Who Isn't a Herrscher?

Two.

"Damn it!"

What followed were swords and axes coming from the front, left, and right.

Luo Mio tossed the iron rod in his hand upward, then raised his left leg and kicked the center of it with perfect precision, sending the rod sweeping sideways into the two boys' abdomens.

Watching the four of them fall, the last, burly boy at their head fired a gun-shaped Device at Luo Mio in terror.

Yet Luo Mio suddenly appeared before the boy from afar.

He lightly struck the boy's abdomen with a hand chop.

"You've lost."

Shizuku's Declaration!

"You've lost."

The boy slumped to the ground, his eyes unfocused.

Bare-handed, Luo Mio had effortlessly defeated all five Blazers wielding Devices.

It could not even be called a fight.

It had simply been a one-sided slaughter.

"..."

The classroom suddenly fell silent.

Luo Mio walked back, rolling his shoulders and clenching his hands with lingering excitement.

"Ikki, come on. Let's have a match. My hands are itching."

Luo Mio called out to Ikki.

"Huh?" After hearing Luo Mio's words, Ikki looked at the five boys who had already gotten back to their feet.

Luo Mio saw Ikki's concern.

"Since we'll be classmates for an entire year, everyone should get along."

After saying that, Luo Mio curled his lips into a faint smile and added, "Didn't you want to learn how to become popular with girls?"

"Of course, everyone can come watch. You might even learn something from it."

"!"

The five boys immediately looked at Luo Mio with respect in their eyes.

"Thank you for your guidance, Boss Lady!"

"!... I'm a boy, a boy! Call me a woman again, and I'll send you flying!"

That afternoon, after their sparring session, Luo Mio and Ikki walked ahead at the entrance to the training grounds, followed by the students of Class One, Year One.

"Ahhh~, Lord Miohua looked so cool fighting out there!"

"Kurogane-senpai was amazing too."

"Let me tell you, Kurogane-senpai and Lord Miohua seem to have known each other since childhood. They're really close."

"Then what's their relationship?"

"Ehehehehe..."

Walking in front, Luo Mio suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Ikki beside him asked with concern, "What's wrong, Miohua? Did I hit too hard earlier?"

"No, no. I just feel like someone's talking about me."

Stella listened to the girls' discussion behind her, then to Luo Mio and Ikki's conversation ahead.

Her face was full of sour jealousy.

"That was a splendid battle. As expected of you, Brother. Your swordsmanship is as sharp as ever. It is truly admirable."

A petite, beautiful girl emerged from one side of the corridor.

She had delicate features, short silver-white hair, and emerald-colored eyes.

With an elegant smile, she gazed at Ikki.

Ikki stared at the girl in surprise...

"Could it be... Shizuku?"

The students behind them recognized Shizuku as well.

"Isn't that the second-ranked freshman?"

"Yeah, the 'Deep Sea Witch,' Kurogane Shizuku."

"Wait... Kurogane? Then she and Kurogane-senpai..."

Ikki excitedly jogged over and took Shizuku's hand.

"Hahaha, it really is you, Shizuku. It's been so long. I almost thought I'd mistaken you for someone else."

"Yes, Brother. It has been four years."

"I'm so happy. I'd planned to go find you after class, but I went to the mock battle with Miohua. I was just about to come look for you."

"Oh, right, Miohua is behind me too. And I've made a new friend—she's also my roommate."

"Hey, Stella, let me tell you something. That woman will steal Ikki away while you're not paying attention, so be careful."

"Huh? Steal him away..."

While Luo Mio was still secretly warning Stella behind them—

"Hey, Miohua, look. It's Shizuku."

Holding Shizuku's hand, Ikki walked over.

"Oh... gah..."

Luo Mio had been about to greet her, but his words abruptly stopped when he saw Shizuku.

Shizuku was glaring at Luo Mio with exceptionally unfriendly eyes.

"Ah... long time no see, Shizuku."

Shizuku said gloomily, "Yes, it has been a long time, Stinky Miohua."

"Stinky..."

Hearing Shizuku's words, Luo Mio was left speechless.

Ignoring the awkward-looking Ikki beside her, Shizuku made her declaration to Luo Mio.

"Stinky Miohua, this time, I won't let you steal Brother away from me!"

"Huh?"

"Hmm?"

"Ha?"

Ikki, Stella, and Luo Mio all listened to Shizuku's words with utterly bewildered expressions.

Then Shizuku demonstrated the meaning of her words through action, pushing Ikki down.

She gently reached out and caressed Ikki's face, lightly pressing her lips to his.

"!!???"

Shizuku then pulled away from Ikki, but the glistening thread stretching between their lips became a striking sight.

The kiss and the lingering strand left all the students of Class One, Year One stunned. Even Stella, beside Luo Mio, instantly exploded, as if she had finally understood what Luo Mio had meant earlier.

"Wait, I-Ikki, w-what are you doing?!"

"I-I don't know either!"

Shizuku, now standing, ignored Ikki and Stella's exchange.

Instead, she said to Luo Mio, "This time, don't even think about taking Brother away from my side!"

"Haaaa?"

Luo Mio tilted his head in confusion.

The female students who had been watching from behind instantly erupted.

"Hey, hey, did you hear that? Did you hear that?"

"I heard it, I heard it! What is this, a love triangle?"

"Kurogane-senpai, Lord Miohua, and Kurogane-senpai's little sister."

Even the boys nearby joined in.

"But don't forget, Stella is especially close with Kurogane-senpai too."

"Yeah, yeah! I can even tell that Stella has special feelings for Kurogane-senpai!"

"Then isn't this a love quadrangle?!"

"Ehehehe!"

The girls behind them instantly let out shrieks of gossip-fueled excitement.

Gagami, who had been holding a camera all along, snapped photos frantically. After hearing the girls' discussion, her eyes gleamed as inspiration suddenly struck.

She shouted, "I've decided! The first issue's headline will be: 'The Story of My Roommate, Best Friend, and Little Sister Declaring War Over Their Secret Love for Me and Their Fight to Claim Me!'"

"That's way too long! And most of that never happened, okay? Though Stella really does have special feelings for Ikki."

Luo Mio complained.

After hearing Luo Mio's words, Shizuku's gaze turned dangerous the instant it landed on Stella.

Because she believed her brother's tastes were normal.

But a beautiful woman who was also her brother's roommate and harbored special feelings for him was someone she could not afford to let her guard down around.

Stella looked at Ikki and said, "Ikki, don't let her lead you around by the nose."

Ikki, his face still full of confusion, replied, "Y-Yeah, I know."

Clearly, his sister's kiss had left him thoroughly bewildered.

"Then may I ask, Stella, what is your relationship with Brother?"

Shizuku looked coldly at Stella.

The instant Shizuku questioned her, Stella's face flushed red.

"Well, um..."

Seeing Stella blush, Shizuku's expression immediately darkened to the extreme.

Gritting her teeth, she said, "Then what, exactly, is your relationship?!"

Luo Mio, seeing that Shizuku's attention had shifted away, blinked.

The corners of his mouth gradually rose with delight.

"Ikki is Stella's master, and Stella is Ikki's servant!"

As soon as those words fell—

The students erupted once more.

Still confused, Ikki's face instantly froze after hearing Luo Mio's words. He stared at Luo Mio in disbelief.

"Miohua?!!"

As Ikki stared at him incredulously, Luo Mio slightly turned his head away.

Sorry, Ikki! If I want to protect myself, I have to sell you out.