Chapter 166

Episode 163: The Great Kroma Battle! Scholar vs Ryuko vs Solciera!

The Board of Directors, which owns the information on Solciera, surprisingly has very little data.

Other than the information taught by Eina regarding the original role of the Star Reader, they had nothing else.

At best, they knew she was a girl and that she possessed an ability related to interference.

Furthermore, it wasn’t even clear to the Board whether this was Solciera’s personal ability or a function of the Star Reader’s Staff.

This was because the two S-Rank individuals who knew Solciera’s true identity chose not to provide information for their own personal reasons.

As a result, to Ryuko, Solciera felt like some distant world disaster.

Ryuko thought she would have no involvement with her, let alone battle her.

Her method was to thoroughly investigate the opponent, select an appropriate dragon to counter them, prepare accordingly, and then fight.

It was impossible to investigate an opponent whose identity remained unknown.

(Oh no, this is the worst… The situation is getting worse and worse… I should’ve contacted Yukihira-san from the start. This isn’t the time to be suspicious of his smile…! And I should’ve asked Toa to call Mizuki too!)

Ryuko realized…

Just how dire the current situation was.

A field where she couldn’t unleash Baltius, and with time stopped, no help could come.

And then there was Solciera’s sudden intrusion with unclear intentions.

Each of these issues was a major problem on its own, but now they were all converging together.

“I don’t want to fight you, but…”

Unlike Ryuko, who feigned strength with her smile, the Scholar immediately took action.

Ice spread across the ground toward Solciera.

It seemed like just a preliminary test.

“You are an obstacle that must be eliminated! Bow before the power of S-Rank!”

“…How clumsy.”

Without even looking at the Scholar, Solciera took a sip of her tea.

Her graceful demeanor gave no indication that death was approaching her.

In fact, Solciera herself did nothing.

A barrier appeared in front of her, blocking the ice.

Without even causing a breeze, Solciera effortlessly defended against the attack and continued enjoying her teatime as if nothing happened.

That’s when the two noticed…

“…A starry sky?”

“Eh? When did it become night!?”

They had been distracted by Solciera, failing to notice that the sky was no longer blue or covered in dark clouds bringing snow.

Countless stars dominated the scene.

And reigning over them all was none other than…

“Hehe, why so surprised?”

Solciera, the Star Reader.

“This… Has the Core of Kroma been interfered with!? Have you truly mastered it, just you alone!?”

Ryuko knew how abnormal this was.

But knowing that didn’t change the fact that she could do nothing about it.

“You’ve been quite troublesome, haven’t you? Please stop disturbing my teatime.”

“Tch, don’t get cocky!”

The Scholar snapped her fingers.

Instantly, a blizzard swirled around Solciera, and multiple ice swords pierced through the air.

Each one carried the power to freeze phenomena, an absolute stasis attack that the Scholar herself often used.

These lethal attacks struck Solciera.

“Ahh…”

“Hahaha! I underestimated you! Your arrogance will be your downfall, Solciera!”

In an instant, Solciera’s figure disappeared.

Now, there was no escape.

Or so they thought.

“—May I ask you one thing?”

A clear voice emerged from the blizzard.

Completely unfazed by the Scholar’s attack, Solciera spoke casually as if engaging in small talk.

“Are you my enemy? Or a good neighbor?”

The absolute stasis surrounding Solciera vanished without warning.

There she sat, exactly as she had been moments ago.

If anything, only a small piece of tart was missing from her plate.

(To remain unaffected even when attacked…)

Ryuko no longer had any intention of fighting.

She wasn’t a combat maniac who would fight after seeing something like this.

“What… What kind of level difference is this? Such chaos shouldn’t be allowed!”

“Answer me!”

With a simple question,

Solciera, holding her teacup, inquired.

“Enemy or neighbor?”

“Nonsense! There’s no need for such questions! You’re obviously the enemy!”

For the first time, Solciera looked directly at the Scholar.

In her azure eyes, geometric patterns floated.

(Magic eyes!? I wasn’t informed about this!)

“Magic eyes!? How extravagant!”

The Scholar prepared to use her abilities again.

And then she vanished.

An eerie silence enveloped the area.

“…Eh? Eh, eh?”

Ryuko looked around in confusion.

Time remained frozen.

Under the starry sky, only the Scholar was gone.

“Wh-why… Ah!”

Ryuko noticed a teleportation magic circle etched into the ground.

Through this, the Scholar had likely been transported elsewhere.

“Well, what will you do?”

Even now, Solciera remained seated, refusing to acknowledge Ryuko’s presence.

(Now might be my chance for a surprise attack… No, no way, even using Baltius to his fullest would probably only result in mutual destruction.)

The ranking had already been decided before the fight began.

Baltius remained vigilant but made no move to attack Solciera.

Instinctively, he understood she was stronger than him.

“Answer me. Enemy or good neighbor?”

“I…”

Ryuko opened her mouth but hesitated.

In her vision appeared Rey and Toa embracing her.

“We are your good neighbors. So, um… Could you maybe… Let us off the hook… Ahaha…?”

Ryuko had already entered the phase of pleading for her life.

“Please! It’s not our fault; we were just caught up in this mess with that lady scholar! Please let us go!”

Pride as an S-Rank member meant nothing to her.

That’s why she was trying her best option available.

Seeing Ryuko’s state, Solciera smiled gently.

“…Lift your head.”

“Y-yes.”

Their eyes met as Solciera smiled.

Though her smile seemed somewhat cold, Ryuko responded with a forced grin.

(I, uh… If she’s smiling, it should be okay, right? She forgave me…)

Ryuko reassured herself.

A teleportation magic circle formed beneath her feet.

“Eh, whaaat!? Why!?”

“It’s such a wonderful stage. Wouldn’t it be better with more audience members?”

“Stage? What stage!? And at least spare the others—”

Before Ryuko could finish, she disappeared.

Silence once again filled the area.

“Now then,”

Having finished her tea, Solciera created another teleportation magic circle.

Not just one or two, but many.

One appeared beneath the feet of everyone wearing bracelets.

This extended beyond the tourist district, covering the entire Kroma.

“It’s about time I leave too.”

Saying this, Solciera disappeared along with countless others.

Though unrecorded, over five hundred thousand people vanished simultaneously from Kroma Music Academy.

Because the world was still frozen, this event went unnoticed by the public.

The city, devoid of people, was now cloaked in an eerie silence.

Into this void descended a single shadow.

“Phew, that was close. Almost got teleported myself.”

The black-cloaked girl spoke lightly as she approached the chair and table Solciera had occupied earlier, popping a cookie into her mouth.

“…Alright, my turn to go too.”

With that, she used a similar teleportation magic circle and disappeared from the spot.

■

When Ryuko reappeared, she wasn’t faced with death or terror.

Instead, she found herself in a familiar setting for Kroma Music Academy students.

“…Eh, a theater?”

Was a performance about to begin?

The surroundings were dim.

However, it quickly became apparent just how vast this theater was.

The enormous amphitheater-style structure far surpassed anything seen at Kroma Music Academy.

Every seat was filled with people, all silently gazing at the stage.

The people sat motionless, like dolls.

“Where am I? Where’s Baltius?”

Sitting in a comfy chair, Ryuko looked around nervously.

“Be quiet.”

“Kyaa!”

Ryuko let out a small scream upon noticing Solciera sitting beside her.

Solciera stared at the lowered curtain, patiently waiting for the show to begin.

“At your feet. That’s where Baltius is.”

Looking down, Ryuko saw Baltius in his silver goo form wriggling near her feet.

(…Wait, does this mean she can interfere with Baltius too?)

Ryuko cautiously glanced at Solciera again.

Her beautiful profile now seemed terrifying.

“…Staring at someone like that is bad manners, you know.”

“Ahh, sorry!”

“It’s fine. I’ll forgive you. I’m in a good mood right now.”

Solciera offered a faint smile.

She truly seemed to be in high spirits.

“There, it’s starting.”

The bell rang, and the curtain rose.

All the lights focused on a single person on stage.

“Wha…?”

Seeing the figure on stage, Ryuko gasped in confusion.

“–Scholar?”

There stood the villain she had battled mere moments ago.