Chapter 26

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Ranking: Oushuu>Ousei>Ouchou>Sakurabito>Ouka>Hatsuzakura>Instructor>Assisstant Instructor>Disciple (Instructors can also hold ranks concurrently above them)

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That day, every member of the Yozakura school above Hatsuzakura rank was summoned to the headquarters. The only time a summons took place without a known reason, was when there was an emergency regarding monsters, or something had happened to one of the upper-ranks. For those reasons, there was a gloomy atmosphere at the venue.

“Oi, how long has it been since our last emergency assembly?”

Two people from the Sakurabito seats started discussing the reason for the summons.

“Well there haven’t been any lately. Could be monsters overflowing from the labyrinth, could be someone arriving from outside the sanctuary. Though I don’t want to imagine, it could also be someone’s obituary.”

“Stampedes or obituaries are usually announced beforehand. The fact that they haven’t means that something happened at the bottom levels of the labyrinth, or outside the sanctuary. In any case, it doesn’t sound good.”

“Haah, Ouseis are usually friendly, but they still have an intimidating aura. I wouldn’t want to meet them if I could help it.”

Some of the people waiting in their seats were wiggling in their chairs, just like students waiting for the teacher, after being sent to the office for messing something up.

“Their magical pressure, I know. They can’t keep it under control. Still, our school is well-known for its kindness. Other schools are much more rigid about ranks…”

“Isn’t it time already? Ah, here they come.”

Igarashi entered the room, and spoke to quieten the hall.

“Igarashi Ousei, what has happened? If it is an emergency, then please let me handle it!”

Sumeragi, sitting in the Ouchou seats, cut in between Igarashi’s words and stepped forward.

“Thank you all for gathering. Today’s matter is of no emergency, as such. I apologize, in case any of you were worried. The agenda this time is in regards to the new Ousei.”

The venue broke out into a loud buzz, upon hearing Igarashi’s words.

“The new Ousei? Has someone that fit just right in the Oushuu‘s glasses finally appear? Do you know who it is?”

“No, I don’t have a clue.”

In the middle of that, Sumeragi snickered proudly.

(Finally, the Oushuu has realized my potential as an Ousei!)

Sumeragi stood from his chair, and went to where Igarashi was sitting.

Right as he came where Igarashi was sitting, the door to the assembly hall opened.

After leaving the dojo, Ritsu was headed downstairs.

“Ritsu-kun, you know about the rankings to a certain extent, right?”

Iori confirmed with Ritsu while walking alongside him.

“Yes. At least their names and their standings…”

“I see. That’s great. Ousei is what stands second from top in the hierarchy. Of course, a certain level of discipline is expected. It might not even require my saying, but always act with resoluteness. Ritsu-kun seems too kind, so I’m just a bit worried.”

Iori looked assuredly towards Ritsu, while smiling gently.

“Yes, I understand. Thank you very much.”

Ritsu replied earnestly.

“Is that so. That’s a relief then. Of course, it’s not good to throw around your weight. Act how an Ousei would in front of other people, is what I wanted to tell you.”

“It’s okay to let loose to some extent when in private though. You see, I have friends among the Sakurabito, and I go drinking with them pretty often.”

Utayo flashed a decent smile, as he tapped Ritsu’s shoulder.

“Ritsu, this time’s assembly shall be an official one. We know you just came from outside the sanctuary, but we ask sincerely of you.”

Saying so, Ryuugen opened the door in front of them.

“Everyone, I thank you all for responding to this unexpected summons. I shall announce who the new Ousei will be today.”

Ryuugen said so, as he looked around the entire room.

“What are you standing there for, Sumeragi. If you have no business, then go back to your seat.”

Sumeragi, who had frozen in place besides Igarashi, went back to his seat with his face reddened.

“I’m sure you’re all wondering who it is. Allow me to introduce you.”

“To be precise, he is not “new”. Instead, he shall presume the seat of Ousei which was kept reserved for him. He is my grandson, Yozakura Ritsu, who miraculously made his way back home. Ritsu.”

Ritsu stepped forward simultaneous to Ryuugen’s call.

“Thank you. I’m Yozakura Ritsu, who has presumed his seat of Ousei. I may be lacking still as I just came from outside the sanctuary, but I’ll be glad if we could polish our skills together as members of the same school. It’s an honor to meet you all.”

Ritsu bowed lightly, but the venue was still abuzz.

“I can’t feel any magic from him…”

“Is he hiding it completely?”

“It’s just a kid, but wait, if he’s the Oushuu‘s grandson, his age should be much more…”

“He is…”

Voices that doubted him, as well as those that welcomed him.

Sumeragi tightly squeezed his lips, while glaring at Ritsu.

After glancing at Ryuugen and Iori once, Ritsu looked over the crowd as he came to a conclusion.

“It seems that there are some that doubt my capability.”

Ritsu stabbed his sword into the ground like a cane, along with its sheath.

He began releasing the Ki he kept kneaded inside him, which attacked everyone present with a pressure strong enough to crush them. A fissure began to spread with the grounded sword as its centre, and the air around Ritsu began shimmering like a heat haze.

“I’m sure many of you unsatisfied. Step forward, I encourage you to challenge me. If you prove yourself here in front of the Oushuu, you might get to become an Ousei instead of me.”

Ritsu restrained his Ki, as he surveyed the assembly hall.

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