Chapter 110: I Love Watching Girls Fight the Most (5.5K)
March.
The three-month exchange study program had come to an end.
Lina had also boarded a flight back to USNA, and Shizuku had returned safely as well, though she was filled with various doubts...
"Mmm—!"
Under the tranquil moonlight, a figure as pale as the full moon arched its back like a shrimp before heavily collapsing.
Silver hair, damp with sweat, spread out beneath her.
Her fair cheeks were flushed with an alluring blush as Seitenshi breathed slowly.
Not long after returning to the Mahouka world, this pure white, saintly Seitenshi had already been won over by him.
And Seitenshi's mindset had changed considerably as well.
The biggest change was that she had begun to enjoy things appropriate for her age, such as romance.
Even though she was busy every day, even though Mahiro rarely had time to visit, she still cherished these moments and treasured this time.
It was even rare for her to feel jealous and compete with Kisara for attention.
The main reason for such a significant change was that the burden on her shoulders had lightened considerably.
It wasn't that she had become negligent or slack in managing Arcadia.
On the contrary, everything was managed in an orderly manner. The children would dutifully carry out the decrees she issued without anyone opposing her.
If there were issues with the regulations, Kanae would immediately step forward to inform her and work with her to make revisions.
Everything in Arcadia was developing in a thriving direction.
Although it couldn't yet achieve self-sufficiency, its reliance on the outside world was diminishing. It truly was, as Mahiro had said, a dreamland belonging to the Cursed Children.
So, now there was only one thing left for her to do.
"Mr. Mahiro, what do you think our child would be like?"
Seitenshi gently placed her hands on her abdomen, following the rhythm of her breathing as if anticipating new life growing within.
"Child..."
Mahiro lay beside Seitenshi, gazing blankly at the ceiling. "I think I'd prefer a girl."
"Me too."
Seitenshi smiled faintly, her expression filled with maternal affection as if she could already see their daughter.
"If it's a girl, how about she inherits my name? Let her carry on everything about Arcadia and grow up alongside those children."
"Growing up together sounds nice, but why inherit your name? Are you planning to step down?"
"No."
Seitenshi shook her head. "During my lifetime, I hope to remain in this position, watching over and protecting those children."
"But eventually, I will grow old, so all of this will need to be passed on to our descendants."
Mahiro: "..."
He looked at Seitenshi strangely and couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you laughing at? Did I say something wrong?" Seitenshi puffed out her cheeks, dissatisfied with his reaction.
"Of course you're wrong, and quite mistaken at that."
Mahiro turned to face her, speaking seriously: "Have you forgotten what Dr. Sumire said? Our genes have long surpassed human limits, so our lifespans will be exceptionally long, several times that of ordinary people."
"Moreover, even if death were inevitable, I wouldn't allow it to happen. Living forever together—wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Eternal life is a curse, but only for individuals alone.
Because they would have to watch everyone around them grow old and perish one by one. But if everyone around you could achieve eternity, then it would no longer be a curse, but heaven's blessing.
Moreover, his current ability to trace information had reached its limit of one year—even if someone died, he would pull them back from the brink of death!
Such a thing was absolutely unacceptable!
Yet, seeing how seriously he spoke of this, Seitenshi couldn't help but cover her mouth with the back of her hand and let out a soft chuckle.
"Eternity? If it means being with you, Mahiro-san, that might not be such a bad choice~"
As she spoke, Seitenshi pulled his arm over and gently rested her head against it.
As if dreaming of the future.
Unfortunately, there was one thing he hadn't told Seitenshi: eternity came with a price.
As genes gradually grew stronger, the possibility of bearing offspring would become increasingly lower. According to Sumire, once a certain threshold of power was reached, no descendants would be born at all.
And for Mahiro, this was already inevitable.
Because the energy in his ring had been fully replenished, and he was about to embark on his next journey across worlds.
The next day.
"Woo-hoo~!"
White sand, dazzling sun.
But the beach was even more dazzling than the sun.
Because a group of girls in light swimwear were playing on the shore.
Among them, Erika—wearing a flashy, brightly colored one-piece that accentuated her slender figure—was the first to dash toward the sea.
"Erika-chan, slow down~ Be careful not to trip~"
Following her was the bespectacled Mizuki, whose swimsuit seemed rather daring.
Her polka-dot two-piece wasn't as fiery as a bikini, but the deep V-cut at the chest emphasized her ample bust, creating a glamour unimaginable from her usual quiet demeanor.
Honoka also wore a two-piece, but with a single strap and an asymmetrical sarong skirt, exuding a mature aura.
If judged not by size but by curves, she might have had the best figure.
No—there was one who could rival her: a girl with long black hair, Tendo Kisara. True to her signature color, even her swimsuit was pure black.
Hugging her chest and waist, it looked exceptionally alluring.
Beside her, Sayaka wore a deep purple bikini, her figure second only to Honoka's.
In contrast, Shizuku wore a frilly, girlish one-piece swimsuit.
Even in such attire, her expressionless, mature face paired with this style created a strangely disorienting, bewitching charm.
But the most dazzling of all was undoubtedly Miyuki, in a one-piece printed with flower petals.
Her increasingly feminine figure, combined with the swimsuit's eye-catching pattern that blurred visual focus, emphasized her ethereal, fairy-like allure.
The only ones who could possibly rival her were Mayumi and Seitenshi, both hiding under a parasol and equally blessed with lovely figures.
Beyond them, playing beach volleyball in the distance, were several children.
Naturally, Tina, Asaka, Enju, and Kayo were among them—even Hiuchii Akari, who seemed similar to Shizuku with her stoic, expressionless demeanor, was there too.
As for how it ended up like this—almost like a grand swimsuit party?
It was mainly because First High School had entered its spring break, and everyone decided to spend the holiday with a team-building trip to Misaki.
Naturally, Arcadia had to fulfill its duties as host, warmly welcoming them in place of Mahiro.
Fortunately, after their arrival and the two groups came together, there was no conflict as one might have imagined. Instead, it was unexpectedly harmonious.
When they first saw Seitenshi, they were even slightly dazzled by her appearance.
She was incredibly beautiful, possessing a sacred, almost angelic purity.
Thankfully, with the daily presence of someone as flawless as Miyuki, they didn't remain stunned for too long.
But Erika was somewhat suspicious about what means Mahiro had used to win over such a beautiful girl, and even tried to subtly probe him for information.
Though she gained nothing from it.
Meanwhile, as the two most composed among them, Mayumi and Seitenshi had gathered together, whispering about something unknown, occasionally bursting into laughter.
Mahiro couldn't be bothered to eavesdrop, so he lay down on the beach chair, put on his sunglasses, and planned to take a good nap.
Sunbathing and sleeping, occasionally able to admire a beach full of either chests or legs—could life get any better than this?
"Hey, you. Is your idea of spending a vacation really just coming to the beach to sleep?"
A voice suddenly reached his ears, accompanied by a shadow falling over him.
Opening his eyes, he saw Mari standing with her hands on her hips, leaning down to look at him.
"Is there something wrong with that?"
Mahiro said languidly, resting his head on his arms, "For me, this is the ultimate way to enjoy myself."
Truth be told, he had seen this beach countless times—whether the tide was rising or falling held no novelty for him. If there was anything new, it was only the group of girls playing on it.
In comparison...
"As for you, Watanabe-senpai. You come to the beach, yet you don't even wear a bikini. Instead, you're in jeans and a T-shirt—now that's the real waste, isn't it?"
Mari blushed at his words and explained softly:
"I can't help it. Mayumi dragged me here without telling me in advance... I didn't even have time to buy a swimsuit."
Usually, when she went out with Mayumi, even at the beach, she wore an old-fashioned school swimsuit. It could be said she had never paid much attention to such matters.
"So, you're the one wasting the most here," Mahiro retorted.
"But it's fine, there's still a way to fix it. Arcadia has shops selling swimsuits. Why don't you go take a look, Senpai?"
"No need, this is fine."
Kicking off her sandals, Mari stepped barefoot onto the sand and headed toward Mayumi.
As if fleeing the scene.
"(ˉ▽￣～) Tch~~ With such a great figure, what a waste."
Mahiro muttered under his breath, but it seemed to reach Mari's ears, as the tips of her ears instantly turned red.
In the end, it wasn't for any particular reason—she just didn't know what kind of swimsuit to wear in front of her junior, Mahiro.
"Hey~ Miss Tendo... right?"
"Hmm?"
Called by the red-haired girl with a ponytail, Kisara smiled and said, "I believe you're Chiba Erika, right? If you don't mind, just call me Kisara."
"OK, Kisara. In return, just call me Erika."
"Sure, Erika. Did you call me for something?"
"There is something I'd like to ask you."
A smile appeared on Erika's face as her gaze swept over Kisara's figure.
"If I'm not mistaken, you've practiced kendo, right?"
"Yes, I hold the 'Menkyo Kaiden' in Tendo-style Battōjutsu."
Kisara didn't hide anything, but she grew curious after having her identity guessed: "How did you know? Did Mahiro-kun tell you?"
"Haha, no, I figured it out myself."
Erika laughed, looking very pleased.
Just from the other's stance and walking posture, she could tell that Kisara must have practiced kendo for a very long time.
Even longer than Sayaka!
"But what a coincidence, I just received the 'Menkyo' license from our Chiba family. Since we're fortunate to meet... Kisara, would you like to have a match with me?"
"Eri?!"
Sayaka beside them couldn't help but exclaim in an attempt to stop it.
Because she saw the battle-hungry smile on Erika's face—the same smile she had when they first sparred together.
She wasn't joking; she genuinely wanted to test her skills!
Kisara naturally noticed this too, but at this moment she felt somewhat awkward.
For no other reason.
It was just that the sword she practiced wasn't normal kendo, but a sword of revenge, the sword of a killer.
That wasn't a sword that should be wielded against friends, and she was also afraid she might accidentally hurt Erika.
Blades have no eyes.
Even with bamboo swords, being struck could still take a life or break bones, let alone someone at her level where protective gear would be utterly useless.
"Kisara, what are you hesitating for?"
Erika noticed the other's reluctance and wanted to push her a bit.
After all, she was genuinely interested in the sword arts of another world, especially this kendo girl who should be about sixty years apart from her in training years.
"It's not that, I..."
Just as Kisara was about to refuse, a sudden voice stopped her, "What would happen if you agreed?"
"Eh?"
She turned her head to see that Mahiro had already approached them.
He had been sleeping soundly but suddenly opened his eyes as if sensing something, just in time to catch what seemed like an interesting conversation.
Chiba style vs Tendo style or something.
He was naturally very interested in this kind of scenario, especially when it involved women fighting!
Meanwhile, the others playing beach volleyball also heard the commotion and came over. Upon hearing that Erika wanted to spar with Tendo Kisara,
Everyone showed surprised expressions.
"Is this really okay?" Mizuki's gaze shifted between the two before finally settling on Mahiro.
Miyuki and others also looked concerned.
After all, they had witnessed Erika's swordsmanship firsthand—no one in the entire First High School could surpass Erika in kendo.
In short, Erika was a genius in kendo.
As for Tina and Asaka, they were equally worried, but their concern was for Erika.
After all, they knew exactly how terrifying Kisara's swordsmanship was—when going all out, she could even cut down reinforced concrete buildings.
Her strength was enough to completely overwhelm Rita Southbury, who ranked 21st in the IP rankings.
It was beyond terrifying; even a Stage Four Gastrea probably couldn't withstand a single strike from Kisara.
"But..."
Seeing so many people gathering around, Kisara became hesitant again.
"It's fine, don't worry. As long as she doesn't use Zero Sword, and don't underestimate Erika—her kendo skills are actually quite impressive. She might even surprise you."
"Hey, hey, what do you mean by that? Are you saying I can't beat Kisara?" Erika protested discontentedly.
"Hmm."
Mahiro shrugged. "You're indeed no match for her."
"What if I win?"
"And what if you lose?"
Erika wasn't the type to admit defeat easily—she wouldn't give up until she hit a wall.
Thus, the two made a bet.
If Erika won, Mahiro would have to spar with her once.
If Kisara won, Erika would have to stay on Misaki Island throughout the entire vacation and teach sword techniques to the children there.
"Mahiro-nii, are you really sure about this?"
Watching them leave the beach and enter the island city of Arcadia, Miyuki looked worried.
"They won't end up killing each other, will they?"
Honoka couldn't help but speculate.
This time, Shizuku wanted to say something but found herself speechless—in her view, this match was indeed quite dangerous.
"Don't worry, I'll handle everything. I won't let anything happen to them."
Mahiro smiled reassuringly.
Given Erika and Kisara's physical capabilities, there really was no need for concern.
But to properly observe the match, he first asked Asaka to prepare some watermelon for him before heading together to the dojo established within Arcadia.
In the dojo.
Kisara and Erika had changed into kendo uniforms, standing on the left and right sides of the dojo respectively.
The two Mibu sisters, Sayaka and Asaka, served as referees for this match.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the dojo filled with intense tension as they took their positions.
Two stubborn girls who refused to admit defeat.
"Tendo-style Battoujutsu—Menkyo Kaiden—Tendo Kisara."
"Chiba-style—Menkyo—Chiba Erika."
"Please guide me well!" X2
With these words as the signal, their match began.
Compared to Kisara's focus on stance, Erika's attacks were very direct, even her opening moves could be described as abrupt.
There was no preliminary touching of sword tips, no fierce shouts.
The moment Erika moved, her bamboo sword was already closing in on Kisara's neck.
"So fast!"
Seeing the girl suddenly appear before her from a distance, Kisara's pupils slightly contracted, but her movements remained calm as if she could predict it, raising her bamboo sword.
Snap!
A crisp sound as she perfectly blocked the attack.
But in the next instant, Erika teleported again, already circling behind Kisara.
"Self-acceleration spell..."
The referee outside the ring, Sayaka, had deeply ingrained memories of this technique.
This was exactly how Erika had defeated her before.
Moreover, from what she could see now, the techniques Erika employed were far more refined than before. Both her swordsmanship and magical skills had reached a level that Kisara could hardly hope to match.
"...The same moves as Mahiro-kun..."
Kisara blocked Erika's attacks again and again, her gaze growing sharper with each defense.
Indeed, the girl's movements were swift—almost as fast as Mahiro, whom she had once sparred with.
But—
"I can keep up! Right here!"
The moment Kisara blocked the attack, she suddenly spun around and swung her sword toward an empty space.
Right then, Erika, who had used her self-acceleration magic, appeared exactly there.
The sudden strike startled Erika, and in her panic, her bamboo sword was knocked upward. Immediately after, she saw Kisara retract her sword to her waist.
It was the starting stance of iaijutsu!
"Tendo-ryu Iaijutsu, First Form, Eighth Variation—"
"Crap! I can't dodge this!"
"Shadowless!"
BOOM—
A deafening roar echoed through the dojo.
Watching Erika get sent flying by the strike and crash into the far wall, Sayaka stood frozen for a moment before announcing in a dazed voice:
"Winner—Tendo Kisara."