Published at 25th of March 2019 9:59 pm

Volume 5 Chapter 1 - Strength, the Time It Should be Shown Part 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

…Exactly a power to [incite conflict].

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

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

“Is it [Futsu no Mitama]?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Is senpai worried for me?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That was this fight’s biggest objective.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leme leaked out a chuckle inside Kazuki’s head.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Immediately, the spectator stands became quiet.

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

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

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

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

Behind them, Hayashi Shizuka and Karin silently followed them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“All members, have you finished your preparations?”

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

“Well then, the finals, begin!”

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

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

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

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

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

“We are going to hold these guys back!”

“Leave it to us, Hayashizaki-!”

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

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

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

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

Kohaku went and slashed at Mibu. But―

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Thank you, Mio-san! YAAAAAAAAAA!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

His heart was going to get destroyed directly!

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

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

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

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

Shizuka spoke with a calmness that was really odious.

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

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

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

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

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

“Suicide Black!”

“…That magic is from back then!”

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

“Magic that reflects pain huh…hnn!”

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

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

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

“U, UwaAAAAA!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Ayamur!!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Self Burning!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Karin! Become my shield!!”

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

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

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

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

“Hayashi Shizuka! …You!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Ride Lightning!”

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

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

“UAAAAAAAAAAA! Ku, ugu, AAAAA-!!”

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

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

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

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

Suddenly a strange silence flowed between the three people.

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

“A…UAAAAAA_! I am! I amm!!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“UaAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“U…UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

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

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

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

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

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

Responding to Shizuka’s order, Karin performed Access.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“…Kazuha-senpai! Access!!”

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

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