novelTrial of the Moon (3)
| ← Ch.079 | Ch.081 → |
How much time had passed?
After the world was overflowing with light once more―Kazuki returned to the former world where his companions were waiting.
It seems that in the time Kazuki had lost consciousness, [Lunatic Labyrinth] had used up its energy and the battlefield revolved back to the original grounds. Kazuki's heart returned to his real body.
And then the first sight that entered Kazuki, who just awakened, was a wall of flame. Mio invoked [Blazing Wings], as if a parent bird protecting her chicks, those gigantic wings enveloped and defended everyone.
Over their head, even now too, the Ryuutaki sisters were still riding on top of the huge wolf and flew in circles while dropping bombs of [Burning Icicle] repeatedly.
His companions were in a tattered condition with their remaining magic power almost used up. While running about trying to escape, it seemed Mio finally succeeded in chanting the [Blazing Wings].
However, even that was nothing more than buying time. The contradicting explosions of [Burning Icicle] emitted heat and cold at the same time. The wings of flame protected them from the heat but the cold was encroaching inside little by little. Even the wings of Phoenix were already on the verge of decaying. He woke up with that kind of timing.
"Kazuki, you're awake!?" Mio's expression brightened.
Kazuki immediately exerted his brain, groping about for a means of protection against this bombing with the magic at hand. Even armor of flame, or divine protection of cold, or armor of steel, all of it couldn't defend against this bombing. To protect themselves from this...!
"O stream of atmosphere, converge on this body, become the storm that rejects the resented person! The eye of the typhoon is my throne! Storm Fort!"
Kazuki remembered what was probably the single most optimum solution. In the surroundings of the four people that were huddling together under the exposure of aerial bombing, fierce wind was whirling about forming a typhoon.
The raining down of red crystals was blown about even before they exploded by the typhoon.
The typhoon also counterbalanced the blasts of the explosions from far away.
"To return this fast...you really make my heartbeat become increasingly faster."
Miyabi-senpai, who was riding on the wolf flying in the sky looked down at Kazuki leisurely.
The bombing stopped. Maybe the Burning Icicle was finally running out of bombs.
When he looked around, Takasugi brothers had exited the grounds. Had Mio and the others made a frantic effort and defeated them, or had they possibly gotten swallowed by the aerial bombing of the Burning Icicle...?
"Kazuki, that..." Mio's eyes opened wide looking at Kazuki.
Suddenly, Kazuki noticed how he, before he was even aware, was currently gripping a thing he had no recollection of in his hand.
It was a sword transparent like water and emitting a magical gloss of rainbow color.
Where in the world did it come from?
The sword constantly released weak magic power, little by little its substance was fading. Before long it would vanish. However right now Kazuki's palm felt it, the fierce strength it possessed.
"With your victory over your trauma, Gremory gave that proof of your spiritual purity. That is the shape of your spirit's crystallization, your symbol."
Miyabi-senpai informed him from the sky.
"Gremory is a goddess that changes those with a strong heart into a true warrior. A warrior that can prove their strength of heart would be granted power, it's that kind of magic."
Kazuki was baffled inside his heart....Why did she use that kind of magic on me?
Was it because she had the confidence of deciding the match while I was being tied up?
The fact was, Kazuki recovered with just a paper thin difference in timing.
"It's troubling for a magic to do things like empowering the enemy. But we too were also chanting a spell while your heart was restrained though. If you can do it, try to protect your important comrades with that sword...Right here right now I will test the purity of your heart!"
Miyabi-senpai stopped the idle talk and restarted her interrupted spell chanting.
""Moon at the sky, wolf at the ground, the fierce howling voice prosecuted the sin above the earth loudly!""
That chanting was not from Miyabi-senpai alone. She matched the magic power's wavelength of Shibobu-senpai beside her. That magic was something spun by two people....Chorus Magic!!
It couldn't possibly be level 10 Materialization Summoning!?
...No, no matter how long Kazuki had fainted, that magic was supposed to need an even longer time.
Moreover this magic, he felt how the magic power of Gremory and Marchosias were mixing and overlapping with each other...
~Union Magic~. Mixing the strength of two Divas together and realizing a single magic.
...There is that kind of magic!? There was no doubt that this was only possible because of the connection possessed by Gremory and Marchosias that was really strong to the degree that could be said to be unique even among Solomon's 72 Pillars.
""O moon that shines even above the sinful person, transform that light of motherhood into anger, squash this surface! The nightmare of the setting moon is right here...Panic Setting Moon DestructionMoon Strike!!"
The clone body of Marchosias faced the moon in the sky and howled as if calling for someone beloved. Gremory was the goddess of the moon. In the clear sky of the broad daylight, a faint white full moon was emerging.
That white moon gradually became bigger, filling up the sky completely. It grew bigger vividly until he could make the distinction of several craters on it with naked eye...the moon was falling!!
GOGOGOGOGO! The celestial sphere falling down with reverberating sounds as if crushing flat the air resistance had already made it obvious to Kazuki that there was no defensive magic at his hands that could possibly do anything. If they got hit, Kazuki whose damage was relatively small might be able to hold out, but the other three's removal from the fight would be inevitable.
In the end, Kazuki brandished the sword held in his hand.
This was Kazuki's spirit in the form of sword. Its power was inferior compared to the katana produced by Prometheus' [Olympia Forger] but―if you call yourself the crystallization of my spirit, then show me how to rescue my companions!!
"UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
Against the falling celestial sphere, Kazuki brought down his sword. There was no other resistance he could offer.
A light that made everything else vanish. A sound that made everything else seem far away.
Like the legend of Moses splitting the sea with his cane, that slash of Kazuki's parted the approaching celestial sphere that was covering up the sky in two. The largely bisected moon and the sword inside Kazuki's hand scattered apart into particles of rainbow light like a momentary dream.
In the audience stands, loud cheers were raised from their witnessing of the embodiment of human's spirit to protect their comrades.
Ryuutaki-senpai was watching that with her own eyes. The clone body of Marchosias that flew in the sky used up its power, it put down the sisters on the ground and vanished.
"I had hypothesized anything and everything, but what an unforeseen result."
Miyabi-senpai, who went down and stood on the same surface, faced Kazuki and talked.
Kohaku and Kazuha-senpai prepared their stance with their katanas as though they were about to attack.
Seeing that, Miyabi-senpai turned to Kazuki and raised both her arms high.
"I surrender."
"Nee-sama!" The one who reacted first was Shinobu-senpai, who was on the immediate side of Miyabi-senpai. She flared up hearing that declaration.
Kazuki and the others were dumbfounded too hearing that sudden declaration.
"It can't be helped, can it? We have no chance of victory anymore, right? The Takasugi brothers have left the stage, our greatest offensive magic that was invoked by sacrificing those two was also defended completely. If it has become like this, to spin a new magic from zero with these four as the opponents without a vanguard of our own, it's impossible with our chanting ability you know. This is unexpected, but it's also my expected conclusion."
Miyabi-senpai shrugged her shoulders. The referee teacher that watched over the situation also agreed with that point of argument.
"Winner, Team Hayashizaki!" The referee declared.
The watching students, who were satisfied with the flashy offense and defense at the end, raised loud cheers. Even the voice of blessings from Kaguya-senpai and the others were also audible from here. However for Kazuki all of it felt very far away.
He was not fully satisfied with Miyabi-senpai's intentions.
[I'm going to test the strength of your heart], that was what Miyabi-senpai said before the match.
Certainly throughout this match, there were many things that he was tested on, he thought.
Because of that, he had this strange feeling that he wanted to thank the opponent rather than the victory itself.
"Why didn't senpai fight normally, rather senpai behaved as if senpai was testing me, wasn't it?"
Within the loud cheers, Kazuki asked Miyabi-senpai who had become the loser.
He didn't think that she had pulled her punches. That miraculous sword that Kazuki received was from Miyabi-senpai's magic, but at the same time if she didn't use that magic, then Kazuki's team wouldn't allow them to finish chanting that Union Magic.
On the other hand, the Takasugi brothers of the opposite team had been defeated by their own doing before Kazuki's team even noticed. By no means could they say that they were the ones in the disadvantaged situation in this battle.
However, he had the feeling that Miyabi-senpai had another way of fighting that she was more used to.
Like this, everything was shrouded in mist.
"Nee-sama, what are your intentions?"
Shinobu-senpai too, she asked Miyabi-senpai because she was unable to surmise Miyabi-senpai's intention.
"Ryuutaki Miyabi! Why didn't you fight until the very end!!?"
The Takasugi brothers, who had been removed from the match and had taken refuge in the tent, glared at Miyabi-senpai with burning eyes.
Judging from how the Takasugi brothers were the sons of Board Chairman Takasugi, they were most likely complicit with the scheme behind the scenes of this battle election. However Miyabi-senpai, who was solicited by the Takasugi brothers, might actually hold a totally different objective close to her chest.
"My plan was only like that, you know. Fufufu, things like the reason for my plan, even I myself don't understand, in the end, this plan is just something like a whim, don't you agree?"
Miyabi-senpai laughed and dodged the question about her true intentions.
"No, it must not be like that." Kazuki shook his head and denied it.
"Before the battle election began, senpai was despairing against this country and this academy. 'It doesn't matter whatever this country becomes', senpai said those words carelessly. However, humans who have truly despaired won't ever think of trying things like testing someone else. Something comes into mind. Surely, it's because someone can't give up hope that they planned this, not merely on a whim. Senpai...what are you expecting from me?"
Hearing Kazuki's straight to the core question, Miyabi-senpai showed a surprised expression for the first time.
"I give up....When my true feelings are seen through so completely up to that point, as a contrary person, it feels really embarrassing. Yes, certainly I have an expectation of you. But for someone in my position, it's not strange to discover hope in you, right?"
Miyabi-senpai is an elf. ―And Kazuki had defeated the sworn enemy of every elf with this hand.
At the center of the grounds, Miyabi-senpai, whose body was covered with dress-type Magic Dress slowly approached Kazuki. She gently brought her face near Kazuki...'chuu' and she kissed his cheek.
"""Wha!?""" Mio, Kohaku and Kazuha-senpai opened their eyes wide.
Kazuki too made an amazed face and looked back at Miyabi-senpai.
Miyabi-senpai's cheek reddened, then she made a bewitching smile and stared at Kazuki.
"Onee-sama!? Wh, why did you do that kind of thing to that kind of man!? Even Shinobu, even though I never got a kiss or anything from Onee-sama!?"
Shinobu-senpai, who had been wrinkling up her eyebrows the whole time, suddenly had her expression crumbling. She clung to Miyabi-senpai while tears were falling down from her eyes in big drops.
"What are you saying? There is no reason for sisters to kiss, you know? Kissing is something to be done to good-looking guys you know."
"Onee-sama is recognizing that man as a man!?"
"This person overcame the trial. There is no way I can't feel my heart going pitter-patter for him."
Miyabi-senpai said while brushing up her silver long hair. What on earth is this trial she was talking about?
"NO! NO NO NO!! Shinobu doesn't approve that kind of thing! Shinobu and Nee-sama will be together forever just the two of us! Onee-sama must only look at me...If Nee-sama is not, then Shinobu..."
"This person is the savior of elves, my heart is charmed by him already. It's going kyun-kyun right now."
"That's why- what is nee-sama saying!? Onee-sama is not an elf or the like at all!"
...What? Kazuki felt like his breath was stopping. Even Mio and the others, who were flaring up at Miyabi-senpai even now because she suddenly kissed Kazuki, now had their expressions frozen with a start from the surprise.
"No, I am an elf you know, Shinobu."
Miyabi-senpai floated a bitter smiling face and turned back to Kazuki.
"We are twins with a really intimate relationship after all...when I became an elf this child was shocked and she became unable to recognize [the real me]. She can't hear words inconvenient to her. This child rejected reality and shut herself in a world where she is together with a false me, just the two of us. In the eyes of this child, my hair still looks pitch black, it reflects me as her older twin sister that is her spitting image."
Miyabi-senpai stroked the head of her twin with sadness, but Shinobu-senpai's pupils were empty. She made a face as if she didn't hear any of the words just now.
"But thanks to this child, I was saved. When I became an elf, just like all other elves, I was treated by the world like a monster too. But only this child stayed by my side. If this child was not there, I wouldn't have been able to get back on my feet like this. But even though I stood back up like this, this child is still unable to see reality. She keeps seeing only the false me, locking herself in a world of just the two of us―where she is actually just by herself alone. That's sorrowful, isn't it?"
Kazuki was also saved from solitude by all his companions from the orphanage and everyone of the Hayashizaki house.
For Miyabi-senpai, Shinobu-senpai was the only existence that had saved her.
The feelings of Miyabi-senpai, who wished to save Shinobu-senpai, Kazuki could understand it so well it was heartbreaking.
"Hey, Ou-sama. I wonder if this girl's heart could be conquered if it's you?"
...How does she know my ability? This person, isn't she really too well informed...?
{Oi, Gremory. You gave unneeded hints to your contractor, right?}
Leme materialized besides Kazuki.
{...Forgive me Leme-chan. Because these sisters, they are really pitiful even though they are such good children, see? That's why I wanted to teach them that there is a great person called BasilleusKing. }
Besides Miyabi-senpai, an avatar of a really neat and clean young lady, even though she was called ~The Duchess of Hell~, was floating. She was wearing a silver dress that had a similar shape with Miyabi-senpai's dress.
{Right now is the testing phase for the humans, that's why we have already decided not to get too involved, haven't we?}
When Leme was scolding her with cold eyes, Gremory vanished as if to run away.
"That was the hope I embraced. Does Ou-sama not have an interest in a sister sandwich?"
Sister sandwich. A terrific word came out, Kazuki was losing strength and faltering halfway.
"The merit of conquering both of us is really big, you know? Marchosias is a powerful Diva and probably, if it's you, you could also chant the Union Magic of Gremory and Marchosias, other name [Gremory-neesan Great Indignation Pun-pun Full Moon Fall], by yourself alone."
Miyabi-senpai proposed while raising her index finger. What's with that other name where people could do nothing other than make a tsukkomiretort.
"...I won't do such a thing like conquering a girl just for the sake of power."
"Don't say such a lonesome matter like 'for the sake of power'. You are a king that I recognize..."
While whispering with a sweet voice, Miyabi-senpai once again brought her face near Kazuki―
"Nee-sama, please stop!"
"Kazuki, what are you doing in a public place!"
―However Shinobu-senpai and Mio cut in between them and put a stop to it.
Just like they said, they were in front of the eyes of the students from the whole school.
"Fufufu." A heart mark come flying from Miyabi-senpai who laughed in amusement....Don't tell me!
Amasaki Mio―150 Lotte―120 Hiakari Koyuki―119 Otonashi Kaguya―100
Hoshikaze Hikaru―87 Tsukahara Kazuha―55 Ryuutaki Miyabi―40 Ryuutaki Shinobu―2
Both of their positivity levels was displayed! Even with positivity level of 40, could a person do all these kinds of bold things? Also Shinobu-senpai's score of 2...
With a glare, Shinobu-senpai's teary eyes were stabbing at Kazuki while she made a terrible expression. It was as if she was a wolf pup that stood in front of the enemy of her mother wolf and growled [gururu]. It was absolutely impossible, wasn't it, to conquer this girl.
"You have seen it right, the positivity level? Gremory is an existence that also governs the love between males and females after all; I wonder if there is a blessing from her?"
Certainly the positivity level of Mio and Kazuha-senpai had gone up in a casual manner. Especially conspicuous was Kazuha-senpai's climb in numbers.
"...Even though I challenged the match with the intention of fighting seriously, as I expected, I can't be fully satisfied when it looks like I was only made to dance on top of your palm the whole time."
"There is no such thing. Without a doubt, this victory is something you should be most proud of even compared to all your victories before this, right? You have proven your strength in all your battles until now, you have proven your quality as a leader with this battle election, and you have proven the strength of your heart with the trial of Gremory and me. If it's said by me, then right now you had become a King in its truest meaning."
The meaning of strength, the reason for fighting, the significance of bonds...Such things couldn't be expressed clearly in words. However, its forms were built little by little inside him; such feelings clearly existed inside him.
{Uh huh, when you spoke sharply to Tsukahara Kazuha and made her return to her sanity was also excellent. Leme too has gotten a better opinion of My King. That is for sure, Leme's contractor...the Harem King. }
"However, enemies who are threatening against that kind of you are still remaining."
Even now, Miyabi-senpai continued her words that were as if seeing through behind the scene.
"Win through the battle election and take the first step as a King. Regarding your true enemy, saying it clearly, those like the Takasugi brothers are just pawns that look like a joke. The star performer is the opponent that you are going to meet in the finals."
Final...the team which Katsura Karin and Hayashi Shizuka belonged... At that time, Kazuki had an auditory hallucination of the most unforgivable enemy who tormented Hikaru-senpai while raising an evil laughing voice.
The semifinals was nothing more than a trial. The enemy who he really needed to defeat was waiting in the final.
| ← Ch. 079 | Ch. 081 → |