Chapter 151: Akatsuki!
Student knights packed the center of Hagun Academy's rarely used gymnasium like sardines in a can.
A week had passed since the selections ended, and today marked the official appointment ceremony.
Kurono stood on the stage holding a list and read the representatives' information one by one.
"First-year, A-Rank—Torajirou Shiro."
"First-year, A-Rank—Stella Vermillion."
"First-year, D-Rank—Arisuin Nagi... absent today due to an unexpected matter."
"First-year, F-Rank—Kurogane Ikki."
"Third-year, B-Rank—Totokubara Kanata."
"Third-year, C-Rank—Hagure Kikyou."
Apart from Alice, who was absent, the other five walked up the stairs in order and accepted the certificates and medals Kurono distributed.
Fortunately, Shiro was the only one who encountered an acquaintance during the selections.
None of the others were placed against each other afterward, so they all successfully qualified.
As a result, four of Hagun Academy's six representatives were first-year students who had only enrolled this year.
"I hereby recognize everyone whose name I called as Hagun Academy's representatives in the Seven Star Sword Art Festival!"
The students beneath the stage applauded the five representatives.
Since Shiro had defeated [Raikiri], Kurono appointed him captain of Hagun's representative team.
During the final battle between Shiro and Touka, she had used the incomplete technique [Takemikazuchi].
That move had almost killed her on the spot.
The technique itself was already dangerous enough, but Touka lost consciousness midway and could no longer use magic to protect herself.
Being fired like a railgun projectile in that state had left her with virtually no chance of survival.
Fortunately, Shiro noticed something was wrong immediately after delivering his strike and called out to Kurono.
Only through Kurono's ability to manipulate time did they barely manage to save Touka's life.
At that moment, Shiro helplessly watched Touka enter from the side of the stage with Hagun Academy's flag in her hands and an awkward smile on her face.
Kanata had apparently informed the orphanage director about what happened.
The moment Touka left the hospital, she received a phone call and was thoroughly scolded.
With no other option, Touka sought Shiro's help.
Only after he spent a long time persuading the director did she finally let Touka off.
Under the gazes of countless students, Touka handed Shiro the flag carrying the wishes of Hagun's students and teachers.
The moment he took the flagpole—
"Everyone, do your best!!!"
"We'll definitely win this time!"
"We'll absolutely come and watch!"
Cheers erupted one after another from below.
However, Shiro's attention was not drawn to the audience.
Instead, his gaze shifted toward the empty space at the far right of the stage.
Alice should have been standing there.
Before they left this morning, Alice deliberately stayed behind in the dormitory, claiming that he felt unwell.
Both Shiro and his roommate Ikki could easily tell that he was lying.
Ikki assumed Alice had something important to handle and chose not to question him.
However, unlike the considerate Ikki, Shiro already knew Alice had deliberately concealed his true Blazer rank.
What was he doing in the dormitory right now?
Was he reporting Hagun Academy's representatives and abilities to another academy?
Regardless of why Alice concealed his rank, the truth would probably be revealed soon.
With that, the representatives of [Hagun Academy], [Donrou Academy], [Kyomon Academy], [Rokuzon Academy], [Bunkyoku Academy], and [Rentei Academy] were ready.
The representatives of Japan's strongest school, [Bukyoku Academy], which had monopolized the Festival's podium for five consecutive years, were also prepared.
All the selected representatives would compete on the stage known as the [Seven Star Sword Art Festival].
There, they would fight for the title of [Seven Stars Sword King].
...
At the same time as Hagun Academy's appointment ceremony—
Beneath a deserted expressway, a tall man leaned against the rear seat of a jeep while listening to a report through his student handbook.
"Hehe. Hagun Academy's cast is finally complete."
"[Raikiri], [Runner's High]... Even the Kurogane Family's [Lorelei] failed to qualify?"
"It couldn't be helped. Their luck with the brackets was absolutely terrible."
"Ah, but luck is part of strength too."
"'Losing because of bad luck simply means that knight was never anything special.' Ouma would definitely say something like that."
"That has nothing to do with me."
"How cold. Then let's change the subject."
"Have you completed the mission that required you to infiltrate Hagun Academy?"
"There's no problem. A few unexpected incidents occurred, but they won't interfere with the plan."
"I can act whenever necessary. But are you truly capable of dealing with Shiro?"
"Oh, you mean the [God of War]'s disciple whose ability resembles Amane's and who almost never appeared in public?"
"Ouma is very interested in the person you described. He'll probably confront him personally when the time comes."
"Besides, even if Ouma loses, they still won't make it back in time."
"I see..."
The voice from the other side of the student handbook sounded hesitant, as though estimating the difference in strength between both sides.
"You don't need to concern yourself with matters over here."
"Simply do what you're supposed to do, [Black Assassin]."
"No, I suppose you should now be called [Black Sonia], Comrade Arisuin."
"..."
On the other end of the tall man's student handbook, Alice wore an expression of absolute coldness.
It was completely different from the gentle appearance he showed while speaking with Shiro and the others.
The dormitory curtains blocked the sunlight outside.
Within the shadows, Alice's dark-purple eyes faintly glowed beneath lowered eyelids.
His gaze remained as calm as the surface of a lake, as though the people mentioned on the call had nothing to do with him.
At that moment, he seemed less like a human and more like a delicate glass ornament.
Rigid and cold—
It was not an expression a normal person should possess.
"In any case, all preparations for the eve festival are now complete."
After a moment of silence, the tall man's voice once again came from Alice's student handbook.
Alice listened to the laughter that seemed to mock everything in the world.
At that moment, he transformed into the most devout of believers.
Lowering his voice, he offered a blessing to the performance whose curtain would soon rise.
"Hah. Everyone outside probably believes the entire cast has finally assembled."
"Unfortunately, they don't know that the true [protagonists] have yet to appear upon the stage."
"Before anyone notices, let us be the ones to tell them."
"We'll leap from beneath the stage and beat those self-important fools senseless."
"Through that, we'll announce to the entire world that the protagonists of this Seven Star Sword Art Festival are us—"
"[Akatsuki]."
…
(Don't forget to vote, review, and leave a comment below! :D The more you vote, the more chapters I upload.)
...
Read more chapters(25+):
patréon.com/U22
(Note: Replace "é" with "e" on your web browser.)