Who Isn't a Herrscher?

Chairman's Office

"Wh-what is going on! Why am I roommates with a pervert like that! Chairman!" Stella exclaimed, pointing at Ikki.

"It means exactly what it says. Is there a problem, Stella Familiaron?"

"What if, what if there's some kind of misunderstanding..."

"Ho ho... what kind of misunderstanding might that be~"

"It's... it's... that..."

"Aunt Kuro, stop teasing her like a drunk old man..."

"Chairman..."

Luo Mio and Ikki, unable to watch any longer, said helplessly to Shinguji Kuroko.

"Cough, cough, cough... Let's get back to business."

Shinguji Kuroko also composed herself and spoke to Kurogane Ikki, Stella, and Luo Mio.

"Among the seven academies, our school, Hagun Academy, is one of the most outstanding. In the past, our representatives consistently won the annual Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival held by the seven academies. However, in recent years, we've completely fallen behind the other six Knight Academies.

To revitalize Hagun Academy, the board appointed me as the new Chairperson. The first step in this revitalization is dormitory assignments. To foster mutual sparring and growth among students, we've arranged students with similar strength levels in the same dormitories, regardless of their seat number or gender.

Having individuals with comparable ranks nearby should naturally spark a competitive spirit. This arrangement is intentionally designed to ignite that competitive drive among students. Of course, this doesn't apply to Toudo Touka."

"Um, I have a question." Ikki said to Shinguji Kuroko.

"Stella is the top-ranked student, an A-Rank Knight, so why is she in the same room as me, a repeat student?"

"Eh! You're a repeat student?!" Stella exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, my rank is F-Rank, and the only ability I can use is the lowest level of physical ability enhancement. My total Magic Power is also only one-tenth of the average."

Luo Mio added, "All my other stats are the lowest too! I'm known by the nickname 'Failed Knight (Worst One)'."

Stella's expression became complicated as she said, "'Failed Knight (Worst One)'..."

"Precisely," Shinguji Kuroko said with a mischievous smile.

"That's where the problem lies! There's no one as outstanding as Stella Familiaron, and no one as weak as Kurogane. Aren't you two perfect roommates?"

"But... but, having a boy and a girl of the same age living in the same room..."

"Ho ho... What's wrong with living in the same room?"

"Since you can't decide on the dorms like this, how about we have a sparring match?" Luo Mio suggested to Stella.

"Let's have a sparring match to settle the dormitory issue between you and Ikki. The winner decides the dormitory!"

"You can come settle things with me later."

Stella's eyes sparkled upon hearing Luo Mio's words, and after a moment, she replied.

"Alright."

"That being said, Ikki, do you have confidence? She's an A-Rank, you know."

"That mana phosphorescence appears in the air with her emotions, overflowing and manifesting without even needing conscious control."

"Undoubtedly, her Magic Power is approaching 'infinite'." Luo Mio said, looking at Kurogane Ikki.

"The way of the knight is to carve one's own destiny with a sword. I'm sure you've heard it from the Chairperson: 'If you can win the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival, I will let you graduate, no matter how poor your abilities are or how much the higher-ups make things difficult for you.'

She said it herself, and Stella will definitely participate in the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival. So, no matter what, I will face her. It's just a matter of time. Even if her Magic Power is close to infinite, I won't back down."

Luo Mio looked at Kurogane Ikki, whose eyes were filled with determination.

"I figured you'd say that, but I believe in you. Good luck."

"Thank you, Touka." Ikki said gratefully to Luo Mio, while thinking to himself.

This is also for the promise between us, so I won't be defeated until I fulfill it with you!

Magic Knights, as a crucial combat force for the nation, require a high level of combat skill and awareness. Within Hagun Academy, there are several dome-shaped arenas scattered throughout the campus.

Each arena contains a combat zone approximately 100 meters in diameter, surrounded by tiered seating forming a bowl shape.

The sparring match between Kurogane Ikki and Stella was taking place in Training Ground Three. Their figures stood in the center of the training area.

They faced each other at a distance of twenty meters, with Shinguji Kuroko acting as the Referee.

On the spectator seats, several gazes were focused on the two individuals on the field. The owners of these gazes were all second and third-year students. Some were students who had remained at the school and were practicing freely in this training ground, while others had come to watch after hearing about it.

Their target was clear: Stella Familiaron, the top-ranked freshman and recognized A-Rank Knight, who had broken all previous freshman records.

"Is that her?"

"She's so beautiful..."

"Her opponent is that repeat student?"

"That F-Rank repeat student?"

"An A-Rank fighting an F-Rank? Pfft, are they kidding?"

Luo Mio walked through the audience, shaking his head at the murmurs around him.

Suddenly, his gaze fell upon a less conspicuous corner of the stands. A young girl sat there, and as if sensing his attention, she looked up. Her eyes met Luo Mio's, and a flicker of surprise turned into a smile as she waved him over.

Luo Mio shivered at the sight of her smile, cold sweat breaking out on his back. He could practically see a giant red character flashing above his head. Swallowing hard, he walked over.

This girl was none other than Toudo Touka, the Student Council President of Hagun Academy and Luo Mio's sister in this world.

Luo Mio sat down beside Toudo Touka, placing his hands on his knees and sitting up straight.

"So now you know to act cute in front of me?"

Toudo Touka glanced at Luo Mio.

"Ahahaha... Sorry..." Luo Mio offered a weak laugh, then lowered his head.

Toudo Touka studied Luo Mio for a few seconds before shifting her gaze back to the arena.

"We'll have a good 'chat' about your behavior later."

Luo Mio shivered at Toudo Touka's words, especially the emphasis on the word 'chat'.

"Yes...!"

Meanwhile, on the stage, Kurogane Ikki and Stella were ready.

"The sparring match is about to begin. Both of you, please deploy your Devices!" Shinguji Kuroko announced to the two.

"Manifest,"

"Come and serve me,"

"Alright... LET'S GO AHEAD!!!"

With the signal to start, Stella charged at Ikki...

"Clang... Clang..."

The sounds of their Devices clashing echoed through the arena.

"Hraaaaah!!!"

Stella raised her sword, wreathed in flames, and swung it down at Ikki.

It was a simple, brute-force swing, devoid of any technique.

As the attack drew near, Ikki braced himself to block. But a warning from his body made him instantly change his stance. Just as the flame-wreathed sword was about to strike, he used Shunpo, moving as if teleporting, to evade the attack and retreat.

"Clang!!!"

As the sword strike landed, the entire Training Ground Three trembled.

"As expected..." Ikki, having dodged, stared at the ground where the attack had hit. Boiling flames and shattered earth, immense heat and brute force.

If he had taken that hit, he would have already lost.

Stella, the attacker, also sensed something.

"That last sword strike... you only adopted a defensive posture the moment you swung, how did you suddenly change your stance to dodge?"

In the audience, Toudo Touka watched the first exchange with surprise.

However, what caught her attention wasn't Stella's attack, but Ikki's evasion.

"That footwork... is that your 'Shunpo'?" Toudo Touka looked at Luo Mio, puzzled.

"Yes, that's right." Luo Mio observed. "It's probably more than just Shunpo; that footwork likely incorporated some principles of drawing back the leg."

On the stage, Stella looked at Ikki with a hint of surprise.

"Your speed is good, but that's not enough to beat me!"

Stella swung her sword again and charged forward.

"Imperial Arts," her movements were as graceful as a dance, yet as oppressive and swift as flames.

Ikki retreated and evaded, step by step.

"!"

Stella felt something unusual.

In the audience, Toudo Touka, who had already taken off her glasses, noticed something.

"Observe the swordsmanship of others, trace the principles behind it, and then integrate them."

"So that's it, 'copying' or rather 'imitation'."

Luo Mio and Toudo Touka were also watching the two fight from the audience.

"Back when I was a second-year, Ikki found me," Toudo Touka suddenly said from the side.

"'No matter what happens, Touka-nee, don't come to help me. That's my request.'"

Seeing Ikki's determined eyes at the time, Touka, though confused, agreed to his request.

Luo Mio listened to his older sister's words and then smiled as he watched Ikki on the field, saying, "That's just the kind of person he is. No one can stop him on the path he walks."

"But this path has already left him covered in wounds."

"I believe in him. Even if he's covered in wounds, the path he walks will still draw others' attention."

Luo Mio still held unwavering faith in his close friend.

He recalled a conversation with Shinguji Kuroko.

"Since my sister was in the student council last year, and even the Student Council President, and Ikki should have seen her at the entrance ceremony, why didn't he go to see her later?"

"It was pressure. You know the influence of the Kurogane family in the knight world. At that time, the Kurogane family directly pressured Hagun Academy. In this society where 'rank is everything,' they wanted to say, 'Kurogane Ikki is just a prodigal son (a good-for-nothing) who ran away from the main family and must not be allowed to graduate.' "

"The result was that the previous Chairperson arbitrarily established the unreasonable rule that 'practical combat curriculum requires reaching the minimum ability level for lessons,' excluding Kurogane. They even dared not make things too difficult for Kurogane because of your relationship with him and the people behind you. But the Kurogane family must have threatened him secretly, and Kurogane must have secretly approached Toudo to discuss something with her, which led to Ikki not participating in any practical combat classes that year. Although I cleaned up all the scum in the board of directors after taking office, it was still too late."

Looking at Ikki on the field, wielding his Yin Iron.

Toudo Touka listened to Luo Mio's words and recalled how, when Kurogane Ikki was young and had no talent, no one wanted to be his friend, and his family also disdained him.

Except for her younger brother, Toudo Touka. Lacking talent, he had persisted in wielding his sword because of a vow they once made. Remembering these things, Toudo Touka finally felt at ease.