Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Chapter8

Status: Incomplete

Fianna's confession

Part 1

"Ug…"

"Kamito!"

"Kamito-kun"

When Kamito awakened, there were the faces of the two girls before his eyes.

"…Claire, Fianna."

"Great, you've awakened."

"You're too rash… idiot."

…It seemed that he over exhausted his divine power, and had fainted.

Upon getting up from the cold ground, Kamito looked around his vicinity.

The flickering glow of the spirit ore was dimly illuminating the darkness.

The tunnel had collapsed and it seemed that the path was completely blocked by the fallen earth and sand.

"Both of you, are your injuries alright?"

"Yes, we are… are you alright?"

"Ah, I only over exhausted my divine power a little. What, have I worried you?

"Id-idiot, it's not I like I was worried or anything!"

"Ouchhhh!"

Claire's palm landed a clean hit exactly on his wound. Kamito writhed in the intense pain.

"…Come on, what are you doing?"

Fianna sighed in astonishment.

Kamito pressed his hurting shoulder as he surveyed the surrounding,

"Are the others safe?"

"Yes…although, it's hard to say that they're safe. For now, I've done some emergency treatment.

When Fianna held up the light, the appearance of Ellis and the others lying on the ground could be seen.

…Their condition certainly couldn't be said as safe.

Rakka and Reishia, who received the poison directly, were in an unconscious critical state.

Ellis seemed to have consciousness, but it seemed that walking was impossible in that condition.

Next to Rinslet, who was leaning on and sitting along the wall, Fenrir was licking its master's wounds.

"What on earth happened to him—Jio Inazagi?"

"Fianna released the spirit that was sealed in the spirit ore. He was swallowed into the pillar of light and disappeared. …Well, although, I don't think he's dead."

"Was that a spirit ore…?"

When Kamito faced towards Fianna, she nodded with a "Yes".

"However, a spirit ore that can seal such a spirit—"

It was such a destructive power that it forced back Jio Inazagi's Thanatos, and made the tunnel collapsed.

That holy spirit that Fianna released was, without a doubt, a high ranking spirit.

However, he had not heard of something like the existence of a spirit ore and so forth that can seal a high ranking spirit.

"Blood Stone—a treasure handed down in the Ordesia royal family."

"…?"

"Hey you, you also don't know the Blood Stone? It's common knowledge for spirit contractors."

Claire sighed in astonishment at Kamito frowning.

"It can't be helped, I'm different from a noble, and I'm unfamiliar with things like that."

When Kamito said that, Claire shrugged her shoulders in disappointment and gave an explanation.

"Blood Stone isn't an ordinary spirit ore. It can seal a part of a high ranking spirit's power with a special spirit ore that was mined at a sacred ground of Astral Zero. Of course, it isn't something that you can buy with money or power. It is a genuine treasure of national-treasure-level, after all."

"Is that so…"

Although her existence was erased from the royal family, Fianna was the former second princess of the Ordesia Empire. The moment she admitted into Areishia Spirit Academy, she might have been made to hand it over in the screening.

I had tricked the stupid palace guards and pilfered it from the royal family's treasure hall. As I had switched it with an imitation, it's alright."

The princess puffed her chest out.

"Ah, I thought it was like that… Hn?"

Incidentally, Kamito picked up a strange feeling that something was out of place.

The out-of-place feeling's true identity was… Fianna's chest pushed out.

…Small. It had obviously become small.

(That reminds me, just now Fianna…)

She was hiding that spirit ore—Blood Stone in her chest.

Although it wasn't such a big thing, how was she hiding that?

"Ug… D-don't look…"

Fianna, who noticed Kamito's line of sight, crossed both her hands and bashfully cover her chest.

"Kamito, Fianna, you know, had been deceiving us all this time!"

Claire thrust out her finger at her in a snap like she was blaming her.

"Deceiving?" "That's right, this girl is a fake breast princess!"

"…"

Kamito slowly turned towards Fianna with a deadpan look,

"…Uh, is that right?"

"Th-that's right, it's pads… is that wrong?"

The princess' cheeks reddened, and she quickly faced away.

"No, it's nothing worth getting furious, but… why did you do such a thing?"

"…To protect the Blood Stone. No one could steal it, if it was within my chest. Moreover, b-boys all like large breast girls, I heard so…"

From the start, her purpose for coming to the academy was to ensnare Kamito and make him her comrade.

…That reminded him she had been coming and pressing her breasts at random, but was that for such a thing?

"No, there are also boys who like girls even if their breasts are small."

"Eh?"

Claire's ears reacted with a twitch for some reason at Kamito's words.

"Ka-Kamito, what you said just now... is that true?"

"Yeah, after all, to each to their own liking of the opposite sex. Well, personally, I think that compared to having none, having them is better… Ouch!"

At that moment, Claire's sharp whip came flying.

"Y-you, you…!"

"No, what I said just now was my personal thought. In the world, there are also many boys of such enthusiastic preference—"

"Uuu!"

Slight tears surfaced in her ruby pupils, as Claire bit her lips.

(Nevertheless, that soft feeling was the pads?...)

…He completely did not notice it. As expected, the technological level of the imperial capital couldn't be made light of.

"Although it was my plan to use that Blood Stone at the «Blade Dance» as a trump card."

Greatly lowering her volume, Fianna clasped to her breasts, as she muttered.

Although, it wasn't that they were that small. They were about normal for a girl of her age.

At the very least, they weren't deplorable breasts like Claire's—

"Uh, what?"

"…No, sorry. It was nothing."

Kamito averted his eyes in a fluster away from Claire, who was glaring sternly with her teary eyes.

Ahem, he coughed and turned towards Fianna.

"However, why did you bring such a spirit ore?"

The spirit and part of its power, which were released from the spirit ore, would instantly return to Astral Zero, it could not be used again.

Therefore, spirit contractors, who possessed contracted spirits, didn't use spirit ores normally. After all, it was certainly more effective to use spirit magic and contracted spirits most of the time in a blade dance.

"…"

When he asked, Fianna looked downwards and calmly sighed.

"Well, it'll get exposed eventually. I'll tell you guys right here and now."

"…?"

Kamito and Claire exchanged glances at Fianna's unusually serious expression.

"—It was four years ago from now, I lost the ability to use my spirit."

Part 2

It was the reason that while being expected as the spirit princess candidate next to Rubia Elstein— Fianna Ray Ordesia the second princess resigned from that position and was erased from the royal family.

That was because she could not use her contracted spirit.

"A princess maiden, who can't use a contracted spirit, doesn't have the qualifications to be a spirit princess worth of serving the elemental lord."

Fianna looked downwards, and muttered like in self-deprecation.

"…"

A spirit contractor that couldn't use her spirit was—literally—no longer a spirit contractor.

And then, the situation, where a spirit contractor suddenly became unable to use her spirit, wasn't something that unusual.

For example, there were cases where her body may be soiled, or the covenant made during the contract was broken—even outside of such cases, there are cases that one became unable to exchange feelings with her spirit due to some sort of emotional trauma.

In short, the exchange of feelings with the spirit was greatly dependent on the spirit contractor's state of mind.

What was the incident that became the cause of it—She also did not talk about anything concerning that.

Kamito didn't plan on enquiring that deep.

(However, speaking of four years ago—)

It was that major incident that shook the Ordesia Empire.

It was the year that the Calamity Queen—Rubia Elstein's mutiny occurred.

And then, Fianna was a princess maiden of the same «Divine Ritual Institute» as her.

She experienced an incident, which brought about an emotional trauma to the extent that made her lose her spirit contract power.

A coincidence—he didn't think so.

"I'm sorry for hiding it. Although, I was thinking on telling it someday… If I was known to be unable to exchange feelings with my spirit, I would become unable to stay in this academy."

"However, how did you pass the examination? If I'm not mistaken, there should be a practical examination."

Kamito passed exceptionally without an examination due to Greyworth's authority, but, originally, there was a strict practical examination in the academy. It was not that anyone possessing the ability of a spirit contractor could enter.

"I concealed several pieces of spirit ore in my sleeves, and released them in sequence. To pretend that it was as if I was using a spirit. As I had achievements, when I was a spirit princess candidate of the «Divine Ritual Institute» once, they were easily deceived."

"You used the valuable spirit ores for such a dishonest entry to the academy?"

"The invigilation also would never think that there would be a person doing such a thing."

"How stupid, even if you admitted like that, isn't it certain that you'll be instantly exposed. For you to do such a thing, why did you come to this academy?

"That's—"

Fianna glanced towards Kamito.

Her goal was to join the team with the strongest blade dancer and be victorious in the Blade Dance.

However, it would be troubling to tell Claire that… Very troubling.

Thereupon, Fianna smirked in a way that only Kamito understood.

"That's to kiss Kamito-kun—"

"That's not it. Hey, Claire, stop taking out your whip."

Fianna saw Claire's eyebrow lifted up and giggled.

"It's a joke. My goal is to be victorious in the Blade dance and have my «wish» granted. To regain the lost spirit contract power."

"Everyone is the same in aiming for the victory of the Blade Dance. However, why did you think of joining our team? It's also weird for me to say this but our team has the lowest rank."

"…"

Thereupon, Fianna suddenly placed her finger on her lips as she pondered.

"…That's right. As I thought that you guys would accept me."

It was subtly different from Fianna's usual impish tone.

"What do you mean?"

"After all, you have a male spirit contractor and the sister of the Calamity Queen. Even if the Lost Queen, who lost her spirit contractor qualifications, there, it isn't that out of place, isn't it?"

She had that joking tone. She had a lonely expression like she was self-deprecating herself somewhere.

The reason that Fianna came to the academy and approached Kamito.

To be victorious in the Blade Dance, she would use Kamito, who was once the strongest blade dancer—or so she said.

However, the true reason—unexpectedly— might be more like this.

Being lonely, being a fibber, the impish princess just wanted friends—

"Well then, I've confessed my secret but—

Ahem, Fianna coughed and said.

"What am I going to do? The team wouldn't need a spirit contractor, who can't use her contracted spirit, I wonder?"

The princess stared at Kamito and Claire before her with a lonely expression.

Her tone was certainly in the joking manner, but her black pupils were wavering, seemingly insecure.

And then, Claire had also probably noticed. That her fingertip was slightly quivering.

Before long—

"It doesn't matter, such a thing."

Kamito sighed.

"Fianna, you had protected us by risking your life. You're our team's comrade."

"…!"

Fianna widened her eyes astonished.

"Hey, is that alright?"

Kamito turned towards Claire—

"That's fine."

Claire nodded as she looked towards Fianna's chest, who had turned pale.

"Fianna, you are my comrade. Comrade of the breastless alliance."

"Don't put me together with you! I have more than you, Claire!"

"Wh-what was that!"

Gogogogogo…Claire's red hair flared up, standing on its end, and at that moment.

"…!?"

Suddenly, the ground shook.

From the almost-crumbling ceiling, fragments of rubble were dropping in large amounts.

"…An earthquake again!?"

"Don't tell me… Jormungandr is already almost waking up?"

"It seems so. However, as long as Jio Inazagi hasn't found the «true shrine», he shouldn't be able to completely undo the seal."

"Well then, if we could find the true shrine first—"

Claire stopped in mid-sentence and gasped in surprised.

"The seal specification materials that was stolen from the academy—the location of the true shrine might be recorded in that."

"I see! If that was the goal for him to steal the materials—" "No, the military materials are already enciphered. Deciphering it should take time."

The one, who raised her voice, was Ellis raising half her body up from the ground.

It seemed that she woke up from the earthquake just now.

"Ellis, can you already move?"

Kamito called out to her.

"No, I still can't walk yet. It's shameful but my legs are being paralyzed by the poison."

Ellis struck her unmoving knees as she bit her lips, seemingly vexed.

"I also have not recovered till the point that I am able to fight."

This time it was Rinslet, who leaned against the wall, raising her voice.

"Fianna, even if you lost your spirit contract power, can you dance the ritual Kagura?"

"Yes, it isn't as well as when I was in the «Divine Ritual Ceremony», but I can roughly strengthen the resealing. As expected, I wouldn't accept a quest that I can't even do.

Fianna nodded and softly placed her hand on her chin.

"Although, we have to first find the hidden true shrine, and seize it."

"Do we have to search the inside of this wide mine…"

At any case, it was a mine that became abandoned several decades ago. The tunnels weren't being maintained, and on top of that, there was the danger that it'll cave-in easily even at a small earthquake like a while ago.

"Besides, we might encounter that Jio Inazagi again."

Everyone became silent at Claire's utterance.

He was the male spirit contractor, who used countless number of spirits.

Even if the members, who boasted of the top class ability, formed a group, they were also no match for him.

(He knows about Restia…)

Kamito instinctively grasped his left hand, which was covered by his leather glove.

(Who on earth is he?)

"That boy, it was as though he was like the real devil king…"

"Uh, he was driven away by Fianna's surprise attack just now, but I don't think that could defeat him."

Ellis nodded with a meek expression at Rinslet's murmuring.

At that moment.

"Kamito, I know the location of the true shrine."

A sound came from the sword leaning against the wall.

"Est?"

Kamito touched Est's handle, and cancelled the elemental waffe status.

The Demon Slayer became particles of light, disappeared into an empty space, and transformed into a lovely girl in a moment.

"What do you mean that you know the location of the true shrine?"

"Yes, Kamito, in the olden days more distant than when this place became a mine—several hundred years ago, this very mountain was the high ranking shrine that deify spirits. I visited this place several times before I was sealed in a sword."

That was right, Est was originally a top-ranking spirit, who was sealed several hundred years ago. It was not strange even if she was deified by everyone on the scared mountain.

"Can you guide us to the location of the true shrine?"

"Of course."

"Remarkable, Est."

"Yes, Kamito. Then, please stroke Est's head."

"Ahh."

Suri suri. Nade nade.

"Hn, it feels good, Kamito."

Est closed her eyes partly like a cat being stroke on its chin.

"…"

Those two—

Hyooooooo…!

The girls stared at them with a freezing-like gaze.

"Wh-what…"

"I've being thinking since before, but Kamito, don't you think you're soft on Est?"

"I-I do not think so?"

He instinctively stepped back at the girls' glaring gazes.

At that moment.

"…"

It shook again. …This time, it was even greater than a while ago.

"We had better hurry."

"Ah—"

Kamito nodded, but—he suddenly turned around and stopped.

Ellis shook her head like she realized what Kamito was thinking about.

"We're alright. While, you had fainted, I had released Simorgh to the academy. There should be Knights rushing here to aid us at dawn."

"Ellis…"

"Go, Kazehaya Kamito. We failed in our quest. I'll entrust the rest to you guys."

"It seems I am unable to fight, I will stay behind for their treatment."

"…"

Kamito tightly clenched his fist—

"…I understand. I'll come back as soon as possible."

"Let's go Kamito, Fianna."

Claire raised her Flame Tongue over her head, and blew away the mountain of rubble blocking the path.