Episode 7

**The Exciting Festival** (白熱の祭典, **Hakunetsu no Saiten**?) is the seventh episode of the Anime. It aired in Japan on May 18th, 2022.

## Synopsis

Thanks to Olivia, Ard is roped into participating in the Sword Battle Tournament. Before that, however, Ard watches a beauty contest that Ginny is a part of and bumps into an acquaintance who has dramatically changed since last they met.

## Summary

Ard and Ireena attend the school festival under the guise of a couple, but in reality, they are patrolling it because of a threat by Lars al Ghoul. Soon, Slphy starts a commotion by causing an explosion and threatening an older man that he's a demon. Olivia then enters the scene and vouches for the older man, claiming he's a staff member of a restaurant she frequents and learned to make french fries there. Excused from her patrol duties by Olivia, Ireena suggests that Slyphy help out with their class activity, and she reluctantly agrees. Ard and Ireena then shift their attention to the large tree that Ard claims that the third kind of Laville, aka the Great Sword King, had sealed a unique item in that spot. Ireena then mentions that not even her father knew what was buried underneath the tree. Curiously, Ard asks if Olivia knows what's buried there, but she cannot answer due to her bound to circumstances. However, she mentions that one of the festival's main attractions is the Sword Battle Tournament and that she entered herself and Ard into it, much to his dismay.

Visiting his class' Maid Cafe, Ard witnesses Slyphy break through the classroom wall to attack a student who touched her inappropriately. Ard then handles the situation and is then, by Ginny's insistence, treated in the cafe. Eventually, Ireena arrives and demands that Ard leave and continue his patrols with her, but Ginny intervenes. This causes Ireena to dress up in a maid outfit and serve Ard. An argument starts between Ginny, the rest of the maids, and Slyphy. Just then, an announcement that the Sword Tournament will start tomorrow with the grand prize being a replica of the Holy Sword, Vald-Galgus. Ireena announces that she will enter the tournament along with Ard; Ginny proclaims she'll enter it too and face off against Ard for an "intimate" lesson. Hearing this agitates Ireena, who vows to beat Ginny and all that's on Slyphy's mind is the Holy Sword, Vald-Galgus.

On the tournament day, Ard, Ireena, and Olivia are introduced as the leading contenders who are most favored to win, much to Slyphy's chagrin. Eventually, Ard and the others make it to the finals, and Ard laments how he can't hold back without having Olivia think he lost on purpose. Sitting in the audience, Ireena, Slyphy, and Ard watch Ginny's match and witness her easily overcome her opponent and win her match. After the game, Ireena is summoned to the cafe to help.

Outside of the coliseum, Ginny ropes Ard into watching her participate in the Miss and Mister beauty contest. Reluctantly, Ard agrees to attend and within the audience sees Elrado who gained a lot of weight since the last time they met. The reason why he was there was to watch Lilith. He mentions that he's relieved that Ginny has managed to break her curse halfway and gain newfound self-confidence. On the other hand, he'll have to deal with his guilt and self-loathing for the rest of his life, something he's willing to do. However, he's aware that he can break this curse by apologizing to her, but has no confidence in doing so, and Ard notes his relation to the matter. In the end, Ginny wins the contest, and when they return to the cafe, Ireena begs them to help, but is upset that Ginny entered the contest that she wanted to participate in too.

The following day, Ard beats Olivia in the tournament by casting a reflection spell by sending her flying out of the coliseum. This causes Ard to be disqualified for using a forbidden spell, and Olivia forfeits for not being able to make it back in time for her match. During their match, Ireena wins against Ginny, and in the aftermath of it, the masked man watches them and notes that changes in the script need to be made.

## Characters

Characters in order of appearance.

* Ard Meteor
* Ireena Litz de Olhyde
* Slyphy Marheaven
* Olivia vel Vine
* Weiss Litz de Olhyde (Mentioned)
* Ginny Fin de Salvan
* Elrado
* Alvarto Exex