Chivalry of a Failed Knight Volume 12

Still, Stella continued moving forward without going back.
Even if her face was tore off, even if fresh blood danced, she didn’t even
move an eyebrow.
While staring fixedly at《Wings Abreast》 Edelweiss straight ahead.
(It will be bad if this continues!)
Stella headed towards Edelweiss with a determined resolution.
While knowing her wish wasn’t going to be fulfilled, and without the same
conviction, she still moved forward.
She completely had lost her composure.
The bad presentiment he had after the battle in Caldia. It became a reality.
At this rate, she certainly would end up destroying herself.
Ikki started running to encourage his spine frozen by shivers.
Coincidentally with him, Ascaride also moved.
To stop Stella.
But――,
- I have the duty as the Imperial Family of Vermillion! I have the duty to
make frantic efforts for the citizens who live in Vermillion! And for that,
even if it results in me losing my life, I’m not going to give a step back or run
away from my responsibilities ――!!!!
Stella accelerated, without minding the other two people, to get near《Wings
Abreast》.
To fulfill her responsibility as the sword of Vermillion.
To obtain that strength.

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If that was impossible, then it was fine to die here.
There was no use for a life in which she couldn’t fulfill her responsibility as
the Royal Family.
With such a resolution to die.
But this was a very reckless action. Exactly like committing suicide.
Naturally, the blade of causality unsparingly ran to Stella’s neck――――
- … I understand. It is my defeat.
Together with that amazed-sounding voice, the determination to kill given off
by Edelweiss ceased and the blade disappeared as a mist.

◆◇◆◇◆

Stella had stepped straight into her fate of death even when her whole body
was cut finely.

Edelweiss recalled… that figure and that facial expression of prepared to die.

In the past, a young samurai stood before her in the, blocking her way for his
dearest little sister, he frenetically tried to control his body and heart that tried
to ran away, trembling in fear while knowing that he would die if he opposed
her.

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The figure of《Worst One》Kurogane Ikki.

The figure that tried to fight, putting his life on the line for someone else.
That pride, she felt it was nice.

And, once again now.

… But,
(In this case, it is not enough)

Because the idea itself was already giving up victory.
The strength of her『self』was questioned in the domains of
the《Desperados》outside of fate.
With a spirit like that, conquering the gravitational pull called fate wouldn’t
come true.

Even if it resulted in losing her life.

With a resolution of that degree, they would strike each other at best.
In order to conquer and to step forward the outside the limits of her talent, a
stronger resolution was indispensable.

A resolution which would never give in to every disadvantage or irrationality;
a radiance that would shine without getting darkened in the least even in the
dark despair greater than the darkness of hell to not allow herself to give up
so easily, saying『It’s fine if I die』.

But the current Stella didn’t have that in her.
No, even if she had it in her, her heart would get impatient and lose sight of
the incoming threat.

If she were to ignore it, and with that same impatience, she would run in a

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reckless manner with an incomplete resolution.

Just like now, as if defenselessly charging towards her intimidation.

She was glad because it was her, but what would have happened if it were a
certain ill-willed person?

Leaving Stella, in this state was,

(It will weigh too much on my mind…)

So, Edelweiss decided.

- I shall accept your challenge. Stella.

- R-really!?

Edelweiss nodded to Stella who asked back.

- Yes. However, I am not your teacher or your friend. Essentially, I have no
reason to keep company with you. So, a compensation has to be paid.

- A compensation…. What compensation? What should I do…?

- You already know the situation at the foot of the mountain, yes?

- You mean that dangerous lot?

- Yes. Those people, who know about my return and are trying to make a
name for themselves by defeating《Wings Abreast》, are gathering on
Edelberg now. Even though I finally came back home to try being at ease, I
don’t feel rested at all with what is happening. To put it bluntly, it is very
annoying. Therefore, and for 5 of the 6 days until the day before the battle of
representatives, I want you to give me days off by preventing those guys
from coming to my house until the morning of the sixth day. If you manage
to do that, then I will spend the last day for your sake.

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- … In short, all that I have to do is to defeat the lot who were down there,
right?

- Yes. However, there is a condition.
- A condition?

To Stella, who asked “What would that be?”,
-『You and only you will fight. You are not going to borrow the help of
others』. And the rest of you, no matter what dilemma she may be caught in,
during this six days『You will never lend a hand to her』. ――These two
points have to be sworn by everyone.
Edelweiss told them the details of that condition, raised her right hand
overhead,
- To my Device――《Testament》.

One of her Devices manifested on her right hand together with a warm white
light.
And planted it in the ground in front of Stella.

To touch the sword and swear.

Stella responded to this without doubting it,
- Understood. Then I’m going to wi――

- Wait.
However, 《Black Knight》Ascaride stopped Stella who was about to
respond.
- Ascaride-san?

- Be careful. This is not a mere verbal promise. Her ability is already

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working. It will turn into something impossible if you don’t speak and think
about it properly.

- Ascaride-san. You were aware of the abilities of《Wings Abreast》?

Ascaride nodded.

- …《Wings Abreast》Edelweiss is a causality interferer system Blazer that
rules over『contracts』. The person who took an oath in front of her
Device《Testament》will have a wedge driven into their heart so that they
can’t oppose to it. If the person tries to break the oath, the wedge tears their
heart apart, taking their life. That’s《Rule of Grace》――the only Noble
Arts that《Wings Abreast》Edelweiss has.

And Edelweiss herself affirmed with a nod the words of Ascaride.

- It is as Iris says, my Noble Arts is the power of the absolute compliance to
make the target follow the contract. The disadvantage of its ease of use is that
the target has to take an oath of their own initiative, but for that reason, its
binding force can be called “unequalled”.

Because it could tear the heart apart directly.

- If all of you take the oath of the condition moments ago, then I shall also
swear to have a bout with Stella with this sword. Then, what are you going to
do?

If she took the oath, and if she ran into a problem, yes, especially
if《Marionette King》were to get up in a whim and come here, running after
Stella, no one would be able to help her; what a dangerous contract.

But the heart of Stella decided long ago.

She put her hand on the hilt of the silver sword《Testament》planted in the
ground,

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- I won’t say anything no matter what to the ones who are worried about me
and believe in me now. I don’t have what is needed. That’s why… please.
Allow me to believe in me.

She begged to her companions who were worried about her.

To bet on her potential.

The first one of them who complied with it was――Kurogane Ikki.

- I believe in you. Stella always can go beyond her limits.

Ikki pursed his lips, decided something, and with that look that made him
feel a strong resolution, put a hand on《Testament》on top of Stella’s hand.

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Then――《Black Knight》Ascaride covered his hand with hers.
- Ascaride-san…
- I don’t want to see someone getting injured because of my younger brother
again. And for that, it will help us… if you get stronger. So, do your best.
- Thank you. You two…
Stella returned her gratitude from the bottom of her heart to the two people
who heard her wish, then looked at Edelweiss once again and said.
- This will do, won’t it?
Her companions were okay with it, so, there should be no objections.
But Edelweiss returned a no to Stella.
- No. You are one person short.
And then she glanced behind Stella and the others and turned her eyes
towards Tatara Yui who looked on the whole fuss so far.
- Huh? Hey hey, by one person short you mean me!?
Tatara didn’t hide her surprise at this.
Because she didn’t expect to be considered as a companion of Stella.
Then again, Stella,
- Err, Edelweiss-san. That person is not my companion but an ill-natured and
curious onlooker, rather, it’s like a mob to fill the plain background, like an
empty can that fell around here, so don’t worry about her.
She explained to Edelweiss that Tatara and she hadn’t that sort of connection.
But Edelweiss didn’t go with it.

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- No. Unless you get her to swear, it is impossible for me to approve the
materialization of the contract.

She stubbornly declared that unless Tatara was added to the pledge and that
she met the requirements, she would not approve it.

Now that it came to this, she had no choice but to persuade Tatara.

So, Stella,

- … Umm, Tatara. Since you don’t care at all about me, can we just talk
about you joining us here?

- Gimme a break! Why do I have to go along with such a childish thing!? In
the first place, I have no reason to help you. And if you get exhausted, I’ll put
an end to you.

- That’s way too…! The story won’t progress unless you say “yes”, you
know!?

She separated her hand from the sword for a moment and bowed her head to
Tatara, pressing the palms and fingers of both hands together.

However, that humble position… wasn’t enough.

- Hmmm. Well, is that so? I see, I see. Then everything depends on what I
do〜.

Tatara walked until she was right next to Stella as she showed a malicious
smile on her face.
- Unless I say “yes”, then you’ll end up doing all this for nothing, huh〜.
That’s a problem, isn’t it?

- I-it is. That’s why I’m begging you, aren’t I?

- Your good faith isn’t enough.

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- A-and if I prostrate myself?
- That won’t do〜 it either〜. *Gigigi*.
Tatara laughed and turned her thumb upside down in front of Stella,

- For now, why don’t you get on your hands and knees and do like pigs do? If
you amuse me, then I may join you?

- ――――――
At that moment, all the ones who were there heard the sound of something
with elasticity that was definitely cut.
- … Say, Edelweiss-san. In a word, it’s fine as long as『There’s a guarantee
that she will absolutely not help me for 6 days』, right?

- Yes.
- In that case, if I choke the life out of this person here and now, then our deal
will be okay, correct?

- Huuh!? What did this bitch declare all of a sudd――

- Yes. That is not a problem.
- It is a problem! ――That was close!?

A flash.

A blade was swung in a trajectory to hit her neck without any signs of mercy
or hesitation.
She certainly could dodge it at the very last millisecond; this was a proof of
her high true strength as an assassin.

Therefore, ――Stella, without giving out grudgingly,
-《Dragon Spirit》.

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- Hold on, hold on! Time out, time out! Why are you so serious!? Okay,
okay! Let’s talk it together! I’ll join you but don’t pull that out, stoooooop!!!!

At that moment, the screams of Tatara resounded even in the village at the
foot of the mountain.

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Chapter 12 - An extreme cold trial

- Uuh, it’s no surprise that it gets colder even in summer when being at 6,000
meters above sea level.

A group of dozens of people trailed the mountain road of Edelberg, forming a
long row.

The mean who led it shivered with the cold wind that blew from his side.

- Have a bit more of patience. We’ll be at the fifth campsite point soon.

- Let’s have food once the construction is over.

- I actually brought alcohol. Edelberg’s slope becomes hard from 6,000
meters onwards. So let’s drink there.
- Sure! Why don’t we have a celebration before defeating《Wings Abreast》!?

Like he just said, this was a group of ability users who gave the feeling of
having the skill to aim for their objective, the neck of the international
criminal《Wings Abreast》.

Not only true challengers came to Edelberg.

There were lots of the kind that took full advantage of numbers banding
together.

- … But, can we really win?

- Why wouldn’t we? Our group, the vanguard, has nearly 50 people. If the
gang coming from behind merge with us, we’ll be over 100 people.
Moreover, all of us can use magic techniques.

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- Indeed. The rumors about that person are exaggerated. How can a person
destroy an army by themselves? That’s way too exaggerated as one would
expect, don’t you think? Well, I’m not going to underestimate her though
because she’s strong enough that ridiculous false rumors about her are out.
But, look around us. 《Silver Fox》, 《Bison Killer》, 《Rekka no Sensou》
Grainback, 《Amazon Hero》 Banjo. 《Red Hot Brothers》and that
famous《Homicidal Syndrome》Yamada came. There’s a story about the
armed forces that moved to arrest《Wings Abreast》in the past, but not all of
them were Blazers. We’re the ones who gathered a number of persons of this
degree for the first time. To start with, the fifty of us will clash with her to
exhaust her then we’ll join the fifty guys coming from behind and finish her
off. The strategy is perfect. We can crush her to death by our difference in
numbers unless we greatly lose our focus.

- … Is that so?

The people in this place, all of them were fearless fighters whose names were
known in the world for their real strength.

Even if their true strength was low, they had a strength equivalent to a C-
Rank in the standard of the League.

The men that revealed their anxiety and lined up, sitting in a row, put
themselves together and regained the vigor on their faces.

At that moment,

- Hmm? Hold on a sec.

The man advancing at the head stopped his walking abruptly and commanded
the ones following him with a hand.

- Someone is in the fifth camp.

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- They’re not the company that came a day before us?
The leading group said, staring.
At the other side of the gently sloping uphill road.
At the space of about 20 meters in diameter on the gently sloping plain.
At the fifth camp point.
Certainly, there was a red-haired woman standing imposingly in front of
them, alone.
- … She’s not just a woman, but a child as well? She’s quite young, isn’t she?
- There was no brat among the lot that departed before us, was there?
- Then she’s just a mountain climber?
- Guys like that aren’t here. Maybe she’s a person of the village at the foot of
the mountain. What a great coincidence. Heey!
Then, a person tried to get close to her while waving his hand, and at that
moment,
- No! Wait, Marcus!!
The man who walked at the head grabbed the arm of the man who waved his
hand to not let him do so,

- Serve me. 《Laevateinn》!

Immediately after that, the flames released from the golden blade that the girl
manifested in her hand created a wall of fire in front of the group.
To block their path.

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- Uwaah!? A Device...! She’s a Blazer!?
- I knew it. I felt that I’d seen that face somewhere…! She’s《Crimson
Princess》!

- You mean, the Vermillion one!?

- Yeah! That red hair is unmistakable! I’ve seen it in the news!

The woman, Stella, strained her voice to the man who recognized her
identity.

- I’m sorry for the sudden and violent greeting.

- Really!? What the hell are you doing here!?
- You’re《Crimson Princess》Stella Vermillion, aren’t you!? What’s the
princess of a country doing in a place like this!?

- I came here because I have no more than one objective, you know? And that
is the same as yours. I’m aiming for《Wings Abreast》‘s neck. And, I was told
to defeat you all based on the conditions of the bout.

- What did you say…!?
- I don’t bear a grudge against you, but I have to fight with《Wings Abreast》
by all means…! I’m sorry, but I’ll defeat you! Besides, if you can’t defeat
me, then there’s no way you can win against《Wings Abreast》either! If it
amounts to that, then being defeated here is good luck for you, don’t you
agree!? ――《Dragon Fang》!!

Stella declared war and launched an attack without waiting for an answer of
the other party.
She began to shoot a dragon-like bombardment of flames from《Laevateinn》.

A giant jaw opened and a flame dragon attacked the men.

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The men changed their facial expressions because of this,

- She really launched an attack!

- Well! The survival between challengers is supposedly arranged to be even
like this! Let’s beat her at her own game!

- Y-you sure!? The opponent is the princess of a country…

- She’s the one who picked a fight and this place is outside the law! So it’s
not a problem! Let’s do it!

They immediately manifested their Devices without becoming agitated by the
sudden hostility.
They swung them, making Stella’s released《Dragon Fang》 and the wall of
flames disappear,
The suicide force that included the light-footed《Silver Fox》shortened the
distance in one go and slashed at Stella.

A smooth coordination. A calm response. She could peek at the level of the
real strength of the men.

But――,

- What!?

- S-she flew!?

Their blades didn’t slash or cut Stella’s skin.

Because Stella manifested both wings of flame, struck the atmosphere and
flew high in the air.
Stella, who flew high, held up《Laevateinn》 very high as she overlooked the
men from sky.

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At the same time, a star was born behind her.
Countless groups of flame orbs.
And,
- Burn to nothing. 《Broken Arrow》.
When the held up high《Laevateinn》 was swung downward like a parade
sword, the countless high-temperature rays fired from the flame orbs rained
incessantly on the surface.
「「「Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!」」」
The rays of light that rained incessantly and barraged from the air
unreachable air.
The screams of the men engulfed by the blasts those rays created.
Stella scraped off nearly half the enemies with this attack.
But, they were not-so-submissive people.
- This woman! What an outrageous power she has, it’s no different from the
rumors!
- The ones who can fly, take shape! We’re no match for her if we go one by
one!
There were guys who could fly using their abilities like Stella.
They flew, weaving their way through the heat rays and cheered, aiming at
Stella.
But Stella didn’t move.
- Bring it on! Come at me!
She engaged them happily.

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She was not a coward who could only fight in unreachable long distances for
the opponents.

She would rather wish for close combat.

Stella manipulated both wings skillfully and crossed swords with the
enemies.

And with a flash of the returning strong arm, she knocked down the enemies
even from above their defenses to the ground surface.

――She could do it.

The opponents were by no means weak, but… they weren’t her opponent
who evolved through the《Seven Stars Sword Art Festival》.

(Five days in this condition. I’ll do it…!)

There were two shadows who watched over Stella, who was enthusiastic
about it, from a high place.

The ones who overlooked the fifth campsite point from the top of a cliff were
Iris Ascaride, a woman who had eyes of different color: the left one blue and
the right one red, and the other one was Tatara Yui who ate chocolate sweets
dressed in maid clothes.

Tatara put a malicious smile on her face as she crushed a chocolate bar with
her teeth.

- Oh, oh, this gorilla went and flew like a moron from the first day again.
Let’s see if her energy will last until the night. *Gigigi*...!

-…

But only two girls were in this place.

The figure of Ikki, who probably was the most worried about Stella, wasn’t

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there.
Why?
He was now invited to Edelweiss’s home because『there was something she
wanted to talk about』.

◆◇◆◇◆

Edelweiss, who waited for the sound of the timer, opened the iron door of the
old masonry oven.
Then she took『that』out from the inside with kitchen mittens put on her
hands.

At that moment, the smell of gently sweet baked fruits floated in the room.

- Yup, it was baked nicely.

What was burned to a yellowish-brown color that gave off a rich ripened
scent was an apple pie.

She changed the baked pie to a plate and put it on a small table in the living
room where she kept Ikki waiting.

- I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. Now, please eat. Cake, cookies and a
freshly baked apple pie. There are seconds, of course, so eat without
reservation.

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- T-thank you very much.
Ikki, who thanked her, had a bit of perplexity on his face.
He accompanied her as he was told there was something to talk about, but to
think that the result was him receiving such a welcome.
The strongest swordsman in the world was wearing an apron.
What was this?
This was too far from reality, he couldn’t even think “I’m not dreaming, am
I?”
- Oh? Could it be that sweet food isn’t to your liking?
Edelweiss, who sensed such perplexity of Ikki, turned peeking eyes to him.
Ikki shook his head at this and returned a negation.
- T-that’s not it. Everything looks so delicious that I can’t choose.
- Fufu. I’m glad. If you can’t decide, then please take this apple pie. There’s
no food in this world that can surpass a fresh apple pie.
Edelweiss, pleased by Ikki’s flattery, cut the apple pie while humming a tune,
distributed it in small dishes and handed one over without pausing.

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- Thanks for the food…!
A section filled with honey-colored cooked apples.
The smell of the thick fruits that smelled sweet and the fragrance of the
brown crust from that.
He felt that even more saliva was secreted just by smelling that aroma.
Then, he tasted the pie while his body asked for it,
- …!
And opened his eyes in surprise.
It was delicious.
But not “just” delicious.
The crunchy pie crust with a faint smell of butter welcomed his teeth with a
light texture and the rich sweetness of the cooked apples spread all over
under it gushed out in his mouth, accompanied even by their juiciness.
However, it wasn’t just sweet.
If that was put into words――then it would be『thick』.
A really thick sweetness.
As if dozens of apples were condensed.
And deep in that sweetness, on the bottom of the bottom, the fragrance of the
earth was caught solidly.
Wheat… no, it wasn’t that. Then, soil?
The information content weighed on by his tongue was totally different from
the apple pie he knew.
To the point he didn’t feel it was the same food.

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What on earth was this――…?

- How is it? Does it suit your taste?

Ikki suddenly came to his senses, due to the slightly anxious voice of
Edelweiss.

He ended up becoming speechless before the impact of the taste that shook
his sense of values.

Ikki nodded greatly to her question.

It wasn’t that it didn’t suit his taste.

- Yes, it does. It’s sweet but it’s not sickly-sweet, it’s of high-quality and very
delicious. This is the most delicious apple pie I’ve ever eaten!

Edelweiss smiled cheerfully at his answer.

- I’m glad. This is an apple pie taught by my grandmother, I add Calvados as
a secret ingredient.

- Calvados?

- It’s a brandy made from apple. The bitterness and spiciness of the Calvados,
combined with sweet baked apples, make a rich sweetness that it’s not just
sweet, you see.

Ikki got convinced by the true nuance of the rich and complex sweetness that
ignored the mass.

What he felt as the aroma of the earth was the aroma of aging barrels
transferred to the Calvados.

- Now, here are some cookies. The black ones are chocolate. The white ones
are vanilla and orange peel. Both go well with the strong sourness of the
Hawaiian Kona.

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- T-thank you very much.

“Feel free to try these and these”, Edelweiss recommended handmade sweets
to Ikki one after another.

He was surprised with how very delicious all of them were, but more than
that, Ikki felt surprised by the facial expression and appearance of Edelweiss
who recommended sweets to him.

She didn’t feel at all like a swordsman who made even major nations tremble
violently with a swing of her sword.

Ever since that night’s encounter, Ikki had an appearance of hers like she
carried even a certain holiness.

A person who lived in another world, and that could never be touched.

Or like a living legend in allegories, such type of godlike image he had about
her.

That image was changing dramatically now.

However, rather than disillusion――

- What is it, Ikki? You’re staring at my face… ah! Do I have something on
my mouth!?

Edelweiss noticed Ikki’s gaze and covered the parts around her mouth in
panic.

Ikki shook his head at this and,

- Ah, no. That’s not the case, I’m thinking you really look like you’re
enjoying this.

He returned.

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Then,
- 〜!
Edelweiss slightly reddened that very white face of hers due to Ikki’s reply.

Then she curled herself up, looking embarrassed and asked Ikki as if peeking
at him.

- … D-Did I look like I was enjoying it that much?
- Err, well… just a little.

- Ah, I’m so sorry, I showed you something improper of mine. Actually,
making sweets is my hobby, I love when I get people to eat the stuff I made,
but since I don’t have many chances to invite guests to my home to have tea,
I end up being way too enthusiastic when that rare chance comes…

- Ahaha. This house is built in a great place, isn’t it?
Over 8,000 meters above sea level.

Outside the life zone of the species called humans.

There was no human who would promptly come to this place just to have tea.
Edelweiss also nodded at this,

- Since there are people that gather at the foot of the mountain, they come
here every day. And… because I’m always concentrated on my sword only,
there aren’t many people I can call friends… I’m old enough already but I’m
not married yet… hahaha…

With eyes as if looking at somewhere far away while spilling a dry laugh.
――It was very painful to watch her.

He felt that if they continued this topic, he would end up scraping off

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something important about her.
(I must change the topic…!)
Ikki, who set his mind on “won’t there be material to talk about?”, slid his
eyes to the living room as he drank coffee.
Then, he had his eyes attracted towards the picture frames on a shelf.
There were two picture frames: a big one and a small one.
The bigger one was… the picture of a shining-like white-haired girl together
with several adults.
Maybe that was a family picture when Edelweiss was a child?
And the other one, the smaller one… was mysteriously facing down on the
shelf.
Since the rest of the furnishings were properly set up, it was difficult to
imagine that it happened naturally.
Maybe that was something she didn’t want others to see.
Then, it would be bad to touch that picture.
So,
- T-that’s right, there’s something weighing on my mind.
Ikki looked at the picture of Edelweiss when she was a child and asked the
question that came to his mind suddenly.
- … Why did Edelweiss-san choose the path of the sword?
- Me?
- Yes. I’m very curious about it. The reason why Edelweiss-san, said to be
the best in the world, took a sword in her hands.

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What kind of determination and resolution had the girl in that picture to reach
the summit of swordsmanship?
That was other people’s affairs, but Ikki also walked the path of the sword.
He couldn’t hide his curiosity.
Without choice, the wings of imagination flapped――
- Diet.
And were plucked off the very next moment.
- … Huh?
- Diet.
- … That’s not a joke?
- Nope.
――She was serious.
Ikki understood that from Edelweiss who nodded without hesitation.
She didn’t say a single lie.
- I said it moments ago, but I always liked sweets and because I loved making
them and eating them myself, well… I’m embarrassed to say this but I ended
up becoming a bit fat. So I exercised and my parents put me under a Japanese
teacher who taught me swordsmanship near my house.
- I… see…
- Surprised?
- N-no… well, yes.

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He couldn’t just mend his surprise. Ikki amended the negation.
- … This is my selfish assumption, but I truly thought that《Wings Abreast》
Edelweiss-san, who is the strongest swordsman in the world, had a great
reason somehow.
- Fufu. Are you disillusioned?

- That’s not the case. But it did surprise me.

- I am nothing special, you know? The strongest swordsman in the world is
just a person who was born in an extremely ordinary and happy family and
grew up ordinarily. … What kind of talent do I have? I really don’t know.
Edelweiss smiled as if chuckling.

However, a light of envy suddenly floated in her eyes――and muttered.

- … But that’s why I’m a bit jealous of Ikki and Stella.
- Jealous of us?

- Yes.

Edelweiss nodded.
- The two of you know what your sword is fighting for. I took my sword to
fight for what I have to do. … But I don’t know what that is.

She said.

She took a sword by chance and coincidentally she was endowed with all the
talent necessary for that path than anyone else.
And when she realized, she stood alone on the summit where no one could
follow her.

That was it. So――

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- I try to fulfill the duties of a person with some strength to the best of my
ability, but I still don’t know who I am.
Even when she reached the domain of the《Desperado》, she was unable to
find it.
What was the thing that she, who was born having such a strength in this
world, had to do?
The title of the story called “I”.
- That’s why I still continue searching for it. What is my sword for? What
should I fight for with this power I was born? My own――my
only《Chivalry》.
Edelweiss gazed at the center of the whirlpool absentmindedly as she stirred
the coffee with a tea spoon.
Her figure… was far from a resident of a mythical world.
She suffered searching for her existence and her value.
That was the sort of figure of a person who was anywhere.

*TN: Meaning that she looked like any other person in the world.

◆◇◆◇◆

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- Thank you for the meal.
- Your welcome. Fufu, as expected of a boy. Even though I planned to
prepare a decent portion of food.
Edelweiss said that and looked intensely at the completely washed away dish.
Ikki scratched his face, looking a bit embarrassed.
- Everything was so delicious that I was astonished. I’m sorry.
- Don’t feel sorry, I’m happy to be able to receive such words. I wanted to
thank you even a little.
- Thank me…?
- Yes. Actually, I invited Ikki to my house today because I wanted to thank
you. … For Amane, Shinomiya Amane.
-!
《Bad Luck》Shinomiya Amane.
All that he wished came true without exception through coincidence.
The boy who had the highest ability of causal interference《Nameless Glory》
and that made him lose his mind in his life.
Ikki faced that formidable enemy before at the《Seven Stars Sword Art
Festival》.
Ikki revealed surprise at the name he never thought he would hear here.
- Edelweiss-san knows him?
- Yes. I was the one who introduced Amane to《Rebellion》.
- Is that so!? But, why?

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- Why, you ask? That’s right. “I had no choice but to do so” It’s what I
should say? … The Amane I found at that time didn’t seem to be able to live
in the outside world.

-…

His ability could even be called more than a divine possession.

As he ended up being born, possessing such a thing, his family only
wanted『power』.

His father, his mother, all the people around him just looked after the power
he had on his back.

Nobody found out the reason whether Amane himself hated or wanted that.

The result of a life similar to a ghost that was dead while being alive.

The completely despaired Amane wished for the collapse of everything that
surrounded him.

It was at such a moment when Edelweiss met Amane.

- You were able to get quite close to Amane-kun in such a state. If it was his
power, then he would have been able to refuse the encounter itself with
you…
- Like I said to Stella not long ago, the《Desperados》have a strong autonomy
regarding causality. Besides, I myself have an ability of causal interference
group, so it’s not so hard to resist an ability of the same group to some extent.
… But still, all I could do was to protect him. He wished to destroy not only
his surroundings but also himself. I could only give him a place to live.
But――Ikki saved that Amane.

A knight who persistently continued opposing fate even though he was an

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undesired existence just like him.
《Worst One》Kurogane Ikki.
Amane hated that knight.
When he looked at him, he finally ended up wanting to believe in the
abandoned himself.
So, Amane tried to block Ikki’s path with his own fate.
With the absolute power that closed his own fate.
With《Nameless Glory》.
However, Ikki didn’t stop.
The power of miracle that plundered everything from Amane. He overcame
even that and opened up his own way.
And that figure, his back, saved Amane’s heart.
- Thank you very much.
Edelweiss bowed her head very deeply and thanked him for that.
With this, Ikki understood the reason why he was invited to Edelweiss’s
house, and on top of that,
- Not at all. That’s my《Chivalry》.
What Edelweiss said earlier, the “what she should do with her sword”.
For Ikki, that was to convey to the people who tried to give up themselves,
like his former self did, the words of Kurogane Ryouma, who taught him that
“you can do anything without giving up”.
Until he fulfilled the vow that he swore to his sword.

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It wasn’t like he would get a “thank you” from Edelweiss again.

So, Ikki raised his face to Edelweiss with a gentle expression and asked,

- But, if it’s fine to demand gratitude for that, I’d like to ask a favor to
Edelweiss-san.

He stiffened his expression again and stared at the raised ash silver eyes of
Edelweiss,

- What is it? If it’s something I can do.

- Stella is now fighting to surpass her limits. Which means that I can’t just
kill time doing nothing. The appointed time draws near hour by hour. Unless
I get stronger as much as I can to protect the home town of Stella from Or-
Gaule and the others, then I won’t have face to meet Stella who will come
back stronger.
Although he protected the Vermillion Army, the fact that he fell behind《B・
B》didn’t change.

Stella wasn’t the only one who needed training.

He couldn’t afford to stay as he was now.

He had to be able to sharpen himself more before the moment of the decisive
battle.

And for that,

- So, can you join me in a sword practice?
His kenjutsu was created by stealing《Wings Abreast》’s kenjutsu.

Then, in order to increase the precision, it was essential to know the original
much better.

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This was a unique opportunity.

There was no way he would let it go.

So, Ikki requested earnestly to Edelweiss to show her sword closer than
anyone else.

At this, Edelweiss,

- … I understand. I don’t mind doing so, but… I think it’s unnecessary?

She bent her head slightly to one side and smiled, looking a bit troubled.

- Eh? Why?

- I also saw the match between Ikki and Stella at that venue.

- You came to that place!? I didn’t notice you at all…

- That’s because you were focused on the opponent before you, weren’t you?
I think that if you were in your normal state, you would have noticed me right
away. It was an incredibly wonderful match. And then, I was able to tell after
I looked at Ikki’s swordsmanship――that there’s not much difference in skill
between you and me.

Ikki’s face got puzzled by Edelweiss’s words.

- That’s…

- Naturally, I’m not saying there’s no difference at all. But, not a dramatic
difference either. Your kenjutsu is already in the domain of the supermen.
And the more you master and master that technique, the longer it takes to
develop, the growth rate goes from bad to worse. The eyes of Ikki fixed on
the fight with《Marionette King》and company. Even if you go to the extent of
mastering your kenjutsu to the same level as me, the growth gap of the real
strength obtained that way won’t be that big, don’t you agree?

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“Besides”, Edelweiss wet her lips with coffee once and continued.

- The sword technique used by Ikki was originally an imitation of my sword,
but it’s already completely different from my sword, it’s becoming your own
signature. It’s maturing as a sword technique just for you. Particularly… the
last sword stroke that decided the finals can be called the “culmination” of
that, isn’t it? Which means that dyeing it again to my color at this point of
time is all the more illogical.

In that case, it could even end up resulting in diluting perfection too much.

“So”, Edelweiss said.

- So… I think that there’s something else that Ikki should train now.

- Something else… you mean, other than my sword?

- Yes. Ikki definitely has one unfinished part. And that’s the absolute
different between Ikki and me.

- W-what is that difference!?

Ikki put his hands on the table, bent himself forward and asked.

On the other hand, Edelweiss… pulled the chair gently, stood up and said to
him.

- Please follow me. I’ll guide you to my treasured training spot. Let’s
continue our conversation there.

Page 128 ◆◇◆◇◆

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- Can you follow me? Please be careful to not fall. Instant death has no room
for arguing.

- U-understood.
Ikki’s reply was slightly stiffened.

That was natural.

The two were now climbing the wall of rock that stood almost vertically,
aiming for the summit of Edelberg without a lifeline.
Edelberg’s slope became extremely tough as they approached its summit.

Since that point was over 9,000 meters, the fall would be a precipice no
matter the route they followed.

They had no choice but to climb making free use of their limbs and to rely on
the slight unevenness of the rock cliff.
However, the unevenness was frozen by the fiercely blowing below-the-
freezing-point wind, he had a hard time holding onto it.

As one would expect, however,

(Is this person really a human…?)
Edelweiss, who moved ahead of Ikki, climbed the lightly frozen rock cliff as
if climbing a ladder. He felt affinity to Edelweiss who was worried by the
way his sword ought to be not long ago, but that seemed to shake already.

Then, at that moment.

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-!

The sixth gust of wind attacked Ikki and Edelweiss since they started
climbing the rock cliff, heading for the summit.

More than 9,000 meters above sea level.

The wind that blew through the undivided blue sky on Earth was a cold blast
that froze everything that it touched.

If his fingers slipped even a little from the frozen unevenness, his body would
be blown several meters away as soon as that happened and would fall from
the sky with his head first.
However, and as expected of the《Worst One》.

He just barely let the windstorm that continued blowing go past for a minute
and started climbing to the summit right away.

And so, he continued climbing the rock cliff although falling way behind
Edelweiss for about two hours.

Ikki finally reached the white peak of Edelberg somehow.

- Haa, haa! Ha…!

Ikki breathed heavily, exhausted by the environment that exploited both his
mind and body.

Edelweiss said with a bit glad-sounding tone of voice to him.

- It’s no surprise you got tired, is it?
- N-no… it, isn’t, though…
- But it seems that you’ve been able to 『adapt』your breathing properly, it’s
almost no longer disarranged. ――That’s great. If you aren’t able to do so,
then training can’t be done at all.

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- Does that mean that this is the training spot?

- Yes. The Edelberg’s summit. This is the highest place on Earth, the best
spot to train your unfinished parts over and over.
9,350 meters above sea level. The summit of《Kenhou》Edelberg was… ice.

The pointed ends of the permafrost sharpened keenly by the cold wind that
constantly blew against it and the temperature that never exceeded the point
below freezing not even for an instant.

Edelweiss, who lay her hands on its substructure, pointed out.

- Like I said earlier, Ikki’s sword technique is already at the limits of
perfection. Even if you were to train and focus on that here, there won’t be
too much room for growth, don’t you think? … However, your way of using
your magic power, on the other hand, is still regular. It’s far away from
perfection.

- My way of using magic power…?

- It is surprising that I pointed that out?

- … Yes.

- It is, isn’t it? … In fact, your power to control magic powers is splendid.
Your powers of concentration that come up even with magic power that
shouldn’t be reached by human’s survival instincts. Properly speaking, your
control powers that handle it increase the strengthening factor about several
times to dozens of times or several hundreds of times. Because the aggregate
amount of your magic power is too low, I’m impressed how skillfully you’ve
been training so far with a body that hasn’t let you have your way with
measurements not only at educational institutions but even at school training.

The Japanese League Branch recommended clay craftsmanship using magic

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power for the training and measurement of magic power’s control power.

A specific shape was made of clay just by interfering with neutral magic
power without using one’s hands.

If a knight who had superior magic power’s control power like《Lorelei》
Kurogane Shizuku could even create an Ikki-like figure, then ordinary
knights would create simple shapes such as stars and triangles at best. Then
poor-quality knights would create ugly-shaped lumps of clay similar to a
pickled dried plum.

But Ikki’s results were below that.

Because when he used his magic power the way he did, which interfered with
objects with his aggregate amount of magic power, he would end up running
out of fuel immediately.

Magic power was a characteristic that Blazers were born with――namely, if
it wasn’t used along《Noble Arts》, the energy efficiency would drop
dramatically. Magic power was used as a neuter energy without direction.
Ikki didn’t have a reserve power to use it in such an inefficient way. In other
words, he wasn’t endowed with the power to do training and measures to the
end.

However,《Worst One》wasn’t a man who would leave things undone in the
categories he was able to do.

Even without being evaluated by educational institutions, he mastered the
only necessary way to use magic power to strife through his own effort.

When talking about strife, Ikki’s magic power control, which increased his
original strengthening ability to several hundred times, had a precision
equivalent even to the one of Shizuku.

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The person in question also had some sort of pride in that regard.

That’s why Ikki was surprised by what Edelweiss pointed out.

However, Edelweiss correctly estimated that the powers of control of Ikki’s
magic power was excellent,

- But still, if compared to the degree of perfection of your sword technique,
it’s far from perfect. It doesn’t appear in the area of honor students.

-!

- Please watch.

Edelweiss said then climbed until the pointed end of Edelberg was at her
waist and stood with both feet on a tiny unevenness of ice as a foothold
――and made a magical light similar to a white flame rise up from her whole
body.

The brilliance of her magic power was so thick that it was visible. That――.
- This is a state that replicated your《Ittou Shura》with magic power. Magic
power is like a flame. This magic power doesn’t own a strength equal to how
raging it looks, just like the flame that appears to flare up fiercely but in
reality it doesn’t have a considerable heat. The raging of the magic power is
brought forth by energy loss. ――The flame that burns calmly blue has a
great power. That is the same for magic power.

- That’s…!

Edelweiss told him so and the brilliance of the magic power that her body
was clad in developed a change.

The white flame was violently blown out of her body.

She gradually reduced the swaying and eventually turned it into a dim light

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that covered her whole body.

She weakened the magic power she was clad in?

No, that wasn’t it.

- You were able to concentrate it inside your body while keeping the
output…?

- Yes. Properly speaking, squeezing out even the power that shouldn’t be
usable will burn to exhaustion. And that alone is not enough. It’s essential to
control all the flames of one’s raging soul and make them work to the
maximum degree inside your body. Especially body-strengthening group
magic like Ikki. However, it will be useless if you are too preoccupied with
the control of magic power and you reduce the precision of your actions.
Magic power is regulated while performing precise physical manipulation in
the same manner as before. The powers of concentration performs those two
things at the same time. You won’t be able to obtain those powers of
concentration in six days with ordinary training. However, since you’re here
in Edelberg, the story is different…!

- Wha…!

That surprised Ikki.

Because Edelweiss, who contained the raging magic power inside her body,
approached her index finger to the pointed end of Edelberg, raised her body
as she was and stood on that sole index finger.

- The pointed end of《Kenhou》Edelberg is the permafrost that never melts,
sharpened by the cold, fiercely blowing wind, exactly like the sword of the
star. If you touch it with your bare hands, which are easily bisected by a steel
of that degree, then you can’t just be a Blazer. Keeping the balance in your

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whole body during the windstorm of the firmament that blows right close to
you while maintaining magic power release that is only touched by this
pointed end. There’s no way better than this to master a technique to make
the control of your strong body and the control of your magic power
compatible.
And so, Edelweiss told Ikki that this was the training that he needed now.
Ikki’s true strength would grow rapidly if he were able to maintain this
position for an hour.
- … Will you try it?
Edelweiss returned to her original stance from the handstand position safely
and asked a question.
Ikki’s reply was decided from the beginning regarding this.

◆◇◆◇◆

By all means.

Edelweiss, who heard Ikki’s reply, handed over the summit to Ikki and
returned to her home.

Ikki remained alone at the summit and the first thing he did was to gently
touch《Kenhou》’s pointed end.

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-…
Then, his skin, a finger pad, was cut just by slightly touching it.
What a tremendous sharpness.
The sword of the star sharpened by the firmament’s windstorm.
That description was not an exaggeration of any kind.
Maybe this place was prone to… being tinged with some curse.
Like a weapon that kept killing people, tinged with hatred,
Like an image praised by people, tinged with blessing.
(If I relax my magic power even a little, I’ll be cut open to the bones)
Ikki braced himself and increased the magic power in his body.
Magic power was originally a Noble Arts――a fuel to use magic.
But, it also had special characteristics as a neutral energy substance.
The most famous as a phenomenon was the powers of resistance against
physical attacks that only Blazers had.
When Blazers were clad in magic power, they could demonstrate a high
defensive ability against impacts that didn’t have magic power.
Impacts enough to kill in one hit, even if they were hit by a bullet from a
rifle, comparatively speaking.
If he used this power――then it wouldn’t be impossible to stand
on《Kenhou》.
- ――――
Ikki released magic power from his whole body.

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While strongly maintaining an image of keeping it back in his body without
letting it escape outside of it.
He touched the pointed end of《Kenhou》 in that state again.
His skin was not cut.
In that case, I can do it. He concluded so,
- Hah.
Ikki pushed his legs up high in the sky and supporting himself on a finger to
handstand.
At that moment, anguish and impatience appeared on his face.
(Th-this… is as I imagined, no, it’s harder than I imagined…)
The wind.
Edelberg was the highest mountain in the world.
In other words, the storm zone at the top of Edelberg kept blowing through
without any obstacle.
He maintained his posture by moving his center of gravity and always kept
prepared for the winds that came attacking him from all directions nonstop.
This was next to impossible.
That degree of difficulty rivaled《Madoka》which demanded the finest
physical control among Ikki’s secret swords.
If his center of gravity shifted even a little, he could no longer recover from
that.
And the most difficult thing was the magic power control of his fingertip.
The pointed end of Edelberg was extremely sharp, it was impossible to touch

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it without a magic power shield.

Having said that, if he just released magic power from the fingertip, he would
be repelled by his magic power and would lost the balance of his body.
He had to contain it inside his body without releasing it at random while
maintaining a strong magic power enough to be able to counter the sharpness
of the star sword.

To control both his mind and body in the most extreme environment.

Unless he could do that――,
- …!

The next moment, the wind that blew through the sky became extremely
weak all of a sudden.

If the wind changed, then the placement of an appropriate center of gravity
would naturally change.
All the more if the ground surface was a single finger.

Due to the sudden irregularity, Ikki tried to recover his center of gravity in a
hurry, but――at that instant,

- Oh no.
He was so preoccupied with the posture that the control of the magic power
was slightly shifted and the contained magic power gushed out.

At that moment, Ikki’s body was repelled by his magic power and was
thrown into the sky at an altitude of 9,000 meters.

Naturally, his body fell to the ground surface upside down.
Even if he extended his hand, his body was swept away by the wind and

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ended up getting separated from the rock cliff, he wasn’t able to hold onto it.
At this rate――he would slam against the ground and die.
But,
- 《Intetsu》!!!!
His judgment was quick.
The《Worst One》, who slipped through many life-and-death situations, was
calm in this critical situation and took the best measure there.
In other words, he manifested his Device《Intetsu》, untied the handle string
and threw it at the rock cliff.
The blade pierced deeply into the rock cliff, his fall was stopped by the
grasped handle string.
And due to the pendulum reaction, Ikki quickly held onto the wall of rock
and ended without incidents.
However, there was no relief in his mind.
- Kuh…
Just some frustration.
He didn’t achieve a minute there, to say nothing of an hour.
However――
(Still, it’s certain that there’s no better training to learn the compatibility and
control of my body and magic power than this…!)
“I’ll try it one more time”, Ikki was convinced.
It was really a logical training.

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If he could regulate his own body and mind in that extreme environment, in
that far high sky, then he would be able to regulate the magic power of《Ittou
Shura》in battle and keep it in his body.
The magic power that just dispersed until now could be placed on the blade.
And so, if that became possible――

(My whole Noble Arts will evolve one level more …!)

That way, he would even be able to strengthen《Ittou Rasetsu》 with《Ittou
Shura》――
- ――!
As a positive sign of evolution, Ikki felt that his heart throbbed.
Naturally, that wasn’t superficial.
He stood on the blade, but the unreliable condition in which he was wouldn’t
let him keep back such small magic power so easily.
《Ittou Shura》became possible only when using all the strength that shook
free even from his survival instincts, so now it would be an entirely
unrealizable dream to regulate that raging magic power.
But, the reward of the materialized occurrence was endlessly big…!
In that case――
(I’ll do it…! I’ll absolutely master this technique before the battle of
representatives!)
Ikki decided so and began to climb the rock cliff, aiming at the summit again.

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◆◇◆◇◆

By the time when the first night in Edelberg arrived.
The fifth campsite was struck by a snowstorm brought by gusts of wind and
mass of clouds that collided with each other.

Rain and hail sprayed strongly.
In the middle of that, 《Crimson Princess》Stella Vermillion was forced to an
unexpected hard fight.
- Then eat this! Adolescent Explosion《Spike》!

- Aah!

4 men with identical faces surrounded Stella at a fixed distance.
Two of those men wore volleyball uniforms, and the one with a good
physique spiked, aiming at Stella with a volleyball-shaped light ball created
by his magic power.

When that light ball bumped into Stella vigorously, it caused a grenade-like
explosion.

Stella staggered due to the damage of the explosion.
Moreover, a slender man who wore soccer uniform joined him and pursued

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her mercilessly.
- She’s about to fall! 《Grenade shot》!!
- Guh, haa.
The soccer ball’s magic power lump ran very deeply into Stella’s pit of
stomach.
It didn’t explode like the previous volleyball, but it weighed more than an
iron ball.
Probably and easily over 100 kilos.
He seemed to have the type of ability that gave mass to his magic power.
- … This guuuy!
However, the battle that opened the distance by magic techniques was
Stella’s specialty.
Naturally, she wasn’t going to keep suffering damage,
- This has gone too far!
A counterattack.
Her Noble Arts radiated the magic power of her whole body as heat value
from her body――

- 《Bahamut Howl》!!

In an instant. A heat wave burned down the very dim light to the ground and
gave birth to an explosion.
The four men surrounding Stella were swallowed deeply by whether they

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