Wrapped head to toe in cold-weather gear, with a scarf around her neck concealing the lower half of her face, she revealed only a fierce glare.
Tadara Yui held a Chainsaw-type Spirit Gear. Her petite body radiated an astonishing killing intent that sent chills down one's spine.
"First-year student of Lianzhen Academy—the 'Beast Tamer,' Kazari Rina!"
Kazari Rina wore an unusual formal dress with a cape fastened behind her. Wearing a broad-brimmed hat, she rode atop a lion, with a proud-looking maid seated behind her.
"First-year student of Lukcun Academy—the 'Bloody Da Vinci,' Sarah Labudrili!"
She was nearly bare from the waist up, wearing only an apron stained with paint and a pair of jeans. Sarah was tall and voluptuous, yet her attire was exceptionally revealing.
However, her gaze was not on the scene before her. Instead, she was utterly focused on the drawing board in her hands. Perhaps... that was what artists were like?
"First-year student of Jumon Academy—the 'Misfortune,' Shinomiya Amane!"
Ikki was very familiar with this one. Shinomiya Amane was a slightly slight boy whose appearance was as delicate and adorable as a girl's.
Yet a gentle, radiant smile hung on his face at that moment, utterly at odds with the body of an attacker.
These four were all first-year students, exceptional Blade Dancers who had stood out in this year's Seven Star Sword Martial Festival.
"Hehe, is it my turn?"
Jester made an exaggerated gesture. His deliberately affected tone was enough to make one's blood boil. "I am a third-year student of Wenqu Academy—the 'Jester,' Hiraga Reizen~"
As for the final person... Kurogane Ouya wore a kimono with an exceptionally long hem and held a vicious-looking Ōdachi. A savage aura radiated from his body, while his face remained cold and expressionless.
He did not introduce himself, but everyone still recognized him—especially Ikki. After all, that was his older brother!
"A third-year student of Wuqu Academy—the 'Fierce Wind Sword Emperor,' Kurogane Ouya!"
"Brother Ouya! Why? Why are you doing this?!"
"Shut up. I severed my relationship with all of you long ago, so I have no need to explain myself."
Kurogane Ouya looked over coldly. His nearly emotionless rebuke choked off Ikki's words, leaving him unable to ask anything further.
"What do you mean by this? Six academies have joined forces to attack Broken Blade Academy. Aren't you afraid of punishment from the Knight Union?"
As she spoke, Toudo Touka lowered herself slightly, one hand already gripping Narukami as she secretly remained on guard.
"Oh my, oh my. It seems you have misunderstood~"
The one who answered was Hiraga Reizen, the "Jester." He explained in a drawn-out, mocking tone.
"The six of us standing here are not representing those other six academies. We represent Dawn Academy, and we have come to greet you all~"
"Dawn Academy?"
"You have never heard of it, right? Of course you have not. After all, we are merely a new academy that has not been recognized by the Union."
Jester continued, his tone becoming increasingly high-pitched and his movements increasingly exaggerated. "Because Dawn has not been recognized, even if its students possess the right to compete, the organizing committee will not acknowledge Dawn's participation."
"So..."
"To participate in this grand event for the Far East's strongest student knights, we need them to acknowledge us. We need to prove ourselves in some obvious way..."
"Without Dawn's participation, the Seven Star Sword Martial Festival is utterly meaningless!"
What I Have Been Waiting For
Of the seven academies, six had people planted by Dawn Academy. Then, within Broken Blade Academy...
Before Jester could reveal the answer, White Night had already placed a hand on Arisugawa's shoulder. "All right, Alice. You have more or less made your decision already, haven't you?"
"Do not think about coordinating from within and without. With Fate Intervention in play, your plan will not succeed."
With a light pat from one hand, White Night walked past Arisugawa. "Well then, Ikki, I will leave the rest to you. I have something to do, so I will be leaving first."
"Remember what Bronya told you."
Bronya also greeted Stella. A silver motorcycle materialized out of thin air. "White Night, get on."
"Coming."
White Night responded before raising a fist and giving Ikki's shoulder a friendly thump. "Good luck. I believe in you all~"
"White Night really took his time."
"Sorry, but I had to say a few words first."
White Night did not mind. He skillfully climbed onto the back seat, wrapping his hands around Bronya's slender, soft waist.
"Hold on tight."
After giving that simple instruction, Bronya twisted the throttle. Pale blue Magic Power gathered around the motorcycle's front and rear wheels...
Vortices of Magic Power spun at high speed around both wheels. The motorcycle practically became a streak of light, racing out of the scorched, shattered academy and vanishing from sight.
"Hehe~ Did your friends run away?"
Jester's exaggerated words seemed to mock the group. He turned his gaze toward Arisugawa. "Still, I did not expect you to be discovered."
"And what that person said just now... judging by what he meant, you really did betray us after all~ If the One-Armed Sword Saint finds out, would he not fly into a rage?"
"Enough nonsense."
Kurogane Ouya had no interest in listening to any more of his drivel. He stepped forward several paces. A powerful pressure bore down on them, aimed directly at Stella. "In any case, the Crimson Lotus Princess is mine. The rest of you can do as you please."
Before Jester could say anything, Kurogane Ouya had already charged forward with his Ōdachi, accompanied by a violent gale.
"Oh my, it seems someone could not wait any longer~ Then let us begin this performance~"
As Jester spoke, waves of killing intent surged from the people of Dawn Academy, and battle began at that very moment. But... that had nothing to do with White Night anymore.
"Shouldn't Ikki and the others lose?"
Bronya controlled the motorcycle, accelerating wildly all the way. Its speed was already absurd.
"That is normal. Ikki has improved, but against Kurogane Ouya... tsk tsk, the gap is still far too great."
"Ever since that guy lost to the Tyrant, most of his fighting spirit was crushed. But then he donned the Heavenly Dragon Armor, and his entire body began developing in an inhuman direction."
"His muscles, tendons, bones... even his skin have been tempered bit by bit, forged like steel through countless refinements. He is probably close to actual steel by now."
White Night evaluated him objectively. "And it is not just Ouya. Tadara Yui is troublesome too. She is a Reflector Mage who counters him."
"Then why did White Night say he believed in them?"
"What else was I supposed to say? Tell Ikki that they were definitely going to lose and should hurry up and run away? They would not listen. Besides, it is fine. You already warned Stella, did you not?"
"Come to think of it, Ouya really is miserable. He has pursued the realm of the Demon, yet he has never attained it. Even Ikki succeeded, while he still has not touched it."
"Then there is Stella. All her constant training ultimately could not overcome the officially designated cheat. She was instantly defeated by Dragonification."
"Sigh~ She worked so hard, yet she still could not win. In the end, she became a stepping stone. Emmm... why does that feeling seem so wrong?"
As he spoke, White Night tidied Bronya's long hair. "Say, Bronya, where is your helmet? Your hair is whipping around everywhere. Getting it in my face really hurts."
"Bronya forgot."
There was a milky quality beneath her emotionless tone, without even a trace of remorse. Dark blue Magic Power traced out lines, materializing a helmet that restrained her spiraling long hair.
"Tsk, you definitely go street racing again all the time, right? You do not need to tie up your hair when you are alone, so you got used to it, did you not?"
"...Bronya does not know~"
"Do not play dumb!"
White Night was somewhat helpless, rubbing one hand against his temple. When he had split off that other half, something must have grown crooked somewhere. "Forget it. About how much longer?"
"At most three minutes."
"Hey, hey, Xiao Hei, what are we supposed to do now?"
Ning Yin had listened to White Night and handled her affairs early, coming specifically for this. Unfortunately, like Hei Nai, she had been stopped here.
A figure seemed to merge with the world itself, making her difficult to notice. Yet... in the eyes of true experts, that figure radiated an incomparably powerful presence!
A pure white Valkyrie, holy and flawless. She was the Strongest Swordsman in this World, Twin Wings Edelweiss!
Simply by standing there, she had forced Shinguji Kuroko and Nenene Saikyō to stop, neither daring to make a rash move.
Hei Nai silently lit a cigarette and exhaled smoke. "There is no choice. For now, this is all we can do. But White Night is there too, so nothing should go wrong."
Emmm...
"Not necessarily, Xiao Hei."
Ning Yin seemed to have realized something. She had vaguely sensed it during the previous lessons, and now everything had been revealed. "Xiao Bai seems to have come to Broken Blade Academy for some purpose."
"Of course I know. Given his level... wait, Nene, you mean...?"
Seeing Hei Nai look at her, Ning Yin nodded lightly. "Yes, that is probably it. Xiao Bai said he could see something. Now, I am starting to believe him."
"...That is truly crazy."
Hei Nai extinguished her cigarette, falling silent for a moment. He had actually come to challenge Twin Wings?
The roar of a motorcycle rang out. Though it was powered by Magic Power and made little noise, who were the people present?
Following the sound, several people noticed it as well... a pale blue streak of light raced toward them. It was a silver-white motorcycle, and its destination...
With a beautiful drift, the motorcycle stopped before Ning Yin. White Night climbed down from the back seat and waved at Ning Yin. "Yo, long time no see, Ning Yin."
"Long time no see. Did Xiao Bai come for Twin Wings?" Ning Yin hurried closer with several light steps, the large red bow behind her head swaying gently.
"White Night, although I am grateful that you reminded me to evacuate the students, I still want to ask how the academy is doing."
"Not very well for now."
White Night had nothing to hide. "As for Ikki and the others... they are most likely no match for them. But it is fine. Did I not come to help you? It is just that..."
"Chairwoman, after you return, you will probably have to carry out major repairs on the academy again."
Major repairs... Hei Nai fell silent. That damned phrase reminded her once again of the times she had repeatedly restored the training grounds and cleaned up the messes those two had made.
Emmm... Seeing Hei Nai's unpleasant expression, White Night greeted her with a wave. "All right, all right, Chairwoman. You should return to the academy soon."
"Leave this place to me."
As he spoke, a sharp Tang Saber materialized in his hand, gleaming with a chilling edge. "After all, the person I have been waiting for has finally arrived..."
Twin Wings Edelweiss
"You should think this through, Xiao Bai. That is Twin Wings, the Strongest Swordsman in this World."
"Of course I know."
White Night spun his blade in a flourish and walked toward Edelweiss step by step, his presence growing increasingly sharp. "Rather, it is precisely because she is Twin Wings that I have to go~"
"I have stagnated for long enough. If this keeps up, Ikki, Stella, and the others will catch up to me."
With a great battle imminent, White Night's heart instead gradually calmed, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly. "By the way, Ning Yin, do you know how to pursue a girl? Ah, sorry, wrong person to ask."
???
Ning Yin tilted her little head. Combined with her petite figure, she looked quite adorable. "Hey, hey, hey, Xiao Bai, what do you mean, wrong person to ask?!"
"White Night means... Teacher Ning Yin is no good at it. After all, Chairwoman Kurogane was stolen away by someone else."
Beside them, Bronya dealt Ning Yin a critical blow with her emotionless tone. "Of course, if Teacher Ning Yin gets angry, feel free to find White Night."
"Ahhh!!! Damn Xiao Bai!" Faintly, a pair of oni horns seemed to emerge and vanish on Ning Yin's forehead.
Bronya ignored her and instead looked at Hei Nai. "But Chairwoman Kurogane, are you still not leaving at a time like this? White Night can hold things down here... probably?"
"...I will wait a little longer."
Perhaps it was anxiety, but Hei Nai lit another cigarette. "If I throw the burden onto my students and leave like this... that would be somewhat indefensible~"
Before you continue