Chapter 3 The First Competition
In the streets of the Academy Archipelago, a two-on-one battle was underway.
It was a fight between siblings wearing different colored masks and a black-haired girl wielding a katana. A rarity in the Academy Archipelago, this melee battle with no apparent magic usage was proving to be completely one-sided.
"N-Nothing's working...! What is with this girl!?"
"B-Big Bro... Hii!"
A dull-colored blade flashed between the siblings. Frozen stiff, the two could only watch the sharp gleam that sliced through the wind.
"To think I'd run into thugs firing off magic right off the bat... the Academy Archipelago is a dangerous place."
The voice was cold and merciless, causing the Kaldi siblings to tremble in unison.
The one overwhelming the pair with a single katana was a girl with long, glossy black hair. While fleeing from Haruhana, they had called out to her, and when she got in their way, they tried to blow her away with magic. That was their mistake.
This girl had effortlessly turned the wind magic directed at her into harmless mist, dissipating it completely.
"W-Why can't we use magic!?"
It wasn't just their opening strike that had been scattered. Even when they tried to fire magic for a follow-up attack, only a faint, harmless mist emerged. Beside his teary-eyed sister, the Kaldi brother twisted his face in bitterness. He had a vague idea of why their magic had been neutralized.
Embedded in the hilt of the black-haired girl's katana was a transparent gem—a Mana Crystal.
"Dammit. A traveler from the Earth World having a Mana Crystal... that's impossible!"
There is a spatial barrier between the Earth World and the Heaven Disc World. It is precisely because goods and people can only travel as far as the Academy Archipelago that this midpoint flourishes as a hub of exchange between the two worlds.
The black-haired girl had emerged from the station of the linear elevator connecting the Earth World and the Academy Archipelago. There was no doubt she was a human from Earth. A traveler from Earth shouldn't possess a Mana Crystal, which is only produced in the Heaven Disc World.
"You're underestimating Earth too much. The breakwater against the unreasonable 'magic' leaking from your world, the crystals of anti-magic built up by Earth's history—that is us, the Watarase family."
The black-haired girl—Karane—rested the katana she usually kept in a guitar case on her shoulder and stood tall like a guardian statue.
"So? Where is Kuro?"
Question marks floated above the siblings' heads. They didn't know the name of "Kuro," the one Karane was looking for—their so-called "Boss."
But to Karane, who was convinced these two had made contact with Kuro, it looked like they were just playing dumb.
"It's useless to play innocent. You guys were talking about Kuro just now."
"Uwah, just passing by and picking up info only on her target? This one's a possessive, restraining-type psycho chic—buhbuh!?"
Karane grabbed the collar of the Kaldi brother, who had said too much, and choked him up.
"I'm desperate here too. Answer me, quickly."
"A-Gahbuhbuhbuh!"
"Aah! D-Don't bully Big Bro!"
To save her brother, who was being strangled with enough force to make him foam at the mouth, the sister focused her consciousness on the Mana Crystal on her left arm. But as expected, she couldn't exercise any magic. Resigned, the Kaldi sister raised her fist.
"You...! Let go of Big Bro! Let go—owowowowow!"
The sister's attack, which looked like it would produce a cute "eiya!" sound effect, was met with a ferocious iron claw. Having pinned the two down with overwhelming violence, Karane glared at the criminals with a menacing gaze.
"Once Kuro is back, I have no business with you. Confess already!"
"U-Uuuuuu...!"
With her face being crushed in a grip, the Kaldi sister spun her thoughts frantically through teary eyes.
A traveler girl is looking for him. This "Kuro" must be the boy who fell from the Earth sky. She didn't know the whereabouts of the guy they used as a sacrificial pawn to buy time against Haruhana, but to save her brother, she needed to provide persuasive information.
Thinking desperately, the Kaldi sister had a flash of inspiration and pulled out her smartphone.
"T-This person!"
She displayed an internet article titled [Single Numbers Special Feature!] and pointed at the image of Haruhana.
"This woman took that man away!"
The worst part was, she wasn't lying.
Having left the convenience store after the skirmish with Conrad, Kuro was walking through the city with Pina.
Laurier had gone to the "Administration Bureau" to submit Kuro's application, accompanied by Haruhana. Left behind, Kuro accepted Pina's offer to show him around since they had the time.
Initially, Kuro had been restless about being alone with a girl, but that tension blew away as he took in the scenery of the Academy Archipelago.
"The Academy Archipelago really is an amazing place. It lives up to being called the latest city of heterodox technology."
The Academy Archipelago is the only city where materials and technologies from two worlds intersect.
The main street was decorated with 3D holographic signs and billboards, while the alleys opened up into atmospheric cobblestone streets. Walking through a town packed with experimental technology, where small islands floated in the sky above, Kuro realized why the Academy Archipelago was popular as a tourist destination.
"I was surprised when I came here too, but do you think so as well, Kuro, coming from the Earth World?"
"I do, I do. Like, look at that."
Kuro pointed to the asphalt roadway separated from the cobblestone sidewalk. Most of the cars running in orderly fashion were unmanned. With metallic designs not seen in Japan, he couldn't even spot a steering wheel in the driver's seats.
"Those are all fully autonomous driving, right? That's quietly amazing. The look is unique and cool too!"
"Ehh? There aren't really cars in the Heaven Disc World, so I might not really get it. Over there, horse-drawn carriages are mainstream even in the cities. Besides, in the Academy Archipelago, cars are mostly for Gobots or tourists."
"Oh, is that so? ...Can we not ride them?"
"Taxi fares are tourist prices, so they're expensive. The means of transportation for students are buses, trains, or walking!"
Pina smiled and peeked into Kuro's disappointed face.
"So, let's walk together today. Since it's your first time in the Academy Archipelago, I can show you all sorts of things!"
"Oho, and what is Pina-san's recommendation?"
"Let's see. There's the Floating Building Street in Central, the Hobby Library Labyrinth in the North District, or the tour of the nature ruins on the Floating Islets... but when it comes to sightseeing, it has to be the delicious local food!"
With a cheerful tone and silver hair swaying, Pina led him to a park square lined with food stalls centered around a large fountain. Declaring that delicious food is the real thrill of a foreign country, Pina pointed to a crepe stall in the park.
"The Random Crepe over there is the top recommendation around here. I'll treat you!"
"No, I can at least pay for my own... I mean, you're showing me around. I should treat you."
"It's fiiine. I have to make up for the points deducted by Laurier-chan and Haruhana as a Tritonis student!"
Stopping Kuro, who was about to take out his wallet stuffed with New Year's money savings he brought when running away, Pina ordered two crepes. Without much wait, she handed one passed to her by the crepe shop Gobot to Kuro.
"Here. [Crepes created by us Gobots via delicate cooking functions with zero compromise or waste, and thorough quality control impossible for Humans with their sloppy ecology]. Abbreviated as Random Crepe."
"Thanks. ...Can't these Gobots just all break down at once without warning?"
"I knoooow, right?"
As Kuro cursed the arrogance of the Gobot oozing from the product name, Pina nodded deeply.
"The Gobots look down on humanity to a surprising degree, you know. There's a crowdfunding campaign by people spending their student lives trying to hack Gobots, want to donate? It's a group with a solid track record."
"I'll donate. ...Ah, I can't use my phone right now. Pina. I'll give you cash, so can you donate for me too?"
"Sure thing. Oh, Japanese Yen. First time seeing it!"
Pina, hailing from the Heaven Disc World, let her eyes sparkle at the thousand-yen bill before eagerly tucking it into her pocket.
"Um, converting to point currency... ah, what do you know. It's almost one point to one yen. Okay, donated."
Putting away her smartphone that made a cha-ching sound, Pina immediately took a bite of her crepe. She stuffed her cheeks with the soft, elastic dough, and her small, cherry-blossom-colored tongue licked off the whipped cream stuck to the corner of her mouth.
"Mmm, delish!"
"It is good, but... what's this fruit inside? It's a taste I've definitely never had before."
"Don't knoow. The contents here are random. And yet, it's always delicious."
It seemed the abbreviation of the product name also implied that the contents were random. Looking closely, the fillings of Kuro and Pina's crepes were different.
"Experts seem to enjoy guessing the contents. It's high difficulty since it includes ingredients from both the Earth World and Heaven Disc World. Though if you guess wrong, the crepe shop Gobot will make fun of you mercilessly."
"So there's that way to enjoy it too. For a crepe to have entertainment value, that's deep."
"Yup. There are even videos solving the crepe recipe here every day... Ah, I know."
Having thought of something, Pina's red eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Since we're here, I'll give Kuro a taste of mine too. Here, aahhhn."
With a little devil smile, she held out her crepe. It was an offer clearly intended to tease, making him conscious of the indirect kiss.
He almost pulled back with a guh, but getting embarrassed here meant losing.
"I will, humbly accept!"
Leaving it to momentum, he took a bite without hesitation.
Kuro's was chocolate whip based, but this one had an accurate distribution of smooth whipped cream sweetness and the sourness of the mysterious fruit. Combined with the chewy texture of the crepe dough laden with the flavor of butter, it ranked in the top ten sweets Kuro had ever eaten.
If he felt it was sweeter than necessary, surely that was just his imagination. Or perhaps it was the gift of Gobot management and cooking.
"...Mmm, it's good."
At his voice feigning calm, Pina smoldered her eyes in dissatisfaction that her prank ended in incomplete combustion.
"Muu. Kuro, come on. Don't you have anything else?"
"Ehh? What do you mean? Oh right. Want to eat some of mine?"
"Not thaaat... actually, never mind."
Seeing Kuro play dumb in such an obvious way, Pina dropped her slender shoulders, thinking he wasn't worth teasing.
"Even though you're Kuro. I thought you'd be a cool-acting boy who's innocent when it comes to romance."
"Please keep that evaluation from girls locked in your heart. A boy's pure heart will reach critical condition in one hit."
"Aha. That's right. Kuro is a pure boy, after all!"
Jumping on Kuro's words as he pleaded with slight exaggeration, Pina regained her superior smile.
"Anyway, is Kuro surprisingly used to this kind of thing? You don't really get embarrassed."
"Ah, well, I used to share with Karane... my childhood friend, occasionally. So I guess I'm okay if I think of it like that."
"Heeeh!"
Sensitively detecting the scent of love talk, Pina's red eyes twinkled.
"Is that the girl in the photo in Kuro's smartphone folder?"
"!!"
As Kuro let out a weird noise wondering how she knew, Pina leaned in closer zuit.
"I saw it when checking the photo you took at the convenience store. That girl in the photo... Karane-chan, was it? She was cute. So you're close enough to feed each other. You're quite the player, aren't you, Kuro? You sly dog!"
"Nooo I'mmm noooot. She's just a childhood friend!"
"Ehh, realllly? It was a two-shot with incredibly close distance."
"Being together was an obligation. That's just how it was!"
"Heeh, heeh! Being together was an obligation! Nice, nice, that's wonderful!"
No matter what he said, for Pina who was in a state where she could convert everything into romance talk, it seemed to only add fuel. The shine of curiosity emitted by her red eyes increased in brightness to a slightly annoying degree.
"Ah, jeez. More importantly, you better eat quickly. That crepe has ice cream in it."
"Yeah... wait, ah."
He had only urged her to deflect the conversation, but Pina froze looking at her crepe. There was a clear distinction between the part she had been nibbling at a girl's pace and the bite mark where Kuro had taken a large mouthful. Her red eyes darted between the two bite marks, and vermilion rose in her cheeks.
Having sharply spotted Pina's embarrassment, Kuro smirked, thinking this was his chance to get back at her.
"What's wrong, Pina? Is there something bothering you about that crepe?"
"Eh!? I-I'm going to eat it, okay? I'm eating it! Okay!?"
"Right. Well, you better eat it before the ice cream melts, you know?"
"Unyu!?"
At Kuro's teasing tone, this time her small shoulders jumped.
"You... jeez... that's unfair."
Mumbling complaints inside her mouth mogomogo, Pina bit her lower lip with her canine tooth.
"Kuro. I'm going to eat this so... look over there."
In her upturned eyes was a little anger, and while her cheeks flushed with shame, her mouth was pouting.
It was an exquisite expression that stripped away the target of Kuro's teasing, wiping the superior smirk off his face.
"O-Oh..."
Checking Kuro's back as he turned the other way, Pina resolved herself and brought the crepe to her mouth.
While Kuro was heart-pounding at a reaction so different from Karane's, he spotted a pair in souvenir jackets he recognized on the edge of the square. It was the twin Kaldi siblings in different colored masks.
The bracelet of the sister in the red mask was emitting light, a precursor to magic activation. Just as Kuro narrowed his eyes thinking what are those criminals doing, it happened.
"[Breath]!"
Magic was fired without question.
The mass of wind launched by the Kaldi sister passed by the dumbfounded Kuro and scored a direct hit on the crepe Pina was just about to put in her mouth with cheeks bright red. Vanilla ice cream and whipped cream exploded onto Pina's face, right as she opened her mouth overcoming the embarrassment of the indirect kiss.
"Oraaaah, Boss! So you were in a place like thiiiis!!"
"Even though we got tangled up with a weird woman because of the Boss! You've got some nerve being on a date with a different woman, Boss!"
The criminals who had abandoned Kuro and fled were picking a fight with splendidly misplaced resentment.
"T-Those guys...!"
He was about to yell back instantly, but there was someone he had to prioritize over complaining to the siblings.
When Kuro turned around to check on her safety, Pina's refined face was decorated with pure white vanilla ice cream and whipped cream, and incidentally, the tip of her shapely nose was adorned with the red of a fruit.
"P-Pina. Are you okay?"
Choosing his words carefully, Kuro called out timidly.
Due to the sheer absurdity of the event, Pina, who had frozen in a posture on the verge of biting into the crepe, trembled her hands and crushed the wrapper that had lost its contents with a gushari.
"...Kuro."
"Yes!"
"What is this 'Boss' business? Those are guys I can beat the crap out of, right? Come to think of it, they were with you when we first met, but don't tell me... they aren't your comrades, right?"
"Of course! I don't give a damn what happens to scum like that!"
"I see, that's good."
Pina smiled sweetly. Written on that pressured smile was: In that case, I can beat them to a pulp without hesitation.
"Um, Pina. If you don't mind, use this."
"Mm, thanks. Ah jeez, it's all sticky."
When Kuro held out a tissue, Pina licked the whipped cream remaining on her finger perori. As Kuro averted his gaze from the somewhat sensual gesture, the siblings who caused it all approached.
"Don't flirt in front of us! I remembered that girl's uniform! Even though you're from a weak school like Tritonis!"
"That's riiight! Without Haruhana, you ain't scary, dammit! We're from the 666 Branch School, hey!"
"Heeeh? For a bunch from a criminal school, you sure talk big."
Facing the siblings who were pulling a thug move that even thugs don't do much these days, Pina wiped her face, smiled fearlessly, and took out her student ID.
"If you're going to say that much. Surely you aren't cowards who can't even do a Counter-Battle, right!"
"Haaah? Obviously! Who do you think we are, dammit!"
Easily falling for the provocation, the Kaldi sister thrust her student ID at the crepe shop Gobot.
"Imperial Style Doji Academy 666 Branch School Year 1, Hororokka Kaldi. Student Counter-Battle, Application!"
"Royal Tritonis Academy High School Year 1, Pina Lycure. Student Counter-Battle, Accepted."
"Counter-Battle, received, Human. Representing us Gobots, this unit shall act as judge."
Scanning the student IDs with a mysterious beam from its mono-eye, the crepe shop Gobot accepted the application. As it was at the convenience store, it seemed any Gobot could accept a Counter-Battle.
"A visibly impulsive Counter-Battle. First, Acceptor, please select the content of the Counter-Battle from the match formats designated by the Administration Bureau. I expect an ugly conflict typical of Humans who spend their days fighting."
"Simple Duel Format, two-on-two."
"...Two-on-two?"
"Got a problem? Kuro is a Tritonis student too, right?"
"Roger. Zero problems."
Kuro, who accidentally leaked a question at the match format, agreed immediately. There was no way he could refuse Pina's current intensity. Above all, Kuro also had a feeling he wanted to punch those guys at least once.
"Then, Applicant, please decide what is to be bet on the outcome. Unless it is objectively of equal value, it cannot be accepted. do you understand the meaning of objective? The judgment of us Gobots is what is called objective, subjective organism Human."
"Money. Losers pay 10,000 points."
"To indicate equivalent value with the point currency issued by us Gobot Administration Bureau, you are quite the admirable Human. Conditions approved."
The crepe shop Gobot, having accepted the Kaldi sister's condition, cooperated with other Gobots swarming in to stretch out yellow "Keep Out" tape, creating an impromptu dueling ground.
"Inside the yellow tape. If either one of the pair becomes unable to fight or goes out of bounds, it is a loss. 10,000 points will be transferred from the loser to the winner. If you cause damage outside the yellow line, you will all be fined 100,000 points, so be prepared, Humans."
Agreement to the match and rule explanation were complete.
Now, they just had to fight. The Kaldi siblings rolled up their sleeves, showing their motivation.
"Alriiight, let's do this!"
"Don't underestimate the Kaldi siblings!"
Along with the opponent's spirited shout, Kuro's first Counter-Battle began.
"[Flare]!"
Simultaneous with the Gobot's declaration of the Counter-Battle's start, Pina fired magic.
Her Mana Crystal was a ring decorating the index finger of her right hand. Flame generated from the crimson Mana Crystal assaulted the Kaldi siblings.
But it didn't reach.
"Heh, lukewarm."
The one who deployed a barrier to block Pina's flame was the black-masked Kaldi brother. He pointed a thumb at himself with a smug look containing his whole soul.
"I'm totally useless at combat, but I'm confident in the strength of my [Barrier]!"
"As expected of Big Bro! [Breath]!"
"Tch!"
Kuro punched away the magic the Kaldi sister immediately fired, annihilating it.
Pina directed an impressed look at Kuro's fist, on which red patterns surfaced.
"You crushed the wind? Are you interfering directly with the magic? It feels different from simple physical reinforcement."
"I don't know others so I can't say. More importantly, over there—is it attack for the sister, defense for the brother?"
"The brother's magic probably isn't suited for combat. The sister using wind seems troublesome."
As they confirmed the enemy's characteristics with Pina, the opposing Kaldi sister visibly began to panic.
"B-Big Bro! Come to think of it, wasn't the Boss's ability pretty dangerous!? Wasn't he going toe-to-toe with Haruhana's attacks!?"
"No need to worry, my sister! The Boss's ability is suuuper easy to understand. He's strengthened where he's glowing red! Aim for anywhere but there!"
"Ooh! Got it, Big Bro! [Shower]!"
Surprisingly, they weren't just idiots; the Kaldi brother's analysis was accurate. Following his words immediately, the Kaldi sister fired magic. Kuro clenched his fist to intercept like before, but the mass of wind split into countless pieces right in front of him.
"Geh... Owowowow!?"
Avoiding it was impossible; small pellets of wind rained down on his entire body.
The power wasn't that high. Kuro's ability was physical reinforcement of the parts where red patterns appeared, but against impacts above a certain level, it performed a reflexive defense to offset the damage. Repelling bullets at the Umihotaru Terminal Area was also reflexive defense.
However, perhaps because the Kaldi sister's attack was magical, it just plain hurt. There was no physical damage, but tears welled up in Kuro's eyes from the pain generated every time he was hit.
"Ahaha! How's that, how's thaaat!"
Shouting happily, the Kaldi sister rained down wind pebbles like a storm. It was mostly in the realm of harassment, but it was certainly keeping Kuro on the defensive. After all, full-body reinforcement had bad fuel efficiency. Since he had already used it to weather Haruhana's attacks today, using full-body reinforcement now could easily lead to running out of gas.
While attacks were concentrated on Kuro, Pina was manipulating fire to besiege the Kaldi brother.
Blocked by the [Barrier] as expected, the fire didn't reach him. However, surrounded by fire 360 degrees and being steamed, the Kaldi brother was sweating buckets from his entire body.
"Sister... I might collapse from the heat."
"Ah! What are you doing to Big Bro, you bastard!"
"That's my line! Could you stop doing terrible things to Kuro!?"
Sandwiching the boys who were taking the brunt of the damage, the two girls bickered noisily.
Would Pina drive the Kaldi brother to dehydration first, or would the Kaldi sister whittle Kuro down first? Just as it seemed it would become a war of attrition, the Kaldi sister didn't have the personality to go along with a stingy chipping match.
"[Spiral]."
While continuing to fire wind pebbles at Kuro, the Kaldi sister swirled a spiral of wind around her right arm.
"If I pin him down with the small ones and hit him with a huge one, even the Boss will go flying!"
"...Mu, surprisingly skillful."
Simultaneous operation of magic is a relatively high-level technique. In that case, Pina kept the Kaldi brother surrounded by fire while tightly condensing newly generated fire to create a single bullet.
"I'm going to punch through that [Barrier] with this too."
"...Hoh, not bad."
Both sides prepared attacks that would pierce the opponent's defense if they hit. While glaring at the Kaldi sister, Pina spoke to Kuro in a small voice.
"Kuro. Can you do it?"
"...Yeah."
This was the critical moment. While teary-eyed from the stinging pain, Kuro focused his consciousness.
Perhaps sensing the turning point of the match, the sweating Kaldi brother put on a brave smile.
"Hu, humph! Be careful with high-power attacks, okay? If I drop the [Barrier] when you attack and make you miss, causing damage outside, everyone gets fined—hey stop with the fines, okay!?"
That pathetic shout became the signal.
Kuro, who had been in a defensive posture with both arms in front of his face, dashed straight forward.
"Nice guts, Boss!"
Laughing belligerently, the Kaldi sister wound up her arm to fire the spiraling, sharp wind.
Visibly high power. A blow that would likely gouge even rock—Kuro did not take it.
"Fu!"
Exhaling, he shifted his consciousness from his arms to his legs. The red patterns transferred from his arms to his legs, and with the strengthened leg power, he accelerated instantly.
"Nngh!?"
At the unexpected speed, the Kaldi sister missed her attack timing. Slipping past the surprised girl, Kuro closed in on the Kaldi brother. He approached the barrier he had put up.
The Kaldi brother stiffened his face but showed no panic. For Kuro to break the barrier, he would need to stop and strike it. He calculated that in that one action, his sister's backup would arrive.
But breaking this was not Kuro's job.
Behind Kuro, Pina extended her arm, pointing her index finger at the Kaldi brother.
"[Fire]."
Simultaneous with the command, the burning flame bullet fired, exploding its own thermal energy.
The small, condensed flame bullet impacted and dug into the Kaldi brother's barrier, then detonated. It blew the barrier, whose strength he had boastfully prided himself on, to smithereens.
"Wha...!"
"I don't want a fine either. I'll go easy on you."
Kuro's hand extended before the forehead of the Kaldi brother, who was at a loss for words.
It was the stance for a dekopin—a finger flick. At the fingertip shining red, the Kaldi brother's mouth twitched.
"Wa, wait Boss. As intelligent humans, first let's have a peaceful discussio—ogoh!?"
"B-Big Broooo!?"
By the finger flicked without question, the Kaldi brother went flying magnificently and dived into the fountain.
The Counter-Battle was, of course, a victory for Kuro and his partner.
"Extra income. Lucky!"
With earnings exceeding what she spent treating Kuro, Pina was in a good mood, putting a bounce in her step on the way back.
"How was it, Kuro? Before doing a Counter-Battle with Conrad, wasn't it good practice?"
"I guess so. So that's what it feels like, a Counter-Battle."
After that, the Kaldi sister paid the 10,000 points, picked up her dizzy brother, and retreated while shouting the idiotic parting line, "Stuuupid stuuupid! You're super stuuupid!" They were a bunch whose intentions, from entrance to exit, were completely incomprehensible.
"But we ran out of time for sightseeing. Sorry, even though it's your precious first day."
"There will be chances in the future, so show me around again if you like. I'll treat you next time."
"Aha, sure!"
Having nodded happily at the next promise, Pina's smile suddenly vanished.
"By the way. Is the reason Kuro came to the Academy Archipelago related to that ability?"
"Ah... you can tell?"
"I can tell. After all, there's no magic in the Earth World, right?"
"Almost none, yeah."
In truth, it wasn't that the existence of magic was completely absent from Earth. Due to accidental spatial distortions, organisms and substances from the Heaven Disc World would rarely wander in. In Japan, the Watarase family had long borne the duty of managing drifters from the other world.
But an existence born with magic on Earth like Kuro was not in the Watarase family's records either.
"Humans who can handle magic without a Mana Crystal don't exist in the Heaven Disc World either, right?"
"Yup. As far as I know, they don't. I think Kuro is a valuable talent. If USE, where magic research is thriving, saw Kuro, they'd probably be super happy."
"Not happy about that. Or rather, Pina wasn't that surprised when you saw my ability, right?"
"In the Academy Archipelago, there are people with all kinds of abilities. I can't be surprised by just a little thing."
"I suppose so. But that shouldn't be all."
The Kaldi siblings, also students of the Academy Archipelago, didn't seem surprised by Kuro's ability itself, but they reacted to the fact that Kuro didn't have a Mana Crystal. That was why Kuro strengthened his tone with conviction.
"You know, don't you, Pina? About beings like me in your world. The ones who aren't human, who handle magic without a Mana Crystal, who are similar to me."
Pina's reaction upon seeing Kuro's ability was that of a human who knew of the existence of natural magic users.
Realizing his voice had become intimidating at Pina's silence, Kuro came to his senses.
"Ah, no, sorry. It's not like I want to force it out of you or anything."
"But... you want to ask, right?"
"That is... yes. I want to ask."
To Kuro, who ultimately took a humble stance, Pina smiled saying it can't be helped and glanced at his arm.
"I know because we fought together earlier, but Kuro's source of magic is blood, right?"
"Probably. I didn't have a chance to investigate on Earth, but my blood glows and it becomes like this."
Kuro demonstrated by bringing the red patterns to the surface of his palm.
The patterns that appeared when Kuro used his ability were his blood vessels glowing and showing through the skin. Seeing that, Pina narrowed her eyes.
"Humanity's natural enemy in the Heaven Disc World is also an existence whose internal blood becomes magic. That species is famous even in the Earth World, right?"
"On Earth, they were thought to be products of fantasy, so only the name and existence are known, though."
Nodding to each other, Kuro and Pina spoke the name of the species that was humanity's natural enemy simultaneously.
"[Vampire]."
Terrifying physical strength, regenerative power that seems immortal, and an unaging nature where physical age does not decline. And, a biological organism like a disease to humanity that sips people's lifeblood to create kin—[Vampire].
In the Heaven Disc World, they are humanity's natural enemy, and even in the Earth World, they are an existence that has continued to be spoken of while lurking in the darkness of history. In Japan, they are also the arch-enemy the Watarase family has fought for many years with a single katana.
The monsters named 'Blood-Sucking Demons' as products of fantasy on Earth were now no longer doubted to exist. They were unified under the noun Vampire, matching the designation in the Heaven Disc World.
"Vampires have hearts that turn blood into magic."
"Is, that so. As I thought."
Hearing an ecology so close to his own ability, a sigh of understanding escaped him.
He had vaguely predicted it. The records faintly remaining in the Watarase family suggested it.
Kuro's birth had a close connection to the Vampires, the natural enemy of humanity.
"I wonder if one of my parents was a Vampire..."
"I don't think Kuro is something like that."
"Who knows. Even I think I'm far from human."
"I'm telling you, it's different. I think Kuro just ended up with a similar nature because your abilities are similar, you know?"
"It's fine, you don't have to force a follow-up."
To Pina's consolation, which sounded irresponsible, Kuro spoke in desperation.
"Even on Earth, I was surrounded by people involved in handling that kind of thing. Even if told now that I'm a member of the monsters, it's not a shock."
"Acting tough agaaain. Can't trust what I say?"
"Well, yeah. Pina is a student, right? You wouldn't happen to be an expert on Vampires, and—"
Magicians of the Heaven Disc World seemed to be in a position to fight Vampires. Kuro, who had underestimated that she was at most related to that, stopped his line seeing Pina now.
She pulled the corner of her mouth, showing Kuro a canine tooth longer than a person's.
"Ah, you noticed?"
Releasing her finger from her mouth, Pina smiled with the tip of her sharp canine resting on her lower lip.
"I am a [Dampiel], born between a human and a Vampire."
At the unexpected confession, Kuro opened his eyes wide.
Between humans and Vampires, children are rarely born. The existence Kuro thought he might be was a [Dampiel].
It wasn't a matter of experts or whatever. Pina was the very person born between a human and a Vampire.
"Kuro isn't a Dampiel like me. See, the features are totally different. I saw when we had crepes, but Kuro's canines aren't fangs, right?"
At Pina showing her long-extended fangs once more, Kuro fell silent.
Only now did Conrad's attitude of looking down on Pina more than necessary make sense.
In the society of the Heaven Disc World, another world connected to Earth, being born a Dampiel could not be a blessing. After all, Vampires were treated as humanity's natural enemy.
Pina, a Dampiel, was born to receive the discrimination existing in the Heaven Disc World all by herself.
"...Sorry. I said selfish things without knowing Pina's circumstances."
"It's fiiine. Don't worry about it... is impossible to ask, huh."
Seeing Kuro's face regretting his own words, Pina smiled wryly mid-sentence.
"Then, how about this. Kuro didn't discriminate even after knowing I'm a Dampiel. That made me happy, so I'll forgive you for earlier."
There was no shadow in her light smile, and Pina's voice was infinitely bright and gentle.
"Like I'd discriminate. I'm not that guy Conrad."
"There are plenty who do, you knoow? Over there, it's a position where you'd be thrown into a freak show."
"A freak show..."
He started to say "that's ridiculous," but fell silent at the darkness in Pina's self-deprecating face.
Those words might not be a hypothetical metaphor, but an actual experience. At Kuro's reaction of gasping, Pina switched her expression to a bright smile and clapped her hands pan.
"Okay, gloomy talk is oooover! What's important in my life story is the reason I love Laurier-chan."
With a face hiding seriousness beneath a mischievous smile, Pina spoke.
"Being shunned as a Dampiel, it was only after meeting Laurier-chan that I could properly become human. That's why I will side with Laurier-chan even if I have to bet my life."
That was the true feeling of a girl who had experienced persecution from her surroundings due to her birth.
Precisely because she was born unable to hope for normal treatment, she needed another person to obtain the natural realization that she was human. The feelings of one treated as a foreign object by society were relatable to Kuro, who needed Karane to be normal.
"Be-siiides. Kuro has a girl he's close with named Karane-chan, riiight? Acting unfortunate with that is a bit of a luxury, isn't it!"
"L-Like I said, I don't have that kind of relationship with Karane! I have zero experience dating girls anyway!"
"Aha, is that so."
I'll let you have it that way, she seemed to say as she laughed mischievously and pulled back.
"Quite the romance amateur. You're so cuuute, Kuro."
"Shut up. Is Pina a battle-hardened romance expert, then?"
"Eh?"
Pina blinked her red eyes pachikuri.
"Now that you mention it, I'm a romance amateur too. Same as Kuro."
Smiling at finding a common point, Pina stopped walking. They had arrived at Tritonis Academy.
"I'm going to go to Laurier-chan in the principal's office. I left the dorm tour to Haruhana in that building."
"Got it. Thanks for everything today, Pina."
Watching the back of Pina entering the school building, Kuro turned his steps toward the building she had pointed out.
The Tritonis Academy school building possessed a stylish appearance, with blue roofing and white wall materials.
From Kuro’s perspective, the campus was centered around a slightly retro schoolhouse, with several facilities scattered across the grounds.
The building Kuro had entered was the indoor pool. The water’s surface shimmered as it reflected the light, the splashing sounds of splish-splash echoing through the hall.
"Kuro-dono! What is the matter?"
Noticing Kuro’s entry and climbing out of the pool was Haruhana.
Since she had been swimming, it was only natural, but she was wearing a standard school swimsuit without her usual knee-high socks. Despite her petite stature, she possessed outstandingly feminine curves, and Kuro instinctively averted his gaze from her exposed figure.
"I-I'm not peeping or anything like that! Please don't misunderstand, I beg you!"
"Huh? I am merely swimming here, so there is no peeping involved."
"O-Oh, really? Is that so... Maybe?"
While Kuro was thrown into confusion, unable to answer the philosophical proposition of whether a boy seeing a girl swimming without permission constituted a 'peeping tom,' Haruhana showed no signs of minding being seen.
"Um, I heard that you were going to guide me to the dorms, Haruhana. I'm not in the wrong place, am I...?"
"Ah, I have heard about that as well! I am performing my cool-down stretches, so please wait a moment... Ah, I know!"
Taking off her swim cap, Haruhana shook the water from her pale crimson hair and held out a hand with an innocent smile.
"If it pleases you, Kuro-dono, let us stretch together!"
"There is no way I can do that, what are you saying, Haruhana?"
Hearing such an impossible proposal, Kuro went straight-faced and fired back a denial and a question in a single breath.
However, Haruhana didn't seem to understand what was wrong with her statement.
"Why is that? Flexibility exercises are more efficient in pairs, are they not?"
"Listen, Haruhana. When I say I can't... I mean I can't."
"Ah, yes. Is that so...?"
High school boys were creatures whose biology dictated that they would easily fall in love if they made physical contact with a girl like Haruhana, who possessed some of the best development in their grade. When Kuro asked—using incomprehensible grammar—how she would take responsibility if he accidentally fell for her, Haruhana tilted her head.
"Was it such a difficult matter...? No, it is true that I am currently wet. I was about to cause you trouble again, Kuro-dono."
Finding a logic that satisfied her, Haruhana began stretching alone. Her body was flexible. With her legs spread wide, chest pressed to the floor in a forward bend, and her chest changing shape significantly due to the pressure—her body was flexible in a double meaning.
Seeing her defenseless figure, utterly unconcerned with gender differences or adolescent sensibilities, Kuro turned his back and sat on the floor, hugging his knees. The flat, hard wall brought peace to Kuro's vision and his heart.
"What is the matter? I believe there is nothing over in that direction."
"No, well, you know. I'm a guy, okay? I'd be happy to look, you know? That's just a healthy instinct, right?"
"Instinct? I do not understand well, but if it is healthy and makes you happy, is that not fine?"
"Please spare me."
Begging for forgiveness while still hugging his knees, Kuro hung his head. He was filled with the urge to demand who was responsible for the emotional development of Haruhana, who was supposed to be the same age as him.
"Guys have, like, a sense of guilt when their instincts get too happy, you know..."
"Perhaps because I am a fool, I do not quite understand what you are saying, Kuro-dono."
"You don't need to understand... Come to think of it, Haruhana, what do you think of this school?"
"I love this school very much. And I welcome you with open arms, Kuro-dono!"
When Kuro changed the subject to forget the current situation, a bouncing voice came from behind him.
"You do not need to worry about the debt either, Kuro-dono. If push comes to shove, it will be resolved if I transfer somewhere else. It would not be my first time being sold, so there is no need for concern!"
"Eh?"
The phrase "being sold" made his voice slip out involuntarily.
"Ah, I suppose that does not happen in the Earth World."
"No, well, I wouldn't say it never happens... but what do you mean, money comes in if you transfer?"
"In the Academy Archipelago, when a student transfers, the accepting school must pay money to the previous school."
Behind Kuro, Haruhana laughed proudly.
"The minimum transfer fee is calculated by the Gobots. Since I am quite an amazing magician, my transfer fee would be an amazing amount!"
If it was a magician of Haruhana's caliber, there were surely countless schools that would pay top dollar for her. The culture of Duels likely existed as a rule to prevent reckless poaching, but ironically, it was also a system where Haruhana's expression of "being sold" applied perfectly.
"It was the same when I was sold in my hometown. I was born in a poor place, and I had no parents. However, I had talent as a magician!"
Though it should have been a tragic story, Haruhana's voice behind him was bright and cheerful.
"I hear I sold for a high price."
He didn't know how to answer.
It was said that the Heaven Disc World was historically behind compared to the Earth World.
The difference was a little over two hundred years. It wasn't just a technological gap; there was a two-hundred-year gap in ethics as well.
Perhaps Haruhana's undeveloped emotions were a product of the ethical values separated by worlds.
"After the place I was sold to disappeared, I met Laurier... well, that part is a personal matter. In any case, if I transfer to another school, the debt can be repaid!"
"Why... would you go that far?"
"My strength translates to money. If selling myself saves Laurier and Pina, then my strength is not wasted. It is my heart's desire!"
Haruhana spoke with boundless brightness and stood up behind Kuro.
Her words were so devoid of hesitation that Kuro, who had come to the Academy Archipelago with the vague reason of "spending his youth," was struck by self-loathing.
"Now then, I will go take a shower, so please wait a moment!"
Leaving a speechless Kuro behind, Haruhana headed for the shower room.
Left alone, Kuro ruminated on the day's conversation in his head.
Pina, who was discriminated against by those around her for being born a [Dampiel]. Haruhana, who was sold off because she had too much talent as a magician. And Laurier, who was trying to protect the place where these two belonged.
Even if they were reviled as a weak school, even if they were on the verge of closure—desperately, to the point of sometimes looking pathetic.
"The meaning of strength, huh."
He had thought there was no such thing.
Kuro's strength had been continuously suppressed, and the first future path he had chosen for himself had been denied.
"...They're tough, the girls at this school."
The gloom he had voiced in front of Karane at the Umihotaru Terminal Area had not yet cleared.
But perhaps, just maybe, he wouldn't regret enrolling in Tritonis Academy.
"Thank you for waiting!"
Without much of a wait, Haruhana returned from her shower. She was dressed in the same jersey jacket and knee-high socks as when Kuro first met her, holding a swimsuit bag in her hand.
"No, I didn't wait long. Besides, about earlier. Thanks for telling me."
"If it was of any reference, then I am happy!"
As Kuro left the pool with the innocently smiling Haruhana, he was suddenly seized by a suspicion.
Haruhana's current outfit was unchanged from their first encounter. However, she had just showered after the pool. Her school swimsuit should be inside the bag hanging from her shoulder.
If so, what was going on underneath Haruhana's jersey right now?
"Haruhana. That jersey—"
"Is something the matter with this jersey?"
"Ah, no."
Having half-voiced his question, he realized it was sensitive and deflected.
"The jersey you're wearing is pretty big, right! Is that just your style?"
"Ah, you mean that! Actually, this is the perfect size?"
The smiling Haruhana threw her arms wide to show off the fit. The hem of the jersey, which didn't even cover half of her thighs, lifted up, crossing the line from "barely safe" to "probably out."
"When I match the size to my breasts, this is the length it becomes!"
"Sugarcoat your words! This is an era where girls should be considerate of boys too! Hey!?"
As Kuro shouted with all his might, Haruhana tilted her head in genuine puzzlement.
At the same time Kuro was making a fuss with Haruhana, Pina and Laurier were in the Principal's office.
"Laurier-chan, reflect deeeeply on today, okay?"
"Well, um... yes. I am reflecting, you know..."
At the umpteenth reminder of the day, Laurier pursed her lips. She was indeed reflecting on her impulsive snatching of the documents, but being scolded repeatedly had made her sulk a little.
"More importantly, about Kuro-sama. What do you think? I heard the story from Haruhana, but there were many things hard to believe. I want to hear your impression, Pina."
Leaving Kuro and Pina alone at that convenience store had been to let them act together naturally. During today's sightseeing, Pina had consciously closed the distance with Kuro to probe into his character.
"Personality-wise, he gets a double circle. He's super easy to talk to, and he wasn't weirdly aggressive when we were together. Even you could get along with Kuro despite having zero immunity to guys, Laurier-chan, so rest easy!"
"I-It is not that I have no immunity! I simply have had few opportunities to interact with gentlemen. I was speaking normally with Kuro-sama today too!"
"Yeah, yeah. As for his evaluation as a magician... Kuro might be a bit of a genius."
"You think so, Pina?"
At the unexpected report, Laurier looked surprised.
"Kuro-sama has only just arrived from the Earth World, has he not? And yet, that is your evaluation?"
"We had a chance to have a Duel in the park plaza, and he was strong. The bit about him fighting Haruhana isn't a total lie, I think. And it's true he can handle magic without a [Mana Crystal]."
As Pina evaluated Kuro, separating speculation from fact, Laurier crossed her arms.
"Without a [Mana Crystal], you say. Even Haruhana takes the proper steps for magic usage a bit more sensibly... It is perplexing."
"It's kiiiinda frustrating, actually. I don't think I can win unless I drag him into a situation that's super advantageous for me."
At her self-deprecating laugh, Laurier puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.
"Regardless of how Kuro-sama is, it does not change the fact that you are my proud aide and best friend, Pina! However, if Kuro-sama is that capable... the conversation changes slightly."
"What's wrong? Isn't it lucky? The guy who enrolled is strong, right?"
"If it was truly just good luck, that is. 'When convenient fortune comes flying in, first suspect the schemes of others,' is what Elder Sister always said."
Laurier, who had received education directly from her sister, the next sovereign, leaned back in her chair and looked up at the ceiling.
"The person Haruhana accidentally knocked out just happened to be an unenrolled human from the Earth World, whom we needed. Even if we accept that much... for that person to have talent as a magician, and possess abilities rare even between the two worlds? That is unexpected good fortune. ...To the point where I feel some artifice."
"Says the Laurier-chan who tried to trick that Kuro into enrolling~?"
"G-Goodness, that is enough about that! We are talking about Kuro-sama now!"
"Even if you say that, Kuro didn't seem to have any hidden side, you know? I mean, no matter how you look at him, he's a super good-natured, cuuute boy."
To probe Kuro's character, Pina had acted a bit overly friendly when they talked at the convenience store, but around the time they were at the park plaza, she had genuinely felt they could be friends. By the second half, she was pretty much just being herself.
"...Also. I was happy that he didn't care when he heard about my birth."
"That is... wonderful."
Hearing Pina's words, Laurier relaxed her cheeks and looked toward the window.
The sky had been dyed a madder red before they knew it. Time in the Academy Archipelago followed the region around the Great Hole in Old Tokyo Bay, which connected the two worlds, and the Canopy Fracture Scar.
"Your judgment is reliable, Pina, but we cannot deny the possibility that that man—Ginion—had a hand in the circumstances of Kuro-sama's arrival. I will assess him myself in tomorrow's Duel."
"Prioritizing Kuro... you're pretty confident, Laurier-chan. Feeling like Conrad isn't even an enemy?"
"Naturally. We have Haruhana on our side, do we not?"
Convinced of her advantage, Laurier floated a confident smile.
"Conrad must be in a panic making excuses to Ginion right about now!"
In his room at the 107 Branch School dorms, Conrad was burning with anxiety.
"Like I said, if you guys just lend me your strength... Ah, wait—dammit."
He slammed the smartphone, on which the call had ended despite his pleading, onto the floor in a fit of impulse. The LCD screen cracked, but Conrad had absolutely no composure to care about that now.
The Duel had been decided in a slide. He had tried to borrow manpower from someone at St. Guinness Girls' Academy, to whom Laurier owed debt, but he was coldly rejected, told that it had nothing to do with personal circumstances.
Faced with the fact that his faint chance of victory had been crushed, Conrad tore at his hair.
"Dammit, dammit dammit dammit! What Duel? It's Haruhana Bacchus! There's no way it'll be a match against that monster...!"
The Academy Archipelago's Fifth Seat, [Black Box] Haruhana Bacchus.
She was undeniably a monster. In the Academy Archipelago, where over a million students studied and competed in magic, she was one of the nine who had climbed to the highest title of [Single Numbers]. Her fame as a powerhouse resounded not just in the archipelago but even in the Heaven Disc World, the home of magicians; her level far exceeded that of a student.
Because she was so strong, he had driven Tritonis Academy into a situation where they couldn't hold a Duel, but because that boy decided to enroll, the stage was now set for Haruhana to display her true worth.
"What should I do...? If Brother finds out about this—"
"You're being noisy, Conrad."
Hearing the voice, he cringed in shock.
When Conrad turned around, a young man with a long face that gave a neurotic impression was standing there. He was in his mid-twenties, a rare adult in the Academy Archipelago.
He was the very person who had betrayed Laurier and created the 107 Branch School: Ginion Ponelea.
"B-Brother."
Conrad welcomed his brother with a twitching smile.
"I-It's nothing. During the debt collection at Tritonis Academy, something a little aggravating..."
"[Grow]."
A magic chant cut off Conrad's excuse. Plant vines extended from Ginion's cuffs, wrapping around Conrad's throat and hoisting him up.
"Gugh, ah... Bro, ther...!"
"Did you think I wouldn't know, Conrad? I hear a Duel with Her Highness Laurier has been established."
"Ah— M-My bad! Forgive me, Brother!!"
At the desperate apology, the vines restraining Conrad unraveled. Looking down at the coughing Conrad, Ginion smiled with eerie gentleness.
"No, it's fine. Rarely for a fool like you, you've created a chance."
"C-Chance?"
Not understanding his brother's words, his gaze wandered timidly. Conrad himself was aware he had committed a monumental blunder.
"Yes, that's right. If we win the Duel with Her Highness Laurier, we get full rights to Tritonis Academy, don't we?"
"If we win... but, Brother. That Haruhana is there, you know...?"
"Haha. Use your head a little, Conrad. You are a student, are you not?"
Ginion chuckled at his younger brother, who was frightened by the enemy's strength and overlooking the opportunity.
"This is the Academy Archipelago. As long as it is a conflict between students, this is a wonderful place where you will not be punished by law no matter how cowardly you are, isn't it?"
The principal of the 107 Branch School, Ginion Ponelea, declared with an ominous suspicion.
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