Who Isn't a Herrscher?

"Haaaah!"

Ayatsuji Ayase swung the same type of katana Device as Ikki's, Scarlet Claw.

"Clang!"

Ikki used Yin Iron to defend against Ayatsuji Ayase's attack.

The sound of Yin Iron and Scarlet Claw clashing rang out across an outdoor training ground.

On the benches at the edge of the training ground, Luo Mio wore headphones and listened to music while watching Ikki and Ayatsuji Ayase spar alongside Stella.

They had come outdoors because the hotel's training rooms were already full.

Since Shizuku had a match today, Arisugawa had gone with her to make adjustments.

Touka had also gone with Kuden'en Kanata, just like Arisugawa had.

(La la la la oh oh oh)

(La la la la oh oh oh)

With his eyes closed, Luo Mio listened to the music coming through his headphones, gently swaying his head while his foot tapped along to the rhythm.

Stella, meanwhile, watched Ikki and Ayatsuji Ayase's sparring match with a complicated look in her eyes.

Seeing Stella stare jealously at Ikki in the training ground, Luo Mio took off one side of his headphones and said, "If you want Ikki to teach you, just ask him."

Hearing that, Stella's face flushed red. Then she huffily said, "W-What are you talking about?! I never said I-I wanted Ikki to teach me."

Luo Mio stared at her expressionlessly.

"Oh, really?"

Stella's face gradually grew redder under his gaze.

Then she lowered her head, tapping her index fingers together as she quietly said, "He won't teach me swordsmanship, but he's willing to teach a senior he just met."

After hearing Stella's complaint, Luo Mio looked toward the two sparring in the field and said, "I think I know why Ikki refuses to teach you swordsmanship."

"Huh?"

"That's because Stella doesn't need Ikki's guidance in swordsmanship at all."

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. Ikki's swordsmanship relies on 'technique' to defeat his opponents, while yours relies on 'power' to crush them. From the fundamental principles behind your respective swordsmanship, Ikki's guidance probably wouldn't improve your skills. It might even have adverse effects."

"With Ikki's mirror-like powers of observation, if there were flaws in your swordsmanship, he would have pointed them out long ago."

"And I've watched your matches too. Every motion when you swing your sword—the movements of your arms, wrists, toes, knees, and waist—flows together perfectly with every attack. So if you want Ikki to guide your swordsmanship, you'd have to become a child and let him teach you from start to finish."

After hearing Luo Mio's analysis, Stella first felt relieved, then deeply regretful.

I already have so much magic power, so why did I have to make my swordsmanship so perfect too?! I'm such an idiot!

"Hey, Claude, there's actually a training ground here."

A voice rang out.

Then a wave of noisy chatter followed as dozens of young men and women who looked no different from street punks gathered together.

Behind that group of young punks, the tall man Luo Mio had seen in the infirmary yesterday walked over.

Their arrival also caught Ikki and the others' attention.

Ikki and Stella did not focus on those punks, but on the tall man at their head.

Sword Eater—Kurashiki Kurato.

"Oh my! Isn't that Ayase?"

That group instantly spotted Ayase, who was sparring in the field.

Then they noisily walked over to her.

"Why haven't you been coming home lately? We've really missed you, you know~"

"Whoa, that sounded disgusting."

"Gahahahaha!"

But Ayase merely lowered her head and refused to look at them or say anything. The hand gripping Scarlet Claw trembled slightly as well.

The group, however, failed to notice her clenched hands and continued talking amongst themselves.

Ikki frowned at the sight.

"Excuse me, but you're making my friend uncomfortable."

One of the hot-tempered punks looked down on Ikki and arrogantly said, "Who the hell are you?! Who asked you to butt in?"

As he spoke, he forcefully jabbed Ikki's chest with his index finger.

Hearing the crude words and seeing the barbaric behavior, Stella's eyes sharpened from afar.

Apparently, someone among the punks recognized Ikki.

"Isn't this Hagun Academy's famous F-Rank Knight—the Failed Knight?"

"An F-Rank Knight? Hahahaha!"

"Hey, hey, what kind of trash are students from the other academies if they actually lost to an F-Rank?"

"Hey, Failed Knight, how about we have a match right here?"

Teasing, mockery, and ridicule continuously came from the punks. Though they knew Ikki's reputation, they did not believe an F-Rank could easily defeat his opponents.

When they saw that Ikki showed no reaction at all—

"Hahaha, he's probably scared stiff."

"Forget it. Let's let him off."

Afterward, they turned back to Ayatsuji Ayase and even tried to put their hands on her.

"Ayase, why not stop sparring with this F-Rank and spar with me instead?"

As he spoke, the punk deliberately reached his hand toward Ayatsuji Ayase's chest.

"Smack!"

At some point, Ikki had used the flat of Yin Iron's blade to knock the man's hand aside.

"Wha..."

"You bastard!"

"Are you looking for a fight?"

The punks behind him immediately erupted.

"Stop."

From behind the punks, Kurashiki Kurato called out to them.

"Claude..."

Kurashiki Kurato walked over and glanced at Yin Iron in Ikki's hand.

"What an exceptional blade."

Ikki replied to the compliment, "Thank you."

"Then..."

Before he could finish speaking, Kurashiki Kurato gave a savage grin.

"Let's have a match!"

A greatsword resembling a serrated white bone suddenly appeared in Kurashiki Kurato's hand and struck toward Ikki.

"Ikki—!"

Noticing it, Stella cried out.

"Clang!"

At the instant Kurashiki Kurato's greatsword slashed at Ikki, something invisible blocked it.

Kurashiki Kurato frowned at the sight, stepped back, and turned toward Stella.

"Could you stop ruining my fun?"

"Thousand Stars White Night."

Then a massive figure slowly shimmered into existence behind Ikki.

A silver-white giant wolf stood behind him, raising its powerful forelimbs and using its sharp claws to shield Ikki.

"You may use Devices within designated training grounds, but not in 'combat form.' What you're doing is against the rules, Kurashiki."

Luo Mio took off his headphones and hung them around his neck as he spoke to Kurashiki Kurato.

Kurashiki Kurato bared his teeth in a savage grin. "I don't care about that."

Then he waved the snake-bone-like greatsword in his hand and said to Luo Mio, "What? Want to have a match?"

Faced with Kurashiki Kurato's provocation, Luo Mio shook his head and smiled. "I refuse."

"And besides, I'm not the opponent you're looking for, am I?"

Kurashiki Kurato clicked his tongue as though he had been seen through.

Luo Mio glanced at him, seemed to think of something, and spoke.

"How about this, Kurashiki? In one week, we'll help Ayatsuji reclaim her dojo. Let's have our match there."

Upon hearing that, Kurashiki Kurato's eyes instantly became like those of a predator that had spotted its prey.

"Interesting."

"Then in one week, let's have a fight to the death."

With that, he called for the lackeys behind him and left. Before departing, he cast one more glance at Ikki.

Myself and "Myself"

That evening, in the hotel's recreational tea room.

"So you're planning to help Ayatsuji reclaim her dojo?" Shizuku sighed and helplessly rubbed her furrowed brow.

After Stella explained the conflict with Kurashiki Kurato at the training ground earlier that day and their agreement for one week later.

Arisugawa also said speechlessly, "I can't believe that after being gone for only half a day, you've already gotten yourselves into trouble again."

"That's too harsh, Alice!"

"They were the ones who started it!"

"Alright, alright, I understand." Arisugawa soothed the displeased Stella.

After hearing this, Touka looked at Luo Mio.

"So in one week, Miohua, you'll be fighting Kurashiki Kurato."

Luo Mio shook his head and spread his hands. "It won't be me."

"Huh?"

Luo Mio continued, "Even if I went, I doubt I'd be his target."

"And have you forgotten what he said before attacking Ikki?" Luo Mio looked at Stella.

What a fine blade...

"Is that so?"

Ayatsuji Ayase, who had remained silent until then, apologized to Ikki. "Sorry, Kurogane. I dragged you into this."

Ikki shook his head to indicate that it was nothing.

Then Ayatsuji Ayase told everyone about her relationship with Kurashiki Kurato.

Having already known about it, Luo Mio returned to his room first and lay down on the bed.