One Soul, Two Born: The Other Half is Bronya

Ikkki gave a slightly dry smile and finally extended a hand to shake theirs.

A male body, a female heart. What kind of freak is that? Facing someone like that, Ikkki clearly didn't know how to handle it.

"By the way, who are these two...?"

As a member of "Rebellion," Arisugawa Nagi naturally knew the two of Byakuya – they were the younger siblings of the "Twin Fangs of Lightning" and Yakushi Kiriko, the "Knight in White."

"Byakuya."

"Bronya."

In response, Byakuya and Bronya simply stated their names and shook hands with Arisugawa Nagi, their reactions rather subdued.

Helping killers who live in darkness… hmm… I'll leave that to Ikkki, Shizuku, and the others to try.

Near Broken Blade Academy was a massive, nationwide chain shopping mall.

The group took a bus and soon arrived. Because of the commotion on the way, it was already close to noon by the time they got there.

"Brother, there's still some time before the movie starts. Shall we eat first?" Shizuku said sweetly. She had been holding Ikkki's arm the whole way, showing no signs of letting go. "Besides, thanks to someone, I'm pretty hungry now."

"If that's the case, I suggest we go to the food court on the first floor~" Arisugawa, seeing this, excitedly offered a suggestion.

"Mmm~ This is really delicious." Stella held a crepe, her crimson eyes sparkling, clearly very satisfied.

"Indeed, the cream flavor is very rich and has a long-lasting aftertaste," Shizuku also ate hers delicately, taking small bites.

Beside them, Arisugawa clasped his hands together, looking very approachable. "Right, right? This is a good place I found with great effort, so I wanted to recommend it to you all."

"But if you want ice cream, I'd recommend a shop on the third floor~"

"Arisugawa knows so much detail."

"That's right~ Bronya doesn't know anything like that at all," Byakuya said casually, placing a hand on Bronya's shoulder.

"Mmm—!"

But words can lead to trouble. After that, Byakuya received an elbow from Bronya without mercy, staggering back. "Think before you speak."

And then… it was arguably a famous scene:

"Shizuku."

Ikkki suddenly stood up, leaned over the table, and gently used his thumb to wipe the cream from Shizuku's face, putting it in his mouth. "You look so nice today, you have to be careful~"

The sudden action made Shizuku blush furiously. Her defenses were unexpectedly weak~

"Bronya."

"Bronya knows."

Byakuya and Bronya huddled together again, communicating in very quiet whispers. Under the table, a camera materialized…

—Only to see Stella with cream all over her face, looking as if she hadn't noticed anything. "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"

"If there is, you can help me take it off like you did for Shizuku~" she said, her face flushing and her voice trailing off.

I think a razor would be better for that… Byakuya leaned close to Bronya's ear. "Well? Did you record it?"

In response, Bronya didn't answer, merely silently handing the camera, which had transformed from her Inherent Gear, to Byakuya.

"...I'll go borrow you a towel." Ikkki, somewhat exasperated, left his seat to get a towel.

"Miss Stella, are you perhaps an idiot?"

"...Shut up, shut up, honestly."

Watching the interactions of those around them, Byakuya couldn't help but laugh. "You guys… why is feeding each other so complicated?"

As Byakuya spoke, they offered their crepe to… Bronya, who naturally took a bite, their tacit understanding evident.

If it were about kissing… with Byakuya's current level of integrity, they clearly couldn't do it. But feeding themselves something small like this? Wasn't it as simple as eating and drinking?

12. "Rebellion"

After filling their stomachs, Byakuya and Bronya found an excuse and parted ways.

"After this, it should be that matter."

"Yeah, Byakuya, are we going to apply to the principal now?"

"Let's wait until it happens. If we call now…"

"Yeah~ we'll probably get yelled at, right?"

The two conversed as they moved through the various floors, their senses extended to the maximum!

—They didn't know where they'd read it, but there was a rumor: "Biyoku · Edelweiss" was also here. Maybe it was fanfiction? Byakuya didn't remember the specifics.

This also allowed them to avoid the first wave of terrorist attacks. Accompanied by a series of "dada-da-da—!" gunshots, several figures occupied the shopping center.

◆ "Rebellion"

A terrorist organization primarily composed of Blade Dancers.

They are a group that abuses the special abilities of Blade Dancers, believing them to be "chosen new humans." They consider ordinary people to be "inferior beings" and advocate for Blade Dancers to rule over "inferior humans" and establish a paradise for "new humans."

Of course, while their core ideology is to build a new world centered around Blade Dancers, over ninety percent of their members are merely "believers."

Most believers are ordinary people equipped with firearms, while the true elite Blade Dancers are few in number and are known as "Apostles."

Apostles, who are Blade Dancers, command the believers, who are ordinary soldiers, in battle. This is the operational strategy of "Rebellion."

"As expected, rumors can't be trusted."

Byakuya crossed his arms and leaned against a building's load-bearing pillar. Positioned in the blind spot of the rioters' vision, he looked down at them from above.

Beside him, Bronya spoke in a calm tone. "It's not like I had any high hopes anyway~" She hadn't expected much. "That's not necessarily true. Perhaps they just haven't encountered them yet?"

"Do we need to establish contact?"

"No need. They're just a few low-level thugs. Speaking of which, we need to intervene regarding Stella's predicament..."

Byakuya was speaking when he saw Stella below making her move. "Uh~ It seems unnecessary."

He had already planned to act once Shizuku set up the barrier to subdue the terrorists. Unfortunately... sometimes fate likes to play tricks on people.

"Don't bully Mama!"

Amidst the pushing and shoving of the crowd, a woman was roughly thrown aside. Just then, a boy, about the age of an elementary schooler, jumped out and angrily threw his ice cream at a soldier.

"...You little... brat!"

The soldier, momentarily stunned, violently threw the boy aside. His face contorted as he fiddled with his gun. "For a rude brat like this..."

"No! Stop it, please don't!"

The woman's desperate plea. But it was futile; the muzzle of the gun continued to erupt with sparks.

At a time like this, he had no choice but to step forward. A blazing dragon-shaped flame engulfed the bullets, rescuing the mother and child.

"Damn it, a Blade Dancer?"

The soldier roared and continued to pull the trigger. A barrage of bullets struck Stella's body but were incinerated by the flame-colored Dragon Sinner Robe. "Useless."

"Bullets won't work against my Dragon Sinner Robe. I don't intend to fight you. Let me negotiate with your leader."

As she spoke, Stella calmly stepped forward, her composed demeanor truly striking.

"Don't talk nonsense! Who do you think you are..."

"Put the gun down, Yejin."

A figure in a black cloak slowly emerged, dramatically spreading his arms. His voice grew increasingly unhinged. "My, my, isn't this Princess Stella, the Second Princess of the Kingdom of Vermillion?"

"It is an honor to meet you."

"Are you their leader?"

"Indeed. My name is Smile. Please take care of me." Smile removed the hood of his cloak... revealing bright yellow hair and tattoos on his face.

Then he looked at the soldier. "Hey, Yejin, what are you doing? Didn't I tell you not to lay a hand on the hostages?"

"Y-yes, I'm sorry, but... but that brat threw ice cream at me."

"You're making a fuss over something like that?!"

But then, instead of mediating, Smile pointed his gun at the mother and child. "A child's lack of upbringing is also the parents' responsibility, right?"

"Let this life be the price."

Seeing this, flames ignited around Stella, coalescing into a golden greatsword in her palm. "Assist me, Dragon Sinner Sword!"

She leaped high with an explosive surge of Magic Power from her feet, her sword entwined with flames, and swung it fiercely at Smile. This strike was powerful enough to split mountains!

A brat is still a brat. No matter how talented, you're still too green right now!

Smile showed a triumphant grin and calmly raised one hand...

The storm of Magic Power abruptly stopped, and everything returned to calm. A book materialized in Smile's left hand, pages flipping rapidly as it absorbed all the impact. (The Power of Knowledge.jpg)

A wild smile spread across his face, distorting his tattoos. He then curved his right hand and punched Stella in the abdomen, a crimson surge of Magic Power erupting skyward.

How could this be...

With that thought, Stella was sent flying, rolling several times on the ground.

"The 'Great Judge's Ring' has the characteristics of 'Sin' and 'Punishment.' The 'Sin' in the left hand absorbs the damage received, and the right hand releases that power as 'Punishment' to the opponent."

Smile was quite smug, but Byakuya found it rather foolish to reveal the information about his Inherent Gear.

"I see..."

Stella pushed herself up, finally understanding. "So, I was defeated by my own full-power attack."

"My, my, as expected of a princess~"

Smile's movements remained flamboyant, and his tone continued to veer towards the unhinged. "For the sake of the princess, I'll give you a proposal that could save these people."

"...What proposal?"

Although she was quite sure the other party had ill intentions, Stella remained silent for a moment before asking.

"It's simple, just apologize."

Then came a series of exaggerated facial expressions, accompanied by a twisted smile, as tattoos writhed on the blonde's face. "But you have to do it completely naked, prostrating yourself with your limbs spread wide~"

"Kekekeke—!"

A perverted laugh erupted from Smile's infuriatingly smug face. After all, Stella's figure… combined with her identity as a princess, was incredibly stimulating to a man's desire for conquest.

"As I said, it's still too reckless," Bronya stated calmly from a high vantage point, her entire being gradually transforming into pitch-black lightning.

Byakuya was much the same. However, as the embodiment of [Yang], he transformed into pure white yang lightning. "Kazuki must be worried sick, right?"

"After all, for a woman…"

"It really is too much~"

Their words flowed seamlessly, perfectly synchronized. Gradually, the Elementalization process neared completion… their forms vanished, completely transforming into black and white lightning!

◆Elementalization

Yakushi Kiriko, as a water mage, could achieve a technique nearly equivalent to "Elementalization" with her immense control.

Therefore, Byakuya and Bronya could do it as well. Constructing their bodies with [Yin-Yang] wasn't achieved from nothing—the most fundamental principle was the conversion of matter and energy.

13. Everyone get out of the way, I'm about to show off!

"BOOM—!"