Ryoji showered, changed into a short-sleeved outfit, and stepped out of his dormitory.
This was the third day of the joint training camp. Nangou Torajirou had taken up permanent residence here, becoming the sole coach, effortlessly guiding everyone with his seasoned experience.
The sun was setting precisely at that moment.
The crimson afterglow stretched across the horizon, painting the earth and mountains in a golden hue. As Ryoji emerged from the dormitory, a cool evening breeze swept through, dispersing much of the summer's oppressive heat and bringing a refreshing chill.
"Ah, that's the life!"
Ryoji shuddered as the evening wind evaporated the moisture from his body, intensifying the refreshing coolness.
It's a well-known truth that the best times of year are summer evenings and winter mid-days. While not necessarily the most comfortable in terms of climate, they undoubtedly offer the greatest satisfaction.
"Hey! Ryoji, want to join us for fireworks?" Stella called out to Ryoji as he passed by the training grounds.
Students from Hagun Academy and Kyomon Academy gathered together, each holding different fireworks and laughing joyfully. Stella, who had never set off fireworks before, was particularly excited and even invited Ryoji to join.
"No thanks, I have something to do!" Ryoji replied before heading toward the training camp's main gate.
Approaching the iron gate shaded by trees, the long-haired girl with tea-colored hair had shed her usual student uniform for a casual white dress. Her braided hair was also loose, falling straight down her back.
The hem of her dress and her hair fluttered in the evening breeze, blending almost seamlessly with nature to create a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
"Junior Brother, you're here!"
"Mm-hmm, Senior Sister, you look stunning!" Ryoji approached her, showering her with sincere compliments.
"Hehe, you always know just what to say. Let's go!" Senior Sister giggled, looking genuinely delighted.
The two left the training camp and followed a nearby mountain path that led to the main road.
"Come to think of it, I've hardly ever been on a proper date with you, Senior Sister."
"Mm, I'm usually so busy, Ma, I never have time for that."
They chatted casually as they walked.
During this intensive training period, Toudou Touka didn't have to worry about Student Council matters, and with summer vacation in full swing, she found herself remarkably free. Aside from training, she had nothing to do all day.
Remembering how little time they'd spent together before, Ryoji decided to use this opportunity to make it up to Senior Sister.
And tonight, they wouldn't return to the training camp at all! Instead, they'd find a karaoke bar and belt out thirty songs straight!
The dorms at the training camp weren't very soundproof, and Ryoji hadn't had a chance to sing with Senior Sister in days.
Ten kilometers away lay a bustling city, vibrant even at night. That was their destination.
"Speaking of which, the quality of this year's Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival is higher than I ever imagined!"
As Ryoji walked toward the city, his disguise in place, his thoughts drifted to the upcoming Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival.
The festival was now only about two weeks away.
The caliber of Student Knights participating this year was arguably the highest in the past decade.
"The A-Rank Knights go without saying, but there's even a large group of B-Rank Knights. The C-Rank Knights, who could barely become Seven Stars Sword Kings in the past, are completely overshadowed this time around..."
As far as we know, Stella is the only A-Rank Knight.
"For B-Rank Knights, the Broken Army has me and my junior, Shizuku Kouhai; Martial Star has the Seven Stars Sword King, Moroboshi Yuudai; and Giant Gate has Tsuruya Mikoto, that's four of us! And there are even more C-Rank Knights..."
Toudou Touka meticulously counted, realizing that this year's contestants were truly extraordinary. One could argue that this year's cohort was second only to the legendary generation from over a decade ago, which included Shinguuji Kurono and Saikyou Nene.
In previous years, when the competition was weaker, even a C-Rank Knight could become the Seven Stars Sword King. But this year, C-Rank Knights were as common as dirt.
"Senior Sister, you missed one," Ryoji said. "Yakushi Kiriko from Rokuzon Academy will also be participating this year. Though she's rated B-Rank, her true skill is undoubtedly A-Rank. Her water manipulation ability far surpasses Kurogane Shizuku's, making her a strong contender for the Seven Stars Sword King title."
"Yakushi-san is participating too?"
Toudou Touka was startled, her expression quickly turning troubled.
"Then it'll be even harder for us to gain any advantage against these formidable opponents this year!"
Indeed.
Yakushi Kiriko's cellular-level self-disassembly and reconstruction technique was an even greater counter to pure physical swordsmen like Ryoji than mere reflexes. If he were to face her, Ryoji would almost certainly suffer a crushing defeat.
Even Ryoji himself lacked any confidence in becoming this year's Seven Stars Sword King.
The reason was simple: this year's contestants were simply too strong!
With his current strength, he was far from capable of sweeping aside all his rivals.
'If only I could summon a few otherworlds before then…' Ryoji thought inwardly, his hopes rising.
Compared to the others, his greatest disadvantage was the brevity of his rise to prominence.
While his peers had been practicing for years, some already famous, he had still been bedridden and unable to care for himself. Even counting the time spent in the Danmachi World, he had only been training for a little over five months—not even half a year.
'If I'd started training from childhood like they did, I'd probably be the world's strongest by now.'
"Looks like I need to finish developing my new technique sooner rather than later," Toudou Touka mused, lost in thought.
"Senior Sister, are you working on a new technique?" Ryoji asked.
"That's right! But it's a secret for now. I'll tell you once it's finished!" Toudou Touka pressed a finger to her lips, a mischievous smile playing on her face.
"Then I'll keep my expectations high," Ryoji replied, naturally refraining from pressing further.
"We're approaching the city up ahead," he added.
Their pace was swift. After a brisk run beneath the setting sun, they arrived at the city in just half an hour.
By then, the sky was gradually darkening, tinged with twilight blue.
The shops lining both sides of the street lit up their "Japan" signs, and the road was packed with pedestrians and vehicles heading home from work, painting the city with a vibrant, bustling scene.
"So many people," Stella murmured, watching the crowd waiting at a red light at the intersection.
Touka, clutching her junior brother's arm, gazed at the throng of waiting pedestrians, inwardly sighing at the sight.
"Senior Sister."
"What is it?"
"Look at that person over there..."
Following Ryoji's gaze, Touka spotted an odd figure across the street.
It was a utility worker in work clothes, his face half-hidden by a baseball cap. He had a slightly stocky build as he calmly walked up to the traffic light on the opposite side and stopped.
"His gait seems a bit... off?"
"Yeah, something's strange about it."
Ryoji's gaze remained fixed on the utility worker's body. His eyes seemed to X-ray through the man, using the creases and patterns in his clothes to build a muscle model in his mind and predict his height and build.
"His right leg is slightly impaired, but it doesn't seem injured. Leg function should be normal... There's something long hidden in his right leg pocket, isn't there?"
(End Of This Chapter)
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