Who Isn't a Herrscher

A sharp sound then rang out between the two of them.

At some point, Tadara Yui had thrust the knife she used for cutting food at Luo Mio.

And at some point, Luo Mio had blocked the incoming knife with a fork he held.

"That was quite the thrill, Tadara-san. Can't you tone down the killing intent?" Luo Mio said, narrowing his eyes.

Tadara Yui clicked her tongue when her sneak attack failed.

"Come back, Futsu. " Kurogane Ouma, already seated, said nonchalantly.

"Boring." With that, Tadara Yui threw the food knife in her hand at Luo Mio.

Luo Mio looked at the flying food knife expressionlessly as it hit the ground. He said, "Tadara-san, you need to pick the right timing for poisoning, don't you?"

Then, Luo Mio turned his head back.

Tadara Yui glanced at the food knife she had just coated with poison, then at Luo Mio, before taking her seat with the Akatsuki Academy contingent.

"Are you okay, Miohua?" Ikki asked Luo Mio, concerned.

Luo Mio shook his head.

"You're pretty amazing, your reaction speed."

A loud male voice rang out.

Luo Mio looked over and immediately recognized the man before him.

Third-year student at Buku Academy.

Winner of last year's Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival.

The "Seven Stars Sword King," Morohoshi Yudai.

Chapter 24: Public Match First Round!

Looking at the man before him, he was about the same height as Arisugawa, with sharp eyes. Even in a suit, one could feel his solid muscles, and his mere presence exuded an intimidating aura, like a predatory beast.

"It's nothing. I'm sure if it were Morohoshi-senpai, you would have done better than me," Luo Mio said, shrugging.

"You're being too modest, little Mio." A girl's voice rang out from behind Morohoshi Yudai.

"Long time no see, Momiji-nee." Luo Mio looked towards the girl in the formal attire. She was Touka and Neine's junior disciple and also Luo Mio's childhood friend, Asagi Momiji.

Asagi Momiji's smile was full of energy as she said to Luo Mio, "Long time no see, little Mio."

"But, I heard from the teacher that you were coming to Buku," Asagi Momiji said, her eyes filled with confusion as she looked at Luo Mio.

"That's..." Faced with Asagi Momiji's gaze, Luo Mio awkwardly shifted his eyes elsewhere.

"Momiji-nee, long time no see." Ikki, standing beside him, came to Luo Mio's rescue.

Upon hearing Ikki's greeting, Asagi Momiji blinked, and then her energetic eyes lit up.

"Isn't that Ikki?!" Asagi Momiji exclaimed in surprise.

You're only noticing him now?

Luo Mio thought to himself.

"Wait, is Ikki at Hagun like little Mio?" Asagi Momiji seemed to have discovered something, her eyes narrowing as she looked back and forth between Ikki and Luo Mio.

"Uh..."

"Alright, Momiji." Touka stepped forward, coming to the rescue of the two.

"Senior." Asagi Momiji called out to Touka.

Although they were the same age, Touka had joined "Fighting God" Nangou Torajiro's tutelage before Asagi Momiji, so Asagi Momiji called Touka "Senior" after joining.

"Long time no see, Morohoshi-kun, since last year." Touka said, her eyes filled with fighting spirit as she looked at Morohoshi Yudai.

Sensing the burning fighting spirit and the tone in Touka's eyes, Morohoshi Yudai was taken aback for a moment. Then, like a beast whose territory had been challenged, he grinned fearlessly and said, "Don't lose before you even meet me this year!"

As the "Seven Stars Sword King," who could surpass the students of the other six academies in the Far East and stand at the pinnacle, he feared no student's intimidation, even someone as formidable as "Raikiri," who could match him!

"Of course not."

Sensing the thick fighting spirit and aura between the two, a man walked over from the Buku Academy seats behind Morohoshi Yudai.

"Yuu, we're at a banquet now. Put away your aura."

The bespectacled young man's suit was impeccably neat, and his posture and movements were extremely precise.

This person was the runner-up of last year's Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival, the "Heavenly Eye," Jonoshiraki Byakuya.

"And you, Momiji! Making such a commotion at a banquet, what kind of behavior is that!"

In response to Jonoshiraki Byakuya's questioning, Asagi Momiji playfully stuck out her tongue at him.

"Little Shiro isn't cute at all."

"Right, right." Morohoshi Yudai, who was still declaring war on Touka, chimed in.

Jonoshiraki Byakuya, like a nagging mother, sighed at the two of them.

Jonoshiraki Byakuya pushed his glasses up and looked at Luo Mio, saying, "So you're the younger brother of Toudo Touka-san that Momiji often talks about."

As soon as Jonoshiraki Byakuya spoke, the surrounding students were shocked.

"Brother?! The Chairperson's?!"

"I didn't expect him to be 'Raikiri's' brother?!"

"Hagun Academy first-year, Toudo Touka."

"I didn't expect there to be 'Raikiri's' brother among this year's first-years."

"I wonder how much of his sister's strength 'Raikiri's' brother has."

For a moment, all the surrounding students turned their gaze to Luo Mio.

"Ho ho, facing so many gazes, you don't seem flustered at all," Morohoshi Yudai said upon seeing this.

Luo Mio shrugged, his expression calm and indifferent as he replied, "Well, my elder sister is the renowned 'Raikiri,' after all. As her brother, I can't bring shame upon her."

"And besides..." Luo Mio looked at the chattering crowd, his eyes narrowing slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips, "I still haven't met anyone who could completely defeat me."

System: You probably forgot how many times you begged for mercy after being beaten by your teacher in the consciousness space.

Luo Mio: Can't you just shut up at a time like this?

System: I'm happy, I'm willing.

Luo Mio: ...

"!"

Sensing the heavy, sharp aura, many students in the crowd couldn't help but focus their gazes, looking at Luo Mio with serious expressions.

Morohoshi Yudai, standing nearby, also felt the aura emanating from Luo Mio and couldn't help but laugh, "I like your personality."

"I hope to have the chance to spar with you, Senpai Morohoshi, on the tournament grounds this year, regardless of the outcome," Luo Mio said, extending his fist towards Morohoshi Yudai.

Seeing the offered fist, Morohoshi Yudai met it with his own.

"Don't you lose before you even face me."

"Of course not. Before I meet my destined rival (best friend), I won't easily withdraw midway." After speaking, Luo Mio's gaze, burning with fighting spirit, fixed directly on Ikki beside him.

Sensing Luo Mio's aura and the fighting spirit in his eyes, Ikki's gaze became sharp like a sword as he looked back at Luo Mio.

The acquaintances of Luo Mio and Ikki, seeing this scene between the two, couldn't help but smile knowingly.

Sensing the intense aura between them, Morohoshi Yudai burst into laughter, "Then you two better put on a spectacular battle for me!"

Afterward, Morohoshi Yudai, Asagi Momiji, and Jonoshiraki Byakuya took their leave from Luo Mio and his group and returned to the seats belonging to Buku Academy.

"I didn't expect so many enjoyable opponents among this year's first-years!" Morohoshi Yudai exclaimed.

Jonoshiraki Byakuya on the side agreed, "Indeed, there are quite a few surprising newcomers this year."

Toudo Touka, that 'Raikiri's' brother. Aside from the sparring match with Raikiri rumored online at the start of the school year, based on his performance and astonishing Magic Power, he's already on par with a top four contestant in the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival.

Crimson Lotus Princess Stella Vermillion, ranked number one in the world for Magic Power, the much-anticipated A-Rank Knight.

Kurogane Shizuku, a descendant of the former Samurai Ryoma, ranked second among Hagun Academy's new students, only surpassed by the Crimson Lotus Princess.

And...

Jonoshiraki Byakuya couldn't help but glance towards Ikki at the Hagun Academy section.

Despite being an F-Rank Knight, that chillingly sharp sword aura, and being called a destined rival by Toudo Touka.

At the Hagun Academy section, Ikki seemed to sense something, looked towards Jonoshiraki Byakuya, and then gave a shy smile.

Jonoshiraki Byakuya returned the gesture, then turned his head, his lips gradually curving upward.

Coupled with his astonishing observation and perception skills...

But shocking students, huh...

Jonoshiraki Byakuya looked towards the seats of Akatsuki Academy.

The most recognizable among them was only that one person.

He had the same appearance as Kurogane Ikki, but lacked Ikki's gentle aura, his entire being filled with a powerful presence.

'Gale Sword Emperor' Kurogane Ouma...

One of the two great genius A-Rank Knights of the Far East.

He had disappeared after middle school and unexpectedly reappeared this year!

And he and Yudai have been rivals since childhood...

Jonoshiraki Byakuya glanced at Morohoshi Yudai in front of him.

"Good afternoon to the participating representatives from each academy!"

Just then, on the banquet stage, a middle-aged figure appeared.

As Luo Mio and his companions chatted in their seats, a voice echoed from the stage.

Standing on the stage was Tsukikage Bakuga, the current Minister of the Far East Cabinet and Chairperson of Akatsuki Academy, addressing the students from the eight academies.

"Welcome, everyone."

"I'm sure everyone here is already well aware of the rules and system for this year's Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival selection matches!"

"Therefore, today we will solemnly announce tomorrow's match information, opponents, times, and locations!"

"!"

Tsukikage Bakuga's words were like a stone dropped into water, creating ripples and causing the students from the eight academies to murmur amongst themselves.

"Now is the time for the announcement!"

Snap! A finger snap from Tsukikage Bakuga.

The curtain behind him on the stage was pulled open, revealing a massive screen for everyone to see!

Hiss!

Then, blue light illuminated the screen, displaying the match information for numerous students!

"Hahahahahahaha!"

At one spot in the banquet hall, a hearty, booming laugh erupted.

A person who easily exceeded two meters in height, whose body width was also close to one meter, and who sported a beard, made him look less like a student and more like a seasoned warrior.

This was Kaoga Renji, a third-year student from Rokuson Academy and one of the top eight from last year's Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival, known as the "Iron Bear."

"I didn't expect the first match to be mine!" Kaoga Renji said, looking at the first name on the screen.

Luo Mio glanced at Kaoga Renji's position before continuing to scan down.

"It seems there's no match for me tomorrow... wait..." Luo Mio, who was about to finish scanning the match schedule, looked at the very last match of the day.