Who Isn't a Herrscher

On the VIP seats, Saikyo Neine held "Crimson Wind" and used her ability to block the impact generated by the two.

Looking at the battleground, Saikyo Neine sensed the "power" that flashed by just now. She shifted her gaze back to the ring. The two little ones were clashing with all their might, without holding back, and she sighed with a headache.

"You really know how to give me trouble."

As the white light slowly dissipated, Touka and others, as well as the audience in the stands, quickly turned their attention to the arena.

On the shattered battlefield, two figures gradually became visible.

Luo Mio's student uniform was covered in cracks of various sizes, and the Eternal Twilight Wolves had already transformed into magic particles and returned to Luo Mio's soul.

Luo Mio knelt on the pulverized battlefield. The clothes on his left arm were completely destroyed and turned to ash. Hot, bright red blood slowly flowed down his arm. In a place no one could see clearly, purple patterns covered his entire palm beneath the blood.

Sensing the condition of his left arm, Luo Mio endured the pain emanating from it and gave a weak, wry smile.

If he hadn't used a tiny bit of Honkai Energy at the last moment to protect his entire left limb, his whole left hand would have been blown away.

However, the impact generated by his clash with Ouma had still shattered the bones in his left arm.

Opposite Luo Mio, Ouma's condition was equally grim. He inserted his dragon claws into the ground to support his kneeling body.

Ouma gasped for breath, panting heavily. Although his external injuries weren't as severe as Luo Mio's, he was the only one who knew that his internal condition was not good.

Luo Mio's punch had not only shattered his "Moon Breaking Heavenly Dragon Claw" at the last moment, but a strange power had also traveled through the Heavenly Dragon Claw into his body. If he hadn't used his Heavenly Dragon Armor to temporarily suppress that power within him, his internal situation would likely be much worse right now.

But this power...

It was like a virus, constantly trying to erode his body.

Ouma's eyes flickered as he stared at Luo Mio, lost in thought.

Is this the true power of "White Night" that "Clown" mentioned that day?

It wasn't so much about its importance to the world, but rather the importance of the power needed for the world's transformation.

Luo Mio managed to stand up with great effort and asked Ouma, "Are you going to continue?"

Hearing Luo Mio's question, Ouma seemed to muster his last bit of strength to stand up, leaning on his dragon claws.

"I lost this match," Ouma said calmly, as if victory or defeat didn't matter to him.

He looked at the referee and slowly stated, "I forfeit."

Hearing Ouma's surrender, Luo Mio was a little surprised.

Ouma paid no mind to Luo Mio's surprised expression and slowly spoke, "The next match will be at the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival. Don't you dare lose easily to me."

After speaking, Ouma slowly walked towards the gate, dragging his body.

The referee saw this and then loudly announced.

"This match goes to Hagun Academy's first-year student, Toudo Touka!"

"The match is over!!!"

Announcer Iida exclaimed excitedly.

"Today! A spectacular duel between two A-Rank Knights, a fierce battle of offense and defense, and a close-quarters struggle of life and death! Finally, after a decisive final blow from both sides, the first match of the day! Victory goes to our 'Thousand Stars White Night', contestant Toudo Touka!"

Muroto also said with slight excitement.

"Today's match is the most thrilling competition I've witnessed in several selection tournaments! The watchability of this match can rival that of the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival!"

In the audience, Stella stood up and excitedly said to Ikki, "He won! Miohua won!"

Ikki's face also flushed with excitement, and he nodded, "Yeah!"

"Aaaahhhhh, why wasn't it me fighting one of them!" Morohoshi Yudai excitedly rubbed his hands together, itching for a fight.

Touka also let out a sigh of relief, then happily looked at Luo Mio on the field.

Everyone celebrated, looking at Luo Mio, and the audience erupted in cheers and applause.

Hearing the announcement of the match result and the cheers, Luo Mio slowly relaxed his body and then slowly sat down on the shattered battlefield.

In the evening, after his left hand was healed in the infirmary, Luo Mio stretched lazily and said, "Ah! I'm so hungry! I want to eat something."

Ikki, who was accompanying him, gave a wry smile. "It's so late now, we can probably only go to the hotel's restaurant."

It turned out that after the match was announced, Luo Mio was sent to the infirmary by Saikyo Neine to have his shattered left arm treated. Perhaps it was due to the excessive exhaustion of energy and stamina from the battle with Ouma, but Luo Mio fell asleep after lying down in the infirmary. As a result, Luo Mio only woke up in the evening and was then forcibly examined by Saikyo Neine under the pretense of checking for any abnormalities.

"Then let's go quickly! I'm starving, I can't take it anymore!" Luo Mio said to Ikki after hearing this, and urged him, "Ikki! Hurry, hurry, hurry! Lead the way, lead the way, lead the way!"

"Huh?! You haven't been to the hotel restaurant yet?"

"Are you stating the obvious?"

"Alright..."

Luo Mio followed Ikki, and they finally arrived at the restaurant.

Outside the magnificent golden and jade gate, two tall male attendants dressed like butlers bowed slightly in greeting upon seeing Luo Mio and Ikki, then pulled open the restaurant doors for them.

"Whoa~"

Luo Mio smacked his lips as he stepped through the restaurant doors and took in the scenery inside.

"As expected of a high-class hotel assigned by the committee, the restaurant is so luxurious."

Expensive Athenian chandeliers hung from the sparkling crystal ceiling. Colorless crystal chains dangled from the ceiling, twinkling faintly under the soft light. The classical wooden walls were adorned with elegant Western-style patterns and carvings, and the vibrant red dining tables were covered with neat and clean gold-trimmed tablecloths.

In a corner of the restaurant, a group of pretty women in service uniforms were undergoing training.

The person instructing them was a neat and efficient woman in her early thirties.

Seeing Luo Mio and Ikki enter the restaurant, she approached them and politely asked, "Are the two of you here to dine?"

Luo Mio nodded.

"Very well, please wait a moment. You may choose your seats now." She then made a gesture of invitation.

As Luo Mio was looking for a seat, he secretly whispered to Ikki over his shoulder.

"I have a feeling this place isn't really suited for us."

Ikki gave a wry smile and nodded.

"I feel the same."

"I just feel a bit uncomfortable, like I have to be careful with every word I say," Luo Mio mumbled, scanning the entire restaurant.

After all, he had either been in school or dragged out for training by Saikyo Neine and Nangou Torajiro since he was little, so he never had the chance to go to fancy restaurants or parties.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Luo Mio let out a sound of surprise and looked towards a corner of the restaurant.

Ikki followed Luo Mio's gaze.

A tall, upright figure was sitting there.

"Isn't that..."

Luo Mio walked over and tapped the figure sitting in the corner.

"Yo! Ouma!"

The figure turned his head to look at them. Indeed, the person sitting in the restaurant corner was Kurogane Ouma, who had just finished his match with Luo Mio today.

Ouma was wearing the same black kimono he had worn when they met before and before the match today.

Ouma's perpetually icy poker face showed a hint of surprise as he looked at them. "...It's you two."

"Judging by your appearance, you just recovered and came here to eat, didn't you?" Luo Mio said, stroking his chin and glancing at Ouma.

Ouma glanced at the two of them before shifting his gaze back to the food on the table.

"Don't be so cold~"

Luo Mio gestured for a complex-looking Ikki to sit next to Ouma, then called out to a server.

"Two bowls of rice, one plate of twice-cooked pork, one plate of fish-flavored eggplant, and one bowl of vegetable and pork soup."

Luo Mio simply listed three common dishes.

Hearing Luo Mio's order, the server blinked in slight surprise, but still bowed politely before leaving.

"Why did Big Brother join the 'Rebellion'?"

As soon as the server left, Ikki coldly questioned Ouma.

In Ikki's memory, Ouma was more self-disciplined than anyone, carrying the expectations of many of his clansmen and never disappointing them.

Even the sight of Ouma training when he was little had taught Ikki, who secretly watched from the side, a great deal.

From the bottom of his heart, Ikki deeply respected and admired his older brother. Ikki yearned for Ouma's seemingly unattainable back.

Yet, it was this very back that he yearned for that had joined the "Rebellion," become a terrorist, and even appeared before him in a terrorist attack.

Facing Ikki's questioning, Ouma looked up and coldly glanced at Ikki before responding.

"Let me correct one thing first. I haven't joined the 'Rebellion.' I'm merely a 'guest student.'"

"Hm?"

Ouma glanced at Ikki.

"Foolish."

Luo Mio, on the other hand, rested his right hand on the table, propped his right cheek on it, and slowly said.

"What he means is that 'Akatsuki Academy' was established by Uncle Moonshadow to accomplish something, and in doing so, he borrowed the power of the 'Rebellion.' Therefore, there are currently two factions within Akatsuki Academy: one led by the underground elites of the 'Rebellion,' and the other led by Uncle Moonshadow."

"The meeting on the beach before was likely also due to mutual benefit that led to joining that operation."

After hearing Luo Mio's explanation, Ikki slowly looked down in thought.

"So that's how it is."

Luo Mio then slowly added, "As for why Ouma joined Uncle Moonshadow's faction, it's probably also on Old Yan's commission."

"Huh?!"

Ikki froze upon hearing that.

"Dad, Dad?"

"But, why? Dad should know the origins of Akatsuki Academy, so why would he still..."

Seeing that the food hadn't arrived yet, Luo Mio continued, "It's simple. The political party led by Uncle Yueying wants to break free from the 'Alliance's' control and reclaim sovereignty over the Far East. And the 'International Magician Knight Alliance Far East Branch' led by Old Yan was originally the Samurai Bureau. The Samurai Bureau once held immense power, controlling all Blazers in the country, but this power was stripped away by the 'Alliance.' From the perspective of overall interests, both sides are against the 'Alliance,' their interests align. That's why Old Yan entrusted Ouma to join Akatsuki Academy."

"Is that so..."

Ikki was very surprised to hear Luo Mio's words, but what surprised him even more was:

"But it's surprising that Big Brother would actually listen to Father's instructions."

Ouma glanced at him, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Don't be silly! If Toudo Touka wasn't going to attend this Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival, I wouldn't have agreed to Yan's request."

Ikki's expression was a bit subtle, and he whispered, "Big Brother, are you... shy?"

Ouma's eye corners twitched slightly.

And at this moment, the dishes Luo Mio had ordered were served.

Luo Mio bowed to the waiter, then picked up his chopsticks and put a steaming slice of twice-cooked pork into his mouth.

"Ahhh, refreshing~"

Luo Mio glanced at the dishes Ouma had ordered and said, "Want to eat together?"

Ouma didn't refuse Luo Mio's invitation, and then the three of them began to eat together.

Outside the restaurant entrance, Luo Mio patted his belly.

"Well then, I'll be going ahead."