Prologue: Shizuku's Challenge

Part 1

Kurogane Shizuku recalled them, the memories of her childhood.

She was forgiven no matter what she did. She was forgiven even when she beat up other children. She was forgiven even when she stole the toys of other children.

Why? It was all because she displayed her worth as a blazer since she was young.

「I am very sorry Shizuku-chan. Hey, you apologize, too!」

Having been beaten by his parent, the kid, who was her relative, bowed.

"I'm sorry."

The apologetic words were filled with chagrin.

Shizuku always glared at that, bored.

The kids who twist their righteousness before power. The adults who forgive wrongdoings before power. Every single one of them was worthless. Only people like those were around Shizuku. They bow before the strong, and give lip service filled with hollow gratitude and good will.

Dirty.

She hated beings called humans because of that. And, she was fed up with herself for also being such a worthless living thing. She was fed up and continued to vent the frustration on the weak. Because whenever she heard the cries of hated human beings she felt a bit relieved.

But, there was a boy, just a single boy, who didn't forgive Shizuku.

*Slap*

That boy, Shizuku's brother Kurogane Ikki, told Shizuku who was making other kids cry―

"You should not bully the weak."

Shizuku couldn't comprehend what had been done to her. Because even her parents had never scolded her nor hit her. Not being able to comprehend anything, her cheek, which was hit, was hot, and tears crumbled down.

Seeing the crying figure of Shizuku, the adults angrily shouted "Hurry up and apologize!" to Ikki who had hit Shizuku.

The adults started hitting Ikki who didn't abide by their order to apologize. But, even so, Ikki didn't bow until the end. Because he didn't have any reason to bow his head down.

…Such a human being was a first for Shizuku. There was no one up until now who had stood up and pointed wrongdoings as evil. At the time she cried because she was shocked at having been hit all of the sudden, but in reality, she was happy. She was always searching for someone like that. It didn't matter if they didn't pamper her. It didn't matter if they were hard on her. She just wanted someone who she could respect as a human being.

Thus Shizuku decided in her heart on that day. That she would follow this person, because if she did so, she was sure that she would be able to become someone different from the worthless adults who she had been seeing until now.

―But,

At that time, I knew nothing.

The severity of the situation surrounding her brother.

Nothing of it―

Part 2

"First year Kurogane Shizuku-san, it's time for your match, please step forward."

Shizuku slowly opened her eyes upon the announcement.

There was a dark passage before her. It extended all the way to the entry gate of the ground where today's match was supposed to be held. Shizuku walked down the passage without any hesitation, and she resumed recalling the past.

I found out about Onii-sama's difficult position after he had left the house.

Not even a single person of the Kurogane household tried to find her brother. It was like he was not even there from the start. At that time Shizuku finally realized that thing her brother always hid behind his gentle smile. She realized and hated it. Everything about Kurogane which cornered her brother till that point.

And she was resolved. If no one was going to love her brother, then she would just love him all the more, including others' part.

It won't do like this. It won't do if all she ever did was to depend on him, and follow him around. She had to become an equal, and give him her support or else she won't be able to hold on to her brother. Or else, she'll end up leaving her brother in solitude again.

Thus, she needed to get stronger.

With certainty, her brother would shine in this world eventually. Shizuku knew his strength more than anyone else, and that's why she knew it. Shizuku desperately worked hard to become someone who would be able to stand by his side as an equal when the time came. And, she acquired strength until she got the excellent evaluation of a rank-B.

But, it's still not enough. Her brother aimed for the summit of Seven-Stars. Her current level was not enough to accompany him there.

「Well then, I will begin introducing the competitors of today's second match! From the blue gate, she is the sister of the popular knight, whom everyone in this arena should know, contender Kurogane Ikki. She is the runner up freshmen of this year standing right after the 'Crimson Princess'! Her match results so far are ten wins out of ten matches! The superiority or inferiority of attribute doesn't matter to her! Will she sink her opponent with exceptional magic control today once again? The first year nicknamed 'Lorelei', competitor Kurogane Shizuku!!!」

Shizuku came out of the dark passage and stepped into the ground filled with cheers. But, the unceasing cheers felt distant. Naturally, it was because Shizuku was only concentrating on the one before her.

「And from the red gate, the student council president, and also the strongest of this school. She advanced to the semifinals as a second year student last year in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. Having lost to last year's Seven Stars Sword King, Moroboshi of Bunkyoku Academy, she was not able to take the summit of the Seven Stars. However, she has once again returned to the battlefield, where competitors fight over the summit, along with her still-invincible trump card that has been more refined since last year! Impossible to dodge before that speed! Impossible to parry that swiftness! Will the golden flash today, once again, cut her enemy within the blink of an eye!? The strongest lightning user Hagun boasts of―the third year nicknamed 'Raikiri', contender Toudou Touka!!!」

Toudou Touka.

At a distance approximately twenty meters away, the strongest knight of Hagun academy stepped into the ring while swaying her long chestnut-colored hair.

Shizuku was certain after seeing her.

…I see. She is on a whole different level.

She could understand after coming face to face with her. The air hurts. The hair all over her body twitched. Shizuku could feel herself sweating upon the sharpness of her piercing gaze. The very nature of the atmosphere surrounding her differed from every other opponent she had faced in the selection matches until now.

This opponent was strong. Obviously ranks above her.

―But, that's why… Shizuku was excited.

Finally.

She had been eagerly waiting for a chance like this ever since coming to this school. A fight where her feelings would be tested.

She was within the best four in last year's Seven Stars Sword Art Festival. She is a worthy opponent.

In that case, she'd test it. Just how much did she really love her brother in these past five years. All kinds of feelings, and her love for him―

With this fight, I'll test my limit!

And, as if to respond to Shizuku's feelings―

"Then, let the twelfth match begin!!!"

The buzzer was sounded marking the beginning of the battle.

Prologue: Shizuku's Challenge

Part 1

Kurogane Shizuku recalled them, the memories of her childhood.

She was forgiven no matter what she did. She was forgiven even when she beat up other children. She was forgiven even when she stole the toys of other children.

Why? It was all because she displayed her worth as a blazer since she was young.

「I am very sorry Shizuku-chan. Hey, you apologize, too!」

Having been beaten by his parent, the kid, who was her relative, bowed.

"I'm sorry."

The apologetic words were filled with chagrin.

Shizuku always glared at that, bored.

The kids who twist their righteousness before power. The adults who forgive wrongdoings before power. Every single one of them was worthless. Only people like those were around Shizuku. They bow before the strong, and give lip service filled with hollow gratitude and good will.

Dirty.

She hated beings called humans because of that. And, she was fed up with herself for also being such a worthless living thing. She was fed up and continued to vent the frustration on the weak. Because whenever she heard the cries of hated human beings she felt a bit relieved.

But, there was a boy, just a single boy, who didn't forgive Shizuku.

*Slap*

That boy, Shizuku's brother Kurogane Ikki, told Shizuku who was making other kids cry―

"You should not bully the weak."

Shizuku couldn't comprehend what had been done to her. Because even her parents had never scolded her nor hit her. Not being able to comprehend anything, her cheek, which was hit, was hot, and tears crumbled down.

Seeing the crying figure of Shizuku, the adults angrily shouted "Hurry up and apologize!" to Ikki who had hit Shizuku.

The adults started hitting Ikki who didn't abide by their order to apologize. But, even so, Ikki didn't bow until the end. Because he didn't have any reason to bow his head down.

…Such a human being was a first for Shizuku. There was no one up until now who had stood up and pointed wrongdoings as evil. At the time she cried because she was shocked at having been hit all of the sudden, but in reality, she was happy. She was always searching for someone like that. It didn't matter if they didn't pamper her. It didn't matter if they were hard on her. She just wanted someone who she could respect as a human being.

Thus Shizuku decided in her heart on that day. That she would follow this person, because if she did so, she was sure that she would be able to become someone different from the worthless adults who she had been seeing until now.

―But,

At that time, I knew nothing.

The severity of the situation surrounding her brother.

Nothing of it―

Part 2

"First year Kurogane Shizuku-san, it's time for your match, please step forward."

Shizuku slowly opened her eyes upon the announcement.

There was a dark passage before her. It extended all the way to the entry gate of the ground where today's match was supposed to be held. Shizuku walked down the passage without any hesitation, and she resumed recalling the past.

I found out about Onii-sama's difficult position after he had left the house.

Not even a single person of the Kurogane household tried to find her brother. It was like he was not even there from the start. At that time Shizuku finally realized that thing her brother always hid behind his gentle smile. She realized and hated it. Everything about Kurogane which cornered her brother till that point.

And she was resolved. If no one was going to love her brother, then she would just love him all the more, including others' part.

It won't do like this. It won't do if all she ever did was to depend on him, and follow him around. She had to become an equal, and give him her support or else she won't be able to hold on to her brother. Or else, she'll end up leaving her brother in solitude again.

Thus, she needed to get stronger.

With certainty, her brother would shine in this world eventually. Shizuku knew his strength more than anyone else, and that's why she knew it. Shizuku desperately worked hard to become someone who would be able to stand by his side as an equal when the time came. And, she acquired strength until she got the excellent evaluation of a rank-B.

But, it's still not enough. Her brother aimed for the summit of Seven-Stars. Her current level was not enough to accompany him there.

「Well then, I will begin introducing the competitors of today's second match! From the blue gate, she is the sister of the popular knight, whom everyone in this arena should know, contender Kurogane Ikki. She is the runner up freshmen of this year standing right after the 'Crimson Princess'! Her match results so far are ten wins out of ten matches! The superiority or inferiority of attribute doesn't matter to her! Will she sink her opponent with exceptional magic control today once again? The first year nicknamed 'Lorelei', competitor Kurogane Shizuku!!!」

Shizuku came out of the dark passage and stepped into the ground filled with cheers. But, the unceasing cheers felt distant. Naturally, it was because Shizuku was only concentrating on the one before her.

「And from the red gate, the student council president, and also the strongest of this school. She advanced to the semifinals as a second year student last year in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. Having lost to last year's Seven Stars Sword King, Moroboshi of Bunkyoku Academy, she was not able to take the summit of the Seven Stars. However, she has once again returned to the battlefield, where competitors fight over the summit, along with her still-invincible trump card that has been more refined since last year! Impossible to dodge before that speed! Impossible to parry that swiftness! Will the golden flash today, once again, cut her enemy within the blink of an eye!? The strongest lightning user Hagun boasts of―the third year nicknamed 'Raikiri', contender Toudou Touka!!!」

Toudou Touka.

At a distance approximately twenty meters away, the strongest knight of Hagun academy stepped into the ring while swaying her long chestnut-colored hair.

Shizuku was certain after seeing her.

…I see. She is on a whole different level.

She could understand after coming face to face with her. The air hurts. The hair all over her body twitched. Shizuku could feel herself sweating upon the sharpness of her piercing gaze. The very nature of the atmosphere surrounding her differed from every other opponent she had faced in the selection matches until now.

This opponent was strong. Obviously ranks above her.

―But, that's why… Shizuku was excited.

Finally.

She had been eagerly waiting for a chance like this ever since coming to this school. A fight where her feelings would be tested.

She was within the best four in last year's Seven Stars Sword Art Festival. She is a worthy opponent.

In that case, she'd test it. Just how much did she really love her brother in these past five years. All kinds of feelings, and her love for him―

With this fight, I'll test my limit!

And, as if to respond to Shizuku's feelings―

"Then, let the twelfth match begin!!!"

The buzzer was sounded marking the beginning of the battle.