After another hard day of soul-dressing class, I was in Class A for homeroom.

　As usual, Ms. Leia stood at the podium and delivered a brief greeting and a message.

"Hmm. That's about it for today, isn't it?　...... Oh, by the way, next week is the "Club Fee War". If you're going to participate, please do so in moderation!

"Yes!

Well, that's it for today. See you tomorrow!

　With that, the teacher left the classroom.

"...... club fee war?

　Everyone seemed to know about it, but .......
　I'm not familiar with Senbei Academy or Gogakuin at all, so I had no idea what it was about.

(Did I read that in the ...... brochure?)

　As I was packing up my things, I thought to myself.

"Allen, it's finally here: ...... the war on club fees!

It's hot!

　Leah and Rose came at me excitedly.

...... I don't know much about this whole club war thing.

"Oh, really?

"It's the fifth academy's famous club fee war.

Oh, it's a specialty? ....... Sorry, can you tell me more about it?

　Leah nodded her head and gave me the details.

The club fee war is a war in which clubs with more than ten members are required to participate!

　War is such an exaggerated .......
　I listened to the rest of the conversation without saying anything else, though I thought about it inwardly.

Each division selects three of the best players to compete for the top spot in the academy and a large amount of club money!　The competition is of course one on one!

"Oh, I see. ......

　I'm sure you've heard of it.

Look at this.

　"Look at this," Rose said, and took out a stack of papers labeled "Guidelines for the Club Fee War.
　It contained the detailed rules of the club fee war and the multiplier of the club fee given to each rank.

　According to this, those ranked sixteenth and below would receive a uniform multiplier of one.
　The best eight is four times and the fourth place is eight times.
　The third place was sixteen times, the second place was thirty-two times, and ...... the first place was sixty-four times.

The difference between 16th place and first place is 64 times. ....... Yeah, that's a big one.

Yes, it would be ...... hell if a large group like the swordsmanship club was ranked 16th or lower.

Well, I guess so. ......

　If the kenjutsu club, which has so many members, is ranked 16th or lower, it will be .......

　Equipment like wooden swords and protective gear.
　Consumables like medicines and bandages.
　Miscellaneous expenses when going on expeditions.

　It would be impossible for the club to cover all of these expenses.

"So. The three participants in the club fee war must include first-year students. In other words, it's no exaggeration to say that all the fierce recruiting up until today has been for this club fee war!

I see. ....... So that's why the seniors were so desperate. ......

　I finally understood a little bit why they were recruiting with different colors of their eyes.
　Then, as I skimmed through the guidelines for the club fee war, I found two rules that caught my attention.

The first rule is that the use of soul gear is forbidden in games in which first-year players participate. .......

　It seems that they are trying to give a chance to the first years who have not yet developed or controlled their soul gears.

　And unlike the Great 5th Holy Festival, this time there is no "winner take all" system.

　The division into spearhead, middle, and general is the same as in the Great 5th Holy Festival.

　However, the spearhead who wins the first game will not be able to fight his opponent's middleman in the next game.
　The spearhead fights only once in the spearhead round, and the next round is fought between the two middlemen.
　The rules are simple and straightforward: the first team to win two of the three games wins.

Of course, we'll try our best to win!

The more money, the better!

...... But do we really need that much money?　We're a swinging club, remember?

　The only thing you need to be a member of the swinging club is a ...... healthy body.
　To be honest, I don't think we need that much club money.

　In fact, I doubt the necessity of the club fee itself.

It's more convenient to have a lot of club fees.　For example, ......, you can buy the right to use the site!

"Right to use the site ......?

Yeah. You can negotiate with the swimming club or the fencing club and ask them to rent you the pool or the gym in exchange for a certain amount of club fees.

Oh, that's very convenient.

　Apparently, there are many more uses for club fees than I had thought.

So let's decide who's going to play!

　Then we tried to talk to the other members of the club - my classmates from Class A.

　However, Tessa and many of the others from Class A were already registered as competitors in other clubs.

(Well, it's normal and natural, isn't it? ......)

　(Well, that's normal, isn't it?) At Senbei Academy, students are assigned to classes A through F in order of their grades.
　And the club war must always include first-year students.
　In addition to that, when the first-years are not allowed to use their soul armor in the matches - it was only natural that the students from Class A who received the highest rating in pure swordsmanship would be chosen.



　As a result, it was decided that there would be three players in the swinging club: me, Leah and Rose.

It's starting to feel like the usual.

"Let's try to win!

Let's definitely win.

Let's win!

　A week later, the club fee war was finally held.

　The venue was a large underground drill hall.

　A square stage was placed in the center.
　The stage is a square in the center, with audience seats surrounding it.

　This is the place where I crossed swords with Ria on my first day at the academy.

　The audience seats were packed with students, and the whole place was filled with a tremendous amount of excitement.

(But ...... I never thought I'd end up here...)

　The mountain club in the first round.
　The cheerleading team in the second round.
　The arm wrestling team in the third round.
　Judo team in the fourth round.

　We had defeated all the other teams and were advancing to the finals.

"Hmm. A great leap forward for the pretend team!

Deservedly so!

"Well, that's great, you two.

　Before this final, I had never fought before.
　I hadn't fought before this final, because Leah, the spearhead, and Rose, the middleweight, had both won in straight sets.

(I guess no one imagined that the team would be made up entirely of first-year players. ......)

　No use of soul gear in matches against first-year players.
　In the event that you've got any questions regarding where and the best way to get in touch with us, we're here to help.

So now!　And now, the final match will begin!　You may already know this, but just in case, here are the special rules for the finals!

　I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

In the past, when the spearhead and middle of the pack won two straight games, there was no general match. However!　But for this final game, even if the first two games are won or lost, we will still have a general's game!　Please make this a model for all students, a summit battle of swordsmanship and swordsmanship!

　This was the announcement that was made before the start of the club fee war.

This is what was announced before the start of the club fee war. "Now then, let's move on to the introduction of each club!　A group of freaks wielding swords in a corner of the schoolyard!　The dark horse of the club fee war, boasting thirty members right after its founding!　We are the dark horse of the club fee war!

　...... There's no such thing as a "group of freaks" just because they're swinging swords, is there?

　I'm not sure what to make of that.

"Spearhead Leah Vesteria!　Rose-Valencia in the middle!　And the general, Allen Rhodle!

　And.

"Come on!　Allen, Leah, Rose!

Don't lose!　We've got your back!

We've come this far and we're going to win!

　The members of Class A gathered in the audience seats cheered encouragingly.

"And against them, the rulers of the Thousand Blade Academy!　The student council!　The spearhead is Lirim-Tuorine, the secretary!　In the middle is Ferris Magdaroth, the treasurer!　And of course, the captain is our student council president, Shih Arctoria!　...... The vice-president is currently out of the country due to a punishment game, so he will not be participating in the club war!

　The opponents were, surprisingly, all female students.

The opponents were surprisingly all girls.

　What the hell kind of game did you play? .......

I'm sure you'll understand.　I'm sure you'll agree with me.

　And so the final battle began, a battle between the barefoot club and the student council execution club.

And so the finals began.

　After that, the spearhead and middle matches took place, but ...... the result was a disastrous defeat.

...... strong.

　Lirim-Tuorine, the secretary.
　Ferris Magdalloch, the treasurer.

　Leah and Rose, who had been undefeated up until now, were formidable opponents.

I'm sorry, Allen,.......

I'm sorry, Allen. ......

Don't worry about it. I'm just glad you two weren't hurt too badly.

　After calling out to Leah and Rose, he glanced back at them.

I'm glad you two aren't hurt too badly.　I'm glad to hear that you're okay.

"Well, it's a foregone conclusion.

We won, but they were much stronger than we expected.　I'm not sure if that's really a first year?　I suspect ...... age fraud.

　The student council members high-fived each other happily.



(I didn't expect there to be so much difference in basic skills. ......)

　With this in mind, I looked at the members of the student council.

"Well, it's been two wins in a row for the Student Council!　It's already been decided that the bobbing club will be defeated, but this is the final match!　This is the final match, and we'll go all the way to the championship match!

　This is the final match!

I'm not sure what to say.　I'm not sure what to say.　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.　The problem child of Senba Academy!　I'm not sure what to say.

　Yeah ......, nothing wrong with that.
　It's all true and correct information, but ...... it was a bit of a malicious introduction.

And then there's the super genius swordsman who won the presidency as a sophomore!　The Student Council Executive Board is the president!　She-Archestoria!

　Cee-Arcustria.
　She has long, beautiful black hair that reaches her back.
　Her skin is as white as snow.
　She's about 160 centimeters tall.
　She has a very pretty face, and she looks like a big sister.

"Mmm, please be gentle with me. Allen?

　As she said this, she held out her right hand to me.

Please be gentle with me. Chairman.

　I took her hand and gave it a firm shake.

(The head of the student council who defeated Leah and Rose, he is definitely a superior opponent.

　Let's go with the intention of borrowing his chest.

　As we stood in the center of the stage, the announcer spoke up.

"Are you ready, both of you?　Let's begin the general match!

　At the same time as the signal for the match to begin, I made my move at once.

The first sword, the Flying Shadow!

　A large slash flew out, and I hid behind it to close the distance at once.
　This is one of my best tactics that is difficult to deal with at first sight.

　But...

But a technique that blocks your vision is perfect for blinding you, right?

What?

　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure I'm not the only one.

I'm not sure what to do.

I'm not sure what to do.

　I was in a hurry, so I unleashed four slashes at the same time with this technique.
　It was a deceptive move.

"Oh, four isn't quite enough, is it?

　She evaded two of the slashes with flair, and easily blocked the rest.

　Her composure, eyesight, and swordsmanship are all of a high standard.

(Strong ....... It is also the opposite of Shidou's. ......

　I've never had an opponent with this level of skill,......, I'm sure.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.

I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you.　I'm not sure what to make of it.

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.

It's beautiful. But it's still not enough.

　She did not even use the techniques of her school, but cut off the eight slashes with a single flash.

(Wow, ......)

　I had never imagined that she would be able to take them so perfectly.
　If it were a simple matter of skill, she would definitely be better than me.

　But... I still have that thing.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find something to help you out.

"The fifth sword--the Crossing!

　The blow that cuts through space and the world is...

It's an amazing blow ......!

　You'll be able to duck with ease.

"......?

I'm not sure if I'm taking too long with each swing, though.　It's not a big deal if you don't get hit.

　This is a great way to make sure that you don't get caught in the middle.
　You can find a lot of people who are looking for a great deal more than just a great deal more.

(...... have no more words.)

　I'm not sure what to say, but I'm sure you'll be able to understand.

"Hmm. Come on, Allen?

　She said with a gentle smile, as if inviting a small child.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, ......!

　Then I tried to slash her again and again.

　But I was dodged, fended off, and passed over--none of which caught the chairman.

　The swordsmanship that I had honed up to this point did not work.
　The height of swordsmanship, or the "sophistication of skill," was shown to me in stark contrast.



　I can't help it--it was fun.

(Huh, ha, ha, ha, ......!)

　It's fun to know that I'm still immature.
　It was fun to be able to touch the sword freely and with full force.
　It's fun to fight an opponent who can't be cut, no matter how hard you try.



(Oh, it's really fun. ....... It's really--fun!



　That moment.
　At that moment... for just a moment... a tremendous power surged through my body.

"Raah!

"......What?

　The next moment.

　The next moment, the world was torn apart by a tremendous blow that she couldn't believe she had unleashed.

　Her sword accidentally caught the blow, but it was so ridiculously powerful that it couldn't withstand it and snapped in half.

"......!

　The chairman and I both gasped at the same time.
　I'm sure you've heard of it.

(Yes, for a second there, he didn't come out, did he ......?

　I put my hand on my chest, but my soul didn't soar like it did when I held the Reishouken.

(Is it my imagination? ......?)

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

What are you going to do about that ......?

　I'd personally like to see you again with a new sword,........

".......

　She glared at me for a moment, and then quietly shook her head.

I can't (・・・・)do that. ....... I give up, .......

　Shortly thereafter.

"She-Archestoria forfeits!　Therefore, the winner is Allen Rhodor!

　The referees declared the winner, and the whole place was in an uproar.

The whole place was in an uproar.　Did you really have this much power hidden in you, Allen-Rhoddle?　Big upset!　Dark horse!　A gold star!　That student council president Xi-Armstoria has been defeated!

　With the incitement of the live commentary, the whole venue went into a frenzy.

　In the end, the club fee war ended with the student council executive club in first place, the bobbing club in second, and the judo club in third.

　We received a lot of applause from our seniors and classmates for coming in second in the club fee war in our first year.

　I was honestly happy, as I had never experienced being congratulated like this.

(The only thing that really bothered me was ......)

　The only thing that bothered me was that the student council president, who I had just defeated, was staring at me with an ugly expression on his face.

(haha .......) (Please, don't let anything troublesome happen to me. ......)

　I sighed loudly in my mind and pretended to be ignorant of the president's sharp gaze.