Chivalry of a Failed Knight

Chivalry of a Failed Knight
File:Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry light novel volume 1 cover.jpg Cover of volume 1, featuring Stella Vermillion
落第騎士の英雄譚(キャバルリィ) (Rakudai Kishi no Kyabarurii)
Genre	Action, Fantasy, Romance
Light novel
Written by	Riku Misora
Illustrated by	Won
Published by	SB Creative
Demographic	Male
Imprint	GA Bunko
Original run	July 15, 2013 – present
Volumes	10
Manga
Written by	Riku Misora
Illustrated by	Megumi Soramichi
Published by	Square Enix
Demographic	Seinen
Magazine	Gangan Online
Original run	April 2014 – present
Volumes	5
Anime television series
Directed by	Shin Ōnuma Jin Tamamura
Written by	Shogo Yasukawa
Music by	Kōtarō Nakagawa
Studio	Silver Link, Nexus
Licensed by	AUS Madman NA Sentai Filmworks
Network	AT-X, Tokyo MX, TVA, SUN, BS11
Original run	October 3, 2015 – December 19, 2015
Episodes	12

Chivalry of a Failed Knight (Japanese: 落第騎士の英雄譚(キャバルリィ), Hepburn: Rakudai Kishi no Kyabarurii, lit. The Heroic Tales of the Failure Knight) is a Japanese light novel series written by Riku Misora and illustrated by Won. The first volume was released on July 15, 2013. An anime adaptation aired from October 3 to December 19, 2015.

Plot

The story is set in a world where humans with supernatural powers known as Blazers can materialize a Device, weapons made through a person's soul. Ikki Kurogane, dubbed the Failure Knight by everyone around him, encounters a half-naked girl, Stella Vermillion, as she changes in his room. This encounter changes Ikki's life as he strives to become a real Mage Knight by reaching the peak of the Seven Star Sword Art Festival, an annual event held by the seven Mage Knight Academies in Japan to determine the strongest Apprentice Knight between the schools. The winner of the festival becomes known as the Seven Stars Sword King. The Seven Star Sword Art Festival features actual combat and the possibility of competitors dying exists.

Characters

Hagun Academy

Ikki Kurogane (黒鉄 一輝, Kurogane Ikki)

Voiced by: Ryōta Ōsaka, Yukiyo Fujii (young)

The main protagonist of the series, an F-Rank Blazer who is widely known as the Worst One (落第騎士(ワーストワン), Wāsuto Wan). He is Stella's roommate and later her boyfriend/fiancé. His Device is Intetsu and his Noble Art is Ittō Shura (一刀修羅). A member of the distinguished Kurogane Family, from childhood Ikki was subjected to ill treatment from his own family. This changed when he encountered his great-grandfather, Ryoma Kurogane, a legendary Blazer and hero who encouraged Ikki to never give up and become strong. After defeating his past-year rival, Shizuya Kirihara, Ikki gets a new nickname, Another One (無冠の剣王(アナザーワン), Anazāwan).

Stella Vermillion (ステラ・ヴァーミリオン, Sutera Vāmirion)

Voiced by: Shizuka Ishigami

The main heroine of the series. An A-Rank Blazer who is considered to be a once-in-a-decade genius. She is Ikki's roommate and later his girlfriend/fiancée. Her Device is Laevateinn and her Noble Art is Katharterio Salamandra (天壌焼き焦がす竜王の焔(カルサリティオ・サラマンドラ), Karusaritio Saramandora). The second princess of the Vermillion Kingdom, Stella could not control her own powers as a child and was badly burned each time she tried to use them. Through her effort, she eventually mastered her own power and is widely regarded as a genius by those around her. Stella, not wanting to become conceited, then decided to transfer to Japan. At the beginning, she was quite arrogant towards Ikki, who was F-Rank, but she began to respect him after he defeated her in a Mock Battle.

Shizuku Kurogane (黒鉄 珠雫, Kurogane Shizuku)

Voiced by: Nao Tōyama

Ikki's younger sister who is extremely obsessed with him. Nicknamed Lorelei (深海の魔女(ローレライ), Rōrerai), a B-Rank Blazer who excels in magic control. Her Device is Yoishigure and her Noble Arts are Shōha Suiren (障波水蓮), Water Prison Orb (水牢弾, Suirōdan), and Hisuijin (緋水刃). Shizuku hates her family for their treatment of Ikki and generally dislikes holding the family name. She initially disapproved of Ikki's relationship with Stella, but eventually accepted her and decided to take it upon herself to teach Stella about being a bride of the Kurogane family, though she still made up her own restricting rules.

Nagi (Alice) Arisuin (有栖院 凪, Arisuin Nagi)

Voiced by: Shintarō Asanuma

Shizuku's roommate who is nicknamed Alice. She likes to be called Alice by her friends and suggests that they do so even though she is assigned male at birth. Her Device is Darkness Hermit and her Noble Art is Shadow Bind (影縫い(シャドウバインド), Shadō Baindo). She is later revealed to be a member of Akatsuki, though she turns her back on the organization.

Ayase Ayatsuji (綾辻 絢瀬, Ayatsuji Ayase)

Voiced by: Yū Kobayashi

A third-year student of Hagun Academy and the daughter of a famous swordsman named Kaito Ayatsuji. Ayase approaches Ikki and asks for his guidance to improve her swordsmanship. Two years prior to the current story, her father fought against Kuraudo, a Blazer from Tonrou Academy, with their dojo on the line and ended up in a coma with the dojo being taken over by Kuraudo. After this event, Ayase constantly challenged Kuraudo, but to no avail. She hopes to enter the Seven Star Sword Art Festival to have a chance to get the dojo back.

Kagami Kusakabe (日下部 加々美, Kusakabe Kagami)

Voiced by: Yūka Aisaka

An aspiring journalist and founder of the Newspaper Club. Despite claiming not to be a gossip writer, she does hear of many happenings around the school and often suggests scandalous topics for her articles. She is nicknamed "Kagamin" by Alice.

Shizuya Kirihara (桐原 静矢, Kirihara Shizuya)

Voiced by: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka

A C-Rank Blazer at Hagun Academy nicknamed "Hunter", who is Ikki's rival. He fought against Ikki in a selection match and lost.

Kanata Totokubara (貴徳原 カナタ, Totokubara Kanata)

Voiced by: Yōko Hikasa

The second-ranking Apprentice Knight of Hagun Academy. Like Tōka, Kanata has significant combat experience. She is the treasurer of the Student Council.

Renren Tomaru (兎丸 恋々, Tomaru Renren)

Voiced by: Mao Ichimichi

The third-ranking Apprentice Knight of Hagun Academy. Nicknamed Runner's High, her Noble Art, Black Bird (ブラックバード, Burakkubādo), accumulates speed and can even break the speed of sound at maximum speed.

Ikazuchi Saijō (砕城 雷, Saijō Ikazuchi)

Voiced by: Ryota Takeuchi

The secretary of the Student Council, he is nicknamed the "Destroyer".

Utakata Misogi (御祓 泡沫, Misogi Utakata)

Voiced by: Megumi Han

The vice president of the Hagun Academy Student Council. He is Tōka and Kanata's childhood friend.

Tōka Tōdō (東堂 刀華, Tōdō Tōka)

Voiced by: Hisako Kanemoto

The student council president of Hagun Academy. A B-Rank Blazer who is said to be the strongest in the school and specializes in Battōjutsu. Her Noble Art, Raikiri (雷切), is a technique that allows Tōka to draw her sword out at the speed of lightning. Despite being a student and Apprentice Knight, Tōka has real combat experience, having been called to help destroy bases belonging to Rebellion. Tōka fought and defeated Shizuku in a selection battle, but later ends up losing to Ikki.

Nene Saikyō (西京 寧音, Saikyō Nene)

Voiced by: Yuka Iguchi

Kurono's best friend, who is currently serving as a part-time teacher in Hagun Academy. She is known as "Yakshahime" and possesses skills that rivals those of Kurono. Nene is an accomplished athlete, having participated in sports tournaments like "King of Knights" (KOK), a hand-to-hand contest between Blazers, and even the Olympics.

Yuri Oreki (折木 有里, Oreki Yuri)

Voiced by: Izumi Kitta

Ikki and Stella's homeroom teacher who insists that her students call her "Yuri-chan". She suffers from an unknown illness that causes her to vomit a liter of blood a day. Oreki was part of the reason that Ikki was able to enter Hagun Academy.

Kurono Shinguuji (新宮寺 黒乃, Shingūji Kurono)

Voiced by: Mariko Higashiuchi

Hagun Academy's new director. The former third-ranking Mage Knight of the world, she is nicknamed "World Clock". Upon arriving at the Hagun Academy, Kurono immediately fired all of the staff involved in the scheme to hold Ikki back and created the Selection Battle to give every student a chance to enter the Seven Star Sword Art Festival.

Kurogane Family

Ryōma Kurogane (黒鉄 龍馬, Kurogane Ryōma)

Voiced by: Kinryū Arimoto

Ikki and Shizuku's great-grandfather and a renowned Blazer.

Itsuki Kurogane (黒鉄 巌, Kurogane Itsuki)

Voiced by: Shō Hayami

The current head of the Kurogane Family and father of Ōma, Ikki, and Shizuku. He betrayed Ikki as a child, ordering his son to not show himself to the world. When Ikki left the house, Itsuki used his connections to have Ikki fail in his academics and repeat a year.

Ōma Kurogane (黒鉄 王馬, Kurogane Ōma)

The eldest of the Kurogane siblings. Ōma left the Kurogane house five years before the current story and was considered missing. He later reappears as a member of Akatsuki and challenges Stella to a duel, which he wins.

Blazer

Edelweiss (エーデルワイス, Ēderuwaisu)

The top-ranking Blazer in the world. Edelweiss is a criminal whose capture has been given up on due to her immense strength.

Kuraudo Kurashiki (倉敷 蔵人, Kurashiki Kuraudo)

Voiced by: Yoshimasa Hosoya

The ace of Tonrō Academy. A C-Rank Blazer nicknamed the Sword Eater (剣士殺し(ソードイーター), Sōdo Ītā) due to having defeated many swordsmen. When Ikki defeats him, he returns the dojo ownership to Ayase's family.

Yūdai Moroboshi (諸星 雄大, Moroboshi Yūdai)

The previous winner of the Seven Star Sword Art Festival. He fights against Ikki in the first round of the current Seven Star Sword Art Festival and loses.

Media

Light novel

Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry is a light novel series written by Riku Misora and illustrated by Won. The first volume was published on July 15, 2013 and ten volumes were released as of April 15, 2016 under SB Creative's GA Bunko imprint.

Manga

A manga adaptation, illustrated by Megumu Soramichi, began serialization in Monthly Shonen Gangan in 2014.

Anime

An anime adaptation produced by Silver Link and Nexus was greenlit, and it aired from October 3 to December 19, 2015. Sentai Filmworks has licensed the anime for digital and home video release in North America.

Episode list

No.	Title	Original air date
1	"The Worst One I" "Rakudai kishi Wan" (落第騎士 I)	October 3, 2015
After returning to his apartment from jogging, aspiring Mage Knight and flunking Hagun Academy student Ikki Kurogane inadvertently walks in on a half-naked girl changing in his room. While being admonished and forced to apologize by Academy Director Kurono Shinguuji, Ikki learns that the girl is Stella Vermillion, a famous A-Rank Blazer who is the princess of the Vermillion Empire and his new roommate. Stella sets up house rules that Ikki cannot agree to, Kurono has them stage a mock battle, with the loser having to obey the winner unconditionally. Ikki accepts despite the disadvantages of his low rank, stating that he has to work hard to win the Seven Star Sword Art Festival. During the mock battle, he demonstrates powerful fighting skills and memorizes Stella's technique, which he uses against her. As a last resort, Stella activates her Noble Art, but Ikki outmaneuvers it and strikes her, winning the battle but collapsing from exhaustion. Later, Kurono visits Stella and explains that despite Ikki's strength, he flunked the academy's evaluations due to his peculiar style. She then recommends her to follow Ikki's style so she could improve. Returning to the apartment, Stella apologizes to Ikki for her behavior. He then reminds her of the deal they made, for the loser to obey the winner from now on, and then orders her to be his roommate.
2	"The Worst One II" "Rakudai kishi Tsū" (落第騎士 II)	October 10, 2015
Ikki's younger sister Shizuku, whom he had not seen in four years, arrives at Hagun Academy as a new student. In class, Ikki and Stella learn about the selection match for the Seven Star Sword Art Festival from their teacher, Yuri Oriki. Afterwards, they meet Shizuku, who surprises them by kissing Ikki directly on the mouth, leading into a duel between Stella and Shizuku over the former's relationship with Ikki. Shizuku tries telling Stella to stay away from her brother, inadvertently revealing that the Kurogane family treated Ikki as if he never existed. The following evening, Shizuku meets her roommate, the effeminate Nagi "Alice" Arisuin. Meanwhile, Stella asks Ikki about what Shizuku said; he explains to her that he was born without any talent in a family that produced great Blazers. As a result, he was neglected by his family and later ran away and got lost in a blizzard, but was rescued by his great-grandfather, Ryoma Kurogane, who encouraged him to believe in himself. Afterwards, he strove to become just like Ryoma and was accepted into the Academy, but when the Kurogane family discovered it they pressured the school into creating a set of class requirements which were responsible for Ikki's failing grades. Ikki then states his belief that the harassment will never stop.
3	"The Worst One III" "Rakudai kishi Surī" (落第騎士 III)	October 17, 2015
After training with Ikki, Stella tries asking him out on a date, but their conversation is interrupted by a text message sent by Shizuku, asking Ikki to go shopping with her. Stella is shocked when Ikki accepts the proposal and decides to accompany him. During the shopping trip, Ikki has an awkward first meeting with Alice, whose effeminate personality off-puts him, but he later praises her for getting Shizuku to open up to other people more. The entire trip is spent with Stella and Shizuku competing to get Ikki's attention, with Shizuku seemingly triumphing every time. As the four split up to use the restrooms, the mall is taken hostage by a group of armed men led by a Blazer named Bisho, who demands a large ransom in exchange for the release of the hostages. Kurono authorizes Ikki, Stella, Shizuku and Alice to use their Devices to attack the assailants. When Stella intervenes, Bisho subdues her with his Device, Judgment Ring, and then forces her to undress in exchange for the freedom of the hostages. Shizuku takes advantage of the gunmen's distraction to protect herself, Stella and the hostages with a wall of water, while Ikki slices Bisho's left arm off to prevent him from using Judgment Ring. When the gunmen retaliate, another Blazer, Shizuya Kirihara, arrives and subdues them. Afterwards, Kirihara reveals that Ikki had a match against him but ran away, and says that he will be Ikki's first opponent.
4	"The Worst One IV" "Rakudai kishi Fō" (落第騎士 IV)	October 24, 2015
During the selection match, Stella, Shizuku, and Alice easily defeat their opponents. Meanwhile, Ikki begins studying Kirihara's Noble Art, which renders him invisible and makes it difficult to even detect him using the other senses. Ikki meets up with Alice and confides in him about him about his match against Kirihara: during the previous school year, when the Kurogane family still had influence over the Academy's superiors, Kirihara had been harassing him with his Device and Ikki refused to fight back, believing it would be used as an excuse to expel him. In the next day's match, Kirihara starts off by activating his Noble Art, which covers the battlefield in an illusory forest. At first, Ikki is able to deduce Kirihara's location by observing the visible arrows he fires, but Kirihara uses a new, improved technique he developed which also allows his arrows to become invisible, injuring Ikki. Kirihara ridicules Ikki by saying that he must win the Festival to graduate. Stella, furious, stands up for Ikki and tells him to continue fighting. Using everything he learned about Kirihara's attacks, a rejuvenated Ikki pinpoints his location with his Noble Art and defeats him, then collapses from exhaustion. At the hospital, Ikki is met by Stella and confesses his feelings for her. Initially embarrassed by the confession, she then kisses his cheek. The two then promise to meet and fight each other in the final match of the Festival.
5	"The Experience of the Princess" "Kōjo no taiken" (皇女の体験)	October 31, 2015
Two weeks have passed since Ikki's battle with Kirihara. Ikki has progressed through the following matches with ease, quickly losing his school nickname of "The Worst One" and gaining the new nickname of "Another One" and becaming popular with the other students, volunteering to mentor them in perfecting their strength using what he learned about swordsmanship. However, Stella becomes frustrated when Ikki isn't paying enough attention to her during the time since they became a couple. Ikki later takes her, Shizuku, Alice and his followers to the local swimming pool for more training. There, Shizuku and Alice discuss about the former's affections towards Ikki despite their biological relation. Meanwhile, after talking about her and Ikki's relationship to classmate Kagami Kusakabe, Stella and Ikki get into a fight after she reveals her misinterpretation that Ikki no longer likes her, which he quickly denies. After the two cool down and settle their problem, Ikki suggests they both blurt out what they want to do right now with each other, and Stella agrees. When the two both want to kiss, they happily do so.
6	"Sword Eater I" "Kenshi koroshi Wan" (剣士殺し I)	November 7, 2015
As Ikki and Stella continue to make progress in the Selection matches, Ikki notices he is being stalked by a female student, who eventually identifies herself as Ayase Ayatsuji, the daughter of Kaito Ayatsuji, a famous swordsman. She had been hoping to ask Ikki to help her improve her swordsmanship, but was unable to approach him directly because of her fear of men. He agrees to help her, to the surprise of both Stella and Shizuku. During training, he deduces that Ayase's problem lies in her imitation of her father's style, which is impossible to accomplish. He then proposes that since she is now fully dedicated to imitating her father's style and cannot utilize any other technique, she must adjust her position by understanding her anatomy. With this advice in mind, Ayase is able to land a hit on Ikki with ease. While accompanying Ikki and Ayase home, Stella asks Shizuku if she is jealous of Ayase, and she replies that she isn't, then hopes that Stella will always take care of Ikki and never betray him. One night, while having dinner with Ayase, Ikki and Stella meet Kuraudo Kurashiki, a Blazer who knows Ayase and despises swordsmen. He begins harassing Ayase and then injures an unresisting Ikki when he stands up for her. Afterwards, the trio is approached by Utakata Misogi and Kanata Totokubara, members of the Hagun Academy student council, who commend Ikki for not retaliating against Kuraudo. As they walk back home, Ikki and Ayase are informed that their next Festival opponents will be each other. The following night, Ikki meets up with Ayase on the school rooftop at her request.
7	"Sword Eater II" "Kenshi koroshi Tsū" (剣士殺し II)	November 14, 2015
Ayase and Ikki meet on the roof top, only for Ayase to jump off, causing Ikki to use Itto Shura to save her. Ayase reveals that she planned to keep Ikki from using his ability during the match since he can only use it once every 24 hours. Ikki, weak and exhausted, somehow makes it back to his room where Stella, who was having a perverted dream, awakens and helps Ikki. Now Ikki has to fight Ayase without his ability and on a battle field rigged with traps that Ayase set. However, Ikki, who has learned why Ayase is so determined, still wants to help her regain her pride. Despite serious damage, ikki is able to not only see through and defeat Ayase's technique to win but also to break through to her and offer his help so that she could regain what she has lost.
8	"Sword Eater III" "Kenshi koroshi Surī" (剣士殺し III)	November 21, 2015
Accompanied by Stella and Ayase, Ikki goes to Ayase's family dojo and challenges Kurashi to a duel to reclaim the dojo. As the fight progresses, Ikki takes some damage from Kurashi's Orochimaru and this reminds Ayase of her father's fight with Kurashi, which pains her. When Ayase wants to stop the fight, Stella stops Ayase, telling her that Ikki is actually having fun and enjoying the fight, just like her father did. Ayase then realizes that the apology her father gave at the end of the fight was to Kurashi for not being able to execute his final move and collapsing mid-way in the match. Using Ayase's father's secret technique himself, Ikki wins the match and restores the dojo and the Ayatsuji-Itto style to Ayase. Later, Ayase confesses her foul play to the school and her father regains consciousness in the hospital.
9	"Princess Vacation" "Kōjo no kyūjitsu" (皇女の休日)	November 28, 2015
The director sends Ikki and Stella to a training camp. Stella was initially excited, believing she was going to spend alone time with Ikki, but it turns out they were sent to help the student council with cleaning up the training field. After cleaning, Stella insists in climbing up the mountains to view the waterfall with Ikki, despite having a fever. Caught in a sudden storm, they take refuge in an abandoned lodge and Stella's soaked clothing leads to an embarrassing situation. Later, they're attacked by a puppet-user Blazer who controls Golems, but the attack is foiled by the student council members while Student Council President Toka Todo herself deals with the Blazer. Meanwhile, Shizuku returns to the Kurogane mansion to face her father and learns that her next opponent will be Toka Todo.
10	"Witch of the Deep Ocean vs Raikiri" "Shinkai no majo VS kaminarikiri" (深海の魔女VS雷切)	December 5, 2015
Shizuku Vs. Student Council President Toka Todo. Ikki and Stella are worried because they've seen Toka's power for themselves; Shizaku is determined to win to prove that she's strong enough to stand beside her brother against everyone, especially the Kurogane family; Toka is calm and collected. As the battle progresses, Shizuku realizes that Toka is faster and stronger than her, so she opts for a defensive weapon and long-range water/ice attacks. She covers the arena in ice to give herself a terrain advantage, but Toka is able to see through her attacks. When Toka demonstrates the ability to instantly close the gap with her Trackless Step, Shizuku fills the arena with a thick mist to use her final attack against Toka, but will that be enough to defeat Toka's Raikiri and give Shizuku the victory?
11	"Another One: Uncrowned Sword King I" "Mukan no kenshi Wan" (無冠の剣士 I)	December 12, 2015
The Ethics Committee, controlled by the Kurogane family, creates a scandal by photographing Stella and Ikki kissing on school grounds. Ikki is arrested and placed in a special prison owned by the Kurogane family, where he is continually interrogated and forced to fight Selection matches even while being imprisoned. Despite the odds against him, Ikki continues to win his matches. During one of his hearings, he appeals to speak to his father, which to everyone's amazement is granted. However, his father tells him to quit the selection process; if Ikki wins, he would cause unrest in his father's organization by inspiring those without (magical) ability to aim higher. Ikki is distraught that his father still refuses to acknowledge him; however, Yuri Sensei slips him a lock of Stella's hair reminding him of his promise to fight Stella in the Seven Star Sword Art Festival. The Ethics Committee inform Ikki that his final opponent in the Selection Matches will be Toka Todo and if he loses, he will have to give up his dream.
12	"Another One: Uncrowned Sword King II" "Mukan no kenshi Tsū" (無冠の剣士 II)	December 19, 2015
Ikki's final match, against Toka Todo, is to be televised to the whole world. Stella and Alice win their final matches and spots at the Seven Stars Battle Festival. Even though exhausted and wounded from his prior matches and ill-treatment in prison and haunted by self-doubt, Ikki arrives at the arena in time, cheered on by everyone at Hagun Academy. Toka Todo, as well as everyone else, knows that the fight is fixed but still wants to test Ikki's resolve to fight for the weak. As the match begins, Ikki uses a new technique called Ittou Rasetsu, which grants Ikki even greater power for a single strike. He defeats Toka Todo and proposes to Stella in front of the entire world. The Emperor of Vermillion telephones Ikki's father and suggests that their children should not be burdened by their parents' political goals. A ceremony is held honoring the school's six representatives for the Seven Star Sword Arts Festival and Ikki is named the leader/flag-bearer by Toka Todo. Ikki is later seen talking with Stella about his proposal, but before anything can happen, Shizuku and Alice arrive. Shizuku proceeds to create new rules to teach Stella how to become a bride; this angers Stella who retaliates with her own rules.

External links

• Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry at GA Bunko (Japanese)
• Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry official manga website (Japanese)
• Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry official anime website (Japanese)
• Chivalry of a Failed Knight (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia