Horizon:Volume 4C Chapter 95: Difference between revisions

From Baka-Tsuki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Browse history interactively
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
Shiyumi (talk | contribs)
79 edits
 
(2 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
==Those who Encounter each other in their Paths==
==Chapter 95: Passersby En-Route==
[[Image:Horizon4C 0961.jpg|thumb]]
[[Image:Horizon4C_0961.jpg|thumb]]
''The path　I'll take''
''Paths that must eventually be taken


''Neverthless, the path will come''
''Paths that will arrive regardless


''The path that overlap, harmonize and go away''
''Paths that overlap and cannot be avoided


'''Point Allocation (Above and below)'''
'''Point Allocation (Above and Below)




<center><span style="font-size: 300%;">●</span></center>


Masazumi gasped at the giant white and black bow standing before her.


Masazumi took a sharp breath at the colossal white and black bow before her.
At the center of everyone’s attention, Horizon looked up into the sky and bent her knee in thanks. She then picked up the giant bow and handled it as gently as she might a hairpin.


It was the center of everyone’s attention.
“Who should I test it on?”


Horizon, who was looking up at the sky with her knee bent, looked as if she was bowing.
“Why’s everyone looking at me!?” shouted Toori. “Did I do something wrong!?”


And then, she held the massive bow in her hand, lightly treating it with her fingers as if it were a hairpin.
Masazumi and everyone else nodded, so Horizon fired a shot. The idiot used his fingers to form a heart in front of his chest and leaned back to express the damage, but…


“Who’s she going to test fire it on?”
“H-huh? It didn’t hurt! Horizon! Does that mean you don’t feel any anger toward me!?”


“Why the heck are you looking at me! What did I do wrong!?”  
“That’s strange… Oh, the battery is dead. The indicator is blank.”


Un, nodded Masazumi at everyone together.
“Oh, sure enough,” confirmed Asama while watching several confirmation sign frames appearing and disappearing around Horizon. “The confirmation process is running fairly slow. I’m not sure if you would call that life-like or what… But isn’t this great, Horizon? Now hitting and criticizing Toori-kun will be all the more worthwhile.”


Horizon will fire one shot.
“Heh heh heh. Shrine maiden, do you have any idea what you’re saying? But…that makes 4. Just 1 more and we’re past the halfway mark. Isn’t that amazing!? The halfway mark! If we view the journey as the shape of a boob, then we’re on the bottom half now! Like right here on Asama! C’mon, Adele, don’t look away! Feel free to touch it! Stick your fingers in the cleavage and you’ll be blessed! Even if you’re flat yourself!”


However, the idiot killed the moment by forming a heart over his chest with both his hands.
Masazumi ignored the crazy person and looked up into the sky. She watched the Sviet Rus fleet which was still upside-down and already several kilometers away and she thought about the number of Logismoi Oplo.


“H-huh? It doesn’t hurt at all! D-don’t tell me Horizon! You’re not angry with me at all!?”
“So we’ve reached the midpoint of our own task.”


“That’s strange….Ah, the battery disconnected. The indicator’s pure white.”
Horizon was staring at Maska Orge and occasionally holding it up, which forced everyone to scream and run out of the way, so she was the same as always. But when counting Olos Phtonos, the Far East had now gathered 4 Logismoi Oplo.


Sure looks that way, nodded Asama.
…''So the world might really be coming to an end.


She confirmed that the numerous Signframes she sent out to scout Horizon’s surroundings have vanished.
That belated thought came to Masazumi. And…


“The rate of information processing has slowed somewhat. Unexpectedly, it appears to be living creatures…..still, it’s a good thing, Horizon. From now on, it’ll be worth hitting and condemning Toori-kun no?”
“That thing we saw below Novgorod…”


“Huhuhu, this miko, I wonder if she understands what she’s saying. Simply put, there’s just four here. Next, I’ll get one of them, and then I’ll repeat this again and again. Isn’t it great, again and again! Because of the reverse taper, it’s below the line of the breasts! This spot on Asama! Hey, Adele, don’t turn your eyes away and feel for it! Stick your finger into the gap and your prayers will be answered! You too flat chest!”
What was it?


Ignoring the lunatic, Masazumi gazed up at the sky.


Overhead, the fleet of Svet Rus had already travelled far ahead for kilometers in the opposite direction.


As she regarded them, she thought of the number of Deadly Sin Armament, four.
While holding off Kimi who was trying to shove double karate chops between her breasts from below, Asama used a sign frame to go over the events of the day.


“We need to approach the middle ship.”
Starting from the morning, there had been Futayo and Kimi’s training, the special student general assembly, the second meeting with Yasuhira, the three nations meeting, the sabotage by the Sanada Ten Braves, and the Battle of Novgorod.


As usual, Horizon sent everyone watching screaming and fleeing when she occasionally brandished Maska Orgi over her head.
“…Huh? How much were we cramming into one day?”


Nonetheless, including Oros Phtonos four Deadly Sin Armament have been gathered in the Far East.
'''Gold Mar:''' “After saving Ga-chan’s life and flying into a falling floating city, I feel like the main character in an adventure book.”


….which means that the end of the world may really be at hand.
'''Me:''' “Yeah, I feel like I got through it all pretty peacefully though… Oh, but I also think I ended up scoring all my points with guys and old men this time!”


Masazumi realized after such a long time.
'''10ZO:''' “Do old men not count as guys? Anyway, peaceful really is best. I seem to recall getting kicked by an ally while fighting Lord Shibata…”


And then,
'''Silver Wolf:''' “That was a strategy! A strategy!!”


“What’s that below the surface of Novgorod?”
'''Scarred:''' “Hee hee. Lady Mitotsudaira, I will heal you properly later, so could you prepare by removing all your clothing in one of the medical room’s beds? You too, Master Tenzou.”


What on earth could it be now?
'''Mal-Ga:''' “There goes my doujinshi sensor! Today turned out to be a great day after all!!”


'''83:''' “It was not a great day. Curry and flour should be made into roux, but it was all wasted.”


<center><span style="font-size: 300%;">●</span></center>
'''Sticky King:''' “Heh. But Noriki managed to make himself useful, so that’s good.”


'''Obscene:''' “That’s right! Next time it’s our turn to break through the enemy ship’s defenses!”


While restraining Kimi who had suddenly thrust both hands like a blade below her breasts, Asama took stock of today’s events on the display screen.
'''Worshiper:''' “Wait, is that something we take turns doing…?”


There was Futayo and Kimi training together since morning, the general meeting of the special student council, the second meeting with Yasuhira, the conference of the three states, the treachery of the Ten Heroes of Sanada and the Novgorod battle…
''We’re as chaotic as ever,'' thought Asama as Hanami gathered a few pieces of information.


“….Eh? How many events did we go through for today alone?”
The most important was what they had seen at Novgorod. As part of the Shinto forces, information on the Age of Dawn was of great importance, especially when it involved the previously inviolable Novgorod.


'''・金マル：''' [Margot]
She might get asked to write up a report, but she decided it would be best to make her father the investigator at Kantou IZUMO or Musashi IZUMO. As someone involved in the operation of the Musashi, she could not visit IZUMO or the main Shirasago Shrine so easily. On the other hand, that would mean she could not leave the Musashi for the time being, but…


『Which novel hero is Nai-chan, diving in to the falling floating city like that to save Ga-chan?』
…''What a pain…


'''・俺  ：''' [Toori]
She approved the documents Hanami produced. She wondered what had been erased from that relief of the people celebrating something. Also…


『Ah—It’s surprisingly calm so I’m not really worried….But I realize now that the men and old geezers like me more! 』
…''The Double Border Crest…


'''・十ZO：''' [Tensou]
Why had the Prince of Orange been taken away by that? And what did he mean when he said they tried to become friends with the Princess at an academy Lord Motonobu had made?


『Geezers and men? But peace is good enough. I got kicked by my own friends when I clashed with Lord Shibata…..』
Also, why had the crest appeared behind Masazumi and the others? Its disappearance might have been because it had been blocked by the defense spell she had prepared, but that was another unknown.


'''・銀 狼：''' [Nate]
“Hmm… Ah, hey! Stop groping me, Kimi.”


『That was strategy! Strategy!!』
“You can’t go get lost in thought all on your own again. …Discuss it with the rest of us.”


'''・傷有り：''' [Mary]
''She has a point,'' thought Asama just before defense barriers appeared across the Musashi.


『Huhu, Lady Mitotsudaira, you’ll have some proper medical treatment afterwards so please lie on the bed in the treatment room and remove your clothes in preparation alright? You too, Lord Tenzou.』
An emergency alarm sounded and “Musashi” made an announcement.


'''・●　画：''' [Malga]
“A fleet is appearing from secondary stealth above us! It is headed from west-northwest to south. It belongs to…”


『Production censor, rise—! Today’s the last of the last of the good days!!』
It belonged to…


'''・83 ：''' [Hassan]
“Hashiba! Over!!”


『That’s not good— the curry and wheat flour that was to be made into sauce have been treated poorly.』


'''・粘着王：''' [Nenji]


『Hu, at that rate, you might as well let Noriki actively join in.』
Futayo looked up to the night sky.


'''・いんび：''' [Itoken]
The lingering reverberation of cannon fire seemed to remain in the Musashi as Hashiba’s fleet seemed to look down at them while facing east. They were passing right overhead.


『Yeah! Next we’ll break the defenses of the enemy ships!』
The large ship supporting the front group was the Tottori Castle with its sand barrier.


'''・礼讃者：''' [Ohiroshiki]
They apparently had no intent of harming the Musashi.


『In my opinion, this is possibly a sequenced system.』
But the glasses boy seemed to know where they were headed.


Chaos as usual eh…., thought Asama as Hanami gathered the myriad reports together.
“They’re returning to P.A. Oda to resupply before beginning the invasion of Mouri in earnest. Since Date is waiting in Kantou to the north, they can’t send Kantou’s materials to Mouri using the Azuchi Castle. So they’ve chosen to rush over for supplies using the Tottori Castle which functions as an important base in the invasion of Mouri. …And this doubles as practice for their big return from Mouri.”


The longest one was, as expected, what they had seen in Novgorod.
“I see,” said Futayo just before the flying Weiss Hexen spoke with a grim note to her voice.


Information from the earliest eras was an important matter for Shinto’s power.
“Hashiba is there!”


The previously inviolable Novgorod was thus all the more vital.
Hashiba was looking down at them from the Tottori Castle’s port side deck. And…


While a record may be requested, her father had already taken on the role of researcher at Kantou IZUMO and Musashi IZUMO.
“Is that Fukushima Masanori and Katou Kiyomasa of the Ten Spears? Also…”


As someone involved with the operations of Musashi, it would be difficult for her to travel to IZUMO and the main shrine at Shirasago.
A few other people were visible behind those two. Two of them had multiple sets of wings and held Technohexen ''schale besen'' that looked like cannons. Meanwhile, back on the Musashi…


Then again, she also couldn’t leave Musashi now.
“Horizon-sama!?”


…..It was really troublesome…..
Futayo looked directly in front of her.


Asama thought as she acknowledged the data that Hanami brought it.
Horizon was raising Maska Orge. She aimed it at Hashiba overhead, raised her eyebrows, and gained a sharp look in her eyes.


Looking at the surface of Novgorod, just what is the mark left by the shavings from the relief that was blessed by the people?
''So this is the princess’s wrath,'' thought Futayo.


….Twin-boundary crest….


Just why was Oranje spirited away by that thing?


Also, when he said,
The transformation was instantaneous.


“We tried to be friends with the Princess in the academy that Lord Motonobu created,”
The face-like grip cover raised its jaw and the absent bowstring was supplied with ether light. But instead of a simple line, it was overheated ether that flickered like a flame.


What did he mean by that?
There were two reasons why Maska Orge was functioning now despite being out of fuel before.


And finally, what is the meaning of the thing that appeared on Masazumi’s back?
The first was Aspida Phylargia which had activated at the same time.


While she may probably be able to get rid of it with the defensive spells she prepared, but on that point…
The second was Toori’s ether supply lines which surrounded Horizon like a cape. And…


“U—n…..hey, don’t grope me Kimi.”
'''“Owner: Horizon Ariadust: Confirmed.”


“Don’t brood there by yourself. Share it with us please.”
'''“Individual Emotional Expression: Normal Drive – Overdrive: ––––––: Combat Proof Able: Resolving Self Evolution”


Good point, Asama thought.
'''“Individual Emotional Expression: Overdrive: Power: Fully Supplied Externally”


Suddenly, from various places on Musashi, defensive barriers sprang up.
'''“Horizon-sama: Please Release the Third Safety ‘Soul Activation’ ”


Emergency situation.
“Judge,” confirmed Horizon.


“Musashi” broadcasted that point.
And then she thought, ''What is wrath?


『Over, fleet has appeared from secondary stealth cloaking! Heading west-northwest to south. Registration is— 』
…''It is…


That was
She could remember something. It was a past situation much like this one.


『Hashiba!—Over!!』
At the Battle of Mikatagahara when they had been pursued from Northern Edo to Oushuu, they had faced Hashiba like this. At that time, they had been saved by a great many people.


“…!”


<center><span style="font-size: 300%;">●</span></center>
This was a hopeless feeling.


It was an emotion created by loss but different from the one directed at the things that were lost.


Futayo looked up at the night sky.
If this was wrath, then at whom was it directed?


Looking down on Musashi, which was still reverberating throughout with the echoes from the last of the bombardment, the Hashiba fleet headed east.
At Hashiba? Or at herself for being so worthless? Or…


That was a trajectory that would take them overhead this point.
“Horizon, use that wrath to change yourself, okay? Use it to change your somewhat imperfect self so you won’t ever lose again. And to show you’ve done that, fire. And, Horizon, you know who to fire at, don’t you?”


The capital ships supporting the vanguard groups erected their “[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tottori_Castle Tottori Castle]” with defensive barriers of sand.
His voice gave her a push forward.


There was no sense of harm from them.
“At those who say we admit we will lose everything if we use this in a predetermined, desperate, or hopeless situation. At those who have forgotten how to resist destiny.”


However, their destination was, according to the glasses person,
“…Judge!!”


“To advance the Mouri assault on a full scale, they’ll return once to P.A. Oda for resupply. As the Date have created a diversion from Kantou’s north, Kantou’s supplies cannot reach the Mouri in Azuchi Castle. That is why the assault forces dare to use the Tottori Castle at their positions while a large quantity of supplies are swiftly brought back— They have already trained for a large counter-response from the Mouri.”
''That cleared my thoughts,'' realized Horizon. She had held a question in her heart ever since the Battle of Mikatagahara.


I see, Futayo nodded.
“People are a combination of resistance and recovery, of sorrow and joy. But…”


Soaring in the sky, the Weiss Hexen called in a sharp voice,
She asked that question.


“The Hashiba are here….!”
“When is the right time for us to live and to die!?”


The port deck of the Tottori Castle.
At the very least, her current self desired a certain answer. It was something like the process of elimination. Those who had left had held something in their hearts:
From there, the Hashiba stood, looking down this way.


And with that,
“Resistance against destiny!!”


“Fukushima Masanori and Katou Kiyomasa of the Ten Spears. As for the rest—”
'''“ ‘Soul Activation’ Safety Release: Confirmed”


Numerous figures could be seen behind the silhouettes of the two main persons.  
A massive number of sign frames opened around Horizon as she pulled back the bowstring.


Two were overlapped with wings and bore the cannon-like Schalebesen.
The black sign frames were a mixture of crosses and torii. They were initially blank, but a small figure appeared for just a moment and then…


And opposing them atop Musashi,
'''“Logismoi Oplo Control OS: Phtonos-01s: Third Stage: Update: Confirmed”


“Lady Horizon!?”
'''“Welcome to the Genesis of Emotions.”


She was staring ahead of her.
…''What is this?


Horizon deployed Maska Orgi.
As if to answer her emotion, the white and black bow grew taut and the string erupted with flame-like light.


Futayo looked pointedly up with her eyebrows raised at the Hashiba drifting overhead.
“————!!”


This is the princess’s wrath then? She thought.
Horizon’s voice sounded loudly as she fired Maska Orge toward Hashiba.




<center><span style="font-size: 300%;">●</span></center>


The wrath was invisible.


The change occurred in an instant.
But it flew in a straight line up toward Hashiba who looked down from the deck.


She raised the face-like grip cover to her chin.
“…!”


The un-stretched bowstring began to glow with Ether energy.
It scored a direct hit. Or it looked like it did. However, there was a light.


That wasn’t just a simple line.  
Right in front of Hashiba and along the path between her and Horizon, light scattered on a large scale.


It was flame-like, superheated Ether.
Ether fragments spread out like an umbrella and hopped across the ship’s surface like sparks, but Hashiba stood perfectly still at the center of that light.


There were two main reasons why Maska Orgi could function even when it has insufficient fuel.
She was unharmed.


First, Aspisa Filargyria was deployed at the same time.
Horizon gasped and held Maska Orge tightly in her left hand.


The other reason is that Toori’s Ether supply line covered Horizon like a cape.
“I can’t believe it…Maska Orge was dragged down to the Muneshige Cannon’s level on the very first shot!”


And then,
“Master Muneshige! Master Muneshige!!”


'''『OWNER: HORIZON ARIADUST:—ACKNOWLEDGED』'''
'''KageV:''' “Marfa! Why are you falling to your knees!? Marfa!”


'''『SOLID STATE EMOTION DISPLAY: NORMAL DRIVE      OVERDRIVE:__________:COMBAT PROOF FORMATTED: SELF-PROGRESSING SOLUTION』'''
“Hey, Horizon. Why are you doing so much damage to our side?”


'''『SOLID STATE EMOTION DISPLAY: OVERDRIVE:OUTPUT:EXTERNAL COMPLETE』'''
“Just to be clear, the Muneshige Cannon blew through an enemy ship the other day. Yes, so it isn’t entirely useless.”


'''『LADY HORIZON: NO 3 SAFETY RELEASE “SOUL DRIVE”:KINDLY PLEASE』'''
Horizon gave Toori a thumb’s up.


Jud, Horizon nodded.
But Urquiaga interrupted while looking above them.


And then Horizon wondered.
“Hey, look at Hashiba. Do you see what that monkey girl is holding?” He sounded like he doubted his own eyes. “Isn’t that a Logismoi Oplo!?”


What is wrath?


…..That was—


There was something she remembered.
Beyond the wind and as they passed each other by, Hashiba finally relaxed.


A concept in the past similar to the situation now.
Wings grew vertically behind her like an iron fan and a single glowing feather grew from them. She also held something in her left arm:


At the Battle of Mikatagahara, they were pursued from the north of Edo all the way to the Oushuu side. In that state, they went toe to toe against the Hashiba.
“Aspida Phylargia!?”


During this time, plenty of people came to their aid.
Fukushima of the Ten Spears heard that question and lightly shook her raised hand to say “no”.


“…..!”
“Well, that’s casual. …But then what is that!?”


Helplessness.
As Asama asked that, Maska Orge’s light finished scattering.


The emotion behind the reason for the separate loss of her feelings.
And then the Tottori Castle accelerated. It whipped up the wind as if to say they would be giving no more answers.


If this is wrath then who should it be aimed at?
“—————”


The Hashiba?
And it left while Hashiba got up off the deck.


Or the spineless ones that made up her own side.
She wobbled a bit, so the others quickly rushed in to support her.


Or,
They apparently had their own issues to deal with.


“Horizon, you will use wrath to change yourself? Because imperfect as you are, you’ll never again be undefeated. And so to demonstrate this, release it, Horizon. We’ll use wrath--”
But that was all.


His voice came from behind her.
The Tottori Castle reentered stealth and the other ships followed.


“Whether it be convention or despair, we’ll make use of the situations in which are helpless. We’ll bear the fact that we have lost everything and we’ll say this— To those who have forgotten how to fight back against fate.”


“……Jud.!!”


It’s clear now, thought Horizon.
They were gone.


The doubt within her ever since the Battle of Mikatagahara.
Novgorod was no longer in the sky, the Sviet Rus and Mogami fleets had left into the northeastern sky, and Shibata’s fleet was moving toward the southern sky. The Musashi alone remained in the chilly sky.


That doubt was,
“Um.”


“People fight back and recover and go through sadness and joy. But….in whatever way we live, isn’t it true that we all still die…..!!”
Horizon opened her mouth on the academy bridge.


At the very least, she’d wanted an answer.
Everyone else was speechless, so she grabbed at Toori’s sleeve.


That was a process of elimination.
“About Hashiba-sama just now…”


Those who’d gone still remained in the heart however.
She asked a question.


“….Fight back against fate!!”
“Why?” she said. “Why did she have something so Logismoi Oplo-ish?”


'''『SAFETY RELEASE “SPIRIT DRIVE”: ACKNOWLEDGED』'''
“I’m not sure what to say about that ‘-ish’.”


At the area where Horizon drew the bowstring back, a huge Signframe appeared.
Asama and then everyone else tilted their heads, but then Masazumi spoke up.


The small figure of a cross and bird was displayed for an instant on the first blank of the jet black Signframe.
“Maybe there are Logis-more of them than we thought…”


After that,
Everything completely froze over.


'''『—DEADLY SIN ARMAMENT CONTROL OS: PHTONOS-01s: THIRD PHASE: UPDATING: ACKNOWLEDGED』'''


'''『WELCOME TO THE GENESIS OF EMOTIONS』'''


….This was—
In a white sky, Fukushima sighed while the winds from the surrounding stealth barrier washed over her.


As if complying with her feelings, the black and white bow stretched and light sprang from the bowstring like flames.
Out of the many coming battles, they were focusing on the history recreation of the invasion of Mouri, so their leader Hashiba had opted to temporarily return in the Tottori Castle.


“—!!”
The Azuchi Castle was still waiting in Edo, but it was stuck there due to the Date clan. On the other hand…


Crying in a high voice, Horizon fired Maska Orgi at the Hashiba.
…''This is a nearly humiliating waste of time and effort.


This would give Hexagone Française some extra time to prepare. And that may have been why…


<center><span style="font-size: 300%;">●</span></center>
'''Taki:''' “Yeah, sorry about that, Hashiba group. I’m thinking maybe I should have sent the Shirasagi in to push back Date. What do you think, Fuku?”


'''First Spear:''' “N-no, Takigawa. We have no right to criticize thy battlefield decisions.”


Wrath is invisible.
'''Taki:''' “Umm, then Hashiba? You there?”


However, in a straight line from obliquely downwards, right at Hashiba looking down from the decks,
Fukushima grabbed the ''lernen figur'' displaying Takigawa and pointed it toward Hashiba. But…


“…..!”
'''Taki:''' “Hashibaaaa?”


There was a direct hit.
As Takigawa called out to her, Hashiba crouched down by the deck railing and grabbed her hood as if holding her head in her hands.


It appeared that way.
“…”


But light was produced.
Seeing the silent and unmoving Hashiba, Takigawa asked Fukushima a question.


Dead in front of Hashiba.
'''Taki:''' “What’s she doing?”


On top of it being a maneuver that bound her and Horizon together, a colossal burst of light bloomed at the most recent position.
“Testament,” began Fukushima.


The vast, umbrella-shaped Ether fragment leapt from the surface of the ship like a spark.
'''First Spear:''' “She is feeling shy after everyone saw such an uncool side of her.”
 
However, in the center of the illumination by the scattering light, Hashiba stood immobile.
 
There wasn’t a scratch on her.
 
Horizon sucked in a breath.
 
She tightly grasped Maska Orgi in her left hand.
 
“Don’t tell me…..this Maska Orgi becomes the same as the Muneshige Cannon after one shot….!”
 
“Lord Muneshige! Lord Muneshige!!”
 
'''・かげV：''' [Kagekatsu]
 
『Marfa! Why are you on your knees! Marfa!』
 
“Oi, Horizon, why the hell are you hurting your own comrades!?”
 
“Erm, for now, I witnessed the action where the Muneshige Cannon pulverized enemy ships the other day. Ehh, that’s about it.”
 
Horizon looked up over Toori’s right thumb.
 
However, Ulquiaga, looking up overhead, called out
 
“Oi, Hashiba sighted. To the eyes of this humble priest, the thing that monkey is holding is….”
 
He said in a voice colored with disbelief,
 
“Isn’t that a Deadly Sin Armament!?”
 
 
<center><span style="font-size: 300%;">●</span></center>
 
 
The opposite direction of the wind.
 
In the center of the passing flow, Hashiba relaxed her stance.
 
On her back, one of the shiny feathers of the wing-like iron fan that reached out vertically, extended.
 
And then there was the thing she held in her left hand.
 
That was,
 
“Aspisa Philargyria!?”
 
Ahead of everyone’s questions, Fukushima of the Ten Spears became aware of this direction, and lightly waved her raised right hand side to side indicating “that’s not it.”
 
“Excuse me. But then, what was that!?”
 
Before Asama’s question, Maska Orgi’s light dispersed and was cut.
 
And with that, the Tottori Castle increased its speed.
 
No answer was forthcoming.
 
The wind swirled.
 
“______”
 
Go.
 
On the deck, Hashiba raised her body.
 
And then everybody in the vicinity seemed to scramble to support the unsteady girl.
 
It was very difficult.
 
But that was all it took.
 
The Tottori Castle entered stealth once more; the trailing ships pressing on.
 
 
<center><span style="font-size: 300%;">●</span></center>
 
 
Disappeared.
 
Already, Novgorod was no longer in the sky, the Svet Russian and Mogami fleets had already departed for northeastern skies and the Shibata fleet headed for the skies of the south.
 
Only Musashi remained alone in the cold sky.
 
“Errrm”
 
Horizon stood with her mouth agape on the bridge before the academy.
 
In between everyone who had become speechless, she grabbed Toori’s sleeve alone.
 
“What Lord Hashiba did…”
 
She asked.
 
“Why….”
 
Horizon murmured.
 
“Why did Lord Hashiba have a Deadly Armament Sin-like object?”
 
“Speaking of similarities,”
 
Asama began and everyone inclined their heads.
 
In the midst of that, Masazumi said,
 
“All the more because it’s a Deadly Sin Armament, that it’s a deadly sin of a fake.”
 
The entire place became still.
 
 
<center><span style="font-size: 300%;">●</span></center>
 
 
A white sky.
 
Basking in the wind wrapped in the wall of stealth, Fukushima let out a sigh.
 
In regard to the continuation of the battles that will come in the future, their leader Hashiba had at one point at the Tottori Castle, opted to return to the service of her former master to put the history recreation of the Mouri assault on priority.
 
Azuchi Castle made the snap decision to anchor at Edo due to restrictions by the Date clan to halt its movements.
 
However, this was…..a waste of time and labor, close to humiliation.
 
Hexagone Française was given a short time extension.
 
Maybe that was why,
 
'''・三立申：''' [Takigawa]
 
『Ah—apologies, everyone of the Hashiba family. It would be good if we mobilized White Heron Castle and retaliated against the Date restrictions no? How about it, Fuku-chan?』
 
'''・一体槍：''' [Fukushima]
 
『N…no, Takigawa-senpai. The present judgment is not something we can carry out well.』
 
'''・三立申：'''
 
『Errm…well then, Hashiba? Are you here?』
 
Fukushima regarded the Lernen Figur where Takigawa was displayed in her hand.
 
Hashiba was around. But,
 
'''・三立申:'''
 
『Hashiba—?』
 
Came Takigawa’s thoughtful voice.
 
Beneath the handrails on the deck, Hashiba with her hands grabbing the hood covering her head.
 
“…..”
 
Looking at the silently crouching and unmoving Hashiba, Takigawa asked Fukushima,
 
'''・三立申：'''
 
『What’s she doing?』
 
Tes., nodded Fukushima.
 
'''・一体槍：'''
 
『__She’s embarrassed because she looks terrible.』


<noinclude>
<noinclude>
{{HorizonNavbar
{{HorizonNavbar
     | [[Horizon:Volume 4C Chapter 94|Chapter 94]]
     | [[Horizon:Volume 4C Chapter 94|Chapter 94]]
     | [[Horizon:Volume 4C Epilogue|Epilogue]]
     | [[Horizon:Volume 4C Chapter 96|Last Chapter]]
}}
}}
</noinclude>
</noinclude>

Latest revision as of 19:12, 1 January 2017

Chapter 95: Passersby En-Route[edit]

Paths that must eventually be taken

Paths that will arrive regardless

Paths that overlap and cannot be avoided

Point Allocation (Above and Below)


Masazumi gasped at the giant white and black bow standing before her.

At the center of everyone’s attention, Horizon looked up into the sky and bent her knee in thanks. She then picked up the giant bow and handled it as gently as she might a hairpin.

“Who should I test it on?”

“Why’s everyone looking at me!?” shouted Toori. “Did I do something wrong!?”

Masazumi and everyone else nodded, so Horizon fired a shot. The idiot used his fingers to form a heart in front of his chest and leaned back to express the damage, but…

“H-huh? It didn’t hurt! Horizon! Does that mean you don’t feel any anger toward me!?”

“That’s strange… Oh, the battery is dead. The indicator is blank.”

“Oh, sure enough,” confirmed Asama while watching several confirmation sign frames appearing and disappearing around Horizon. “The confirmation process is running fairly slow. I’m not sure if you would call that life-like or what… But isn’t this great, Horizon? Now hitting and criticizing Toori-kun will be all the more worthwhile.”

“Heh heh heh. Shrine maiden, do you have any idea what you’re saying? But…that makes 4. Just 1 more and we’re past the halfway mark. Isn’t that amazing!? The halfway mark! If we view the journey as the shape of a boob, then we’re on the bottom half now! Like right here on Asama! C’mon, Adele, don’t look away! Feel free to touch it! Stick your fingers in the cleavage and you’ll be blessed! Even if you’re flat yourself!”

Masazumi ignored the crazy person and looked up into the sky. She watched the Sviet Rus fleet which was still upside-down and already several kilometers away and she thought about the number of Logismoi Oplo.

“So we’ve reached the midpoint of our own task.”

Horizon was staring at Maska Orge and occasionally holding it up, which forced everyone to scream and run out of the way, so she was the same as always. But when counting Olos Phtonos, the Far East had now gathered 4 Logismoi Oplo.

…So the world might really be coming to an end.

That belated thought came to Masazumi. And…

“That thing we saw below Novgorod…”

What was it?


While holding off Kimi who was trying to shove double karate chops between her breasts from below, Asama used a sign frame to go over the events of the day.

Starting from the morning, there had been Futayo and Kimi’s training, the special student general assembly, the second meeting with Yasuhira, the three nations meeting, the sabotage by the Sanada Ten Braves, and the Battle of Novgorod.

“…Huh? How much were we cramming into one day?”

Gold Mar: “After saving Ga-chan’s life and flying into a falling floating city, I feel like the main character in an adventure book.”

Me: “Yeah, I feel like I got through it all pretty peacefully though… Oh, but I also think I ended up scoring all my points with guys and old men this time!”

10ZO: “Do old men not count as guys? Anyway, peaceful really is best. I seem to recall getting kicked by an ally while fighting Lord Shibata…”

Silver Wolf: “That was a strategy! A strategy!!”

Scarred: “Hee hee. Lady Mitotsudaira, I will heal you properly later, so could you prepare by removing all your clothing in one of the medical room’s beds? You too, Master Tenzou.”

Mal-Ga: “There goes my doujinshi sensor! Today turned out to be a great day after all!!”

83: “It was not a great day. Curry and flour should be made into roux, but it was all wasted.”

Sticky King: “Heh. But Noriki managed to make himself useful, so that’s good.”

Obscene: “That’s right! Next time it’s our turn to break through the enemy ship’s defenses!”

Worshiper: “Wait, is that something we take turns doing…?”

We’re as chaotic as ever, thought Asama as Hanami gathered a few pieces of information.

The most important was what they had seen at Novgorod. As part of the Shinto forces, information on the Age of Dawn was of great importance, especially when it involved the previously inviolable Novgorod.

She might get asked to write up a report, but she decided it would be best to make her father the investigator at Kantou IZUMO or Musashi IZUMO. As someone involved in the operation of the Musashi, she could not visit IZUMO or the main Shirasago Shrine so easily. On the other hand, that would mean she could not leave the Musashi for the time being, but…

…What a pain…

She approved the documents Hanami produced. She wondered what had been erased from that relief of the people celebrating something. Also…

…The Double Border Crest…

Why had the Prince of Orange been taken away by that? And what did he mean when he said they tried to become friends with the Princess at an academy Lord Motonobu had made?

Also, why had the crest appeared behind Masazumi and the others? Its disappearance might have been because it had been blocked by the defense spell she had prepared, but that was another unknown.

“Hmm… Ah, hey! Stop groping me, Kimi.”

“You can’t go get lost in thought all on your own again. …Discuss it with the rest of us.”

She has a point, thought Asama just before defense barriers appeared across the Musashi.

An emergency alarm sounded and “Musashi” made an announcement.

“A fleet is appearing from secondary stealth above us! It is headed from west-northwest to south. It belongs to…”

It belonged to…

“Hashiba! Over!!”


Futayo looked up to the night sky.

The lingering reverberation of cannon fire seemed to remain in the Musashi as Hashiba’s fleet seemed to look down at them while facing east. They were passing right overhead.

The large ship supporting the front group was the Tottori Castle with its sand barrier.

They apparently had no intent of harming the Musashi.

But the glasses boy seemed to know where they were headed.

“They’re returning to P.A. Oda to resupply before beginning the invasion of Mouri in earnest. Since Date is waiting in Kantou to the north, they can’t send Kantou’s materials to Mouri using the Azuchi Castle. So they’ve chosen to rush over for supplies using the Tottori Castle which functions as an important base in the invasion of Mouri. …And this doubles as practice for their big return from Mouri.”

“I see,” said Futayo just before the flying Weiss Hexen spoke with a grim note to her voice.

“Hashiba is there!”

Hashiba was looking down at them from the Tottori Castle’s port side deck. And…

“Is that Fukushima Masanori and Katou Kiyomasa of the Ten Spears? Also…”

A few other people were visible behind those two. Two of them had multiple sets of wings and held Technohexen schale besen that looked like cannons. Meanwhile, back on the Musashi…

“Horizon-sama!?”

Futayo looked directly in front of her.

Horizon was raising Maska Orge. She aimed it at Hashiba overhead, raised her eyebrows, and gained a sharp look in her eyes.

So this is the princess’s wrath, thought Futayo.


The transformation was instantaneous.

The face-like grip cover raised its jaw and the absent bowstring was supplied with ether light. But instead of a simple line, it was overheated ether that flickered like a flame.

There were two reasons why Maska Orge was functioning now despite being out of fuel before.

The first was Aspida Phylargia which had activated at the same time.

The second was Toori’s ether supply lines which surrounded Horizon like a cape. And…

“Owner: Horizon Ariadust: Confirmed.”

“Individual Emotional Expression: Normal Drive – Overdrive: ––––––: Combat Proof Able: Resolving Self Evolution”

“Individual Emotional Expression: Overdrive: Power: Fully Supplied Externally”

“Horizon-sama: Please Release the Third Safety ‘Soul Activation’ ”

“Judge,” confirmed Horizon.

And then she thought, What is wrath?

…It is…

She could remember something. It was a past situation much like this one.

At the Battle of Mikatagahara when they had been pursued from Northern Edo to Oushuu, they had faced Hashiba like this. At that time, they had been saved by a great many people.

“…!”

This was a hopeless feeling.

It was an emotion created by loss but different from the one directed at the things that were lost.

If this was wrath, then at whom was it directed?

At Hashiba? Or at herself for being so worthless? Or…

“Horizon, use that wrath to change yourself, okay? Use it to change your somewhat imperfect self so you won’t ever lose again. And to show you’ve done that, fire. And, Horizon, you know who to fire at, don’t you?”

His voice gave her a push forward.

“At those who say we admit we will lose everything if we use this in a predetermined, desperate, or hopeless situation. At those who have forgotten how to resist destiny.”

“…Judge!!”

That cleared my thoughts, realized Horizon. She had held a question in her heart ever since the Battle of Mikatagahara.

“People are a combination of resistance and recovery, of sorrow and joy. But…”

She asked that question.

“When is the right time for us to live and to die!?”

At the very least, her current self desired a certain answer. It was something like the process of elimination. Those who had left had held something in their hearts:

“Resistance against destiny!!”

“ ‘Soul Activation’ Safety Release: Confirmed”

A massive number of sign frames opened around Horizon as she pulled back the bowstring.

The black sign frames were a mixture of crosses and torii. They were initially blank, but a small figure appeared for just a moment and then…

“Logismoi Oplo Control OS: Phtonos-01s: Third Stage: Update: Confirmed”

“Welcome to the Genesis of Emotions.”

…What is this?

As if to answer her emotion, the white and black bow grew taut and the string erupted with flame-like light.

“————!!”

Horizon’s voice sounded loudly as she fired Maska Orge toward Hashiba.


The wrath was invisible.

But it flew in a straight line up toward Hashiba who looked down from the deck.

“…!”

It scored a direct hit. Or it looked like it did. However, there was a light.

Right in front of Hashiba and along the path between her and Horizon, light scattered on a large scale.

Ether fragments spread out like an umbrella and hopped across the ship’s surface like sparks, but Hashiba stood perfectly still at the center of that light.

She was unharmed.

Horizon gasped and held Maska Orge tightly in her left hand.

“I can’t believe it…Maska Orge was dragged down to the Muneshige Cannon’s level on the very first shot!”

“Master Muneshige! Master Muneshige!!”

KageV: “Marfa! Why are you falling to your knees!? Marfa!”

“Hey, Horizon. Why are you doing so much damage to our side?”

“Just to be clear, the Muneshige Cannon blew through an enemy ship the other day. Yes, so it isn’t entirely useless.”

Horizon gave Toori a thumb’s up.

But Urquiaga interrupted while looking above them.

“Hey, look at Hashiba. Do you see what that monkey girl is holding?” He sounded like he doubted his own eyes. “Isn’t that a Logismoi Oplo!?”


Beyond the wind and as they passed each other by, Hashiba finally relaxed.

Wings grew vertically behind her like an iron fan and a single glowing feather grew from them. She also held something in her left arm:

“Aspida Phylargia!?”

Fukushima of the Ten Spears heard that question and lightly shook her raised hand to say “no”.

“Well, that’s casual. …But then what is that!?”

As Asama asked that, Maska Orge’s light finished scattering.

And then the Tottori Castle accelerated. It whipped up the wind as if to say they would be giving no more answers.

“—————”

And it left while Hashiba got up off the deck.

She wobbled a bit, so the others quickly rushed in to support her.

They apparently had their own issues to deal with.

But that was all.

The Tottori Castle reentered stealth and the other ships followed.


They were gone.

Novgorod was no longer in the sky, the Sviet Rus and Mogami fleets had left into the northeastern sky, and Shibata’s fleet was moving toward the southern sky. The Musashi alone remained in the chilly sky.

“Um.”

Horizon opened her mouth on the academy bridge.

Everyone else was speechless, so she grabbed at Toori’s sleeve.

“About Hashiba-sama just now…”

She asked a question.

“Why?” she said. “Why did she have something so Logismoi Oplo-ish?”

“I’m not sure what to say about that ‘-ish’.”

Asama and then everyone else tilted their heads, but then Masazumi spoke up.

“Maybe there are Logis-more of them than we thought…”

Everything completely froze over.


In a white sky, Fukushima sighed while the winds from the surrounding stealth barrier washed over her.

Out of the many coming battles, they were focusing on the history recreation of the invasion of Mouri, so their leader Hashiba had opted to temporarily return in the Tottori Castle.

The Azuchi Castle was still waiting in Edo, but it was stuck there due to the Date clan. On the other hand…

…This is a nearly humiliating waste of time and effort.

This would give Hexagone Française some extra time to prepare. And that may have been why…

Taki: “Yeah, sorry about that, Hashiba group. I’m thinking maybe I should have sent the Shirasagi in to push back Date. What do you think, Fuku?”

First Spear: “N-no, Takigawa. We have no right to criticize thy battlefield decisions.”

Taki: “Umm, then Hashiba? You there?”

Fukushima grabbed the lernen figur displaying Takigawa and pointed it toward Hashiba. But…

Taki: “Hashibaaaa?”

As Takigawa called out to her, Hashiba crouched down by the deck railing and grabbed her hood as if holding her head in her hands.

“…”

Seeing the silent and unmoving Hashiba, Takigawa asked Fukushima a question.

Taki: “What’s she doing?”

“Testament,” began Fukushima.

First Spear: “She is feeling shy after everyone saw such an uncool side of her.”




Retrieved from "https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Horizon:Volume_4C_Chapter_95&oldid=509417"