructed by the Grand Pâtissier.<br /> <br /> Fianna whipped the cream in the bowl until it frothed whereas Claire arranged cookie dough in the oven tray one by one. She looked fairly experienced, actually.<br /> <br /> (...Anyway, I guess there's no problem.)<br /> <br /> Kamito watched them from a corner in the kitchen, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. Putting aside Claire, who still had not started using fire yet, Fianna did not seem to be doing anything weird.<br /> <br /> (...That royal white stew last time must have been a mistake.)<br /> <br /> It was supposed to be something created to kill Claire in the first place. Judging from the way things were going, the girls should manage to succeed with ordinary cooking.<br /> <br /> &quot;Jump, embers&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> After putting all cookie dough onto the tray, Claire activated the oven. The oven was an expensive model that used spirit crystals. Small salamanders were released to sustain a heated plate.<br /> <br /> ...A short while later, a very appetizing aroma drifted from the kitchen.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Wow, this aroma is amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Suddenly, the sword at Kamito's waist glowed brightly.<br /> <br /> Then a beautiful silver-haired girl appeared in the kitchen.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Est, what happened? Why now?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, I woke up because I smelled a great aroma.&quot;<br /> <br /> Est yawned while stretching.<br /> <br /> &quot;Kamito, I am hungry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Est fidgeted and tugged Kamito's sleeve.<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't eat without permission. Be patient and I'll buy some for you to eat properly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, Kamito.&quot;<br /> <br /> Est nodded and started staring at the cookies in the oven.<br /> <br /> A few more minutes passed...<br /> <br /> &quot;The cream is done♪&quot;<br /> <br /> Holding the bowl in both hands, Fianna happily turned towards Kamito.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wow, it looks properly done.&quot;<br /> <br /> The bowl was filled with fresh cream... Anyway, it looked fine judging from appearance alone.<br /> <br /> &quot;Fufu, Kamito-kun, would you like to have a taste? It is as soft as my bosom.&quot;<br /> <br /> Boing.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Fianna!?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well then, let's try the taste&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> The shop owner cleared her throat and took the bowl.<br /> <br /> Putting a spoonful of the cream in her mouth, she then&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> ...Froze, just like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;...?'<br /> <br /> Kamito used his finger to sample a bit of the cream too.<br /> <br /> &quot;H-How is it? Kamito-kun...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;N-No taste...&quot;<br /> <br /> ...It was like eating fluffy air. What an unbelievable taste.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Your Highness, how on earth did you make this?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How...? I simply prayed for it to become delicious while stirring normally, that's all, I guess?&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna explained with a troubled expression.<br /> <br /> (...Don't tell me that Fianna's prayers even have the effect of altering flavors?)<br /> <br /> Talented as an elite princess maiden, if she infused her thoughts into her cooking, perhaps there would be an effect like ritual magic, thus altering the taste.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hmm, this is slightly impossible to use...&quot;<br /> <br /> The shop owner remarked quietly with a solemn expression, but just at that moment...<br /> <br /> &quot;...Haah!&quot;<br /> <br /> A scream came from behind.<br /> <br /> &quot;What happened, Claire!?&quot; &quot;What's wrong?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Kamito and the others turned around...<br /> <br /> &quot;T-The fire spirit in the oven suddenly... Hey you, stop this right now!&quot;<br /> <br /> Inside the huge oven, countless salamanders were gorging themselves on the cookies.<br /> <br /> &quot;Claire, what did you do!?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;B-Because it wasn't hot enough, so I just... added a bit more power... Uwah!&quot;<br /> <br /> With slithering tongues, the tiny salamanders ate all the cookies on the tray. Then they opened the oven's door and ran outside.<br /> <br /> &quot;H-Hold it...&quot;<br /> <br /> The countless fire spirits began to stuff themselves with their favorite cakes in the shop without restraint.<br /> <br /> &quot;Leave it to me. Fenrir!&quot;<br /> <br /> Rinslet swiftly raised her hand and summoned a gigantic white wolf.<br /> <br /> &quot;Woof!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Freeze all of those fire spirits!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;H-Hold on, Rinslet&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito frantically called to stop her, but it was already too late...<br /> <br /> Fenrir opened his jaws wide and discharged a fierce blizzard at the fire spirits running amok all over the place.<br /> <br /> The fire spirits were instantly frozen. Turning into particles of light, they vanished into thin air.<br /> <br /> &quot;Phew~ That probably does the trick... Oh dear?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...Ahhhhh, all the cakes today are ruined...!&quot;<br /> <br /> Inside the kitchen that was frozen in ice, the shop owner collapsed in shock.<br /> <br /> ===Part 4===<br /> <br /> ...As a result, part-timing at the Royal Palace had to be suspended.<br /> <br /> Since the owner fainted from shock, Rinslet and the remaining staff were currently rushing to make cakes desperately.<br /> <br /> Feeling responsible, Claire bought all of the ruined cakes.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Sigh, am I unable to make anything other than charcoal?&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire was walking in the Academy town in depression. Her lively twintails also seemed wilted. Her mood was in the pits.<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, this does happen sometimes. Didn't I waste the cream too?&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna patted her on the shoulder, trying to cheer Claire up.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ooh, Fianna... I never knew you were such a good person...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...There, there, don't cry. But what shall we do next...?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, let's look around patiently. We'll find something.&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito said. Then at this time...<br /> <br /> &quot;If it pleases you, would you like me to introduce you to the shop where I work?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...Carol, when did you arrive!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Carol suddenly appeared in front of Kamito's group while they were walking.<br /> <br /> &quot;Maids can appear any time, no matter where.&quot;<br /> <br /> Carol smiled.<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't you have to stay with Rinslet?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hmm, I can't help out much anyway.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So direct...&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito narrowed his eyes to ask then sighed lightly.<br /> <br /> &quot;By the way, what shop do you work at, Carol?&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire frowned and asked.<br /> <br /> &quot;A cafe in the Academy town. As a waitress.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Your job should be Rinslet's maid, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just a side job and milady gave permission.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Rather, I'd really like to become a Laurenfrost maid.&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna murmured quietly.<br /> <br /> &quot;But being a waitress seems quite fun.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...Right. If it's just serving customers outside the kitchen, there shouldn't be a problem, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Great, Carol, could you introduce us?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, leave it to me!&quot;<br /> <br /> ===Part 5===<br /> <br /> The shop Carol recommended was a grand cafe named Annerose, located in the center of the Academy town.<br /> <br /> Since the four of them looked respectable to begin with, plus Carol's recommendation, all of them were hired after a simple interview.<br /> <br /> &quot;Fufu, this is truly quite a cute uniform♪&quot;<br /> <br /> When Fianna twirled around, her uniform's skirt fluttered lightly.<br /> <br /> &quot;...But why, even me...&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire looked down at her tiny chest and murmured. Since the Annerose uniform featured low necklines, this outfit made the size of her chest even more apparent.<br /> <br /> &quot;How do you intend to pay for the wasted cakes?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;W-Well...&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire was at a loss for words. Then...<br /> <br /> &quot;...I'm the most tragic here.&quot;<br /> <br /> Entering the hall with a face of despair was...<br /> <br /> Kamito in a waitress uniform.<br /> <br /> &quot;K-Kamito!?&quot; &quot;Dear me, Kamito-kun, this really does suit you...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Gah...&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito bellowed unhappily.<br /> <br /> In any case, things had developed to this point. Kamito's original intention was to do dish washing and the like in the kitchen, so he accepted the interview, but for some reason, the shop owner immediately handed him a waitress uniform upon seeing him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Umm, Kamito... You're so... pretty.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That doesn't make me feel any better.&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito groaned.<br /> <br /> &quot;Look, Kamito-kun...&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna smiled lightly and approached him, then...<br /> <br /> &quot;Your collar is a mess.&quot;<br /> {{#ifeq: {{PAGENAME}} | Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:BR SS Extra.3 | | [[image:STnBD_EF_094.jpg|thumb]] }}<br /> <br /> Standing on tiptoe, Fianna brought Kamito's ribbon together and tied it up.<br /> <br /> &quot;S-Sorry...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hold on, what are you doing? You pervert princess!&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire angrily raised her voice in objection.<br /> <br /> &quot;Kamito, does this look good?&quot;<br /> <br /> Then a tiny voice came from behind this time.<br /> <br /> Dressed in uniform, Est expressionlessly stood in front of the counter.<br /> <br /> &quot;Y-Yeah...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The socks are too short... I feel so embarrassed...&quot;<br /> <br /> Pushing her skirt down, Est awkwardly covered her thighs. Instead of her usual kneesocks, she was wearing shorter knee-high socks.<br /> <br /> Since the owner liked Est too, Est was also working here.<br /> <br /> &quot;...It looks really great on you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So happy, Kamito.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...Muuu~, you spoil Est too much.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Indeed...&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna concurred with the pouting Claire.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's about time everyone, get to work!&quot;<br /> <br /> Carol clapped her hands and entered the hall with the owner.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wow, everyone looks great in these uniforms. Since Carol recommended you, I can leave the work to you without worrying!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Looks like Carol actually works quite seriously here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, how unexpected...&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito commented quietly and Claire nodded her head lightly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please watch your behavior, you two.&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito and Claire could not help but straighten their backs in front of the smiling Carol.<br /> <br /> ===Part 6===<br /> <br /> A while after Kamito and company started working at the cafe...<br /> <br /> &quot;S-Should be fine, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> In front of the cafe Annerose, a disturbing figure appeared.<br /> <br /> She was wearing a feathered hat and a fluffy wrap while her face was obscured by a pair of super large sunglasses. She was peering inside through the window. The blonde hair visible under her hat was swaying lightly.<br /> <br /> Of course, this was Rinslet.<br /> <br /> Using her power as the cake expert, it only took her an hour or so to finish all the cakes. Putting on a disguise, she secretly came over to check out how Claire and the others were doing.<br /> <br /> Just as she was staring at the shop like a weirdo...<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you doing?&quot;<br /> <br /> A voice suddenly came from behind. Frightened, Rinslet's entire body shook.<br /> <br /> &quot;...I-It is not like it's because I am worrying about Claire... Huh&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Rinslet looked back and was suddenly speechless for a moment.<br /> <br /> Standing was a girl whom she was acquainted with.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Captain!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Ellis Fahrengart. The captain of the Sylphid Knights who upheld public discipline in the Academy.<br /> <br /> She looked like she was on patrol with a sword at her waist.<br /> <br /> Ellis frowned and shifted her gaze into the cafe.<br /> <br /> Then she noticed familiar faces inside.<br /> <br /> &quot;...What, the princess is working here?&quot;<br /> <br /> She murmured with a solemn expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;Although the Academy does not prohibit working part-time, b-but is that uniform not excessively shameless?&quot;<br /> <br /> Ellis thought slightly for a moment.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hmm, this calls for an investigation.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nodding firmly, she stepped into the cafe.<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, Captain...&quot;<br /> <br /> Rinslet chased Ellis into the shop.<br /> <br /> ===Part 7===<br /> <br /> &quot;...Hmm? Those girls, are they Ellis... and Rinslet?&quot;<br /> <br /> In the hall serving drinks, Kamito saw them entering the cafe and raised his eyebrows.<br /> <br /> Putting aside Ellis, Rinslet's tastes were truly weird. Although she had disguised herself with a hat and sunglasses, her true identity was already fully exposed.<br /> <br /> (...Could it be that she came to look because she's worried about Claire?)<br /> <br /> Kamito walked over to the two girls near the entrance and called to them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ellis, Rinslet, what the heck are you doing?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...Hmm? Why do you know my name?&quot; &quot;H-How do you know my real identity&amp;mdash;?&quot;<br /> <br /> The two girls responded at the same time.<br /> <br /> Kamito shrugged and whispered quietly so that only the two girls could hear.<br /> <br /> &quot;...It's me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Kamito?&quot; &quot;...Kamito-san!?&quot;<br /> <br /> They widened their eyes and stared at Kamito's face intently.<br /> <br /> Then finally, they realized that this waitress seemed to be Kamito.<br /> <br /> &quot;T-That getup, what on earth is going on!?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I-I never knew you had such a hobby!?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...Y-You're totally wrong!&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito suddenly yelled in panic, causing the surrounding customers to look to see what was happening.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, well, it's because of special circumstances...&quot;<br /> <br /> Cough. Kamito cleared his throat and explained the whole story to Rinslet and Ellis.<br /> <br /> &quot;...I see. Now that is truly unfortunate.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;And I was wondering whether you crossdressed regularly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;All that happened three year ago...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Three years ago?&quot;<br /> <br /> Ellis looked in surprise at Kamito who had an accidental slip of the tongue.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Oh, nothing... By the way, Rinslet, are things okay on the cake side?&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito hastily changed the subject.<br /> <br /> &quot;Fufu, of course. I made up for the ruined cakes properly.&quot;<br /> <br /> Rinslet puffed out her chest proudly.<br /> <br /> &quot;I came to see whether or not Claire is working properly.&quot;<br /> <br /> She looked at Claire who was working in the hall.<br /> <br /> &quot;You would like the beef stew set with omelet rice, the customer on the far side would like a seafood curry whereas the two on the side would like the bread and coffee set and the black tea and cake set respectively, no milk for either of you&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire moved back and forth between the kitchen and the hall in a dazzling sight.<br /> <br /> &quot;She remembers clearly just from listening once...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Her grades really are excellent in school.&quot;<br /> <br /> Rinslet commented proudly for some reason.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wow, this girl is so cute♪&quot;<br /> <br /> Shrill voices could be heard from the depths of the cafe at this moment.<br /> <br /> &quot;Here you go!&quot; &quot;This one too, this one~&quot; &quot;Here, say ah~♪&quot;<br /> <br /> Dressed in a waitress uniform, Est was being fed by customers.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is Est doing...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Come, say ah~ Yes, I'd really like to feed her more. Please, another order of cream puffs♪&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;One order of cream puffs, coming right up.&quot;<br /> <br /> Taking orders on the side was the smiling Carol.<br /> <br /> Kamito smiled wryly then looked at Fianna who was working in another corner of the hall.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh, one order of orange bread and a cup of black tea, is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wrong, I ordered milk tea.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I-I am terribly sorry...&quot;<br /> <br /> Despite stammering a bit, Fianna looked like she was putting in a lot of effort. None of the customers probably recognized her face as the Second Princess.<br /> <br /> (This job should be fine, I guess.)<br /> <br /> Just as Kamito breathed a sigh of relief...<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh my, isn't this Her Highness the former Second Princess&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Due to this sudden voice, Fianna was startled and stopped walking.<br /> <br /> The one who spoke was a fancily dressed elderly aristocrat sitting on the far end of a table.<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh right, instead of the Second Princess, I should address you as Lost Queen, shouldn't I?&quot;<br /> <br /> The cafe suddenly fell silent because of the mockery in the elderly aristocrat's tone.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Who is that?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That would be Count Rondo.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;He is a high-ranked noble serving as the Minister of Finance in the imperial capital. He is probably inspecting the Academy town.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;A noble from the imperial court huh...&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito clicked his tongue in his mind. Called the Lost Queen in the past, Fianna had been hurt by secret rumors among the nobles at the palace slandering her. Precisely because of that, Fianna had closed off her heart, deciding not to care about everything around her. For the past four years, she had shut herself away in the palace without going out.<br /> <br /> &quot;Seriously, how far you have fallen. To think that the princess who showed so much promise as a Queen candidate would be serving others in this kind of place&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna stood there frozen with her face pale. Her shoulders shook slightly and her breathing had quickened. These cruel words were tearing deeply into the scars formed in her heart when living as a recluse at the palace.<br /> <br /> &quot;Fianna&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Kamito was about to rush over to Fianna, Rinslet grabbed his arm.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Kamito-san, do not worry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> And just at this moment...<br /> <br /> &quot;Here's your red tea&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> In front of the count, a teacup filled with black tea was brusquely placed on the table.<br /> <br /> This cup of black tea was boiling and bubbling like lava.<br /> <br /> &quot;What the devil is this!?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Drink this now and get lost. Or else I'll turn you into charcoal.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...!&quot;<br /> <br /> Since Claire was exuding anger from her entire body, the count involuntarily gulped.<br /> <br /> &quot;H-Hmph, like anyone needs to visit this kind of shop twice...&quot;<br /> <br /> After saying such dialogue in resignation, he hurried to settle his bill on the table and ran out of the cafe in panic.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Claire?&quot;<br /> <br /> No longer stunned at last, Fianna turned and stared at Claire.<br /> <br /> Claire averted eye contact in embarrassment.<br /> <br /> &quot;H-Hmph, don't get the wrong idea. I simply hate guys like that&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> As though nothing had happened, Claire returned to her post.<br /> <br /> ===Part 8===<br /> <br /> After completing their work at Annerose peacefully, on the way back to the dorms...<br /> <br /> Kamito and company were walking on a stone-paved path under the moonlight.<br /> <br /> &quot;Fianna, why don't you treat me something with your wages?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't you receive a wage too, Claire?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;M-My wages were all spent on paying for those cakes...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, that's right...&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna smiled wryly at Claire who was hanging her head in depression.<br /> <br /> &quot;Fianna, you look quite happy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Fufu, is that so?&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna looked back, her expression was&amp;mdash;<br /> <br /> Compared to her mischievous smiles in the past, it was purely an innocent smile.<br /> <br /> Just as Kamito could not help but stare at her in mesmerization...<br /> <br /> &quot;...Back then, I really was very scared.&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna murmured.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Very scared?&quot;<br /> <br /> Kamito and Claire both responded at the same time.<br /> <br /> Fianna nodded firmly.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Yes. Truth be told, when I initially made the decision to work outside, although it was partially for money, I was also trying to bid farewell to my past self who kept hiding in the palace, escaping from reality&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna stared into the distance while she spoke.<br /> <br /> &quot;...I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> In front of Kamito and the others, Fianna always acted cheerful and wise.<br /> <br /> But in fact, she was a delicate girl who was easily hurt. Hence, when she abandoned everything to run away from the palace to come to the Academy, she probably sealed all those various memories at the bottom of her heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;But don't worry, because I am no longer alone...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Fianna...&quot;<br /> <br /> Fianna wiped her tears away then showed a usual impish smile on her face.<br /> <br /> &quot;I will treat you two tonight. Where should we eat?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really? How about&amp;mdash;&quot;<br /> <br /> Claire stopped and turned around.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't really care, but Rinslet, your disguise failed a long time ago.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;N-Not at all, it's not like I am following you!&quot;<br /> <br /> Originally hiding behind a pillar, Rinslet appeared.<br /> <br /> &quot;Whatever, just come with us. Fianna says she'll treat us.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, I am fine with that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...I-If you say so, then I-I shall accompany you all♪&quot;<br /> <br /> Taking off her sunglasses and the weird hat, Rinslet ran over in elation.<br /> <br /> Then the sword hanging at Kamito's waist glowed.<br /> <br /> &quot;...Kamito, I woke up too.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...Est, weren't people feeding you just now? You can still eat!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Surrounded by her friends, Fianna then...<br /> <br /> &quot;I am no longer alone...&quot;<br /> <br /> In a voice too quiet for anyone to hear, she secretly whispered to herself.<br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Return to [[Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance|Main Page]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Kilpykucoo