The ceiling collapsed in a heap.
　Such a messy popping of wood that should have been the ceiling.
　Amidst the fluttering wreckage and dust, Shtel coughed coughingly.

　But best timing, right!

Kehehe... hahahaha, I knew you'd come, Shtel.

　Fluffy.
　To Shtel, who is standing lightly, there are two projectiles that sharply cut the wind.

　With a black metallic sheen, a sharp cutting edge of agony looming, Shtel quietly sits back down.
　It's a very good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

　It's a good thing that you're able to have a good time with your friends.

Toooooooooooo!

　--With a light shout, the chunk of metal was struck.

　It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you can get a good idea of what you're looking for.

　It's dangerous, and while belatedly trying to issue a warning, the hiyuki is pouting.



You're welcome!　My mom gave me a hat, and it's a cancerous thing!

　Shtel's outfit was, to say the least, bizarre in the eyes of Hyuki.
　Although he claims to be sturdy, the metal-like parts are only present around his waist and around his legs. The cloth area is small, and there is some exposure around the belly and arms, and it looks like it's very easy to move around, but the overall decoration is fluttery and fluffy.
　In a word.

Clothes?

　It's also a little too revealing.

'Hmmm, dress armor, was it?　When your mommy's friends get together, you can do it.

　What a fluent conversation, but Shtel was looking at Hanzo sharply.

''More importantly, the one who kidnapped Hinoki-chan, that's him--you can kill him, right?

　There was no usual fluffiness in Shtel's words, and he seemed a little, or rather quite unhappy.
　As expected, even Hyuki understood who she should be concerned about when it came to things here.

''Well, take it easy on her, okay?''

What, with all the bad stuff?

No, yeah, I mean, he's not that bad, you know?

Mmmmm.

　When the elated Shtel looked unhappy, he closed one eye with a snap.

'I don't think I can take it easy on Stel over there, so I'll take over.

　Tattatha," said Shtel, stepping next to Hyuki, who tilted his head slightly. In contrast to the sophisticated, traditional martial arts-like movements shown earlier, it was a light walk.
　A sound resounded, the next moment.

(-- Gone!)

　At least, in the eyes of Hyuki, it only appeared as if Shtel had disappeared.

　After kicking the ground a few times, Shtel kicked the ground while being supported by the attribute grant (elemental enchantment) and the explosive acceleration power of the wind spirit - and he jumped.

　The next thing I knew, Shtel was in the sky, releasing a kick that was like a sideways sword strike.
　It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you can get your hands on it.

　However, Hanzo's blocking was struck out in an instant.
　It was supposed to be just a kick, but even the explosion sounded, and the shock wave shook the small room.
　Hanzo was so shocked that both of his legs left the ground and were thrown into the air, and he was blown away through the many shoji screens and walls.

.........

　To a stunned Hyuki, Shtel landed smoothly and lightly brushed the dust off her dress.

'I did?　He was stronger than I expected, so I only managed to break about one arm - and he fought back -

　Something awful and poisonous, like a needle, was grasped in Shtel's left hand.

'There were some utterly horrible people throwing poisoned dark tools at a child.

　What a shtetl.

..........

　Hyuki couldn't say anything.

''More importantly, Hyuki big sister--no need to stay in this spicy place for too long. Come on, let's get out of here quickly--''

　Saying that, Shtel reaches out her hand to the hiyuki.

''........Shtel-chan, don't you change your tone too much?''

　Grasping the proffered hand, Hyuki says.

'It's just my imagination--the connection between him and this one, the knotted dragon--'

　With the emanation of faint light, a mysterious path was drawn in the sky.
　Even though he couldn't see it, somehow the sky that he could step on, Hyuki ran hand in hand with Schtel.

　When he slipped out of the large hole that Shtel had grandly opened, the sky was already dyed red.
　The shadows of people could be glimpsed in the distance.
　The line of people walking towards a point told the firefly about the fact that the Kagura hadn't started yet.

'Thank goodness, this is still--!

　A projectile flew into the sky with Schtel as he and Hyuki stood in the sky.
　Before it could touch the two of them, it exploded into a small explosion and emitted smoke.

(Poison--?!)

　A few steps faster than Hyukki could react, Shtel lightly pulled away from Hyukki's hand and instantly broke away from the smoke.

''-- It's a smokescreen of numbing medicine, isn't it?''

　Hanzo stands in front of them, hand in hand, bleeding and with one hand hanging down dangling.

'Hanzo it's all right now you've done your part well enough so no more. .....

"...if there is no future in any case, I shall be loyal to Yozora-sama to the end of my days...
　Hanzo looks at Hyuki with the same expression and the same determination as before.

''........If your resolve is genuine--then there is no need to pay any attention to the life of the old, old tree. -- step over the edge.
　Hanzo held a dagger in one hand.
　His figure wavered for a moment, and the next moment - his body had increased to seven.

''Great--a shadow alter ego, I'm surprised--''

　Shtel, who was holding Hyuki's hand, raised her mouth in a somewhat amused manner.
　The gesture appears to be exactly the same as the Shtel that Hyuki knows.

''So what are you going to do--Hiyuki big sister?''

I'm ready for this...

　Hyuki has to run away now.
　He's determined to stick to his chest.
　So, if Hanzo stands in the way, there's no choice but to go over it.
　But.

It's not a warrior's resolve. It's my resolve... I won't tolerate meaningless sacrifices!　Can you help me, Shtel?

Yes, of course.

　Shtel gently let go of Hyuki's hand and jumped out of the way.
　Each of the seven shadows are working in unison. Checking, guiding, throwing, slashing, surprise attacks, connecting them, surrounding them, and stopping them with flame techniques--they have no mercy, as the only person who directs their attacks is Shtel.
　But even so, it's still not as good as Shtel's.

'All of the warriors are really, all of them are trying to die like idiots - for loyalty?　For the mission?　For the house?　Because of tradition?　It's ridiculous - living a dirty, surviving life is a hundred times more honorable than any honorable way to die.

　Stell's actions were quite simple.
　Strike, strike, strike, and strike again.
　He struck and ripped away all flying spells, projectiles that limited his path, swords wielded with his weight on them, blades planted in the soles of his shoes, and even industrial fire.

　The figures, divided into seven parts, are all struck away.

Hinoki-chan!

Sleeping Clouds

　A cloud of sleep that acts on the body and mind.　
　It is a magic created by the magic genius Izumi Haruka and used for the protection of maidens.

Gu..........

You're a disgrace to your life.

　Seeing Hanzo fall into a deep sleep, the relieved Hyuki let out a breath of air.
　And immediately her expression tightened.

''Shtel-chan, there's a place I have to go--so can you take me there?''

No, you can't.

Yeah, thanks... what?

　Hyuki thought he had heard wrong and again.

'Um, Shter-chan, um, I need to go to Yozora...'

No.

Why?

Mum will arrange a meeting place for you.

　Shtel pulls away from the hiyuki.

'Hey--Shtel, I--'

Don't worry, all you have to do is go to your mother and everything will be fine.

Wait, what, are you sure--?　Oh, okay, okay, okay, don't pull me away!

　For some reason, Shtel's little hand couldn't shake it off, and Hyukki could only be dragged along pathetically.