Stella Vermillion―

"Jeez. Even with your life as a knight on the line, you're such an impossible person, aren't you Ikki?"

And she smiled just a little.

She understood.

Why did Ikki choose to do this? Raikiri was going to slash with her sword draw. In that case, he should attack during the draw itself. It was only then that Raikiri could kill.

Even I know that, so Ikki must have realized it.

But Ikki did not choose that. Why? Because he judged that his stamina would not permit that tactic?

No. It was―not anything as clever as that.

Stella understood that, and she was right. Ikki had―

I had decided all along..!

Ever since he encountered Touka. For the time he would defeat her, he had been putting together his strategy. Of course, that included the electromagnetic sword draw, Raikiri, that was Touka's signature technique as a knight. And when challenging her, how could he win without being beaten by it?

In truth, his body was at its limit. Though he had enough magic power left that performing body strengthening with Ittou Shura was not a problem, he could not draw out his stamina anymore. Swinging a sword properly, it was probably limited to one time.

But that was fine. It was enough. If he struck with all his might, one slash was enough. He would not feint. He would not spend his stamina uselessly. Running forward in a straight line over the shortest distance, he would put all he had right now into his blade and send it forth! And he would defeat it. The Raikiri that Touka Toudou was proud of!

And to Touka, who rose above this place whirling with this intrigue, the greatest sincerity that he could show―

This is my personal challenge―!!!"

Whatever the unfavorable conditions, it would be a match that didn't leave any regrets. He would not show himself leaving his opponent regrets. With that spirit in his heart, scattering the glow of his life, Ikki ran forward with the wind coiling around him.

Seeing that― Touka Toudou perceived his feelings.

「With my great weakness, I will break your invincibility!」

The words he had said before the match, it was in genuine seriousness.

She didn't need Reverse Sight to read his body signals. The soul that was approaching informed her eloquently. Ikki Kurogane would make one slash in this match, to decide the last stroke. His aim was to intercept the Raikiri she would unleash.

In that case, the match is simple.

She would feint with Raikiri, retreat a long way back, and have him miss with all his strength. And if she teased the exhausted Ikki from outside his range, he would not be able to do a thing. The match would be her win―that kind of thing...

Don't joke around!

Touka didn't even glance at that plan. Raikiri, which had not been broken in close range even once yet, dominated this territory. If an enemy invaded, what feudal lord would shamelessly flee his domain? Close range was Touka's strongest distance. If she ran away, where would she fight from? More than anything else―against someone pushing his heavily wounded body yet still using all his might, if she discarded her invincibility in the face of such a proud knight's challenge, how could she boast of that kind of victory!?

Ahh, that's right.

I don't want to just be Hagun Academy's strongest! I'm going to defeat this proud knight, and go on to become a Seven Stars Sword King!

In that case―

I'll take you on! With my invincible Raikiri―!!!

She spread her stance, and sent a flash of lightning into the scabbard that held?Narukami. She prepared her trump card. To throw out the blow that brought down every opponent without exception. That posture of readiness to draw a sword, Touka intercepted Ikki who was approaching with coiling wind around him. She was the same as her opponent, risking everything on one slash!

Mutually and reciprocally, carrying themselves proudly, fighting fair and square. This was the righteous path of knights!

And―right now, two knights were confronting each other on that path.

Ikki had thrown out the fastest of his seven personal techniques. The seventh secret sword,?Raikou. With a speed that showed no swordsmanship, it was an invisible sword. That speed, it was like lightning that drilled into earth within the blink of an eye.

But even so, the name of the technique meeting that Raikou was coincidentally?Raikiri. An artful sword draw that splits even descending lightning.

The speeds of both parties were that of peerless superhumans. In that case, the decision of which one was superior was left to the weight of hope that each sword carried. The prayers of other people who prayed for their victory wholeheartedly. And the hopes of themselves, wanting to win against the enemy in front of their eyes. All of that was entrusted to the sword of their souls.

"AHHHHHHH!!!"

"YAHHHHHHH!!!"

The two knights put their entire bodies into it, and followed through with their slashes! The flash of lightning from the attack released by steel. The mutual strike that crossed the shortest distance―Raikiri was just slightly faster!

―Not good!

Ikki knew this.

―This wasn't enough!

Before his eyes that already could not perceive color, a blade of shining plasma was approaching. Before that speed and power―

―He couldn't reach it!

He would be defeated. The Raikiri that followed through would show neither hesitation nor mercy. A complete swing that would kill without remorse. Such a beautiful, beautiful swordsmanship.

Touka Toudou, Raikiri.. this girl was truly strong!

―But so what!?

He already knew that. That she was strong, and that he was inferior to most, all of it. However, did Ikki turn his eyes away from that reality?

No!

He continued to fight. He did not retreat one step from that unbearable reality. That was why he knew. Because Ikki was like that, he knew what he should be doing right now.

If he was inferior, he should gather his strength. If he was imperfect, he should strain his power.

One minute was too long. Right now, he just needed one second!

―So be it, he'll sharpen his soul.

Vision, taste, hearing, touch, smell―right now he didn't need any of them. In this instant, he didn't even need to breathe. Abandoning all of those things, he concentrated the strength left over.

All of his flesh. All of his brain. All of his blood. All of his cells, everything from them.

His personal vitality, stamina, magic power, potential, he mustered all that he had―

―And for an instant, he broke past his limits!!!

The flash of lighting from colliding steel. That air that was blasted away. The collision gave birth to lightning and thunder that could be witnessed hundreds of miles away, carrying away all color and sound―

*crack*

In the long silence afterward, the shrill sound of steel breaking echoed in the venue.

And then.. the sound of someone falling.

The spectators who had shut their eyes at the dazzling radiance timidly opened their eyes again, and looked toward the ring.

The thing that had been broken was―Narukami.

The one who had fallen midway on the righteous path of knights was Touka Toudou, the Raikiri.

「I-It's broken!!! H-How can it be!? With just one intersection of blades, merely one entanglement! In that instant, Touka Toudou's?Narukami! Her Raikiri! They were broken!!! Contender Toudou has fallen in the ring and isn't even twitching! Now, the referee is rushing up! Can she continue!? If not―」

The huge audience held their breath as they watched the referee approach Touka. The referee who leaned over her examined her for a brief period, and before long, stood back up with both hands making a cross.

「The referee's judgment is that she can't continue! The match is over! What an end to the fight! What a conclusion! The crossing slashes were only off by millimeters! And with those millimeters, Hagun Academy's strongest knight has fallen! The one still standing in the ring is first year contender, the Worst One, Ikki Kurogane!!!」

The moment the winner's name was called, cheers broke out and shook the hall. The huge audience raised their voices in astonishment.

「It, it can't be...」

「H-He really won! He really did it! Against Raikiri!」

「I can't believe it! The student president lost in close range...!」

「It's the first time I've ever seen a Device get broken... Is the president still alive?」

「Eeeeek! Ikki-kun, you're the best―!」

The hall turned into a mixing pot of excitement. Amidst the incessant cheers, Ikki dragged his body from the ring. Seeing that, Stella broke into a run immediately. The place she was going to was the blue gate. She was probably going to meet Ikki.

"Shizuku-chan, you're not going?"

Kagami who was watching it with the silver-haired girl asked that suddenly. But Shizuku shook her head a little at the question.

"Could it be, you're restraining yourself for Stella-chan? I think it's fine for you to go with her today, though."

"That's not.. it..."

"Shizuku-chan?"

Coughing, Shizuku sat down right there firmly. Seeing that, Kagami also realized it. It wasn't not that Shizuku wouldn't go. She was unable to move because of shock.

Her beloved brother had dragged his body that was on the verge of death to appear in this fight. The enemy had struck at her brother with full force, showing no hesitation or mercy. Although the result was the Ikki had won, it had truly been dangerous. If a single thing had gone wrong, Ikki's head would've flown in that instant. That tension, and the relief that was loosened, they had probably stolen all energy from Shizuku.

Right now―

"..It's great.. that he's safe... It's great!"

At that relief, Shizuku had fallen onto her seat, and was now shedding tears. Well, that was understandable. Because Shizuku had been strained since last night.

However, speaking of the risky match―the truth was different.

"Did you see that, Nene?"

"Of course I saw that. Sheesh, what an outrageous man Kuro-bou is."

The two mage-knights looking down on the ring from the top floor of the spectator seats had noticed it. They had seen it with their own eyes.

Raikou and Raikiri. The thunder of two steel swords colliding, and the moment that happened.

―Ikki had accelerated even more.

"Ittou Shura, which spent everything of oneself in one minute, didn't win against Raikiri. Kurogane himself understood that. So that guy, he spent everything himself in one sword swing instead of one minute! With astounding concentration, he concentrated his 'strongest single minute', and magnified his physical strength in a many-fold leap, and added swing speed and power..!"

Compared to burning his stamina using the usual Ittou Shura to run forward, Ikki had spent the stamina of running a hundred meters at the first step instead just then. That was entirely beyond the domain of humans. It was not the realm of a man who fell into the realm of the shura. Exceeding limits beyond limits. A.. demon that exceeded humanity. If it needed a name―

Ittou Rasetsu[3].

"But that's just an ordinary mechanism. The result of the battle was decided by something else, you know."

"Nangou-sensei..."

"Geezer, what are you saying?"

"The Raikiri that Touka unleashed. That was a slash that didn't have the resolve to kill that Kurogane youngster. What I saw was the highest, most beautiful sword stroke without a hint of hesitation. And that, make no mistake, was faster than the youngster's long sword. But.. that youngster. He improved in the instant of reaching his limit. In that last moment. In order to beat the stronger Touka. ..Perhaps, that youngster came here to do that the entire, entire time. Having nothing, being given nothing, while constantly under siege he continued to believe in his own potential even in a struggle to the death. Continuing to hone himself. Faster than himself at one minute. Stronger than himself at one second. In that narrow span, that difference. Touka undoubtedly drew strength to her limit. But that youngster, in this battle, had changed his own limit. ..His spirit in continuing to change his own potential without slacking off, this victory was born of that."

Saying that, Nangou tightened the wrinkled skin around his narrowed eyes, and said―

"..That boy resembles him."

Looking forward with a gaze that seemed to see an old acquaintance, he watched the back of Ikki who was leaving the ring.

But, at the side,

"I-Impossible! How can something so stupid happen! That kid was half dead! For this to happen even then, something must be wrong! Ahh, of course, something isn't right! It was a mistake! Who could accept this kind of outcome!?"

Only Akaza could not accept the situation before his eyes, and he took off running with a scream.

At his round back running away with thumping noises, Saikyou asked.

"Kuu-chan. Is it okay not to chase him? That's not very satisfying."

It wouldn't be satisfying. Kurono was of the same opinion. But...

"..Honestly, I thought about doing various things to pay him back, but seeing Kurogane's fight has made me somewhat ridiculous. It's probably fine to let him go. At any rate, that man can't do anything now. If he tried to do anything, it's already too late anyway. Things have already escaped his grasp. A champion on the level of the whole country. Bonds to family. Outrageous attacks. Absurd duels. Ikki Kurogane has taken all of that head-on―and cut through them with one slash."

There was no one left who could object to that conclusion. And that situation had been captured by news cameras. In the moment that Raikiri, among the best four of the whole country, was beaten by the Worst One.

"So no matter how much the Kurogane family tries to persecute Kurogane, it's already irrelevant. The society can't strike him anymore. Because with this fight, the Worst One―no, the Uncrowned Sword King, will have his fame spreading through the entire world."

The cheers are.. far away.

As if they were just the sound of rain outside a window. Ikki thought so. His consciousness was completely separated from his flesh. If he relaxed his attention just a little, he would tumble to the floor immediately.

No, it was already fine to tumble down. Because the match had been decided, and Ikki had won. But even so, Ikki hastened forward.

―There was somewhere he wanted to go. There was someone he wanted to meet.

There's something I want to convey. ..At this moment.

So he walked. With the cheers at his back, he passed through the blue gate.

"Ikki..!"

The person he wanted to meet, she had come to meet him as well.

..I'm grateful.

Because honestly, walking all the way to the spectator seats would be troublesome. Stella was welcoming Ikki with her arms spread.

Ikki collapsed into her bosom. Stella hugged Ikki into her voluptuous chest, and―

"Well done.. Ikki..!"

She hiccuped. On her face, tears were dripping down.

"Were you that.. worried?"

"I was! Of course I was!?*sob*?You were taken away and didn't come back for weeks! And when you came back, you came back half dead! And yet you did something absurd like challenging Raikiri in a head-to-head contest.. what kind of idiot are you! Unbelievable! Stupid stupid stupid!"

Ha ha.. my retort was exposed.

"But.. I'm an idiot too."

Hmm?

"Because Ikki, who continues to challenge like that, is the one I love."

Saying that, Stella hugged Ikki with greater force. From the skin squeezing him hard, Ikki could feel Stella's warmth.

Ahh, this heat.

This heat, it gave strength many times over to his frozen body. That time, when he fell in the middle the blizzard, he thought it was truly hopeless. That not a bit of strength remained in his body. However, this heat had given him strength to go on. Even though he couldn't recall her name, his hopeless body had still gotten up.

..Thank you.

If Stella hadn't been there, there was no way he could've come here. Being decisively cast aside by his father, sinking under the despair from that, he would've been buried under the blizzard. But if this girl was there.. he could get up. If this girl was there, he could continue to fight.

So he would say it. He had decided. When the fight ended, if he won―he would say this to Stella.

"..Stella."

Ikki took a single deep breath, and hugged Stella with all the strength he had left.

"I want us to be a family."

A few words. The affection he felt, all of it was loaded onto them, and delivered to her. Decisive words that he had never spoken before. Words that said the relationship between them was already not that of ordinary lovers.

In an instant, Stella's body that was embracing him trembled.

But that was only one instant.

Immediately, Stella hugged Ikki's body even harder, and said―

"Yes. Ikki, please make me your bride."

With a voice that sounded like she would break into tears, but with a bashfulness truly filled by delight, she gave him her answer. The moment he heard those words, Ikki's heart was wrapped by relief―and he finally let go of his consciousness.

"Ikki..? No, Ikki! Hold it together!"

Losing strength, Ikki's body leaned languidly on her. Even though he was breathing.. it was terribly weak. She could tell he was in a dangerous condition with a glance.

And furthermore Stella noticed it. Ikki's entire body, it was bleeding underneath his clothes. The body he had strengthened many hundred-fold. It was already beyond the range that a human body could withstand.

If I don't take him to the infirmary quickly...

"Stooooop!"

But in front of Stella who was trying to carry Ikki to the infirmary, a barrel-like man was standing. With bloodshot eyes, and greasy sweat dripping down all of his face, it was Mamoru Akaza.

Those eyes had no sanity in them anymore. He had failed. Therefore, he would have to take responsibility for that failure. If so, there was no way he was going to be promoted. It was obvious that he would lose even his current position.

Unless he did something to erase that.

That impatience, it took away all the sense from this middle-aged man. Akaza had taken out a hatchet Device, and approached the unconscious Ikki.

"He he he! Please wait a moment, Princess! Please leave that boy to me! I must have a duel with him right now~! In truth, the one who was to be his opponent was not Touka Toudou, but me! That was a promise between men! So give that boy to me immediately―huh?"

In that moment, Stella disappeared from before Akaza's sight. No, not disappeared―it wasn't that he had lost sight of her, but that Stella had stepped in between intervals of his awareness.

The ancient martial arts footwork, Trackless Step. For someone of Stella's class, as long as she understood the principle, it was not a difficult technique to reproduce. Stella carried Ikki past Akaza without him being aware of it.

―And as she went past, she gave a backhand blow that sent his whole pitiful body flying.

"Buhyaaaaaaaaa!?"

Akaza's body was blown away like it had been hit by a truck, and crashing through the blue gate, it bounced over and over like a rubber ball to finally roll onto the ring.

「Whoa! That old guy really flew!」

「What's with that old man? I think I've seen him before.」

「Or should I say, it looks like his back is bent at an outrageous angle, right?」

「And that's some amazing twitching. It makes me feel bad.」

「Is he even alive?」

The outside was becoming slightly noisy, but Stella didn't care. In order to get Ikki examined by a doctor immediately, she turned toward the infirmary. The face of the person she had just sent flying, it didn't leave a trace in her mind.

One hour after the end of the match, Touka's consciousness, which had been shattered to pieces by her Device?Narukami?being broken, had gradually returned.

"Have you woken up, Touka?"

"How are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere?"

She was stretched out on a bed. Utakata and Kanata were nursing her. At this sight, Touka knew.

"I see.. I lost, didn't I?"

Her recollection stopped after following through with Raikiri, so Touka didn't remember the instant that she had been defeated. But if she looked at the expressions on her friends' faces, it wasn't hard to guess.

"..Even though I thought my Raikiri was supreme, huh?"

"Nangou-sensei said so too."

"Master said so? He was here?"

"Yep. Right, Kanata?"

"Yes. Because today's match was open to the public. It seems he came to watch."

"He praised it very much, that your Raikiri was the most beautiful to date."

..Is that so?

"If even Master saw it that way, then it couldn't be wrong, I guess."

She had used all of her power. And there was no mistake that she had exceeded Ikki Kurogane. However―

At that instant, Kurogane-kun had become even faster.

Inside that instant, he had changed his own limits. For nothing more than his own victory.

She had also pursued her own goal continuously, but compared to Ikki, she had still been indulgent. The Worst One had always, not just today, been having this kind of hopeless fight. And on each occasion, he had always been changing himself.

..What an amazing person.

For herself to be defeated, in a way it was probably inevitable.

But―that's only true for now.

In Touka hands, there was a satisfactory response from her broken Raikiri remaining. And that response taught her this. Raikiri could still become stronger. What hindered it could be overcome someday. No, she would show that she could overcome it. Before their next fight, absolutely.

She would chase after him. With all her power―because next time, she would be the challenger.

"..Well anyway, Touka."

"Yes?"

Suddenly, Utakata spoke with a self-conscious expression for some reason. What was on his mind? Touka urged him to speak.

"Should we get in touch with everyone at Wakaba House?"

..Oh, that's right.

Now that she thought of it, she remembered they had said they already made the congratulatory banner. She had to properly inform them that she had lost. If even the selection battles had ended like that, she had to go and tell them.

Utakata was saying that if having her say it herself was too difficult, he would inform them in her place.

"Thanks for thinking about my feelings, but it's fine. I'll tell them properly."

"It's fine not to force yourself, you know?"

But Touka calmly shook her head. She wasn't forcing herself. She had fought with Ikki with all her strength. Touka had drawn as much of what she now had as she could. Raikiri, with even the resolve to kill Ikki, had been a slash that no one who saw it would be embarrassed about. She had nothing to be ashamed of.

"So I'll go home with pride."

And she would tell them.

That she had fought with an amazing knight.