Chapter 259: Surprise

A few minutes after Haruna and Maria went for preparations, there’s a movement in the venue. With Canon and Daganov in the center, the knights are working hard to move something. When a ruckus begins to occur, Chinatsu and the others turn their attention to it. When everyone was chatting, a familiar-looking stage was being brought in. Not only Chinatsu, but Therese, Weerel, and Joseph are familiar with it.

「H-Hey, isn’t that the same stage used at the graduation match?」

「Therese-san… do you know something…?」

「No desuwa! The stage used at the graduation festival was completely destroyed, and the management team hasn’t given any instruction to make it since then. Besides, that stage is sturdier than the one used at the graduation festival desuwa! I can tell because I love earth magic!」

「I-I see?」

The persuasive words of Therese proved that the stage is very sturdy. However, it’s still unclear why it was brought to the venue of the reception.

「Haa, haa…! C-Commander Daganov, why are we carrying something like this…!?」

「I don’t know! I don’t know, but it’s an order from Leader Nell!」

「This is the sage used at the academy’s graduation festival, right…!? This is not something used at a wedding reception…!」

「Canon, rather than your mouth, move your body! No matter how much you complain, there’s no change in the order of the leader!」

「Kuh! That damn Muno, where is he at a time like this!?」

It seems that even the knights who are carrying it don’t know what the stage will be used for. However, it’s a sad thing that they can’t go against it since it’s Nell’s order, and now they have no choice but to carry it.

(… I can somehow guess it, but even Shishō won’t do something like that, right? Yep!)

Chinatsu steadily raised a flag. She’s probably tired, or maybe intentionally wanted to look away from reality. Well, the result is the same anyway.

――――Thud.

While making a heavy noise, the stage that’s as good as new was placed in the center of the venue. In addition, the handsome men, who have been assisting in various things at the ceremony, began to set up miniature towers in the shape of long and narrow quadrangular pyramid on all sides of the stage. Even though they are miniatures, they have a height that’s taller than Chinatsu.

When Chinatsu tilted her head, wondering about the purpose of the towers, a tall old gentleman walked onto the stage. He is a man with swept-back white hair, wearing a gorgeous black and gold outfit, which gives the impression of a dignified mass.

(………?)

When Chinatsu saw this old gentleman, she felt something was off. He seems to be quite old, but his legs are firm and his expression is full of energy that he looks lively. And yet, his face looks white, or rather looks pale. It’s hard to say whether he’s in a good or bad condition.

Setting aside Chinatsu and her question, the old gentleman who went up to the stage spread his hands and raised his voice so that everyone in the venue could hear it.

「Now, everyone, attention please! I’m an old friend of Deris and Nell, and my name is Ziga. Well, you don’t have to mind about me. What important is that I have an important task to liven up this place while the bride is changing her dress!」

「Is this some kind of event…?」

「Oh, it looks fun desuwa! I can’t wait to see what it’s all about desuwa!」

「I only have a bad feeling about this….」

Chinatsu escaped from reality a short while ago, but she already knew the answer. Haruna disappeared behind the scenes for preparations, the sturdy stage, the mysterious emcee who gives off extraordinary aura――

「It’s fun to talk with your acquaintances, but I have a duty to provide entertainment that everyone can enjoy more than that! As the emcee of this event, I will present you with a surprise battle! Let’s watch the greatest battle thoroughly!」

――――Bang! Bang!

From somewhere, fireworks that seem to be a kind of fire magic were launched. This seems to have been prepared by the members of the Magic Knight Order.

「Maa! I was wondering why the stage, but the answer is a surprise battle, a match to celebrate the marriage of Leader Nell! I see, so this is the knightly style…!」

「If it’s to celebrate Leader Nell… a half-baked power won’t do…. I wonder what kind of powerful people who will fight….」

Suspicion turned into conviction, and Chinatsu shook her head while holding her head with one hand. She could understand the plan. Haruna will participate in the surprise battle on that stage. However, who will be her opponent? Chinatsu thought for a moment that maybe it’s her. It’ll be a battle between the bride and groom’s disciples. It’s a great idea, but if that’s the case, it’s strange that only Haruna was contacted and Chinatsu wasn’t contacted at all.

「Then, who’s the opponent…?」

「You seem to be troubled, Chinatsu.」

「Whoa!?」

Before she realized it, there was a figure of Lilyvia next to Chinatsu. Therese and Weerel were also surprised.

「L-Lily-san, please don’t appear suddenly. It’s bad for my heart…!」

「Ara, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for putting a strain not only on the stomach but also on the heart. I will appear while making footsteps from now on.」

「T-Thank you.」

Just like when she played the music in the church, it seems that she’s still in the middle of acting. It’s not surprising, since she had declared that she would be in the Great Eight Demons mode during the ceremony.

「Leaving that aside, you were thinking about the opponent for this battle, right? You somehow have guessed that Haruna will appear, right?」

「That’s right…. Haruna’s atmosphere was gradually becoming something when she’s about to play a match after all.」

「Is that so!? I didn’t know at all desuwa!」

「Chinatsu-san… are you a detective…?」

「………」

It seems that Therese and Weerel are playing the role of boke today.

「Well, about Haruna’s opponent, it’s someone Chinatsu knows well. The atmosphere has changed a little, though.」

「Someone I know…?」

「Now, let’s get the battle participants to enter the stage! First, the disciple of the groom and the one behind today’s magnificent dishes! Haruna Katsuragi!」

「I’m glad you enjoy the food!」

Haruna appeared on the stage while Chinatsu and Lily were talking. Perhaps because it’s an easy-to-move dress, she’s wearing her dress as it is while bringing her Doggan Staff. The enthusiasm in the venue is already making it look less like a wedding party, but the place is getting excited without a doubt.

「Next, a mysterious girl with a sex appeal you wouldn’t expect from a young maiden! Touko Mizuhori!」

「「「Ooohh!」」」

A dress with a short skirt and a suggestive chest line. The one who appeared in such a sexy dress was Touko, the one who was kidnapped by Lily. While the men were shouting, Chinatsu was at a loss for words.

「Yes, Haruna’s opponent is my disciple.」

「E-Ehh!?」