Light Novel Volume 17

Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan Light Novel 17 is the seventeenth installment of the Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry light novel series, written by Riku Misora and illustrated by Won. It was released in November 2019.

Summary
"--In that case there is no other way but winning! You! Defeating me!

Tendou, who has discovered brightness in Touka's soul, activated a disaster-class Noble Art that swallowed the entire Kyushu land. He has only one goal, to corner Touka into a situation where she must defeat him in order to guide her into a "blessing", in other words, "awakening"! In a situation where many lives are taken hostage, Touka is struggling to overcome her own limits! However, her mind is completely defeated by Tendo's overwhelming power--Meanwhile, in Tokyo capital, a new threat approaching from the other side of the sea has been detected. In response to this, the Knights League has begun mobilizing fighting powers!

The 17th volume filled with fierce battles where the true worths of those who had sharpened their blades with the "Failed Knight" in the past are being tested!

Intermission: Spreading Ripples
The Toutokubara Family is the second largest conglomerate in Japan with French nobility origin. They still have a long-standing idea of “noble duty” in the 21st century which they do not monopolize wealth, set up public interest foundations and develop various social welfare businesses. Kanata, who is the General Affairs Assistant of the Toutokubara Welfare Foundation, is currently busy with paperwork at the foundation’s facility. Kanata came to Wakaba House in Fukuoka with Touka and Utakata, but they were only together for 2 days. The problems Wakaba House has been facing recently are bothering her and she’s hoping that the plan proposed by the old man staying at Wakaba House will be successful in resolving the problems. Suddenly, she receives a call coming from Itsuki Kurogane which surprises her. Kanata had made an inquiry to the police about the identity of the old man at Wakaba House. Itsuki informs Kanata that the old man, Tendou Harima, is actually a dangerous criminal that escaped from a prison belonging to the League of Mage-Knight Nations. A declaration of emergency has been sent to the mage-knights in Kyushu and Kurono Shinguuji is already on her way there. Itsuki also informs Kanata that Tendou is a human-shaped disaster and ordinary knights can’t even touch him. After hearing this, Kanata immediately contacts Utakata and she learns from him that Touka is currently with Tendou. Itsuki thinks it takes time for Kurono to arrive in Fukuoka from Tokyo and the mage-knights in the nearby areas will only get slaughtered one-sidedly, but there is one person that might be able to at least hold off Tendou. Itsuki then contacts Bukyoku Academy’s director and asks for a certain student who he needs to contact as soon as possible.

Chapter 4: Blessed Power
In the cemetery, Touka delivers “Raikiri” at Tendou but the old man stops the blow easily with his manifested Device, “Ame no Murakumo”. The old man also introduces himself as the founder of Tendoushuu, the “Great Flame” Tendou Harima. His Device looks like a rusted bronze sword but the magic power he poured onto it is huge. Touka jumps back as she has never faced someone with this level of magic and it is dangerous to be close to her opponent without knowing much about him. In addition, she has heard about Tendoushuu, the group responsible for the mass murder that occurred long before she was born. Touka doesn’t remember seeing Tendou’s name in the records of the incident which is probably because his existence was kept hidden. Touka then asks Tendou if he was deceiving her and the others, and Tendou apologizes for keeping his identity a secret. Tendou needed to know the reason why God unleashed him again on this world, but after talking with Touka he is certain that she deserves a trial from God. Touka doesn’t understand what Tendou is saying but he says she will understand soon. Tendou then raises his sword towards the sky and his whole body releases green light which passes through the tip of his sword. The pillar of light launched to the sky causes clouds to gather and become a huge thundercloud that darkens the sky. Touka can tell the amount of power in the black cloud is probably a million times of the power of her “Raikiri” and even Stella’s amount of power might not compare. Despite so, Touka doesn’t falter because if Tendou also uses lighting then they will just cancel each other’s ability. She believes victory will be decided by their skills in using their weapons and she should be superior in that area considering Tendou’s body that looks almost like a skeleton. Tendou then says that his power’s destination is not Touka and that it pains him that he might have to kill the children at Wakaba House who were kind to him. He believes such trials are necessary because if Touka manages to stand up again after losing her current family then she will receive God’s blessing. Touka replies that she won’t let that happen but Tendou tells her it is impossible for the current Touka.

Touka uses “Shippu Jinrai” to increase her muscle strength and moves fast towards Tendou’s blind spot. At that position she releases “Raikiri” and her blade passes through his body. However, no blood is spilled from his body even after she releases “Raikiri” few more times. There is no feeling of severing the flesh or even a laceration so Touka can only conclude that her attacks don’t hit. She doesn’t understand why and Tendou replies that she can’t touch him because there is too much difference in the stage of existence between him who has received the “blessing” and her who is just a person. The “blessing” he’s talking about is when a Blazer’s soul and body transcend human territory after surpassing the limits of his ego. He further explains that the magic power of a Blazer is often compared to their fate and it is said that the maximum amount of magic power they possess is determined at birth. But rarely there are Blazers who overcome their limit and go outside their given fates--stepping into the territory of non-humans. Touka who is a just a person can’t stop Tendou whose body and soul are closer to God. At first Touka thinks Tendou’s explanation is ridiculous but then she remembers about the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival final match where Ikki used “Ittou Rasetsu” even though the time limit of “Ittou Shura” had passed. The only way for Touka to stop Tendou is to step into the territory of non-humans herself.

Tendou then releases more magic power from his whole body and sends it to the sky through his sword. Tendou says “Natural Disaster – Houten Banrai (sky-crashing heavy thunder)”, and the thundercloud that receives his magic power is releasing many lightning strikes. Instead of the cemetery, these lightnings are hitting the surrounding mountain and town. Each time the lightning hits, an explosion occurs and the struck area is engulfed in flames, including the residential area where Wakaba House is. Touka screams at Tendou to stop and as shown in a pic she desperately tries to stop him by attacking him many times. However, no matter how she attacks or which part of the body she attacks, her sword keeps passing through Tendou’s body hundreds of times without him injured. The exhaustion and the terrible imagination she has when hearing many people in town screaming cause her to fall on her knees at Tendou’s feet. There is nothing else she could do except begging for Tendou to stop. Tendou then bends his knees to hug Touka and says that he understands the pain she’s feeling. But he also believes that Touka can overcome this trial and save everyone. Touka realizes that talking to Tendou is useless and there’s nothing she can do with her hands while the thunderstorm continues burning the town. She stops resisting and begs for someone to save everyone while shedding tears. Utakata then suddenly appears at the entrance of the cemetery and calls out Touka. Seeing this causes Tendou to point his sword towards Utakata and tells Touka to resent him more so that she can overcome this trial. Tendou says “Fire Disaster – Banshou Kaijin (all into ashes)” and a huge flame shoots out from his sword towards the cemetery’s entrance where Utakata is standing. However, Utakata is safe despite everything around the entrance is burnt in black. It is because Moroboshi is also there wielding his spear clad in golden light.

(more to be added)