Assassins Pride - Volume 2 - Chapter 5

Assassin Pride Volume 2 Chapter 5
LESSON :Ⅴ　～Poison or Medicine, or the girl’s trap～

(unedited)

「A, ara maa what a coincidence～! Good morning you two～!」

With poor acting the red hair girl called out, Kufa who was eating breakfast with his master on the opposite side, turned his face, pretended he had never expected it.

「O, Oya isn’t this Rozetti-san! Elise-sama too! Are you going to have breakfast?」

「That’s right! Waa, there’re perfectly two empty seats just right next to you!」

「It’s truly like destined ne! Let me pull the seat for you.  You two please have a seat」

「Ara what a gentleman! Since he showed such generosity let’s eat at this table, Elise-sama!」

「Eating with lots of people the food would also become more delicious right, Melida-ojou-sama」

「Sensei」

Melida answered with a sour face, picked up her own tray and stood up from her seat.

「I will, eat at the table over there」

「……I will too, eat at the opposite」

Elise too also turned her heels way from the nearby Rozetti. For some reason the sisters, who were standing on the same antithesis, as if matching mirror turned and walked away. Inside the crowding mess hall in early morning, at the seats not too far, but no means close, they each put their waists down.

While being wrapped in the clattered of the girl students, Kufa and Rozetti stared at each other with speechless expression. While uniformly dropping their shoulders, she sat down on the opposite side of the same table.

Rozetti leaned her body in an uncollected state.

「Do something, about this atmosphere!」

「I also want to ask you that」

At the same time the two’s grumbled breaths「「Haa」」joined on the top of the table.

In short, in this one week, Melida and Elise had always been in this state. Where had the good friendship as though each of them was a piece of the other gone. Lately even though Kufa and Rozetti had acted as mediator with their best, the two hadn’t even looked at each other in the eyes.

The impetus was obvious, it must be the sudden outbreak of quarrel in the changing room immediately after the first trial. Although Kufa had heard roughly the details, but even so he faced the opposite home tutor rival, and had to ask such question.

「Rozetti-san, there’s something I don’t understand no matter what. The reason why Melida-ojou-sama is offended, well that I could understand, but for Elise-sama, why is she angry?」

Thereupon Rozetti, 「I gave up」, shook her neck in that way.

「She didn’t said anything clearly to me either. Somehow, she doesn’t like being asked that──seems like something delicate」

「You were in a loss huh……」

If they didn’t understand the cause they couldn’t improve anything. Since it had been the moment Elise’s communication had become distinct.

At that moment, in the place Elise was eating breakfast in silent, the group of two second years came in contact. Putting in the selection matches, they became Elise’s unit member by Mrs Othello’s arrangement, Daisy June and Pris Auguste.

「What happened, Elise-sama? Being alone with such a boring looking face」

Putting it in a good way it was friendly, putting it in a bad way it would be presumptuous, the girls touched Elise’s shoulders. Even though no matter how one looked she was emitting the aura of 「I don’t want to talk to anyone」, but they were unmindful.

Were they truly caring, or perhaps only enjoying it, from their broadly smiling faces it couldn’t be distinguished.

「I have been thinking but, if you just keep sullenly like that you’ll ruin your extremely beautiful face you know. Look, smile more! Let out the voice from your belly and become lively!」

「It’s just as Pris said. Elise-sama should always be transcendental right. If you have anything you want to say, please talk to us」

「Don’t say irresponsible things」

As stiff as water, Elise said coldly.

In frozen cold voice’s depth, sure rage was filling in, Kufa felt it. That was bad, she had completely forgot they were senpais. If speaking frankly, she had snapped.

「Even though it’s not funny how could I smile, even though I’m feeling down how could I be lively. Stop putting your impression selfishly on other. I’m not a doll, I’m living being」

「Of……of course I know such thing!」

「What is this, are you trying to make us the bad guys!」

Seeing things immediately started to became dangerous, Rozetti 「Aa mou」, stood up from her seat.

Trying to move seats with a tray in hand, as if to keep appearance she turned over looking at Kufa.

「I noticed lately but, it seems that girl is in need of interpretation. Though I’ll go again」

「Ee. See you later」

Hurriedly exchanged greetings, Rozetti left with fast foot.

Seeing that figure off from behind, as Kufa sighed “yare yare”, he too stood up from the seat.

Melida was sharing table with someone who she didn’t know. As he changed table and once again lowered his waist in front of her, the blonde master didn’t pay any effort in looking at him, muttered a few words in question.

「……Ely, is she alright?」

「Eh?」

「It’s, it’s nothing.」

In a hurried she shook her head, and stopped the spoon.

If you felt worry being separated then it would be great if you stopped the quarrel──, although that was rather hard to come out of his mouth. Anyways exactly because each was deeply thinking about each other, the quarrel this time wouldn’t seem so easily become softened, Kufa let out a grumble breath.

「Melida-sama, Kufa-sama, may I eat with you?」

At that moment, a few classmates came requesting to share table. Kufa without a moment’s delay stood up from his seat and pulled the chair for them, the little girls received princess treatments 「Kyaa」blushed their cheeks.

「Everyone, have you already get tired of playing ostracizing with Melida-ojou-sama?」

「Mou, Kufa sama, please don’t say something so ill-nature」

One sitting next to Melida was, “Buu” inflated her cheeks. The other little girls also 「That’s right that’s right」agreed.

「We and everyone too, didn’t think that Melida-sama and other were the《culprit》」

「Because, the two of them were the most perplexed ne」

「If one were looking they would understand immediately」

「Moreover……student council president Christa had stated it too」

To the one who just said that, Kufa directed his face.

「What did, president Christa do?」

「『Because the student council is investigating the stained glass true, there’s no need to make a fuss. Right now it was the midst of exchange meeting with St. D’Autriche, so try to keep it in your mind』──. It’s just as the president said. The selection matches too, was part of the plan to deepen friendship with D’Autriche ne. We had lost sight of that objective」

「As expected of the president!」

“Paa” As the expression of the little girls became cheerful, Kufa too naturally had his lips smile broadly.

「President Christa did such thing……」

「However, as expected bothersome things are bothering me」

As one said that, every other person leaned their body forward. While stealing a glance at the few hundred girl students in the mess hall, as if making a secret talk she hid her voice.

「Just who is it? And for what reason they change the stained glass?」

「That《Culprit》for what reason set up Melida-sama group as candidates, what do they want?」

「No matter how hard I think I don’t have the answer～」

「It’s a mystery～」

Inside the clear as day peaceful atmosphere, the girls were “un un” continuously wringing their head.

「Who……is it」

Pondering without no one knowing, Kufa too for no particular reason looking around the mess hall. Inside it, the figure of the slender silhouette dressed in all black wasn’t been found, as it should be.

Instead of that, the figures of the group of two second years quick footedly leaving the mess hall could be seen.

Had Rozetti successfully mediated, or perhaps she couldn’t restrain the parting, from this distance it was not possible to perceive it.

†　†　†

「《Gaelic Hammer》!!」

As Nerva yelled loudly, mana flame gathered on the head of the mace which was waved above her head. As if thorns twined around, it whirled into a vortex, the weapon’s attack power rapidly churned up.

Melida who was expecting for that, with the sword in the scabbard on her waist, “Gu” grasped tightly.

「《First Legend Sword Drawn》!!」

At the same time, the scabbard itself released violent light. As if showing terrible resistance, the blade was only drawn out a wee bit. From the exposed blade, the eye burning flame gushed out.

It was the preparation action of the assault skill《Sword Drawn Technique》which she self learned directly from Kufa. From the sword in the state of being returned to the scabbard, the unpredictable phantasmagoric          ultra high speed continuous slashes were released, it was his special move.

This was the basic of basic. The great different in comprehensive attack power with Nerva’s heavy assault system skill《Gaelic Hammer》shouldn’t be that much. The two of them were planning to, in point blank distance directly to each other, let it clash.

Nerva’s mace was the first to move. While the mace’s tip which was waved to the summit split the air, it shot out. Terrible pressure came smashing down from almost vertically.

「──!!」

As Melida didn’t eagerly intend to run away, she opened her eyes wide. With a time lag, the operated skill let out a roar after a moment’s delay.

「──《Wing Slash》!!」

Melida’s sword sharply flickered. Already since now and a little before, it was a world of zero comma seconds. The iron scattering flame and beam of light that tore the air ran through the point blank distance, intersected at the limits of an instance ──

Bashiiii!! As the air splitting shock.

「Kyau!」

Melida, who was sent flying to the back, dropped her weapon and fell on her back side.

The blade of the sword which was rolling on the ground was vibrating Bi……n due to the aftershock. Melida pressed her right hand, as if trying to bear the pain echoed in from it, knitted her eyebrows.

「We still couldn’t match the timing ne」

Kufa who was in the guiding duty groaned with a difficult face from beside the two.

They were in the luxuriate forest in the middle of the castle wall and the school building tower. It had already become an established after school practice, and this was the middle of the secret special training aimed at the third trial of the Luna Lumiere selection matches, the unit showdown.

Fighting with their skill in this zero distance too, was according to Kufa’s direction. Be that as it might, because from the standing position and the skill nature, if clashing right from the front Nerva would have an overwhelming part.

Supposing Elise’s fighting style as the opposing, this was the set up practice based on that.

「Ouch……!」

Pressing her dominant hand, Melida leaked out anguish voice in that way.

It was natural. The moment they released the assault skill, most of mana would focus on the weapon, in return the body’s status would be damped drastically.

Nerva who repeated this scene for who knows how many times, as if had become intolerable turned to look at Kufa.

「Sensei, can’t I use this weapon less serious? At this rate sooner or later Melida would get hurt」

「No can’t do, if you do that the feeling of tension would be reduced. In the crucial moment this tactics could only be used once. Exactly with that said, in the state of exceedingly close to real battle, if we don’t raise the rate to 100 percent there will be no meaning at all」

「Then, what about you directly match directly against her?」

「If it were me no matter how I go easy, as I released the assault skill my status will still be too high.  Since having the same status as Melida-ojou-sama, furthermore having acquired an assault skill, other than requesting Nerva-sama there would be no one else」

「But……」

「It, it’s fine. This much is easy!」

Saying so Melida picked up the sword, removed the dirt on her bottom and stood up. Tightly grasped the hilt of the sword, and glossed over the shaking of her hand, once again lower her waist taking the pose of drawing the sword.

「Please one again, Nerva. Until I could do it」

「……Seriously, like teacher like student」

While heaving a sigh Nerva also took pose, with one swing she held the mace high. The feeling of high tension just before releasing the assault skill, was making the air between the two of them creak with tension.

At that moment, from behind Kufa, the final member came to visit.

「……Just what kind of training is that, sensei?」

Finally having finished the lesson and came, it was Shenfa Zwitoque. As she knitted her eyebrows looking at Melida’s group, while Kufa was having reassurance with no one knew, he turned to look at her.

「I’ve been waiting for you, Shenfa-sama. I have ideas I want to discuss with you」

「Anou, about strange special training?」

「No, it’s a separate case.──Please come to me to that table」

While leaving Melida group to continue their independence training, Kufa guided Shenfa to the table set up in advance in a far away location. On the table was the game board liked a mini garden, and up to thirty pet glass miniatures in the size of a palm were lying around.

「It’s the countermeasure to the second trial《Threaded Ball Dance》. Have you heard about the trial details before?」

「Melida-san had carefully give me the copy of the parchment.──Here」

As Shenfa took out from her pocket the folded parchment, she spread it on the table. Kufa too formally, looked at the content to confirm it.

============

【Second trial《Threaded Ball Dance》Summary】

＊For this trial, the fellow candidate would carry out a strategy game using the glass pet as 《doppel》 (for the strategy game I would like the player to become commander and carry out pseudo war and explanation)

＊The dopple doesn’t carry any function by itself, but once the capable one lights it up with mana, it will become a puppet that moves at will.

＊There are three types of dopple, each of them has their own attack pattern (check the attachment for each type’s status)

＊These three types have their own good and bad affinity, and have a three way deadlock relationship.

＊ The candidate will freely combine these three types, and pick up to fifteen dopples to organize their own team.

＊The one that will take the role of 《King》in their own team is the candidate’s pair. Of course since the King is to become the target of attack, so once again confirm that you will participate in the trial.

＊ Since on the field items that are advantageous to the war situation are placed, please use them wisely.

＊The winning condition is, to make the other war waging candidates 《Surrender (resign)》

＊Moreover at the starting time of the trial, additional terms will be added.

The end.

================

「Because I don’t have much experience commanding a unit, so my tactics knowledge is scarce. Melida-sama and maybe Nerva-sama are the same. Shenfa-sama, could you lend us your wisdom?」

While changing his eyesight to the girl, Kufa lied without hesitation.

The miniatures and the game board that were set up on the table were references for the 《Threaded Ball Dance》 which were loaned from the academy. Just observing these toys made Kufa’s strategy mind greatly excited, skillfully dozens of unit’s organization and advance plans were overflowing.

However, this selection matches to the end were something of the students. For the active duty knight to meddle too much would be contrary to the meaning. Because in the end he would only give the materials, then what it would become would be depending on the students.

Was she considering the inner thought of such Kufa, Shenfa directed her eyesight as if having seen through him. She lightly smiled, and leaned her body on the table.

「Leave it to me. From the organization of the team to whatever, I just need to give my opinions then it’d be fine right?」

「I’ll also help to the best of my meager ability. Although after this it would be, whether Melida-sama could carry out the practice……」

「After we think of the plans, let’s exchange discussion with Melida-san」

After saying that Shenfa with a glance, lifted her eyes upward and looked at the direction of the kouhai.

「Even when it is the break time from the training over too ne」

†　†　†

As the-who-know-how-many-time-it-was impact sound echoed, Melida was blown back.

「Kyau!」

As usual the wooden sword was sent flying, and Melida dropped to the ground.

Not being discouraged she tried to stood up with the palm of her hand, however ……on the stage of raised her upper half body, with a snap her arm bent. For a short while she faced the ground like that, gasping for breath her breathing was roughened.

「Haa……Haa……」

Staring at that figure of Melida, while Nerva too once again heaved a big sigh with her shoulders, she raised her body. Releasing the fighting pose, she lowered the mace, suddenly she turned her back.

「……Let’s take a little break. Your skill precision is rapidly falling you know」

「Eh, wa, wait! I can still do it!」

「I’m tired! My mana is already empty」

Saying as if scolding kids, Nerva suppressed her mana.

Half of it was truth. As she had rapidly fired assault skill for dozens of times, her exhaustion was intense. Speaking honestly, as the one who should be on the defensive side, Melida’s stamina struck Nerva with admiration.

Nerva, who was feeling tiresome carrying the weapon, leaned the mace against the nearby bower. After also giving details instruction to tell Melida to take a break in advance, she walked toward the table Kufa group was sitting.

Having lost the training partner, Melida took a big breath and squatted down on the bower. Of course there was fatigue but, more than that the impatience which the special training wasn’t going as she thought was huge.

The surefire way to win that Kufa had taught her shouldn’t be wrong at all. On the other hand, it didn’t seem like there were big problems with Nerva and Melida own bodies.

If one must say, with the practical war waging opponent Elise and the training opponent Nerva, in no way in Melida’s mind the images didn’t overlap, or it could be said that the cause was captured. Nonetheless this was only sensible things, so it was not the problem of being able to convey to Nerva for improvement, however.

Or to say, wasn’t the weapon different? Rather, shouldn’t Nerva used the holy knight (Paladin)’s special long sword?

While thinking such thing, she stared at the mace Nerva put up, at that moment.

「Good afternoon, Melida-chan」

Together with a transparent voice, the mace was softly picked up.

With movement which the heaviness couldn’t be felt, the mace was shown swinging around, the one who did it was the black quartz hair little girl. Just when did she come here? As though having just showed her face from the shadow, it was the movement of the body having the appearance of a care-free fairy.

Melida even forgot to put down her sword, unconsciously she stood up.

「A……! Long, long time no see」

「Yeah. Since the chat in the middle of the night at the lounge ne」

Even though since then a few weeks had passed, as if she came to make up for lost time the girl floated a natural smile. Melida couldn’t say yes and was caught in deep emotion.

The black hair little girl put up the mace before her eyes, and stroked it with her left hand finger as if interested.

「You’re doing a unique training ne. Is it perhaps the direction of that wonderful sensei?」

「Ye, yeah, well」

「Shall I, lend you a hand?」

The moment Melida opened her mouth to say「Eh」. The black hair girl, without warning, nimbly kicked up the ground. The sliding shadow approach her waist in a blink of an eye.

「Wa wa!」

The action of Melida’s sword jumping up, was mostly reflexive movement. The blade that was still being put inside the scabbard and the mowing down mace head clashed, creating a severe metallic sound.

Repeating her steps like dancing, the black hair little girl elegantly smile.

「Now now, you mustn’t be absent-minded right. Here come the next one!」

Together with a rush, the lightning flash attacks were sent coming one after another. Melida instantaneously pulled out the sword to intercept. Two times, three times, violently she was driven back, even so with skillful footwork she restored her posture.

While holding the sword on her right hand, and readied the backhand gripped scabbard on her left, Melida had a being at sea expression.

「Wa, wait, what are you doing suddenly……」

「This is no place to think you know? Look, the enemy is attacking without bothering at all!」

In a pompous state she shouted, the black hair little girl kicked the ground while being all smile.

While turning her body around and around, she slashed one with the mace. Although Melida barely stopped the blow, the freely added centrifugal force blew even the sword away. As Melida was greatly knocked back, somehow didn’t fall over and landed. However at that moment, as if licking the ground the shadow approached right before her eyes.

「──!!」

She opened her eyes wide, as if she had cleared away her hesitation, Melida continuously released her techniques. She rotated the sword in her right hand and the scabbard in her left hectically, making rhythmical sword fight sound. The black hair little girl still handled it all with one mace, she made artistic attack while bouncing off with the final blow. From the attack line approaching her shoulder top, Melida bent her upper body and escaped by a hair’s breath.

At almost the same time she flopped her back, while making the spring of her whole body bend, she sprung up in a somersault.

With an expressionless face the black hair little girl didn’t persuit, without losing even a breath she smiled calmly.

On the other hand Melida, who had taken a few meters distance, were having her breathing in great disorder.

──This girl, is strong!

Even more than simple skill, the mana pressure was not half-hearted. Surely this wasn’t the average status of the first year in D’Autriche girl institute right, Melida had impatience and shudder.

In contrast the black hair girl was, pleasantly smiling broadly with her lips.

「More than I thought you’re really capable ne, Melida-chan. I’m happy」

As she spitted out laughter, without resting she kicked the ground. Melida once again was on the defense-only. While swinging the mace around as she liked, the black hair girl blushed her cheeks in high spirit.

「Hora, hora, hora! You can’t defeat Elise-chan with things like this! The main Angel house losing to the branch Angel house, raising the white flag would be ridiculous right!?」

「……!!」

Although taking humiliating provocation, Melida clenched her teeth not having room to talk back. Even if she lost focus for a single moment it would seem the sword would be blown away by the opponent’s attack. Although handling the two blades at her best and endured the attacks, the broken through dull shock scraped off her consciousness with every blow.

With this terrifying attack power, what if the opponent release an assault skill──

The moment Melida thought that, as if sharing the same thought,

「《Iblis Nail》!!」

The black hair little girl loudly announced. At the same time the mace was drawn backward, violent mana pressure concentrated on its tip. As if overflowing the flame gushed out, it burned the atmosphere jet black.

「──！」

At that moment, Melida’s body automatically reacted. The nerves of few hundred time repeated training memories were sparked, with lightning fast speed she restored the blade, at the same time lowered the central gravity.

「《First Legendary Sword Drawn》!!」

Trenchant glittering flame spouted up, pushed back the jet black mana. The black hair little girl at that moment, was no longer smiling. The mace, which was smoothly drawn back, was shot out like a cannonball.

After a few split seconds late, Melida’s sword was released together with violence light──

Giiiiin!! The metallic sound as if split the air.

The one that was blown away was the black hair little girl. Although it was merely no further than two, three meters knock back, she stumbled her step and somehow came to a stop.

On the other hand, even though Melida had her posture thrown out of balance a little due to the recoil, she was standing still with her sword unsheathed.

「Haa, haa, haa……!」

Staring at the girl whose shoulders were going up and down, the black hair little girl was being silent as if a little angry. Looking down on the mace in her hands, as if having understood something she muttered.

「……I see ne, it’s this strategy」

「Eh?」

「Just now the timing was relatively good, wasn’t it?」

Broadly she regained her smiled, the black hair little girl once again pointed the mace head.

「Shall we practice another one?」

「Unfortunately but──」

“Kin”, refreshingly the mace was brushed away. The black shadow that crossed in before their eyes was standing in front of Melida as if substituting her. At the familiar reliable back, Melida’s eyes were going circle.

「Se, sensei!」

「There is no need to trouble for your help anymore than this. Since this is the training included in the selection matches, we can’t expose our hand to you who are from the other school.」

With a little harsh tone, he was having a strict expression Melida had never seen before. Being acted coldly directly face to face, the black hair little girl shrugged her shoulders as if jesting, tossed the mace on the ground.

「Well, please don’t make such a scary face. Even though it was just a little joke」

Finished saying that, she turned her body around. With carefree attitude like a fairy she went away, at that back, even though Melida called out「Ah」, she couldn’t do anything but seeing her go away.

Without even twitching his eye brown for a moment Kufa had been glaring at the black hair girl, as that figure disappeared to the other side of the grove of trees, looking worriedly he peered into Melida’s face.

「Ojou-sama, are you alright?」

「Y, yes. I was startled because she suddenly attacked, but that was all」

「That’s great」

He nodded as if being relieved, Kufa once again, knelt before Melida.

「Ojou-sama, please forgive me for acting alone for a while. For a short time from now, I have to leave your side」

「Eh?」

「I’ll return immediately but──In that time, try to be in the attentive of Nerva-sama’s and Shenfa-sama’s eyes. By no means don’t leave their side. Is that fine?」

Being pierce by that strong gaze, Melida unconsciously nodded time to time.

As he confirmed it, Kufa stood up and kicked the ground. The figure in military uniform was as if being absorbed disappeared in the tree’s top on the sky, in return a few leaves flutteringly flew down.

The beloved’s presence (warm) had gone far, knowing this, the cold helplessness wrapped her whole body. While aimlessly staring at the direction the black hair little girl had disappeared, Melida didn’t let out her voice and muttered.

──Just what and where in the world, is sensei going to do?

It was certain that Kufa erased his presence, since that was for the sake of searching the movement of that black hair girl.

Since the start of the selection matches, that little girl’s enigmatic behavior was terribly weighing in his mind. Why was that girl approaching Melida with concern? Even though looking at the time and trying to investigate her background, somehow that girl, there was parts about she avoid taking collective action with classmates and group in D’Autriche.

If regarding D’Autriche’s girl students, that girl was someone who didn’t think standing in an aloof position was something unnatural, then certainly she was not the ideal personnel right.

For the third unrelated person, to come here ──

Showing the samurai class skill all out, while Kufa scrape off ninety percent of his presence he dashed up in a tree. Soundlessly he leapt from leaf to leaf, fortunately he could catch up with the said little girl’s back immediately.

Her black quartz hair was wavering on her back as if dancing.

In a walking way as if skipping, the girl was aiming at the direction of the school building tower.

As always, there was no sign of her getting along with D’Autriche’s classmates at all. Instead, she passed through the front garden, wasn’t she quickly going into the place indifferently alone. Kufa tried not to be found by other girl students, yet while paying attention meticulously trying not to be noticed when tailing, he chased after the black quartz hair girl.

Before long the girl, with completely no figure of other around, reached the sturdy high wall’s front.

From the girl students of the academy, it was the boundary of the so-called《Abandoned school tower》.

It went without saying, behind that wall was the holding place for the selection matches, the glass palace, 《Glassmond Palace》was soaring. Nonetheless it was outside the date and time the selection matches were held, there was no event whatsoever and it was silent. The girl students that came taking a stroll aiming at its outer gorgeousness asked quite a lot but, certainly the black hair girl was not the same as them right?

As Kufa hid his body at the abandoned school tower’s wall, the black hair little girl leisurely walked up to the glassmond place front gate. Since there was no cover, one couldn’t approach more than this. When Kufa was focusing the nerves in his ears and eyes, the gate keepers of the front gate were “Rin”, rang out a light sound.

Serving as the glassmond palace sentries were the two glass pet《War Maiden (Walkure)》. Although the glass made sword intersected and sealed the passage, as the black hair girl released her mana, quickly they returned to their straight up posture and released the blockade.

If it were the normal student, they would leave a small thanks and went through the gate, that was it.

However the black hair girl continued to move with mysterious movement. As she squatted down at the feet of the over five meters glass dolls which were maintaining their postures, from her bag she took a number of tools. What was she intending to do, being at the distance Kufa couldn’t distinguish it.

However somehow, he had seen that similar sharps in the White Night Calvary Regimen (Guild Jack Raven)’s Headquarter (Lodge).

Like something the scholar or the researcher groups used, the laboratory equipment.

She pulled the cord from the typewrite like equipment, and he could see her trying to connect the tip to the armor of the Walkure. Finally as thing didn’t become quiet, Kufa leaned his body forward in a possible limit. Perhaps as the black hair little girl were being absorbed in her work this should be the chance for him to close the distance right, the moment he advanced a step from the abandoned school building wall.

With the worst timing, from ahead he pumped into other people coming out.

The woman that had hair gray hair tied into buns blinked her eyes for a short while due to the sudden chance meeting. However at the moment she confirmed who was in front of her eyes, she bent her lips in a showy way.

「What have we here, isn’t it Mr.! What are you doing sneaking around like a rat!」

It was a shrill voice as if she was fed up with him. Naturally, the black hair little girl noticed, and alertly turned back. As if the eyesight of both sides was drawn in to each other, Kufa’s eye met hers.

「……!」

The girl nimble detached the equipments on her hands from the Walkure, and put them away in her bag. Just like that she quickly took her leave to the inside of the palace.

No matter how he tried to look at it optimistically, Kufa had his tailing exposed right. While being fed up with extreme bad luck, Kufa turned to face the white hair woman.

「Mrs Othello, somehow our fatal affirmative is very bad. I think that for each other’s sake we shouldn’t see each other in possible limit but, how does that sound to you?」

Although he thought that she would surely have the same opinion, however Mrs Othello bent her wrinkle face in a hideous way and drew closer.

「……I don’t mind about that at all. I myself find it hard to accept that you, a nameless noble who knows from where, became an employer of the duke house!」

「My client is not you, I’m also not your master. I wonder if there’s any so-called afflicted personnel from outside to yours」

Mrs Othello bit her nails looking fussy, she spitted out something like a curse.

「Seriously whatever with Felgus-sama, you, and Melida-sama! You only do folly action to cause the prestige of the Angel house fall! At this rate she’ll be the back bone of the Angel’s name, Elise-ojou-sama’s burden will keep increasing!」

「What will become Elise-sama’s heavy burden, is seems to be divided opinion. Have you ever tried to devote yourself in hearing her heart even once? Just what reasons that made her feeling down just like a doll──」

「The green youth will be lectured by this me!!」

She yelled with force as if bursting her blood veins, Mrs Othello turned her body. At the back of whom was about to disappear in to the school building tower, Kufa as if not letting her get away, called out.

「Mrs Othello, try not to forget the promise. When Melida-sama achieves a better result than Elise-sama in the selection matches, please give them your acceptance of the two joining as a unit」

The senile glass turned back with a sharp look, she showed a tenacious smile.

「I won’t let you get away with a sloppy expression as『Which performs better』. There exist much more direct method to confirm the two’s quality」

「What do you mean?」

「Ohoho! You should’ve also already known about it right.  The third trial approaching in two more weeks, it is the battle royal where all the unit competes for supremacy! The moment the battle ended, it will be in front the eyes of everybody far and while in this academy. Elise-sama and Melida-sama, who shall be the true worthy of the name Angel!!」

「What the two of them compete for, is not the Angel house name」

Did the youth’s calm objection rub her in the wrong way, Mrs Othello’s lips bent strongly into aへ word.

「……If she won, I’ll accept the two of them joining as a unit. But if Melida-sama lost, don’t ever introduce yourself as Elise-sama close friend!」

“Fun” she breathed out her noise loudly, Mrs Othello this time for sure went away.

As he looked at that back going away, next he turned back at the glassmond palace behind him.

By the attack of Black Madea, the stained glass was switched. The mysterious D’Autriche girl student, and the handiwork of someone who aim to sabotage the selection matches. Adding the essential strife between Melida and Elise, what awaited them two weeks later was the girls’ direct confrontation ──

Just what was being created in this St. Frideswide girl academy?

While still having the unsolved puzzle, Kufa turned his body. As soon as possible he united with Melida, also he had to committed to being her bodyguard and training.

The date for the second trial was drawing closer. ──

†　†　†

As for The glassmond palace courtyard, there was a maze garden made entirely of glass.

The ground for ball game was also vast, grass too, flower too, wall and bridge too, every conceivable thing were translucent transparent, this world’s view was an unimaginable mysterious garden.

It had a rectangular structure extending left and right, on each of the both end there was footings installed just like watch towers. Right, it was a position that could survey the garden in bird-eye view.

And, furthermore on the exterior, many layer of audience seat was surrounding around the garden.

Already the audience seats were full. Over three hundred girl students and staffs were, elegantly and excitedly came together to discuss the outcome of the trial.

The fourth week of September, the evening of the third day.

It was the opening hour of the Luna Lumiere selection matches, third trial《Threaded Ball Dance》

As soon as Melida and Kufa made their entrance, the wild cheer wrapped the garden. The trial was approaching its later half, furthermore, Frideswide’s candidate Elise and D’Autriche’s candidate Salasha were finishing their match. Inside that lingering excitement, next was the clash between the selected first of the candidate list《Prince》Keira and Melida who snatched the subject in the first trial.

As Melida stood on the commanding high ground, at the footing of the far opposite high ground, something being covered by curtain was lining up.

They were the glass pet《Dopple》used in the second trial (Strategy).

Although they had three types, each of them had their own strong and weak points, perhaps combining which pieces would be important factor in time of emergency. For that sake, exactly just before the battle started and finished, they both would try to not let the opponent know their hand.

While pondering on organizing their own team and the careful setting up strategies, Kufa and Melida went to the center entrance according to the lecturer’s guidance. At that place which a gorgeous glass arch was hanging, St.Frideswide’s headmaster Charlotte Blamange and, student council president Christa Shanson were on the waiting.

And then at the same time, from the opposite side of the garden, D’Autriche’s girl students walked in as two.

The 《Prince》Keira who would be Melida’s opponent and acting as her pair the showy young girl Pinya. The self confident that they had absolutely no doubt about their victory could be perceived from their daringly lifted lips.

Both candidates met face to face, furthermore the cheers broke out. Headmaster Blamange suddenly raised the fingers on both her hands, urging the silent from the girl students

Having made sure the audience seat had fallen in complete silent, the headmaster beamingly turned back.

「Now then, it’s finally the opening of the later half battle. The former half battle was the confrontation between Frideswide’s Elise-san and D’Autriche’s Salasha-san, they had produced an exciting battle. Melida-san, Keira-san, do you have the mettle to take over the heated stage?」

Being in the waiting room Kufa group had no relation but, the excitement of the headmaster group who had been watching the trial had already reached the neighborhood summit right. Melida awkwardly, Keira was full of confident, both nodded, then the applause as if burst surged forward from the audience seats.

The headmaster also nodded in returned looking satisfied, she raised her finger to send the signal.

Hence from behind, president Christa filled the basin to the rim with liquid and carried it to them. It seemed that it was not just water, because of the purple turbidity. As she lifted the basin in right between Melida and Keira, president Christa stared at the candidate in both side with earnest gaze.

「This is before starting the second trial, additional rules will be announced as officially stated prior. For this second trial you will control the dopple which had mana projected, make them run around on the battlefield and clash with the enemy army, if you could make the word《Surrender (Resign)》come out from the opposing side you will be victorious. However──there’s only one additional rule, the one controlling the dopple will not be the candidate, but the pair」

Eh. The same voice leaked out from the four people participating in the trial.

As if she was expecting that reaction, the headmaster held aloft the colorless and transparent glass pet that was prepared beforehand next to her. As smooth as breathing, mana was released.

“Bou”, the doll was lighted up by mana, that flame in a blink of an eye spread across the body, it glittered with fascinating green color. As the headmaster suddenly moved her fingers, it stood up as if being spun by a thread.

Next the doll took out a glass sword, with simple action movement to the left and right, “ei, eiya” it repeated those behavior. The head master waved the tip of her finger as if a conductor.

「This is the glass pet《Dopple》. You can only command simple behaviors that are set in advance but, just pour your thought (mana) and the capable one would be able to control it without trouble right」

「But, if letting the pair spin the thread, what is the role of the candidate……?」

Answering Kufa’s natural question was the one had showed the basin, president Christa.

「With that said, this is the second additional rule. All of you candidates and pairs, before the trial will administer 《poison and medicine》for each person」

「「「Poison!?」」」

As expected with that everyone became startled. The headmaster was smiling looking enjoying it.

This should be the second time they saw this scene right, the girl students from the audience seats were laughing as if expecting the reaction from Kufa group. Putting that at the background, president Christa continued the explanation.

「This poison has the effect of paralyzing the body function of the user. When drinking this, the pair will become unable to see and unable to hear, and the sensation on the skin will also be robbed」

Next, she took out two small bottles from the leather bag pocket.

The content of the small bottles was, the liquid emitting a faint pink light, it was enough for a mouthful.

「And then at the same time, the candidate will take this medicine. It has the effect of temporary increase the thought alignment rate with the pair, originally depend on the strength of the bond it’s possible to do simple mutual understanding.──Now then, until this point have you understand the meaning of the second trial?」

As if testing them president Christa smiled, D’Autriche’s Keira undoubtedly replied.

「In other words it’s like this. The candidate will send thought to the pair, the pair will reply on these orders alone to move the dopple. Both people’s trusting relationship will be more important than anything else, you mean」

「Indeed it is」

Looking as if fireworks furthermore sparked between the two’s confrontation, the headmaster seemed pleasantly watched over.

President Christa supported the basin with both her hand on its bottom, she called out the four participants.

「Then, from this moment the trial is starting! Melida-san, Keira-san, if you have resolved to make your own pair drink this poison, please scope out one portion with your palm. And then Kufa-sama, Pinya-san, if you think you can drink this for the sake of the candidate, kneel and dip your lips into the girls’ palm」

Excluding Kufa the other three participants gulped their breath. At the tensed atmosphere, the girl students on the audience seats watched over with deep interests.

Were they being conscious of the eyesight, the recently moved one was Keira. Next was Melida, after she looked up at Kufa’s face in a glance, then with awkward gait she stepped forward.

The two candidates at the same time inserted their palms, and scoped out a portion of poison.

The next one to move was, without any hesitation kneeling down, Kufa. Conversely, after worrying about the surroundings somewhat suspiciously, Keira’s pair Pinya timidly lowered her knees on the ground.

The palm that was held out before each of them was, one portion of poison.

And they dip their lip in to it, at the same time.

Kufa support the smooth palm from below, with one breath he sucked the poison. Because Melida was making a very painful expression, he licked the final drop with his tongue. Melida embarrassedly twisted her body, as she met eyes with Kufa, faintly she smiled back.

Immediately after that.

From the top of his head to the tiptoe of his feet, discomfort noise was running through.

While his vision became round and round it got dark. The various sounds filling the garden were going far away to the other side of the darkness. It felt as if being locked inside a completely dark box and had the lid covered it.

His skin sensation became vague, what kind of posture he himself was taking right now his confident couldn’t tell. Inside anxiety that wouldn’t be weird to make a normal person, the one that Kufa could feel right was only one.

Lighting up the finger tips of both his hand, it was merely a faint warmness.

「……Sensei?」

Suddenly, from the beloved’s pupils light was disappearing, Melida was being tortured by abrupt anxiety. Although she strongly grasped his hand that was lying on top of each other, as expected he continued the posture of kneeling without responding to anything.

Melida’s small chest was stirred up by impatience.

「Wha, what to do now, I, I make him drink the poison──!」

「Calm down, Melida-san」

Softly, president Christa came approaching her hands on the shoulder from behind, she whispered in her ears.

「This too is the trial you know. Other students are watching you and everyone, 『That girl’s behavior is worthy of Luna Lumiere or not?』like that. The moment Kufa-sama returned to sanity, you will report to him『I was fluttered shamefully』?」

「……!」

At the harsh but affectionate voice, her out of shape heart had been secured just on the brink.

If looking on D’Autriche’s side Keira and Pinya too, they were asking around in the same distress state as Melida group. However, as expected of the《Prince》. Bravely she tightened her face, not letting her inner thoughts leek out.

From this moment they would fight each other, Melida pulled and tightened her lips. Having ascertained it, president Christa smiled broadly without anyone noticed, and let go of her hand.

The lecturer from the academy approached the two, as they made Kufa and Pinya stand up separately, they rolled black clothes on their eyes. President Christa passed to Melida and Keira towels, then she took out the little bottle earlier and two knives.

「Next, this medicine is for you. Now mix on drop of the pair’s blood into the bottle」

Being told so, they each took the small bottle presented toward them. As Melida squatted down in front Kufa, she put up the knife pointed end toward his right hand’s finger tip.

「I’m sorry, sensei.」

Just lightly, she pressed the blade. Fresh scarlet color flew through the knife, Melida immediately pulled out the blade. After one drop of blood fell into the bottle, she carefully used the towel to stop Kufa’s finger bleeding.

「How brave」

Keira said as if mocking, Melida face became bright red. President Christa「Kohon」cleared her throat, headmaster Blamange who was watching calmly advanced to all present people’s front.

「Now now, you two, the medicine has a time effect. The match will start the  moment you take it. Melida-san will go to that high ground, Keira-san will go to over there──Take your own position!」

Following the order, the participant started to move. Melida and Keira went toward the top of the high ground on both ends as directed. Kufa and Pinya borrowed the lecturer and president Christa’s hands, went to wait in their respective candidate’s mountain base.

At last on the stage, the dopples that each candidate had selected were unveiled.

With a thud the curtain was brushed away, in the artistic glass light of the gas lamp recoiled.

The dopples Melida chosen were, eight《Hunter type》, four《Adventure type》, three《Bandit type》, a team built on the important of speed. On the contrary Keira chose three Hunter, eight Adventure, four Bandit, a battle formation prioritized defense──

Melida, who had expected that surely she would go prioritizing attack, had a line of cold sweat dripping on her cheeks.

Nonetheless, she couldn’t change tactics anymore. Even consulting with the reliable Kufa, right now she couldn’t do it either. On this high ground that was isolated from the audience seat, from the garden, Melida had to fight to the bitter end all alone.

“Fu”, the moment Elise stood here what kind of state of mind was she in? Such thought crossed her mind. She remembered that she hadn’t spoken for a while, herself was sinking to the bottom of the darkness.

The voice of the headmaster, and the cheer of the girl students could be heard at the same time, Melida suddenly lifted her face.

「Then, finally it is the time for the curtain rising of the latter half of the second trial! First of all Melida-san, Keira-san, if you think it’s fine to accept a part of the pair, then drink up the content of the small bottle!」

「……」

Taking in a part of Kufa──somehow thinking like that, it made her think that the small bottle she was holding in her hand had a special meaning. However this was the road she had already crossed once.

The evening when they first met, in order to awaken her mana, from his lips the melting heat poured in, at that time──

The same time Keira who stood face to face raised her arm, Melida put her lip on the rim of the small bottle, in one breath she gulped down the content.

Not different from hot tea, nor from cold fruit juice, it was a strange feeling. The liquid that slipped through the throat brought stimulation from the contacted edge. It was from the center of the body to the finger tip of hand and leg, because it spread to every corner it was intolerable. The mild numbness without rest torture the whole body severely, Melida couldn’t bear it 「N!」leaked out the voice through her nose.

Having self conscious that her cheeks were getting red, flustered she pressed her mouth. As the distance and the height were fortunate, it seemed not a single one noticed Melida’s voice and gesture. When Melida pressed the fast beating of her heart frantically, from far away on the ground, headmaster Blamange springiness voice came resounded.

「Although there might be strange feeling, it will subside immediately. Now then, with this you all should be able to connect your thought with your pair. To begin with please tell your own pair to release their mana, and activate the dopples」

Melida and Keira shut their eyes, and sent the thoughts from their heart to their respective pair.

──Sensei? If you could hear me……

Gou! Before the thought even finished, from Kufa’s whole body blue flame gushed out. That brightness transmitted to the glass doll arrayed on both tips, sixteen flame pillars all at once emitted up to the sky.

From the audience seat noticeably magnificent cheer flew out. Melida’s own body was also startled. Somehow this so called connect thoughts was apparently not just thought but directly transmitted the mind.

Keira who was opening her mouth wide from the other opposing high ground, in flustered once again close her eyelids, intensely frown and gritted her teeth. After a few second, from Pinya side flame of mana continued, a little quiet cheer was given out from the audience seat.

Headmaster Blamange’s explanation continued.

「Both candidates, try to grasp the structure of the garden beforehand. In five places, each of them had a small bottle deployed, you can see it correct. ──It’s the antidote. If taking the antidote, you can restore vision, hearing, touch throughout three stages」

Melida reflexively looked around the garden, existed in the glittering world of glass, set up on the pedestal the pink small bottle entered her vision. There were five in total. Just where in the maze to follow in order to get to the antidote at the shortest road, she started to build up the advance route quickly in her head.

And then as if anticipating the candidate’s mind, the headmaster voice piled up.

「You two, once again please confirm the objective of this trial. Victory condition is, making the opponent《Surrender (resign)》. First of all for the sake of restoring the pair will you prioritize the possession of the antidote, or perhaps raiding the enemy’s base. And the moment your own team is driven to a corner, will you hurriedly retire out of worry for the pair, or on the other hand strongly trust in your pair and fight to the bitter end……. Please remember, this battle is not always only about competing for winning or losing. Everyone in the audience seat is ascertaining whether your command is worthy of being Luna Lumiere or not」

Being looked at with a glance by the headmaster’s small pupils, Keira at the opposite bent her lips in dissatisfaction.

Head master Blamange one more turned back to the guest seat behind, once again turned around toward the garden. She properly made sure of the preparations of both teams were complete, then loudly she declared.

「Very well! Then the Luna Lumiere selection matches, second trial《Threaded Ball Dance》. The second half battle between Melida Angel and Keira Espada──starts right now!!」

The vigorous timbre of the orchestra resounded, Melida for an instant sent her thought to Kufa.

“Time in”, and reflecting her thought perfectly, her team’s dopples started to move.

The fifteen glass dopples that had been lightened up by blue flame smoothly separated into three groups. First of all four of the《Hunter》type each headed toward the left and right of the garden, the remaining four《Adventure》type and three 《Bandit》type became one group, all at once charged into the center.

For this sort of game, first of all securing the advantage portion which was the center part that would become the main battlefield was top priority──That would be, retailing the strategy that the home tutor and onee-sama had thought out for her, but anyhow recalling the battle tactics pattern that she had desperately memorized in the break of the training, Melida looked down below and sent her thought to Kufa.

The 《Hunter》dopples that scattered to the left and right rushed about with their natural nimbleness, and quickly spread out their positions. On that occasion one of them had already picked up one of the antidote. Continuously another dopple had taken one more. Melida didn’t hesitate, and she planned to draw the two dopples back to the headquarter.

In order to return the pair’s body function completely, three antidotes were needed. However, arranged in the garden there were only five antidotes……In other words, the battle was structured so that either her or the opponent’s pair would inevitably remain in disadvantage.

Even without that, more or less if Kufa regained his eyesight then the state of battle would undoubtedly become favorable. So to begin with, the priority was to bring one of the antidote back to him──…………

At the moment she thought to that.

Gashaaaan! A crushing sound as if making her hair stood on end interrupted her thought.

The glass doll which was dyed with blue flame was smashed into many pieces. Nearby the《Adventure》dopple which was posing with a bulky glass shield picked up the pink small bottle that was lying at its feet.

The 《Adventure》quickly returned the opposite side which Pinya was waiting. It was the dopple that Keira was opperating…… The antidote had been stolen!

In a rage blood rushed to Melida’s head. However, the《Bandit》 which was advantage against the 《Adventure》couldn’t be moved from the center battlefield. While thinking like that, Melida moved her eyes around with an unpleasant expression.

And, she doubted her eyes.

「Eh!?」

The《Adventure》and the 《Bandit》 dopples that should have taken position at the center battlefield were being overran by the 《Hunter》and《Bandit》commanded by Keira’s side.

It was a hard to understand management. The enemy team which had the 《Adventure》as the center would regard defensive as important. Then naturally, they should have headed to the center and fortified the front line……Keira group disregard this theory, and beautifully intercepted the invasion from Melida’s team who used the dopple specialized in speed and attack.

Then, where were the essential《Adventure》of the enemy? Melida hectically looked around the garden, furthermore an unbelievable scene entered her eyes.

Eight enemy 《Adventure》 dopples each was taking its own solo action, they were freely rushing around, taking ambush position and swooping down on Melida’s side《Hunter》

According to the absolute affinity, the 《Hunter》dopple was no match for the《Adventure》dopple. The blue flame housing glass dolls were one by one being smashed, in a twinkle their number decreased. Among them, from one of its arm the pink little bottle fell down and rolled around.

Having made her own team picked up the bottle, Keira drew them back to Pinya’s position.

She stared at Melida in the opposite, then smiled broadly.

「……!?」

At the pretty one-sided development, Melida’s thought became hardened. This now was no longer, on the level of something like reading the enemy’s strategy. Keira with her first move from the start had completely saw through what kind of team organizing Melida would do, and how she would use them, then she moved her own dopples.

Entirely, it seemed she understood what kind of command Melida would do before hand……────

Toward the location of Pinya who was standing still in Keira’s headquarter, three dopples hurriedly ran up. On each of their hand, they were carrying the pink small bottle. As if serving a queen, they got on one knee and presented the small bottles.

Pinya began to pick up each of the bottle, and charmingly gulped down merely a mouthful of it. She threw it away, and the second bottle. Luxuriously the third bottle──

After she drank them all at once, she grabbed the black eye patch covering her eyes, vigorously removed it. With her pupils that had regained light she looked up over head, and sent a wink to the beloved Keira.

Keira nodded satisfyingly in returned, she raised her voice toward Melida who was standing far on the opposite side.

「Do you still think you have a chance of winning!?」

「Ku……!」

Melida sent her thought to Kufa without being disheartened. There were still two antidotes. If she could bring back at least one, then general situation would certainly inclined toward her.

「How pitiful」

Keira lightly laughed with her nose, then signaled to Pinya with her fingertip. The girl whose pair had completely recovered had no need to rely on the uncertain thought connection. A few steps faster than just now, the dopples reflected commands and started moving.

They accurately chased the isolated 《Hunter》from Melida’s side, then destroyed them, and crushed the group of 《Adventure》 and《Bandit》which were continuing to resist in a do or die spirit at the center with the advantage affinity.

In the time to say “a”, the blue glittering flame couldn’t be seen anymore inside the garden.

Keira smiled satisfyingly, she calmly surveyed the garden with no longer any obstruction, then she ordered a few dopples to advance. As she made them approach the two small bottles that continued to wait bravely for the visitors, and pick each of them up, then she made them held the bottles high as if showing it to Melida on the high ground.

「You want this, don’t you?」

「……!」

She swallowed the word that was about to escape her throat with utmost effort, Melida glared at Keira.

Was she unable to accept that attitude or what, the《Prince》bent her handsome mouth in to the word He (へ) for show. With a little violent gesture, she swung her arm toward Pinya.

Immediately after, two dopples that were holding the small bottles threw them to the sky──

At the timing they were falling down, the dopples swung the weapons.

While the sad breaking sounds resounded, the antidote inside of them scattered to the ground.

「A────Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! With this your pair will eternally become a wooden doll!」

「……!!」

At that instance, as expected in Melida’s pupils tears seemed to be swelling up. However, Keira didn’t loosen her offense.

「I don’t like bullying the weak either. So I suggest you quickly retire!!」

Together with the《Prince》’s roar, the fifteen dopples from the enemy camp all at once started to charge. Already there was no longer any need for cautious of Melida’s side’s strategy. At her encampment right now was Kufa alone whom was having his body function sealed and being blindfolded by bandage.

The enemy 《Bandit》that came rushing from the vanguard showily hold aloft its thick glass axe──

still with approaching force, it hit Kufa.

Gou! A dull sound as if echoing from the bone came out, as expected his upper half body lightly shook.

「──!!」

Melida reflectively covered her mouth with the palm of her hands. The remaining fourteen dopple that rushed up late surrounded Melida’s beloved person, from all direction they started swinging down their glass weapons.

At the unable to do anything but stand still Kufa’s abdomen, shin, arm, head…… as if it weren’t enough, he was relentlessly tormented. The dull sound resounded in many layers, making Melida’s delicate legs tremble.

From the audience seat too sporadic scream could be heard. At the time when Kufa’s face was hit, some people quickly covered their eyes. As if unable to see it anymore, some girl students prayed to the sky.

Thereinto, from the front row the white hair woman was watching the match──Mrs Othello who hated the very sight of Kufa and Melida leaned her body forward as if about to tumbled in boisterous dance.

「They’re done for! They’re done for! Ii～～～hi hi hi hi hi!!」

As they were being disgusted at the woman who was showing a messed up dancing witch’s ceremony, from the opposite high ground, as though very satisfied with the audiences’ reaction, Keira’s voice could loudly be heard.

「Look, look, look! Isn’t it time you surrender!? Do you understand what your pair is thinking!? Unable to see anything, unable to hear anything, being inside the pitch black darkness, being tormented by unidentifiable suffering in his whole body! Ha ha! If it were me I wondered how my mind would be! Right now he is, straining his voice which can’t come out with all his might and seeking help from you! He’s telling you to quickly surrender, and quickly end his suffering! Ahahahahahaha!!」

「……-top……っ」

From Melida’s throat, her strongly suppressed voice leaked out.

Even before becoming his student, much more than when meeting him, it was a feeble tone that she had committed to never say. If she wanted to throw out her chest and announce that she was his student, she must not make any embarrassing speak and conduct.

However, if that pride made the beloved him suffer.

If he was truly, inside the pitch black darkness seeking help from Melida──…………

Melida pressed her forehead on the handrail, while trembling she opened her lips.

「I, resig──」

『Raise your head』

Suddenly. Melida opened her eyes.

She shouldn’t been able to hear it. However, until this point she had heard it many times. When Melida’s heart became disheartened, to rightly illuminating the path for her to advance, the strict and gentle voice of his was ──

Once again, could be heard.

──Raise your head, Melida Angel.

†　†　†

Since the opposing team didn’t intent to accept defeat at all, Keira Espada gradually starting to feel irritated. And the thought sympathy rate increasing from her pair Pinya Harsuran too, was transmitting her bewilderment.

At the first year from Frideswide who was standing still for a while on the opposite high ground, Melida Angel, whom if looking from Keira’s perspective was tiny, was for a moment appeared as if having collapsed turned her face down, but before doing anything she raised her face again. Dignifiedly she tightened her back, and started to gaze steadily at the garden below her eyes.

The first thing she stared at was, the ghastly appearance of her pair. With seeing, hearing, and touch senses were all sealed, the figure of a boy in military outfit was being helplessly ganged up by the glass dolls and was being beaten. It was a scene that made Keira group, whom was inducing that action, unconsciously turned their eyes away.

At that sight the first year continued to stare as if forgetting to blink.

Just what were the two people over there thinking? With the mind set of having peeked at something unfamiliar, a chill ran down Keira’s spine.

「Won’t you cut it out! Your precious pair will be greatly wounded you know!」

Although shouting, however Keira self-aware that she were also being cornered.

At any rate ── even thought being hit again and again, that boy in military uniform showed no sign of backing down at all. The opponent was standing upright. No matter how much they ran up. No matter how much they aimed at the vital parts.

Nevertheless, how many times the glass weapon hit him, his high figure was unyielding. Although as expected if taking a strong attack he would be shaken more or less, his trunk was by no means shaken. ──what terrific inner muscle.

──How high is his status!? That man!!

At the opponent whom she had never heard nor seen, Keira shuddered. It was uncertain whether he had been injured or even accumulated any kind of damage. Just how many hour of continuous beating to make that monster yield, she couldn’t imagine it at all.

And that current situation was moving to a disadvantage direction for the candidate who was aiming at the seat of Luna Lumiere, Keira herself.

The girl students who held the voting right on the audience seats were having blue faces at the sad and gloomy situation before their eyes. As if becoming unable to bare it, the surrounding friend exchanged opinions.

「Isn’t this a bit too much?」

「Why doesn’t Melida-sama retired! If this continues Kufa-sama will be truly wounded……! Does she desire the Luna rank that much?」

「Kufa-sama too……she should have taken him into consideration a little more……」

「Shouldn’t the match be arbitrated by now? Why is the headmaster-sensei keeping silent?」

「Just shut up and look」

One of the battle training instructor used male langue even thought she was female to make the surrounding quiet.

「Both side still yet to say《Surrender (resign)》. That is all」

「But……」

The girl students’ vexing eyesight was fixed on them. Keira strongly gritted her teeth. Even if she won the match at this rate, it would have an opposite effect to raising the number of votes obtained. It would be fine if she resigned quickly, but why Melida Angel didn’t do it!

Then, to make it into having even a small chance of victory──

Visually! Absolutely! I have to make her understand!!

「Pinyaaaaaaa!!」

Keira’s yell resounded, making her pair, the girl who was at the foot of the high ground, raise her face up in surprised. Her impatience and anxiety had transmitted. She was harboring uneasiness at this battle that who knew when it would end.

The same could be said for the girls on the audience seats. It was no longer possible to have a gentlemanly ending──

Then I, as the overwhelmingly strong one will reign over this battle field, and snatch away the vote with brute force only!!

「I’ll end this battle right here! Obey my will!」

At Keira’s resolute declaration, Pinya also strained her expression. The thought sympathy rate raised to the extreme, Keira’s thought directly transmitted to the dopples.

The glass dolls that surrounded Kufa, as if being arranged before hand, took their distance. Four of them surrounds at four directions, all at once they kicked off the ground.

First of all from the front and the left and right they bashed his head, by all cost they dragged him fallen down to the ground. After they skewered his whole body and raised it up to the air, and dragged it around until Melida who was watching from the high ground said 《Surrender (Resign)》. Different to the D’Autriche student Keira, Melida was Frideswide student. In case she thought of continuing to live in this academy, she should keep in mind her reputation inside the girl student around and make her decision, she should hurriedly realize it.

As if cutting off the merciful part of her heart, Keira howled.

「I’ll smash you uuuup!!」

The glass pets all at once speed up. Each of them at the same time brandished their weapons.  From all sides they closed in on Kufa, they approached until the distance was only one step away. At the scene that awaited gruesomeness, the girl students on audience seats screamed and covered their eyes. And, standing on the opposite side Melida was ──

Until the very end continuing to stare at her pair.

Bakiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!! A much more sever and clear sounds up to now resounded.

For an instant, silent wrapped the inside of the garden. The lingering timbre echoed high across the sky. The girls who were covering their eyes removed their palms, and gasped in surprised. Watching the same thing Keira’s legs were unconsciously taking two, three steps back.

「No, no way……!?」

Kufa was ──── having no sight of yielding.

From a upstanding position he took one stepped, at the same time he postured with his half body Kufa shot out his right knuckle. At the head of the glass pet, which was approaching from the front,  he pulverized it with a counter. And from three other side the weapons, which were being swung down at the intersection overlapping each other, didn’t even reach the target even once.

The glass pet that had its head pulverized crumbled down. Pulling his fist from the glass plump ──

Kufa, said.

「This is pay back」

Immediately after, his whole body flashed like lightning.

More than three hundred girl students sitting on the audience seats were without exception forgot their voices and had their eyes stolen by the scene of the garden. The boy in military outfit figure being blindfolded by eye patch pulverized the glass dolls empty handed beautifully to the point it made people gulp down their breath.

At the desperately swung down glass sword, he swiped away with the back of his hand, and used the opponent’s force he countered and smashed its chin, and just like that he sent its head high up to the sky. As two glass pets approached him from the left and right at the same time, he rhythmically slapped down his kicks, with the final roundhouse kick and the returned heels he smashed each of their heads. If he danced acrobatic while flipping the skirt of the military uniform, the three bodies involved in the kick were shattered at the same time.

The girl students who were being at a loss for words were finally being able to regain their speech.

「Wha, what’s the meaning of this!? Did the effect of the poison wear off!?」

「No, that’s wrong. That’s not it」

While became a little fast-talking, the battle training instructor leaned her body forward.

「Until he drinks the antidote the poison won’t wear off. He shouldn’t be able to see anything nor hear anything」

「If so, then why could a feast like that……!」

「There’s someone who in turn acted as his own《Eyes》.──It’s Angel」

The battle training instructor sent a glance at the high ground of the garden. Loitering over there the beautiful blonde girl was, with the same gaze filled with determination just like before, continuing to stare fixedly at the garden below.

While she was one of her disciple, the instructor felt just a little afraid at the girl’s figure.

「Because this is aiming at them……! The dopple’s attack pattern was only a simply three kinds. With that black one’s feeling of being attack, and Angel’s vision, they analyzed the enemy behavior and linked them one by one. Mayhap, they must have exchanging words inside their minds」

「Such a thing is……!?」

「Of course, can they do it in such a small amount of time? It’s not enough to just analyze the enemies’ movements. At the same time if she couldn’t perfectly grasp the pair’s 《distance》 to the enemies he wouldn’t be able to counterattack. They surely won’t be able to do this with just ordinary trust relationship……!」

Quivering at the end of her words, the battle training instructor faintly added.

「As if those two are entrusting their own lives to each other……────」

As if trying to drown out that voice, the sound of glass being pulverized resounded.

(Illu)

Inside the pitch black darkness, Kufa only relied on Melida’s thoughts and made his whole body dance.

The《Bandit》from the front, attack pattern 2.

The 《Hunter》 at forty five degree from the right, attack pattern 1.

After zero point four second at ninety four degree from the left attack pattern 3, the 《Adventure》──

Her thought again and again flashed inside his brain, the figures of unseen enemies clearly appeared inside the pitch black darkness. If he followed those images and swung his fists, the faint response transmitted through his hand and the connection of Melida told him accurately.

Suddenly, he felt as if his whole body was stroked by the wave. “What is this” while he doubted in his mind, as the image of the enemies came attacking without a pause, his hand couldn’t find rest.

As his body senses were ninety percent sealed right now, with intuition and experience, and only depended on the transcendental feeling of balance that ingrained in his body, he flashed his legs. With his shin and the out edge of his foot, together with his heel he freely kicked at the figures of the enemy, immediately after he released a roundhouse kick behind, once again he felt his body being stroked by a wave.

Kufa was “Yeah”, noticed.

This was the “Cheer” ──

The wild enthusiasm that shook the ground wrapped the audience seats. At the still being blindfolded figure of a boy who was one-sidedly knocking down the enemy group, neither bounded by being Frideswide’s student nor D’Autriche’s student, over three hundred people were sending loud cheers.

That much overwhelming battle strength earlier was reduced to zero before one could say ah. And the finally remaining two dopples had been smashed by Kufa with his left and right back fists at the same time. The noticeably loud cheer gushed up.

「A……aa……!」

At the fierce at that of the monster liked enemy, the vital point of Keira’s side Pinya was having her knees trembling. The moment Kufa’s eyes which were being covered by the eye patch looked straight at them, a small shriek「Hii!」leaked out from the girls’ throats.

Kufa aimed at the enemy’s headquarter and dashed out──After three steps he lost balance, his knees fell to the ground. From the audience seat they shouted 「Aah!?」

「He still couldn’t walk straight!」

「With such a state, how could he……」

The exchange from the audience seat came to the ears, and Keira who was being pressed down came back to her sense.

「Cal, calm down Pinya! You still have a much better advantage ──」

It was the moment she told that. A clear gallop sound from the foot of the high ground ran through her mind.

The《Hunter》dopple which emitted blue flame flew out from its hiding place, and inflicted an attack at Pinya’s back. As she screamed 「Kya?」, she was unbearably fell to the ground.

Keira who looked down at it was being even more surprised and lost her words.

「There’s still one……dopple remaining……!!」

From the back of the flatly fallen Pinya the 《Hunter》, and from the front Kufa with the eye patch fluttering, both continued to close in. Pinya raised her face, with no place to run and still being fallen on her backside, she trembled violently.

Keira’s teeth were strongly gritted.

As if having squeezed it out from the bottom of her heart, from her lips bitter thoughts were scattered.

「……I surrender (resign)」

「That’s it!! The trial is, finished──────────!!」

Head master Blamange’s beautiful voice that must have come from a vocalist was reverberated, and the academy orchestra blew a loud volume of fanfare. Then from the audience seat, as if an explosion it as wrapped by loud cheers.

「──Sensei!」

At that moment, Melida’s expression was distorted and she dashed down from the high ground. Straightly crossed through the garden, fervently she ran to the foot of the opponent’s high ground.

Had her thoughts been transmitted, Kufa released his tension and sat down on the ground. Toward him, Melida, still with that momentum, embraced Kufa.

「Sensei! Sensei! Sensei……!」

Although she hugged his head as if it was treasure, there was no response. President Christa, who ran to them from outside the garden, took out the small bottle filled with liquid in front of Melida’s eyes.

「It’s the antidote」

「……!」

Melida immediately took it, and opened the cork. If no one was looking she might hold it in her own mouth and feed it to him. With a face to face close distance like that, she pressed the bottle at Kufa’s lips.

Melida wrapped her arms around as if hugging, and untied the blindfold around his eyes. As she peered at that face from a close distance, as his pupils silently opened, beautiful light was lightened inside them.

As his masculine lips bent up into a smile, he laughed.

「──Oya oya, the tears are ruining your prettiness you know?」

「Sensei……!!」

Melida forgot that she was being watched by everyone in the academy, she strongly hugged Kufa’s neck. At that scene the girl students absentmindedly let out their breath, even though Kufa was being troubled on what to do, he softly hugged her back.

At such a masterpiece like picture someone who didn’t like it at all jumped out of the audience seat.

「Something is wrong!」

It was Mrs Othello. Taking up the poison filled basin along the way, she directed skeptical look at the headmaster and president Christa.

「In a state which his eyes and ears sealed──he shouldn’t have been able to do such thing! Certainly something, surely some cheap trick had been done!」

「No, Mrs. Because I and the student council were in charge of controlling the drug」

As the student Christa who was also the president talked back calmly, on Othello’s wrinkled face blood flaringly rose up.

「If so, then the effect of the drug was weak!!」

Shouted so, Mrs Othello herself scooped up the contents of the basin, and slurped her palm. Without time for president Christa to say 「A!」to stop her, she had drunk it all.

She put down her palm, after three seconds.

「……Kyuu」

Bata────n! Mrs Othello tumbled down while facing upward. President Christa and the girl students on the audience seats, together with the lecturers yelled.

「Mrs Othello!」

「Emergency, Mrs Othello is……!」

As the headmaster looked down at the woman’s disgraceful behavior sadly, together with a sigh she said.

「Someone, quickly bring her to the medical office.……So the antidote will be needed for one more portion」

Looking at Mrs Othello being put on stretcher and carried away, this time a different person came finding fault. Just like the time when the first trial was over, she pressed the headmaster again, she was the one who had resigned reluctantly was the result, Keira Espada.

「Such unfairness! She didn’t win because her battle strategy was better, she won because her pair’s status was better! Looking at the progress of the match I should have been signaled as the winner!」

「Stop it, Keira-san」

The one who remonstrated her was not headmaster Blamage nor president Christa.

St. D’Autriche’s general manager Neige Tolmenta made her appearance from the tied door that led to the inside of the palace.

Being counseled by someone unexpected, as expected even the《Prince》shrunk back.

「Ma, manager……?」

「Have you already forgotten what the headmaster said? The selection matches isn’t just a contest of winning and losing. Why don’t you swear to everyone here that you had truly fought fair and square?」

「──」

「Furthermore supposing, if you and Pinya had the same potential as them, could you really pull off the same thing as they did?」

More and more Keira was pushed to silent. While manager Neige shook her head she added.

「At least for me it’s impossible」

After that manager Neige, still hadn’t done, had tears shining in her pupils and knelt down in front of Melida, and took both of her hands.

「I’m sorry, Melida-san. Please forgive my rudeness inside the headmaster office」

「Eh……?」

「You are beyond doubt St. D’Autriche’s rival. You are worth fighting with all our strength, truly St. Frideswide’s Luna Lumiere candidate」

As she stood up and took a step, with a high pitch sound she rang her palms. Just like following her the D’Autriche students from the audience seats, and as if a wave spreading out all the girl students, clapped their hands grandly and bless the winner of the second trial.

Melida looking embarrassedly lowered her eyes, on her pupils tears were still glittering.

Because he was still keep on sitting, Kufa planned to cheer her up so he put strength into his legs. However, midway he lost balance and once again sit down. Melida worriedly turned back.

「Sensei?」

「The, there’s no problem. It’s not the damage, seems the poison still remains in my body……」

Hearing the talk the headmaster nodded a little and repeatedly, then sent instruction to president Christa.

「Miss Shanson. Please take Mr Vanpiel and Miss Harsuran to the medical office.──Yeah, Miss Angel and Miss Espada, you two please remain here」

「Eh?」

「After this, I will announce the outline of the third trial with all the students. There is no harm in you two hearing it either right. Brace yourself──for the final trial comes next」

Melida and Keira spontaneously exchanged looks, with a「Fun」 Keira averted her face.

Next Melida, looking reluctantly grasped Kufa’s arm.

「Don’t make such a face, I’ll immediately return. Including my part, please carefully listen to the headmaster’s words」

After leaving those words, Kufa carefully stood up, turned his body. Following president Christa’s guidance he walked away, while his back was still bathing in the remaining excited clapping and cheering of the girl students, he left behind the glassmond palace’s courtyard.

†　†　†

「Uuu～～I feel groggy～……」

As Kufa was going to the direction of the medical office, there was a preceding visitor. Glossy red hair and fascinating costume, with slender body shape like a model, it was Rozetti Picket. Having experienced the second trial a step ahead, she must have been receiving favor here.

Already the girl with a co-worker like mindset waved her hand 「Good work」when she found his figure. However the amount of that gesture looked like it was tiresome, her complexion was bad.

「Good work.……Are you alright?」

「N～, not so much……Cuz you know, my constitution is easily effected by medicine, with strong poison and then the antidote to rinse it made a double punch, so I feel groggy～……it seems」

When she tiredly argued vehemently, suddenly the girl looked up at him with suspicious gaze.

「Speaking of which, why are you completely fine?」

「Because I’m used to poison」

「Cheating!」

Even being called cheating, Kufa couldn’t help it. Nonetheless for her to say though words, she was simply throwing a tantrum, as he understood that, he didn’t response seriously.

Instead of that, from his side a different topic was brought up.

「How did Elise-sama’s match go?」

「Although roughly we won……I only felt like fifty percent strategy. Because mostly we pushed through with my own status, but I don’t know how it would affect the number of vote though」

「I see」

At that moment, suddenly the vicinity of the entrance of the medical office became noisy.

「Mrs Othelloー, you need to lie down a rest a little more……」

「No, no, I’m fine! Because I have confident in my health!」

Making her white hair a little disordered, it was Mrs Othello. Although subtly staggering with her feet, she shook free from the sister and moved away from the medical office.

Looking at the back as if a twig being blown by the wind, inside Kufa’s chest a mischievous feeling raised up. With light footstep he turned his body, and Rozetti called out in puzzled at his back.

「Eh, wait, what are you plan to do?」

After he responded with a silent smile, while he killed his footstep he headed to the corridor.

Just as one thought, Mrs Othello was pressing her hand against the wall looking like in a bad state. She didn’t care about being tormented by the poison she gulped down herself. As Kufa restrained his smile he stepped up to her.

「Shall I lend you a hand, Mrs?」

「……!!」

Mrs Othello silently turned back, instead of the unable to come out voice, she glared with a gaze that packed a million curses in it. Kufa more and more showed his worry while containing his laughter.

「No, don’t you see? The renowned baton from ojou-sama just now!  The clapping and cheering from the audience seat! Don’t you feel like remembering about that moment? See, just like the public tournament the last semester. That time too, when no one had any expectation in her, with her action she nailed down the eyes of spectator. And someone, who looked at that majestic figure and lost self-control like a chimpanzee──」

「Please shut up!!」

Pishan! Mrs Othello’s anger dropped down. As Kufa at the same time restrained his voice and laughter, that moment, the woman rattled on with loud voice.

「Seriously whatever happen to you, Melida-sama, and the girls from the other school Salasha and Keira are fine! This has become truly tenaciously unpleasant! It should have been fine to just meekly hand over the Luna Lumiere tiara ……! If I knew things would be like this, I should have clearly carved 『Elise Angel』 only on the stained glass!!」

For an instance, Kufa’s thought stiffened. At the same time, Mrs Othello held her tongue.

──should have carved only『Elise』?

「Then, you did that?」

As if emphasizing, Kufa asked again. To uttering such words, in this academy there was merely but one.

「Sneaking into the glassmond palace, changing the stained glass, and in order to make ojou-sama group couldn’t be help but participated in the selection matches……Everything was your doing?」

「……」

Mrs Othello couldn’t directly answer. Simply, just like taking a defiant attitude she snorted.

「……Disregarding Elise-sama and selected《Representative Students》, is  an extremely disrespect act! All of the students in this academy should know that. How precious the family name that Elise-sama’s back is carrying!!」

「Wait, right now, are you serious……?」

At the voice of the third person who accidentally heard it, Kufa and Mrs Othello turned back at the same time.

While putting her hands on the door of the medical office, the red hair home tutor astonished opened her eyes wide. She must have been worried about their conditions and came to check. With a hard to believe expression, she shook her head many times.

「Othello-san……Although I thought about it a long time ago, but the way Othello-san does thing is wrong! Forcefully prepared her to be the candidate, do you know how much Elise-sama will be hurt, and how much the girls in this school suffered? There’s crying girl you know!?」

「……」

As expected for Mrs Othello, there was no sign of apology. Kufa once again, remember at that balcony where Melida’s tears had been rolling down, he spitted out an intolerable breath.

「……Not only that. Tempering on the costume of the first trial, and leaking out strategy to Keira-sama group at the first trial too, are your doings right?」

Since he always shared thoughts with Melida, so he knew.

Although manager Neige had referred, but the match earlier, undoubtedly the match opponent Keira knew full well this side’s movements. Someone must have told them in details, everything from Melida’s strategy of team organization to advancement plan.

Even so Mrs Othello was, at that suddenly bent the end of her eyebrow up.

「Please stop falsely accuse me! I have never done such cowardly actions!」

「Eh……?」

「Senseis, although I don’t care about you guys getting ahead of yourself, fully remember your positions. What will happen if you plan to do something like pressing me, realize it now! Furthermore, behold! Since at the third trial coming next, such good luck won’t continue anymore!」

“Fun”, she left those words imperiously, Mrs Othello turned her body. Looking at that back which was like a dead branch went far away, the young home tutors dumbfounded and merely met each other face.

──She wasn’t the one who sabotaged?

Then who? Was it Madea? Or perhaps some other people? No, in the first place what Mrs Othello said was not actually all truth……

Kufa’s mind was investigating thoroughly this chaos. The olden crow’s shrill voice which was left was clinging to his ears.

──Such good luck won’t continue anymore.

As if inside this academy the 《completely black one》 was lurking, and had borrowed the figure of an elderly woman then whispered to him, Kufa couldn’t help but feel like it.