Editing City Series:Volume6d Chapter6 (section)

===Part 3===

Her voice was drowned out by two much louder sounds.

The first was a group of trucks approaching from the left.

The second was a gust of wind descending after crossing the bridge on the right.

That wind came from Schwarz Löwe.

Hazel turned to see the black Grösse Panzer landing on the other side of the bridge.

“Hazel, he is here for you.”

Lehrer smiled and pulled the metal out of her own chest. It was a foot long and it returned to bluish-white ether light and vanished after bouncing off of the pavement scarred by the shockwave.

Lehrer straightened up in Hazel’s arms and stood up.

“Go on ahead, Hazel.”

“No!”

As soon as Hazel stood up, she heard a loud, dry sound from her right cheek.

Lehrer had slapped her.

She reflexively held a hand to her cheek, more out of surprise than pain. She could feel the warmth in her cheek.

“Hazel,” said Lehrer. “Sylphide is not dumb enough to choose its own death. And I am not inexperienced enough to need your concern. Sylphide will recover and I will escape here alive. Because-”

Then Lehrer started coughing. She held a hand to her mouth and turned away from Hazel.

That brought her slashed back into view. Hazel decided to ask the question that had occurred to her while reading that picture book in the document room.

“Tell me, Lehrer! What were you about to say!?”

…''Because…what?

“Why did you sleep for a thousand years to reach the present day? Was it to see Berger? Or was it to save me?”

Lehrer gasped and looked back when she heard that.

“…”

But then she smiled and shook her head. She did not say anything more.

Instead, she gave Hazel a shove toward the bridge.

“No! Wait! We can both go!” shouted Hazel just before Lehrer swung her spear between the two of them. Light trailed behind the spear.

With a roar, the road was split by a fissure 3 yards wide.

“…!”

The roar of weapons fire arrived from the sky at the same time.

Bermark Nein was pursuing Schwarz Löwe.

She heard Schwarz Löwe standing up and she heard Berger’s voice.

“Hazel! Jump!”

The sounds of Grösse Panzer movement rang loud. She looked back to see Schwarz Löwe dodging the enemy shots flying toward the bridge while flapping its wings and running her way. With arm outstretched.

He intended to scoop her up and take flight.

Schwarz Löwe’s footsteps approached and its black hand moved ever closer. She could see the shells hitting behind it.

At 3 yards away, Hazel’s body was lifted from the ground to land on Schwarz Löwe’s hand.

Its right hand snatched her away in midair.

“Lehrer!”

She felt the pressure of the accelerating metal hand holding her, but she still reached her hand out ahead.

Lehrer looked back in slight surprise on the other side of the ditch she had created.

“Jump!” shouted Hazel. “Hurry! We can both leave here!”

Hazel’s words brought some definite doubt to Lehrer’s face, but then she glanced down at the ditch she had made.

“…”

She nodded with her eyes close and then took a step toward Schwarz Löwe.

Hazel smiled and clung to Schwarz Löwe’s thumb with one arm while reaching her left hand even further out.

But…

“!?”

Lehrer turned back around on reflex. Like she had noticed something.

“Lehrer!?”

Hazel gave a panicked shout toward the woman’s back and then saw the problem.

A row of trucks was driving up from the narrow road Lehrer had turned toward.

The truck headlights were far brighter than the outdoor lights and warning lights and a silhouette could be seen highlighted by them.

That was Alfred Maldrick with Rein König held high.

He was running toward them with the clear intention of attacking Hazel in Schwarz Löwe’s hand.

Lehrer spun her spear around to block his attack.

A roar rumbled out and bright light filled Hazel’s vision.

A moment later, Schwarz Löwe dodged out of the way of the light and began its ascent.

Hazel’s hand failed to grasp anything in the light.

She shouted something, but her voice was drowned out by the Panzer’s ascent and the Busting shout coming from the surface.