The day after the first game of the tournament.
Soon, the second round of the tournament was about to begin.

No, it's exciting!　I was so excited yesterday, too.

Shizuka-san you're genuinely enjoying this big festival, aren't you?

'Well...'

　Nina and Marion chuckled at Shizuka's snorting. Nina looked at the list of matches on the large monitor and checked the characteristics of each participant.

The second round of the tournament

Venue for the first game
　Sanzenin Mizushige vs. Douglas Gans
Venue for the second game
　Julian Knight vs. Tiger Wolf
Game 3
　Victor Bakration vs. Tendoji
Game 4
　Tenchan vs. Yuto Doe

"Well then!　The second round of the tournament is about to begin!"

　A loud cheer went up from the bleachers as the emcee from Shitenji loudly announced the start of the second round of the tournament.
　The Yuto cheering group also focused on their own monitors. Amidst them, Nina put her hand on her chin as if she was serious and thoughtful.

''Marion-san,''

What is it?　Ms. Nina.

''That's what Akane-san said... but I actually think there's a bit of truth to it.

'What?　Does that mean there are hostile participants hiding in the Shitennji family?

''Yes. It's true that Zhu Yin is very fond of Mr. Dou Dou Dou, but then again, how much would you hold such a great festival for the entrance of the family?　I understand the special situation of the Shitenji family that they need to be recognized by their branch families, and I also understand the strategy of having Mr. Dou Dou Dou as their son-in-law... but still, when Zhu Yin said that the Shitenji family had done something wrong I think it's very possible that some people might think. That's what we call a great family, or a family that has some kind of power...

....

'I may not be as good as the Shitendera family, but I've seen something close to that. Besides, Marion, do you remember?　The Teintan thing.

Yeah, well...

　Marion looked thoughtful. Because what Nina had to say in that way was very convincing.
　Nina's family also has a father who was formerly an ally of a warlord in a country called Millimer and is now the prime minister of a country.
　As a result, many different people had come to see their father, Mathew, at his home.
　Among them were many people who had apparently only approached him for their own benefit.
　Furthermore, it was the Theintan that Nina had mentioned. That, of course, Marion remembers.
　When Miremer was split between the military regime and the Matuu faction of the warlords, he was referring to his deputy, who was also Matuu's most trusted right-hand man.
　And that Theintan had been manipulated by the military regime's hired person with the ability to undertake the assassination of Matuu. Ruiho and Marion, who had been asked to escort Matou, had noticed this and had a history of releasing Theintan's mental restraints.

''I think there is no doubt that Chu'onn-san is targeting Dou Dou Dou, and in fact, I am certain that she is trying to do something about it with this great festival, but that doesn't mean that something like that made-up story won't happen. Of course, that doesn't mean it's an absolute certainty, and I'm sure the Shitenji family is also wary of it.



'I don't know. ........Maybe I just think of it as my experience.

　At this time, Marion remembered the other face that Zhu Yin had.

''........Speaking of which, Zhu Yin-san is a 'Spirit Priestess'......''

'A spirit priestess?　What's your position on that?

'No, the term "spirit maiden" is not a description of a position. I don't know much about it either, but it seems to be a term that refers to a woman who is rarely born among spirit users and who is particularly good at sensing and communicating with spirits. I've heard it referred to those spirit users who are recognized and loved by the spirits and can see the world through them...

"The world through the spirits...

''Yes, that's why spirit priestesses, whether conscious or unconscious, often have great significance in their actions...''

Does it mean a lot to you?

　Nina gives her a look as if something is catching her.
　As Nina listens to Marion's story, she begins to sort out the situation as far as she knows so far. Nina, by nature, doesn't like this kind of elusive talk.
　She has a habit of thinking that thinks that stories that can be interpreted in any way, such as big meanings, are an obstacle to situational judgments.
　This is because I think it is necessary to assess the situation by examining the events that occurred and the vectors that each person or organization is trying to move towards.
　And risk is when you have assessed the possibilities of what could happen in the situation.
　Right now, there is still not much information on the abilities that Nina has. Therefore, it is not possible to say no to something yet.
　However, apart from that, I think that what Zhu Yin is talking about can happen. That's because it's not about the ability person or anything else, but because if it's a human being, their thoughts are the same.
　But that's not what caught Nina's attention.
　Nina is beginning to recognize that elusive logic and theory as something that cannot be taken lightly, having encountered and been involved with people with abilities that cannot be measured by common sense, such as Mizuho, Marion, and Yuto and others.
　That's why I'm stuck with it.

(The big meaning........? Then, the fact that Zhu Yin liked Mr. Dou Dou Dou, and the fact that he held this great festival of entrance to the family to invite Mr. Dou Dou, means that there is something that will have a big impact on the future....... Nope, it's still becoming elusive. (But.........)

　Nina thinks.
　There was a group of dubious and mysterious abilities called the Swords and Count of Surt. If you ask me, they were the ones who could have caused great disaster to the world if left unattended.
　It may be a coincidence that Yuto, Mizuho and Marion were involved with them, and in the end, they were able to defeat them.
　 But for some reason I think that he must have played a major role.
　I want to clear that up one day. No, I'll definitely try to know.
　Aside from that, if you think of it that way, inevitably, the person called Yuto should be an able person worthy of everyone's attention. Both in terms of achievements and ability.
　In that sense, Nina thinks that the current obscurity and low reputation of Yuto is abnormal.
　That's because something is wrong. Something is keeping him unknown. Either it's the machinations of the people around him, or there's something about Yuto, or both.

Is this really a coincidence?　(Or is that the star-circle of Mr. Du Du?)

　And now, that Yuto is being asked by Zhu Yin to participate in this great festival of entrance.
　"By a spirit priestess who brings something called 'great meaning'.

''Nina-san?''

　Marion looks at Nina, who continues to be silent.

''Marion-san I may be overthinking it, but I still think we might need to be careful at this big festival. Let's keep an eye on Mr. Dou Dou Dou and keep an eye on him. Oh, of course, I haven't forgotten about Mizuho-san.

"...what?　You are, aren't you?　.........!　This!

　At the same time as this Marion's reply, a tremendous roar arose.

''What is it?!　I didn't think... something had started.

　Not only the roar, but even the earth-shaking sound reached the bleachers, and both Nina and Marion's faces changed color.
　If they looked, they could see that not only the audience, but even the host of the Shitendera family had frozen in place.
　All of them were staring at the one large monitor whose screen was shaking abnormally, as if they had lost their nerve.
　From the direction of everyone's gaze, the cause of the match venue was identified.
　Then.........Shizuka quickly stood up and muttered.

''Doudu-kun........Amazing.''

　As if that was the signal, the entire hall was filled with cheers.

''Whoa!　What the hell?　That guy!
Hey, check him out!　Who are you!　That's not normal!　And that other person, too!
"I knew he was a great guy from the first game, but...?
'Huh!　Is that a rank Dee?　No way!

　As Marion and Nina focused on the monitor showing the venue of Yuto's fourth match, the dust in the monitor began to quiet down and the situation became more and more apparent.
　There ... standing in the center of a large crater-like hole ... was Yuto.