Editing Hyouketsu Kyoukai no Eden:Volume 6 Chapter2 (section)

===Part 7===

Floor 287 of the tower. Having followed Ymy, what awaited Sheltis outside the elevator was the Priestess floor belonging to Ymy.

“Sheltis……since I became a Priestess, there were four people that required purification and were carried over. Do you remember that?”

“Since I just heard it not too long ago.”

It was something pertaining to others like him who were afflicted with mateki so there was no way he could forget.

“Then do you also remember their symptoms?”

“Eh? Ahh, umm, they were people that were under mind control and unconscious, and”

There was a patient that had necrosis occur due to the decaying effect of mateki. There was also a patient who had his or her blood color change because of the deadly poisonous effects of mateki. Both had left behind a bloodstain in the purification room.

“Ah, but……that doesn’t match the number.”

There were four altogether that had been brought before Ymy. One of them had mind control, one had necrosis and one had deadly poison. That was a total of three people. Then what about the last one?

“There’s still one more person……there’s a child whose mateki I couldn’t purify.”

At the windowsill of the giant stained glass.

Placing her delicate hand upon the silver window frame, the Priestess turned towards him.

“He is in a coma. There is no pain or bleeding. That child who won’t wake no matter what anybody does is sleeping in the hospital within this tower. My shinryoku is probably……no, it should definitely be strong. However, that mateki’s propagation speed is fast……for example, even if an entire division is purified, the remaining parts will replace it in that time.”

“''Think of it as an extremely hardy weed. Even if you cut the leafy part, as long as the roots remain underground, it’ll grow again, right? It’s the same as that.''“

“……That kind of mateki.”

He had faced countless Yuugenshu during his time as an Elite Guard but he had never seen mateki like that.

“Then that’s even more reason. Even if you say you failed the purification, it’s the first time I’ve heard of mateki like that too so even for Priestesses, there’s no way they would be able to immediately respond to it.”

“But Sheltis, it’s because they understand that that there are people who can’t forgive Ymy. For example, friends of the one in a coma because of that mateki.”

“Friends?”

“……Priestess Viola and her younger sister, Horn, were raised together with many children in an orphanage in the Third Living District.”

Ymy was looking at something from beside the window.

That was the direction of the Third Living District which was the furthest from the tower.

“They left the orphanage and became a Priestess and Sennenshi and I’ve heard from Viola that they’d like to return the favor to the orphanage that raised them. They keep the bare minimum to live and give the entirety of their wages to the orphanage.”

“……That Horn is?”

When he was an Elite Guard and before that, Sheltis had never been in a unit with Horn.

However he had heard about her outstanding ability and ruthless disposition that forsook others. To think, she could do that for somebody she didn’t know?

“It seems that for Viola and Horn who were raised in an orphanage, those that receive the same treatment are the same as family to them. There’s no way they could stay calm when their family is afflicted by the Yuugenshu’s mateki……and the direction of that anger turned towards Ymy who couldn’t purify that mateki.”

“Horn-san is already disgusted that it’s impossible for me though.”

Ymy showed a dry self-deprecating smile.

“‘''That’s enough, I’ll do it. I’ll find that Yuugenshu and defeat it. When it’s defeated, Tessha’s mateki should be dispelled and this will all be resolved.''‘ That’s why Horn-san goes out to patrol of her own accord……even though policing the Biotope is a job nobody really wants to do.”

───Ahh, I see.

He finally understood why Ymy had wanted to try purifying his mateki.

“It sounds like Horn has returned. Eyriey said she saw her at the Living Districts.”

“……Yeah.”

The child named Tessha who was stuck in an endless coma.

She had been reminded of something because Horn, who was equivalent to family for that child, had returned to the tower. She had been reminded of the mateki of the {{furigana|Garden of Corrupted Song|Eden}} which resided within her childhood friend’s body and could not be purified by the Priestesses, just like that child.

……That child and I are overlapping within Ymy.

……So that’s why she couldn’t do nothing.

There were people whose mateki hadn’t been purified. She felt only guilt because of that and thought that she must at least try purifying Sheltis’ mateki.

“So the reason you were running late for the meeting yesterday really was Priestess training?”

“I just had them extend it as long as possible. Yours is also dangerous, but that child’s mateki is really dangerous. Horn-san says……she’ll defeat the Yuugenshu that caused this but that’s worrisome. I think it’s for the best that a Priestess purify it.”

“Mm? It’s not good to defeat it?”

The child named Tessha had fallen into a comatose state after being afflicted with mateki. If the Priestesses couldn’t purify it, wouldn’t it be fine if the main body of the mateki was defeated?

“''If the Yuugenshu is defeated, the mateki will disappear ── that is true in the majority of cases. But the death agony of a powerful Yuugenshu’s mateki is strong. There are types where if the main body is defeated, their mateki will run out of control.''“

“We Priestesses call that ‘''delayed sin type''‘ mateki. ‘''S vector, eighth class''‘……that’s the common name of the Yuugenshu that Horn-san is chasing after but if it’s a delayed sin type, then far from being cured, she’ll get worse……we also have to consider the effects it’ll have on her life.”

Delayed sin type mateki.

It was a rare mateki that Sheltis had only heard once or twice. If he hadn’t heard the explanation from Ymy just now, he would’ve even forgotten it existed.

“……So there is that. But shouldn’t Horn know about that?”

“Yeah. But she thinks that’s the only option left.”

Betting on the chance that it wasn’t a delayed sin type, she would search for the S vector, eighth class hiding somewhere on this gigantic {{furigana|floating continent|Orbie Clar}}. It was an outrageous mortification like trying to find grains of salt in a desert.

“But if time passes, Ymy──”

You should continue to grow as you accumulate more experience and training: just before he said that.

Clack, ck……cla……

Footsteps resounded from the elevator and the emergency stairs at the same time. The owners of the footsteps came across each other at the passage’s intersection and came to a stop.

“A Cadet Guard?”

“Ahh……g-good morning, Captain Horn!”

In contrast to the stifled voice was a voice shaking with nervousness.

……This voice is Monica?

……And somebody else; could it be the person Monica’s talking to is her?

“What business does a Cadet Guard have on a Priestess’ floor?”

“R-Right. I have a report regarding the expedition to the Governmental Sector we traveled together on.”

“……The Governmental Sector?”

With those few words.

Something sharp was mixed into her voice.

“You just spoke of the Governmental Sector. The one who accompanied Ymy Ele Soufflenictole to the Governmental Sector was you?”

“That ri…………!”

Monica’s voice paused. At the same time, it felt like she gulped. At the same time came the sound of a horribly shaky breath taken with anguish.

──What happened?

“Monica-senpai!?”

She who probably had the same thoughts as Ymy, clothed in her vestments, ran towards the intersection.

“''Sheltis.''“

“I know.”

He ran down the corridor after Ymy and the two turned to the passage that continued on towards the intersection.

What laid before them there was ── in the center of the intersection, Monica had the barrel of a revolving handgun pressed up against her brow. <ref>[T/N: I get the feeling this is called a revolver but whatever.]</ref>

“You can’t even react to something of this level. To think that a Cadet Guard of this caliber would be chosen as an escort to the Governmental Sector.”

“M-My apologies. It was……so sudden.”

“Sudden? So you would say ‘''because it was sudden''‘ when attacked by a Yuugenshu.”

“…………No.”

“This is a level that can’t even be discussed. In the end, {{furigana|Tenketsu Palace|Sophia}}’s Guards are just a gathering of riffraff.”

Monica was downcast as she stayed silent. In contrast, Horn returned the handgun to the holder at her waist and sighed with disgust.

“Horn-san!?……What……are you doing!”

At the same time Ymy’s footsteps rang out as she approached, the blinder-wearing Sennenshi turned to her.

“Ymy Ele Soufflenictole.”

“You’re comrades of this tower, aren’t you!? Even so, you stuck a handgun up to her……what are you trying to do!”

“Comrade?”

The Sennenshi’s voice became even more of a sneer with Ymy closing in on her with an angry look.

“It would fine if she was at least helpful in odd jobs, but this kind of hindrance isn’t fit to be called a comrade. The Sennenshi, a portion of the Elite Guards and about a third of the apprentice Priestesses are passable. They have their uses. It’s fine if the rest just maintain weapons in the corner at best.”

“……Are you seriously saying that?”

“Seriously? You want me to say that I’d entrust my back to useless Guards? Then first, shall we try having a Priestess pick a Cadet Guard that’s not her Sennenshi as a partner?”

Facing Ymy who was standing there dumbfounded, the tall gunner drew one step closer.

“Good timing; there’s something I wanted to say to you.”

“……What is it?”

The two were basically glaring at each other.

“It looks like you went to the Governmental Sector.”

“……Is there something about that?”

“Hah! Aren’t you being easygoing, going on a sightseeing trip without doing your Priestess training?”

“We had a goal. It was not a trip.”

“Then you have some definite achievements.”

“That……was not what the meeting this time was about, it was about the aforementioned──”

“The case with the attack by some third organization or something? I heard you let the ringleader boldly run away just before catching him.”

Ymy bit her bottom lip.

“In the first place, you──”

“Hold it.”

Interrupting Horn’s words, Sheltis stood between her and Ymy.

“It’s not good for there to be discord between Priestesses and Sennenshi. I’ve been listening until now but only you have a provocative tone.”

Their lines of sight were at about the same height.

Looking on at her directly, the blinder-wearing woman wrinkled her brow.

“I was wondering who it was, but another Cadet Guard? Small fry, who are you mouthing──”

“Do you always speak like that?”

“……Always?”

“I can’t understand how you deal with the Priestesses who are your colleagues and that Cadet Guard you placed a gun to with that hostility when you’re all comrades of the same tower. Do you approach somebody dear to you with that tone too?”

“──”

With the same brazenly expressionless face, Horn’s mouth tightened into a line for just an instant.

“What an audacious Cadet Guard. Protecting a Priestess, it’s almost like you’re under the delusion that you’re a Sennenshi?”

“I simply stated what I thought. I wouldn’t like there to be discord between a Priestess and Sennenshi.”

“……Discord? Who would be friendly with a Priestess that can’t even save a single child──”

 

“Horn? You should stop right around there.”

 

The elevator’s bell dinged at the same time a woman’s voice was heard.

There stood a petite woman wearing a simple vestment consisting of a single piece of cloth.

“……Elder sister.” <ref>[T/N: The variation of "elder sister" she uses here is "ane-ue". If you'd like it in the original form from now on, comment below.]</ref>

The Sennenshi turned around nervously.

“Horn, I heard that Ymy-san is tired from continuous training. I don’t know what you want to say but put an end to it already.”

“……But elder sister!”

“The barrier transfer ceremony is approaching. The Queen will be able to complete her mission with the barrier and take three days of rest while the Priestesses support the barrier in her stead, you know?”

──Everything was contrasting.

Viola was not shaken no matter how much her younger sister strengthened her tone. Oh so quietly, her words permeated like waves upon water’s surface.

“This time Syun-rei is in charge of it but even the Priestesses need to make preparations to make up for being shorthanded. Horn, do you intend to prevent Ymy-san from making those preparations?”

“…………”

“Now, go back. We will not stay within the tower for long. We will be dropping by the orphanage as always tomorrow, right?”

“…………Understood.”

With a momentary sigh, Horn’s heel struck the floor. Without a word, she started to turn to leave──

“Horn, what do you do when turning your back on someone?”

“……I’ll be excusing myself.”

The Sennenshi spat that out like a curse and left. Viola watched her disappear towards the elevator with a stern expression and then exhaled in an adorable manner.

“Fuu. I’m sorry, Ymy-san. You two there as well, did Horn perhaps say something rude?”

“Eh……n-no! I-I-I-I’m fine!”

Monica denied it in a great fluster when the conversation suddenly turned to her.

“Is that so? If she did, tell me and I’ll have a word with her. ……Well then, I’ll be excusing myself because I have training in the tower to undergo for the first time in a long while.”

The third Priestess bowed deeply.

Watching her as she left with small steps befitting her short stature, Sheltis muttered with a sigh.

“They really are a contrasting pair of sisters.”

The older sister would fix whatever was complicated by the younger sister who didn’t trust people. The younger sister understood that as well so her older sister was the only one that she couldn’t oppose.

“……It’s been like that since long ago. Viola’s so wonderful and mature.”

Maybe she’d been really nervous. Ymy drooped her stiffened shoulders, placed a hand to her chest and took repeated deep breaths.

“Monica-senpai as well, are you okay? Suddenly having a gun pressed up to you.”

“Ahh……that really did surprise me but it’s not like I was actually shot.”

Rubbing her brow that had the gun pressed against it, Monica smiled wryly.

“By the way, Sheltis, why are you on the Priestess’ floor?”

“Ah……“

“''Oh boy.''”

{{furigana|Machine crystal|Ilis}} and Ymy both exclaimed at the same time.

“Did something happen?”

“N-No, see. U-U─mm……see, you said it as well. There was something to report about the Governmental Sector mission.”

……There’s no way I could talk about the real matter.

He couldn’t say that he’d come to have his mateki purified. That he and Ymy were childhood friends……was a truth only known to a handful of people so it wasn’t something to be loose-lipped about.

“You too, Monica, what’s up?”

“Me? I……well, it’s about the same as yours.”

Oh, that’s unexpected. Just when I thought she’d answer concisely, her answer’s lacking the usual clarity.

“R-Rather than that, Ymy.”

“Yes?”

Ymy stared in wonder and inquired in response. Looking at her from the corner of her eyes, she who had been Ymy’s senpai when she was an apprentice Priestess cleared her throat for some reason.

“W-Well……during the meeting, I heard from Cadres Guard Ishtar that your training was taking an unusually long time. Y-You know? I used to be an apprentice Priestess as well so it caught my interest.”

“''Haha─n, I’ve figured it out.''“

{{furigana|Machine crystal|Ilis}} sparkled.

“''So the senpai who’s prone to worrying was worried about whether her cute kouhai was doing well and came to take a look.''“

“Ohh, so that’s what it is, Monica. You’re good at looking after people as always.”

“Wha……! Y-You’re wrong, Sheltis! What I had to say was just an extra in the end.”

“''Again with that. Ah, your heart rate just shot up all at once?''“

“Kuu!? But I──”

“Monica-senpai!”

Monica was trying to take a step backwards when she was caught by Ymy whose eyes were shining.

“Senpai, is that true? You were worried about me?”

“N-No……well……you know, it’s a given that a Guard worries about a Priestess.”

The unit leader was mumbling her words.

……Well, it looks like this will end without me needing to think up a reason for why Ymy and I are together.

Secretly relieved, Sheltis walked towards the elevator.

“''Sheltis, Eyriey and Yuto might be coming to play around now.''“

“Ah, that’s right, we have to hurry. Well then, Monica, see you tomorrow.”

“Ah, h-hey, Sheltis, wait! I’m not done talking───!”