Chivalry of a Failed Knight Volume 7

Shizuku was walking towards them with *karan koron* steps wearing geta, taking small steps so that
her hem would not get messed up.

Then she leaned next to Ikki’s side as if saying that it was her spot, and grabbed his sleeve with her
small hand.

“Shizuku, did you buy these clothes?”

When Ikki asked her about the clothes that were different from a while ago, Shizuku nodded in
delight.

“Yes. Since I still have not used the reward from the time we defeated those terrorists in the
department store before, I bought this. How does it look, Onii-sama?”

“An iris pattern, huh? Looks good with the cool colors. It really suits you.”

As Ikki answered Shizuku, he patted her silver hair with just enough strength so as to not mess up her
hairstyle.

“Thank you very much for your compliment.”

Shizuku gave her gratitude, feeling happy as she narrowed her eyes.

However, at the same time Ikki’s hand stopped patting her, that expression......changed into an evil
smile.

“But Onii-sama must be looking forward to Stella-san the most, right?”

“Eh, n-no......that’s...”

“You don’t have to make excuses. Wanting to see the cuteness of the person you love is an obvious
thing.”

As Shizuku said that, she turned towards the path she came from and called out.

“Now, Stella-san! It’s time for the finale! With your charm and cuteness achieved thanks to that new
outfit, beat the new contestant over here to a pulp!”

“Leave it to me!!!!”

The reply came from an empty space.

No, she just made herself invisible with Flame Veil.
Stella immediately released her Noble Art that had bent the light, and jumped out before Ikki.
And then...

“I’ve become a cute bunny-chan and I’ll jump into Ikki’s heart pyon♪”

With bunny ears attached onto her hairband, and clad in fishnet tights, she hugged Ikki in her bunny
girl appearance.
“““────────────”””
In an instant, everyone went dead silent.
Nevermind Ikki, even Arisuin and Sara, as well as the passersby had lost their words and expressions
after seeing the rather bizarre look of Stella.
“Fufufu. Shizuku, look, Ikki seems unable to even utter a sound from my cuteness!”
Only she herself had not noticed.
Ikki put his hands on the shoulders of that overly positive Stella, and pushed her away.
Then......looked far away and spoke.
“For the time being, please change your clothes, Stella-san.”
“Huh!? Your way of calling me seems somehow distant!? I didn’t jump into your heart!?”
“Pffft.”
“!”
Mocking laughter came from next to Stella.
As Stella turned around, she saw that one girl mocking her with her eyes dyed in pleasure of sadism.
Seeing that figure, Stella’s face immediately paled.

“......Shizuku, you, don’t tell me............you deceived me!?”

“Saying that I deceived you, pffft, how disreputable. Please think for a bit. In the first place ── I will
never become your ally.”

“Then, then ‘because Ikki likes rabbits, the bunny girl outfit will get lots of points’ was also......!”

“That kind of bonus exists only in Dragon Quest.”
“～～～～～～～～～!!!!”

Realizing that she had been toyed with by that little devil, Stella’s face boiled from shame and anger.

“Y-You! Ikki, you’re mistaken! I was deceived by Shizuku.”

“Un. I know. I know already, so please change your clothes, Vermillion-san.”

“Noooo! The distance between our hearts is widening at an accelerating rate! It became somewhat
like the time when we first metーーーー! Guuu! Shizuku! You will get it from me later! Remember
thisーーーー!”

Stella cried out in anger, and ran away with her hands hugging her own body.

She probably wanted to change back into her uniform.

Behind Stella’s back...

“Pffffft. Aah, so funny.”

Shizuku’s shoulders shook as she laughed.

“Hey, Shizuku. Don’t bully Stella too much.”

“NO.”

Ikki cautioned Shizuku as he couldn’t bear to watch it anymore, while Shizuku rejected him without
any hesitation.

Ikki was slightly surprised at her strong rejection, which was rare considering that she fundamentally
abided him all the time.

“A-Are you so unwilling to the extent of a curtly rejection?”
“Yes. This is my special authority, I won’t stop even if Onii-sama asks me to stop.”
As Shizuku answered Ikki as such, she looked towards the place Stella ran off to again.
“......Pffft. Really, such a cute person.”
The side profile of Shizuku as she muttered such......for some reason, stabbed at Ikki’s heart a little.
(......Huh, why is it, this?)
He was confused by that incomprehensible feeling.
What did he feel when he saw her side profile just then?
Love?............Or was it sorrow?
He couldn’t understand. And then, while he was still unable to reach an answer...
“──Then Onii-sama, I will retreat before the cute bunny-chan becomes a red demon and returns. It’s
about time for me to make arrangements for the round three battle tonight.”
Shizuku informed Ikki that she would be returning first.
......There was no reason to stop her.
Even more so if it was an arrangement for the night.
Currently, there was nothing else more important to them than that event.
Hence, Ikki pushed aside the pain in his heart out of his mind, and nodded.
“Got it. I will appease Stella.”
“I leave it to you......Alice, I hope that you can help me, do you want to come together?”
“Yeah, it’s alright. My work over here is done as well.”
“Thank you. Now then, please excuse us, Onii-sama.”

“Goodbye. Please return on time before the match begins, ok?”
Shizuku and Arisuin left the group together.
As they were leaving, Ikki looked at Shizuku’s distant figure...
“I’m looking forward to fighting you in the semi-finals.”
He said so with his cheering included.
Shizuku turned back once after hearing that, then after using her loudest voice to reply “YES!”, she
took the elevator with Arisuin and went off.
......And then, after a few minutes, Stella returned after changing back into her uniform.
“Huh? Where’s Shizuku and Alice?”
The first person she looked for after returning was of course Shizuku, who was going to receive her
vengeance.
However, Shizuku was probably no longer in the building. Ikki told her about that...
“She had to do some warm-ups for the round three battle, so she returned......fir............?”
First......he stiffened again.
Why?
He received another strong impact to his brain, even stronger than the bunny girl costume before.
The source of that impact was in the arms of the angry Stella.
What she hugged there was......an infant sleeping with eyes closed.
“I guess she ran away, huh......that brat!”
“S-Stella, that......infant is?”
“Did you give birth to him?”

“No way!”

Part 7

It happened after Stella took off the bunny girl costume and changed into her uniform.
「Annoying bitch annoying bitch annoying bitch! Today, I will absolutely not forgive that woman! I’m
going to use Ar○ Alpha and stick cat ears on her head when I return!」
With a half-crying face, Stella, who was enraged by Shizuku, was checking her attire before the
mirror by the sink, in that moment──
Suddenly, an infant appeared without a sound in a space diagonally above her back that could be seen
in the mirror.
「──!?」
She was so shocked that she held her breath.
However, there was no time for her to stiffen up.
That’s because the infant that appeared from nowhere was falling due to gravity.
「Dangerrrrr!!!!」
“......And that’s how it happened.”
“You did a great thing.”
After that, the three of them brought the infant to the lost child center in the department store, then sat
down at the sofa inside the center and waited for the guardian of the infant to be found.
As for the infant......a boy probably not even one year old, was sleeping in Stella’s arms at the
moment.
Stella lowered her sight onto the infant and asked Ikki next to her.
“......This child is a Blazer, right?”
Ikki nodded.

“Probably. I think he probably has a teleport type ability similar to Jougasaki-san.”

If not, there was no other way for him to suddenly appear out of thin air.

Normally speaking, Blazers’ abilities were discovered after they had gained their egos, but amongst
the possessors of strong abilities, during their infantile period when their egos were still blurry, there
were occasions where a portion of their ability suddenly activated even though they didn’t materialize
their Device.

The infant who couldn’t even stand on his own had no control over his abnormal power.

......That was of course very dangerous.

It could endanger his life, depending on where it happened.

In the case back then, if Stella hadn’t caught the infant and if he had hit his head onto the hard ground
as he fell, causing a heavy injury......in the worst case, he could have died.

“It’s really great that Stella was there.”

“That’s true......I wonder if his parents can find him soon.”

“I wonder about that. We don’t know what was the extent of this child’s ability when he awakened
it.”

If they were lucky, his parents might be in this department store.

However, depending on the situation, it was also possible that he flew over from a place far away.
Seeing that 「Makoto Nitta」 was written on his nameplate, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the infant
was a Japanese, then in the worst case, they were probably in Japan.

“However, since we have already contacted the staff of the department store, let’s leave him to them
and only stay with the infant for as long as our time allows.”

“That’s true......Ah.”

It was at that moment.

The infant in Stella’s arms twisted his body and opened his eyes.

“Aa, bu............?”
And then his big and watery eyes saw Stella’s face as she was carrying him──
“Bueeeeeeeeeeeeee～～～～～～～～～!!!!”
He cried out loudly.
No, it was not only that, he wriggled his small body around, trying to escape from Stella’s arms.
It was probably because he began to panic after not seeing his mother’s figure.
“H-Hey! Don’t flail around! It’s dangerous!”
“Byaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!”
“W-WWWWhat should I do!? What should I do, Ikki!?”
Despite being kicked in the face, Stella still hugged onto him to prevent him from falling down, and
asked Ikki for help.
However, Ikki also didn’t know how to approach an infant.
Although Ikki had Shizuku as his little sister, they were only one year apart.
For the time being, he tried out the classic ‘peek-a-boo’...
“Byaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa～～～～～～～～～～!!!!”
“S-Somehow it got worse!?”
“H-How troubling.”
The two of them looked at the infant, who had no intention to stop crying, worriedly.
As if breaking through between those two...
“Give him to me.”
Sara took the infant from Stella’s arms.
“Sara!? You have no stamina, so it’s dangerous! What are you going to do if you drop him!?”

“Shut up. You are a bit too loud.”

“Uu.”

Stella tried to snatch the infant back in a hurry, but was restrained by Sara’s never seen before strong
gaze.

She sat down on the sofa, and as she stroked the back of the infant’s head...

“It’s alright. Your mama will return soon.”

She spoke in a calming tone.

Soon after...

“Au, au?”

“He stopped crying......”

Surprisingly, the infant that was rampaging a while ago had calmed down.

“You’re amazing, Sara-san. Are you used to it?”

“Not really......It’s just that I have observed various things during my trip around the world, so even
without words, I can somehow understand what he wants, how he feels......This child is feeling
insecure because his parents are not here. If at this time even we become unsettled, it will increase
his insecurity. Therefore, we have to calm down. Even if he is a child, he is sensitive to an adult’s
emotions.”

““S-Sorry.””

Being reprimanded with a criticizing gaze, Ikki and Stella lowered their heads in apology.

Children would also feel insecure and scared if the adults were in a bad mood.

Certainly, it was as she said, it would not be good if they were unsettled too.

Although she felt some frustration as a woman, as well as concern about Sara’s arm strength, it would
seem that leaving the infant to Sara was the best solution. Stella had decided so and pulled back her
arm that was trying to snatch the infant back, then made preparation in case Sara were to drop the

infant at some point.
And a while after calming down, the infant started rubbing against Sara’s breasts.
“Uー pai! Pai!” (TL note: The incomplete word Issei loves the most)
Stella spilled out a smile unconsciously at that lovely gesture.
“Ahaha. I also know what this means.”
He probably wanted breast milk.
“But sorry, we can’t produce milk yet.”
“I will get some milk from the staff-in-charge here.”
The considerate Ikki was about to stand up, at that moment.
Sara took a shocking action.
She pulled aside the show off bra Arisuin had chosen for her, and exposed one of her white breasts.
“Buh!?”
“Wai, Sara!? What are you──”
“Quiet.”
Sara stared at Stella who was making a loud noise from the sudden shock, and scolded her.
“Ah, s-sorry......but............!”
“......Although I can’t produce milk, I believe that doing this will give him a peace of mind.”
Just like Sara said, the infant, who was sucking on Sara’s nipple even though no breast milk would
come out, showed a satisfied expression.
He was definitely not hungry.
What the infant was seeking was not food, but warmth.

Sara understood that, as she had the observant eyes of the world’s number one artist.
And then, as Sara was imitating breast feeding to the infant...
“Ninna nanna ninna oh; questo bimbo a chi lo do～♪”[5]
With a beautiful voice, she started singing.
Stella, being well versed in languages as an Imperial Princess, immediately understood that it was in
Italian.
An Italian lullaby.
“Se lo do al lupo bianco; me lo tiene tanto tanto.”
A melody that was weaved with love.
The infant wasn’t able to understand its meaning.
Even so, he definitely felt it.
The love, which surpassed borders, words, meanings, that were contained in the lullaby.
Most likely, that was what motherhood was all about.
“Ninna nanna nanna fate; il mio bimbo addormentate～♪”
In the meantime, the infant once again let out a small sleeping sound from between Sara’s breasts.
The figure of Sara holding that little life form while singing a lullaby......Be it from Stella’s eyes, or
from Ikki’s eyes, it was more beautiful than any appearance or expression until then.

Part 8

After the infant fell asleep again, Sara left him to Ikki.
Her arms were probably reaching their limit.
“He’s sleeping well.”
Ikki was smiling at the tiny life sleeping peacefully in his arms.
“......Stella as well.”
“Zzz. Zzz.”
His smile turned bitter.
Stella was also lured by Sara’s lullaby into the dream world.
She had perfect attack, defense, and speed, but it seemed that she was not prepared for abnormal
status resistance.
On the other hand, after passing the infant to Ikki, Sara opened up her notebook on her knees, and
started sketching the infant that was sleeping in Ikki’s arms.
It was not like the godspeed drawing she used during her battles, rather it was done slowly and
carefully.
On the neat white notebook.
With a single pencil, she was shaping a world with depth.
It was at the level where if one stretched out his hand towards it, it felt as if his finger would sink into
the notebook and touch the infant’s soft cheek.
To Ikki who had no knowledge about painting, Sara’s technique seemed to be just like magic.
“............Hmm? What?”
She probably noticed Ikki’s gaze peeping at her notebook.

Sara faced Ikki’s gaze, and tilted her head as if asking ‘what is it?’.

“Ah, sorry. Just that, I thought you are good at this.”

Well, she was a world famous painter whose paintings were worth an astronomical figure of fourteen
billion USD per piece, according to Stella.

It was obvious that she would be good at it, but he still could not help himself from voicing out his
opinion.

Although Ikki had no knowledge about painting, he possessed excellent perceptive eyes that could
precisely observe a person’s movement.

Therefore, he understood.

Even with just one casual stroke, from her arm, fingers, and the pencil movements, he could tell that it
was the result of an out-of-norm training, making that single stroke of hers one-of-a-kind.

It was the same as a genius swordsman’s way of sword.

It was a territory that couldn’t be reached without extraordinary love and passion, and the resolve to
follow the path to the end no matter what.

“......You really love painting.”

Honestly speaking, to Ikki, Sara was a troublesome person who was after him to be her nude model,
to the point that he didn’t even want to be near her, but he sincerely respected that strong will of hers.

However, to those words from Ikki, Sara...

“......Currently, I like it.”

Replied with a meaningful response.

“Currently?”

Ikki showed his doubt at that meaningful response, and Sara peeked at Ikki’s eyes for a moment......

And then......muttered bit by bit.

With a voice filled with hatred──
“In the past, I hated painting the most.”

Part 9

Sara Bloodlily.
The girl who was called that was living on the bed of a small Atelier during her childhood......in the
mountains of the outskirt of Italy.
She was born with an illness that had weakened her bones, making her unable to even walk on her
own.
Therefore, the scenery that could be seen from the bed of that Atelier was her world.
It was her father.
Her father was not a famous artist, and he just continued to draw on a huge canvas.
It was a religious painting of a Messiah burning down many devils with his holy light, saving the
world from Armageddon.
He had been drawing that, throughout the years, regardless of any year──
Only the profile of his back had remained in Sara’s memory.
She did not even have a single memory of him turning around.
Even if she called out to him, she did not receive any response.
Hence, she did not know her father’s face.
She didn’t even know if she had ever seen it before.
He had always, always, as if he was being possessed by the devil, been indulged in the painting
before his eyes.
Therefore ──
“......I hated it. The existence of painting that took my father away from me.”
She wanted his attention.

She wanted his love.
Sara let out her feelings of the time when she was young.
Ikki asked her.
“Then, why did Sara-san......start painting herself?”
Even though she hated painting so much.
Sara answered Ikki’s question.
The trigger was......her father’s death.
On a certain day, her father fell onto the canvas and died.
According to the housekeeper who had brought her father to the hospital, the cause seemed to have
been the worsening of his chronic disease.
What remained in the Atelier were just the lonely Sara and a huge incomplete oil painting.
After crying for about three days, when her tears dried up, Sara......stared at the painting which had
killed her father with eyes burning with hatred.
That huge canvas which could just about fill the area of an entire wall in the room.
In the end, the center where the Messiah was supposed to be drawn was left blank, incomplete after
her father’s death.
And then, she made up her mind to destroy it.
It was obvious. She only felt hatred towards that painting.
Because of it, her father had never once turned around.
Sara exhausted all of her strength to inch closer from her bed to the front of the canvas after a whole
day, and stood before it by leaning on a chair.
Then she grabbed a painting knife lying nearby and held it up.

In order to rip apart the painting with the knife.
However............
“I was not able to swing the knife down............”
What was the reason for that?
It was because in a place away from her bed, she noticed something she wasn’t able to notice from
her bed.
That was......a number of empty paint tubes that she could not even begin to count, littered on the
floor.
The remains of tens of paint brushes with their bristles disheveled.
The palette with multiple layers of hardened paint, and then, the tattered blank on the canvas that was
left behind after being painted and scraped off countless times.
......Its existence emitted heat that felt like the obsession of her father’s passion.
The moment she felt that, the hatred in Sara’s heart......was overcome by sadness.
The tears she thought had dried up flowed out uncontrollably again.
He had spent a great amount of time, even disregarding his own daughter, shaving away his own
health, and painstakingly drew it, but in the end, he couldn’t complete it.
Her father was unable to complete it.
Even after putting in that much thought and passion, her father did not receive the favor of the
Goddess of Beauty, Muse.
How much regret would that cause her?
Thinking about her father’s regret, she stopped crying.
She knew just how much effort he had put into that drawing from how much hatred she felt.
......Therefore, Sara resolved herself as her tears flowed.

She would complete the painting that her father was unable to complete before he died.

“Because I think that rather than shedding tears of sadness, or holding flower of mourning, doing this,
only this, is an act of filiality towards my deceased father.”

It was the only single bond that remained between her and her father.

──After that, her father’s acquaintance, Kouzou Kazamatsuri, came to Sara saying that 「I was told
that if anything were to happen to him, please take care of his daughter」 when her father was alive,
took her in, and loaned a large sum of money to let a doctor in Rebellion, Grand Professor, who was
one of the executives called Numbers, treat her illness.

Then, Sara had obtained a body that could move freely to some extent despite not being completely
cured. She practised her painting skill in order to fulfil her father’s regret, while looking for a model
for the sake of filling up that blank, the brave Messiah who stood before all of the malice sprouting
out.

A single girl, wandering around the world, meeting dangers that threatened her life many times, even
so, she did not compromise.

She had spent ten years, more than half of her life.

If her technique or the model were half-baked, the passion, that could be called a grudge, contained in
that painting would’ve consumed her completely.

“As I was doing that......before I knew it, I started to like painting......When I realized that his blood
was flowing in me after all, I was slightly happy.”

“......I see.”

From Sara’s confession, Ikki was convinced of one thing.

The abnormal obstinance she had towards him. It was the reason for that.

So that was why, even though Ikki’s senses could not understand which part of him made her go to
such extent, but if he was the model she had found after spending half of her life searching for it, it
would not be easy to make her give up......However...

“......Why?”

“What?”
“Why are you doing that much? You don’t even know your father’s face, right?”
Ikki was convinced of the reason for Sara’s obstinacy, but on the other hand, he could not understand
it.
Why would she go to such an extent for her father, who had never once cared for her?
That was......probably a question that overlapped with his own situation.
However, to Ikki’s question, Sara answered naturally without a shred of hesitation.
“Because I love him.”
“Even though you can’t remember his face? Even though you had never received his love?”
“It’s true that I cannot remember my father’s face. I don’t have any memory of him turning his head
back. I know that he isn’t a praiseworthy father. But......I have never once hated my father. In that
case, that’s fine. It is fine with just that.

If that feeling comes from within my heart ── It doesn’t matter if my love is one-sided.”

Sara said.
It could be that her father was seriously neglecting her.
No, even if that was not the case, her father probably would not want his daughter to add anything
onto his legacy.
However, she did not care about that.
Because they were father and daughter.
“My selfishness for loving him on my own, allowing me that much should be obvious, right?”
“────”
At that moment, Ikki found the answer to one of his own question.

That answer could also be used in the relationship between him and his father──
(────......I...see.)
Ikki had been......thinking that he had no other choice but to cut his ties with his father.
Their paths would never intersect no matter how far they walked.
That was......the only conclusion in the end.
(But──that’s not true.)
No matter if his father wished to cut their ties.
No matter how much his father thought of alienating him.
Those were not problems he should be considering himself with.
Of course.
The other party was never once concerned about him.
Then, why must he be considerate of the other party?
(That’s right......This is not someone else’s, but my own feelings!)
It had nothing to do with what Itsuki thought.
If he did not hate his father himself──there was no need to unreasonably hate him.
That sounded fine. Just be on their own separate paths.
Be it him or his father, they were just a person with one heart.
Desperately travelling on their own lives, even if their paths wouldn’t meet as a result......

──It wouldn’t change the fact that they were blood-related father and son.

(I will be willful. This is my special privilege.)

That was Ikki Kurogane’s answer to all the problems revolving around the Kurogane household.
The moment Ikki arrived at that answer, his heart, which had always......felt like it had a lead
weighing down on it since his childhood, felt refreshed as the weight was lifted.
Finally, the honest feeling of wanting to be father and son with Itsuki, even if it was twisted......he had
confirmed it.
He was so happy that he unconsciously smiled.
Taking a glance at Ikki’s expression, Sara muttered in relief.
“That’s a good face. If my model has a depressed face, I will be troubled.”
Ikki did not notice those words.
Earlier in the morning, Sara had wanted to say something from seeing his appearance from meeting
with Itsuki.
At that time, Sara probably saw the relationship between Ikki and Itsuki reflecting her and her
father’s.
Like what Ikki had done just then.
And, that was why she asked him ‘Is that so?’.
It was because she knew.
That kind of complicated matter.
And then......she had just conveyed that.
Not for others, it was for her own sake.
“......I have settled one of my concerns due to Sara-san. Thank you.”
“If you want to show your gratitude, become my model.”
Ikki smiled bitterly at Sara’s reply.
However, since he found out about her background, he could also understand the reason for her

obstinance.
Putting it simply, all her motivation was concentrated onto that single point.
And then......if she had that kind of reason──
“I got it. It’s fine.”
“Eh?”
Ikki’s response caused Sara to open her eyes wide.
She probably did not expect him to respond positively.
However, Ikki obviously would not accept it without any condition.
“However, I have one condition. You have to defeat me in the upcoming match.”
“............Match.”
“Yeah. The upcoming third match, If Sara-san can win, then I will be a model like you want. But if
you lose, then you have to completely give up on making me your model......How about it?”
It was at the same instance Ikki finished his words.
Ikki felt all of the hairs on his body stand up and his whole body was shaking.
Before his eyes was......the figure of Sara, who was clearly different from how she acted until then,
with a changed look in her eyes.
“────......I understand.”
In the depth of her eyes, a strong will that was blazing could be seen.
The pressure emitted from her seemed to be burning his bangs.
Ikki held his breath at that feeling.
──She was on a different level.
In the first place, Seven Star Sword-Art Festival was a ceremony of knights.

It was a battle for glory to people living in the way of warrior like Ikki and Stella, but Sara was
different.
He understood it after hearing her story.
She had a rare talent, a high combat power, but she did not have anything to bet during that event.
In addition, she was definitely not passionate about the activities of Rebellion.
What she wished for was at most completing the legacy of her father.
Everything was just a process for the sake of that goal.
Hence, her motivation was low.
She also showed a glimpse of it in her battle against Kuraudo.
That was──
(Isn’t it a waste?)
The passion Sara had towards arts was the same as what they as knights had for battles.
Their direction was different, but that heat and strength of will were──the same. No, perhaps even
greater?
He could not understand.
That was why──he wanted to affirm it.
Hence, Ikki added one matter into the next fight.
The direction of her will......he wanted to redirect the maximum of that into the next battle.
With that promise, Sara would probably be serious.
She would probably come at Ikki with all her strength.
However, that was fine.

He would face that with his own passion, sharpening it.
Because that was what the Seven Star Sword-Art Festival was all about.

Part 10

After that, the mother of the infant rushed over from the adjacent department store, and they returned
the lost infant to his guardian safely.
Then the three of them ate a light meal, left the department store, and returned to the event venue.
The time was 4:30pm.
Two hours had already been shaved away before the moment of their decisive battle.



Chapter 10 - Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival third
round - Begins



HAGUN ACADEMY WALL NEWSPAPER
Character Topics ___ Writer • Kagami Kusakabe

Byakuya Jougasaki

■ PROFILE
Affiliation: Bukyoku Academy, Year Three
Blazer Rank: C
Noble Art: God Hand
Nickname: Eye of Heaven
Personal Summary: Last year's Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival second place

Attribute chart (starting at far left, going clockwise)
Physical Ability: D
Luck: D
Offensive Power: D
Defensive Power: D
Magic Capacity: D
Magic Control: C

Kagamin Check!
His personal attributes aren't high, but since the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival has a ten-count
ring out rule, his teleportation ability "God Hand", which can freely move objects that he locks
onto, gives him power on the level of an ogre. If he teleports an opponent INTO ROCK, then few
if any of the contenders would be able to a thing. Senpai was right to use Ittou Rasetsu from the
start, I'd say.

Part 1

「The time is now 6pm, brought to you by Nippon Telegraph Public Corporation.」
*Pi. Pi. Pi.* A special alarm that rang once at every three seconds.
At the same time that alarm sounded from all the speakers in the dome, the night lights were switched
on.

After the long daytime of the summer had passed, they lit up the dome which had begun to be covered
in a thin veil of darkness.
And then...
「Everyone, thank you for waiting! I hereby announce that the third round of the Seven Stars Sword-
Art Festival is about to begin!」
The live broadcast of the cue for the start of the third round had been given.
The audience sitting at their seats raised an earth-trembling cheer.
「The best eight of this event will be pitted against each other in the third round’s battle.
The expectations for the fierce upcoming battles has already made the event venue’s excitement reach
the boiling point!
Continuing with the live broadcast, I am Iida! Yaotome-pro will be the commentator!
Then without further ado, let’s welcome the first pair of the third round’s battle!
First, from the blue gate enters Contender Kaga Renji!」
In response to that call, a big shadow appeared from the darkness in the blue gate.
The figure that appeared on the dazzling stage, brightly lit by the spotlights, was that of a huge rock-
like man whose height surpassed two meters. That was exactly ──
「Oo! I’m Kaga! Kaga has arrived!」

「As always, he’s so biiig! 」

He was the hero of Hokkaido, Kaga Renji.

「Coming from the land in the North, from Rokuson Academy, the Panzer Grizzly!

What’s more eye-catching than anything is his huge body that doesn’t put shame to the name of a
Grizzly!

236 centimeters in height! 370 kilograms in weight!

He uses his Herculean strength with a body no different than that of a brown bear as a weapon to
fight, one of the best super power fighters in Japan.

The prominent Contenders have been eliminated one after another in a wave of turbulence, now there
is only one left from last year’s best eight who has managed to advance into the third round!

Will he be able to show the spirit of the seniors before the new Contenders, who are riding on this
wave!?」

「Contender Kaga is a balanced player with a very high level of offense and defense. His excellent
physique allows him to exert bulldozer-level arm strength. And his Blazer ability, Steel Skin, is an
original one. He is simply strong, simply hard. As such, regardless of how he uses it, the situation or
the compatibility with his opponent’s ability, it will not influence his pure strength. In this event with
many unique ability users, such Contenders may be the ones who can display their true value.」

Then, Kaga stepped onto the ring for the third round battle after receiving the cheers from the
audience.

──In that instant, he took an action that he had never taken before.

He grabbed his own clothes with his huge hand, and then threw them off after tearing them apart.

「Wooo──aah!? Contender Kaga! He threw off his special size uniform after tearing it apart, leaving
him with only one piece of loincloth! What kind of performance is this!?」

The announcer and the audience were confused.

In regards to that, commentator Yaotome cut in.

「Just like 「Ring」, 「Bracelet」and 「Glasses」, a Blazer’s Device does not necessarily need to take on

the form of a weapon. And Contender Kaga’s Device Raiden is that loincloth ── Mawashi.[6] It’s
usually worn underneath his clothes so it could not be seen, but......he stood onto the stage that made
him throw away his clothes, and fight with only his mawashi. He probably considers the outcome of
this match to be very important, so he’s displayed his fighting spirit like that.」

Yaotome’s explanation was spot on.

He challenged that important match with only his Device.

That was Kaga’s style of gathering his fighting spirit from praying for his victory.

Then, after undressing, Kaga bent his knees and dropped his waist on the spot.

After that, he raised his left leg up straight facing towards the sky, and slammed it down onto the ring.

Accompanied by a tremor immediately after, the left side of the ring sank into the ground.

Every person in the dome opened their eyes wide in shock.

「A-Amaziiiing! The moment Contender Kaga stepped down from shiko[7], the 100m diameter ring
slanted and sank into the grouuuund!!!! And then he raised his right leg on the opposite side straight up
──── dosukooooi![8]」

The tremor shook the ring again and the right side also sank into the ground just like the left.

「The slanted ring returned to horizontal level after the second step, but it has clearly sunk into the
ground as a whole after being stepped by his shiko, for about 10cm into the ground! What power!」

「That’s also quite impressive, but take a look at his feet.」

「Feet, is it? Wha, th-this is!」

As Yaotome pointed out, they looked towards Kaga’s feet.

At there was──

「Footprints! On the ring made with special stone material that can withstand a direct impact from
napalm missile for Blazer use, as if he had stepped on a muddy beach, a pair of clear footprints with
even his toe shape has been carved into it!」

「Even though the shape of his feet has been carved into the ring, there are no cracks around it......It is

the evidence that his power has been concentrated without dispersing. Contender Kaga is not just
about power, he also possesses the detailed control on the flow of his power. As expected.」
「Uoooo! As expected, incredible! Not just for being big!」
「Kyaa! Kuma-chan so cool～～～～!」

Cheers rose from the audience seats at Kaga’s performance.

Kaga used his tough body as a weapon, taking the unique battle technique of the sumo style; along
with a personality not losing out to his well-built body, he had gathered a passionate fan base from all
over the country.

There were also many fans chasing after him to that venue.

Kaga would usually return a smile back at them, but he was different at that moment.

“──────”

He did not respond back to them. Instead, Panzer Grizzly looked towards the gate where his opponent
would appear from with a serious expression.
「Contender Kaga’s performance imbued with his fighting spirit has stirred up the venue!”

However, Contender Kaga’s eyes are as calm as still water, focusing on a single spot!

That’s right, they are focused on the red gate where his opponent will show up from!

Then, let’s not waste time and introduce the other man of valor who will be fighting in this decisive
battle in A-Block!」

In accordance to the announcer’s words, the spotlights focused onto the red gate.

In the midst of the light, a swordsman clad in black kimono walked out.
「Prestigious Kurogane household’s eldest son, the genius who made an impact in the whole country
as the Kirin Child in his childhood.

The moment he shone as the world champion in the U-12 (Elementary level) International
Tournament, anybody would have thought so!

Great Hero, Ryoma Kurogane’s rightful successor has been born right there!
However! As the surrounding is still indulged in excitement, the genius has gotten sick of it!
He is hopelessly sick of the League’s rule of not allowing real blades in battles!
He has been seeking!
A real battle! A fight with life on the line!
Aiming for a higher goal!
As such, he disappeared from our sights!
Every person grieved over this loss!
But! That genius has returned to Japan!
In his last year of high school, he steps onto the ring of this Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival!
Possessing overwhelming strength to the point of blurring that figure of his within our memories!
Newcomer Akatsuki Academy third year! Contender Sword Emperor of Wind, Ouma Kurogane!」
With his long hair and hem of the kimono swaying, step by step, Ouma shortened the distance between
him and Kaga.
The audiences at their seats swallowed their breaths at his appearance.
「......I-Incredible............」
「He hasn’t changed......what pressure......!」
Even though he was just walking, they felt like his sword pressure was splitting their skin from just a
touch.
That pressure felt just like an unsheathed katana.
「Yaotome-pro. The last time Contender Sword Emperor of Wind, Ouma Kurogane appeared in
official battle was already five years ago, how about it? Contender Ouma seen from a pro’s point of
view, that is.」

「He is strong.」
「......I-Is that all?」
「Honestly speaking, I cannot give any further explanation at this point of time.」
「Is that so?」
Yaotome nodded.
「Since in all of the matches until now, he has never once gotten serious.」
Be it the first or second round battles, Ouma won in the same manner.
Against the opponents who challenged him with long distance magic battle, because they knew they
were at a disadvantage against the Wind Emperor in sword clashing, he just walked straight towards
them and cut them down.
It was just that.
Ouma did not evade nor defend against his opponent’s long distance shooting.
He really just walked straight.
His body just taking on the attacks from his opponent.
Even so, he did not receive a single injury, neither did he stop in his tracks.
It was so one-sided that it could not even be called a match.
There was not a shred of technique. Nor was there any leeway to intervene.
The only thing left was the difference in the level of their performances.
Hence it was understood that he was strong.
However, there was no concrete understanding beyond that.
If it could not be understood, then it could not be explained, was what Yaotome was trying to say.

「......However, the opponent of Wind Emperor in the third round is Panzer Grizzly, someone who had
fought him many times when they were young. He was not the type to play trickeries, not to mention
from seeing the performance just now, his extraordinary offensive power could be said to be a threat
even to the A-Rank knight Wind Emperor......I believe that we will be able to see the true growth of
Contender Ouma from the five years gap.」

「I see! That’s something to look forward to! Oops, and now, the two Contenders have stepped onto
the starting line.」

The two people faced each other on the ring.

“Ouma. It’s been six years since the last time I faced you on the ring. So nostalgic!”

“......I’m not that close to you to feel nostalgic upon meeting again.”

“Gahaha. You’re still such an unsociable guy. Well, fine. Regardless of what you think, I am glad! I
have always been praying! To have a serious fight against you with our lives on the line! I have
always been waiting for this day to pay you back for the time when we were little! I have been
training my body for that purpose!”

Kaga beat his muscular chest as he said so.

When they were still elementary students, Kaga had never once won against that genius of the same
age.

However, as Kaga grew up, he had obtained a huge, out of the norm body.

He was already different from back then.

Kaga did not know where and what Ouma had been doing in that five years, but he was confident that
he had certainly caught up to Ouma.

Hence, he was not intimidated by the A-Rank knight before him, and declared.

“I’m different from your opponents in the first and second match. I won’t run away from your
seriousness! So, face me with your seriousness! Ouma!!!!”

To that, Ouma replied with a cold look.

“That depends on you. Renji.”

“Gahaha! That’s true! Then, I will make you serious immediately!”

「The warriors facing each other on the ring are exchanging their friendship. Contender Panzer
Grizzly, Renji Kaga has just declared that he won’t run away from the frontal confrontation against the
A-Rank knight, Wind Emperor! That would only be recklessness for ordinary Blazers. But Contender
Kaga has the actual power to achieve it! Just like Yaotome-pro said, we may be able to witness
Contender Ouma’s real strength in this match!

Now. The referee is about to give signal the start of the match──

──Begin!」

Part 2

The instant the referee announced the start of the match, Kaga was the first to move.
“OOOOOOOoOoOooOoOoOOoOoooo!!!!!!”
He roared with a voice that resonated in the whole dome, and boiled up the magic power in his whole
body.
At the same time, his body began to change.
Losing the organic skin color, it changed into shiny steel.
That was the reason for the Panzer Grizzly nickname.
Renji Kaga’s Noble Art that changed his whole body into steel ── Steel Skin.
「Contender Kaga made the first move! He literally changed his whole body into steel!」
「It is a process necessary to utilize his ability. That’s only obvious.」
Just like Yaotome said, Kaga had to go through that process for his battle or he wouldn’t be able to
begin.
His huge brown bear size body, and the arm strength enhanced by his weight increased several times.
And then the hardness that could repel his opponent’s attacks with his guard.
With the strength of those two parts, the attack-specialized battle style utilizing sumo’s rush power
and superior handling technique, he would overwhelm his opponent. That was the battle style of
Panzer Grizzly.
However──
“Gahaha! That’s wrong! Commentator-san!”
That’s right, that was only up to that moment.
「Eh......?」

“This is different from the Steel Skin until now. This is my secret trump card for fighting against
Ouma!”

As he said so, at the same time Kaga completed transforming his whole body into steel, a different
magic power from Steel Skin ran across his whole body. Immediately after──

“GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”

Along with his roar, Renji Kaga’s body began to change in a way never seen before.

On the steeled lump that was Kaga’s shoulders, two new arms on each side, in total four arms grew
out from both sides.

「W-What! T-This is! His arms have multiplieeeed!?」

The announcer and audience raised surprised shouts at the strange transformation.

On the other hand, Yaotome in charge of commentary analyzed the situation calmly.

「I see. Not just hardening, that’s also shape-shifting. With this increase in number of arms, it’s
obvious that the offensive and defensive power will increase threefold......! He must have thought this
through.」

“Gahaha! Just as commentator-san said! My Device Raiden’s ability is steelifying of my body! Thus
it is reasonable for me to be able to change the form of said steel freely! This is what I was hiding! Its
name is ── Steel Asura Form! Ouma! I have spent five years developing this technique to win against
you! Receive it gratefully!!”

After completing his transformation, Kaga sank his huge body down and took a squatting stance.

Then, using the recoil from knocking his tight fist onto the ground to lift his upper half torso, with the
leg power that sank the enormous ring into the earth, he propelled his huge body forward.

That figure was just like a cannonball.

「F-Fast! Contender Kaga! He is rushing towards Contender Ouma with a speed one wouldn’t imagine
possible with his huge body! How will Contender Ouma handle it!?」

However, Ouma’s response to Kaga’s assault was the same as in the first and second round.

“............”
「──Whaaat!? T-This is!? Contender Ouma! He is neither defending nor dodging! He is walking
straight towards Contender Kaga’s assault! He doesn’t seem to be afraid of that arm strength and huge
body!」
「That’s some big confidence......However, that’s being reckless.」
As Yaotome said, Ouma’s response was a foolish decision in anyone’s eyes.
He was different from the opponent in the first and second match. Kaga’s offensive power was at a
level that even using Crimson Princess, Stella Vermillion’s overwhelming magic power would not be
able to stop. A direct hit would not end well.
Even so, he did not take up any defense.
──Kaga felt a strong fury towards Ouma’s response.
He was belittling him to the point of not even trying to evade. To that extent.
However, that probably could not be helped.
He had never once won against Ouma.
Being looked down upon was obvious.
In that case──
(With this one strike, I will wake you up!)
“UOOoOoOoOOooOOryaaAAA!!!!”
In an instant, Kaga’s opened palm hit Ouma’s face with all of his arm strength and body weight.
At the moment of the impact, the atmosphere shook as if a large truck crashed in a frontal collision
It was undoubtedly a direct hit.
Ouma really did not use any defense or evasion against Kaga’s attack.
However ── He would obviously not come out unscathed after doing that.

Ouma’s body greatly inclined and sank down.
And then, Kaga decided he would not let go of the decisive opening created by that overconfidence!
In that moment, Kaga saw his chance for victory.
Panzer Grizzly executed the prided secret move combining attack and defense in one.
Using hundreds of open palm strikes, while warding off the opponent’s attacks, at the same time,
showering him with super heavy continuous strikes,
That was a new sure-kill technique executed against Ouma with his six arms──── the Hundred
Lotus Palm.

“Asura Hundred Lotus Palm ────── ooOoOOOOO!!!!”

「Contender Kaga is dealing a decisive blow to Contender Ouma who has broken his posture! Rush
Rush Rush! He is using his steel palm to strike continuously at his opponent with speed that our eyes
can’t even catch up wiiiith!」
Receiving that earlier strike squarely, Ouma would not be able to evade the rush.
He was completely caught in that storm with the steel palms raining on him.
Kaga trembled from the response that his sure-kill technique had hit in the best way possible.
He could do it.
Ouma’s body was about to collapse on the ring.
He could win if he just continued attacking like that!
The premonition of victory that he continued to seek in the past five years let his strength explode
beyond his limit.
However──
(──............!?)

Kaga’s excited expectation was gradually thinning away.
Anxiety welled up to replace that.
Why?
Even though he was attacking so one-sidedly.
Even though all of Kaga’s steel palm strikes had a clean hit on his target.
Why did he feel anxious?
The reason was exactly because of what was happening.
Kaga’s attacks had all hit their target with clear feedbacks.
In spite of that──
(Why won’t he fall!?)
That question was...
“......A technique developed to defeat me............huh.”
Along with the muttering spilled by Ouma, who was taking on his Asura Hundred Lotus Palm, it was
resolved.
After Ouma’s body had sank at a certain angle, the response coming from Kaga’s hand changed.
The image projected in his brain was as if his palm strikes were hitting a rock mountain towering
above the skies ── a desperate waste of effort.
(He’s completely, not budging even a tiny bit......!)
Ouma did not budge or tremble at all after receiving those steel palm strikes.
That’s right, Ouma’s posture was not broken by Kaga’s palm strikes──
He had lowered his posture in order to swing his sword!

“Those five years were meaningless. Renji.”

“!?!?”
Together with an air-splitting noise, Kaga lost his feeling on the majority of his right half of the body.
Ouma’s diagonal slash from below to above had severed the three right arms executing Asura
Hundred Lotus Palm.
Kaga felt a chill at Wind Emperor’s sword arm that treated the hardness of steel as if it was nothing.
However...
“OOoOOOOOOOoOOAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”
Kaga raised a roar to forcefully suppress that chill and continued to attack with his remaining three
arms.
He did not retreat.
He was a fighter at his core.
He could only choose to fight.
He did not have a choice of pulling away and attacking.
Hence, he attacked furiously with his life on the line.
However, there was no reason for an opponent who would not be shaken by six arms to be affected
by three.
A flash.
The blade that swung up was swung back down, Ouma severed Kaga’s left arms.
The swung down blade immediately changed its trajectory and did a horizontal sweep, severing two
legs.
“────”

The attack and defense of steel that he continued to train up to that day was totally useless.
Losing his support, Kaga’s body collapsed.
His pupils only reflected the despair from their cruel difference in battle strength and a trace of
question.
──That much, huh?
The difference in battle strength between him and Ouma was probably just that huge.
The answer was no.
They had faced each other many times before. Kaga understood.
Ouma Kurogane was not a knight of that level.
He was certainly a talented knight, but that growth was abnormal.
Be it offensive or defensive power, he was obviously......out of the norm.
It could not be explained with just magic power and magic ability.
There had to be something abnormal involved!
“You......just what────!?”
However, Kaga’s question could not form into words.
“Gafu!?”
In replacement, fresh blood flowed out from his mouth.
After he lost his support from his two legs, it was when he was about to collapse.
Ouma’s off-hand thrusted out at Kaga and pierced through his steel chest out through his back.
And then, in the hand that Ouma pierced through to the back, he was holding a beating heart──
“Sto──”

Before the referee could call for a stop, Ouma crushed it without any hesitation.

Part 3

The moment it was concluded in a way that couldn’t be any worse, sorrowful cries came from the
audience seats.
「K-KYAAAAaaa!!!!」
「You’re kidding, right......!? Oi!」
「He k-killed him! That bastard!」
「W-What happened!? The moment we thought that the outcome has been decided when both arms and
legs were severed! Wind Emperor made follow-up! T-The heart! Contender Kaga’s heart was
gripped and crusheddd! T-This was a dangerous strike with a great killing intent!」
The referee immediately announced the end of the match due to that situation.
The medic team rushed into the ring.
Amongst them was the figure of Hagun Academy’s director, Kurono Shinguuji.
“Clock Lock!”
Kurono leapt over the fence surrounding the audience seats and landed onto the ring just like that.
Then her Device Ennoia ── a white silver handgun manifested, and she shot towards the fallen
Kaga.
The bullet that hit Kaga contained the magic of temporarily stopping the time on his whole body.
That would completely prevent the deterioration of his physical body from oxygen deficiency due to
blood loss.
After executing the most appropriate first-aid, Kurono ordered the medic team carrying a stretcher.
“Hurry up with the stretcher! Carry him into the capsule before my technique’s effect run out!”
“Y-Yes!”

A mortal injury......no, Kaga received an injury that would probably kill him if not for Kurono, was
carried out of the ring by others.
On the other hand, Ouma did not even see him off, and was about to leave the ring.
「Contender Ouma, he did not even spare a glance at Contender Kaga who is being carried away!
There is not a shred of feeling towards his rival of the same era! His casually leaving back profile is
saying that ‘you are not even reflected in my eyes’!」
「Hii............」
「S-Scary......」
As the victor was leaving, there was no applause for him.
The duels between mature knights were literally about crossing swords.
Bloodshed was only natural. They might even lose their lives, if they were unlucky.
That’s why the schools would not force students to participate in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival.
Those participating were all warriors who had such resolve.
Hence, there was no reason to criticize Ouma.
Although there wasn’t ──......the feeling of whether it was necessary to go that far could not be
dispelled.
The difference in strength between the two was clearly evident.
In that case, would it be going too far to take away the life, something like that.
However, in the frozen atmosphere of the venue from that tragedy...

*Clap clap clap......*

There was one person clapping hands to congratulate him.
「This applause is......ah!」

Who exactly was that person?

The announcer followed to the source of the sound and raised a shocked voice.

The person who applauded for Ouma was......a girl with burning red hair...
「Contender Stella! Only Contender Crimson Princess, Stella Vermillion is applauding for the leaving
Contender Ouma!」

The venue was confused by that fact.

However, Stella did not mind any of that, looked downwards at Ouma, and praised him.

“It was quite a good fight. Ouma.”

A one-sided massacre. To a battle that could only be thought of an overkill, Stella praised it as a
good fight.

That was because, different from the audiences, she was able to see much deeper into the match.

That’s right. The audiences misunderstood something from seeing Ouma’s overwhelming victory.

It was Panzer Grizzly’s strength.

“Kaga has proficiently used his Noble Art to increase the number of his arms. Against such an
opponent, just cutting away his limbs may not be enough to decide the outcome. One must end his life
in order to achieve victory with certainty.”

Of course, with Ouma’s strength, he could avoid a fatal injury and use a method to crush Kaga’s
spirits.

If Kaga was like the opponents in the first and second match who employed trickeries, Ouma might
have taken such measure.

However, he did not do so.

Stella could understand.

That fight, Ouma......although he did not show his true power, he faced it seriously.

Because Kaga would not be afraid of him and run away, challenging him straightforwardly, Ouma

saw value in that victory.
That man was a knight that would go that far in order to obtain that valuable victory.
......Putting it negatively, he was a man that would even kill people for victory.
However, even though he was such a man──
“......However, you did not kill me that time.”
That time was obviously referring to the first time Ouma and Stella faced off each other.
Ouma could have killed Stella if he had felt like it.
The two of them had just that much difference at that time.
“You paid a lot of attention to me. Treating me carefully so that I don’t break.”
Towards her, who was above Kaga in rank, the same A-Rank as him.
Stella did not know what intention he had.
However, there wasn’t any 「seriousness」 in that careful treatment.
Regardless of what intention he had, being treated carefully, in other words, winning against Stella at
that time, held no value to Ouma.
──There was no greater humiliation than that.
Therefore, Stella stared at Ouma with her burning pupils and declared.
“I feel sorry for my behavior back then. But......I won’t do that anymore. Tomorrow, I will make you
get serious. I will draw out all of your strength from your core. And then on top of that............I will
kill you.”
She let out a definite killing intent, releasing a pressure that could burn the skin with just a touch.
Although Ouma received it with his whole body...
“What a coincidence. I was also thinking about the same thing.”