Shirou had no intention of watching the duel between Ikki and Ayase. Although Stella had previously thought Ayase liked him, Shirou knew it wasn't love, but rather a feeling akin to admiration. As a swordsman who had studied martial arts from a young age, Ayase was deeply shaken after witnessing Shirou's and Ikki's match. That was a realm she couldn't reach. The feeling of admiration was born from that moment, and she too wanted to become like them.
Therefore, in Ayase's eyes, both Shirou and Ikki were her idols. However, Ikki, with his weak Blazer ability, was more relatable to her. Shirou, whose every ability was flawless, was more distant. So she chose to learn martial arts from Ikki.
Shirou was well aware that the upcoming battle would be an ugly one. Ayase, acting against her true intentions, would wield a weak and fragile sword. Coupled with the prior cheating, this match would probably be unacceptable even in Ayase's own heart. Therefore, Shirou did not plan to watch this match. An idol who was unaware of her own unsightly state should be able to preserve her last shred of dignity.
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Thus, without much fanfare, Ayase's matter was resolved by Ikki. On the selection tournament stage, after defeating Ayase, Ikki learned the entire story from her.
Two years ago, the Sword Slayer, through dishonest
means, obtained the opportunity to challenge Ayase's father, Ayatsuji Kaito, the Last Samurai. In that duel, he directly defeated Ayatsuji Kaito and seized the Ayatsuji family's dojo. Ayatsuji Kaito himself was severely wounded in that duel and had yet to awaken.
For her father and her family, Ayase challenged Kurashiki Kurodo multiple times, attempting to reclaim her family's dojo. But each time ended in failure.
Eventually, tired of it, Kurashiki Kurodo stopped accepting Ayase's challenges. This was unacceptable to Ayase. She had to defeat Kurashiki Kurodo and reclaim her home. Therefore, her only chance to challenge Kurashiki Kurodo was to directly defeat him at the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival. After all, Kurashiki Kurodo, being a top eight participant in last year's Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival, would definitely participate in it this year. This was why she was so persistent.
After learning the specific reasons, Ikki took Ayase to her family's dojo and, in a deadly battle, directly defeated the opponent, reclaiming the dojo for Ayase.
Originally, everything should have been resolved quietly in the shadows. However, due to the extensive reporting by Kusakabe Kagami, a reporter with MAX tracking abilities, the entire Hagun Academy learned about it.
Because of this, Ikki's reputation soared once again.
After all, his opponent this time was a top eight participant in the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival!
Defeating Kurashiki Kurodo meant that Shirou now had the strength of a Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival top eight participant. How could this not move everyone?
One must know that Toudou Touka, the current strongest in Hagun Academy, was only a top four participant in the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival. Didn't this imply that Ikki now had the strength to challenge Student Council President Toudou Touka?
Therefore, Ikki's reputation as the "Uncrowned Sword King" grew even more.
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"Hahaha, are you four idiots? You were tracked by Kusakabe-san, and not a single one of you noticed!"
Hearing Shirou's ridicule, the four, Ikki and the others, who were sitting together after lunch, all hung their heads in shame. After all, Shirou was right; they were all tracked, and none of them noticed, which was truly a bit embarrassing!
"Hmph, isn't it possible that Kusakabe-san's tracking skills are just exceptionally good? I doubt even you, big brother, could have detected Kusakabe-san!" Stella said, displeased, looking at Shirou, who was laughing heartily while holding his stomach. After spending this time together, Stella, who was initially a bit resistant to the title 'big brother,' had now fully integrated into this new relationship. Stella now called him "big brother" without any hesitation.
"That's impossible. No one in this world can track me without being discovered; I'm super strong!" Shirou wasn't lying. For him, any tracking technique was like a mirage. Because as soon as someone tracked him, Shirou would immediately detect their presence. This was the benefit of Loki's blessing.
When there is a conspiracy or scheme targeting him, he will receive a warning.
Tracking, as a premeditated act, also fell under Loki's blessing's warning. Thus, Shirou was so confident.
"I don't believe it!" Stella, of course, didn't believe Shirou, who had no proof. After all, if she did, wouldn't it make the four of them look weak? Therefore, after Stella, the other three also continuously nodded, supporting Stella's skepticism.
"Don't believe it? We can try it then!" Shirou said with a smile, looking at the four who doubted him. Looking at Shirou's confident face, Stella and the others couldn't help but waver. Could this guy really be unafraid of being tracked?
Just as Stella and the others were in a difficult position, Shirou's and Shizuku's student handbooks simultaneously chimed. It was a message, and the sender was the Selection Battle Executive Committee!
"Oh, it seems my next selection battle opponent has been decided!"
"Mine too, I think!" Shizuku also said, looking at the sender of the message on her student handbook.
"Hey, hey, hey, my next opponent isn't Shizuku, is it? It would be tough if we had an internal match!"
"I don't want to duel with a pervert like you either!"
"Who's a pervert!" While bickering, Shirou and Shizuku opened their student handbooks and looked at the message.
"Oh, lucky, lucky, my opponent isn't Shizuku, how fortunate!" For Shirou, besides not wanting to fight familiar faces, he didn't care about any other opponent.
Even Raikiri Toudou Touka was no match for him. Let alone Kisaragi Kanata, whose strength was below hers!
"Student Shirou's twelfth selection battle opponent has been officially decided. Your opponent is: Third Year Class 2 - Student Kisaragi Kanata."
Kisaragi Kanata? Recalling the blonde woman who was with Vice President Mibuchi Foobar at the family restaurant, Shirou's lips curved slightly. He had watched Kisaragi Kanata's matches before and had analyzed her Noble Phantasm. Therefore, she held no secrets from him. Shirou had no hesitation about defeating her. The victor would definitely be him.
"Lucky? It feels like it makes no difference who my opponent is!" Looking at the message in her student handbook, Shizuku felt extremely helpless. This was probably the worst draw she could have gotten!
"Student Shizuku's twelfth selection battle opponent has been officially decided. Your opponent is: Third Year Class 3 - Student Toudou Touka."
Raikiri Toudou Touka, the current top-ranked student at Hagun Academy. Just thinking about facing her made Shizuku nervous. Raikiri Toudou Touka, could she win against her? Shizuku thought so.
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--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter