After the semi-final, Dristos Quirsinha was in the waiting room.

'Is this how it's done?'

　Beosa Fallonteza, who was on one knee in front of me, stood up.
　He was tending to the wound he had sustained in the semi-finals.

''Now it's time to use the healing technique to enhance the healing power. During the Holy Martial Festival, there will be an excellent healer waiting in the medical room.''
'Just wanted to thank you for that, Beosa.

　Feeling the fire of the earlier match still lingering in his body, Dristos spoke a word of thanks.

'No need to thank me,'
'What?　I wonder if you have a crush on me?

　Beosa shakes his head with a mature, spare smile.

'Silly.'

　The angle of the threadbare eyes was sharper, and Dristos ran a hand over his arcing mouth.

'Isn't it?'

　Beosa Fallonteza has a girlfriend who has promised to be her future.
　We've seen them together a few times, and they're so passionate about each other that it's embarrassing to watch.
　Sometimes he is seen as frivolous, but that's what makes him such a single-minded man.

'I only ran to you because I was worried that it would leave a scar on something beautiful. I don't have the slightest feeling for you as a member of the opposite s*x. But as a work of art, I must admit that it is beautiful.

　I'm not hiding my embarrassment, nor am I being humble.
　In Beoza's case, he really meant it, so there was nothing more he could say either.
　But since his brother died in the battle against the four evil plagues, he too seems to have changed a bit from before that.

''I will only praise your foresight in recognizing beauty.
Beauty is more beautiful when you're unaware of it, though.
'Oh, you're being sarcastic, aren't you?　Oh dear, he's a man of many words.
In attempting to express a high level of beauty in words, one or two words are superfluous.

　He hasn't changed in the way he creates a decisive attitude at every turn.

It's hard to put into words how beautiful that semi-final was.
The game?

　Actively, Dristos flaunted his arm, which was covered with a healing cloth.

'It was such a flashy, noisy match that you got these burns, remember?
'That's why. There was an intrinsic beauty to that game.

　He cowered his shoulders in disgust.

I'm not sure what your standard of beauty is either. However, I have to say that I was very satisfied with the game itself.

　At that moment, the door to the waiting room opened.
　The person who entered was Koudelka Ferraris, who was preparing for the next semi-final.

'Oh, Koudelka,'

　Koudelka looks calm and collected.
　Beoza stepped back.
　It was as if he was going to give the two chairmen the opportunity to have a conversation.
　Koudelka walked slightly past the couch where Dristos was sitting.
　Then he stopped.

'I was watching the semifinals now,'
I'm sorry to hear that our final is not going to happen. It's a shame about that.
''If I win this Sacred Martial Arts Festival can we consider the match with you to be my victory in form?''
Of course.

　With a twitch, Koudelka responded.

'That's a surprising response you're okay with, Doris?
Huh... I have a funny feeling right now, you know?
Do you feel weird?
'I should be Drystos Kircinha if I wanted to see Koudelka Ferraris defeated here - but for some reason I feel that I want you to win now.
''..................Indeed, it is strange. For those of the Kielcynha family, they would rather wish for the Arkwright family to win.

　It was true that those of Kielcynha were relatively friendly towards the Arkwrights.
　But now, for some reason, Dristos felt that he wanted Koudelka to win.
　Strangely, in a sunny mood.

''It's somewhat awkward to lose to a freshman who was just admitted this year when the school's 'strongest' and 'undefeated' are all together.......it's somewhat awkward.
It's not like that, Doris.
Yes, that's so unlike you. Perhaps the explosive technique of the previous match blew up my reasoning as well.

　Koudelka shows a slight hesitation.

'That was, well ... a good match. And Ira Horne's resolve, but honestly - I've never seen you in a fight that blew my mind like that before.
Does that mean you're upset?
Yes I was upset that I had the least amount of respect for you.

　He didn't return the usual sarcasm of pompous platitudes.
　Rather, the return blade of the words struck Dristos hard on his bones.
　He opens his eyes thinly.

''It's also ... a rare thing, isn't it?

　Koudelka picked up a match katana.

''So those who are here now are the top three in the academy in terms of the Little Saint rank?

　Beoza Fallonteza.
　Dristos Quirsinha.
　Koudelka Ferraris.

Come to think of it, this may be the first time the three of us have met in one place alone.

　That may be true, if you ask me.

'Doris, I agree with you for a moment. Maybe there is indeed a sense of seniority - maybe we should have it, maybe we should have it.

　It was almost time for the game.
　Beoza smiled to himself.

''For some reason, now I'm beginning to think that maybe I should have participated in the ungraded class too.......but I'll win the third grade division. I hope to be able to show the existence of another 'strongest' in its own right at this Holy Martial Arts Festival.

　Dristos was slightly impressed by Beoza's manner of speaking, which did not show much enthusiasm.

''Of course, Beosa. If you don't do that, then the value of the other "strongest" will also decrease.

　Holding the match katana resolutely at his waist, Koudelka says.

''Then I'll have to maintain the name of The Undefeated--I'm sorry to Cecily Arkwright and Ira Horne.

　Substantive, a victory notice.

　Dristos saw that Koudelka's air was changing.
　I made a "change" during the game.
　But right after the start of the game, he hadn't yet been able to make that "change" of feeling.

　The current Koudelka had a serenity that resembled the darkness of night.
　It was like the night sea in the Iowa nourishment area on a windless day--

Doris.
What is it, Koudelka?
''If I win this Holy Warrior Festival I will ask my father to personally rent this grand sanctuary at a later date.
'What?　Are you planning to have a big victory celebration party at this great sanctuary?
You're the only one who can do that, Doris.

　After finishing fitting the bangles for the match, Koudelka said with her back to me.



　Dristos had to admit that he was only slightly flustered by these words from Koudelka.

''However, my opponent for the semifinals..............the genius, Cecily Arkwright. I don't expect them to let me win easily.''

　Koudelka held a different katana in her hand than the long-blade katana she holds in her waist.
　The blade is shorter than the one at her waist.
　This match, apparently she intends to use two katanas.

''Her partner is also that Currier Versteen. And above all, her twin swords are no ordinary thing.

　Dristos also had an idea of the name of that katana.
　Was it the katana called "Kodachi" in the East?

''Still, I'll remain undefeated and run this Sacred Martial Arts Festival up to victory.

　As if he had gained a new companion, Koudelka forcefully inserted another scabbard into his waistband.

''Because there are some things I cannot give up, too.