BOOM!
With a quick motion, the raised ground was instantly restored to normal. At the same time, Akeno, who had been gathering lightning beside Rias, fired the released surge through the opening they had created.
"You're going to throw that line right back at me!"
Seeing the lightning approach, one of the opponents stepped forward: Rezat. With a flash of motion, he sliced the space in front of him dozens of times with his sickles, then quickly retreated.
The moment Akeno's lightning reached that space, it sparked violently—as if it had been forcibly scattered and then vanished completely.
"Lightning is heavily influenced by the atmosphere. If you disrupt that flow, this is what happens."
Both sides had experience dealing with lightning users, which made their counters precise and efficient.
If the scale had been large enough to be called catastrophic, a different approach would have been necessary. But this wasn't a killing match.
Every move had to be observed carefully and countered step by step.
"I'll take the next move!"
"Very well—come!"
And with that exchange, the area where the four fighters stood was swallowed by a violent explosion of flames.
=========
[Ikki POV]
"UOOOOOOOOH!?"
So yeah. Unlike Issei, Rias-senpai, and Akeno-senpai, I'm currently participating in a completely unrelated fight that has nothing to do with the peace talks.
And I'm getting absolutely crushed.
"Now, I'll only tell you to keep training your body manipulation. Since we have the chance, I'll help you develop ranged techniques."
Yes. Naturally, I have no right to argue with my master, so I'm fighting entirely on her terms.
I really want to go back in time and punch my past self for thinking a close-range rush would work.
My strengths have been completely sealed off by "Master's orders."
AndMagari's technique activation is so natural I can't even read the timing anymore. At this point, I suspect I'm being toyed with via illusion anyway.
It feels like facing a sword master who controls timing and distance rather than speed.
And don't even get me started on her efficiency, she's using literal grains of sand, strengthening them, and flicking them into my eyes to create openings.
"Excuse me!? That's way too advanced for a 'training exercise'!"
"Fufu. Consider it education."
From a distance, Shirone's voice rang out.
"For someone who can manipulate even his own heart, Ikki's body control should be on a similar level."
Is that a compliment or an insult?
At this point, Shirone could probably qualify as a satori-type youkai who reads minds.
Fine. If I don't at least surpass her aura output, I can't keep up.
So I activated my "Evil Mode," drawing in the world's malice.
"Heh… it's like the gate of hell opened right in front of me. Though it doesn't work much on us nekomata."
Sumikomagari-sama calmly wrapped herself in a faint bluish flame—purifying fire used by both Kuroka and Shirone.
When someone defends with purification or holy energy like that, most of my corrupted effects are neutralized.
Unless there's a massive gap in power, corruption alone won't work here.
Just raw output boosting, then.
But then—two figures stepped between us.
"Damn it! What a vile aura!"
"Magari-sama! Please step back! We will handle this!"
They were the youkai who had been fighting Rias-senpai and Akeno-senpai.
And now they were staring at me with the resolve of people prepared to die.
…Wait. Is this going to ruin the peace talks because of me?
Before I could worry further,Magari casually extended her tails and wrapped them around their necks.
"You idiots. This kid's ability was in the papers. Stop panicking and go back to your match."
Then she swung her tails and literally tossed them back toward the battlefield.
They hit the ground face-first.
That looked painful.
After that, until the other two matches finished, I was repeatedly lectured while being overwhelmed—especially about the refinement of my fox-fire and ki projectiles using Izuna's power.
"WE LOST!!!"
My voice overlapped with Issei's.
In the end, Issei was also completely overwhelmed by Nurarihyon.
"Come on now, over here—this way,"
"Are you going easy on an old man? How kind of you."
There is no way that wrinkled old man is real.
When it becomes a pure technique battle, the opponent is simply superior.
That's especially true for Issei's power-type fighting style.
But if he went all-out, the earth itself would be destroyed.
"Boy of the Red Dragon Emperor, you're still too reckless. But your punches carry honest intent. That much came through," Nurarihyon said, turning to the others. "So? What did you think?"
Rias-senpai and Akeno-senpai straightened and bowed.
"We confirmed they hold no hostility."
"We will not interfere further with the alliance matter."
They looked slightly exhausted—but also strangely refreshed.
As if the fight itself had been meaningful.
They even went so far as to say, "If punishment is necessary, please direct it at us alone."
Of course, that wasn't the intention, so we deflected the issue.
Honestly, punishing them here would only cause opposition factions to resurface.
"Now then, Kuroka."
"W-what now, Magari-sama? If you're done, just go home already…"
AtMagari's call, Kuroka stepped back nervously.
"I'll train Shirone next time. You should come as well."
"I didn't ask for training, you know…"
"Big Sister! I want training too! Please!"
Shirone cut in and bowed enthusiastically.
Still eager as ever.
Sumikomagari-sama agreed, then leapt onto my shoulder.
"You're training under Yasaka's shrine with 'Ittou Shura,' right? Focus on that first. And learn to handle your youki properly too."
Then she leaned in and whispered so only I could hear.
"[Those three girls… the nekomata, the phoenix girl, and the others—you're quite tangled up. If you have children, bring them to me.]"
"…EH?"
She knows. She absolutely knows.
"[Hurry up and do it properly. I told you before, didn't I? Well, it seems I don't need to worry anymore. That was today's biggest gain.]"
After saying everything she wanted, she hopped off my shoulder.
"Alright then. We're heading to the meeting. Sorry for the disturbance."
With that, Nurarihyon's group departed toward the scheduled negotiations.
Later, we received compensation in the form of rare items—including an absurdly high-class catalog from Sirzechs.
It even had Ferraris and world tours listed.
Completely unusable for us.
After seeing them off, Kunou approached me.
"Hey, Ikki. What did Sumikomagari say to you at the end?"
"Uh… she told me to cherish my wives."
That's… not exactly wrong.
"Ohhh! If that's the case, then everything is fine!" Kunou said brightly. "Let's all play today!"
That pure, unfiltered innocence was honestly healing.
And so, until Yasaka-san came to pick her up that afternoon, we spent the rest of the day playing without a care in the world.