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"So that's how it is!"
Kazamatsuri Rinna's face lit up with sudden realization, her expression instantly becoming excited. "It seems I might finally have a chance to capture that Angel and bring him back to my territory!"
"I will definitely get him!" Sara murmured to herself, her eyes gleaming with determination.
"It's good you're ready to act," the clown-like man chuckled, clapping his hands. "Otherwise, as the commander of this operation, I'd be in a real bind. But I wouldn't advise that. If you're looking to die, you might as well go challenge the God of War himself. I'm sure he wouldn't mind sending you on your way."
"After all, we are the infamous terrorists of Ma!"
Kazamatsuri Rinna and Sara froze simultaneously.
"Alright, let's get down to business," the clown-like man said, giving the two girls a pat. Seeing them fall silent, he nodded in satisfaction.
"I never expected Hagun Academy to harbor such formidable talents. Even Ouma's younger brother was defeated by him. He might just become the biggest obstacle to our operation!"
"So why Hagun Academy of all places?" a frigid voice echoed from the corner of the room.
The corner seemed almost devoid of human presence; anyone entering the room would instinctively overlook it.
Yet standing there was a petite girl with a shark-toothed grin, her neck swathed in a scarf. She stood motionless, radiating the chilling stillness of a statue.
"If I remember correctly, the World Clock and Yaksha Princess are located there, right? With our limited numbers, isn't this just throwing meat buns to a hungry dog?"
"These are the client's demands, we can't change them. But you can rest assured, Miss Tatara. The client assured us he'll keep those two occupied. Our opponents will be nothing more than ordinary school senseis and students."
"Then I have no objections."
Tatara Yui closed her eyes, cultivating her psychic power like a hibernating snake.
"Hiraga Reisen, I'll say it again: I don't have a younger brother."
On the other side of the room, a handsome man with long, jet-black hair crossed his arms, his cold gaze fixed on the clownish man in the center.
"Alright, alright," Hiraga Reisen, the clownish man, said, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. "Whatever you say."
"This Ryoji Nangou fellow, who among you can handle him? I certainly can't. He's far too sensitive to my Hell Spider Silk."
"Easy peasy!" Kazamatsuri Rinna puffed out her steel-plated chest, her face brimming with pride.
"He'll be a piece of cake," Sara said, lifting her chin and meeting his gaze with unwavering determination. Last time, she had underestimated him. Now that she knew his true capabilities, she was confident she could take him down in a fight.
"I'm his natural counter," Tatara Yui said from the corner, her voice icy. "His sword technique is decent, but nothing special."
Kurogane Ouma watched the young man dominating the television screen, his expression indifferent. "My opponent has already been decided. Whoever wants to deal with him can have him, just don't bother me."
"What about you, Shinomiya Amane?" the clown-like man asked, turning to the other sofa.
There sat a delicate figure whose gender was indiscernible. With a slender frame like a young girl's and excessively refined features, the figure exuded an androgynous aura.
The figure was staring intently at the television, a hint of obsession in their gaze, lost in thought.
"Shinomiya?"
It took the clown-like man's repeated call to snap the figure out of their trance.
"Hmm? Me? Oh, it doesn't matter," they waved dismissively before returning their full attention to the screen, their gaze never wavering.
"Woah, another one's fallen," the clown-like man sighed, pressing his hand to his forehead in exasperation.
"By the way, isn't there still one 'righteous demon god'?" Kazamatsuri Rinna asked, her eyes sweeping across the room.
Apart from Charlotte, who had already left, there were only six of them here. But their team had actually consisted of seven members.
"You mean the Black Shadow Killer?" the clown-like man asked, snapping out of his reverie.
"He's currently undercover at Hagun Academy..."
...…
The Hagun Academy's selection trials had officially concluded.
No, that's not quite right. It would be more accurate to say that the first round of the selection trials had ended.
Following this, there would be a Resurrection Match, and after the final Challenge Match, the entire selection process would be completely finished, determining the final six candidates.
The second-round Resurrection Match began the very next day.
After deliberation, the committee announced that only contestants who had lost a total of three or fewer matches in the first round of selection trials would be eligible to participate in the second-round Resurrection Match.
Only the top two finishers in the Resurrection Match would qualify to challenge the six contestants who had already advanced from the first round in the final Challenge Match.
Those who had lost more than three matches were deemed to be wasting everyone's time. Everyone knew such candidates had no chance of becoming one of the final six, and even the contestants themselves understood this, so there were no objections to the rule.
Only a few dozen contestants who had lost three or fewer matches remained, scattered across over a dozen arenas. Through a single-elimination tournament, the winners were decided in just three days.
After two more Challenge Matches, the final six contestants were definitively determined.
"Waaah! Waaah! Waaah!"
Rich Lady Kanata lay nestled in Ryoji's arms, her slender legs kicking wildly. Beneath her parasol, she bit her lip tightly, emitting muffled sobs and wearing a look of pure frustration.
"Come on, come on, it's just that you didn't make it through. I'll help you teach those siblings a lesson at the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival later!"
Ryoji stroked her golden hair, his voice soothing.
That's right.
Rich Lady Kanata had only lost one match, to Ryoji himself, and remained undefeated afterward. Naturally, she had advanced to the Resurrection Match.
Unfortunately, she ultimately failed to secure a spot among the top two in the Resurrection Match.
Rich Lady Kanata had cut through the competition like a hot knife through butter, easily reaching the top four. However, she ultimately lost to Kurogane Shizuku in the semifinals, falling just one step short of qualifying for the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival.
After that, the Kurogane siblings, Ikki and Shizuku, a pair of tigers entering a pack of wolves, simultaneously challenged the two contestants from the first round who had advanced solely through luck, and unsurprisingly, they both emerged victorious.
Thus, Hagun Academy's final six representatives were Ryoji, Toudou Touka, Stella, Arisuin Nagi, Kurogane Ikki, and Kurogane Shizuku.
Rich Lady Kanata's name was conspicuously absent.
How could the academy's second-ranked student from the previous year fail to even crack the top six this time around?
Let's be honest.
Among this year's top six, five were freshmen.
Only Toudou Touka, the academy's strongest, barely managed to uphold the dignity of the seniors.
But even Toudou Touka's throne as the academy's strongest was now precarious. Rumors spread across campus that Ryoji's strength might already surpass hers.
After winning that duel, his power earned widespread acclaim from the entire student body.
Toudou Touka herself was quite pleased. Seeing her Junior Brother flourish made her overjoyed. In her eyes, it was only a matter of time before he surpassed her.
"Senior Sister's here!"
Ryoji's ears twitched as he heard the familiar footsteps approaching the door. He immediately tensed up.
Rich Lady Kanata quickly released her grip, straightened her clothes, and composed her expression, adopting an air of serene indifference to both praise and criticism.
(End Of This Chapter)