Seiken Tsukai no Kinju Eishou - Volume 3 - Chapter 4

Warm Flames

Shimon Mari, the Principal of Akane Academy, boarded the Shinkansen bounded for Tokyo early in the morning.

(Isn't this first class' footrest rather uncomfortable?)

She can't wait to arrive there while having that and other constrained thoughts.

It is immensely absurd since she would arrive in Tokyo from Akane Academy in an instant if she were to use an Erratic Portal.

However, and unfortunately, in the rules established by the White Knight Organization, the Erratic Portal is not something she is allowed to use whenever she wants.

As for the reasons, the first is that its arbitrary application by individuals is considered more than dangerous because it could become a powerful strategic weapon.

The second is that the Erratic Portal has a technical limitation where it can be used only once a day, so its usage becomes important, and lastly is that such ascertainments are done by the higher-ups.

For example, if Mari ended up using it to go to Tokyo and the Metaphysicals appeared somewhere in Japan right after that, even if there were a lot of Saviors near Mari, she wouldn't be able to dispatch them instantly.

If such a thing were to happen, then even Mari would end up regretting it.

Despite her complaints, she was sitting quietly on the seat.

The companion that comforts her during the boring travel is her laptop.

She was exchanging emails with Maya who just woke up.

And with today, It has been five days since that angel-chan went to an island for the summer training camp.

A report email arrived every day.

『We had a watermelon splitting game today desu. Moroha got angry with "don't waste food", but since we did a pinky promise to eat properly with everyone later, he agreed to do it desu. 』

『We had a test of courage today desu. But compared to captain-san and demon vice-captain-san, we didn't get excited as it wasn't scary at all desu. Only Maaya had fun because she could pair with Moroha with a raffle desu』

『Today we found the water motorbikes that the manager-san has desu. But he couldn't lend them to us because they are dangerous desu. My heart was about to break with sorrow desu』

There are more entertaining reports like,

『Moroha and Satsuki-oneechan seem to be secretly going out every night desu』

『They were having a secret special training when Shizuno-oneechan and  Maaya tailed them stealthily desu』

『Shizuno-oneechan didn't seem to be pleased by it, but she watched attentively in silent desu. She is gentle desu』

『Maaya is also with Moroha every night when she returns to the dormitory, so Maaya decided to lend him to Satsuki-oneechan for the duration of the training camp desu. She is gentle desu』

『Harukoneechan was worried. Satsuki-oneechan seems to frequently have nightmares and is having difficulties to fall asleep somehow at night desu. Therefore, yes, she can be pampered by Moroha desu』

『But Maaya thinks that demon vice-captain-san is an obstinate person who goes too far desu. She creeps at night into the dorm even when Moroha is out, but she is scolded by captain-san later desu』

What a precocious report.

There was also a lot of emails with pictures.

(I give my thanks to demon vice-captain-san though)

Mari thinks so many times while reading them happily every day.

Tokiko, the vice-captain, suggested that this year's training camp was half leisure.

Maya was required to participate in the training camp last year and the year before last because a barrier was needed, but since it was a training camp with an objective of 100% special training, it meant that she was treated only like an ornament after she spread the barrier. And yet, she never said a single objection, but the extra lovely Mari was worried about her.

But how about this year——

Among the pictures saved in files, even Mari feels happiness when looking at the wonderful angelic smile of Maya playing cards in the room with Moroha, Satsuki and Shizuno.

Of course, she is filled with feelings of gratitude towards Moroha and the others.

『What are you going to do today?』

Mari sends an email to Maya with the laptop.

『It seems Satsuki-oneechan will show the results of the special training nanodesu. She is re-challenging Harukoneesan desu』

After a short time, an email of reply arrives.

『Which one should you cheer, I wonder?』

『Maaya feels that she wants to cheer for Satsuki-oneechan desu. Rooting for the underdog desu』

If she were to hear so, there is no doubt that she would be indignant. Mari unintentionally lets out a quiet laugh.

The time flies while exchanging emails with the cute Maya.

Thanks to arriving at Tokyo Station, and that she didn't notice the constant mopping till the old ladies of the cleaning came, she ended up getting terribly troubled by it.

In order to pick up a taxi, Mari went through the ticket barrier and headed to Yaesu exit.

It has been a long time since she came to Tokyo, but this city is good.

Even when people see the stunning golden hair and the calmed blue eyes of Mari, nobody cares about her.

They are somewhat tired of looking at foreigners.

If this were the vicinities of Akane Academy, she would end up gathering the attention with「Moom, look. A foreigneer」

Even though Mari just carries the blood of her British great-grandmother, both her family register and way of thinking are Japanese.

She was walking, feeling great——but she suddenly stopped her eyes at one point.

Her feet also stopped automatically.

Not only Mari. Everyone walking down the road was gathering their gazes at one point. Persons who stop their feet appeared one after another.

It's a boy who was drawing to himself such a large number of gazes.

His age is around the one of a high school student. He is wearing a stand-up collar school uniform*.

He is not a celebrity.

He is not a beauty either.

He has no particular, standing out features either.

And yet, he draws the attention. This level of gathered attention. For some reason, they are unable to take their eyes off of him.

He is just like an absolute presence, as if he were saying that the status as the person he had since he was born was different.

That boy came straight to Mari.

Even when standing side by side, though not surprisingly, only the boy gathers the gazes. Nobody cares about the gorgeous blonde hair of Mari.

– It's been a while, Principal.

The boy called out to Mari with an arrogant attitude.

If it's a commoner, then it's not worthy, that is his personality.

Forty, fifty years have——no, it's the same as the sovereign who ruled over the world at that moment.

If it's not because he wears a school uniform, wouldn't nobody notice that he is a boy?

– It is been a long time.

Mari bends at her waist very deeply to kowtow.

– I am expressly grateful to be able to welcome you myself——Division Head Suruga.

That's right.

This boy is the Head of the Japanese Division.

One of the strongest Saviors, and part of the Six Heads.

Suruga Andou.

He was that person.

– I don't dislike beautiful women. I just want to make you, who expressly came here, and your time, all mine.

Laughing with arrogance, Suruga turns back all of a sudden.

With that much, it is natural that Mari follows such thinking attitude.

– I-It is an honor…

Naturally, Mari has no choice but to join up with him.

(He's not a person who's particularly a lecher. However, the manner of speaking of a person like this, startled my heart. And it makes me worry)

Following with a quick pace the previous three steps of Suruga who advances at his own pace, they come out from Nihonbashi exit.

He kept a limousine waiting. The Rank Savior that serves as the secretary of Suruga opens the door of the rear seat respectfully and welcomes his master.

After hesitating a little, Mari sat nervously next to Suruga.

The secretary who closed the door returns to the driver's seat and let him depart.

A competent woman not only as a secretary but also as a Shirogane. She doesn't ask the destination, she knew where to drive.

– The three of us will head to London. I request you to accompany me.

– it is not a big deal for me, but I will diligently show perfection when travelling.

Mari nods with a shriveling feeling to Suruga who sits very deeply in the seat, like a king.

The reason why Mari was summoned to Tokyo this time is——

Since she will accompany the Head of the Japanese Division who will attend the Six Head Conference, she received the duty of connecting both Tokyo——and London with an Erratic Portal,

– I occasionally want to treat myself and flight leisurely, but the old geezers of the government don't permit it.

Suruga distorts his cheeks and complains sarcastically.

He is the trump card against the Metaphysicals in Japan.

And because he is the trump card, he has reached a foolish situation in which he is stowed away at the back with great care due to a decision of the Japanese government.

The origin was three years ago.

A dreadnought of the Kaima* species with unprecedented enormity and strength appeared in Tokyo Bay.

*TN: 海魔 furigana reads "kaima" and the kanji literally means "Sea Demon"

A living calamity appeared right in the throat of the capital.

The impact reached not only the White Knight Organization but also the central part of the government and the administration.

If it reaches the land and rampages in the metropolitan area, in the worst case scenario, the country itself will end up unable to maintain itself.

In fact, Suruga himself stood on the front lines, and yet, it was a terrifyingly difficult demon. Mari remembers how tough the battle was as she also participated in it. If they made a mistake, the possibility that it would end up reaching the land was high.

The time required till they annihilated it was actually four hours——

In the meanwhile, the higher-ups and the high officials of the government were shaking without living comfortably.

Since then, it was decided by the Japanese government.

That「The capital peace is a matter prioritized above everything, and that Suruga Andou, who is its trump card, has forbidden to leave the metropolitan area」

Apart from that Kaima species, the Metaphysicals have never appeared in the capital city area.

They may not do it from now on either.

Nevertheless, the higher-ups of the government are afraid that the「Sky may fall tomorrow」, so they continue keeping Suruga at hand.

– I thought that the decision would change if the ruling party changes. Well, they are of the same stripe after all.

Suruga continued the sarcasm as he distorted his cheeks.

Although the Japanese Division has raised its influential voice and increased its achievements every year, they are still not enough to oppose the government yet.

This time, he is going to London only because they reluctantly recognized the pressure from the British government.

Because they don't want him to stay away even for a second longer, they expressly designated Mari to use Erratic Portal for travelling.

– I heard a rumor where they are making the majority of the Japanese Saviors to gather in the metropolitan area to make up for the absence of Division Head Suruga, but is that true…?

– It is true. Aren't they calling-up Ranks and B-Ranks like your own students?

Although the government seemed to have wanted to gather both Isurugi and the Strikers, his secretary also told that they still had no rights to bind students who are not humans of formal organizations, so they gave up.

Going beyond of being disgusted, Mari felt a headache.

Since they will be travelling to London tonight to then directly attend the Six Head Conference, they will have to wait just a little over twenty hours till they return to their country while waiting for the Erratic Portal to be used again tomorrow night——just mentioning that Suruga won't be in Tokyo is a controversy.

The cowardness of those guys called "politicians" and "bureaucrats" is completely beyond help.

Meanwhile, if the Metaphysicals appeared somewhere other than the metropolitan area, how are they gong to deal with them?

(I wonder if my uneasiness is the same kind of「The sky may fall tomorrow」, huh…)

Mari sighed in secret.

With a fleeting glance after that, she steals a glance at the profile of Surugi.

What kind of situations——of thoughts are this man, who is the heart of the Japanese Division, carrying out?

She thinks so, however, from his expression that has tattooed an arrogant smile on his mouth as if he's looking into the abyss, it was not possible for her to infer anything from that.

☯

Fifth day of the training camp.

Every night since then, Moroha was coaching and going along with the "Late at night secret exercise" of Satsuki.

The hardworking Satsuki mastered her own sense of pumping out prana from the point below the navel.

And by discussing it between them, they decided that it was fine to re-challenge Haruka today.

If she can win, Satsuki would be the first to clear a task among all members.

Her motivation is high.

She also receives the acceptance of Haruka, she will face the whole special training time as planned.

But first, one hour of normal schedule.

Then each one of them has free training time after that.

So, when it's almost time for the foot race——Isurugi came to Moroha.

– Do you have a minute?

With an honest-like expression, he brings up a topic.

– I'm thinking that I would like to try out the results of my independent training as soon as possible. And for that, I would like to request a duel with Haimurkun.

Cheers rose from the surrounding members who heard that.

That is because they are rarely able to see a good match like a match between the two strongest Strikers.

(As expected of Nii-sama! To be even nominated by the captain!)

Satsuki makes her eyes sparkle as if they were saying so.

– Umm, I don't mind, but…

What is he going to do about the foot race?

Moroha peeks at the expression of Satsuki and Moroha.

((Do it before us! Do it!))

They both communicated him with hand gestures.

They seemed to say that it can't be helped since they want to see the match between Moroha and Isurugi.

– Okay then, let's do so. Should I also try out the results of my independent intense training?

– That's what I want.

Isurugi doesn't grin, but he agreed to it.

– I want to tell senpai about my subject contents, or perhaps I should say, if I'm able to ask about it, won't this make no sense now that senpai is successfully aware of them?

– Yes, it’s true.

Moroha explains to Isurugi who nodded very interested.

– Don't let the opponent read the timing of the dark arts invocation——right? I see, in other words, I should be wary of Haimurkun's dark arts, correct?

As expected of him, he was relieved because his understanding was quick.

A perfect opponent for Moroha. This is no less than a test.

– Sorry. Could you give us a little more space?

Isurugi puts a mature voice on everyone. The team members surround the two of them at a distance.

Almost everyone stops their independent training and observes with burning curiosity.

Satsuki, Haruka, Shizuno and Maya are gathered together, cheering for Moroha.

(Somehow, this became something important, isn't it?)

Moroha has no choice but to scratch his cheek.

– Shall we start?

Isurugi pours prana into the ID tag and made manifest a wide blade sword.

Furthermore, his whole body is also clad in prana.

A whitish-yellow brilliance——an aura that closely resembles a thunder.

He composedly has his sword at the ready in an overhead position.

With that much, it seemed that a sense of intimidation filled and swirled at the whole sandy beach.

His magnified dignity is not ashamed of being called an Rank.

Both sides are at a distance of less than ten meters.

He is confronting the sword of the king who commands the Strikers.

– Here I go.

Moroha also made his dear sword appear in his right hand.

His holy body is clad in white prana like a star.

He doesn't have the sword at the ready, he loosely brought it down.

– Write——

Instead of that, he writes ancient magic characters with his unoccupied left hand.

As if there was an invisible wall there, lines of light are drawn with characters.

And then. When he began to chant——and right there——Isurugi moved.

Lightning speed. Or teleportation.

The tall body that should have been ten meters ahead is standing and brandishing a sword right before the eyes of Moroha.

The scene is completely unbelievable.

Despite the presence of the whole company of the dexterous Shirogane gathering here, no one could perceive the place where Isurugi had moved.

Even Moroha couldn't see everything.

The way of the shukuchi*, that exactly converts the distance to nothing.

*TN: formed by the kanjis 縮地, they read separate as "wearing armor" and "earth/ground/land/etc".

There are 7《Jinsokutsuu》derived skills, and this is its last secret technique*. 《Hagun》.

*TN: 神足通 (Jinsokutsuu) = one of the six supernormal Buddhist powers.

Raising the tremendous sword that buzzes, he approaches it from above the head of Moroha.

Coupled with the tall figure of Isurugi, it's a pressure that seems that would crush him.

Moroha dodges it, settling his body to the left while being astonished.

The edge of the blade grazes the tip of his shoulder, and the sleeve of the T-shirt is blown away.

That was extremely close.

The act called《Hagun》was that much of a threat.

He has never seen other than Edward who was able to use it in this world. Why can Isurugi use it? It's a foolish question. This is the result of the special training that Isurugi said he wanted to try out.

He barely succeeded in avoiding it.

A delayed commotion came from the spectators.

He was forced to interrupt the spelling of the dark art aria that was in progress.

– He can't take countermeasures at all!

Haruko screams.

Moroha attempted to counterattack it while listening to that from afar.

Putting his《herculean strength》into his languidly lowered right arm, he swings the sword to strike up forcibly.

The sword blade that ran prana glows white and pulls a trace of bright white.

– … kh!

Isurugi flinched, suffering the slash of the Sakakesa*.

*TN: check it with this link: youtube.com/watch?v=Ks1S8dMBOpg

Returning against his will the wide blade sword that he swung downward with all his strength, he received the sword of Moroha.

Without killing the impact perfectly, he totters.

If it were the usual Isurugi, he wouldn't do a clumsy thing like this. Is it because it was an unpolished《Hagun》 as he expected? His posture after he dodged the blow didn't change.

– Oooh…

Moroha doesn't let pass that chance and by having his sword at the ready with both hands, he attacks incessantly to finish the work.

He continues swinging slashes that draw complicated curves over and over.

Drawing a new line of light every time.

Since he swings the sword that carried prana, it is natural for the light to draw its trajectory. Such is the light art《Taihaku》*. Like instant sparks, and sometimes like meteors, they scatter graciously and bloom beautifully.

*TN: 太白 = Venus and… thick silk thread, refined sugar, white rice jelly, variety of sweet potato xD.

However——all the lines of light that are born with the slashes of Moroha continued to shine without disappearing.

They kept remaining in the empty space.

Shizuno wasn't the only one who noticed that.

Everyone was captivated by the relentless, fierce attacks of Moroha and was having their hearts pounding with the skillfulness of Isurugi who barely continues dealing with them.

Moroha closes the combination in a flash, slashing at him to cleave him in two.

In response, all the beheading lines of light that were drawn, vanish.

It's the end.

Isurugi, who had recovered his stance again, does a sidestep to the right, seeing all that cleave.

It's a defense technique that leads to the fastest counterattack from a minimal evasion.

Power was loaded into both arms of Isurugi who grasps the sword, and in an instant, his body falls——he was burning.

– Wha… *cough*…

A voice of surprise and anguish leaks out from the mouth of Isurugi.

His knees collapse, and supports his body with the sword, like a cane.

If it was a real battle, his body would be covered in flames, but this is a special training. Because he was adjusting the mana, the flames vanished immediately. Since Isurugi also used Taimatsuu as expected, he would have ended hurt first only if he had a tremendous mana.

Watching Isurugi who kneeled on the ground made a stir come from the spectators again.

And then, grand applause arises towards the two who showed a high-level offense and defense.

Taketsuru-senpai blows wind, whistling through his fingers, Tokiko is writhing in agony with「Haimura is so cool that I'm getting wet」and Kamekichi stands up and shouts「Why didn't you hit back, Isurugi-saaaan?」

Isurugi kept being on his knees,

– What… was that…

Opening his eyes wide in astonishment to them who are calm, cool and collected and don't scold him, he looked up at Moroha and asked.

– When… when did you use a dark art?

He looked like he was completely confused.

If you are a third-year student, you will naturally know what you can use it without chanting it if you sacrifice power.

But, the spelling that should be indispensable, when did he do it?

It seems that Isurugi didn't know. He probably was being on guard.

The matter of not making the timing readable was amazingly clear.

– If I reveal the trick then it won't be that great, but——

– Yeah, then wait. I want to think and solve it by myself.

With the explanation of Moroha, Isurugi stopped and changed his mind.

– Shall we have a match again? I will prepare an answer till that moment.

– Yes, I don't mind.

Those are the words becoming of an honest captain.

Moroha nods with a bittersweet smile.

– My《Hagun》is still not perfect enough. In addition to today, I will challenge you once again with diligence in the remaining three days.

Telling him so with a happy face, Isurugi got up.

– While I was also practicing this technique, it wasn't only because I didn't let you read the timing of the invocation, but I also felt that there were various other ways to use it, so I investigated those thoroughly——

When Moroha is talking, he notices that Isurugi is fixedly staring at him.

– Is there something on my face?

– No. It's because you have a face that looks like you have found a brand-new toy, that's all.

– Are you perhaps saying a bad thing about me?

– No. Rather, I'm envious.

Isurugi is a man who, for good and bad, never tells a lie, so this is a real thing.

Without knowing how to respond, Moroha only scratches his cheek.

Isurugi went away, leaving "see you later" with him.

(I've found a toy, huh… Is that really true? I think that may be)

Moroha looks at his own face that is reflected in the blade of his dear sword.

– Ama——zing! Nii-sama is ama——zing! To defeat handily someone like Isurugi-senpai!

– Don't cling to me when I'm holding the sword!

He panicked because of Satsuki who jumped at him from the side.

Satsuki, who was clinging to him in ecstasy as if she were overcome with emotion and with her eyes shaped like an X*, couldn't hear the scolding voice of Moroha.

*TN: Like this (> __