Fou, Let's Go to School! (Chivalry of a Failed Knight Arc Begins)

The bizarre, cavernous hall was as silent as ever.

Kashu's dispute with the Soma Familia ultimately came to nothing due to the intervention of their chief god.

Considering there was still time before the next expedition, he gave Loki a brief heads-up and set off on another journey.

This time, he first accepted a Guild quest to gather materials from the middle floors. Then, the moment he arrived there, he opened the dimensional gate.

Kashu stepped out of the gate of light from the Danmachi world, and his view suddenly opened up. Two entirely different paths of light stretched into the unknown.

The one on the left should lead back to the Demon Slayer World he had visited before.

The one on the right led to a brand-new world.

Before he could make a choice, Fou leaped from his shoulder and urged him toward the new world.

Kashu bent down and picked up the pure-white cub tugging at his pant leg, his tone faintly complicated.

"Hey, Fou, we're supposed to be on the same side, right?"

"Why do I get the feeling that you care so much about that mysterious voice's mission?"

Fou: (＾~＾)

Seeing that Fou refused to answer, Kashu could only head toward the gate of light on the right.

As expected, the time ratio was still compressed to the extreme limit of 120:1.

But when Kashu silently asked for more information about the mission target, the mysterious voice actually answered.

"Those that threaten the world, harm the world itself, or cannot be eradicated by the world."

Great. That was the same as saying nothing.

Kashu was almost annoyed into laughing by the mysterious voice.

What use was such a vague reminder?

It seemed he would have to find the answer himself.

Kashu stopped expecting help from the mysterious voice, hoisted Fou onto his shoulder, and stepped through the gate of light to begin a new journey.

Skyscrapers pierced the clouds like giants of steel, while mirrored glass facades reflected hazy neon lights, drenching the bustling streets in a riot of color.

Kashu stood beside the sidewalk, his gaze sweeping over hurried office workers as the singing and guitar-playing of a street performer drifted from afar.

At the end of the road, the giant screen on a shopping mall flickered as it broadcast the hottest news of the day.

[Welcome to our latest report. Today, Her Highness Stella Vermillion, the second princess of the Vermillion Kingdom, arrived in Japan.]

[Her Highness Stella enrolled at Hagun Academy with the highest score in its history and is the strongest genius Mage Knight.]

[Next, please...]

Kashu withdrew his gaze and consoled himself with bitter humor.

"Not bad. At least I know the countries here are somewhat different, and—"

"Mage Knights? Is the supernatural completely public knowledge in this world?"

Having only just arrived, he could not glean any further information. He could only lift up Fou, who was lazily sprawled across his shoulder, and tease her.

"You're up, Fou. Hurry and help me find this world's key figure!"

Fou: (〝▼ω▼)

Fou was displeased. Fou raised a paw!

The pure-white cub's counterattack was exceptionally sharp. Kashu rubbed the bloody claw marks on the back of his hand and awkwardly suggested,

"Fine, I apologize. How about I treat you to a cream puff?"

As he spoke, he waved the flyer he had just received. It depicted an exquisite, tempting little pastry.

Fou: (◊ω◊)!

"Thank you for your patronage! Please come again~"

Kashu took the bag printed with cute pastry designs. Just as he was about to turn around and find a corner to share with Fou, a voice tinged with regret sounded behind him.

"Hello, may I have one signature cream puff, please?"

"Eh? I'm terribly sorry, but the last signature cream puff was just sold. Would you like to try one of our newest products instead?"

"How could this happen?"

He looked over and saw a chestnut-haired girl in an unfamiliar academy uniform standing at the counter, her expression carrying a trace of disappointment.

Her features were gallant yet delicately mixed-race, while a pair of thick glasses concealed the sharpness in her eyes.

Kashu's gaze lingered on the girl for a moment. Seemingly sensing it, she turned to look at him as well, her eyes landing precisely on the pastry bag in his hand.

After a brief lapse of attention, the slightly airheaded girl quickly came to her senses and looked away from the pastry bag.

She then scrutinized Kashu with sharp eyes, clearly having noticed that there was something unusual about him.

To the people of this world, one's magical power was determined by talent.

Humans could not actively increase their magic through training. It was a power that decided a person's fate from the moment they were born.

In her perception, the magic radiating from Kashu was as vast as the sea, dozens of times greater than her own. He was practically a torrent of magic wearing human skin!

The disappointment of missing out on her favorite pastry was instantly replaced by vigilance. The girl's expression turned grave as she spoke in a low voice.

"Touka Toudou, third-year student at Hagun Academy. Are you a newly selected representative from another academy?"

Kashu raised a brow and teased, "Why do you ask? Maybe I'm a member of Hagun Academy too."

Touka Toudou shook her head with a bitter smile. "If you were a member of Hagun Academy, we wouldn't have stopped at the semifinals in last year's Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival."

The Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival?

Kashu's eyes flickered. That unfamiliar term made him vaguely grasp a thread of the mission.

Ring, ring, ring—!

A burst of urgent phone ringing sounded. Touka Toudou, who had been about to say something more, looked panicked as she fumbled to pull out her mobile terminal.

By the time the student council member had finished reporting their work, she looked up again only to discover that Kashu, who had been standing nearby moments ago, was already gone.

"He left... If he takes part in this year's Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, we'll probably have to settle for another disappointing finish."

At a street corner in the distance, Kashu opened the pastry bag and took out a freshly baked cream puff for Fou.

He himself looked up at the shopping mall's giant screen, which was still looping the morning news, and said with interest,

"Hagun Academy? The Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival?"

Kashu softly repeated the two terms, a playful smile curling at the corner of his lips as he held the pure-white cub high.

"Fou, let's go to school!"

"Fuu?"

Fou, her mouth full of cream, tilted her head in confusion.

Hagun Academy, Chairman's Office.

Having just received Stella, Kurono Shinguuji unfastened her suit buttons and collapsed wearily into her expensive office chair with a sigh.

"Sit wherever you like, Princess. I'll arrange a dormitory for you right away. I just need a few minutes to rest first."

Stella frowned at Kurono Shinguuji, her tone puzzled.

"Is Hagun Academy really in such bad shape? Even you, as the chairman, can't solve its problems?"

"How do you expect me to solve them?"

Kurono Shinguuji skillfully pulled out a cigarette and lit it. After taking a deep drag, she explained,

"The previous upper management at Hagun Academy was nothing but useless parasites squatting in their positions. They never seriously tried to uncover the students' potential."

"And I only took office this year. I don't even fully understand the academy's situation yet, so what can I do?"

Stella crossed her arms over her chest and let out a dissatisfied snort.

"I know~ It doesn't matter even if I'm alone. The title of Seven Stars Sword King will definitely be mine!"

Kurono Shinguuji looked at Stella with a cheerful smile, believing that her confidence was entirely justified.

The Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival was a martial arts tournament jointly hosted by Japan's seven Mage Knight academies.

The Seven Stars Sword King was the ultimate title, claimed only by the champion who defeated every contestant.

In previous Seven Stars Sword-Art Festivals, even B-rank Knights had been able to dominate the field.

Stella was an A-rank Knight. It was perfectly reasonable for her to declare that she would take the championship.

"I'm looking forward to your performance, Princess."

Beep—!

The mobile terminal on the desk sounded an alert. Kurono Shinguuji looked puzzled as she reached over and pressed the switch.

"What is it?"

[Chairman, there is an urgent message from the admissions department. They said you must review it personally.]

"An urgent message from admissions? Send it to my computer."

[Yes, it has already been sent.]

Kurono Shinguuji tapped with her fingertips, and the email opened.

A nearly perfect entrance examination report leaped into view, making her instantly forget about the cigarette between her fingers.

Name: Kashu Animusphere

Age: 18

Nationality: None

Attack Power: A

Defense: A

Magical Power: A

Magic Control: A

Physical Ability: A

Luck: S