Stellar Reincarnation: The Irregular of Asterisk Ch.7: After the Victory Cry — Nineteen Days Remaining and a New Beginning

The morning of the official ranking matches, the air in Seidoukan Academy's training arena—the Colosseum Nova—was different from usual. The five-thousand-seat stands were packed with students and civilians alike, and broadcast cameras from around the world encircled the center of the arena. Kamishiro Yuuma leaned against the wall in the corridor outside the competitors' waiting room. The black bracelet on his right wrist—the Irregular—pulsed with a pale blue glow. Over the past few days, its light had been quiet, syncing itself to his breathing. "...Nervous?" Yabuki Eishirou walked over carrying two paper cups. Light brown hair. A scar on his left cheek. His usual easy grin looked just a little tighter this morning. "If I said no, I'd be lying." Yuuma took the cup. It was warm tea. The heat seeping into his fingertips melted slowly into the cold corridor air. "But it's not like before—my hands aren't shaking. I know exactly what I have to do." "That's a good look on you. You've changed a lot these past few days." Eishirou lined up beside Yuuma and leaned against the wall. "The internal data from the management's already been planted. Leave the timing to me. You just focus on what you've got to do." "I know. And about Julis—" "Julis is already at the venue. The wound on her back has closed up quite a bit. But don't let her push herself." "Yeah. I promise." Footsteps approached from down the corridor. "What are you two dawdling around for?" A girl with fiery crimson hair tied in a high ponytail stood with her arms crossed. Her jade eyes glared at Yuuma. "Julis, you're already here." "Of course I am. Do you understand what day it is? The management's people are mixed in with the crowd. If you space out, you'll be the one getting caught." Julis turned her head away with a huff. "...But with that face, I suppose you'll be fine. Your eyes are different from yesterday." Her voice softened, just a little. "Thanks, Julis. You're the one who shouldn't push it. Your wound's still—" "Huh? I don't recall giving you the right to worry about me." Julis flushed red and started walking briskly. "Come on, let's go. It's time for the competitors' entrance." Yuuma and Eishirou exchanged a glance. "Same as ever, you two." Eishirou chuckled quietly. "...But honestly, she's incredibly reliable." Yuuma followed after Julis. The Colosseum Nova's arena was lit by pale blue stellar脉 lamps. The stands were completely full, and the students' cheering songs echoed off the walls, shaking the floor. Broadcast cameras circled through the air, capturing the center of the arena. Yuuma and Julis stood at the center of the arena. Across from them, their official ranking match opponents were lined up—the eleventh and twelfth ranked fighters of Seidoukan. Both had their Lux weapons ready, glaring at Yuuma and his partner. "...Julis, you remember the layout?" Yuuma lowered his voice. "Of course. The private soldiers are positioned in the southwest block of the stands—about a dozen of them. All in plain clothes, with stellar脉 amplifiers hidden on them. They plan to move the moment the match starts." "Right. When they make their move, I'll stop the first light blades. While I do, seal off their escape routes with your flames." "I know. You're the one who'd better not become a target." Julis gently touched the back of her left hand. The flame crest faintly glowed. The countdown to the match appeared on the large screen. Three. Two. One. The starting buzzer blared through the arena. At the same moment, more than a dozen figures rose to their feet in unison from the southwest block of the stands. From beneath black coats, stellar脉 amplifiers roared to life. They were the elite unit of the management's private soldiers—the Celestial Guard. "Kamishiro Yuuma! Under the Irregular Retrieval Order, you are hereby detained! Do not resist!" The man at the front shouted. The crowd stirred. "W-what's going on!?" "It's the management's private soldiers! Why are they here!?" The soldiers leaped from the stands into the arena all at once. As they landed, light blades activated one after another. A dozen pale blue blades rose from the arena floor. "Yuuma, here they come!" "I know!" Yuuma focused his mind on the bracelet on his right wrist. The patterns on its black surface pulsed violently, pale blue. One of the soldiers activated his stellar脉 amplifier at maximum output. Three light blades launched simultaneously at Yuuma. "Stop!" The bracelet flashed. Pale blue light raced across the arena, and the three light blades froze dead in the air—just inches from Yuuma's face. "What...!?" For the first time, panic crossed the soldier's face. "Now, Julis!" "I know!" Julis thrust out her left hand. "Burn!" With a roar, a massive wall of flame spread instantly behind the soldiers. The flames of her Hua Yan completely sealed off their escape. "Damn it! Our backs!" The soldiers skidded to a halt. "It's not over yet!" Yuuma pushed the bracelet's power further. The three light blades shattered in midair with a sound, and fragments of pale blue light rained down on the arena. "Julis, next!" "Right!" Julis spread a ring of fire around the soldiers' feet. The flames bound their movements. "Guh... I can't move!" "Stop!" The bracelet blazed explosively. Pale blue light enveloped the dozen soldiers in an instant—and every one of them froze completely, still in the posture of raising their light blades, feet rooted to the ground. "...We did it." Julis let out a breath. "Yeah. But don't let your guard down yet." Yuuma dropped to one knee. Sweat beaded on his forehead. Every time he used the bracelet, strength drained from his body. "Are you okay?" Julis rushed over to him. "Somehow. More importantly, while we still can—" At that moment, the large screen in the venue suddenly switched. The match footage vanished, replaced by countless documents filling the screen. "...What is this?" Julis looked up at the screen. What was displayed were the internal data of the management committee. Records of the Irregular Retrieval Order being issued. Deployment orders for the private soldiers. And a capture plan bearing the signature of Madias Mesa. "This is... the management committee was trying to use the match to capture a student!?" From the announcer's booth, Yanase Miiko cried out in a trembling voice. The stands shifted from murmurs to angry shouts. "Hey, what the hell is this!?" "The management was targeting a student!?" "Are you kidding me! What do you think the Festa is!?" The roar of anger echoed through the entire arena, and the number of broadcast viewers worldwide skyrocketed instantly. In the top row of the stands, a man rose quietly to his feet. A man with silver-streaked white hair, slicked back precisely. Eyes of cold, icy gray. With a white-gloved hand, the man slowly removed his glove. Bare-handed, he gripped the railing. "...What a clever little trick." Madias Mesa looked down at Yuuma standing in the center of the arena. "Kamishiro Yuuma. It seems you've exceeded my expectations—just slightly. To control that bracelet to this degree." His voice was calm. Yet it carried clearly through the hall resounding with angry shouts. "But don't misunderstand. This is not the end. Rather, it is merely the beginning. As long as you do not remove that bracelet, I will appear before you again and again." Madias slowly put his white glove back on. "We'll meet again. Next time, it won't end at this level." A sinister smile played at the corner of his mouth. Then he turned his back and disappeared into the aisle of the stands. "Wait, Madias!" Yuuma shouted. "I won't stop until I know who I am—not here, not ever! I won't let you have your way!" His voice echoed through the arena, but Madias did not look back. The private soldiers, too, had vanished like smoke. The venue fell silent. "...Everyone, please listen." It was Student Council President Claudia Enfield who broke the silence. Her long black hair swaying, she stood upon the platform. "I am Claudia Enfield, Student Council President of Seidoukan Academy. Regarding the events that just occurred in this venue, I hereby issue an official statement on behalf of the Student Council." Her voice was composed. "We have confirmed acts violating the Stellar Arms Charter by a portion of the management committee. The Seidoukan Academy Student Council formally rejects the request for the handover of the Irregular holder, Kamishiro Yuuma." Claudia paused for a moment. "Kamishiro Yuuma is a student of this academy. No one will be permitted to harm a student through unjust means. Even if the opponent is the management committee itself." The venue stirred quietly. Then, one student began to clap. Two. Three. The applause spread like a wave. Before long, the entire venue was wrapped in thunderous applause. "...Amazing." Yuuma stood frozen, gazing up at the stands. The applause was directed at him. The students of this academy were accepting him. For the first time, he felt he belonged here. A warmth spread gently through his chest. "...You really are an idiot." Julis stood beside Yuuma. "Shouting that loudly. But..." Julis's red hair swayed softly. "...I think a little better of you now." It was a small voice. But it reached Yuuma's ears clearly. "Julis..." "W-what? I don't need your thanks. I just stated a fact." Julis turned away with a huff. Her ears were red. Looking at her profile, Yuuma thought: I'm really glad I met this person. The match was suspended. Yet inside Yuuma's chest, it was strangely calm. The bracelet's voice echoed faintly in the back of his mind. —Nineteen days remain until the collapse of the stellar脉 principle. Nineteen days. Nineteen days until the world ends. Yuuma gripped the bracelet on his right wrist tightly. If he said he wasn't afraid, that would be a lie. But now, he wasn't alone. Julis was there. Eishirou was there. Claudia was there. That's why he could fight. That evening, Yuuma and Julis visited the Student Council room in Seidoukan Academy's First Building. On the desk lay two Festa preliminary entry forms. "...Are you really sure about this?" Julis looked at Yuuma, pen still in hand. "Yeah. I'm entering the Festa. I'll grasp the truth with my own power." "Do you understand how dangerous the Festa is? The management will send in private soldiers like today without a second thought. The main rounds of the Festa are far, far more dangerous." "I know. But running away won't change anything. I'm going to unravel the mystery of this bracelet. That's why I'm entering the Festa." Yuuma's voice wasn't trembling. Julis looked into his eyes for a while. "...Fine. If you're going to go that far, I'll come along. Let's enter the Festa together." Julis wrote her name on the form. Yuuma wrote his. His hand wasn't shaking. The hand that had trembled so much until yesterday was now steady. "...Done." "Yeah. Now you're a Festa participant too. There's no turning back." "I don't intend to turn back." Yuuma handed the forms to Claudia. She smiled and accepted them. "Received, indeed. Kamishiro Yuuma, Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld. The Student Council formally accepts your Festa preliminary entries." Claudia carefully placed the forms into a file on the desk. "Do your best, both of you. I'm rooting for you." "Thank you, President." Yuuma bowed his head. Julis gave a small bow as well. The two left the Student Council room. Through the corridor windows, the light of the lake surface streamed in. Pale blue light stretched their shadows long across the floor. "...Hey, Julis." "What?" "I'm really glad you were there today. Thank you." "...I told you, you don't need to thank me. You being safe is enough." Julis spoke without turning her head. "Besides, today was your stre

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Stellar Reincarnation: The Irregular of Asterisk Episode 7: After the Victory Cry — Nineteen Days Remaining and a New Beginning