Chapter 19

A Knight's Long-held Desire is the nineteenth chapter of the Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan manga.

Summary
Ikki reveals how Kuraudo had defeated Kaito so one-sidedly, it was because of Kuraudo's reflexes surpassing any normal human's or Blazer's reflexes, naming it Marginal Counter. Kuraudo laughs at Ikki's analysis of his abilities and confirms what Ikki said was true, however, he was not worried about what Ikki could do.

Kuraudo then charges at Ikki and uses Hebigami, but Ikki uses a kodachi technique to shorten his range but is able to block far quicker. Kuraudo then smiles at the prospect of fighting someone like Ikki and decides to show Ikki what awaits at the summit of the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival.

Kuraudo then increases his speed to a point that makes his own Device look like it has four heads, striking Ikki with each of them. Ikki ponders how to beat him understanding that Kuraudo was indeed on a national level. Ayase yells for Ikki, but Ikki smiles and tells Ayase he is okay, even though he is cut up severely.

Ayase then pleads with Stella to help her stop the match, not caring if she would not get the dojo in the process. However, Stella refuses, as Ikki is having too much fun. Ayase then looks at Ikki and realizes that Ikki is smiling. Stella then asks Ayase if Kaito actually regrets fighting Kuraudo. Stella then tells Ayase, if Kaito was really okay with not fighting for the rest of his life, rotting away, even though he was once heralded as the "Last Samurai". Ayase then realizes the truth of Stella's words, understanding that Kaito enjoyed fighting and was grateful that someone as strong as Kuraudo challenged him with full force.

Ikki and Kuraudo are then seen stopping their onslaught of attacks, with Kuraudo figuring out that Ikki has seen through Kuraudo's weakness, as he runs out of stamina pretty quickly. Kuraudo then decides to finish off Ikki but before Kuraudo unleashes his technique Ikki asks if Kaito was smiling just like them. Kuraudo laughs at the question and confirmed that Kaito did indeed smile as they did.

Ikki then charges at Kuraudo who decides to use Yamata no Orochi, making Kuraudo's Device look like it has eight heads. Kuraudo then realizes as he charges at Ikki, that the stance Ikki was using was the same stance as Kaito had done during his fight with him. Kuraudo then smiles and slashes at Ikki but is instead slashed by Ikki himself, as Ikki unleashes the Ayatsuji Ittuo-ryuu's final technique Ten'i Muhou.

Ayase wonders how Ikki is able to produce such a technique and Stella tells Ayase that it was because of one of the training sessions he had with Ayase, having used Blade Steal, so he could learn her sword's past, that he was able to do it.

Kuraudo is then seen with his torso cut diagonally. He asks what Ikki's name was and Ikki gave it to him. Kuraudo then leaves, telling Ikki that he can have the dojo, as he no longer needed to wait anymore. Kuraudo's men are then heard outside, worrying about their leader having blacked out outside the dojo.

Ikki then deactivates his device and Stella was angered that Ikki hadn't used Ten'i Muhou sooner, although Ikki explains he needed to tire out Kuraudo first. Ayase quickly gets bandages and covers Ikki's wounds, Ayase then thanks Ikki and tell him that he is the true successor of Kaito. However, Ikki denies this and tells her that it was because Ayase mimicked her father so fluently that he was able to use the Ten'i Muhou technique in the first place and tells her that she is truly the successor to the "Last Samurai". Ayase then accepts her responsibilities and decides that she will keep getting stronger until she can beat Kuraudo her own self one day.

Characters

 * Ikki Kurogane
 * Kuraudo Kurashiki
 * Ayase Ayatsuji
 * Kaito Ayatsuji