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

===Part 5===

[[image:Eden04_075.jpg|thumb]]
They changed locations to a shaded water supply area───

"......Well, sorry."

Unable to withstand the silent pressure, Sheltis submissively apologized.

───Though the truth is there was a reason.

He thought the question the instructor asked there was also a part of the screening test. If they gave a weak-sounding response there, they'd be targeted for a failing grade. Fearing that, he had answered more quickly than anyone else but it had backfired.

"It has already happened, so it can't be helped."

Monica waved her hand at the base of her neck.

A slight feverishness tinged her snow-white nape. Her skin's pigments were probably faint to begin with. That appearance made one naturally feel that it was sweet and amorous.

"At any rate, let's clear the second screening as well. Two hours later......I heard that it will be a unit battle."

Monica was regathering her hair into one lock when her expression stiffened.

"It's a four-person battle, so we'll need Vaiel to participate as well."

"Haa?"

The person in question who was sprawled on the bench said crossly,

"Hey, hey, hey, hey, don't joke around. This is different; I said I'd go on the mission, but I didn't hear anything about participating in this farce of a unit battle."

"But───"

"Well now, Vaiel, how about this."

Interrupting Monica, Kagura took a step forward in her place.

"You don't have to do anything other than come out just to fulfill the number requirement. If you're at the very back of the formation, then there will be no reason for the opponent to attack you."

"You mean the rear guard?"

"Yes. Otherwise, I suppose I'll leak that secret to everyone."

"H-hey! You......"

Perhaps it was a really hazardous secret as Vaiel's face immediately went pale.

"How about it?"

"......Damn it, but I'm only being the rear guard. Even if you make a mistake, I'm not moving up front."

"Of course."

Understanding the meaning of his words, Kagura smiled.

"Sheesh. This is the worst, why did I have to meet these kinds of people today."

Vaiel turned around while cursing. Monica chased after him.

"Hey, Vaiel, where are you going?"

"Ahh? I'm just going to get my weapon. Should I go out completely unarmed? I haven't used it lately, so it hasn't even been maintained."

He shrugged without looking back. With his formal clothes draped over his shoulder, he was without a single weapon just as he'd said.

"B-but independent movement is......"

"'''Do you not trust a single word your comrade says?'''"

"!"

This time it was Monica's turn to fall silent.

"......Understood. After your weapon's maintenance is complete, please meet us at the southern desert field."

"I'm not a brat. I at least remember the location."

"......We'll be gathering in an hour and a half."

"You're persistent, '''I said I'll keep my promise'''."

Leaving behind his words in a tone that sounded neither like a lie nor a truth, the young man lazily walked away. They became unable to see that well-built back.

"......He got me."

Monica smiled bitterly with complex emotions on her face.

"I couldn't retort with anything for a moment there. ......That's right, he's also our comrade right now. Then I must believe that he will come on time."

It was truly risky. If Vaiel didn't have the intention of keeping his promise or his weapon's maintenance wasn't finished in time, they would be short of people for the unit battle and lose by default.

"He will come."

But as if to dispel that insecurity, Kagura lightly nodded.

"......Aren't you quite trusting of him?"

"Yes. Sheltis, you also heard. He said that he would keep his promise."

However, it couldn't be helped that he would become even more interested. The [secret] that had been used in the negotiations with Vaiel was the only thing that hadn’t been told to Sheltis and Monica.

“Say, Kagura, is the secret that you say you ‘'''''will reveal'''''‘ really amazing of a secret?”

“No, it is absolutely nothing major.”

“Eh?”

“It’s nothing major, but it has great importance for him.”

……What does that mean?

But even with him and Monica asking her, Kagura didn’t tell them.

“Rather than that, we’re having a strategy meeting. First is the formation───”