Ikki Kurogane stood with the others from Hagun Academy, their expressions grim as they glared across the banquet hall at a particular group.

It wasn't that Ikki bore grudges against his opponents in general—he was not that kind of person. The issue was who those people were: the terrorists from Akatsuki Academy who had previously attacked Hagun.

This banquet was hosted by the tournament organizers. Although the Seven Star Sword Art Festival was a contest between seven academies, its participants were all promising successors among the blazer knights, and many of them were likely to become future pillars of the magical knight order. A bit of social bonding before the matches made sense.

If Rebellion had attacked this banquet, they could have wiped out Japan's future magical knights in one stroke.

But the guests here were no ordinary students. Every one of them was a skilled blazer, stronger than most active-duty magical knights. It wouldn't be easy to catch them off guard.

Still, this year was different—Akatsuki Academy was among the participants.

Led by cabinet minister Bakuya Tsukikage, Akatsuki had officially entered the tournament and thus was eligible to attend the banquet.

Ikki had assumed that these terrorists wouldn't have the shamelessness to actually show up—but there they were.

What made matters worse was that Akatsuki's Todoroki Yui had tried to put a poisoned blade into the food Shizuku Kurogane was reaching for. Luckily, Ikki had noticed in time and knocked the roast chicken aside.

Even someone as mild-mannered as Ikki was enraged by that.

Just as tension between the two groups was about to boil over, the banquet hall's doors opened, and a man and a woman walked in together.

Upon seeing them, the mood among the two groups instantly shifted.

The students of Hagun lit up with joy, while Akatsuki's members turned visibly tense.

Reactions varied—some Akatsuki students were fearful, some cold, others brimming with fighting spirit.

Stella held Charles's arm as they approached Ikki.

"Long time no see. Did you miss me?"

Ikki smiled and gave Charles a friendly punch on the shoulder. "It's good to have you back."

Charles's smile vanished as he turned toward the Akatsuki group, his voice cold. "I thought the atmosphere felt off—so you bastards really did crawl in here."

That mere flicker of hostility from Charles made the Akatsuki group react as if facing a deadly threat. They instantly materialized their Devices.

Although most of them had remained quiet during Todoroki Yui's earlier act, now that Charles had arrived, they were all on edge. After all, he had personally defeated all of them not long ago.

Especially Todoroki Yui, who was closest to Charles—her cockiness had long since vanished. Her hands trembled as she gripped her chainsaw-like Device.

The air thickened, charged with tension, like the slightest spark would trigger a fight.

"This is a banquet, not a battlefield. If you want to fight, do it in two days at the tournament. I, for one, am looking forward to a fair match."

The calm but commanding voice came from a tall boy now approaching them, flanked by two others.

He wore no formal attire, only the stylized school uniform of Bukyoku Academy, with a short cape. A headband tied around his forehead accentuated his rugged masculinity.

This was Moroboshi Yudai—nicknamed the "Star of Naniwa" and last year's Seven Star Sword King, one of this year's most anticipated contenders.

He stood at the peak of student knights in Japan. His presence made it clear why.

Behind him were his two teammates, both of whom had stood on the winner's podium with him last year.

One was the impeccably groomed, glasses-wearing Shirayanagi Byakuya, last year's runner-up.

The other was Asagi Momiji, a girl with a bandage on her face—third place.

Their arrival gave the entire hall a palpable weight.

Charles had never intended to actually start a fight here, so he pulled back his hostility.

Akatsuki's students, too, gradually withdrew their Devices—except for Todoroki Yui. Her earlier attempt at stirring trouble had made her feel like a clown, mocked by everyone.

Now the fact that she hadn't put away her Device made her the center of attention.

Moroboshi spoke. "The festival is just around the corner. I get that you're excited, but maybe you should calm down."

If that was a measured scolding, Byakuya's tone was outright mocking.

"Honestly, drawing your Device at a banquet? What kind of upbringing do you have? Then again, a Device does reflect its wielder's character—you're just as vulgar as your chainsaw."

Todoroki laughed angrily. "What a classy gentleman you are. But manners don't win battles. Want me to show you personally?"

She revved her chainsaw and pointed it at the Bukyoku trio—more specifically, at Moroboshi.

But she froze in place before she could advance.

Moroboshi smiled. "So you've got some instincts. Step even a little further, and I might not be able to stop this thing from lashing out."

Somehow, he now held a golden spear with a thick red tassel—his Device, Tiger King.

Facing it, Todoroki realized she had no opening.

Charles nodded approvingly. Even without fighting, he could tell how skilled Moroboshi was.

From that lightning-fast draw that few noticed, to his flawless posture that left no gaps—this was a true Seven Star Sword King.

Especially in Domain Control, he was unrivaled among his peers—no wonder he had neutralized Touka Toudou's trump card, Raikiri.

That was also why Todoroki dared not enter his domain.

Beside Charles, Ikki asked, "Did you catch that?"

Charles nodded. "Very impressive. That honed aura of his… I wonder how one even cultivates that. He's definitely a worthy opponent."

According to the bracket, Ikki and Moroboshi were in the same division. If all went as expected, they would clash soon.

Ikki smiled, "I can't wait."

Charles said nothing, but the same sentiment applied to him. Like Ikki, he loved testing himself against powerful foes.

He'd even like to duel Moroboshi himself—though he would need to restrain his power, or else it wouldn't be any fun.

"Haha! Everyone's looking lively!"

A thunderous voice rang out. A man over two meters tall walked over.

Bearded and rugged, he had a build like a grizzly bear. Even a formal suit couldn't hide his overwhelming presence.

"But don't let all this go to waste. Farmers raised these chickens for your enjoyment. If you don't eat, you're wasting their effort!"

Despite his appearance and demeanor, he was just a year older than Ikki—Kawai Renji, also known as the Iron Bear, third-year student at Rokuson Academy and one of last year's top eight.

He casually picked up the poisoned chicken that Ikki had knocked down earlier and popped it into his mouth—blade, bones, toxins, and all.

Ikki opened his mouth to warn him—but it was too late.

Todoroki had claimed the poison contained enough alkaloids to kill an elephant with a lick.

Yet Kawai chewed and swallowed it all without blinking.

"This crap might kill an elephant, but it won't kill me!"

His voice boomed with health—he wasn't even slightly affected.

"Is he even human…?"

That was the collective thought of everyone present. Todoroki actually said it out loud.

Charles also marveled. While this world's ability system had many limitations, its strengths were undeniable.

Kawai's physique was a prime example.

Without using magic, Charles didn't think he could match that level of poison resistance.

He had also heard of blazer knights in this world who could reassemble shattered bodies—even after explosions.

He'd thought it absurd at first, but after seeing enough of this world's mysteries, he'd grown used to it. Abilities here could tap into the laws of reality—no wonder they were so potent.

Before Todoroki could recover from that shock, a new surprise appeared.

A woman in a white coat hugged her from behind.

"Alright now, I'm just conducting a checkup. Be a good girl and hold still~"

The woman's hands roamed over Todoroki's body as she spoke.

Akatsuki students were mercenaries from the dark world. As a killer, Todoroki had trained for years to hide herself, approach targets unnoticed, and react instantly to any threat.

Yet this woman had approached her, hugged her, and even controlled her movements.

That shocked her even more than the poison incident.

Charles recognized the woman—Yakushi Kiriko, third-year at Renshin Academy.

But she was better known as a national-level magical knight and Japan's top doctor.

She was the one who had performed the infamous surgery to reassemble a shattered body.

Her element was also water-based like Shizuku's, but at a far higher level.

When she approached Todoroki, even Charles had only barely sensed her presence. She had literally turned her body into vapor to approach unnoticed.

Now she handed Todoroki some medicine. Todoroki took it involuntarily, her bewildered expression saying it all—her body hadn't moved of her own will.

Charles murmured, "Manipulating blood directly to control the body? No wonder she's Japan's top doctor… That'd be terrifying in combat."

Ikki nodded. "She'd be a nightmare on the battlefield."

Thankfully, though Kiriko had been selected for the tournament three years in a row, she'd never actually fought. Hopefully this year would be no exception.

Having been thoroughly humiliated, Todoroki had no desire to save face. Surrounded by so many top-tier contestants, she wisely slinked away.

Once she was gone, the atmosphere lightened.

Moroboshi dismissed his Device, but his presence remained heavy.

He looked at Charles. "So you're Charles. I heard you withdrew. What a shame. I wanted to test myself against the man who fought the 'Wings of Unity' to a draw."

Charles knew this wasn't provocation—Moroboshi genuinely wanted to challenge a strong opponent.

He responded, "After the festival, if you're still interested, we can spar."

Moroboshi grinned. "Really? That's great!"

Kawai bellowed, "I heard that loud and clear! Count me in too—I want to see what you've got!"

Kiriko added, "I'm not like them. I don't care for fighting—I'm a doctor, remember."

Just then, another group approached—bringing a chill with them.

Charles looked at Ouma Kurogane. "What, you too? Though you should know, my attitude toward you is different. I might just kill you this time."

Charles had meant to mock him, but Ouma nodded seriously. "Perfect. I'd have no regrets dying in a challenge against you."

Charles stared, dumbfounded. He could tell Ouma meant every word.

A man with such resolve—Charles would continue to see him as an enemy, but not an opponent to underestimate.

But there was another person he couldn't tolerate at all.

"If you keep staring at me like that, I won't hesitate to kill you right here."

Charles turned with a look of pure disgust.

The one staring at him with twisted obsession was the masked jester—Reisen Hiraga, the most mysterious member of Akatsuki Academy.

Their enmity went back a long way.

During a mission to investigate Mount Odake, Charles and Stella had been attacked by Reisen's stone puppet.

Later, when Akatsuki assaulted Hagun, he had again only sent a puppet—which Charles had easily destroyed.

"Another puppet? A rat will always hide in the dark."

Despite the puppet's lifelike appearance and even emotional cues, Charles could sense no life in it.

He still had no idea what Reisen truly looked like.

His insult only heightened Reisen's ecstasy—Charles began to question the man's sanity.

He wanted to remind him that the last person who obsessed over him this way—Yukito Ishikagami—had just met a rather cold end.

Reisen said, "You're back, just as I knew you would be. Do you want to see me? Don't worry—we'll meet again very soon!"

Charles smirked coldly. "Oh, I'm counting on it. I can't wait… to burn your real body to ashes."

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