Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 9 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 9===
 
Two girls had looked up when the jet-black dragon rammed into the tower of Babel.
 
They were told to give priority to their recovery, and asked to secure an escape route -- Doumoto Kuzuha and Izumi Chikage.
 
"-!"
 
Thick white smoke billowed out from the terrific crash.
 
When the saw that their faces turned grim, and were suddenly bewildered.
 
The impact site was around near were the elevators were.
 
That just now was probably an attack aimed at Akatsuki. Although they only saw it for an instant, the color was different, but somehow its figure resembled Zahhak they fought in the recent ranking tournament.
 
They normally would have thought that it was Hikami Kyouya's doing, but after finding out about Kaidou there was also a possibility that it was Crimson Twilight.
 
Akatsuki's strength goes without saying, and Listy wasn't weak herself.
 
Therefore, the two reasoned, and believed it was for the best if continued with their task.
 
However, their feelings helplessly laid in the other direction.
 
"...... K-Kuzuha!"
 
"I know.......but."
 
Chikage couldn't endure and raised her voice, Kuzuha saw that mournful look and chewed her lips.
 
Kuzuha understood what Chikage was feeling, because she herself felt the same way.
 
She wanted to go, and wished she could run over to Akatsuki and Listy's side. Both of them had recovered their strength, and should be able to help them in some way. The feelings of wanting to run out even right now, were helplessly boiling over. But,
 
"Its no good... ... We have a duty left to us by Ousawa-kun."
 
Sine they themselves took on it, they should not move.
 
Therefore, they pushed aside the pain in their hearts, and decided to stay when -- Kuzuha and Chikage heard something like a piercing mechanical sound approaching from far off in the sky.
 
"That is ......?"
 
Instinctively they looked up, and simultaneously a black shadow raced across the night sky at an alarming speed. It was not a dragon. Kuzuha and Chikage could barely make it out.
 
"A Fighter......? How could --"
 
Chikage's whispering, reached the similarly dazed Kuzuha's ears.
 
It was not surprising Chikage had such a reaction.
 
The most Babel or the "security force" could employ were combat helicopters. On the whole special autonomous region there were no fighter jets.
 
-- The air defense of the special region was covered under the tower of Babel's defense system.
 
Due to the Babel tower height dominance, in addition the whole artificial island, protection the coastal waters were not a problem. In short, in order to defend the special autonomous region from foreign invaders military planes were unnecessary. However at the moment -- the system was undergoing a comprehensive update, and the defense was not properly functioning. Because of that, it would be possible for the air force to move in early, and end Kyouya's plans,
 
"No way, is the Japanese government taking military action......?"
 
Kuzuha said in a tone that sounded like she could not believe it.
 
"----?"
 
Then before she could say anything else, Kuzuha pressed both her hands to the ground.
 
At once, a rock wall emerged from the ground to protect Chikage and herself.
 
Immediately after -- countless bullets hit the rock wall.
 
Chikage turned and pressed her back against the wall,
 
"Uwaa... ... Is this actually a surprise attack with conventional weapons? Then, does this mean it's not security force, either."
 
"Yes. Hikami Kyouya probably already ordered the security force to stand down ahead of time. Even if the security force understood that he was going to rebel, the security force wouldn't have the authority or courage to disobey his instructions."
 
Kuzuha answered and,
 
"That's why this must be the Japanese government action... ... Perhaps, even secretly sent a marine corps to infiltrate the artificial island."
 
"...... It can't be that the Japanese government sided with Hikami Kyouya?"
 
"No, the probability of that is low. From what Ousawa-kun and Haruka said Hikami Kyouya had already double crossed them... ... And if the government allied with him, not to mention COCOON, it would likely turn Japan into enemies to the world."
 
"If their goal isn't to attack us, then --"
 
"-- They should be here for Hikami Kyouya. With him going out of control, Japan may be in danger of losing support for hosting a tower of Babel. The intention of the government's hostility is probably to openly declare him as a traitor ahead of time, and earn some points with COCOON."
 
"However, that doesn't mean they had to take it to this level. Shouldn't of there been more appropriate ways?"
 
And Chikage said,
 
"The special autonomous region is actually managed by COCOON. Moreover, even though he ended up betraying them, wasn't he a member?  Though the current situation is bad, it exceeds anything the Japanese Government is capable of handling. Wouldn't an official statement of their intent been better, and let COCOON take control of this terrible mess?"
 
"Yeah... ... Maybe there are unknown reasons to it."
 
To Chikage's words, Kuzuha agreed.
 
"To the extant -- the Japanese government had to take military action."
 
Until something more was uncovered, it would be impossible to guess on their own,
 
"...... So then, what should we do now?"
 
And Chikage said with a pained expression,
 
"Akatsuki asked us to secure an escape route, but......"
 
"I want to avoid fighting with the Japanese military as much as we can. If not...... they will also regarded us as Hikami Kyouya's accomplices, and seen as betraying the world."
 
Kuzuha had calmly analyzed the situation and,
 
"Even if we have no intention fight them, they most likely wont listen to a word we say and -- one-sidedly label us villains which we could never overturn."
 
"Still even without the title as villains, just trying to challenge Kyouya, no matter the goodwill, will be a hindrance to the Japanese government who are trying to be the heroes... ... Our standpoint in the future will already be tough."
 
And Chikage wryly smiled,
 
"Ah well -- Akatsuki appears to not mind turning the world against him."
 
"You're right......"
 
And Kuzuha also exposed a bittersweet smile,
 
"Nevertheless...... we should avoid having that happen. For what we all want to achieve after this, more than anything, I don't want to have this trivial matter to hinder Ousawa-kun and the others... ...And if you and I fought here, it will do nothing but antagonize the whole world."
 
"...... Yeah."
 
Chikage nodded and,
 
"Then the safest way would be to get them to voluntarily withdraw, or incapacitate them without damaging anyone."
 
"On that point, do you somehow have a way? With your water magic before you were able to send oxygen into their bodies without going through the lungs during the decisive battle in Alayzard."
 
"Increasing the oxygen concentration in the air to impair their thinking wouldn't be that complicated, but if the other side uses any kind of fire magic it could lead to an explosion... ... but that said, it seems like a good idea."
 
Just as Chikage sighed feeling relieved, the endless gunfire suddenly stopped.
 
"...... Huh? Can it possibly mean that there giving up?"
 
Chikage peeped her head out from around the rock wall and,
 
"-? What did they put masks -- AH!?"
 
The same time she gasped, it came.
 
Over they top of the rock wall Kuzuha created countless gas grenades rained down.
 
It was possible to easily blow away the gas with wind magic, unfortunately Kuzuha was an earth magic user, while Chikage was water. But,
 
"Kuzuha, come here quickly!"
 
Still Chikage promptly and correctly made a decision.
 
In an instant she invoked the magic that was just mentioned, creating a sphere 'un-drownable water' around Kuzuha and herself to shield them against the poison gas.
 
The gas was most likely just tear gas, but there was a possibly of it being something lethal.
 
Therefore Chikage had no choice but use this method. However,
 
『Damn... ... I can't see anything.』
 
Chikage bitterly spat out, while in the water that was possible to breath. Although they didn't suffer the effect of the gas, it nonetheless filled the air, leaving almost no visibility at all.
 
『From how they acted so far...... it seems that they are going to really use any-means to achieve their goal.』
 
Naturally, conventional weapons wouldn't have much effect on Chikage's protective barrier. However, because nothing could made out though the gas filled air, they could only sit helplessly as the enemy advanced.
 
Kuzuha thought one way would be use her magic to make a wall tall enough that they couldn't get over, but,
 
...... If my magic interferes with Chikage's......
 
In case Chikage's protective barrier breaks the two would be poisoned by the gas.
 
『............』
 
Kuzuha chewed her lip vexed.
 
Even though Akatsuki entrusted a role to her, she never imagined she would fail to live up to his expectations -- the moment she was thinking so.
 
While submerged in the water, Kuzuha heard the wind breaking apart.
 
A devastating blast wave came in from the side.
 
Doumoto Kuzuha saw the spectacle of all the gas in the area, and the Japanese marines being completely swept away.
 
『Who on earth......?』
 
Kuzuha gaze drift towards the direction the blast came from to see a man slowly walking at a leisurely pace. He was a giant with a grumpy face. His height was greater than Akatsuki's by a lot, and he had a sturdy body that was almost twice Akatsuki's circumference wrapped in work clothes. In his hand was an unprecedented gigantic spear.
 
Both Kuzuha and Chikage knew the man's name.
 
In fact, in JPN-Babel you probably wouldn't find anybody who didn't know that man.
 
His fame was greater than Akatsuki -- to the degree his name recognition was on a par with a COCOON like Kyouya.
 
One of the most important figures of Babel -- Kubota Kaito
 
"...... You okay?"
 
Kubota came over to their side, and asked only without much emotion.
 
"Y-Yes.. ... You saved us Professor Kubota."
 
Kubota didn't have a mask, so Chikage judged that there was no more threat of the gas undoing her magic to bow and thank him. Then,
 
"Is that so......"
 
Kubota said only that much, before looking up at the night sky seemingly displeased.
 
What in the world -- the moment Kuzuha was thinking so.
 
"--------"
 
Kuboto remained silent as he waved the spear.
 
And immediately the sound of an explosion sound reverberated from far away in the night sky.
 
"Eh--!?"
 
Kuzuha cried out in surprise. Although she did not know what actually had happened,
 
...... No doubt about it.......
 
Just now -- Kubota had split the Japanese fighter in half that was flying at supersonic speed, moreover he did it from the ground by only thrusting his spear.
 
"Unbelievable......"
 
Stunned Chikage had muttered, but Kubota's face had no change,
 
"-- It is not over."
 
Although it was a short sentence, Kuzuha and Chikage immediately understand its meaning.
 
From the opposite direction than before marine reinforcements appeared, and several suspected armed helicopter shadows were moving in from the distant horizon.
 
Then,
 
"Boss, reinforcements are inbound."
 
A young man suddenly appeared wearing similar clothes, it looks as if he was Kubota's assistant.
 
On his shoulder was a huge cooler like box that he lowered.
 
"It sees it. The ground troops I leave to you -- I will deal with the helicopters."
 
"Acknowledged. Well, its been a long time since I put my skills to use."
 
Seeing the two naturally prepare to intercept,
 
"W-Wait a minute!"
 
Chikage couldn't help but raise her voice, her heart full of misgivings. But,
 
"...... Do you know how?"
 
"Of course, Boss."
 
[[File:HYnA vol 09 009.jpg|thumbnail]]
 
Kubota and the assistant completely disregard Chikage.
 
"Whoever dares to run wild without the latest cutting edge weapons in a scientist's domain is just asking to be beat to death."
 
The assistant smirked, while opening the cooler he placed on the ground, and taking out the device inside. It was divided into several parts, and after setting up the complex structure. something like a machine gun appeared.
 
However the assistant did not load any bullets, and just took the device directly in his arms.
 
After that he turned the knob of the side while taking aim.
 
"Now......prepare for your beating."
 
As he said so, he pulled the trigger without hesitation.
 
The device fired, but no bullets came out instead a thin red line.
 
It was a laser, and as soon as it hit the ground beneath the soldiers an intense explosion erupted. And once again the marines were blown away.
 
"Boss, I'm going to find if there are anymore."
 
After witnessing the deep explosion, the assistant excitedly called out while running towards the direction the thick smoke sprung up from.
 
"............"
 
Kubota also started walking off to the south in the direction the helicopters were flying,
 
"-- Please wait."
 
The petite Kuzuha called out to Kubota who suddenly stopped.
 
"Professor Kubota...... I have have a question I want to ask you."
 
And faced with the overlooking giant Doumoto Kuzuha asked,
 
"If it's you, you should be very aware of the current situation. And now, you showed up here."
 
So,
 
"Are you and your assistant working with Hikami Kyouya?"
 
Kuzuha wanted to confirm if the man in front of her was a friend or enemy.
 
He was the tower of Babel's leading scientist, and his achievements weren't only limited to the JPN-Babel. Such things as ADs and the special barrier that converts physical damage to mental damage were used at every tower of Babel around the world. So to speak, he was the father of the Babel school system.
 
According to common sense, Kubota was the researcher whom managed different world technology for COCOON. So it would be difficult to imagine he would ally with Kyouya to betray them.
 
-- But, the possibility could not be said to be zero.
 
Kuzuha certainly felt grateful to Kubota for helping them out of that dangerous spot.
 
Still, if he said he was working with Kyouya,
 
......At that time.
 
To Kuzuha who had tightened her fists all the while looking up, Kubota unhurriedly replied.
 
"No... ... I am not Hikami's comrade, however neither am I Ousawa Akatsuki's."
 
Kubota paused and,
 
"I do not intend to obstruct you -- and naturally don't have the idea to lend you a hand. It is that group of Japanese military outsiders that selfishly took the opportunity to stir up trouble, I cannot forgive."
 
"So, that's the reason you saved us just now......"
 
Chikage said as she understood.
 
"-- I have answered. Then, we should be good."
 
Kubota curtly declared, and once again begin to walk away,
 
"No...... there is one more thing."
 
However, Kuzuha called him to stop and,
 
"Since you guys aren't Hikami Kyouya allies -- there is something I should tell you."
 
And Doumoto Kuzuha began to convey the information.
 
The words that Ousawa Akatsuki whispered into her ear before he went off with Listy.


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