Published at 25th of March 2019 9:54 pm

Volume 4 Chapter 4 - Cooperation Attack Part 3

“So Hoshikaze-senpai’s match will be in the afternoon right? I wonder how their team will fight?”

Mio asked Kazuki while taking a seat in the front row of the guest stands.

“This team is going to fight without thinking anything at all.”

“If it’s Hoshikaze-senpai’s team, it might be like that.”

Mio innocently said such an impolite thing.

“There is that, but Lotte is also there.”

After thinking for a moment after hearing Kazuki’s words, “I see” she nodded.

“What do you mean?” Kazuha-senpai came seeking a clearer explanation.

“Lotte has use of Possession SummoningDrive so her chant speed is really fast. Moreover, the level of her telepathy towers high above the others; it makes you understand why she is so desirable as a teammate. Even if you aren't conscious of such things like cooperation, Lotte will always enter with the most suitable follow-up, wouldn't you think that?”

“That child, she is always really fussing about the people surrounding her…”

Mio whispered thoughtfully. Even Mio had a lot of memories of Lotte doing such things.

Being born and raised in the imperial court where a whirlpool of trickery was raging, it was a miracle that she could grow into such an angel-like child.

“Kazuki, you really value Lotte that highly huh.” Saying that, Kohaku pouted.

“Because, Lotte is an angel, don't you agree?”

While saying such things, Hikaru-senpai and her team exited the tent and made their entrance onto the grounds. Shrill voices of cheering that burst their ears were reverberating. No need to mention the students of the Magic Division, but even the female students of the Sword Division raised the voices loudly. As expected of the Prince…!

“HIKARU-SENPAI, PLEASE DO YOUR BEST!!” Kazuki raised an undaunted voice.

Hikaru-senpai who was waving her hand toward the surrounding cheers immediately heard Kazuki’s voice and winked stylishly at Kazuki. For Kazuki, who magnified his eyesight with Enchant Aura, he could see that clearly. …What style.

“In reality, she has even more popularity than me doesn't she…?”

Kaguya-senpai whispered dejectedly. As the student council president, because Kaguya-senpai touted around her wish for the Magic Division's and the Sword Division’s equality, she received criticism from a part of the Magic Division’s students.

However, the great effort of such a senpai was being passed over right now in this battle election that was being conducted.

On the other side, the opponent’s team finally came while somehow looking uncomfortable.

“I know thy forbidden name…thy true name is Baalzebul, all the evil is born in the Middle Ages. O disgraced god of harvests, in accordance with my life, regain thy shine!”

Hikaru-senpai’s form, switching into her Magic Dress, stole Kazuki’s eyes for some reason.

A shine of gold and silver that reminded you of the image of a star.

Gallant yet also beautiful, the figure of a dashing female knight that was like a hero.

“Well then―third match, begin!”

The opening of hostilities started with a textbook clash between swordsmen.

Kimura-senpai, who was added to the team later on, was quite good.

At the same time, even from this far, he could understand how the number 2 most powerful person in the Sword Division, Kamiizumi-senpai constantly paid attention to her team members so she could follow up the other’s actions. They had a nice, balanced combination.

In the meanwhile, the rearguard were chanting their Summoning Magic. The one who finished chanting first was, naturally, Lotte.

“Roar! Civilization brings destruction to humans! The howl of wisdom scorches thy body, break, that dignity is buried beneath the rubble!! Mitrailleuse!”

The bullets of the gatling gun were scattered amidst the opponent Magica Stigma who were in the middle of chanting.

The damage from the barrage was not so considerable, but it was a magic that considerably disrupted the concentration needed for chanting.

“O will of the whirling heavens' god! Gather in my hand, grant me the authority of judgment! O radiance of royalty’s divine gift, become the drawn bow that shines in splendor! Lightning Line!”

Hikaru-senpai’s lightning arrow also flew. One of the Magica Stigma in the opposing team was broken out from her chanting.

However the other person managed to invoke her attack magic in opposition.

“Lamentation of the fetus that is never able to grow, O king of Ralphagrudge’s seed! Scooping the wave of resentment from the realm of the dead with that hand, throw it to that man! Persistent Calling VoiceSlowing Gas!”

A demon with a jelly like shape of wandering will-o-wisps that was hard to describe―the avatar of the king of grudges, Bifrons was floating. And then it turned towards Kimura-senpai. A pitch black bullet of curses was flying.

“Dangerous!”

Kamiizumi-senpai, who looked like she changed into a different person when fighting, embraced Kimura-senpai closely and evaded the magic. Kamiizumi-senpai was Kanae’s disciple so she could easily avoid a simple Summoning Magic.

With the opposing teams' first wave of Summoning Magic hitting none of the target, it became a severe development for them.

“This hand reached out to the height of Babel, now this hand grasped the thunder of god! In accordance with my life, O lightning, swirled by my will! Collider Field!!”

Even during that time, Lotte rapidly chanted her magic. For Lotte, the more she chanted her magic the more her whole body would be covered with even more armaments, raising the height of her battle power.

“Reaching my hand to the height of Babel, I gain total ascendancy! In accordance with my life, O lightning, praise to the human race’s foolhardiness! Blitzkrieg!!”

That hand of hers was equipped with a giant lance, Lotte faced the enemy and started to dash.

“Prometheus…ChargeSchub!”

Lotte passed by the swordsman without stopping and charged into the opponent Magica Stigma with the electromagnetic lance.

“Lightning descended down to my body, earning me godspeed of lightning’s will…wake up the sleeping lion! Ride Lightning!”

Furthermore, Hikaru-senpai also chanted the magic that made her physical ability raise into the superhuman and charged the enemy.

“Now that I think about it, those two are both [Striker Magicians]!”

Mio reflexively let out her voice. Mio was a magician that needed to receive protection to be able to fight at her best. However Lotte was different. Even without paying any attention to her, she would be fine; there was that kind of side in her fighting style.

“This team doesn't have any concept like rearguard or vanguard!”

Even from this far, they could understand how the opponent team had fallen into great chaos with Lotte and Hikaru-senpai’s charge. For those who had nothing but the Heaven and Earth Formation in their head, they wouldn't be able to cope with this team at all.

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

Lotte equipped herself even further with a large thruster system on her back, transforming into a robot girl. She flew to the height of the sky with enormous flames trailing behind her, and then she took a nose dive from an unprecedented height and sent her opponent flying like a traffic accident. After that, Lotte immediately withdrew back to the sky where her opponent couldn’t stop her.

“O stream of atmosphere, stretch out to my hand, become the lance that strikes the hateful enemy! What reaches my hand is the tip of the storm!! Wind God Violent Assault SpearAyamur!!”

Hikaru-senpai also didn’t lose. A storm blew violently at Hikaru-senpai’s surroundings. Those winds converged into one cylinder and turned into a huge spear. She wielded it with physical strength that had been enhanced with reinforcement magic.

Ayamur, that had the meaning <repulse>, caused a burst of violent wind when it was swung. It inflicted a terrific shockwave toward the opponent that attacked her directly. Looking at that destructive force reminded him of the peerless manner of a great man from the annals of the Three Kingdom.

“Looks like it had been mostly decided. They are a scary team when they get in the zone.”

Kaguya-senpai observed the battle with a serious look. It seemed that in a one-on-one battle, Kaguya-senpai had never lost against Hikaru-senpai; but…what would happen when it was a team battle?

Soon the opponents had fallen into the condition where they couldn’t chant their spells normally anymore… Hikaru-senpai and her teammates had a sweeping victory.

“Right now, they have won and advanced favorably, haven't they?”

Kaguya-senpai secretly brought her face near and whispered at Kazuki’s ear.

This battle election was by no means an event where they could innocently enjoy it.

The puzzling students and the faint existence of the puppet master behind them. It was possible that a scheme, with the purpose of taking hold of this academy within their hands, was squirming under the surface…one of the three people from the Witch’s Manor had to win this battle election no matter what.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Hikaru-senpai’s team returned to the guest stands relaxed and without even showing any color of exhaustion on their faces. Replacing them, two teams were entering the constructed waiting tents on both ends of the grounds.

Kazuki’s line of sight naturally concentrated on the tent at the other side.

Magic Division second year, Mibu Akira. Magic Division second year, Asamiya Anna.

Sword Division first year, Katsura Karin. Sword Division second year, Hayashi Shizuka.

Mibu-senpai who, according to Kaguya-senpai, had the leader status in the delinquent group, and Katsura Karin, who revealed her true character as an assassin aiming for Kazuki. They were both on the same team.

“Otouto-kun, are you really looking at them so seriously?”

Maybe Kaguya-senpai came asking because she sensed the strangeness in Kazuki’s stare.

Kazuki was lost on whether or not he should convey that the true identity of the assassin that assaulted him was Katsura Karin.

However, if he disclosed the whole story and explained, he might be scolded because he did some unreasonable things again. No, he didn't really mind being scolded; but even if he told the whole story now, it might just give senpai excessive worry.

“It’s really nothing. It’s just that I was thinking of how interesting Mibu Akira and her team are and only looking at them.”

“Eh, Otouto-kun likes that type of person!?”

“No way, delinquents and the like are scary. I don't like them.”

When he was in the orphanage, his fellow orphans often got tangled with the neighborhood delinquent group that looked like thugs. To protect his friends, Kazuki frequently got into fights with them.

He was joking about how delinquents were scary, but it was the truth that he didn't like them.

“They're similar to the ill-bred Einherjar, aren't they? Like Damian?”

Hikaru-senpai, who was back after the end of her match, came and entered the conversation while laughing.

If he decided to disclose the whole story, it might be better to tell it to Hikaru-senpai who might possibly meet them in the next match.

―The referee gave the signal for the contestants to make their entrance. The students walked out from the waiting tents in groups.

“Oh my…they spread out in a strange formation.”

Kaguya-senpai raised a surprised voice. The guest stands were also engulfed in a stir.

Certainly, a really interesting and strange phenomenon was happening at the ground.

The two swordsmen that originally should stand at the frontline were not moving from the front of the tent. Katsura Karin, with a determined spirit on her face, and Hayashi Shizuka, who looked quiet, the two were watching with an air of detachment while crossing their arms and standing fixedly at the edge of the grounds. In contrast, the two Magica Stigma, who should stand by in reserve at the rear, walked lumberingly with long strides to the center of the grounds. …The rearguard and the vanguard were reversed.

The delinquent student with a tall stature―Mibu-senpai held her Sword Division teammates back with her hand while yelling.

“Iyo―sh! Karin-chan! You two just relax back there and watch leisurely! The two of us are more than enough for the likes of these small fries of the first round zee―!!”

“Right right, aneki. A real strong Magica Stigma doesn't need any swordsman to protect them anyway―”

The delinquent student with a short stature―Asamiya-senpai followed-up with that big talk.

“Wa, wait Kazuki, aren't those guys strange?”

Mio gripped on to Kazuki’s chest with a horrified face.

The four people of the opposing team that finally came out from the other tent made vacant faces of astonishment, though after a moment it turned into fury and they glared at Mibu-senpai.

“I know thy name…thy name is [Astaroth]! Well versed in the history of human’s sins, O Diablosslanderer, show the dark power of the empress of terror!”

At Mibu-senpai’s side, an avatar of a female devil with an intimidating air straddling a large lizard was floating; then that body of hers was equipped with a Magic Dress. It resembled Kaguya-senpai's somehow, a blue and black Magic Dress.

“I know thy name…thy name is [Gamygyn]! Subordinate to Lucifermorning star of the dawn, O corrupted fallen angel, show the loyalty of hell!”

Beside Asamiya-senpai, an avatar of a beautiful woman with long hair straddling a large horse and covered with clothes of flame was floating; then her body was equipped with a Magic Dress. Her Magic Dress was red and black.

The opposing team also performed Access, sparking the start of the match.

“Fourth match, begin!”

“This is the beginning of the surprise zee―, hyahha―!”

While raising a strange voice for no reason at all, Mibu-senpai and Asamiya-senpai charged toward the swordsmen with just the two of them. The swordsmen slashed their swords with the intention of teaching them a lesson but, the next moment,

“ACHO―!”

Mibu-senpai and Asamiya-senpai warded the attacks with a palm strike that moved like it was drawing a circle.

Warding off the katana with their bare hands was not an ordinary feat. However those movements were similar to Katsura Karin's movements who Kazuki had confronted once before. …That yell of ‘ACHO―’ before, unexpectedly it might not be them joking around; but these guys might be skillful users of Chinese kenpo!!

When Mibu-senpai and Asamiya-senpai defended against the swordsmens' first moves, they slipped into the opponents’ bosoms and stepped into a position where they were hard to attack. If it was Karin, she would step hard on the ground in that position and unleash Hakkyouken, but it seemed those two hadn’t learned that skill yet.

In exchange, while they were defending against the opponents' attacks earnestly, they started chanting their spells.

However, before they managed to finish, the Magica Stigma of the opposing team had finished their chanting.

“O faithful and zealous worker, release that flame in your eyes! Lion Eye Heat RayLion's Fire!!”

A soldier with a lion face and burning red eyes that were gleaming dangerously―soldier of hell, Allocer's avatar was floating with a strange pose. From his eyes a bright red laser was fired.

“Thou are crystal exorcisms who find lost truth…gouging out the darkness of the deepest sinful heart, it was pierced and broke with the gold of that hand! Gold Pendulum ArrowGolden Dowsing Arrow!!”

A venerable gentleman wearing a crimson robe―a man from hell who saw through everything, Vasago’s avatar was floating; the gold pendant that was grasped in his hand flew like an arrow.

“It comes, it comes, it comes, I feel it ze! HOACHA―!!”

Laser and golden arrow were coming to attack Mibu-senpai and Asamiya-senpai respectively. But as if they had completely predicted it beforehand, the two somersaulted backward magnificently and dodged.

“A, aneki―, this arrow keeps chasing me aneki―! Hiee―!”

“You idiot―! Keep dodging it with your spirit!!”

The swordsmen slashed at them from their flanks. As expected, the two of them couldn't evade while concentrating on the magic and their defensive magic power was scattered.

“OUCH―! This asshole!” Saying that, Mibu-senpai raised a stupid sounding scream.

“That movement…those two are reading the magic power, aren’t they?”

Kanae was whispering in admiration.

“Right now, they are just using it on defense. But compared to unskilled swordsman, they are still quite better.”

“Moreover, even when they were slashed by the swordsmen, they used Resist against the damage solidly. That’s why their concentration on their spells didn't get interrupted, though their efficiency has been reduced because they keep talking pointlessly while chanting their spells.”

Kaguya-senpai too was ooh-ing and aah-ing in admiration looking at those two’s way of fighting.

“Resist?”

“I wonder if Otouto-kun and others haven’t learned it in class. What Resist means is to reduce the damage from the attack against ourselves by using the appropriate general magic.”

He never heard about Resist, but in actual battle there were some instances where he noticed something like that. He had always constantly noticed it when he fought powerful magicians like Beatrix or Kaguya-senpai.

Even Kaya had indirectly explained to him about Resist.

For example against physical attacks, the user could create an impact with the opposite vector using [Psychokinesis] that produced and manipulated movement energy and reduced the damage. Against fire attacks, with the use of [Pyrokinesis] that produced - decreased - manipulated heat energy, the user could steal the heat from the flame, create cold air and reduce the damage. It was such a defense method.

[Defensive magic power] instinctually poured out a large amount of magic power for protection, negating every phenomenon. It was an almighty defense, but the consumption was enormous. It was a state that was very inefficient.

In contrast with that, [Resist], which reduced the attack power with appropriate use of controlled general magic, had a good efficiency in magic power consumption. Kaguya-senpai and Beatrix were people who originally had large amounts of magic power in the first place; but with high Resist skill, they wouldn't easily fall into magic intoxication from damage.

“Though Otouto-kun has Foresight and defensive magic in a great variety of elements, so you might not need this.”

Of course defensive magic that resulted from summoning Divas had a much better efficiency than Resist simply because it could use the power of a Diva.

However for Kaguya-senpai who used defensive magic that was too temporary like [Suicide Black] that didn’t have substantial defensive power, a Resist skill became a lifeline for her.

Mibu-senpai and Asamiya-senpai endured their opponents fierce attack with excellent Resist and continued to chant.

They were in the process of preparing magic around level 5!

“Arriving in the future from the past, O goddess that accepted the slanders of humans…change that darkness into deadly poison, vomit it everywhere! Slander the foolishness of these people!! Deadly Poisonous SpeechPoison Argument!!”

Mibu-senpai’s Diva, Astaroth made the lizard that she straddled vomit out a large amount of pitch black bubbles. When the opposing swordsmen got in contact with those bubbles, they immediately wobbled around as if feeling some kind of dizziness. Even their movement immediately dulled.

“O gathering souls from the calling voice of the god of death, armor my body, turn this body into hell’s tormenting devil…right here is the trump card against the heavens! Ghost Heavy Armor InfantryBlack Titan!!”

Asamiya-senpai’s contracted Diva, Gamygyn was crying {Ooooo…} with a hoarse voice that was in contrast with that beautiful appearance of hers. Pitch black mist burst forth from the bottom of the earth rapidly and enveloped Asamiya-senpai’s body. Asamiya-senpai’s figure transformed into a giant that was made from a thick black mist.

“ACHO―!”

Asamiya-senpai swung those gigantic limbs while raising a strange voice. The fist and kick made from the black mist trampled down the swordsmen that were hazy in consciousness from the poison bubble.

“HOACHA―!”

Furthermore, the black mist on Asamiya-senpai's body was concentrating on her arm and stretched (GUGUGU) very long. It transformed into something with the length of dozens of meters and hit the Magica Stigma at the rear, hard.

The Magica Stigma on the opposing team were attempting to prepare a high level magic that could turn the tables in one shot, but…Mibu-senpai’s black bubbles were flying up to the rear area. They were hit by the black arm while their consciousness was hazy. The magic power they kneaded were dispersed because they couldn't continue to concentrate.

“That team kept missing with their level 1 magic and they allowed their opponent to invoke their level 5 magic. The match had been decided from that.”

Kaguya-senpai whispered. Just like Hikaru-senpai’s [Ride Lightning] and Lotte’s [Deep Striker] from the previous match, Summoning Magic around level 5 had the power to change the state of the battle drastically.

However there was also the miss in the tactic of the opposing team…the good balance of Mibu Akira and Asamiya Anna’s physical ability and magic skill also couldn't be overlooked.

“I wonder why they are intentionally fighting in that kind of way? Demonstration?”

Mio tilted her head in confusion. It was a way of fighting that was completely foreign and hard to understand for Mio.

“Didn't they just want to avoid having the damage focused on just the swordsmen? If they challenge the next match using the normal Heaven and Earth Formation, they could equalize the damage and the recovery period will be more efficient right?”

Hikaru-senpai expressed such an opinion. Certainly equalization of damage could bring a lot of merit if it could be done.

“But if they are that strong, I think they won’t get any damage at all even if they just fight normally though.”

That was what Kazuki thought. In reality, even Kazuki and the others finished their respective matches without bearing any damage that would carry over to the next match.

“…What I can't comprehend is their physical ability. I can understand that their chanting and Resist skills are high because they are Magica Stigma of the Magic Division. However in addition to that, to have Foresight skill up to that level and also Enchant Aura on their whole body? Do they have some kind of trick?”

Kanae made an expression of confusion. Not to mention about their Chinese kenpo, but is it also a trick?

They didn't even have any Sacred Treasures. Were they doing something else despite not showing any appearance of chanting any particular Summoning Magic?

“Certainly their ability feels too over-spec from here. But it has become quite interesting, don't you think so? I was getting worried that it would be quite unfair to Kazuki and Kaguya for me alone to have the path that is too easy until the finals, you know!?”

Hikaru-senpai made a fist and hit her own palm while making a cheerful smiling face like a young boy's.

“Ee~ going until the finals comfortably is the most fun though, prince~” “That’s right you know―, prince-sama―”

Kamiizumi-senpai and Kimura-senpai were complaining (buu― buu―) after listening to what Hikaru-senpai said.

“Ahaha, it’s fine you know? After all, I'm going to protect everyone!”

“Kya―, prince is so cool―!”

“Hug me―!”

―The day after tomorrow, Hikaru-senpai’s team would clash against that team.

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