"This is the first time I've ever been given such a leisurely job."
"They told me to attack the academy, but I can't hurt a single person? I'm not like those other idiots. I've been working as an assassin since I was a little brat."
"Tch, telling a professional assassin not to kill? Then don't hire me. I'm so pent-up and irritated I could explode... I can't wait two days. I want to go on a killing spree right now!"
"If a few contestants die, this so-called tournament won't be able to continue, right?"
—That was what she said.
After failing to poison Shizuku and being exposed by Ikki, she simply revealed her Spirit Armor. It was a chainsaw-shaped Inherent Gear, its vicious blades layered together like a shark's teeth.
Tadara Yui's savage behavior immediately threw the entire venue into an uproar.
Ikki shielded Shizuku behind him, about to manifest Yin Iron. He could never forgive someone who had poisoned his sister!
"Hold it for now, Ikki."
"That's enough."
Two voices rang out from before and behind him as White Night and Morohoshi Yudai emerged from the crowd, which had parted around them.
Neither of them shouted, nor did their voices contain any anger. They simply spoke in an ordinary tone.
Yet their words carried an incomparable sense of presence and an oppressive force that could not be denied—the previous champion, the Seven Star Sword King, Morohoshi Yudai!
"You didn't fight your way here just to brawl over something so trivial, did you?"
Morohoshi Yudai's sharp gaze swept over everyone, and the murderous atmosphere from moments ago instantly froze.
Still, thanks to Morohoshi's overwhelming pressure, White Night was happy to take it easy as a supporting presence. He leisurely walked over to Ikki's side. "Yo, you're pretty fired up, huh?"
"I know you have a reason, but you should rein it in a little in a place like this, Ikki."
White Night handled Ikki's side, while Morohoshi Yudai took care of the other. Looking down at Tadara with his towering height, he said, "You woman, all you talk about is killing. Isn't that a little too vicious?"
"Honestly, summoning your Spirit Armor in a place like this makes people question your character."
Jozaki pushed up his glasses and followed up, "Still, it seems Spirit Armor reflects its owner's character as well. You're as vulgar as your Spirit Armor."
"Such a refined young man. But good character won't help you in a fight. Want me to let you experience that firsthand?"
The engine of the chainsaw in her hand roared to life. Amid the savage, ear-piercing whine of spinning blades, Tadara aimed her Spirit Armor at the trio... more precisely, at Morohoshi standing at the front.
"Stop baring your teeth at every little thing. You're no different from a weak little puppy."
The insult slipped out as though he were sighing. Morohoshi's words finally enraged Tadara, who had already reached the limits of her patience. "Fine! I'll show you whether I'm weak or not!"
The malice around her turned into killing intent as Tadara suddenly stepped toward Morohoshi...
!!!
Abruptly, roughly three meters away from Morohoshi, Tadara stopped as if she had been electrocuted. Cold sweat soaked her back.
—Her reflexes had vanished. A golden spear was aimed at her throat.
"Looks like you're not all talk. Since you noticed and stopped outside the limits of my attack range, you can't be called weak."
At some point, a spear had appeared in Morohoshi's hand. Merely standing there, he radiated waves of danger.
"The spear Tiger King devours Magic Power, rendering most Blade Dancer abilities nearly ineffective."
White Night explained at just the right moment, "Of course, there's also his battle-hardened skill and absolute control over his attack range."
"You've exposed all my secrets, White Night." Morohoshi smiled indifferently.
So what if they were exposed? His battle-hardened foundations had never feared any challenge!
Meanwhile:
"Phew~"
A breath brushed past her ear, and only then did Tadara suddenly realize something. At some point, she had been wrapped in a woman's embrace—Yakushi Kiriko.
"Mmm, all right. I'm examining you now, so be a good girl and stay still~"
!!!
Tadara tried to resist, only to discover that she had lost control of her body. In contrast, Kiriko merely smiled with ease.
"Being energetic is a good thing~"
"But just as I thought, your blood pressure and body temperature are both too high. You're very agitated."
"You're small, your skin is a little rough, and your nutritional state doesn't seem very good. Come now, hold out both hands for me~"
"Y-you, what have you been talking about this whole time... Eeeeh?!!"
Tadara's hands ignored her will, tossing the chainsaw onto the floor before reaching toward Kiriko.
"Good girl, don't be afraid~"
Seeing Tadara's terrified expression, Kiriko smiled beautifully and comforted her in a gentle voice.
"There's nothing surprising about this. I'm a doctor, so naturally I can control my patients' bodies however I please~"
"My sister is beautiful, isn't she?"
White Night draped an arm over Ikki's shoulder, proudly introducing his Kiriko.
"Here, hold this."
At the same time, Kiriko continued manipulating Tadara, making her clasp her hands together as if holding a bowl.
Kiriko placed a small bag into Tadara's hands. She put pills, capsules, and other things inside before tying it up with a ribbon.
"You don't sleep well, do you? Here, this is a special incense I blended. Light it before bed. Its scent will calm your agitated emotions and help you sleep well."
No matter how unwilling Tadara was, everything still proceeded according to Kiriko's wishes.
And just like that, the small disturbance subsided, and the atmosphere in the venue returned to its earlier calm.
Please Entrust Xiao Ai to Me
Next to the banquet hall was a specially designated smoking area.
At that moment, a man stood there.
Wearing a dark crimson suit and glasses, he quietly watched the disturbance below caused by Tadara and the others through the window—Tsukikage Bakuga!
"It seems your school still has some ill-mannered students, Teacher Moon Shadow."
Hearing someone call his name, Tsukikage Bakuga turned to look behind him. Once he recognized the owner of the voice, he happily greeted Hei Nai. "My, what a rare sight... Isn't this Takizawa? It's been a long time."
When Hei Nai heard Moon Shadow call her "Takizawa," her body trembled slightly.
—The way he called her by her maiden name was exactly the same as Teacher Moon Shadow from her student days.
"..."
Her mentor had not changed in the slightest. Realizing this, Hei Nai lit a cigarette and took a puff to calm her restless emotions. "Teacher, my surname is Shinguji now."
"Ah, that's right..."
"I haven't seen you since your wedding. How have you been lately?"
"Thanks to you, the delivery went well, and both mother and child are safe."
"I see..."
Tsukikage seemed genuinely happy, a smile appearing on his face. At least from his expression, he was sincerely delighted for Hei Nai. "That's wonderful. Being safe is what matters most."
"..."
Hearing Tsukikage's words, Hei Nai fell silent for a moment. That apparently gave rise to a misunderstanding.
Tsukikage turned around, his back to Hei Nai. "Heh heh, I suppose so. It's only natural that you'd be angry. After all, I... used your academy as a stepping stone..."
"Teacher Moon Shadow!"
Hei Nai unconsciously raised her voice.
When Tsukikage turned back, Hei Nai continued, "I already know everything. Teacher, you aren't the only one who can see the future."
"..."
A long silence followed.
Tsukikage Bakuga quietly smoked one cigarette after another, grayish-white smoke spreading through the air. "Takizawa, you're married now. You finally managed to get out... don't get involved again."
At the beginning, Tsukikage Bakuga would naturally have had countless excuses to fool her. But now...
"But I want to help—"
"No need!"
Although he was far weaker than Hei Nai, Tsukikage Bakuga's firm, resonant words still suppressed her—the authority of a teacher.
"Takizawa, you are merely an educator. Just do your current job properly."
"...But Teacher Moon Shadow, even if you've hired a criminal organization, your plan still won't succeed."
Watching Tsukikage Bakuga, Hei Nai sighed inwardly. She knew very well that this Seven Star Sword Martial Festival... was different~
"..."
With his back still turned to Hei Nai, Tsukikage Bakuga remained completely unmoved. His attitude was already perfectly clear.
"I don't approve of what you're doing, Teacher Moon Shadow. But if you need help, you can always come to us."
Seeing Tsukikage refuse to communicate, Hei Nai left him with those words and quietly departed. "No matter what, you will always be our teacher."
"...Phew~"
After a long silence, Tsukikage Bakuga exhaled a mouthful of smoke. It curled through the air, obscuring his face. "This really is..."
"I clearly didn't want to drag them into this."
"But she already knows, doesn't she, Teacher Moon Shadow?" Edelweiss stepped out from the corner.
—Edelweiss's swordsmanship teacher was Kurogane Ryoma. As for Tsukikage Bakuga and Nangong Torajiro, while they had not taught her directly, they could probably be considered half-teachers.
"I didn't expect you to be here, Edel."
Though Hei Nai's matter had made Tsukikage Bakuga somewhat irritated, he did not show it.
By the time Tsukikage turned around, he had already composed himself. He invited Edelweiss to sit off to the side. "I didn't think you would be interested in a student tournament like this."
"Could it be that you came specifically to see this old man?"
"You jest. You're still in your prime."
Edelweiss sat directly across from Tsukikage. She hesitated between a drink and coffee for a short while before ultimately reaching for the coffee.
Umm...
Staring at the dark brown liquid in the cup, she could smell its bitterness before even taking a sip.
She glanced at Tsukikage, thinking that she was now a mature woman who had fallen in love and had a boyfriend.
After hesitating again and again, she still picked up the cup and carefully took a tiny sip...
"Ugh... ptoo, ptoo, ptoo..."
QAQ
Edelweiss's strange behavior nearly made Tsukikage laugh on the spot. "I thought your tastes had changed after all this time, Edel. So you were trying to act mature."
"I-I wasn't!"
Hearing the undisguised teasing in Tsukikage's words, Edelweiss's face flushed with embarrassment and irritation, and she blurted out:
"I already have a boyfriend! I'm not that little girl who used to follow behind you and Teacher Ryoma anymore!"
"Oh my, that truly is news that shocks and delights me."
Tsukikage held his cup, forgetting to drink his coffee. "I thought I would never see you get a boyfriend in this lifetime~ I'm sure Ryoma would be comforted to know it in the afterlife."
"So who is he? What country is he from? Or is he some famous powerhouse?"
As he spoke, Tsukikage set down his cup as well. "No matter what, I absolutely must meet this person."
Before you continue