Chivalry of a Failed Knight Volume 9

she caused with that one blow was evidence of that fact.
With one punch – “Geh… ah……” – she took Kurogane Ikki’s

consciousness. Vomiting up boiled blood, Ikki’s body hung limp. He didn’t
fall, but the light was gone from his eyes. His awareness was gone. It was a
completely hopeless situation.

(You’re mine!)
Stella moved to deliver finishing blow. In order to bring her victory in the
Seven Stars, in order to for her to surpass the one she had chased for so long,
this attack with her entire body would…!!!!
The blade slipped through muscle and bone with ease. The fresh blood
that spurted into the air and splattered onto the white stone was a deeper
crimson than the magma. The blood boiled as though it was on the verge of
igniting.
“Eh………?”
It couldn’t have been anyone else. It was the ‘Crimson Princess’ Stella
Vermillion’s, dragon blood.
“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHH!!!!”
“H-He’s countered! Just when you thought the match was over! Kurogane
Ikki, who looked to be down for the count, has just counter-attacked!! He’s
sliced across Stella from bottom to top! What a reversal!!”
“It- It was ‘Madoka’! He took the force of her attack and turned it back on
her! I… I can’t believe it! How could he manage it!”
“Gah! Haa…!!”
“Stella has knelt on the ground! Her boiling blood is flowing on the white
ring arena! The amount of bleeding is not ordinary!!”
(This damage is… bad…!)
Stella groaned as she pressed her abdomen like holding her entrails from
falling out. This was not a fatal wound to Stella who has the power of the
dragon inside of her. But it would take time to recover from her injury even
when having a dragon’s vitality. She wouldn’t be able to move for at least

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tens of seconds. If he attacked her now, she’d be utterly defenseless.
Realizing this, Stella had no choice but to gather her strength and try to
escape.

“Stella is retreating while staggering! She’s putting some distance!”
“…!!! Aaah………!!”
But one island away Stella collapsed again. Her vision faded. She couldn’t
move her limbs. Her blood loss was severe. Her regenerative abilities
couldn’t keep up with the amount of blood flowing out. But rather than the
damage to her body, the unrest in her mind was more serious. What’s filling
her head was a question.
How?
She was certain that he had lost consciousness. No, not in the past. In fact,
even now Ikki didn’t regain consciousness. And yet… he could he use
‘Madoka’ to counter her. It made no sense. In front of Stella who was in an
inexplicable confusion, Ikki finally regained consciousness.
“…………………………………………” His first thought upon waking
was surprise to see that Stella was down and injured. (…Did I… do that…?)
Even though he had been unconscious, he could still feel the sensation of his
blade cutting through Stella. She had swung at him with more power than
ever before. He knew purely from feeling that he had used ‘Madoka’ against
her. He knew how he had moved. He understood it all. And that’s why he
knew…
The movement was nothing special at all.
It wasn’t a spectacularly well executed counter, nor was it a spectacularly
bad counter. It was absolutely normal. It was the routine ‘Madoka’ that he
had performed thousands of times in simulations.
He had engraved those motions into his body repeatedly. It came out while
he was unconscious.
-I don’t want to lose.
His body, his flesh, casted away the fear in his mind.

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-I believe it.
Even now strong heartbeat reached his earlobes.
“………”
While his body is screaming, Ikki slightly apologized. I’m sorry. He’d set
out as an F-rank with only the barest excuse of power. With that power he
had set off after the ‘Great Hero’ Kurogane Ryouma on the path to
knighthood. He’d pushed his body harshly and recklessly. In so doing he had
overwhelmed his body until it accepted his desires. He shouldn’t lose easily.
No, ‘he won’t lose easily’.
(That’s right…)
He had not been soft in his training. It was only his emotions that had
feared Stella’s overwhelming talent. Even though failing to believe in himself
was the easiest way to guarantee a loss. What a fool.
(I should have known this already.)
That he was inferior compared to anyone. While aware of it, he had set out
on this path. He had always believed that if he mustered everything he’s got,
he could defeat even the strongest. There was no basis of it from the
beginning. Even so, with just that one belief he had come all this way to
fight. Despite being warped journey, he made through it. Yet now, now of all
times, why wouldn’t he believe it?! His small self wouldn’t believe that he
could win against this colossal dragon that stood as tall as the heavens?! After
all the pain and suffering, despite all the people that had helped him, and all
the people whose dreams of winning he’d stepped on to make it here, isn’t it
now…?!
(It is now more than ever, you big idiot!!!)
“!!”
With a powerful kick, Ikki instantly leapt from the island. The place he
aimed was not the stone island where Stella knelt wounded, but the largest
remaining ring fragment in the center of the sea of magma. There he stopped,
took a deep breath, and…

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“Th-This is…! This light!”
“H-hey, it can’t be!”
“Is this-”
The ‘Crownless Sword King’ was slowly emitting blue light from his
body. The crowd stirred. It’s obvious. They shouldn’t have mistaken it. His
rising magic power, the flashing light, it was the once-a-day trump card of the
‘Crownless Sword King’.
If Ikki was using this ability, it meant that he was ending the match. But
Ikki’s action made a lot people wondering. Why now? The time that it took
for him to regain his senses had allowed Stella’s wounds to begin to recover.
Even if there was any chance, there was only few seconds remaining for it. It
was a very narrow time window for him to secure his win. But, without
minding all of those things, Ikki has decided. If there was no opening he
could use, then there was little timing. At this point there was only one thing
for him to do. The only thing that he could do.
For an F-ranked idiot who had carried on all this way professing that he
didn’t want to lose, right now in this moment the only thing for him to do was
trust in the body that he had developed throughout all of his struggles!
-It’s time to muster up strength!
Mental, physical, magical – all of it. Every experience and brush with
death-, as much as possible. This body, this mind, this moment, everything
that makes up Kurogane Ikki. Those everything would be used as fuel for the
next one minute. No need to think about what will happen after that. Losing
and such can be thought about it after losing. Right now, only move forward.
Until his strength was gone, forward. Win or loss-
Not even ash would remain at the end of this battle!!!!
“COMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE,
STELLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!”
As the blue light emitting around him, his roar filled the dome. The air
shivered and the magma sea rippled. His voice was filled with fighting spirit.

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Ikki was calling her out. A face-to-face fight. Stella smiled looking amazed.
-Ah, that’s right. He was not the kind of man who would end this match in

such a state. This was inevitable. So how should she respond? Run away
during ‘Ittou Shura’s’ one minute time limit? – That would be the worst
possible course of action. Stella was certain of it. A top-class knight like her
knew. There was no room left in this fight for that kind of tactic. If she
retreated, Ikki would be on her heels in an instant to tear her apart.

One step. That’s all it would take. Whoever took the first step back would
lose. The next minute that would start from here was a battle with their souls.

-In that case, there was one response. No retreat! Force through at full
strength! That’s no problem. It was what she wanted. That was her intention
all along!

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!!”
“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH!!!!”
Immediately after, the two knights collided. The crowd gathered within
the dome remembered it as they watched. It begun from now, -the one minute
that was like a precious stone.
“Flashes of blue and crimson! This is nothing like the fight we’ve seen so
far! They’re not looking for weakness now, it’s a non-stop whirlwind of
blades! Neither one is backing off! They’re giving it their all in the middle of
a sea of magma!”
“W, what huge noises!”
“My ears hurt…!”
“Beat him to a pulp while like that, princess!!”
“Don’t lose, Ikki-kun! You can win this–!!”
Ikki invoked his trump card ‘Ittou Shura’ to decide the match here. Stella
from the opposite was meeting him head-on. While both contestants’ feelings
were crashing into each other, cheers were sent to the ground like a rumble.
But all of those didn’t reach their ears. Each of their attention was towards
the enemy in front of them, and only the enemy’s appearance was reflected in

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their eyes

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“It’s so loud!”
“My ears hurt…!”
“Beat him to a pulp!!”
“Don’t lose, Ikki-kun! You can win this!!”
With Ikki having activated Ittou Shura, the match would be decided here

and now. Stella was meeting him head-on. The crowd roared as they clashed
in the center of the ruined ring. Their attention was fixed entirely on their
opponent. Their eyes saw only each other.

Every cell quivered with the urge to strike.
“TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!”
“…!!”
Ikki’s arms became numb after receiving Stella’s blade that was like a
struck of lightning.
(The attacks her blade is returning are rapidly getting faster!)
‘Madoka’ is a technique that receives the impact from a blade and
returning it back through circulation by rotating the body, but among the
exchange of countless sword attacks the speed of Stella’s strikes were
increasing and so the rotation’s initial motion wouldn’t make it in time. She’s
growing. In the midst of this raging battle, Stella’s body, her sword, was
evolving at tremendous speed to overcome him. At this rate, he would be
overtaken by her next attack. But…
(I’m also growing right now!)
“OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!!!”
“…!!”
In an instant, during the shrieking yell where there was a slash that was
like a black flash, Stella’s eyes widened. Why? It was because Ikki’s attack
had changed form.
(Just now, he didn’t spin his body…!)
Until now he would block her blade, then immediately spin his body like a
top to return her attack. That was his way of fighting against Stella’s attacks.

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But this time, Ikki was releasing his attacks without blocking at all. It was not
attack and defense, but a clash of attack after attack. Normally this would be
a good thing for Stella because in a battle of sheer strength it would be
impossible for Stella to lose. But the unbelievable had just happened. As their
blades clashed, Stella’s blade was the one slightly driven back. Why? There
could only be one reason. She understood from the numbness in her
arms.‘Madoka’.

After realizing that he was falling behind with the body-rotating
‘Madoka’, Ikki had revised his own technique in the middle of this high-
speed match. Instead of using spinning, the shock of impact that entered from
his arm was not stopped there and was circulated by his upper body’s muscle
control through the crossing of latissimus dorsi (broadest back muscle), and
during that moment it was returned back to the opponent in the form of his
own slashing.

But it wouldn’t be possible to do so if his whole body stiffened even
slightly. If it stiffened, the shock of impact that entered would explode there.
All of his muscles would have to be relaxed without end like almost liquid.
Much softer than they would be even during sleep. -In the midst of their
raging battle, that is. At the man in front of her eyes who could do that, Stella
looked with horror.

What a guy. Unbelievable.
But at the same time, flames rose up within her chest. As if she would just
sit back and lose. If the other person was going to get stronger, then she too-
(I’ll just smash the blow that can’t be parried!)
“HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”
The moment Ikki’s ‘Madoka’ evolved, the way they fought changed
severely. It was no longer a trade of attack and defense, but a clashing of two
head-on assaults. Neither one spared any defense, relying entirely on their
own attack to drive each other back.
Ikki was trying to overcome her with speed. Stella was trying to overcome

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him with power. They gave everything they had. Steels of souls clashing. The
sparks filled the air, shining more radiantly than the night lights and the ring
of their blades echoed all the way to the highest seats. Every person watching
could see it clearly.

Both were wielding their sword with the intent to kill. In the exchange of
slashes, there was no hesitation at all.

Whoever was falling behind even slightly would be killed. Even though
they were supposed to be a couple in love. But not a single person who saw
the scene doubted their love. It’s because…

“It’s beautiful…”
Those two who were fixed entirely on each other, improving each other –
looked like dancing hand in hand.
Seeing their appearance, Shizuku muttered, “I’m envious of Stella-san…”
“Shizuku?”
“If the opponent was me, Onii-sama would never be so heated up. I’m
certain he would hold back to stop from hurting or breaking his opponent.
But… it’s different with Stella-san. He’s hitting everything he has against
Stella-san. Because he believes… if it’s her she can take everything that he
has to offer…”
What a truly awful woman, Shizuku thought. Getting upset and sulky
every time I dabble a little with my own brother. But what’s the problem.
“Even like this, in Onii-sama’s eyes there was no one else but you…”
“Shizuku…”
“How amazing. Vermillion and Kurogane both.” The one amazed was
Shinguuji Kurono who was watching over the fight in a place not far from
Shizuku and the others. “Every time they’re exchanging attacks, they are
improving at terrifying speed.” Skill, power, speed, everything was. The
scene was like two gems grind against each other. The shine was increasing
the beauty as their speed increased. But Saikyo Nene who was of course
nearby spoke.

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“Well of course. Those two are rivals, after all.”
“…I see. That is true.”
Kurono agreed with Saikyo’s words. They could remember it again. At
just about the same age as Stella and Ikki. An opponent that it was worth
dying to win against was there. The Seven Stars Sword Art Festival final
match where they ruthlessly facing such opponent. Both Saikyo and Kurono
remembered every minute of it. It was a fulfilling time. The tens of minutes
where they didn’t want to lose to just the other person, showing all kinds of
deadly power. A fight that tested their ability more than any other fight ever
had or ever would. The passionate moment to the degree of the feeling of
wanting to embrace the opponent they hate enough to kill. Right now Ikki
and Stella were the same as them from that day, in the middle of a glorious
time. No, they had gone beyond that. Because they were not only strongest
rivals, but also beloved lovers. The feelings they felt towards their strongest
rival and the feelings they felt towards their most beloved lover. Whichever
irreplaceable passion it was, they’re filling it into the same person. It was–
“For knights like us, there’s nothing better…”
“Well, that’s obvious from their expressions.”
Saikyo said so while pointing her folding fan at where Ikki and Stella were
showing smiles as if bearing fangs.
There was no telling how many times their blades had crossed. How many
times the steels had crash into each other. How many times they struck each
other with all their might. But still the enemy before them would not go
down. The blade of their souls struck each other back faster and harder
without a step back. To defeat such an opponent would require becoming
even faster, even stronger – endlessly improving each other. They are going
to the top. It’s likely that if they had not met this person, it would have taken
years, decades for it to reach this level – their own potential. In this moment
they both definitely felt it.
That’s why they should go. Together. To the pinnacle of knighthood.

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It was the promise they made that day being carried out here. …But, no
matter how wonderful the time was, the end was coming. And when
everything ended, only one person would be left as victor. The one at the top
would only be one person. Both who were living in the world of battle knew
that. Therefore, they accelerate much more, racing for the top.

“!!!!!!”
The crowd shivered with excitement as the huge sound of the weapons
echoed. It was as if the passion of the two was spreading, stimulating the
crowd’s mind, with passion in their eyes. In this vessel filled with enthusiasm
– there was just one person, as if bearing pain, a woman staring at the ring
with sorrowful expression. It was ‘Twin-Wings’ Edelweiss.
(So it ended up like this after all.)
She looked down at their battle sadly. It was certainly a beautiful battle.
They were forcing each other to improve, driving each other to greater
heights. It was… truly a spectacular sight. It was the ultimate battle, just what
they had each wanted. But Edelweiss knew. Once they had reached this point,
there was only one outcome. And that outcome would be cruel beyond belief.
The result would soon appear to be obvious to everyone watching. The
struggle for supremacy ended as the ‘Crownless Sword King’ retreated far
behind.
“They’ve finally separated! Kurogane has staggered back from the fight!”
It was a battle where even one step back meant losing. That condition had
just become clear. Having been pushed back, Ikki’s eyes were shaken with
shock. Being forced back in this battle with spirits – was not the cause of his
surprise.
(…This is…)
Ikki could see it. For just a moment it had suddenly appeared, black iron
rings – steel chains wrapped around his limbs like snakes, binding his
movements. Stella charged at the retreated Ikki, clearly aiming for the win.
Her blade sliced through the air towards him. Ikki needed to use back

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Madoka to counter it, but…
CLANG!
The chains around his body were tight, the weight desperately preventing

his movements as if being connected to a mountain.
“K-Kurogane can’t attack back! Can’t reach back! He’s entirely on the

defensive!”
“O-Onii-sama?!” Shizuku screamed at the sight of her brother being

suddenly forced back. Next to her, Arisuin was similarly perplexed.
“Why?! It looks like Ikki’s movements suddenly became dull…”
“Could it be, ‘Ittou Shura’s’ limit–”
But,
“That’s not it.” Moroboshi refuted their thoughts. Being one of the

strongest people in the country, he could see far more than the other two.
“Ittou Shura is still active. His movements hadn’t dulled. It just relatively
looked that way.”

“Relatively, you mean…”
“Kurogane suddenly can’t keep up with the Princess’s movements any
more…!”
And at this development, “Finally, it came,” Edelweiss let out her voice as
if sighing. That’s right, this was definitely the result that she had foreseen.
“Do you know, the reason the rivalry stopped?” As Sara’s hand stopped
sketching those two fighting, Edelweiss replied. “You could call it fate.”
“F-Fate…?”
“The magical power that a Blazer possesses is decided upon birth. For
those carrying great destinies in this world, that power is big. After all,
magical power grants the ability to change the world by defying reasons. But
that also means that upon birth what you are capable of doing in this world is
already decided. Just now the two of them have been improving themselves
at a rapid pace. The journey that would have taken decades to reach from
now, they had gone through it in an instant. And then, as a result the

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‘Crownless Sword King’ has just reached it. The furthest he himself could
possible go.”

“……!”
That’s right. That was definitely the reason the rivalry stopped. In this one
minute, Kurogane Ikki had completely exhausted all the possibilities that he
was allowed to have in this world. There was nowhere left for Kurogane Ikki
to go. The fate that decided his life in this world would not allow him to
progress any further. But it’s different for Stella Vermillion. Since birth she
was an existence that was allowed to greater heights than any other.
Therefore, she had further yet to go. She was still growing. She was different
from Ikki who was chained to the bottom of the earth. Stella had been born
with wings that would carry her as high as the heavens. So it became clear
which of the two was superior.
“It’s a pity, but… he can’t keep up with the ‘Crimson Princess’ anymore.”
It was no longer a matter of skill or effort, but a despairing limit to their
existence. Just as Edelweiss said, this limit parameter decided their match. As
Stella continued to grow at a rapid pace, Ikki could no longer follow. He was
extremely already at the pinnacle of his possibilities. Thus he couldn’t do
anything against Stella’s continued attack.
“YAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!”
“!!!”
Her blade struck ‘Intetsu’, which shuddered from the blow. His posture
crumbled. Stella stepped into the gap and launched an upper body blow. It
was the same sword and fist combination as before. But this time it was not a
direct attack. Ikki had managed to move ‘Intetsu’ back to block her fist. Since
the blade wouldn’t make it in time, he blocked with the hilt. Even if he was
clearly fated to be outmatched, he wouldn’t allow good blows to reach him.
His high clever defense spoke volumes about his skill. But it was useless. The
moment he received her fist, Ikki’s feet left the ground. Before the power of a
dragon, Ikki’s body was in the air like a scrap of paper. In that instant –

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“Pierce through the heavens, flames of purgatory.”
The ‘Crimson Princess’ would decide the match with her finishing blow.
Burning flame gushed from Laevateinn as she swung it up. The rampaging
flame in an instant caused the temperature and light intensity to go up. Her
sword was soon wreathed not in flame, but in light that burned shadows into
oblivion. It shaped itself into a sword of light and heat large enough to strike
the heavens. Stella took that blade and…
“Burn to ash! ‘Katharterio Salamandra’!!!!”
Ikki looked down from his position in midair. Ikki couldn’t dodge. He
couldn’t. It was obvious because his legs were nowhere near anything to push
off from. The only thing he could do was place his device in front of his body
to block the sword was coming towards him while splitting the heavens in
two and. But, obviously he couldn’t even do that. His ability to think had
been swallowed by the sword of light that burned everything. A moment later
his world turned from pure white to pitch black.
“Stella’s greatest move ‘Katharterio Salamandra’ hit directly! Her blade
has sliced through Kurogane who couldn’t move in the air and the giant LCD
monitor as well! Beyond the sea of magma, the batter’s eye seats are left in
black rubble! I can’t see Kurogane anywhere in that rubble! I think he’s
likely buried underneath it!”
“Th-This is bad… Kurogane has been hit with the worst possible ability.”
“Ikki-kun…”
“Anyone would expect this to be the end…”
The crowd stirred as they looked at the caved in section of seats. It had
clearly been a fatal blow to anyone watching. Among the commotion, the
referee’s out-of-bounds countdown began.
“The referee’s out-of-bounds countdown has begun! Stella will be named
the winner if Kurogane is unable to get back into the ring within the count of
ten! But I’m not sure. It seems to me that they should be rushing into rescue
him instead of doing a countdown. After all, he just got hit with the ‘Crimson

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Princess’’ finishing move…” But Kaieda did not agree with Iida’s comment.
“…No, he wasn’t hit directly.”
“Is that so?!”
“Well, he wasn’t fully hit directly, is what I mean. …Stella used a fairly

quick motion this time so that she could hit him in midair with ‘Katharterio
Salamandra’. That attack works by focusing the power of flame into one
place, which means that it requires a build-up period. However, the build-up
period this time was unusually short. That’s why it didn’t have the same
power that we saw in her fight with the ‘Sword Emperor of Wind’. With
‘Ittou Shura’s’ magic increasing his defense against magic attack, I wouldn’t
say he won’t regain consciousness within the ten second count.”

“So he still has a chance?”
But toward the question, Kaieda shook his head . “…No. Unfortunately,
even if he regains consciousness, a minute has passed since he activated
‘Ittou Shura’. He’s already used up everything. …I can’t think of anything he
could do if he did wake up.” Thus, Kaieda thought so. That this countdown
was the referee’s way of showing sincerity to the two fighters.
“O-Ohhh!! Stella has just turned her gaze away from the rubble where
Kurogane is buried! She’s certain of it! Her victory! That the ‘Crownless
Sword King’ won’t get up!”
Stella was sure from the condition. There was nothing more to this fight.
What’s left was just the countdown completing. Once the referee counted to
ten, she would finally have overcome Ikki. –When that happened, she’d raise
her blade to the heavens. She’d show them all that she was at the top.
“Three! Four! Five!”
And, Stella wasn’t the only one certain of the outcome of this fight.
(…It’s fine already, Onii-sama…)
Even Shizuku, a relative of Ikki, understood that there was nothing more
to this fight. Ikki had lost to Stella. It was an unshakable truth. But it wasn’t
sad, she thought. She didn’t think it was frustrating either. –In fact, she was

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proud. Of course. Her brother that she was proud of had fought bravely until
the end. Normally, it would have likely taken him decades to become this
skilled. By watching this fight, nobody would think that her brother was
weak.

(Onii-sama, you’re already a fine hero…)
Nobody would be ashamed to give him the title of Great Hero that had
belonged to Kurogane Ryouma. The rest of the crowd shared Shizuku’s
emotions as they looked at the pile of rubble. Their gaze was not pitying, but
admiring. The spectators, friends, teachers, fellow Seven Stars rivals, all of
them. Not one of them could say, “Don’t give up,” or “Keep trying.” Having
seen the fight first-hand, they all knew – Ikki had given the fight everything
he had. That’s why they could not speak.
Clank… Clink…
The sound of metal on metal could be heard in everyone’s ears.
“………”
When Ikki came too he was surrounded by darkness. He was laying on his
stomach above what felt like wet cold rocks in a limestone cavern. His limbs
were bound by black chains that extended into the darkness around him as
expected. –From that time. The black chains that had suddenly appeared
during his fight against Stella. Ikki understood what they were.
These chains were his fate.
It was obvious, since it was about none other than him. He knew all too
well. This was as far as he could go in this cave-like place where light could
not reach. It was the bottom of the earth which was certainly a fitting place
for an F-rank like himself. He had no right to go beyond this point. The
chains of fate would not allow it. Well it didn’t matter, he had no strength left
in his body to even take a step. He was well and truly used up. His emotional,
physical and magical energy – every last one of it. They had all been thrown
into that one minute gamble. And so he was empty. So empty that a breeze
could carry him away. But that was okay. It was already enough. He’d truly

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given his very best. He’d put his life into it, exploited all of his potential –
even so he couldn’t win.

So there was no helping it now. He’d probably gone too far already. After
all, he had fought the ‘Crimson Princess’ head-on even if it was a minute.
The memory would remain in the hearts of many people. It would be written
in history. Sure, he hadn’t managed to win, but nobody could fault him for
that. Who would blame him if he couldn’t obtain victory? It was a loss no
need to be ashamed to show anyone and had satisfactory end. It was a
satisfactory loss.

That satisfaction…, that cheap satisfaction was nowhere to be found in
Ikki’s heart even a little.

“…………!”
In the darkness, the chains ground against each other, making clanking
sounds. Ikki who was lying on his stomach, the man without the strength to
take even a single step, reached out with his right hand. Then, his nails were
clawing the damp stone.
“…………”
He strongly put strength into his fingers and tried to crawl himself
forward. But obviously he could not move forward. His body was bound by
the chains of fate. Those clinking chains bound his body that was like
dragging mountain. His hand slipped. His fingernails ripped off. Pain. Blood.
He was only hurting himself, which was futile. But…
“……ooh……”
Ikki continued to claw at the stone, even without fingernails to grip with.
Using more strength than before, he gripped and pulled, dragging his empty,
weak body slightly forward.
Why? Why would he do this?
Why? Why could he do this?
Why would he still drive his battered and used up body forward?
Was it his pride as a knight? No. That had long turned to ash.

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Was it admiration for Kurogane Ryouma? No. That had been burned
away.

There was only one reason for Ikki to keep going. The feeling that would
not be exhausted even when kept burning. The one that could not be used up
in about one minute.

The limitless passion that he felt towards just one girl.
“Oooohh…!”
Ikki thought so. Had he not met Stella, had she just been a stranger to him,
he would have been satisfied to be where he was. He would have been
satisfied to reach the end of his ability. But they had met.
They had met, experienced each other – fell in love.
The time they had spent together, slowly growing closer, even fighting
sometimes, their feelings deepened every time of it. Every minute – every
second – spent with her was more precious than any jewel to Ikki.
I love Stella. I love her more than anything or anyone else in the world.
Which is why… I can’t stay here!
“OOOOOOOHHHH…!!!”
He rose to his knees, raising his upper body, dragging the chains with him.
The chains were tight against him, squeezing his entire body. Splitting his
skin, bursting his muscles, cracking his bones. The pain and the weight like
dragging a mountain behind him – seemed to speak to him.
Stop doing the impossible. There is nothing left ahead for a man like you.
This is the end of the road for you.
In reply to all of this Ikki gave a ‘so what’.
Fate would not allow him to go any further. Who cared about that? It was
not his concern. Something like that was no reason for him to stop. It was
obvious, since Stella was getting further ahead of him while he remained like
that. She was using the wings she had been born with to fly anywhere ahead
and above. And someday, she would come across them. Someone with the
same wings, her new rival.

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That… he didn’t want that.
He wouldn’t allow that. Stella’s heart, body, greatest love – her strongest,
everything that she had…
I will not let anyone else have them, not even one!!
So let it burn! The one burning was the limitless feeling in his chest. With
the power of that feeling, he took one more step forward.
It shouldn’t be impossible. Ikki, who had been fighting against fate his
more than anyone, understood. It’s true that fate is probably defined by talent,
but he wouldn’t be able move forward without his feelings.
–His feelings that wouldn’t be crushed even if his body is burned and
charred.
–His feelings that wouldn’t give up even if he’s beyond recovery.
–His feelings that would not falter even if the bitterness of defeat made his
entire body shake.
These feelings are what made people move forward. These feelings are
what made them stronger than they were before. In that case, those should be
the power could cut through fate!
Now go.
Take hold of the power that endlessly fills your heart. Even if this is the
bottom of the earth, cut free of the chains and go forward. Even if this body
has no wings, go up to the sky, to the one beside you. For always and forever,
before the one you love most in this world,
“You better always be your coolest self for me, YOU DUMMYYYY!!”
It’s because you want to be the coolest you could be…!
“OOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!”
In an instant, as his right leg made one step forward, the chains snapped
apart, –Light filled the world of darkness.
It happened when the countdown had reached nine. Every spectator in the
dome had their sight fixed on the pile of rubble at the batter’s eye seats. A
sharp blade seemed to slice the rubble into pieces as it exploded upward.

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“WHA—-”
Then, a flash of light from among the charred black rubble shot towards
the large island where Stella stood and stabbed into the surface. But of course
it wasn’t an arrow. The one bathed in blue light that looked like flame was
none other than the Worst One, Kurogane Ikki.
The match that everyone thought was decided, had been overturned. At
this situation, the dome was filled with surprise and shock.
“WHAT IS THIS?!? I… I can’t believe it! From that state, at the count of
nine Kurogane came back into the ring! A-And this is…! Magic is
overflowing from his whole body! Magic that is clearly more powerful than
before! He should have used up all of his magic from using ‘Ittou Shura’!
Just what could this possibly mean?!”

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Iida was looking to Kaieda for some explanation. However, like the other
audience and Iida, he could only become stunned towards the unbelievable
reality unfolding before them.

“I… I don’t know…! I’ve never seen this situation before!” But, it was a
reasonable reaction. It was not possible for magic to just increase. Magic is a
power that changes the world beyond reason. It is the power of fate itself
guided by the wielder’s own will. Which is why the amount given to each
person was determined upon birth. The fate of each person was decided long
before they came into the world. That is humanity’s common belief regarding
magic. It is common sense for a knight. And yet…

“But, this is…! Other than magic is increasing, I can’t explain it!”
The reality unfolding before their eyes right now was in clear violation of
that belief. Inexplicable, confusion, bewilderment. Anyone in that place was
showing the same reactions as Kaieda. Even that Edelweiss had stood from
her seat staring in shock. It was natural. His magic’s maximum limit was
increasing. The phenomenon that was said to be impossible, Kurogane Ikki
trampling over fate by turning his feelings into power, and the theory that had
been said to be common sense all had been flipped over its basis. But the one
most troubled by what was happening was of course – the Crimson Princess,
Stella Vermillion.
“H…… How……?!”
It was just as Kaieda had said – Katharterio Salamandra had not been
charged properly. It was not impossible that Ikki would get back up. But the
one minute of ‘Ittou Shura’ had already ended. Ikki should have used up
every ounce of his power in his body already. Since the human body has a
system that could consume itself to produce energy, it was possible to muster
up physical strength. But how was it possible to the extent of recovering his
magic? As Stella is puzzled over this…
“Stella.” Ikki began to move. His blade swayed as he lifted it. “I won’t
lose.” He seemed to be smiling while saying it.

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“……!!” From those words, Stella felt shiver ran through her body into
her bones. Was it fear? No. It was delight.

–Ah, that’s right. This man is always like this. He would not lose no matter
how absurd it is, He would not yield no matter how impossible it is. He would
never give up on himself, continue to move forward, always ripping common
sense into shreds. In that case it is just him kicking away common sense once
again. If it’s him he would succeed in something of this degree. He would
kick away common sense, overcome even fate, and then stand in front of me
as the strongest opponent. It is natural. After all, he is, Kurogane Ikki is–

The man I love…!
As I thought there is nothing wrong in front of me. Right now I will make
sure of it from my heart. If it’s with him I can do it. No matter how high, no
matter where, we will go together.
“……”
But that is why… I don’t want to lose. No–, I definitely won’t lose.
Because I want to be worthy to stand alongside this amazing man!
“■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■…!!!!”
The moment the referee gave the signal for the match to renew, a dragon’s
roar drowned it out. At the same time, a change had occurred in Stella’s body
which was visible to the eyes.
The shine produced from her flickering and beating body grew more
intense. The outline of the existence named Stella began to blur into the light
itself. The shine and waves of heat released from it was not the same amount
as before. Her shine filled the surrounding area like midday to the extent of
the stadium lighting having no purpose now, and the sea of magma boiled
even more.
But more than the changing heat and light, the people in the venue felt it–
The feeling of being drawn to Stella. It was not their imagination. Any
small scrap of trash or rubble was being pulled towards Stella who had
become light. A gravity-user like Saikyo Nene quickly understood what was

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happening. It was magnetism.
(She’s created huge concentration of heat energy that she’s throwing the

magnetic fields out of order, generating a gravitational force…!)
The moment any of the debris and rubbish that were being pulled came

near Stella, light was flashing like lightning, leaving none of the trashes
behind. The powerful heat made all objects touching it go through liquid and
gas phases, turning them into plasma. At this point it was like a star. It was a
crimson star shooting out light and creating magnetism on its own.

(What a woman…)
Towards Stella’s power, Kurono was also speechless. That’s right. Ikki
had certainly overcome his limit. Overcoming limit, triumphing over the
common sense, …it was the moment she felt that the match would come to
an end. Yet Stella had sent such light expectations flying. In order to surpass
Ikki who had overcome his limit, she had to evolve herself further. She
realized it. This girl was born outside of common sense. In fact, she was a
‘demon’.
(This is… Stella Vermillion…!)
Facing the ‘Crownless Sword King’, who had overcome his own limits,
the ‘Crimson Princess’ readied all of her strength as she raised her blade. She
put her body into a stance like her opponent, raising her sword of light next to
her face. Her arms were tucked in close against her body, the tip of her blade
aiming directly at her opponent’s life, in a stance that did not hide that the
next attack would be a thrust. During that stance,
“Ikki. The next one will probably going to be our last duel. So I’ll swear it
now.” Stella was staring straight at Ikki. “Even if your life ends from this, I
will continue to love you and only you for the rest of my life.”
Her most beloved feelings in her would never waver. Ikki smiled at those
words.
“–In that case, I really can’t lose now.”
Of course. What man would leave his most beloved girl in such

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unhappiness? He could not let her be widowed. Then what should he do? The
answer had been decided.

“With my strongest, I will destroy your strongest!”
And so the final match of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival that had
continued long, the last fight had begun.
The ‘Crownless Sword King’ and the ‘Crimson Princess’. The final
crossing of their blades. The one that started to charge, –it was Stella. She
had already abandoned long-ranged battle using ‘Katharterio Salamandra’.
The reason was simple. If ‘Ittou Rasetsu’ is activated, he would be inside her
swing and striking her down before ‘Katharterio Salamandra’ could even
land the strike. Even if she tried to distance herself from him, the result
would be the same. With the speed of Ikki using ‘Itto Rasetsu’, he could
charge across the sea of magma before the bottoms of his shoes would burn
down.
There is no victory at backing away. Then forward it is.
Having decided it in her mind, Stella increased the heat on her body with
almost no limit, creating an armor of light. The heat would cause anything
attempting to strike her to simply cease to exist the moment it touched. Ikki’s
blade could no longer reach her. The moment the blade of ‘Intetsu’ touched
Stella’s radiance, its existence would vanish. Her defense was impenetrable.
All that remained to be done was to impale him with the tip of her blade.
Then,–
It would be victory.
“……!!” She firmed her resolve and charged. She became a red shooting
star like her name.
(Amazing…)
It was the thought that went through Ikki’s mind as he stared at her
approaching brilliance with his eyes wide open. They were certainly
different. Even after overcoming his limits once or twice, he could not
possibly shake her off. There was no end to her talent. And right now Stella

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was fully devoted to her talent.
(She’s planning to use the heat that was throwing the magnetic field out of

order to blow away ‘Intetsu’ once it touches.)
With the power that only she could produce, Stella covered her entire

body with it. Something like ‘Intetsu’ wouldn’t be a problem to her if it came
in contact with that light. So what could he do?

–He had decided. He would just have to get his blade in fast enough
before it could be destroyed. There was nothing else. After all, his body had
already used up all of its energy once. By breaking down some of the proteins
inside his own body to gain energy, it would only be enough for one swing.
But Ikki determined that it was enough. Just one thing left. To strike. His
entire life had brought him to just this. There was nothing he could do now
but trust in that one thing. That’s why Ikki would show in front of everyone
what the man named Kurogane Ikki was capable of.

(Well… let’s do it then.)
In an instant, Ikki activated ‘Ittou Rasetsu’ using the magical energy he
summoned with his burning feelings. His body’s strength was amplified a
hundred times and his entire soul was invested into this next one strike. His
body was aware of how to release that one strike. How his own body should
move, how he should swing his sword, how to reach the fastest. Thus, his
body naturally settled into a stance without thinking. His body was at an
angle as he twisted his back and hips around. The blade was held with his
right hand. He moved it across to his left side behind and his left hand
grabbed onto the base of his blade. Though he did not have a scabbard,–
It was the stance of an Iai sword-drawing. One glance at that stance,–
Stella understood Ikki’s intention.
Ikki would strike her down with his fastest attack before her heat could
destroy his blade. His stance, though without a scabbard, revealed it as Iai
sword-draw. His left hand held the blade part of the sword. His right hand on
the handle pushing while his left hand on the blade pulling. By pressing down

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on the arc-shaped blade as if there was a sheath, a powerful force would be
produced from the conflicting force vectors. The speed produced from
releasing that force in that moment would be of a different level from when
holding the sword normally. The sword slash of the ‘Crownless Sword King’
was already difficult to see even when he held his sword normally. The speed
achieved from the Iai sword-draw would be something Stella could not even
imagine. Which means it was possible that his blade would strike down Stella
before it got destroyed. But,–

Stella had already decided that was not an issue. Even if his sword should
breach through the shield of light, even if Ikki had chosen more than just a
sword slash, it wouldn’t be a threat. It was obvious. No matter how fast he
swung his sword, there was still a difference in their reaches. Regardless of
his method, she would be the one to strike first. In that case…,

(I’m going to win…!!!!)
Being convinced of it, Stella stepped boldly forward and swung her blade
of light towards Ikki. It was time to end this. But in that instant Stella’s focus
reached its limit. The view of the surrounding began to disappear from her
mind and what reflected in her eyes was only a white world and certainly a
figure of Ikki striking her with his sword swing. In that world of white with
only Ikki’s figure in it…
………………………………?
Stella remembered something was off. Something,–
There was absolutely something strange. It was as if she had woken up in
the morning to find the sky was pink. It was a horrible discomfort that can be
said to be ridiculous. But what? What was strange? Where was the source of
this discomfort? When she focused her mind further tens of times in that
moment stretching towards infinity, Stella finally realized it. The source of
her discomfort. It was Ikki who swung down his sword – the shadow under
his feet.
The shadow did not move.

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Ikki had swung his sword and yet his shadow remained still. No. It did
move but it was as if it was trying to pursue his movements badly. Stella had
guessed what that meant. His shadow could not keep up with his movements.
Was that even possible? It couldn’t be. It shouldn’t’ be possible for that to
happen.

But after this, this impossible occurrence became known to many people.
Many people had witnessed the scene. Lived by the sword, trusted in it, and
broke through all limits–

A godly attack that even his shadow could not keep up. This was the
ultimate form of ‘sword cutting’ completed by one person. A height that one
day countless individuals would seek to achieve. Based on the significance of
both the occurence and respect it earned, that attack was named to many
people.

The Final Secret Sword – Oikage (Seeking Shadow).
“Kah…… Ha…!”
It was only a moment after their shadows crossed. The one that spilled
blood was Stella.
“Th-The ‘Crimson Princess’ body is spilling blood!! It was a moment of
crimson and blue lights clashing! The one who won from it was the
‘Crownless Sword King’, Kurogane Ikki!!!”
“I… I absolutely don’t know what happened…”
“Kyaaaa! Ikki-kun, you’re amazing!!”
“No way! He really turned the match around from that?!”
It was immediately after everyone had given up on him when ‘Ittou Shura’
was defeated. The betrayal of expectations of everyone in this place had the
entire crowd boiling with energy.
But most of them could not understand what had actually taken place
during the clash. A member of the student council, Saijou Ikazuchi, who was
watching the battle with Touka was no different.
“H, hey, Tomaru, what just happened?”

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But Renren also shook her head on this.
“No, even if you ask me… it was too fast for me to see it.”
Even to the eyes of two strong people from Hagun, the fight between the
‘Crimson Princess’ and the ‘Crownless Sword King’ had reached a different
level. Tohka answered those two.
“It was a sword-drawing art.” She had just barely been able to see what
took place within that moment of clashing.
“You mean like your ‘Raikiri’, Touka?”
Touka rebutted at Utakata’s query.
“No, while my ‘Raikiri’ is also a sword-drawing art, the method of
movement is different. ‘Raikiri’ works by depending on electromagnetic
force to draw the blade from the sheath at high speed, but what Kurogane just
did is the opposite. By gripping the sword tightly with both hands he was able
to build up power into the blade so that when he released the strike it could
move at much greater speeds than normal. To put it simply, it’s the same as
snapping your fingers.”
“Oh, I get it.” Utakata understood from the explanation.
No matter how fast you tried to move your fingers on their own, they
wouldn’t produce any sound in the air. But by building power against the
resistance of your thumb you can create the sharp sound in the air. Ikki had
just used that same idea on slashing.
“But President, even though he could swing his blade faster, Stella-san’s
sword should have hit him first if there’s still a difference in reach between
their devices. How did he manage to bridge the gap between their reaches?”
“Kana-chan. You would know the answer if you look at the grip on
‘Intetsu’.”
As told, Kanata looked at Ikki who is in the ring. Then she realized it. The
black sword he held in his hand. The grip was unusually short, which part of
the handle up to where his right ring finger held was missing.
“Could it be… it melted?!”

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“That’s right. Before Stella’s sword could reach him, Kurogane-kun drew
‘Intetsu’. But with the difference in the reach, he would have received a blow
from her first. So Kurogane-kun swung the handle of his sword instead of the
blade, and the butt of ‘Intetsu’s’ handle struck Laevateinn’ on the side.

“So he altered the trajectory of the thrust…!!”
“He pulled off such strategy during that moment where our eyes couldn’t
even follow…what an amazing man?!”
“He really is an outrageous person…”
In the blink of an eye, he was able to combine attack and defense into a
single concept and skill during that instant. His sword skill, the way he used
it was on a different level.
(You really made me learn something new)…Then, beside the amazed
Touka,
“But, can’t Stella just recover from such injury?” As a reasonable question
came out of Utakata’s mouth after watching the match so far, there was a
movement in the ring.
“Geho…! Goho…!”
Stella coughed up blood and at the same time her body was shaky.
“The blood coming out from Stella’s abdomen won’t stop! Her wound
isn’t healing! Though she is refusing to collapse and keeping up by using her
sword as support, as you can see the damage is deep! The healing from the
dragon’s life force is not working!!”
Looking closely, Stella’s spilled blood was not burning. That’s right,
Stella’s ‘Dragon Spirit’ at this point had faded away. What was the reason for
that? Kurono who was in the audience seat had guessed it.
“I see… so Kurogane wasn’t the only one at his limit in that fight.”
“What do you mean, Kuu-chan?”
“It means ‘Dragon Spirit’ has a major weakness. It’s obvious if you think
about it. Just saying things like ‘a dragon’s physical strength’ or ‘a dragon’s
life force’ is a bit too convenient as an explanation. Her power is the

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embodiment of a dragon. Vermillion was aware of it as well and so last night,
–she had that much meal.”

Saikyo understood as well from those words. “Oh I see, so the weak point
is the calorie consumption.”

That was exactly the case. Every time that Stella uses her abilities like
‘dragon’s physical strength’ or ‘dragon’s life force’, magical energy and
calories at the same time were being consumed. Right now she was using her
‘dragon’s life-force’ to forcibly heal her nearly fatal wound. At the time her
‘dragon metabolism’ had already consumed large amounts of calories. Stella
was completely out of fuel now. As remaining conscious was already
difficult at this point let alone healing her wounds,–

A moment later there was a large sound and the ‘Laevateinn’ she leaned
on cracked and shattered.

“Aaaahhh!!! The ‘Laevateinn’ she used to support herself had shattered!!”
Stella’s body who had lost its support was about to collapse on the ring.
Or it should have.
“……!!”
Stella would not accept it.
(My legs… can’t give out…), Stella told herself as her body tried to
maintain its support.
Her energy or core was exhausted, her device had shattered, but as long as
she had even a scrap of consciousness remaining,
(Keep… my head… up…)
No matter what others thought of her, or how pitiful she was, or how badly
they laughed at her for not giving up…
(Don’t… lose sight… of the goal…)
That was…the least she should do as the challenger.
As Stella stumbled she faced Ikki and thrust her fist towards him. Ikki,
who was watching her quietly, did not dodge her fist that was approaching
his chest slowly. He knew that she didn’t have the strength to defeat him.

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Also, he knew the importance of what was clenched in her fist. So Ikki took it
with his chest. He accepted it.

“I will… definitely… not lose… next time…!”
While her face became strained from frustration, the words she said had
some pride in them. A moment later when her willpower had been exhausted,
Stella’s body collapsed. But her body didn’t hit the hard surface of the ring. It
was because Ikki took one step forward and embraced Stella’s body. Then, he
said it. Strongly, while hugging Stella’s body with all of his strength.
“No… I will win again for sure.”
Soon after the referee crossed his arms. The buzzer to signal the end of the
match sounded, –the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival had ended.
“THE MATCH IS OVERRRR…!!!! Just as Stella finally lost her strength,
the referee called out the name of the winner! It was filled with reversals! It
was a fight to the death with them gave their all! The one left standing at the
end of this deadly match is… Hagun Academy 1st year! F-ranked!
KUROGANE IKKI—!!!!”
“OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”
At the result below them, the hands of anyone in the audience made
thundering applause with as much strength as possible. Those who had
cheered for Ikki, those who had cheered for Stella, with no difference
between them were congratulating the victor. Among them, the figures of
those who lost to Ikki and whose dreams had been destroyed were also
present.
“A… Amazing! He really did it! He really defeated that A-rank monster!”
“It was so brilliant… I… I can’t even describe it.”
Moroboshi was delighted while jumping up like a kid. Even the calm
Jougasaki’s white skin was flushed with excitement all the way to his ears.
Beside them, Ikki’s friend Arisuin was wiping tears from the corner of his
eyes. Arisuin knew how much sacrificies he made to reach the top of this
place. He even knew about the screams he couldn’t hear himself, the

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impossible things he went through repeatedly. That is why he was glad of his
victory like it was his own. But as expected she was probably the one who
would be even far more overjoyed, Arisuin then turned his sight at her.

“You must be so happy, Shizuku.”
But,
“……!!”
Shizuku did not even reply to Arisuin, and with her expression changed
she leapt over the fence and towards the magma sea. Instantly, the body of
Ikki who was embracing Stella was shaking violently, toppling towards the
ground from his back.
“Toudo Heigen!!”
“W-What?! The sea of magma has… frozen…!”
“Isn’t that the Worst One and the Sword Emperor of Wind’s little
sister’s…?”
“It’s Lorelei!”
The audience was shocked at the sudden intrusion. But Shizuku ignored
all of them, dashed across the frozen field towards the pair, and yelled with
her expression changed.
“Hurry and get a stretcher! Please get Onii-sama and Stella-san to the
infirmary!”
At those words, men dashed out from each gate carrying stretchers. They
then loaded the two ragged knights into the stretchers. Had they completely
lost consciousness? Both didn’t even twitch.
“Did they both pass out?”
“…They gave it their all.”
“Yeah. …They were amazing. They were so strong…”
“Right now, thunderous applause with no sign of stopping is pouring
down on the two who are leaving the ring! Both the winner and loser are
unable to stand on their own! That’s how far these two knights competed
with each other with everything they had! Anyone in attendance today will

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probably never forget the jewel-like shine of these two! Even if the era has
changed, even if showing their pride with their power ends up being called
foolish, even if the tradition of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival becomes
buried deep in history, we will…definitely never forget it…! True strength
definitely exists in them!!!”

Thunderous applauses were pouring down on the two unconscious knights
that were being carried off. The former opponents they faced, Akatsuki
Academy’s Sara and Kazamatsuri, were also present in the middle of it.

“Ikki… congratulations…”
“Ku ku ku! I knew that my Demon Eye of Twilight could not be wrong!
That man is suitable to be my butler when I have conquered the world
evetually…! He backs down from nothing…! Right, Charlotte!”
“Grrrrrrr!” Charlotte growled while her face was still expressionless.
Behind her, in the middle of all the applause ringing to the ears, Edelweiss
was watching Ikki being carried out of the ring.
“…He is truly an amazing boy. He always manages to surpass my
expectations.” She made a voice filled with admiration. “Who would have
thought…he could have achieved ‘Brute Soul (Awakening)’ at such a young
age.”
It wasn’t clear if that was a good thing or not. Existing within fate meant
that you were a prisoner of that fate and at the same time being protected by
fate. There was always some measure of happiness to be found there. It was
an area where anyone seeking a peaceful life would not step outside of.
Consequently, she knew knights who had reached that point and stepped back
on their own will. But, –Ikki did not stop. He had stepped towards it. He
ignored god’s warning. Outside of fate, towards the ‘domain of demonic
beings’.
(With that one step the ‘Crownless Sword King’ became an existence
outside of this world’s karma.)
Rather than following fate, he would become an existence that writes the

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future of this world. In other words–
“Those two may just have the power needed to avoid that ‘future of

despair’ that you saw – Your devotion was not in vain.” Edelweiss said as she
smiled at Tsukikage.

Tsukikage slightly smiled wryly at those words. “…You think so? Ede”
“Yes. Of course I do. And so do the ‘Desperados (Majin)’ other than
myself.”
As she replied, Edelweiss’ eyes swept over the venue. Right now in the
crowd, those who possessed great powers to lead have gathered from around
the world.
Others like Edelweiss wouldn’t be spoken of publicly even by one person,
but they were imposing. Those who had surpassed being human, and would
fight against each other one day to decide the future of the world.

Then,“Every single one of them should be certain of it. A new possible future
has just been born.”

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Tsukikage closed his eyes at Edelweiss’ words. He remembered… the
sight he saw when he visited the Kurogane household back when he had been
running for the House of Representatives. The figure of a boy who while
sweating kept swinging his sword in solitary despite not asked to be anyone’s
opponent and was ignored by everyone, and did not waste away or give up.

“…It is reassuring then.”
It was because it would probably be a world with full of hope and
kindness far more than the one he had ‘seen’ before.

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FINAL CHAPTER B: STANDING SIDE BY SIDE

After the final match, Ikki and Stella who had collapsed were carried to
regeneration tanks in the infirmary. They were given treatment there.

“……………”
When Ikki finally regained consciousness, it was around midnight.
“This is……”
He opened his eyes to reveal a ceiling of patterned tiles. Ikki immediately
realized it was the infirmary where he had slept the night before. He also
noticed the presence of the silver-haired girl sitting beside his bed.
“Good evening, Onii-sama.”
“Shizuku… Ah, I see… that time I passed out in the ring…”
“How do you feel? Is there any place that hurts?”
During that, Ikki turned his mind towards his body. Certainly, a heavy
feeling of fatigue still remained. But…at the same time there was also a sense
of fulfillment.
“That’s right… I won against Stella…”
That terrifyingly powerful knight. As he was convinced it was not a
dream, Ikki clenched his fist.
“By the way, where is Stella?”
She’s here.”
The voice came from the opposite side of where Shizuku was sitting.
When Ikki turned his head, there were figures of Arisuin sitting on a folding
chair and Stella lying in a bed like him.
“It looks like even someone like Stella would be sleeping soundly at this
time.”
“Stella…”
Ikki looked closely at Stella who was lying down. Her breathing when
asleep was normal and her complexion was good. It seemed she had suffered
no lasting damage.

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“Thank goodness.”
“Says the guy that cut her down.”
“D-Don’t phrase it in an unpleasant way…”
“Ufufu, I’m sorry.” As he apologized, Arisuin stood up from his chair.
Then, he started to speak to Shizuku. “Well then, Ikki has woken up so
should we return to the hotel about now? It’s already quite late.”
Shizuku nodded in reply. She was also thinking of leaving after waiting
for Ikki to wake up after all. “Yes. …Onii-sama. A change of clothes has
been placed next to the bed. Tomorrow morning, I’ll come wake you up
before the award ceremony, so today please rest your body at ease.”
“Will do.”
“And…” Shizuku held Ikki’s bony hand between both of her small hands
and smiled broadly, “Congratulations. Onii-sama. Up until now, Onii-sama
today was the coolest.” She congratulated him on his victory.
“Yeah… Thanks.”
“The celebration is still for tomorrow, let’s do it after we get back to
Tokyo. I’ll introduce you to a good place.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
“Just leave it to me. Later.”
“Today, please just rest your body at ease.” After saying that, the two left
the infirmary.
In the infirmary there was a faint moonlight shining inside. Only Ikki and
Stella remained. The only sound during the silent night was the ticking of a
clock and Stella’s soft breathing when asleep. Ikki’s eyes were naturally
drawn to Stella who was sleeping on the bed next to his.
“………I……kki……”
“……!”
Suddenly, Stella was calling out Ikki’s name. Was she awake? Thinking
that, Ikki left his bed and came close to her but Stella who was lying on the
bed was still apparently in comfortable sleep while breathing softly. She was

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just talking in her sleep. Ikki who was a bit disappointed sat down on the
folding chair Arisuin was on before. Just what kind of dream she was seeing?
While thinking that, he could never understand even when he was staring at
her sleeping face. But…

“……………”
There was a feeling in his chest that kept coming and going. The
fulfillment of this day. The expression of the girl he competed with
desperately together while he was overcoming the peak his limits. Her
burning eyes. Her ferocious smile. Her presence that was nothing but
magnificent, Ikki had remembered it.
Thump, thump.
When he remembered any of it, his heart was beating fast. It was because
this girl was here that he was able to become this strong. Because this girl
had faced him and fought against him so seriously.
“Stella…”
Whenever he remembered her, he became drowned in his love for her that
was overflowing from within him. As that emotion stirred him up, Ikki
slightly rose from his chair. He was leaning over Stella on her bed. Then, he
gently touched her cheek. That was, something he should not have done.
“Ah… I…kki… funyuu~”
Even in her sleep she could tell that it was Ikki’s hand. She smiled in her
sleep and nuzzled against his hand like a cat rubbing her smell on him.
“~~~~~~~~~~~!”
At Stella’s action, Ikki felt something rumbling around in his brain. –––
What a cute living thing. His heart was pounding so loudly already and his
blood was boiling. His body temperature was rising and his throat was dry.
Then, his eyes were naturally drawn to Stella’s moist…wet and shining lips
that was in front of him and bathed in moonlight. He wanted to hug her tight
immediately. He wanted to kiss her. …He couldn’t wait for her to wake up.
Wanting to kiss the person you love was natural. After all, Stella had allowed

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it every time they did. With such convenient excuse and after KO-ing the
feelings of guilt of stealing the lips of a sleeping girl, Ikki was drawn into
Stella’s lips like a bug attracted by a flower…

“Itadakimasu…”
“Huh? A meal?”
Her eyes popped open wide and their gazes met. It was at such a short
distance that they could feel each other breaths and were very close coming
into contact.
“……………?!!?!?!?!??!”
Ikki’s face was right in front of her the moment she woke up. The
situation was enough to cause Stella’s brain to boil––
“M-Morning, Stella.”
“KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”
“GUH!!”
Her knee struck his solar plexus in a flash.
“I… I’m sorry! Ikki! I… I really hit you hard… are you okay?!” Stella
asked while patting Ikki’s back as he was prostrating on the floor trembling
from the pain. Ikki then replied,“Y-Yeah… fine… I’m really fine…”, but his
face was dripping with a cold sweat as if not looking fine. Seeing Ikki’s
expression like that, Stella began to feel guilty with her eyebrows drooped.
“Auh… I’m really sorry, okay? B-But it’s because Ikki was at such
position…”
“Yeah, just now was about 200% my fault. So don’t worry about it.” After
Ikki reminded her like that, Stella finally stopped apologizing. And then she
realized she was in a room she didn’t recognize at all.
“Come to think of it… where is this?”
“The Bay Dome’s infirmary. It seems we were carried here after the
match,.”
“Oh, it’s because it’s my first time being sent to the infirmary during this
tournament that I didn’t recognize it.” She muttered, then made a deep sigh.

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“…That’s right. I lost, huh.”
Ikki could feel the discomfort in Stella’s words. Just as he had felt the

fulfillment of winning against Stella after waking up, there seemed to be
feeling of regret recurring in her chest. After thinking about it, he had a
feeling that there was no way he should be here.

“Uh, um… should I step outside for a bit?”
“Hm? Why?”
“Well… as expected we just finished the match today, so I thought me
being here might be unpleasant.”
“Not at all.” Stella replied to Ikki’s suggestion without hesitating
nonetheless. “Ikki, could it be that you thought I would cry? I wouldn’t do
something so wasteful.”
“Wasteful?”
“That’s right. Sure… there is feeling of regret burning inside me, but I’m
not going to do something wasteful by crying it out. It’s because this feeling
of regret is a power that will make me stronger. I have to store it, burn it as
fuel, then build it up so that I can come back and beat you next year.”
As Stella declared it, she smiled which her white teeth could be seen. It
was a powerful smile. It seemed that she was serious. Her feelings had
already changed towards revenge for next year. That optimism of hers made
him think again – what a strong girl she really is.
“…As expected of Stella.”
“Also, it’s not just regret by the way.”
“Eh?”
“My prediction, it’s because it wasn’t wrong so I knew for sure.”
Her prediction was she felt that if it was with Ikki she could go anywhere
no matter how high. Considering the gap in their talents, the expectations
were too heavy for Ikki. However, Ikki responded to her expectations in such
simple form. That they would go anywhere together. For the man she loved
the most to be the strongest man was the greatest happiness possible. That

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was why as she reached down to him on the floor for a handshake,
“Ikki. From now on always, always be my number one, okay?” she said

while showing signs of embarrassment.
That was, –––not good. Extremely, not good. From those words, Ikki’s

heart, which had settled down once from the trouble just now, had fired up.
To the point of no return already.

“………!!!”
“Eh?! Kya!!”
In the next moment, Ikki ignored Stella’s outreached hand and gripped her
shoulder, and like that he pushed Stella’s body down onto the bed behind her.
“……………”
“I… Ikki…?” Stella who was taken aback by what was happening, looked
up with a surprised face at Ikki who was hanging on top of her. Ikki was
reflected in Stella’s eyes… his face was brighter red than her eyes.
–––Embarrassment.
As he was thinking of what he should say, it looked like his face was
about to catch fire. But… even so, it seemed that this feeling bubbling up in
his chest could not be concealed again. So Ikki forced his stiff throat to move
and said the words out.
“Um… S-Stella. That time when we went to Okutama with the student
council, what I said in the mountain cabin… do you remember? About …
doing lewd things with you, is something I can’t do without having even met
your parents.”
“Y-Yeah… I remember. …It made me really happy.”
Really happy. He groaned softly at those words. It was really something
unthinkable that he had said. No, at that time it was exactly what he truly felt,
and he felt confident in it… but now… it was already impossible. So,
“After trying to look cool like that before, it really is difficult to say
though…” Ikki said to Stella in an apologetic tone. “That… please forget that
I ever said that!”

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“–––Huh?”
She didn’t understand immediately the meaning of those words. But, from
the way that Ikki was holding her down and from his face flushing bright red
even to his ears, the words just now had connected with her brain’s response
and eventually, ––she understood what he was trying to say. In an instant,
Ikki’s ‘fever’ had spread to Stella as well. Her cheeks were hot, spreading
even to her ears, and her voice became half an octave higher.
“That, t-th-that, C-C-C-COULD IT BE~~~~!?”
“W-Well… that’s… what it means…”
“~~~~~~~~~!!! J-Just… Just wait! Wait! W-What are you saying all of a
sudden, Ikki?! Are you serious!? I mean are you for real!? The strong Ikki
who didn’t lose to temptation even after seeing my immodest appearance,
where did he go!?”
“He died.”
“Died!?”
It was a very harsh way of phrasing it, but Ikki couldn’t say it in any other
way. After all, right now he was not sure anymore how he should show some
restraint in front of his charming lover, since he couldn’t understand his
feelings completely at the time. So––
“Today, when I fought against Stella, when I reached my limit, I thought
about it. If I were to stop here, you would go on ahead alone. Then… you
would find and compete with someone stronger than me. But… when I
imagined it, I really didn’t want that. My head was going crazy with hate for
whoever that ‘someone’ was. I don’t want anyone else to have any part of
you. I want all of you to myself only. It was that one feeling that drove me
forward. That feeling… lit a fire in my empty heart. And then, that fire even
now is still not gone…!”
Ikki wouldn’t stop. The next words out of his mouth, even though he
understood they would decisively progress their relationship, he had to say
those few words. He didn’t care about appearing cool. Almost pestering,

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pleading. Directly from his heart, ––he said it.
“Right now, I want to make love to you, Stella…!”
“…………………” At those words her scarlet eyes, which Ikki was

reflected in them, were largely shaking. The emotions in them were shock,
bewilderment, turmoil, and––

“Is that a no…?”
“Stupid Ikki…”
Overflowing delight. As Stella smiled a little, she reached up her hand
against his cheek, and pinched him gently.
“…Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for those words?”
That’s right. She had waited the whole time. She was truly happy when he
said that they could not do such things without greeting her parents first and
that he wanted to treasure their relationship. But, that happiness did not
change the feelings of what a woman would want their most beloved man to
seek from her. If Ikki wanted to, at any time––she had always thought of it.
So,
“So… right now… I’m really happy…!” Warm tears overflowed from her
scarlet eyes. That sparkle, which acknowledged her whole self, had become
like courage for Ikki and pushed his back forward.
“Stella…!”
“Ah, but wait!” She pushed back the impatient Ikki forcefully.
“Stella?” Ikki was confused since he’d not expected her to ask him to wait
at this timing, during this flow. Stella looked at Ikki with inquisitive eyes and
asked.
“Ikki, although you said those things, have you carefully prepared ‘that’?”
“’That’…?”
In response, while muttering “I… I’m saying…”, Stella let out the words
with difficulty.
“I-it’s true that I had waited for you to say something like that after all,
right? But, we’re still students, we haven’t gone to properly meet each of our

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parents, …and I plan to fight against you again next year, so… uhm… it
would be troubling if I get pregnant, wouldn’t it?”

“……………ah.”
Even someone as dense as Ikki would realize it after being told that much.
And of course he had not come prepared. Realizing this, he became
embarrassed by his carelessness.
“S-Sorry! To think that I… just got so caught up in it…!”
“……That’s what I thought. Ikki, you love making rather sudden moves,
huh.”
“Uuuuu…” As he was strongly being stared by Stella with criticizing eyes,
Ikki groaned in an apologetic manner. It was natural for Stella to be angry.
As a man, this was something he should have paid attention to. Yet he had
completely forgotten about something so important and let his desires go
wild. If there was a hole nearby he’d like to crawl into it. Even if there was
none, he would like to dig a hole and then crawl into it. It looked like he
would cry at his pathetic self. At any rate, as long as he wasn’t prepared he
could not force to do it.
“Th… Then I will hurry and go buy it now…!” Though it was not a cool
thing to say, there was no other way so Ikki got up. But,
“W-Wait!” Stella grabbed Ikki’s arm. “L-leaving a girl alone after causing
her to feel like this is a loss of points you know, a huge loss of points! You
don’t really have to go buy it right now!”
“No, but…something like that is-”
“It’s fine! Just wait a little!” As she said that with a face that seemed
embarrassed for some reason, Stella opened her expensive make-up pouch
inside the basket that had change of clothes stored on the side of the bed.
Then, she grabbed what she wanted after searching for a short while…and
after her feelings were somewhat decided, with a quiet voice,
“…Use this.” She said as she took out a square, plastic-sealed object from
the pouch and handed it to Ikki.

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“…!?”
He had never used one, but Ikki had knowledge about it. It was definitely
‘that’, which he knew information about it. But for such a thing to turn up
now…
“S-Stella, could it be, you had prepared it all this time?”
“~~~~~~~!” During that, Stella’s face became red as if it would catch on
fire.
“It-It-It’s not like I was expecting for it to happen all this time, it’s not like
that, okay!? It’s not!! It’s just… that… only because I could be well-prepared
whenever my lover asked for it! Y-Yeah! This is normal etiquette for a
princess!”
(I-It’s normal, huh. Princesses are really amazing.)
“C… could it be that you think I’m a disgraceful woman…?”
“I don’t think of such things.” Ikki immediately denied back at Stella who
had an uneasy look. He would not think of such rude things. In fact, he had
learned from Stella’s concern what he had missed, and so he was grateful.
“Thank you. I’ll properly be more careful from now on.”
“You should. …because it was really embarrassing to buy those.”
As he promised and nodded, Ikki took it from Stella’s hand. (Huh? It’s
thicker than I would have thought…) Then it began to unravel down to ten
times longer. (What the heck is this?!) It seemed that there were ten packaged
together.
W-well, just because they were packaged like that probably doesn’t mean
they all have to be used at once. It is obvious. It can’t be like that.
As he warned his agitated heart, Ikki detached one piece away by ripping
the lines along the top with his fingers and the ripping sound of plastic was
heard. That was…the signal that preparation was complete.
“…………We’re really…… going to do it… right now…?”
“Y… Yeah…”
Now that preparation was complete, their hearts once again were filled

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with embarrassment. He couldn’t look straight at Stella’s face. Stella was also
the same, even though she was checking at Ikki by sneaking quick glances
with her moist eyes, they both would look away immediately if their gazes
met. They continued like that for three minutes in silence.

(What are we doing…)
They couldn’t just keep avoiding each other. Not after all the courage they
had already worked up. (At a time like this, the man needs to pull himself
together…!) And so Ikki took a deep breath and faced Stella on the bed.
“Stella!”
“Y-Yes!”
“I’m not much… but I’ll be in your care!”
“L-Likewise, please take care of me.”
And so as they were feeling many things that seemed pointless, their first
night together had begun.
Stella’s upper body was laid on the curled sheets of the pure white bed as
if being cared for, with the blue moonlight faintly illuminating her. While
wearing the simple white one piece dress which must have been put on her
when she was admitted into the infirmary, that faint light casted shadows
from every curve of her body. That alone was enough to set someone’s mind
ablaze. It was weird. He should have already seen her in a more immodest
appearance but now looking at her like this, he couldn’t stop it. He wanted to
run his fingertips, palms, lips over every inch of her. Just thinking about it
made him nervous and his heart unable to stop racing out of control. It was
understandable. Ever since he had come to like this girl, he had longed for
this day to come.
“This is embarrassing…” It was probably the same for Stella. Regardless
of whether or not her bust was too large for her stature, her chest was heaving
up and down from being nervous, but her eyes were looking up at Ikki with a
glint of anticipation. She felt anxious and excited from not knowing what
would happen to her. The light in her eyes reflected the combination of those

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two emotions. And so Ikki responded to that. He hid his hesitation and
embarrassment, leaned over Stella and extended his hand to her clothes.

“W-Wait…” Just as Ikki’s fingers were almost at the top button, her small
voice stopped him.

“H-hey… right now, I’m… not wearing a bra…, so it’s embarrassing so
suddenly…, from the bottom…please …”

“S-Sorry…” He automatically apologized in response to Stella’s request.
Though it wasn’t really the time for him to apologize. Nothing made much
sense to him anymore. But if Stella didn’t like it, then from the top was no
good. Starting at the top or the bottom, it was all the same. In that case, it was
probably better to make it easier for Stella. After deciding it, Ikki reached out
his hand to the button around Stella’s knee, and started unbuttoning one by
one. It was like unwrapping a precious present without damaging it.

With each button undone, Stella’s body was revealed from the bottom.
Her round knees. Her very white voluptuous plump thighs. Her crotch hidden
by her inner thighs pressed together, and protected by simple hospital
underwear. Then, above her pure white stomach there was something jiggling
and contracting when she respired.

(Wow… this is… not good…)
While he was excited to the point that he thought he would be sweating
blood as well, Ikki had realized it. He was walking through an unthinkable
landmine. Truthfully…he had imagined of unbuttoning them little by little
from the top. He expected how it would happen. He had previous experience
during the time at the mountain cabin so he was ready. But, he hadn’t
anticipated things to go this way. Even though it was the same thing, it felt
different just from changing the order. As a result he wasn’t prepared, and his
reasoning was lost little by little as what he saw became more exposed. He
wanted to force open her shivering thighs that were closed in shyness. He
wanted to rub his hands across that pure white stomach and grabbed the
completely clean bottom part with his fingernails. His wild desires were

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burning him up from inside his whole body. Then…when he undid the button
above her bellybutton, fireworks burst in his head. As Stella breathed and her
chest rose, her dress opened from the button on top of her breasts to either
side. The bottoms of her breasts were exposed with the dress clinging on
them.

“……!!” His eyes were fixated on the flattened round white flesh. …Just
how soft are they? His boiled desire and curiosity tempted his fingertips.

“!!”
When the tip of his middle finger touched the skin of her breast, Stella’s
body shivered. She clenched her eyes closed and clamped her lips tightly
together as if to stop from crying out. But she did not resist. So he took it as a
good thing. He slightly put more strength to the pulp of his finger. Then, his
finger sunk into the soft flesh without resistance. The sensation of the
opposite sex that his body never felt before caused a shiver ran up his spine.
Next, Ikki’s index finger accompanied his middle finger on her breast. He ran
his fingers against the line of the bottom of her flattened breast and they
slipped into the gap.
“Hyu!”
The underside of her breast was touched. The sensation she felt for the
first time made Stella’s ruby eyes opened with bewilderment. But she did not
make any objection. So Ikki did not stop. He gently slid his fingers in further.
Her skin was utterly smooth. Her breast that his fingers were on was so soft
as if melting and had a considerable weight. They were warm. His fingers felt
like they would melt.
“~~~~~~!!! aah…!”
Stella’s body showed a small reaction from having her breast stroked from
underneath. An adorable voice leaked out of her moist lips. He wanted to
hear more of them. So he turned his finger under her breast and curled it to
gently lift it up. In an instant,
“…k, kuu!!”

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