Part 3

“Is this karaage? Although I know about the related knowledge…Delicious! It is a joy that makes one truly feel alive!”

Leme, who disappeared during class, had materialized at lunch time to eat food.

“Karaage…I have not eaten such a plebeian food for so long. At the Amasaki’s house, this kind of thing will never be put on the table. It is the fault of this E-Rank slave, there is nothing more shabby than this.”

Next to Leme, Mio placed the table together and was eating the same bento.

…Why did this person specially come over to eat together?

Behind his seat, Koyuki was eating the bento alone. At first, Kazuki had invited her over to eat, but he was coldly rejected. If that’s the case, then why did Mio come over?

“It does not matter if I have to do all the household chores…But please do not call me a slave.”

“…But I do not recognize you as a member of the Witch’s House. Forget it, since the food that was made have no sin, then I can only reluctantly eat it.”

Placing mouthfuls of karaage into her mouth, Mio said with a pretentious tone.

Saying that she was reluctant had made Kazuki frustrated. The karaage was a dish from his memories of the Nanohana Institute.

“It shouldn’t be awful…”

“It is awful. This kind of thing is extremely disgusting.”

When she places the karaage in her mouth, which was opposite of what she was saying, Mio’s cheeks would soften.

“…It was made extremely well. Thank you.”

“Hiakari-san…Thank you. But since you have already said such words, as expected, you should come over and eat! Don’t just whisper your thanks from behind!”

Kazuki turned his head around. She only said “Don’t look over here” and turned to one side.

A black skull flew into the ring. It was not from Koyuki, but from Mio. After turning his head back to the front, he did not know why, but he could only see Mio glaring at him unhappily.

“Oi, even though I am eating with you, don’t turn to the back and desperately request for another woman.”

“That’s right. Amasaki-san, do you have some time now?”

Suddenly being talked to by someone, Mio “Eh?” and looked back.

When she noticed, everybody’s gaze were concentrated at this side.

“Amasaki-san, do you have a good relationship with that E-Rank…Hayashizaki-kun?”

“W, What good relationship, how is that possible. This person is a slave! Because I am a Student Council trainee…I had obtained a slave from the Student Council President! Don’t be mistaken!”

Kaguya-senpai did not say anything related to a slave trade.

“That’s true! You only treated him as a useful slave, that’s great!”

With this as a beginning, the other students of the class began to speak one by one.

“How is it possible that the A-Rank Amasaki-san would enter the Student Council with the E-Rank male student! We were all thinking what was going on, but now we are reassured!”

“That person, who cannot even use Summoning Magic, was actually mixed into this class, how disgusting.”

The temperature surrounding him had rapidly dropped.

No,no,no. It was maybe not all of a sudden, it was possible that everybody was gearing up and waited for an opportunity to throw such gazes.

As a Stigma Magic User candidate, they have extreme pride. They wanted to exclude the abnormality (Kazuki), but because they did not know why Mio, whose rank was higher than theirs, was together with him, so they hesitated.

…It was probably like that.

“Hey, Amasaki-san. Do you also think this way?”

They were trying to confirm secretly from Mio <That it was alright to treat this guy as a target for bullying.> And Mio, who did not understand the situation, could only look around confused.

What on earth was happening? Kazuki thought while remaining calm.

He was aware that he was an abnormality. He was already resolved about this situation.

“…Forget it! We, the Magic Division, do not require swords! You are already an E-Rank, and you were saying that your specialty was swords…Hayashizaki-Ryuu is completely useless!”

In the end, Mio still followed the atmosphere of this classroom.

“Compared to my Phenex, the Hayashizaki-Ryuu is simply trash! What Ancient Sword Techniques, there is no difference compared to the primitives swinging sticks around!”

“Hayashizaki-Ryuu?” The surrounding people were confused about the target that she pointed out at.

Kazuki was also angered by this phrase.

…It was the same when I first introduced myself. Why does this person always target the Hayashizaki-Ryuu? Because it was on the news, so knowing about the Hayashizaki-Ryuu was not something strange…But what do you know about the Hayashizaki-Ryuu? I do not mind if I was looked down upon…But if it is the people, who are important to me, that are being looked down upon, then it is not fine.

“Since you actually said it like this…Do you think I will remain silent forever?”

Mio faced Kazuki and revealed a provocative expression.

The anger within Kazuki’s belly was rushing upwards.

However, if he were to move using his emotions ——He would lose his place in the classroom.

“Our King, compared to the foolish Stigma Magic User, you are much stronger.”

Beside the silent Kazuki, a surprising sound rang out. It was Leme.

“What are you people, who still have not changed the Enigma into Stigma, or you, who can only use Low Level Summoning Magic saying? If you let Leme, who is a Diva, to speak, it is really funny. Our King’s Sword techniques are stronger than you a hundred times. And the karaage that Our King made is very delicious.”

Because the surrounding people were all silent, that voice completely infiltrated their bodies.

“…W, What, you useless Diva.”

“There is no need for Our King to use Leme’s power to deal with people such as you. If you doubt it, you can try it. Isn’t there a system called <Duel> in this academy?”

“Hey, Leme, what are you saying? You have lost your memories, you shouldn’t know anything about my sword techniques. Don’t just careless say words out.”

Kazuki hurriedly tried to stop her, but Leme only stared directly at Kazuki.

“Indeed, Leme doesn’t know anything, but I can still understand. Although I do not know why I selected you, but because you are a person that this Leme has chosen —— You cannot be weak. And although I had only been with you for a short day, I still fully understand your character. You said that you have spent your life so far honing your sword techniques. Then if that’s the case ——You are not weak. Even if I do not know anything, I can still understand it.”

Leme even leaned over closer and whispered into his ear.

“…And, that girl, Amasaki Mio, truthfully, she wants to lose to you.”

“…What’s that.”

“It is more accurate to say that…she hopes that you are a strong person. So that’s why she argues with you. This is also for positivity levels, so show off to her.”

“…In the end, it was still for that. That isn’t good, fighting in order to obtain positivity values.”

“Most importantly, it is unrelated to positivity values…Weren’t you also thinking that you <Want to Fight>? Leme and your heart are connected, so I had seen through it a long time ago.”

Leme smiled and knocked Kazuki’s chest.

…She is saying that I wanted to fight? I actually…?

Holding a sword in my hands, as a swordsman, fight ——against the Stigma Magic User, who had provoked this side.

Inside Kazuki’s calm mind, a sweet heat began to erode it.

As a member of the Magic Division, he must leave behind his longing for sword techniques. But ——

“…That is true. Indeed, it is time to let these people change their thinking about sword techniques.”

The people that were most important to him were looked down upon, yet he could still remain indifferent. As expected, it wasn’t his way of living.

“Oi, you two, what are you guys secretly talking about?”

Mio said to the two people. Leme immediately turned to Mio and revealed a detestable expression.

“Actually, you are very weak! Desperately saying Leme’s King is an E-Rank slave, you must be afraid of Our King!?”

“…-How is it possible that I’m afraid of that guy!?”

Mio could not help but stand up. In response, Kazuki also stood up.

“Amasaki Mio. I request a duel with you.”

Hearing these words, everybody in the room, including Mio, widened their eyes in shock.

This was the natural reaction. Compared to Summoning Magic, Swords were looked down upon.

Heaven and Earth Formation. Swordsman were only to buy time for the Stigma Magic User’s Chants. A Meat Shield. This was common knowledge.

Kazuki coldly looked around his surroundings. That common knowledge ——made him extremely angry inside his heart.

“You say a duel…But you can’t use Summoning Magic, right?”

“I will only fight with a sword. If I win, I hope that you can take back the insults you said towards the Hayashizaki Family.”

Hearing this phrase, Mio’s expression changed.

“As expected, you still have longing towards the Hayashizaki’s Sword Techniques! Even though you are already a person like me in the Magic Division…Okay, I’ll accompany you! I’ll let you fully experience it!!”

The originally frozen classroom began to quarrel again.

“…Although I do not understand, that person is saying that he would <Use Sword Techniques to fight against an A-Rank>?”

“Amasaki-san can already use Level 2 Magic, right!? Then it is impossible.”

“You… are still the same as before…”

When it was already impossible to stop, Mio muttered in a low voice.

“What did you say?”

Just like this ——A red heart appeared from Mio’s chest and was absorbed into Kazuki’s ring.

A red heart? At this time, it should be a black skull. As expected, this ring is abnormal.

“Nothing, you E-Rank! Stupid Idiot! I’m looking forward to the time after school end!”

She rushed back to her own seat. What is a Stupid Idiot? Oi, you forgot about the half-finished bento. Finish it! The karaage I made!!

“You’ve said it well…Hayashizaki Kazuki.”

When Kazuki sat down, Koyuki’s voice came from behind.

It looks like he was not completely alone.

After the application that was submitted to the Student Council in the Knights Academy was approved, then you can begin a duel.

It was a competition of strength between students that under safety rules of stopping the attack before the Defense Magic was completely reduced to zero, where the Student Council was present.

“A duel request? Otouto-kun and Mio-chan?”

After Kaguya-senpai, who was currently organizing information in the Student Council office, heard her kouhais’ words, her eyes widened.

“Really, even Otouto-kun is reckless. The duel that has strict rules is different than the reckless scuffles that Kanae-chan participates in. If it is in a duel format, the Stigma Magic User will only escape as they continuously use Level 1 Magic and it will completely eliminate your Defensive Magic. This is not a joke.”

“Has Kanae, till this date, fought against the Magic Division students?”

“…Formally no. Although Kanae-chan wanted to do so, but even if the Magic Division students were to win against the Sword Division students, their rank evaluation will not increase. Thus, everybody avoids it.”

“If that’s the case, then senpai should not know what kind of battle it will become between the Hayashizaki-Ryuu and Summoning Magic.”

“There is no need to duel and you would still know it, idiot.”

Mio inserted hateful words. At the same time, senpai finally realized that the two of them were both serious.

“W, Why did it become such a tense relationship? Fighting isn’t good!”

“No, I cannot give in. As long as my foster father’s sword is being looked down upon, I cannot tolerate it.”

“Why…are you so serious about the Hayashizaki-Ryuu. Even though you are someone from the Magic Division…Just like an idiot!”

At this time, someone broke the Student Council’s door and stormed in.

“It’s the time to completely defeat someone, Nii-sama! I have heard of the matter, As expected from Nii-sama!?”

“Ah, Kanae-chan? Why did you come to the Magic Division?”

Kanae completely ignored Kaguya-senpai and rushed directly in front of Kazuki.

“…So it was like this. Nii-sama wanted to rampage inside the Magic Division in order to prove the strength of Hayashizaki-Ryuu…In other words, a spy inside the Magic Divison! Such foresight, even Kanae did not think about it. Because Kanae’s duels were always rejected! However, after you taught everybody a lesson in the Magic Division, please transfer back to the Sword Division.”

“How is that possible, idiot.”

Kazuki use his two hands and firmly pulled Kanae’s cheeks that was as soft as rice cakes.

Kanae issued out a “Funyaaaaaaaa!” cry.

“President! As expected, you are here. Please do not suddenly rush out when we are having a meeting.”

The person who appeared after Kanae was the Sword Division’s Torazou-senpai.

“Oi, Kanae, don’t skip work and come over here to do your bro-con acts.”

“It’s not like that! Indeed, Kanae wanted to see Nii-sama to the extent that she is trembling…But it is not because of this purpose that I came. Nii-sama, this is for you.”

Kanae handed over a one-edged Japanese Sword to Kazuki.

“…This is!”

Kazuki had already left his beloved sword at the Hayashizaki Family. Therefore, for the matter related to the duel, he wanted to ask Kanae or the Sword Division to borrow a sword…

“Yes, this is Nii-sama’s <Doufuu>. Because she felt that it will be needed, so Kanae had secretly brought it over. This is such an amazing foresight. Please praise me. Then, please fall in love with me.”

Kazuki’s beloved sword, Doufuu. It was an iron-cutting sword that was created through the hands of alchemists.

Among the history of Japanese swords, the ancient sword during Kamakura era ——The Kamakura ancient swords was the strongest. However, this kind of technique had already been lost and had become a lost art.

Through Alchemy, it had let this Kamakura Ancient Sword, Doufuu, appear once again.

The past Japanese Swords were made using a soft steel core, with hard steel on the outside, <Heart of Steel Structure>, in order to obtain a balance of toughness and hardness. The soft core absorbs the impact to prevent it from breaking, while the hard surface prevents it from becoming crooked.

With this kind of structure, it was easily broken due to the difference of hardness at the location where the two steel stuck together.

Compared to this, Doufuu was created with a single steel material.

The steel’s hardness was decided by the carbon content. Doufuu, through the Fluid Control Magic to control the amount of carbon content dissolved into the steel, so that the inner core was soft, then as it extended outwards, it had become hard…Because it was made with a single material for the structure, it was a thing that was extremely ideal as it maintained the balance of hard and soft. This is Micro-Level Alchemy.

Because there was no extreme difference of hardness in the structure, it had stuck together extremely tough. Once it was swung, it was like a whip that was bent.

Its toughness and sharpness could even cut iron.

As proof of Kazuki’s independence, his foster father awarded it to him

The moment he held it in his hands, the feeling of the heavy sword seemed to have become familiar with him just like a part of his body.

…Although he had made a resolve after becoming a Stigma Magic User, as expected, he was still a swordsman.

No, in order to change into a new self, there was no need to abandon his past.

“Nii-sama, Nii-sama, please praise me. Then as a reward, please kiss me.”

“Don’t get carried away in front of everybody in the Student Council, idiot.”

Looking at Kazuki and Kanae’s interactions, Hoshikaze-senpai and Koyuki revealed surprised gazes.

“…The Sword Division’s President is older than Hayashizaki-kun, she should be an older sister, right? What is going on?”

“It can’t be some kind of perverted type of play, right…?”

Even though the fact that Kazuki was a male, yet he obtained an Engima was spread around by the news, but the problem regarding about their true age, which had caused the relationship regarding about the siblings age to be reversed, was still pretty much unknown.

“Hmph, whether you use a sword to fight or a Kiritanpo [25] to fight, it is the same! Let’s us begin…Bring it on!”

“Bringing it on is a rather old way of speaking. But…Fine.”

“W, Wait a minute, I have not accepted the request yet!”

The duel must have the permission of either side’s Student Council. But ——

“If you do not accept it, then I will accept it! Nii-sama, Nii-sama, good luck!!”

——With the Sword Division Student Council accepting it, a special duel began.

At the sports ground, Kazuki and Mio were confronting each other.

There was already a crowd of students coming over to observe after hearing the news.

A Sword and Magic Clash conducted between freshmen, it had gathered a lot of concern disregarding the Division restriction.

“Although they do not need to specifically gather here, this duel will end in a short time period!”

She chanted a spell and allowed her spirit to connect with the Diva at Astrum.

“I know thy name…Thy name is <Phenex>…A poet and a Magician! The poetic bird that uses sweet words to play with the truth, obey my command and display thy power!”

Her Stigma glowed an orange color like the flames shadow. At the same time it glowed, the uniform was disintegrated and reconstructed into the Magical Dress. The faintly glowing clothes and her twintails swayed due to the wind.

…Looking again, this person was an extremely beautiful girl.

Kazuki’s Magical Dress was only a small ring. However, on his waist, his beloved sword Doufuu released an explicit sense of presence. The combination of a Magic Division’s uniform with a Sword, seemed to give off a powerful contrast.

The beautiful Stigma Magic User and the Magic Swordsman that was dressed up uniquely were confronting each other here.

He did not know why…but it feels like he was looking forward to this duel since entering this school.

“Then under the supervision of Hiakari Koyuki, the duel between Amasaki Mio and Hayashizaki Kazuki will begin.”

The referee was Koyuki. The so-called referee was the role which stops the battle when it was dangerous. She, who had been at the Student Council since junior high, had already accumulated sufficient experience.

The duel was carried out in a situation where they were separated by a distance of 50 meters. Although Kazuki could cross this distance in 5 seconds through Magic Enhancement, but Mio could also dodge while she chants spells.

This distance is a rule that gives the Stigma Magic Users the upper hand. Because even in a battle, it was not easy for a swordsman to approach the Stigma Magic Users, thus it had become a rule that was taken for granted.

If the two of them were separated by a distance of 50 meters, Mio’s figure would become as small as a bean.

Anxiousness made the time become irritable. Kazuki displayed an Iai posture and imagined the scene of heat coming up from the depths of his belly ——This is what was known in ancient times as Kikou or life energy from his abdomen.

Aside from ancient martial techniques, a clear impression can allow the Physical Enhancement Magic become something extremely efficient.

“Then…Begin!”

Seeing that the preparations for battle were complete ——Koyuki announced that the duel started.

Kazuki released heat inside his belly and kicked off fiercely from the ground.

“Fast!?” The surrounding students screamed.

In comparison, Mio retreated while she began to chant spells.

No matter how fast Kazuki was, the distance was enough for her to complete her chants.

Mio allowed her Magical Dress light up and communicated with her Diva, and chanted as if she was singing ——

“…The sparks scattered from the dancing wings. Launch a spiral of wind, a bullet piercing through life! Flap now, let it penetrate! ——Barrett!!”

Behind Mio, Phenex’s wings spread apart.

Phenex’s Level 1 Magic, Barrett ——Phenex flaps its wings and shots out feathers. It carries a dual attribute of fire and wind, and flew over like a spiral.

With a bullet’s speed and piercing through its target, it causes the inside of the enemy to burn. Normally, a human’s physical ability should not be able to evade this fire bullet ——But Kazuki dodged it by jumping to the side.

“!?” Mio, who was confident that it would hit, revealed a surprised expression.

As if her body was not listening, Mio continued to chant while she avoided. She then chanted the spell again and released a second shot of Barrett.

However, Kazuki had already grasp the flow of Magic Power ——Just like a Swordmaster reading the opponent’s breathing.

The instant the Magic Power expanded, the disturbance in the air depicted an outline as if it was announcing in advance the phenomenon that was about to happen. Just like what I imagined…If it is this kind of Summoning Magic, I can avoid it!

The second Barrett was also avoided. Just like the dancing wind, Kazuki plunged into the arms of Mio.

His hand had already grasped the hilt of the sword.

Mio’s face was distorted ——As if it was a Stigma Magic User’s terrified expression when they were invaded by a swordsman.

Rend, Doufuu ——With a white flash, the horizontal Iai slash was unleashed.

To Kazuki, his beloved sword was the same as <A part of his body>. His entire body’s strength was extended to the body of his sword that he was holding to, granting it the destructive power that was able to smash through Magic ——This is the attacking method of swordsman, Magic Sword.

The slash had violently collided with Mio’s defensive Magic. Blue light scattered onto the ground, her Magic was cut apart.

Because her Magic was cut apart and the impact that was caused, Mio staggered a few steps backwards.

Kazuki used both his hands to hold his beloved sword, which he was holding with his right hand earlier, and instantly turned the blade.

An Iai slash was not a one hit one kill technique.

The first blade was only for containment. The one that truly determines the victory was the second blade that was swung downwards after gripping it with two hands.

“OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Along with the cry, he slashed downwards and crushed Mio’s Defense Magic again.

Mio was hit away severely.

“He dodged Summoning Magic?”

In face of something that was impossible, Kaguya issued a noise…This kind of swordsman was never seen before.

The speed of Barrett was equivalent to the speed of a rifle bullet. Just by a human’s nervous system, it was impossible to avoid.

“ <Magic-Eye Demon>…This was the nickname of Nii-sama, who was once a swordsman. An Iai swordsman could completely read the opponent’s breathing and muscle tension, then attack first while starting later. In Hayashizaki-Ryuu, he had completely refined his <Vision>.”

Next to Kaguya, Kanae smiled as if she was proud of her favorite brother.

“<Vision> ——How is it… Impossible. Are you saying that you are using Perceptibility Enhancement Magic!?”

“If it is a normal Iai swordsman, at the best, he could only read the breathing and muscle movement. But the Hayashizaki-Ryuu is more advanced, it will even read the flow of Magic Power completely. If you are able to read the flow of Magic Power, predicting the change from being idle and movement, the attack speed is not a problem. The instant an Iai master placed the sword facing it, he would have completely avoided it. Hayashizaki’s Iai has already surpassed Unyou [26]”

“…A swordsman attached with Perceptibility Enhancement Magic that allows him to read the flow of Magic Power, this is impossible.”

Kaguya did not look down on swordsman. But objectively considering it, it should be impossible.

Through training the physical body, it allowed the Physical Enhancement Magic to be attached to his body, in theory, it exists.

Magic is developed based on imagination. Wanting a more powerful body…This kind of thought will allow Physical Enhancement Magic to be activated.

However, no matter how you train Iai, the Perceptibility Enhancement Magic which even lets Magic Power to be felt was unbelievable, there was no reason to get to this kind of high-level achievement.

“No matter what, a swordsman cannot beat Summoning Magic…The people who hold these kind of thoughts while training would definitely not be able to do it. Because they had already given up from the very beginning. However, we had treated the Summoning Magic as an imaginary enemy since the very beginning and performed training. We believe that our possibilities were endless. You say that it is impossible? But the Magic Power responded to our wishes.”

In the current world where Magic, which disregards the laws of physics, dictates, there was no such thing as impossible.

——If it is me, how would I deal with this kind of sword techniques, how would I obtain victory.

“…If it is me, I would chant a large-scale Magic that is impossible to avoid even after reading it.”

“Do you believe that Nii-sama and I would give you that much chanting time?”

If they were successfully able to close the gap, the swordsman’s close-range attacks would continuously attack.

Every time, Magic will be cut apart, the body will be exposed to the impact of Magic shattering.

Inside the storm of slashes, there was no task more difficult than keeping up the concentration and finishing the chant.

Although in the Academy, the Sword Division and Magic Division were confronting each other, but the proper fighting method of Magic Users was to chant while being guarded by swordsman.

“However, if it is Kanae-chan’s sword, it is unable to stop my chanting.”

Hearing Kaguya’s whisper, Kanae threw to her a glare that she did not believe that she would lose.

Even after being knocked by a slash, the A-Rank Amasaki Mio still calmly chanted a spell.

I don’t want to lose…! I can’t lose to this kind of Sword Techniques!!

Although she felt that it was impossible…But there was no doubt that this person used his eyes to avoid Barrett’s speed. Mio had made this kind of judgment. Thus, she began to chant something different than Barrett, Phenex’s Level 2 Magic.

That person pursued further on. He has already caught up.

“The Call from the Master of Flame, liberate the rage beneath the earth! Open up my fortress’s walls…Towering between heaven and earth, isolate all impurity! Flame Emperor Creation!!”

The so-called spell was a command to the Diva at Astrum to request for a Magic Phenomenon.

The Diva responded to this call and brought the Magic Phenomenon to this world ——Causing the World to be distorted.

A Magic Circle extended from Mio’s feet and radiate in all directions.

It let out a flash and became a big crack. Flames were sprayed out from there.

The flame wall that suddenly emerged from his feet —— It was impossible to dodge with his eyes.

That person, who pursued further on, had become a bug that rushed into fire.

Or so it should be ——But, Hayashizaki Kazuki seemed to have predicted the future. In front of the flames, he stepped on the brakes. Mio’s expression twisted again. It was really baffling.

“What method is he using to dodge it!?”

After the crack and the flames vanished, Kazuki rushed into her arms calmly.

Mio could not do anything but be sent flying by the silver flash…It was simply too fast.

“W, Why!?” Then Mio was submerged in a storm of slashes ——

“Stop right here!”

Looking at Mio, whose Defense Magic was about to be exhausted, the referee, Koyuki, announced that it was over.

Mio sat powerlessly on the ground, her Magical Dress disintegrated and changed back to the school uniform.

“It’s my win…Please take back the insults you said to my foster father.”

The Sword Division students that were watching on the side issued loud applauses.

“…I see, so this is the true Ancient Style Sword Techniques.”

Kaguya whispered out in amazement, but it was denied by Kanae.

“It is not the problem of Styles. The Sword Division swordsman did not train with the goal of being able to defeat Summoning Magic. Even though Magic Power will respond to your thoughts. So, the Sword Division must change! This person or that person, all of them are deluded by the Divas and forgot the original power of humans!”

The Sword Division students cheers were boiling. The two Student Council Presidents surveyed the scene.

“Amazing…Being able to do this kind of exaggerated actions, there is actually someone else beside the President…”

As if he had lost his soul, the one who muttered was ranked 3rd of the students in the Student Council, Torazou Yamada, who had an inferiority complex towards the Magic Division. Looking at his expression, Kanae secretly snickered.

…No matter how strong she was, the surrounding people only treated her as an existence known as the <Storm Cat> that was outside the Magic Lands. There was basically no followers who truly think that <I can also become strong>.

Kanae was always alone. Kaguya was finally aware of this fact.

“…Fufufu, I’m looking forward to the <Division Competition>! Next time, it will be me and you who are on the stage!”

Hearing Kanae’s declaration, Kaguya also smiled…Indeed, it was something to look forward to.

Whether it was to fight against Kanae-chan…or the future growth of Otouto-kun…

It was a sense of anticipation that had been gone for a long time since she had defeated her former rival, Hoshikaze Hikaru, and had become invincible inside the Magic Division. After she found a strong enemy, Kaguya was thrilled.

To Kazuki, who wanted her to take back the words she said——Mio awkwardly muttered.

“No…I did not lose.”

“You just won’t give up! Hayashizaki-Ryuu is not weak, admit this to me!”

“No, no, no! Hayashizaki’s Sword or whatever is weaker than Summoning Magic by a lot! It is trash!”

“Even though we have dueled, why do you still treat it as trash up to this point!?”

This person, what kind of <Prejudice towards Hayashizaki-Ryuu> did she have?

Inside Mio’s eyes, little by little, tears began to drip out, causing Kazuki to be frightened. Crying is too despicable…!

“Speaking of which…Why can’t you remember who I am! Remember that for me! I…I’m Mio!? The Mio who had once lived with you at <Nanohana>!?”

Nanohana!? ——Could it be, Kazuki was suddenly speechless.

The instant his eyes met with Mio’s crying eyes, a figure of a small girl appeared inside Kazuki’s mind. The shadow of the face was consistent just like Magic. It was the sister-like girl, who had always followed behind him.

That person’s name is…Mio[27]. Give me a second, could it be that, Mio is Mio?

“Amasaki, you…could it be you’re Mio!?”

“Didn’t I just say it! Why didn’t you notice it, idiot!”

The surrounding audience felt confused “What is it, what is it” about the two people’s conversation.

“But Mio…should be a more honest and smaller child. Speaking of which, she should be smaller than me by two years!?”

“I am not small! I grew up since then!!”

Here, Kazuki suddenly remembered. The children at that place were mainly orphans whose birth was unknown. Aside from the obvious, newly born child, they basically used their body physiques to predict their age.

If Kazuki had dropped a grade and she rose a grade…Due to the Enigma, it was not impossible for her, who was originally smaller than her by two years, to suddenly become his classmate.

“Even though you left us and disappeared by yourself, why did you forget about me…Unbelievable, even though I remember clearly about the Hayashizaki Family that took you away…Uuuuuu…”

Mio finally cried. Kazuki’s mind was filled with guilt.

“How can I forget! Even now, the experience at Nanohana is still part of my important memories!! But I do not know the surname Amasaki, and Mio isn’t that uncommon of a name…”

Kazuki spluttered as he tried to find excuses. Speaking of which, Mio was an honest child. Right now, she was like another person. And he did not expect that she had become this beautiful…!

“…What are those two people talking about?”

“In the end, their relationship is very good?”

“Speaking of which, Hayashizaki Kazuki is overwhelmingly strong…What is this…”

With puzzled eyes, their classmates compared the private conversation between the two of them, which was unrelated to swords and Magic. This duel already had a completely different meaning.

“Just like your talent in swords was seen through, and you left us, my talent in Magic was also seen through and I was adopted by the Amasaki Family! Although I had gone up a grade, but it is also because of my efforts that I still became an A-Rank! My Summoning Magic is stronger than the likes of Hayashizaki-Ryuu!!”

So that was the reason why that person had strongly provoked Hayashizaki-Ryuu!

But, what kind of fate is this. Their talents in sword and Magic were both spotted and they finally met up again in this school of Sword and Magic!

“I…absolutely will not recognize Hayashizaki’s sword who snatched away my Kazu-nii!!”

Mio used her sleeve to wipe her tears, stood up and ran away.

When he was planning to chase, BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!

Koyuki blew the final whistle.

“The winner is Hayashizaki Kazuki.” Koyuki said with a feeble voice.