Editing Masou Gakuen HxH:Volume 4 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 1===

A week passed since the Okinawa Capture Operation.

Megafloat Japan and West USA were moving to the offshore five hundred kilometers east of Chiba’s Bousou Peninsula. There was no contact with the enemy since the battle of Okinawa, Ataraxia also regained the peaceful ordinary days.

“But, the previous battle was a failure as an operation. Although we crushed the enemy, the endgame was poor.”

Reiri looked at the written report while murmuring in annoyance.

“We cannot repeat that in Tokyo.”

Kizuna nodded strongly to Reiri’s words.

The preparations for the next operation was steadily progressed in the research room of Nayuta Lab. The gathered data was projected at the four surrounding walls, the map with Tokyo as the center was displayed on the floor. Lines of light were stretching from various regions, each line was connected to floating windows that floated in the air. Each of the floating windows was displaying various information in text or video. Amidst the floating windows covering the room, Kizuna was walking around in irritation.

“But, the investigation is not progressing at all. If there is no more information of the actual place……Shikina-san, what happened with the unmanned aircraft’s investigation?”

Kei was sitting on a chair that was surrounded by consoles. As usual, no expression could be seen from her eyes behind her glasses. Only her fingertips were busily moving, typing text on the window.

{We are sending out several unmanned aircrafts. However, not a single one came back. We expected that most likely they were shot down above Tokyo. The details are unclear due to the electromagnetic interference from the Entrance. The aircrafts also couldn’t send back the data they gathered, so if the aircraft cannot return, we cannot obtain even a single information.}

“Even though we could scout with unmanned aircrafts at Guam and Okinawa……”

Kizuna groaned with a difficult face.

{It can be thought that at those times, there was the intention from the enemy side to offer the information.}

Like this they didn’t understand the number and formation of the enemy. Even if they attacked with all their might, they couldn’t discover what kind of trap might be waiting for them. There was a limit to leaving everything to chance.

Kizuna suddenly recalled what happened previously.

“Then, how about we rely on Yurishia to scout like at Okinawa?”

Reiri sighed, as if telling him to not ask something he understood already.

“Tokyo is not like Guam and Okinawa that is an isolated island. Even if we carelessly send a scout, by the time they arrive at Tokyo, there is the possibility they will be surrounded by the enemy with the escape route severed.”

{It’s possible if it is a Heart Hybrid Gear that excelled in sensor and measurement ability to possibly scout from long range and high altitude. However, unfortunately there is no one that specializes in scouting, whether in Amaterasu or Masters.}

Kizuna looked down and stared at the map of Tokyo spreading under his feet.

“……Then, what should we do?”

Reiri crossed her arms and answered naturally.

“We can only try to do it.”

Kizuna too didn’t have any answer other than that.

“So we also stop any forceful methods for breaking the deadlock of the current situation…..is it? Can we secretly infiltrated, like that time in Guam?”

“It’s best if we can infiltrate unnoticed by enemy and investigate. But, they are surely not that naïve. We are going with surprise attack tactic right from the start.”

Kei separated her eyes from the monitor and stared at Reiri. A change that was mostly unnoticeable appeared in Kei’s expression.

{Reiri, I understand that you are getting impatience about the matter of Professor Nayuta. But……}

Reiri glared at Kei as though to repulse her gaze. Kei looked down in a fluster and dropped her gaze fixedly on the keyboard.

Reiri took a large deep breath and brushed up her front hair.

“……But, don’t think that we can make Tokyo fall with one attack. We are thinking to divide the capture in several times. First we are going to launch a surprise attack with the objective of confirming the enemy’s battle strength. Gather as much information as possible. However, you are forbidden to go too deep.”

“Right, I’m not going to force myself……but…”

Kizuna knitted his eyebrows and spoke ambiguously.

“What is it? Is there something that bothered you?”

“No, it can’t be helped that we don’t understand the situation……”

Reiri opened her mouth instead of Kizuna after reading what was in his mind.

“You are bothered by the [interesting thing] that mother said right?”

Kizuna raised his face in surprise and nodded silently.

“Shedding light on that is also one of the missions this time.”

Kei tapped her keyboard to add something.

{There should be some kind of meaning in Professor Nayuta’s action. She telling us to come to Tokyo, there must be something there.}

“Yeah. But, even if we are thinking about it there should be no way we can understand what that something is huh……roger. However, how will you give instruction from Ataraxia? When we get near the Entrance, it becomes hard to communicate right? We can make do somehow with the communication of fellow Heart Hybrid Gear, but how will Ataraxia make contact with us?”

“Gertrude that is in the middle of recuperation will remain in Ataraxia to be in charge of communication. But even so, I think that most of the situation will need to be dealt with by making decisions on the spot. Ataraxia will also separate from Megafloat Japan and approach near Tokyo as much as possible. We are making preparations so we can send reinforcements anytime, but there is no satisfactory backup here. Keep that in mind.”

Ataraxia’s current position and the map of the Kanto region were reflected on the wall. Several lines were stretching from Ataraxia heading to Tokyo.

{The infiltration and retreat route are currently in the middle of designing. There will be no problem if it’s possible to hit once and then withdraw. However, for the sake of our peace of mind, we also want to assume of cases where the battle with the enemy intensified and also if due to some kind of trouble, withdrawal becomes difficult.}

Nervousness ran through Kizuna’s heart.

‘――No, certainly we have to think about the worst case scenario too. It will be ideal that it doesn’t come to that, but it’s out of the question to not have anything that can be done when we actually fall into a predicament.

Kizuna faced Kei and nodded with a meek face, he then urged her to continue.

{In that case, the usage of Corruption Armament adapting to the situation and efficient replenishment of Hybrid Count will become the key.}

“What does that mean specifically?”

{To inflict damage to the enemy, the most effective way is to use Corruption Armament that possesses vast destructive power. However, once it’s used, it cannot be used again for a while. It’s desirable to carry out Climax Hybrid in the needed timing looking at the situation.}

“You mean to tell me, to do Climax Hybrid in the middle of battle?”

{Correct. Besides in the situation that there are a large number of enemies or when the battle turns into a protracted one, there is the necessity to put into consideration the effect of the decreasing Hybrid Count. In the worst case, when someone falls into a condition where they are unable to fight, it will be indispensable to replenish their energy with Heart Hybrid at the spot.}

Kizuna cocked his head in puzzlement with a complicated face.

“However, even though we don’t know what kind of situation it will be, where are we going to do the Heart Hybrid? There is also no way we can bring the Love Room with us right?”

{Regarding that, we have been thinking of a way. No need to worry.}

The letters displayed on the window were strangely overflowing with confidence. Just what in the world were they thinking, on the contrary it only stirred up anxiety inside him.

“Whether it’s exterminating the enemy, or stopping with a little skirmish then withdrawing, what will be the deciding factor is as expected, the Corruption Armament. So that you can carry out Climax Hybrid with the members of Amaterasu without any problem, have a favorable relationship with them.”

“Yeah, I understand.”

――’However’, Kizuna murmured inside his heart.

There would be no problem with Yurishia and Himekawa, but Aine was as usual in a reluctant state. She felt it was scary to have her memory resurrected due to Climax Hybrid.

Kizuna also tried to talk about various things with her to give her reassurance, but it was quite hard.

“There is a bit of problem with Aine but……but we will have to rely on Zeros’s Corruption Armament [Pulverizer] later. I’ll try to persuade her somehow.”

“Yeah, I’ll leave that to you……also, there is one more work that I want Kizuna to do.”

“Nn? What is it?”

“That is……”

Reiri paused her word and showed a worried expression. However, she raised her face as though she had made up her mind and spoke resolutely.

“There is one Core remaining in Ataraxia’s possession. It was decided that this Core will be installed into the selected candidate.”

‘――Wha-!?’

“What did you say!? Just wait a second, Nee-chan. What you mean by that, is a student of Ataraxia will be chosen to be made to fight on the battlefield, isn’t that so?”

“Right. We have already picked up the excellent students to be chosen. Before the next Tokyo recapture operation, I want the pilot to be in a condition that can possibly participate in the mission.”

Kizuna swallowed his saliva.

A new Core would be installed. In other words he was told to choose a candidate to fight at the front line risking their life.

“Wait a second. The Core……what is its name?”

Letters were displayed in Kei’s window.

{Taros.} <ref>Could possibly be read as Talos.</ref>

Kizuna’s body stiffened. The inside of his chest quickly turned cold.

‘――Of all things, it’s a Ros-series.’

There were several types of Heart Hybrid Gear’s Core. The [Ros-series] of Kizuna and the others in Amaterasu. The high powered [Res-series] with Scarlet’s Ares as an example. And then the series named [Gra] [Ruba] [Nil] and so on that the other members of Masters were using.

Even among them, Ros-series’ combat ability stood out from the crowd. And then, being in possession of [Corruption Armament] which possessed irrational destructive power was the characteristic of Ros-series. However, in exchange for that high combat power, there was the need to supply it with one’s own life. When the remaining amount of life, so to speak the Hybrid Count became zero, the wearer would meet their death.

So that it wouldn’t come to that, Kizuna performed replenishment to the members of Amaterasu with Heart Hybrid. So that the Hybrid Count wouldn’t go under the red zone, he was paying meticulous attention to it.

But even so, it didn’t change the fact that this would make someone into a new sacrifice.

“……But, Nee-chan. Is it really fine?”

“What?”

“We, the current members of Amaterasu, were given the Core by Kaa-san. Even Nee-chan didn’t know that Heart Hybrid Gear is doing something like using life as energy. So to speak, Nee-chan is also a victim. But――”

“If I know that and still give out a Core, I too will join the rank of the perpetrator both in name and reality. I won’t escape the vilification as an inhuman person, is that what you want to say?”

Reiri’s tone flared up Kizuna.

“No one is saying that at all! Nee-chan was really that angry about Kaa-san, Nee-chan also said that you had never approved this for even once. You said that actually you don’t want to do this, I understand those words are not something that came out from superficial feeling! But, that……how do I say it, this is also hard for Nee-chan right……giving that order.”

Reiri’s mouth smiled broadly.

“You are saying something impertinent even though you are just a little brother huh. What, I don’t want to act hypocritical after this far. Even if I make someone install the Core, it doesn’t change my responsibility as the one that gave the order with full knowledge of the circumstances.”

“But……!”

Reiri raised her hand and stopped Kizuna who persistently opposed this.

“I also don’t want to use Taros’s Core proactively. However, it’s also the fact that it’s hard to close the gap of battle strength between us and them. A large damage came out from the battle with Gravel the other day. If by increasing our battle strength, the probability to return alive for all members can go up, I have to use that method no matter what.”

Reiri took into her hand the file that was put on the console.

“This is the list of the candidates.”

Kizuna reached out his hand to take the file presented to him. But, his hand stopped right before he took it.

‘Is this really fine? I’m forcing Ros-series onto other people with this. If I do this, I cannot criticize Kaa-san anymore. But…….’

Various conflicts were born inside Kizuna, they were circling around inside his head. Those conflicts were gradually accompanied by emotions of impatience and fear, robbing from Kizuna his ability to think. “What to do?” Only such words were ruminated inside his heart, Kizuna merely stood stock still while sweating coldly.

“Kizuna. This is something that I ordered. There is not something for you to worry about.”

That voice was very soft, carrying a kindness that wrapped around Kizuna.

With a ‘hah’ in realization, Kizuna raised his face and stared at Reiri’s face. There, gentle eyes that were sympathizing with Kizuna were looking at him.

‘――Nee-chan saw the damage of the battle with Gravel and reluctantly took this method. The damage of Ataraxia that received a surprise attack. Gertrude of Masters was seriously injured, and Brigit……she died in battle in the end. Even Yurishia and Scarlet, they almost lost their life.

Who was the one commanding them?

Me.

Whose responsibility is it that so much damage came out?

Isn’t that the fault of me who was the commander at the scene?

Everyone was fighting with all their strength bravely.

But I kept disappointing, making everyone meet danger, in the end I made Nee-chan pick a method that she didn’t want to use.’

Kizuna bit his lip and accepted the presented file.

When he flipped the front cover where nothing was written, there was the profile and photo of students lined up in a row. The files had several pages, but Kizuna’s eyes stopped at the name written on the top of the first page without moving.

“That list is lined up in order of their grades and aptitude’s excellence. The current top is――”

――Sylvia Silkcut.

The hand holding the file was trembling.

“Sylvia is the top of the candidates, to say nothing of how far she left behind the second and third places. Thinking normally, there is no ground for doubt. However, the captain is you. You choose who will be added into Amaterasu.”

‘Me?

I’ve to decide something that important no matter what?

Perhaps my decision might steal the life and lifestyle of that person here.

I’ll have to do Heart Hybrid in order to recover the decreasing life, irrelevant with the wish of the person themselves here.’

“Sylvia……”

Sylvia in the photo was making a serious face that normally he had never seen. He understood that she was a little nervous and tensed in the photo. When he looked at the picture, Kizuna recalled Sylvia’s smiling face that was without worry. Her voice that talked with idolization at him was resurrected in his ear. Sylvia came everyday to his room and was too helpful for him in various ways.

He was thinking that he wanted to protect Sylvia, he never thought for even once that he wanted to make her fight.

However, who would he make as a sacrifice in exchange of protecting Sylvia?

“……You don’t need to decide immediately. Take your time. Think so that you won’t regret it.”

Reiri spoke to him as though she had read his sentiments.

However, it didn’t change the thing that he must do.

The current Kizuna had the feeling, that the answer wouldn’t come out no matter how much time he spent.