DOWL Master:Volume1 Chapter 0
The Scene of A Certain Usual Day
The gently bending artificial land, at a height of 100m, reflected the fake sky. The structures around were built from Carbon Metal (carbon nanotube composite steel) and resin concrete; This was certainly enough to make you realize that this was not a natural planet.
This is the circular residential quarter joint with the workshop of Iwa Metropolis Island, a part of the man-made satellite Island that was developed and actualized under the Stanford Torus-type space colony.
Inside the peculiar dual rings of this Island, in a low gravity block with pseudo gravity of 0.5G (gravity on earth = 1G), two armored warriors sparred against each other.
Each of their bodies were covered with full length metal plate-type armor. A full armor-helmet replica. The two held a training spear and a 2-handed long sword respectively.
“Here I come.”
The tall one holding the spear called out.
“Yes!”
The short boy holding the long sword prepared for the incoming attack.
Both simultaneously rushed forward and the drive of the sword parried the thrust of the spear. The spear instantly drew back and once again struck out. The movement was smooth. Compared to the spear's movement, the hand wielding the sword that parried the spear was awkward and stiff. They knew that even though the armor-helmet replica is made of metal much lighter than iron, its bulkiness along with the small shield on the shoulder was for improving the body and had a total weight of at least 10Kg under Earth's gravity. The weapons, also made of light weight carbon resin, had a weight of around 5Kg under Earth's Gravity. The low gravity environment's purpose was to reduce this heavy load. However, The boy had not gotten used to wearing the armor-helmet set yet.
The conclusion came too quickly. The boy, without even getting a chance to retaliate, lost his balance and subsequently, his position. The spearhead stopped at the nape of his neck, grazing his armor there.
“……I surrender.”
--with a nod, the spear drew back. The person acting as the referee watched from the sidelines, raised her right hand and with a bored voice announced the result.
“Winner Cadet Kisaragi”
The referee glared at the boy with displeasure. His face had become a smokescreen(!). He sighed as he stood back up.
“That was pathetic Aoi. It has already been a month since you came here. Regardless of win or lose, you couldn't even match the opponents’ strike! And you still call yourself my younger brother?”
Not only was her gaze disappointing, even her voice sounded in a bad mood.
“You may say so now nee-san, but I’m training my skill too. Ryuichi-san is just too strong..”
“fuun….alright, I’ll take revenge for you then.”
“Revenge? This was just a practice match……..”
But the elder sister refused to listen to her younger brother’s complaint. She turned around, made a clanking sound and raised her head.
“Ryuichi, would you mind fighting me this time?”
“Alright.”
She was wearing the same armor as the two. With vivid red hair dangling at the joint, the elder sister put on her helmet, lowered the smoke shield, and faced Kisaragi Ryuichi.
“Akari, are you okay with that weapon?”
Even among conventional weapons, the Cross-blade spear was said to be very difficult to handle. Ryuichi questioned Akari as she set up her Cross-blade spear.
“Its alright. In my case, it doesn’t matter what weapon I choose. I’ll show you a very creative way of using this.”
Akari answered while shaking her head with a daring smile.
“Is that so? That means I won't have to hold back right?”
“Ou!”
Without a signal, the mock battle between Akari and Ryuichi started.
“Woah!”
Aoi, who took vacant place of the referee, dodged the swinging weapon and fell on his back. Due to the low gravity, there was no chance of a wound like a bone fracture, but it didn’t mean that there was no pain. Aoi cursed the two, who were clashing their spears, in his mind while he tried to get back up.
At that moment.
“…..Aoi, are you alright?”
A voice like the smell of a sweet flower in a gentle breeze came. Turning around, the one who came in Aoi's eyesight was, with height of 2 meters, the wire controlled humanoid robot, Marionette DOWL (aka Marion). But what caught Aoi's eyes was a girl skillfully balancing herself on the robot's right shoulder.
“Reine-san”
Aoi panicked and stood up. In front of him, the girl known as Reine took off her helmet. The face hidden underneath revealed itself. Her long eyelashes and hazy eyes were impressive. They gave off a fairy-like image. The girl, while holding her helmet, easily jumped from Marion’s shoulder. Her movements belonged to someone who had completely adapted to low gravity. Aoi thought that these very fine movements suited her very much. The hem of her long jacket fluttered as she came down. Even though he knew that she was wearing pants underneath, Aoi’s heart still skipped a beat.
Her shoulder length silky black hair gently swayed as she collected herself. Without any kind of hesitation, Reine walked towards Aoi. His heartbeat grew faster at the closing distance. Reine’s petite stature was about 5 centimeters less than Aoi. She looked at the stiff Aoi with a worried face.
“You‘re not injured, are you?”
She asked with small upturned eyes and a fixed gaze. Aoi, unable to resist her gaze, awkwardly turned away.
“I’m fine. Sorry to have made you worry.”
While still looking away, he apologized. Reine smiled as if she saw something funny.
“Aoi you don’t have any reason to apologize. I was worried for you by my own convenience after all.”
“Ah, yes, sorry.”
“You’re apologizing again. You don't need to be so formal.”
Watching Reine giggle, Aoi again realized for the Nth time that her appearance was not the only thing that was fairy-like. Reine’s words were never on whim nor irrational. They were always sensible, yet they somehow gave off a slippery feeling. Maybe it was because she was a special [Exa].
“By the way...that. Is it okay to leave them like that?”
Looking towards where Reine pointed, Aoi finally remembered his job.
Nee-san! Ryuichi-san! Seriously, what are you two doing?”
The training weapons from the start of the battle were now lost. Yet, Akari and Ryuichi, who were now rolling on the artificial grass, both continued to grapple each other.
Even though Akari had a bigger frame for a woman, Ryuichi was still 20 centimeters bigger. In a grappling battle, Akari should have stood no chance but Akari, with her well trained body, gave no signs of weakness as she took part in close combat.
“Both of you, move away from each other!”
Aoi somehow forced himself between the two, but an elbow and a kick pushed him away. Thanks to the armor, Aoi didn't get hurt but he was unable to hold on. As Aoi resolved to only call the teacher as a last resort, a clumsy machine hand went towards the two from the side.
“Akari, can’t you see that you're troubling Aoi-kun? Also, Ryuichi-san, what are you doing wrestling with a woman?”
Wearing her helmet and a cable that extended from the head, Reine, as she played with her hair with one hand, pleasantly smiled towards them as they kept hanging upside down. The other end of the cable was connected to Marion's nape as Marion kept the two hanging in its arms. This humanoid robot was manipulated by Reine’s control ability.
“Seriously, what were you two doing?”
Reine moved her hands toward Akari and Ryuichis’ helmet. Both resisted for a second, but soon their heads were exposed as she easily manipulated the robot while removing their helmets.
With the smoke shield out of the way, Akari averted her eyes as she was exposed to Reine’s line of sight. On the other hand, Ryuichi gave a very dandy looking forced smile.
“I've always thought this but Reine is definitely amazing. My movements with the Marion are completely different.”
A statement completely unrelated to the question asked was given. But no matter how much he tried to change the topic, Ryuichi was still hanging upside down. Blood was beginning to collect in their heads. It was Ryuichi who finally surrendered to the smiling Reine.
“……Sorry. I’ll apologize for getting conceited so can you please let me down? Even if we are in low gravity, maintaining this position while wearing armor is painful.”
“…..Sorry, Reine. I’ll also apologize. My nose is starting to bleed.”
Right after Ryuichi, Akari also apologized. Satisfied with their responses, Reine manipulated her Marion and released them. Both of them fell head first but there was no unsightly occurrence like Akari and Ryuichi falling on their head. Both Akari and Ryuichi used their hands to roll around, avoiding any possible injury.
“Rather than apologizing to me, you should start thinking of an excuse for the instructor.”
After her snarky comments, Reine turned towards Aoi. He was wearing a helpless expression but Reine noticed this or rather, pretending to not notice it, smiled and talked to him.
“Aoi-kun, won’t you practice with me? Aoi-kun is cut out to be MITU rather than an NITU I think.”
“Eh, No, I….”
Seeing Aoi’s hesitating behavior, Akari angrily replied.
“If you want to learn from Reine rather than me, then do as you wish!”
Looking at the smiling Reine who did not realize what those words really meant and Akari’s back who had turned away, Aoi became paralyzed and couldn't utter a sound.
“Aoi, its difficult being a popular man.”
Enduring his laughter, Ryuichi whispered in Aoi’s ear in a teasing voice.
Aoi wanted to look towards the heavens. Knowing that all he’ll see is the camouflaged limited sky. ……..Obviously, he couldn’t do something that could worsen the situation any further.
(I thought everyone was more honest and upright than this…..)
All he could do was grumble inside his mind.-----Enjoying the happy times that he could grumble over something as boring as this.
Iwa Metropolis High-Class Training School. This is the army educational institution under the direct supervision of the Solar System Alliance. This institution's objective is not to just give military training but also provide and teach essential knowledge and nurture technical ability for military cadets between the age of 15 and 20.
For education, old materials and miscellaneous info from the aged are installed in the all purpose computer terminal. To Aoi, who was directly taught daily skills by adults, the school was a dream-like environment. No, two months back this would have definitely been only a dream for him. 2 months back- C.E. 2417/7/31 that day was the beginning for him. At that time, the only person besides Aoi was his sister Akari. Ryuichi was a dangerous enemy and Reine was a stranger who lived in a different world.
“Cadets, assemble!”
While he reminisced over his life just two months back, The instructor's command brought him back to his senses and Aoi came back to his currently tiring, busy, but also happy present life.
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