Editing Hyouketsu Kyoukai no Eden:Volume 5 Final Chapter (section)

===Part 2===

Governmental Sector, Building Four, Area 63′s break room.

“Our escorting ends today as well. It feels like it was long but short.”

“……Fun, well, that’s how it is.”

“You didn’t do anything other than sleep. I won’t let you sleep today.”

Kagura took up position on Vaiel’s sofa and, with his seat taken, Vaiel reluctantly sat down on a chair.

And. Monica who was standing still to the side of the room’s entrance lifted her head.

“It may be the last day but don’t let your guard down.”

“I ge─t it. This is the dangerous time, right?”

“There’s that too but……”

The female unit leader was being unusually bashful with a meek face.

“It’s our first mission. Rather than that nothing happened, I want to return to {{furigana|Tenketsu Palace|Sophia}} and proudly report that ‘we accomplished it’.”

“Roger that. These kinds of things are what’s cute about you, Monica.”

“Wha……Ka-Kagura! I’m saying this seriously, you know?”

She folded her arms in embarrassment then pulled up a chair somewhat roughly. Looking sidelong at those three, Sheltis let out a sigh that they wouldn’t notice.

──I’m glad.

Infiltrating the Governmental Sector’s central division and fighting the Holy Hall’s guardian.

He had been prepared for the inevitable ruckus today but the Governmental Sector’s office building was calm. It didn’t look like they were going to put an emergency halt to the conference to search for an intruder either.

“''Zeadoll, huh. There was a danger that he would come aboveground.''“

If he was seen together with Monica and the others, it would be obvious at a glance that he was also a Guard of {{furigana|Tenketsu Palace|Sophia}}. He’d also prepared for that worst-case scenario but……

“''It’s like he said yesterday. He only focuses on guarding the Holy Hall.''“

It didn’t matter who the intruder was. If he appears again, this time for sure ── he was undoubtedly waiting with that kind of vigor.

“''Now then, will you be able to let loose for today?''“

“No way, there’s a mountain of things to think about.”

The third organization.

He couldn’t imagine how many people there were or what they were like. At any rate, they were secretly operating in the shadows of {{furigana|Tenketsu Palace|Sophia}} and the Governmental Sector so they must be a really troublesome opponent.

“I wonder if there’s a way. A way to settle this all cleanly.”

“Mm?”

“Ahh, it’s nothing, just talking to myself.”

Having heard it with his sharp ears, Vaiel asked him to repeat himself and Sheltis frantically shook his head.

 

Governmental Sector, Building Two, Area 61′s waiting room.

“Yuragi-chan, you have circles again〰”

“Ah……you noticed?”

Having it pointed out by Ishtar, Yuragi pushed up her glasses with the bridge.

“Noticing or whatever, you didn’t try to hide it. You have the same amount of make-up on as usual. Does this mean you didn’t have enough time to hide it with make-up?”

“Yes.”

She nodded while curling her bangs around a finger.

“I took care of things after what happened last night. Lots of things happened on that end.”

“Fuun. But nothing conclusive was left behind, right?”

At that question, Yuragi wordlessly held up her card key.

She had lent it to Sheltis last night but the problem was that this card key had released the hidden elevator that led to the Holy Hall. If they checked the access logs for the elevator, it would be readily apparent whose card key had infiltrated the Holy Hall. Suspicion would fall upon her first and foremost.

……Though I was prepared for that from the beginning.

“I was taking care of this.”

“Ah, I see. ‘Entering‘ wasn’t a problem but it was bad for Yuragi-chan.”

It looked like she’d understood with just that as Ishtar smacked fist on her open palm.

“Please keep it a secret from Sheltis-sama.”

“Why?”

“His job is as an escort and taking care of the complicated matters is my role.”

“……Yuragi-chan’s really passionate about her job.”

With her eyes widened, Ishtar sighed a breath of admiration.

“Ara, Ishtar-sama is the same, no? I heard about it from Ymy-sama. You haven’t taken a real break these four days and have been getting by with simple preserved foods for meals.”

“No, no, that’s different. What Ishtar’s doing isn’t a job. It’s specially for this time.”

“Specially……is it?”

“It’s a personal grudge. I came here because I wanted a '''very personal distraction'''.”

With a full smile.

The Cadres Guard declared that looking like she was so happy she couldn’t stand it.

 

Govermental Sector, Building Two, Area 63′s ‘''Yuumei Space''‘. <ref>[T/N: 幽明 means pretty much dark and light. The first kanji is actually the first kanji from Yuugenshu. I left it here like this because 1) the meaning isn't clear right now and 2) the meaning is debated just a little past here.]</ref>

A chandelier with different colored gems hung from the ceiling. The carpet underfoot was a deep crimson that almost looked as if it was smoldering. Within the extremely spacious room were two very long desks with chairs lined up along them. Both of them were very dignified antiques. She’d also received an explanation saying that the large hall could be used for plays.

……Yuumei. Does that mean light and dark?

……Is holding the conference in this room also to clearly convey that?

“────”

Remembering the name of the large hall, Ymy’s eyes that were hidden from view lowered.

She had been terrified of when the topic of Sheltis intruding upon the Holy Hall was going to come up, but there didn’t seem to be any of that kind of harsh atmosphere.

……That’s a relief.

……But the essential conference hasn’t gotten anywhere.

Still, even Ymy didn’t think today’s conference would solve anything.

If the Yuugenshu breeding at the {{furigana|floating archipelago|Lagoon}} wasn’t connected to the Governmental Sector, then it’d be fine to make a compromise from {{furigana|Tenketsu Palace|Sophia}}’s side. It might become necessary to cooperate with the Governmental Sector to combat the third organization in Sheltis’ information. Then she just had to pray for a safe ending to the conference for the time being. Rather than a development, she hoped that there would be no new dispute.

“────”

The topic of the third organization could not be outed yet.

Because it was the testimony of Sheltis, Ymy wanted to believe in it, but it was still too flimsy from her position as a Priestess. Just the testimony of a single Cadet Guard and the vocal recording from {{furigana|machine crystal|Ilis}} was not enough. For {{furigana|Tenketsu Palace|Sophia}} to release information officially, they would have to perform a proper investigation.

……Ahh, how irritating.

……Even though I want to make the information public and get the Governmental Sector’s assistance in investigating the third organization.

In the middle of her seat in the large hall, Ymy sighed unbeknownst to the others.

Then.