The very air was warping.
The temperature kept rising.
The entire room glowed fiery red.
A mantle of crimson flames, like a haori cloak, wrapped itself around Stella's body, burning away the surrounding air.
"Makoto, are you saying that sharing a room with me would be… a burden?"
Just a moment ago, Stella had already been leaning toward agreeing.
After all, since it was the words of the world's No. 3, she felt it wasn't unreasonable to place some trust in him.
Competing alongside another A-rank would bring her the kind of challenge she desired.
But more importantly, Harumura Makoto had left a very good impression on her earlier.
To Stella, he came across as strong, dignified, and courteous—a true gentleman.
Living with such a man shouldn't be unbearable.
And yet, before she had even given her answer—
That man rejected her.
And worse, his reason was that she was "too much trouble."
She hadn't even disdained him. She had been ready to lower herself and accept. Yet this man dared to disdain her.
It was an insult.
A complete and utter insult.
"This humiliation is intolerable. There's only one way to settle this—duel me."
Stella thrust out her arm toward Makoto, sparks bursting from her fingertips, her eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
"One match. Winner takes all."
"..."
"You know, Princess…"
Being pointed at like that left Makoto a little irritated, his tone sharp as he began to reply—but before he could finish, Kurono cut in.
"That's enough. We'll discuss the dorm issue after the duel. Stella, head to the Tenth Training Ground first. I've got a word or two for this guy."
The Crimson Princess stormed off in a huff, not even asking where the Tenth Training Ground was, leaving in a blaze of fury.
"What exactly are you scheming? I don't see the point of arranging this."
Makoto, who only wanted to get some sleep, found yet another nuisance piled on him, and his annoyance showed.
"Let's just say it's a coincidence. Otherwise, I was planning to set you up against a male opponent anyway—so you'd realize the issues with yourself. But since Stella demanded it, she'll do just fine. Once you fight her, you'll understand why my advice is useful to you."
Kurono tapped a finger lightly on the desk, producing a steady rhythm, and gave him a knowing little smile.
Makoto stared at her for a while, then finally sighed and let his stance drop.
"…Fine. I do owe you. This time, I'll let it go."
He turned to leave, then looked back with calm eyes at Kurono.
"But next time, don't pull something like this again. Our agreement was simple—if I claim the title of 'Seven Stars Sword King,' then the deal is fulfilled. It doesn't include all these meaningless diversions."
With that, Makoto walked out, leaving Kurono at her desk, staring at the wide-open door.
"The problem is, your debts to me are only going to pile higher."
Her eyes narrowed as she watched his departing back, her voice confident and quiet.
"Go on. The Tenth Training Ground will surely expose his flaws. Whether you can seize the chance… that depends on you."
=-=-=
The Tenth Training Ground—beneath its massive domed roof.
The arena looked almost identical as always, unchanged, still marked with many irregular craters at its center.
"Stella-san, if I apologize right now, can we skip this duel?"
"Whether it's swapping rooms or just living together, I'll do as you say."
All he felt was resistance.
That was Makoto's truest thought.
"Too bad. Once I've heard such an insult, I can't let things end so lightly. Let's settle this properly."
A blazing crimson mantle instantly wrapped around Stella, her flames roaring.
"Come forth and serve me!"
She seized the flames that erupted before her—
"—Lævateinn!"
At her call, the searing fire spiraled up her arm, condensing into a massive scarlet greatsword that she gripped firmly in hand.
"Now, come!"
Pillars of flame shot up around her.
At that moment, she looked every inch a Valkyrie wreathed in fire—both powerful and beautiful.
The training ground churned with swelling magical energy, even the air currents thrown into chaos.
Makoto, now fully aware there was no way out of this, let out a deep sigh as his own magic surged.
The air thrummed, the ground trembling beneath their power.
"Such strong magic. As expected of someone ranked A, the same as me. This should be a good fight."
Stella's eyes blazed with fighting spirit—yet they held no trace of arrogance, only solemnity.
"Well, maybe I can't match your thirty-times average capacity, Stella… But I've at least got twenty times. My magical power is rated A, after all."
Spectators were beginning to file into the stands, but Makoto had no attention to spare.
The girl before him demanded his full focus.
Even if his conceptual interference outclassed her natural interference…
There was no room to relax.
Her magical reserves exceeded his by a full third.
And between Blazers, while technique and abilities mattered, in the end—raw magical output was often decisive.
Enough magical power could let natural interference overwhelm conceptual interference.
"Distort everything—Kūretsu!"
A pistol appeared in Makoto's left hand, black with red highlights, its design sleek and reminiscent of a Desert Eagle.
"Scatter and bloom—Ametsuki!"
A sword materialized in his right hand, crimson in color, with only the blade etched in black wave-patterns.
"Let's begin, Stella."