Where Have We Met?

"Another magic sword?"

When Amagiri Ayato said that, everyone present froze.

Azer in particular showed obvious surprise.

"You mean another one of the Four-Colored Magic Swords?"

Toudou Kirin asked in confusion.

The Four-Colored Magic Swords was the collective name for four special Pure Star Radiant Armaments, including the Black Furnace Magic Sword.

The Black Furnace Magic Sword was merely one of the Four-Colored Magic Swords. Besides her, there were three other Pure Star Radiant Armaments that also bore the name of magic swords.

Now that Amagiri Ayato had mentioned another magic sword, he could naturally have meant one of the other Four-Colored Magic Swords.

"Why would they suddenly transfer one of the Four-Colored Magic Swords to Seidoukan Academy?"

Yulis was somewhat puzzled as well.

"I... don't know either." Amagiri Ayato said, "The Student Council President only told me that it seemed to be related to the Black Furnace Magic Sword."

Azer's heart stirred at those words.

Could it be because his Suitability Rate with the Black Furnace Magic Sword had broken past its limit?

A Suitability Rate exceeding its limit was completely unprecedented. It must have already caused a stir among the various academies and even the major Integrated Enterprise Foundations, right?

Under such circumstances, it was perfectly normal for the academies and Integrated Enterprise Foundations to send people specifically to investigate whether this phenomenon was unique to the Black Furnace Magic Sword or whether other Pure Star Radiant Armaments could experience it as well.

And the first Pure Star Radiant Armaments to be studied would naturally be the Four-Colored Magic Swords, which belonged to the same category as the Black Furnace Magic Sword.

The Four-Colored Magic Swords were not merely famous together. They had also been born in the same laboratory, and their connection ran deeper than outsiders imagined.

Now that the Black Furnace Magic Sword's Suitability Rate limit had been surpassed, the other Four-Colored Magic Swords might very well display the same phenomenon.

With that in mind, it was easy to imagine Seidoukan Academy pulling some strings to transfer another Four-Colored Magic Sword to the academy.

Then, in order to investigate whether the Four-Colored Magic Swords' Suitability Rate limits could be surpassed, Seidoukan Academy naturally needed someone to borrow this magic sword and help them measure its Suitability Rate.

And so, Amagiri Ayato's chance to borrow one of the Four-Colored Magic Swords had arrived.

Even if he could not break through the magic sword's Suitability Rate limit like Azer, as long as his Suitability Rate was high enough, Seidoukan Academy could still take the opportunity to gather combat data on the magic sword, compare it with the Black Furnace Magic Sword in Azer's hands, and conduct research.

"Well, damn..."

Having figured out the connection, Azer looked at Amagiri Ayato.

"The Black Furnace Magic Sword is gone, and another Pure Star Radiant Armament of the same rank immediately gets handed to this guy?"

That protagonist halo is seriously unreal.

Meanwhile, Yulis, who had not figured out the connection, simply fixed her gaze on Amagiri Ayato and gave a soft snort.

"If you really become the user of another Four-Colored Magic Sword, then I'd like to fight you again."

Yulis had always felt that this seemingly unreliable transfer student was not as simple as he appeared.

During their last duel, Amagiri Ayato had looked rather miserable before her, and the abilities he displayed had not been particularly impressive. Yet she always felt that something about that duel had been off.

Coupled with the fact that he was a specially recruited student, Yulis believed that Amagiri Ayato was very likely hiding his strength.

After all, anyone who transferred into an academy as a specially recruited student was a talent publicly recognized by that academy.

In order to recruit as many outstanding students as possible, every academy in Asterisk dispatched many capable talent scouts to recruit gifted individuals from all over the world and bring them into the academy.

Those specially recruited talents were known as specially recruited students.

Students admitted through special recruitment enjoyed numerous benefits regardless of which academy they entered, including but not limited to waived tuition, living allowances, equipment provisions, material support, and the right to freely borrow Pure Star Radiant Armaments.

The fact that Amagiri Ayato was a specially recruited student already proved that he was extraordinary.

If Amagiri Ayato were to obtain a Pure Star Radiant Armament on the level of the Four-Colored Magic Swords as well, then he would likely become another unimaginable dark horse, wouldn't he?

Thinking of that, Yulis glanced at the other dark horse present, who had only recently begun to rise to prominence.

Even Toudou Kirin looked at Amagiri Ayato, her eyes turning serious.

"It does feel like Amagiri-senpai is somewhat unfathomable..."

Toudou Kirin said softly.

Azer immediately looked at Amagiri Ayato with a half-smile.

"Ahaha..."

Having suddenly become the center of everyone's attention, Amagiri Ayato laughed awkwardly.

"W-well... let's order!"

After rather stiffly changing the subject, Amagiri Ayato stood up, seemingly intending to call over a waiter.

He failed to notice that behind him, in the aisle beside their table, a customer who seemed to have finished their meal was walking in this direction.

Amagiri Ayato's overly abrupt movement was about to make the two collide.

"Watch out!"

Seeing this, both Yulis and Toudou Kirin, who were seated across from him, called out in warning.

"Oh my?"

Yet before Yulis and Toudou Kirin could speak, the other person had already sidestepped Amagiri Ayato with a surprisingly nimble, fluid, even somewhat graceful movement.

The movement was so elegant that Amagiri Ayato, Yulis, and Toudou Kirin all froze. Before they could react, the other person's beret slipped from her head due to the evasive motion.

Azer reacted in time. He instinctively reached out and caught the beret as it fell.

"I-I'm sorry!" Amagiri Ayato finally came to his senses and hurriedly apologized. "I didn't notice someone behind me. I'm truly sorry!"

Hearing Amagiri Ayato's words, the other person gave a soft laugh.

Like her previous movement and posture, that laugh was exceptionally graceful and gentle, carrying a quality that made one want to lose oneself in it.

"Be more careful next time, okay?" she said with a smile. "Your reflexes are unexpectedly good, but if you aren't careful outside, you might accidentally hurt someone."

"I will." Amagiri Ayato lowered his head, his face full of apology. "Thank you for the reminder."

"It's nothing." She lightly waved a hand. The motion was small, yet it possessed an indescribable poise.

"Here you go." Azer stood and returned the beret in his hand.

Only then did he take notice of what she looked like.

She was a girl around their age.

The girl had long chestnut hair and wore jeans and a loose blouse. Her overall impression was very plain, yet her figure was soft and graceful, while her limbs were slender and fair. Every movement of hers conveyed an air of elegance and composure.

Because the girl had her head lowered and her bangs covered nearly half her face, Azer could not clearly see her features. But judging solely from her smooth skin and almost perfect jawline, he felt certain that she was an exceptionally beautiful girl, perhaps even no less stunning than Claudia, the untouchable flower on the peak.

If Claudia gave off an impression of maturity and glamorous beauty, then this girl felt like a free-spirited elf—light and enchanting.

"Thank you."

The girl stepped before Azer and reached out to take her beret.

"...Have we met somewhere before?"

For some reason, looking at the girl stirred an inexplicable sense of familiarity within Azer, prompting him to say those words.

At that, the girl was briefly startled before letting out another pleasant laugh.

"Perhaps."

She neither denied it nor confirmed it. She did not even take it as a clumsy attempt at flirting. Smiling, she reached out and gently patted Azer on the shoulder.

"If we get the chance, tell me properly about your Black Furnace Magic Sword."

"Azer, from Seidoukan Academy."

Leaving those words behind, the girl did not wait for Azer to react. Like an elf dancing through the air, she left with light, graceful steps.

Everyone looked at one another, and for a moment, no one knew what to say.

Azer turned his head to watch the girl leave the restaurant. Not only did that sense of familiarity not fade, it grew stronger and stronger.

"...Who was she?"

Azer racked his brain, but found no answer.

Inside the restaurant, the pleasant music continued to play.

The singer's voice was equally graceful and equally gentle.