After forcibly calming herself down, Erica's condition finally returned to normal.
"Sorry, sorry. What I just said was only a joke. Satsuki, you absolutely mustn't take it seriously, haha..."
After awkwardly covering up the inappropriate thoughts that had run wild in her mind, Erica once again shifted the topic to that challenger.
"Although I've only met her once briefly, I can be certain that the Hime-Miko's strength is not to be underestimated. As the only daughter of the Seishuin family, her attainments in Curse Invocation go without saying. But what truly draws attention is the divine blade she carries in her hand."
Satsuki showed a hint of interest. "A divine instrument?"
"Not merely a divine instrument. Strictly speaking, it's closer to a subordinate god that has already developed self-awareness. That also means that although Ena is not a Godslayer, she will possess abilities equivalent to Authorities."
Not a Godslayer, yet possessing the power of an Authority?
"She sounds like a talent worth noting."
Satsuki nodded, then looked at Erica. "But you contacted her in advance. Was there some purpose?"
"As the king who secretly protects this region, it is naturally my duty to evaluate whether the foremost Hime-Miko of this generation is qualified to be brought under my command. That is also an obligation of a king." Erica answered as though it were only natural.
"And your conclusion?"
"Similar to Yuri Mariya. She's also a simple-minded girl, and she possesses considerable talent. Within the History Compilation Committee, she's one of the rare few who can state her thoughts cleanly and directly. So I think highly of her."
"Are you asking me to go easy on her?"
Erica shook her head, her eyes fixed intently on Satsuki. "Of course not. I may not be able to see through your full strength, Satsuki, but I can infer a portion of it. There is absolutely no chance for Ena to win against you. I'm not worried about the outcome of this battle at all. If possible, I would rather you defeat her in a way that leaves her completely convinced."
"That's hardly any trouble."
With that, Satsuki stood up. Her hair had nearly dried, so she began changing into the black uchikake embroidered with golden dragon patterns hanging on the rack nearby.
"Going out?"
"It's Tuesday. The Tea Ceremony Club has activities today. Since I have time, I'll go take a look."
Hearing that, Erica finally remembered that Satsuki had indeed joined the Tea Ceremony Club before.
...
The Tea Ceremony Club was located between the high school and middle school sections, its layout rich with traditional Japanese style.
Club activity days were Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each week.
It was essentially another form of hobby class—cultivating temperament without additional pressure, and without requiring families to spend large sums of money.
Aside from not generating much profit from the students themselves, there were hardly any significant drawbacks.
When Satsuki arrived, the tearoom doors were already open. That meant someone had arrived earlier than she had. After removing her shoes and placing them in the shoe cabinet, she walked into the tearoom alone.
The reason she was alone was simple. Erica had been waking up too early these past few days. For a young lady accustomed to European time schedules, even if her magically enhanced body could endure it, she would inevitably grow drowsy when the time came. So she had simply returned to Satsuki's bedroom to catch up on sleep.
Inside the Tea Ceremony Club room, two girls were kneeling in seiza posture. One was the club president. Judging from the back view, the other was a black-haired girl. The two seemed to be discussing the black-haired girl's application to join the club.
From the black-haired girl, Satsuki sensed a spiritual power on par with Yuri Mariya.
Within the cloth bag placed beside her hand, a wave of divine power that could not be concealed leaked out from time to time.
What a coincidence—so they would meet here?
Seishuin Ena, the challenger who had previously sent her a letter of challenge, was now kneeling inside.
Seated within was the club president, Hanabusa. From her position, she could clearly see Satsuki entering from outside. An expression of astonished admiration immediately appeared on her face.
"Satsuki, it's been a while~ Your outfit today is truly gorgeous. It's even more impressive than the qipao you wore last time. As expected of the great beauty known as the 'Solitary Black Rose.' You can actually carry off this style of kimono."
That was no exaggeration. For attire like this, the vast majority of girls would choose bright and refreshing colors. A nearly pure black base like Satsuki's would seem overly heavy or solemn for most girls her age.
Yet on Satsuki, the black kimono appeared perfectly suited. Her noble temperament seemed to carve out an independent space of its own, leaving those who saw her with nothing but a sense of pure solemnity and elegance.
Satsuki had long since grown indifferent to such compliments. Back in the shinobi world, she had heard far more nauseating praise from feudal lords.
So she merely offered a polite response.
"You're too kind, Senpai. And this is?"
Although she already knew the other's identity, Satsuki still spoke to redirect the topic.
"Satsuki, let me introduce her. This is Seishuin Ena. She's applying to join our Tea Ceremony Club."
With her back previously turned to Satsuki, Ena now rotated around. The instant she saw Satsuki for the first time, a flicker of surprise crossed her face. It was quickly replaced by an eager, competitive expression.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Seishuin Ena—though I imagine Miss Satsuki is not unfamiliar with this name."
"I've seen it on a rather interesting envelope."
Satsuki did not deny it. As she spoke, she moved to sit at the side. Unlike the two kneeling in seiza, Satsuki sat cross-legged. Combined with her attire, the posture gave her an air of magnanimity and nobility.
"However, walking around campus in another school's uniform—won't the faculty issue a warning?"
—And carrying a controlled blade at that.
"No problem. I'm not foolish enough to be discovered by the staff. I've been training in the mountains, so this level of stealth is nothing. And even if I were discovered, there wouldn't be any consequences."
Ena chuckled.
As a member of one of the Four Great Families, the Seishuin family, she could indeed disregard certain mundane rules to some extent.
After all, before the Meiji Restoration, her ancestors had been among the most prestigious houses of the Warring States daimyō. Even to this day, they retained influence across Japan that exceeded imagination.
"President, I have a suggestion—no, a request. I'd like to hold a tea gathering. May I borrow this room briefly? Please rest assured, it won't take long."
She wore a warm smile as she made the request, but her gaze never left Satsuki.
Even the somewhat slow-witted club president could sense before departing that Ena's attitude toward Satsuki was somewhat unusual.
Were the two of them old acquaintances who had known each other for some time?
But this unsettling atmosphere... what exactly was it?
...
Due to the disaster incident caused by Marquis Voban a few days ago, the entire Tokyo area had recently overreacted in preventing all forms of natural calamities.
As a result, even the school was no longer permitted to use formal hearths and charcoal. Only electric heaters and iron kettles were allowed.
"Though it lacks a bit of atmosphere, the opportunity is rare. So please allow me to personally prepare tea to entertain you, Miss Satsuki."
"Thank you for the trouble."
Satsuki extended one hand in a gesture of invitation.
Ena returned the courtesy with a bow—precise and natural. From that single movement alone, one could see that she had received rigorous education. Touma's description of her as the "ultimate Yamato Nadeshiko" was by no means unfounded.
She withdrew a small pouch from her uniform pocket.
From within, she took out tea leaves shaped like miniature beans.
During the previous Tea Ceremony Club activity, Satsuki had gained a general understanding of the world's famous teas. She recognized this particularly representative variety.
What Ena produced was the rare tea known as Orchid Fragrance Sparrow's Tongue, classified as a spring tea.
Judging from its appearance, this batch was of the highest grade.
Each year, only two kilograms of this specially selected Orchid Fragrance Sparrow's Tongue entered the market.
An ordinary person would not merely fail to drink it—they would likely never even see it.
With fine tea leaves prepared, the remaining key was the water.
Ena did not use the school's tap water. Instead, she had brought her own source and poured it into the vessel.
"Is there something special about this water?" Satsuki asked.
"If there is anything special, it would be its origin. I collected it while training near Kita Ward in Kobe City, Hyōgo Prefecture, from a temple hot spring there. Grandfather once said the hot springs there are very famous, so I took some."
"As far as I know, most hot spring water is not suitable for drinking—much less for brewing tea."
"Miss Satsuki is correct—hot spring water contains beneficial minerals, but for ordinary people those minerals are best absorbed through bathing. Drinking it directly can be harmful."
Even as she spoke, Ena continued her preparations with practiced ease. "But for someone like Miss Satsuki, who has cultivated herself to a certain level, there is no need to worry."
"How thoughtful."
Time passed quietly.
In the stillness, the hot spring water came to a boil, releasing faint steam.
"Hot spring water can generally be divided into three types—sulfur springs, saline springs, and sodium bicarbonate springs..."
As she warmed the cups with water, Ena spoke fluently. "The first two are hardly what one would call delicious. Saline springs taste salty, and sulfur springs even carry a faint unpleasant odor. But what I prepared this time is the third type."
As expected of a young lady from a great family who had undergone professional training. She possessed a wealth of knowledge beyond textbooks—and more importantly, it was not empty theory. She had personally gathered the water herself.
After rinsing the tea utensils with the hot spring water, Ena used bamboo tongs to lift and drain them.
She then placed the tea leaves into the cups, poured in the boiling water, and whisked it with a chasen.
Her movements flowed seamlessly from start to finish. There was no rigid adherence to ceremonial formalities, yet even a layman could perceive in her actions a certain free-spirited essence.
"Please enjoy—"
Accepting the tea, Satsuki lightly tapped the tabletop twice with her index and middle fingers before bringing the cup close to inhale the rising fragrance.
"Rich and elegant in aroma. It is indeed a rare top-grade tea."
Satsuki nodded inwardly. With such bold technique, an amateur might easily ruin a pot of fine tea. Yet in Ena's hands, it seemed as though decay itself could be transformed into wonder.
If compared to calligraphy, it was like the difference between a stumbling beginner's regular script and a master's expansive cursive hand.
Lifting the cup to her lips, Satsuki displayed a different kind of refined grace. With one hand slightly raised, she took a light sip.
Just as she had anticipated, the flavor was exquisitely balanced.
"I can say with certainty that if Miss Ena were to participate in a tea art competition, such skill would be enough to claim first place."
"Thank you for the praise. It's merely a pastime I indulge in when the mood strikes. Nothing more."
Hearing that, Satsuki set down her teacup and nodded as if casually.
"Naturally. After all, you are Seishuin Ena, publicly acknowledged as the foremost Tachi Hime-Miko. No matter how one looks at it, your greatest expertise should be swordsmanship or curse invocation."
The moment those words left her mouth, Ena's gaze sharpened instantly. The gentle eyes of a Yamato Nadeshiko transformed into twin blades, emitting a piercing divine brilliance toward Satsuki.
"I merely have a bit of talent. Among my peers in Japan, there is no longer anyone who can defeat me—but to call me the first is excessive. At the very least, I know that Miss Satsuki once surpassed the King of Swords in swordsmanship."
"Only a rumor," Satsuki replied calmly.
"If possible, I would like to have a spar with you in swordsmanship. May I?"
Having anticipated this long ago, Satsuki smiled. "Only a spar? Erica told me this was a duel concerning Japan's future."
A mischievous expression appeared on Ena's face.
"Just rhetoric. After all, members of the History Compilation Committee were present at the time. I can more or less guess Grandfather's intentions. To be honest, I have no interest in becoming an Agent at all. What I desire most is to climb to the summit of swordsmanship—and Miss Satsuki happens to fit that goal perfectly."
For once, a genuine smile appeared on Satsuki's face. "In that case, I shall not refuse."
Soon, the two left the Tea Ceremony Club and arrived at a corner of the Chōnan Academy High School grounds.
On one side stood Ena, holding a cloth-wrapped bundle. On the other stood Satsuki, empty-handed.
"Miss Satsuki, are you not carrying a blade with you?"
"I always carry it."
Satsuki lightly touched the center of her chest and smiled faintly. "When it is meant to appear, it will appear."
"Is that so?—As expected of Miss Satsuki. I now believe half of that rumor."
"Only half?"
"The other half belongs to my partner—it is quite interested in how strong you truly are."
Ena loosened the cloth bundle from her shoulder and opened it, revealing a tachi housed in a jet-black scabbard. The blade alone was nearly a meter in length.
Drawing it forth, one saw that it was a straight blade without curvature.
The black-haired Hime-Miko planted the edge of the tachi into the ground.
That single motion generated wind.
With the blade as its center, a gentle breeze gradually formed into a vortex.
In the next instant, the space of the battlefield shifted to another hue.
It was an Authority that isolated space—proof that this place had already transformed into an independent battleground. Ordinary people could no longer perceive their figures.