Chivalry of a Failed Knight Volume 12

of the one who flew out disregarding my advice.

- U-Ugh….

- But both Iris-chan and Kurobou are with her, and in the first place,
《Hiyoku》 isn’t a girl who will go all-out indiscriminately. She won’t do
something like taking up to her life. In all probability, she will end up being
treated lightly. She won’t get anything, she’ll only lose time and come back
shamelessly.
Nene’s『intense training』was not enough to bridge the difference between
Stella and《Desperados》in a week.

In that case, by throwing herself into the most severe life-and-death situation,
she would be able to grasp her limit and measure an awakening of her
potential capacities.

The idea that came when Stella was irritated was in no way incorrect.

A dramatic progress was always attainable in a predicament.

She had no superior experience in actual battle.
That’s why, if《Hiyoku》were to stick with Stella all the time, then that
would do it.
But《Hiyoku》had no connection with Stella’s circumstances.

Therefore, she had no reason to associate with Stella’s irritation.

Besides….
- Maybe even if she luckily were to meet《Hiyoku》on Edelberg, she
wouldn’t even be able to get close to her. This Stella-chan.
Just like when Stella tried to launch a reckless attack on《Haboob》by
herself.

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She still didn’t know the dreadfulness of the beings called《Desperado》.
Their true special characteristics.
- I-In other words, what Stella is trying to do is just a waste of time!?
- Well, isn’t that almost the case? I don’t know though.
- W-Well, then why you teacher didn’t try to stop her convincingly? If it’s a
waste, then she should not be dangerously harmed by challenging the world’s
strongest swordsman, right!?
Nene thought that Sirius’s protest was a completely fair argument.
In fact, if Nene felt like it, she could have stopped her by sheer strength.
But Nene didn’t do so. She permitted her reckless challenge on the condition
that she allowed Ikki Kurogane and Iris Ascaride to accompany her as her
guard.
Why?
If she were to say the reason why,
- Because I look forward to it.
Nene remembered.
――In that case, I don’t need that strength…!
The figure of Stella when she rejected her suggestions by saying so.
She was trembling.
She came in contact with the《domain of the Desperados》, which made her
realize the difference in true strength between herself and them. This
frightened her from the bottom of her heart.
It was no wonder.

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Stella was a knight with a certain true strength.
She should have experienced her own『death』in detail by《Marionette
King》and《Haboob》.
And then, she would have to face them again.
That was the same as the act of throwing oneself to hell without a lifeline.
Her legs trembled, her heart froze, her soul screamed――
And yet, Stella didn’t try to run away.

The flame of courage dwelling in her scarlet eyes wasn’t lost.
That figure… she shouldered her when she came to seek knowledge from her
before.
When she showed noble results that rose above and beyond her assumptions.
In that case, and like that time,
- I don’t think that Stella-chan is inferior to that extent to Kurobou. Rather,
and speaking of the two, I’m part of Stella-chan group. I decided to
completely believe in her. … Stella-chan, like that time, easily leapt over my
very small imagination, surpassing her own limits and becoming stronger….
Nene said so and put a wry smile on her face a little.
It was a sort of emotional decision even if she say so herself.
Even poor bets had a limit.
But still, she bet a coin.
In that case,
- Well, don’t worry, papa-san. Even if she were to come back without any

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positive results, this time we’ll have a Battle Royale. I decided to take care of
her. Both Stella-chan and this country.

――She had to take that responsibility, if not.

Nene, who strengthened her resolve, asked Sirius.

- So, are the preparations of the helicopter ready?

- Y-yes. If it’s about the helicopter heading towards Caldia, then I have
arranged it as you told me, but are you really going to train by yourself?
Since teacher will fight for Vermillion, you can use the training facilities as
much as――

- I decline. Because I’ll wreck everything.

- Huh?
At any rate, the opponents were world-leading《Desperados》.
Particularly the world’s strongest mercenary――《Haboob》had a dexterity
to the point she had to completely cancel it with her forbidden skill《Hadou
Tensei》.

Even for Nene, the most that she had experienced as a death situation with an
opponent of that level was the fingers of one of his hands.

She needed to hone herself to the utmost limits.

In that case, standard training facilities were too small and weak.

Because her abilities were powerful and strong. They wouldn’t fit into a
building.

In that case, if that was done in desolated ruins or wastelands from the start,
she wouldn’t need to feel hesitant.

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That was why Nene refused Sirius’s cooperation and started walking towards
the heliport.
And,
- Oh, I almost forgot.
Nene realized that she had forgotten to tell Sirius one important thing,
- If you want to help me, tell this to everyone.
She came to a stop, turned her head to Sirius and said.

- No one get close to me for a week. ――Tell that.

- ――――!
Nene, who said that much, turned her eyes away from Sirius and walked
again towards the heliport.
The tone of voice of Nene at that moment was low, heavy… and chill, he
even felt shudders because of it.
Her usual easygoing tone quieted down, the bloodlust kept in her pupils made
him feel even cruelty.
Nene had already turned on the switch inside her.
Sirius saw off the long hair swaying on her back as he remained standing
stock still.
His expression froze with astonishment, sweat ran on his forehead.
Was he overwhelmed by the mood of《Princess Yaksha》who turned her
switch on to a battle stance?

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There was that.
But, ――more than that, what made Sirius’s blood run cold was,
(… W-what was that, just now…)
Was it an illusion or a nightmare?
He gave a fleeting glance to Nene’s head and,
――A pair of huge『horns』swayed like black flames there.

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Chapter 11 - White peak

The Baltic Crisis.

The popular name of a major incident that almost triggered World War III.
15 years ago, the Russian Empire, which was a part of《Union》, launched an
aggressive war against Estonia, a non-member nation of《League》at that time.
Due to this, the《League》dispatched troops to face《Union》without the
expressly permission of Estonia.

However, the conflict of both armies ended in a failed attempt. But why?

The truth was that the military strength of both countries, which easily had
over 300,000 soldiers in total, was entirely annihilated by a single girl.

A war maiden that trampled down the battlefield with a pair of swords,
wearing a pure-white outfit that faintly shone in the darkness.
She was《Wings Abreast》Edelweiss. And the beginning of her legend.

Because of this, Edelweiss now was internationally wanted at the same time
by the two greatest potencies in the world, 《League》and《Union》. Both
potencies were desperate to arrest《Wings Abreast》.

But all those attempts ended in vain before her extra-dimensional strength.

No, it could be said it had the opposite effect instead.

The troops dispatched to Estonia that had different opinions with both
potencies were many, and while the main cause of it was interpreted as an
incoordination within the organizations, the fact that the two main potencies

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in the world couldn’t do a thing against just one criminal amounted to the
result of her fame to increase.
A decade passed, a large-scale political upheaval happened in Estonia, the
political administration changed, and with that, when the three Baltic
countries, including Estonia, joined the《League》, the decisive event
happened. The President of Estonia, who was asked by a reporter “How are
you going to deal with《Wings Abreast》 who is hidden in the country when
we joined the《League》?”, said that the eyes of the people around the world
were concentrated on them.

『《Wings Abreast》has already nothing to do with our country. Because our
country abandons the territorial rights around Edelberg where《Wings
Abreast》is hidden』

Yes. A nation ran away from their opponent, from a single person.
They casted away their shame, their reputation, even their territory.
“Our hands can’t deal with this anymore”.
A swordsmanship that ranked equal with a whole country. An individual that
menaced even a nation.
On that day, 《Wings Abreast》came to be called as such.

The strongest swordsman in the world.

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◆◇◆◇◆

The morning after the urban warfare in Caldia.

Stella and the others landed at an Estonian airport.
Since Estonia was currently a《Member Nation of the International Mage-
Knights League》, the situation of Vermillion was grasped via the《League
Headquarters》, so they exempted all the assorted procedures as a state of
emergency. The entry to the country was completed smoothly with just their
IDs and the group got in a rental car that they got to be prepared when they
got in contact beforehand.

They drove the car, going straight to Edelberg from there.
The one driving the car was《Black Knight》Iris Ascaride.

She happened to visit Edelberg before, and said she knew the way.

However, Edelberg, the place where Edelweiss lived, boasted of an unusual
height in Estonia whose average altitude was low, and thanks to that, it could
be seen from the whole country, so it wasn’t like she was going to get lost.

Eventually, and after she drove for almost three hours, they arrived at a
checkpoint guarded by firm iron bars and barbed wire.

That was――the border.

Beyond this place, there was the area that Estonia abandoned to avoid having
to confront Edelweiss.

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Namely, Edelweiss’s country.

Noticing they had come this far, Edelberg was in front of their eyes.

The departure formalities were finished quickly at the checkpoint and the
group hurried to their destination.

Along the road,

- At any rate, to think it was you who saved Otou-sama and the others.

Stella talked to Tatara Yui, a girl with black hair sitting in the back seat just
as herself and also a Blazer nicknamed《Futen Kyoushu》――who fought,
appearing in front of Ikki and the others as a former Akatsuki Academy
(representative).

- I was truly surprised when I saw your face in the Imperial Palace.

The surprise of Stella was shared with Ikki sitting in the passenger seat.

The Imperial Palace was attacked when they weren’t there.

And someone defended it against that attack.

That was all what they got to hear from Sirius, but… it turned out that it was
her.
Based on what they had heard, the Blazer who introduced herself as《Dirty
Rose》attacked the Imperial Palace was also an assassin that betrayed Tatara’s
organization and Tatara kept chasing her to put an end to her.

There was no way to make sure if that was true or false.

But, at that time, she saved Sirius and the others, and that action had no
benefit for Kradleland.

And even if they tried to take that into account, there was no line saying she

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was a spy of Or-Gaule and company.

She didn’t seem to have hostile feelings towards Vermillion at least.

So,

- A lot of things have happened between you and us…, but this time you
really helped us. Thank you.

Stella thanked her like that and wished for a handshake as a proof of
friendship as she showed a friendly smile on her face.

- Sara and Rinna weren’t bad people, but it’s unexpected that you were also a
good person, you know?

Regarding this, Tatara, who put her elbow on the window of the back seat
and held the stick-shaped chocolate candy like a cigarette, presented her hand
towards Stella just like her and,

- Huh.

*Hit*, she hit the palm of Stella with all her strength, to the extent that a
sound similar to something splitting open raised.

- Ouch!? Why did you do that!?

Tatara returned to Stella, who resented that sudden violence, with a voice that
didn’t hide her displeasure.

- Don’t talk to me so friendlily. I, unlike Kazamatsuri and the others, don’t
have the intention to play at being friends with you all, alright? I just came
here to take responsibility for the betrayer as a professional killer. That I had
saved your parents was just how things developed. Don’t misunderstand it at
your own convenience, so don’t swing your tail at me. I hate naïve girls like
you so much.

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- Wha, then why are you following me of your own volition!?

- It’s obvious why I’m following you, isn’t it? The stupid you, who never
stops overreaching, getting beaten by《Wings Abreast》is the best show there
is, you know? Well, you rolling around clumsily to the utmost will make me
laugh. I’ll be laughing so hard at you while eating candies in the front row!
*Kikkikki*!

- Gu, guh…

Tatara laughed, showing a paper bag filled to the brim with chocolates from
Vermillion’s local specialty『Bonnie House』.

Her lips turned upward.

Maliciousness glinted in her eyes.

It was clear that anyone could see that was Tatara’s true feelings.

Tatara accompanied her in this journey just to laugh at Stella having a
decisive defeat.

She seemed to hold something against her mixed with the defeat of some
time ago.

Stella made her face blush with anger and complained to Ikki sitting in the
passenger seat.

- I-Ikki! She has no bottom like I thought! I can’t get along with her!

- A, ahaha…. W-well, I have no doubt she’s more or less a benefactor,…
besides, she’s a fellow who will fight with us, so be nice to her, alright?

A fellow that will fight with us.

The meaning of those words was that, from this moment, they would head
to《Wings Abreast》’s place together.

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――Of course that wasn’t the reason.

Then what was it? Tatara negotiated with Astraea to make her participate in
the fight against the representatives of Kradleland led by Or-Gaule to pay the
favor for saving her life and because it was her job to kill《Dirty Rose》. This
allowed her acceptance.

The remaining ace of the representatives of Vermillion was in the form of her
filling the slot by Astraea’s decision.

In other words, they cooperated with her, who was a former enemy of them,
to fight in this war.

(… Really, this is no other than a strange coincidence)

As Ikki thought so,

- We arrived.

Ascaride murmured in a voice that didn’t carry her usual feelings and stopped
the car.

They got off the car parked on a side of the road at the entrance of a small
farm village.

A small village inhabited by people who kept living there, without obeying
the evacuation advisory of Estonia that was issued when the territory was
abandoned.

Ikki sighed, looking up at Edelberg again from there.

- It was incredible even when I saw it from a distance, but its impressiveness
is even higher when seen from a short distance.

- Yeah. The summit is hazy, I can’t see it.

Edelberg’s altitude was actually over 9,000 meters.

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An altitude that easily pierced through the clouds.

On top of that, the slopes were extremely steep and very sharp.
《Kenhou》.*

*TN: Literally “sword peak”.

A mountain similar to a sword that stabbed the heaven just like its name
suggested.
- 《Wings Abreast》Edelweiss is at the top of it, right?

- Almost probably, if I say… so. There are eyewitness reports of her being all
over the world, like when I met her by chance in Japan, so I think she’s not
the type of person who will settle down at a place for too long. This will just
be a matter of luck.

To these words of Ikki,

- In that case, you are very lucky.

Ascaride muttered.

- Why do you say so?

- Look.

In response to Stella’s question, Ascaride pointed at the village.

And once she turned her eyes towards that point, there was a strange
spectacle stretching there that was not very appropriate for a calm farm
village.

People were coming and going. Most of them were muscular men carrying
weapons that seemed to be《Devices》in their hands, carefully examining their
surroundings with a discernment that glared bizarrely.

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- … There are a lot of villagers who look very cautious, don’t you agree?

- Are you stupid? As if there were villagers covered with the stench of blood.

Ikki agreed with what Tatara pointed out.

- They’re Blazers. And they look strong.
- The name of《Wings Abreast》is in itself the best status in the world. A
group that tries to take her neck to make a name for themselves has almost to
no value. And of course, that lot keeps a watchful eye on the movements
of《Wings Abreast》. In short, if this type of guys are gathering here, it means
that《Wings Abreast》is here.

- So that’s what you mean.

Stella showed she agreed with the words of Tatara and Ascaride, saying “I
see”,

- … It seems like we haven’t been abandoned by the Goddess of the moon.

She was glad because at least she didn’t do all this for nothing.

And, since it was settled that Edelweiss was here, there was no reason to stay
eternally at the foot of the mountain. Stella tightened her facial expression
that softened with relief by hitting it with both hands, looked up at Edelberg
and,

- Alright then, let’s go right away!

She started walking,

And to that Stella,

- Ah, wait――

Ascaride tried to say something――and exactly at that moment.

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The sound of an ear-piercing car horn hit the napes of the four of them
suddenly.

And then,
- Hey, you damn brats! Don’t put yourselves in the middle of the road!

- It’s as Guile-aniki says! Step aside, step asiiide!

Rude angry voices.
When they turned around, a group of dozens of men with mohawk hairstyle
and eccentric tattoos on their faces riding buggies and bikes with barbarous
tuning applied on them and a big man that looked like a bear, shouldering a
giant zanbatou, came driving, filling the entire road. *

*TN: Zanbatou is a type of long sword.

It was a safe bet to say the angry voices of seconds ago belonged to them.
Stella, in front of these men,

- This road is so wide that it should be enough to avoid us, isn’t it? How do
you ride such noisy vehicles almost up to the middle of the village? Where
are your manners?

She didn’t yield to their intimidation, rather, she stared back at them.
Naturally, this action irritated the feelings of the men.

- Huuuh!? Who’s this bitch!?

- You pickin’ a fight!? *Irreproducible*

*TN: Virtually he screams something but it’s unintelligible for me.

The frenzied men, who put on the brakes in front of Stella and company,
distorted even their faces at this.

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The idle engines accelerated forcefully, they seemed to threaten to run over
them.

――However,

- Wait.

The bear-man riding a buggy remonstrated the men.
These men protested, saying「Aniki!? Why are you stopping us!?」, but,

- I thought she was just a brat, but when you look at her closely, she’s a very
pretty woman, don’t you agree?

The bear-man pushed the men, his henchmen aside, and approached Stella
without hesitation then turned his eyes to her face and chest as if running his
tongue over her.

Moreover, the disrespect of the bear-man didn’t stop with just that,

- I took a liking to you. Become my woman.

He said such a thing as he grabbed Stella’s shoulder with his huge hand.

Naturally, Stella showed a strong discomfort towards this,

- Huuh? What’s with you all of a sudden?

She raised an eyebrow, wondering who he was.
The bear-man laughed mockingly at this, saying「Kuku, you don’t know me,
as one would expected since I live in such a crappy rural village」and,
- Alright, I’ll tell you and you only. My name is the《Tempestuous》Guile!
The leader of the skilled mercenary group《Murder Entry》and the man that
will become the strongest master fencer by killing《Wings Abreast》in a
moment! That’s why I’m telling you that I’m going to take you. For a

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woman, there’s no honor bigger than this, is there?
「「「Wow! Aniki’s so cool!」」」

The man-bear showed a satisfied expression to the shout of encouragement of
his followers.

With that, Ikki noticed.

Could it be that this guy doesn’t know who Stella is?

He couldn’t believe that in this day and age there were people who didn’t
know the face of the A-Rank Knight《Crimson Princess》.

Where on earth did they live? Deep in the mountains? The person in question
said so, reality completely bounced back like a boomerang, and Ikki, who
was preparing himself, wondering when he should step in between the two,
showed a wry smile on his face without being able to endure it.

Stella also got her anger reduced by how ridiculous this was,

- Thanks for the invitation, but I turn it down. I already have a man in my
heart. Besides… I haven’t met the『real deal』, but I simply don’t think you
can win against《Wings Abreast》.

She returned with a calm voice, unimaginable from her temper, and brushed
off the hand of the man with a kindness as if she pitied him. ――But,

- Don’t misunderstand. Nobody is listening to what you want.

- ――!

This situation didn’t fit.

With a signal of the bear-man――Guile, 30 or so henchmen surrounded Ikki
and the others.

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- Hey hey, now that I look closely at the others, they have quite the perfect
figure, don’t you agree!?

- Aniki! Is it fine if we get the other women for us!?
- Sure, do as you like. But the red-haired girl is mine. If you put your hands
on her, I’ll kill you.
「「「YEAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!」」」
The men raised shouts of joy and made their《Devices》manifest.
Ascaride, before this situation, said apologetically.

- … I’m late to say this, but this is a lawless area in the real meaning of the
word, and since we weren’t careful, something like this happened
immediately.

- Very late indeed. Hey, Vermillion. Do something. With your guests.
- I know that, even if you don’t tell me about it. … Well, this almost counts
as a warm up, isn’t it?
A lawless area that didn’t belong to 《League》or《Union》.

And that, in other words, meant there was no law restricting her.
Therefore, Stella tried to make her Device manifest without reserve.

But,

- Leave it as that. You’ll get nothing but embarrassing yourself.
The instant Stella extended her right hand to summon《Laevateinn》.

A voice that was in no way loud, but still a deep voice that clearly reached
their ears, struck the earlobes of everyone there.

Guile turned threatening-looking eyes toward that interruption. But,

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- Guile. She’s not a woman your skill is able to handle.
- Larp…! And Kiba…!
Guile, who saw two men coming out from the village, the point where he had
turned his eyes toward, made his facial expression turn pale.
A muscular westerner wearing a red rider suit and an Asian in stained
Japanese clothing who wore a Japanese sword.
When one of the two of them, the westerner, stood in between Stella and
Guile――he slightly bowed to Stella.
- I have heard a lot about you. It is an honor to be able to meet you. Your
Highness《Crimson Princess》Stella.

◆◇◆◇◆

Two middle-aged men suddenly appeared before Ikki and the others.
The looks of one of those men, and――
(Kiba…ah, that Kiba!?)
Ikki remembered the name that Guile called.
- Kiba? Ah, are you perhaps that same Kiba Yoshikazu-sensei!?
- Is he your acquaintance?

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Ikki shook his head to Stella who asked.
- No… but I’ve seen him on videos.《Kenrou》Kiba Yoshikazu. A
Japanese《Mage-Knight》who disappeared abruptly from the 8th Rank League
15 years ago. If I remember correctly, he should have been one of the very
best in Japan at that time, and 12th in the final world ranking.
The record itself was broken by《World Clock》Shinguuji Kurono, but his
fame still had a strong influence in the world of the Japanese knights and
many young knights admired him.

Ikki was one of those.

He was a knight that excelled in magic and martial arts, and because of that,
Ikki took the liberty to learn a lot of stuff from the records of his matches.

He was a man worthy of his respect and it was possible say he was the master
of the sword, just like 《Last Samurai》.

And towards this topic, about the Asian in Japanese clothing with his hair
tied behind his head,

- … It’s an old story.

He affirmed with a voice that didn’t sound particularly interested in it.

- I knew it…! Where have you been all this time?

-…

But Kiba didn’t reply to Ikki’s conversation any more than that.

“I don’t need to tell you about that”, he returned a heavy and cold silence that
felt like an iron door.

On the other hand,

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- Hmm? By some chance, this presence, the one with white hair. Are you
perhaps《Black Knight》?

The refreshing-looking westerner with dazzling blond hair and white teeth
called Larp, who was next to Kiba, called out to Iris Ascaride who stood
behind Stella.
Ascaride returned a short affirmation「… Yes」.

- I knew it! Haha, I thought “I’ve felt that presence somewhere”. It’s been 2
years since that American-French conference, am I right?

- Ascaride-san. He seems to be an acquaintance of yours, but who is he?

Ascaride answered Ikki’s question.

- He’s 《Red Scorpion》Lambert Larp-san. Commander of the USSS.

- When you say USSS, you don’t mean the elites carefully selected
among《Blazers》, do you!?
- In the States we’re not called《Blazers》but《Psychicer》though. Ascaride-san
escorted the president of France at the American-French conference so I got
to know her back then. But today is the first time I see her real face. I thought
that she maybe wasn’t a woman based on her behavior, but she’s in fact such
a beautiful one. And of course Your Highness Stella, the Heavens bestowed
us with both of you.

*TN: Psychicer is the direct translation of the furigana for “person with supernatural powers”. This
word is a Japanese word constructed of elements from English terms.

-Cr-《Crimson Princess》and even《Black Knight》!?

- A-are you kidding me…? We picked up a terrible fight…

The followers of Guile, who were listening to this series of conversations,
became pale because of the position they were in now.

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As expected, they didn’t know her face, but they seemed to know the name
of《Crimson Princess》.

However, while the henchmen became timid,
- Nonsense!!!! What《Crimson Princess》? What《Black Knight》? They’re just
women, aren’t they!?

Only Guile kept a straight face, and with that face that completely looked
down on them,

- The same goes for《Wings Abreast》. She annihilated the armed forces of
the《League》and the《Union》alone? There’s no way that’s possible, is there?
It’s different when it comes to me, but it’s impossible that a powerless
woman can do that. I’m not going to take such a worthless idle gossip
seriously, all of you have a screw loose! Surely she made the mass media
spread such false rumors with all that money she had. Maybe what she sold
was her body, huh. … But still, the full-of-lies strongest legend is over
already. I’ll unmask《Wings Abreast》in no time. By ending just one woman,
the money and the prestige will be to my heart’s content. It’ll be easiest thing
in the world! Now, let’s go guys! Bahahaha!

Guile spat out so with a rude voice then brushed Larp aside with his shoulder
and walked away, going towards Edelberg accompanied by his henchmen.

… His attitude hadn’t the look of a bluff.

He seriously looked down on Edelweiss.

Stella, towards such piercing ignorance of his, that even made her feel
impressed, muttered.

- There are all types of people in the world, huh.

- Haha. Well, I guess it means he’s strangely not worked up and that

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ignorance is strength in some way. … However, the fact that Your Highness
and the others are also coincidentally here is because you are also aiming
for《Wings Abreast》just like him?

As this wasn’t something she felt it had to be hidden, Stella nodded.

- Just me. Is that the same for you guys?

- Of course. That’s the same for all of us here. But you came. This is the
arrival of a very strong rival.

Larp showed a troubled-looking expression to Stella’s affirmation.

But, that was just for an instant.

- Although, it’s not like I came all the way here to rest either. The shield of
the States came to show that not even the sword of the《World’s Strongest》
will make its way through it. It’s beyond impossible for two people stand at
the top of one summit… Whoever takes the neck of《Wings Abreast》, let’s
not have hard feelings, alright?

Larp lost his wry smile almost immediately and a fierce light of self-
confidence and ambition was housed in his blue eyes.

Sharp fangs were hidden behind his refreshing face.

At this, Stella felt a sensation as if the hair of her whole body got burned.

――Strong.

A solid true strength and experience.

Larp had something that only the real strong persons who also had both
things could wear.

No, it wasn’t just Larp.

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Kiba behind him and almost all the people in the village.

Now――this was a warning.
If she were to get on the mountain once, then she wouldn’t have to talk
personally with them like now.

Larp implicitly told her that they were going to compete with each other,
aiming at that single summit.

But, since Stella understood that warning,
- Sorry, but I have no intentions of competing with you. The only one with
whom I have things to do is《Wings Abreast》. I don’t have the time to go the
long way round.

Together with the words she returned, that disregarded Larp and the others,
-《Dragon Wings ――!》
She made a pair of flame wings manifest on her back.

Larp, Kiba and the other challengers gathered in the village opened their eyes
wide in surprise due to such imposing appearance.
『Uooh!? What’s that!?』
『Flames and red hair? No way, she’s《Crimson Princess》Stella Vermillion!?』
『《Crimson Princess》is also after the neck of《Wings Abreast》!?』

Without worrying her feelings with all that, Stella held out her hand to Ikki
and the others.
- Ikki! Ascaride-san! Hold on to me! We’ll fly in the air and go to the summit
in one go!

- O-okay!

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- Got it.

To respond to the suggestion of Stella, both Ikki and Ascaride took her hands.
Coincidentally with that, Stella made her flame wings flap lightly and floated
around 3 meters in the air.

Then she looked down on Tatara who remained on the ground,

- … I’m not going to take a bad person with me. If you want to see my
gallant figure so much, then why don’t you do your best and climb it?
*Bleeh*.
She made quite the snide remarks to take revenge for what happened some
time ago.

But towards this,

- I don’t need you.
Tatara said and immediately jumped effortlessly.

Then, the moment when the jump reached its maximum height, she kicked
the empty air and jumped again.

Over and over, she really floated very close to Stella.
- You’re not the only one who can fly in the air.
This was the application of her ability, of her Noble Arts《Total Reflect》 that
reflected every shock and force.

She probably made footholds by reflecting gravity intermittently.
Because of the skillfulness of Tatara, Stella averted her eyes as she clicked
her tongue,

- Alright then, let’s go!

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She made her wings flap much stronger and flew high in the sky, hitting the
atmosphere.

Exactly like a dragon ascending to heaven.
To the top of the world, in a straight line.

… ――A light strip of flames stretched straight to the sky.
Larp, who followed the dragon with his eyes until it was out of sight as he
looked up at what Stella had left behind, shrugged his shoulders lightly.
- I had heard that she awakened the power of the《Dragon》, but to think she
had the dexterity to fly even in the sky.
He heard the rumors about the true strength of《Crimson Princess》.
He was convinced it was very true.
She had various abilities that weren’t limited to just the usage of sweltering
heat.
A versatility outside of the norm.
The attributes she had since she was born were very different from his own.
- We might be end up being beaten to the bunch if we don’t hurry up. Kiba.
However, and with a tone of voice as if chiding him, Kiba returned to the
words of Larp,
- … Don’t go saying bad stuff to a young girl under 20 years old. Larp.
No, Kiba actually chided him.
Impossible.
His friend said something he didn’t think he would possibly say.

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- Why can’t we get along? ――Like when you and I were『15 years ago』?

◆◇◆◇◆

Less than 5 minutes after she took off.

Stella, who soared in the sky at an astounding speed, ascended 100 meters in
less than mere 10 seconds to a world of lingering snow and shining silver,
(It’s amazing…!)
Her body trembled with the fragrant sword feeling from the faraway
summit.
She didn’t mind the cold air that cut her body and blew against her, this was
nothing compared to the intimidation of Larp moments ago, a pressure as if
the sky fell.
She knew.
She knew this pressure.
The third round of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival in which Ikki and Sara
Bloodlily fought.
Although it was a fake, she had touched a part of it from the side.

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――Yes.
Unmistakably, now, beyond this, at the end of this.
《Wings Abreast》Edelweiss, the strongest swordsman in the world.
Even though she didn’t see her figure yet, her breathing became painful.
Even though the snow didn’t melt at air temperature, the sweat that gushed
out didn’t stop.
She had experienced confrontations against Or-Gaule and Naseem, both
were《Desperado》, peculiar beings that transcended fate.
Fear invaded her whole body due to the absolute『death』that existed behind
them.
But, for that reason, ――she went.
She came here to get the strength to fight against this fear.
- I’ll go through a cloud! Hold my hands firmly!
When Stella told that to Ikki and Ascaride, she charged into a thick cloud
caught on the bare surface of the mountain.
She didn’t see an inch ahead in the mist.
Hails hit and beat her whole body.
She scattered them all with flames and kept going higher and higher.
She finally pierced through the thick cloud and what appeared next was a
perfectly clear blue sky.
The altitude was over 8,000 meters.
Outside the sphere of the beings, they had far surpassed the limits of human’s
altitude adaptation.

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Because of that, Stella felt as if her weight had multiplied several times.
An altitude that not even water vapor reached.
The atmosphere was so thin it couldn’t be compared to the one at ground
level, she couldn’t gain more lifting power no matter how much she flapped
her wings.
She couldn’t keep flying longer than that.
She had to discover her objective quickly.
And, at that moment.
- Stella! Over there!
Ikki, who hung from the arm of Stella, shouted at her and pointed at the
mountain’s surface.
She shifted her focus on that point and between the cliffs.
A small cabin made of stone stood in a place that became almost barely
gentle.
She understood the moment she saw it.
The sword feeling she felt moments ago was leaking out from there.
- Nice, Ikki! I’ll land close to it! Get ready!
Stella thanked him, moved her body as she could to the side of the cabin and
landed on the lingering snow.
- *Phew*… we arrived.
- I flew too much. I don’t know if I’ll get mountain sickness.
- There are no people with weak heart and lungs here, are there?

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Stella returned so to the grumble of Tatara who came chasing her a bit behind
and carefully looked the blue field overseeing the distant sea of clouds.

- What was she thinking when she built her house in a place like this?

Certainly the landscape was extremely wonderful, but the mountain’s surface
is almost identical to a cliff, there were no footholds, and the wind that blew
was so strong that it hit them hard because there was nothing blocking it. And
yet, they had a hard time to breathe as the atmosphere was so thin that
practically didn’t exist. This was by no means an environment in which
humans were to live.

- Even if they steal from her, she should decide on a better location, don’t you
agree?

Ikki replied to the question of Stella as he cleared away the snow on his
shoulders when they went through the cloud.

- But if she builds a house in a good location, she’ll have a lot of visitors
every day and won’t have time to rest. Like what we saw there at the foot of
the mountain.

- You’re right. I also like fighting, but since she’s shadowed day and night by
that lot, she cannot help but doing so. The problem is that she’s way too
famous. It’s a bit sad.

- You don’t have the qualifications to say that as you’re one of『that lot』.
So, what’re you going to do? Are you going to set a fire?

- Hey, I don’t have the intention to do such a rude thing. … I’ll go head-on
first and demand her for a fair and square duel in accordance with our
etiquette as knights.

- And if she says no?

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- I’ll set a fire.
- I’m not so sure if that will provoke her.
- It’s unavoidable to use force against opponents who don’t respond to
peaceful negotiations.
- Somehow, you began to say that like a politician.
- I’m already one of those, and a great one.
- Now that you mention it, you were one already.
Well, assuming Stella were to get aware of her limitless selfishness, I would
like her to get a bout with pleasure if possible, but….
In any case, the story wouldn’t continue if she didn’t meet her.
- Okay then, let’s go.
Stella said and walked towards the cabin.
Followed by Ikki and the others――
They ended up overtaking Stella in the blink of an eye.
Despite that, the three of them walked slowly to keep themselves behind
Stella.
- Stella?
- Hey, are you going to see her or not? Or you’re getting the cold feet at this
late hour?
- T-that’s not it!
Stella denied it and quickened her steps to overtake the three of them.
But――the distance didn’t shorten.

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Which wasn’t surprising.
Because Stella hadn’t given a step forward from the place she landed on.
- ――, what is…!?
No matter how much she tried to move forward, she just shoveled the snow
under her feet.
She felt as if she tried to move forward while rubbing her forehead against an
invisible wall.
- Wh-why!?
As one would expect, and based on Stella’s state, Ikki and the others noticed
that something strange happened to her body.
- Could it be that you can’t move forward?
- Y-yeah. T-there seems to be something like an invisible wall in front of me.
Maybe… a barrier or something?
There’s something, isn’t it?
To the words of Stella, who tried to say so,
- You’re wrong.
Ascaride denied it.
- There are no walls here. You just aren’t moving voluntarily.
- It’s me, you say?
- Your soul understands the meaning of moving even further, and it’s being
intimidated by it.
- ――! Is there such a thing!?!?

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Stella immediately returned an objection to the calm thing that Ascaride
pointed out.
The feeling of her mind being overpowered by intimidation, Stella knew it
well.
And that she certainly was nervous to challenge the peak of swordsmanship.
But, it appeared like there was nothing but an evident physical force
interfering.
In that case――
(I’ll only move forward if I kick it open――――)
And, the moment when Stella tried to put strength into her legs.
- Stop it already. If you try too hard, you will really lose your life.

「「「――――――!!!!」」」

A well-projected tone of voice similar to the sound of a silent but cold suzu
reached the earlobes of the four people. *

*TN: Suzu is a Japanese bell.

A transparent voice, an intonation that one could say it was even refined.
As if they were snapped by it, the four people looked at the direction of the
voice, at the entrance of the cabin they were heading for.
And there――she was.
Her pure-white hair, swayed by the overly blue sky,
Her back leant on the opened door of her house, her face looking slightly

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troubled,
The swordsmanship, the person that stood alone at the end of the distant
summit,
――《Wings Abreast》Edelweiss.

◆◇◆◇◆

- When you come and see how it looks, thinking that the outside is oddly
noisy, the unexpected combination is very, very surprising, don’t you think?
A woman in the prime of youth and dressed in plain clothes appeared from
inside the cabin.

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Stella felt awe towards her appearance that neither pretend to be nor was clad
in weapons or fighting spirit.

She was, so beautiful.

It wasn’t just her pure-white hair that shone like the fresh snow or her well-
featured looks.

Her ash silver eyes turned towards herself kept a clever brilliance to
themselves as if those eyes saw through everything in the back of her gentle
gaze and her long, slender and well-proportioned stretched limbs in constant
natural stance with little to no stiffness were prepared to be able to deal with
an emergency from every angle and instant.

What surprised her more than anything was that her center of gravity, from
that look of hers, couldn’t be read where it was.

She read all the information of the other party at a glance and absolutely no
information was given to the other party.

With no weapons and with not much makeup, but just as she was, she came
out to receive the sudden visitors that came right when she was relaxing in
her home.

The lack of gaps of Ikki was pretty significant, but her appearance was
beyond his.

She had never seen a natural stance so complete like this.

(There’s no doubt. This person is the real Edelweiss…!)

Stella was convinced of it due to the impressive personality that made her
understand her own real strength with her appearance only.

She lowered her center of gravity only a bit against the natural stance of

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Edelweiss and prepared for both offensive and defensive situations.
And, to such Stella… Edelweiss looked at Ascaride standing before her and
bent her head slightly to one side.

- At any rate, this is not the moment for Iris and you to come to this place,
is it?
- …! You know what’s happening in the world now?
- Because the League already announced it. The incidents that occurred in
Vermillion and Kradleland. And that both countries will fight for the destiny
of their nations wagered in a war done between five representatives of each
nation in a week. Either way, that is roughly what I know.
In that case, this saved her from doing a quick recap.
Stella told the reason why she came to Edelberg right away.
- As you know, my home town is caught in a dilemma. In order to protect
Vermillion and to defeat Or-Gaule, I must become stronger. That’s why I
came here. To fight against the stronger opponent I know!
And,
- Please, have a bout with me…!
She manifested her Device《Laevateinn》.
Pointed the tip of its sword to Edelweiss and requested a duel.
Edelweiss, towards the demand of this young and brave challenger,
- I am sorry you had to come here after a very long journey, but I will have to
decline.

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In a few words, she returned a curt rejection.
- Why?
- I am not in the mood to do so now. And――
Edelweiss brushed the hair on her shoulders away,
- I am a swordswoman. I do not feel like fighting against an opponent
without even picking up a sword.
She looked down on Stella with cold eyes.
- ――――
Immediately after, the atmosphere around her burned, the temperature
increased.
The heat source was, of course,《Crimson Princess》 Stella Vermillion.
She was not significant enough to require picking up a sword.
Certainly, Edelweiss said so now. That――
- … What do you mean with that?
- I don’t have the intention to speak in a roundabout way. It means exactly
that. With all due respect, if it is someone like you――I can kill you just with
my eyes.
Not using a sword was out of the question.
She would certainly kill her with her eyes only.
It was impossible. A clear bluff.
Being able to do so, Edelweiss said it as if it was natural.
Her attitude and affronts――ignited Stella’s belligerence.

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- If so, I’ll make you do it…!
Now that she was rejected from the beginning, it was the turn of “the use of
force” plan.
Without faltering.
Stella lowered her center of gravity noticeably and kicked the ground,
powerfully jumping forward.
Once the first shot was fired, there wasn’t either yes or no.
She had no choice but to protect herself against possible dangers.
Yes, that was her intention.
But, one step. Just one step she gave towards Edelweiss,
――In an instant,
A strong and blizzard-like cold intuition struck Stella’s brain, and she saw it.

The inevitability of a tenth of a second in which her limbs and neck were
vigorously cut off.

- Kyaaaaaaaaaaahh!?!?

She couldn’t think of doing an ukemi in this situation. Stella brought her
body that tried to get into her reach to the back, but she lost her balance and
fell on her backside right there.*

*TN: Ukemi is the art of falling safely.

Her spectacle, seen from beginning to end, was only seen as if she had

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tripped up and fell down on the lingering snow.
But,
- Stella!? That’s!?
The expression of Ikki, who immediately ran up to her, became pale.
Stella immediately noticed the reason of that.
- Ha, ah…! 〜〜〜〜!?
Stella carefully put her hands on the bottom of her neck with a physical
unease that ran as pain.
Without a moment’s delay, a thick and lukewarm sensation wet her palms.
It was blood.
A laceration in the form of a horizontal line was carved into Stella’s neck.
――It was cut off at an ultrahigh speed.
No, it wasn’t that.
Not only《Wings Abreast》had no sword in her hands, she also hadn’t done
the slightest movement.
She was too far from her sword reach. It was not possible.
Then, what happened?
She didn’t know.
She didn’t know, but she had an idea.
She saw a similar phenomenon before, in the match between Ikki and Sara.
- I see…. You created a barrier and stretched a vacuum dislocation around
your house, right?

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Stella inferred as she healed her wounds with the dragon’s regeneration.
――But,

- No. Not at all.

- !?

- I neither carved a vacuum dislocation nor used an ability. In the first place,
my abilities are not suitable for combat. … Speaking of what I did, I just
released a bit strengthened bloodlust.

- Y-you’re lying! How can you wound the body of the opponent with
intimidation only?

There was no way that was possible.

Edelweiss only nodded to Stella who denied so and said.

- Certainly, it is impossible for normal people. But I am not an ordinary
person. The《Blazers》are persons who change their fate with strength. As
one of them, I surpassed the limits of the fate given to me and now I am an
existence that reached what is beyond the causality surrounding one’s star.
- A《Desperado》…
- So you knew. We《Desperados》surpass the limit of the abilities we were
born with and twist even the causality of one’s star and are able to leave our
mark on the history of one’s star. In other words, we have a strong self-
direction towards causality. We own the strength to paint over the fate of the
world as we wish.

- No way――

Intuition ran in Stella’s mind.

Edelweiss affirmed so with a nod.

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- Yes. What attacked you now was the manifestation of that special
characteristic. There is an isolated difference in true strength between you
and me. If we were to face each other, the end of it would be clear, that is
something that you yourself understand. You end up understanding deep
down yourself that you can’t win against me. Since the result is completely
decided with all that, and your fate in that case, then there is no need to go
through that process anymore. I strongly have the『intention』to hurt you a
little, the gravitational pull of my fate swallows you, and the causality are…
tied together in the way and shape they should be.

- …!?
The gravitational pull of the unique existences called《Desperado》.

A compelling force that tied causality enough to just emit an『intention』.

It was so much, that the words of Edelweiss could only be heard as
unrealistic and thoughtless words.

But… and the reason Blazers used causality and fate as their strength?

The words of Edelweiss convinced Stella about the inexplicable that
happened to her body.

She said no lies.

There was a wound on her neck, but she also couldn’t move herself forward
moments ago.

Her will refused to battle Edelweiss.

Stella surpassed the will to try challenging Edelweiss, and therefore, this
situation developed. It was for this reason that it only worked on Stella as she
had taken the decision to face Edelweiss in this place.

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And the words of the other day that Stella suddenly understood.

The words of Saikyou Nene.
Nene’s words tied to her when she tried to charge at《Haboob》.

An invisible pressure.

That was also the result of her『intention』being swallowed deeply by her
causality.

In other words――

- This self-direction regarding causality is a special characteristic that not
only I or the《Desperado》own, but that everyone owns. You should have
felt it when you confronted《Marionette King》, 《Haboob》 and the
others, haven’t you? It is on their backs, the fate called their death. As long
as you feel their fate, you will not have the chance to escape. You will keep
being attracted by the gravitational pull of the《Desperados》and their fate
will lead you to the end of what you also have imagined. The beings that
overcome this, and that transcended causality like me――are no other than
《Desperados》.

In the first five minutes she could go that far.*

*TN: Not sure about this sentence to be honest (even after changing it many times). Here’s the raw: そ
こまでできて初めて五分。

- Do you understand? That you don’t have the qualifications to fight in our
domain?

- Kh, but, that’s why I, to surpass that fate, I have to――

- I know that. That is not incorrect as a methodology. … But, there is no
reason why I have to go along with it.

- Uh…

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- Whether you fight with me or fight with《Marionette King》, what you are
trying to do is suicide. An act similar to throwing yourself into hell while
knowing that you will die. I am sorry, but――I refuse to help you with your
suicide.

-…
- … Go back without thinking stupid things. There is no『road』ahead
where you are trying to go. Now just rely on everyone’s cooperation and put
forth every effort to survive. That is the only――that is the very best you can
do.

-…

The powerlessness of Stella. The hard fact that it was related to this battle.

The words of Edelweiss mercilessly thrust at her.

Ikki told Stella who did nothing but hang her head, without being able to
object the words she received.

- Stella. Like we thought, this is too much. She is beyond your reach. …
There is no way you will hurt her with intimidation and nothing else. She has
a sword feeling that can’t be compared to the ones of the former Akatsuki
Academy we encountered. … Either way, at that time, not even the “last
single sword” was being serious. I’ve just been looking at her from the side,
but she feels like a much higher wall than before.

However, Edelweiss showed negation by shaking her head to Ikki’s words.

- No. At that time, I went with all my strength. … But when you say that I
feel like a higher wall than before, it is because I have gotten far stronger in
comparison to the speed at which you develop.

- …!

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The peak of swordsmanship where no person ranked equal with her.
She continued evolving even now while standing at the end of the only road.
Ikki remembered even the awe towards such appearance of hers.
The same was for Stella.
But, with the exception of that, Stella knew one more thing about《Wings
Abreast》.
(… What a strong person. And also a very kind one)
Stella gently touched her neck once she finished healing it.
The gravitational pull and the power of control regarding the
causality《Desperados》had. She was aware of such beings now because she
understood.
――If it was her, she would be able to truly knock her neck down with
her『intention』only.
Because at that moment, Stella herself accepted that it was like that.
But her neck was not severed.
But why? ――The reason was settled.
Because she didn’t have the intention to kill Stella from the beginning.
The visitor who rudely decided to come and aim at her neck.
She was concerned about the body of the rude fellow from the bottom of her
heart and warned her.
She hoped she would change her foolish idea.
She thought she wasn’t a simple villain because Ikki admired her so much,

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She was really gentle and a strong person in the real sense of the word.

… Actually, even Stella knew that.

Then why was she now doing a thoughtless thing?

How could she win against the strongest swordsman in the world if she
couldn’t even win against《Marionette King》?

Once she was matched against her, it was impossible for her to leave this
mountain alive.

She knew that.

How silly was all that she was doing.

(――――Still)

- I disagree…!

Stella raised her body up together with that word of refusal and stood up.

And then, she fixed a straight gaze on Edelweiss with her brilliant red eyes
filled with a strong light of resolution,
- The special characteristics of the《Desperados》are real. Since now I’m
facing an opponent like that, my chances to win are zero. I understand that
those few words of yours are all correct. And that you are warning me with
good intentions from the bottom of y our heart. I am very grateful for that.
Certainly, as you said, if I rely on Nene-sensei and Ascaride-san and I
concentrate on protecting myself, then I may be able to overcome this
dilemma alive.

- Since you know that much――

- And after that?

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- … After that?

- I don’t know if Nene-sensei and the others will be in Vermillion for the next
crisis. I don’t know whether they’ll cooperate. On the contrary, you may be
the next enemy who will invade Vermillion.

- !!

- The current matter and the 83 people that died, I understand it more than I
would like to! Calamities happen all the time, they aren’t going to wait for
me! There’s no point in predicting who and when will invade Vermillion…!
In that case, what should I do? What should be done? Am I going to stay
indoors to protect my life? Absolutely not! Am I going to pray God so that a
convenient savior will appear again? ――Of course not! I, who lives to
become the sword of Vermillion and the Second Princess of the Empire of
Vermillion――must become stronger than anyone this very
moment――――!!!!

- ――! Drop it, Stella!

Ikki, who judged her look and her thoughts in her tone of voice, shouted to
control her.

But Stella didn’t care.

And without listening to him, she walked towards Edelweiss with sword in
hand again.

At that moment, blood splashes gushed out.

The blade of causality hewn her body.

As the distance between the two decreased, the gravitational pull of《Wings
Abreast》tied to causality and end didn’t seem to sway.

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