Chapter 269: Have Ikki Come See Me!
The Japanese branch headquarters of the League of Mage-Knight Nations was a skyscraper about thirty stories tall.
In the branch chief's office on the top floor, the current Japanese branch chief—Kurogane Ikki and Kurogane Shizuku's biological father, Kurogane Itsuki—was currently listening to the phone with his brows tightly furrowed.
"I see. Shizuku lost?"
It was clearly late at night, yet there was not even the slightest light turned on inside the room.
His sigh echoed through the spacious room, sounding especially loud.
"After all, her opponent was 'Raikiri.' Facing Nangou-sensei's direct disciple, this result was unavoidable."
"Yes, Shizuku-sama's luck was truly too poor."
The voice on the other end of the phone entered Kurogane Itsuki's ears.
"If Hagun hadn't switched to that boring selection match method, Shizuku-sama should have been able to become a representative with ease."
Selecting representatives through actual combat.
This proposal, which abandoned the chance to obtain more honors and aimed only at the championship from the very beginning, had been proposed by the new director, Shinguji Kurono.
Yet at this moment, it was being called a "boring method."
Kurogane Itsuki did not refute what the person on the other end said, because the existence of this proposal completely denied his governing philosophy. It was indeed quite an eyesore.
"How is Ikki's situation?"
"…The 'Failed Knight' has still maintained a perfect victory record so far."
"Is there a possibility that he will become a representative?"
"Unfortunately, judging from the current situation, as long as he does not draw the 'Falling Star Sword Emperor' or 'Raikiri,' that trash should smoothly advance to the nationals."
"…We absolutely cannot allow that to happen."
Kurogane Itsuki was utterly unwilling to imagine such an outcome. But now, that outcome was about to become reality.
"How about simply using superior authority to strip him of his 'student knight' qualification?"
"If I could do that, I would have done it long ago. But even the qualification of a student knight is managed by the League's 'Lord Whitebeard.'"
"Even as branch chief, although I can submit an application to revoke his qualification, without sufficient reason, it would be impossible to convince headquarters to approve it."
Saying this, Kurogane Itsuki could not help feeling somewhat of a headache.
"Tch, is there no other way?"
Perhaps sensing the family head's distress, the person on the phone hesitated for a moment before carefully suggesting,
"How about manipulating things so he runs into the 'Falling Star Sword Emperor'?"
"…"
He had to admit, Kurogane Itsuki was tempted.
However, after thinking it over again and again, he still had no choice but to reject this suggestion.
"The 'Falling Star Sword Emperor'… is called Luke Ashburn, right?"
"For this kind of official exchange study, we need to consider the attitude of the country behind him. For now, we still can't afford to provoke a powerful country like his."
"What about the 'Crimson Princess'? Isn't she also an A-rank knight? Her identity is also sensitive enough. Can't we make a move from her side?"
Facing the family head's question, the person on the phone paused.
After flipping through the information he had investigated beforehand and organizing his words, he answered,
"According to our investigation, the 'Crimson Princess' probably cannot defeat the 'Failed Knight.'"
"And the two of them often act together with the 'Falling Star Sword Emperor.' There doesn't seem to be anything between the three of them that can be used for manipulation."
"However…"
Looking somewhat awkwardly at the documents beside him, he did not know whether this matter should be reported to the family head.
"However, what?"
In the end, under Kurogane Itsuki's questioning, this subordinate honestly confessed the contents of the information.
"…This subordinate heard that the trash and Shizuku-sama seem to have engaged in some intimate actions that exceed the relationship between siblings."
"If we start from this aspect, then a hearing to question his 'student knight' qualification would be enough to stand."
"?!?!"
Kurogane Itsuki barely suppressed his throbbing nerves. He struggled not to curse out loud on the spot.
The silence continued for a long time. After finally managing to calm down, Kurogane Itsuki spoke into the phone.
"There cannot be any stain on Shizuku. Keep a close eye on this matter and don't let this matter create a scandal."
"Later, transfer the call to Ouma. Tell him I have something important to discuss with him."
"Also…"
"…Have Ikki come see me!"
…
According to their agreement, Luke followed the student council to the training center deep in the mountains of Okutama.
Stella and Ikki also traveled with them.
The group of eight quickly arrived at their destination by car.
The objective of this mission was to investigate the nearby area and ensure that the representative contestants' intensive training camp could proceed normally and safely afterward.
However, aside from that, they also needed to do some other work.
"So, why are we helping the student council clean the training camp?!"
Stella was cleaning the floor with a mop, her face filled with speechlessness as she kept complaining.
"I came here to see a giant!"
"A giant! An unidentified creature! How romantic is that?!"
"Why are we cleaning here? Let's hurry up and go search for the giant!"
That was right. The reason Stella had agreed to help was because she was especially interested in a creature like a giant.
After Touka found her and explained the situation, the girl's eyes had shone brightly, and she had agreed with great enthusiasm.
Unlike Stella, Ikki had not the slightest interest in giants.
He had only agreed to help because of his personality.
"Well, don't complain."
Luke did not have many opinions about cleaning.
Perhaps it was because he had already gotten used to it?
Back when he was in the dungeon world, whether it was taking care of Ais or Ryuu, he had done plenty of things like washing clothes, cooking, and cleaning rooms.
Moreover, this cleaning was not for someone else. It was precisely for their own sake.
"The representative selection matches are already entering the final stage. Stella, you've basically locked in one of the contestant slots, right?"
"Before long, among the people coming here for training camp, you are very likely to be one."
"Are you planning to stay in a place that hasn't been cleaned in so long?"
"Ugh…"
Luke's explanation left Stella speechless.
Of course she would not think she was unable to obtain the right to compete.
As long as her luck was not too bad and she did not run into Luke… no, even if she really did go up against Luke, Stella, who had already started becoming stronger, was confident that she would have the strength to fight.
So cleaning now was equivalent to benefiting herself later.
Thinking of it that way, there was nothing to complain about.
"Still, this really is a little surprising."
At this moment, Touka, who had walked over carrying a bucket, joined the topic.
"I have heard a little about what Kurogane-kun went through last year. The fact that he is good at cleaning was within my expectations."
"But I didn't expect Luke-kun and Vermillion-san to also be so skilled at housework."
"I thought a boy like Luke-kun and a princess like Vermillion-san would definitely know nothing about this sort of thing."
Taking the bucket from Touka's hands, Luke washed the mop while smiling.
"Judging people by appearances isn't right."
"And in modern society, cases where men don't do housework are gradually becoming the minority, aren't they?"
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