As they run through the forest, suddenly, they were assaulted by an ominous presence.
A very highly concentrated ghastly aura. Maybe someone with a strong disposition to feel spirits would probably get injured.
– Lady, it can’t be…!
Subaru started running faster. Raishin followed after him.
When the party had entered the coliseum, they could notice the audience was dead silent.
They had looked up to see through the panels Olga installed in the outer walls of the tower. What was being reflected was a dark mace—something that looked like a giant.
Subaru’s opened his mouth as he let out a hoarse voice.
– The shikigami prince…! How reckless… did she summon that inside the barrier!?
– Raishin! I can’t see Hinowa-san anywhere in the panels!
Raishin had already started running before listening to Yaya’s scream.
He entered the tower, forcefully moving his heavy legs. Of course that Yaya and Mutsura had also followed him. Probably unable to withstand it too, Subaru had broken free from the executives impeding him to enter the grounds before it was his turn.
Raishin ran skipping two steps at a time, heading for the fourth floor. Their lungs started getting burned by the unworldly aura and the hot air as they entered their desired floor. Even breathing was exhausting.
The black giant covered most of the space in the floor even while croaching.
Raishin felt a fear like being in front at a big bomb before it exploded. He couldn’t do anything. Even Frey who had returned earlier along with Charl and Loki were just looking, keeping their distance.
Her opponent, the youngest Zekaros brother, was still alive. He was on the other side of the giant, desperately trying to repel the heat waves that attacked him with his wind. His beautiful blonde hair was all wet of sweat.
– Lady! The shikigami prince is in a bad mood! Contain it properly!
– Hey, what is going on!? What is happening to Hinowa!?
Charl walked up to Subaru and Mutsura. They answered pained, after exchanging looks.
– Our summons are convenient, but there are some risks compared to that of using an automaton…
– It’s the same as the Spirit Users. The summons are <divine-demon souls>—they are originally not things a human can handle that easily. We just make them obey us through our magical energy. That’s why… if the magical energy runs empty, the control is also undone—which would lead to them rampaging on their own.
– That can’t be…!
– Lady! We broke the barrier! Return the prince quickly!
—There was no response. Raishin had uncharacteristically lost his composure as he grabbed Subaru by his chest.
– Why isn’t she answering!? We broke the barrier, isn’t that right!?
– Stop it, you idiot! Don’t label her as a endurance idiot like you all! Did you forget Hinowa is a girl? She doesn’t have any strength left!
The strength had left Raishin’s hands. Hinowa had a bigger amount of magical energy than him, but there was nothing he could do if someone told him she had already used up all that energy.
– …Then, what can we do?
Raishin looked at Subaru and Mutsura, like grasping into any hope he could.
– There’s a method to save Hinowa, right? Do we just need to kill this monster?
– …Don’t say something so stupid. The prince is different than a living being. We can’t kill him.
– Then what!?
– Calm down!
Raishin calmed down after getting yelled at. He had contained himself as he clenched his fists, waiting for Subaru’s words.
– Even someone as strong as the lady can’t summon something like that just using a simple fulu. I’m sure she used something more resistant. Probably a dagger or something like that… if we take care of it…
– We just need to break it, right? I will do it!
– Hold up.
The voice had not yelled, but it had been strong enough to force Raishin to stop.
Loki moved his eyes to the top of the stairs leading to the next floor. Raishin followed his gaze, noticing her.
<Golden Olga> was standing in the middle of the stairs, on the other side of the monster filling the room.
– You have not forgotten our arrangement, right? You’re free to save her, but you will also lose as soon as you do it, regardless of your reasons.
Raishin was at a loss for words. The youngest Zekaros brother laughed with a totally exhausted voice.
– Although you would really help me here if you did it… I‘m definitely retiring after this anyway…
Raishin wanted to punch him in the face. A strong flame had raised from the monster just as Raishin started to glare at him unconsciously. The Garm dogs had been scared by that, letting out a pitiable howl.
A maddening fear enveloped Raishin’s body as he stared at the incandescent flames before him.
This was… yes, the same fear he had felt that day he lost her sister.
Standing before the sea of flames unable to do anything… the same as that despair.
Charl, Frey and even Loki and Olga had moved away from the flames. Despite only being magical fire, they would still get suffocated otherwise.
At that moment, Raishin had clearly heard Subaru’s whisper among the annoying sound engulfing the place.
– Hey you idiot. Stupid Raishin.
– What!?
– Please take care of our lady.
Subaru—smiled as he stated that.
Subaru suddenly started running towards the flames. His school uniform had caught fire in an instant, quickly devouring the rest of his body.
But that hadn’t stopped him. He continued running, ignoring the fire.
– Argh…..Gah….guuooooooooooooooah!
He tried to fight the flames with every ounce of magical energy he could muster. He had grabbed the monster and forcefully opened a part of the metal protecting his body, making a slight gap in his armor.
That’s right—he could fight the magical being that was composed of magical energy with his own energy.
Raishin’s body had started moving as soon as he comprehended that.
-Ra…Raishin!?
Yaya’s scream coming far from behind had been erased by the flames around.
Subaru looked at the Raishin appearing to his side with fright.
– Wha…. What are you doing you idiot!? Stay back!
– Shut up! We just need to pull that thing out, right!?
The monster’s flesh could be seen from the gap Subaru had opened in his armor.
A small dagger was shining around the area where his heart should be located.
Hinowa was holding that dagger. She wasn’t moving. Her body was in a fetal position, floating in the air. If only they could get close to her—
– Hinowa! Hold on! I will go there now!
Raishin calmed his breath—and deployed his Kouyokujin strings using every last drop of strength left in him.
He manipulated the magical energy threads that gushed out from his right hand like steel wires to cut through the flames.
Raishin was quickly assaulted by a numbness in his limbs after losing a great amount of blood. His body temperature dropped as his senses grew duller. He felt drowsy. Even so, he continued forcefully, strenuously cleansing the flames.
– Subaru!
– I know!
Subaru threw his body into the dagger, swimming through the fire. He used his momentum to crush the dagger into the ground after grabbing it.
With a rough sound, the blade in the dagger had broken. The flames disappeared as if they were never real in an instant. The miasma was still lingering in the surroundings but the fire that was burning Raishin and Subaru was extinguished in a second.
– Raishin! Are you okay, Raishin!?
Yaya ran to Raishin crying. Raishin had managed to smile and reply despite his dizziness.
– Yes… I’m alive for now…
– Raishin is an idiot! Let Yaya go in first under those circumstances!
– Haha… sorry. But don’t call me an idiot. My body just react—
– You…. fucking idiooooooooooot!
Raishin had fallen to the ground after getting intensely kicked in the back. He tumbled over unable to defend himself against the impact.
– That hurt, Subaru! What are you doing!?
– You’re really a dumb retard! The lady would get very sad if you died!
– Don’t say that after doing that yourself! Also, you’re the dumb retard here!
Raishin removed Subaru’s hand from his body and grabbed his collar back in response.
– Hinowa will get sad if you die!
Subaru turned around after coming to his senses. Hinowa was crying as Mutsura supported her body. Her pretty face was already a total mess.
– Subaru… Mutsura… I’m gla….. forgive me… I’m glad…. uaaaaahn!
She raised her voice as she cried. The princess of the kazoku. Not giving a damn about who saw her.
She was fine. Subaru put on a strained laugh as he released a big sigh relieved.
– …You idiot. Either cry or apologize, make up your mind.
– The lady is safe. Everything is good now, or at least that’s what I would like to say…
Mutsura looked up nervously at Olga on the stairs.
Raishin gritted his teeth, bowing in font of Loki and Frey.
– …I’m sorry, Loki, Frey. Because of my selfishness… you two…
– Stop saying something so disgusting, you idiot.
Loki had quickly and anticlimactically replied with a calmed voice.
– I know your stupidity all too well. I had already considered something like this would happen.
– But… if I get disqualified, this is our loss…
– It was nothing but a verbal promise anyway. We can just ignore the rules from now. Isn’t that right?
– Hold on a second… are you serious, Kentei-san?
In a slight dismay, the youngest Zekaros sibling had pointed at the outer walls of the tower.
– All the well-known people of the magical world are paying attention to this fight. If you do something so unjust it will just damage your future reputati—
– I don’t need anyone’s backing. I only need the Wiseman title.
– If you plan to play it out like that, I won’t just stand and watch quietly. Yaya, I know you’re tired but let’s—
– Hold on! You two savages!
Charl crushed the mood surrounding the tense situation.
– You’re all too quick to act. Have you all forgotten we’re in the country of gentlemen? Invalidating a promise is out of the question. You said you wouldn’t have any participants left to continue your game? What are you saying? You still have me.
All the presents were taken aback.
Charl continued talking after turning her fake chest while crossing her arms.
– I will fight with Olga as the last member of this team!
– Wait, Charl. Even if you say that, you still haven’t entered the Evening Party yet…
– So that’s what it was.
Olga nodded after understanding the situation.
– That’s the reason why the referees didn’t stop Charl from going into the tower. Charl had already demoted herself by that point.
Raishin finally comprehended it too. Charl had already turned in her petition to demote her own rank beforehand. That’s why she could be here without any issues…
– It’s your own ineptitude for not confirming the amount of members from the enemy team. I won’t let you say it isn’t fair.
Charl smiled daringly, giving Olga a defiant look. A small whirlwind had blown around Charl, as she let her magical energy out of her delicate body.
– Don’t think you won’t pay for what you did to my Hinowa.
– …I don’t know what you’re trying to imply, but I don’t have any problem with your numbers. You’re no match for me and my Tooru on your own, after all.
– …So you said it. Sigmund, let’s make this arrogant girl cry!
– Understood. …but you are the one being arrogant right now.
– Stop going against me! I will turn the chicken from your lunch into a fish tail.
Sigmund had flown towards Charl’s arm.
There were some grandiose sparks flowing between the two girls and their two dragons.
– Olga’s white coat flapped around as she walked to the stairs leading to the upper floor. However, she had turned just once to look at Charl.
– Go up, <T-Rex>. A battle between two <Gram>—this will surely be a show for our gallery.
– Yes, it definitely will. A great performance where the student representative loses pathetically!
Leaving a beautiful smile behind, Olga left the place before the others.
Raishin’s pulse had fastened very quickly. After noticing it, Yaya had turned to look at him worriedly.
– Raishin? What’s wrong?
– No… it’s nothing…
—He was lying. His heart was in a great dismay. Like trying to warn him of something.
Raishin would later remember this time.
Why had he thought everything had ended just because he saved Hinowa?
He would later comprehend how cruel fate could truly be—
– He really is interesting!
The town of Liverpool at night. It was a downhill street slightly away from the waterway channel.
The noble aristocrat dressed in black was enjoying a coup of wine inside an old bar.
Koku Taishi Edmund. He was clearly delighted as he spoke with the person in front of him.
– It hasn’t even been half a year since he sunk Daedalos. And, look at this? He has shown a growth that would be impossible for many after 10, 20 years. He will probably have surpassed you by the end of the winter, Wiseman-kun.
Edmund sent his mischievous eyes across the table. The man accompanying him was clearly someone of high status. The well-dressed man was grabbing his glass of wine with an empty expression.
The man—Räikkönen, had started talking in a ridiculing tone, after looking at Edmund with his falcon-eyes.
– That kid didn’t survive because of his growth. His opponent had been an inferior magician even after using <Astraea>—that’s all there was to it.
Edmund’s attendants in black suits behind him had been taken aback. What an insolent way to talk to the royalty!
Regardless, Edmund had just gotten more entertained, laughing amused.
– You’re not wrong. He would’ve been cinders by now if you had used <Astraea> instead of me.
– …I will have you correct those words. He would be ashes even without using that.
– I wonder. Sorry, but I can’t agree on that.
The black suit escorts had been surprised once again. How impolite to speak like that to a Wiseman, and a lieutenant general from the army at that…!
However, Räikkönen didn’t get mad either. He had simply answered with a cold voice.
– Despite your big words, you seem that have failed at your assassination mission, huh?
– The old hags were the ones that approved this plan. I carried out everything accordingly and didn’t make any major mistakes, but failed. Is that my fault?
– Don’t tell me that… you had already expected this outcome but didn’t take any additional measures?
– I wasn’t the one not to take additional measures. The old hags underestimated Raishin too much.
Raikkonen’s eyes—a very dull light dwelled into his hawk eyes.
– …Are you telling me you even made the people from the Roses build you a shielding barrier just to test a mere student? You surely shouldn’t have the time to be playing around.
– I was the only one playing around, but I’m sure the old hags also gained something from this. I’m pretty sure they understood it very clearly. The true worth of my Raishin. I’m sure you know about the father’s premonition too. It’s not Magnus who holds the key to a Machine Doll. It’s Raishin.
– It couldn’t be… are you telling me you will try to win him over?
– Who knows about that… although I already tried making a move on him.
– …So he rejected you. To be expected when facing you.
Edmund put on a strained laugh and then threw his legs on top of the table.
– But we’re both essentially the same—we will walk the same path soon enough. I have that presentiment.
– You… and him? The same?
Despite always having a very composed expression, Räikkönen had looked surprised at that time.
Edmund nodded exaggeratedly after enjoying that expression.
– We are. He and I, we both struggle to recover what we can’t, as we dive into endless, meaningless fights—for all eternity at that.
Räikkönen looked at Edmund for a while, and then sighed tired.
– You summoned me by my code. I thought it was an emergency but… to think you only wanted to make me waste time with this gossip. Weren’t you supposed to be outside this country?
– I was and I also captured him—my men did, at least.
Edmund raised his hand, signaling to one of the black suit behind him. After a while, his escorts took a man into the room from within the dark.
He had a long untreated beard, sunken cheeks and hollow eyes. The man was in a very clear weakened state.
Regardless, some dignity could still be felt from the weak man. Maybe originally of high social status, his looks, eyes filled with a strong will and gallant mouth were very peculiar.
Räikkönen’s expression changed. —He probably knew the man.
Still humored, Edmund stood from his seat to greet the person.
– Oh my, thank you for coming all the way to this place from so far!
Edmund continued talking with a courtesy not fit for a prince after greeting him elegantly.
– You sure have changed quite a bit after not seeing you for a while, count Belew.
The man didn’t talk. He would only stare at Edmund with severe eyes.
– Then let’s enter into the issue at hand with all the actors present now. This prodigious producer will make the cast of the Evening Party display a wonderful dance.
Edmund still amused even now, continued laughing happily to no end.
Hinowa managed to get up with unsteady steps after Olga had left.
Getting slightly nervous, Raishin spoke to her with a rare, gentle voice.
– Don’t overdo it, Hinowa. You can sleep.
– I can’t be doing that… Uhm, so, what happened to my grandmother…?
We’re still trying to confirm the details, but it looks like your grandmother is still alive.
Hinowa’s strength left her body. She almost fell again despite just having raised. Charl had jumped in to support her from the waist.
– Charlotte-sama… I am sorry… uhm, for my match too…
– Don’t apologize. You did your best, so leave the rest to your friends.
Tears formed in the corner of Hinowa’s eyes. She had met some people that would consider her a friend, in this distant foreign country—that fact had moved her heart and filled her body with warmth.
Hinowa looked down and closed her eyes like savoring that sensation. Then—
– Raishin-sama. About our engagement… let’s break it off.
The people present lost their words. Charl had been the first one to react.
– Why!? Do you hate this idiot now? I know this guy is certainly an idiot worth of a hall of fame, a thoughtless and a savage that can’t understand one bit of a woman’s heart. But!
– You really only want to insult me, huh!? Shut up for a bit, Charl!
“Shut up you say!?”—Raishin moved the excited Charl away, walking in front of Hinowa.
– Can you tell your reason, Hinowa?
– …Hinowa… caused everyone here an enormous trouble.
Hinowa expressed her feelings with a weak voice.
– I had arrogantly thought… I could contribute to your victory. But ended up dragging everyone down… if Charlotte-sama wasn’t here, I would’ve made Raishin-sama and everyone else get eliminated… a girl like me will only be a hindrance for Raishin-sama… I don’t want to become a burden for you… that’s why…
– I understand. Certainly, you’re a crybaby, an incompetent, and a heavy woman.
– Hey—Raishin! What things are you saying!?
For some reason Yaya had gotten angry, charging at Raishin’s back. Raishin had pushed her head back as he continued his words to Hinowa.
– You can’t win against Charl or Frey as you are. At least, being the fool that you are right now.
– …..!
– That’s why, just return to your usual self. And—
Raishin smiled as he finished his line.
– You can just forcefully snatch me away. That’s the style of the Izanagi, right?
Hinowa’s eyes opened wide and then quickly shed a great amount of tears. The warmth inside her chest had overflowed and it wouldn’t stop.
Contrastively to Hinowa, however, the reaction from the other girls was incredibly cold.
– What was with those words… I was thinking they were incredibly scummy but…
– Raishin… so you were into inverse rape…!?
– Uuh. Raishin… A lump of carnal desires…
– Why are you all scorning me!? I just encouraged her with the most effective method, didn’t I!? Right, Loki!?
Loki was raising the stairs to the upper floor, as if telling him he wouldn’t tolerate being there any second longer.
The Raishin that had been forsaken by Loki and was being attacked unilaterally by the girls, looked incredibly miserable, making his brave look from his previous battle look like a lie.
– …Hmph, idiot. That will never change from him until he dies.
Beside Hinowa, Subaru smiled bitterly.
– Hey, Subaru. I am… really a bad girl. I keep going against everything I say every, every time… And even though I had planned to give up on Raishin-sama… I can’t.
Hinowa cleaned her tears, speaking like a spoiled child.
– …That is bad indeed. I really, truly… love that person… that’s why… uhm… please forgive me… Subar—Hahi!?
Subaru had dropped his hand diagonally opened over her head.
Hinowa couldn’t react to his abrupt action. She held her head as she looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
– Idiot. I already knew that from the beginning.
Subaru spoke with a dazzling smile.
– Go all out. And win against all of those girls. You’re the woman that will carry the Izanagi on her back after all.
– …Thank you, Subaru.
– Y-You idiot! I don’t need your gratitude!
– Hahaha, you are as red as a daruma, Subaru.
– How annoying! I’ll hit you, Mutsura!
Getting propelled by the fighting two, Hinowa walked up to Raishin.
Raishin, who was getting strangled by Yaya, noticed her. Yaya had released her hands from his neck as she looked at Hinowa with a very obvious animosity. …Even that look from her seemed embarrassing for her.
Hinowa declared her feelings to Raishi, pretending she hadn’t noticed Yaya’s eyes.
– Raishin-sama. I won’t lose.
– Yes, let’s do our best.
– Raishin-sama!? D-Don’t tell me that you wish for my victory…!?
– Well… we’re in this together after all, right?
– We’re in this together—!! *kyuuuuun*
Hinowa was filled with ecstasy. She turned into a drunkard after getting enveloped by a euphoric feeling.
Raishin wasn’t only wishing for Hinowa to win against the other girls, but would also fight alongside her—
In other words, didn’t that mean I was the main girl….!?
Yaya whispered disappointed in Raishin, with totally cold eyes.
– Raishin… you’re yet again playing with a maiden’s heart with your sweet words…
– I didn’t do that! I told her we’re in the Evening Party together so let’s win and move ahead!
– …Y-You’re wrong, Raishin-sama!
Hinowa’s voice trembled. In proportion to her great joy, her dejectedness was also huge.
– Eh? I-I… am?
– …I don’t know!
– Ah, hey… Yaya, why is Hinowa mad now?
– I won’t tell you! Raishin is an idiot!
Also getting mad at him, Yaya walked along Hinowa heading for the stairs.
Charl thrust the dumbfounded Raishin’s ribs with her elbow, using all her strength.
– You truly, really are an idiot! A supernova from galaxy idiot, an idiot to repaint the history of all idiots!
– I don’t need that title! Why are you even getting mad too!?
Raishin thought Charl was mad, but she had suddenly started laughing.
Very amusingly so.
Raishin first grew tired—and then attracted to laugh like her.
– …Well, it doesn’t matter.
The group had all walked next to each other as they raised through the stairs.
This night, the curtains of the Evening Party are yet to fall—
As the battleground brims with a cold, but warm enthusiasm.
雪月花 