Chapter 433: The Deal and the Opening of the Semifinals!
"…Are you sure you're not joking?"
Kurogane Itsuki stared at Luke, unable to understand what the boy was thinking.
Just moments ago, after proposing a deal, Luke had stated his condition:
"Truly accept Ikki as a member of the Kurogane Family."
"You already know that's impossible."
"Even if I agreed, the other people in power within the family would never support such a decision."
"Your proposal is the complete opposite of the most realistic solution."
"Severing Ikki's ties with the Kurogane Family is the correct choice."
"The family has no reason to care about the future of someone who has already been cast out."
"He would finally be free from the Kurogane Family's shadow. This should benefit both sides."
Strictly speaking, Itsuki was right.
Cutting ties would benefit both Ikki and the Kurogane Family.
The family could distance itself from him, while Ikki would no longer need to worry about deliberate interference from them.
However…
"That doesn't benefit me."
Luke's words made Itsuki pause.
"If you hadn't come to me, that would be one thing. This is your family business, so it wouldn't be appropriate for me to interfere."
"But since the Kurogane Family wants to sell me a favor and is concerned about my attitude—or rather, China's attitude—then you need to offer something worthwhile in return."
"You came to me because you want me to persuade Ikki to accept this arrangement."
"Because the Kurogane Family isn't confident Ikki himself will agree."
"Blood relations cannot legally be severed."
"So if Ikki chooses to make an issue out of it, the Kurogane Family could end up in an awkward position instead."
"Am I wrong?"
"…What do you want?"
Itsuki fell silent for a moment.
He had to admit that Luke had essentially seen through the Kurogane Family's entire plan.
The only thing he could not understand was what Luke actually wanted as payment.
"I already told you."
"I want Ikki to formally return to the Kurogane Family."
"Or rather, I want a promise that he will be allowed to return."
"That completely contradicts—"
"Don't get worked up. Let me finish."
Luke interrupted him midway.
Then he smiled and asked,
"Under what circumstances would the Kurogane Family be willing to accept Ikki back?"
Although Itsuki did not understand Luke's intention, he answered without hesitation.
"If he gives up becoming a Mage-Knight and abandons his identity as a Blazer, the family would naturally allow him to return."
"Mm… I'm not talking about something that superficial."
Luke gently shook his head.
"To put it simply, if the benefits clearly outweigh the drawbacks, then the Kurogane Family would accept Ikki again, correct?"
Itsuki did not answer immediately.
He fell into thought, carefully considering the meaning behind Luke's words.
Then suddenly—
His head snapped up, and he stared at Luke in shock.
"You mean…?!"
"No… That's impossible."
"No matter how talented Ikki is, he could never reach that realm."
"Especially not at his age. Impossible. Absolutely impossible!"
Seeing Itsuki's shocked expression, Luke merely smiled.
Rather than directly refuting him, he brought up someone else.
"You know Minister Tsukikage, don't you?"
"I imagine you obtained some information from him before coming to meet me."
"Otherwise, you wouldn't be treating me this politely."
"So you should already know that my judgment won't be wrong."
"…I still find it difficult to believe."
Itsuki took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
"But as a condition for the deal, that is enough, isn't it?"
Luke still wore the same smile, as though he had anticipated this outcome from the beginning.
Itsuki stared at the young man before him and deeply understood the gap between them.
After a long silence, he slowly nodded.
"If things truly develop as you say, then the Kurogane Family would have no reason whatsoever to refuse Ikki's return."
...
The next morning.
Luke received a notice from the Seven Star Sword Art Festival operating committee shortly after waking.
He was not the only one.
All four semifinalists received the same message.
At the same time, the official Festival website published the announcement publicly.
[To all competitors and spectators:]
[The semifinals of the 62nd Seven Star Sword Art Festival will be held tomorrow, the fourth day since the tournament began.]
[Both matches will take place consecutively in the morning.]
[The pairings are as follows:]
[First Match]
[Hagun Academy First-Year, F-rank Knight, Another One, Kurogane Ikki[
[VS]
[Hagun Academy Third-Year, B-rank Knight, Raikiri, Todo Touka]
[Second Match]
[Hagun Academy First-Year, A-rank Knight, Falling Star Sword Emperor, Luke Ashburn]
VS
[Hagun Academy First-Year, A-rank Knight, Crimson Princess, Stella Vermillion]
[End of notice.]
(Note: The date and time of the finals may be changed depending on circumstances. Spectators are advised to prepare for possible schedule adjustments.)
The announcement confirmed Luke and Stella's prediction from the previous night.
Another A-rank versus A-rank battle immediately sent anticipation soaring.
Whether it was Luke defeating "Edelweiss" or the colossal dragon silhouette Stella had once summoned, both had left the audience endlessly fascinated.
The attention surrounding this match easily surpassed even the Sword Emperor clash from the tournament's opening round.
However, unlike the excited spectators, the four semifinalists remained completely unaffected.
Ikki, Touka, Luke, and Stella all continued with their own affairs as though they had never received the announcement.
Their reactions resembled the calm before a storm.
Silent.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
...
The Seven Star Sword Art Festival—
Day Four!
The blazing summer sun mercilessly scorched the earth.
Yet even that heat could not compare with the passion burning inside the venue.
"Thirty-five degrees Celsius!"
"Thank you to every spectator who has gathered here beneath this scorching sun!"
"The 62nd Seven Star Sword Art Festival has finally reached the semifinals!"
"Now, let us welcome the competitors for our first semifinal match!"
Following announcer Iida's thunderous cry, cheers erupted throughout the entire venue!
"Entering first is Raikiri Todo Touka!"
"I'm sure everyone is already familiar with the knight emerging from the red gate."
"As one of last year's semifinalists, her strength unquestionably lives up to her reputation!"
"Last year, she lost only to the eventual Seven Stars Sword King!"
"And now, she has returned to this very stage!"
"The same arena!"
"The same name!"
"Todo Touka carved her way through the entirety of Block A with overwhelming strength and has returned to the semifinals once again!"
"Facing the powerful opponent who defeated her rival, will she be able to seize the ticket to the finals?!"
…
…
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