Chapter 309: The Lost Ikki-kun!
Perhaps because Luke's expression gave Ikki a very bad feeling, he instinctively opened his mouth, intending to change the topic.
However, before he could speak, Luke asked first,
"Ikki, if you had to judge, roughly how strong do you think your older brother, Kurogane Ouma, is now?"
Luke knew Ikki had not seen Ouma for a full five years, but Ikki's abnormal observation ability still made his judgment somewhat trustworthy.
Even if Luke could not fully believe it, it was still good enough as a reference point. At the very least, it would be more accurate than guesses from him and Stella, who had never seen Ouma at all.
"Uh…"
Ikki, who had been trying to change the topic only to be blocked by Luke, suddenly choked on his breath.
After all, the three of them were still running right now.
Although they had always deliberately disrupted their rhythm and breathing during their runs to increase the burden of training, this sudden pause in breathing still made Ikki's body sway slightly.
After quickly adjusting his condition, Ikki gave Luke a helpless look and finally spoke.
"I can't predict his exact level of strength, but I do have some ideas."
"Ouma-nii once said in a media interview that the reason he didn't participate in public tournaments like the Seven Star Sword Art Festival was because 'there were no opponents worth fighting.'"
"Other people might think Ouma-nii was being arrogant, but honestly, I don't think so."
"The Ouma-nii I know would never bother telling that kind of lie."
As Ikki sank deeper into his memories, a faint tension gradually entered his voice.
"Ouma-nii's confidence is built on strength that matches it."
"If I had to describe how strong he is… I think it's exactly as he said."
"Until now, no one has been qualified to fight him."
What Ikki said was the truth.
Including Raikiri, Todo Touka, and even last year's Seven Star Sword King, Moroboshi Yudai, all the student knights in the country were nothing more than insignificant figures in Ouma's eyes.
Their strength was not enough to stir his interest at all.
"The reason he's participating this year is probably…"
"I see. Because of me or Stella, then."
Luke smiled.
Thanks to Ikki's explanation, he now understood a little more about this "kindred spirit" who also walked the path of "growing stronger."
"If he really has no interest in anything besides growing stronger, like you said, then the reason he's participating in the Seven Star Sword Art Festival must be because this year's festival contains some factor that can make him stronger."
"The only question is whether his target is Stella and me, his fellow A-ranks, or whether there's some other reason…"
Luke did not understand Kurogane Ouma as a person, but through Arisuin's hint, he knew that Ouma was part of the Rebellion's plan this time.
Since that was the case, the other party would definitely know the result of Luke's battle with Edelweiss.
No matter what Ouma's original thoughts had been, if he learned about that battle and prepared to challenge Luke afterward…
The moment Luke thought of that possibility, he could not help feeling slightly excited.
'This is the first time I've met someone moving forward on the same road as me.'
The instant that thought rose in his mind, a sense of anticipation welled up inside Luke, impossible to suppress.
No matter what, he had to meet Kurogane Ouma once.
However, Luke, who made that decision at this very moment, did not realize that Kurogane Ouma's current state was slightly different from what he imagined.
Barring anything unexpected, Luke was probably getting excited for nothing.
…
The three of them called it a "light jog," but that "light" was only relative to the three of them.
In the eyes of ordinary people, Luke, Stella, and Ikki were basically sprinting down the road.
At the same time, the three of them were chatting in completely normal tones during such intense exercise.
It was practically a supernatural scene.
At that speed, the three of them soon arrived in the city.
Since Shizuku and Arisuin had already chosen a restaurant ahead of time, Luke and the others did not waste any time and walked straight toward the agreed-upon place.
But during this perfectly ordinary process, something very unusual suddenly happened.
Sitting at the dining table, Luke ate dinner while roasting Ikki.
"I have to say, a grown man like you somehow managing to get lost is pretty impressive."
"This is honestly unbelievable."
"You silently disappeared from Stella's and my senses, and now you're telling me it happened because you got lost???"
Luke looked at Ikki, who was sitting at the same table with an awkward expression as he scratched his head.
No matter what, Luke could not believe this nonsense Ikki was currently telling him.
Although Ikki really did not look like he was lying, the whole thing was just too strange.
Forget Stella. Even trying to silently sneak away while hiding one's presence beside Luke, who had already touched the Sword Domain, was nothing short of fantasy.
And yet Ikki supposedly had not planned to hide himself at all and had simply gotten lost… Don't joke around. Even made-up stories needed logic.
"Exactly! Luke and I were both stunned at the time."
Stella also sat beside them, looking extremely unhappy.
As she spoke, she kept stabbing the steak on her plate with her fork, as though venting her dissatisfaction.
"If you had something to do and needed to leave, you could've just said so! Was there any need to do something like this?"
"And then you came up with such a terrible excuse to fool us. Do you think Luke and I are idiots?!"
"Disappearing like that all of a sudden… You were definitely trying to mess with us, weren't you?!"
Ikki listened awkwardly as the two of them scolded him.
Even Shizuku and Arisuin, who sat nearby, cast suspicious looks at him.
Shizuku even sighed, "I never thought Onii-sama had such a childish side."
Realizing that things were getting worse and worse, Ikki hurriedly started explaining.
"N-No, that's not it!"
"I really did get lost!"
"Actually, I was the one confused! Why did Luke and Stella suddenly disappear without calling out to me?"
"I thought the two of you had definitely teamed up to mess with me."
"Who knew you actually hadn't noticed me… Besides, Luke, you know this too, right? There's no way I could disappear from your senses!"
"I'm not good at that kind of thing at all!"
Ikki's anxious expression and innocent words made Luke and Stella hesitate.
Because what Ikki said was indeed true.
Luke, Stella, and Ikki spent so much time together that they were basically very familiar with each other by now.
Luke knew that with Ikki's current ability, there was no way he could silently vanish from his senses.
The fact that this had happened at all was already suspicious.
…
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