Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en]

Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai: Volume 4 Sisters

2012-10-30T21:30:31Z

216.239.45.4:

==Sisters==

It was the day after our final exams had ended.

It was a weekday, but that didn't stop me from sleeping in until noon, and after eating lunch I spent my afternoon reading manga and playing video games in my room.

The way Chronica Academy works, is that after final exams we get the last five days of September off to recuperate.

I'm guessing the teachers are pretty busy grading tests, because they didn't give out homework like they did for summer vacation.

In other words, this was a true break from school.

I've spent the past few days completely focused on my tests, so I doubt anyone can complain if I take a day or two to just laze around and relax.

I sent a text out to everyone in the Neighbors Club letting them know I'd be staying home today.

By the way, Chronica Academy's middle school division and high school division have tests on the same days, so Kobato was with me here at home too.

I got so lost in my lazing around that it was almost dinner time before I knew it.

I felt a little bad that I spent the day doing basically nothing, even though I'd already told myself it wasn't a big deal.

I figured if I was this lazy all day, I might as well at least put some effort into dinner. So, I went out to the grocery store to buy some things to make dinner with, and was now standing in the kitchen.

I managed to find some chicken meat on sale today, so I guess we'll have that.

"Kukuku... I smell the aroma of some truly delectable blood in here..."

A short while after I'd started cooking, Kobato came into the kitchen with a string of drool hanging down her mouth, most likely lured in by the smell of the chicken being fried.

"I'm almost done with it, today's is gonna be good."

"Kukuku... I await an offering befitting one of my status..."

Kobato did that ridiculous chuckle again.

And, right after she did,

Ring ring ri~ng Ring ring ri~ng.

The intercom started ringing.

I wonder who it is.

"Hey, Kobato, go get the door for me. If it's someone asking us to subscribe to some newspaper just tell them we don't need it, ok?"

I had to ask Kobato since I can't just leave this chicken sitting here.

"Kukuku... It is no trouble at all to handle something of that level with great magic such as my own, kukuku..."

"Yeah, I dunno if you'll need magic or whatever, but just send them away."

"Ok."

In the time it took Kobato to head over to our side of the intercom, it rang three more times in rapid succession.

People really like to be annoying with doorbells, don't they...

As I thought that to myself and continued cooking, I heard Kobato yell,

"No thank you!"

Really loudly into the receiver.

So it was just a salesman?

However, he must not have wanted to give up, because a second later,

"No thank you!"

I heard Kobato yell the same thing again.

It's best if you can cut these guys off right away, but this guy must be persistent...

"No thank you!...... No thank you!...... No thank you no thank you!" 

"Are you deaf!? I said we don't want you here! Now go away!"

What the heck is she doing...

I went to look over at Kobato to see what was going on, and when I did,

"You moronnnnn!"

Kobato yelled into the receiver again all of a sudden, hung up in a hurry, and ran over to the front door.

"Hey, ehh!? H-hey! Kobato!?"

Going out there in person is just what he wants you to do!

I had no choice but to quickly turn off the stove, and chase after Kobato.

"Ah! Onii-chan!!"

When I arrived at the front door, Maria, who Kobato was trying to hold back, slipped past her, took off her shoes, and jumped at me.

"Maria!?"

"Ahaha, Onii-chan! Onii-chan's here! Ahaha!"

W-why is Maria!?

"Uuu, An-chan... I told her 'no thank you'! She came in even though I told her 'no thank you'! What kind of idiot comes in after you say you don't want them here..."

Kobato looked like she was about to cry.

Looks like Maria was the one Kobato was yelling at over the phone.

"...Hey, Maria, why are you at our house?"

I asked, still confused by the whole situation, to which Maria energetically replied,

"I ran away from all my material possessions!"

Material possessions? Does that mean she just joined the priesthood?

Or maybe she meant she's changing religions to Buddhism now...?

"Be more specific, what do you mean?"

"I mean I ran away from home!"

"Just say so in the first place then... Wait, you ran away from home!?"

"Yeah!"

Maria nodded with a big smile on her face.

"Why would you run away from home..."

"Because the old hag never shuts up about work!"

"The old hag... Oh, Kate-sensei?"

"Yeah! I told her Onii-chan wouldn't be a jerk and make me work all the time, and she told me 'Go and live with your precious Onii-chan then!'"

"...And you actually did."

"Yeah!"

What an honest answer.

Maria stared at me with sparkling eyes full of so much faith in me that she didn't think I'd ever turn her down.

But I can't go and let her just live here...

As I was deciding what to do, the phone started ringing.

"......Uhh, wait here a second."

I went back into the living room, leaving Maria and Kobato where they were.

I then picked up the receiver.

"Yo, it's me man. You know, me."

I thought about hanging up immediately, but stopped because I recognized that voice.

It was just the person I needed to talk to.

"If you don't mind, could you please stop with the stupid jokes, Kate-sensei?"

"Oh, ding dong~ It's Onii-chan's little sister, Kate-chan here~ Oh, you don't have to be so stiff with me either~ Talk to me like you'd talk to your little sister!"

It was Sister Kate on the other end of the line, aka, the person who told Maria "Go and live with your precious Onii-chan then!"

"Fine."

I decided to ignore the part about talking to her like a little sister, but it was clear I didn't have to talk to her like a teacher either.

She might talk like a weird old man, but she is technically younger than me.

"Anyway, more importantly, Maria came over to our house."

"Yeah, I know~"

"The heck, you knew? What do you wanna do then?" I asked.

"I'd like it if you could let her stay there a day or two. If she's too much of a pain you can just throw her out though~"

"She wouldn't really be a..."

Pain, is what I was about to say, but then I heard her and Kobato yelling back and forth at the front door.

"You sure she won't be a pain?"

"...Well, I don't see the problem in letting her stay while we're on break."

"Thanks Onii-chan! I love you!"

"Shut up."

Ca-lick.

Anyway, that's how Maria ended up staying at our house.

☺

I finished making dinner about 30 minutes after Maria arrived.

Uohhhhhhh~~!!

Maria let out a shout of joy with her eyes bugged out after she saw me line the food up on the table.

As she frantically looked back and forth between me and the food, she said,

"Why!? Why why why!? Ehhhh!? Whyyy!? Wh- Wh- Why why!? Uohh!?"

I don't know why she keeps asking "why!?", but she certainly seems to be excited.

"...Shut up, stop saying 'why' you moron."

Kobato said as she sat in her chair with a frown on her face.

Our table was a long one, but it was a little tight since all three of us were sitting on the same side (Maria was on my right, and Kobato on my left).

Kobato usually sits across from me, but she brought her chair all the way around once she saw Maria sit down next to me.

By the way, tonight's dinner consists of chicken patties, fried chicken, chicken rice, and chicken salad.

As I said before, I got a lot of chicken meat for cheap, so I based dinner around that.

The demi-glace sauce on the patties is a secret weapon I developed over the years, but I think they'd be good even without the sauce, and it goes good with either bread or rice too.

I was thinking we could just eat the leftovers tomorrow, but now that Maria's here it should be just enough for three people.

"Ahaha! Why is there so much here!? Is it Christmas!? Onii-chan, is today Christmas!?"

Maria said while her eyes darted around, looking at all the food lined up on the table.

"How could it be Christmas in September?"

I did put more effort than usually into dinner tonight, but it's not that special.

"This much and it's not even Christmas!? Uwahh, why why why!?"

"Hmph... What an irritating pawn of God... This is exactly why you commoners are so troublesome..."

Kobato glanced over at Maria before she picked up her chopsticks and started to reach out for some food.

"Heyyy!"

"Fgyah!?"

Maria reached out all of a sudden and smacked the back of Kobato's hand.

"Wh... what'd you do that for ya' retard!?"

"We have to pray before we eat dinner!"

Maria said something very sister-like for once.

"Kukuku... We are a clan of the darkness... We do not pray to something as trifling as God..."

"Kobato. Not praying is fine, but say 'thanks for the food' like you're supposed to."

"Uu~"

Kobato pursed her lips at my scolding, and mumbled "...thanks for the food," before sticking her chopsticks out to grab a piece of fried chicken.

"Ehe~"

The second she took a bite of it, that frown she'd had on her face this whole time melted into a happy smile in an instant.

She finished it off in no time at all, and reached out for another one.

"Ah! That's not fair! Let us pray. Bless us, O Lord, and these, Your gifts, which we are about to receive from――"

"Munch munch munch munch"

Kobato devoured the fried chicken as Maria offered her prayers.

And the second Kobato stuck her chopsticks out for the piece right in front of Maria's eyes,

"Gyahhh poop Amen!"

Maria cut herself off mid-prayer, quickly stuck her chopsticks into a piece of the fried chicken, and shoved it into her mouth.

"Uhoooo! Sho goood!"

Maria happily yelled with her mouth full of fried chicken.

"Ya' didn't even finish your prayer!" Kobato complained.

Then, as she grabbed a new piece of fried chicken, Maria said,

"I-it's fine! I'm saving the poor fried chicken from getting taken by an evil vampire!"

"Ya' big cheater!"

"I'm not cheating~!"

Thus, they began devouring dinner like it was some kind of competition.

The fried chicken were disappearing before my eyes, and they were eating the salad pretty fast too.

As for the chicken rice, rather than scoop some onto their plates like a normal person, they were hovering over the big plate it was on, practically butting heads as they ate.

I'd put a chicken patty on each of our plates, but for some reason they ended up stealing each other's rather than eating their own.

It looked like I wasn't going to get to eat at all at this rate, so I quickly said my 'thanks for the food' before securing some chicken rice and fried chicken on my plate.

[[Image:Boku_wa_Tomodachi_ga_Sukunai_Vol4_Ch09_Img01.jpg|thumb]]

But, as I did, the living room phone rang.

After telling Kobato and Maria, "Hey, you two, mind your manners while you eat," I stood up and went to grab the receiver.

"Haa haa... O-Onii-chan, what color underwear are you wearing right now?"

"Just tell me what you want."

I coldly said, since I didn't have the time to go along with her stupid jokes. It was Sister Kate who'd called again.

"Ah, well, it's nothing big really~ Did you guys already eat?"

"Yeah, we're actually eating right now."

I answered, while glancing into the dining room. I really need to get back to the table before those two little beasts eat everything.

"Oh, would you mind telling me what you're having?"

"What we're having? Umm... Fried chicken, chicken patties... chicken rice, and chicken salad."

"I see. Make sure you tell Maria to eat her vegetables too, ok? Onii-chan."

"Sure."

I then hung up the phone.

Looks like it really wasn't anything big after all.

...By the time I'd hung up the phone and returned to the table, the fried chicken had already been annihilated.

Even the pieces I'd put on my plate were gone.

"...Who ate my fried chicken?"

""She ate it!""

All I could do was sigh at the two of them, pointing at each other with their mouths full of food like two little hamsters.

☺

After we finished eating, Maria kept on following me around as I washed everything, looking all around the kitchen and dining room.

"Hey, Maria, you having fun?"

I asked, a little curious, to which Maria replied "Yeah, this is fun!" with a big fat smile on her face.

Well, if she says it's fun then I don't really mind, so I continued washing the dishes.

"Oh yeah, Maria, how'd you know where I live? Actually, how'd you even get here?"

I asked, realizing how weird it was that she made it here.

It's pretty far from our house to St. Chronica Academy. I have to ride the train and the bus to get there. I don't think a 10 year old little girl could find her way out here that easily.

"I rode the train and the bus!"

Maria answered, full of energy.

"Oh...? I'm impressed. You didn't get on the wrong bus or anything?"

...Incidentally, there's a guy who got on the wrong bus and was late the first day in this very room.

"It was fine, since the old hag came with me!"

"...That's quite the original way to run away from home."

What kind of runaway leaves with somebody from the same house they're running away from...?

Just then, the phone rang a third time.

I turned off the faucet, and walked into the living room.

The caller was Kate, yet again.

"You guys done eating now?"

"Yeah."

"Did that little weasel eat her vegetables?"

"She chomped 'em up."

She ate the salad, the meat, the rice, and my food too.

"I see~ That's fine then. Talk to ya' later~"

She hung up.

I don't get why she keeps incessantly calling me to check up on Maria when she's the one who brought her here in the first place.

By the way, Maria was looking up at me the whole time I was on the phone just now.

She kept following me around, even after I went back into the kitchen.

I finished the dishes while thinking that having her follow me around like a little puppy was kind of fun.

Right after I was all done with that,

"Kukuku... Fellow clansman... You shall join me in my merrymaking..."

Kobato, who had been watching TV, said to me after walking into kitchen.

She was holding the case for one of her video games in her hand.

"What, you wanna play some games together?"

Kobato nodded at my question.

"OK, that's fine with me."

I didn't do anything else today, and it'd be nice to play some video games with Kobato too, since I haven't in a while.

"Yay! ...Kukuku... Watch as I mystify you with my beautiful techniques..."

Kobato happily put the disc into the PS2, and started up the game.

The game was "Kurogane no Necromancer Magical Hyper Battle 3"―― It's the previous game in the series to the one I played at Sena's house.

"Kukuku... An-chan, you shall use controller two..."

Kobato handed me the controller, and sat on the sofa with her own.

After the company logo came the title screen filled with a bunch of different magical girls, along with the voice of one hyper-energetic girl saying "Kurogane Necromancer~! Magical Hyper Battle~!" as she read the title out loud.

"Ohh, I know about that! This is one of those eroge!"

Maria said while looking at the PS2 and TV.

"I-it's not an eroge!" Kobato said, blushing.

"It's not!?" said Maria, looking at me.

"Yeah, this is just a normal game. Where did you even hear about erog-..."

I stopped myself halfway because the answer was obvious.

"So this is different from the ones Sena and Rika are always playing in the clubroom?"

"They are. They're completely different."

"Oh!!"

"Wanna try it out, Maria?"

When I held out the controller to Maria, who was brimming with curiosity, she happily replied "Yeah!", before taking the controller from me and sitting down next to Kobato.

"Mu... No mere foolish human is fit to be my opponent..."

"What was that!? You don't know until you try!"

"Kukuku... Very well, then tremble in fear before my great powers of darkness..."

Kobato picked her character once the selection screen came up.

"Hmph, I'll beat you to a pulp with my holy power! Onii-chan, how do you use this thing!?"

Asked Maria, who seemed to have no knowledge whatsoever about video games, while staring at the controller curiously.

☺

Kobato and Maria began their battle after I taught Maria the basics on how to play.

"Uohh!"

"Kukuku..."

.........

"K.O.! Perfect!"

As for the result, Maria was, naturally, annihilated by Kobato, who's been playing the game for a long time now.

Her opponent had never even held a controller before today, but that didn't stop Kobato from beating the crap out of Maria.

She's so childish, I swear...

"Fueh? I lost? Did I lose?"

"Kukuku... Behold my power..."

Kobato gleefully laughed at Maria, who was still confused.

"Ughh...! One more time!"

"The result will be the same no matter how many times you try... You would do well to lament your own weakness and fall into the depths of despair..."

Maria picked a different character, and Kobato met her with the same one as before.

I watched a few matches between Kobato and Maria (Kobato won them all) before leaving the living room and getting the bathtub ready.

"Hey~ Time to take a bath..."

"Kuhahaha, allow my special attack to send you into an eternity of darkness!"

"Gyahhh! That move's not fair!"

...They didn't look like they were gonna be done any time soon, so I took my bath first.

☺

They were still going at it when I got back from my bath.

"Darkness Requiem!"

"Kyaaa!"

It looks like they just finished a match. Kobato's character, the Magical Girl of Darkness, Gernica, just fired a blast of magic at Maria's character, The Knight of Light, Carol, who let out a scream as she fell.

"Kukuku... yet another victory for me..."

"Grrr, I almost won too..."

Maria groaned in frustration at Kobato, who had just beaten her.

I looked at their HP bars, and saw that Kobato's was down to about half.

Ever since the first match that I saw, Kobato had been getting near-perfect wins every time, but it looks like Maria's been getting better while I was away.

Anyway, that aside,

"Hey~ It's time for you two to take a bath. Who wants to go first?"

I said, causing Maria's eyes to open wide as she turned around.

"A bath!? Ok ok! I'll go! I'll go in with Onii-chan!"

"I already went in."

"Ohh... Then I'll go in next."

Maria said, putting down the controller, but Kobato stopped her.

"...Hold it... You would do well to know your place, pawn of God... It has been decided that I shall take my bath before the likes of you..."

"It was decided?" "No, it wasn't decided or anything," I said.

"Then I'll go in first after all! I'll go in before that vampire!"

"Ugahh! I'm going in first you retard!"

"...Decide with rock paper scissors."

I said, since it looked like they were about to get into a fight.

They both played rock paper scissors, and Maria won.

"Yay~! I get to use Onii-chan's bath~!"

Maria ran off to the bathroom while throwing her clothes off.

I picked up Maria's sister uniform and underwear she left spread on the floor, and as I was putting them in the changing room, I wondered,

"...Is it ok to put these in a washing machine like normal clothes?"

[[Image:Boku_wa_Tomodachi_ga_Sukunai_Vol4_Ch09_Img02.jpg|thumb]]

I have no idea, since I've never washed a sister uniform before.

I left them in the laundry basket for now, and went back to the living room.

When I got back, the phone rang again.

I picked up the receiver, wondering if it was Kate again, and sure enough, it was.

"Ah, Onii-chan. What's Maria doing right now~?"

"She's taking a bath."

"I see~... alone?"

"Yeah."

"Tell her to make sure she washes everything. Also, do you have pajamas she can use?"

"She can use my little sister's."

"Oh, ok..."

She sounded a little disappointed.

"Are you that worried about her?"

"W-what!? I-it's not like I'm worried about her!"

Ca-lick.

Her voice was obviously flustered before she quickly hung up on me just now.

"Yeesh..."

I sighed while bringing Kobato's spare pajamas into the changing room.

I could hear Maria in the bath going "Hmmm~♪ Hmm Hm Hmmm~♪" happily humming some song.

"Maria! I left you a change of clothes in the basket out here! Oh, and make sure you wash everything!"

"Ok! Ahaha~!"

I went back to the living room after hearing her energetic reply.

Kobato was playing her game in single player mode, so I picked up the other controller to give her someone to play with.

I'm pretty sure I was able to put up a good fight back when we played before, but she must've gotten a lot better since then, because I ended up losing every match.

"...What's the matter, my clansman... That can't be your true power... Remember it... Remember how we fled through that frozen night together..."

Kobato said, looking a little disappointed.

...I think I'll do a little practice later.

As I told myself that and continued losing to Kobato,

"Hey~ Hey~ Onii-cha~n."

Maria came into the living room.

Naked.

She was holding Kobato's pajamas in her hand.

"What's the matter?"

I turned around, and then Maria said, with a troubled look on her face,

"Onii-chan, these are a little too tight!"

"Eh, tight?"

Those should fit Kobato though, so why...

"Yeah! ...It felt tight on my chest when I tried putting it on. I won't be able to sleep well in this."

"Then don't sleep at all! Moron moron moronnnn!"

Kobato started yelling all of a sudden.

"Ghhh..."

She was trembling in frustration with tears in the corners of her eyes.

Oh, I get it... Her chest...

Kobato and Maria are about the same size, so I figured Maria'd be able to wear whatever Kobato can, but Maria's chest is a little bigger than hers now that I think about it.

Well, this is a problem... If she can't wear Kobato's clothes then we don't have anything here that'll fit her.

"Hmm..... Wanna try wearing my T-shirt for now then?"

I can't let her get sick or something from being naked all night.

"Onii-chan's shirt!? I'll wear it!"

She didn't seem against it, so I grabbed one of my T-shirts and had Maria put it on.

Obviously, it was really baggy on her and looked more like a short one-piece, but,

"Uwaa! Onii-chan's T-shirt! Ahaha! Onii-chan's T-shirt~! I combined with Onii-chan! Ahahahaha!"

I don't know what's so great about my T-shirt, but Maria seems happy about it, so she can just wear that for tonight.

"Uuu~..."

Kobato seemed upset as she groaned.

☺

After that, Kobato took her bath, and then spent the rest of the night playing "Magical Hyper Battle 3" with Maria.

I laid out a futon for Maria in the living room, and read a book while glancing at their game occasionally. Maria was getting better and better, and she was starting to put up a good fight against Kobato.

However, Maria started moving sluggishly around 9:30, leading to a series of perfect wins from Kobato.

Maria's eyes were drooping, and she looked like she was already half-asleep.

"Hmph... You have no value as an opponent to me in your current state..."

"Zzzz..."

At the same time Kobato turned off the PS2, Maria flopped down sideways on the couch, and fell sound asleep.

"Guess this is proof that kids who sleep well grow well, huh."

I said with a wry smile as Kobato stared at Maria's chest with a sullen expression.

"I'm going to sleep too!"

She said, and went up to her room.

I carried Maria onto the futon I laid out for her, and started to relax by reading my book, when the phone rang again.

"...It's already 10 o'clock."

I wearily answered the phone.

It was Kate, as I'd expected.

"Sorry for calling you so late at night Onii-chan. Is Maria asleep already?"

"She is."

"I see. She brushed her teeth, right?"

"Ah... now that you mention it, she didn't..."

"What were you thinking Onii-chan!? What if Maria gets a cavity!?"

"I'll make sure she does an extra good job in the morning..."

"No! Have her do it right now!"

"Fine fine... Hey... Are you a siscon by chance?"

"W-w-w-who are you calling a siscon, huh!? Anyway have her brush her teeth for me!"

She hung up.

"Haa..."

I sighed, but woke Maria up anyway, and had her brush her teeth while she was still half-asleep before letting her go back to sleep in her futon.

Nearly the second after I did, Kate called again to see if she finished brushing her teeth.

She hung up, and I thought I could finally relax for real as I started reading, but the phone rang again just past 11 o'clock.

"Tell her not to eat anything after she's brushed her teeth, ok?"

"I told you she's already asleep."

Click.

She hung up, and I confirmed that the normally aloof Kate was, in fact, a siscon.

After that, right as I was about to go to bed around midnight, she called again, telling me to make sure Maria was asleep, and that she didn't kick the futon off of her. She then kept calling about every 15 minutes, asking about the exact same things until I finally unplugged the phone and went to sleep.

I really need to get Maria to go home as soon as possible...

☺

"Ok, I'll go home! Because I'm a teacher, and an adult!"

The next morning.

When we were eating breakfast I asked Maria, "How about giving up on the runaway thing?" to which Kobato added, "Kukuku... Running away from home is what children do..." which had Maria quickly agree to give up and go back home to the church.

Behold, The Obedient Good Girl!

"Haha, I'm proud of you Maria."

While still feeling surprised at how easily she accepted, I patted Maria on the head, prompting an "Ehehe~" and a happy smile from her.

Now that siscon sister should calm down too.

I plugged the phone back in after we finished eating breakfast, and the phone rang immediately.

"Woah!?"

I was taken aback for a second before I quickly picked up the receiver,

"MARIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~~"

and cringed after being greeted by a screech so loud it could've made the whole house shake.

"W-what are you yelling for..."

"Uoah!? O-Onii-chan!?"

Kate came back to her senses, and asked in a panicked voice.

"Maria said she's giving up on running away and is going home, so come get her. See you later."

I hung up after telling her the bare minimum I had to.

15 minutes later, Kate arrived at our house in a taxi.

Holy crap was that fast!

...Maybe it was just me, but it looked like the taxi driver was shaking...

"Come on Maria, let's go home~"

Kate said with a weird face caused by her desperately trying to hide how relieved she was to see Maria.

"Hrmm, yeah I guess I have to..."

Maria said, looking a little unsatisfied, before putting on her shoes and walking out the front door.

Looks like our Takayama wasn't homesick in the least, and would've been just fine staying here.

"Maria, tell Onii-chan you're sorry for being such a bother to him," said Kate.

It took all I had to restrain myself from saying "You were infinitely more of a bother than Maria was."

"Ehh?"

Maria turned around and looked at me.

"Hey~ Onii-chan, can I come over again?"

Maria asked in a pleading tone of voice, to which I replied,

"Yeah, come over whenever you want." 

Which was followed by Kobato, who had come out to the front door, yelling

"Don't ever come back, Moronnnn!"

"Shut up poop vampire! I'm definitely coming again! Thanks Onii-chan! The food was really good!"

Maria gave a little bow before turning around and getting in the taxi with Kate.

I watched Maria leave in the taxi as she waved to me saying "Bye bye~!", and then went back inside with Kobato.

Kobato turned on the TV and PS2 immediately after we got into the living room.

"Hey now, you're gonna start playing games this early?"

After I'd said that, Kobato grabbed the controller and did her standard "Kukuku..." chuckle before adding,

"...I must strengthen my magic in preparation for an assault from that foolish pawn of God... I shall have her prostrate herself before my overwhelming might next time she comes, kukuku..."

...Next time she comes, huh?

I smirked at Kobato, who couldn't wait for Maria to come again despite telling her to never come back.

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| Back to [[Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai: Volume 4 Comparing Answers|Comparing Answers]]
| Return to [[Boku_wa_tomodachi_ga_sukunai|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai: Volume 4 After Party|After Party]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

HEAVY OBJECT:Volume4 Chapter 2

2012-09-26T20:23:51Z

216.239.45.4: /* Part 10 */

==Chapter 2: Christmas on a White Sand Beach >> Furlough Garrison Battle (?) in Oceania==

===Part 1===

The Oceania district.

With the dictatorship that had held a tyrannical rule over that land destroyed, the coalition-led restoration had accelerated.

The Legitimacy Kingdom's 37th Mobile Maintenance Battalion's convoy made up of over 100 large vehicles was stationed there and a "cityscape" had cropped up around it.

"We can't have everything spreading out like this," said Froleytia Capistrano as sweet-smelling smoke drifted up from her narrow kiseru.

She was speaking with the old lady who led maintenance on the Baby Magnum.

"Yes, but it is only natural for shops to set up in areas where money is likely to change hands."

"We purposefully distanced ourselves from the urban areas to keep the civilians out of any unforeseen dangers, but we can't stop them from setting up a market made up of tents and RVs. Someone could easily use this to sneak in close and fire a shell at the base."

"Even if we move the convoy away, they will simply follow us. That is probably why they are using shops that are so easy to set up and take apart. If they make money, they will be happy. And this will prevent the conspiracy theories surrounding the secrecy over Object technology. Just think of this as an advertisement in that fashion."

Froleytia and the old lady were sitting on a sheet spread across the sandy ground within the maintenance base with a parasol stuck into the ground next to them.

However, a hellish scene of sweat and tears existed just 3 meters away from their vacation mood.

"Quenser, the water filtration devices come in sets of 15 boxes. Once you have confirmed their arrival, make an entry in the database and carry them all to storage."

"...O...kay..."

"Quenser, that box is full of champagne bottles. You can use the dolly if you like, but I will kill you if they get shaken up. Also, make sure you do not leave the cold room's door open."

"...Pant...pant..."

"Queeeeennnnsssseeerrrr, that one is my Japanese sword and that one is my Japanese armor and helmet. That one is my set of Japanese dolls and that is my Japanese furisode. Be careful as you carry them. We aren't often part of a coalition force. I need to find all the best deals while the market is in chaos."

Quenser Barbotage collapsed in the middle of the sandy ground.

"...I-I can't. I can't go on. I've been doing nothing but physical labor for three days now... I thought this was supposed to be paid leave. We finally managed to get back, so what happened to the swimsuits?"

"What? Was Quenser, the boy who ignored several war treaties to go off to fight the Capitalist Corporations' Second Generation Object, just saying something to me, the one who had to write report after report frantically emphasizing the damage to the Deep Optical and forcing a smile as I put up with the jokes of those old men higher up the ranks that are at least borderline sexual harassment to somehow avoid having you court martialed?"

"Gyahhh!! I'll do anything! I'll go along with whatever you say for the rest of my life, commander!!"

Quenser raised his sand-covered face and screamed.

"...It almost looks like he's enjoying this," muttered the old lady, but it seemed no one heard her.

As Quenser wiped the sand from his body, he asked, "B-By the way, where is Heivia?"

"Cleaning the bathrooms, cleaning the bath pipes, cleaning the washing machine drums, and cleaning the convoy's engine rooms. And that's for every single one of the base's over 100 vehicles."

"Y-You're kidding! Nothing but cleaning!?"

Quenser could only raise a prayer for the different sort of hell Heivia had been sent to as he still had to deal with his own hell.

Froleytia paid him no heed and said, "Once you finish that...Oh, I know. The Japanese paulownia wood chest I bought yesterday should be delivered to the base soon. The civilian deliveryman won't be able to get inside the base, so bring it to my room after its security check at the gate."

"I want a powered suit for this!!"

"After that...Oh, right. There is that other important matter."

"I'll die. I'm really going to die!! Wait, I get it. The final boss this time is my huge-breasted commander!!""

"What, is it really that bad?" Froleytia calmly breathed out some smoke. "The princess wants to go swimming at the Great Barrier Reef, so she needs some bodyguards. But if you would really prefer to stick around the convoy and its stench of oil and exhaust, suit yourself."

"Please let me go!!"

===Part 2===

Meanwhile, Heivia was also finally released from his hell. He was currently relaxing outside the maintenance base zone.

"God dammit. Everyone knew I was being used as that huge-breasted commander's toy, so they all forced their ridiculous demands on me too."

At a coffee shop made out of an RV, Heivia sipped at an iced coffee that did not seem the type of thing a noble would drink. With the double punch of heat caused by the roasting sun above and the reflected sunlight coming from the sand below, he could hardly order a hot drink.

The "cityscapes" that developed around a maintenance base zone during times like that were quite a different thing from a standard safe country city or an Oceanian city.

Not a single concrete building could be seen.

Everything was made to be set up or broken down within half an hour. The Object and its maintenance base zone could set up or move out immediately to match the military situation, and those making up the "cityscape" were hardly going to let any chance to make money slip by.

As Heivia sipped at the iced coffee that no longer had any ice in it, he heard a high-pitched girl's voice.

"Welcome, internet viewers!! Welcome to the Oceanian Live – Class A!! Oh ho ho ho ho!!"

He looked over and saw a 3D projector set up in the store displaying an Information Alliance idol concert that had been held a few days prior. It was free to watch for a week after the event, but would it really draw in any customers?

(Well, it looks more like the guy running the store is the only one watching.)

The 3D image was not displayed on a screen. Instead, the it appeared directly in empty space. Quenser likely could have excitedly explained exactly how it worked, but Heivia did not know. He had a feeling it was something along the lines of sending out light waves from multiple directions to display the image with the increase and decrease of the light waves' amplitudes.

The image only appeared 3D from head on. When viewed from the side, the images for the right eye and left eye were out of sync which made for a dizzying sight.

"Diffracted waves are used to create the separate images. This is the latest model," explained the shop owner who must have been bored.

He seemed more proud of the projector than the idol who was passionately singing a popular song.

(Why can't it just be the students who are proud of their machines?)

With that thought, Heivia changed the subject.

"Do you like idols?"

"Better than other Elites at least. The Information Alliance's idols seem friendlier than the patriotic heroes and the million dollar players."

The idol dancing in the 3D image was tall, had ringlet curls, and had G-cup breasts. As Heivia watched, he decided the dance moves were definitely designed to make her breasts jiggle.

Meanwhile, the shop owner stealthily added one last thing to his comment.

"...And this one has big breasts."

"So that really is your reason!! Well, I can't deny that I wish our princess would do this kind of thing."

As Heivia spoke, the writing and patterns on the dancing G-cup idol's special suit changed in real time.

No normal material could do that.

A musical score made of ribbons appeared in midair and wrapped around the G-cup idol's bewitching body in sync to her singing.

"Class A sure is showy," said the shop owner. "The A stands for 'augmented reality'. Most likely, the actual idol is dancing in all blue or all green tights, but it sure does look nice like this. Then again, the completely fictitious Class V takes it a step further."

"I prefer R for reality. All of Class A's panty shots are prearranged, right?"

"You say that, but you can't seem to take your eyes off her thighs."

[[Image:HO_v04_09.jpg|thumb]]

"Sorry, but I prefer tits," said Heivia with a perfectly serious expression.

The fact that the writing and patterns of the idol's outfit could be freely altered also meant the figure of the idol could be directly altered in the footage, but Heivia's imagination did not seem to reach that far.

Heivia brought the cheap iced coffee back to his lips as his gaze was drawn to the chest of the 3D image, but then...

"Oh, it's Heivia. If it isn't Heivia."

"Bff!?"

Heivia very nearly spat out the iced coffee because he recognized the girl who had called out to him. She was the daughter of the Vanderbilt family as well as Heivia's fiancée. However, she was only unofficially his fiancée for the moment due to various circumstances. Normally, she would never be seen outside of an inner room of a mansion within the Legitimacy Kingdom's home country.

Heivia began to tremble when he saw that girl wearing a dress covered in jewels that did not suit that market that had a mixed and gray atmosphere.

"Y-You...? Why are you here...?"

"Why do you find it so odd? Oceania's military regime was destroyed and the coalition invasion has come to an end. This is a safe country now. There is no problem with civilians coming here."

"(The resolution of the issue with the military nation is now leading to skirmishes between the members of the coalition to see who gains the most power here, so things are actually more strained here than ever.)"

"Did you say something?"

Heivia shook his head.

"Wait, where are your bodyguards? Don't tell me you came here on your own."

"My family would not stop complaining about how I was acting, so I gave them the slip."

"That just makes this worse!! Now I can't just get back to my military work after chatting with you!!"

"Oh, but isn't it only because I slipped away from them that we can have such an elegant chat? Right, Heivia...or should I say Romeo?"

"Well, 'Juliet', I get the feeling your guards are going to track you down and then shoot me when they find me with you."

"Oh, dear. You do not seem very moved over a chance meeting with your fiancée." The girl frowned slightly. "I sincerely hope some horrible woman has not gotten to you while I have been away."

"Absolutely not!! In fact, every time a good opportunity comes up the useless guy who is always with me gets it!!"

"So you admit that some 'good opportunities' have occurred."

"..."

Heivia's eyes swam to the side like two synchronized swimmers.

The daughter of the Vanderbilt family gave a gentle smile.

"Heivia, I am not an intolerant woman. You are a noble man. You are free to have mistresses. That is merely a type of status symbol." After a short pause, the girl's voice grew cold. "However, if you put anyone above me even for an instant...you know what will happen, don't you?"

"Y-Y-Yes, I know very well. You don't have to specify. Really, you don't."

"I will have to use the tower collection☆"

"But that's nothing but the whips, wooden horses, and the like that tyrannical relative of yours used!! Your family claims to only keep them around to make sure you never forget the past that destroyed your family!!"

A sense of intimidation of a different sort than that given off by his large-breasted commander caused a chill to run down Heivia's back.

His fiancée was a cute girl, but she unfortunately seemed to have some "tsun"<ref>Tsun from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsundere|'''Tsun'''dere.]</ref> and "yan"<ref>Yan from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yandere#Y|'''Yan'''dere]</ref> to her.

===Part 3===

The princess swimming in the ocean.

The princess in a plain but lovely swimsuit.

From the moment Froleytia ordered him to join the pilot Elite's bodyguard unit, the driving force running Quenser had entered an odd mode. It was similar to running a gasoline engine on rocket fuel. He had not slept for three days, but his sleepiness gauge had circled all the way around and he no longer felt like sleeping at all and felt a bit uneasy. With his good fortune having finally reached its peak, he may have subconsciously wanted to burn every last instant of it into his mind.

"...Quenser, you are joining my bodyguards?" asked the princess.

"Seems that way, miss swimsuit!!"

"?"

"Let's go let's go let's go! The beach the beach the beach! You know what is expected of you, right, miss swimsuit!?"

Quenser eagerly pushed at the princess from behind to get her into the backseat of the military 4WD vehicle.

While the beach was close to the base, it was still outside of its defensive range. Their 4WD vehicle was at the center and two more were placed to the front and to the back. Also, an armored vehicle protected them on either side. This was commonly known as a sabre formation.

The formation could only be used in the desert where, unlike an urban area, the width of the road could be ignored. While it would stand up to a sudden attack from an anti-tank missile, it would be of no use against an Object.

"So you wanted to go to the Great Barrier Reef? That's the world's largest coral reef, right?"

"I do not care where. I just want to swim in something other than a bathtub."

The princess pinched at the special suit clinging to her body and tugged as she spoke. The suit was supposed to be perfectly air conditioned, but it seemed she still found it somewhat uncomfortable.

The small convoy reached the beach without coming under attack.

The beach was covered in smooth, white sand that was clearly different from earthen color of the desert. Just looking out at the sea that looked like blue and green dissolved together was a wonderful sight and the richly-colored tropical fish below the surface would be yet another type of heaven.

However, Quenser ignored it all.

"Okay, miss swimsuit!! The time has come for you to show us your majestic form!! If you're going with the standard, it will be a plain but lovely one piece swimsuit. But if you want to push the unexpected angle, it could be a revealing bikini! Or even a custom-made one-of-a-kind sexy swimsuit!! So what is your answer, princess!? Give me your answer!!"

He may have been there in the name of protecting the princess, but Quenser's muscle tone and level of equipment was clearly lacking compared to the other bodyguards. Heaven had answered his prayers and he had been rewarded with the duty of looking at a slender girl in a swimsuit, so he had no intention of focusing on anything else. If an Object attacked right that instant, he would likely have completely ignored it.

Meanwhile, the princess was completely oblivious to his expectations.

"?"

"Oh!! But this isn't a properly maintained beach! There are no motels around here, so there is no safe place to change! I guess you'll have to hide behind the 4WD vehicle and blush with embarrassment as you use it as a changing area! What is this? Just the swimsuit would have been more than enough of a reward, but it seems the feast begins even before that!!"

Quenser's seemingly endless excitement was partially fueled by the princess's normal outfit.

The special suit was completely skintight, so it was not all that bad. However, its defenses were too tight and he never had a chance to see her soft skin. And it was her uniform, so she wore it year round. That ultra-perfect wholesome defense ensured that Quenser never saw anything even remotely approaching a glimpse of her panties. With the thought "Isn't it about time you moved on to the next step, boy?" in his mind, Quenser's brain had gone a bit crazy at the chance to see her in a swimsuit where various odds were greatly changed. However, the way he was acting could all be filed under the category of "it can't be helped".

"Okay, miss swimsuit!! Your answer! It's time for your answer!! I'm ready. Right now, I'm willing to accept pretty much anything. Nothing but large bandages would be fine. So what is your answer, miss swimsuit!? Please give me your answer!!"

"What is a swimsuit?"

........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

In that instant, it was not just Quenser who froze in place. The bodyguards who were spread around the area seriously carrying out their duties secretly did as well.

That was a bad start.

With that thought, Quenser frantically tried to keep the situation from switching over to a different set of rails.

"P-Princess...? You shouldn't answer a question with a question."

"I did not bring whatever a swimsuit is with me."

Hearing that response, Quenser's eyes opened up wide.

He was intent on keeping things pointed in the direction of bare skin even if he had to force it.

"So you're going nude!? I see, I see. I certainly did not expect your answer to go that far!!"

"I am going to swim like this. An Elite's special suit is made to withstand any environment, so there is no problem with swimming in it."

"No!!!!!" Due to the Japanese comedy routines he had seen in Froleytia's officer room, Quenser's shout had an odd intonation to it. "You, um...can't do that!! That special suit is wonderful. I can't deny that! But wonderful though it is...this isn't the place for it!! This is a scene for something out of the ordinary!! Just as we would be really pissed if an Object showed up now, you simply can't choose the special suit here!!"

"?"

"No, don't tilt your cute little head to the side like that!! Wait, it's not too late! If we head back to the market around the base, we can find all sorts of cute swimsuits, sexy swimsuits, and even sexier swimsuits!! Let's go, princess. I am perfectly fine with having to start from the stage of you blushing in embarrassment as you choose a swimsuit!!"

But as soon as Quenser grabbed the princess's hand and tried to run off, the entire bodyguard unit aimed their guns at him.

They seemed intent on preserving the initial time schedule.

"...I really don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to at least get a school swimsuit here."

The bodyguards agreed with him there.

===Part 4===

"Oh, ladies, are you from the Faith Organization? If you have any dietary restrictions, tell me now," said the owner of a restaurant of the type that could be found anywhere in Oceania those days.

A tent made of waterproof cloth created a simple roof under which a large metal plate, a few chairs, and a cooler full of seafood were set up.

One of the customers showed a thin smile that completely failed as a polite smile.

She was Sarasa Gleamshifter of Valkyrie.

"No, our doctrines require no such restrictions."

"We can chow down on octopus and squid."

"We're more used to wild boar, though."

Her subordinates, Rachel and Maria gave their own opinions. Maria's response was more halfhearted as she was watching a 3D image of an Information Alliance idol Elite.

The restaurant owner smiled and said, "Then I don't have to hold back. Since you've come down to the southern hemisphere, you might as well make some memories by choosing something more unusual."

"We will be paying in the Faith Organization method. Is that okay?"

"Let's see, the Faith Organization puts more focus on precious metals than paper money, correct? The exchange rate with foreign currencies is set using platinum and diamonds as their value is more fixed, I believe. I'll have to call in an appraiser which will make this take longer, but I can manage."

"No, we will be using Faith Organization paper money," replied Sarasa. "Unfortunately, we cannot rely on platinum at the moment."

Sarasa paused briefly before that last comment, but the restaurant owner did not seem to notice.

"Well, the conclusions of an appraiser can easily be argued with. Real money that is accepted around the world is best."

The man prepared some small fish of a coloration Sarasa had never before seen and then placed them atop the heated metal plate. She had no idea what he intended to do with them, but he did not gut them. He placed them in a small bowl with some strong seasonings and mixed it all together.

Cooking on a metal plate like that was a type of show.

As the restaurant owner cooked the tropical fish in a skillful manner that functioned as a form of entertainment, he gave a bitter smile and said, "I would have a wider variation of dishes if I had beef, but it's just too expensive."

"Come to think of it, the natural balance in Oceania has yet to be restored," commented Rachel as she was caught up in watching the food dance across the metal plate. "The dictatorship was pushing the extreme forestation while the local tribes resisted it in favor of the original desert. Because the environment was so radically changed again and again in some areas, the coalition has to carefully regulate the quality of the soil. There are a lot of restrictions on grazing land to prevent the balance between vegetation and desert from collapsing."

"Yes. Thanks to that we have to rely on importation despite how large the country is. But lately platinum mining has really grown. Rumor has it the Information Alliance is bringing in tons of domed livestock facilities and container-shaped animal feed factories. If they can do that, it doesn't matter if the entire area's a desert. The local tribes won't like the imported feed, but it shouldn't be too much of an issue as long as it all stays isolated within the containers. If it all works out, solar power generation can be used to create a huge sterilized farm in the middle of the desert. The food shortage will be resolved in no time at all." After delightedly explaining all that, the restaurant owner suddenly realized something and added an additional comment. "Oh, do people from the Faith Organization oppose that kind of technology that creates manmade food sources? Y'know, genetically altered crops and the like."

After all, the Faith Organization was well known for accepting the theories of evolution and the big bang yet insisting that a nonhuman supernatural trigger had to have caused those scientific coincidences.

It was true that they were not fond of manmade recreations of natural works.

But Sarasa readily shook her head.

"The Central Religious Assembly's conclusion on the 89th issue regarding food sources resolved any such issues. Also, the Faith Organization is not as unyielding as others seem to think."

"Is that so?" muttered the man vaguely as he continued to move his hands over the metal plate.

Sarasa went on to say, "For example, let us say man has created a material that does not exist at all in the natural world. Do you think the Faith Organization would find fault in this?"

"...Well, yeah. Don't you say that denies god's providence, or brings an impurity into the world god created, or something like that?"

"We are not so sensitive as to take up arms over the creation of plastic." Sarasa smiled lightly. "We compromise. If you use oxygen and hydrogen to create water, the materials you have used were taken from the world that god originally created. For that reason, the water you have created is nothing more than a derivation of what god has created. You have not brought an impurity into the world god created. The same reasoning can be used to permit plastics and carbon nanotubes."

"I see."

"We do not start conflicts because we wish to. If we are able to compromise, we will do so to avoid needless conflict."

At that point, all expression suddenly disappeared from Sarasa's face and she muttered something under her breath.

"(But when people set foot into a territory that allows for no compromise like that old man, we will assassinate them no matter what.)"

"?"

The restaurant owner did not seem able to hear what she had said.

With the conversation ended but the man's focus still on them, Sarasa changed the subject and asked a question.

"How about by boat?"

With that alone, it was hard to tell what she meant.

However, the man immediately replied.

"I wouldn't count on it. Recently, you probably could have gotten away with poaching fish, but there aren't many boats now. Of course, that means I have plenty of customers from those large groups, so I'm not complaining."

"...How about by air?"

"Are you trying to transport people or goods rather than fish? That could be tough. This is Oceania. Multiple world powers have Objects here. If you send out a helicopter of unknown affiliation, it will be shot down by anti-air laser. And if you get one world power to allow you through, a different one might not allow you through."

After thinly slicing the cooked fish, the man added a sauce that smelled strongly of blood. Sarasa stabbed her fork into the slices and asked a question.

"You said a boat would have worked recently. What changed?"

"The Legitimacy Kingdom," replied the restaurant owner as he pulled a sea cucumber out of the cooler and sliced it up with his knife. "An Object of theirs...the Baby Magnum I think it's called...is on leave near the beach, so the layout of their surveillance network has changed a lot. From what I hear, the routes connecting Oceania with nearby islands are cut off. But as I said, the military brings in a large group of customers, so I'm welcoming them with open arms."

"So cargo from the Loyauté district cannot get here?"

"Exactly. Honestly, it's scary how quickly Objects can be deployed. An area that was completely safe yesterday can be the front lines today."

"..."

Sarasa narrowed her eyes slightly as she watched the metal spatula dance in front of her.

They had failed on that island.

That meant her target was now...

===Part 5===

It had been one hell of a day.

By the time Quenser and Heivia met up near the maintenance base zone, it was nearing evening.

"...How'd things go for you?"

"...How about for you?"

From that exchange, it was clear they had both had a large catch get away from them.

Quenser sighed and said, "Where did I go wrong? The setting should have been perfect. So what was it...? What went wrong...?"

"After returning a rich girl ignorant of how the world works back to her guards, I had those same guards chase me around with handguns for 3 hours..."

Those two weary souls suddenly felt their handheld devices vibrate as they received an email.

"I don't want to read it!! That has got to be the sign that Froleytia's ridiculous demands have begun anew!!"

"Quenser, I'll lend you my handgun, so will you please shoot me in the leg?"

That was how far they were ready to go in order to get out of more work, but they found something else entirely when they actually read the email.

::I want to have a Christmas party to give us all a break, but I can't let a civilian bartender into the maintenance base. For that reason, all but the bare minimum required for the current shift are to meet up at point YI. Let's go nuts drinking tonight.

"..."

"..."

Quenser and Heivia exchanged a wordless glance.

They then silently but strongly clenched their fists.

"We still have a chance!!"

"Wait, wait, wait!! This is a Christmas party with the princess and our huge-breasted commander. And December is summertime in Australia!! We'll never see a normal Santa Claus here!! This'll have bare skin, miniskirts, bare thighs, and bouncing breasts!!"

Point YI was not far away.

There was no way congested traffic would make them miss it.

They may have missed out on any swimsuits, but the chance still remained for a sexy Santa.

The two idiots named Quenser and Heivia immediately took action to get to that heaven of changed odds.

A bright red bus and a blue taxi stood before them.

"I'll take the red bus!!" said Quenser.

"Then just for fun, I'll take the blue taxi!!"

And thus their fates were divided...

===Part 6===

When Quenser arrived at point YI where the party was located, he glanced around.

He was not inside some shop.

Due to the "cityscape" being made up of mostly tents and RVs, there were no shops in which one could leisurely sit around.

A portion of the market was opened up into a plaza and a large number of tables covered in food had been carried in. The free mobility of the shops making up the "cityscape" was a major advantage. They had likely opened up the space to accommodate such important customers.

(Looks like Heivia hasn't arrived yet.)

Soldiers wearing the same uniform as Quenser had already begun to partake in the food and alcohol, but Heivia was nowhere to be seen.

"Oh, there's the old lady."

"What? Shouldn't you be speaking with someone younger at a party like this?"

"I thought you would be on standby in the maintenance area in case the Object had to be scrambled."

"The princess is off duty, so there wouldn't be much point. This is a coalition force, so other Objects are taking care of defense. ...But wouldn't this be a perfect opportunity for you to observe the Object?"

"There isn't much to learn when no one is working on it. I need to see it when it's actually fighting. If I'm just going to stare at its surface, I might as well just go to a military magazine site."

"What a boring person. Your ideas lack style. You're the type of person that wouldn't ask for a souvenir from someone heading overseas."

"I'd take some platinum as a souvenir of Oceania. I hear they've been mining a bunch of it lately."

"I see you're pretending to be some wealthy merchant again. And platinum is old news. The days of it having a stable value are over. Research is progressing in ways to mass produce industrial platinum."

"Eh? They're using the platinum for industrial uses?"

"It's used in Objects, too. You need to study some more, student."

As the two spoke, Froleytia approached them from behind with a cocktail glass in hand.

"Oh, you two haven't started eating yet? Who knows when we'll have another chance to eat anything but those flavorless rations. You should eat some while you can."

"Then can't you do something about those ratio—...bfh!?"

Quenser had a good reason for freezing in place the instant he turned around.

Major Froleytia Capistrano had become a miniskirt Santa. Also, her upper body was covered in nothing but a bikini-style piece of clothing that had very little surface area. Her cleavage and midriff were on full display.

After facing postponement after postponement with the princess's swimsuit feint, Quenser very nearly lost control of his emotions at all that bare skin.

"A surprise projectile attack!?"

"I have no idea what you mean, but those military uniforms are hardly suited for the desert."

"Honestly, it's going to get cold once the sun sets. You have no one to blame but yourself when you catch a cold after dressing like that," said the old lady in exasperation, but there was a hint of amusement on her face.

With a confused look, Froleytia asked, "Wait, where is Heivia? Is he not here yet?"

"That's the thing..."

Just as Quenser started to respond, a small electronic tone came from his radio.

(Who could that be? Someone from the maintenance base?)

Quenser moved away from his commander and hit the switch on the radio.

"It's me!! It's me!! It's Heivia!!"

"Where did you get off to? I'm already at the party. You should have chosen the red bus..."

"I've gotten caught up in some kind of incident!! Tonight, I'm gonna be the hero!! But I have one request for you!"

"If you want help, you can forget it!! I'm not taking a step away from this party!! And if you want to know why, it's because there's a well-endowed Santa right in front of me!!"

"That's fine, that's fine!!"

"?"

"I don't see how I can avoid a firefight in the middle of the city. But we aren't in a battle right now, so this is technically a job for the police. ...To be blunt, we could be in trouble if that huge-breasted commander catches wind of this!!"

"No, not 'we'. I'm not part of it this time!!"

"After what happened in the Loyauté district, this would be a third yellow card!!"

"Have we really gotten that many yellow cards?"

"At any rate, we'll be in real trouble if we get any more!! I'll take care of this issue on my own, but you need to buy me some time!!"

"...Hm? It's rare for you to be so motivated. The problem is that your motivation isn't always a good thing."

Quenser's long radio conversation must have seemed suspicious because the Santa that was likely going to give him some wet dreams frowned and asked, "Quenser, who are you speaking with? Almost everyone is here."

"Eh? O-Oh, um..."

"Just distract that huge-breasted commander!! Don't let her realize I'm not there!! We're in real trouble otherwise. If I don't deal with this, the Oceanian civilians will be the ones in danger!!"

(Wait. If Heivia is enthusiastically working at something rather than coming to the party, this must be a major issue on an unprecedented level. If an Object shows up, I really am just going to ignore it.)

At any rate, the situation had gotten troublesome.

For one thing, Quenser did not see how he could defeat Froleytia Capistrano via any ordinary means.

"Quenser, answer my question. Who have you been speaking wi—...cough."

Some sand must have been blown in by the wind because Froleytia held her throat.

(This is my chance!!)

Quenser grabbed a glass filled with a clear liquid from a tray held by a civilian waiter passing by.

"Are you okay, Froleytia? Here, have some water."

"Oh. Thanks, Quen—...bbhhh!!!???"

When the miniskirt bikini Santa gulped down the contents of the glass all at once, she let out a noise that Quenser had never thought he would hear from her.

The reason was simple.

"Que—... You!! This is vodka! And straight vodka at that!!"

"I'm sorry, Froleytia!! I must have grabbed the wrong glass! Here, this one is oolong tea!!"

"Honestly I can't believe you—...ugbh!? Th-That was malt whisky!!"

"Oh, no!! Froleytia, I won't get it wrong again! This time, it's mineral water!!" said Quenser as he handed her a cup filled to the brim with tequila.

(C'mon, get drunk!! Get dead drunk!! If she keeps drinking these drinks with such high alcoholic content at such a high rate, even a heavy drinker like her has to get drunk!!)

"...Hic."

After a few more cups, Froleytia was silently hanging her head. Beads of sweat were trailing down her bikinied chest and her skin had grown rather red. The core of her body had grown limp and she was swaying back and forth even while standing still.

(Was the plan a success!?)

Quenser was celebratory at first, but another thought then entered his mind.

(Wait, what happens once she's drunk?)

That question then started eating into the boy's mind.

(This is bad. This might be really, really bad! Froleytia is a complete tyrant when sober, so what's going to happen now that all her limiters have been removed by alcohol!?)

"...Qwensher..."

The low tone and drawn out way that she called his name frightened him.

As an unpleasant sweat began flowing down Quenser's entire body, he could do nothing but stand at attention.

"Y-Yes!? What is it, commander!?"

For a while, Froleytia said nothing.

She was already quite close to Quenser, but she silently yet unsteadily drew even closer to him.

He seriously thought she was going to grab his collar.

And then...

Right in front of him...

Froleytia Capistrano opened her mouth to speak.

"Sob. Why are you always so mean to me, Quenser?"

"?????"

Quenser's thoughts completely stopped for an instant.

That was not the role of the cruel commander known as Froleytia. That was a line suited for a timid childhood friend who always carries around a stuffed animal.

But he realized what was happening shortly thereafter.

"I-Is she the type that gets sad when she drinks!?"

"Are you mad, Quenser? Are you? I'm so sorry I'm such a terrible commander. I'm sorry I always need you to save me. I know it isn't right. If I did a better job and used the princess to her full potential..."

[[Image:HO_v04_10.jpg|thumb]]

"Wait, wait!! You can't get like this in front of people!! This is where people will half-jokingly take cell phone pictures, so you need to have some self-control!!"

"...Are you mad, Quenser?"

"Gyaahhh!! Don't press up against me like that!! Don't wrap your arms around my neck!! Have you forgotten how you're dressed!?"

"...You're mad..."

"I'm not!! I'm not mad!! Dammit, I have no other option while in public like this! I wouldn't really, but if we were alone I could probably get away with all sorts of things!!"

"You really aren't mad?"

"I'm not!! Really! Trust me!!"

"..."

Froleytia pressed her large breasts forcefully against him and brought her face in so close he probably could have kissed her had he simply pursed his lips, but she fell silent and did nothing further.

This all placed a tremendous mental burden on Quenser, but Froleytia finally spoke once she had worked something out in her mind.

"Quenser...you're something like a big brother to me."

"You're a little sister character now!?"

===Part 7===

Meanwhile, Heivia Winchell was running through the "city" as the sun began to set.

The situation was as follows:

While the blue taxi waited at a simple traffic signal of the sort used at construction sites, a middle-aged man dove in from the side with enough force to break the window.

"What the hell? Why do things like this always have to happen to me!?"

Thinking the man might be a robber, Heivia pulled out a large handgun from the holster at his waist, but then the man spoke while bleeding from the face.

"You're a Legitimacy Kingdom soldier, right!?"

"What?"

"I have something to report! I've run across some terrible information. You need to do something!!"

"Wait, wait, wait. No!! The peace of Oceania is for police special forces to deal with, not the military. This isn't my job! And more importantly, I'm on my way to see a huge-breasted Santa!! This is no time to be dealing with—...!!"

"The Legitimacy Kingdom is their target!!"

"Seriously!? But it's still not my jo—..."

"And the ones chasing me will be here soon."

"Tell me that part first!!"

Heivia frantically pulled the middle-aged man out of the taxi and fled into the congested traffic. Just as he did, the blue taxi was turned to Swiss cheese by gunfire from multiple submachine guns. The driver had fled the instant the middle-aged man had jumped in so he was not hurt, but Heivia still did not like it.

As they ran, the middle-aged man said, "You can call me Royce. I'm an Information Alliance journalist."

"No, don't introduce yourself!! That almost guarantees I'll be forced into getting involved in this!! Also, I don't want to be on a first name basis with someone I just met when it's a guy!"

"I would like to hand this off to you and get back to my normal life."

"If you try to force this onto me and run off, I will ignore all war treaties and shoot you in the back!!"

It seemed Royce's pursuers were following him in a vehicle. That gave them speed, but prevented them from making tight turns among the crowds of people and impromptu buildings. They realized the disadvantage the vehicle gave them and got out, but Heivia and Royce had gotten quite a ways away by then.

The two decided they had lost the enemy for the moment, so they exchanged information.

"So why is an Information Alliance journalist here?"

"Both for business and private reasons." As he spoke, Royce lightly touched the cell phone hanging from a strap around his neck. "My daughter was deployed here. I wanted to see what kind of place it was for myself."

"Deployed? So is she in the military?"

Heivia looked skeptical, but he then recalled that he himself was a minor out on the battlefield due to the situation in his noble family. The average age of those in the military had dropped, so it was not too surprising.

The reason Royce was subconsciously toying with his cell phone may have been because he had its background set to a photo of his daughter.

"Yes, and she hasn't even entered junior high school yet. She may be a bit too skilled," said the self-proclaimed journalist. "At her age, she should still be dreaming of being a princess of the Legitimacy Kingdom... The adults around her egg her on just for fun which has led to her domineering speech patterns and laugh. The way things are going, she will keep laughing loudly on top of the stage forever. I have no idea how she acts within her unit, though."

"Does that have anything to do with why you are being chased?"

"No, the current situation has to do with my job."

"What were you doing?"

"My original goal was to do some civilian level research into whether the Information Alliance military is performing its duties suitably. That said, all I can really do is intercept radio transmissions."

Hearing that, a bitter look appeared on Heivia's face.

"Did you pick up someone else's transmission?"

"It wasn't from any of the world powers. It was from an anti-establishment group. It seems they are opposed to the overwhelming firepower of Objects, and my curiosity got the better of me. I analyzed the signal and located a base of theirs. They noticed me when I was observing it from afar. And you can see where that got me."

"An anti-Object group," muttered Heivia in annoyance.

He knew people with those views existed all around the world and he could hardly deny that the destruction of the Oceanian military nation had caused such sentiments to spread. Also, Quenser and Heivia...or rather, the stories of them destroying Objects had pumped vitality into the anti-Object groups whether the two boys wanted it or not.

"So these people want to destroy an Object, and they just so happened to choose our Legitimacy Kingdom Object as their target?"

"If the information I intercepted is correct, yes."

"How do they plan to do it?" asked Heivia. "Destroying an Object is easier said than done. Even if they attack it while it sits motionlessly in the maintenance area, they aren't likely to even damage it. Even if they hit it directly with a large H-bomb, they can't get through that armor. How are they going to destroy that monstrous weapon?"

"There is a way," cut in Royce. "If there wasn't, I would not be working this hard to stop them...and they would not bother hunting me down to stop me."

===Part 8===

While wearing her usual special suit, the princess had headed to an impromptu arcade a bit away from where the party was being held. A tent had been set up to create a roof and several arcade machines were lined up underneath.

She had intended to spend only 10 or 20 minutes there to kill time until the party began.

However, the game she had chosen turned out to be a one-on-one multiplayer action game with an Object theme. Among all the Objects of various affiliations, the Baby Magnum had unfairly (or so she felt) low parameters in the game. Also, there was something about her opponent sitting at the machine opposite hers that bugged her. As such, the princess was unable to stop playing.

Because the two competing machines were facing each other, she could not see her opponent's face.

That meant her opponent could not see her either.

However...

"Oh ho ho!! Oh ho ho ho ho ho!! It seems you truly cannot stand up to the Gatling 033!! The specs of the original model and – more importantly – the view the people hold of it are simply that much greater!!"

"This game was made by the Information Alliance, so it is not surprising that the parameters would be skewed in their favor!! In fact, you should be ashamed of being unable to step into the ring without such handicaps!!"

"Oh? I have no idea who you are, but you must be truly unrefined to support that unrefined Legitimacy Kingdom Elite! Oh ho ho!!"

"I have no clue who you are, but no sane person would give any praise to that Information Alliance Elite!!"

The Legitimacy Kingdom and Information Alliance bodyguards hiding around the area using the two arcade machines as their defensive lines sensed that a firefight could break out at any moment. Nevertheless, both sides had the same thought in almost perfect unison.

''...I don't care who wins this game, but please end it so we can be freed from this job.

At the same time, Lieutenant Colonel Lendy Farolito of the Information Alliance held a video camera in one hand as she filmed the back of her unit's Elite who was giving that arcade game her all.

The silver-haired, brown-skinned woman had completely lost her usual look of a formidable tactician.

"Oh, dear. 50 wins and 53 losses. Is she finally losing her focus? Ah. It looks like she lost interest in the game and is walking off. No, stop shaking that cute butt like you're a baby duck. You're going to fall, you're going to fall. Ah! You fell. Oh, dear..."

A female subordinate of Lieutenant Colonel Lendy's cut in with some advice while making sure to stay out of the frame of the video camera footage. (She knew getting caught in frame would lead to a truly horrible fate.)

"Umm, I know this is something like being a doting parent, but you should not be filming her even if you are her commander. The Elite herself is considered valuable information by the military."

"What are you saying? Looking after the pilot Elite's mental health is part of our job. We cannot peer into people's hearts, so we have to gather that information from their everyday casual behavior," replied Lendy without hesitation. "By the way, why are you wearing a maid uniform?"

"Because I am a Capitalist Corporations mercenary. I do not want to have to carry around a sign all the time."

The blonde-haired, brown-skinned "mercenary" girl also had cat ears on her head.

However, Lendy was too focused on filming the Elite to look over at the "mercenary".

When the target of her filming headed off and hid behind something, she finally stopped filming.

"Huh? Where are you headed?" asked the "mercenary".

"Somewhere where maids and mercenaries are not needed."

Lendy Farolito pouted her lips, but still acted based on the information she had collected beforehand like anyone from the Information Alliance would.

"I am a bit upset with that Legitimacy Kingdom unit that keeps taking advantage of that poor girl."

===Part 9===

Three men carrying submachine guns with a caliber of over 5mm came to one section of the "cityscape". They were there to eliminate Heivia and Royce who had fled.

The "cityscape" was primarily a collection of tents and RVs, so it contained little that was sturdy enough to use as a shield in a firefight.

However, there were some exceptions.

For example, the area the trash was collected in.

A number of mining dump trucks made of steel were parked on the outskirts. For a fee, the trash from the area was gathered there. Afterwards, it was taken to a proper incinerator in one of the actual cities.

As the dump trucks were the type usually used for mining, they were as tall as a three story building. The tires were taller than a person and a twisting staircase was needed to reach the driver's seat. With a number of them lined up, the area was essentially surrounded by steel.

In the midst of it all, repeated short gunshots rang out.

The garbage men ran off, but the three men paid them no heed.

"(Kicker, Nexa. We need to escape afterwards, so we can't spend more than 5 minutes here. We need to finish this!!)"

"(But that guy has a rifle. His range is too great!)"

"(I'll fire like crazy to keep him in place. You two circle around behind the dump truck and shoot him!!)"

Suddenly, the sound of the gunshots coming from behind the dump truck changed. The noise was much higher-pitched and more cheap-sounding than before.

(He switched from his rifle to his side arm?)

As soon as they came to that conclusion, the three men moved forward to take the offensive.

"(He's out of ammo! We can overwhelm him now...)"

A strong, deep gunshot rang out and Nexa's head was smashed to pieces.

"Wha—...?"

While still in shock, two more bullets blasted into Kicker's gut and chest, knocking him to the ground.

The gunshots had most certainly not belonged to a handgun.

They had been the louder gunshots of the rifle that had supposedly run out of ammo.

(Shit! Did he purposefully switch over to his handgun despite having rifle ammo left to throw us off our guard!?)

The last remaining man tried to fall back, but it was too late.

With the advantage of numbers lost, the range and power difference between an assault rifle and a submachine gun was just too great.

Heivia Winchell silently drew closer without allowing even the slightest chance of a counterattack.

"You were right," said Heivia to Royce as he looked through the contents of the handheld device he had found in the armed men's belongings. "They've prepared a chemical combustion warhead. It's a bomb that mixes together naphtha, various fuels, and some chemicals to create flames that cannot be put out with water and spreads those flames 3 to 5 kilometers in every direction."

"It's basically the same thing as a Molotov cocktail. I've seen videos of it online."

"The warhead appears to be handmade, but the cruise missile it's loaded in and the mobile launcher are both Oceanian. The military regime had tanks and fighters deployed to areas around the country excluding where they had the Generation 0.5, so there was no lack of such items."

"The Craft Salamander III?"

"Sounds like some bland convenience store cream pasta, doesn't it? Well, weapon names have to be brought down to a level where even an idiot gets it. The point is to show off your obvious hostility," said Heivia as a cruel smile came to his lips. "The maximum range should be 1500 km. I believe it has a terrain calculation guidance system."

The one remaining question was how they planned to destroy an Object with it.

Even a direct hit from a large hydrogen bomb would not destroy an Object's armor. Also, chemical combustion warheads were anti-personnel weapons. Heivia did not see how one could destroy an Object.

Royce answered that question.

"Most likely, their target is not the Object itself."

"What?"

"Basically, they just have to make the Object unusable. And they can do that without attacking the thick armor of the Object. They can accomplish their goal by targeting the much more vulnerable human beings."

"...Are they after the Elite?"

It was not entirely impossible, but Heivia was still skeptical.

Anyone could tell there was a danger of an Elite being targeted when outside of the Object. That was why they always had a special unit of bodyguards with them and were constantly accompanied by an armored vehicle with a perfectly air tight interior in case of firefights, explosives, or chemical and biological weapons.

Even if a cruise missile loaded with a chemical combustion warhead was headed straight for the Elite, she simply had to climb aboard that armored vehicle the instant it was detected. That would negate any damage from heat or smoke.

"No," replied Royce. "Their target is the maintenance soldiers. It does not matter if they do not have any particularly important duties or information. The chemical combustion warhead can cover several kilometers in every direction with flames. If the maintenance soldiers are gathered in a single place, a large majority can be eliminated. If hundreds of maintenance soldiers are lost all at once, the Object can no longer function. Even if it still has a pilot and a commander, the Object cannot function without those at the bottom who keep it running."

"So they're stopping it by destroying the Object's surroundings rather than the Object itself, hm?"

However, something bothered Heivia about that.

(That isn't too different from our idea to destroy that computer in the Loyauté district.)

That gave Heivia a bad feeling, but he continued the conversation.

"The crucial Elite and commander are one thing, but the unit can hardly have bodyguards for every single maintenance soldier. They might actually have a chance if they really are trying to crush them all at once." Heivia thought for a bit and then changed the subject slightly. "Since they prepared the mobile launcher and cruise missile, they are probably planning to detonate it in midair."

"I would assume so. If it is not detonated in midair, its effects would not spread as far. ...But I only know what I was able to find on military websites."

"The Craft Salamander III," said Heivia. "From the range of the missile, and the locations of the city and the maintenance base, they will most likely be targeting the maintenance base zone and the cityscape spread out around it. ...Hah. It seems they aren't directly targeting anyone from your Information Alliance."

"So? What I must do remains the same."

"Why would you help protect a Legitimacy Kingdom military facility?"

"I have both business and private reasons for that." Royce wiped sweat from his face. "As a journalist, I cannot simply sit by doing nothing as a threat like this approaches the people of Oceania. If spreading information would increase the danger, temporarily holding it back is good manners, but that does apply here. However, spreading the information now would not give people enough time to evacuate, so I feel I should use the information I have received in a different way in order to avert this catastrophe."

"And what is your private reason?"

"I told you my daughter has been deployed to Oceania, remember? Preserving the concept of the clean battlefield will help preserve the safety of my daughter. I cannot have that concept lost due to some terrorist attack."

"I see," muttered Heivia.

He could trust a real reason like that much more than some sterilized "for the greater good" reason.

"We need to find out where the launcher is located," said Heivia in a low voice. "If we know that, we can try to attack before the missile is launched or intercept it if it has already launched."

"Fine, but we have no time," said Royce to make sure Heivia understood. "From the fragments of information I picked up over the radio, their attack is going to begin soon. It is probably because the majority of the group is preparing the attack that we had so few pursuers."

===Part 10===

After wasting more time than she had expected at the arcade, the princess walked along the tent-filled "cityscape" on the way to the Legitimacy Kingdom party.

The Legitimacy Kingdom bodyguards were still spread out around her and an armored vehicle also accompanied her, but she still decided to travel on foot.

The unorganized layout of the tents and forceful flow of pedestrian traffic prevented the smooth travel of the vehicle. She felt she would make better time on foot.

The princess recalled the exchange she had had back in the arcade.

To the very end, she had never seen her opponent's face.

(Honestly. I do not know if that was some sightseer from the Information Alliance or what, but the way they control all information about Elites and treat them like idols is like some kind of creepy brainwashing.)

The Legitimacy Kingdom treated their own Elites like patriotic heroes and rallied support from the people by spreading doubtful stories about them being part of legendary bloodlines that stretch hundreds of years into the past. Both were completely ridiculous ways to treat them, but it is hard to notice how odd the environment one has been immersed in all one's life is. It was similar to not noticing the smell of one's own house.

As the princess walked among all the tents and RVs, she suddenly stopped.

Her bodyguards all thought "Don't tell me there's something else!?", but the target of their protection had the right to choose what she did.

The princess looked over at a store filled with joke goods.

Due to the season, it contained a lot of Christmas-themed trees, wreaths, and red boots. It also had some Santa Claus costumes for sale.

(...)

When she had gone swimming earlier that day, Quenser had seemed incredibly disappointed for some reason.

She still had no idea what he had been hoping for, but it seemed wearing her work outfit while on leave was not the right thing to do.

She guessed it had something to do with everything having a proper time and place.

"Santa Claus... Santa Claus," muttered the princess as she headed into the store.

The tanned shop owner seemed especially courteous because she was wearing the special suit of an Elite. That meant she was the representative of a nation which in turn meant she would have a lot of money.

He was not wrong in that line of thinking, but the princess had no interest in money and so she had no idea how much money she had in her bank account.

The princess's bodyguards starting showing an interest in her actions as they secretly began to wonder, "Oh, is our princess finally awakening to her sex appeal?"

"Could you put together a Santa Claus outfit for me?" she asked.

What she got in return was an overly standard Santa Claus outfit made up of a baggy red shirt, pants of the same color, and a fake white beard.

"Don't go with that boring thing!!" shouted the bodyguards in their hearts, but that expressionless girl was not going to absorb the ideas of Japanese moe so quickly.

However, the look in the princess's eyes changed when she glanced over at a 3D monitor that used diffraction sitting in a corner of the tent.

It was playing footage from an Information Alliance idol Elite's concert from a few days ago.

"Yayyy!! This may be a bit early, but I think I will give you the gift of a night of dreams about a sexy miniskirt Santa!! Oh ho ho!!"

It was unclear how much of the footage was real and how much was VFX, but the image underwent a dazzling change. The blonde ringlet curl, G-cup idol shook her body while wearing a red and white Santa costume that appeared to be a modified Elite special suit.

For a while, the princess's expression grew even more expressionless than usual, but she finally pointed at the screen and spoke to the shop owner.

"Give me something that outdoes that."

After being transformed into a miniskirt Santa for the tropical southern hemisphere, the princess headed to the Legitimacy Kingdom party.

(This does not seem like a very practical outfit.)

The princess looked down at her clothes.

(Well, as long as Quenser likes it. But will he really like this???)

The party seemed to have already begun. The Legitimacy Kingdom soldiers had divided up into groups where they chatted as they drank and ate. Everyone's eyes turned toward the princess and they subsequently did nothing but stare at her. The princess could not tell if it was a good thing or a bad thing that they were acting like they had seen something they could not believe.

(Where is Quenser?)

After glancing around, the princess spotted the person she was looking for at one end of the party.

However...

"It's not the same!! My actual siblings may try not to hurt my feelings, but they never say anything against how my family treats me!! You're the only one that does, Quenser!! I was saying that you're the most like a big brother to me!!"

The princess froze in place when she spotted Froleytia dead drunk and Quenser being held tightly by that large-breasted commander.

Also...

At that time, Lendy Farolito arrived at the party.

The mood of the Legitimacy Kingdom party was naturally ruined at the arrival of an enemy officer accompanied by Information Alliance soldiers. It was a potentially explosive situation, but they were in a cooperative relationship due to the coalition and the party was not located within the Legitimacy Kingdom base.

They had no legitimate reason to turn her away.

Lendy herself had not hesitated to head into the party because she was well aware of that.

An Information Alliance commander had arrived.

How would the Legitimacy Kingdom commander react?

Naturally, everyone's attention turned to Froleytia.

[[Image:HO_v04_11.jpg|thumb]]

"I won't let you have him!! Quenser is my big brother and I won't let anyone else have him!!"

"Remember your position here. I'm the small, cute one."

A large-breasted miniskirt bikini Santa and an expressionless miniskirt Santa were fighting over a single boy. Lendy Farolito froze in place when she saw the Legitimacy Kingdom major who was otherwise occupied.

And then...

"Outta the way!!"

"Oh, man. This catfight will make an excellent gamble!!"

"Yeah, it's not like any of us would ever have a chance with beauties whose positions and ranks are so much higher than ours."

A portion of the Legitimacy Kingdom soldiers who saw the fight as a chance to make some money quickly moved to the center of the disturbance and circled them. Lendy's path to the other commander was lost.

(I took a risk and tried to contact her in a way that would garner as much attention as possible, but they aren't paying any attention to me!!)

The Information Alliance found value in the authenticity of information and in the methods used to disseminate and acquire such information, so that was a regretful turn of events.

When Lendy realized the person Froleytia had both her arms latched onto was the very same combat engineer boy that had secretly drawn the attention of a certain Information Alliance Elite, Lendy's emotions quickly reached their limit.

"Y-You womanizer!!"

"Now someone I don't even know is giving me an incredible title!! If I ever get business cards made, I'm definitely putting that one on there!!"

Froleytia then realized Quenser's attention had turned toward someone other than herself.

"Who the hell are you? ...I won't let you have Quenser! He's my big brother!!"

"I do not wish to have him!!" shouted Lendy while just barely managing to remain civil. "One of your men has been taking advantage of our Elite, so I thought I would stop by in the name of scouting him while actually having some fun throwing your human relations out of order. I never thought he was this dangerous, though... I must report this. I need to have a family meeting with that girl tonigh—...cough cough!!"

Lendy started choking a bit from yelling too much and reached over for a drink, but no civilian waiter was walking nearby.

Froleytia grabbed a glass filled with a clear liquid.

"Here, have some water. Honestly, can't you do anything for yourself?" she grumbled.

"Hm? That glass..."

The combat engineer boy being held by Froleytia seemed to realize something, but Lendy had already gulped down the contents of the glass.

And...

"Cough!? Cough cough!! Th-This isn't water! It's vodka!!"

"What!? How dare you refuse to drink the water my big brother prepared!"

"Damn you. You have some nerve to do this to an officer from the Information Alliance where the truth and untruth of information is directly linked to right and wrong..."

The expressionless miniskirt Santa then passed her another drink.

"Calm down. Have another glass to wash the bad taste out of your mouth."

"Oh, excellent idea. I think I can actually trust yo—...bbhh!! Th-Th-This one is shochu!? Hic."

Her complaint suddenly trailed off.

Just as Quenser started to get a very bad feeling about what was to come...

"And another thing!!" shouted Lendy.

"Wah!?"

"What are you thinking!? You're tearing down the framework of the Information Alliance and Legitimacy Kingdom for that poor girl!! Do you understand how much of an incredible tragedy this is for her!?"

As Lendy Farolito approached with long strides, Froleytia seemed to sense some kind of danger.

She squeezed herself against Quenser even harder than before.

"I won't let you have my big brother!!"

"I didn't say anything to you!! I was clearly speaking to that womanizer!"

"Don't look at her, Quenser! Look at me!!"

"Out of the way, drunk!! I need to lecture that womanizer!!"

Despite their words being directed at Quenser, the two drunks were looking only at each other.

"..."

All the while, the princess increased her wordless and expressionless intimidating presence.

A veritable storm was brewing.

Quenser could clearly feel it coming, so he tried to come up with a way to have the situation settle down. With how the princess looked subtly displeased while secretly entering dangerous territory, Quenser doubted she fit into any existing category of Japanese moe, but he had to do something about the danger before his eyes instead of focusing on that.

"W-Wait, you two. Why don't you calm dow—..."

"I hope you're prepared to fight!!"

"If it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get!!"

With that exchange that seemed more a form of a greeting than the beginning of a fight, Froleytia Capistrano and Lendy Farolito began glaring at each other at extremely close range.

That was when the soldiers of the Legitimacy Kingdom and Information Alliance witnessed a bizarre phenomenon.

They could not explain it with any standard means.

The boy who had come to the battlefield to study Object design had his head disappear.

Or to be more accurate...

His head was completely buried in the large breasts of the two women grabbing at him.

===Part 11===

Given the situation, Heivia and Royce had to act on their own, but they had no real reason to keep the information to themselves.

As they took action, they contacted the police special forces and a Legitimacy Kingdom Object other than the Baby Magnum and its Mobile Maintenance Battalion. They made a request for the Object to prepare its anti-air lasers. If Heivia had gotten Froleytia to do that, it probably would have gone a lot smoother though.

And then...

They heard a major change to the situation come in via a radio transmission.

"Speed Killer is ready. We can use the anti-air lasers at any time. Even if a cruise missile is fired at the city, we can intercept it with 97% accuracy."

"Wait, wait!!"

"According to the satellite, the mobile launcher is located 20 kilometers northwest of where the 37th Mobile Maintenance Battalion is stationed. If we know the starting point and ending point, we know its flight path. There is no way it will slip past us."

"Is this information correct!? Are you sure their cruise missile is targeting that convoy of some VIPs travelling 30 kilometers southeast of here and not the maintenance soldiers scattered throughout the impromptu cityscape!?"

"It seems they are conversing over cell phones that use a civilian satellite as well as via normal radio. However, we have people with special devices to intercept those signals. We got the information from there. There is no mistaking this."

"And..." Heivia chose his words carefully. "Is there also no mistaking the fact that the Object's anti-air laser defense is set to shoot down the cruise missile halfway through its flight?"

"Halfway? ...That would mean it's right above the impromptu cityscape!" shouted Royce, but Heivia had already figured out what they were after when he had asked the question.

The commander in charge of the Speed Killer replied, "The convoy being targeted is carrying a lieutenant general and a brigadier general. That chemical combustion warhead must be shot down."

"..."

"A chemical combustion warhead only has its intended effects when the proper materials are mixed together and mixed with the air upon detonation at the proper altitude. If it is shot down by an anti-air laser, there is almost no chance of a large, several kilometer explosion occurring."

"But there is still some chance, right?"

"Even so," immediately replied the commander. "The Elite and commander will have airtight armored vehicles accompanying them that can withstand biological and chemical weapons. As long as the bare minimum is protected, that is all that matters. And of course the Object itself will not be destroyed by anything of that level. Also, I am putting you under a gag order to prevent a panic. Any further communications are—..."

Heivia clicked his tongue and switched off his radio.

Royce then shouted at him with such force that he almost grabbed at the boy.

"What is going on!? Are they planning to let everyone in this city die? And if those airtight armored vehicles can withstand the heat and flames, what does it matter if the cruise missile directly hits that convoy!?"

"Don't ask me. He was probably forced into this decision by those higher officers. ...And I get the feeling this is exactly what the ones using the chemical combustion warhead want."

"?"

"They used the satellite cell phones to purposefully allow the military to intercept the transmissions. As they expected, the military plans to set up a defensive line to shoot the missile down halfway through its flight. ...And that is in the perfect spot to roast all the maintenance soldiers in my unit as you predicted."

"It can't be...But that means..."

"If you simply shoot a cruise missile in Oceania, one of the many Objects will shoot it down before it reaches its target. But that just means you have to create a plan based on the assumption it will get shot down."

"But that horrible commander said the odds are low a large explosion will occur if the cruise missile is shot down with an anti-air laser!"

"If they know it will be shot down, they can change those odds," Heivia searched through the handheld device belonging to one of the armed men he had shot. "I saw this diagram of the warhead before, but now that I look closer, something is off about it. The different chemicals are packaged separately. If it reached its target like this, nothing would happen."

"Wait, you mean the chemicals will only be mixed together in midair if it it's shot down?"

"From this design, I'd say they want it shot down. The chemicals are stored under high pressure which I guess is to ensure they scatter everywhere when the container bursts. If we leave this to the Object's anti-air lasers, this city will be swallowed up in a sea of flames!!"

They knew where the enemy's mobile launcher was.

Without getting permission, Heivia borrowed a Legitimacy Kingdom off-road vehicle that was parked on the road with the key in the ignition.

Royce shouted, "What are you going to do!?"

"Isn't it obvious? We came this far on our own, so we just have to finish it that way!! Royce, if you want to help, fill that drum up with gasoline!!"

Royce followed Heivia's instructions, but he still had questions.

He climbed into the passenger seat of the off-road vehicle and they drove out of the impromptu city.

"I know we have to stop this, but do you really think we can destroy that mobile launcher!? We had enough trouble with just those 3 pursuers. Their main force is going to be concentrated around that launcher!!"

"Shut up! We don't have time!!"

A cloud of sand blew into the air as the off-road vehicle drove off into a dry wasteland.

They were still 20 kilometers from the mobile launcher.

The armed group would have its firepower concentrated around that launcher. Also, they had no reason to wait. They would be launching the cruise missile as soon as possible.

"Shit! That light!!" shouted Royce.

A bright flash of light could be seen beyond the horizon and a signal flare-like point of light shot up into the night sky. However, the distances were simply too great. A signal flare would not produce enough light.

"They fired it!! That was the cruise missile loaded with the chemical combustion warhead!!"

"Tch. Can we make it in time!?"

Heivia slammed on the brakes and drove in an S-pattern as the tires slid. In the end, he finally managed to stop the off-road vehicle safely.

He then jumped down onto the sandy ground.

"We weren't on our way to attack the armed group and destroy the launcher!?"

"I never thought we would make it in time for that!!" shouted back Heivia, bringing a look of shock to Royce's face.

Royce then thought Heivia must have been running away before the explosion to save himself, but Heivia headed to the back of the off-road vehicle.

"As long as we keep the missile from continuing on its intended course, we can prevent the impromptu cityscape and the maintenance soldiers from being sacrificed! If it flies off in some other direction, their plan involving the anti-air laser will fail!!"

"Are you planning to jam it?"

"The Craft Salamander III's guidance system uses terrain calculations. It measures the ups and downs of the terrain it passes over to determine what corrections need to be made to its course. As long as it has 3-5 pages of documentation on the terrain between the launch point and the arrival point, it can aim itself quite accurately."

"Does that documentation come from satellite photos?"

"Normally. Simple aerial photos should work just as well. But in that case, the documentation cannot be updated in real time, so it all has to be researched beforehand and the launch location cannot be changed," explained Heivia. "Naturally, if aerial photos to determine its course are inputted, no communication is needed after launch. While GPS navigation requires a constant exchange of information with the satellite, this method has no risk of being stopped with jamming."

"Then what can we do!? How are we supposed to oppose a cruise missile flying at supersonic speeds!? Don't tell me you plan to aim your rifle into the air and shoot it down!!"

"I'll be doing something a little flashier than that."

Heivia used both hands to pick up the drum filled with gasoline that had been loaded in the off-road vehicle.

He opened the large metal container, tipped it over, and spread the gasoline around the wasteland.

"Be mindful of the wind. It can carry vaporized gasoline."

"What are you doing? The cruise missile is already in the air!! It will pass by overhead before too long!!"

"As I said, the Craft Salamander III's guidance system uses terrain calculations. It periodically compares the data held in its chips to the actual ups and downs of the terrain below it to correct its course." After the last of the gasoline had left the drum, Heivia casually threw the empty container to the side. "That just means we have to make sure it can't compare the two sets of data."

He then pulled out a cigar lighter from the driver's seat of the off-road vehicle.

He glanced out at the hot, red ground.

"We just have to do something like this!!"

The instant after Heivia threw the cigar lighter, a giant explosion filled a portion of the wasteland.

In an instant, a massive amount of light and heat was produced along with a shockwave.

Afterwards, black smoke rose up into the night sky. The black smoke filled the entire area the explosion had encompassed.

A white point of light shot by above their heads with tremendous speed.

"What? That isn't the right direction."

"The flash of light and the smoke prevented it from checking on the terrain," said Heivia as he held a hand in front of his face to protect his eyes from the orange light. "If it can't correct its course, there's nothing to worry about. Now we just have to wait for the Speed Killer to deal with it. It doesn't matter if the anti-air laser brings the chemical combustion warhead down over empty desert." He collapsed into a sitting position and wiped sweat from his brow. "I can get things done too when I don't have to face one of those monstrous weapons."

===Part 12===

After saving the Oceanian people and the rest of his mobile maintenance battalion, Private First Class Heivia Winchell finally made it to the Christmas party.

"I made it...I finally made it to utopia!! Thank you, me!! The great Heivia is simply too powerful!! Now, time to eat, drink, and enjoy the view of a huge-breasted Santa!! We're gonna have some fun tonight and maybe have some enjoyable incidents to keep as memories!!"

But...

The large table that should have had plenty of food lined up on it was covered in nothing but large, empty plates. The plates had a bit of red sauce on them, but the waiters were in the process of removing them from the table.

No food or drink could be found.

Heivia refused to accept that truth and shook his head.

"Don't tell me it's already ov—...No, no, not yet!! The most important part is still left! Santa's time to shine is after all the good children have gone to bed!! There has to be one around here somewhere. After overcoming all that danger, there has to be some reward for me!!"

Heivia searched around the party area with his eyes as wide as plates, but he found nothing but waiters cleaning up. Every single one of the soldiers who had surely been celebrating there had left and a huge-breasted Santa was nothing but a dream within a dream. Heivia could not even spot a single waitress.

For an instant, Heivia's face lost all expression.

But in the next instant, his face twisted as if he was about to cry tears of blood and he shouted, "This is a desert!! This is nothing but a dried-up desert!!"

It was at that moment that Heivia spotted Quenser Barbotage trudging toward him with legs just as unsteady as Heivia's. Seeing his companion's face, Heivia brought up his guard.

"Don't tell me you had to head through a battlefield of your own. No, wait!! I was the hero tonight! I'm the most exhausted! And that's why the biggest reward should go to me!! I won't give any of it up even to you!!"

However, Quenser was too far gone to hear him.

Before he made it over to Heivia, Quenser collapsed down onto the hardened sand of the ground. Heivia approached in confusion and Quenser tried to speak with his mouth moving open and closed.

"Ti..."

"What is it, Quenser? 'Ti'? What do you mean 'ti'!?"

"...Tits village..."

All strength left Quenser's body and his face grew even paler. Heivia let out a cry of lamentation.

"What kind of dying message is that!? There's too much deep meaning there!! What happened? Hey, Quenser! Quenseeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!"

<noinclude>
==References and Translation Notes==
<references />

{{HEAVYOBJECT Nav|prev=HEAVY OBJECT:Volume4 Chapter 1|next=HEAVY OBJECT:Volume4 Chapter 3}}</noinclude>

Hyouka:Volume 3 Chapter 2-1

2012-09-26T00:19:43Z

216.239.45.4:

{{Incomplete|percentage=43}}

== 2-1 Has Something Happened With the Classics Club? ==

005 - ♥02

Saying "I enjoyed this a lot" may sound easy, but is actually a pretty difficult task. Rather than the possibility of the difference in one's level of understanding, a more important factor would be the difference in one's level of interest. When watching a magic performance, a dense person would not even understand even a hundredth of what was going on. On the other hand, if one had the ability to see through a magician's trick, then no matter how much entertainment he may see, while he may try to enjoy to his heart's content, there's no way he could have enjoyed it sufficiently.

It was morning, and I was walking to school earlier than usual, as the Kamiyama High School Cultural Festival starts today. Seeing Fukube Satoshi constantly repeating "Ohh, I'm so looking forward to enjoying this," I felt compelled to mischievously tell him the above, to which Satoshi responded with a frightful smile and slowly shook his head.

"An excellent idea, was what I wanted to say, but you're too naive, Houtarou,"

"Oh? How so?"

"For a person like you who was raised on nothing but boorishness to even think of lecturing me on my enjoyment, you're too naive," he said as he raised his index finger and swung it left and right as though acting.

"Of course I already knew that it was useless to try to enjoy myself deep down, within the marrow of my bones. The most important aspect of Epicureanism is to be able to separate one's senses. It's just as important as the day when you finally give up your energy-saving ways and actually work hard on a test."

"Like hell that day would arrive. Anyway, what's this about separation of your senses? What does that have to do with you being able to say you'll enjoy yourself?"

"All right, then let me enlighten you. First, I wouldn't think of saying something like "I'm gonna enjoy a lot," as I'm a fairly easy to please person. You know what I'm good at resigning myself to? Just from the point of view of Houtarou the Boorish."

''Do you know?'' Satoshi gestured as he finished his sentence. Fleeting a glimpse at him, as I had no intention of bursting his bubble, I said nothing. Sensing I had no intention to answer, he lowered his voice as though informing me of a secret and said, "Even if I'm not good at enjoying myself......"

"......"

He gave a broad smile.

"I could still look forward to people giving me their enjoyment!"

Oh boy.

Ignoring my cold expression, Satoshi continued with his talk of how he's still "gonna enjoy this." I could do nothing but keep quiet and smile bitterly.

Fukube Satoshi. I have been hanging out with this fellow since junior high.

From his appearance, Satoshi was a person with brown eyes and a slim figure that might be mistaken as that of a girl when seen from afar. And while he may seem like a weakling, he has developed some amazing leg muscles due to his penchant for cycling.

Though his real features lie with his mental state. You may have caught a glimpse of that from our conversation just now; he can be pretty forceful in abandoning his studies and social life casually. Already a member of the Handicraft Club and the General Committee, he decided to join the Classics Club as well simply because "it sounded interesting."

He is never seen without his drawstring bag in his hand, though I have no idea of its contents. All I can say is that it contains all sorts of stuff.

In the road ahead, we could see Kamiyama High School appearing. The outer walls weren't painted pink due to the Cultural Festival, and seen from afar, it looked no different from any other regular high school. However, within its grounds were flourishing all sorts of activities concerning the Cultural Festival. In order to prepare for the festival, classes were suspended since yesterday.

The body of students heading towards school looked different today. While there were many in their uniforms, there were also many from other clubs in their casual wear. And there were many who did not carry any bag with them, as there was no need to bring any scholastic equipment. Due to such discrepancies, even I could feel the expectation that something different from usual was about to start.

Though Kamiyama High School is a school geared towards students entering university, it didn't have that many supplementary classes, neither did it have a particularly high record of students entering famous universities. If you were to ask the students of Kamiyama High School what its specialty was, only one in ten would have said it specializes in university entrance exams. The other nine would answer "It's a school known for its vibrant Arts-related club activities." There are many kinds of arts-related clubs in Kami High, and its activities too are various. And the highlight of these activities would of course be the Cultural Festival, which was rare amongst high schools for its number of days, with one day for preparation and three whole days for the main event.

Satoshi suddenly raised his voice cheerfully.

"And besides... Why, Houtarou, isn't that Mayaka?"

He pointed to a girl in front of us. She was dressed in casual wear comprising of a red cardigan and white brocade trousers, but I couldn't tell whether she was Ibara Mayaka from behind. Though I've known her since elementary school, I've rarely seen her in casual wear since junior high. But if Satoshi says it's her, then it has to be.

For many times Ibara had confessed her love to Satoshi, yet while Satoshi was not one to fall into self-loathing, he had chosen to evade her advances time and time again. I couldn't figure out why he's done so even if I wanted to.

"I'll be going on ahead."

He turned and said that before running off towards that girl ahead of us.

006 - ♣02

As I moved forward, I was certain that it was indeed Mayaka. Though seeking Houtarou out in a crowd was like trying to look for a needle in a haystack, there was no way I could miss Mayaka. I ran up and tapped her on the shoulder.

"Hey, Mayaka. Morning!"

Knowing her, she would have stared at me and said "Hey! That hurts!" Which was why I only tapped her softly. Though it seemed Mayaka didn't seem to be in that mood today, as she became stiff and turned her head slowly.

"...Morning."

She muttered only that and turned back forward. ''Ahh, I see.'' I exclaimed to myself and smiled (which was what I'm good at; I've long forgotten how to make a serious face), and I answered Mayaka's anxiety.

"Your costume suits you."

"R-really?"

"So, who are you cospla..."

I could not finish my sentence, as I could feel a jab into my stomach. Great aim. Due to that hit, my abdominal muscles quickly lost their strength, so its effect was immediate.

Mayaka murmured with a dangerous glimmer in her eyes, "Don't use that term in front of normal people."

Well, I don't think "costume play" would be considered taboo nowadays. Though I do get that Mayaka's feeling pretty embarrassed about it, so I wouldn't say anything. By the way, I already knew that she was planning to cosplay today. Mayaka's Manga Studies Club had asked for permission from the General Committee to turn up in casual clothing. As there were not enough changing rooms at school, the General Committee granted that permission.

Mayaka wore off-white brocade trousers and a scarlet cardigan. It was a pragmatic costume that was able to withstand the cool autumn winds of early October. Some accessories were attached to her cardigan, and inside she wore a white collared shirt, and a thick looking belt was wrapped around her abdomen. The main point would probably be this belt.

I looked at her costume from top to bottom. Hmm, I just don't have a clue. Guess I'll ask her again.

"So, what costume is this?"

Like a rat trying not to alert the cat, I carefully chose the right words so that Mayaka may accept my question. She quickly looked forward and said in a detached manner,

"Frol,"

"Frol? Frolbericheri Frol<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Were_Eleven</ref>? You're wearing her costume?"

"Yeah... I also brought this handbag."

I wouldn't get what she was referring to even if she said so. Well, that's what Mayaka wanted to wear after all. When she learned that her club required her to come in cosplay, being the shy person that she is, she would definitely choose a character that was hard to recognize.

Ibara Mayaka. As I was a guy, she was way shorter than me, but then as a girl she was way shorter than others. If she wasn't dressed in her sailor uniform, she would no doubt be mistaken as an elementary schoolkid. And right now, Mayaka wasn't dressed in her sailor uniform. And it's not just her figure that's small, just observing from the features of her face alone, one could say Mayaka was baby-faced.

Yet it was hard to figure out Mayaka's vigorous sense of justice from her childish expression emanating from her childish face. For example, when she's angry, she would simply bite her lips. Naturally, nothing can replace the smile that she was born with. (On the other hand, from my years of hanging out with him, Houtarou sure has bad eyes for not being able to notice that.)

I'd better stop looking into someone cosplaying a character she didn't feel like cosplaying, so I began spinning my drawstring bag and said, "Well, anyway, good luck with your role. I'll pop in at the Manga Studies Club later."

Mayaka showed some shyness as she nodded softly.

"You have to contribute articles for the Manga Club as well, right?"

"Yeah."

"I read it... Must be tough, to hold similar positions in both the Classics Club and Manga Club."

"It is tough. Since nobody else was willing to contribute."

I was originally planning to congratulate her for her hard work, but all of a sudden her gaze suddenly became sharp. Oops, looks like the conversation is headed in the wrong direction. For the Classics Club manuscript to arrive so late, no matter how one looks at it, I couldn't offer any excuse. So I decided to change the topic.

"Ah... so, Mayaka, you'll be with the Manga Studies Club all day then?"

Though she didn't look pleased that the topic was changed, she nodded.

"Will you be stopping by the Classics Club?"

"Nah, it's probably impossible for me to leave the Manga Club in the morning. And besides, it's not worth it for me to just stop by... I really ought to have followed things through."

I deepened my smile and patted Mayaka on the back.

"Try not to think too much about it! It can't be helped once you wake up from it!"

Mayaka gave an ambiguous smile and nodded at my words. No, this doesn't look right. Such a grey-looking smile wouldn't be what makes Mayaka look great.

Even though Mayaka said she's fine with it, there are occasions when Houtarou expresses doubt at my evasion of her advances. Well, Houtarou was never one to flatter people. I could tell him the reason, but I wasn't sure if he would understand even a tenth of it. To begin with, this is a problem between me and Mayaka alone, so it doesn't matter whether Houtarou understands it or not.

Before we realized, we had arrived at the school gates. I turned to have a look at the gates, which had huge, colourful flowers hanging over them. This was the hard work of the General Committee, made to welcome visitors to the Cultural Festival. A banner hung from the outside of one of the windows of the school building, which read "The 42nd Kamiyama High School Cultural Festival."

And so it begins.

I wonder if I'm making a face that's trying to enjoy all this. As I was in a trance looking at the school grounds, Mayaka suddenly jabbed her elbow at me.

"Fuku-chan... Try not to do anything silly during the Cultural Festival, okay? While you may not find it embarrassing, it'd be embarrassing enough for me."

Heh, guess I'm not trusted at all, eh?

But that doesn't mean I won't do anything!

007 - ♥03

There's this hard object resting in my pocket, and for some time it's been bothering me.

It was the fountain pen, or to be more precise, the trash known as the unusable fountain pen. The ink had long run out, and I was entrusted by my sis to take care of it. Last night, as I didn't want to just toss it on the floor, I brought it to my room, intending to throw it away there. But it seemed I ended up bringing it along with my handkerchief. While it's pretty much useless now, who knows what role it would play as time goes on.

I toyed with the pen by flipping its cap on and off, making a clicking sound as I walked up the stairs. My destination was the Classics Club room on the fourth floor.

Seen from above, Kamiyama High School appears as an H-shape. On one side was the General Block with its regular classrooms, while on the other side would be the Special Block with its arts and science related classrooms. They are joined in the middle by a connecting corridor. When seen from further above, one would see the corridor from the General Block extending towards the Gymnasium.

The Geology Lecture Room, which is used by the Classics Club as their club room, is located in the Special Block. And it's all the way in the corner at the end of the corridor. If Kamiyama High School was the whole world, then this would be its periphery. Normally, we'd curse about how far the club room was while also feeling grateful for how serene it was. Yet with the Cultural Festival upon us, we had to consider another factor, the fact that being located in such a remote corner of the school means we're doubtful of getting any visitors.

In every floor, you would see posters, mascots and advertising boards in all different shades of colour, though that's only up to the third floor. In the fourth floor, all you get is a barren landscape. You won't even see any ads for shopping malls or chain stores. To begin with, there aren't many clubs based up here anyway.

Still, we've put up a few posters in some hard to miss spots promoting the Classics Club, but even that was not enough to enliven the mood of this god-forsaken place. Personally, I prefer this sort of tranquility, but it's troublesome for the Classics Club as an organization, particularly for its president, who sees it as something quite worrying.

I slid open the door of the Geology Room. The girl sitting in the centre of this dreary room stood up upon seeing me enter.

"Good morning, Oreki-san," she said and bowed deeply, her long black hair flowing as she did. This was Chitanda, president of the Classics Club. I reckoned she was probably the first to arrive.

Chitanda Eru is a girl with jet black hair extending all the way to her back as well as pupils of the same colour. Gentle in her demeanor, she was rather tall and well-proportioned for a girl. Her calm way of speaking gives one the impression that she's an elegant lady with a prestigious upbringing. In fact, she is the only daughter of the Chitanda clan, known for being the owners of large tracts of farmland.

However, if you ask me, this elegant Japanese lady image is not Chitanda's true nature.

Amongst her mature features, only her large eyes betray her true character. Possessing a sense of curiosity which has exploded many times before and will continue to explode in the future, this was Chitanda Eru. Ever since I entered school, I and the Classics Club have been involved in many bothersome events thanks to her curiosity. My life motto has always been "If I don't have to do it, I won't. If I have to do it, make it quick." But so far I have been unable to adhere to it, and it's all her fault.

Chitanda lifted her head and made a soft smile. Though she wears her heart on her sleeve, she would rarely express her feelings in an exaggerated way. Rather, she does it in moderation.

"The day has finally arrived."

"So it seems."

"Let's give it our all!"

"Yeah."

I nodded.

Looking at the pile of objects lined up between me and Chitanda, I groaned.

"...You say give it our all, but do you have any idea how we're gonna get this sorted?"

We're talking about none other than the Classics Club essay anthology, "Hyouka." A rather queer name for a title; as for why it had such a queer name, that's a long story. Each volume was bound nicely in a vinyl coating which went through adhesive surface treatment, on its dark brown cover was an illustration of a dog and rabbit biting each other. This cover design was derived from the first ever volume of "Hyouka," which was made in a water-paint style, though this year Ibara decided to draw it in a cute style. Objectively speaking, it didn't look bad at all.

The people working on this anthology included me and Chitanda, and while Satoshi did contribute, he only participated in writing his part of the manuscript. Of course, even after the manuscript was completed, the anthology wouldn't be finished right away. There would still be work involving confirming the number of pages, choosing the right font and paper type, arranging the manuscripts, placing the page numbers, etc, before submitting to the publisher for printing. All that was left to Ibara, who also worked on the other illustrations as well.

While we were consulted on matters concerning the design of the anthology, we were merely confirming Ibara's choices. Seeing how troublesome it looked for her to have to work on so many details, both Chitanda and I had offered to help her many times.

Yet Ibara had turned our offers down, saying she's used to doing such stuff, so it's no big deal to her, and how she can easily handle this amount of work. Besides, she said it would be quite bothersome to teach an amateur from scratch. Hearing her say that, Chitanda decided to relent on helping.

And so, the anthology "Hyouka" is finally complete. In fact, it was a job well done. Very well done, indeed.

Upon seeing the final product, Ibara went speechless.

When she brought them over to us the day before yesterday, we too became speechless.

...The pile of objects lined up between me and Chitanda were the "Hyouka" anthologies. Rather than "pile," "stack" would be a more appropriate description. Even "mountain" would not sound far-fetched.

Before, we had only planned on making an order to print thirty copies of "Hyouka". Taking one for ourselves, as well as one each for our supervisor and one to keep for archiving, it would leave us with twenty-four left to sell, which was how many we expected to sell.

However, the number of copies somehow ended up being more than we expected.

About seven times more.

I learned that even for a thin anthology like this, two hundred copies of them stacked together was enough to form a "mountain."

To ask us to give our all selling all these is an extremely tall task. Upon hearing my grumble, Chitanda became lost for words as her smile went stiff.

"...Umm, while giving our all may not guarantee everything, I'm sure we'll still achieve something!"

The problem would be how much effort we should be giving then, but...

The door behind us opened; it was Satoshi. Lifting his right arm, he greeted us.

"Hi there, I see you're all worried about our excessive stock!"

Well, so are you.

While still at a loss for words to address the predicament we were in, Chitanda still bowed deeply like she had to me.

"G-good morning, Fukube-san... How is Mayaka-san?"

"Oh, she said she'll try and come, but she probably won't make it."

"I see...," she muttered regretfully. That was to be expected.

While Chitanda and I aren't affiliated with any other club save the Classics Club, Satoshi has his hands tied with the General Committee and Handicraft Club, while Ibara spends time as a librarian and with the Manga Studies Club. During the Cultural Festival, Satoshi would be busy patrolling the grounds as a member of the General Committee, while I hear Ibara is required to stay with the Manga Club for some time.

"Then, shall we begin?"

Satoshi and I nodded. Looking at us one by one, Chitanda slowly spoke.

"There's not much time until the Opening Ceremony starts... So does anyone have any ideas on how we could sell this many copies of 'Hyouka?'"

The price of "Hyouka" was set at 200 yen.

This was the price decided by Ibara and Chitanda after much calculation. We originally wanted to sell 30 copies at 400 yen each. As we were expecting to sell them all, the proceeds made along with our own club funding would be just enough to cover the printing costs.

But now we have 200 copies of "Hyouka". It's not exactly an extremely tragic mistake, and the printing of excessive copies also meant we actually paid far less for each volume as a result. If we were to sell all 200 volumes, then we could lower the price down to 120 yen per copy and still break even.

But it was impractical to expect all of them to be sold, so taking that into consideration, we settled for 200 yen apiece, though we would need to sell 120 copies in order to break even. Chitanda eventually decided on this price, though selling 120 copies still seems rather optimistic... Still, as I kept quiet, I wasn't planning on complaining afterwards anyway. Surely 200 yen is pretty cheap for an anthology sold at a Cultural Festival, after all.

By the way, even if we were to sell them all, we would not be able to profit from it anyway. As the Kamiyama High School Cultural Festival expressly forbids clubs from profiteering. While I've heard of stories where　people would occasionally get away with pocketing 1000 yen for themselves, any amount more than that would end up in the national treasury, sorry, I mean the school treasury.

There are about a thousand students in Kamiyama High School, so in order to break even, we would need to sell to 12% of the student body. In order to sell all copies, we would need to target 20%. This was a pretty difficult task. To use TV ratings as an analogy, even a lay person would know how hard it is for a programme to achieve 20% ratings.

To begin with, our market is not limited to these thousand people. The Kamiyama High School Cultural Festival is free for all, so even regular townspeople would come. As the Cultural Festival takes place from Thursday to Saturday, most visitors would opt to visit on Saturday, the third day. But I have no way of guessing how much they would contribute to the sales.

Besides...

"The problem lies with the Classics Club's name recognition and its poor geographical location."

"Yes, I agree this is the biggest obstacle."

I felt the same way with both of their opinions.

I have already mentioned above about how disadvantageous the Geology Room's location was. For the Classics Club's name recognition, it's even worse. Nearly all of the students in Kami High wouldn't even know of the existence of the Classics Club. In fact, if I hadn't applied to join this year, the club would have been abolished altogether. Unlike the Tea Ceremony Club, which was known for its open air tea ceremonies, or the A Capella Club renowned for its abilities, who's gonna buy the anthology of a club they've not even heard of?

So there's the location and the name recognition. I spoke up.

"In other words, we will need to find a more conspicuous place to sell, as well as to advertise our club name."

"Well, obviously," Satoshi said teasingly, as though saying we would sell out if we could achieve both. Of course I know that, but it's because we can't achieve them that we're at a loss for what to do.

Meanwhile, Chitanda nodded in admiration.

"Find a new location to sell... And all this time I've been thinking of how to bring customers all the way here. Oreki-san, that's a really innovative idea."

"Erm, it's not exactly innovative..."

"But, will we be able to get permission to move to a new location right away?"

Who knows? That's Satoshi's department, as he's with the General Committee. But he shook his head.

"I'm not really sure. While it may be possible to just move to any space, it depends on whether the Classics Club could be granted such a privilege. So you're gonna have to ask the General Committee president, or even the Student Council president himself."

"Who's the General Committee president?"

"Tanabe-sempai from second year. The General Committee will be holding meetings in the Conference Room from time to time, so you could try dropping by to have a look."

"Why don't you do it?"

Satoshi bit his lip and nodded ambiguously.

"Well, I could do that... But I'm not really confident in conducting such negotiations. Chitanda-san, it might be better for you to start the conversation with them, and for me to assist you by the side."

I see, that could be a good way of doing it. Yet Chitanda looked somehow uneasy. While she might be a forceful lady, like Satoshi, she probably wouldn't be confident making such an unreasonable request either. Yet she could expect no help from me, for I too am bad at those kinds of things.

The situation at present was nothing to be joyful about. Yet Satoshi looked pretty jolly. Well, that's Fukube Satoshi for you, he might even be relishing such hardship. As though bouncing, he spoke.

"Rather than that, I'd prefer to do the advertising."

"Advertising, huh? So how're you gonna do that?"

"Well, that's a secret."

I have a bad feeling about this. I could not think of any secret plan of Satoshi's that could ever work.

"Huh? Do you have a good idea?"

This got Chitanda interested, to which Satoshi puffed his chest.

"There are many competitions and races held during this Cultural Festival, so I was thinking of joining them under the name of the Classics Club. By achieving a good result, we would increase the club's popularity!"

"T-that's a great idea!"

How's that a great idea anyway? I raised my eyebrows as Chitanda was clearly being fooled. Satoshi basically ''wanted'' to participate in all these competitions and races himself. To begin with, it'll still be Satoshi participating, it's just that the entry name will be that of the Classics Club instead.

But still, it's not a bad method, as we haven't got any other way of advertising our club. It was possible it could actually turn out quite well.

I looked at the clock and said, "So it's roughly decided then? Chitanda will go and request a new selling location, and Satoshi will do the advertising."

"Yes, so we had better make our way now. But what will you do, Oreki-san?"

Me?

Actually, I had a plan. A plan to contribute greatly to the selling of "Hyouka," as well as stay true to my creed.

I cleared my throat and said solemnly, "I will..."

"Yes?"

"Stay and watch the stall."

Chitanda blinked her eyes while Satoshi muttered as though realizing something.

"...In-indeed, or else there won't be anyone left behind."

"Yes, you're right. We would need someone to watch the stall."

Now how's that? No complaints at all.

"Well, now that things are decided, we should get going. We don't have much time," I said while looking at the clock on the wall.

There were only ten minutes left before the Opening Ceremony begins. Even the Cultural Festival and Sports Day were not exempted from attendance taking, but taking into consideration that students would be scattered in their clubrooms overseeing their exhibits, attendance would be taken during the morning assembly every day. In other words, we'll be counted as late if we don't get to the Opening Ceremony on time.

Nodding greatly, Chitanda cleared her throat. Taking a deep breath, she said in one go, "Then let us proceed with our allotted tasks. We should try to sell as many volumes as possible. Our target is to sell all 200 copies of 'Hyouka'! Let's give it our all!"

...Well, let's just say I wasn't even thinking of whether we could sell all 200 copies.

['''200 COPIES REMAINING''']

==Translator's notes and references==

<references />

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| Back to [[Hyouka:Volume 3 Chapter 1|1 - A Sleepless Night]]
| Return to [[Hyouka|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Hyouka:Volume 3 Chapter 2-2|2-2 - Quiz Trial]]|-
|}
</noinclude>

Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume14 Chapter 5

2012-09-05T01:53:39Z

216.239.45.4: subject/object wrong in sentence

==Chapter 5 - To the indecisive person==

A large hole had opened up in the sky. Light filtered into the city before Leerin's eyes. It burst through the air shield, through the monster's body to wave away the clouds and reveal the moon. Leerin didn't know this was made by Barmelin's attack. She also didn't know the danger that the Heaven's Blade successors faced afterwards. The battle had taken a sudden turn for the worst.

".......... Delbone."

She heard Alsheyra's light call and saw her eyebrows knotted, but she didn't understand the true meaning behind it. The butterfly shaped flake exuding the faint light of psychokinesis had fallen next to the feet, lying on the floor like a dead bug. She didn't understand it.

The moon was pulling at Leeirn's right eye because it couldn't take the eye from her.

"Ah, ahhhh........" she moaned. But even Alsheyra and the doll-like Saya didn't seem to notice her moans. They didn't turn to her.

Leerin watched the moon in silence.

She saw the moon and the image that the moon saw. The images in her left eye differed from the one in her right. Her visions overlapped because of different images and this made her head hurt. She covered her left eye with her hand and that made the image in her right eye clearer.

This was what the moon saw. The scenery from above Grendan. A monster with many heads was swallowing Grendan into its stomach. The face of the enemy that covered the entire city.

This monster was shaking its long neck as its ten heads roared at her. Lightning fell and hit the monster.

But it wasn't hurt. It kept roaring.

Leerin felt blood loss at the scenery of hatred aimed at her. Her eyes felt shaky. Suddenly, this scenery disappeared into darkness.

When she realized it, the hole in Grendan's sky had closed up once more. The flake was still lifeless beside Alsheyra and Alsheyra's eyes were tightly closed, as if she was enduring something.

Something important had happened, sinking Grendan into a new crisis.

But Leerin understood something. She knew what she wanted to see.

(One more time.)

She begged and watched the sky.

<center>◇</center>

What had turned strange?

Layfon had to put all of his concentration into the fight but even he felt the delicate change in the air. The original tension suffusing the entire city was gone. But this didn't mean the battle had ended because creatures kept raining down in the airspace Layfon was in. The large river that counter-attacked those live-bullets had not stopped.

But something was shaken. A spider's net wouldn't be destroyed even attacked by a furious wind, but the tension of a net being finished had relaxed. The indestructible spider's net was slowly losing its shape.

This was an event that was unbelievable for a battlefield in Grendan. Such an intense change in the air of Grendan had never happened no matter how harsh the battle was, not to mention that all the Heaven's Blade successors were fighting.

Still, just what was happening?

What was it? Where was it happening?

Derek was striking at him with his katana.

Layfon blocked the attack, his external kei eliminating the live-bullets around him in the process. This scenery had happened countless times already. He couldn't count the number now.

Should he tell father of this change? This consideration ended when he noticed his father's expression as the two blades clashed.

Father had already noticed it.

But he still prioritized Layfon's fight.

Nothing would change his decision. This stubbornness began with Derek and was passed down to Leerin and Layfon. The other siblings must be the same too. So Layfon gave up trying to persuade him. Besides, Layfon felt empty for not knowing what he wanted to be in the future. He could only go with the flow and he wasn't comfortable with that.

It was normal that he felt Nina was very bright for him. Her path was different from his but she had something that he had lost. She wouldn't let go no matter what.

Layfon might have hated her for losing everything if she had taken a wrong step, but he didn't, and he was grateful for that.

The blades kept dancing. External kei became flashes of light to adorn the sky. The live-bullets also became decorated flowers though their entire bodies were disintegrating. However, both Derek and Layfon ignored them.

Layfon thought this beauty was the most fragile as it turned complete.

The blades hit. Layfon felt the kei in himself. He felt it too when he fought Savaris and Lintence. Or maybe he was challenging his own limit, the limit of his technique and mental strength, as well as the limit of his kei. The time fighting Savaris was the limit of the Dites; the time fighting Lintence was to surpass that limit, a limit he could control, the limit of collapse.

And now, he was just challenging his own limit.

Nostalgic filled him at being able to fight without reservation. Even though what he held now was only half a Heaven's Blade, it had been his partner for five years. It had been absorbing his kei and so it felt like a beast was howling in joy for returning to its owner. And similarly, the other half of Wolfsten was joyous was having found a new partner in Derek.

The live-bullets serving as their platforms were destroyed as they jumped from one place to another. The two of them continued to challenge their limit, pouring kei into their limbs. Layfon didn't need to think anymore. He had endured many fights since small. His body had learnt the best kei skill and technique after tasting failures, and he used them all automatically.

Layfon had time to think of other things because the actions were too automatic.

And so he also took note of the changes around him, felt the end of the fight even though he didn't know the result would be like. And then he thought something that was even less relevant.

What would he do after surpassing his father?

He had decided to see Leerin. The battle was becoming more chaotic. He didn't know what had happened but he could judge from the air that he might be able to see Leerin more easily than before.

And after meeting her?

He should have already made up his mind. He would listen to her true intention. Did she not need him anymore? Or did she do that for his sake? He wanted to confirm everything. He would save her if he could. He was moving because he had decided, but he was still confused.

He was confused whether his decision was right.

Why did he ask himself this question.......... The answer was simple.

(Ah............)

He didn't make a noise. Even if he did, the sound of metal clashing would have drowned it out.

(I'm still scared of losing.)

This battle was nearing its end though he couldn't clearly see how it would turn out. He felt it ending though and the feeling he had pressed down in his heart because of the pressure before him was floating free.

He knew things wouldn't necessarily happen the way he wanted no matter how prepared he was. He knew the pain he felt wouldn't change no matter how he swore that he would endure her scolds.

He knew he could endure physical pain but not the pain in his heart. He couldn't deny that his tactless thoughts were making him feel down though he was in a fight with his father. A fight that no one must interfere.

<center>◇</center>

Felli felt the change in the air inside the shelter.

"Something has happened," she said.

Psychokinesis couldn't be transmitted to the outside. The flake following Nina had lost its power after bursting through the monster and leaving Grendan. Felli wanted to follow Layfon but the speed of the battle was too fast, so fast that even she couldn't catch up. Besides, the rain of creatures and the kei that was destroyed it were also affecting her flake.

Felli couldn't even gather all of the information inside the city and that didn't sit well with her. She was now located at the entrance of a shelter. Inside was a wider space. Felli didn't have the courage to stay there even though the city's citizens and City Police only made a "why are you here" expression at the Dite in her hand. She knew they wouldn't do anything to her, but as an outsider, she wanted to avoid their gaze as much as possible, and so she chose to stay here.

She couldn't only try to grasp hold of the situation since she couldn't catch up with Layfon. She did this and wasn't happy as she realized the battle was taking a worse turn. The Heaven's Blades were still fighting in a way that turned her knowledge of Military Artists upside down. No one would be left alive if these people fought like this in Zuellni. But none of the Heaven's Blade successor and normal Military Artist had died for now.

A delicate crack had appeared in this unusual situation, in this unusual attack and perfect defensive formation. The Heaven's Blades were still fighting strong but a delicate change had occurred. Felli couldn't tell the real reason behind it, but the situation was clear to her. The Heaven's Blades were still perfectly fighting on their own in their assigned locations, but judging from the entire battle formation, cracks were appearing in the conjunctions of assigned areas. One could calculate that.

The number of live-bullets slipping through the Heaven's Blade successors was increasing.

As if the original 100% had become 98%. Even a mere 2% couldn't be ignored judging from the enormous number of enemies attacking them. The Heaven's Blades made up the first line of defence, and as such, the burden on the second line of defence had increased.

Also, the swaying of the heart of the second line was clearer than that of the first line. It was slowly losing its accuracy in clearing up the live-bullets. This all happened after the Heaven's Blades executed an attack that differed from before. The defensive formation was weakening. This was very clear.

"What is happening, or that........."

Felli didn't want to turn her thought into words. She pressed it down in her heart.

What would happen if this was what she thought it was? She couldn't make a prediction as she wasn't familiar with Grendan, but the shelter she was in was in Grendan. No one would know the next turn of event........ she shook her head. But what to do next.......

"......... As I thought....... I see."

She hadn't noticed the three coming near because she was deep in thought. She continued to gather information as she turned around.

Standing before her were a boy and two girls. All three of them looked younger than her. Two of them seemed to be of similar age while one was younger. Felli had taken these three to the shelter after Layfon saved them. They should already be in the middle area of the shelter.

"..........Ah."

Toby made an awkward expression at being found out.

"Ok, this isn't the time for that, let's return."

Rainetta, the girl who was of the same age as him, pulled at his sleeve.

"............."

"Hehe."

Felli didn't know what to do so she only watched her silently.

"Uh, are you from Zuellni?"

"Ah, yes," Felli answered Anri speculatively, not knowing what would happen, but it was certain that her confusion wasn't shown on her face.

Anri smiled at her with her child-like innocent smile, and then tossed her a bomb.

"Are you Layfon-Ni's girlfriend?"

"What!"

"Because Toby-Ni said it's not possible for Leerin-Nee to win with such a beautiful person next to him."

"Hey! Don't push that onto me!"

"To- but you did say it."

"Um.... I was only saying."

"So is that true?"

Felli couldn't think of an answer in the face of the girl's naive question.

"Well........."

"So it's true!?" Anri's expression turned complicated. Expectation and discomfort showed on her face, but the feelings of the other two weren't so obvious. Toby was full of expectation and discomfort was heavier on Rainetta's face.

But, no, that wasn't it. Felli wasn't confirming Anri's question with a "well". She was only using it for the rest of her answer.

"Well, how is Layfon-Ni? As a boyfriend? Have you dated? Kissed?"

"Well..... No........."

Felli felt she must resolve this misunderstanding. That was how she felt, but she couldn't say anything in front of the expectant Anri.

"Well........."

So what happened next was like a savior to her.

(Sorry for interrupting when you're so happy.)

The sudden voice made them all turn their gazes to it. A butterfly-shaped flake. She remembered it.

"Ah, Delbone-sama," Anri said.

(Hello, little girl.)

"Hello to you too."

(I'm sorry for interrupting your happy moment. I've something to say to this Nee-san. Could you lend her to me first?)

"Sure!"

(Such a good answer.)

Anri smiled at Delbone's praise and returned to Toby's side.

(If possible, I wish to turn this conversation voiceless.)

(I understand.)

Felli replied immediately.

Psychokinesists could converse without making a noise. Their words would directly appear in one's head.

(Because there isn't much time left, so I'll say this directly.........)

(Is this related to you disappearing from the battlefield......)

(Uh, yes.)

Felli felt her smile of praise through Delbone's psychokinesis.

(Just a small failure. It made a huge impact on my body. I probably only have two to three minutes left. My heart has stopped but I can keep my consciousness.)

Felli couldn't imagine what it was like to be so relaxed at facing death.

(......... Then, what do you want with me in this hour?)

She regulated her feeling and continued speaking. She mustn't lose time because of her own shaky heart and doubt as there wasn't much time left for Delbone.

(I hope you can finish my unfinished duty. I've prepared the compensation too. There's some information in the flake before you. That's your compensation.)

(This is?)

(My battle experience till now. I've turned it into data. I won't tell you the way to read it though the data is about to finish moving to this new location. If you could read the information, it wouldn't be hard for you to learn of the thing in it.)

(That kind of thing.)

(Please, can you help?)

(Do you think I can do this on my own?)

(Perhaps you're far better than all psychokinesists in Grendan just by your ability. But your experience is lacking and so to fill out for your inexperience, there's one more person........)

Delbone's flake had also appeared next to that person.

(Grandmother.)

Elsmau, who was in a sickroom the same shelter as Delone had also sensed the flake in the ceiling through her own psychokinesis.

(It seems I can't give you enough time to consider.)

Delbone's regret could be felt through her data.

(Then, as I thought........)

Elsmau was the same as Felli, gathering information through her psychokinesis. She couldn't not do anything probably because she had been through many battles while she was with the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang.

(Her Majesty has to personally give you the Heaven's Blade, but I can reset the fingerprint f kei immediately. I've already set it for you after I die. If it's you, you should be able to activate the Heaven's Blade from a distance using the Light Dite.)

(But..........)

(I'm sorry. There's no time for confusion. The new you under the bandages have inherited the name of the third daughter's husband, For a. You're already Grendan's psychokinesist, and from this moment on, you've become a successor, the next Heaven's Blade successor.)

Fermaus' expression was helpless underneath the bandages. She had finished the operation before moving to this shelter, the operation of skin transplant. One would feel tragic just by looking at her even though her body managed to survive in the exposure of pollutants. She had removed the skin that could endure the death-calling pollutants and changed into new skin.

A Heaven's Blade successor had existed who once had changed his brain and kei vein. That Heaven's Blade stood in battle on the day his brain died. Grendan's medical skill development had sustained him, and so it wasn't difficult for this skill to make the skin transplant possible.

But Elsmau couldn't leave the sickbed yet.

(........... My level of psychokinesis isn't of grandmother's level.)

(You don't have to be like me. You know your own strength and limit. All you need is do it the way you think is best. And I've prepared the ability in order to solve this situation. She will fill up your weaknesses and you too are to fill up her weaknesses.)

A figure appeared in Fermaus' mind when Delbone said "her". The psychokinesist that she met in Zuellni. She knew she was in Grendan. Perhaps Delbone was conversing with her now. Fermaus admired her grandmother for being so capable even though she was about to die.

(I understand.)

She couldn't return to the Mercenary Gang anymore. The Fermaus in the Mercenary Gang had died. Then let her accept her new life.

(Then from this moment on, I'm Elsmau Quantis Fora. I'll inherit everything from you.)

(Then I'm leaving everything to you, Elsmau Quantis Fora.)

Delbone seemed to pronounce the name with gritted teeth.

Felli accepted the request at the same time.

(I understand.)

(You've saved us. Then.......)

Felli touched her own flake to Delbone's under Delbone's instruction. The flake must be transmitting the information, but it was shocking quick. It only took a split second to finish.

Felli felt something different in her head. Perhaps it was Delbone's information. She could tell where the information was just by concentrating, and the doubt in her vanished during the process.

(Then I'm leaving it to you.)

Some other noise was mixed in with the words in Felli's head.

Because the conversation was voiceless, Felli felt Delbone's concentration was now on something behind her.

Standing in a distance behind Felli were the three boy and girls. Anri waved when she saw Felli look at them.

(I've been watching this city for a long time. In it are happiness, sadness, anger, amusement, confusion, argument, joy, blessing, fortune, misfortune, failure and strength. Things that exist and don't exist no matter where it is. Even this city is just a normal city. There are people living in it.)

Even a little girl like Anri would greet Delbone enthusiastically after seeing her flake. This meant Delbone had been constantly protecting the city through psychokinesis.

(No matter how you decide to live, it'll never change that you are you. But whether you can see the value of being yourself is up to you.)

(..............)

(I've lived a very good life.)

When Felli turned around, the butterfly-shaped flake lost its radiance to fall into Felli's hand.

<center>◇</center>

She ran as she looked at the monster's figure. She watched Grendan being swallowed and heard the voice of the gigantic monster with man heads. She saw the thin haze drifting beside her, , heard the monster's howl at the moon, saw the lightning that fell like decoration on the monster's body.

"A guy you can't joke with," Sharnid swallowed at the scenery. He didn't know what to say.

Nina was the same.

But she couldn't stand here and space out because she came back to Zuellni by leaving behind Layfon and Felli. She must protect Zuellni from this monster before Zuellni could move again.

But the monster hadn't attacked Zuellni till now.

"Anyway, I can't let down my guard......"

But she couldn't see they were safe. Either way, it was the truth that they were in a crisis and Zuellni couldn't move.

She must confirm the situation with the Student President.

And so she had been running and she moved her gaze away from the monster. The Student President should be in the shelter, or Nina probably thought that Zuellni's psychokinesists would find her if she kept running.

This expectation soon became reality.

(Nina, it's good you're safe.)

It was Vance's voice.

"Military Arts Head? Where are you?"

The psychokinesist controlling the fake replied instead and told her the location. She would see it once she went passed the bridge.

(We'll leave the details till you get here.)

"Roger."

Nina nodded put her concentration back on running.

Once could still see some of the sunlight even though a thin layer of dark cloud covered Zuellni's sky. The grey sky looked peaceful. Next to Nina was the city's leg that was destroyed in the fight against the aged phase filth monster. The city's self-repair system was doing its work, but the progress had only made it up several levels. The vine-like things stretching out from where the leg broke off must functioned like a human being's nerves. It hurt just to look at it.

Nina's chest hurt.

Zuellni was a terrible state but she herself went chasing after the unknown.

"I mustn't allow any more harms to Zuellni," she said to herself and felt more strength in her legs.

Vance was at a location much further away from the outer edge. The buildings destroyed by the giants hadn't been repaired yet. Vance and the others were hiding behind the skeletons of the buildings, using them as the last defensive line.

"We've tried to understand the situation on the other side," Vance immediately answered her question. "Our flakes had tried infiltrating but had failed. We haven't found any areas for infiltration. That monster is covering the entire city, not leaving any cracks."

Vance's words carried a sense of abandonment. But this couldn't be helped. Those giants who attacked the city were already outside one's knowledge base. This time the event was even more incredible. On the other hand, it was commendable that he didn't give up his command but was calmly arranging the defence of the city and giving out commands. And it was commendable for those Military Artists who didn't run away but chose to stay behind to protect this place.

"Gorneo and the others have returned, but that became like that after they returned, so no one knows the situation in Grendan."

"Gorneo and the others were in Grendan?"

She didn't know about that, but Grendan was Gorneo's home city, so he must have his own reason for entering Grendan.

"Uh, those two have exhausted much of their strength. You were there too. How's the situation?"

Nina told him what she knew. Vance and the other Military Artists didn't look good at the beginning of her narrative. Their expressions turned worse as her narrative progressed.

"....... It seems it isn't a situation we can do anything with....." Vance pressed his forehead with a hand as if to relax his headache.

"But we can't do nothing."

"I know, but if what's happening in Grendan happens here, we've no strategy against it."

Nina didn't have any good strategies too. All she had was the strong resolve to protect Zuellni. She would keep on fighting even if she was the only person left. But this resolve wasn't a good strategy.

"All we can do now is pray the people of Grendan can defeat this monster."

Zuellni had no future if they couldn't defeat it. Everyone understood this ending. And Nina knew she shouldn't say anything reckless when they had no strategies, but she wouldn't lose out in air.

This was simple. She had been holding tightly to this simple thing. She didn't feel regret for the effort she put into becoming stronger, but she somehow felt that a part of her had gone lazy if she kept holding onto this simple thinking.

But there was no change to what she should be doing.

She would obey her will and keep on fighting no matter how desperate the situation was.

No matter how strong she had become, what she could do now was about the same as the time when the larvae attacked the city. They might have won the battle without Layfon at the cost of many sacrifices, but they won without any casualties because Layfon was here. Could Nina become the Layfon back then?

She asked herself. What would the power of the Haikizoku do to that monster?

And what was Layfon doing now?

They had lost contact with him after Layfon left for the orphanage. Felli hadn't told them anything. Nina didn't think he would die, but then she had just seen his defeated self. And right now, she couldn't contact Felli.

So she must protect Zuellni. She must protect it so Layfon and Felli could return to it.

Leerin......

They let Nina go after she told them the information she had. Even if they were to hold a strategic meeting, all Nina's information did was tell them how appalling this monster was.

Nina sat on the debris and watched Grendan. What good way was there to defeat this monster? But she couldn't come up with a conclusion. She was only losing her time.

What appeared in her heart was her desire and worry to save Layfon and Felli and about Leerin. She had to save her if Leerin didn't return to Grendan out of her own free will. But she didn't feel she had the right to do this. Leerin was her friend, but she came to Zuellni for Layfon, and so Layfon should be the one saving her. Either way, she herself........ Nina couldn't do it. In that case, she should prioritized protecting Zuellni.

This was all she could do even if the event unfolding before her was related to the survival of this world.

"But........"

She held tightly to the flake in her hand and looked at the monster.

(Nina Antalk?)

The voice from the flake jolted her awake. This wasn't Vance's voice.

"Student President?"

The owner of the voice was Karian.

"..... I'm sorry. Felli...."

(I've heard of the gist from Vance. Never mind that. Excuse me, can you come down to the Mechanical Department immediately?"

"Uh?"

She thought Karian would be more worried about Felli, but then she remembered that he wasn't one to take of his personal things first in a crisis. Besides, she was keen on his reason behind his request.

"Did anything happen?"

It was Nina's first time to hear the voice of an Electronic Fairy when she had a dream in Grendan. Zuellni's voice. Did anything happen to her?

(Just head over first.)

The flake left after that.

Nina was thinking of leaving too, but now she really had to leave. Sharnid was with Dalshena and Naruki who were waiting for their injuries to heal. Nina greeted them and then left by herself.

That place wasn't that far for the feet of a Military Artist. Nina arrived at it and entered the Mechanical Department. There were students there fixing up the place. The heat inside was much hotter than better.

"You're here."

Karian walked out of the Rest Room that the cleaners of the Mechanical Department used as a Changing Room. Sweat beaded in Karian's face. The same silvery hair that Felli had was stuck on his face. He must have spent his time watching the students repair the place.

His expression looked worse than his face.

"Student President. Are you ok?"

"I'm fine......."

It seemed he would collapse any moment. This heat, plus he wasn't a person of physical strength. Usually he was very busy, and then one crisis happened after another. His mental and physical strength must be close to the limit.

"You should rest a bit."

"No. Everything will be fine if we can overcome this crisis. I can't collapse at this time."

"But......"

"Compared to me, there's something you've to worry about"

Nina didn't know why he called her over, but since she was here, that reason must be extraordinary.

"Did anything happen to Zuellni?"

"She returned to the Mechanical Department after conversing with me."

"Eh?"

Conversing with Zuellni?

"Just......."

"Go. You'll understand."

Karian's face was pale. Was his paleness not related to his exhaustion? But what did he hear from Zuellni?

Nina slowly entered the central area with a big bundle of doubts. She had entered this area before when Melnisc caused Zuellni to go on a rampage. Though she only knew of the existence of the Wolf Faces from Dixerio, or one could say she contacted the strange changes of this world when she leapt through cities, but it all happened after she entered the central area.

The three children chosen by the cruel fate.

That was what Schneibel said. As the mother, the prototype, she would call all other Electronic Fairies "children", then she must be referring to Electronic Fairies. And the ones who were with her at that time were Grendan, Melnisc and Zuellni.

Was Zuellni burdened with a cruel fate too? Wasn't she an Electronic Fairy of an Academy City, a city that nurtured the young? No. Things weren't that simple. Nelphilia held the same appearance as Saya, the original of Electronic Fairies. The beautiful girl who seemed to call forth disaster. She was in Zuellni before. Perhaps everything was related to that.

Nina's feet halted. She had arrived at her destination.

There was a huge gem before her, a gem that hadn't undergone any processing. Connected to it were large machineries and tubes. This was where the Electronic Fairy lived. The soul of the Regios.

Zuellni existed in this gem of unknown color.

"....... Why?"

Nina felt nostalgia when she saw her. Though she was more familiar with this Zuellni, she had yet to adapt to this sudden change.

But this only took a split second. Nina immediately noticed and understood the reason behind the change.

"Zuellni........"

The Electronic Fairy smiling in the gem wasn't the grown form that appeared after contacting with Falnir. This was the form of a little girl that Nina first knew.

"Why!?"

Zuellni smiled in the gem and didn't reply. She had never communicated with words, just like the many times when she met Nina, and so Nina shouldn't be feeling any nostalgia even though Zuellni wasn't saying anything.

But Nina had heard of her voice. She heard of Zuellni's voice when she was in Lance Shelled city.

And Karian had also had some special contact with Zuellni. And so why wasn't she answering?

(My owner. Zuellni is very weak right now. Please don't force her.)

Melnisc answered instead.

"Very weak?"

Why?

No, this couldn't be helped. The city's leg was broken. It couldn't even move. Perhaps Nina had made a wrong conclusion. Zuellni was the city's consciousness. A consciousness without a body. The city itself was the Electronic Fairy's body, and the Electronic Fairy was like the soul of a human being. Though it wasn't sure whether humans had souls, the city did have it, and that was the Electronic Fairy.

The body was busy repairing the leg, and so Zuellni must be pouring the Regio's strength into the damaged area. So it was understandable that she had weakened.

(That isn't the only reason, Master.)

Melnisc's meaning clearly put her in the wrong.

"So what happened?"

(Did that girl in dark clothes not tell you? There's no place to retreat to.)

"So.........."

(This is what she meant. An equivalent price is needed to overcome a difficulty. This is what you have to have, and so you were called.)

"So........"

(Merciful Electronic Fairy. You have accepted me who went insane because of madness, who almost stepped on the dangerous path of self-destruction. This is what your existence is like. As long as you live, my spirit remains self-sacrificing. You accept those who are confused no matter what will happen. You give guidance to those who don't know their future. This is what your existence is like, and so the Academy City is more suitable for you than any other cities.)

Zuellni smiled, giving off a faint light. But was she commending him? If you looked at this from another angle? He was calling her stupid for sacrificing herself.

"So just what is going on?" Nina howled. "Why is Zuellni this weak?"

Because the city had come across this situation? Or was there another reason? Why did Zuellni turn back into a girl?

Zuellni's expression turned heavy. She didn't say anything.

(The power obtained from Falnir, Falnir had anticipated the intense battle afterwards and so deliberately transferred it to Zuellni so Zuellni could be reborn.)

Melnisc's voice echoed in place of Zuellni's.

(But Zuellni didn't do it. She gave the power to the one who wanted to walk her own path. Zuellni paid her own price in order to help that person move forward.)

"........."

Nina was speechless. The person who wanted to walk her own path. The price. The girl in the color of black had no path to retreat to.

Nina couldn't still not understand. She wasn't this clumsy.

But she wished she was a bit clumsier at this point because it would lessen her feeling of guilt, because the guilt in her chest was about to shatter her chest.

But she had to accept this pain. If she didn't do this, she would have lost to Dixerio in that fight and had her memory taken. She would have become a person not understanding anything. She would have only suffered for feeling impotent.

But regardless, she still felt painful for her own impotence now.

"Was this all because of me?"

There were two dites in her weapon harness. They had been destroyed some time during the battle but for some reason they had been repaired. The reborn-dites were enough to endure the Haikizoku's power.

"Zuellni, you......."

Zuellni had used Falnir's power to make these two iron whips for her.

For Nina.

It didn't matter to her even if she were to sink into danger.

"Was it because of me that this situation......"

Zuellni couldn't move because of her, and thousands of students were to face the crisis of death.

"This....... Isn't what an Electronic Fairy should do."

Nina couldn't stop her shoulders from shaking with anger and sadness. The Electronic Fairy had chosen to resolve one person's crisis rather than save thousands of people. This was unforgivable.

"Will things be solved if I return this power?"

(That is not possible. A power that has been materialized cannot return to its original form.)

"Is there no way out?"

(That has been warned of?)

"Ah........"

Everything was too late. Too late to begin anew. Zuellni was in a dilemma. The monster was concentrating on Grendan now but it would turn its destructive power to Zuellni after Grendan fell.

Nina herself had caused Zuellni's current crisis.

(........ This is from Zuellni.)

Nina was afraid of Melnisc's words.

Zuellni maintained her smile in the gem, but Nina didn't dare look directly at the figure. She blamed herself, but she hadn't thought of suicide. She stood between life and death at that time. If she had lost her memory she would have forgotten all that she had walked through. The person she was living as now would have vanished, and this was the same as death in a certain way.

Nina didn't want to commit suicide.

(Have you found it? That was what she said.)

"Found it?"

Found what?

No. No. Not like that.

Nina wasn't viewed as someone involved at that time in the dream of Grendan. She had no authority to decide anything. She was just caught in the mess by Dixerio, possessed by Melnisc and arrived at that place by following the flow. She had no authority to decide anything. Sheniebel was only considering Melnisc's feeling and hadn't asked Nina anything.

As if Nina was just a tool.

And she was angry about that.

Her own feeling was ignored in the battle against Dixerio. Nina couldn't comprehend his theory, and he wanted to unreasonably take away her memories.

Nina only felt infuriated. She only felt infuriated towards Sheniebel and Dixerio. In anger, she had chosen to walk her current path and refused to forget her past self. And she had allowed Zuellni to come to danger for the sake of her own anger.

"Have you found it?"

Have you found the path you should take?

This was Zuellni's question.

"That kind of thing........"

She couldn't understand.

She was angry when she was in Grendan, as if the tools for drawing could only draw in black in her heart. She got caught in the mystery of this world but she wasn't allowed to do anything about it. Everything made her feel very angry. She felt she had to do something no matter what.

But her anger was reduced after she met up with Layfon and the others and had a discussion with them. Not that she wasn't angry but that anger had become more tolerable.

And right now, the effect of that anger was spread out before her.

She didn't understand what she had to do now.

"Only...... Only a little. I've decided."

She was full of regret. She felt like vomiting for unknowingly carrying such a heavy burden.

Even so, she had to keep moving forward. She would not give up the burden and escape her responsibility.

"I'll protect you. I'll take away your discomfort no matter what happens, no matter what we encounter and no matter what the battle is like."

She didn't know if Zuellni was satisfied with her answer but she had decided. She would have returned to Zuellni when she knew of Zuellni's act even if she had stayed in Grendan. If she was in Grendan, she would have regretted more. She didn't understand the purpose of her existence. It was better if the mystery of the world remained far away. Nina couldn't give up what existed before her eyes.

She had nothing else to do even if the future direction turned out differently.

Zuellni was smiling.

Though she didn't know if this smile was acknowledging, Nina felt her burden had lightened.

What could she do for Zuellni? She must act after thinking on it. She must act no matter whether the action was the right one.

(Captain, can you hear me?)

She heard Felli's voice again when she returned to the outer edge once more.

<center>◇</center>

Time turned back to just a while ago. Just a little while before Delbone contacted Felli.

The Heaven's Blade successors were in chaos.

"Hey, what's going on?"

"What's the strategy? Has she found the enemy's weak point?"

"Hey hey, old woman, this isn't the time to joke."

"What's the situation? Hurry up with the report!"

Voices filled with frustration swept through the outer edge area, but this voice failed to reach the other's ears. The flakes beside them remained silent and helpless on the ground.

The psychokinesists were still here. They also heard the Heaven's Blade successors' voice but they couldn't believe their sense. Delbone was dead. No, in Delbone flowed the same blood as theirs. Delbone was like a grandmother to them. She was their idol. For such a person to suddenly die, they couldn't calmly accept it, handle it and analyze it. Either way there were too many psychokinesists who were blood related kins of Delbone's. They were shocked at having lost their pillar of spirit and strength. This feeling was overlapped with sadness for having lost the person they loved, and this was attacking the psychokinesists.

The Heaven's Blade successors were confused for having lost the information. They could only protect their assigned area with the strength that they were so proud of. But the holes in the boundaries between these areas were increasing and this meant the number of enemies that could move around freely in the city was also rising.

They were the strongest Military Artists in this world.

But their real substance was a soldier's.

They had been assigned to the battlefield and had been fighting according to the situation itself, but they didn't have the ability to grasp hold of the directions of every soldier and command them accordingly.

Delbone was the most suitable to command judging from her ability and so she had been doing this job. The Heaven's Blades couldn't complete their mission now that they had lost her. Creaks had appeared in their coordination after losing Delbone. The creaks were even larger than what Felli was sensing. The live-bullets pierced through these creaks and accurately appeared in front of the Military Artists.

The live-bullets that had successfully entered the city were like the one that appeared at the orphanage. They were like bugs that opened their legs and unfolded their wings. Something that looked like an egg grew on the soft looking part of the body, and another creature crawled out of the egg that was then split out. Every live-bullet carried around 20 to 30 of these things. This meant ten live-bullets in the city would create around an army of 200 skeletons.

One hundred live-bullets were two thousand.

One thousand live-bullets were twenty thousand.

Though individual skeleton didn't mean a lot to Grendan's Military Artists, the increasing number of live-bullets that slipped through the Heaven's Blades' defense would eventually gather up when the city's assaulting speed slowed down.

The army of skeleton led by the huge bugs, those that the Military Artists had failed to destroy continued to increase in number and at last formed a huge organization numbering more than one thousand. They began to ignore the attacks of the Military Artists as they headed straight for their goal.

The centre of the city.

Their goal was Grendan's palace.

And the Heaven's Blade successors didn't know this was happening behind their backs. Only Barmelin and Tigris, the two who were shooting down the live-bullets from inside the city had noticed the changes.

"This is getting troublesome."

Tigris had a difficult expression on his face. The army of skeletons was forming small groups in their progress under the standing point of the tall building that Tigris was on. If groups were also forming in other places then the number of enemies wouldn't be just one thousand but over ten thousand. Though the Military Artists were battling the newly formed groups, the situation would still be very bad if the number was over ten thousand. There wouldn't be any ways to stop them if they cared nothing for their fallen comrades.

"It seems they plan to defeat the Queen, such a bold move."

Of course, Tigris wasn't worried about the Queen's safety. It was not possible for the Queen to die, but she would get distracted when trying to defeat this group of monsters. Right now, she was concentrating on using the smallest and most accurate amount of kei to destroy the huge monster. It was very difficult for her to control her huge amount of kei. The Heaven's Blades were the same. The lowest bar for the Heaven's Blade successors was that they couldn't fully exhibit their large amount of kei without their Heaven's Blades. And the Queen's kei far surpassed the kei of them.

The city would sustain a fatal injury if she casually attacked with her full strength.

"But the other side would win if we can't defend comfortably."

This was true.

The Heaven's Blade successors and the Queen were all very strong, so strong that they could laugh at the Military Artists of any city.

But this didn't mean they weren't human.

Their bodies would be exposed to the pollutants if this city was destroyed. They would die once they inhaled a certain amount of pollutants in the sky. For the army of skeletons to interrupt the Queen's concentration and she then attacked recklessly and ended up destroying the city too. The Heaven's Blade successors that were fighting in this dilemma on the defence line had no time to resolve this crisis.

No. Maybe they could.

But this was a very dangerous bet. The Heaven's Blade successors could give up defending and instead, used an attack that far surpassed this monster's regeneration ability to completely annihilate it. But it wasn't possible to estimate the amount of time needed for this strategy to work.

And the city would sustain the greatest harm in the time of the Heaven's Blades giving up their defence.

To kill or be killed. Should they risk it? Even the Heaven's Blades were hesitating, not to mention the ordinary citizens of the city.

But the person who had reached her limit had appeared beside Tigris.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Barmelin howled. "So annoying. Super annoying! Go die. Die in pieces!"

"Idiot. Don't do something stupid!"

But it was too late. Barmelin tossed away the cannons in her hands, took up her Heaven's Blade Swattice and shot out a pillar of light. One shot after another. Each shot punched a hole in the monster that was covering Grendan and allowed the people in the city to glimpse the outside.

"Really!"

Tigris forced himself again to protect the area she had abandoned. Layfon's fight was destroying quite a number of live-bullets in the sky but that was only one part of many places. It wasn't complete.

External kei variation – Meandering Haze. Scattered Luster.

Tigris' arrows instantly smothered Grendan's sky.

This was the action he took alone to protect his and Barmelin's areas. Either way, his move only worked for a few minutes. Barmelin, who had gone on a rampage, continued to shoot pillars of light at the monster during this time. Numerous holes opened in the monster's body and sealed up again, but other new holes then appeared. This scenario repeated itself again and again. But this was the same as doubling Tigris' burden, and this burden wasn't lifting. Tigris had confidence he could keep up with it, but he wasn't so sure now that his burden was increasing.

Was it the burden on his spirit?

No. His body.

Perhaps this was the first fatal weakness in the coordination of the Heaven's Blade successors. This weakness appeared because they had lost Delbone, their commander.

The defensive formation was losing shape. Barmelin lacked self-control in her attack. Tigris' body was reaching its limit because of his old age.

"Uurgh."

The limit came after shooting a few more shots. Intense pain came from the kei vein around his back, and it was running through his organs because of a chain reaction. The elder vomited blood.

"Old man!?"

"Quick. Stop. We can't destroy the balance of the defence."

It already took most of his strength to say those words. In the next moment, he pushed Barmelin away, sent her flying.

"Ah!"

The defensive line collapsed above them. The live-bullets fell to attack the two of them. Tigris had no more strength left to avoid them.

"Old man!" Barmelin said as she restored her cannons to stop the live-bullets' invasion.

"Tsk!"

The buildings around them were destroyed in the split second that the rain of bullets fell. Barmelin was moving as she tried to find a new standing point, shooting continuously with the cannons and defending.

"Old man!" she said as she moved.

But Tigris had not climbed out of the debris no matter how many times she called.

The other Heaven's Blade successors couldn't have not noticed this change. But they didn't do anything. All they could do now was increase their area of protection even if just by a little. None of them wanted to scold Barmelin. They might have done the same thing as her.

"Damn. Does this mean two down?" Ruimei howled in anger. The other Heaven's Blades too. Delbone's mission had failed and death would come.

And Tigris had faced death just then. He had confidence to hold out for a few more days if he was only shouldering his own burden, but the live-bullets slipping through the creaks were becoming a number that the Military Artists behind him failed to handle. This was already happening.

"We can only do this now."

"No."

Reverse stopped the impatient Cauntia.

"This isn't the time to bet with such a risk."

"But we'll all be eliminated if this continues. We'll all die."

"........."

Reverse gritted his teeth under the mask at his lover's sigh.

"Be patient. You must be patient! We can only be patient now! Psychokinesists! How much longer are you going to space out! You must act now that Delbone-sama is not here!" Kalvan shouted.

"Ah, really....... This is bad."
Troiatte's lips twisted because of his teasing smile. The balls of light that burnt the sky continued to expand.

"Psychokinesists! Hurry and report!"
Sadness coloured Kanaris' dance.

"..............."
Lintence lit a cigarette in silence.
"I see, so this is hell," he said in a low voice as he breathed out thin, green smoke. The cigarette turned into pieces after he held it tightly in his palm. Lintence took a step forward.

(Ah, you people are so noisy.)

A faint voice filled with disapproval echoed throughout Grendan.

He noticed it. The flake that had fallen helplessly on the ground and was blown far away b his attack now exuded a faint light and returned to his side.

Delbone's flake had taken back its light.

But the voice coming from it was not Delbone's,.

"Who are you?" Ruimei asked.

The other Heaven's Blades heard this question too. The network supported by psychokinesis had returned. He had never heard of this voice from the psychokinesists that he knew. There wasn't a clue in his brain of the owner of this voice.

This voice sounded young. It wouldn't be strange that the voice belonged to a young person, but then it wasn't strange for him to take note of person with strength that could overtake another's flake.

(Is it important who I am? Compared to that, what's with this tragic scene when you're all a group of adults? Can't you shut up and do what you should be doing?)

The voice coming throuogh the flake was faint but it had clearly hit the faces of the Heaven's Blades.

"You........." Ruimei said with gritted teeth.

(Sorry. Please excuse us.)

The voice after that was also faint but it was clearly filled with worry. It wasn't that girl before, but a voice of a more mature woman.

(I'm Elsmau Fora, a person who has inherited Delbone-sama's Heaven's Blade, Quantis. The official procedure hasn't been completed, so please treat this as a brief ceremony in the special circumstance that is the war.)

There was a need to provide necessary information in this situation though everyone else was a bit flustered.

(First allow me to report to you the current situation. There are around ten thousand and five hundred enemies that have infiltrated Grendan and they are heading straight for the palace. The defensive line has been spread out but it's only a matter of time before it collapses. And it's also been confirmed the death of Heaven's Blade successors Delbone-sama and Tigris-sama.)

Two Heaven's Blade successors had died.

Silence fell to them after this notice.

(The battle resumes.)

The girl's voice once again shattered the silence.

(Heaven's Blade successors are to continue to maintain this situation. Break through one point and investigate the monster's weakness.)

"Who will open the hole?" Cauntia asked.

"It's already hard enough to maintain this situation. The number of enemies will increase in the city if we show any more weaknesses."

(Another person has already been selected to replace your lack of strength.)

"What did you say!?"

(As I said, you only need to do what you have to with your most effort. You are not children anymore. Don't complain and just follow orders.)

"Don't you get ahead of yourself.........." Ruimei howled but a voice drowned him out. It was laughter.

"Ahhahahahaha! Great. No. Incredible. Ahhahaha! You're right. We're shamed."

The laughter came from Troiatte.

"Troiatte.!"

Troiatte ignored Ruimei's reproached and continued to laugh.

"As she said, old man. We're all adults. How long are we to fiddle around for? If you're feeling like a child being scolded, then show her that you're the adult."

"Um........"

"You're right. Let's believe in that person," Reverse said.

"Tsk, fine."

Ruimei nodded reluctantly.

Everyone else also followed Reverse's suggestion.

"Hey, don't take all the good things yourself."

"Uh? Ah, sorry."

"My Reverse is a real good man compared to you. Of course!" Cauntia said happily.

"So noisy," Barmelin said.

(Annoying adults.)

That voice had been faint from start to finish, and that was how it was left to the adults.

She sighed deeply in the shelter.

It was Felli.

(They're the Military Artists with the highest status in Grendan. You should have respected them more.)

(I'd give them however much you want if that can change the current situation.)

Felli answered Elsmau's complaint coldheartedly. She was surprised that Elsmau was Delbone's successor and the psychokinesists, Fermaus, of the Salinvan Mercenary Guidance Gang. She was also surprised that she was female. Felli never thought this would happen.

Felli's experience was rich as a psychokinesist. Elsmau's psychokinesis interfered with her and rendered her helpless when Haia captured her. Felli had never stomached that part down.

But this time she had to put aside her anger, surprise and regret. She should concentrate everything on the crisis before her.

(But do you think your strategy would work?)

(We'd only encounter the same result if we did it the same way as that person did.)

(Even so........)

Delbone had successfully connected Felli and Elsmau before her death. This meant together, the two of them held the power that equated Delbone's, or close enough to Delbone's.

(Or do you have the confidence in this situation to finish what that person wants to do but hasn't finished?)

Elsmau fell silent. Even Felli didn't have that confidence.

But they had no other choice. They must increase the accuracy of the Queen's strike. What Elsmau was concerned with was the person that Felli said was to open the hole.

(That's what you're looking for. Why not trust that a little bit?)

(True. I can only trust now.)

(Anyway, the flakes on the outside have already conveyed the message because of the rampage earlier on. This means we can still see the situation outside even if the hole is to close up again.)

(That's only if the opponent's weak spot hasn't changed.)

(Uh, either way we're racing against time.)

They had finished confirming their strategy. Elsmau had been working as an informant for the Mercenary Gang alone, and Felli had few chances of working with other psychokinesists. Both of them lacked experience in team work and so they were unable to cover up the tension they felt.

"Hey."

The sudden voice made Felli's shoulders shake. The short shout contained pressure that one couldn't ignore.

That voice belonged to Lintence.

(What is it?)

"Let that girl speak."

He heartlessly chased out Elsmau. Felli calmed down a little before answering him.

(I'm here.)

"Tell that guy just how long does he plan to keep playing for."

(.................)

Felli couldn't answer. Perhaps this man already knew she wasn't a citizen of Grendan. That must be it. So she must speak with "the guy" that Lintence mentioned.

She felt that to be the biggest difficulty in this battle.

<center>◇</center>

The situation continued to change. The feeling of collapse was obvious in the air. Chaos exploded in a split second in the river of live-bullets beneath his feet, and this made the collapse in the air turn more severe.

"Father!" Layfon called. He knew he had to fight in front of his father's mental preparation, but he felt that they shouldn't keep fighting in this situation.

"Not only Leerin is in this city! But also Toby and the other siblings!"

"I've already said so. If you want to do something, then open the path ahead with your katana!"

But father's words didn't change.

Layfon felt that he must do something now. He couldn't let this situation go on anymore.

(Fonfon.)

He saw the butterfly-shaped flake as he jumped in the gaps between live-bullets.

"Felli?"

He was shocked to hear this familiar voice, but he immediately caught the flake and stuffed it in his pocket.

"Felli, what is it? This flake is.......?"

(Delbone-sama is dead.)

"Eh?"

The shock from the words caused an opening in his fight.

Derek would never let this opening go. He closed the distance between the two in a split second. Two weapons clashed again. Layfon's head could have been flying in the air had his time of shock lasted longer. He shivered at Derek's murderous intent.

(Let me tell you the current situation.)

But Felli kept speaking in this situation, as if she didn't care. She never gave him the chance to protest. He could only listen in silence, and Derek was also forced to listen to her report.

Delbone's death. This last line of defence had collapsed. The enemies had infiltrated the city and were heading for the palace. Felli's voice was faint but it contained unusual energy.

(And what are you two doing in this situation? Layfon, is your purpose to fight this old man here? And you. Just what are you doing when your own city is in this situation?)

".................."
".................."

The strength pressing down on the two katana showed no signs of weakening, but both fighters couldn't suppress the bitterness showing on their faces.

(I can tell from the conversation between you two that you're the head of the orphanage that Layfon was raised in.)

"...................."

(But can you totally not consider your son's feeling just because you want to realize your daughter's wish?)

"....................."

Derek kept silent as Layfon maintained his pose, keeping up the pressure on the blade and waiting for his reply or Felli's next question.

(........ I understand.)

Layfon didn't expect her to retreat like that. He was still putting pressure on the blade and Derek's strength remained strong on the katana. Layfon wouldn't reduce the pressure due to his own sense of shock.

(Then please hurry and make your decision. Otherwise everything would be too late. Not only might everyone in Grendan die, but Zuellni might also be destroyed.)

The live-bullets the two stood on were hit by kei and became pieces as Felli spoke. This naturally ended the dilemma of the fight and Layfon leapt away.

"Felli?"

He could tell she was trying to persuade Derek, but why did she suddenly back off? It would have been great had she been able to persuade him.

(Fonfon.)

But she had seen through him.

(That's not possible.)

She curtly refused him.

"Eh?"

(I already knew it isn't possible. I only talked to him to confirm it.)

"Eh? Eh?"

Felli didn't seem to plan to unravel his confusion.

(There isn't much time left. The longer time you use, the heavier burden it'd be for the captain. Please don't forget this.)

"Just what's going on?"

She was once again talking about something he didn't understand. But....... To make the captain's burden heavier? He didn't understand, but he knew from the current situation that he couldn't keep wasting time like this. He was only clear about this part.

(Next is a message from Lintence. "Just how long does he plan to keep playing for". That was what he said.)

"Ha!"

Lintence's words gave him a bigger impact. It was not possible for him not to notice this fight. So did he understand everything?

(Get it? You're allowed the time for the next strike. Don't lose any more time than that........ and, the opponent seems to be preparing to end this in the next move.)

Layfon understood this. Derek was also leaping between live-bullets and keeping a distance from him, maintaining the same altitude as him. And he clearly sensed the huge whirl-like kei concentrating around Derek. Perhaps Layfon already knew what he was planning.

Both sides wanted to win in the next move. They didn't have to think about their next move. They just needed to decide everything by clashing with all their might.

But.
But........

(Fonfon.)

Psyhockinesis was reading Layfon's expression. Felli's voice spread out like a drop of ink falling into clear water.

(That person wants to see.)

"..................."

(He wants to see a son in you.)

Derek's kei showed he was prepared. Layfon could feel the flow of that kei in this battlefield was the existence of perfection. It was an art made for the elegant and intense final stroke of the pen.

(He wants to see how much you've grown and what your level of determination is.)

Derek's kei painted the surrounding sky like wings grown with feathers. It was gathered to the Heaven's Blade in his hand, caused by the kei vein that ran through his body and into the weapon. This was originally a very normal act for Military Artists, but it looked so very bright from Derek's strong determination. It was beautiful enough to shock one's heart.

(Your determination, the real you, that's what that person wants to see.......)

Felli continued.

Layfon couldn't move his gaze away from Derek. He raised his own kei as he listened.

Derek moved.

Psyharden technique – Water Mirror.

(Are you going to just show that person your dishonest side.......?)

Derek appeared before his eyes.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!"

Howling.

(I hate this you.)

Kei technique was released.

At the same time.

Psyharden technique – Flame Cut.

The techniques of the two clashed.

<center>◇</center>

Equipment geared for outside city use wrapped around her entire body as she stood.

Nina was on the outside, on the outside of Zuellni, on the outside of Grendan, and landed on top of the monster. She had planned to do this even without Felli's contact. This was reckless but she knew she had nothing else to do but this.

(I hope Captain can attack the monster from the outside.)

Nina was thankful for Felli's timely request, but she hadn't explained the strategy. It seemed the contact was limited. The flake had lost its strength after her contact and once more fell useless in Nina's hand. It seemed Felli wouldn't have a chance to talk to the Student President and Vance. And so Nina had prepared everything herself, sneaked into the equipment room and got ready for outside city fight. Nina accomplished this easier as all other Military Artists had to be on the ready for anything.

But she didn't want people to think she had lost it, resulting in Vance making a mistake for grasping hold of the wrong information and the Military Artists attacking the monster much earlier than needed. This wasn't what Nina wanted to see. That monster was concentrating on attacking Grendan and hadn't done anything to Zuellni, but it wouldn't ignore it long once it was attacked from this side.

So Nina had told what she planned to Sharnid and asked him to convey that message to Vance.

She didn't relay the message herself because she didn't want Vance to stop her. So she had only told Sharnid the necessary information and had then come here.

She knew what she was about to do was without a strategy.

All Heaven's Blade successors were fighting, but the situation was still in a dilemma. The addition of Nina probably wouldn't make any changes. But nothing would be solved if nothing was done.

(Please attack the monster with all of your strength, but please don't be reckless. If you were dead and Zuellni was damaged, either way, we will feel sad and regret.)

Felli had explained it clearly. She had been like that from the beginning, but her words were even colder than before. Perhaps she felt she really had to explain that point clearer.

Not one inch of space on the monster's stomach that was revealed in the flow of the air was smooth. The tips of Nina's shoes just barely fit into the monster's body as she stood. She held the iron whips. The weapon that only belonged to her, given to her by Zuellni. Perhaps there weren't any other weapons better suited to her than this pair of iron whips.

She would never let humiliation come to the iron whips in battle.

"Melnisc!"

(I will become your sharp sword, the intense flame to annihilate the enemy.)

The Haikizoku answered her call.

(No matter when and where, this has already become an unchangeable truth.)

Nina let kei run through her body as she listened to Melnisc's answer. She locked her target on one of the ten heads on the stomach.

Internal and external Kei variant – Raijin.

The catastrophic head that was lifted high watched Nina, but then her world was already smothered in the smoke of high speed as she rushed for it.

The feeling of hitting the monster came to her hand as the monster's wailing pierced the sky. The crack caused by her attack should be smaller than the time when she first opened a hole in the monster's body. The monster's pain should also be less because Nina had used less power in this attack. Of course, the problem might not be on her attack. Perhaps the monster's head was harder than its body.

All the heads glared at her angrily because an important part of the body was hit. The other nine heads turned around to watch her. Nina felt pressure on her entire body.

Would the monster open its fangs to attack?

No.

"Um!"

Feeling a sense of distasteful prediction, Nina jumped and left her spot.

Lightning assaulted the space beneath her feet in the next moment. All the heads howled at the sky. At the same time, another lightning strike fell from the dark clouds. It didn't fall on Nina but the huge pillar of lightning hit the monster's body and began spreading out.

"Is the cloud also part of this guy!"

Numbness ran through her body even though she had dodged the attack. She gritted her teeth at the sensation, landed and prepared her next strike.

Raijin.

The monster's body was regenerating, but Nina's attack overcame its regeneration speed and made the wound wider. It didn't look that big of a wound. If one were to compare it to a wound on Nina, it'd be the equivalent of a small wound made by the tip of a foot.

But she was certain it hurt.

It wasn't a fatal wound though. Either way, this level of a wound was nothing to a monster with unbelievable regenerative power.

"Damn."

She jumped to avoid another lightning strike.

"This is endless."

Was it not working to simply attack the monster's head? Nina pondered again.

Perhaps Felli wanted her to confuse the enemy. The monster had turned all of its attention to her. Perhaps this was what Felli had wanted.

A huge body mass.

A great regenerative power.

Even Heaven's Blade successors could only defend in front of this thing. Nina herself was also experiencing this point with her body.

Then she must find a way to kill this monster. This monster's weak point........ If this existed on this monster's body then she had to find it. This was what she had to do now.

The monster would counter-attack with lightning when one of its heads was hit. This really was a powerful counter-attack. She would die if she got hit, but it was very simple to read its attack. The counter-attack wasn't always aimed at her. Sometimes it didn't even land close to her. The lightning would spread across the monster's whole body. The attack wasn't anything to it.

"Next."

Nina changed her target and ran up the monster's long neck. She almost got thrown off the neck a number of times before she reached its head, but she finally made it to her destination. She swung the iron whips down at the eye that was larger than her own body. As expected, the scale in this place wasn't as hard. Nina released her kei, using all of her strength. No matter how many heads the monster had, this attack would give it quite some damage as long as it was a living thing.

But the end result was unexpected. The monster's reaction was very intense. Nina was thrown off the head because of it. But when she adjusted her pose in the air, the monster was already regenerating.

Not here.

Was it not the head then?

"Ok, next."

Nina's aim wasn't to defeat the monster. If she had insisted on defeating it, the battle would never end.

She landed, dodged the lightning strike and ran for the next head.

Someone saw it happen.

"She's doing something interesting."

The person who had retreated to Zuellni earlier than anyone else, Dixerio, was happily watching Nina's every movement.

"Ala, do you want to help her?" Nelphilia looked at him with a surprised expression. "You were wanting to defeat her yourself not so long ago."

"Weren't you the one who made me abandon that idea?"

"Is that so?" she was joking, passing off his complaint with a smile.

Fascinated attraction still lived in Nelphilia's eyes even though they were mere slits when she was smiling. Dixerio moved his gaze away and watched the monster and Nina's battle again.

"Seems to be chasing away a bee. The size is about right."

"Ala, the poison from the bee is incredible though."

"Exactly."

Dixerio held the huge metal whip on his shoulder.

"Are you really going? Aren't you thinking of heading there yourself?"

"It's not like my style to wait for the timing to come. Besides, I'm already here."

"Then go. I'll head there alone even if you are defeated."

Nelphilia took back her smile. The more she spent her time here, the weaker she became. The place that Saya told Leerin was a place that could realize all dreams. It was on the other side of this world, the place where the moon adorned the sky. It was hard to clearly see the hole in the sky because of the thick cloud cover. No, the hole was closed, that was why both Dixerio and her were still here.

"I'll leave you here and go if the hole opens up."

"Never mind. I think I'll head there on my own."

A mask appeared in Dixerio's hand. The mask of the Haikizoku, Velzenheim, had turned from blue to red after taking away the power of the fire god from Shante. It had greedily absorbed the power of the Wolf Faces and the existence of the fire god that was superior to them. Velzenheim now had the colour that matched the title "The flame of the hungry wolf."

Dixerio put on the mask.

Power ran through him in a flash. The whirlwind created by the two negative powers of curse and revenge filled his body and spilled out of him.

To become hideous flame.

Feeling the negative emotion writhing up his neck, Dixerio leapt. The pollutants could not invade his body as the intense flame was absorbing the pollutants and turning them into its own source of fuel. The flame became bigger once Dixerio left Zuellni's air shield.

"........... It can burn this well in air so thin, then it must burn even brighter on the other side," Nelphilia smiled with a finger on her lips as she watched him. "Ignasis. Perhaps you'll be burnt to ashes by the flame you created."

She lifted her head. On the other side of her gaze was the moon that was blocked by the heavy cloud cover. A smile that one would find tragic appeared on her face as she pondered the appearance of the moon.

Nina found out that something had happened. It happened after she attacked the third head. Her moves failed to defeat the monster, but she knew the monster was in pain from her blows. The more effective her attack was the closer she hit to the head. Of course, the eye was one of the attack points. It was easy to destroy the eye, but the regenerative speed of the eye was also faster than anywhere else. She doubted whether this eye held the same function as a human's eye. Compared to this, the monster felt more pain from a blow that caused internal injuries. It seemed this monster's weak point was in a deeper area inside its body where Nina's attack couldn't reach. And so the monster hated injuries to its insides more than to its surface.

Then......... It happened while Nina was pondering.

A ball of gigantic flame appeared in the sky.

The flame that suddenly appeared from Zuellni gave one of the monster's heads a powerful assault. The monster's skin was peeled away. The scales bounced back. Even Nina could hear the noise from the attack from far away. The noise that sounded like lightning pierced the monster's head. The head fell back and toppled listlessly on the monster's abdomen.

"What was that?"

Nina's surprised voice filled her own helmet. If what she was feeling was the remnant of kei, then this kei was too savage. Its quality felt different from the wild kei of the Heaven's Blade successors. Both kei seemed similar but they were different.

The flame continued to expand as if it was to swallow its surroundings. Nina could only describe it as horror.

And this was especially true when she saw the wave riding the flame, or the person that was rampaging inside the flame. Nina shivered.

Dixerio.

But was this really him? She didn't feel that this was the Dixerio Maskane that she knew. He was more like the carefree Sharnid when she first met him. She found out he loved talking to himself when she met him the second time a few days ago.

And now.

The man wielding a huge metal whip, bringing with him the constantly changing flame stood before her, and she found it hard to link him with the Dixerio she knew. The Heaven's Blade successors turned around the definition of a normal Military Artist, but Dixerio was turning around the knowledge of what constituted a living being.

What was this ball of flame?

Nina didn't know. The City Police knew of Shante's special body. Some Alchemists knew too, but Nina had no idea.

No one in Zuellni knew that Shante was the fire god and that her body was made as a weapon by the Wolf Faces. Zuellni herself was filled with secrets. No one knew that Zuellni was involved with the fate of this world.

The other being before her had taken Nina's attention. She stood spaced out, rooted on the spot.

The remnants of lightning attacked her. The lightning running across the monster's body captured her feet and she was thrown back to fall onto the monster's round abdomen. Nina continued to slide down as there was no handhold for her.

"Uh!"

She pierced the monster's body with her iron whips and used that point to jump up and stood again. The lightning shock coursing through her body had cleared her head.

"......... How could I be looked after like that!"

Whatever kind of person Dixerio was, it was clear that he was helping her interfere with the monster. Then what she had to do now was the same as before. It wasn't possible to want everything as she wanted. If she wanted to continue to investigate the mystery of this world, then she would have to leave Zuellni once more.

"Right now, what I have to do is what I can do."

This was all that Nina wanted for now.

She gripped the iron whips and ran off again.

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The surroundings of the palace had become a battlefield.

The sound of fighting and the footsteps of the monsters could be heard from the tallest tower in Grendan. Leerin's body kept shivering. She placed her hand on her chest and looked down out the window. Alsheyra and Saya were like statues, frozen on the spot. The queen's eyes were tightly closed but the girl of moonlight had her eyes wide opened.

Alsheyra was concentrating on the decisive timing that could arrive at any moment. As for Saya, Leerin didn't know what she was doing. Perhaps she was protecting Grendan.

The monster that was covering the entire city, Durindana, perhaps Saya's power explained why this huge mass had yet to crush the city itself. It must be Saya's power to appoint an area that prevented anyone from entering. But Durindana was very strong. Even Saya could only prevent the huge body from entering. She could not stop the numerous live-bullets from invading the city.

The sound of chaotic but orderly footsteps was closing in on the palace, and the sound of the footsteps had slowed down somewhere. The Military Artists in the city were good at fighting, but they still couldn't completely stop the monsters from moving forward. They could only delay them.

Ahah.......

Leerin hugged her body, sighing. She understood a little now. The atmosphere of despair was invading her bit by bit. The instinctive desire to live was stirring in her heart, about to explode at any moment.

The meaning behind the number of twelve Heaven's Blade successors. The function of the right eye. The existence of the Queen.

Everything was linked, but Leerin didn't know the answer that lay behind that linkage. She could probably guess the answer, but there was nothing but the feeling of sadness.

The rib. Heaven's Blades were the rib of Ailen. The Ailen that was the moon and guardian of this world. The Ailen that Saya loved. A part of the strong bones that made up a man's shell, the sharp and dangerous bone revealed danger to humanity.

The Queen, the power Ailen possessed. Dispersed across the world because of Riggazrio. The Queen was the final form of that power, gathered once more.

And this was the right eye that Ailen desired. This power was born from his will so to protect this world, to allow the princess to sleep eternally, the magical eye that could weave the wall of thorns. Ailen's flesh that excluded his will. His everything was here. Then everything was gathered here because of the owner's will.

It was natural to gather here to protect Saya.

The Queen's birth on this earth, the gathering of the Heaven's Blade successors, Leerin standing here at this moment, everything was because of Ailen's will.

But......

She shook her head and chased away the thought surfacing in her mind. There was no fate here. He was only caught in this play. The stirrings left from her thoughts pained her. She boldly looked out the window of the tower and chased away those stirrings.

She looked at the sky through the window. She couldn't see that figure when Barmelin was in a rampage. But next time and the next time. Perhaps she could see that figure. That figure may appear before her after the monster's abdomen was pierced and the clouds were chased away.

She understood everything already.

And that was the time when she was to exercise her power.

The skeletons were closing in on the palace and in comparison, Grendan's Military Artists bravely fought on. They possessed above average fighting strength as individuals, but they could also fight together as a group. Tens of Military Artists released external kei at the same time. They timed their moves so that the storm created by the kei turned upward to create chaos in the enemies, destroying them. Still, this level of damage was very tiny for the whole of the skeletal enemies.

"No matter what, don't let them enter the palace!"

The commanding Military Artist howled at the skeletal soldiers climbing up the palace's wall and the rooftops of normal residential houses and heading straight for the palace.

But the skeletons did not stop moving. They ignored the wounds the Military Artists inflicted upon them and kept moving forward. Meanwhile, more live-bullets had landed as they slipped through the Heaven's Blades and so the skeleton's reinforcement was increasing constantly, and the number of reinforcement far surpassed the number being destroyed. All Military Artists spread out in Grendan had come to the palace after judging that the skeletons' aim was not the city's underground shelters.

But they still couldn't block them off.

Worry filled everyone.

And his voice rang out crisp and loud amidst them.

".......... Really, to leave this scene for me at such a playful time. My job isn't to wipe your ass. Really."

The sigh came from the front entrance of the palace. His long hair was bounded. His arms were filled with muscles because of his training. Silver plates shone.

The man's fist moved in an instant and hit the sky.

External kei variant – Full power. Stab.

The released kei bullet pierced through the skeletal group and ran in a straight line, forcefully splitting the enemies into two rows. The Military Artists cheered at the figure of the man who stepped into the enemy area in a relaxed manner.

"Savaris-sama!"

Savaris kept moving, ignoring the cheers. The skeletal army continued to move forward despite his attack. Savaris only headed forward and left the leftovers to the other Military Artists.

Blood seeped into the bandages bounding his neck.

Lintence had sewn up the injury on his neck that Layfon made. Savaris had then received treatment in the hospital and his wound had been filled, but the vein that was cut hadn't been fully healed. One Full Power. Stab. was enough to open the wound again.

"This is the price of experiencing fun," he said to himself as he touched his wound.

"It seems I must act more wildly like Lintence-san," he said, shook away the blood on his hand and released a kei move again.

External kei variant – Absolute. Full Power. Stab.

Blood gushed like water from a fountain from his neck.

But the attack from the kei was spreading from one skeleton to another. The skeletons fell like dominos.

"Well, let's do as much as I can."

Relaxed, he walked deeply into the army of skeletons, his upper body tainted with his own blood.

The sound of howling caused the sky to rumble.

The remnants from the clash of kei rode the howls of the two and continued to spread, piercing the sky and shaking the monster's skin.

Psyharden technique – Flame Cut.

The result wasn't as simple as before, now released from two Heaven's Blades. Both persons' kei bore fangs that attempted to swallow the other. The light of kei blocked their vision. Layfon couldn't even see Derek who was in front of him.

All he felt was the pressure coming from the Heaven's Blade.

The feeling carried to his hands meant everything. Picked up by his foster father, raised up by him, his own traitorous act, the reconciliation, and the current fight. This may be a destined fate for both fighters. To survive by the blade. To fight on this world gone mad because of pollutants, and make oneself stronger. Perhaps this was written in one's fate.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

With force, Layfon shattered the thought "this can't be helped" that flashed through his mind. Even if this was a destined fight between strong fighters, there must be an end. Lintence's words that Felli conveyed "Stop playing around" pressed down on him.

Not that he hadn't used his full power.

But he didn't want to kill his opponent. But right now, his adopted father also held the same amount of kei and the Heaven's Blade. The result of victory was his opponent's death. This was the only road that Layfon foresaw. He was afraid that this would become reality, and this would mean he had really cut off his past. He would never forgive himself for that.

If he thought that the reason of this fight was Leerin's will, then he felt he might have got something wrong. He had already decided to see her and ask her about her true feelings. He had already made this mental preparation before he fought his adopted father. Even so, fear and uncertainty filled his heart. Determination was the preparation he made to tolerate the coming pain. It would not lessen the pain. He had already known this deeply when his siblings looked at him with hatred. Then wouldn't it have been better if he chose to run away? Somewhere inside his heart was mocking him. But he couldn't do it. He wanted to confirm for himself Leerin's decision. His heart felt like this for some reason. At the same time, a premonition flashed through him. Not only Leerin and Derek, but his link with Toby and the other siblings would disappear if he accepted Derek's words. This was what he felt.

The feeling of flowing water in his hand made him afraid.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"

Howling.

Kei continued to rise.

He continued to increase his kei and poured it into the Heaven's Blade, ignoring the term "limit". The two kei exploded in the middle point of the two Heaven's Blades. The two kei were glued together like a solid ball flying in a narrow space. Each leap would cause one to lose his balance. The pressure of kei assaulted him, but tolerating the pain, he raised his kei to press down on that pressure.

He could bear the intense pain on his flesh, but the pain in his heart was frightening. These feelings must be contradictory. He didn't understand. All he felt was fear. He would rather cut clean than be tied in these feelings, just like the time when he arrived at Zuellni. Why. Why didn't he want to lose what he had taken back with much effort?

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!"

Howling.

His eyes were white hot, but even if the tears were to flow, it would only be shattered instantly by his kei. He had no other way to express his feelings than his howls.

To Derek.
To his foster father.
To his own father.
To his own family.

Why did it turn out like this? He couldn't ask that question.

"Don't cry, stupid son."

He seemed to hear that from Derek.

One instant. Just one instant. He felt he saw Derek's smile in that gaze blocked by the flashes of light.

Perhaps this was just a hallucination. An indescribable feeling filled his mind. His eyes hurt because of the light. Perhaps everything was just his own imagination and wishful thinking.

Red dispersed in the world of white smoke. The colour recovered in the next instant. Derek's body, standing on the other side of the Heaven's Blade, gushed red.

Gushing out from his kei.

Layfon understood in an instant. The nervous system and the veins covering Derek's entire body could not sustain the sudden surge of kei. The network ripped and from the rupture gushed the power that pained Derek.

Time seemed to slow. The Heaven's Blade in Derek's hands slowly lost power.

Wait. Stop!

Layfon ordered his own body. It was enough. The victor had been decided. His action wasn't necessary anymore. Stop. Stop. Stop!

But apparently he couldn't control his own body anymore. What controlled the movement of the blade in this situation was neither his body nor muscles, but the kei embodied in the blade, exploding, controlling the blade at its own will and totally disregarding Layfon's wish.

The blade pressed down on Derek's Heaven's Blade and was about to enter father's body according to the path depicted in Layfon's mind. The tip of the blade would enter the flesh and travel from the left of the abdomen up to the right shoulder. It would soundlessly draw across Derek's body. Layfon seemed to be able to foresee the future of a few seconds later in his mind.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!"

Despair filled him.

But a miracle happened before it all became reality.

The two Heaven's Blades, weaved together, lost their shape. They became one and the blade in Layfon's hands became one Heaven's Blade. Only ripples were left of the kei technique that had lost its blade.

Blood gushed from Derek's body as Layfon's father fell.

"Father!"

Live-bullets headed for the unconscious Derek. Layfon used the rebound of his kei to descend speedily. He caught Derek and passed through Barmelin's river of bullets and landed on the roof of a nearby building.

"Father!" he called, but there was no reaction.

(He must have fainted because of blood loss. He isn't in immediate danger. The ambulance will arrive in 3 minutes.)

Layfon was at a loss as he listened to Felli's words. He watched his foster father. He couldn't have failed to see the wound on the left hand side of Derek's abdomen. He caused that injury, or one could say he caused it when he was thinking of killing his foster father.

(Layfon. Though this isn't the time to say it, there's something I have to ask you to do.)

"................."

(All Heaven's Blade successors are on the defense. The captain is fighting on the outside so you're the only person available.)

"........ What do you want me to do?"

(Open up a hole in the monster's body and keep it open for some time.)

"I see."

He lay Derek down and jumped out.

Did he have to do that? Did he have to do that in order to see Leerin and confirm her thoughts? To defeat Derek with his katana. Did he have to do that?

What had happened to Leerin?

He had to confirm it.

The pain in his heart felt like his skin was being peeled off. Blood was gushing from him without ceasing. Did he have to do that for the present step he was taking? Did he have to tolerate that pain so that he could stand before her?

Did Leerin have the same level of preparation? Was what was happening now require her to have this level of preparation?

The monster covering the entire city. Was it because of it? Whether it was about that event or this.

"All because of you!"

Layfon passed through the river of bullets again and restored the Heaven's Blade. The appearance of Wolfstein was the same as he had remembered. Layfon felt nothing but hatred for the feeling of it in his hands. The result of the battle became like this because of Wolfstein.

He held it backhandedly with a pose ready to throw something. Fury turned into kei and was poured into the Heaven's Blade. Disappear together with this monster!

"Hooooooooooooooooooooooo!!"

The colour of kei enveloped his entire body and became a circle of light. Fury changed the colour of kei into scalding red.

External kei variant – Rumbling Sword.

Fury was thrown out along with kei. The Heaven's Blade became a light bullet of red that stabbed into the monster's skin. The entire Grendan shook from the shaking of the explosion. The remnants of the kei technique destroyed all surrounding live-bullets.

The hole made by force was revealed after the smoke cleared.

The gigantic moon gazed down at Layfon on the other side of the hole.

The colossal abdomen covering Grendan was shaking, and even faster than the shaking, the monster was regenerating.

Layfon took out the Adamantium Dite from his weapon harness as he fell. He inserted the special Dite into the slot in the Adamantium Dite, and the changes he expected took place.

Steel threads.

Thousands of Steel Threads appeared from the handle he was holding, and they began to shred down the cells regenerating from the wound. Kei flowed to the ground and started to burn up the monster's flesh. Layfon wasn't thinking of controlling the amount of kei anymore. The insane kei was cutting apart the monster, burning it and swallowing it. Layfon wasn't thinking of control because of his fury. The Steel Threads had turned red and hot even though the Adamantium Dite had a greater capacity than the Sapphire Dite. The Steel Threads released by the Layfon in the sky had turned bright red.

He felt the sense of danger immediately. Layfon poured forth the last spurt of kei and tossed away the weapon.

The last explosion burnt away the flesh that was sealing off the hole. He speedily took out the Sapphire Dite, restored it and released the Steel Threads again.

But the kei he poured into the Dite was a lot less than before. Felli didn't say how long he had to keep the hole open. No, it was better that he hadn't asked. If she had said one minute, he might have relaxed in the last ten seconds. Besides, he felt that he couldn't calm his fury if he didn't let it out now.

But the capacity of the Sapphire Dite that allowed it to counter the regenerative power of the monster was much lower. Layfon was causing injuries in the monster's body rather than keeping the hole open. The hole was not big enough for the regenerative power to wane. The effort of the Sapphire Dite was useless.

In that case............

Only one Dite was left in the weapon harness, the Shim Adamandium Dite. He reached for it and passed through the hole with the steel threads to attack the monster from the other side of the air shield. There was no other way. He wasn't scared of the pollutants burning his body. The only feeling filling him now was fury.

But a change happened faster than his determination.

Leerin saw the moon.

The moon saw Leerin.

It's coming.

The moon appeared in her gaze again as she thought. She looked at it with her head lifted. On it was Nina and the figure of the mysterious man, weaved with fire, and the ten heads that were fighting them.

Through the Haikizoku, Nina was fighting the monster with the mysterious man. They were able to distract their enemy, but their combined attacks did nothing to unearth the monster's weakness. Nano Celluloid. The extremely tiny existence was hiding somewhere. It wasn't because Nina and the mysterious man did not possess enough power. It was because the scale of the enemy was too large.

This was the time for Leerin to do what she had to do.

She watched the moon, what the moon could see – the entire body of the monster.

Her gaze was fast narrowing.

The monster was trying to block off Leerin's gaze to the moon, and that effort wasn't slow. It wanted to close off the hole in an instant. And Leerin saw the figure of Layfon near the hole, as if the steel threads were pulling him around. He was keeping that hole open.

He had opened it and was keeping it open.

Her chest hurt. She didn't want to see him here at all, but he had created this last chance. Leerin must not waste the chance he had created.

She watched the moon, the thing that the moon saw.

The monster was reflected. Leerin concentrated on her right eye and used the power in it. She used the thorns to create the flower garden protecting the princess' slumber, and marked every interference with the mark of the grave.

The power existed for this purpose.

Felli also looked at the monster's figure again. The power of psychokinesis had spread out because of the hole Layfon opened. Delbone's flakes were once connected and activated.

This was the last big job. There might not be a chance to turn this situation around if they failed. Felli quickly confirmed the situation as she bore the pain in her stomach.

Nina was fighting along with the mysterious man in flame. Felli gave up trying to confirm the monster's body but instead concentrated on its cells that reacted to the two's assault. It felt a waste of time to try to calculate the number of things moving underneath the monster's skin. The movement of each unit was difficult to explain like that of a messy current. Just thinking of separating each unit and finding out the source of each of them was difficult enough.

(Um.........)

(It seems this will take quite some time to finish.)

Elsmau said in despair.

But they didn't have that much time. Felli bite her lips as she processed the vast amount of information in high speed. Thinking heated her brain. Her consciousness seemed to have flown away. She could only sustain her own consciousness through the pain in her lips. Her lips split and traces of blood appeared.

The hole continued to shrink. Layfon was nearing his limit.

She must hurry. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.

But the huge thing kept flowing and changing as if to mock her effort. Only the sense of exhaustion kept increasing. Anxiety filled her chest and made breathing difficult. It was hard enough to just remain standing.

(Is there....... Is there any huge changes happening?)

Elsmau said painfully as if she was drowning.

If there was another way. Perhaps they didn't have to attack their opponent's weak point. It'd have been great if there was another way to defeat it........ All Felli could think of was the combined attack of the Heaven's Blade successors. That couldn't be done right now. It would be a huge gamble to bet on that move.

Was there another way? Though it didn't happen as Felli and Elsmau expected, their anticipation had been met.

The air suddenly shook.

The changes happened as if the air had suddenly lost its weight. Inside the changes embodied a certain will and a painful scream. It forcefully assaulted Felli, Elsmau and the ones fighting the monster, Nina, Dixerio and Layfon.

(What is it?)

Felli's question remained a question to everyone else except Layfon.

"........... Leerin?"

Only Layfon felt her taste in the scream in the air. Her painful scream at the sky cut through him.

The changes took place in the hole that Layfon opened.

Bubbles rapidly appeared like the surface of boiling water on the skin of the monster, in the hole that Layfon had opened. Compared to the black skin of the monster, the bubbles were white with something dark inside. Like an eyeball.

It didn't feel substantial. The balls were covering the walls of the hole and preventing the monster from regenerating. Creepy was the word to describe it. And then the number of eyeballs continued to increase.

The monster's cells became eyeballs.

The eyeballs grew to the outside of the hole. Layfon could no longer tell from his bare eyes where the eyeballs would stretch to. But numerous eyeballs were watching him as if they belonged to Leerin. He didn't doubt this intuition for some reason.

Nina saw the changes too. She saw it after hitting one of the monster's heads.

"What..... is that?"

The things spreading out from the monster's abdomen. They were getting closer to her after she landed on the monster's neck, and that was the time when she confirmed the things were eyeballs.

The eyeballs spread up to the head that Nina had hit.

Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

Sudden howl and mad dash. Nina almost got thrown off the monster's back because of the sudden violent movement of the head. She backed away. The monster had never reacted so strongly no matter how much Nina hammered at it and how long Dixerio's flame heated it. Right now, it was thrashing around like it was trying to sweep away the school of flesh-eating fish on its back. Lighting fell on it in torrents.

But the eyeballs cared naught and kept growing in number.

"Wu."

She barely withstood the pain, using Gongokei to defend. The monster's rampaging had gone beyond what was normal. There was nothing more Nina could do. The words "retreat temporarily" floated in her mind then she began to plan her escape to Zuellni.

Ugruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!

All ten heads howled at the sky. The cloud cover dispersed because of the voices and so one could now see the moon behind it. The sun should have been out according to the time. In reality, sunlight filtered into the city after the cloud was chased away, but the moon ignored it all and was still hanging in the sky.

A hole suddenly appeared on the moon. It pierced the formless sky. A hole in black was exuding seven colours. The ten heads' howling increased in volume as if they were praying for something. The remaining dark cloud dispersed in the midst of lightning that were adorning the monster's body.

What did the monster want to trigger? Something that was different from all its past actions. It must be wanting to summon something ominous from the hole that had once appeared in Zuellni's sky.

Nina knew she had to do something. She readied her pose but she couldn't think of anything she could do.

At this time.

"I've been waiting for this moment!"

The voice came from Dixerio.

The flame writhing up the monster's body changed direction because of his voice. It headed straight for the sky and flew into the hole like a beast dashing out after confirming its target.

Something was wanting to come through from the other side of the hole, but Dixerio's flame had already covered it up before Nina could see its face.

Dixerio leapt over her as if he was running on flame. His masked face truly looked like a beast's. And darkness followed closely behind him. The white face floating in the dark smiled at her.

"Nelphilia..............."

The girl of night whom Nina had seen in Zuellni followed Dixerio to the hole as if she was riding the beast of flame. The two of them entered the flame-enveloped hole, and what Nina saw in the last moment was the flash of light destroying both flame and darkness, Dixerio's metal whips, the fangs of lightning.

There was not a sound. Only a formless attack hit her and then hammered the head as if it was searching for it. The head toppled and fell onto the monster's abdomen.

And then Dixerio and Nelphilia disappeared into the hole together.

The eyeballs continued to grow in number until they covered the monster's entire body.

The tears raining down constantly were destroying the flakes. The impact that was fatal on Delbone's aged body made Felli kneel.

But she saw it.

(You saw it.)

(Saw it.)

Elsmau was in pain too.

The continuous growth of eyeballs, this unusual phenomenon, had released the mechanism controlling the internal organs of the monster. The units flowing inside the body dropped in number. What were left flowed to the central area and was then vomited out. Everything was very obvious now.

This was the place.

Elsmau reported the information to the Queen.

Felli then told Layfon and Nina to leave the monster as quickly as possible.

Alsheyra knew the monster's weak point.

"Saya, protect Leerin."

"I understood."

No one knew if she had heard Saya's reply. Alsheyra immediately opened her tightly closed eyelids, and this action alone was enough to make the air shake, and the wall collapsed because of it.

On the corner of her gaze was the screen projected by Delbone's flake. It depicted the monster's weak point in detail. The movements of the dot of light inside this colossal body were complicated, but the dot seemed to be having difficulty moving around, as if it was somehow restricted.

Alsheyra's gaze swept across the screen and then she took one step forward. The floor and the entire palace shook from just one step.

The shaking didn't stop at the boundary of the palace. It had spread throughout the entire Grendan.

Just one step.

She had only taken one step.

Not only did Savaris, fighting at the mouth of the palace, felt it. Barmelin defending the city's sky; the Heaven's Blade successors protecting the outer-edge; Layfon who had given up keeping the hole open; and Nina, retreating back to Zuellni on the other side of the air shield. They all felt it.

Everyone believed what was about to come. Everyone believed this attack would turn the situation around.

"Grendan!"

The wall of the tower collapsed because of Alsheyra's voice. The roof was blown off. Alsheyra's figure appeared in the city, in the battlefield. The city damaged in the battle was spread out before her, but she couldn't see it. She had lifted her head with determination and was watching the sky, watching the culprit that had caused this.

(I obey!)

Grendan replied. A beast with four legs and one strand of long fur emerged behind her. The Haikizoku that was moving this entire city in place of Saya, guiding it to an endless fight with filth monster was standing behind her.

She reached out for Grendan. Nothing needed to be said. Grendan knew what she wanted just from her simple movement.

(My sharp teeth will become yours until they shatter.)

Flashes of light enveloped her hand and then gathered into a ball. An explosion without sound and impact turned the light into a piece of gold metal. The Haikizoku's power gathered in her hand and materialized.

It was a lance with two sharp heads.

"Of course."

She replied shortly. Her breathing had heated up. The energy flowing in her had been honing itself and waiting for this moment to be released. The energy in her would flow out for the purpose of destruction with every moment of her body. Her hand, her head, her foot. The air around her twisted because of the heat. The walls and the floor were painted red by it and the palace kept shaking. That heat would have burnt Leerin's entire body, the wind pushing her out of the building and her meeting her death in the fall if she wasn't protected by Saya.

Alsheyra gripped the lance. The kei inside her reacted to her action and poured itself into the weapon. The weapon, formed by the body of an Electronic Fairy, surpassed a Heaven's Blade....... It was a weapon that could contain an immense amount of kei. Nina's iron whips was one example.

The Queen held the lance and leaned back, ready to throw.

The kei in the lance with two heads made it shine.

Alsheyra threw it.

The lance traced a path of white in Grendan's sky and it made a sudden change of angle when it reached a certain point. It headed straight up. At the movement, cracks spidered out from where Alsheyra was standing and the floor started to collapse. The cracks spread across the tiles and even Leerin and Saya were swept away. Alsheyra's figure also disappeared in the falling debris.

During this time, the lance arced over the sky of the embattled city in unusual silence. It sailed through the air shield and easily pierced the monster's skin. It cut through one of the ten heads and headed straight for its destination.

The silence was shattered in the next moment.

It looked like water was draining into a trench to those looking from inside Grendan. The small hole opened by the lance suddenly became a whirlpool, sucking up the entire body of the monster as the whirlpool became bigger and bigger. The monster was swallowed in a split second and subsequently, the green sky returned. The ten heads had disappeared along with the dark clouds. The moon that had been insisting on its own existence had also slowly disappeared into the azure sky like a hallucination, melting into the firmament.

Neither explosion nor loud noise happened. Everything collapsed and was annihilated in a flash, disappearing into who knew where.

Everything ended in this moment.

Everything had ended. Everyone was at a loss as it all happened too suddenly. Out of all of them, only Layfon paid no attention to it.

The End.

<noinclude>('''Note to Readers:''' Wait! There's still the Epilogue. Click Next <big><big>'''↓'''</big></big>)

{{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14_Chapter_4|next=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14_Epilogue}}
</noinclude>

Strike Witches:Volume1 Chapter7

2012-05-11T03:34:13Z

216.239.45.4:

Tomoko’s shoot-down count had begun to rise normally. It wasn’t long before Christmas arrived.

“Pilot Officer Anabuki. Flight Lieutenant Häkkinen would like to see you in the command room.”

Before noon…Tomoko, who was returning to base after finishing aerial patrol, had been informed of the arrival of an officer. It was unusual for her to be called all the way out to the command centre.

As she rushed off, wondering why she’d been called out, she noticed someone other than F/L Häkkinen – someone with a face that invoked nostalgia.

It wasn’t someone that she knew, however. His face was one that was uncommon in a place like Suomus - the reason being that it was oriental.

F/L Häkkinen introduced her to the middle aged man: “A guest from your country, Pilot Officer.”

The man beamed at Tomoko.

“Wing Commander Sakuma, a military attaché.”

Tomoko saluted in a hurry. He wasn’t in uniform, so she hadn’t known he was with the military.

“Please excuse me. I’m currently on civil service related business.”

It seems like this man is a well-informed officer. What on earth could someone like that possibly want with me?

“You’ve done a great deal of good work. I’m very proud. Congratulations on your 50th shoot down. Currently, you are the top ace of Fuso’s European detachment.”

Tomoko bowed out of respect.

Surely he didn’t come all this way just to give me a pep talk?

Just as she thought it odd that a military attaché would use his free time to pay her a visit, the following words that came from his mouth shocked her thoroughly.

“Well then, we can’t afford an ace like that to go without proper recognition, can we? On this occasion, we’ve decided to give you the appropriate decoration. You will be awarded the fourth class Order of the Golden Kite. It is truly an honour, Pilot Officer.”

The Order of the Golden Kite is an award that carries a lot of honour along with it. It is even said by the Air Marshal you can’t receive it unless you demonstrate distinguished war accomplishments. It is the ultimate verification of one’s own potential.

“T-Thank you very much!” Said Tomoko, bowing once more with her utmost thanks.

Happiness was bubbling inside her.

“It’s likely that you will receive official directions from the higher officers shortly. The awarding ceremony is scheduled to take place in Paris. I’ve called for officers and officials alike. It’ll be a splendid party. I hope you’ll look forward to it.”

She was so overjoyed she was practically shaking.

Afterwards, she asked him briefly about current affairs in Fuso; and the war situation in Karlsland.

Looking at the war situation in Karlsland on a whole, it seemed that no matter how well the Karlsland detatchment were doing, nothing was changing for the better.

I wonder if Takeko is doing well?

Tomoko was filled with anxiety.

“How is the squad in Karlsland keeping up?”

“I hear that they’re still yet to report any victims.”

Tomoko was relieved. For now, it seemed like Takeko was safe.

Despite her relief, there was something that she was just itching to ask. There was no doubt that a high-ranking officer would know plenty of detailed information regarding the military.

“Wing Commander Sakuma, Sir. I’ve got something I would like to inquire about.”

“Go ahead.”

“Who was the one who made the decision to have me sent to Suomus?”

Wing Commander Sakuma was taken aback with surprise.

“You don’t know?”

“No.”

“It was your colleague, Pilot Officer Katou.”

The response drained all colour from her face.

“Takeko did?”

“Yes. We were in the middle of selecting the soldiers that would be sent to Karlsland. There was no doubt that we were going to be sending you off in the detachment. However, Pilot Officer Katou came along to the selection committee meeting one day. She had a request for us – quite simply that we shouldn’t send you to Karlsland.”

“Why would she…why…?”

Wing Commander Sakuma flinched at Tomoko’s growing fury.

“Well…I didn’t hear it from her firsthand, so I don’t know the details myself... but…she suggested that you tended to fall flat during fierce battle. However, looking at your military records and service history that doesn’t seemed to be a problem, so I myself, am a little confused as to why she would say something like that. In the end, the most senior officer present decided that you would be sent to Suomus instead - based on her insistence. It’s nothing to be disheartened by, given your military achievements.”

Tomoko was appalled.

The one that decided that I would get sent to Suomus was…Takeko.

Why? Tomoko whispered under her breath.

Even though Takeko and I could have been fighting together as rivals…

We could have been competing together for military achievements…

Tomoko shuffled back to her own room and let her body drop onto her bed. She knew she had to write up a report for the aerial patrol she was on earlier, but her hand wouldn’t budge.

Just…why?

If I think back…Takeko had been a little odd. I guess she was jealous of my military prowess after all. Of course! That’s why she sent me to Suomus – a place where it would be impossible to achieve military greatness. Even though we were such good friends, I’m just alone now.

Just as Tomoko's thoughts slipped further and further into depression, the siren roared throughout the base.

“Air raid warning! Air raid warning!”

It’s the Neuroi.

The enemy sure knows how to beat me when I’m down.

Tomoko stood up, biting firmly on her lip.

As she ascended into the sky, she could hear an announcement from F/L Hakkinen.

“The Neuroi bomber formation of 20 units is currently at co-ordinates B-3 with an altitude of 5,000 metres and rising. Be careful. Today’s Neuroi is unlike anything we’ve faced before.”

She spoke in her usual cold tone. However, Tomoko was off with the fairies and paid the warning no heed. She felt her body moving automatically to the assigned co-ordinates, and the correct altitude.

The 1st squadron, who by now would usually be attempting to take the enemy down - were instead circling in the air space above the enemy.

What on earth were they doing that for?

The reason hit Tomoko in the face in an instant.

The Laros were circling around a much bigger beast…

It wasn’t the usual Kefalas.

The silhouette was three times as big.

Despite being one single unit, it had an overwhelming presence.

“This is ‘Snow Woman’ to fighter squadron. The large Neuroi bombing unit approaching is a new model called Diomedia! It’s a monster that took down an entire naval aviation unit in Karlsland! It’s equipped with a weapon that shoots hedgehog-like spikes. Coming close to it without careful thought would be dangerous!”

Upon closer inspection, it stood out from the Kefalas in relief.

The shape of the four engines it was towing along resembled that of a huge aerial fortification. It was definitely very unusual looking. The wings that extended horizontally from the body gave off an aura of ill fate. Both the fuselage and the wings were thick, and powerful. It was very likely to be suitably fortified, and bombproof.

Understandably, it seemed even F/L Mika Ahonen’s experienced 1st squadron had no idea how they should go about attacking the thing. They drew close to it, shot at it with their machine guns, then made evasive maneuvers.

Tomoko focused her courage.

It was scary.

She had a gut feeling that she couldn’t win.

That didn't stop her from beginning her approach.

Elma yelled out over the wireless: “P/O Anabuki! It’s too dangerous – don’t get any closer!”

Tomoko didn’t stop her charge.

Next was Katharine's protest: “P/O! Don’t go any closer! That thing’s deadly!”

And finally she heard Haruka’s voice: “P/O! Please stop! Stop and think about what you’re doing!”

She didn’t listen, and steadily drew closer.

The Diomedia began to fire defensively from the infinite number of turrets attached to its huge body. Blue metal bullets that looked like ice-pops flew relentlessly in Tomoko’s direction.

F/L Hakkinen’s previous words were burned into her mind:

It took down a Naval Aviation unit in Karlsland huh? That means Takeko couldn’t defeat it. To put it simply, if I can take down this thing, then I’ll be one better than Takeko. That would be better than any award – better than getting praise from the people of this country.

Watch and learn, Takeko. Tomoko whispered to herself.

I’ll prove to you that you will never be better than me!

The distance between them was now 200 metres.

The Diomedia’s defensive turrets began to hit at Tomoko.

If this is all it’s going to do, then I can probably survive with a simple magic shield.

She spread around the figure of the large bombing squadron, keeping it in her sights all the while. She began firing at it with her 7.7mm machine gun.

It’s difficult to get that bulk out in the open.

Pa! Pa! Pa! The bullets dissipated across the surface of the Diomedia’s fuselage like fireworks but…it had as much impact as a small rock tumbling off a mountain.

It seems to be completely fortified against bullets and bombs. I’ll never take it down with just a 7.7mm machine gun!

“Get down already!”

Tomoko shouted at the top of her voice as she continued to pull on the trigger. The bullets just continued to ricochet off.

The relative distance between them was now only 100 metres.

I can’t get out of its line of sight…it looks like my magic shield is reaching its limit.

“Ah!”

In an instant her engine was hit. Smoke was pouring from her beloved Fuso made machine. She felt her body begin to fall down with rapid velocity.

If I don’t slow down soon I’m in big trouble!

Tomoko desperately tried with all her might to get out of the line of fire…but it was too late.

“Ugh!”

A bullet hit her in the arm. Next she felt excruciating pain in her leg.

Just as she thought there was no hope left…She could vaguely make out a brown shape fall down from above, spreading itself over her.

“Eh?”

The bullets that should have been hitting Tomoko were now hitting that shape instead.

“Beurling!”

Tomoko was gobsmacked. She had become Tomoko’s shield…taking all the fire by herself... with a pained look on her face, was P/O Beurling.

“What on earth are you doing? Let go!”

Beurling didn’t let go. Her shield was beginning to reach its limit from the battering…her body was dented with bullet fire, and Tomoko could hear the sound of padding as her shield started losing power.

“Do you have a death wish or something!?”

Even still, Beurling would not separate from Tomoko. As she continued to hold Tomoko in safety, she unsteadily began to fly closer to ground level.

Just when they were out of the range of the Diomedia… Tomoko felt a burst of strength from Beurling’s body. She collapsed, and began to glide straight towards the floor.

“Beurling!”

Tomoko screamed. She made an effort to chase after her, but her body wouldn’t do what she wanted out of sheer pain.

Her vision blackened out…and she lost consciousness.

When she came to, Tomoko was resting in a bed in the base’s medical bay. Next to her, F/O Elma, Katharine and Haruka were peering down at her with great concern.

“You’ve finally regained consciousness.” Katharine whispered.

“Thank goodness…you’ve been out for an entire day.” P/O Elma informed Tomoko.

As Tomoko whispered, “... Where am I?” Elma responded, telling her that she was in Kauhava’s medical bay.

She made a futile attempt to move her body, but agonising pain shot through her as soon as she tried.

“Ahhh! You really should rest!”P/O Elma suggested.

“But Beurling…Beurling is…”As Tomoko continued to mumble to herself, Katharine made a movement with her lips.

“Well um, about that…that is…”

Haruka and Ursula looked towards P/O Elma with pleading eyes.

She hesitated for a while, and then bit down on her lip. Eventually, she mustered up some courage and raised her head.

“…She took fire all over her body and her magic shield subsequently failed. And then-”

Tomoko’s skin became pale.

“No way…”

Before then, she’d been so scared that she couldn’t speak. After shivering for a while, Tomoko struggled to muster up the strength to squeeze out a few words.

“…Why? Why would she do that for my sake? Even though all I ever did was say horrible things to her…”

Elma continued her sentence this time in a more apologetic tone: “P/O Beurling said that P/O Anabuki is a very important person to this squad…that’s why…”

“That’s why she said she’d use herself as a shield!? What kind of reason is that!”

P/O Elma shook her head. Tomoko was completely inconsolable.

“Please just relax and let your wounds heal. Don’t worry about anything else.”

“But…but…without me and Beurling…”

“I-It’s totally fine!”Katharine nodded with an optimistic smile.

“Next time we’ll try out that new thing that Ursula made! Uh, what was that again, anyway…? Ursula?”

“Air-to-air rocket.”Ursula responded in a quiet voice.

“Yes! That’s it! That rocket! If we hit it with one of those, it’ll go down no matter how big it is…”

Tomoko was apprehensive.

A rocket, huh? You’d probably have no choice but to be fairly close to hit it with a rocket.

P/O Elma grabbed Tomoko’s hand.

“…P/O Elma.”

“Things will definitely work out! We’ll find a way. So please, just relax and let your wounds heal up.”

Haruka piled her hand on top of Elma’s.

“D-Don’t worry! The Neuroi definitely won’t come anywhere near here!”

Everyone hurriedly lowered their heads at Tomoko: “P/O Anabuki Tomoko, thank you.”

Tomoko stared at her bandaged arm.

I…I wonder if everyone will forgive me for what I’ve done?

…I’ve been nothing but selfish. I get the feeling that I’ve been far too enforcing.

That night… Just as Tomoko was about to succumb to tiredness after everyone had left, there was a knock at the door. As there was no answer, the door creaked open.

It was F/L Häkkinen.

“Flight Lieutenant.”

As she spoke, she was handed a single sheet of paper.

“…And this is?”

“It’s a leave order.”

“…A leave order?”

“Exactly. I received word from Wing Commander Sakuma that we couldn't possibly have a soon to be decorated ace die….”

“….”

“A ship has been called for - it’s due to arrive tomorrow. you should take it as far as Brest Naval Base in Gallia.”

After F/L Häkkinen had left, Tomoko lowered her face.

“We could’t possibly have you die…”

F/L Häkkinen’s words echoed in her mind.

They reminded her of the heavy burden she was carrying... Beurling's death.

Lowering her voice, she began to sob quietly.

Beurling’s death was…my fault. 'It’s all because I rushed in to get my glorious military victory…'All because I was pursuing the title of ‘ace’…'I killed an important comrade.

No, I killed a person who acknowledged me as a comrade.

I shouldn’t think of this as just another burden. 'But it looks like it’s become my scapegoat.

“Why did you have to protect me... Someone like me who is only interested in my shoot down count…”

Tomoko wept until morning.

The following morning…

Wing Commander Sakuma arrived in the medical bay, followed by a subordinate officer. This time was different – he was clothed in his Fuso Imperial Army uniform.

“Today I’m here to give you formal orders. Pilot Officer Anabuki Tomoko of the Fuso Imperial Army and the Suomus Independent Volunteer Air Squadron, I order you to return home.”

After that, he smiled broadly.

“You did a fine job. You’ll surely be greeted with enthusiasm from the people of Fuso as soon as you return.”

Tomoko lay down on the stretcher that had been prepared for her, and was wheeled outside. She looked out at the place she had been living for the past two months.

The tattered warehouse…

It’d taken a smattering of machine gun fire during the first air raid, and as such the wall had been left scored with bullet marks.

I used to wonder why they’d left the building in such a disastrous state… but as I’m passing by it on my way home, I can’t help but feel strangely nostalgic…and lonely.

“Where is the rest of the squad?”She asked the reserve officer who was beside her.

“Ah, they’re ready and waiting to go on a sortie.”They answered.

My war may have ended abruptly… but for them it still rages on. I wonder if they’ll be all right?

She began to feel worrisome feelings welling up insider her again.

But…perhaps I don’t even have a right to be worried about them anymore. 'I didn’t co-operate with them not even one single time. 'I called them hopeless, good-for-nothing nuisances… and completely disregarded them.

Just as Tomoko was about to get in the car that would drive her away from the base…

The siren began to sound.

It wasn’t long before F/L Häkkinen’s voice echoed from the speakers near the airfield.

“Air raid warning! Air raid warning!”

Wing Commander Sakuma’s subordinate, who had been pushing the stretcher up until now, tutted.

“And we’d just arrived! It would have been better if they hadn’t shown up right at this moment…”

Tomoko pursed her lips.

They just don’t give up…

“The approaching enemy is the exact same Neuroi bomber formation we saw a few days ago! Its altitude is 4,000 metres! It’s in the middle of preparing for an attack on the base!”

Tomoko bit her lips.

They really have come for us…

She could see witches flying up into the sky from the airfield one by one.

The smart looking units that were gradually propelling them upwards were the Messerscharf Striker units of the 1st squadron.

That tubby looking unit is Katharine’s Buffalo. That waddling flight is something I’m very familiar with.

That small girl next to her looks like Ursula. She’s clutching a large tube with both hands. I wonder if that’s this so called ‘rocket’?

The white unit that just took off was Haruka’s A6M3 Model 22. Hey, if you don’t look ahead of you whilst you fly you’ll get separated from the rest of the squad!

P/O Elma was the last one to take off. Even though you’re the squad leader? What are they supposed to do without you! 'Look, the G50 doesn't have a lot of acceleration power so you really ought to have taken off sooner…

It was as shaky as start as ever. Tomoko stared up at the Suomus Independent Volunteer Air Squadron.

A bunch of ‘misfits’ thrown out from their own countries… my friends.

My friends, who have nowhere but here to call home.

My friends that I’ve been nothing but a nuisance to.

My friends… that said ‘thank you’ to me…

I…I might have just lost those friends.

It’s not a contest. It’s co-operation. 'If I can co-operate…Then we can become truly good friends. Then I can…

Just like Beurling…

They told me I could count on them.

“B-But…” Tomoko muttered.

“There’s no way I can count on you lot to do this alone!”

“Eh?” The officer who was holding the stretcher mumbled to himself in confusion at her outburst.

Tomoko felt her body awaken, and she leapt from the stretcher. She grabbed her furoshiki wrapped katana from the officer who had been her chaperone.

“W-Wait! Pilot Officer! What are you doing!”

Tomoko ignored him and began to walk away.

My leg hurts. My arm hurts. 'But…that won’t stop me from continuing.

No, it won’t stop me from flying!

Tomoko forcibly started to run, hobbling awkwardly on one leg. Wing Commander Sakuma began to give chase.

“Oi! Pilot Officer, where do you think you’re going!”

“I’m going to where my friends are!”

“Now now, what do you think you can do with injuries like that? You were issued an order of leave!”

“Well then, I refuse to follow that order.”

“What do you mean you refuse!? It’s an order, you can’t refuse!!”

Wing Commander Sakuma drew closer, until Tomoko pointed her katana close to his nose.

“I’m sorry. This means I won’t be accepting that award.”

As she burst into the aircraft hanger, the maintenance crew looked at her with wide eyes.

“P/O Anabuki!? We thought you’d returned to F-“

“Just get my Ki-27 ready, hurry!”

Threatened by Tomoko’s demand, the maintenance crew gathered Tomoko’s recently repaired Ki-27.

They equipped it onto Tomoko’s legs as she rested on a chair. Tomoko felt her legs get sucked into the Ki-27.

They were soon engulfed in the glowing blue light of her magic field.

“Are you sure you can fly with those injuries?”One of the maintenance crew asked, looking at her bandaged arms and legs.

“It’s not a matter or can or can’t. I will fly.”Tomoko shouted.

As she took off from the airfield, all of her magical power pumped into the Ki-27’s magic engine. The engine roared, and Tomoko sprung off the airfield and into the sky.

“Ugh!”Her body rose up to the sky in the midst of the engine’s roar.

“I can’t believe an old thing like that can ascend so well.”A maintenance crew member murmured - watching the sheer power of the Ki-27’s ascent.

“It’s probably because of her fighting spirit. The magic engine moves with magical power – right now she’s got that in bucket loads.”

The maintenance crew watched as Tomoko’s figure got smaller and smaller, waving their hats at her disappearing shape.

“Take down the Neuroi, ace!”

It was the same huge Diomedia that had come a few days ago. Quite frankly, the members of the Suomus Independent Volunteer Air Squadron were shitting themselves as they stood in front of it.

When you look at it up close like this…this thing is huge.

It really is huge.

How is it even possible to have something this huge?

With its wings extended, it was about the size of an entire school’s grounds.

The massive four engine bulk was being pushed forwards by a gargantuan propeller - which was rotating with a horrible sound similar to a car revving up.

The grubby grey paintjob made it look like some kind of ferocious whale.

“Somehow… it’s like Moby-Dick.”P/O Elma murmured.
"Somehow... It's like Moby-Dick."

All the member of the ‘misfits squadron’ were in range of the huge bombing formation, staring at it.
On the opposite side of the Diomedia, the 1st squadron were doing the same thing, surrounding it at a distance.

The Laros who were guarding the Diomedia didn’t even come close to begin attacking. They were focused on staying by the huge figure instead.

If they could get in closer, they could sweep in…. But there was no window for opportunity with those Laros surrounding it.

“So, it’s like we’re Captain Ahab about to grapple with Moby-Dick, huh?”Katharine said with a touch of self-derision.

“Wasn’t it Captain Ahab who ended up dying in the end?”Haruka’s words did nothing to brighten the mood.

“Don’t go and say something scary like that!”

“But… is there really a way we can take that thing down without dying?”

They all stood in collective silence.

“Ursula, how’s the preparation for the rocket?”P/O Elma asked Ursula.

Ursula’s reply was short: “OK.”

In her hands she held two cylinders. Inside were air-to-air rockets that Ursula had developed herself. The weight of the explosives was about 20 kilograms.

“Can we shoot it at the same range as a machine gun?”

Ursula shook her head: “Impossible.”

P/O Elma let out a sigh.

“We’re not going to accomplish anything standing around like this… why don’t we at least try and launch some kind of assault?”

As soon as they got closer… the Laros reacted. The Suomus Misfits Squadron drew back as quick as a fly being swatted away by a cow’s tail.

It was impossible for them to get close.

It was the same for the 1st squadron. They would draw close, before being pelted with defensive fire from the Laros and would then have to make evasive maneuvers.

P/O Elma seemed to have reached a resolution. “Now that it’s come to this…”

“I wonder if we can at least do a body-count on the enemy…”

“What’re you talkin’ about!?”

“If things carry on like this Slussen will get bombed again… We’re witches. We’ve got to protect everyone. That’s why…”

After speaking, P/O began to move gradually closer towards the enemy.

“You shouldn’t go alone, P/O Elma!” Haruka added.

“Now you wait here! You’ll get fried!” Katharine shouted.

Suddenly…The voice of someone shouting could be heard over the wireless.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing!? Just stop trying to do a body count already!”

“Tomoko!”

“P/O Anabuki!”

She appeared from a gap within the clouds - her striker unit glowing with a magnificent white light. Tomoko surged in front of the members of the Suomus Misfits Squadron, both her hands outstretched.

“Pilot Officer…”Haruka had already started weeping.

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be sleeping in the medical b-“

None of them knew that Tomoko had been issued an order of leave. Right now, there was no time to explain anything.

“I couldn’t possibly leave this for you to do alone now, could I?”

“But…you’re injured…”

“The wounds don’t mean anything!” Tomoko shouted.

“I’m an ace. An ace can’t do anything if they’re asleep – can they?”

“Tomoko…” Katharine said. She grabbed her and hugged her from behind.

“You really are the best ace!”Having heavy Katherine hugging her, Tomoko lost balance and the two of them began spinning through the air.

“Why don’t we save the praise for later? Anyway, just follow my instructions.”

Tomoko called for the leader of the 1st squadron, Mika Ahonen, on the wireless.

“What is it? Shouldn’t you be resting in bed because of injury?”

“I’d like you to do me a favour. Please distract the Laros.”

“What are you planning to do about that damned Diomedia?”

“Leave that to ‘us.’”

After a brief while, she heard Mika Ahonen say ‘roger’.

“Follow me. I’ve got a strategy.”Tomoko told her comrades, who were lined up in front of her.

“So this is your idea of ‘tactics’ huh?”

“I can’t do anything about it! You’re the one with the toughest striker unit!”

Katharine was making a fuss, and Tomoko was trying to calm her down.

I’ve been thinking of this strategy since I started flying up here… We can go on the offensive in a single line.

The witches of the misfits squadron formed a single line behind Katharine which resembled a centipede; and facing the direction of the Diomedia; started their offensive.

The Laros who had been guarding the Diomedia were being kept busy by the 1st squadron.

However…if the Laros can so easily leave the Diomedia in the open by itself…then that means it’s got nothing to worry about without them guarding it.

Its bulk was covered in an infinite number of turrets. As soon as you drew close to it, it spewed out so many bullets it was similar to having a rather deadly shower.

The ‘misfits’ squadron drew close in their single line formation… and were soon pelted with the ice-pop like bullets. Katharine, who was at the front, was taking all the hits.

“I can’t take this!”

“Everyone! Focus your shields at the front!”Tomoko shouted.

They were all protected by their magic fields. The shields that protected them from bullets and the temperature now formed in front of Katharine. The shields that the five of them produced were now out there in front of Katharine, protecting her.

We really haven’t done anything like this before…

“Well then Haruka, I’m counting on you.”

“G-Got it!” Haruka whimpered nervously.

Tomoko’s plan was as follows:

They would leave Katharine safe behind the five magic shields, and the Diomedia would approach…then, they would use Haruka’s 20mm calibre motor cannon to take down its frontal defense turrets. As far as appearances went, it would seem to be lightly armoured at the front. Despite being lightly armoured, there was no way that anything less than a 20mm calibre weapon could rip through the Diomedia’s frontal defense turrets.

Within the misfits squadron, the only unit that came with a 20mm motor cannon was Haruka’s A6M3 Model 22.

“I’m counting on you. Everything in this plan is riding on your motor cannon.”

The Diomedia drew steadily closer. The intensity of the machine gun fire began to increase. It began to feel as if they were in the middle of a blistering storm. The only difference between this and a storm was that it was bullets flying at them as opposed to rain.

“Gah! I’m almost at my limit!” Katharine shouted.

“Now!” Tomoko cried out.

Haruka leant across with the motor cannon in tow. Even though there was an obvious target she was supposed to hit…her field of vision became blurry.

She couldn’t get a good shot in.

“Ah!”

She pulled the trigger…and the cannon fired went completely off track. It wasn’t even remotely close to the nose of the Diomedia. Within the blink of an eye, the five of them had passed over the top of the Diomedia.

It was a failure.

“How could you possibly miss it from that distance!?”
"How could you possibly miss it from that distance!?"

Tomoko yelled in disbelief at Haruka.
“S-Sorry….” Haruka apologised tearfully.

“You better not miss the next one. It’s impossible to re-do this.”

“U-Understood…”

P/O Elma was the only one to notice something a little strange in Haruka’s doubtful speech. She placed the palm of her hand in front of Haruka’s eyes, and opened it, then closed it. Haruka started at it fixedly.

“Say…Sgt Haruka.”

“Y-Yes ma’am!”

“Could it be that…your eyesight’s a little off? As in, you’re short sighted?”

Everyone’s mouths dropped wide open at Elma’s realisation.

“Is that true, Haruka!?”

“Y-Yes…”She sighed, in a slightly troubled voice.

“For god’s sake Haruka, put some glasses on!”

“I can’t!” She yelled back.

“Why not!?”

“When I put glasses on… they make me look really ugly!”

Yet again, they stood there in awe of what Haruka was saying.

“Honestly…Do you have any glasses on you?”

Haruka fiddled around for a short while… “Yes, I’ve got some. I’m sorry,” she answered back.

“Put them on then!” Everyone shouted in time.

“I don’t want to!”

“Listen here, now’s not the time to worry about what you look like! This is a war you know, a war!”

“Be it a war or anything else, it’s simply unbearable to be ugly!”

Tomoko lost it completely at Haruka’s exclamation, and cried out at her: “Please put then on already! This is an order!”

Haruka shook her head in response.

“What the hell is wrong with you!? I’ll cut you if you don’t find a good reason! I really will cut you!”

Tomoko screamed as she gripped her katana with both hands. As she did so…

“Ah! Cut me! Please cut me! Ahh, It’s been a long-cherished ambition of mine to be cut by you, Pilot Officer!”

“Now you listen here…”

Just as Tomoko took a firmer grip on her katana to intimidate Haruka, she yelled suddenly.

“I-It’s because I like you!”

“Eh?”

“I like you, Pilot Officer Anabuki! Sorry, let me rephrase that… it’s more like love than like. I yearn for you; I respect you… I’m moving up to third dan with my love for you! Even so, the other day you stopped right in the middle of things, didn’t you, Pilot Officer? It was surely because you don’t find me attractive! Yes…that’s exactly it! If I put these glasses on, then that attraction will drop by half! You wouldn’t even want to look at me… I’d sooner die than have that happen!”

The members of the misfits squadron were bewildered by Haruka’s confession.

“Now you’re getting into lesbian territory!” Said Katharine.

“Y-You’ll go to hell!” P/O Elma added.

“You’ve got it all wrong! I am not a lesbian! Right Haruka? This a joke, right!?”

“I’m not joking… If you promise to sleep with me… I’ll put the glasses on!”

“Honestly you…”

As Tomoko stood trembling, Ursula drew close and spoke into her ear: “She told you to sleep with her.”

Tomoko’s trembling intensified.

Why does it have to be me…!? She felt frustrated.

“Just agree to it!” Katharine said.

“Well… given our current situation you can’t really do anything about it.” Elma was next.

“Fine, fine! I’ll do it! I’ll sleep with you!” Tomoko yelled.

“Really!?”

“I wouldn’t go back on my word to a girl.”

As she heard those words, Haruka reached into her pocket with a deep breath and pulled out a pair of gigantic glasses.

They were a pair of perfectly thick glasses.

She’s going to put those on? Goodness gracious, they really are huge… They’re so huge you could probably wear them underwater.

Tomoko snickered in a lowered voice.

“… Did you just laugh?”Everyone collectively drew closer to Tomoko.

“What! O-of course I-I didn’t laugh! Well then, let’s get moving!”

The five of them once again began their assault. It was the same plan as before – they would form behind Katharine and use her as a shield for Haruka’s weapon.

The Diomedia drew closer.

400 metres, 300 metres… when it reached 200 metres, Haruka raised her head and placed her 20mm motor cannon on Katharine’s shoulder.

The thick cartridge cases flipped out with a Don! Don! Don! The cannons had been sucked into the turret. The foremost shell entered into the turret, and then exploded.

“Good job!”

Haruka lined up her next shot, and that one hit too! She continued to shoot, and took down four of the turrets. There was now space to get above the Diomedia.

The distance was now 500 metres.

Haruka and Katharine withdrew.

“Ursula!” Tomoko shouted.

Ursula let out a sigh before launching the rocket she had been holding in both hands. The rocket launched with a dry ‘Schpon!’ noise. The rocket entered the Diomedia’s body with a plume of white smoke. It exploded violently with a Boom! Leaving a clear hole dead in the centre of the Diomedia.
The rocket launched with a dry 'Schpon!' Noise
Added by Britfag
However… the Diomedia was indeed very hardy, and continued to fly.
“P/O Elma! Support me, full speed ahead!”

“Roger that!”

Tomoko grabbed onto Elma from behind, and used her to increase her acceleration.

“Uuuuoooooooooooooooooooooo!”

Tomoko flew towards the hole where the rocket had burst the Diomedia. She straightened her body up and made the plunge, her katana gripped tightly in both hands.

“P/O Elma, pull off!”

Elma separated herself from Tomoko. With her katana ready, Tomoko flew into the open hole on the Diomedia. In an instant, her figure had disappeared inside the Diomedia…

The bulk of the Diomedia broke off. It burst into flames as bright as strobe lighting. In an instant, the piece that had been broken off heaved, before exploding completely.

The inside of the body was wreathed in flames from the explosion. Afterwards… the space that the Diomedia had been in was empty. Debris flew haphazardly at Haruka and the others, who hadn’t been near the explosion.

“Tomoko!”

“Pilot Officer Anabuki!” Haruka and the others screamed.

The Diomedia had been split into four pieces – all leaving behind a trail of white smoke…

For a second, there was dead silence…Even though it was only for a second, it felt like it had lasted for all eternity.

What had happened to Tomoko?

Everyone stood stunned, staring longingly at the cloud of white smoke.

“No way… and just as P/O Anabuki had promised that she’d sleep with me…”In the instant that Haruka spoke… a white figure shone from within the smoke.

“I’m alright.” They heard Tomoko’s voice over the wireless.

During the explosion… Tomoko had protected herself with her magic field. The remaining misfits gave an exuberant cheer.

Tomoko headed towards where her friends were so that they could return to base in formation.

“Pilot Officer Beurling… we took down our true enemy.” Tomoko whispered as she stared absent mindedly at the trail of smoke.

<noinclude>
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| Back to [[Strike_Witches:Volume1_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
| Return to [[Strike_Witches|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Strike_Witches:Volume1_Epilogue|Epilogue]]
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</noinclude>

Strike Witches:Volume1 Chapter7

2012-05-11T03:30:20Z

216.239.45.4:

Tomoko’s shoot-down count had begun to rise normally. It wasn’t long before Christmas arrived.

“Pilot Officer Anabuki. Flight Lieutenant Häkkinen would like to see you in the command room.”

Before noon…Tomoko, who was returning to base after finishing aerial patrol, had been informed of the arrival of an officer. It was unusual for her to be called all the way out to the command centre.

As she rushed off, wondering why she’d been called out, she noticed someone other than F/L Häkkinen – someone with a face that invoked nostalgia.

It wasn’t someone that she knew, however. His face was one that was uncommon in a place like Suomus - the reason being that it was oriental.

F/L Häkkinen introduced her to the middle aged man: “A guest from your country, Pilot Officer.”

The man beamed at Tomoko.

“Wing Commander Sakuma, a military attaché.”

Tomoko saluted in a hurry. He wasn’t in uniform, so she hadn’t known he was with the military.

“Please excuse me. I’m currently on civil service related business.”

It seems like this man is a well-informed officer. What on earth could someone like that possibly want with me?

“You’ve done a great deal of good work. I’m very proud. Congratulations on your 50th shoot down. Currently, you are the top ace of Fuso’s European detachment.”

Tomoko bowed out of respect.

Surely he didn’t come all this way just to give me a pep talk?

Just as she thought it odd that a military attaché would use his free time to pay her a visit, the following words that came from his mouth shocked her thoroughly.

“Well then, we can’t afford an ace like that to go without proper recognition, can we? On this occasion, we’ve decided to give you the appropriate decoration. You will be awarded the fourth class Order of the Golden Kite. It is truly an honour, Pilot Officer.”

The Order of the Golden Kite is an award that carries a lot of honour along with it. It is even said by the Air Marshal you can’t receive it unless you demonstrate distinguished war accomplishments. It is the ultimate verification of one’s own potential.

“T-Thank you very much!” Said Tomoko, bowing once more with her utmost thanks.

Happiness was bubbling inside her.

“It’s likely that you will receive official directions from the higher officers shortly. The awarding ceremony is scheduled to take place in Paris. I’ve called for officers and officials alike. It’ll be a splendid party. I hope you’ll look forward to it.”

She was so overjoyed she was practically shaking.

Afterwards, she asked him briefly about current affairs in Fuso; and the war situation in Karlsland.

Looking at the war situation in Karlsland on a whole, it seemed that no matter how well the Karlsland detatchment were doing, nothing was changing for the better.

I wonder if Takeko is doing well?

Tomoko was filled with anxiety.

“How is the squad in Karlsland keeping up?”

“I hear that they’re still yet to report any victims.”

Tomoko was relieved. For now, it seemed like Takeko was safe.

Despite her relief, there was something that she was just itching to ask. There was no doubt that a high-ranking officer would know plenty of detailed information regarding the military.

“Wing Commander Sakuma, Sir. I’ve got something I would like to inquire about.”

“Go ahead.”

“Who was the one who made the decision to have me sent to Suomus?”

Wing Commander Sakuma was taken aback with surprise.

“You don’t know?”

“No.”

“It was your colleague, Pilot Officer Katou.”

The response drained all colour from her face.

“Takeko did?”

“Yes. We were in the middle of selecting the soldiers that would be sent to Karlsland. There was no doubt that we were going to be sending you off in the detachment. However, Pilot Officer Katou came along to the selection committee meeting one day. She had a request for us – quite simply that we shouldn’t send you to Karlsland.”

“Why would she…why…?”

Wing Commander Sakuma flinched at Tomoko’s growing fury.

“Well…I didn’t hear it from her firsthand, so I don’t know the details myself... but…she suggested that you tended to fall flat during fierce battle. However, looking at your military records and service history that doesn’t seemed to be a problem, so I myself, am a little confused as to why she would say something like that. In the end, the most senior officer present decided that you would be sent to Suomus instead - based on her insistence. It’s nothing to be disheartened by, given your military achievements.”

Tomoko was appalled.

The one that decided that I would get sent to Suomus was…Takeko.

Why? Tomoko whispered under her breath.

Even though Takeko and I could have been fighting together as rivals…

We could have been competing together for military achievements…

Tomoko shuffled back to her own room and let her body drop onto her bed. She knew she had to write up a report for the aerial patrol she was on earlier, but her hand wouldn’t budge.

Just…why?

If I think back…Takeko had been a little odd. I guess she was jealous of my military prowess after all. Of course! That’s why she sent me to Suomus – a place where it would be impossible to achieve military greatness. Even though we were such good friends, I’m just alone now.

Just as Tomoko's thoughts slipped further and further into depression, the siren roared throughout the base.

“Air raid warning! Air raid warning!”

It’s the Neuroi.

The enemy sure knows how to beat me when I’m down.

Tomoko stood up, biting firmly on her lip.

As she ascended into the sky, she could hear an announcement from F/L Hakkinen.

“The Neuroi bomber formation of 20 units is currently at co-ordinates B-3 with an altitude of 5,000 metres and rising. Be careful. Today’s Neuroi is unlike anything we’ve faced before.”

She spoke in her usual cold tone. However, Tomoko was off with the fairies and paid the warning no heed. She felt her body moving automatically to the assigned co-ordinates, and the correct altitude.

The 1st squadron, who by now would usually be attempting to take the enemy down - were instead circling in the air space above the enemy.

What on earth were they doing that for?

The reason hit Tomoko in the face in an instant.

The Laros were circling around a much bigger beast…

It wasn’t the usual Kefalas.

The silhouette was three times as big.

Despite being one single unit, it had an overwhelming presence.

“This is ‘Snow Woman’ to fighter squadron. The large Neuroi bombing unit approaching is a new model called Diomedia! It’s a monster that took down an entire naval aviation unit in Karlsland! It’s equipped with a weapon that shoots hedgehog-like spikes. Coming close to it without careful thought would be dangerous!”

Upon closer inspection, it stood out from the Kefalas in relief.

The shape of the four engines it was towing along resembled that of a huge aerial fortification. It was definitely very unusual looking. The wings that extended horizontally from the body gave off an aura of ill fate. Both the fuselage and the wings were thick, and powerful. It was very likely to be suitably fortified, and bombproof.

Understandably, it seemed even F/L Mika Ahonen’s experienced 1st squadron had no idea how they should go about attacking the thing. They drew close to it, shot at it with their machine guns, then made evasive maneuvers.

Tomoko focused her courage.

It was scary.

She had a gut feeling that she couldn’t win.

That didn't stop her from beginning her approach.

Elma yelled out over the wireless: “P/O Anabuki! It’s too dangerous – don’t get any closer!”

Tomoko didn’t stop her charge.

Next was Katharine's protest: “P/O! Don’t go any closer! That thing’s deadly!”

And finally she heard Haruka’s voice: “P/O! Please stop! Stop and think about what you’re doing!”

She didn’t listen, and steadily drew closer.

The Diomedia began to fire defensively from the infinite number of turrets attached to its huge body. Blue metal bullets that looked like ice-pops flew relentlessly in Tomoko’s direction.

F/L Hakkinen’s previous words were burned into her mind:

It took down a Naval Aviation unit in Karlsland huh? That means Takeko couldn’t defeat it. To put it simply, if I can take down this thing, then I’ll be one better than Takeko. That would be better than any award – better than getting praise from the people of this country.

Watch and learn, Takeko. Tomoko whispered to herself.

I’ll prove to you that you will never be better than me!

The distance between them was now 200 metres.

The Diomedia’s defensive turrets began to hit at Tomoko.

If this is all it’s going to do, then I can probably survive with a simple magic shield.

She spread around the figure of the large bombing squadron, keeping it in her sights all the while. She began firing at it with her 7.7mm machine gun.

It’s difficult to get that bulk out in the open.

Pa! Pa! Pa! The bullets dissipated across the surface of the Diomedia’s fuselage like fireworks but…it had as much impact as a small rock tumbling off a mountain.

It seems to be completely fortified against bullets and bombs. I’ll never take it down with just a 7.7mm machine gun!

“Get down already!”

Tomoko shouted at the top of her voice as she continued to pull on the trigger. The bullets just continued to ricochet off.

The relative distance between them was now only 100 metres.

I can’t get out of its line of sight…it looks like my magic shield is reaching its limit.

“Ah!”

In an instant her engine was hit. Smoke was pouring from her beloved Fuso made machine. She felt her body begin to fall down with rapid velocity.

If I don’t slow down soon I’m in big trouble!

Tomoko desperately tried with all her might to get out of the line of fire…but it was too late.

“Ugh!”

A bullet hit her in the arm. Next she felt excruciating pain in her leg.

Just as she thought there was no hope left…She could vaguely make out a brown shape fall down from above, spreading itself over her.

“Eh?”

The bullets that should have been hitting Tomoko were now hitting that shape instead.

“Beurling!”

Tomoko was gobsmacked. She had become Tomoko’s shield…taking all the fire by herself... with a pained look on her face, was P/O Beurling.

“What on earth are you doing? Let go!”

Beurling didn’t let go. Her shield was beginning to reach its limit from the battering…her body was dented with bullet fire, and Tomoko could hear the sound of padding as her shield started losing power.

“Do you have a death wish or something!?”

Even still, Beurling would not separate from Tomoko. As she continued to hold Tomoko in safety, she unsteadily began to fly closer to ground level.

Just when they were out of the range of the Diomedia… Tomoko felt a burst of strength from Beurling’s body. She collapsed, and began to glide straight towards the floor.

“Beurling!”

Tomoko screamed. She made an effort to chase after her, but her body wouldn’t do what she wanted out of sheer pain.

Her vision blackened out…and she lost consciousness.

When she came to, Tomoko was resting in a bed in the base’s medical bay. Next to her, F/O Elma, Katharine and Haruka were peering down at her with great concern.

“You’ve finally regained consciousness.” Katharine whispered.

“Thank goodness…you’ve been out for an entire day.” P/O Elma informed Tomoko.

As Tomoko whispered, “... Where am I?” Elma responded, telling her that she was in Kauhava’s medical bay.

She made a futile attempt to move her body, but agonising pain shot through her as soon as she tried.

“Ahhh! You really should rest!”P/O Elma suggested.

“But Beurling…Beurling is…”As Tomoko continued to mumble to herself, Katharine made a movement with her lips.

“Well um, about that…that is…”

Haruka and Ursula looked towards P/O Elma with pleading eyes.

She hesitated for a while, and then bit down on her lip. Eventually, she mustered up some courage and raised her head.

“…She took fire all over her body and her magic shield subsequently failed. And then-”

Tomoko’s skin became pale.

“No way…”

Before then, she’d been so scared that she couldn’t speak. After shivering for a while, Tomoko struggled to muster up the strength to squeeze out a few words.

“…Why? Why would she do that for my sake? Even though all I ever did was say horrible things to her…”

Elma continued her sentence this time in a more apologetic tone: “P/O Beurling said that P/O Anabuki is a very important person to this squad…that’s why…”

“That’s why she said she’d use herself as a shield!? What kind of reason is that!”

P/O Elma shook her head. Tomoko was completely inconsolable.

“Please just relax and let your wounds heal. Don’t worry about anything else.”

“But…but…without me and Beurling…”

“I-It’s totally fine!”Katharine nodded with an optimistic smile.

“Next time we’ll try out that new thing that Ursula made! Uh, what was that again, anyway…? Ursula?”

“Air-to-air rocket.”Ursula responded in a quiet voice.

“Yes! That’s it! That rocket! If we hit it with one of those, it’ll go down no matter how big it is…”

Tomoko was apprehensive.

A rocket, huh? You’d probably have no choice but to be fairly close to hit it with a rocket.

P/O Elma grabbed Tomoko’s hand.

“…P/O Elma.”

“Things will definitely work out! We’ll find a way. So please, just relax and let your wounds heal up.”

Haruka piled her hand on top of Elma’s.

“D-Don’t worry! The Neuroi definitely won’t come anywhere near here!”

Everyone hurriedly lowered their heads at Tomoko: “P/O Anabuki Tomoko, thank you.”

Tomoko stared at her bandaged arm.

I…I wonder if everyone will forgive me for what I’ve done?

…I’ve been nothing but selfish. I get the feeling that I’ve been far too enforcing.

That night… Just as Tomoko was about to succumb to tiredness after everyone had left, there was a knock at the door. As there was no answer, the door creaked open.

It was F/L Häkkinen.

“Flight Lieutenant.”

As she spoke, she was handed a single sheet of paper.

“…And this is?”

“It’s a leave order.”

“…A leave order?”

“Exactly. I received word from Wing Commander Sakuma that we couldn't possibly have a soon to be decorated ace die….”

“….”

“A ship has been called for - it’s due to arrive tomorrow. you should take it as far as Brest Naval Base in Gallia.”

After F/L Häkkinen had left, Tomoko lowered her face.

“We could’t possibly have you die…”

F/L Häkkinen’s words echoed in her mind.

They reminded her of the heavy burden she was carrying... Beurling's death.

Lowering her voice, she began to sob quietly.

Beurling’s death was…my fault. 'It’s all because I rushed in to get my glorious military victory…'All because I was pursuing the title of ‘ace’…'I killed an important comrade.

No, I killed a person who acknowledged me as a comrade.

I shouldn’t think of this as just another burden. 'But it looks like it’s become my scapegoat.

“Why did you have to protect me... Someone like me who is only interested in my shoot down count…”

Tomoko wept until morning.

The following morning…

Wing Commander Sakuma arrived in the medical bay, followed by a subordinate officer. This time was different – he was clothed in his Fuso Imperial Army uniform.

“Today I’m here to give you formal orders. Pilot Officer Anabuki Tomoko of the Fuso Imperial Army and the Suomus Independent Volunteer Air Squadron, I order you to return home.”

After that, he smiled broadly.

“You did a fine job. You’ll surely be greeted with enthusiasm from the people of Fuso as soon as you return.”

Tomoko lay down on the stretcher that had been prepared for her, and was wheeled outside. She looked out at the place she had been living for the past two months.

The tattered warehouse…

It’d taken a smattering of machine gun fire during the first air raid, and as such the wall had been left scored with bullet marks.

I used to wonder why they’d left the building in such a disastrous state… but as I’m passing by it on my way home, I can’t help but feel strangely nostalgic…and lonely.

“Where is the rest of the squad?”She asked the reserve officer who was beside her.

“Ah, they’re ready and waiting to go on a sortie.”They answered.

My war may have ended abruptly… but for them it still rages on. I wonder if they’ll be all right?

She began to feel worrisome feelings welling up insider her again.

But…perhaps I don’t even have a right to be worried about them anymore. 'I didn’t co-operate with them not even one single time. 'I called them hopeless, good-for-nothing nuisances… and completely disregarded them.

Just as Tomoko was about to get in the car that would drive her away from the base…

The siren began to sound.

It wasn’t long before F/L Häkkinen’s voice echoed from the speakers near the airfield.

“Air raid warning! Air raid warning!”

Wing Commander Sakuma’s subordinate, who had been pushing the stretcher up until now, tutted.

“And we’d just arrived! It would have been better if they hadn’t shown up right at this moment…”

Tomoko pursed her lips.

They just don’t give up…

“The approaching enemy is the exact same Neuroi bomber formation we saw a few days ago! Its altitude is 4,000 metres! It’s in the middle of preparing for an attack on the base!”

Tomoko bit her lips.

They really have come for us…

She could see witches flying up into the sky from the airfield one by one.

The smart looking units that were gradually propelling them upwards were the Messerscharf Striker units of the 1st squadron.

That tubby looking unit is Katharine’s Buffalo. That waddling flight is something I’m very familiar with.

That small girl next to her looks like Ursula. She’s clutching a large tube with both hands. I wonder if that’s this so called ‘rocket’?

The white unit that just took off was Haruka’s A6M3 Model 22. Hey, if you don’t look ahead of you whilst you fly you’ll get separated from the rest of the squad!

P/O Elma was the last one to take off. Even though you’re the squad leader? What are they supposed to do without you! 'Look, the G50 doesn't have a lot of acceleration power so you really ought to have taken off sooner…

It was as shaky as start as ever. Tomoko stared up at the Suomus Independent Volunteer Air Squadron.

A bunch of ‘misfits’ thrown out from their own countries… my friends.

My friends, who have nowhere but here to call home.

My friends that I’ve been nothing but a nuisance to.

My friends… that said ‘thank you’ to me…

I…I might have just lost those friends.

It’s not a contest. It’s co-operation. 'If I can co-operate…Then we can become truly good friends. Then I can…

Just like Beurling…

They told me I could count on them.

“B-But…” Tomoko muttered.

“There’s no way I can count on you lot to do this alone!”

“Eh?” The officer who was holding the stretcher mumbled to himself in confusion at her outburst.

Tomoko felt her body awaken, and she leapt from the stretcher. She grabbed her furoshiki wrapped katana from the officer who had been her chaperone.

“W-Wait! Pilot Officer! What are you doing!”

Tomoko ignored him and began to walk away.

My leg hurts. My arm hurts. 'But…that won’t stop me from continuing.

No, it won’t stop me from flying!

Tomoko forcibly started to run, hobbling awkwardly on one leg. Wing Commander Sakuma began to give chase.

“Oi! Pilot Officer, where do you think you’re going!”

“I’m going to where my friends are!”

“Now now, what do you think you can do with injuries like that? You were issued an order of leave!”

“Well then, I refuse to follow that order.”

“What do you mean you refuse!? It’s an order, you can’t refuse!!”

Wing Commander Sakuma drew closer, until Tomoko pointed her katana close to his nose.

“I’m sorry. This means I won’t be accepting that award.”

As she burst into the aircraft hanger, the maintenance crew looked at her with wide eyes.

“P/O Anabuki!? We thought you’d returned to F-“

“Just get my Ki-27 ready, hurry!”

Threatened by Tomoko’s demand, the maintenance crew gathered Tomoko’s recently repaired Ki-27.

They equipped it onto Tomoko’s legs as she rested on a chair. Tomoko felt her legs get sucked into the Ki-27.

They were soon engulfed in the glowing blue light of her magic field.

“Are you sure you can fly with those injuries?”One of the maintenance crew asked, looking at her bandaged arms and legs.

“It’s not a matter or can or can’t. I will fly.”Tomoko shouted.

As she took off from the airfield, all of her magical power pumped into the Ki-27’s magic engine. The engine roared, and Tomoko sprung off the airfield and into the sky.

“Ugh!”Her body rose up to the sky in the midst of the engine’s roar.

“I can’t believe an old thing like that can ascend so well.”A maintenance crew member murmured - watching the sheer power of the Ki-27’s ascent.

“It’s probably because of her fighting spirit. The magic engine moves with magical power – right now she’s got that in bucket loads.”

The maintenance crew watched as Tomoko’s figure got smaller and smaller, waving their hats at her disappearing shape.

“Take down the Neuroi, ace!”

It was the same huge Diomedia that had come a few days ago. Quite frankly, the members of the Suomus Independent Volunteer Air Squadron were shitting themselves as they stood in front of it.

When you look at it up close like this…this thing is huge.

It really is huge.

How is it even possible to have something this huge?

With its wings extended, it was about the size of an entire school’s grounds.

The massive four engine bulk was being pushed forwards by a gargantuan propeller - which was rotating with a horrible sound similar to a car revving up.

The grubby grey paintjob made it look like some kind of ferocious whale.

“Somehow… it’s like Moby-Dick.”P/O Elma murmured.
"Somehow... It's like Moby-Dick."

All the member of the ‘misfits squadron’ were in range of the huge bombing formation, staring at it.
On the opposite side of the Diomedia, the 1st squadron were doing the same thing, surrounding it at a distance.

The Laros who were guarding the Diomedia didn’t even come close to begin attacking. They were focused on staying by the huge figure instead.

If they could get in closer, they could sweep in…. But there was no window for opportunity with those Laros surrounding it.

“So, it’s like we’re Captain Ahab about to grapple with Moby-Dick, huh?”Katharine said with a touch of self-derision.

“Wasn’t it Captain Ahab who ended up dying in the end?”Haruka’s words did nothing to brighten the mood.

“Don’t go and say something scary like that!”

“But… is there really a way we can take that thing down without dying?”

They all stood in collective silence.

“Ursula, how’s the preparation for the rocket?”P/O Elma asked Ursula.

Ursula’s reply was short: “OK.”

In her hands she held two cylinders. Inside were air-to-air rockets that Ursula had developed herself. The weight of the explosives was about 20 kilograms.

“Can we shoot it at the same range as a machine gun?”

Ursula shook her head: “Impossible.”

P/O Elma let out a sigh.

“We’re not going to accomplish anything standing around like this… why don’t we at least try and launch some kind of assault?”

As soon as they got closer… the Laros reacted. The Suomus Misfits Squadron drew back as quick as a fly being swatted away by a cow’s tail.

It was impossible for them to get close.

It was the same for the 1st squadron. They would draw close, before being pelted with defensive fire from the Laros and would then have to make evasive maneuvers.

P/O Elma seemed to have reached a resolution. “Now that it’s come to this…”

“I wonder if we can at least do a body-count on the enemy…”

“What’re you talkin’ about!?”

“If things carry on like this Slussen will get bombed again… We’re witches. We’ve got to protect everyone. That’s why…”

After speaking, P/O began to move gradually closer towards the enemy.

“You shouldn’t go alone, P/O Elma!” Haruka added.

“Now you wait here! You’ll get fried!” Katharine shouted.

Suddenly…The voice of someone shouting could be heard over the wireless.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing!? Just stop trying to do a body count already!”

“Tomoko!”

“P/O Anabuki!”

She appeared from a gap within the clouds - her striker unit glowing with a magnificent white light. Tomoko surged in front of the members of the Suomus Misfits Squadron, both her hands outstretched.

“Pilot Officer…”Haruka had already started weeping.

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be sleeping in the medical b-“

None of them knew that Tomoko had been issued an order of leave. Right now, there was no time to explain anything.

“I couldn’t possibly leave this for you to do alone now, could I?”

“But…you’re injured…”

“The wounds don’t mean anything!” Tomoko shouted.

“I’m an ace. An ace can’t do anything if they’re asleep – can they?”

“Tomoko…” Katharine said. She grabbed her and hugged her from behind.

“You really are the best ace!”Having heavy Katherine hugging her, Tomoko lost balance and the two of them began spinning through the air.

“Why don’t we save the praise for later? Anyway, just follow my instructions.”

Tomoko called for the leader of the 1st squadron, Mika Ahonen, on the wireless.

“What is it? Shouldn’t you be resting in bed because of injury?”

“I’d like you to do me a favour. Please distract the Laros.”

“What are you planning to do about that damned Diomedia?”

“Leave that to ‘us.’”

After a brief while, she heard Mika Ahonen say ‘roger’.

“Follow me. I’ve got a strategy.”Tomoko told her comrades, who were lined up in front of her.

“So this is your idea of ‘tactics’ huh?”

“I can’t do anything about it! You’re the one with the toughest striker unit!”

Katharine was making a fuss, and Tomoko was trying to calm her down.

I’ve been thinking of this strategy since I started flying up here… We can go on the offensive in a single line.

The witches of the misfits squadron formed a single line behind Katharine which resembled a centipede; and facing the direction of the Diomedia; started their offensive.

The Laros who had been guarding the Diomedia were being kept busy by the 1st squadron.

However…if the Laros can so easily leave the Diomedia in the open by itself…then that means it’s got nothing to worry about without them guarding it.

Its bulk was covered in an infinite number of turrets. As soon as you drew close to it, it spewed out so many bullets it was similar to having a rather deadly shower.

The ‘misfits’ squadron drew close in their single line formation… and were soon pelted with the ice-pop like bullets. Katharine, who was at the front, was taking all the hits.

“I can’t take this!”

“Everyone! Focus your shields at the front!”Tomoko shouted.

They were all protected by their magic fields. The shields that protected them from bullets and the temperature now formed in front of Katharine. The shields that the five of them produced were now out there in front of Katharine, protecting her.

We really haven’t done anything like this before…

“Well then Haruka, I’m counting on you.”

“G-Got it!” Haruka whimpered nervously.

Tomoko’s plan was as follows:

They would leave Katharine safe behind the five magic shields, and the Diomedia would approach…then, they would use Haruka’s 20mm calibre motor cannon to take down its frontal defense turrets. As far as appearances went, it would seem to be lightly armoured at the front. Despite being lightly armoured, there was no way that anything less than a 20mm calibre weapon could rip through the Diomedia’s frontal defense turrets.

Within the misfits squadron, the only unit that came with a 20mm motor cannon was Haruka’s A6M3 Model 22.

“I’m counting on you. Everything in this plan is riding on your motor cannon.”

The Diomedia drew steadily closer. The intensity of the machine gun fire began to increase. It began to feel as if they were in the middle of a blistering storm. The only difference between this and a storm was that it was bullets flying at them as opposed to rain.

“Gah! I’m almost at my limit!” Katharine shouted.

“Now!” Tomoko cried out.

Haruka leant across with the motor cannon in tow. Even though there was an obvious target she was supposed to hit…her field of vision became blurry.

She couldn’t get a good shot in.

“Ah!”

She pulled the trigger…and the cannon fired went completely off track. It wasn’t even remotely close to the nose of the Diomedia. Within the blink of an eye, the five of them had passed over the top of the Diomedia.

It was a failure.

“How could you possibly miss it from that distance!?”
"How could you possibly miss it from that distance!?"
Added by Britfag
Tomoko yelled in disbelief at Haruka.
“S-Sorry….” Haruka apologised tearfully.

“You better not miss the next one. It’s impossible to re-do this.”

“U-Understood…”

P/O Elma was the only one to notice something a little strange in Haruka’s doubtful speech. She placed the palm of her hand in front of Haruka’s eyes, and opened it, then closed it. Haruka started at it fixedly.

“Say…Sgt Haruka.”

“Y-Yes ma’am!”

“Could it be that…your eyesight’s a little off? As in, you’re short sighted?”

Everyone’s mouths dropped wide open at Elma’s realisation.

“Is that true, Haruka!?”

“Y-Yes…”She sighed, in a slightly troubled voice.

“For god’s sake Haruka, put some glasses on!”

“I can’t!” She yelled back.

“Why not!?”

“When I put glasses on… they make me look really ugly!”

Yet again, they stood there in awe of what Haruka was saying.

“Honestly…Do you have any glasses on you?”

Haruka fiddled around for a short while… “Yes, I’ve got some. I’m sorry,” she answered back.

“Put them on then!” Everyone shouted in time.

“I don’t want to!”

“Listen here, now’s not the time to worry about what you look like! This is a war you know, a war!”

“Be it a war or anything else, it’s simply unbearable to be ugly!”

Tomoko lost it completely at Haruka’s exclamation, and cried out at her: “Please put then on already! This is an order!”

Haruka shook her head in response.

“What the hell is wrong with you!? I’ll cut you if you don’t find a good reason! I really will cut you!”

Tomoko screamed as she gripped her katana with both hands. As she did so…

“Ah! Cut me! Please cut me! Ahh, It’s been a long-cherished ambition of mine to be cut by you, Pilot Officer!”

“Now you listen here…”

Just as Tomoko took a firmer grip on her katana to intimidate Haruka, she yelled suddenly.

“I-It’s because I like you!”

“Eh?”

“I like you, Pilot Officer Anabuki! Sorry, let me rephrase that… it’s more like love than like. I yearn for you; I respect you… I’m moving up to third dan with my love for you! Even so, the other day you stopped right in the middle of things, didn’t you, Pilot Officer? It was surely because you don’t find me attractive! Yes…that’s exactly it! If I put these glasses on, then that attraction will drop by half! You wouldn’t even want to look at me… I’d sooner die than have that happen!”

The members of the misfits squadron were bewildered by Haruka’s confession.

“Now you’re getting into lesbian territory!” Said Katharine.

“Y-You’ll go to hell!” P/O Elma added.

“You’ve got it all wrong! I am not a lesbian! Right Haruka? This a joke, right!?”

“I’m not joking… If you promise to sleep with me… I’ll put the glasses on!”

“Honestly you…”

As Tomoko stood trembling, Ursula drew close and spoke into her ear: “She told you to sleep with her.”

Tomoko’s trembling intensified.

Why does it have to be me…!? She felt frustrated.

“Just agree to it!” Katharine said.

“Well… given our current situation you can’t really do anything about it.” Elma was next.

“Fine, fine! I’ll do it! I’ll sleep with you!” Tomoko yelled.

“Really!?”

“I wouldn’t go back on my word to a girl.”

As she heard those words, Haruka reached into her pocket with a deep breath and pulled out a pair of gigantic glasses.

They were a pair of perfectly thick glasses.

She’s going to put those on? Goodness gracious, they really are huge… They’re so huge you could probably wear them underwater.

Tomoko snickered in a lowered voice.

“… Did you just laugh?”Everyone collectively drew closer to Tomoko.

“What! O-of course I-I didn’t laugh! Well then, let’s get moving!”

The five of them once again began their assault. It was the same plan as before – they would form behind Katharine and use her as a shield for Haruka’s weapon.

The Diomedia drew closer.

400 metres, 300 metres… when it reached 200 metres, Haruka raised her head and placed her 20mm motor cannon on Katharine’s shoulder.

The thick cartridge cases flipped out with a Don! Don! Don! The cannons had been sucked into the turret. The foremost shell entered into the turret, and then exploded.

“Good job!”

Haruka lined up her next shot, and that one hit too! She continued to shoot, and took down four of the turrets. There was now space to get above the Diomedia.

The distance was now 500 metres.

Haruka and Katharine withdrew.

“Ursula!” Tomoko shouted.

Ursula let out a sigh before launching the rocket she had been holding in both hands. The rocket launched with a dry ‘Schpon!’ noise. The rocket entered the Diomedia’s body with a plume of white smoke. It exploded violently with a Boom! Leaving a clear hole dead in the centre of the Diomedia.
The rocket launched with a dry 'Schpon!' Noise
Added by Britfag
However… the Diomedia was indeed very hardy, and continued to fly.
“P/O Elma! Support me, full speed ahead!”

“Roger that!”

Tomoko grabbed onto Elma from behind, and used her to increase her acceleration.

“Uuuuoooooooooooooooooooooo!”

Tomoko flew towards the hole where the rocket had burst the Diomedia. She straightened her body up and made the plunge, her katana gripped tightly in both hands.

“P/O Elma, pull off!”

Elma separated herself from Tomoko. With her katana ready, Tomoko flew into the open hole on the Diomedia. In an instant, her figure had disappeared inside the Diomedia…

The bulk of the Diomedia broke off. It burst into flames as bright as strobe lighting. In an instant, the piece that had been broken off heaved, before exploding completely.

The inside of the body was wreathed in flames from the explosion. Afterwards… the space that the Diomedia had been in was empty. Debris flew haphazardly at Haruka and the others, who hadn’t been near the explosion.

“Tomoko!”

“Pilot Officer Anabuki!” Haruka and the others screamed.

The Diomedia had been split into four pieces – all leaving behind a trail of white smoke…

For a second, there was dead silence…Even though it was only for a second, it felt like it had lasted for all eternity.

What had happened to Tomoko?

Everyone stood stunned, staring longingly at the cloud of white smoke.

“No way… and just as P/O Anabuki had promised that she’d sleep with me…”In the instant that Haruka spoke… a white figure shone from within the smoke.

“I’m alright.” They heard Tomoko’s voice over the wireless.

During the explosion… Tomoko had protected herself with her magic field. The remaining misfits gave an exuberant cheer.

Tomoko headed towards where her friends were so that they could return to base in formation.

“Pilot Officer Beurling… we took down our true enemy.” Tomoko whispered as she stared absent mindedly at the trail of smoke.

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| Back to [[Strike_Witches:Volume1_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
| Return to [[Strike_Witches|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Strike_Witches:Volume1_Epilogue|Epilogue]]
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