Chapter 39

Akatsuki Rushing Out! is the thirty-ninth chapter of the Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan manga.

Summary
As Team Hagun and the student council arrives to Hagun Academy, everything is in flames, with the students and teachers being knocked unconscious. Ikki and Stella find Yuuri Oreki and Ayase Ayatsuji, who are also unconscious. They then hear the voice of Reisen Hiraga, who is standing atop a nearby structure. Hiraga tells them that he and his allies are responsible for this attack, with Touka realizing that Hiraga was the one who controlled the rock dolls at Okutama. Hiraga then jumps down, and introduces his organization, Akatsuki. This organization includes students from other schools, including Hiraga as the leader, Ikki's brother Ouma Kurogane, Sara Bloodlily, Yui Tatara, Rinna Kazamatsuri, her lion Sphinx and her maid Charlotte Cordé, and Amane Shinomiya, who Ikki and Stella previously met.

Ikki attempts to talk with his brother, but Ouma is completely disinterested in him, only focusing on Stella. Hiraga explains that Akatsuki intends to participate in the 62nd Seven Stars Sword Art Festival, and they have attacked Hagun Academy to show the world their strength, so they are acknowledged, which will force Japan and the League of Mage-Knight Nations to let them into the Festival, as otherwise they would look like cowards. Akatsuki intends to crush the other participants, which will lessen the people's respect of the League, as newcomers like Akatsuki can defeat it's student knights. The Hagun students then manifest their Devices, ready to face Akatsuki, and both of the groups charge towards each other.

Back in the training camp, Torajirou Nangou, who was called to train Ikki, is talking with another man, when he senses a presence in the nearby cabin. Nangou finds Kagami Kusakabe tied up in the cabin. After being untied, Kagami says that she must immediately warn the other Hagun students, as she then calls Ikki and says that Alice is a member of the Akatsuki, and is going to betray the Hgaun students. Just then, in Hagun Academy, Alice manifests multiple copies of his Device, and using them to bind the shadows of his targets. These targets however, are actually the members of Akatsuki.

The scene then cuts to a few minutes ago in the bus, where Alice reveals to the others that he is a member of Akatsuki and is supposed to betray the Hagun students. However, Alice has decided to not betray his friends, wanting to protect them. Although initially skeptical about Alice's allegiances, the others decide to trust him. Alice explains that he is supposed to use his Noble Art, Shadow Bind, to immobilize the Hagun students, so Akatsuki can easily defeat them. They decide that Alice will instead use this tactic against the Akatsuki, allowing the Hagun students to defeat them.

Back in the present. the Hagun students easily defeat the immobilized Akatsuki members. However, Ikki senses that something is wrong, and quickly turns around to warn Alice. He is too late however, as Alice is pierced by multiple swords, belonging to Amane. Amane the reveals himself, and explains that he foresaw Alice's betrayal with his ability, as the other members of Akatsuki appear behind him, completely unscathed.