Chivalry of a Failed Knight Volume 12

wanted or not.

――That’s what should have happened.

However, the heat wave disappeared the moment it reached the men and
dispersed.

The man in volleyball uniform fired a spike again, aiming at Stella who was
bewildered by the mystery that erased her power.

Stella avoided this by flying to the side at once, but,
- Ooops! You won’t escape, little girl! 《Pitcher’s Double Revenge》!!

One of the four man, the man with good physique dressed in baseball
uniform who was in a diagonal line in case of, returned a blow, aiming at
Stella who escaped from the magic power ball that flew from the baseball bat
he held aloft.

The magic power ball that returned back collided with Stella with an unusual
acceleration that it gained, producing an explosion bigger than the previous
one, it blew her body nearly 10 meters away.

- Kh, this much…! It’s nothing!

That solidness was Stella’s selling point.

Just before she was blown away and slammed against the wall of rock behind
her.

She suddenly recovered her posture in the air and landed on the wall of rock.

She immediately kicked the wall and charged, going towards the man with
the bat.

She aimed at the area between the eyebrows protected by a helmet and
pushed out the point of《Laevateinn》.

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She put her whole weight on it and the thrust pierced his body and all.
Yes, she certainly put her whole weight.
However, ――the thrusting ended up being repelled by a strength similar to
an invisible barrier.
It was tremendously hard, the hard response that brought with it was to the
degree she believed she would be unable to pierce it.
- Kuh… how…!
It had been like that since a while ago.
The slashes, magic techniques and pretty much everything of Stella was
turned ineffective by the invisible interference.
“Why, how”, to Stella, who was confused,
- It’s completely useless! The referee isn’t allowed to
oppose『Sportsmanship』!
The merciless attacks of the four men rained incessantly on her.
Super heavy magic power balls and detonating magic power balls.
With those two types of wavelike attacks, they reduced Stella’s stamina little
by little.
A visible feeling of exhaustion floated on Stella’s facial expression.
But it wasn’t just due to battle damage.
- Take a look. I told you so.
Tatara, who looked down on Stella’s hard fight from an elevated place, said
without hiding her exasperation.
- Acting violently without『adapting』under an environment like this seems to

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be natural.

Yes. The reason of Stella’s exhaustion.

More than half of that wasn’t due to the damage received in battle, but the
fatigue caused by the unending fight since the morning.
The opponents that tried to challenge《Wings Abreast》were all skilled. More
than 50 of them.

And because she intercepted them head-on foolishly honest and all by
herself, she naturally got tired.

Particularly, Stella’s magic techniques consumed a large amount calories
as《Dragon’s Metabolism 》in exchange for mighty powers.

This calorie cost was heavy.

On top of that, the snow didn’t melt due to the extreme cold. The oxygen was
thin.

All the more in this environment where she consumed calories to keep her
body temperature just to be here.

- She’s completely out of gas. Blood doesn’t get in her head. Geez, it’s
obvious that these 4 stupid-looking dressed guys are using special barrier-
type abilities, but their way of fighting is sloppy.

Iris Ascaride, who was next to her, agreed to Tatara’s words with a small
voice.

- Maybe the abilities of the causal interference group to limit all actions
beyond the level of『Sports』are being used…. I’m sure she『can’t cut』
or『can’t burn』because of that…

- So a group of tactics to restrict the opponent’s normal style and defeat the

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opponent while it’s confused with『An ability that returns a blow with double
power』『An ability that gives mass to magic power』『An ability that creates
bombs with magic power』strengthened with『Sports Binding』, huh? Well, it
was completed quite well in its own ways, so if she puts her head to work,
then she should be able to see their attack methods right away.

- … Yup.
As Tatara said, breaking through this『binding』was not difficult in itself.

If it was the everyday Stella, then she should notice it like it was nothing.

But now that the fight extended for a few hours in a harsh environment, and
with an incoming severe malnutrition, Stella was so fatigued she didn’t even
notice that.

Her field of thought was narrowing.

It was dangerous to continue receiving the attacks of the enemies in such a
condition.

She was fine now because her consciousness was there yet.

However, and at this rate, the moment when her consciousness was
interrupted due to running out of gas would come sooner or later.

The moment when even her body clad in magic power were removed would
come.

At that moment, if Stella were to receive a magic power-based attack, not
even she would be safe.

Ascaride thought “that’s not good”.

The decisive battle with Or-Gaule was in six days.

If she was seriously injured now, if worst comes to worst, she wouldn’t be

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able to escape.

Because of that, Ascaride made her jet-black axe manifest in her dominant
hand.

- You want to help her?

Ascaride shook her head to Tatara’s question who held a chocolate bar in her
mouth.
- That’s impossible. If I try to assist her, 《Rule of Grace》will certainly
intervene. But… it’s different if I assist her opponents. She can easily stun
them from behind.

In the meanwhile, she would take Stella back to Vermillion.

“That’s my duty entrusted by Nene”, Ascaride said.

Tatara laughed at Ascaride’s words as she shook her body.

- In other words, despite that gorilla wanted to leave Vermillion, announcing
so quite impressively, she was completely beaten by a lot that looked like a
university club, then she realized that she couldn’t even touch《Wings
Abreast》, so she’ll sleep peacefully in the bed of her house", huh? *Gigigi*,
Alright!

- … That’s not a laughing matter.

- It doesn’t make me laugh.

- Eh?

Ascaride was surprised by the words she didn’t expect.

Tatara gave a bite next to her! She violently crunched the chocolate held in
her mouth,

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- Come oooo――――n! I feel so irritated! I cannot help but feel irritated, it
doesn’t make me laugh at all!

She raged while disheveling her hair.

- How can that gorilla suffer damage to that degree from a lot that look like
chinkasu!? If it’s with your talent, then it should be natural for you to knock
one down in a second without receiving a single scratch! It’s been 30 minutes
already, 30 minutes! Are you stupid!? Huh!?*

*TN: Chinkasu is often used as an insult term. It means… smegma.

Tatara thought as she spat out her irritation.

What she wanted to see was the figure of Stella being viciously beaten
by《Wings Abreast》.

A distant and unreasonable difference in real strength that almost made her
feel dizzy, which was what she felt when she fought with Stella before.

She wanted to see the clumsiness of that woman being pinched and crushed
by it.

She didn’t want to see her pathetic figure in something like struggling against
these small fries.

She was really annoyed.

Now… wasn’t she a stupid because she lost to such a woman?

So, Tatara stood on the cliff edge――and shouted.

- Hey you, the gorilla over theeeere! Use your head a bit alreadyyyy!! Sports
aren’t just about ball games, are they――――!!!!!?

- …!

This voice finally ignited Stella’s brain which was out of blood.

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- Amaa――――――zing!!!!

- ――――――!?!?
At that moment, Stella hit the face of the man who came hitting the exploding
spike, the man in volleyball uniform who was the first player to approach her
with a palm heel while giving out a great shout of encouragement.

With bare hands, without using her Device.

Yes. In other words, the conquest method of the barrier stretching here.
If she went up to the same ring, like the 4 men dressed in『Sports』clothing,
then that would be great.

The average Blazer would be forced to a hard fight in a battle where Devices
and magic techniques were unusable, But Stella’s potential wasn’t worried
about such trivial handicap.

In fact, she blew one of the four men away with a single harite.*

*TN: Harite is a sumo term, meaning “slapping the opponent with the open hand”.

- Y-you’re kidding, right…?

- He flew 300 meters away…?
The physical strength of a dragon in good health, furthermore, empty-handed.

The remaining three people who saw the result of the destructive power that
burst on a human body,

- W-we give u ――――p! We lost! It’s our defeat!
- Yeah, totally! The end of the game! Sports are over when it’s the end of the
game! This is international common sense after all!

- C-come on! Let’s show appreciation for each other’s strenuous efforts and

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shake hands!
They immediately raised a white flag and prepared to run away.
Originally, these people with a cheap way of thinking restricted their
opponent’s power and fought, surrounding them in numbers.
They had no courage to squarely fight with a monster that blew humans away
empty-handed like a cannonball.
On the other hand, Stella loosened her stiffened expression and
replied「Understood」to this very late surrender.
Yes, she would sincerely give praise to the opponent’s strenuous efforts
――with an all-of-her-might handshake.
- ――――――――!!!!

◆◇◆◇◆

Stella managed to repel about 100 enemies who climbed Edelberg.
However, Stella was very exhausted, she lent on《Laevateinn》planted in the
ground as she breathed heavily.

- Haa… ha…, I’m so tired…
The calories consumed by the battle and《Dragon Metabolism》.

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That was affecting Stella adversely at a speed faster than she thought.

Ascaride and Tatara, the two people who watched attentively both Stella and
the battle from afar, approached her and talked to her.

- Are you okay?

- Y-yeah… I’m not injured.

- But you’re staggering, aren’t you? Aren’t you in a sorry state? How can
your legs not work anymore when you brought around 100 small fries to an
end?

- S-shut up… I haven’t eaten anything since the morning, so it can’t be
helped, you know…?

Stella objected Tatara’s scorn while having the same disordered breathing.

She almost wanted to go and get some food at the foot of the mountain, but
she couldn’t go and do so.

Because the enemies weren’t normal human beings, but Blazers.

There might be guys who would charge into the mountain without caring for
others in the night.

Or if there was a person who would go towards the summit of Edelberg
directly from the sky like she did, and considered her exhaustion, then she
would fall way behind and wouldn’t be in time for dealing with them.

She thought so, that it was too risky to leave the fifth campsite where her line
of sight went almost across the land.

But, on the other hand, if it was about being able to survive in this condition,
without eating or drinking anything until the fixed date,

(… Honestly, this is quite tough)

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The exhaustion was so much that she was no longer able to freely use even
the flames to warm her body.
If she managed to survive tonight, would she really be able to overcome the
second night?
- Since it came to this, I should have just bought food…
Stella said so with regret at this late hour.
And towards her,
- I’ve been telling you, didn’t I? Use your head a bit. If it’s about eating
something, I think I have something here.
Tatara took something out of the apron dress pocket and threw it violently
against Stella’s face.
- ! What are――
Stella took what was thrown violently against her in her hand by reflex and
tried to throw it back with anger.
However, that movement stopped by surprise.
Because what she threw at her was handy food, a chocolate banana.
- You, this…
- Eat it quickly. The next ones may come if you don’t hurry up.
This behavior of Tatara confused Stella.
The advice of moments ago was nice, but what was her intention?
As if she was trying to help her with this,
- Gorillas like bananas, don’t they?

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But Tatara’s unnecessary words turned the partly burned confusion into
anger.

- Ah, I don’t need something like your charity!
She said and threw back the handy food at Tatara.

Tatara caught it easily and said with an exasperated voice.

- Who’s giving it to you? The lot you flattened out had this.
- … Eh? ――Ah.

Stella noticed what she was told.

She was now surrounded by the still unconscious challengers who fell flat on
the ground.
Yes. She didn’t expressly need to go and get food and the like at the foot of
the mountain, it was fine to steal what they had.

- …!

She looked like a bandit, but this wasn’t the moment to care about her
appearance.
Her fuel bunker was empty already, she was in a state she couldn’t warm
herself with heat armor.

If she were to not ingest calories immediately, she would end up freezing.

Stella whipped her freezing and trembling body and snatched the food from
those who were still fainted without being able to withdraw and tasted all of
them, throwing them into her stomach, feeling sorry even for the time.
It was by no means a sufficient amount, but by doing so, Stella was finally
able to recover just the heat to warm her body.

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- Fuu… I could pull through the emergency, somehow.

However, at such relief of Stella,
- But it’s not enough to fight the next match.

The one who threw cold water on her was Tatara from the side as expected.

- …!
- Since your way of fighting is full of waste, you could pull through today
but you won’t be able to do the same tomorrow. Today’s groups were
collections of small fries, but… once the class of guys like《Red Scorpio》
and《Kenrou》 that we met at the foot of the mountain come, it will be “The
End” if your fuel tank is completely empty the next time. You can get that
much in your plain head, right?

Stella averted her eyes, looking annoyed at what Tatara pointed out.

It was as she said, a dozen of small food bars won’t be enough to cover
Stella’s consumption at all.
But still, there was no reason to accept this fact obediently to please this girl
who came to laugh at her.

That’s why Stella pretended to be tough.

- … I’ll do something about it.
- What’ll you do? You coming with a plan or something?

- S-shut it! What have you been doing since a while ago!? Didn’t you come
to enjoy how I’m mercilessly beaten!? If so, then shut up and look!

Stella raised her voice at Tatara’s importunate questioning.
Certainly I don’t.

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But, that’s none of your business.

However, Tatara returned her indignation to Stella’s angry voice.
- Can’t you see that your movements are dull!? You have such gem-like
talent and yet, I can’t help but get frustrated looking at the『Amateur』that
can’t handle it!!

- Eh…?

Stella stared in wonder at the unexpected words spilled from Tatara’s mouth.
At this reaction of Stella,
- Ah… 〜〜〜〜!

Tatara noticed that she ended up saying something inadvertently because she
was too irritated and blushed.
――A slip of the tongue that wasn’t worthy of herself at all. How
disgraceful. And humiliating.

But… thanks to that, she came to a conclusion.

Tatara told Stella with that same momentum of her emotions.
- A-anyways! I feel like I’m losing hair due to stress when I look at you! So!
I’ll be hoping you can pull through these six days from now on to drum into
you the way of fighting in actual battle! Be grateful!

- H-huuuuh!?

The declaration of cooperation from Tatara.
Stella was, as one would expect, surprised and vocalized so at it.

The advice during the fight not long ago was fine, that she told her about the
location of the food was fine, she felt strangely kind, but to think she was

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being serious.

Why on earth did she have a change of heart?

The connection between Tatara and her. Her attitude in the car on the way
there.

Stella couldn’t hide being bewildered at the completely unimaginable
behavior of Tatara.

However, even if Tatara had any reason, the answer regarding this proposal
was settled.

- I don’t know if it’s stress or something like that, but… you can’t. Edelweiss
said it, didn’t she? This is a thing I must do by myself, without borrowing
anyone’s help. That’s why I can’t borrow your help.

However, Tatara calmly said at this.

- I’m not lending my help. I’m just interjecting.

- Such argument for argument’s sake――

- But I’m alive.

- …!

Stella was taken aback by what she was told.
Certainly, at that moment, no intervention occurred from Edelweiss’s《Rule
of Grace》.
- The《sacred promise》 that tied us together at that time didn’t pierce my heart
due to my advice moments ago, so, while helping is prohibited, advices aren’t
prohibited. As for the barrier the laughable lot used before, that single ability
of causal interference group is strong, but it has an opening dwelling in it. It
doesn’t matter what worthless-like theory that opening is, wrenching it open

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is the frontal attack of the causal interference group. It’s not cowardice at all.
The one who leaves that opening is at fault.
- B-but, even so…
There was a reason why Tatara said that.
The one who left the opening was at fault.
It was normal to take advantage of an opponent, whether it was with a sword
or magic techniques.
… However, Stella was in no way interested in that.
Maybe because Stella felt the kindness of the swordswoman called《Wings
Abreast》.
If Stella defended Edelberg to the last for six days, they would have a match.
Such contract wasn’t necessary for Edelweiss.
If it was her ability, then killing her with a sword on the spot was easy.
She owned so many methods to drive her away, even if she didn’t kill her.
Still, she took an oath on her sword.
This was an opportunity given by Edelweiss’s good will.
Was it okay to commit a distorted-argument-like dishonor about that
opportunity?
Only if she fulfilled her promise fair and square she would be qualified to
stand before her?
But――Tatara asked Stella who seemed to be confused like that with an
irritated tone of voice.
- Huuh? So what? From now on, you’re going to engage fair and square the

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idiots who will come bustling like cockroaches with your own strength only.
You came to Edelberg to satisfy such a tiny pride?
- …!
- Don’t mistake your goal and means with your immediate emotions, you
amateur. This is no longer the game grounds where you’ve been fighting all
this time. It’s a battlefield. The question here is neither fairness nor
impartiality. Not even if you win or lose. ――But if you accomplish your
goal by all possible means. Am I wrong?

- ――――…

Stella returned no further objections… to Tatara’s point.
She couldn’t return one.

- … Certainly, I was wrong.
It was as Tatara said, she came to this place to fight with《Wings Abreast》.
To fight with《Wings Abreast》to become stronger at her maximum speed.

――To get the strength and gain victory in the upcoming battle with
the《Desperados》.

That was the goal.
(But I can’t accomplish this goal as I am now…)

Her way of fighting would do it well tomorrow. It was utterly impossible to
defend this place to the last for six days.

Even she could understand that.
If that was the case,

(This is not a situation to be finicky about appearances and pride!)

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Stella stared straight at Tatara again and asked her.
- If I count on you, then I’ll be able to pull through this place for six days?
- It depends on your ability to learn.
Stella’s mind was settled with her reply.
Wisdom was essential to defend this place to death for six days.
Since it was said that Tatara had the wisdom she didn’t have, there was no
reason to hesitate anymore. She straightened herself for a moment… and
bowed her head a bit to Tatara.
- I will not borrow your help. ――But please. Lend me your wisdom.

◆◇◆◇◆

Lend me your wisdom.
Tatara greatly sighed once at the figure of Stella who in no way bowed her
head lightly, bent her stretched and straight back and said so.
(Good grief, what am I doing…?)
What happened to Stella should be of no concern to her.
In order to defeat《Marionette KIng》she challenged《Wings Abreast》,
… At any rate, it was pointless.

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She wouldn’t be able to surpass her limits so easily.

Why was she willingly trying to be concerned with such futile act?
Something was really wrong with her.
But… she was a professional who respected『trust』.

She wasn’t a woman who would swallow the spit she spat out.*

*TN: It means a person who takes responsibility for their words.

She spat out regret together with a sigh,

- Okay then, let’s immediately start before the nuisance come.

Tatara began to point out to Stella.
The battle of Stella until just now.

The points she grasped and saw that she ought to improve.

- First… as I said earlier, your potential itself is an important matter. If you
can use it perfectly, then there’s no reason in and of itself to pull through six
days here against opponents of the same degree as the last lot. But the current
you can’t do that now. Why? It’s simply too wasteful.
- Are you saying my fighting style isn’t good?

- It’s full of blunders. They can greatly be divided into three. Three wastes
that are completely pulling your feet. So you’ll crush those one by one.

Tatara talked about her plan first and raised a finger.
- We’ll start with the first waste. And that’s the waste of『calories』.

- Calories?

- It’s not something to think deeply about. It means what it means. … Based
on what I saw at the finals of the《Seven Stars Sword Art Festival》, your

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magic techniques consume a huge amount of calories as《Dragon
Metabolism》, exchanging it for a strong power. I’m correct, right?

- … Y-yeah. That’s how it is.

- After all, you’ve been warming yourself up using magic techniques ever
since you came to this mountain. You’re doing it even now. That’s also the
same as having a hole in the gas tank.

The hole itself may be small, but the fuel level certainly decreased.

It wasn’t a tolerable thing in a war of attrition and in an environment where
supplies weren’t properly available.

- From this moment, if you use magic techniques at that rhythm, then you’ll
run out of gas again by the morning. So stop immediately.
- U, uu〜, f-fine…

Stella unwillingly obeyed Tatara’s order and cancelled the heat armor that
wrapped her body up.

At that moment, her skin was caressed by the cold wind of the night blowing
at 6,000 meters above sea level and shivered strongly with cold.

- Okay… is, is this fine?

Stella asked while hugging her trembling shoulders. But Tatara shook her
head horizontally.

- Nope, not at all.

- H-huh!? Why!? As you said, I’m no longer using magic techniques, am I?

- That’s right. You’re not using magic techniques. However, you keep
shivering, so you don’t stop wasting calories in the end. The hole in the tank
keeps open.

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- W-what do you mean?

- Your body shivers in this cold place. That’s 『shivering』, an absolutely
normal physiological response that tries to recover body temperature by
generating heat energy, moving the skeletal muscles throughout the body
when body temperature drops below 35ºC. But this is a very tricky thing.
Because moving gigantic muscles that comprise 40% of all the muscles
called skeletal muscles all at once… is naturally a calorie eater.

- Ah…

- Which means that it makes no sense how much you refrain from consuming
calories because of magic techniques.

- B-but, it-it can’t be helped, you know? It’s something that can’t be
controlled by my power…

- Do I look like I’m shivering like you?

- …!

Stella opened her eyes wide due to what she was told.

Although Tatara was by no means wearing thick clothes like her, she wasn’t
shivering at all.

- … Now that you say that, that’s the same for Ascaride-san and Ikki. But,
how can you be like that without batting an eyelid despite not being able to
use flames…?

- Because I’m a pro. But you sports-limited amateurs totally misunderstand
that actual fighting isn’t completed just with『yourself』and the『enemy』. The
battle environment is an important factor. It’s natural to learn the means to
how you can『adapt』to any environment and situation. And keep『shivering』
happening in the battlefield where you can’t expect supplies in an extreme

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cold like this one is the worst move. At any rate, when『shivering』happens,
you consume nearly as much as 5 times of energy than usual. If you keep
doing this, you’ll end up drying it up completely just like that without doing
anything in particular. Which means... it’s indispensable to control it so that
you don’t get to that.

- But what do I do with this physiological phenomenon…

- I’ll teach you the method now.

Tatara said so and spread both hands towards Stella.

- Eh? What? A hug?

- You’re wrong, you idiot! You’re tall, so it doesn’t make sense! Bend over a
little!

Tatara shouted in anger at the dullard Stella while turning her face red in
anger and disgrace.

Stella, on the other hand, without being able to read Tatara’s behavior, bent
over as she said while bending her head slightly to one side. And when she
chose to do so,

- ――Kyaah!?

Tatara rudely embraced the lowered head of Stella with both hands.

- Hey, what are you doing so suddenly!? D-don’t tell me you’re doing this
kind of thing because you suddenly became kind!?

- Don’t get such a worthless and mistaken idea! And shut up a little! … Be
quiet and listen carefully to my heartbeat.

At that moment, Stella showed an astonished facial expression in Tatara’s
arms.

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Stella, who listened carefully as she was told, realized.

The abnormality of the heartbeat she heard from inside Tatara’s chest.

- Oh, I see…! You’ve lowered your heart rate!

Tatara returned a positive nod to Stella’s realization.

- Uh huh. 『Shivering』 is a physiological phenomenon. It’s hard to do this
because you feel like trying to stop. So――you grab it from the roots further
down. In order for your body to not binge eating calories, the cardio-
pulmonary function itself is reduced to the limit, the energy supply is
obstructed and the level of life activity itself is lowered. If the level of life
activity goes down, then naturally the metabolism will fall as well, there
won’t be room for『shivering』to happen and only really minimal life support
functions will be active.

Active led to a half death state, restraining energy.

It was almost the same as the hibernation of mammals, so to speak.

- This method controls metabolism. My normal heart rate is approximately 50
per minute. It has been dropped to 20 per minute now. If it’s higher than this,
then metabolism will become too active, and if it’s too low, the body
temperature will drop a lot and the risk of fainting and dying from cold
increases. My heart rate is 20 and my body temperature is 33ºC. These
numbers are the best.

Her metabolism in this state was roughly 60% of normal conditions.

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If she maintained so, then she would be able to preserve her stamina without
discharging it even in a extremely cold environment.

She wouldn’t have to expose an unsightly thing like today.

- First of all, learn this thing before anything else. Get rid of the waste of
calories and『adapt』 to this environment. This is the most important matter.
Unless you get to do that, it’ll dry up completely and you’ll just do nothing in
this place for six days. To say nothing about keep fighting, that would be
absurd.

――Be that as it may,

- Well, it’s not something you’ll master in a day. Getting used to it by
controlling your heart rate is indispensable. So, I’ll『lead』you until you get
used to it. Strongly take a mental image of you matching your heartbeat with
mine. Then feel the sensation of controlling your heart rate and once you’ve
learned it, do it alone until you’re able ――――----!?

She became able to do it on her own.

The words of Tatara, who tried to continue, didn’t come out of her throat.

The surprise was so much that she became speechless.

(Y-you’re kidding, right…? She already…)

When she noticed, their beats were synchronized.

Stella and Tatara. The heartbeats of the two beat exactly at the same time.

- Amazing! My shivering really stopped! This is fine, right, Tatara!?

- Y-yeah…
- *Phew〜〜〜*. Controlling the heart rate and choosing the potential to deal
with the situation, huh. … If you think about it, it’s the same as changing

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gears of a car. Doing this is a natural thing, isn’t it!? I wonder why I couldn’t
notice it until you told me about it. It’s justified that you’ve called me an
“amateur” then.

Stella felt ashamed of her inexperience and showed a bitter smile.

On the other hand, Tatara, who was left alone on a snowy mountain when she
was a child and mastered that skill in the course of a month while her other
sisters died, was dumbfounded by Stella who showed how she put it into
practice just by listening to the theory.

Stella was a knight that excelled not only in magic techniques but also in
martial arts.

She wasn’t a superhuman like Ikki, but she mastered the skill to move her
flesh according to her mental image.

The thing itself about having a technique that actively controlled the
heartbeat to some extent by stimulation and relaxation didn’t deserve her
surprise.

Because anyone could learn it by practicing.

But――to low the heart rate to the limit of life activity.

This act couldn’t be talk about in that dimension.

Why was that? Because this was like walking up to one’s death, to hell, and
looking into it.

If she had gone a bit too far, her body temperature would have declined to a
level where she wouldn’t be able to self-recover, and her life… would have
ceased.

Nevertheless,

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- Aren’t you… scared of dying?

Without bearing it, the question came out.
However, Stella returned with no hesitation.
- I’m scared. But I’m more scared of not even dying as《Crimson Princess》. I
came here to not become that. To protect those important to me. So tell me,
Tatara. The things you have but that I don’t. The things that I don’t know. All
that is necessary to continue being the《Crimson Princess》!

She made her eyes shine like brilliant red gems with a strong light of
determination.
She spontaneously had her breath taken away by her beauty――

(… Tch)
- Don’t be full of yourself because your『adaptation』got more or less better.
You’re still full of waste.
She ended up thinking that Stella’s face in profile and the brilliance of her
strong determination that didn’t choose to run away even before the hardship
were beautiful.

Tatara deliberately chose poisonous words to hide her embarrassment.

However, Stella made her facial expression shine even more.
- Great. In short, I can become even stronger with Tatara’s advice.
――Thus, from that day, Stella would absorb 『combatant』Tatara’s way of
thinking, techniques and everything she didn’t know at an amazing speed
because she only had experienced fair battles at well-regulated stages.

- The second waste is the waste of『time』. The mountain road of Edelberg is a

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straight path that goes up while rotating in a spiral shape, winding around the
outer circumference from the 3,000 meters, so if you try to ascend on foot,
you necessarily have to pass the fifth camp. It’s not a bad decision to form a
line of defense here because there’re no morons who’ll amuse themselves,
doing rock-climbing when coming for《Wings Abreast》. However, and like
yesterday, the peak of stupidity will just stand imposingly until the enemy
comes absent-mindedly. That’s a waste of time. And to waste that precious
time――you’re going to get stuck with fighting those fools.

Tatara said so and looked down the mountain road from the entrance of the
fifth camp.

To be precise, what came beyond that point――was a group of noise.

They were Guile and company, the guys who mounted bikes and buggies that
blew exhaust gas.
『Aniki! The female brats of that time are there!』
『And this time, we won’t be interrupted by Kiba and the others! Let’s do it!』
『Hmm, alright! But don’t lay your hands on the red one! She’s mine!』
『『『Yaaahoooo――――!!!!』』』

- Did they go up all the way here on motorcycles, I wonder? They’re quite
clever, aren’t they?

Tatara slapped the back of the head of Stella who muttered so with an open
palm.

- Ouch! W-What’s wrong with you!?

- That lot isn’t clever or anything. And you’re a moron.

- Eh, me!?

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- If you’re able to make much more good use of the time you absentmindedly
wasted yesterday, then those idiots wouldn’t have ascended so much. Your
victory condition is to pull through this place for six days. In other words,
a『Castle War』. In that case――

- I see!!

At that moment, Stella understood what Tatara was saying, then raised her
feet high right where she was and slammed the ground.

《Dragon Stomp》shook the earth with a herculean strength.

That physical strength produced cracks in the gray mountain’s surface and
those cracks ran straight towards Guile and company, to the ground under
their feet. The cracks made the mountain road collapse.
『『『Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!』』』

Guile and company, who were swallowed up by the formed, method-less
collapse, rolled down the steep slope from the 6,000 meters.

Yes, this was what Tatara was saying,
- Actually, I don’t need to 『fight』, it’s enough if only I have to protect it! All
that I have to do is get in the way of those who try to go up!

- That’s right. It’ll be your defeat as『Castle War』the moment it’s brought to
the battle.

To begin with, she had make sure that they couldn’t come below her. That
was important.

Particularly, in a moment like this, when the goal was to defend for a defined
period of time, the key to victory was “how much『battle time』within that
defined period of time could be reduced”.

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- Just destroying the important points of the mountain road is enough to
disrupt the attack of that gang. So, if you get that, why don’t you go and
destroy them at once?

-…
However, and without responding to the hurried words of Tatara, Stella
stared at the slope that collapsed as if it had been gouged out with a spoon.

- …? Hey. How dare you stare at the emptiness right after I said that?

- Oh, yeah. I’m thinking this could be more useful.
- Huh?

At that moment.
『Just like I thought, she was still in the fifth camp! It’s《Crimson Princess》!』
-!

The voice of a new man, and different from Guile and the others, resonated in
the clear and high atmosphere.

Before her eyes, and at the end of the mountain road that went around the
outer circumference of the mountain.
A group ran with great vigor from the shade of the mountain.

That,
『You got us very well yesterday!』
『But we’ve seen your tricks already! There won’t be a second time!』
『You were the first one to move before, weren’t you!? Then you won’t regret
it no matter what you go through it, right!?』

This was the bounty hunting group that Stella repelled in the fifth camp

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yesterday.
They fell to the fourth camp for a moment, but they recovered themselves
and launched an attack again.
However, their path, the road leading to the fifth camp was scooped out in a
big way, it was collapsing.
They couldn’t come straight at her.
Aside from those who could fly in the air, most of them ended up being
stranded.
In that case, if she took advantage of that, then repelling them was e――
(Ah, what!?)
Immediately after, Tatara opened her eyes wide at the incredible sight.
The mountain road, that should be collapsed, had been entirely restored as it
was.
What? How? Tatara was confused.
On the other hand, the group that rushed to the fifth camp ran through the
road that should have collapsed,
――They tried to do so, then at that moment,
-《Flame Veil》――cancelled.
The road they surely tried to step forward now disappeared abruptly.
Yes. The supposedly collapsed road that became as it was, that mystery.
It was all an illusion displayed by the Noble Arts《Flame Veil》that created
Stella’s mirage.
『『『UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!』』』

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The men who stepped forward vigorously, following Guile and the others,
fell.

The ones succeeding them tried to stop in a hurry, but they were thrown
down the cliff one after another in a form of being pushed by the ones further
behind them,

- OK! Retreat!

The bounty hunters who almost lost their fighting power and were
manipulated by the illusion had to retreat once again.

――In this way, Stella wasn’t just obeying what Tatara said to her.

The wisdom of real combat that she gave her. She interpreted that essence in
her own way and thought of the very best she could do with her own power.

With this assertiveness, and with an astounding speed, Stella used
the『environment』and the『terrain』that was hardly acquired in battles between
fellow students and mastered her way of fighting.

And, since the third day she came to Edelberg――,
- The third waste is the waste of『leeway』! It’s not ridiculous to talk about
winning using your strength x100 against opponents when your strength x10
will suffice! Especially in a war of attrition, this sloppiness will pile up and
become a fatal wound! Listen! Winning comfortably and winning sloppily
are different! Don’t be sloppy against weak opponents! Win in a manner
where you win more comfortably than the opponent winning comfortably!
The『leeway』produced from that will be effective at the most critical
moment!

… The words of Tatara, who tried to point that out, didn’t come out of her

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throat.

- ――――

Tatara looked down on her, being silent.

On the figure of Stella who brawled alone with the army corps of bounty
hunters that finally merged with the 50 people following them, crowding
even Guile and the others once again, and came launching a third attack in
the form of a big mob that surpassed 100 people.

But her way of fighting was very different from the first day.

From before Tatara pointed that out.

She didn’t fly in the sky like she did in the first day nor emitted big flames.
The sword techniques done by《Laevateinn》.

Stella overwhelmed the men with that much.

Ikki stood out so much that her impression tended to be somewhat thin, but
Stella’s taijutsu was also at a considerable level.

The slashes done by her strong arm knocked down 5 enemies with every
stroke of the sword with certainty.

She was reluctant to even use a sword stroke per person.

She concentrated enough so as to not hear Tatara’s voice, purposely tempted
the opponents to her sword reach and chose the best action that could secure
the maximum result with the least effort.

- ――――――!
In other words, 『calories』and『time』were the direction of what Tatara had
pointed out until now.

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The nature of the conflict called actual fighting.

She crunched, absorbed and made them her flesh and blood, therefore――

There was no need to say she understood her mistakes.

And corrected these herself.

(The hell, she’s a student the teachings have no effect on her…)

She was quick-witted, but that wasn’t all.

She certainly was also quick to understand.

Tatara had no choice but to give a wry smile at this.

Moreover,

- It’s amazing, don’t you think? Not only she uses control of metabolism
to『adapt』to this environment, but by also using it for defensive body
movement and Noble Arts, she even keeps the calorie consumption done
by《Dragon Metabolism》 within limits…

The woman with eyes mismatched in color and who was next to Tatara
looked at Stella’s fight.
As《Black Knight》Ascaride murmured, Stella had already completely
possessed the control of her metabolism by cardiopulmonary function, but
not only for the environment, but for her actions as well and controlled her
potential by using it finely depending on the situation such as facing
opponents.

She wouldn’t deal with any situation or any opponent with the same amount
of metabolism as before.

From this point onward, Stella would save energy in all of her actions to the
utmost limits.

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She reached a point where she was able to handle《Dragon Metabolism》, the
calorie consumption was now around half before coming to Edelberg.
As a result, her stamina naturally skyrocketed.
Even if she had to deal with enemies twice as stronger as the ones of the first
day, they weren’t to the degree she would run out of breath.
- … It was right for her to rely on you.
- Don’t joke about it.
Tatara laughed the words of Ascaride down.
I gave her nothing.
All of this was the power that Stella had from the start.
Certainly I taught her how to handle it, but that was a trivial thing.
- She would have noticed it herself even if she didn’t get my advice.
Both how to handle her metabolism and how to fight using the environment.
She had the sense enough to make her believe that.
- She’s a genius. She’s different from us.
Only one hour.
She thought and looked at Stella, who finally knocked down the last person
in a tenth of an hour of the first day. The beginning was an unexpected
premonition.
However, as the days went by――expectation swelled up in her heart little
by little.
Tatara, who recognized that, didn’t hesitate anymore.

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- Maybe, she may do it.
She didn’t doubt, she believed that this reckless expedition would be
unsightly wasted effort.
The battle with the world’s strongest swordsman.
Or that this genius could get an ending she didn’t expect.

――The next day. The fourth day since Stella and the others came to
Edelberg.

The group collapsed with a great defeat on the third day.

More than half of the men descended the mountain, but the rest of them tried
a stubborn suicide attack.
Most of the faces this time were the first group.

Those who fought with Stella on the first day.

Their superior power on the first day made them mistake their time to give
up.

At the end of the day, the struggle of Stella on the first day was largely due to
her being devoured by her own power.

However, today’s Stella and yesterday’s Stella weren’t the same.

The dragon nested in her own soul. This partially destroyed mob had no
reason to win against Stella who began to manage that power with higher
precision than ever before, so this suicide attack tragically failed. It ended in
vain.

And then, the fifth day continued.

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In the end, not even a single enemy climbed Edelberg.

◆◇◆◇◆

- Oh〜, it feels so goo〜〜〜〜d, the bath after a long time restores me to
life.

The fifth day after they came to Edelberg.

In the night of that day, Stella, who finally brought herself to a point where
she could fulfill the promise with Edelweiss if she pulled through one more
night, gathered lingering snow in the hollow of a rocky area on the fifth camp
side and turned it into hot water with her own flames.

It was an improvised open air bath.

Stella herself, who was submerged in the bathtub, was the mechanism that
kept the temperature by the heat she released and Tatara, who was submerged
in the hot water next to her, let her feelings show.

- This looks like a heated stone pot…

Stella inflated her cheeks with hurt feelings at this,

- If you’re going to complain, then don’t get in.

- But I do want to complain. Because your fuel consumption got a bit better,
now you dare waste it.

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- This isn’t a waste. I’ll join Ikki tomorrow morning. As a maiden, it’s
impossible for me to leave my body as it is, unwashed for five days. So, this
is a necessary expense.

- I really don’t care about it. The guy I honey trapped some time ago seemed
to like the smell of sweat.
- D-D-don’t confuse my Ikki with such high-level pervert!

- Hmm, so if I have to choose who seems to like that then that would be you?

- I-I don’t! I-it’s not like I get in Ikki’s futon when he’s not there!
Tatara, who gave a backward glance at Stella who began to confess
somehow, leant her back on a rock and submerged in the water till her
shoulders.

This bath after a long time certainly felt good.

It wasn’t something to do with the magic power and calories she specially
saved.
(Well, today no enemy came, so…)

She didn’t use her magic power the whole day, and it would be no good if she
became less perceptive because of that.

This kind of exercise was necessary to not let the perception grow dull.
So, Tatara scolded her no further and looked up at the complete starry sky
and enjoyed the unexpected leisure time.

- … Hey, Tatara.

Stella, who regained her composure, talked to her while hesitating a bit.
- What?

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She asked back, and Stella,

- … Thank, you.

Thanked her as she averted her eyes, looking embarrassed.

- Huh?

- It’s all thanks to you that I’ve been able to overcome the fifth day like this.
It’s thanks to the advices you gave me, while even taking the risk of being
killed by《Testament》. … I wouldn’t have done all this myself. So, thank you.
I’m glad you’re here.

Tatara was a bit bewildered by Stella’s words of thanks.

As Ascaride said as well, Stella’s growth was all about the ability she was
originally gifted with.

She just didn’t understand how to use it well. Maybe, even without her
advice, it would have been noticed by Stella’s own power within the last six
days like a baby that naturally stood on their feet.

So, as for Tatara, she actually didn’t feel the same, that she did something.

Well, Tatara’s personality wasn’t straight enough to honestly admit so to the
person in question,

- *Gigigi*!, Nonsense. Who’d take a risk for you? I’m not a simpleton like
you. I was convinced when I heard the words of《Wings Abreast》about the
flaws of《Testament》. There was no risk. … But well, I can understand your
way of being an incompetent above all else. All my teachings are divine
blessings! If it wasn’t for me, you’d have gone back all beaten like the small
fry you are about this time. So thank me perpetually.

- Recently, you’ve been saying different th――wapuh.

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Tatara blocked Ascaride’s mouth who was submerged in the open air bath
just like the other two with a water gun.
Stella said to her「Naturally, I’m grateful」and,

- I’ll give you my thanks once we return to Vermillion without fail. Oh right,
Tatara likes chocolates, does she?

- Huh? Why?

- Because you ate a lot of them. So, what do you think of a ticket for a whole
year of free chocolate from 『Bonnie House』?

Tatara returned coldly to Stella’s offer.

- I pass. It’s true that I like chocolate, but I don’t like given chocolate so
much.

- What the? What a weird obsession.

- Obsession? This is a habit of mine since I was a kid.

- A habit?

Stella inclined her head to the side to the words without meaning or
connection with their conversation till now.

Tatara replied as she gazed at a distant memory on the steaming and rising
water’s surface.
- 《Abgrund》, the house where I was born, is a house where the whole family
is a『professional killer』. I’ve been raised since I was born as one of them.
《Abgrund》.

Its history was of more than a thousand years, and after they signed a contract
with《Rebellion》, they helped their activities from the deepest darkness of the

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dark world as employed assassins.

Naturally, their true strength was unparalleled in this world, and those who
were born in《Abgrund》and those who were accepted in《Abgrund》, all the
members received training to become first-class assassins from the moment
they were born.

Murder training in which they used living materials.

Secret training in which they hid their movements and walked in the shadow
of society.

Endurance training in which they endured all types of torture to not spit up
information of their employer even if it meant their lives.

Adaptation training in which they survived for a month in a below-freezing
snowy mountain without clothes or food.

And a selection in which the sisters, who shared the good and bad, killed
each other in a secret room until the last one stood.

All those trainings.

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- It’s not amusing at all. I’ve used all my time just to become an excellent
assassin. So we don’t know the taste of our mother’s milk. We’ve never
drank it. All of our meals were thoroughly nutritionally controlled with
tasteless supplements and proteins since we were babies. Moreover, even
those disgusting meals were poisoned once every three days, it was truly
intolerable.

It was an awful place, Tatara thought again.

- … The only thing I enjoyed every day and that I seemed to become insane
about it was a chocolate we could receive as a『reward』when we did a good
job.

Only a cheap and small chocolate.

It was natural that every Japanese child consumed it without any deep
emotion.

Still, it was the reason for living for them at that time.

That sweetness spreading in her mouth was the only enjoyment she had those
days that felt like hell.

- That’s why chocolates are like killing rewards for me, and because it’s
paired up with manual labor, I don’t feel like getting the free stuff.

*TN: killing is the furigana reading for job.

- Oh, I see…

A dark world unattainable for her understanding and common knowledge.

The vivid words of the person who lived there left Stella speechless.

Tatara continued saying to her.

- If you want to thank me, there’s something I want more than that. Hand me

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that.

- Hand you what?
- The life of《Dirty Rose》.

- …!

- She’s my target. Let me kill her.
- … If I remember correctly, 《Dirty Rose》is the Blazer that attacked my
father and the others, and is a『professional killer』like you, right? However,
she severed ties with your organization and annihilated all the『professional
killers』but you.

The story Stella heard from Astraea.

Tatara affirmed with a nod.

- Yeah. My parents, sisters and everyone. I’m the only survivor
of《Abgrund》. That’s why I’ll kill her.

- It’s vengeance, right?

- Huuh? Not at all.

- Eh?

- I have nothing to do with the lot that died by the roadside. The end of the
lowly dogs that traded the life of others of their own accord is unsightly and
deserved. I don’t have the slightest bit of compassion for them. … But, that
fucking aneki dared turning her hands on clients of all things. The reason
why I want to kill that fucking aneki is to take clear responsibility as
a『professional killer』of《Abgrund》. She’s left uncontrolled and that affects
the reputation of《Abgrund》.

- If so, then why are you going that far? I mean, that house gave you so little

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happiness, nothing but chocolates, and yet…. You don’t have any ties with it
anymore, shouldn’t you live freely now…?

Those words were slightly composed of her own desire that wanted to cut her
ties with Tatara.

After she spent a few days with her, the impression that she was a “detestable
person” remained the same, but she understood she wasn’t『wicked』.

She lived in the shadows, but her existence was completely different from
Or-Gaule and the others.

If that was the case, she didn’t want her to do such shady things like that
anymore; that was her wish.

But Tatara, on the other hand,

- It’s decided. ――Because I’m a pro.

She returned the firm reason that was within her.

Certainly, it wasn’t like she did the job she chose for fun.
She was already a『professional killer』the moment she was aware of the
things around her.

She was a lowly dog who exchanged the life of others with money, without
feelings or resentment.

- … But, whatever the circumstances are, I had meals with the money I got
from selling the life of others. However, since the house was crushed, there’s
no way I’ll become someone with a respectable occupation, I’m not going to
have such a disgraceful behavior.

That’s cowardice, Tatara thought.

Even if it was an undesired road, it was a fact that she took other people’s life

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for the sake of this small happiness that would end up melting in her mouth in
the blink of an eye.
She couldn’t get rid of that.
If so, then what to do?
There were two ways.
One was to follow the path of atonement.
But this was impossible.
Because, in the first place, she didn’t have an ounce of feelings of guilt when
she killed people.
Those moral feelings were never taught to her since she was born.
Nothing would make more light of a person than an insincere apology.
If that was the case――there was one way she must walk.

- I want to live like a dog and die like a road by the roadside. Until the very
end as a『professional killer』of《Abgrund》. If I can achieve that… then I’ll
feel like I have a bit of pride in this lowly job.

A person with no『name』as a person and with no place to go.
A life that just borrowed someone’s『name』to just kill someone.
For that reason, she didn’t want to live half-heartedly.
The moment she reflected on her whole life just before her death, she would
like to consent everything, at least by herself, even if getting no one’s
sympathy.

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- That’s why《Dirty Flower》will be killed by me. I won’t let anyone get in my
way.

-…
Tatara’s unshakeable self.

The strong desire to stick to that single path without name because of her
hollowed existence that didn’t have its own name and that borrowed the
name of others.

It was no longer about good and evil.
This girl already decided in her soul the road she ought to walk on.

If so, then she wasn’t going to yield.

It was impossible she would yield to the words of others.
――Like Stella Vermillion couldn’t cast《Crimson Princess》away.

Stella understood so,

- OK, I’ve decided!
She stood up on the spot.

- What’s with you all of a sudden?

- My thanks to you! Once this battle is over, we’ll have a victory celebration
party at the Imperial Palace! And there, I’ll treat you to an extra-large
chocolate cake from『Bonnie House』!
- Did you listen to what I said?
- It’s a special menu served at the《League》 Summit 10 years ago and that is
absolutely impossible to buy for individuals! It’s incredibly big and
delicious! If you miss this chance, you, who questionably works as

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a『professional killer』, won’t be able to eat it for the rest of your life!
- I told you already, that has nothing to do with me…
- Don’t lose.
-!
- If you die, I’ll cry. I’ll cry my eyes out. Then, I’ll hold a grand state funeral
as if there’s no tomorrow. For your information, our state funerals are noisy
to a great extent. Such way of dying is the worst of the worst for me.
So――don’t lose by any means.
The pair of scarlet eyes stared straight at her.
Tatara believed that carefree brilliance.
It wasn’t a lie. This woman would really cry.
She would sincerely mourn the death of a person like her.
And that certainly,
(The lowest manner of dying, huh)
『Professional killers』weren’t hold dear by nobody, this was something that
shouldn’t be.
If so――
- Don’t make me say it over and over. I’m a pro. Those amateurs will fail.
Tatara vowed “I object to such lowest manner of dying”, as she smiled,
baring her fangs.
To the victory of this battle.

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◆◇◆◇◆

When she swore her own victory, she changed her strong smile to a stubborn
one saying 「more importantly」, and said.

- Worry more about yourself than others. You’re going to compete with the
best swordsman in the world tomorrow, no? Even if《Wings Abreast》were
to skillfully ease up on you and you were to survive, what’ll be awaiting after
that is《Marionette King》. … The promise of the special cake seconds ago
will have to be conveyed to other people. I don’t care if you kick the bucket,
but I won’t tolerate the promise being forgotten. *Gigigi*.

- That won’t be necessary because it won’t happen.

Stella, who returned disappointedly so to the words of Tatara, remembered
something and said 「Oh, come to think of it」because she failed the chance
to ask something and looked at Ascaride.

- Ascaride-san. You’re… Or-Gaule’s sister, right?

- … Yes.

- And, you’re against him now.

- … Yeah.

- If it’s fine with you, can you tell us why he became the way he is? I want to
know… as a companion who will entrust my back with you in the next battle
of representatives. The reason you fight for.

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-…
Ascaride required a bit of silence to reply to Stella’s question.
Time for her to resolve herself.
- I fight… to atone for my sins.
- Atone, for your sins?
- Yes. I’ve lived my whole life for that reason only. Ever since that day…
And, she started. The beginning of her repentance. The memories of her
sins――…

◆◇◆◇◆

Or-Gaule and Ascaride=Gaule.
The older sister and younger brother were born when their parents ran a small
restaurant in a French farm village.
A reliable father and a tender mother.
It wasn’t a particularly wealthy family or a poor family, just a common
family found around every corner.
They spent their childhood without any inconveniences.
They received a perfect education and enough affection to not leave room for

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distortion in their hearts.

Thanks to parents like them, they were popular as the well-balanced older
sister and younger brother in the village.
Particularly the younger brother Or-Gaule, his sociable personality that
noticed the minor details was widely liked not only by the children of his
same age but also by adults and youngsters, he was the favorite of village
because he showed talent as a superior Blazer from a very young age.
As for the shy and serious Iris, the figure of such younger brother appeared to
be dazzling and arrogant at the same time.
But――that was surely a mistake.
Because the soul of Iris’s young brother wasn’t the one of a human by birth.
But of a demon.
Of a cunning demon.
It didn’t matter how much love was poured into a demon, malignance
wouldn’t disappear.
Because his soul was corrupted by nature.
Rather, the education of his parents gave wisdom to the demon.
Wisdom to hide his crooked soul.
… When she thought back upon that now, it was an eerie scene.
Such a child. Behaved like he was loved by the people he got to know, the
people he came across, by everyone.
Her younger brother seemed to play himself to engage with anyone.
Like that, the demon imitated the people he learned from and built his own

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