Editing Hyouketsu Kyoukai no Eden:Volume 4 Chapter2 (section)

===Part 10===

The steep and hard slope of bedrock and the precipitous cliff just below it.

What made up their footing were countless rocks of varying size. From those the size of a palm to gigantic ones that surpassed an adult’s height, they were placed without consideration, forming an area that one could barely walk on.

“……The theme is a mountain, huh.”

He took a deep breath as he looked over the tall mountain field. Sitting down on a jutting out rock, Sheltis put away his dual swords into their holders.

───Unit battles, complete.

The time taken was twenty four minutes and seven seconds. It was victory by surrender of the enemy general. The battle’s conclusion wasn’t dangerous, but getting to it couldn’t be said to have been easy.

“Ah~ jeez, that’s why I’m asking you why you didn’t protect me! Where can you find a comrade who ditches the general! This time was really, really dangerous!?” <ref>[T/N: "General" and "me" are used interchangeably here. What I mean is "大将" (general) is the kanji and "わたし" (I/me) is the reading given for it.]</ref>

“You mean I’d shield you and take attacks? Don’t be stupid, I’d get hurt doing that.”

From a cliff a ways away came Kagura’s angry voice and opposite to that was Vaiel who was about to descend with an expression that showed that he thought it was a pain.

“I’m tired so I’m gonna sleep.”

“Eh, no, wait. This is where we go over the battle or have a meeting.”

“Do that between you fellow guards that get along well. See ya.”

The blond young man immediately descended the slope. Even if they went out of their way to invite him, it would just make it worse ─── having come to that conclusion, Sheltis sighed and watched him go.

“'''''It was a great effort.'''''“

“Is that sarcasm?”

“'''''Oh, how cruel. I meant it as positive encouragement.'''''“

{{furigana|Machine crystal|Ilis}} said nonchalantly.

“'''''You said it yourself, that there are a mountain of problems.'''''” <ref>[T/N: 課題は山積み means "the theme is a mountain" and "there are a mountain of problems".]</ref>

“……I guess.”

He put his elbows on his knees and propped his head up.

Sheltis was the solo suicide attacker at the far front lines. Monica who was at the center was stalled by one person and Kagura who was the general was chased around by the enemy’s pursuit from beginning to end.”

“Somehow……it felt like a dispersed battle.”

“'''''Victory had the highest priority this time so I don’t think you need to worry that much about it. Kagura also said it, that it would be fine even if you didn’t adapt immediately.'''''“

Unusually, {{furigana|machine crystal|Ilis}} also had a considerate tone.

───Which means it was that far away from ideal.

Result-wise, it was a victory by crushing the enemy unit’s general. However, that was a victory gained through solo conduct, it was not a victory made by combining the unit’s strength.

“What needs to be done is regarding the orders that will allow Monica and Kagura to best utilize their abilities. I understand what I need to do but it’s not working.”

He looked for a flat rock and lay down face-up. He reached up a hand towards the azure sky that was showing through a crack.

……Yeah, it’s really difficult.

While he was moving around in order to give them orders, he was also taking orders from them. That was the ideal and it was his duty to facilitate it in practice.

“'''''But in reality, the only one with the leeway to look around at his ally’s movements is you. For Monica who’s burdened with the duties of a unit leader, you have to support her burden in combat.'''''“

“Yeah. I tried just now and……yeah.”

If he paid too much attention to Monica and Kagura’s movements, he’d be distracted from his own and his movements would become dull. Making the unit’s cooperation and his personal strength coexist. He didn’t think it would be this difficult.

……This will be my assignment for a while, huh.

A cloud like cotton torn to pieces. He absentmindedly chased with his eyes it as it rode on the wind.

“Were you injured anywhere?”

A shadow cut across the middle of his vision.

“No, I’m thinking. The answer isn’t coming out at all.”

“……The instructor is calling. If you’re fine, please get up.”

Monica lightly brushed aside her sakura-colored bangs. He took her outstretched hand and she pointed down the slope.

“It seems we’re to gather at floor 269 of the tower……what about Vaiel?”

“He said he was tired and went back.”

“I thought so. Then let’s go by ourselves; Kagura also said she was going to organize her {{furigana|machine pearl|Machina}}’s recorded data and will catch up later.”

The slope formed from countless giant rocks. Sheltis followed after her as she jumped from boulder to boulder descending the slope.

……Floor 269 of {{furigana|Tenketsu Palace|Sophia}}?

The highest floor an ordinary guard could enter. It was an important floor for important meetings that included the Priestesses and Sennenshi. It was not a floor Cadet Guards like them used.

“That the instructor called us to that floor……did something happen?”

He muttered to answer himself and stared down the steep slope.