To prove their worth in the most obvious way possible.
"So you're going to destroy Hagun Academy?" Ryoji asked, finally understanding. "If you destroy Hagun Academy, you can prove your own value and then take our place in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival?"
His expression remained utterly calm, showing no trace of panic.
"Exactly! As expected of Hagun Academy's strongest!" Hiraga Reisen immediately clapped, impressed by Ryoji's quick thinking.
"When was I ever declared the strongest?" Stella retorted unwillingly.
"Do you really think this reckless approach will work?" Toudou Touka said coldly. "The Management Committee isn't stupid. Your rash actions will only get you disqualified!"
"Hehe, that's not necessarily true, Raikiri! While your strength is not bad, you clearly don't understand politics at all!"
Hiraga Reisen shook his head, looking at her with a hint of pity.
"We will definitely participate in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. Because the Management Committee, no, I should say its parent organization, the League, has no choice but to acknowledge us!"
Think about it.
Hagun Academy has been established for over seventy years. As one of the nation's oldest Blazer schools, it boasts a long history and has produced countless renowned figures.
If such an institution were to be openly destroyed, it would be a direct slap in the face to the League.
In such a scenario, if the League were to ban Akatsuki Academy outright, it would be tantamount to tucking its tail between its legs and fleeing.
While this would certainly crush Akatsuki Academy's plans before they could even begin, it would also damage the League's own reputation, giving the public the impression that the League is losing its grip.
"If the League wants to maintain its image of invincibility, it will inevitably allow Akatsuki Academy to participate and then crush us head-on," Hiraga Reisen declared confidently.
For the League, crushing Akatsuki Academy would be no more difficult than crushing an ant.
But if that very ant threatened to tarnish their reputation, the League would undoubtedly take it seriously and crush it in the most public and decisive manner possible.
This was the limitation of politics: the relentless need to maintain reputation, even if it meant resorting to hollow pretenses.
The audience fell silent, realizing the undeniable logic in his words.
They had to admit, his logic was sound.
While the League was a massive organization, its jurisdiction within member states was strictly limited to Blazer-related matters. It maintained no political or economic ties within these countries, wielding no real power in either domain.
In other words, the League had no other means to sanction Akatsuki Academy.
The only way to resolve this was to defeat them.
To prove that the League's blade hadn't grown dull, they had to enter Akatsuki Academy into the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival and defeat them there.
"Friendly commentary time is over! Apologies, everyone, but we must defeat you here. Just obediently become our stepping stones!"
As those words fell, an extraordinarily intense murderous aura erupted from the bodies of the Akatsuki Academy members behind Hiraga Reisen.
"Sorry, Ryoji, this is our Quest."
Shinomiya Amane cast an apologetic glance at Ryoji, but his movements didn't falter. A silver rapier materialized in his hand.
Ryoji remained silent.
"Don't think we'll surrender without a fight!"
"If you think you can take us, come and try!"
Neither side showed any sign of backing down.
The Hagun Academy students collectively manifested their Devices, their shouts of defiance ringing out against the opposing force.
The tension in the air instantly reached a boiling point.
"Then we'll have to be impolite, hee hee!"
Hiraga Reisen waved his hand.
Behind him, the Akatsuki Academy students simultaneously lunged forward, pushing off the ground with explosive force.
Both sides charged into action at the same moment!
"Attack!" Hiraga Reisen roared.
His cry served as both a battle horn and a signal.
In that instant, Arisuin Nagi sprang into action. While his comrades charged toward the enemy, he silently stood at the rear, his gaze fixed on their retreating figures.
Several dark purple daggers materialized in his palm, arranged in a fan-like formation.
He had come here precisely for this moment.
Arisuin Nagi's Blazer's special ability was a Causation Manipulation system that allowed him to control shadows.
His Noble Art, 〈Shadow Bind〉, precisely utilized this ability to have his Spiritual Item (Device) pierce the target's shadow, completely immobilizing them.
Once the shadow was pierced, even the strongest opponent would lose all power to resist!
When used in a surprise attack, it was an incredibly powerful technique!
This was Arisuin Nagi's Quest.
He infiltrated Hagun Academy, became Kurogane Shizuku's roommate, and used her as a gateway to build relationships with academy experts like Ryoji and Kurogane Ikki, earning their trust.
Then, at the precise moment of battle, he could deliver the decisive blow.
Becoming Shizuku's roommate seemed like mere coincidence, but it was actually inevitable, the result of covert manipulation.
This was Akatsuki Academy's insurance policy, guaranteeing their absolute victory over Hagun Academy.
At this moment,
all of Hagun Academy's comrades had no suspicion of him, exposing their backs completely. The shadows beneath their feet had become their collective weakness.
Not a single person doubted him.
"...Shadow Bind!"
Arisuin Nagi hurled his Spiritual Item (Device).
The Dark Shadow Walker dagger soared through the air, mercilessly piercing the shadows of its targets.
…The students of Akatsuki Academy!
Shlick!
With a series of sounds like blades sinking into flesh, the Akatsuki Academy students collapsed one by one, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Their shadows had been instantly immobilized, leaving them utterly defenseless as the Hagun Academy students cut them down without mercy.
Every strike was fatal.
It was a flawlessly executed surprise attack.
Just when they believed Arisuin Nagi would attack the Hagun Academy students and thought victory was within their grasp, none of them had anticipated Arisuin Nagi betraying their ranks to strike them instead.
Kurogane Ouma, Shinomiya Amane, Sara, and all the others lay sprawled on the ground, each wearing a look of bitter resentment.
It was a complete and utter victory.
This outcome was inevitable.
After all, the success rate of this surprise attack had been one hundred percent from the start!
"Great! The strategy worked! I was worried Alice/Eris might betray us at the last minute!"
Stella immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing the enemy surrender without resistance, her voice regained its cheerful tone.
"She wouldn't do something like that!"
Arisuin Nagi forced a wry smile.
Though he was defending himself, he knew he had little credibility left.
'I guess this counts as a success,' He thought, inwardly relaxing. 'With this, I've finally protected Shizuku's dream.'
It was for Shizuku that he had chosen to defect to Hagun Academy.
Ryoji's earlier suspicion had proven true: Arisuin Nagi had indeed been turned, unwittingly, by Kurogane Shizuku herself.
"...Naive."
But in the very next moment...
Several silver rapiers pierced the air, tearing through the atmosphere, and plunged into Arisuin Nagi's body from behind.
(End Of This Chapter)
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