Pure White Reflected Across the Sky (5.5K) (continued)

However, Mahiro pouted.

"Ugh, another defective product... Boring, I've had enough, let's die."

With just a few words, he pronounced the death sentence on Olba, who was in his transformation state, and pulled the trigger.

Without exception, Olba was once again Decomposition to dust.

But this time, Mahiro did not revive him.

On the pale dust, only a pendant remained, containing an intimate photograph of Olba with a girl.

After Mahiro down and staring at her for a long time, Mahiro looked away and turned to look at Claire lying on the ground.

"You're awake already, aren't you? How long are you planning to pretend to be asleep?"

"..."

Claire slowly sat up. She first looked down at her hands, which had returned to their original white state, and then looked at Mahiro with a complicated expression.

"... Teacher, I didn't know you were this good?"

"Strong? Not really, it's just that the opponent was too weak."

Mahiro sat down on a chair outside the prison as if nothing had happened, crossed his legs, and stared at the girl kneeling on the ground.

Weak...?

Recalling the Olba I faced after breaking free from his constraints.

Although she was indeed affected by the magic-sealing chains and could not use much magic power, she had to admit that her strength was still far behind that of Olba.

Even at my peak, I'd probably have a 70% chance of losing to him.

But in front of Mahiro, Olba was nothing more than someone who could be easily manipulated and tortured to death.

Especially the magic that erupted at the last moment—it was the strongest magic she had ever seen in her life, but it couldn't even last a second against Mahiro.

Just how strong is he?

At this moment, Claire finally faced the teacher who had taught her swordsmanship, how to use magic, and how to fight.

But it was all too late.

Because their teacher-student relationship ended yesterday.

Even if they came to save me today, it's probably out of consideration for that last bit of friendship, isn't it?

This was probably the first time in her life that she felt regret.

But just then, Mahiro suddenly walked up to her and placed a syringe in her hand.

"This is...?"

"Didn't we agree that I'd give you a gift to mark your graduation today? This is it. If you trust me, Claire, then use it when you have time. It will make you stronger and allow you to go further on the path of the magic swordsman."

"..."

Claire looked at him with her mouth slightly open, blinking her eyes repeatedly.

He looked down at the syringe in his hand again.

After a moment, she nodded vigorously and said:

"I believe you, Teacher Mahiro. And thank you for coming all this way to save me..."

"What are you saying? This isn't like you, Claire. You're usually the one who scolds me the most."

Mahiro teased, "How about... you insult me again as a return gift? I'm afraid you'll be holding it in."

"... You damn teacher."

Seemingly to comply with his wish, Claire blushed and muttered a curse under her breath, which made Makoto Mahiro laughter.

But just then, a familiar voice came from the prison door.

"Mahiro, we've found the Holy Sword. Shall we go there now?"

Turning my head, Epsilon, an elven girl with hair and eyes as clear as spring water, appeared there.

"Ah, I understand."

Mahiro gave a casual reply, then looked at Claire, patted her head, and said, "Well then, I'll be going now, Claire. You'd better work hard from now on, and I hope to see you shine brightly at the Bushin Festival one day."

After saying that, Mahiro got up and walked towards the prison door.

Claire instinctively tried to grab his coat, but he was already wearing his own coat, so she missed.

But I still couldn't help but ask:

"Mahiro- sensei, will we... ever meet again?!"

I think so.

Mahiro gave an ambiguous answer, and then his figure vanished completely.

He didn't tell Claire he was also going to the capital.

After all, how can there be the joy of reunion without the sadness of parting?

"..."

Claire, left alone in the cell, clutched the medicine in her hand and her black coat tightly, her thoughts unreadable.

"Mahiro, this is where the Holy Sword is located."

Epsilon led him to a shrine deep within the cave.

But for some reason, Alpha and the others all stopped at the door.

What are you doing standing here? Why don't you go inside?

"I'm sorry, Mahiro, we can't get in..."

It was Beta who spoke.

All seven of them had removed their masks, each possessing a stunningly beautiful face, but equally, each of them wore a bitter, regretful expression.

"Can't we get into Delta either?"

"Yeah, boss, that thing inside is really fierce."

Delta said, looking dejected.

Not only her, but everyone else felt the same way, feeling utterly useless for not even being able to get close to a holy sword.

I'm truly ashamed of Mahiro Master Shinji's guidance!

"And what about you, Alpha?"

"Me too, I'm sorry... I disappointed you."

Alpha shook her head as well, her long, dazzling golden hair swaying gently with her head movement.

"Alright, let me see what this thing is that can actually block my girls."

Mahiro forward, and under the expectant gazes of everyone, he first gently reached out his hand.

The moment he touched the ancestral hall, he did feel a sense of pressure.

A very sharp feeling.

What kind of sword is it?

He became increasingly interested in it.

So they forced their way in.

He forcefully tore open a gap in the chilling, murderous aura that permeated the area and walked straight in.

Seeing this, the others quickly followed.

However, once inside, they discovered that the closer they got to the central stone platform, the stronger the surrounding pressure became. Zeta and Delta, the two beast-eared girls, were so frightened that their fur stood on end.

That's a bit scary...

But this pressure had no effect on Mahiro.

He led the group to the stone platform, where they gazed at the holy sword constructed of gold and mithril.

"I can't understand the text above."

The speaker was Ita, the seventh seat's elf girl with long, flowing, wine-red hair, who possessed exceptional talent in technological research and deciphering ancient scripts.

I just don't know why she always looks like she's woken up too late.

Perhaps all brilliant researchers are like this?

He didn't know, he only knew that Ita was squatting in front of the sword platform, gently poking at the blade of the holy sword with his fingers.

"... It seems really unhappy, it's throwing a tantrum when it wakes up..."

Yotsuba Mahiro: "???"

No, how did you figure that out?

Could it be that your love of sleeping in late and this sword are somehow connected?

Beta then added:

"This scene looks familiar... A sword stuck in a stone, waiting for the chosen one to pull it out... Mahiro, could this be the Sword in the Stone?! Whoever can pull this sword out will have the right to rule the world?!"

Hey, hey, that was just a bedtime story I told you, okay? Don't take it seriously...

That being said, some people took it seriously.

For example, Epsilon, with her hands clenched tightly, looked at him with sparkling eyes.

"If that's the case, then only Mahiro can pull out this sword!"

"Is our boss going to rule the world? Great! Delta will help our boss create the strongest race!"

Delta shouted excitedly, even its tail wagging happily.

"Yes, my lord is most qualified."

Not only her, but Zeta also nodded in agreement.

It felt somewhat strange for a beast-eared girl with a face and even a similar temperament to Kal'tsit to say such a thing.

"Alright, alright, stop guessing. The Sword in the Stone was just a bedtime story I told you, don't take it seriously."

"But Mahiro... the Three Heroes and the Diabolos were originally just fairy tales, weren't they?" Beta asked innocently, blinking his big, sea-blue eyes.

"..."

What you said makes a lot of sense, and I can't even refute it.

"Mahiro, why don't you give it a try?"

Alpha suggested.

The others nodded vigorously, looking at him expectantly, as if waiting for him to draw the holy sword and rule the world.

"This was originally my plan..."

Mahiro sighed helplessly, even though he had no intention of ruling the world.

However, she still reached out and grasped the sword hilt.

The instant he grasped it, Mahiro felt a sharp pain in his palm.

I was rejected.

A very strong sense of resistance.

As Ita said, the sword seemed to have its own emotions and was very resistant to him pulling it off the stone, like a little girl throwing a tantrum.

That won't do!

I've finally found an interesting weapon, how can I just let it go!