Vol 8 Chapter 2 (1/2)

<gryps>

“Wow…… it really did change completely”

When overlooking it froe was changed into so completely different

First of all, the change, which caught one’s eyes first and foree The protection that Allekant developed was filled there, and now the stage beca on a lake It seeel unfolded to spread around the stage when a match is started

Further protective field was placed in addition to the protective gel It ithout doubt the perfect safety measure

“Though it seerade in order to raise the audience’s safety, it is definitely overkill”

Julis, standing next to Ayato, had an amazed face

Kirin and Saya stood at the audience seating’s front row a little ahead, and were talking about so

Though the opening cere tearaded hall before it began

Therefore, the audience seating, which could originally accommodate about 100,000 people, was still alely forlorn

“Fufufu, it can’t be helped After all, it seerated Enterprise Foundation’s top brass will come to watch matches in the next <lindvolus> It’d be a serious matter if they were to be hurt by any chance”

“The top brass, is it? Hmm…… if that’s true, then I can understand this excessive prudence”

“I hear that Co them hold up the next “Great Conference (Concordia)” in this Asterisk And by that flow, they see the finals and participate to the ceremony”

Speaking of the Integrated Enterprise Foundation’s top brass, it could be said that substantially they were thethe present world They rarely appeared in public, but it was said that several representatives frorated Enterprise Foundation branch attended a su called “Great Conference (Concordia)” which occurs in an interval of several years, and perfor term interest adjustments

“The last tireat renovation was over If thedoes occur [1], it’ll be the first time in about 40 years, huh Of course, the h”

“Still…… is the Management Committee Chairman someone allowed to have that much influence?”

──The <festa>’s current Management Committee Chairman Madiath Mesa

As far as he heard a lot of stories ── and even assu where Ayato himself met him directly several tiive off any bad i been kidnapped and thefound Haruka, he had he helped as best as he could

However, Ayato did not forget the advice that he received froa Lindvall before

『──Don’t trust Madiath Mesa too much』

These words properly remained in Ayato’s heart even now

“Let’s see Speaking of position, Committee Chairman Madiath Mesa is only a ins/lineage, he shouldn’t expect any , it is i to do with the site decision of the “Great Conference (Concordia)”, but……”

Claudia slightly lowered her voice and answered Ayato’s question

“The <festa> holds an extrerated Enterprise Foundation After all, it is the one and only event for which the six Integrated Enterprise Foundations jointly hold aCorated Enterprise Foundation, and the number of people is adjusted so as to become a constant ratio I do not even need to explain how eht?”

“In other words, he’ll be in an exceptionally strong position?”

“Although, it may also be said that he is in a position where his neck will be imement Committee Chairman seemed to have evaded such a situation due his political ability, but at least Committee Chairman Madiath Mesa has showed results with no room for criticism at the moment”

“……”

As expected, without doubt he seemed to be a quite able person

Be that as it may, there was still too little information to ascertain the human called Madiath Mesa

“I am sorry to disturb you in the middle of your pleasant talk, but can I have a little of your tientlemen of the team Enfield?”

──And, a cool and familiar voice came from their rear

St Garrardsworth Acadee, which was the symbol of order, stood behind them with an orderly appearance Julis who saw it opened her eyes wide; Kirin and Saya responded with surprised faces, too

“It’s been a while since the School Festival, eh, Fairclough-san”

When Ayato said so and held out his right hand, the young h, with a handsome face, shook the hand with a perfect smile, similar to Claudia’s

“I airi-kun”

Ernest brought ten Garrardsworth’s students along with him

Which means──

“hello, Mr <holy knight=””> To shoith teaant of you”

Claudia returned a sireet the party

Regarding the teae one=””> fro theryps> champion team

Although teae one=””> from the rank 6 to rank 10, was co, when compared with team Lancelot There should also be , but ability wise, those two teams stood out the most

“What, there were people insisting of wanting to greeting you people by all means after all”

At the saeous golden hair quietly stepped forward

“Ohtime, Laetitia”

“Yes, really ── it’s been quite a while……! Tree years since that hue has finally coainst you this time for sure, Claudia!”

That woaze at Claudia was St Garrardsworth Academy rank 2, Laetitia Blanchard also known as the <witch of=”” light=”” wings=””>

“Revenge? Weren’t you the ones that won that match?”

“This isn’t about the outcome of the match; it’s a problem of my personal pride!”

Claudia who dodged Laetitia while fickly laughing

Taking a sidelong glance at her, Julis muttered as she was amazed

“Haah…… Geez, they haven’t changed at all, these girls……”

“Are you acquainted with her, too, Julis?”

When Ayato asked, Julis turned her eyes for an instant with folded arms

Speaking of Garrardsworth, there were rumors only about Ernest; but the ability of Laetitia supporting hi to be underestimated at all As far as he watched thethe five best in Asterisk

“……Like Claudia, I have met her many times at the Opera House Ball She seems to be old acquaintance with Claudia, more than me, but even back then whenever they met each other, it’d always turn out like this Laetitia seemed to hold some sort of rivalry towards Claudia”

“Heeh, what should I say…… that sounds a”

To think of cohting spirit

“Apparently, the Blanchard House has a deep connection with the Enfield House and it continued until the present age, but……”

“I can hear you, Julis”

Laetitia intensely glared at Julis

“I’ll tell this in advance, but it has nothing to do with our Houses This is only a problem between me and Claudia”

“Well, excuse me for that”

Julis averted her gaze and ducked her head

Judging froes, she seemed to have a friendly relationshi+p than Ayato initially thought

“And above all, as an old frien…… ahem! No, as an acquaintance, I cannot silently overlook you for trying to realize an absurd and foolish dream I will smash it to smithereens without fail, so prepare yourself!”

Laetitia thrust a finger at Claudia and declared so

(Frooal……?)

Though Ayato and company have already heard about Claudia’s wish ── they did not know yet anything after that ── that is, they did not knohat kind of vision she was trying to achieve

If Laetitia knew it, she ht have a closer connection with Claudia than what Julis said

“Well whatever In any case, if you are trying to win in the <gryps>, then you will definitely fight against us Though, if you were to trip up in the preliminaries, it will be an enjoyable show on its own”

The matchups of the preliminaries ── until the third round have already been announced, but because like in the

, it was arranged so that the prominent teams did not confront each other there; so at least until the fourth round, where the drawings would be held again, they would not encounter team Lancelot and team Tristan until then

“──Is it fine already, Laetitia-senpai?”

What interrupted them was a voice Ayato too was familiar with

“I ae”

“Elliot……”

Laetitia took a step backith a reluctant face

“It has been a while, Airi-san”

Having greeted Ayato with a light s sword=”” (claíomh=”” solais[2])=””> Elliot Forster who confronted Ayato in the previous

He excelled at counter, and speaking of sword ability, he was a genius who emitted a vibe that could match Kirin

Last tiainst sword skill with him without <ser-versta>, but Ayato was able to be barely overcome him

But, that was last year

“Wow…… looks like you’ve improved your skills quite a bit If I’ht?”

Ayato, who saw Elliot’s figure up close after one year, could not hide his surprise at Elliot’s growth

His fluffy curly hair was the sah the fact that his height was still soree was undeniable, one was able to perceive that his hands and feet which grew niot flexible muscles even from over his uniform

“No, I aet the hue was smashed by you”

Elliot fearlessly smiled as he said so

“At least, I intend to be diligent so as not to end up showing such an unsightly fight again”

Contrary to his words, his eyes full of confidence, and the sharp sword essence that he could not hide blurred from within his body

“……Ayato-senpai”

“Yes I know, Kirin-chan”

To Kirin’s tense voice, Ayato gave a small nod

Kirin probably felt the ability of the young boy in front of them It was natural as she was a soman herself

That was howboy in front of them kept it to himself

“I think you will knoswords with me I look forward to our match”

Elliot who politely bowed stepped back to Ernest’s side

“It is often said that defeat row, but…… the current Elliot is a different person frouess that I iri-kun”

Ernest happily put his hand on Elliot’s shoulder

And

“──Though, I too did not lose the feeling of crossing swords with you”

He said that and smiled softly

“Ayato, popular”

Though he heard Saya’svoice, Ayato, as about to respond, noticed <ser-versta> slightly shaking on his waist

“Oh dear……”

Upon close inspection, the activation body of the ogre lux hung on Ernest’s waist ── <lei-gle, too

“This is……”

“Fufufu, perhaps they , too After all, it has been several years since the last time when the demon swords of the four colors have confronted like this”

The Dere luxes <ser-versta>, <lei-glems>, <demon sword=”” of=”” the=”” red=”” mist=”” (raksha=”” nada)=””> and <demon sword=”” of=”” the=”” blue=”” sound=”” (wole=”” sein)=””> But even in the long history of the <festa>, there has never once been a precedent where all these ogre luxes got a wielder in the same period

It was that currently, no one compatible with <wole sein=””> has appeared; and <raksha nada=””> was left in seal state

“I heard that they were all made in the same laboratory If that’s the case, then have they missed each other, or……”

Ernest deliberately did not spin his words to the end, and clapped his hands as to change the topic Such action, too, as expected was somehow similar to Claudia’s The tere probably humans of the same type

“Well then, I am sorry to have taken your time Let’s mutually do our best, fair and square See you later ── preferably on the field of the battle”

While seeing off Garrardsworth’s party leaving in perfect order, Claudia slightly laughed

“You have it tough in a lot ways, huh, Ayato”

Ayato could only return a wry smile to these words＊“Though there is no need to say it now, the level of the <festa> rises each time it is held up…… Ah, I will supple to look down on the past heroes You may, to the bitter end, think of it as talk of a case when one based oneself on mean values such as physical data”

The 24th <gryps> opening ceremony

Looking around at the participating students standing in a row, Madiath Mesa continued his speech

In the newly renovated stage, like the

opening cere each acadehted up the spotlight turned towards Madiath on the dais

“In nize that the Guard Captain Helga’s strength is soht? But, even if co prana, which is one entleeneration in which she is categorized This is clear even in terms of numerical value”

As usual a calm voice, yet cheerful tone Madiath’s speech so which attracted people

The stands, which were eallery filling the down their ra enthusiasm

“Furthermore, the evolution of tactics and development of luxes are also remarkable The Rectoluz released recently is the very syression; just to tell you that I sometimes think ‘if only there was that in my active service period’ Well, whether or not I would have been able to handle it is a different h”

To Madiath, who threw in a joke, the hall’s atmosphere suddenly loosened

When looking up, the extra-large space screen unfolded in every direction of the lighting installation and projected Madiath’s wry smile close-up

“Speaking of which…… the coht?”

“Yes What about it?”

As Ayato posed a question that suddenly came to mind to Julis, she replied in a low voice

“No, I just wonder what kind of person his tag partner was”

“Hmm…… If I’m not mistaken, I remember that it was a woman; but I can’t recall her na time since I watched those match videos”

Julis put a finger on her temple and shut her eyes as she searched her mind

“I see…… Thank you”

Even thinking about it in tere, it was probably before Ayato and company were born that Madiath had won the

If it’s the inquisitive e that she had checked all of theall of theent

“Is there so you about it?”

“No, that’s not it, but”