The next day, Ayato made his way to the student council room in preparation for his Ogre Lux compatibility testing.
"Looks like things were rather difficult on you yesterday, Ayato."
The matter regarding yesterday's ambush on Julis had been reported to the disciplinary committee.
It was hardly surprising that the news had reached Claudia as well.
Although the incident had found its way online as; "Julis defeats mysterious attackers". Saya's name had been left out. It looked like no one cared about those who weren't members of the Top Twelve.
That was really only to be expected, though.
"How's the investigation? Have the perpetrators been apprehended?"
"––To be honest, that's going to be difficult. The disciplinary committee's already investigated the matter quite thoroughly, but the other party seems to have been careful enough not to have left any evidence behind."
"Even if this is Asterisk... Yesterday's actions have clearly passed into the realm of criminal activity. Normally speaking, wouldn't we just hand things over to the police?"
The disciplinary committee was still a student-run organization, after all.
When their investigative abilities were compared to the actual police, they were, unsurprisingly, decidedly lacking.
"That's something of a problem as well. Asterisk's police, the StjarnagarmrStar Hunter Guard, can be a little high-handed."
"Although they wield executive authority in Asterisk, that jurisdiction does not normally extend to school grounds–– on this point, all of the six schools are in agreement. Failing some large violation of the law, they may not intrude upon a school's autonomy."
The view of the schools was equivalent to the Integrated Enterprise Foundation's own. This was common sense in Asterisk.
Accordingly, until given express permission by a school, the StjarnagarmrStar Hunter Guard would not enter school premises.
"Precluding extraordinary circumstance...We too, would prefer not to see them involved either."
"In order to avoid drawing unwanted suspicion?"
"An investigation would be rather inconvenient indeed," Claudia confessed openly.
"Although, personally, I would like nothing more than to hand this over to the police... This decision is above my pay-grade, however. I just wish there was something more I could do for Julis..."
"Honestly, why is that girl so stubborn?"
She'd reported the incident to the disciplinary committee, but had refused all concern over her well-being.
Even the bodyguards that the disciplinary committee had offered her had been turned down, with the reason being that she hadn't wanted any bodyguard who was "weaker than herself".
"In order to protect those things that are important to her, she'll go all out. When something new presents itself, she worries about losing all that she's already gained."
"The things that are important to her...?"
"Forget about it. It has nothing to do with the matter at hand, anyway. No matter how I look at it, I really can't just leave her be. Maybe I should try talking to her..."
At this moment a hurried knock on the door sounded.
"...My apologies, I'd forgotten there was another guest today besides yourself. Let's continue this conversation at a later time."
Claudia opened the door remotely via the console beside her, and in walked a most unexpected individual.
The other party, catching sight of Ayato, was no less shocked.
"Requests to use Ogre Lux weapons require a nightmarish amount of paperwork. If at all possible, it's best to do it all in one go. Right then, allow me to introduce you. This is––"
Claudia, smiling, began an unneeded introduction.
The simple reason being that those newly entering the room were none other than Lester and his two flunkies.
Startled by the sudden change in atmosphere, Claudia tilted her head in puzzlement.
"It seems you've already been introduced?"
"You could say that."
"W-why are you here?"
The plump yes-man, Landy, pointed at Ayato, stunned. Lester also cast a suspicious glance in his direction before quickly looking away.
"Oh, yes. We know each other."
The skinnier follower, Cyrus, nodded his head over and over.
"Let's hurry it up. I'd like to avoid wasting my time."
"How very rushed. In any case, it's true that time is precious. Please follow me."
Saying this, Claudia rose, and led them out of the student council room.
As they entered the hallway, Ayato raised a question which had just occurred to him.
"So what exactly are we about to do?"
"The process is simple. We test your compatibility with the Ogre Lux you select, and if it's greater than 80%, you can borrow it."
"That's all?"
"That's all."
That seemed rather straightforward.
"You really are stupid, aren't you? In practice, borrowing an Ogre Lux is nowhere near that simple."
Walking beside Ayato, Lester spoke in a tone brimming with scorn.
"If that's all there was to it, then everyone would be trying, after all. No, you have to either be a Page One or an active participant in the Festa; that is to say, only the cream of the crop are even given the opportunity to try. If you don't fall into the above category, then regardless of whether or not your compatibility rating passes 80%––it may as well be 0% ––it's not going to happen. As for whether this brat has the qualifications... I'm rather doubtful."
A high compatibility rating was the minimum requirement to draw out the abilities of an Ogre Lux. Unlike a Lux, which anyone could use, the powers of an Ogre Lux were of an entirely different level.
Ulm Mana Dites possessed an exceedingly high level of purity for a Mana Dite, and moreover, were capable of feats normally only possible for the Strega and Dante.
Simply speaking when it came to an Ogre Lux, the reason for the compatibility test was straightforward. The importance of one's fundamental compatibility numbers, a value wholly independent of the level of effort exerted, couldn't be underestimated.
"Wow, as expected of someone trying for their third time. That was definitely very persuasive."
Lester's smug look disappeared in an instant at Claudia's words, replaced by an expression of twisted rage.
"Hmph! This time I'll succeed!"
"That's right, Lester! You've just had bad luck up 'til now. Third time's the charm for sure!"
"You know it."
Landy's unabashed brown-nosing allowed Lester's mood to recover.
"Is a student allowed to try as many times as they want?"
"As long as they receive permission, yes. From the school's point of view, there's little point in letting one of their precious treasures be wasted on someone who can't use it properly. So yes, Top Twelve aside, the screening process is indeed quite intense."
So that's how it was. No wonder this was a privilege.
"It's not like the Top Twelve are without restriction either, though. If they can't meet the minimum requirements, then they will not be granted permission either."
They finally arrived at their destination, the subterranean equipment division located underneath the high school building.
As Asterisk was an artificial-island, their current location was technically underwater, and so there were no windows.
Ayato watched on in curiosity as the white-coated workers bustled back and forth.
"P-pardon. I-I must apologize for just now."
Suddenly a voice came from behind.
Ayato turned to see Cyrus, a self-effacing smile on his face.
"Lester-san isn't a bad person... it's just that he can be a bit rough..."
Cyrus spoke with his head bowed.
"Oh, don't worry about it. There's no need for that."
"Because Landy-san has a similar personality, so they sometimes get a little out of control. For what the two said the day before yesterday, I apologize."
"Oi, Cyrus! Stop wasting time!"
"R-Right! I'll be right there!"
Lester roared at them from his position in the lead.
Cyrus again bowed his head, and raced to meet him.
It looked like in their group dynamic, Lester stood at the top and Cyrus at the bottom.
"Hah..."
Riding the elevator within to the lowest level, Ayato stepped out into what appeared to be a vast training room with a high ceiling.
At one end were innumerable hexagonal patterns placed side-by-side, while the opposing end was made of glass, revealing a flurry of busy workers within, likely students of the equipment division. Landy and Cyrus were waiting on the other side.
"I'll go first. Is that fine?"
"I don't mind; how about you, Ayato?"
"No problem at all. Go right on ahead."
As far as Ayato was concerned, verifying the existence of the Ogre Lux his sister had perhaps used was his only reason for coming. Nothing else mattered.
Lester displayed his experience, proficiently manipulating the computer in the corner by the wall laden with hexagonal patterns. As a colossal space window appeared, his face took on a serious expression.
"What's that?"
"It's a summary of all the Ogre Lux weapons that our school is in possession of. We currently have 22 of them - the most of any of the six schools."
"Oh."
"Besides simply the name and appearance of each Ogre Lux, the index also records their special abilities; all the data a potential user might be interested in. Those whose names appear in gray are those which have already been lent out."
"I see."
Ayato counted the number of gray entries.
"There are currently seven Seidoukan students using an Ogre Lux, four of which are in the Top Twelve."
In other words, a full third of the current Top Twelve were Ogre Lux wielders. This made it quite clear just what kind of weapons they were.
"Alright, this one then."
At that moment, one of the hexagonal patterns lit up, slid over to Lester's position, emitted a low sound, and protruded forth from the wall.
It seemed to be the mechanism employed for Ogre Lux storage and delivery.
"Heh, what a pointless appearance."
"Pointless...?"
Claudia's words would probably sadden the designer.
"Hmm, strange...?"
Claudia's eyes opened wide in surprise.
"McPhail-kun, you've selected the Ser-VerstaDemon Sword of the Black Furnace. Not again..."
"Demon Sword of the Black Furnace?"
"Indeed. 'Disintegrating all that it touches, when it pierces, the world shall turn to purgatory'. This was once an Ogre Lux most feared by the other schools."
"...Sounds like quite the weapon."
"Whatever its reputation, only a contractor can draw out its supernatural strength. There's something else you should know about it, though."
Claudia gave a bitter smile.
"-That's the weapon whose records have been altered."
"!?"
Lester removed the activation body from within, carrying it with him to the center of the room, where he turned to face the window. Ayato couldn't help but stare at the weapon in his hand.
"So that's it...the Ogre Lux that my sister may once have wielded."
The outward appearance of its activation body was nothing special. The only point worthy of note was the abnormal color of its Ulm Mana Dite. Lux Mana Dites were all of a uniform color, green, but Ulm Mana Dite came in a variety of colors. The Ulm Mana Dite of the Ogre Lux in Lester's hand, for example, radiated with a brilliant scarlet light.
"Alright, I'm ready."
Lester activated the weapon, and it slowly began to materialize. Gradually manifesting itself, before long, its hilt appeared in its entirety, from which sprang forth a blade of light.
Seemingly running contradictory to its naming, the Demon Sword of the Black Furnace was armed with a blade of white light. Furthermore, it wasn't simply a bladed edge, but rather an enormous blade of light.
As Ayato watched the blade form, his heart began to pound. He felt as though he were witnessing the birth of an unprecedented monster, and his senses tingled.
The feeling lasted but a moment, however, and was gone.
What was that...? Ayato pondered, before being broken out of his reverie by the sounding of the intercom.
『Compatibility testing is ready to go. Please begin.』
With permission to begin, Lester gripped Ser-Versta tightly, and loosed a primal roar.
"Uuoooooooooh!"
Ayato could feel Prana gathering, but Ser-Versta evidenced no change.
『Current compatibility is 32%.』
The announcement caused the expression on Lester's face to change.
"DON'T YOU DARE LOOK DOWN ON MEEEEEEEEE!"
The muscles on his arm rippled and he bit down on his lips, displaying forth an iron determination to overcome, no matter what.
Alas, Ser-Versta appeared none too taken with his approach, and seemingly warranting this present wielder beneath contempt; it flashed with a violent burst of light that flung Lester away.
"Uwaaaah!"
Operating via some unknown force, Ser-Versta hovered in the air, semingly looking down upon Lester in scorn.
Its actions were like those of a person flicking away a pesky insect, which had deigned to land on their body.
"Rejected." Claudia murmured.
"I think you mentioned this before, but Ogre Lux weapons determine their own contractor...?"
"Indeed. And they will refuse anyone with whom they deem communication is impossible."
『Our last measurements read in at 28%.』
"It's not over yet!"
Lester, who had been thrown into the far wall, picked himself up, and grabbed Ser-Versta once more.
"Uh-oh. I don't think Ser-Versta looks well upon that power-hungry attitude. It's not the kind of weapon that will submit to force or command."
"You understand what's happening?"
"I also use an Ogre Lux, so more or less."
That was news to Ayato.
"Both the last time and the time before, McPhail-kun also chose Ogre Lux weapons of great repute, with the result being what you see now. These aren't the kind of fickle weapons that give in to a simple lust for power. Not that the desire to be stronger is wrong..."
Cutting her words off mid-sentence, Claudia turned to look at Lester.
It didn't matter what he tried; Ser-Versta turned him into a human bullet each time.
"Shit! Why?! Why won't you obey me?!"
"It's likely that attitude that the Ogre Lux disapproves of. Well, although that Ogre Lux definitely has quite the strong personality, it's not like it doesn't heed commands at all."
"Really?"
"Although it's an older Ogre Lux, it's only had two contractors in its history - three, if you count 'her'."
"Onee-chan's..."
By this point, Lester couldn't even touch Ser-Versta anymore.
If he so much as approached it, the light flung him aside.
『Compatibility is at 17%.』
Having heard just how low his compatibility numbers had fallen, Lester no longer hid his fury.
"GIVE IN! KNOW YOUR MASTER!"
His howl availed him not. This time, Ser-Versta threw him yet farther still.
Having again been flung into the wall, no matter how you looked at it, this was a failure.
"Grr..!"
『Comparability rating is dropping steadily toward 0! Continued attempts will prove dangerous, please stop!』
"Oh, this won't do. He's made himself hated."
Sounding flustered, Claudia rushed forward before suddenly coming to a halt.
Her reason for doing so was readily apparent; Ser-Versta, still floating in mid-air, had begun to release a murderous heat.
Although Ayato stood some ten meters distant, he felt as if he was being roasted over an open flame.