Vol 1 Chapter 1 (1/2)

Chapter 1— One Who Hunts Dragons

(1)

A single paved road ran through the acaderounds in a north-south direction

This road was known as thethe various lecture halls and auditoriu hall together During lunch break, students would throng up and down it

It was a clear and sunny Monday As expected, the streets were croith students during today’s lunch break as well

Rather abruptly, the bustle subsided

A wave of nervous fear spread through the crowd, the students turning around one after another to look at the source

Behind theolden hair fluttering behind her

She had graceful features, and her body ell-proportioned She was such a beautiful girl that you could almost see the air around her sparkle, but she had a sour look on her face, which ruined her elfish beauty A hostile aura was e from her, like she was some sort of ferocious beast

A s on top of the hat she earing

It couldn’t be called anything other than a dragon Its head resembled a cross between a lizard and a crocodile, but the expression on its face wason its forehead, and its body structure reses across its back, so rather than saying it reses it would be better to say they were similar to a butterfly’s Its whole body was covered in steel-coloured scales

“It’s like Moses parting the Red Sea”

The dragon on her hat spoke It had a surprisingly low voice for its size

Like the dragon had said, a path in front of the girl was opening up, the sea of people in front of her rapidly splitting neatly into two

“Everyone’s scared of you”

“Hmph That’s what usually happens”

“What you call usual, is the probleht there Even if the true identity of Cannibal Candy was you, the level of fear people would have of you wouldn’t be as great as the level you are at right now”

At that ly having stu

Noticing the girl, he began to shake violently

“Aaa, ah I’m sorry! Don’t kill me, please!”

“… Scram”

“Yesssssss!”

He hurriedly scrae was irl pouted

“You’re right, it does seem a little unreasonable How can people be that scared of me?”

“Because you are that scary You’re the girl who, barely having stepped foot into the academy, sent five seniors to the hospital”

“I was just punishi+ng the to invite me to join their club or whatever, but since they were a little too touchy-feely for er, and so…”

“Then there was that time when you shoved your room mate out of the ”

“That was force irl tried to sneak into the bathroom, so because that irked me— I mean, to protect a maiden’s secrets, I had to do it”

“Would you also call the destruction of the anato forceso many valuable specimens, you know”

“…”

“And how about that ti fire to the whole garden?”

“Quiet, Sige your chicken to chickpeas”

“I’m not a bird, Charl Chickpeas alone will not sustain my body”

The blonde girl— Charl made no effort to hide her irritation as she strode on with large steps

However, the dragon didn’t give up, and continued on

“How aboutsome friends? I think the reaction froe as well”

“Everyone here in the academy is an enemy They’re all hindrances in the way of the Wise familiar with anyone of them”

“That sort of attitude will cause you to reet a boyfriend at this rate Are you fine with being unpopular for the rest of your life?”

“Who’re you calling unpopular? There’s no way all the irl like me Even now they approachover a rafflesia flower”

“While a rafflesia is a perfect name for you—it means someone who people hold their noses and flee fro whatever you feel like doing, there’s no way a stubborn donkey like you could ever— Oh, I stand corrected It looks like you have drawn in a fly after all Although it looks like he has so with him already”

Raising a foreli right in the e pair

One of the what look liked a military issue harness on top of his uniform, which orn out of shape The harness see packed full of ic stones and alint in his eye, and his body shape was sharp and angular

The other was a girl She wasn’t wearing a school unifor a splendid attire, probably a kis, called an Ukiyoe or so She was short and had a small face, like she was a doll— no, Charl was ninety-nine percent sure she was an automaton

In any case, both had faces which she had never seen before

While her eye was turned by the intricate craftsmanshi+p of the automaton, the youth had brazenly spoken

“Lady Charlotte Belew, I presume”

He spoke his lines like he was acting in a play, and had an arrogant sht… would be difficult, but fro he had an oriental charm to him

“Sophomore year in the academy; a member of the Rounds, who coht Party London book it, whichcandidates for the Wiseman’s throne”

He smoothly recited Charl’s profile

“Registration Code Tyrant Rex I guess you really are like a fearsoon”

He finished in atone of voice However the look in his eyes was sharp in contrast, staring at Charl’s hand— or love Made of silk, it shi+ht; the words [Tyrant Rex] had been woven into the pearl-white glove with gold thread This glove was special, only participants in the Night Party were issued one

Just who is this rude, ill-mannered boy?

Charl frowned petulantly, staring at the youth

“Since you know that ? What do you ith me?”

“Hand over your entry qualification”

She was dumbfounded by this statement For a brief moment, she couldn’t comprehend what he had just said

“… Are you challenging me to battle?”

“No Consider this more of an advance notice”

Charl sighed deeply

“Are you an idiot? Or perhaps— you must really want to die”

She radiated a killing aura, cold as ice

Instilling fear in the surrounding people, the students hurriedly retreated from the scene

Thus, rather abruptly, the lunch break on caround

(2)

Two days prior

It was evening, and in the di all over

“Out of a thousand two hundred and thirty six people, I placed a thousand two hundred and thirty fifth…?”

Inside his clenched fist, was his so called test result

Upon entering the acadee his academic ability The examiner’s response to him had been chilly ever since thehis ability reduced to simple numbers made it hard to bear

“Please don’t feel so down”

Yaya was consoling hientle smile on her face

“Yaya knows all about the hellish training that Raishi+n has gone through Leaving aside written and oral examinations, there’s no way Raishi+n will lose in actual battle Aht?”

However, Raishi+n beca his head even further

“… Sorry, Yaya”

“Why are you apologising?”

“Here you are, one of the top class automata of the Karyuusai brand, easily worth as rades to be such a failure, I’m such a pathetic—“

“Don’t say that! All Yaya needs is to be together with Raishi+n…”

“How can I show my face to Shouko!?”

There was a weird sound as Yaya stiffened suddenly

“… Huh, Yaya? What’s with that upset expression on your face— wai, hold on, at least tell me why!”

“Shouko, Shouko, Shouko… It’s always nothing but Shouko…!”

Yaya was half in tears as she throttled Raishi+n by his neck

“At least now you know your place, Samurai Boy”

Suddenly, a voice cut in from the side A surprised Yaya released her hold on Raishi+n, causing him to fall down

Coughing violently, Raishi+n looked up to see a tall, beautiful wo in front of him

Her red hair ept up, and intelligence could be seen inside her blue eyes She earing the uniforlasses had been hung from her chest

Her cold beauty was fae of Raishi+n

“I’e of Machine Physics Unfortunately for the both of us, you’ve been assigned to me”

“Where are my manners? It’s nice to meet you I’m in your care then, Professor Kimberly”

Raishi+n did his greeting quickly Yaya flusteredly bowed in greeting as well

Ki a smile

“I congratulate you on e in the Far East, but your grades are the harsh reality If you wish to graduate, I suggest getting those credits, even if it kills you I especially recoet 6 credits in a nor an Oriental like you can even understand my lectures in the first place”

“Isn’t that a little racist?”

“I’m a philanthropist Whites, Blacks, Indians, Jews— they all equally bore e I hate idiots, and that’s all there is”

“I find it hard to believe you can actually call yourself a philanthropist with a straight face”

‘You’ll be staying in the tortoise dormitory It’s the place where all the students who can’t keep up with their classes go to, the worst of the worst Swing by whenever you’re free, and secure a room for yourself — That’s all I wanted to say”

“Wait a ht be a little quick, but there’s so I want to consult you on”

“Shoot”

“How do I get into the Night Party?”

Ki away, but at his question she unconsciously stopped

“There’s no way you don’t know this, right? The only ones who qualify to enter the Night Party are those with the best grades, and even frost them, only the top hundred qualify As you are now, you’re on the opposite end of the spectrum; so it’s useless to even talk about it”

“Plus the Night Party is about to commence shortly, so there’s only one round of entry tests left— I guess it’s really hopeless then?”

Raishi+n gave a self-deprecating laugh as he mocked himself

Kilance over in his direction

“ … The Night Party isn’t soant ball dance It’s a place where Machinart clash, until there is only one person left standing If you go at it with a half-assed attitude your life will be easily forfeit”

“So all I have to do is be the last one standing, right?”

Ki into slits, she looked at Raishi+n fro his value

“Why are you so fixated on the Night Party? Isn’t graduating froe this acadeet you ahead of others in life h?”

“I oal was to become the Wiseman”

“What do you desire? Riches? Fae? Power?”

“That question has noIf you become the Wiseman, you’ll obtain all of the above”

“That’s true Being the Wiseman means that you’re not bounded by the International Charter on Magic Arts and the code of ethics that all ’s off limits’ You could read prohibited books, use forbidden arts, or even perforenetic eneral in any military army of any country in the world”

“Heh, that was a rather lively talk”

“… Your objective isn’t riches It doesn’t look like you’re after fae and wisdom So, what then, are you after?”

Raishi+n didn’t answer He just stared back at Ki for even a second

The silence grew unbearable After a while,

“… Let ht Party is to select the preeneration Truly, we live in such a thoroughly meritocratic world Therefore, in the unlikely event that someone who has an entry qualification was to, say, be defeated in Machinart battle against someone who doesn’t have one—“

Like she was hinting at some sort of secret, Kimberly continued on in a low voice

“I think there’s a need for the Night Party Executive Coe the way it selects its participants, don’t you?”

“… Thank you for your instruction”

“Work hard I look forward to see splendid results, Mr Second Last”

Traces of a grin left on her face, Kimberly turned and vanished down the hallway

“… Somehow, I think she’s a little scary”

Yaya reservedly offered her impression of the professor

“Yeah But I don’t think she’s a bad person”

Although she had called Raishi+n an idiot, she hadn’t shot hi entry into the Night Party, she could have just told him that there was absolutely no way to enter; there was no need to discuss hypotheticals with him

“On the contrary, I think she ht be a fine woman”

“Raishi+n… so you really do prefer older women…!”

Ignoring a sobbing Yaya, he reflected over Kimberly’s words in his head

He was second last In order to place within the top hundred, he would have to surpass over a thousand people, the creaathered from all over the world—or he would have to eliminate them

(This probably isn’t sohly on the saic arts)

The possibility of hirades to rally into contention was zero

In that case

Worrying about Raishi+n, who had sunk into silence, Yaya drew her face closer to Raishi+n

“Shall we discuss this with Shouko?”

“I’ to turn to the military for advice There’s only one option for us anyway”

Raishi+n laughed wryly Even for his

“We’ll have to take part in the Night Party That’s the quickest way to killing him”

“But how— Have you thought of so?”

“Professor Kimberly said it If I want an entry qualification, I have to become like Momotaro”

“Are you going exchange s with someone?”

He shook his head Pursing his lips tightly, Raishi+n announced his plan

“I’ to rob a bunch of demons”

(3)

“Hey, you gotta see this! A foreign student challenged the T-Rex to a fight!”

“What!? Where’s he from? What kind of idiots do they raise there?”

“japan He’s an idiot from japan”

“japan? Is it the Izanagi style’s princess?”

“No, he’s a new guy that just arrived here two days ago”

“What’s a new guy doing with the T-rex? Is she spoiling for a fight?”

“No, it seeuy Apparently he wants her entry qualification”

“And of all people to challenge, he chose the T-rex… is he suicidal or so?”

“I don’t think so Look at him, he looks confident”

“Is he that strong? What rank is he?”

Naturally, the students’ attention became focused on him

Raishi+n was feeling uneasy on the inside, but he wore a relaxed look on his face, ignoring the looks that others were giving him, which were a mix of oddness, contempt and even unhappiness

“They always increase in nu rolls around”

Charl spat out those words as the dragon perched itself on her arm

“The number of idiots who don’t know their place, that is”

“I may be an idiot, but at least I know my place”

“Oh, really? What do you think it is then?

“I’m in the 1235th place”

Laughter broke out fro Yaya stared at the offenders, but Raishi+n’s face was still relaxed, not responding to the laughter

On the other hand, Charl was duape,

“I’m shocked You’re a real idiot The idiot of idiots An idiot that towers over all other idiots Your idiocy shi+nes like a beacon You said you were placed 1235th? How can you hope to win rade like that…”

She stopped

Raishi+n’s expression was still as calm as ever in the face of her derision

“Go ahead and laugh Quite honestly, my puppetry skills are third-rate at best If you co us, I’e and less talent However, there is one thing that sets me apart from them”

“… And that is?”

“I haven’t given up before I’ve started”

The laughter died

Charl looked around, and everyone was averting their eyes with a sour taste in their mouth

He was right— Most of theht Party

And yet, all they did was silently watch on

All these losers who admitted defeat before a battle, that is

“… Hmph, I’ll at least praise your admirable determination Or perhaps, are you just very slow on the uptake?”

“Youup on feelings”

“You really are slow then A dullard I bet you’re the slow and easily-tired type”

“Do you even understand the e shouldn’t be saying sohtless!”

“That’s right! If anything, Raishi+n is a quick finisher!”

“You be quiet! How the hell could you even know so like that anyway!?”

Raishi+n hurriedly silenced Yaya However it was too late, as Charl had conspicuously brought her eyebrows together in a frown

“Not only are you an idiot, but you’re a pervert that fools around with his doll? You’re the worst kind of deviant, you lewd freak!”

The coldness in her eyes bordered on absolute zero as she gave hi at a cockroach

Raishi+n felt an i on All he wanted to do was to curl up in the corner of a dark roo his knees Unfortunately, he wasn’t in any position to do so at the moment

“I don’t go easy on perverts Let’s smund”

“Agreed”

In that instant, the dragon (who appeared to be namund) let out a roar

Although his figure was that of a san to transform before Raishi+n’s eyes A blackto its true body— began to envelop Sig to form from it

Finally the on

A giant dragon that was three th

It hadn’t sirew in proportion It was like watching a baby dragon ed adult

(It’s mass increased as well…?)

Raishi+n stared in amazement He had seen automata that could transfor an automaton that could increase in size He wondered where the extra ular for inside hih Raishi+n’s head

A ray of light could be seen flickering inside the dragon’s jaw, ue

Sigusts of violent wind to blow Charl had yet to activate aa tremendous amount of power

It was an overwhel opponent

However, that was sohtly, focusing his y

“Alright, let’s show theot as well, Yaya Suimei Nijuuyon—“

“Raishi+n!”

Even without her warning, he had already noticed In an instant, he threw hi to one side Yaya leapt in the opposite direction, evading the inco object

A large iron ball passed through the spot where the both of the just moments earlier

It was about a iving it a very vicious form

The iron ball continued on its trajectory, charging straight towards Charl and Sigmund

Obviously, the both of the to just sit there and quietly take the attack Sig to swat the ball away… however, that mystery person’s attack didn’t stop there

Fro crowd, a few shadows dashed into the area together

An arirl, and a six-legged beast— it looked like all were automata

The ared head on, while the other two leapt in fro to close off any escape However, their target wasn’t Raishi+n— it was Sigmund!

“Sigmund!”

Charl issued out an order Even though she hadn’t instructed hihts entirely Carrying Charl on his back, he flew up into the air

The ar smund’s forelimbs

With a sweep of his tail, the two bodies approaching hi as well With such simple movements, all three auto from their lifeless bodies

(She’s good… The title of the Rounds isn’t just for show)

Basically, an auto to the puppeteer’s will However, an automaton wasn’t just a wooden doll They were autonomous, which meant they had their oill as well If the puppeteer didn’t synchronise with the automaton properly, then the autoic energy would be needlessly wasted by the puppeteer

On that point, Charl and Sigmund were in perfect harmony with each other If the two of them weren’t intimund could move like that

However— It was too soon to say that the danger had passed

Raishi+n’s exceptional kinetic vision allowed him to catch their movements