Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan - Volume Zero

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  Introduction

  "Hello readers! It's Kagami Kusakabe, investigative reporter for the Hagun Academy Newspaper Club!"

  "…And her friend Nagi Arisuin."

  "Thanks as always for reading the Hagun Academy wall newspaper! Today's issue is a special edition. I thought we'd show you some events of interest at school which we haven't had time for in regular publications."

  "Hey, Kagamin… I was wondering, why did you recruit me for this when I'm not a member of the newspaper club?"

  "Because I can always use another helper."

  "But…"

  "Ahh, it hurts… when I remember how Alice-chan stabbed me in the back, it hurts so much~"

  "O-Okay! I'll do it, I'll do it!"

  "Hohoho. Being agreeable is great, right? Now, we're not gonna do our usual comedy routine, so let's get right into the first event. Starting us off… is back at the first round of the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival's representative selection battles. The Worst One, who was still a nameless held-back student, had just defeated the Hunter, a prominent contender for representative status."

  "That's quite a while back, isn't it?"

  "How nostalgic… Senpai began advancing steadily after that match. It was a rather strange period where the Worst One's strength was becoming more and more famous in the academy. Anyway, please enjoy~♪"

  Chapter 1: A Princess's Foreign Culture Experience

  Part 1

  War was originally unrefined. As the crossing of fists, it was quite far from beautiful, instead taking the form of overpowering violence. Put simply, it was merely attacking and defeating an enemy with no elegance, a graphic reality born from competing to survive. But through millennia of history, humanity refined war with beauty and elegance through something called "the way of the warrior", crystallizing honed principles and accumulated wisdom into a human philosophy backed by reason and discipline.

  Indeed, the sword skill of Ikki Kurogane, currently swinging his blade in the courtyard of Hagun Academy, could be called beautiful and elegant. He was, at the moment, using one of his swordsmanship forms to improvise a martial arts demonstration for the opponents he was facing. Except he had five of them.

  "Take thiiiiisss!"

  "Have at youuu!"

  In the courtyard, all five raised a unified shout and attacked Ikki with the weapons in their hands. Sword and spear and even hatchet, with fire and lightning and other elements dwelling within, these were no ordinary weapons wielded by ordinary people. The opponents were Blazers, modern-day magic users who shaped their souls into armaments. Their flame and lightning had the power to burn with a touch.

  But even a touch was not to be had. Ikki Kurogane handled all the attackers together, armed with a single sword.

  What kind of sorcery was this, one attacker wondered. His spear that had been thrusted full force was now stabbed into the ground. With no sensation of being parried, his strike was turned aside as if he had been aiming toward the earth from the beginning, as if it was all a bad dream.

  But what was true for the five of them was seen differently by the people gathered around watching the demonstration. Amid the unending rain of weapons, Ikki's dancing sword motions displayed an unmistakable elegance and beauty, handling them with calm and easy movements. Even those who were only walking past the courtyard found their feet stopping so that they could get a look.

  "Tch… how's this possible!!"

  "No way, there's no way this'll work! Haa… haa… Can't get a hit!"

  Before long, the five attacking students cried out, and fell down onto the courtyard grass.

  "Well, let's end it here then. Thanks for following along with me."

  "Ugh, no, that's fine. But to think even five people together can't touch you."

  "Gha… ha… and you ain't sweatin' at all. Are you a monster…?"

  In fact, while the five did have ineffective movements, Ikki himself had dealt with the attacks almost entirely with footwork, dodging their blades with ten centimeters to spare. He hardly used any strength or endurance, and had no reason to sweat.

  With the demonstration over, around ten boys and girls rushed up to Ikki. These were Ikki's classmates.

  "Wow, amazing! You're not even breathing hard!"

  "Who knew a martial arts demonstration would be so artistic!"

  "It really looked like dancing. Even though those guys were so exhausted."

  "Oh no, I was watching and forgot to take pictures! What a lifelong regret this'll be for Kagami Kusakabe, president of the Hagun Academy Newspaper Club! Senpai~ do it again! One more! Photo op please!"

  "Even though I asked you not to…. It's too embarrassing to see my own face on newspaper articles plastered across the school."

  "That's fine! It won't be a school article! I'll only sell it outside!"

  "Err… that's not what I thought 'fine' means…."

  Now, his reason for presenting a martial arts demonstration was that while he was relaxing in the courtyard during lunch break, his classmates came begging him for some sword techniques they could use. For a school of Blazers who aimed to become mage-knights, it was very unusual. His classmates had naturally different talents and no need for martial arts. As common thinking goes, they could use the time for such practice on broadening the scope of their individual powers instead. The only ones who set about like Ikki were similarly inferior students with few accomplishments… or the truly powerful who understood the truth. Given this, Ikki was quite happy that his Blazer classmates had come with interest in martial arts, so he answered their request and gave the demonstration, but…

  "Now as I told everyone, this was the most orthodox and least showy form I know, so that should do as a model?"

  "Uhh, no, frankly all we got out of it was that it's pretty awesome."

  I thought so…

  Combat was not so simple that it could be learned by sight. Even Ikki's Blade Steal took heaps of bloody effort. This reaction was entirely expected.

  "It's not like I can just see it and remember it the way Kurogane-kun can, huh?"

  "But in Ikki-kun's case, he could steal the secrets of a style that he hasn't been shown before just by observing it in the middle of a fight. That's not a human ability, right?"

  "Which means, Senpai, you remember every single sword technique that you've ever seen?"

  "Of course. That's basically been my lifeline."

  "Huh. How many different kinds would that be in total?"

  "Including Stella's Imperial Arts recently, it would be a hundred and twenty six, I guess."

  "H-Hundred!?"

  "I'm surprised that you picked up this many, but it's also surprising that so many sword styles still survive."

  "There are schools without a proper dojo, and those that only exist in documents. When I was in middle school, I wanted to become strong somehow, and whenever I had the time I'd hunt for all the dojos in the area to challenge them, or bounce around libraries and museums studying sword techniques that stopped being taught long ago, stuff like that."

  At those words, the classmates around Ikki took a collective breath.

  "…If that's how you got so skilled, I can believe it."

  "A regular old special technique would've been cheating."

  "I guess martial arts is also a road to a different kind of talent."

  "In the end, it looks impossible for people like us to become like Kurogane-kun, huh?"

  The classmates were depressed at the difficulty of becoming another Ikki. His sword skill already transcended common sense, so awe towards it was understandable, and they decided to again give up on gaining a new kind of talent. With their existing ones, they did not need the same level of commitment.

  "You don't have to concentrate on swordsmanship so much. You all have proper abilities, unlike me, so you don't have to go as far as I do. By using your own extraordinary Devices, you can fight with greater range, and I don't think there's any disadvantage in trying to learn just a little. So if you feel like it, I can give you some advice."

  "…Yeah, if we can add this to our abilities, we could do a lot more."

  "Yes yes! I'll work hard if Kurogane-kun teaches me!"

  "In that case, you need to train your core and your inner muscles, since firm stability is important no matter what you do. Let's talk about the kind of training needed for that. First—"

  The ones who asked for the training were the cute younger boys and girls, firing Ikki up about it too, and his lecture lasted for half an hour.

  "Whew… doing things you're not used to is tiring, huh…?"

  Ikki sat down on a bench in the courtyard and let out a breath, where a female student approached him.

  "You're so diligent, Ikki. Not just your own practice, but watching over your underclassmen too."

  "Stella…"

  Stella Vermillion, a crimson-haired girl with radiant eyes, stood holding her hands behind her as if hiding something. She was Ikki's roommate who had come from a distant country to study abroad, and since just a few days ago, his girlfriend. Stella gazed at the classmates in the courtyard who were immediately putting what Ikki taught them into practice.

  "All I see is them standing on one leg wriggling. Is there meaning to that? It's funny that they look like badly made scarecrows, but… oops, someone fell
over. How clumsy. It's not even thirty seconds yet."

  "Ha ha ha. Well, they can't help it when they're just starting out. It's more like an exercise than a form of training."

  "Huh? So you're not going to train them?"

  "Don't say that. At this stage, I can't have them do too much. I just thought I'd have them learn the importance of core and inner muscles first. It's always more common in a fight to push with one foot than to stand evenly on both feet. You constantly go from one foot to the other when moving, shifting center of gravity, so not being able to keep balanced on one foot is a bad thing for combatants. You already know that without me saying it, right Stella?"

  "Well, that's true."

  In Chinese boxing, it was warned of as the "twin illnesses". Illness was an exaggeration, but in truth, standing with center of gravity spread evenly across both feet was dangerous enough to be worth calling a sickness, since if something happened suddenly, it would not be possible to switch into movement. It was a stance full of weaknesses, and weakness leads directly to death. This was why martial artists warn against it, an understanding common to all sorts of martial and swordsmanship styles. Among combat arts, no stance involved settling one's weight evenly between both feet, and so Ikki had everyone learn this first.

  "You really do want everyone to become stronger."

  "That depends on their willingness, but I'll help them with anything they want to achieve."

  "Huh. But is it alright? If there's someone more skillful with the sword, you'd be making an unbelievable rival? Not all of them, but some of them might appear in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival representative selection battles."

  The Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. It was where all the student knights of Japan fought for the unique title of Seven Stars Sword King. Both Ikki and Stella were aiming for that summit. And since the summit had only room for one, everyone else was a rival. Stella pointed this out, and Ikki smiled as if he was having fun.

  "Actually, I'd welcome it. That would let me both teach and fight…. Besides, someday we'll be forced to fight with our lives on the line."

  Not even someday. As student knights, they had responsibilities. For example, in the event that a Blazer conducts terrorism inside the city, student knights would be tasked with protecting citizens in danger, and in fact Ikki and Stella had already been in such a situation, fighting against a terrorist from Rebellion in real combat. Ikki and the others had prevailed because of their strength, but there were occasions where student knights gave their lives on duty. Such tragedies exist.

  "Wouldn't you want to avoid that? If anyone was ever in a predicament and my advice can help things even a little, nothing would make me happier."

  The words of response to Stella's question were not at all a bluff. They were obviously Ikki's true feelings. Hearing them, Stella's faint pink lips broke into a small smile.

  "That does sound like you."

  "Like me?"

  "That soft-heartedness."

  Because he had no superlative talent, his parents and the adults around him disdained him, dealt with him harshly, and ultimately even held him back a school year for absurd reasons, but Ikki's heart did not falter. That made Stella happy and proud. It was what made him the knight she loved. And it was why Stella wanted to become more intimate with Ikki, so she moved closer.

  "…Well, hey Ikki, you were doing a lot of talking and moving just now, right?"

  "Yeah, that's true. I'm pretty thirsty thanks to all that."

  At Ikki's reply, Stella's face lit up.

  "Th-Then—"

  But in the moment Stella brought out the thing she was hiding behind her back…

  "Onii-sama~♪"

  …a sweet and playful voice interrupted, and another girl slid into the space between her and Ikki.

  "Whoa!"

  Ikki let out a surprised voice at the sudden embrace from the side, and turned to look at the new girl of silver hair and light skin, a girl whose entire body was as pale as ephemera. She was—

  "Shizuku? You surprised me…."

  Ikki Kurogane's sole younger sister, Shizuku Kurogane. Catching Ikki's right hand in her embrace, Shizuku brought her face closer like a spoiled kitten.

  "Hehe, what's surprising? Who else would share such intimate touches with you, Onii-sama~?"

  "No, lately the girls have been pretty bold, so…."

  For example, even his classmate Kagami Kusakabe had hugged him on their first meeting. He still remembered that sensation vividly.

  "…Huh. Such people exist, do they? Could you tell me their names?"

  Shizuku pulled out a black notebook from somewhere and opened it up. With a smile that seemed too stiff to come from the heart, she gazed at him with eyes that devoured light. It was very frightening. Ikki knew instinctively that he must not give Kagami's name, so he bluntly changed the subject.

  "B-By the way, Shizuku, won't you move away a bit? I smell of sweat right now."

  "Oh, that's why I'm sticking so close. Don't you get it, Onii-sama?"

  "I don't."

  Ikki could only feel troubled by Shizuku, who was pressing her body even more strongly on him with eyes narrowing in a coquettish smile. She was his little sister that he reunited with after four years apart, but Ikki could no longer comprehend what she was thinking.

  "Well, that's enough of skinship. Here you go, Onii-sama."

  Saying so, Shizuku presented a cold can of sports drink to Ikki.

  "Since you've been teaching your classmates those sword basics, I brought you something to fill up your energy again."

  "Ah, that's a big help. Just when I was getting parched."

  "Yes, I thought you'd be. Onii-sama, you must be happy to have such an attentive and wonderful little sister."

  "Haha, I'm grateful."

  Expressing his thanks at Shizuku's goodwill, Ikki popped the can's pull tab and quenched his thirst.

  "Is it refreshing?"

  "Yeah, it helps a lot."

  "Does it taste like me?"

  Beverage spewed from his nose.

  "What does that mean!?"

  "Hehe, it was a joke. I haven't done anything like kiss the opening of the can. No, not at all."

  "What an awfully specific denial…."

  "You're easy to tease, Onii-sama, so how could anyone help but bully you?"

  "Don't look at me like you're waiting for agreement."

  "Well, putting it aside, there's something I've been worried about…."

  With those words, Shizuku's turned her head, and her face full goodwill toward Ikki changed into an entirely scornful one.

  "I wonder why Stella-san is standing like a statue there with two cans of juice?"

  She directed her statement to Stella, now standing stock-still with a can in each hand after having the conversation snatched away from her. At Shizuku's question, Stella went red and her gaze wobbled uncomfortably.

  "Uh, th-this is…."

  "Oh my. Did you want to give Onii-sama some refreshment?"

  "Huh? Is that so, Stella?"

  "N-No way! Why do I have to do something like that for someone like Ikki!?"

  It was a very ordinary thing for sweethearts to do, but Stella could not say it, because she was the second imperial princess of the Vermillion Empire, and finding a lover while studying abroad would cause a scandal. Such a rumor must not spread on mass media, so Ikki and Stella both agreed that their new relationship must be kept secret. She could not say it. Even if she wanted to say it, it would not leave her mouth.

  "Then why do you have two cans of juice?"

  "Th-This… right! So I can drink both!"

  "I see. What a misunderstanding I've made. Since you've lost to Onii-sama in a match, how unfortunate that you two must be together, right? Since you're not a couple, there's no chance you'd be doing such things, hmm?"

  "Of course not! Ahh, so thirsty. So thirsty I might die! Even two cans aren't enough!"

  In this desperate situation, Stella opened the pull tabs on both cans. Even though she bought an extra for Ikki, it was too late to say it. With tears in the corner of her eyes, Stella downed the juices in one swig each herself.

  "…No backbone."

  Staring with half-lidded eyes at Stella gulping the beverages down, Shizuku murmured that short statement.

  "Shizuku?"

  "It's nothing… by the way, Onii-sama, if you wouldn't mind then could you teach me swordsmanship?"