Editing Horizon:Volume 3 Prologue

==Prologue: The Outsiders on the Bridge==
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''Look at that which is close to you.''

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

'''Point Allocation (Consideration)'''

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*'''[ANA]:''' 『Hey!』

*'''[Luuynes]:''' 『What is the matter My Lady?』

*'''[ANA]:''' 『It's cold. ---No, well, it is not that it is cold, I am just feeling cold.』

*'''[Luuynes]:''' 『It may be some type of failure with the artificial sensory. I will contact those responsible.』

*'''[ANA]:''' 『You are flawless... However, I have already had that task completed. I was told the same thing. It might be a possible error in the artificial sensory.』

*'''[ANA]:''' 『Hey, is it possible that I might break down?』

*'''[Luuynes]:''' 『It is impossible for me to answer that question. The reason being is that that reality has not occurred. The only conjecture I can make with respect to a situation which has not occurred is, "It is possible that both possibilities exist.".』  

*'''[ANA]:''' 『Then, for example if you were to experience the cold, what would happen?』

*'''[Luuynes]:''' 『I would cease to function.』

*'''[ANA]:''' 『In that case, hey...』

*'''[Luuynes]:''' 『What is the matter My Lady?』

*'''[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 acting like he is an adult. In that case, hey, is it fine for me to act like a child?』

*'''[Luuynes]:''' 『I have determined that My Lady has always remained as a child.』

*'''[ANA]:''' 『That is fine, is it not? However, — hey,』

*'''[Luuynes]:''' 『Tes. Please say whatever it is that you wish to say, what is the matter My Lady?』

*'''[ANA]:''' 『I see that you are the same as always. You are flawless. Then I want you to hear me out. You see…』

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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 kilometres. 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 kilometres 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 Shinto shrine-styled 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 the 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, there were multiple running shadows 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 quite 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 greeting and split off into a different route.

In contrast the glasses wearing 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.

Yeah, with the retainer turning around and 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?”

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Asama, while continuing to replace the talismans for the hanging lanterns which were built into the bridge, turned around in response to the calling voice.

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

“Are you here for morning practice Asama?”

“Yeah, something close to 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 throughout 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 which was covering her head and upper body belonged to her, however,

“Well don’t worry about a thing.  I'll go to recover it later. I’ll return either by the way of my family’s spring or Suzu’s public bathhouse, though whether or not I'll make it in time for morning class 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 a slightly higher class than a normal person?”   

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

While saying that, Asama though to herself that the ability which required access to customization was quite annoying.

After all, Kimi often didn’t think about things, and when there appeared a situation that couldn’t be dealt with she immediately started 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 us soaked into the spring together doing this and that,

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

There letting out a sigh she was unaware Kimi had stood up and began walking in this direction. While walking she put on the jacket which had been placed over her,

“Eh, this kid’s jersey, the cloth around the chest area has stretched…! This Priestess, what are you attempting to achieve by creating a breast mould!? Planning on making manjuu or something!?”   

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

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

Eh? There, 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 upwards the rest of the body.   

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

It was Mitotsudaira.

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The jersey 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 although she was the same age as her, a huge priestess. 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 however she began to fall from 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, 

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“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—』

Hasami, in order to cast the spell, displayed several forms for conformation. Asama already had the talisman out and was already 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, then, 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 a rare sensitivity syndrome…... hey!”

“W-What is it?”

Asama nodded with a yeah, 

“However, if it is like that then it won’t finish. Therefore, 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 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 my feet which Asama was rubbing,

“If I had to say, the fifth special Agent seems more like the type who does the 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 am not understanding? I am just not good with fast movements. Where it is that I should put the strength into?”

“Fifth Special Agent. If you put too much power in it will actually have the opposite effect and become slower, you know?”

“Jud, I am often told that by Naomasa, 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 sufficiently fast, is it not? Right, Adele.”

“Eh?”

There Adele gave a small reaction. Immediately following this she hurriedly,

“Eh, well --- um Jud, It’s sufficiently fast. Yeah.”

Covering for people to hide the reality was Adele’s thankful but poor part 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 Wallshingham’s War of the Roses, I ended up just being thrown around."

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

That is the reason which Mitotsudaira believes that is preventing her from becoming stronger.

The Fifth Special Agent being located in the fifth position was due to this reason.

She was made to realize this while in England.

When she first arrived in England, when inside the falling cargo ship she witnessed firsthand the speed of Futayo’s actions… It would seem that viewing my role as the power type would be best.

When working on the anti-Wallshingham training, against Naomasa’s throws her nerves were able to react, but her body could not keep pace.  "You are slow", is what Naosama clearly told her, that is why she remembered through experience rather than reacting and practiced until she was able to move though predicting. 

However, while massaging my calf Asama abruptly said the following. 

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

“I did inherit the blood of Loup-Garou after all. Frankly, my toughness is my greatest weapon. It is due 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 Mitotsudaira saying that as an introduction bitterly laughed.

“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,

“The Loup-Garou family lineage is quite Spartan. About that story related to the silver chain which has been the subject of rumor for a while now, the Fifth special Agent’s family lineage was a noted family in a high position during the hundred year war, was it not?”

“Mother does not talk about those types of things… She also does have quite an irresponsible personality, however…”

“However?”

Jud, Mitotsudaira nodded her head. This was something that she had heard via the net on Musashi,

“According to a Loup-Garou related thread, after the hundred year war, the Hexagone Française Loup-Garou apparently consisted of two groups, those who choose to live together with the human population, and those which returned to the forest and retained their man-eating tendencies. There the Loup-Garou Queen and the nobles returned to the forest, however they were eventually driven out….It also seems Reine de Garous lost her life a while ago.”

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

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

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

“The previous generation Reine de Garous who succeeded the line after the hundred year war, with the forest getting smaller and her companions disappearing apparently offered herself to someone who had come to hunt her. However you might say the Loup-Garou race declined, frankly. My mother as well had the characteristic of having her surroundings being wary of her; it was a species which has had trouble with intimacy with humans.”

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

“My mother’s family line, however, was possibly in a fairly well off position. Before she met my father I do not know where she lived, however, according to her stories the house she lived in was sort of a strange place, something out of a fairy tale, then there is also the silver chain. If she does not talk about the past… She might have been a close associate of Reine de Garous.”

It was a thought that she had formed several times. She sometimes thought how it would be good if she had been a member of the Reine de Garous family lineage. In the past this 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 the opportunity, I would like to hear the story from my mother, as well as the origin of silver chain, 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 the south of Hexagone Française which is a part of mother’s promise, the same holds true for Bizen IZUMO.”

That is why I have not descended on Hexagone Française or any of their territories you know, 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, saying that she was a child then, and now if it happened now she thought she would have not been done in 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 went 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, her surroundings were also piled up.

The issue where she had not received any communication from the Musashi knight alliance was still continuing. 

Then, at the time where she had finished that thought, a shadow appeared ascending the staircase.

Kimi? Is what she thought and looked,

“Oh? Everyone, is this where you were?”

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

… Ah.

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

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“Ah! Mito.”

Tenzou immediately understood the reasoning behind the crouched down Asama’s 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 her feet. He faintly understood the reasoning about why she had suddenly stood up. 

… It was because Mary was present.

At the moment, Mary who was lined up to the side was bowing her head towards everyone,

“Hello, good morning.”

“Good Morning Missus Mary.”

In a certain way, the mistranslation Adele returned was terrifying, however, reflected in Tenzou’s eyes was Mitotsudaira who chose to bow to lower her eye sight in greeting.

It was an inevitable issue.

Ever since Mary had transferred here, Tenzou thought that it was Mitotsudaira who was unable to properly grasp the proper distance. There was also the long-standings issue between England and Hexagone Française to consider.

There is also that they are 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 the 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…

“Whatever is the matter Tenzou-sama?”

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

That is right; Mary’s nod indicated this had no dark shadow.   

This was a trait she was certainly born with.

This had nothing to do with the position of royalty; however this was something that was not distorted even through persecution. 

However,

“………”

Mitotsudaira, while undergoing Asama’s treatment, remained standing with a downcast expression which could be seen as though she had been scolded.

Then, Asama unexpectedly directed her glance this 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, Tenzou-sama?” 

Taking a part time job at Asama’s family Shrine, Tenzou nodded his head vertically,

“Um, yes, I am fine now.”

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

She lightly turned back this way, lowering her head was the minimum amount of consideration. 

In response to her, who was seemed like she was going to descend the staircase, Asama went to say something, but stopped. 

Adele spoke,

“Will it be alright? I don’t think that all of the exhaustion has completely disappeared yet.”
Yeah, well, there was nothing to do except for Asama to falter. However, Mary waited until the figure of Mitotsudaira had completely disappeared from sight down the stairs before taking a step closer to my side. The thing she whispered happily was,

“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 which one should 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 something which one can be proud of you know?” 

I see, with 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 seems like it would be impossible to eventually be something to be proud of.

In any case, from the direction of the bottom of the staircase there was Kimi’s voice,

“Hahahaha, what are you doing slipping and falling onto your bottom 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 announcement of the time. Using the bell of the academy, the six a.m. announcement rang out.

The beginning of a day for Musashi.


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

''Toori'' 『Sis! Sis! Exactly what type of shape is IZUMO! As I thought because it is Shrine related they say it is where a deity resides and make it an erotic shape!? Maaraaaaaaa— !(sound effect)"』

''Kimi'' 『Hahaha private brother, stop imitating reproductive sounds. — Anyhow IZUMO is a floating island which floats at an altitude of 1000 meters; it is land that was originally on the earth side that was floated. From ancient times, the section which has become 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. That was how it was made.』

''Kimi'' 『This should about sum it up. If Musashi was in this diagram it would have the bow towards the bottom and anchored in a southerly direction . The central area is, in reality, something of an abandoned land, however, when doing individual countries corporation exhibitions or aircraft shows, and when an urgent emergency landing is necessary, this location is used.』  

''Toori'' 『Since it is 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?』

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