Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter4

The Wolf, the Cat and the Knight

Yare, Yare. I have suffered quite a lot since coming here.

One hour had passed since then. Slowly rubbing the pain away from his back, Kamito walked through the court yard of the academy.

Although he had not been turned into cinders by receiving a hit from that flame whip; maybe Claire had hold back some of her power, still it didn't change the fact that it was quite painful.

Claire must be harshly admonished by Madam Freya in the punishment room.

Having eluded those female classmates who has enthusiasticly pursued him, Kamito finally obtained a moment of peace.

Unlike other students, he had no class for the afternoon. After all, he had entered the school just now and had not registered for the courses.

Areishiya spirit academy operates on a credit system in which the students can freely choose their preferred courses so long as they meet the requirements. Because of enormous diversity of the contracted spirits of the students, a uniform curriculum will not be able to fully develop the potential of each himemiko.

"For the time being, I'll make some preparations for the school life starting from tomorrow. "

Kamito finally came to his specially prepared dormitory, a hut erected on the side of the stable.

Its appearance now looked worse than the time seen from the window. On top of that, it had the smell of cattle.

The door opened with a squeak. Kamito stepped in timidly.

"Hmm, surprisingly, not too bad."

Kamito expressed his impression.

First of all, the bed was clean. Looking from the inside, the room itself was spacious. Straw bed, table, chair, cabinet and other furnitures were prepared after all. Cooking utensils were present as well. Anyhow there wouldn't be much trouble to live here.

Kamito immediately lay down on the straw bed, although it prickled the back a bit, the smell of sun dried straws were good for a comfortable sleep.

"Oh, well, no matter how do I look at it, I need to endure it for two months".

Lying still on the bed , Kamito fixed his eyes on the left hand covered by the black leather glove.

Two months from now, the spirit blade dance would be held in the elemental spirit realm Astral Zero.

Before that, he must find four more teammates in order to enter the contest.

It was not clear what Greywhorth will have him do.

But there was something he must check with his own eyes.

A name that was deeply tied to the fate of his own self.

Participating in the contest of the spirit blade dance festival 3 years ago, Unmatchable Blade Dancer.

That accompanying her was a spirit of darkness that took the form a human girl.

Who on earth were they?

Ren Ashubel shouldn't exist in this world anymore. Besides Greyworth, only very small number of people were aware of this.

Even though one was just an impostor who gained the title of unmatchable blade-dancer by fraud, it couldn't be for this reason that the witch had made all the trouble to summon him here. Greyworth must be holding a huge secret.

No matter what, to find out the truth, the only way was to cross blades directly in the spirit blade dance festival in two months.

"But, in your current state, you won't be able to defeat her. " said Greyworth.

That is most likely true. The witch was not lying. But surely she was not telling the truth either.

In the end, it all come down to "the current state".

But in merely two months, he had to regain what was lost in the past three years.

"..."

....Guu, suddenly his stomach growled.

Feeling exhausted, Kamito lowered his arm that was raised toward the roof.

After all, he had not had anything since wandering into the spirit forest this morning.

However, he decided to endure the the empty stomach.

The reason was that he was out of money. Although there were restaurants for the students in the academy, the price was surprisingly high. This had already passed the level of a shool for high class ladies, but a school for princesses indeed.

What's the point of one cup of soup being as expensive as normal folk's salary?

"It can't be helped. Maybe I'll ask Ellis to show me around in the academic city tomorrow. "

One should be able to find cheaper and delicious restaurants in the academy city at the foot of the hill.

With the cooking utensils, he could also just buy the material and cook it on his own. For the fire all he needs to do was to go the spirit forest and catch some low level fire spirits.

"Bacon and mushroom pasta sounds really good..."

He got more hungry by thinking about food.

"should I go to the spirit forest and collect some mushrooms now?"

As he started to seriously entertain that thought, from somewhere, the smell of delicious soup flowed in.

"....hmm?"

Frowning, Kamito got up from the bed.

It seemed the smell was coming in from the gap of half open door.

Twitching his nose to inhale the smell, Kamito opened the door...

In front of him was a bowl of soup that gave off white steam.

Filled with a lot of onions and chicken with bones, the soup looked delicious.

"... am I imagining things, or is this the kindness from heaven for my unending misfortune?"

Drawing a blank because of the hunger, Kamito reached out with his hands toward the bowl without any suspicion.

Suddenly the bowl rose up a bit.

He stretched out his hand again.

Once again the bowl was raised.

Then in front of the Kamito was the face of that princess with platinum blond hair.

Her name should be Rinslet Laurenfrost if he remembered correctly.

Behind her, the girl Carol in maid dresses stood courteously.

"What's the meaning of this?"

Kamito asked with half opened eye.

"Fuu, you must be hungry, right? Kamito Kazehaya?"

"Yeah."

Kamito noded honestly.

"Bark woof, and then swear that you will be my slave, I'll let you have this bowl of soup."

Rinslet held the bowl still, and turned her large chest sideways.

"I refuse. Bye Bye."

Bang.

"Ahh, wait, wait a second. Listen to what I say, you insolent. "

Bang! Bang! Door was kicked repeatedly .

It would be trouble if she breaks it. Kamito opened the door again.

"What's that? You are going to let me have soup now?"

"Right away if you lick my foot ... Ahh, why are you closing the door again!"

Rinslet quickly stuck her foot in the gap of the door, like a veteran debt collector.

"Ouch! That hurts!"

It looked painful... What the hell was she here for anyway?

"Are you alright, my lady?"

Worried about Rinslet, the Maid Carol asked.

Kamito had no choice but to open the door, Rinslet glared at him with tears in her eyes.

"How can you be so insolent after I offered my hands with kindness to you? "

"No, you... hands with kindness?"

It appeared that she was serious. Slowly Kamito's head starts aching.

"Sheesh, all the princesses of this academy are so troublesome."

Kamito complained inside his mind.

"Ah"

Having gotten a glimpse of the inside of the hut, the face of Rinslet started to twitch.

"Ah, you, why are you living inside a stable?"

"The stable is next door. This is my dormitory. Home is where you make it."

"..."

"Stop looking at me with such pity. It makes me feel sad."

Her face looked like that she was seriously concerned about it. Kamito's attitude softened a little bit.

"Rather than living in a condition like this, you should come to my house. I'll specially hire you as a servant."

"Ah, my lady, I believe he will look great if we dress him as a maid. "

Carol showed her support with a big smile. This girl was troublesome as well.

Well, after all, it looked like that Rinslet was genuinely worried about the circumstances.

"Your sympathy is appreciated, but I don't plan to throw away my pride." Kamito shook his head.

Displeased, Rinslet perked up her lips.

"So you don't like to become my servant?"

"That's right. There is no use to try to placate me. "

"So full of yourself, even though you wag your tail at Claire Rouge. "

"When did I wag my tail at that girl?" Kamito grumbled with half open eye. Well, many people might think the same---

Could it be that this princess is trying to get close to Kamito mainly out of her rivalry with Claire?

"Yareyare, such an unexpected annoyance." Kamito let out a heavy sigh.

"I got it. That's fine with me if that's how you want it." Rinslet cleared her throat, and placed the bowl on the ground.

"hmm?"

"I'll leave the soup here. From the very beginning it was because Carol cooked too much of it and it will be a shame to waste the left overs. You should be grateful to my benevolence. "

"Eh?"

(This young lady, by any chance----)

Rinslet turned around elegantly and was about to leave.

"Ahh, Wait, Rinslet!"

Kamito suddenly called out.

Rinslet winced and stopped in her steps.

"Wh-what is that? Suddenly calling other people's first name---"

"I can't be your servant, but we can be friends."

"Eh?"

Rinslet's emerald green eyes open wide.

"Thank you for being worried and coming to see me."

"Wh-wha, you, you insolent. Of, of course that's not true."

Rinslet suddenly blushed and turned her face away.

"Fufu, my lady is so..."

Carol covered her mouth and giggles.

Just at this time -

"Rinslet Laurenfrost!"

A voice with which Kamito had gotten familiar suddenly passes into the his ears.

Claire walked towards here, her red pigtails swaying .

It appeared that Madam Freya admonishing session was finally over.

"Don't feed my contract spirits without permission, you thieving dog."

"You ... whom are you calling a thieving dog!? "

Here we go again, Kamito let out a tired sigh.

"What's that? Isn't your family crest a dog? "

"You - Laurenfrost's family crest is a proud White Wolf!"

"White Wolf? Changing it into a Chihuahua fits you better."

"...!"

Provoked by Claire's words---

"Claire Rouge ... you really got my dander up. " Rinslet said with suppress voice.

In a flash, a fog-like chill hung around them. The temperature dropped dramatically.

"Wait, you can't be calling your spirit -"

Kamito hastily calls out, but it was too late.

The cold wind swirled. Rinslet's hair flied up, rippling.

"Oh freezing beast with Ice-teeth, merciless hunter of the forest. Now is the time to abide the contract of blood, hasten to my side as commanded!"

As soon as Rinslet finished the incantation in the spirit language, a gust of ice storm engulfed all surrounding.

Amid the roaring and swirling blizzard, a figure appeared.

A beautiful wolf, with a coat of silver white fur.

Its body exuded a freezing chill.

"This is ..."

"It is the contract spirit of my lady, Fenrir." Carol said with a smile.

The imposing aura that White Wolf carried, was definitely incomparable by a low level spirit.

For the ranking of the spirits, the White Wolf was unmistakably higher than mid-level. To have made contracts with spirits of this level, this young lady is definitely not your ordinary person.

"Well, your dog is still the same, with its coat color barely meritable."

Claire shook her pigtails in disdain.

"You... you called it a dog again, You flat chest! I absolutely will not forgive your insult to the family of Laurenfrost!"

Covered with the chilling air, the White Wolf roared, and dashed toward Claire.

"Whom are you calling flat chest! Come, Scarlet!"

Claire lashed at the ground with her whip. A scorching hell cat immediately appeared from the twirling rising flames.

It appeared that Claire had long conjured up her spirit already.

"-Hey you two! No fighting with your spirit here!" Kamito cried out. The horses in the stables neighed in fear.

"I will not forgive you to put your hand on my slave. I'll end it here today, you thieving dog."

"I'll surely steal your servant and make him mine!"

Sparks burst out between the two girls.

If one only listened to these lines, it sounded like two woman in love fighting over a man.

"The two ladies look like lovers fighting over a man!"

"Carol, you don't have to say that." Kamito looked at the maid standing next to him with squinted eyes .

"By the way, is really OK to not stop them?"

"Right. They have always been like this."

"These two girls have always been behaving like this to each other..."

"Yes, the relation between the two ladies is very good."

"Is this the irony?"

Kamito grumbled with a sigh.

"You have always been an eyesore, Claire Rouge!"

"You are the same, Rinslet! Why do you have to always cause me trouble!"

Magic ice spirit Fenrir---

Flame spirit Scarlet---

Two spirits suddenly jumped up in the air and clashed.

Ice and Fire collided, sending storm bursting around.

From the point of view of Kamito, the levels of the two spirit were almost the same. But it seems that Claire had an advantage in the skill of mastering the spirits.

However, the flame spirit in her command was apparently quite spent out.

(Because she was beaten up by the sword spirit a few hours ago---)

Receiving such a large amount of damage, she couldn't possibly have recovered by taking a short break.

Kamito observed the fighting of the two spirits.

"Eh? What?...... a burning smell?"

Kamito frowned and looked around.

When the sight came into his eyes, his expression suddenly freezed.

It was burning.

Kamito's hut was burned fiercely.

The straws that stocked next to his hut had caught the sparks of the flame spirit and started burning.

"Ah, my home!"

Hearing the cries of Kamito, Claire quickly turned toward here.

"Rinslet! Pause! We got fire!"

"It is no use to distract me ... Huh? It is really burning!"

The hut fire burned more and more violent. Sooner or later the stables would catch fire too.

"My home---"

"Calm down. Fire of this scale, I'll put it out in no time - Fenrir!"

Rinslet cried out, the white wolf of magic ice instantly came back to her side.

Just as one thought that the white wolf suddenly disappeared in the air, in Rinslet's hands a huge <ice Longbow> appeared.

"Elemental Waffe(weapon)" the second purified form of the spirit.

"Oh freezing teeth of ice, pierce your target! <freezing arrow>!"

Rinslet pulled up an ice arrow and shoot.

The arrows turned into countless ice pieces and pour down, the burning flame was instantly extinguished.

"Well, with me here it is a piece of cake!"

Rinslet stroked her long platinum blond hair and puffed out her chest proudly.

"......"

Kamito stood motionlessly with the dumbfound stare.

The hut was smashed into pieces by pouring down ice arrows.

"Kohon", Rinslet let out a dry cough.

"... Seems that I went a bit too far."

"This is not called a bit. Do you have any control of your power?"

"You ... shut up! From the very beginning it was you who lit it up!"

Ignoring the stunned Kamito, those two engaged in arguments again.

At this time -

"What are you doing!"

The footsteps of several people running from the middle court could be heard.

One of them was the ponytail girl in a silver breastplate.

Ellis Fahrengart, the commander of the Knight brigade Sylpheed who was in charge of up-keeping the discipline of the academy.

Behind her there were two girls in the same dress.

Claire sucked her tongue, and Rinslet also didn't bother to hide her face of displeasure.

"It is prohibited to fight for private matter in school ... What!?"

Hastily running steps suddenly stopped.

Her eyes widened, looking dazed at pile of rubble that was Kamito's home.

Black smokes slowly rose from the charred rubble.

"This is ...... What on earth is this?!"

Ellis questioned Kamito, her voice charged with fury.

She drew the sword that hangs at her waist, pointing to the throat of Kamito.

"You, you hate the house that I made! Is that it? Is this your protest?!"

"No ... there is absolutely no such thing! This is because - "

Kamito quickly explained.

"It was this stupid dog who blow it up to dust."

"Before that, this pitiful chest lit it on fire!"

Heard the voices from behind, Ellis turned around.

Claire and Rinslet, pointed their fingers at each other in accusation.

"... That's how it was. It was your work, just like always."

Ellis sighed with an expression that says "I understood".

"Knight commander, your greeting is more enthusiastic that the usual."

"It is the usual greeting, isn't it? Problematic students of the raven class?" Alice looked sharply at Rinslet.

Soon, the the girls from the Knight brigade who were following Ellis finally caught up.

A girl with tea colored hair tied in braids, and another girl with black hair in a tomboy style.

As soon as they see Claire and Rinslet, the two girls put on expressions like they have bitten some bitter worm."

"... Hell cat Claire! And Ice Wolf Rinslet!"

"What did they do again this time, these guys from the lowly raven class?"

In the eyes of the girls plainly floated a contemptuous look.

"... What did you say?"

"What did you utter just now?"

Claire and Rinslet glared at the two girls at the same time.

But the girls completely ignored them focus their eyes Kamito.

"Are you that newly transferred male Seirei-Tsukai?"

"Oh, not bad. Very handsome."

The girl with braids looked at Kamito up and down like evaluating his price.

The girl's sight made Kamito to shrink away in discomfort.

"Wait, this guy is my slave spirit that I caught!"

"I tamed Kamito Kazahaya: he is my servant!"

Claire and Rinslet declared arbitrarily of their ownership of Kamito at the same time.

The knight girl with braids snuffs with disdain, said: "Alas, because nobody wants to form a team with you, you use your sex appeal to seduce the transfer student. Such a fitting style for a countryside noble."

"You dare to call me a countryside noble!"

Rinslet's face suddenly turns livid.

It appears that the girl stepped on the mine that should not be stepped on.

"Sure I did. Laurenfrost family has only a big-name, they are really just country bumpkins."

"You ... you ... you ...!"

"My, My lady. Please calm down -"

"Fu, fufu, fu, ... Carol, I am quite calm. "

Rinslet revealed a bright smile ... although she tries to be lady like, her face is still quite scary.

Another girl knight turned to Claire, and scorned: "As for Claire Rouge, although she is a noble, but isn't she the sister of the a traitor? Really, why did the academy accepts this person for admission---"

At that instant, Claire suddenly lashed at the ground with the whip.

"- shut up. Or I'll make you into charcoal cinders."

Claire snarled with suppressed voice, her voice trembling, her red eyes quietly burning with anger.

(... Claire is the sister of a traitor?)

Kamito frowned.

(... what on earth is the meaning of this?)

The two girls felt the sudden change of atmosphere and fell silent.

"You went too far." Ellis chided the two, then turned to Claire.

She cleared her throat and said: "In short, I will report this instant to the knight headquarters. The charge will be to use spirit to start a small fire and and cause property damage. We'll give notice to you for the specifics of the punishment later in time. Please refrain from such stupid things again. We are busy, you know?"

"Let's go." Alice said and was about to lead the other two away.

However, from behind came a voice.

"Hold on! Ellis Fahrengart, are you trying to run away?"

"What?"

Ellis stopped, turned back to Claire who called out her.

"What did you say just now?"

The calm tone of voice was full of anger. Ellis's hand was on the hilt of the sword at her waist.

"Oh, you heard it? I did not expect the Sylpheed Knights were cowards."

"Claire Rouge, Do you think I'll just let it go if someone insults the Sylpheed knights?"

Ellis unsheathe her sword. The other two drew their sword at the same time.

"I'll return that line intact back to you. You may insult me as you please, but I will not forgive anyone who insults my sister."

Claire stroke the ground with her whip.

"I request a dual, Ellis Fahrengart, with the other two as well."

"Let me join as well, Claire Rouge. It is the Laurenfrost family's injunction to take revenge at those dare to smear the family name of Laurenfrost."

Rinslet ruffled her hair, and showed an undaunted smile.

At this point Ellis pointed the tip of her sword toward these two.

"Well, it will stain the name of the Sylpheed Knights if we are accused of running away. I will accept the request. I can't stand the mess of your raven class any longer."

"Hey, isn't it prohibited to fight for private matters? "

At such a precarious intense moment, Kamito instinctively spoke out.

"It is forbidden to fight for private matters within school ground. Anyway, I have no intention to do it here. "

"What do you mean?"

Ignoring Kamito who was tilting his head, Ellis turned to Claire.

"The time will be 2am tonight, in front of the <door>. I'll leave it to you to decide the format."

"...One-on-one is too much trouble. How about we fight as teams of three."

"That will do." Ellis nodded and put away the sword, then turned around and left.

Claire glared at the back of the knights and cursed viciously:

"Well I will let you regret this, especially that short haired girl. I'll definitely give her a sound beating!"

"Such a good opportunity. I have disliked the bunch from the Knight brigade since long ago."

"Rinslet, Try not to be a burden."

"After destroying the hut, now you are on a duel. Please take mercy on me." Kamito sighed deeply. Then he suddenly he realized.

Battle as a team of three. So, who will be the third person?

"As it turns out, -"

Claire placed one hand on her waist, and pointed a finger at Kamito.

"it is time to show us your strength, my slave spirit! "

"Ahhh... I knew this is how it would be..."

In front of rubble heap that was his former home , Kamito reluctantly dropped his shoulder.

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