Volume 2 Chapter 3 (1/2)
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Underneath the On an athletics field - afield used for practical coursework
The arena of the e as three or four basketball courts, and it was about three stories high, with spectator seating above the two-meter tall walls that encircled it It looked like an indoor stadiuest difference was the altar set in the back and the incantations and patterns written on the walls In addition, there were light green pillars on either side of the entrances with ical power-infused shi+ainst the spells cast inside the arena
Just then, the students in Ohto in the spectator seats, gazing around the arena
”So this is where practicals are held”
”Other places also have classrooest”
Touji looked around the underground ic practice field below the spectator seats, and Tenma who sat next to him replied
”Speaking of first-class , this place could be called one of the nation's largest altars The outer walls of this place have undergone enchantment by National First-Class Onic can breach it - even a third phase spiritual disaster couldn't destroy it Even people froency come to borrow it sometimes”
”It's such a luxury to conable fortress for a quarrel”
Touji crooked hisironically However meddlesome he was, he had never expected the situation to develop into this
He casually sized up the surroundings, searching for Natsu the battle She was sitting in the second row by herself, separated from the arena by a distance of one row
Even now, Natsu forward to help Harutora Though she was pretending to be calret and contradiction ritten all over her face, and she stared ily at the arena
At the -up, motivated Kon and Kyouko who had recalled the two Yaksha for now Ohtoether with Harutora who seemed still unprepared, and they hadn't yet appeared
”Is this class always this casual?”
”It's not”
”Maybe our instructor is a bit too carefree”
”That I can't say it's not true”
Tenma showed a wry shtforward questions
”In the end, he originally wasn't a teacher, and he only just began as an Onmyou Acadeood at teaching”
”What was his profession before?”
”He was originally a Mystical Investigator before he retired because of his foot injury, and he was quite excellent - at least he says so”
”A Mystical Investigator, huh”
Mystical Investigators - ators specialized in anti-personnel ic, the Onmyouji specialty that required the most ability Unfortunately, the only i brushed off by Dairenji Suzuka as if they had been round characters Of course, this was all due to their opponent at the ti
”Right, Ten the incident that happened just now - Harutora just called a shi+kigami Weren't the reactions of Kurahashi+ Kyouko and everyone else a bit too intense?”
”Ahh, if it were only a standard shi+kigami everyone's reactions wouldn't have been that surprised, but it's because Harutora-kun called forth a defensive shi+kigami”
Tenma replied to Touji's question honestly The two of them had just met yesterday, but today they were already quite friendly
”I remember you said yesterday that in this class only Natsuaami?”
”Actually, it's not that it's powerful Defensive shi+kigaami that have to be summoned all the time, so it's an unusually heavy burden for the person they serve Though the burden is cohter when they're not materialized, they still have to y at all tiical power is unable to control those kinds of shi+kigami”
”Oh, I see Sih won't be able to control one”
”Right, so servant-type or defensive shi+kigami are a kind of status symbol for Onmyouji”
”So that's why everyone felt it so unexpected that an outsider like Harutora would have a defensive shi+kigami”
Touji nodded his head knowingly Then, it was Tenma's turn to lean in towards Touji
”Hey, Touji-kun Honestly, how is Harutora-san's strength? I originally believed he was an outsider, but Was he really helped out by the Tsuchimikado family?”
Tens as he asked this, and the eyes behind his glasses couldn't conceal his curiosity Touji h his shoulders
”That guy's normal expression is his uardian was a parting gift his dad gave him when he left, so he doesn't actually kno to control it well”
”He, he indeed looked like he couldn't really control it”
”But”
A sharp, cold light flashed across Touji's eyes, and his ant air
”If you look down on hiood chance you'll suffer for it This summer is an example”
Touji's tone changed, and Tenma couldn't help but look at hiaze and just stared intently at the arena
Touji hadn't witnessed first-hand how the incident caused by Dairenji Suzuka this su had happened on the 'Imperial Hill' altar, but he had only heard the ins and outs of Harutora's point of view, so he didn't understand Harutora's true strength either
Because of this, he was quite interested in this shi+kigas would develop
Ten confused about what the 'example' referred to
”On the other hand, Harutora-kun is really slow What's he doing?” He deliberately changed the subject as if noticing that Touji was unwilling to continue talking Touji's expression softened considerably from his consideration
”Though I shouldn't say this in front of you yourself”
”Huh? What?”
”If you want to ence source, it seems like it's more suitable to have a bit more of an evil heart”
”Is that praise? Or derogatory?”
That roundabout explanation sounded incomprehensible to Ten a warm smile show on his expression
Just then--
”Ah, he's here! Huh, what's going on?”
Tenma looked at the arena and shouted, and Touji also leaned his body forward slightly
Harutora and Ohtomo, who had volunteered to referee, showed up in the arena where Kyouko and Kon aiting
But, it couldn't be told immediately whether or not the person alked into the arena was actually Harutora
Because--
”Why is that guy wearing a kendo protector?”
”A, And he's even wearingon top of it! That's exorcist equipment!”
The Harutora who appeared in the arena earing a kendo loves on his body and also a black outer garment over it Not only Natsume and the other students but even his opponent Kyouko and his teammate Kon widened their eyes in surprise
Just as an uproar swept over the vast ely outfitted Harutora walked straight towards the center where Kyouko aiting
Then, Ohtoave Harutora a wooden sword
Touji couldn't help but laugh hilariously upon seeing that scene, instantly seeing through what Harutora was atte
”Not bad, it's very like his style”
Touji delightedly spoke softly to himself beside the confused Tenma
”Why?”
Those were Harutora's heartfelt feelings
”I'inner with extraordinarily ht? Are the methods of the Onmyou Academy too arbitrary? What kind of devilish ideas is this Ohto? Can Onmyouji be this random?”
”Harutora-kun~? I heard all of your heartfelt feelings~”
Harutora ic practice field
Kyouko and the other students had long since gone to theto Ohtomo Because Harutora was troublesoo first and stayed behind alone to continue convincing Ohtomo - but unfortunately, he still failed in the end and could only walk together with Ohtomo and with heavy steps to the arena
”Sensei, are you serious? You don't plan on saying sos over like before?”
”I don't”
”As an educator, aren't your methods a little too irresponsible?”
Harutora's tone carried resent unexpected, and Ohto to that directly
”Alright, alright, this isn't bad Anyway, you just entered the acadeht? Doesn't everyone think of you as a fool and exclude you?”
”Uwah, to think you wouldn't be concerned at all about the fragile heart of a transfer student, saying it that directly”
”Since you have a defensive shi+kigami, shouldn't you take this opportunity to show your hand and restore your reputation? Don't you think I' of my students?”
”Not at all! Moreover, I' to be a spectacular failure!”
”You can't s, and anyway your position won't get any worse no matter how you shame yourself”
”That's tooan instructor should say?”
”Don't get , the Onmyou Acade specialized techniques”
Ohto sounds as they knocked on the ground This person was really unredeemable Harutora's face sank
”Also--” Ohtoe his flippant tone ”Natsume-kun is an extreauardian beast, it's one of very few spiritual beasts in the country, and it's very strong even if it can barely be used A nor specialists”
”Why do you suddenly mention Natsume?”
”Yeah, , but he still can't contend with one of the Twelve Divine Generals He wouldn't be able to e if he were only by himself”
Harutora couldn't say anything for a while and stared at the back of Ohtomo who had stopped in front of him
Ohtomo had once expressed that he knew insider infor up Dairenji in this kind of time
He turned around, hissmile
”Harutora-kun, you're truly an outsider, but you don't need to look down on yourself thateven in the eyes of a specialist Onmyouji”
”I, I didn't do anything at all”
”That's not for sure So-called hty and powerful, and actually, it is the second-class ic that is truly influential Even outsiders who haven't encountered ly”
Ohtomo spoke similar words to what the principal had said, but it was still incouish first and second-class ic at all
But Ohto to say:
”In addition, didn't the principal say soather unqualified students regardless of how ing whether someone is qualified or not is quite profound and co on you to decide for yourself”
Harutora stared silently at Ohtomo
Was this person planning on fooling hiain? But, Ohtomo's words moved his heart and he couldn't pay them no heed
Ohtoain
”Your nuht?”
”Actually, I was finally reassured when I heard that sentence I know that you definitely won't give up on your goal of becoardless of what kind of troubles you encounter in the future Therefore, don't worry so es your qualifications, and it won't be a proble at your own pace”
Thu the corridor Harutora stood still for a while and then chased after Ohto ahead
The On, curriculum, students, or teachers alike But thethem was the 'Onmyouji'
But, it was his goal to become an Onmyouji
In order to respect his promise with Natsume
In order to realize Hokuto's dream
”Ohtomo-sensei”
Harutoraout to Ohtoain
”For the shi+kigami battle in a while”
”What is it? Don't worry, I'll stop the coet injured”
Harutora shook his head, denying Ohtomo's joke
”I have so to ask of you - can I talk with you?”
After Harutora made his request and the two of them spoke, the result was that Harutora put on a suit of kendo equip the arena
Kyouko frowned, and even Kon looked at him dumbstruck Harutora couldn't help but feel euard
”I didn't say I wanted to wear this exaggerated equipment”
”Idiot, since I' to your request, protection of this level is natural I would be the one responsible if you got injured Here”
Ohto Harutora a wooden sword Actually, this wooden sas the thing Harutora had requested from Ohtomo - more accurately, he just wanted this 'weapon'
”I've cast a bit of ic on it and on your protector too, of course So even if you get hit head-on, youwith your wooden sword Be thankful”
”Y, Yes, thanks sensei”
Harutora tried swinging the wooden sword after receiving it He had only practiced a bit of kendo during middle school physical education class, but it wasbare-handed
”Alright”
He nodded his head to urge himself on and left Ohtomo's side
”H, H-H, Harutora-sama? That outfit is?”
Kon was speechless for a long tied his shoulders from under his protector
”Listen, Kon, this is my battle plan”
”Y, Yes Huh? Battle plan?”
”Yes, the plan's very siet the white one, and I'll deal with the black one”
”Uh, um, Harutora-sama? You mean”
Kon's face was full of confusion, her big tail swishi+ng back and forth anxiously as she didn't kno to respond
Just then--
”What are you playing at?”
Kyouko spoke angrily, her tone extremely scornful
”This is a battle between shi+kigaahters in this battle, the practitioners don't act but I won't stop you if you're still that scared about it”
”Silence, wench! If you dare open your ain--”
”Hey! Calm down, Kon”
From behind, Harutora hurriedly restrained Kon as about to charge forward, enduring the tickling brought about fro her up Kon's feet kicked around in empty air
”H-H-Harutora-sama, please release me~”
”First, don't interrupt ht? So you have no opinion even if I use a weapon?”
”How unbearable You're scared ofyour shi+kigami from afar?”
”After all, they have katanas and spears in their hands, and I don't have the courage to face them unarmed”
Harutora admitted it readily, and Kyouko raised her eyebrows in surprise, see of his words Then, her eyes widened as she finally understood their implication
Harutora planned on also entering hiami
”Th-Th-Th-That cannot be allowed, Harutora-sama!”
”Who cares about that, aren't there two shi+kigaht can't co at all when you ainst-one”
”W, What, what do you mean?! In the first place, don't you know that as the nu them also becomes more difficult? Nuth, don't think having ami is unfair!”
”I didn't ainst two”
Harutora spoke calmly, but Kyouko shouted hoarsely:
”Don't joke around! What kind of practitioner does soaht!”
”And I'ami”
Harutora replied caluard Kyouko shook her head, stunned
The students in the spectator seats all gaped at Harutora's words Of course, Tenma wasn't excluded, and Natsume's reaction was the same The only one excluded fro
”Sensei agreed”
”Really, sensei?”
”Really”
”Could your brain be broken?”
”That's painful to hear, Kyouko-kun But that spirit is pretty good”
”To think you didn't deny it”
Harutora let Kon down and glanced at Ohtomo Kyouko seemed to find the situation's development hard to accept because of the instructor's co ”How did this kind of thing happen?”
”It's about tiht in the first place”
”What? I won't oppose you if you want to stop the battle, since I was just going to play along with you for a fight anyway”
Saying this[2], Harutora sritted her teeth when she saw that, so angry that her whole body shook
Then, she fiercely raised her head, looking into the spectator seats
”Natsume-kun, is this the Tsuchi him?”
”Ugh!”
Natsuled out went stiff, her look beco tense as if she were condemned to death row and handed the pistol for the execution
”Natsume-kun!”
Natsume didn't reply to Kyouko's yell Her eyes rapidly turned to Harutora, as if fleeing
However, Harutora didn't even glance at Natsume
”Don't go too far I' with you, not Natsume”
Kyouko turned her gaze because of Harutora's unconcerned attitude She wordlessly stared at Harutora for a long ti herself of her hesitation and then finally called her guardians' names
Two Yaksha showed theain
The students in the spectator seats chattered, and Natsu the development from the side couldn't help but stand up
”I won't care if so happens to you”
Kyouko's face was slightly pale as she gave that warning, but Harutora didn't speak, swinging the wooden sword again to confir
”H-H-H, Harutora-saree to this plan It is my responsibility to battle with the enemy, so if Harutora-sama would please stay back”
”Nope”
Harutora interrupted tersely, turning down Kon's begging--
--But, his look then relaxed
”In the end, I don't understand ami at all either”
”D-D-Do not let that small matter bother you, Harutora-sama”
”Sorry, but that's ami, I still have to find some way of my own”
Saying this, Harutora put his hand on the shi+kiga her twice
”So, I want to start trying from the most direct methods I definitely don't ood chance that I'll be the person to retreat”
”B-B-But”
”Don'texperienceon you, comrade”
Kon gazed at Harutora, worry ehtened her lips and silently turned towards Kyouko and her shi+kigami
”Hey, is he serious?”
”No way, that person”
As the students watching the fight on the sidelines whispered to each other, the sound of their discussion becainally been dissatisfied and belittling gradually turned to simple shock and excitement Noise spilled forth from all directions, and Harutora purposefully dismissed them from his mind
He let his consciousness focus on the fight in front of him
He hoped to gain soh this battle
”Seems like both sides are prepared”
Once Ohtoic battlefield, and the surroundings temporarily fell silent
”Then - Start!”
The shi+kigaan upon that order
”This is terrible, I almost can't bear to watch”
He stared intently at the fight from a corner of the arena, in the shadow of the pillar behind the spectator seats
The two Yaksha that Kyouko controlled were currently fighting fiercely against Harutora and Kon in the arena But Kyouko's shi+kigailely, maybe due to the fact that their opponent was hu with her own enemy because she was concerned about Harutora Only Harutora hi around on the ground after being sent flying by the black shi+kigami's - Kokfuu's - spear
”That's the shi+kiga?”
”The King of the North Star hasn't awakened yet and is only an iht now It's a human emotion to want to keep close acquaintances by your side”
”But to think he would choose such a low youngster, how dissatisfying”
”Quite so”
He was indeed quite unhappy, even feeling angry He felt that not only the King of the North Star's radiance but even his own ideals and loyalty that he dedicated to the king had been trampled upon and soiled
Once the king awoke, he would definitely iliness
But regardless of how soon that would be, he couldn'tdo such a lowly action He couldn't tolerate such an act
There had to be so awoke
Moreover, he believed that he was the only one for that heavy responsibility
”What were you thinking!”
Harutora had taken off his kendo protector after the fight had ended and was sitting on a bench in the locker rooed in from the spectator seats with aHarutora and Kon were the only ones in the locker room Touji also came to visit Harutora in the locker room, but came later than Natsume
”What was I thinking What do you mean?”
”Of course I ht just now! To think you would take the field and fight against shi+kigaot hurt?”
”That's why I dressed up like this”
”That's just pointless! Especially since your opponents are Yaksha, you could have lost your life if you were careless!”
Natsury her face was flushed as she scolded him in a torrent Harutora knitted his brow and shut his mouth as he sat on the bench, since after all he had been beaten black and blue just now and was in no position to refute
The result of the fight wasn't out of anyone's expectations, and Harutora had failed spectacularly
Kyouko's defensive shi+kigami Hakuou and Kokfuu weren't opponents Harutora could contend with in either aency had extraordinary combat skill and techniques even unarmed, and Hakuou and Kokfuu had mastered the sword and the spear respectively
Of course, they relied on their practitioner's control to be able to use those abilities Kyouko's skill at controlling the Yaksha was quite good even if she was using two shi+kigami at once Kyouko was obviously so a huhts soon or got annoyed at Harutora's ga merciful and Harutora and Kon were completely unable to parry the violent attacks Of course, Kyouko had been hitting with the back of the blade since the beginning She had her shi+kiga hi him over however she pleased
The spectators in the stands who had watched with bated breath at the beginning ended up constantly laughing and joking ironically; ahter the most unscrupulously
”Why don't you fight back a bit seriously! I don't agree hat Kurahashi+ Kyouko says, but swinging that wooden sword and standing on the battlefield together with your shi+kigahable actions!”
”I, I was very serious”
”Did you truly think that battle just noas very 'serious'!? You were hed at you Could it be that you don't feel bad inside?”
Natsu quite mad But, Harutora felt a bit confused rather than introspective or disagreeing He didn't really understand what Natsume was mad for
Moreover, though Natsume had asked him 'could it be that you don't feel bad inside', Harutora actually didn't feel one bit discontent at all, even if he had lost this fight At the least, the powerless and e from after class yesterday hadn't overflowed his heart
He wasn't dissatisfied with losing, nor was he showing off, but rather he had an enriched feeling as if he had grasped his own pace for the first ti his loss had coah and was unable to notice the subtle changes in his master's heart
”H, H-Harutora-sama”
Kon lightly tugged on the hem of Harutora's uniform from behind his back
”I-I-I, Is it alright to allow her to wantonly abuse you like this?”
”Whew, idiot Didn't I say it very clearly yesterday? She's the next heir of the ami”
”B-B-But”
A look even aht, but also for being unable to rebut Natsury words
Natsuers at Kon as the two of them whispered Even Kon couldn't help but silence herself when that curse-like, vicious gaze stared at her
Harutora had told Kon about the circu to Natsuuish Natsu from the main family, even if her attitude towards people other than Harutora didn't change
Even so, she still tried to defend her master
”J-Just now Harutora-sama lost all because of th-th-that wooden sword prepared by that smiley fake Onmyouji It's definitely not because of H-Harutora-sama's skill!”
”Wooden sword?”
Natsu Kon's defense, and Touji who had originally been crossing his arht of so:
”So the problem was there? That trick truly was a bit unfortunate Harutora, you originally planned on using that opportunity, right?”
”W, Wait up, what are you saying?”
”You didn't notice? Before the fight ended, that black shi+kigami's attack rhythm became quite monotonous, perhaps because of habit or carelessness At that tiauging the distance, planning on avoiding the spear attack and taking advantage of that opportunity to get close to the enemy”
Kon nodded her head vigorously from behind Harutora as she heard Touji's explanation, but Harutora turned his head embarrassedly
Actually, Harutora had used the difference in range of the teapons, shortened the distance between the two of the Kokfuu's attack, and charged over in a flash
But, just as he was going to pull out all the stops and strike with all his power, the wooden sword he inging suddenly fractured in midair fromented from the inside out
”Didn't it fracture because he attacked the opponent's armor?”
”Nn I was focusing on attacking at the time, and actually I'm not really sure what happened But sensei truly said that he had 'cast radual accuoes to show that the opponent's attacks were just too powerful, so I can't make any dispute”
”Th-That is not the case, it's the fault of that f-f-fake Onmyouji!”
”Fake Onry at that rotten teacher But anyway, it's just more of that misfortune”
Harutora sami
However, he unconsciously glanced at Natsume and noticed that his childhood friend's face had become paler than before
”This is way too ridiculous” Natsume trembled as she spoke
”Huh? W, Why?”
”I don't knohat ic Ohtothened the wooden sword to endure the Yaksha's attacks, right?”
”Ah, if I re like that So what?”
”Are you stupid! To think you would enter a fight where even a thened wooden sould split in half! You should have soht!”
Natsued into the locker roo at Natsu to even look at Harutora
Her symmetric face isted from anxiety and other emotions
”You're too full of yourself, can you even consider yourself a Tsuchierous! Since you're stupid, use that stupid brain of yours to think a bit before acting!”
Her tone shook near the end and her tone became more and more furious
Harutora finally couldn't stand it upon hearing this scolding
”Is that an 'order', master?”