Hanamizuki, Because Flowers Are Not Just Beautiful
Chapter 17: Unmarked Attacks (II)
“Thank you for coming here, Carnation-san.”
“Oh...means now we are peaceful huh?”
“Peace?”
“Tempo the day you keep calling me a strange woman-a strange woman just like your mischievous master, will this last forever huh?”
Camelyum snorted a little, but Carnation patted his shoulder.
“Joking around.ahaha..you are a good match for Riri.”.
“Who's behind you?”
Carnation visits Riri's castle, along with a man behind her, her hair bright yellow with a tall body. On his back was 1 sword.
“Oh, he's my flower spirit, just call him Dianthus. Don't you feel her presence as a flower spirit?”
“Uh well..you know that Carnation-san, because my relationship with Riri is still low, my strength cannot be full 100% if I meet other flower spirits.”
“Are you not the strongest flower spirit in the world, Camelyum-san?”
The tall Dianthus smiled at him.
“No, I'm nothing without Master. But why did you bring all your spirit flowers, Carnation-san?”
Carnation's right hand grabbed Riri's room doorknob. “Well, one of my flower spirit abilities is to check which flow cannot be seen by ordinary people including me. You should be able to sense which stream your Master is in is not normal right?”
“I can feel it, but it's hard to explain it in words. Master's heart is very tightly closed even though I am the spirit of the flower.”
“Close tightly yes..The bad boy has not been able to escape fully from his trauma.”
Carnation opened the door of Riri's room, she saw the silver-haired man whose hair was now covered in black gray almost half lying there. Then he clasped his hand.
“You know, his body temperature doesn't go up, since when is it like this?”
“I'm not sure but..”
“Dianthus-kun, do the inspection.”
“Good, miss.”
Diathus spread out his hands, then examined all parts of Riri's body from the tip of the foot to the tip of his head by draining his mana. He closed his eyes concentrating.
“How, Dianthus-kun?”
The examiner ended and Riri stayed awake in her sleep. Dianthus took a slow breath.
“I see there are some flow points where it freezes like ice, a point so small that with ordinary checks it will not be detected.”
“Frozen...like ice?”
“Yes, can you imagine the process of freezing ice? That's how it is.”
“But why?! Why can't I feel it if there's such an awkwardness?”
Frustrated to hear him, Carnation patted his back softly.
“You said the relationship you had with your Master was still low. You also said his heart was tightly closed. That's one of the reasons you can't feel the clumsiness in which your Master flows.”
Dianthus explained it in a calm tone, Camelyum who felt frustrated clenched his hands together.
“What...what caused his mana flow to be like that? Is it because of me? Am I absorbing too much mana to get Hana no Uta out?!”
“Wait, Hana no Uta?”
“One of my ultimate weapons besides the Camelyum buster, the combined shield of Camelia and Lily, I was forced to use it because the boy named Azalea did not let us escape.”.
“Don't...Kuroi Uta!? How could he know this place?!”
"..."
“If one of them already knows this place, can not be dibar—”
“Goodnight, ladies.”
PRAGG!
Suddenly the atmosphere changed, the cold air increasingly pierced the skin as the large window glass broke, and a woman stood there with a murderous glare.
“You! Who are you!?”
Carnation immediately stood his back to Riri, as did Camelyum and Dianthus who turned into combat mode.
“Do I have to introduce myself to the person I want to kill?”
“What did you say?!”
The woman showed a carving of the number 4 and a black rose on her forehead. He slurped his tongue.
“Kuroi Uta ranks 4th!?”
“I am Gladiolus, the prettiest woman loyal to my Majesty! I'll clear you up here and I'll take Riri-chan there quietly!”
The woman took out her flower spirit in the form of a thorny whip and attacked without hesitation.
“HAAAAH!!”
“Dianthus! Lure him out!”
“While I did!”
Dianthus took out a dazzling ball of light from his palm, as Gladiolus' attention was diverted, he pulled the powerful whip in his hand and tried to throw it out.
“Hey you! Indiscriminate touching my beautiful whip!”
Unfortunately Dianthus failed, and was instead thrown out due to the strong resistance of Gladiolus.
“Damn..!”.
“Well, will you hand over my Riri-chan quietly?”
Camelyum took out both of his swords preparing to attack him.
“Came-chan, I will unite with Dianthus, you don't step even a bit from Riri's side!”
“D-understood!”
Carnation stretched out his hand and pulled Dianthus to make him a thin and sharp sword at the end. With a very fast movement, Carnation tried to read the movement of the Gladiolus whip.
“Heh, in a place like this I find it difficult to move freely.”
“Nona, don't bother killing me, my only goal is to take Riri-chan away!”
“That I'll never let!”
Carnation turned his slender sword into a gigantic sword, with all his might swinging it towards Gladiolus.
“HEAAAAHHHH!!!!”
“You think you can win from my beautiful whip?”
Gladiolus's whip accelerated until Carnation had trouble reading the direction of his movements.
“Catch Hybridus! Show your skills!”
Gladiolus cried out loud. It seemed that Carnation did not notice the noise.
“Majulah Dianthusku!!”
“A-what!?”
The gigantic sword that was in Carnation's hand suddenly vanished, and regardless of Gladiolus' extremely fast whip movements, Carnation pointed both of his hands towards Gladiolus' neck.
“Damn you trying to outwit me huh!? I won't let it!”
The Hybridus whip successfully bound Carnation before both of his hands strangled Gladiolus' neck. He smiled with satisfaction.
“Lumayan also you are the owner of the flower spirit Dianthus, I heard you are one of the members of the royal secretary right? Why is it so hard to set foot in such a tight spot?”
Carnation is trapped in the twists of the Gladiolus whip. Tacit.
“Carnation-san!”
“Don't step your foot in the least from Riri! Kuroi Uta is trying to bring Riri! I still don't know what they want—”
“Dare once to learn about Kuroi Uta huh?”
Gladiolus pierced Carnation's cheek with his long nails until blood dripped from him. Carnation just looked at him furiously.
“How do you extract information about us? If you've taken it too far, then I won't let you live!”
Withstanding the pain of the thorn whip wrapped around his body, Carnation then shook his smile.
“What's funny huh!?”
“Dianthus, do now—”
“What!?”
Unbeknownst to Gladiolus, the human-shaped Dianthus had taken a swipe at his back with a giant sword in his hand.
“THIS TIME YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO RUN AGAIN!!”
ZRAAAT!!!
The giant sword Dianthus slashed Gladiolus' back into the wall and made a huge crack. Afterwards Dianthus disappeared again.
“Good, Dianthus.”
Gladiolus laughed. It was as if it did not feel any pain or injury after receiving the giant sword slash.
“Hahahaha! What kind of attack is that? You can't even stain my pretty clothes, can you? Hahahaha!”
Carnation's body that was filled with blood due to the whip of thorns wrapped around him only remained silent.
“Beauty you said yes.dasar mad woman—”
“What did you say!?”
PERT! In an instant, Carnation and Gladiolus vanished from the sight of Camelyum who could only watch it.
“C-Carnation-san!?”
Camelyum released his combat mode then looked out the window. There was no sign of Carnation and Gladiolus, vanishing without a trace. He only saw the giant sword slash marks from Dianthus a moment ago.
“Amazing ability..Carnation-san that..wait...this damage....what if Riri saw all this when he woke up?! G-gawat, I have to do something soon!”
Came...-chan…?
That one was...what…?
Is there a.. who fought…?
***
“Damn it! Where is this!? Let go of me!”
Carnation brings Gladiolus into a dimension, a vast expanse of ‘Carnation’ flower fields with a variety of colors.
Carnation holds both hands and feet of Gladiolus with long tendrils in the middle of the yellow ‘Carnation’ flower field. Carnation just walked around Gladiolus constantly blabbing.
“Hey shit! Quickly let go of me!”
“Whisper, between you or me, who's crazy, huh?”
Carnation stepped on Gladiolus' palm and looked at him furiously.
“Sial!!!!!”
Dianthus appeared behind Carnation, in his hand carrying a spiked black stalk in a bouquet.
“Alright, I'll start—”
“What...what are you going to do huh!?”
Carnation gripped Gladiolus' chin violently, looking at him coldly.
“Say, what is the purpose of Kuroi Uta all this time?”
Gladiolus did not answer. Just looking down on Carnation.
“Heh, indeed information as important as that I will leak easily?”
“Dianthus, do.”
“Good miss.”
Dianthus took one of his stingy black stalks, crouched down, and mercilessly pierced Gladiolus' feet.
“AARGHHH!!! YOU GUYS..YOU HAVE TARNISHED MY BEAUTIFUL FEET!!”
“If you don't want to be tarnished again, tell me, what's the purpose of Kuroi Uta? What do they want from Riri? What does Riri have for you? Who is your leader?! SAY EVERYTHING!”
Shouted Carnation until his eyes were perfectly rounded because of his emotions. Gladiolus who did not care only grieved annoyed.
“So you do dirty ways like this to pry someone's information? What if Riri-chan knows? He will definitely hate you~”
“A child always believes what his mother did for his good!”
“What? Her mother said?”
Dianthus took out his black flower stalk again and directed it right at Gladiolus.
“Don't ask much, just answer my question! What did Kuroi Uta want all this time? What does Riri have until they want it?!”
“I will never betray my loyalty to Mr. Agu—”
SRATT'S!
“ARRGHHHHH!!!!! YOUU!!! THE TRUTHS RUINED MY FACE!!!”
Dianthus stabbed a spiked black stalk right on Gladiolus' forehead to scream in pain.
“Whatever you try to rebel, this place will not obey you. Quickly answer my question!!”
No matter how much Carnation asked him, Gladiolus kept his mouth shut, until the entire spiked black stalk in Dianthus' bouquet left one more stalk.
“Heh..mau you ripped my beautiful body...takkan I leaked such important information to anyone..”.
Carnation stood up from his place. Staring coldly at Gladiolus' body which was filled with black stalk punctures. He took the last stalk that Dianthus held.
“Loyalty is important, but if that loyalty is used on the wrong path, you will regret.”
Carnation directs the final stalk right in front of Gladiolus's eyeball. Even though it was that close, Gladiolus was not afraid in the least. He just laughed disdainfully.
“REPLORE YOUR WHOLE LIFE BECAUSE YOU ARE THE WORST WOMAN I HAVE EVER SEEN!!”
THE SRAATT!!
***
“M-Master?! Y-where are you going?”
“Where? Of course to the final round of the magic tournament, you already know right?”
Riri was busy getting dressed. Camelyum who saw it was confused.
“T-but..”.
“Did I sleep too much? I saw a strange dream, the window broke and there was a big crack, I also saw you there lo, Came-chan.”
Said Riri pointing at the window glass of his room that looked normal, there was not the slightest damage. Camelyum smiled stiffly.
Did Riri see last night? But I always checked, she kept awake because of her declining condition. But why did Riri know?
“Y-important are you okay, Master?”
“Hey hey, you already know right? My skill is always to be in good shape when it matters! Come on, let's go!”
After dressing Riri out of his room left Camelyum who was still standing in his place.
There was a point of flow of mana that froze like ice.
“Riri..”
***
“The awaited moment has arrived! This was the final round of the magic tournament between 1st class A and 1st class E! This year's tournament was very different from previous tournaments because the E class that never qualified until the final, could finally set its pace in this deciding round! Let's give them some spirit!”
The boisterous sound of the audience in the stadium made the atmosphere even hotter. Especially after the audience saw the commentator who turned out not to be Carnation.
“You fit it well, Alstro-san.”
“C-matched what the hell?! Besides Miss Carnation where the hell am I the commentator?”
“She said there is business, will be back soon to watch this final round.”
“But why should I anyway..”
“Carnation-san said Alstro-san was very good when he was a commentator!”
“...Ah! Alright let's welcome the final participants of this year's magic tournament!”
The sound of loud applause grew louder as the participants entered the stadium. They all hold the spirit of the flower. They faced each other when they arrived in the middle of the arena.
“Hoo...you lost the second half yesterday, still dare ya lift your face here?”
Amaryliss said in a dismissive tone to the class of 1-A who looked down on dislike.
“Whispering! In this final you will lose!”
While Elder stole a glance towards the top tower where the staff of the teacher and jury. His smile broke out as he looked in that direction.
“Riri-sensei is there!”
Spontaneous Iris also looked up, followed by Amaryliss. It looks like Riri is in the m
enara realized that the 3 students were looking at her. He waved his hand.
“She was...come and go as she pleased..sucks...”.
Amaryliss grumbled with slightly flushed cheeks while draping her hands together.
“Alright, all participants are ready for position?”
Amaryliss, Elder, and Iris prepared in their respective positions, preparing their horses and holding the spirit of the flower tightly.
“I'm counting on you, Varie-chan.”.
“Prepare, Neomarica!”
“You can do it, Sam-kun.”.
After the sound of the match sign gun began to be fired, the participants danced with their flower spirits. ‘menari’ fiercely.
“It is hard to believe..The weak 1-E class can survive to this extent..?”.
“What have they been doing all this time?”
Riri who was in the staff room of the teacher and the judges of the 3rd grade alumni slightly showed her smile.
“Hey you, what did you do to the E-class kids? You bewitched them with a certain magic right? How could they be this strong?”
Ask the 3rd graders who the other day underestimated Riri. But Riri did not answer him directly. He just smiled at them.
“A-what the fuck is your smile?”
“If I do bewitch them, what do you want?”
“So it's true you bewitched them!? You cheater! This match is not legal! The winner is class—”
Before the 3rd grader shouted even louder, Riri put her right index finger in the student's mouth. Staring sharp.
“Do not accuse me without proof, miss sweet—”
“Without proof what did you say?! You said that yourself! Look, all the staff teachers saw you!”
Another 3rd grader exclaimed at the staff line of teachers who looked at Riri with suspicious looks. Riri remained calm. He removed one of the buttons on his collar.
“Makanya dengerin first dong if people talk..basasal chick..”.
Riri showed a lame face to the 3rd grade student who increasingly made them furious. Then he turned his gaze back on the match in the arena. His 3 students seemed to be fighting spirit against grade 1-A.
“Look at this fight to the end, if they win, pull back your absurd accusations against me.”
“Then, if class A wins?”
“You can make me babu for one day.”
“Hey, who did you decide for yourself?! If your E-class loses, then you must quit this academy!”
“Can only, your bet is interesting.”
The 3rd grade student seemed confident that his choice would win. While Riri is not disturbed at all.
“Master, are you serious?”
“Quietly, those 3s definitely win.”