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Horizon:Volume 8B Chapter 48

2025-07-16T05:54:46Z

2600:1700:B6ED:7810:1DE1:898B:1E6E:9AAE:

==Chapter 48: Sweetheart at the Conclusion==
[[Image:Horizon_8B_p0573.jpg|thumb]]
''When using the past as a foundation

''And looking to the future

''How can you

''Reach that conclusion?

'''Point Allocation (Confounding)

“You see,” Christina heard the Musashi Vice President say. “That is our current policy. We want to keep it that way and we will do whatever we can to come up with measures to further that policy. …We want everything to follow it, but is it so wrong that we sometimes fall short of that?”

If so…

“Why do you think religious precepts and laws have existed since the Age of Dawn? No, since the Age of the Gods before that?”

“You are straying from the point, aren’t you?”

Christina was honestly not that great a negotiator. She had done everything in her power to never leave home. That allowed her to focus on the data and prevent her from being rattled emotionally, but that did not mean she knew how to negotiate.

“I am looking at this on a case-by-case basis and I want to know why Musashi made the decisions they did in the cases where it ended that way.”

“So you want to know if we think we won or lost in each of those cases?”

“Testament. You can look at it that way.”

“Judge,” replied the Vice President. “Then I have a question of my own. I don’t have a clear answer myself, but…”

She asked her question.

“What does it mean to live and to die?”

''I believe that is two questions.

Horizon’s eyebrows moved in response to Masazumi’s question.

…''That is similar to what I asked the Sanada Celestial Dragon.

She also asked herself that a lot and had found some answers in the actions of the nations and the decisions of the people.

She had arrived at some level of a conclusion. And…

“Swedish Chancellor, where is your embassy located?” asked Masazumi.

Christina tilted her head as she answered.

“It is on Tama, but why?”

“Then you must have passed through the nature district on Okutama’s port side on the way here.”

What was that place called?

“Do you know why it used to be known as Remorse Way until recently?”

“Well…”

“Long ago, Toori-sama failed to prevent me from kicking the bucket in an accident there and his remorse prevented him from visiting there again.” Horizon looked Christina in the eye. “But now that I think about it, that feels like a form of group bullying against him. Naming a location after the worst mistake of his life is an awful thing to do.”

'''Me:''' “Yeah, but it really was my fault and the name told me that everyone understood how I felt about it, right? It also shows that none of them forget about you.”

'''Novice:''' “Looking back, I think I just thought it was cool to give it a name that hinted at some story behind it.”

'''Art-Ga:''' “And having a name is convenient even if it’s unofficial. Just calling it ‘the street’ would have been awkward, like we were tiptoeing around the subject, you know? And calling it Remorse Way let the Chancellor know we understood him. …Actually, did that message get through to you?”

'''Me:''' “Well, it did tell me you weren’t going to handle my issue with kid gloves.”

'''Gold Mar:''' “See, Ga-chan? Your kind unkindness worked!”

'''Horizey:''' “I knew he was stubborn, but I didn’t realize it was this bad.”

'''Asama:''' “Horizon! Horizon! Naruze was actually being nice for once, so let’s take this in a different direction now!”

''Well, they all have their issues,'’ thought Masazumi.

“We are opposed to losing people, but we also consider how painful remorse can be.”

“Can’t you just work to get over that remorse?”

“Judge. That is an option and our idiot did just that. But I still think remorse is a tricky thing.”

Because…

“Remorse makes you want to die while you’re still alive.”

The idiot sister had corrected that very desire in the idiot’s past. And…

“So to help people through their remorse and to prevent any further remorse, we want to make sure people will seek life instead.”

''Do you understand?

''Nagaoka, I’m talking about you. As well as the idiot, Crossunite, Satomi Yoshiyori, Anne’s group, the Sanadas, and the Houjous.

The best way to overcome remorse and avoid further remorse was to choose life. But…

“Aren’t you just swapping out the word death for the word life?”

'''Me:''' “Hey. Someone should let Nagabuto’s wife know that antagonizing Seijun is a good way to get her to start a war with Sweden.”

'''Horizey:''' “A word replacement quiz can lead to war too? Masazumi-sama has an endless supply of variety, doesn’t she?”

Masazumi nearly responded to that but resisted the urge. She had a clear answer for the Swedish Chancellor’s question.

It was something they had all demonstrated already.

“My answer to that is no.”

Because…

“The people who seek life actually get to see what happens after they accomplish their goal.”

Indeed.

“No one sees that goal as the finish line. They’re thinking about their new self and the new world that awaits them afterwards and they think about how they can finally live without the remorse they have felt in the past. That is what drives them. …They are not looking to the literal dead end that is death.”

Masazumi continued with a line she had used before.

“That is what makes this so frustrating.”

“Is assisting in that process really all we can do? If possible, we want to knock some sense into people and accompany them in their pursuit of life. Our past experiences have taught us we need to be a nation that can do just that.”

Asama watched the text scrolling along her sign frame while she listened to Masazumi.

…''Oh?

Horizon was speaking to him.

'''Horizey:''' “Toori-sama, I believe I heard you mention before that, if you had never been reunited with me, you had planned to descend to the mainland and either renew yourself or continue on as you were.”

That could only mean one thing.

'''Horizey:''' “Were you thinking that it was time you moved on ''and actually lived your life''?”

'''Me:''' “Yeah, but I didn’t put as much thought into it as Seijun has. Also…”

Also what? He answered her unspoken question.

'''Me:''' “After sis smacked some sense into me, I still had remorse, but I could separate that from my actual life, you know? So I was enjoying each new day and I had everyone to support me.”

“Judge,” replied Horizon.

'''Horizey:''' “That is excellent, Toori-sama. We have finally circled back to the topic at hand.”

Asama more or less understood too. She knew what Horizon had been trying to confirm with him.

…''This is about his feelings for her.

'''Horizey:''' “So once you were reunited with me…well, you have already stated you could have moved on without me, so…”

''Yes,'' agreed Asama, convinced she knew where Horizon was going with this.

'''Horizey:''' “Well, let us set aside whether the current hard-working Horizon is the same as the Horizon who used to screw up making breakfast. Those details aren’t as important here. …But when you saw me by your side working so studiously, diligently, and sagaci- geh! Ahem, working so hard, did it make you feel like you never would have to experience remorse like that again?”

'''Silver Wolf:''' “Horizon! Well done courageously marching on after tripping over your words!”

Horizon gave Mitotsudaira a double thumbs up.

'''Horizey:''' “This is important, so I had to get it all out.”

Because…

'''Horizey:''' “And if Toori-sama were to lose me now, he would again be forced to make the difficult decision to either find a new self or accept himself if he is.”

'''Gold Mar:''' “Um, is this a new form of dependence?”

'''Art-Ga:''' “Less a dependence and more like a switch to be thrown. Between a ‘Horizon’ and a ‘No Horizon’ state.”

It wasn’t that he was hopeless without her. Instead, he would live one life with her and another without her. That was what her presence meant for him.

…''Oh, I get it.

After Horizon had settled in as a stable part of their lives, he had come to view Asama as important as well since she was a positive force in his life.

And Horizon had to similarly see Asama as necessary for supporting him and keeping his life from drifting in the negative direction. She feared that, on her own, she wouldn’t be enough to keep him out of the negative and push him in a positive direction.

That was why she had reached out to touch Asama’s tears. They had looked so strange to her because they appeared to be a negative thing but were actually a positive and the proof that she had made the right decision, so she had wanted to touch them.

…''Um, yeah.

Asama realized it had been the same for her, but the shock was a lot more powerful when she didn’t notice it until after the fact. Horizon was probably feeling the same way now.

“Masazumi.”

They could see their conclusion in its current form, although that form could always change in the future. So…

“We will support you in that endeavor.”

Masazumi nodded.

“Well, this is an overly complicated way of putting it, but if that isn’t what Azuma wants or if he would be trying to sacrifice himself for us, then we would be using him as no more than a political tool, which would logically be the exact thing we have been working to prevent. Which would make it our loss.”

“Then,” said the Swedish Chancellor. “If you insist on viewing the former Crown Prince as an ordinary citizen…can you be so sure that one of Musashi’s warriors, or anyone else who ends up fighting for you, are not going along with the status quo against their will?”

“You can’t expect everything to work out exactly right. People are free to think and feel what they want. In fact, that’s why we fought some student body assembly duels at Mikawa. Everything surrounding the Armada battle was rough on the newer students and we had a lot of people leave after Mikatagahara, not to mention another student body assembly. We did receive an influx of new people after Houjou fell, but that doesn’t change that people are free to come and go as they please.”

But…

“When you get down to it, there is a system in place to change the status quo if you don’t like it. If you aren’t willing to use that, then you’re either just complaining or just providing your opinion. I appreciate the latter, but if you only ever do the former, then you’re really nothing more than a tsundere.”

'''Me:''' “You’ve neve used that word before in your life, have you?”

'''Gold Mar:''' “Isn’t she basically saying they’re tsundere for war?”

'''Art-Ga:''' “N-no! I’m not fighting for your sake or anything! I don’t like doing this at all! But…no, I love war! I love it so much! (echo effect)”

'''Vice President:''' “Shut up, all of you.”

The Swedish Chancellor must have been thinking much the same thing because she smiled bitterly.

“You’re quite the tyrant, aren’t you?”

“Well, the other people aren’t a former crown prince. That changes things. And I do work hard to keep that from happening.”

Also…

“If they don’t want to get caught in the nations’ fight, they can either vote us out in the next election or hold another student body assembly. We’ve gotten the hang of those after two of them. But if you have some better method in mind, I’d love to hear it. Anyway,” said Masazumi. “If we truly have no other option and we must force someone to assist our intervention, it means we have lost as a nation. In that case, I think we should start considering making a last-ditch charge with all our fighters. And if it comes to that, I will be carrying the happiness of all Musashi’s people on my shoulders.”

“It won’t be you,” said the Chancellor.

“Yes, it will. I’ll just pass that burden onto you afterwards. No one would want to leave this in your hands.”

“Um, Masazumi?” chimed in Mitotsudaira. “While I do agree with you, maybe you should watch what you say in front of people?”

''That idiot has been gaining more allies recently,'' grumbled Masazumi while glaring over at Mitotsudaira.

“In that case,” said a voice – the Swedish Chancellor’s. She turned back toward Masazumi. “Why won’t you use me? I am not a Musashi resident and I am a Chancellor. I wouldn’t hold that position if I wasn’t willing to get involved in politics. Do you still refuse to use me because you are applying your own ideas of life and death to me?”

“No, it’s not that.” Masazumi raised her right hand. “Like I said before, you don’t have to do a thing.”

Masazumi repeated what she had said earlier.

And then she swung her right hand.

Nothing appeared in front of it.

She looked down in confusion to find Tsukinowa playing with a black algae creature. The anteater was rolling the algae creature around to clean the poolside, but they both seemed to be having fun.

…''Tsukinowa is growing up.

“Masazumi! Masazumi! You need to focus!”

“Oh, right. Hey, Tsukinowa, give me a sign frame real quick.”

“Maa?”

''No, you don’t need to come back. Seeing this is all I need.

The Swedish Chancellor was glaring back and forth between her and Tsukinowa. ''Yeah, he is cute, isn’t he? No, you can’t have him.

The politician laughed, letting her animal-loving nature show while she operated the sign frame with her right hand. After doing it wrong twice in a row, she asked Asama for help and finally managed to access what she was looking for.

She tossed it toward the Swedish Chancellor.

“This grants you the right to go wherever you like aboard the Musashi. It will also prove your passenger paperwork is in order once authorization from Sweden is attached, but I imagine your signature would suffice there.”

“Wh-what is the meaning of this? It has nothing at all to do with our discussion.”

“Oh, but it does.” Masazumi spoke softly. “It means we want you to remain aboard the Musashi for as long as possible.” She took a breath. “Preferably, until after the Honnouji Incident is complete. I ask nothing more of you.”

Christina now understood what the Musashi Vice President meant.

Why didn’t she need to do anything?

Why was she given permission to move around the Musashi?

…''Because Musashi is searching for an independent intervention method.

“I will act as a deterrent against P.A. Oda, won’t I?”

“Right up until our Honnouji intervention, yes,” said the Musashi Vice President. “Your presence will make that intervention much easier.”

''That is true,'' thought Christina, aware of her position all over again.

As Akechi Mitsuhide’s daughter, she could intervene whenever she wanted. So…

“It is true that my identity as Lady Nagaoka is all I need to intervene if I wanted to.”

“Judge. So the rest is simple. Actively using you would create friction with Sweden, so instead you’ll be supporting our actions by giving the illusion that you’re working in the background.”

“You intend to deceive the other nations?”

“Your presence on the Musashi really does give us a chance at intervention.”

So…

“Whether the other nations suspect we’re up to something or try to capitalize on our actions is an entirely political issue. Also, Swedish Chancellor, other people can’t bear to stare straight at the data quite as much as you can. They tend to twist the facts into something more or less convenient for themselves.” She shrugged. “Which is why I just want you to enjoy your summer break on the Musashi.”

“That sounds a lot like a form of house arrest to me.”

Tadaoki cleared his throat next to Christina, which reminded her of something.

…''I had put myself under house arrest until recently.

He must have known what that meant because he spoke up with exasperation in his voice.

“I think you’ll be safe here for now. But if you don’t feel like you’re being taken care of properly, you can always go somewhere else.”

Christina found herself gasping.

As a 28-year-old, she didn’t want to cause any more trouble for this 14-year-old and she saw the Asama Shrine Representative speaking with the 3rd Special Duty Officer.

“See, Asama-chi? That’s how you indulge in your partner’s kindness. You can learn a thing or two from her.”

“But wasn’t she just lashing out?”

…''Oh, I really am a pain in the rear, aren’t I?

''I’m so ashamed. I need to do better.

But she also wanted to ask about something.

“How will you work this out with my home nation of Sweden?”

“Oh,” said the Asama Shrine Representative. She opened a sign frame and pointed it toward Christina. “Remember your servant, Maria? She has returned to Sweden and says she will do everything in her power to work this out over summer break. She says the Swedish Student Council, Chancellor’s Officers, and even the citizens are excited about your eventual return as well as your marriage plans. And since Shinto is so lax about these things and because the Asama Shrine helped out at Nördlingen, I do hope you will use our services when it comes to that.”

“Tomo! Tomo! You slipped into a sales talk toward the end there!”

But for Christina…

…''That’s right!

In the era described in the Testament, she was well past prime marrying age.

Of course her nation would be celebrating her survival and her marriage plans. Plus, any kind of party boosted the student council’s approval rating. So instead of sneaking back home during summer break…

“It sounds like they don’t want to receive word of your return until morning assembly on the first day of the second term.”

The Musashi Vice President was right. And Tadaoki tilted his head next to her.

“I’ll be going too, right?”

“Judge. You will probably be expected to take a second inherited name for your time in Sweden. We will train you here during summer break, so I hope you’re thankful.”

The Musashi Vice President pointed across the pool to the ninja, the half-dragon, and the idiot who was holding an explosive at his crotch. They started doing squats to show they meant business, but somehow the arms giving thumbs up seemed the most reliable. This would all be a nuisance for Tadaoki, though.

But when Christina looked to him again…

“Can I really just do that?”

She noticed the relief on his face and realized she had been mistaken about something.

…''Tadaoki-sama.

He always took a positive view of being with her.

He didn’t feel apologetic or think it was a nuisance.

…''Oh.

He was 14, he had been hopelessly outmatched, and he had cried.

Compared to that, a chance to train must have looked like bliss. As for the idiot offering the training…

“Hey, Nagabuto! The hero bubble in Sweden doesn’t last long, so you’d better train up while you can!”

“You don’t even have a bubble here, so shut up!!”

That was exactly it.

Christina sighed and shut her eyes for a few seconds. She gathered up the information presented to her here and she faced it directly. Some of it was a nuisance, some of it was dangerous, and some of it felt downright unfair, but all of that was a small price to pay for gaining her own happiness. If her home nation was rejoicing, then her own shame and embarrassment was worth it.

''Honestly.

''I didn’t realize I could accept so much change.

So she opened her eyes and responded.

“Testament. I will agree to that on the assumption that we can negotiate changes at a later date if need be.”

Everyone looked to her, but she no longer cowered from their gazes. After all…

“I have Tadaoki-sama with me, so now all I need to do is get used to life here.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.”

Tadaoki turned toward her with his gaze lowered.

In only his swimming trunks, there was no hiding that he was only a middle school boy, but she asked him a question.

“Is it okay if I do that?”

“If you’re willing to, then of course it is.”

“…I see.”

She nodded and thought of someone else.

…''Tomoe Gozen.

That woman had chided her about many things before the Battle of Nördlingen at the end of last month, and it had all come true.

Would she be surprised to see Christina now?

“Okay.”

Christina held her right hand out toward the Musashi Vice President.

In Europe, a handshake symbolized agreement between two parties.

She did not hesitate to offer her hand.

“I have accepted your proposed relationship with Sweden. Musashi will attempt its own intervention into the Honnouji Incident and I will simply enjoy my time on the Musashi with Tadaoki-sama so that my home nation can celebrate my return at a later date. This is the first step toward a greater relationship between our two nations. But,” continued Christina while the Musashi Vice President raised her eyebrows but still took her hand. “I plan to prioritize life from now on. I can count on Musashi’s support in that endeavor, I hope?”

The meeting was complete and they were approaching a solution on another problem as well.

They were making progress with the ice floating in the pool.

First, Futayo had offered to slice it apart with her cutting power, but they had concluded that would slice through the bottom of the pool as well. The idiot’s “blow it up” plan, the idiot’s “push Tenzou in” plan, and the idiot’s “make it part of my crotch” plan had all failed.

“Then what are we supposed to do?”

Suzu raised her hand.

“There…use those.”

She pointed at the lane ropes. They were not currently in use, so they were hanging over the fence on the poolside. However…

“You mean divide the pool up with the lane ropes and push the ice toward the outside?”

“Wouldn’t the water still be ice cold?”

“No…not that. You can…weave them together? With three each way.”

“Oh,” said Mitotsudaira, realizing what Suzu meant. “You mean make a net?”

They crisscrossed the lane ropes with three vertical and three horizontal, tangling them together where they intersected. That created a simple net with large holes, but…

“Could we add the excess length in diagonally?”

“Do too much extra stuff and untying the whole thing will be a pain.”

With an exchange of ideas and corrections, they had the net complete in around five minutes. After scooping the ice out with that, the ice covered one end of the poolside, but there was now room in the pool.

The “weaving” idea probably came from Mukai’s experience with sewing, but…

“Just add in a bit of creativity and you can do just about anything.”

“We also had plenty of time to think. If only we always had that luxury.”

After they got in the pool, the swimmers saw a structure in the sky.

Massive walls jutted up from below the Musashi on either side. And they knew what those were.

“The Ariake’s upper armor!”

The Ariake had opened its top surface to the left and right and the Musashi was descending inside.

Several sign frames appeared outside the ship and the high-speed guide ships floated up between the Ariake and the Musashi. The transport ships outside the ship hurried back to the Musashi.

“Okay, the Musashi will be docked inside the Ariake for a while now,” said Masazumi.

Christina looked back.

“But when will you be returning to Kansai?”

“You’ll find that out shortly. We’ve already made the arrangements. Because this is going to be tricky for them as well.”

Another wall became visible behind Masazumi. They were now surrounded by walls instead of just the ones on the left and right.

The Musashi was descending into the Ariake itself.

Asama added “confirmed” or “approved” to all the sign frames popping up around her and then closed them while everyone viewed the Ariake’s interior from the Musashi.

Christina gasped.

“I don’t believe it!”

“See, I told you it would happen shortly.” Masazumi indicated the Ariake’s interior with a gesture like she was whipping up the wind. “We’re coming, Kansai. But who will we ask to be our herald?”

“I see. Testament, testament. So Christina is finally settling in.”

Someone spoke while seated on a stone stairway in the evening.

It was Tomoe Gozen.

She was in the M.H.R.R. Protestant principality of Saxony. That region was essentially her home base and this eastern city of Dresden had a large forest to the east and bordered P.A. Oda territory.

It was a front line city, but…

“Summer break has given us so much freedom. …The Kyou region is just on the other side of that forest, so I should probably nab some Middle Eastern goods through their limited-time trade deals.”

Instead of her summer uniform, she wore a black inner suit with a skirt and she leaned over to tighten the laces of her special ghost shoes.

“We just had a major battle, so I think I will spend the next 5 days traveling around hunting, fishing, and eating wild animals. If any problems crop up, you can deal with them as you see fit. Do not use my name. As long as you leave that as a final piece of insurance, you are free to use your own discretion. And make sure to send a report to Saxony if anything happens. I asked the other principalities to do the same, so…well, your job is to deal with everyone’s complaints.”

“Testament!” replied the scattered group around her.

But a new set of footsteps approached that group.

It came from the top of the stairs behind her. The footsteps were rushed and skipped every other step on the way down.

“What do you want, Kappa? Running down the stairs is a good way to break your neck.”

“My name is not Kappa, Tomoe Gozen! It is Guericke and I have a report!”

Guericke leaped from the stairs.

He soared over Tomoe Gozen’s head and took a prostration pose in midair. He also used a standby boost from his right arm’s hemisphere to spin around in the air.

“Tomoe Gozen!”

The kappa completed the spin and nailed the perfect prostration landing.

“I come bearing an urgent report!”

<noinclude>
{{HorizonNavbar
| [[Horizon:Volume 8B Chapter 47|Chapter 47]]
| [[Horizon:Volume 8B Chapter 49|Chapter 49]]
}}
</noinclude>

Horizon:Volume 3 Prologue

2025-07-16T05:07:41Z

2600:1700:B6ED:7810:1DE1:898B:1E6E:9AAE:

==Prologue: The Outsiders on the Bridge==
[[File:Horizon3A 0017.jpg|thumb]]
''Look at that which is close to you

''The times you cannot see underfoot are truly...

'''Point Allocation (Consideration)

'''ANA:''' “Hey!”

'''Dragon Dog'''<ref>A pun. Luynes is spelled “ryuinu” in Japanese and Dragon Dog is “ryuu inu”.</ref>''':''' “What is the matter, milady?”

'''ANA:''' “It’s cold. —No, well, it is not that it is cold, I am just feeling cold.”

'''Dragon Dog:''' “It may be some kind of failure with the artificial sensory. I will contact those in charge.”

'''ANA:''' “You are perfect... However, I have already had that task completed and I was told the same thing, that it might be an error in the artificial sensory.”

'''ANA:''' “Hey, is it possible that I may be breaking?”

'''Dragon Dog:''' “It is not possible for me to answer that question, the reason for it being that it is a reality that has not happened yet. The only conjecture I can make with respect to a situation which has not occurred is that ‘It is possible that both possibilities exist.’ ”

'''ANA:''' “Then, for example if you were to experience this cold, what would happen?”

'''Dragon Dog:''' “I would cease to function.”

'''ANA:''' “In that case, hey...”

'''Dragon Dog:''' “What is the matter, milady?”

'''ANA:''' “My older brother said it, right? ‘If something happens, please tell me.’ That he would grant any wish. —Just because he has found a person who is important to him and started living properly, he is behaving as if he is an adult. In that case, is it fine for me to act like a child?”

'''Dragon Dog:''' “I have determined that milady has always remained as a child.”

'''ANA:''' “And that is fine, is it not? However, hey...”

'''Dragon Dog:''' “Tes. Please say anything you wish to say. What is the matter, milady?”

'''ANA:''' “I see that you are the same as always, you are perfect. Then I want you to hear me out. You see...”

In the morning sky there was an island.

Floating at a position lower than the clouds, there was a floating island that stretched from north to south for tens of kilometers. The lower strata area, which hung like an icicle, was divided into massive blocks by rocks and structures; sometimes these would slowly move as a result of the internal frame and change the shape of the island.

At the massive floating island there were two massive objects.

One of these, located on the northern side of the island, was a Shinto shrine which possessed a Shinto shrine-styled gantry crane, several tens of kilometers in scale and a sprawling large scale wooden research facility located at its base.

The other of these was located on the eastern side of the island, also connected with a new Shinto gantry crane with a massive ship in the interior as though it was being protected.

The vessel, which was comprised of eight individual ships, was installed in the large scale dock which stretched from north to south across the eastern side of the island.

It was Musashi.

The eight ship fleet which received the morning sun on the port-side had all of its ships still maintaining their functionality as a city while they remained within the dock. However, from the surface of each ship, there were multiple small, high-pitched noises being raised by countless shadows clinging to the surface.

Those shadows, whether they were gods of war driving in anchor bolts or people who were assisting in the repair of the ship, including other species, were all hurriedly working.

Musashi was currently undergoing complete repairs.

There were the figures of many students among the people participating in the construction.

If you let the students talk, their reasoning would be:

“Well, this makes it possible to earn cash during the early morning.”

“I have been helping out after school, so I started doing mornings as well.”

“Out our way, the outer wall is still broken, which is scary.”

Also, between the people carrying raw materials and the kobolds, multiple running shadows were present.

There was a jersey clad girl with two artificial arms and a tall foreigner in a tank top, a jersey clad retainer who was running with dogs, and following at a considerable distance behind the others there was a silver haired girl.

The girl with the artificial arms and the tall foreigner, who had run further ahead, raised their hand in a greeting and split off into a different route.

In contrast the spectacled retainer, after passing through the path of a natural area at a leisurely pace, ascended the staircase which was located ahead of her.

As she did, the dogs which were following her circled around at the bottom of the staircase and let out a bark.

Once the retainer turned around while waving her hand, the dogs emitted one more bark and then dispersed.

The girl retainer then nimbly ascended the staircase.

Once she had finished climbing there was a building with the nameplate “Musashi Ariadust Academy” and a bridge which reached up to the second floor entrance way. Furthermore...

“Eh? Asama, are you here for morning practice?”

Asama continued to replace the talismans for the hanging lanterns which were built into the bridge as she turned around in response to the calling voice.

It was Adele. While regulating her breathing, which wasn’t really disordered, she came over that way.

“Are you here for morning practice Asama?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

Asama replied with a bitter smile. She held the talisman in her hand out towards Adele.

“Lately our academy has been keeping the lights on all the night, hasn’t it? That’s why I am working on replacing the lighting spells. There’s also that...”

“What is it?”

“When I consider about what might happen from now on, I thought I should increase my stamina. I started from my family’s shrine below, ascended the staircase, and then did a light circuit of the schoolyard with Kimi accompanying me. However...”

Asama looked at the schoolyard. Kimi was collapsed on top of a bamboo bench located in the corner of schoolyard. The red jersey covering her head and upper body belonged to her.

“Well don’t worry about that, I’ll go to recover it later. I’ll return either through my family’s spring or Suzu’s public bathhouse, though whether or not I’ll make it in time for morning class it is a mystery.”

“Kimi always makes sure to eat the breakfast the chancellor makes before coming to the academy after all. About Kimi, how should I put it...why is it that while dancing is not a problem, when it comes to running she is just slightly better than a normal person?”

“Kimi’s Summit Dance is similar to Futayo’s acceleration technique, they both have fatigue reduction protections being inserted into the spell. She insists that ‘I have no willpower so I did it like that!’ ”

While saying that, Asama thought to herself that spells which required access to customization were quite annoying.

After all, Kimi often didn’t think about things beforehand; so when a situation that couldn’t be dealt with by her showed up, she immediately started going on about “New version! New version!” “Okay okay, again? Once again?” “Groin!? Groin is high!?” displaying her insanity. Each and every time, the two of them soaked into the spring together doing this and that...

“My Priestess’s ‘Yearly spell supervision amount’ status rating is high as a result of handling Kimi’s requests.”

After letting out a sigh she was unaware that Kimi had stood up and began walking in their direction. While walking she put on the jacket which had been placed over her and said:

“Eh, what is with this girl’s jersey? The cloth around the chest area has stretched...! This Priestess, what is she attempting to achieve by creating a breast mold!? Planning on making manjuu or something!?”

“It fits you perfectly fine so what exactly are you talking about!? Ah Adele, would you please stop looking down and averting your eyes.”

From beyond Adele, who was looking that way, a hand suddenly grasped the edge of the overhanging bridge from beneath the staircase.

''Eh.'' In front of the girl who was thinking that, from the far side of the grasped palm, an elbow appeared and then proceeded as if to pull up the rest of the body.

“S-somehow I managed one full lap around the ship.”

It was Mitotsudaira.

The jersey clad figure of Mitotsudaira arrived at the top of the bridge completely out of breath.

''…I-it really does seem like a “somehow” situation.

In front of her eyes, there was Adele who had run the exact same course yet whose breathing was not disturbed, and a priestess that was big even while being the same age as her. Mitotsudaira felt a feeling of irrationality against both these parties, however there was nothing to be done.

In any case, Mitotsudaira used the banister as a support and attempted to stand. However her knees were shaking. ''“Ow…”

She grasped the banister and attempted to move forward but she began to fall to her knees. Hurriedly she attempted to support her body, though before she could take her next action Asama had already approached. While she was already holding a talisman, she said:

[[File:Horizon3A_0024-0025.jpg|thumb]]

“Ah, Mito, please do not push your body so much. I will cleanse your exhaustion with a purification ritual.”

“It is fine, Tomo. I will use my internal bless for a thing like that, you should use it for another...”

Before she had finished speaking, Asama claimed that it was fine and came to her side. She had Mitotsudaira lean against the banister.

“Good Work...”

In order to cast the spell, Hanami displayed several frames for the confirmation. Asama already had the talisman out and was clearing her throat as the preparation for the activation, so there was no way to stop her.

Therefore leaving everything to the agreement, Mitotsudaira lowered her hips, stretched her legs and took a breath. Thus Asama removed Mitotsudaira’s shoes, and splitting at the seam lining of the ankle, she opened the tights.

“I’ll attach one to the soles of your feet. If it tickles, please let me know.”

“Even if I say it tickles, don’t...”

It suddenly happened. Mitotsudaira tried to endure the strength of the fingers which seemed to be pushing into her sole.

“Hyaaa!”

''…Impossible. This is impossible!

“Hey… Mito, aren’t you too ticklish? Perhaps I should say it is a rare sensitivity syndrome… Hey!”

“W-what is it?”

Asama nodded.

“However, if it is like that then it won’t finish. So, shall we continue?”

“Eh? Hey, go easy on meeee!”

Since she was unable to move her legs, her upper body started to thrash about.

She experienced a different type of being out of breath than before, and, at the point where she became exhausted, she also lost the power to resist. She became limp and was left at the mercy of Asama.

“Mito, you have the same soft soles as Adele… They do say that people with soft soles have fast legs.”

Even if she said it earnestly, there was nothing to do about the reality of the situation.

Letting out a sigh that was unrelated to her exhaustion, Mitotsudaira lightly shrugged her shoulders.

“Even if you say that I am the same as Adele, I am not fast at all you know? I was even called a Heavy Tank type by Kimi.”

''Hmm,'' the one who was puzzled was Adele. She looked at the feet that Asama was rubbing.

“If I had to say, the fifth special duty seems more like the type who does a breaking type of movement. I guess you would say the powerful type.”

Their smiling and attempting to cover for her was a thankful gesture.

That’s why Mitotsudaira took another breath and then opened her mouth. ''My, my,'' with a self-deprecating attitude, she raised her upper body.

“Is it because I am a Demi Loup-Garou? Or is there some trick that I do not understand? I am just not good with fast movements. Where it is that I should put the strength into?”

“Fifth special duty, if you put too much power in it will actually have the opposite effect and you will be slower, you know?”

“Judge, Naomasa tells me that often. I am taking care to avoid that happening though…”

There Mitotsudaira lightly waved her hand as a demonstration.

The movements were those of a jab, snapped with an open hand and at the end point clenched it.

Since she was relaxed when waving, it was nimble and fast. That is how it should be. It was also accompanied by the sound of the wind. There Asama responded.

“It is fast enough, is it not? Right, Adele?”

“Eh?”

Adele gave a small reaction and immediately following that she hurriedly said.

“Eh, well... Judge, it’s sufficiently fast. Yeah.”

Keeping up other people’s appearances to hide the reality was Adele’s thankful but also poor side as a retainer. Mitotsudaira bitterly smiled about it.

“Do not worry about it. I understand that I am slow. After all, in England, though I received martial arts training from Naomasa to deal with Walsingham’s War of the Roses, I ended up just being thrown around.”

Mitotsudaira thought about her speed. Her speed would be considered faster than a normal person, however that would fall short when compared to an expert.

That is the reason why Mitotsudaira believed that was the thing preventing her from becoming stronger.

The Fifth Special Duty being in the fifth position was due to that reason.

She was made to realize that while in England.

When she first arrived in England she witnessed firsthand the speed of Futayo’s actions inside the falling cargo ship… So she thought that looking at her role as a power type would be for the best.

While conducting the anti-Walsingham training, she realized that against Naomasa’s throws her nerves were able to react but her body could not keep pace. Naomasa told her that she was slow, that is why she did it through experience rather than reacting and practiced until she was able to move by prediction.

However, while massaging her calf muscle Asama abruptly said.

“Ah, the exhaustion removal is almost finished. Mito’s regeneration powers are amazing.”

“I did inherit the blood of the Loup-Garou after all. Frankly, my toughness is my greatest weapon. It is thanks to the fact that my body is tough that I am able to strike with such power, and it also allows me to act as a shield.”

However after saying that as an introduction, Mitotsudaira laughed bitterly.

“If you remember what happened 8 years ago at Bizen IZUMO you will understand the circumstances regarding my mother and me. That is how tough I am.”

Hearing those words, Asama and Adele exchanged glances, lowered their eyebrows and showed a smile.

After a little while Adele followed up with this.

“The Loup-Garou family lineages are quite spartan. How about that story related to the Silver Chain which has been subject to rumors for a while now, with the fifth special officer’s lineage being a distinguished family in a high position during the Hundred Years’ War… was that it?”

“My mother does not talk about these things… It is also true that she has quite a freewheeling personality, however…”

“However?”

''Judge'', Mitotsudaira nodded. That was something that she had heard via the net on Musashi.

“According to a thread related to the Loup-Garous, after the Hundred Years’ War, the Hexagone Française Loup-Garous apparently consisted of two groups, those who choose to live together with the human population, and those which returned to the forest and kept their man-eating tendencies. So the Loup-Garou queen and their nobility returned to the forests, however they were eventually driven out… It also seems the Reine des Garous lost her life some time ago.”

“Lost her… did she take her own life?”

In response to Asama’s question, which was asked with a frown, Mitotsudaira nodded. During the period she was in Hexagone Française, not only she was too young so she didn’t know, it also was an embarrassment for the country and therefore not revealed to the general public.

''The things that I know are only from these past few years.

“While the forest decreased and her companions disappeared, the previous generation Reine des Garous, who succeeded the line after the Hundred Years’ War, apparently offered herself to someone who had come to hunt her. Frankly, one can certainly say that the race of the Loup-Garou has declined. My mother also had the characteristic of having those around being wary of her; so they were a race who had trouble being intimate with humans.”

Having said that much, Mitotsudaira fell silent. She reconsidered that she should not say things that would create a wall and shrugged her shoulders.

“My mother’s family line, however, was probably fairly well-positioned. I do not know where she lived before she met my father, but according to her stories, the house where she lived was kinda a strange place, like something straight out of a fairy tale… And then there is also the silver chains. Since she does not speak of the past… She might have been a close associate to the Reine des Garous herself.”

It was something she had thought about more than once. Sometimes she had thought how nice it would have been to be part of the lineage of the Reine des Garous. In the past that was a result of her pride, however now this was about strength.

Having experienced a defeat in England was the depth of shame for a Knight dedicated to protecting the King.

However…

“If there is an opportunity, I would like to hear the whole story directly from my mother, as well as the origin of silver chains and a good fighting method for a Loup-Garou.”

“However, Mito, you were told by your mother not to descend down into Hexagone Française.”

“Y-yeah, I was made to promise that. I did promise that at Bizen IZUMO.”

''Go live as a resident of Musashi''; it was that sort of thing.

“IZUMO is a neutral zone. However, it is still part of Hexagone Française so the promise with my mother still applies, and the same holds true for Bizen IZUMO.”

''That is why I have not descended on Hexagone Française or any of their territories, not since that time.

''What happened at that time is not something I wished to recall, however it cannot be helped.

Thinking about it now, as she was a child then if it happened now she thought she would have not been done it so badly.

“However, the only good to come of that was…”

''“That the Chancellor was absent,”'' was what she was going to say but stopped.

The Chancellor did mention how he was going to pay a visit to a relative who was on the verge of death.

That is why she nodded to herself on the inside and shut a range of thoughts inside her heart.

She possessed a variety of things to consider. Not just about herself, but things about her surroundings were also piled up.

That she had not received any communication from the Musashi’s Knight alliance was still a thing.

When she finished that thought, a shadow appeared ascending the staircase.

''Kimi?'' Is what she thought and looked.

“Oh? Everyone, so you were here?”

It was Tenzou, and following him was Mary clad in a blue and white jersey.

''…Ah.

Seeing her with Ex. Collbrande suspended on her left and right, Mitotsudaira forcefully stood up unconsciously.

“Ah! Mito.”

Tenzou immediately understood the reason behind Asama’s muffled voice.

She was in the middle of using an exhaustion removal spell.

Mitotsudaira’s tights were removed from her feet and the talisman still remained attached to the bottom of the latter. He also faintly understood the reason why she had suddenly stood up.

…It was because Mary was present.

At that moment, Mary who was lined up to the side bowed her head towards everyone.

“Hello, good morning.”

“Gud, Moni———gu, Missus Mary.”

In a certain way, the mistranslation Adele gave them was terrifying. However, what was reflected in Tenzou’s eyes was Mitotsudaira, who in the greeting chose to look down in order to lower her eye contact.

That was an inevitable issue.

Ever since Mary had transferred here, Tenzou realized that Mitotsudaira was unable to decide an appropriate distance between them. There was the long-standing issue between England and Hexagone Française to consider.

There was also the fact they were both nobility.

Following Horizon, Mitotsudaira was second in line for succession for the Far East, while Mary was the future mother of the next king of England.

However Mitotsudaira’s family was a lower noble house and their current status was something that had been assigned to them. On the other hand, Mary’s royal status was something that she was born with…

“What is the matter, Master Tenzou?”

“Eh? Ah, um, it is just good that everyone is training from so early in the morning.”

''That is right,'' Mary’s nod indicated she had no ulterior motive with her words. That was a trait she was certainly born with. That had nothing to do with her position as royalty; however that was also something that was not distorted even after persecution.

But…

“……”

Mitotsudaira, while undergoing Asama’s treatment, stood with downcast eyes which could be seen as if she had been scolded.

Then, Asama unexpectedly directed her glance their way while continuing to press her hands against Mitotsudaira’s feet.

“Umm, Mary, today after school will you be coming to my family’s place?”

“Eh? Ah, it is okay for me to go, right, Master Tenzou?”

As she was taking a part time job at Asama’s family shrine, Tenzou nodded his head vertically.

“Um, yes, I am fine with it.”

Mitotsudaira pulled her legs back almost as if she was running away from Asama’s hands. Then with the talismans still attached to the bottoms of her feet she roughly put on her shoes, took the sock sections in hand and started to walk away.

She lightly turned back their way, lowering her head with the minimum amount of consideration.

In response to that act as she seemed about to descend the stairs, Asama went to say something but stopped.

Adele spoke.

“Will she be alright? I don’t think that all that exhaustion has completely disappeared yet.”

''Yeah, well,'' there was nothing to do except for Asama to hesitate. However, Mary waited until the figure of Mitotsudaira had completely disappeared from sight down the stairs before taking a step closer to Tenzou’s side. She then whispered happily.

“She was concealing a bent toe with a pedicure.”

''Was this a request for me to paint my nails as well!? Was this a request!?

''I must be overthinking the issue,'' Tenzou calmed himself down and asked Mary

“Still, Is that something to be embarrassed about?”

In response to the question, Mary loosely bent the scar on her face and said the following:

“The more embarrassing something is, the greater the difference from others. It is also something that one can be proud of, you know?”

''I see,'' he said. In front of his nodding eyes, Adele and Asama were fanning each other with clothes and talismans saying: “Ah, hot hot, it’s steamy in here!” “Yeah you think the same Adele, it’s very hot…!” and the like, however this was something that seemed like it would be impossible to eventually be something to be proud of.

In any case, from the bottom of the staircase, Kimi’s voice was heard.

“Hahahaha, what are you doing slipping and falling onto your butt, Mitotsudaira!? I guess there’s nothing else to be done, I’ll carry you. Come now, ride on these breasts…! Wow! This child got seriously angry!”

Just when he was thinking that she has no mercy, he could hear a sound.

It was the time announcement. Using the bell of the academy, the six in the morning announcement rang out.

The beginning of a day for Musashi.

Study:
[[File:Horizon3A 0036.jpg|thumb]]

IZUMO Outline Diagram

Toori: “Sis! Sis! Exactly what kind of shape has IZUMO!? I thought about it because it is shrine related and they say it is where a deity resides and makes an erotic shape!? Maaraaaaaaa—!(sound effect)”

Kimi: “Hahaha private brother, stop imitating reproductive sounds. —Anyway, IZUMO is a floating island which levitates at an altitude of 1000 meters and it consists of a land that was originally on the surface but was floated. In ancient times, the section that became the current center was floated for ship development research. Then, with the Harmonic Unification War and the downfall of the Amako clan, they saw the opportunity and took refuge from the surface. So that was how it was made.”

Kimi: “This should sum it up. If Musashi was in this diagram it would have the bow towards the bottom and anchored looking to the south. The central area is, actually, a sort of abandoned land; however when doing the individual countries corporative exhibitions, aircraft shows or when an urgent emergency landing is necessary, that location is used.”

Toori: “Since this is the territory where we can finally relax, let’s go to the town beneath the shrine and go shopping! There are a lot of Far Eastern style goods here, so that's a relief.”

Kimi: “Did you just implicitly say you are going to scour for erotic goods?”

<noinclude>
===Notes===
<references/>
{{HorizonNavbar
| [[Horizon:Volume 3A School Rules|School Rules]]
| [[Horizon:Volume 3 Chapter 01|Chapter 01]]
}}
</noinclude>