Editing Hyouketsu Kyoukai no Eden:Volume 5 Chapter1 (section)

===Part 4===

Gigantic clouds passed by as if flowing.

On the other side of the pressure-resistant glass, a scene of fluffy clouds spread out in his lower vision. Since he became unable to see the figure of the two thousand metre-tall {{furigana|Tenketsu Palace|Sophia}}, it had already been one hour.

“……Ohh. It’s amazing, Ilis, we passed the {{furigana|floating archipelago|Lagoon}} in an instant.”

Droplets of water clung to the glass.

Watching that out of the corner of his eye, Sheltis spoke to {{furigana|machine crystal|Ilis}} who hung at his chest.

“''We’re moving at the speed of sound, so we’re advancing at roughly four hundred metres a second.''“

“……Even if you say per second, it feels surreal.”

“''The distance from the  {{furigana|floating continent|Orbie Clar}} to the Governmental Sector’s {{furigana|floating archipelago|Lagoon}} is just under roughly two thousand kilometres. Amazing, isn’t it─, that we would arrive in about two hours. Figuratively speaking, doesn’t it feel less like ‘byu〰n!’ and more like ‘───hyunn’?''“

“……No, you don’t have to force the sound comparisons.”

Tap. He heard the sound of someone’s footfall.

“Ah, see, Sheltis is here.”

“This is the far end; what are you sitting here for?”

The girl wearing the machine helmet low over her eyes was in front with the girl whose sakura-colored hair was tied into one behind her.

“You don’t have to sit here at the far end; it’s all reserved so why don’t you sit more towards the center?”

“……Nah, well, it’s just such an impressive airship that I was kinda nervous.”

The midsection of the airship ── with Monica pointing back at where she came from, Sheltis shook his head slightly more than necessary.

The airship specifically for the use of the Priestesses.

Even though it was an airship of {{furigana|Tenketsu Palace|Sophia}}, there were various kinds ranging from the transportation ships that were for rent to those for the exclusive use of noble visitors, and the ship they were riding was of the largest of the passenger ships. The performance of the vehicle was a given and the interior furnishings were also of a luxurious design that would make one recall a room from a very high-class hotel. It was the first time he’d seen an airship with a chandelier shining in it.

“We’re already here so what’s the problem with looking around?”

Sitting in the chair opposite his, Monica wore a wry smile.

“But look, it seems like the seating locations have already been plainly laid out. The ship’s foremost seat is for the Priestess, the midsection is for the General Affairs Bureau Chief and his entourage while we’re at the far end.”

“……It might do some good if you were to learn a little from Vaiel’s strong-willed attitude.”

The one who told him that in an aloof manner and sat in the seat next to him was Kagura.

“Ah, come to think of it, what about Vaiel?”

“He’s been fast asleep since thirty minutes ago, and what’s more, he’s in the seat directly behind the Priestess-sama’s.”

“……You’re kiddiiing.”

Rather than saying he has no fear, it’s more like not being afraid of anything even on a mission like this is a kind of skill in itself.

“Kagura and I tried to rouse him but Cadres Guard Ishtar went ‘This person’s interesting〰’ and seemed quite pleased.”

“She exploded with laughter, didn’t she.”

Monica and Kagura nodded in agreement with their shoulders drooped.

“……It’s because you two don’t know Ishtar’s true character.”

“Eh?”

“Ah, no, just a little something. Rather, I was just talking to myself.”

He had intended to have it as a monologue but it seemed that Kagura had heard it with her excellent hearing.

“However, I wonder what we should do? Is that Cadres Guard that amazing of a person?”

“That person is……let’s see, well, I only heard the rumors when I was an apprentice Priestess but I never actually saw her fight in person.”

“Fumu. But her little sister, I’sa-san, holds such adoration for her──”

Kagura clicked her tongue and folded her arms at the argument presented. Her sight that was on the machine helmet’s eyeshield turned in his direction.

“Do you know, Sheltis?”

“No, I said I’d only met that person for the first time.”

“'''Didn’t you say that you’d heard it from the Sennenshi, Captain Leon?'''“

“…………”

Kagura replied nonchalantly.

……It’s fine if you only say what you heard from Leon, huh.

Mixing in the unspoken signal by Kagura, Sheltis’ inner self had a wry smile on.

“Is that so?”

“Just a little. ……Umm, let’s see. This is as much as I heard.”

Monica asked with a serious expression and he kept his calm as he replied.

“She was carrying a spear so I think you know already but she’s a spear user. I think it was an old style of martial arts. And that she’d advanced to the highest point of mastery in that art?”

“‘Pinnacle of the {{furigana|Exorcising Lance|Gillshuvesher}}’, isn’t it.” <ref>[T/N: Now this title given here is pretty ridiculous. It's "祓戈の到極者" which has five kanji in it with the meanings exorcise/purify, spear/weapon, arrive, pinnacle (highest) and person. It should probably have "One who has arrived at/achieved the ___" at the beginning, but that sounds pretty bad.]</ref>

Kagura’s {{furigana|machine pearl|Machina}} gave off a faint radiance.

“Her data is also more or less within {{furigana|machine pearl|Machina}}’s memory. Within {{furigana|Tenketsu Palace|Sophia}}’s registry, her name was updated, it seems. It’s ‘Gillshuvesher’ on the surface but there’s appended history to the name.”

“Ah……that, that. Well, she stood out in strength when she was a Regular Guard so she was investigated by the Priestesses and Sennenshi of that time at her unauthorized match.”

“That much?”

It was a given that Monica would lean forward. It was unthinkable that Priestesses and Sennenshi would appear at a Regular Guard’s unofficial, not to mention official, match.

“Yeah. To begin with, her spear skills aren’t lacking. She struck down three bullets from a machine gun’s high-speed fire with a spear and cut how many dozens of leaves that were falling into human shapes before they reached the ground. There are many stories like that.”

“That is……exaggerated, right?”

“No.”

He denied Monica’s mutter that she made with a half-dumbfounded face by shaking his head sideways.

“I think she can do those and even more. That’s why she is the Cadres Guard.”

“……What an absurd individual. If so”

Tap.

Monica reflexively swallowed what she was about to say at the sound of footsteps from the rear seats.

“U……umm, is it fine……if I interrupt?”

A circular tray and tea set with cups to match the amount of people.

The one holding that preciously was a girl in pure white vestments.

“Priestess-sama……?”

“''Oh my, Ymy, welcome. Come now, at your leisure.''“

Kagura had her mouth hanging half-open and {{furigana|machine crystal|Ilis}} was the same as always.

“R-really? Then I’ll pour tea immediately. I brought a variety with me.”

Setting down the tray on the central table, Ymy proceeded to line up a pot of hot water and numerous glass containers of tea leaves.

“Kagura-san, do you have a type of black tea that you prefer?”

“Heh?”

Kagura with her mouth half-open stiffened up.

“Umm, could I have you choose the tea you like?”

“We……well then……one without a strong scent.”

“Yes, then I’ll use this blend over here. Sheltis will have lemon grass with a spoonful of honey instead of sugar.”

Ymy who was making the preparations with experienced movements turned around with an unopened jar of jam in her hands.

“Say, Monica-senpai, you like the marmalade with the peel left in, right?”

“…………”

“Ah, jeez, senpai. I’ll make the decision if you don’t answer, you know? Senpai’s been fond of marmalade tea since before, I’ll decide on──”

“Wa-waaaaiiiit!”

Monica who had been patiently keeping her mouth shut and shaking on the side exploded.

“Eh? What’s wrong, senpai?”

“I-it’s not what’s wrong!”

She pointed at Ymy who was blinking in surprise with the jam container in her hand.

“Wh, wh-wh, what are you doing……what would you be doing here!” <ref>[T/N: It's the difference between いる and いらっしゃる which mean the same thing but the latter is more polite.]</ref>

“We’re on the same airship?”

“N-not that! Where is Cadres Guard Ishtar!?”

“She’s still looking at Vaiel-san’s sleeping face and laughing while holding her stomach.”

“…………”

“Monica-senpai,”

Ymy closed in with an exceptionally serious gaze.

“Please, I’d like you to say the truth. Senpai, do you hate me?”

“Wha……th-that……”

“But senpai, you’re always avoiding me──”

“You’re wrong!”

Ymy’s words were blown away by her ex-senpai’s shout.

“……I as well…………truly…………however……our positions are different now.”

Monica tightened her fist.

As if to draw blood, she continued while biting her lip.

“Ymy is now……a Priestess, a protector of the  {{furigana|floating continent|Orbie Clar}}. I am…………a subordinate. A Cadet Guard like me talking in a such a friendly manner with a Priestess……is not permitted.”

“But”

Ymy’s face that had drooped slightly rose up again.

“Monica-senpai is my most important benefactor. Who will not permit me to speak with that benefactor?”

“…………That is”

Monica was speechless with her head still downcast.

A strained atmosphere permeated that area and silence stood between those two like a wall──

“I think it’s fine though.”

“……Sheltis?”

The two girls that were standing still languorously raised their faces at the same time.

“Monica also said she’d like to get along, right.”

“B-but……a mere Cadet Guard acquainting with a Priestess-sama is a brazen act”

“That Priestess-sama is saying it’s fine, so there’s no problem.”

Kagura said as she held the {{furigana|machine pearl|Machina}}.

“I also agree with Sheltis. The side that approached first was the Priestess-sama, you know? That is unmistakably the popularity that you have cultivated until now. It’s fine if you bask in it.”

“…………”

Ymy advanced step by step towards the unit captain who was listening keenly.

“Senpai……I’m truly happy to be able to be together with senpai like this again……that’s why I ask you, let’s get along like long ago.”

“……Really”

“Eh?”

Before Ymy replied with a question, Monica’s hand reached out to Ymy’s bangs.

“……Really, what a troublesome kouhai.”

She strongly rubbed her kouhai’s hair.

“You became a Priestess and I thought you’d become outstanding, so don’t trouble me so much.”

Fuu ── she sighed deeply while lowering her shoulders.

“Th-then, senpai!”

“Marmalade is fine but I’ve been having milk tea lately.”

“Ah……y-yes! I can also prepare milk tea quickly!”

Monica smiled wryly as Ymy made her preparations in great haste.

He looked on at those two from behind.

“We should change seats. They probably have things they’d like to discuss alone.”

“I would say.”

Sheltis and Kagura looked at each other and exchanged nods.

“''They’ve made up. But really, peoples’ emotions are complicated and a pain.''“

“That just now was a little special.”

He smiled wryly in response to {{furigana|machine crystal|Ilis}} whose tone was meek.

“But with this, we’ve also gained the strongest personal connection called the Priestess-sama. As reliable as it is.”

“……I can’t guarantee the reliability though.”

“Fumu. By the way, Sheltis, may I ask one thing?”

Sitting in a seat further away, Kagura pointed at Monica and Ymy behind her.

“What about them again?”

“That time when the Priestess-sama was preparing our black tea. Why did Ymy-sama know your preference in black tea?”

“…………”

“How about it?”

“……She definitely heard it from Leon.”

“''……I also have a feeling it may or may not be that.''“

At any rate, he brought up his old friend’s name here and Sheltis averted his face quite openly.

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