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Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume1 Chapter1

2009-04-12T08:21:10Z

201.150.69.102: /* Chapter 1: School begins */

===Chapter 1: School begins===

Since separating from you, I’ve been on the bus for a month and have finally arrived at Zuellni. I made it to the opening ceremony for the term. During my travel to here, I changed five buses. Living in only one city back then, I never realized travelling could be so taxing. It’s really tiring and difficult to reach another city, since all cities move according to their consciousness. I never understood why the alchemists back in the old gave the cities self-consciousness. But that was so to enable them to avoid the filth monsters and save us. I now can think deeper on this issue.

During the time of travel, I once saw a group of filth monsters at a close distance. Their cruel and dangerous appearance is really appalling. The thought of being attacked on a bus with nowhere to escape to was enough to raise all my hairs.

But don’t worry, our bus didn’t get attacked. I think our driver was quite a professional. He made the bus stop for three days to avoid discovery. At that time, I felt pain in my heart. It was terrifying to be attacked by the filth monsters. Compared to that though, it could be worse for the bus to sustain heavy damages and be marooned on this dry and scarlet earth. We had no way of surviving. Even so, in the end, I arrived safely at Zuellni.

I’m writing this letter in the dormitory at Zuellni. It’s a twin room, and luckily, no one else’s living here beside me. I’ve never lived in a room all to myself. Really happy about this.

How’re you doing over there? Getting used to the new life yet?

I just realize that I still don’t know your address. I’ll send the letter to your school. Hope it can arrive safely at your hand. It’d be great if you could include your new address in the return letter. Though I’ve lived at the orphanage, the head wouldn’t have wanted to receive my letter.

Well –

I wish for eternal peace for your new life and the city you’re standing on.
To dear Leerin Marfes.

Layfon Alseif

<center>◇</center>

The self-moving cities (Regios) spread across the world in their own forms, ranging from the simple, standard form that provides everything for human survival, to forms that strengthen particular areas.

One of that forms is the Academy City.

Zuellni – The Academy City Zuellni.

The school buildings in the centre of the city provided facilities for all study areas.
Large groups of students were heading for the great hall that was large enough to accommodate all students inside.

Dressed casually, the General Studies students walked as they chatted with friends.

Reluctant smiles surfaced on agricultural and mechanical engineering students who weren’t used to the uniforms that they hadn’t worn for a long while.

The alchemy and medical students wore dirty white coats on top of their uniforms.

The military arts students, who differed from others, stepped towards the hall with heads lifted high.

Students with different characteristics were each swallowed into the interior of the hall.

The purpose of this autonomous city was to exist for and be used by students. Today, it held an opening ceremony to receive new first year students.

But it looked like the ceremony would be delayed.

One hour later.

[[image:CSR vol01 021.jpg|thumb]]
Layfon stood with a confused expression on his face.

“Anyway, just say down and we’ll talk?”

“Ye…… Yes!”

Having given a tense answer, he still couldn’t sit on the sofa as instructed.

The student before him sat at a large business desk. He was different from Layfon in his adult-like aura. Silvery white hair decorated the elegant face filled with a gentle expression, but his calm and judging silver eyes were fixed on Layfon.

That piercing gaze of his caused Layfon to dart his gaze around in panic. Through his shoes, he could the softness of the carpet beneath him. The sofa and table used for reception lay before him. A bookshelf lined one of the walls, filled with informative scrolls.

Before Layfon entered this room, he saw the name of the room carved with “Student president” on it.

“I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Karian Loss, a sixth year student.”

It was six years of studies in Zuellni, so Loss was in the highest grade.

And he was also the Student President.

The person in charge of this school.

“I’m Layfon Alseif.”

With a straight back, Layfon clearly delivered his name. He felt cold sweat beading his forehead.

Karian smiled.

Only the two of them were in the room.

“I wasn’t planning to punish you.”

The voice tinged with a bitter smile helped Layfon to calm down. He’d been tense all the while, as he had no idea why he had been summoned to this room.

“First let me convey my gratitude. Because of your help, none of the new students are injured.”

The opening ceremony was cancelled because of a commotion.

Two Military Arts students, being from enemy cities, had met by chance before the ceremony, resulting in the commotion. They started from staring to quarreling and eventually to fighting.

Military Arts – different special powers were born so to protect humanity from harm on this polluted earth.

The Military Arts is the area that fostered such special power users.

If people fought each other seriously using such powers, worse comes to worst, even normal students would have suffered injuries or death. In Karian’s eyes was genuine gratitude.

“The new rule that only allows new students to be armed after half a year is because some of them don’t understand where they now are…… this is unbearable. It takes me a huge amount of work to settle things every year.”

But, it was still people who used weapons. Sometimes a single fight might turn into group fights to even draw blood.

To the Student President who had been smiling bitterly but talking with a straightforward and frank manner, Layfon could only respond confusedly.

“Speaking of which, a General Studies student who managed to outdo Military Arts students. You must have some skills in the Arts area, haven’t you?”

“It’s just a hobby.”

“Um……”

Silence from the Student President made Layfon swallow.

“If yours is just the level of a hobbyist, then we ought to increase the admission standard into the Military Arts major.”

''The news about the fight between Military Arts students at the opening ceremony had spread to new students in other courses. New students arriving at Zuellni constituted a diverse background. Besides the students getting involved in the fight, there were foreigners whom nobody liked. The dangerous atmosphere spread out from the Military Arts centre was influencing students from other courses.

The rioting atmosphere also affected the General Studies area. Students closer to the fight scene bumped and crashed into each other while escaping, igniting the adolescent anger sleeping in male students.

Just when everything was about to get out of hand, a huge noise echoed throughout the hall.

Immediate silence followed, and all eyes turned to the source of that noise.

Where the two students who started the commotion lay immobile on the floor with Layfon standing among them.''

“That was just luck. They were blinded by anger and didn’t even notice me.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Karian happily nodded at Layfon’s excuse. He was smiling with his face, but not his eyes. Again, Layfon felt the Student President had seen through him.

Honestly, this wasn’t a comfortable feeling.

While bearing the pressure that he felt would force him into some dangerous place, Layfon attempted to end this conversation.

“Since I haven’t done anything wrong, then I’m returning to class.”

“You can’t!”

Karian prevented Layfon from turning his back to him.

The short denial halted Layfon’s footsteps.

“As I said, I’ve no intention of punishing you, Layfon Wolfstein Alseif.”

The title in between name and surname caused Layfon to raise his eyebrows.

“…… What does that mean?”

“I don’t care if you continue to play the fool. Here’s a suggestion. Layfon Alseif, how about changing from General Studies to the Military Arts?”

“What?”

“Luckily, there’re now two empty slots in Military Arts thanks to those two troublemakers. We’ve a rule here preventing students from bringing the issues of their home cities into the academy. Those who signed the contract and broke it in the opening ceremony don’t have the right to be fighters. The blame of the riot belongs to them, so I’ve already banished them in the form of their voluntary withdrawal from the course.”

“No, please wait.”

The two students were not important to Layfon.

“I don’t plan to change major.”

He clearly conveyed his opinion. To switch to the Military Arts…… don’t kid him.

“I came here to study General Studies.”

“Military Arts is a study area too. No, no matter what course you’re in, General Studies is compulsory till third year. Even if you pick General Studies, you still have to specializee in something after three years, so you aren’t learning different things by switching.”

“The problem doesn’t lie there.”

“So what is the problem?”

Faced with that question, he found his breath being caught in his throat.

“…… I’ve no interest in Military Arts.”

“I see,” Karian gave an exaggerated nod. It was clearly an act. The expression in his eyes hardly changed, just a twisted curve of happiness.

“Besides I’m on a scholarship. I’ve applied to study and work. I got to work in my spare time. I won’t have enough energy left for Military Arts.”

“I see. That’s some good argument.”

Karian was only agreeing with his mouth. He didn’t look persuaded at all.

He took out a document from a drawer.

“Um, Layfon Alseif, D rank scholarship, and part time work and study. Work is to clean the mechanical department…… I see, this is a taxing and time-consuming job. Do you know that the cleaning takes place while the city rests from night time to past midnight? A lot of working students hate cleaning there. It’s hard work and the hours are terrible. Do you get it? The pay isn’t too bad, but the work is toilsome. Every year, numerous students apply to work somewhere else, or leave the academy for not passing the assessment. And the scholarship you have is rank D. Have you ever considered that you’ll be spending all of your pay on school fees?”

“Yes, just as you said.”

“Frankly, won’t it be hard to pass six years like that?”

“I’m confident in my physical strength.”

Karian’s smile changed. Karian was full of smiles in Layfon’s eyes, and something that felt like a favourable feeling towards Layfon came through.

“Aa, perhaps you’re right. You should have confidence in your physical strength. That’s exactly why I wish you can change to Military Arts.”

“What for?”

“Do you know of the Military Arts competition between Academy cities?”

“…… Nope.”

Karian spoke without any disappointment in Layfon’s lack of knowledge, “To put this simply, the competition takes place once every two years.”

Layfon could guess what Karian was getting at.

“This is a habit of cities. I’ve no idea what the alchemists were thinking, but cities fight for territories every two years. What’s more interesting is that they’d only compete with the same form of cities…… I could only say that the cities were made too well.”

Although the cities were fighting for territories, it was actually the people living in the cities who carried out the fights.

“Sure, it’s called the Military Arts competition, but in reality, the competition is same as…… the war that takes place between standard formed cities.”

War. Layfon’s expression turned grim.

“Of course, our goal is to conduct a student-like all-encompassing fight. The Alliance of Academy Cities supervises every fight. Non-lethal weapons are used. Swords are sheathed. Anesthetic bullets are used. But since it’s a war, there’s no much difference between what the winner obtains and what the loser loses. It’s not as tragic as a real war, but the ending is the same.”

“Is this the city’s…… life?”

“Yes,” Karian nodded.

Cities have awareness. They’re alive. They needed food to keep on surviving. Even though they were machines, they needed energy to maintain their functions.

The source of a city’s life…… was their food, a type of metal called selenium.

“Selenium is a metal born after the earth became polluted, and so it’s easier to obtain. To put it simply, you can probably find it by digging at the earth over there. But that’s a dangerous action with filth monsters around. Besides, we can only obtain pure selenium from mines with a certain level of energy.”

So, the winner took possession of the mine and the loser lost it. At the same time of increasing the prosperity of their own piece of land, people were reducing the lifespan of another piece of land.

“When I first entered the Academy, Zuellni had three mines. Now it’s down to one,” Karian signed.

Meaning Zuellni had lost in the last two competitions and its Military Arts level was much lower than the neighbouring cities.

“It’s doubtful on how much pure selenium we can mind from that remaining mine. I plan to send some alchemists over to investigate the next time our city nears it.”

“In other words, if we lose the next time, there’s no backup plan?”

“Exactly. The cities determine the topic of the upcoming competition. We can’t not participate.”

If we lose…… just the thought made Layfon shiver.

Even if a city loses all of its mines, its functions won’t stop because of the selenium stored for emergency.

But that could only delay for some time.

The city would die. Humans would have lost less space to live. Once a city died, it was returned back to the earth. People couldn’t salvage it.

To have a city die of starvation was the same as its people dying of famine.

Thinking of that, a sudden shiver shook Layfon’s cold body. The city he had just arrived in would die. He didn’t have much of a link with this Academy, but the possibility of the city dying was terrifying.

When a person was young, if he found out that the city he lived in could die, he’d have been scared enough to tremble all over. That experience would be the same for everyone.

Hearing that the fear he felt in his childhood could become reality, Layfon felt he really was like his childhood self, trembling all over.

But, even so……

“I……”

To fight…… I can’t do that.
Yes, let’s say that.

With determination, he lifted his gaze, preparing to refuse the Student President watching him from the desk.

But, the words wouldn’t come.

The Student President watched Layfon.

The smiles on Loss’ face had disappeared. The emotionless expression appeared to be too calm. This contrasted with the icy gaze of his pinning Layfon.

To the breathless Layfon, Karian spoke, “I’m graduating this year. As long as this remains an academic city, no one can stay here after graduating. This means once I graduate, I’m not linked to this place anymore. But I really like the academy. Don’t you think it’s sad to lose your favourite thing even though you can never set foot on this piece of earth?”

“It’s natural to want to protect what is precious. For one who goes mad with love. Don’t you feel that it’s their fate to reach that their goal with whatever means possible?”

A light smile appeared on the countenance of the Student President. Just that. It was his way of joking in a solemn situation.

“Your scholarship will become rank A. All your fees will be waived. You only need to earn for your living. If you aren’t keen on fashion, you won’t need to spend much, so you don’t have to force yourself to clean at the mechanical department. Is that all right?”

Rationality told him not to nod.
But his instinct howled for him to nod.

And then, Layfon left the room with swaying steps, holding a Military Arts uniform that had somehow been placed into his hands.

<center>◇</center>

A few minutes after weakly closing his door, there came impatient knocking on his door.

“Come in.”

It was a girl in Military Arts uniform. A girl with short, golden hair. A girl with determination and resolution.

“Sorry for intruding.”

A pair of sharp eyes rested beneath neat and thick eyebrows. Those eyes watched the Student President with challenge. The sound of the harness clasped around her waist accompanied her every step. What was inside the harness was not a sword, but two rod-like things. The threads on the harness indicated she was a third year student.

The girl stood straight before the desk and her gaze met the Student President’s.

“I’m third year in Military Arts, Nina Antalk. I heard you’re looking for me?”

“Yes, I’m looking for you.”

Karian smiled.

“What is it about?”

“Have you found enough members?”

The sudden question caused Nina to furrow, but she checked her attitude and replied, “Not yet.”

“Yeah, I think so too. You haven’t yet sent me the report on your team members from the day you took the application form. The opening ceremony’s ended. If you don’t hurry up and produce your team member list, you won’t be able to participate in the next City competition? In that case, you’ll become the lowest level soldier in the next round of platoon competition.”

“Excuse me, Student President. Hasn’t the opening ceremony been delayed?”

“It’s been cancelled thanks for other schedules. It’s a shame. I won’t call everyone to the hall again. Because of this year’s Military Arts competition, there’re lots of things to do.”

Nina’s face fell. She kept silent.

“I think it’s enough to observe the new students at the opening ceremony. What do you think?”

“No one is suitable. Everyone was affected too much by the atmosphere. You can’t tell what’d happen in a battle. I want someone who can observe calmly without getting caught in the confusion.”

Nina had been watching the entire commotion today. Every new Military Arts student was affected by the two who started the whole thing. Violent expressions on their faces said they wanted to join in and make the mess even bigger.

To get caught up by the enemies like that was the same as digging their own graves.

“Is there really no one suitable?”

Nina didn’t reply immediately. Her confused gaze moved up and down.

“No……”

In her hesitation floated up the image of the new student. The one who suppressed the two troublemakers without anyone knowing. He suppressed the centre of the commotion to prevent the violent emotions from spreading, and at the same time, he exaggerated his act to threaten people who were caught up in the commotion. She found his response very certain.

But……

“He’s in General Studies.”

That new student wore the uniform of General Studies. This way, he couldn’t participate in the competition.

But the Student President smiled happily.

“Yes, that was right till now.”

“…… what does that mean?”

“He’s just switched to Military Arts.”

A disapproving expression appeared on Nina’s face.

“I can’t waste such good material.”

“So you ignored his wish?”

“I didn’t ignore it. I showed him the highest level of sincerity. He should be quite satisfied with it.”

“Really?”

Nina understood how hard the Student President’s attitude could be. Last time during the Student President race, Karian wasn’t nominated, yet at the time when he gloriously became a candidate, he had fought a rare intelligence fight with his opponents, causing them to all lose out.

“It doesn’t matter what the truth is. What do you think now that he’s in Military Arts? That’s the only answer I want to know.”

“What is it to be? At this rate, you won’t have enough members. Do you plan to experience the shame like you did last time, but now as a lower grade soldier?”

Nina cramped her teeth together.

“I’ve no such intention.”

“Then what should you do? I think the answer is clear.”

Karian slid a document on the desk to Nina. It was a resume with the name “Layfon Alseif” written on it. The document was clearly in the structure of a resume, along with a close-up photo of Layfon.

“Please excuse me.”

Having taken a glimpse of the document, Nina turned her back to Karian and left the room. He smiled at the back of the girl who didn’t give him a reply.

Alone once more, Karian took out a new document and laid it beside Layfon’s resume. It was also a resume, but with the name Nina Antalk on it.

“If things go well, this will become the strongest team. The problem is how to operate it……” he murmured. He didn’t look cheerful at all.

<center>◇</center>

On the way back to his classroom, Layfon changed into the new uniform in a health clinic he found. The Student President threatened him that if he continued to walk about not in uniform, he’d be considered as committing a fraud.

Holding the uniform of General Studies, he entered the classroom to collect his bag. From a uniform he hadn’t gotten used to yet to another unfamiliar uniform…… He wasn’t yet familiar with this uniform, but it gave him an intriguing feeling.

Also, the new uniform fitted him perfectly.

“Damn, this must have been planned!”

Walking in the corridor, Layfon couldn’t help but curse out loud. His height and weight were standard for a male of his age, but his right arm was slightly longer than his left. His General Studies uniform had been fixed to cater for that difference, but how could the Military Arts uniform given no him at the spur of the moment be fixed to such a perfect fit?

Meaning – the truth can’t be changed.

“Why…… How did they find out?”

Anxiety filled him. He came here to major in General Studies, to seek a world that had nothing to do with Military Arts, but on the first day of his arrival, he had once again stepped into that world he wanted to leave behind.

“Ah Ah! Why didn’t I refuse him? I’m such a coward…… a coward!” Layfon shouted.

Only the opening ceremony was on today, so nobody was in the corridor. Without considering, he shouted again, “How should I have put it? That Student President’s too scary! What kind of gaze was that? It really terrifies me. How could I have resisted that type of a person?”

Having let it all out, Layfon arrived at his classroom. Ah, meaning his classroom would be different now. But the Student President didn’t mention that at all? What should he do? Layfon opened the door.

The door opened and the scene inside the room entered Layfon’s sight.

“Ah!”

That sound came through.

There were still students in the classroom.

“Look, look. He really is in Military Arts. Yeah~~ It’s my win. I’m lucky --!”

One of the girls jumped up in excitement. Chestnut coloured hair, tied into two tails on each side of her head shook with her movement.

Only three girls were in the room.

Their curious gazes were glued closely to Layfon without reserve. Layfon halted his steps.

“Why! Wasn’t he wearing a General Studies uniform? That was deceptive,” said a red-haired girl. She wore the same uniform as Layfon’s. And like Layfon, the empty harness swayed around her waist.

“I don’t have a General Studies uniform. Hey, just what was that about?” she questioned him as if she was bringing him to account.

“Uh, something happened……”

“So? Do you mean I don’t get that uniform coz I’m not cute? Is that it?”

Even if you ask me that, I can’t do anything about it. As for the girl, she was more handsome than cute. Compared to the General Studies uniform designed for cuteness, Layfon thought the sharp edges of the Military Arts uniform suited her better.

But the girl was dissatisfied.

“Wait a moment, Gelni, calm down. You’re causing trouble for Mi-chan?” the girl with two tails concluded. The red-haired girl paused as if she had thought of something, then she moved aside for the other girl.

“That’s right. Hurry up, Mei-Shen.”

With one hand on the back of the third girl, the red-haired girl moved her to stand in front of Layfon.

[[image:CSR vol01 043.jpg|thumb]]
The third girl had long hair streaming past her shoulders. She looked shy and gentle. Her face facing the ground, she seemed afraid. Her eyebrows curved as if she was about to cry. Her face was faintly red.

“Uh, thank…… thank you very much.” Just saying that seemed to take all of her energy. The black-haired girl hid behind the red-haired girl, her face reddened.

“Sorry, she’s always been this shy.”

“Even so, she still wants to thank you for saving her at the opening ceremony, right?” said the girl with two tails.

The black-haired girl buried her face into the back of the red-haired girl.

Layfon had no recollection of that ever happening. He only recalled pushing away those people about to get caught in the fight. He might have saved her during that time.

The red-haired girl sighed. “This child…… yes, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Gelni Naruki in the Military Arts.”

“I’m Mifi Rotten. The one playing hide-and-seek is Mei-Shen Trinden. We’re both in General Studies. Us three came from the Traffic city Joeldem. Do you know of it?”

“Yes, it’s the centre where roaming buses gather. I’ve been there on the way to here. I’m Layfon Alseif, from the Lance Shelled city, Grendan.”

“Oh, that was where Military Arts was born. No wonder you’re so strong.”

“No, that’s not it……” Layfon replied vaguely. Just when he thought of how to explain it……

“Ah, don’t just stand there and talk? I’m hungry. Let’s find something good to eat.”

“Again. Do you have to make a map of this area too?”

“Of course! Maps for food, fashion, territory…… so long as it can be drawn, I’ll do it. Since I’ll be here for six years, I don’t want to lose out by not having a map. Ah! It’s my hobby to gather intelligence. If you want to know something, just ask me. Even if I don’t know, I’ll investigate it and find out.”

“Yeah, I’m hungry…… besides, I’ve something to ask you, like the thing you’re holding.”

With a pair of sharp eyes, Naruki looked at the General Studies uniform that Layfon was holding.

He didn’t even get a chance to speak. They decided it for him then.

“Uh, well…… look. This is troubling for Mei-Shen. And you said she’s shy.”

“…… I’m ok with it,” Mei-Shen said from behind Naruki’s back.

“Ok. That’s decided.”

And that was decided.

<center>◇</center>

The location was then changed to a coffee shop close by. The coffee shop was made of red bricks and designed not to stand out too much. Since it was already past lunch time, the shop was nearly empty. The four of them somehow managed to catch up to lunch time special. While eating, Layfon explained why he was transferred to the Military Arts – he didn’t mention that he was forced to transfer.

They were eating dessert.

Only Layfon wasn’t eating, but drinking juice.

“Oh, I was worried that Academy City only has healthy food for students. It’s great that my worry was unfounded,” Mifi said with satisfaction, her mouth filled with cake.

“This really is worth drawing a map for.”

“And I was wondering what a city operated by students is like. Who’d have thought it’s quite organized,” Naruki said with admiration.

In reality, many shops lined the roads heading from the dormitories to the school, but because it was an Academy City, most of the shops were closed during class hours. Once classes finished, the shops were full of people. These shops were managed by senior General Studies students who studied Commerce or Management. Other students came here to work as employees.

The food was made by seniors in Gastronomy.

“There’re Police Department and the Court here too. Yes, I’ll try applying to the Police.”

“Gelni’s dream is to be a policewoman.”

“Yes.”

“As for me, the newspaper. Since it’s related to publishing, I’ll try to find somewhere that publishes news. What about Mei-chan?”

“……. Somewhere that makes dessert.”

“Then you’ll have to find somewhere with delicious food. Uh, but to eat while you walk…… watch out you don’t get fat.”

“Is it right that your temperature is high?”

“Um, what does that mean? Gelni’s all sweaty from exercising. You smell~~”

“He, that’s the smell of youth.”

“Wa, I don’t get you.”

The conversation expanded, and Layfon watched it all with a distant feeling. Those three were from the same city. From their conversation, it seemed they already knew each other before coming here. Shut outside the intimate conversation, Layfon sipped his juice.

Mifi suddenly directed a question at him. “That’s right. Where’ll you be working, Layton?”

“…… Layton?”

Startled at the unexpected name change, Layfon opened his lips with juice still inside his mouth. He almost spilled it all.

“Yeah, Layton. That’s easier to say, isn’t it?” Mifi said cheerfully.

“Gelni, Mei-chan, Layton, and I’m Mi-chan. Is that ok?”

“You didn’t give the names a good thought. Coming back to this, my nickname’s the same.”

“It’s boring to think up a nickname for myself. Besides, if I say “Just call me Mimi~”, doesn’t that sound revolting?”

“Revolting. At least I wouldn’t want to be friend with that person.”

“Exactly. Then that’s ok. So Layton is called Layton now!”

“That can’t be helped. Then we’re counting on you from now on, Layton.”

“Yeah, Layton, Layton~”

“…… Layton.”

Even Mei-Shen was calling him by that name. For some reason, Layfon felt like he had come from a really far away place. Where was this place? Just in which dimension was he lost in?

Till now, none of his female friends had ever called him like that. Even his closest friend Leerin would only call him by his first name. For his nickname, she just called him “Lay.”

Layton…… Layfon was dumbfounded.

“So, where will you be working at, Layton?”

He could only answer the question, though he knew it wasn’t possible to resolve the name issue.

At this moment, no words came to him.

Speaking of which, somebody just said Layfon’s scholarship had been upgraded, so it didn’t matter if he didn’t go and work.

“Don’t tell me it’s all right if you don’t work?”

“No, I’ve to work,” Layfon shook his head. “I’ll be working at the mechanical department.”

All three girls burst out with “wa” and frowned.

“Why such a hard working job?”

“I heard you need lots of strength for Military Arts. This kind of lifestyle will damage your body. Are you sure about this?”

“…… won’t that be very tiring?”

All three girls expressed their worries. Layfon could only smile bitterly.

Even he knew it’d be hard work. But it was dangerous to rely fully on the Student President. If something happened and he had to oppose the Student President, his scholarship might be cancelled. It’d be the worst case scenario to be left without money, unable to continue his studies.

“Yeah, but that can’t be helped. I’m an orphan. I don’t have anything else besides the scholarship.”

He thought the way he put it was natural and inconspicuous.

But the word “orphan” caused the three girls to widen their eyes. Embarrassed, their uneasy gazes then darted around.

“Ah~~ I see. Sorry. Do your best.”

“Yeah, if it’s anything I can do, I’ll help out.”

“…… me too.”

“It’s ok. Don’t think about it……”

Their attitude made him feel troubled.

“I don’t find that particularly hard. I feel troubled to be pitied.”

Even so, Mifi and Mei-Shen exchanged a glance, their faces full of anxiety. From his previous experiences, Layfon knew it wasn’t possible to make them understand it right away, so he wasn’t bothered by their reaction.

“Ok, I get it. I won’t worry about it,” Naruki nodded immediately. Her quick response was a surprise to him.

“Uh? What? Didn’t you say not to think too much about it?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

It was clear that Naruki wasn’t just talking about it. She meant it. Layfon nodded hesitantly, then he couldn’t hold it back anymore and laughed.

“What?”

“Nothing. It’s just that you act like a big sister.”

“What did you say?”

Naruki frowned, but Mifi agreed.

“Ah, I understand. I understand. Genli’s got that feel about her. She’s cool.”

“…… and she’s popular with lots of girls.”

“Yep, she always receives lots of presents and love letters.”

“Well, I’m troubled by that. I’ve never known what to do with it.”

Although she said so seriously, Layfon laughed again.

(The atmosphere feels good.) Layfon thought as he laughed. Although what he experienced at the opening ceremony was a setback for him, from his conversation with the girls, it felt as if he was now back on track.

“Uh…… excuse me.”

A voice broke through the laughter.

As their eyes found the owner of the voice, everyone couldn’t help but held their breath.

[[image:CSR vol01 053.jpg|thumb]]
Standing beside the table was a girl. The silvery hair hanging down to her waist shone as if to reflect the light of the coffee shop. She had snowy white skin and a heart shape-like lower jaw. A peek just inside her collar was a delicately small neck and a kind of a dangerous charm. Long eyebrows trembled above slightly lowered gaze of those silver eyes.

A girl who was as beautiful and delicate as a doll.

No one noticed she was wearing the uniform of Military Arts.

The first to finally notice was Naruki.

“Aren’t you a grade older than us? Do you want something?” Naruki said.

Layfon realized the colour of the threads on her harness was different from his own. From the harness hung a long thin rod like thing.

“Are you Layfon Alseif?”

Silvery eyes caught Layfon’s image.

“Yes.”

“I’ve something to tell you. Could you come with me?”

“….. ok.”

Layfon stood up naturally, compelled by that voice to obey.

The girl turned her back to leave the coffee shop. Layfon would have followed behind just like that, but he returned to the seat. He took his bag and from his wallet, left some change on the table for his juice.

“Sorry, I gotta go.”

“Sure. Then go,” Naruki said on behalf of her two still silent companions.

“Yeah. But, just what……”

Wordlessly, Layfon rushed after the silvery girl. The bell tied to the coffee shop door swung out crisp notes as he passed. Thinking back on how confused Layfon appeared to be, Naruki smiled bitterly.

“Wh…… What just happened?” Mifi muttered.

“Of course he’s been targeted after that elegant performance at the opening ceremony.”

Mifi didn’t understand what Naruki’s just said. She looked at her friend with questions on her face.

“Isn’t there a different badge on that senpai’s chest pocket?”

“Yeah, really?” Mifi frowned.

“…… it’s a silvery round thing?”

“Yes.”

Mei-Shen did see it.

“…… there’s the number 17 on it.”

“A badge that only people belonging to a platoon would have.”

“A platoon…… what is that?”

“To put it simply, they’re the candidates to the officials in the Military Arts course. It carries the additional meaning of a fighter with high level of skill.”

“Um…… yeah?”

Naruki explained. “They’re the core teams in the Military Arts competition. Underneath the General headquarter are the platoons….. They’re called commanding teams. Beneath them are the larger teams, and those take charge of people who don’t belong to any teams, meaning, normal Military Arts students like me……”

“Wow, if that’s the case, then it’s like climbing all the way up to the top,” Mifi said, clapping her hands.

“But it’s not that easy in there.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t I mention it? That badge holds the meaning of a high level fighter. Students belonging to a platoon must excel in certain area, from commanding ability to the control of psychokinesis. Mostly, they specialize in certain weapon. Besides the individual skills that are judged, the strength of how well an entire team does is also assessed. Whether a person can work in a team is also evaluated. As such, there’s competition going on between teams for the ranking list. In other words, it’s a fight in between students at the academy. During those fights, if a team doesn’t perform well, the worst situation is it’d be disbanded. Official candidates turning back to normal students. Fighters normally have strong self-esteem. If one returns to being a normal student, other people would say he’s fallen from the clouds to the bottom of a valley…… no one can take that kind of a setback. His life in the Academy would become too painful to bear.”

Naruki glanced at the door that Layfon had just left through. No new customers had entered. The bell remained solemn.

“…… Layton said he’s going to clean at the mechanical department,” Mei-Shen said.

“Ah, this will be tiring for him!” Mifi said. “Will he be all right?”

“Yeah, it should be quite smooth for him?” Naruki could only give such an answer. She washed down the last piece of cake with red tea.

<center>◇</center>

What Naruki said to the other two at the coffee shop also came to Layfon’s ears, but from the terrifying girl with golden hair.

The beautiful, silver-haired girl took Layfon deep inside the first year dormitories, to was a certain building with an old and worn out feel about it.

Layfon was taken to one of the rooms and was greeted by a terrifying girl with golden hair.

“I’m Nina Antalk, the captain of the seventeenth platoon,” the girl said firmly.

The room Layfon was in had been split into two by a huge wall, so the space was only twice as large as a normal classroom. On the wall were hung many different types of weapons.

Including Layfon, there were five people in the room.

The first person was the girl Nina Antalk, standing right before Layfon. Next was the girl who took Layfon here. The beautiful silver-haired girl had moved immediately to a corner after having entered the room.

The rest were two male students. The taller boy lay lazily in a corner. The other wore a dark green working suit that was stained with engine oil and some other type of machine related liquid.

Nina gave the confused Layfon an explanation about the platoon.

Layfon half listened, with his mind somewhere else.

“Do you understand?”

“Ah, yes.”

Turning his gaze back to Nina, Layfon gave her a quick answer without really meaning anything he had just said.

“Then why was I called here?”

Layfon understood everyone here was an official candidate.

But, that was all he knew.

Nina didn’t explain why Layfon was here.

Half of Nine’s eyebrow trembled as if it had the cramps.

“Nothing. I understand from your explanation that everyone here is an elite. But, if that’s the case…… because of that, I don’t get why I, as a first year student, was called here,” Layfon said, trying to mediate the atmosphere. Nina closed her open mouth, her shoulders moved as if she was breathing deeply, then she opened her mouth again to speak.

But before that—

“He Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!”

The tall male student burst out laughing from his position.

“Sharnid senpai!” Nina said loudly, her shoulders trembling in anger.

“Ga Ha Ha! Ha Ho Ho Ho…… AhAh, my stomach hurts! Nina, it’s your fault. All because you beat around the bush and gave the new student there an opportunity to pretend he was a fool.”

“Um!”

Nina clamped hard on her teeth.

“Heh!” Sharnid jumped up, watching Layfon in a flippant manner.

“I’m Sharnid Elipton in fourth year. I’m a snapper.”

“Ah, nice to meet you.”

“Well, let me explain clearly in place of our captain. Layfon Alseif, we asked you to come because we need the right number.”

“Huh?”

“Hey, hey, hey. Stop pretending. Everybody saw your performance at the opening ceremony. The excuse of your being a new student and not having enough skill won’t work. You’ve already proven your skill. We thought you’re good, so we want you in our team.”

Sharnid gave Nina a meaningful glance.

Nina cleared her throat and stood before Layfon again.

“Layfon Alseif. I order you to become a member of team seventeen. No refusal will be accepted. The Student President has already given permission and formally proposed for your application. Either way, for those who are in the Military Arts, they’re not allowed such feeble action as refusing to enter a platoon.”

What a resolute speech. Nina’s unyielding attitude meant Layfon had no way to run.

“We’ll now conduct a test to see which position you’re best suited for in the platoon.”

Nina took out the two singlesticks from her weapon harness. She pointed at Layfon with the singlestick held tightly in her right hand.

“Choose whatever weapon you like!”

Perturbed by the seriousness in Nina’s eyes, Layfon turned to examine the weapons on the wall.

The price of free school fees….. what an A grade scholarship.

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</noinclude>

Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume1 Prologue

2009-04-12T08:19:18Z

201.150.69.102: /* Prologue */

===Prologue===

Everyone held their breath, sealing that flood of terror in their throats.

“………….”

Nina was the same.

Sitting in the last row on the roaming bus, she looked out the window, peering past the short fat business man who sat in front of her and was hugging his head with trembling arms.

On the side of the dirt-smeared window was a vast wilderness.

Cracks crept across the dry earth. The sharp edges of soil rose to point upward.

A huge dark shape loomed at the front end of her vision.

A mountain as tall as a tower.

But everyone on the bus knew it wasn’t a mountain.

“This is…… Peligi,” the man sitting in the middle row of the bus murmured. He observed the dark shape through a pair of binoculars. From Nina’s side, she saw big droplets of sweat on his face, his large Adam’s apple bobbing with the movement of swallowing saliva.

Nina squinted at the dark shape.

That wasn’t a mountain. That was a city.

What had looked like the mountain peak was in fact the peak of a tower. On the top of that tower was a tattered flag, fluttering in the wind. Nina couldn’t make out the crest on that flag, which should be the name of the city. She couldn’t be sure whether the city’s name was what the man had uttered.

A strong wind gusted against the side of the bus, rocking it.
“Hey!”

Startled and surprised, passengers bent down on their seats and hugged their heads.

Every passenger curled up breathlessly, as if not wanting to be found at this place.

Nina didn’t hug her head, but she held her breath and again stared at the city, trying to sense any response coming from above.

This city was already dead.

The multi-legs of the bus bent on their knees, immobile.

The buildings in the city were the same. Traces of terrible wounds were carved into most of the buildings near the boundary of the city.

She could see that a part of the city’s edge had been carved away, creating a mountain of debris.

Smoke columns were rising from everywhere.

Perhaps, it wasn’t long that this city had been attacked.

Looking from this side of the bus, it wasn’t possible to confirm for any survivors.

But whether anyone was alive or not…… she couldn’t get over there to confirm it.

Outside the city, the existence of the bus was weak and insignificant.

Besides which, Nina understood it wasn’t possible anyone in the safe was safe.

Having lost the air shield surrounding the city, humans couldn’t even breathe in air.

Next to her, Harley said in an anxious voice. “Nina……”

“Don’t worry. We haven’t been found out.”

Nina realized her voice came out shaky. She couldn’t help but want to lick her lips, but she swallowed the sound of that movement, gazing resolutely at the attackers hovering in the sky above the city.

Cold sweat broke out on her skin even though her mouth was dry.

“This is the world we live in, Harley.”

She said so to the Harley who was full of resentment, but she didn’t get a respond from her childhood friend.

The casual flying pose of the cruel attacks gave off a royal aura.

The attackers……. were called the King of nature, the filth monsters. They flew lower, flying slowly between buildings.

“Now!” someone roared shrilly.

The driver started the engine.

The multi-legs rose, and up raised the body of the bus.

Nina’s line of sight became higher, and then the bus moved as if it was skipping.

It was better to leave this city. The bus continued to run.

Nina gazed at the retreating city.

After the bus had put some distance between it and the city, Harley sighed, “It’s ok now.”

In the easing atmosphere, Nina held tight her fists and said, “…… we’re so weak.”

<center>◇</center>

At the edge of the city, the sound of huge feet stomping the ground shook the ears.

The footsteps of the city drowned out all other sounds, even the furious roar of the wind.

“Are you still not giving up?”

So the voice must be loud too.

The girl spoke loudly to the boy at the station of the roaming bus in the city. Strong wind hooked up her golden hair. From clear and blue pupils, her gaze rested directly on the boy. Her face, appearing younger than her real age, was full of disapproval and unease. She gazed at the boy standing at the bus stop.

Looking troubled, the boy kept looking back and forth between the girl and the bus waiting to depart. A chain chained up the long multi-legs of the bus that were folded and bent. The body of the bus swayed along with the movement of the city, bumping against a cushion pad. Since it was no joke when the city moved, the driver and all the passengers could only wait in the small waiting area. This kind of bus was made to bear the up and down shaking, but it couldn’t stop from swaying left and right.

“Layfon!”

The only passenger not yet in the waiting area – Layfon, took his gaze from the bus.

He had tea coloured hair and blue eyes. A certain expression associated with growth of adolescence was on his face, coupled now with a powerless smile.

“Even so, I can’t stay here anymore, Leerin.”

Layfon didn’t raise his voice, so Leerin stepped closer. Even with her expressive eyes right in front of him, Layfon couldn’t feel the attractive air of the opposite sex from his childhood friend.

“But! You didn’t have to pick a school so far away!”

“Even here……” Again, the sound of the city’s movement drowned him out. A strong gust of wind blew past them. Layfon reached out a hand to steady Leerin on her shoulder.

“That can’t be helped. The only place that I obtained the scholarship for is Zuellni. And the money at the orphanage can’t be spent on me, right?”

“You must have forced yourself to choose so far away a place? There’re closer places you could have gone to. If you try the exam for scholarship next year, you might find a better school that is also closer, right? Then you can stay here with me……”

No matter what words came next, nothing could change Layfon’s determination. To emphasise that point, he shook his head slowly.

“I can’t give up leaving.”

Leerin held her breath. He couldn’t bear looking at the hurt in her clear eyes, so he moved his gaze to his hand on her shoulder. It was a hand like that of an old man’s, hard and rough.

“I’ve decided, and I won’t change it. Nobody would have wanted it, and not even myself. Her Majesty wants me to experience the outside world. Besides, she doesn’t wish for my presence here.”

“I wish for it!”

This time, Leerin's powerful and persuasive words caused Layfon to hold his breath.

“The light is my wish. Is that not enough?”

To Layfon, Leerin's crying gaze and words were too cunning. He tried to find some words to pass this over, but couldn’t find any. He felt pain, pressuring him to convey his feelings.

Layfon’s lips trembled, and so did Leerin’s.

They were each trying to find words to say.

In the end, they realized that the words to pay lip service didn’t exist. No matter who wanted Layfon to stay, nothing could change the reality of his leaving. Layfon himself didn’t intend to stay, so no one could change the ending.

It was impossible to not hurt Leerin and make her agree with him.

A whistle sounded shrilling behind him.

As if to tear them apart, the simple sound of the whistle squeezed between the sound of the city’s footsteps and that of the furious howl of the wind to echo in the bus station.

It was the sound warning that the bus was about to depart.

The driver, having blown on the whistle, entered the bus. He stared the engine. A vibration different from the city’s radiated out in the vicinity of the battered body of the bus. The passengers waiting in the waiting area took their luggage and headed for the vehicle.

Layfon’s lips stopped trembling. He took away his hand from Leerin to take up the luggage beside his feet.

That was all he had with him now. His other belongings would be given away to the kids at the orphanage or tossed away.

“I’ve to go,” Layfon said to the red-eyed Leerin. As if feeling this was a truth she couldn’t change, Leerin’s trembling also stopped.

She gazed at him with reddened eyes.

“Since the decision’s been made, I want to start anew. I can’t return to the orphanage and to the side of Her Majesty. This is the consequence of my action. I’ll make up for it no matter how much I have to pay. But nobody wants that, they just want me to disappear. But even so, things can’ be resolved with me going away……”

He couldn’t continue his words. He didn’t want to just say some nonsense, yet, even if he were to tell the truth, it’d only sound like an excuse. He hated himself acting like that.

“Even I haven’t really made my resolution.”

He added weakly, “Though I really want to start over in many areas……”

“Enough!” Leerin cut him off coldly. Layfon held tight to his luggage, not daring to look at her.

The driver blew his whistle again. The time for department was close.

“I’m going now.”

Dejected, he turned his back to Leerin.

“Wait!”

The small voice stopped him.

What happened next was one single, brief moment.

Leerin grabbed hold of Layfon’s shoulder and forced him to turn around, her face so very close to his.

It was only a moment as they overlapped.

The rough but soft pressure dominated Layfon.

In that swift moment while he was numb and spaced out, Leerin jumped away. Her smile was stiff, but that meaningful expression of having played a prank was familiar to him.

“You must send letters though. I don’t think that everyone wants you gone,” she said, and ran away. Looking at her figure flying past in a flurry of skirts, Layfon realized why he felt so strange.

(Ah, I see…… coz she’s wearing a skirt……)

Lively Leerin didn’t like to wear skirt, but she wore one today.

And there was also the sweet and soft feeling of that swift moment left on his lips. As if to feel the warmth left on them, he touched his lips with his finger.

(so naïve)

While mocking himself, he quickly moved to the bus.

I’ll write when I get there.

Yes. He’s decided.

The bus started. Wishing to take one last look of the scene, Layfon sat in the last row, gazing at the city he had always lived in till now.

<center>◇</center>

Regio could be seen from every corner of the world. The existence of these cities was natural as breathing air. Numerous buildings were built on the tabletop-like surface, spreading out and lowering in height from the centre that was the tallest structure of all. Located beneath the table were legs. Huge metallic legs lined up close beneath the table. Walking with precision, those legs moved together as if to take the city far away from the bus.

Layfon gazed at the tallest tower-like building in the centre of the city.

The huge flag sitting at on the peak of that building bore the pressure of the wind. On the flap was a dragon with the body of a lion. It seemed to be breaking a sword with its teeth, but the sword was unyielding.

The flag with that crest weaved on its surface danced a wild dance with the wind.

Layfon stared at that huge flag.

Wondering what he’d write to Lilin about in the first line of the letter.

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