"To suppress Durandal's offensive aura without diminishing its power as a holy sword. This is really something that caught my interest. However, it is truly shameful for me to be unable to control it properly despite being the owner of Durandal... How can I call myself a Knight? Am I better off dead...? Oh Lord..."
Ah, starting to self abuse. Really, doing this right off the bat. "I understand. If anything happens, just borrow Ascalon from me?" "Yes. Much appreciated. Always lending me this sword." "It's fine. Though I also need it sometimes, but considering the current situation, it's much more efficient to lend it to you." "But then, Ise really should train in sword fighting. Don't waste your gifts." "I have. When Kiba is your training partner, your sword skills definitely improve." "Yes." Finishing the conversation, Xenovia returned to her original seat. After that I looked outside for a while, but then I heard light high-pitched screams coming from the front. I looked ahead -- it turned out Kiba was coming from the train car in front of ours. Once he saw me, he walked over to my side. "Eh...? W-went over to Hyoudou?" "H-how can it be... Kiba-kun is going to that perverted territory..."
"Hyoudou x Kiba must be an undeniable truth!" The girls began to mourn! Is my area a quarantine!? Damn! Is it wrong to have a handsome friend! Although I once hated Kiba due to the unfairness of treatment, he is my important comrade now. A reason to hate him now... of course it still exists! Handsome guys truly are an unforgivable existences! "Can I sit beside you?" While I was occupied in my thoughts, Kiba had already taken the empty seat beside me. "...What's up?" I leaned my face against the window frame, narrowing my eyes as I asked. "I wanted to know your itinerary once you get there. So that there's a plan in case of emergencies." "Ah--, after all we are in different classes. Where do you plan to go tomorrow?" "Starting our tour from Sanjuusangen-dou, you?" "From the temple of Kiyomizu-dera. And then Ginkaku-ji and Kinkaku-ji. Though these three places are a bit distant from one another, but if we put in the effort to finish the most famous places in the first two days, then we can take it easy the third day and advance from Tenryuu-ji." "Tenryuu-ji? Our class is planning on going there on the third day too. We may very well meet at the Togetsu bridge. What about the last day?" "Just end it by casually walking around the Kyoto station and getting souvenirs. By the way, Irina mentioned about wanting to go on the Kyoto Tower." The schedules for each class were prepared beforehand and handed in to the teachers. The students were even required to create travel guides for their own class to use. After exchanging details about our sightseeing plans, we changed topics. "Ise-kun did you join the activity with the various Maou-sama?" "Ah ah, it was an activity that totally revamped my image of the Underworld." A few days ago, Buchou and I participated in a mysterious Gremory family ritual. In the banquet that night, Buchou's parents were very happy and lavished me with praise. At the banquet there were also things like banners proclaiming "Congratulations young mistress, young master!" I felt like there was something I didn't know about, going on behind my back. But anyway, it can't be bad so I'm not going to be particularly concerned. "Actually, after the ritual finished, I even received Beelzebub-sama's personal special suggestion." I changed the subject and said to Kiba. "Special suggestion?" "Yes, about the compatibility between the characteristics of the Pawn and the Sekiryuutei's power. So far, when using the Sekiryuutei's power, I have been unable to fully unleash the Queen's potential." Beelzebub-sama's special suggestion was this: though promotion to Queen increases overall power, the combination with the Sekiryuutei's power exceeds my current limits. That is why I couldn't properly control the flow of dragon power. Overall, what I got out of it was: because there are suddenly more things to attend to, it made me unable to adjust the distribution and flow of power properly. Sairaorg-san also seemed to understand the situation after a brief exchange. It was true. Though the Queen will amplify power greatly, increase speed and power up Dragon Shoot, but this does not automatically mean they can be controlled easily. Let alone the Rook, I haven't even mastered the Knight or the Bishop's powers. Even when my speed and demonic power increased, I often depended on charging straight ahead in the fury of the moment, and this sometimes led to tragic results. Speaking of the Pawn, its greatest characteristic was promotion, so levelling up was the natural thing to do.
" --He said to me: master the Rook and the Knight first to best bring out the Sekiryuutei's power. The best way to master the flow of power would be to focus on applying the Sekiryuutei's power into the areas of strength and speed." "Is that so, which is why you used the Rook against Sairaorg-san?" "Ah yes, compared to the Queen, it was much easier to control. I could clearly feel the transmission of power into offence and defence. --I think I will first focus on each of the traits of the pieces, and apply the Sekiryuutei's power flexibly." Hearing that, Kiba laughed. "To suddenly test ideas out when sparring with Sairaorg-san is really like your style. Ise-kun will become stronger again. You really work hard towards exploring your own power." "Even if I possess great power, if I can't control it freely, I won't be able to defeat Sairaorg-san or Vali. So, after watching the spar between Sairaorg-san and me, what do you think?" "To be honest, for a devil from Buchou's generation to fight evenly with you on a pure contest of power, and to dominate so overwhelmingly, he is truly a great threat. And with bare hands too. Amongst the young devils, no, all upper class devils, Sairaorg-san must be the only one who can destroy Ise-kun's armour unarmed. In fact, my own defence would be like paper to him. Furthermore, his speed was amazing and he clearly wasn't going all out. Not only me, but all the other servants will be critically injured if they receive a direct hit from him." That fellow gave his frank opinion as usual. That is why I trust him so much. "After we get back from the trip, let's start our training to fight against Sairaorg once again." "Yes. By the way, could you let me know when you go buy souvenirs?" "Why?" "Because I think there is no meaning in trying to hide what you are buying." "Ah I see. Got it, then keep in touch on the last day." Having made these arrangements, Kiba got up from his seat and returned to the train car where his class was. The conversations with Xenovia and Kiba had ended. Asia and her group were happily chatting away. The two idiots Matsuda and Motohama were going "...zzzz..." and fast asleep. I stretched my back and closed my eyes. ...There was still some time till we arrived in Kyoto.