When the Student Council and Disciplinary Committee members reached the entrance of the Integrated Tower, everyone realized they had no idea what to do next. The group halted. Illusionary Feather seized the moment to raise an important point: "Shouldn't we elect a team leader?"
The crowd froze, then stared at him with dawning realization. Belka and Avira’s eyes suddenly locked. A palpable pressure radiated from them—purple aura swirling around Belka, silver aura shimmering around Avira. The others stopped thinking entirely, gathering around the two as if understanding something unspoken. Exchanged glances confirmed their shared thoughts.
Illusionary Feather, observing the tension, calmly voiced what the girls were thinking: "Since it’s come to this, we all agree the leader should be one of you two. But we should still decide who’s captain and who’s vice-captain."
The first part eased their auras slightly. But the second sentence ignited them. Belka’s purple energy thickened violently. Avira’s silver glow flared just as fiercely.
The surrounding girls shot Illusionary Feather reproachful looks.
—How is this my fault?
He felt utterly wronged. He’d only spoken truth. If they’d casually made both leaders, the Student Council and Disciplinary Committee would still operate separately—defeating the whole purpose of cooperation. Yet this standoff needed resolving, or it’d cripple their next move. Worse, their clashing auras had drawn a crowd.
"Hey, isn’t that the Queen of Sword Dance and the Silver-Haired Queen?"
"Yeah, just like the rumors say—they really can’t stand each other."
"Heard it’s tradition between the Student Council and Disciplinary Committee."
"Guess so. But what are they doing now?"
"Probably another joint operation. It always starts like this!"
"..."
Hearing the murmurs, Illusionary Feather knew it was time to intervene.
"Belka-nee, Avira-senpai—enough. Shouldn’t we discuss this elsewhere?"
"What did you say, Feathers?"
"Dare you order me around, boy?"
"Criticizing someone’s little brother isn’t very ladylike, Avira."
"I’m merely teaching him a lesson. Prevents future mistakes."
The topic had shifted, but their hostility remained. With onlookers gathering, letting this continue was unthinkable.
"Can we settle this somewhere private?!" A surge of dark energy crushed both purple and silver auras. Belka and Avira’s eyes widened in shock. The tension broke. They turned to Illusionary Feather. Belka spoke first: "You’re right. We’re causing a scene. Let’s move."
"As Disciplinary Committee head, I should set an example. No public brawling," Avira added stiffly.
They turned and strode out. Lily and the Student Council members followed, as did Misha and the Disciplinary Committee. To them, Illusionary Feather—the only one who could suppress these two—was clearly the best leader. He trailed behind.
The group headed toward the Mechanical Campus with practiced ease. Illusionary Feather wondered if they were going to his dorm again, but the direction was wrong. Seeing their fake smiles and razor-sharp glares locked on each other, his stomach dropped.
This route... They weren’t heading to the dueling arena, were they?!
His suspicion proved correct. Led by Belka and Avira, the group stopped at a plaza near the dueling grounds. Before anyone could question it, Avira declared: "We settle captain and vice with one match!"
"Perfectly agreeable," Belka replied with an elegant smile.
"Oho~! Sparks are flying between Belka and Avira!" Misa cheered from the sidelines.
So a fight was unavoidable after all. Illusionary Feather sighed, watching them with weary resignation.
Inside the arena, they secured a private room—soundproofed chambers meant for undisturbed duels. The others waited outside while Belka and Avira entered. Soon after, Illusionary Feather and Blazing Heart slipped in unnoticed. The girls outside, too anxious about the duel, didn’t register their absence. The thick walls muffled all sound. Unless shattered, no one would hear a thing.
Inside, Belka and Avira stood opposite each other on the platform. Neither moved first. Among masters, the first strike often meant defeat.
Three figures remained silent—because Illusionary Feather sat unnoticed in a corner seat. Their focus was locked solely on each other.
Time ticked by. After a shared glance, they moved simultaneously. Belka leaned forward slightly, right hand gripping her sword hilt as she charged. Avira knew close combat favored Belka. She darted sideways, loading hidden weapons onto her arms while peppering Belka with long-range strikes to keep her at bay.
Watching from below, Illusionary Feather murmured under his breath: "Huh. She still has this many left? I thought she’d exhausted her stock against me last time."
He didn’t know Avira had deliberately kept these weapons out of her Contract Seal—otherwise, they’d have been long gone.
"Still," he observed as the gap widened, "Avira’s going to lose. If she hadn’t fought me recently, or if this duel happened a month later, the outcome might differ. But now? Certain defeat."
Blazing Heart, clueless about the tension, simply leaned against his arm in silence.
"Seems your duel with Feathers drained your arsenal, Avira," Belka remarked casually. She spun her sword in a windmill motion, effortlessly deflecting Avira’s iron needles.
Avira didn’t reply. She widened the distance, preparing another volley—only for Belka to appear before her, sword already swinging down. Avira blocked with the needle launcher on her left wrist. The device shattered on impact as she stumbled backward.
She retaliated instantly with her right wrist launcher—but Belka was faster. She’d already circled behind Avira. Just as the blade neared Avira’s back, Illusionary Feather appeared between them. He hooked an arm around each girl’s waist, spun sharply to dissipate the force, and set them down gently. Had he not intervened, Avira might not have been injured—but she’d have been spread-eagled on the arena floor. That humiliation would have deepened their grudge beyond repair.
"The match is decided," Illusionary Feather said, releasing them. "Can we discuss things properly now?"
"How did you get in here?" Avira demanded.
"I came as referee," he answered honestly.
"I lost... but I don’t accept it," Avira retorted, a trace of defiance in her voice.
"I don’t feel I’ve truly won either," Belka added.
"Tch. Knew it," Illusionary Feather sighed. "How about this: Belka-nee handles strategy as captain. Avira-senpai leads combat as vice-captain. Planning follows Belka-nee’s orders. Combat follows Avira-senpai’s. Deal?"
The two women fell silent, considering.
Avira knew as Disciplinary Committee head, she relied on force—not plans. Belka, a master negotiator who rarely fought students directly, acknowledged her own weakness in actual combat.
"Agreed," they said in unison.
"One condition," Avira added immediately.
"Name it," Illusionary Feather prompted.
"My weapons are destroyed. I need time to rebuild them. You’ll help me during that time." She pointed at him.
"Uh—I’m an Inventor, not a Dragon Engineer," he protested.
"Meaning you refuse?" Avira crossed her arms, chin lifted haughtily.
"I... agree," Illusionary Feather said, wanting to cry. Refusal wasn’t an option.
The four exited together. Illusionary Feather spun a quick lie to the waiting crowd. The meeting concluded peacefully. Over the next few days, everyone prepared for departure.
