Scum of the Brave (勇者のクズ)

It's been one week since Ishino the Musician died.

To find out who was responsible,

we raided the lair of a Dark Lord, the Count of Twin Pincers,

but all we got our hands on were underlings.

And with not much intel to show for it.

It looks like I'm gonna need to get a little more creative.

Scum of the Brave

Another bouquet of flowers.

A Brave's Legacy

Make them stop sending them here.

Dear "Reaper" Yashiro

This season is marked by clear skies and stars that dazzle more beautifully than the rest of the year.

To that end, I would like to invite you to a small affair in which we will take full enjoyment of these long winter nights.

Vintage wine of the finest grade will be served as we discuss our various goals, which I hope will make for a sublime evening.

Actually, this works.

A literal invitation. What a joke.

Good day! It's me!

Master! Why did you ignore the—

What is that bouquet?!

Is it for you?

Nope. For Ed.

I had no idea he was so popular!

More importantly, Master!

Why didn't you come to observe the practical exam last week?!

Oh, right.

Well, I never intended to.

Where's the other one? Sara.

She has cleanup duty at school!

The daughter of King Arthur cleaning the school grounds...

So, did you two pass that exam?

Sara and I did.

Aki got a draw and has to take a makeup exam.

Yes! My opponent, Sakakibara Helen, was a fearsome foe!

I struck, and she evaded, only for her to strike, forcing me to evade!

It was a close-fought battle!

One could say it was a white-knuckled battle of epic proportions!

Seriously?

I thought the opponent was pretty average.

They were so evenly matched, it devolved into a drag.

Yukine! I would appreciate it if you embellished my exploits around Master!

If Indo says they were average,

they must've been half decent.

Looks like my lessons had an effect.

But if the fight dragged on that long,

you still haven't fixed what I warned you about.

You were passive, aimed for counters, and tried to win on points, right?

Yes! But I like to think that I have taken your lessons to heart.

The technique for disarming foes that you used...

I believe it's called a kote-uchi in kendo.

I made good use of it.

Your nonlethal intentions... are something I have inherited.

Look, I only used it because killing them would've been a big headache.

Now, now, there's no need for such modesty!

Listen to me, damn it!

You think I'm trying to not be lethal?

Next time you get a chance, get a good read on my mind.

Read your mind, Master?!

No! I think we need to get to know each other better first!

That sort of relationship...

would be inappropriate!

Somehow that was an even more annoying reaction than I anticipated.

Instructor. When's my next lesson?

I'm kinda busy for the foreseeable future.

But you said you'd train me more.

You promised.

Did I, now?

You did. I know you did.

Fine, then.

You girls busy this Saturday?

No! We are in fact completely free!

What kind of lesson will this be?

Social studies?

Okay, we'll meet up at 6PM in front of Ikebukuro Station.

I'll notify Sara.

Don't eat anything the day of.

There's a good chance you'll puke if you do.

No, that wasn't what surprised me...

You're going to contact Sara?

How, exactly?

Uh, by text?

Texting?!

Master! Why do you have Sara's contact info?!

Because we exchanged them?

An exchange?!

That's so cruel! We haven't exchanged such information yet!

And I can't believe Sara had the gall to do so ahead of me, the first apprentice!

Please, please shut up.

Instructor.

Unacceptable!

Me too. I want to exchange contact info.

Fine, but do you even have a phone?

Sometimes.

Sometimes...?

Master! Me as well!

Please, let us exchange contact information!

With you, Jogamine?!

Master, I feel there is an undeniable bias in the way you treat Yukine versus me...

Why wouldn't there be?

There we go.

Can you believe Ishino was sitting on top of all this gunpowder?

Hope you don't mind me hogging it all.

It's fine. I wouldn't know what to do with it, anyway.

More importantly, did you find it?

Yeah. It was a real treasure trove.

Joe! We're gonna play later, winner takes all!

There's a Pantheon of Plagues you can have for free.

Screw that card!

More importantly, what about Tidal Wave? He would always use that—

Hey.

I showed up because you said you needed a favor.

What is this?

If you two are just gonna play, I'm heading out.

My bad. Don't sulk so hard.

I'm not sulking!

There's something I need to confirm, actually.

Remember your last lesson?

Those two we ran into aren't involved with the Round Table, are they?

I don't think so.

It's not like I know everybody, though.

What about your dad?

He mention anything?

I don't really like talking to him.

I can never tell what he's thinking.

There's a good chance he knows what happened that night, though. I think.

Why's that?

I'm not sure.

Might have something to do with his ether perception.

During the thing with the Count of Amber Thorns,

he knew you rescued me without me ever telling him, Sensei.

That it?

Nope. My favor involves this stuff.

It's a job only you can do.

These are all women's clothes...

Are they yours?!

Hell no.

It was something Ishino was into.

Like what?!

I wouldn't ask, if I were you.

I need you to pick dresses fit for a party from this collection.

You'll use them in the next lesson.

For a party?

I take it I'm picking out what I wear?

Yeah. Choose something for Jogamine and Indo, too.

I don't mind, but why me?

You really think having those two pick their outfits would work out?

This is it!

Should we be going through his stuff like this?

This happens all the time with Braves.

So, the Pincers raid didn't turn anything up?

Out of the people Malta grabbed,

one of them had some intel.

Didn't know anything about that woman, Levi.

But the guy, Ido, was a Brave who raised hell in Kansai until last year.