Next, Bronya lifted White Night slightly and placed him on her fair, slender thighs, her delicate hands gently pressing against his temples.
Since it was herself anyway~ White Night did not hold back and simply closed his eyes to enjoy the massage. "Of course I know what Ning Yin is like. After all... she's the Yaksha Princess!"
"If you know that, then stop complaining."
"I can't not complain."
As he spoke, White Night slowly opened his eyes, wanting to see Bronya's pair of silvery-pink eyes. But, emmm... a pair of full breasts lay in the way. He could not see anything at all!
"What is it, White Night?"
Although they had not established a mental link, Bronya still vaguely sensed something and leaned down slightly to look at him.
White Night raised a hand and gently brushed Bronya's face. "Didn't you notice? The one who's died several times was me! This is gender discrimination!"
( ? ? ? )
At that moment, the little hands massaging him stopped. "So according to White Night... do you also want to watch Bronya die a few times?"
"Huh? Wait, wait, wait! That's not what I said!"
But it was too late. Bronya left White Night behind and walked away. "Bronya believes White Night needs some time alone to clear his head."
"Come to think of it, I haven't gone to see Ikki in a long time, have I? White Night can lie here playing dead for now."
The dormitory door slowly closed. The light was swallowed by darkness, leaving White Night alone in the end. "...Well, that really made me a little angry~"
"Long time no see, Ikki. By the way, these people are..."
Had Ikki already started the Kurogane Training Class? Bronya roughly understood, but she still asked.
"It's Bronya. It really has been a long time. As for these classmates, they're temporarily training under me, I suppose~"
Ikki did not call himself their master and was thoroughly humble. Then he took a closer look. "Huh, White Night isn't here?"
"He died."
In a calm tone, Bronya unilaterally announced White Night's death. "Training is dangerous. White Night died, over and over again."
"...Ahaha~"
After a brief silence, Ikki came back to his senses and scratched his head with a laugh. "What are you talking about, Bronya? How could anyone in this world die over and over again?"
"Yes, so that guy is still alive."
Bronya nodded and casually changed her statement. She had indeed been telling the truth earlier, but no one believed her~
"So White Night was injured?"
Other than injury, Ikki could not think of any reason that would separate the two people who were practically inseparable.
"Not really. He's just a little tired. He'll be fine after resting for a while."
Bronya's gaze swept across the people present, but she did not spot Ayatsuji Ayase... It seemed the Swordsman Killer incident had not begun yet.
After a day of basic training, the sun set in the west, leaving only the lingering glow of dusk at the horizon as the group walked back toward the dormitories.
"Brother, are you very tired?"
Shizuku seemed even more aggressive now. Relying on their sibling relationship, she naturally held Ikki's hand, her soft little hand rubbing the calluses on his as she showed a sister's concern.
As for Stella? Emmm... she was a weakling, far too lacking in initiative, and could only watch enviously from behind.
After enduring Ning Yin's brutal beatings and returning to everyday life, Bronya felt as though a lifetime had passed. Still... this was not bad either~
"Ikki, aren't you going to deal with that over there?"
Walking to one side, Bronya shifted her gaze slightly and saw two unusual "cauliflowers" growing on a large tree behind them.
This disguise was certainly distinctive: a little purple-haired head poked out, and below it... a rounded curve was exposed. She could not hide both ends at once, could she?
(Excellent camouflage skills.jpg)
"Ah, I know. It's been almost a week already, right?"
Arisugawa, standing beside Ikki, nodded as well. "Since Ikki didn't react, I didn't say anything."
"But this can't go on. No matter what, we should talk to her first."
"Alright. I'll ask her what she wants."
Ikki nodded, then looked toward where Ayatsuji Ayase was hiding. "Hey! The person hiding there, did you need something from me?"
"!!!"
Having been called out, Ayatsuji Ayase seemed to panic. She hurriedly stepped back and tripped over herself.
(White.jpg)
"T-This is a misunderstanding! I-I-I'm..."
Ayatsuji Ayase threw away the two little branches in her hands. As she frantically tried to explain herself, she slowly backed away. Then, with a splash, she fell straight into the pond.
Emmm... that was kind of cute~
Bronya roughly knew what would happen next. After weighing it up, she ultimately bid the group farewell. "You can handle things here. Bronya needs to go take care of White Night."
"I see. Then Bronya should go ahead. And please give White Night my regards while you're at it."
"Mm, Bronya will remember." Bronya nodded, turned around, and left alone.
"You're back. How far did things get on Ikki's side?" White Night leaned against the sofa, his complexion mostly restored.
—He possessed the Life Chronicle and had absorbed the advantage points of countless creatures. Though he was no longer in the original world and could not use it to its fullest extent, his recovery ability remained exceptional!
"They just reached the Swordsman Killer part."
"The Ayatsuji Style? I could take some inspiration from that."
"No~"
Bronya lowered her head and operated the Handheld Console, but her calm voice carried an unmistakable firmness. "White Night has had his fun for so long. It's Bronya's turn now."
"Huh, but..."
"I said! It's Bronya's turn now!" Rarely, Bronya used the word "I."
What could White Night say to that? "Alright, alright. Then what about Ning Yin's tutoring afterward?"
"Isn't White Night enough for that?"
"Emmm... fine~"
The next day, Ayatsuji Ayase indeed joined the training class. Ikki corrected her movements, but... the whole process looked rather...
How should one put it? Ambiguous, or perhaps suggestive? Bronya quietly activated Heavy Armor Rabbit Camera Mode and recorded everything. "This is quite interesting."
In the video, Ikki pressed Ayatsuji Ayase's fair thighs and slender arms bit by bit... correcting her sword stance according to her physique.
"Ikki, this is publicly recognized harassment~" Bronya slowly emerged from the shadows, waving the dark blue camera in her hand.
"Huh? Wait, I was helping..."
"Mm-hm~ Just kidding." Even so, it was hard to see any change in Bronya's expression.
Only then did Ikki let out a sigh of relief, looking somewhat helpless. "That isn't funny at all, Bronya."
"But at least Bronya laughed."
Emmm... did she? It was completely impossible to tell!
From then on, Bronya joined the training as well. Compared to Ning Yin's place, this was incredibly easy~
The days passed quietly, one after another. There were a few selection matches mixed in, but the results... were obvious. Ikki and the others won decisively.
At a small restaurant:
"Thank you very much, Kurogane-kun! This meal is on me today. Order whatever you want."
Ayatsuji Ayase sat quietly across from Ikki and thanked him. "Ever since Kurogane-kun began teaching me, I can feel myself improving every day."
"Little by little, I feel like I'm getting closer to becoming like my father. I don't even know how to thank you, Kurogane-kun."
"No, it's mainly because Ayatsuji worked hard herself. I think that even without my help, Ayatsuji would have realized it sooner or later."
"...Sooner or later?"
Ayatsuji Ayase lowered her head slightly, her voice so quiet that even Ikki could not hear it clearly. Still, he could roughly guess that there was some kind of story behind it.
Bronya was not interested in that. Her senses spread outward, discreetly enveloping the small restaurant.
Tap, tap~
A burst of disorderly footsteps approached as a group dressed like thugs headed toward their table. "Isn't that Ayase?"
"Little Ayase, long time no see~"
One of the lackeys walked at the front. Just from his voice alone, he clearly was not a good person. "I was wondering where you'd gone~ I really missed you."
"..."
Silence fell. Ayatsuji Ayase lowered her head, her purple bangs hanging naturally and casting a broad shadow across her face.
"Excuse me, but you seem to be making my friend unhappy. Could I ask you to step aside?"
Ikki remained polite. However... his opponents had no such manners. "Hey, kid, who the hell are you? Keep talking and I'll kill you!"
"...You're a swordsman, aren't you?"
At that moment, Kurashiki Kurato spoke. He too radiated an unconventional air: a leather coat, a beast-fang necklace, and a skull tattoo on his chest...
Emmm... one could only say he had personality~
He picked up a bottle of alcohol from a nearby table. "Sorry, brother. We interrupted your meal."
"Take this as proof of my apology." As he spoke, he leaned down slightly and poured Ikki a drink.
However, in the next instant, Kurashiki Kurato snatched up the bottle in his hand and swung it down at Ikki...
"!!!"
But halfway through the strike, its trajectory suddenly changed—a metal fork flew past his wrist! At that point, he turned his gaze toward Bronya.
"I didn't notice earlier..."
Kurashiki Kurato seemed faintly excited as a Spirit Armor resembling a weapon made of bone spikes appeared in his hand. "Woman, fight me. Show me your Inherent Gear!"
"No need. This is enough."
A flash of blade light gleamed. Bronya swung a dining knife, its surface covered in the glow of Magic Power. "Bronya is a good student. Bronya will not violate school rules."
"..."
(╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻
After a moment of silence came fury. Kurashiki Kurato swung his blade fiercely, slashing down at Bronya.
"Clang—!"
Only an afterimage could be seen. The thin dining knife flashed past, striking the point where he exerted force and effortlessly deflecting the attack.
Immediately afterward, the dining knife drew a streak of blade light and, in nearly an instant, came to rest at Kurashiki Kurato's throat...
—The victor had been decided!
"Completely without form."
The small dining knife spun through her fingers. Bronya precisely gripped its dull side, turning the blade toward herself as she withdrew it. "It seems the Swordsman Killer merely relies on his reflexes."
Sorry for the Trouble!
The duel ended before it even began. Kurashiki Kurato no longer wished to remain, violently flicking his coat as he left the small restaurant.
"My, that was truly impressive."
Before you continue