The moment the beast led them into the clearing, the tension snapped.
"So… you two entered our kingdom uninvited."
Kamui's voice cut through the air like a ceremonial gong. The surrounding beasts, all reverent to the 'Queen' and her 'Gentle Lord,' growled in low warning.
Iruma narrowed his eyes calmly. Of course. He stepped forward, cloak brushing the mossy floor.
"Apologies," Iruma said flatly. "We didn't realize entry required ceremony."
"Ignorance is not an excuse," Kamui replied, raising an eyebrow. "Kerori-sama, shall we execute judgment?"
Lied flinched. "W-Wait! Let's not get crazy—maybe just… you know, a fine?"
Kerori held her chalice, her eyes glinting mischievously. "No punishment... if you provide a tribute fitting for royalty."
Iruma's face remained unreadable.
"What kind of tribute?"
Kerori leaned back on her throne of vines, smirking.
"Information on Clara and Elizabetta. I'm curious how they're doing."
Lied perked up, eagerly spilling their humiliating tale.
"They scammed us! Took all our points in five minutes with some scent trap and Clara's freaky magic tricks!"
Kerori blinked, intrigued. "Go on."
"Then—then Clara started barking and ran off with everything. Like a raccoon-dog demon!"
Iruma let out a sigh. He's making it worse.
Kerori sipped her drink, amused. "Hmm… acceptable." Then her grin sharpened. "Now, for the main tribute—perform a dance for me. In dresses."
Both boys froze.
"No." Iruma's reply was immediate.
Lied squeaked. "Y-you don't mean… dresses like… those kinds of dresses?"
Kamui nodded solemnly. "Royal decree."
Iruma gave her a flat glare. "Kerori."
"Fine, fine," she huffed dramatically. "Men's wear then. But you must sing and dance. I require joy today."
Iruma looked to Lied.
...I faced Bachiko. I danced in an apron. I can do this.
He sighed. "Let's just get this over with."
Lied whispered, "Ali-san, please record my funeral."
And so, under a tree haloed in light, the two took center stage. Memories of tea parties, Bachiko's endless chores, and Robin's weird motivational yelling bubbled up. They danced, blending sharp precision with reluctant flair. Iruma moved like wind—elegant and efficient—while Lied added the comic edge, half-prideful, half-regretful.
"You're my partner in harvest crime~" Lied sang, twirling.
"We'll climb the points and reach the sky~" Iruma deadpanned.
Kerori burst out laughing, clutching her stomach as she snapped dozens of pictures. Her joy radiated across the kingdom, lifting the tension like a spring breeze.
That smile… it's why everyone adores her, Iruma thought.
The beasts howled in approval, tails wagging, hooves stomping. One stepped forward, singing a magical tune:
"To find the Leaf of Legend true,A seed and pot must wait for you.One of clay, in flame-born bed,One of vine, by spirit fed.Seek the sun, the moon, the sky—Plant with soul, or let it die."
Lied blinked. "Okay, that's… kind of vague and really extra."
Kerori nodded serenely. "Magic rarely gives straight answers."
Kamui approached and handed Iruma a scroll.
"These are the lyrics of the prophecy. The beasts remembered the rest."
Iruma scanned it. His Rinnegan pulsed faintly.
"Kamui… where do we start looking?"
Kamui tilted his head. "I'll tell you. But only if Kerori agrees."
Kerori raised her fan and giggled.
"You've earned it. For now." Her eyes narrowed. "But next time you ask anything of me…"
She clapped her hands once.
"You dance again—on a real stage, with a real crowd."
Iruma stared at her. "…Noted."
Kamui then gestured, and a beast stepped forward, large and owl-like, its wings inscribed with runes.
"Follow Hooten. He knows where the first piece lies—the fire-hardened clay."
The owl spread its wings.
Iruma turned to Lied. "Let's move."
Lied stumbled after him. "No more dancing, right?"
"Only if I decide we need to stall for time again."
--
"...The Seed of Beginning and the Vase of Ending," Professor Suzy muttered, her gill-like cheeks flushing slightly with excitement. "They've actually learned the legend."
Professor Dali adjusted his glasses, eyes gleaming. "So it begins. If they can truly harvest the Legend Leaf, history might be made at this Harvest Festival."
The tent buzzed with exhaustion. Teachers lay sprawled in chairs or on the ground, covered in leaf-capes and fatigue after rescuing several collapsing students throughout the endless night.
"Even we're dropping like flies," Suzy sighed.
But outside the tent, the Student Council moved like clockwork.
Smoke wiped her blade clean, having just cleared a path for an injured student. She turned toward Ameri, who stood tall even amid the chaos.
"You didn't need to come with us, you know."
Ameri didn't respond. Her eyes were locked on the magical monitors, scanning Block 4.
Iruma…
"Still…" Smoke continued, her voice dropping low. "Your drive reminds me of when you won last year. Ruthless. Unstoppable."
Ameri blinked. Her lips curled slightly, pride tugging at her voice.
"It's not just me now. This year, it's someone else's turn."
Smoke raised an eyebrow. "Orobas and Asmodeus are the obvious frontrunners, but…" She squinted at the leaderboard. "Iruma still has zero points. There's a rumor he's chasing the Legend Leaf."
"He is," Ameri whispered.
Smoke gave a side glance. "...You like him, don't you?"
Ameri snapped to attention, cheeks glowing bright red. "W-what nonsense—! I simply admire his tenacity as a classmate! And the fact that he continues to prove me wrong… is merely frustrating."
But even as she defended herself, her fingers brushed the cover of First Love Memories tucked inside her coat.
You always go far beyond what I expect, Iruma-kun. Even when everyone else doubts you… I can't stop believing.
Suddenly, a loud commotion outside the tent interrupted the moment.
"No shouting!" Ameri barked.
She stormed out, cape fluttering behind her like a drawn sword, and found a crowd of students—those who had withdrawn—gathered around what looked like a betting board.
"I said—"Quiet!"This is still a school!"
All students snapped to attention as she marched to the front, eyes narrowing at the tally marks and odds scribbled in magical ink.
"...Bobo."
The boy flinched.
"You're running this?"
Bobo held up his hands. "I swear, President! I only took over because the original organizer backed out—!"
"Who?"
He pointed toward a makeshift canopy, under which two familiar demons sat with smug grins.
Jazz and Allocer.
"Yo."
"President Ameri," Allocer said, lifting his cup of juice with a courteous nod. "Always an honor."
Ameri's eyebrow twitched. "Explain."
Jazz leaned forward. "Well, technically there's no rule against student-initiated odds boards for... educational observation."
"It's all in good fun," Allocer added, way too smoothly. "A social experiment. We're simply gauging faith in various contenders."
The screen behind them flickered—thirty thousand points for Asmodeus and Sabnock, just behind Orobas's thirty-five thousand.
But there was a special space at the bottom. "Iruma & Lied – ??? points – Odds 200:1."
Ameri stared at it.
Such little faith… but I won't stop believing. Even if no one else does.
"Do what you want," she finally said, turning away. "But if I hear a whisper louder than a spell chant, I'll shut it all down."
"Understood, Queen," Jazz smirked.
Back in the wilds of Block 4, Iruma stood atop a boulder, arms crossed, wind blowing across his coat as he surveyed the forest. His Rinnegan pulsed faintly under his bangs.
"Lied."
"Yeah?"
"We're going after the Seed of Beginning first. If it's real, we'll find it."
Lied adjusted his pack, panting. "What makes you so sure it exists?"
Iruma narrowed his eyes at the horizon.
Because if it didn't… then why would I still hear the forest whisper its secrets to me?